Chapter 4 Tuesday Night with Eric

"Sorry, I'm late, did I miss anything?" asked Pam.

Eric released me gently, but whispered in my ear first, "This conversation isn't over yet. I'll talk to you later."

"Eric will tell you later, right Eric?" I asked pointedly, moving away from Eric and the topic I wanted to avoid more than anything else in the world. "Right now, can we just carry out the pies? It's getting late and we haven't had dessert yet," I said handing one to Pam and one to Eric. They both looked at the pies I had plopped in their hands, and then at me at the same time and with the same look. The smile on my face spread quickly and I chortled. "Oh, you two kill me sometimes! Come on."

They carried the pies and I carried the plates and forks and we went out to where Jason, Michele, Remy, Hunter, Claude and Dermot were. I introduce Pam to Dermot, Hunter and Remy who had not met her yet. Pam's lip curled with approval at Remy.

We all sat around and ate my pecan pies until eleven o'clock or so and talked about all sorts of things. I looked over at Jason and knew that he was as happy as I was to be with family, with no one arguing. I was happy too. For the first time, I had a large extended family and I was relishing every minute of it, but sadly it came time for everyone to go.

Remy began the exodus by saying that he had to get Hunter into bed for the night. I suggested that he leave him here for the evening and pick him up in the morning, but he didn't seem to want to leave him here again. "Remy, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Sookie, of course."

"Why did you come here tonight?"

"Oh boy," he said, "I thought you'd ask me again, and I know I have to tell you, but this is hard for me." And I saw tears in his eyes. "I have cancer."

"Oh sweetheart," I said hugging him as best I could while he was holding Hunter. I kissed his cheek. "How can I help? What can I do? Do you need money? Do you have insurance?"

"I'm all set with insurance and I have a small bit of money for the extras, so don't worry about me really. It's stage one prostate cancer, and we caught it early, so I have a really great chance of beating it. But what I really wanted to know is if my treatments start to get the better of me, would you be willing to take on the little guy for a while? I'd ask my folks, but they are getting up there in age and they live in an assisted living facility that doesn't allow kids to stay over, so it would be really hard for them, and I really don't have any other close family."

"Oh Remy, of course I'll take Hunter whenever you need me to," I said reassuringly. "Does this mean that we passed your test?"

"My test?"

"Yes, you wanted to know who I might introduce Hunter to, remember?"

"Ah yes, the joys of being an overprotective parent, sorry about that. What I really should say, and should have said is that I'm so glad that to have you in Hunter's life…in my life. I'm so glad to have a family to help me. You all are like a ray of sunshine and I had the best evening. Thank you."

"Oh Remy, that's so sweet. I'm glad to have you in my life too," I said with tears in my eyes, hugging him again, "Good night and drive safely, and call me whenever you need me to watch Hunter, any time day or night—I'm there!"

"Thanks. Good night," he said sounding choked up as he got into the car and drove off.

I walked around to the back of the house to find that Jason and Michele were ready to head back since they both had to work in the morning. We said our good-byes, and I looked over to Claude and Dermot, who were talking to Pam. In light of the evening's recent activities, that made me a little nervous, so I stepped up my pace to intervene if necessary, but when I got there, I found that they were having a wonderful laugh. Pam was finishing a joke!

"…and so the waiter says, is he doing the back stroke?"

Claude and Pam burst out laughing, but Dermot looked confused and said, "I don't understand. I really don't understand." This sent them into peals of laughter, and even Dermot joined in too, though I don't think he knew why. I started to laugh too when Eric showed up and a wondered what was so funny.

"Location joke," I explained, with tears running down my face.

When the laughter died down, Claude and Dermot said they had to go to bed and rest. They each kissed me on the forehead and smiled at me. "Good night, Sookie," said Dermot.

"Good night and I hope you are feeling better." I watched as they walked up the path to the house. The evening was fine and I wasn't tired yet, so I plopped down on a lawn chair on Eric's lap, and gave him a hug and kissed his neck, with a little nibble.

"Hey there," he said. "What brought that on?"

"I just wanted to kiss you, maybe nibble you a little that's all. I can stop if you'd rather."

"Yes, actually I would rather; this would be the perfect opportunity to talk about some more pressing issues, like this offer that you received from the FBI and continuing our conversation from the kitchen. You and I are not finished coming to that particular conclusi-"

I heard a little cough behind me, as Pam politely cleared her throat to draw attention to herself. "Shall I go and leave you two alone?"

"No Pam, you just got here an hour ago, and it's such a long drive for nothing if you go now. Stay and talk, please?"

As I wiggled away from him and pulled up a chair for Pam to sit in, Eric gave me a look that told me I wasn't getting out of anything this time—no way no how. Pam just grinned and using an opportunity to stick it to Eric one more time, and sat down.

"So how's your love life these days, Pam?" I asked, making girl talk.

"Oh, I see something tempting here and there, but nothing to tie me down. I think your, cousin is he?" I nodded. "Your cousin is a fine specimen. I might have to check him out. Do you think he likes vampires?"

"He might, he might not. I don't really know him very well, but he seems nice. But I think you should stay away from him for a while. He told me tonight that he has cancer and he's going to be undergoing treatment. In fact," I said turning to Eric, "that was the main reason for this here shindig."

"And what reason would that be," said Eric with a sultry bedroom voice with eyes to match. Oh god, he was turning on the heat. I could feel my center warming up and I looked into his eyes and I knew he felt that too, damn him and this bond…nothing was private!

I took a deep breath in and out again to refocus on the fact that Pam was here too and we weren't alone. Thank God for Pam! I responded to Eric, "Well, boyfriend of mine," backatcha, "Remy asked me if I would be on call to take little Hunter if his chemo gets a little too hard to handle. He doesn't have any other family close by and his folks are too old and don't live in a place that allows little kids."

"And you said…" Eric probed.

"Yes, of course I'd watch Hunter. He's a great little kid and I can really help him out with—" I almost gave his secret away!

"His?"

"Nothing…reading lessons. Remy wants him to read before he goes to kindergarten, that's all and I can help with that. So, anyway," I said, attempting to get away from the inquiring mind of Eric, "that's why I invited my whole family."

"So then you admit that I am family?" he asked.

Oh SHIT! Jesus Christ on a cracker! I had one argument that I could use as an out, so I used it. "Jason is dating Michele. They are boyfriend and girlfriend, ergo (Word of the Day) I invited her too. You and I are dating. We are boyfriend and girlfriend, ergo I invited you too, and Pam as well as she is your child. HA!" As I said it I could feel a boiling rage drifting over from where Eric sat with his cat-got-the-mouse smile was still pasted on.

Pam must have felt that too because she suddenly rose from her chair. "Sookie. It has been a wonderful evening and thank you for inviting me and making me feel like part of your family, but really I must be getting back to Fangtasia for closing time. Good evening. Eric," and she bowed to both of us and left abruptly.

For the first time ever, I was scared to be alone with Eric. The smile that was pasted on his face had vanished with Pam's sudden exit. He rose slowly from his chair and moved over to kneel in front of me. "Sookie," he said as he looked into my eyes, "we are wed. You are my wife."

My chest was rising up and down. My mind was a whirl. Did I bow to him and agree, or did I stand up for my principals and state my case again to him. I chose the latter. "Eric," I leaned in to kiss him on the lips lightly, "we are not wed. You are my boyfriend."

To my utter relief, Eric simply smiled and said, "Well them Miss Stackhouse, we are at an impasse, aren't we? And what are we going to do about that?" And with that he leaned in and kissed me lightly on the lips and leaned back ever-so slightly to view my face.

My heart began to pick up the pace as my brain began to register what he was getting at. "What do you mean, Eric?" I asked cautiously. But he just smiled and lifted me up out of my chair and carried me to the house to my bedroom without looking where he was going, all the time watching me and my eyes. I never took mine off of his except to blink, which was rarely. "Eric, what do you mean?" I tried again, but was greeted with only a slightly bigger grin.

He set me gently on the bed and walked into my bathroom and turned on the shower, got out a couple towels and set them on the counter by the sink. He walked back in and began to undress himself, all the while watching me and saying nothing. I would have enjoyed the show, but I was too busy looking into his eyes. I didn't know what game he was up to, but I was cautious. He sauntered over to me and pulled me to a standing position, which I didn't fight. He kissed me softly on the mouth and worked his way to my neck, all the while unbuttoning the top of my sundress. The sundress fell to the floor and my lack of bra was rewarded with several soft kisses being placed on my breasts. I moaned in spite of myself. Eric moved closer to me and pressed himself against me. I wanted him in me in the worst way, but I was sure he'd be there all in good time, and the time it took to get him there was always so pleasant.

Eric lifted me up and my legs found their natural home around his waist and he kissed me longer and deeper, but never made a move to penetrate or play me with his fingers. I was getting close to begging for it when Eric pulled away from my mouth and spoke, "Do you remember our first shower together?"

He was back again on my lips before I could answer, so I garbled an, "mmm…hmmm," and nodded as best I could.

He pulled back again and asked, "Would you like to take a shower now?" Again crushing his lips back on mine before I could respond with anything more that a rudimentary affirmation. He walked me slowly into the bathroom, still kissing me and driving me insane to be fucked and fucked hard. I swear I'd have an orgasm if he s much as touch my quivering center. I knew he could feel that too, and he always took such pleasure in taking me to very edge of an orgasm before pushing me off the cliff. The satisfaction didn't run amiss on my end either.

As we entered the bathroom, something didn't seem quite right, but then everything happened at once. I was removed quickly from Eric's embrace and in the same movement I was being stabbed and scraped by a thousand pin pricks, both ice cold and white hot feeling at the same time. I screamed and was abruptly told, "No screaming allowed Miss Stackhouse. I'd hate to have your cousin and uncle come down here. I don't know what I'd do to them in such a frenzied state of rage."

I stopped and looked into Eric eyes and saw something that I'd never seen before aimed at me. Anger. Hurt. Rage. Aggravation. Humiliation. All those emotions glared back at me. "Er-r-r-ic, please. I'm freez-z-z-ing. P-p-p-lease s-s-stop." I said after being in the freezing shower for a couple minutes.

Instantly, the shower was shut off and two warm towels were wrapped around me and I was whisked away to the bed and tucked in. Eric ran round to the other side and got underneath. "I'm sorry," he said simply waiting for me to say something back.

I refused to look at him and crossed my arms and turned in the other direction. I felt a movement in the bed and suddenly the warm sheets and towels were swept away and I was moved to the center of the bed with Eric sitting on my legs and pinning my arms down. I tried to turn my head from side to side and wiggle loose, but to no avail. I was stuck under a Viking, ordinarily a rather nice place to be, but this time I was pissed. "LET GO OF ME!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"MAKE ME!" he countered.

"I CAN'T. YOU'RE STRONGER THAN ME. THIS ISN'T FAIR!"

"Life's not fair, hasn't anyone ever told you that?"

That stopped me cold. "Yes I know life isn't fair, Eric. If anyone knows that it's me. Now can you please get off of me?"

"On one condition."

"What."

"We talk and you don't try to run away or make excuses and you tell me the truth."

"I'll try."

"Not good enough. You have to promise."

"Fine, then I promise, but please get off of me."

As quickly as he was on, he was off. "Thank you. Will you answer me honestly too?"

"I always do. I don't tell you everything, but what I do tell you is the truth."

"Why don't you tell me everything?"

"There are some things that are best not to know. I am protecting you."

"From what? You know I can handle anything you throw my way. What is it that you think I can't handle?"

Eric sighed and snuggled down next to me, pulling the forgotten blanket around me a little. "There is nothing you can't handle, so I promise I will try to tell you everything in the future."

"Why didn't you tell me about the knife? About the pledging—the marriage?" There I'd said it. Marriage.

"I needed to keep you from Felipe's grasp. His protection would have had you with him where you would have been very safe and well cared for and miserable. I should have let him take you if I had known that keeping you would have gotten you nearly killed. I should have suffered in silence without you, but I am selfish. I couldn't do that."

"So you tricked me into presenting you with that knife, in front of Victor, who then arranged to have me tortured and killed because of the trick. All because you were selfish?"

"I wanted you near to me, so I could protect you, not Felipe. I needed to keep you away from Quinn too, because he posed too much of a threat."

I interrupted him, "A threat?"

"A threat."

"How?"

"Ugh!" Eric said as he hit his head against the headboard in exasperation. "You were in love with Quinn, just as you were in love with Bill before him. I couldn't let you get taken to Felipe and away from me, because…" and there he stopped.

"Because? Out with it…because?"

"Because," he said more tenderly as he turned toward me, propping himself up on one elbow and tracing his finger down my side, making my nipples grow hard. "Because I have been in love with you since I first saw you. Because I have endured your love for Bill. Because I have put up with your infatuation with the Tiger. Because I have withstood your flirting with Alcide. Because I have coped with your close friendship with Sam. Because I felt it was my turn to be with you. Because I had waited for you for so long. Because I had wanted you for so long. Because I loved you and had to have you, I arranged for you to give me that knife, and because I couldn't risk you saying no to the plan, I didn't tell you about it and I didn't ask you how you felt about it, or me. I'm asking now, Sookie, how do you feel about me?"

"I don't know, Eric. And that's the truth."

I felt such rage and hurt wham against me. "You don't know and that's the truth?"

"Yes."

"Explain."

"I have feelings for you, but I don't know what they are and I don't know if they are my own feelings or if they are a reflection of your feelings coming at me. I don't feel like myself when I am with you, just like I'm an extension of you. I don't like that. I feel out of control, like my life isn't my own anymore. You make me feel all discombobulated."

"Did you feel this way with Bill?"

"No."

"Did you love Bill?"

"I thought I did, at the time, but I am not so sure I was truly in love with him. He was just the first person that I could talk to and not hear, and one thing led to another."

"So again, did you love Bill?"

I had to think. Did I really love Bill at the time? I thought I did, but looking back on it, I really just loved the experience of being made the center of someone's attention, but I got hurt in the process. Then it struck me, I hadn't known what love was, but what I knew was intense friendship. And now I knew the difference between how I felt for Bill then and how I feel for Eric now and I had my answer. "I did love him then, but in a different way than I love you now."

Eric's hand stopped tracing my side momentarily. "What did you say?"

"Eric Northman. I think I love you."

He grinned. "You think you do?"

I rolled my eyes, "I know I do."

I was immediately kissed without mercy as Eric rolled on top of me. He took my arms and pinned them up above my head with his hands, and I didn't feel at all vulnerable, just right. Protected. Wanted. Desired. And above all loved. I was giddy with this new revelation.

I could have done this all night, just sat and made out with Eric, but he had other plans. Doesn't he always? Slowly his hands moved off my wrists, releasing them from captivity. He stopped kissing me and rolled us to our sides as we had been positioned before. I was a bit disappointed and told him so.

"Miss Stackhouse, you are insatiable."

"Why do you insist on calling me Miss Stackhouse? You've done it like ten times tonight. It's starting to grate on my nerves. Honestly."

"Would you rather I call you Mrs. Northman?" he asked, clearly trying to provoke another argument.

"Eric, I love you. There I said it. Isn't that enough?"

"Normally, that would elate me, but tonight it isn't enough. I want to make love to my wife."

"You do?" I asked, simpering a little.

"Yes, I do."

"Well let me know if you find her," I said and made to get out of bed, but a strong arm pulled me back.

"Found her."

"Found who?"

"MY WIFE," he growled. "Now stop playing at this. Would you please concede that we are married? You gave me the knife and we are married. You are my wife, plain and simple."

"Eric, I love you, but I am not your wife. Do you know how I know that?"

"How."

"You never had the balls to ask me. You never gave me a ring. I never said 'I do,' in front of a pastor or a JOP. That's how I know we are not married."

"So all I have to do is ask you to marry me, and you will concede to being my wife and we can get on with our evening?"

"You can ask. There's no guarantee that I'll say yes, just so you know. I'm not that easy."

Eric sat and pondered that for a long time. He must have suppressed the bond or something because I couldn't get a clue as to what he was thinking or feeling. About ten minutes had elapse and suddenly Eric jumped out of bed and began to get dressed. "Get dressed," he said in a tone that meant he wasn't mincing words.

I looked at him and did as I was told; not knowing what he was up to. His eyes never met mine as he waited patiently for me to fasten the final button on my sundress. I could tell he was thinking deeply about something. I just couldn't fathom what. "Where are we going?" I asked after making sure my dress looked okay.

"Just outside," he replied taking my hand and leading the way. I followed and realized we'd come in the house and left the lights on in the back. The yard looked so beautiful in the moonlight and the fairy lights. Eric brought me to the center of the yard and got down on one knee while still holding my left hand. Immediately, I was short of breath and the blood was rushing through my ears. I felt dizzy and I took a second to collect myself and breathe a couple times before Eric looked up at me. Our eyes met, and I knew this was it. "Sookie Stackhouse," he began. "I loved you from the moment I first saw you at my bar. I love you as you stand there shivering before me. I will love you forever. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

Without hesitation, I replied, "Yes." Eric slipped a ring on my finger. I looked away from his face to the ring and I knew immediately that it was Gran's ring. "Eric, how did you..." but I couldn't finish. I was too overwhelmed.

"Jason gave that to me tonight after I asked him if I could have your hand."

"Sneaky bastard."

"Always where you are concerned. Jason knew that no other ring would do for you and he knew where you kept it. He gave it to me voluntarily. I hope you like it."

"Like it?" I said with tears streaming down my face. "I love it. And you. You know for a headstrong, overbearing, controlling, and sometimes vicious bad-ass Viking, you sure can be a softy."

"Always where you are concerned. And now let's fly away before the night is over. If we hurry we can make it there in time."

"There?"

"Yes there," he said flying into the house quickly to grab something and flying out again before I could register he was gone. In his hands he held my purse and the cranberry colored jacket he knew I was so fond of.

"And where is there?" I asked again, "Remember, you have to tell me the truth."

"Vegas, Miss Stackhouse. Vegas."

And with that we were in the air and on our way to the airport to catch the next airline. There wasn't any need to worry about the sun, since it was only midnight when we took off and Vegas was two hours further into the night. We spent the entire flight wrapped in each other's embrace, except for when I was so tired I fell asleep. I woke to the dinging sound of the seat belt sign and buckled up. We landed without incident and I noticed that Eric placed a call to the King to report in.

"Isn't that dangerous? Do you think that he'll try to stop us from being here and try to nab me?"

Eric smiled at me. "You know you'd make a perfect vampire. You already think like one."

"Any how does a vampire think?"

"Two steps ahead, always."

"So why don't you think that Felipe will find out that we are here?"

"Because I left a message with the lowest member of his retinue. By the time it filters its way up the chain to the king himself, we'll be long gone."

"How long are we going to be here?"

"For one night and a day and into the evening tomorrow, then we will leave as soon as possible, for our honeymoon."

"Honeymoon?"

"Yes," he said as we pulled up at our first destination, "honeymoon. Marry me tonight Sookie." And I looked at the building that we were in front of. It was called the Chapel'o'Love. The sign read 24-hour services while you wait.

Eric read the look on my face. "Does it really matter that much how or where?" I shook my head and looked up at him and grinned. I was getting married.

Fifteen minutes and four signatures later, I was being congratulated as Mrs. Northman. Forty-five minutes later I was being carried over the threshold of the honeymoon suite of the Belagio.

"I can't believe I'm married," I said, looking at my gran's engagement ring and the cheap wedding ring that Eric bought at the chapel. He said he'd replace it later to match my gran's ring, but wanted to make it official, so I wouldn't have any excuses to get out of it.

"I can," Eric said. "I just can't believe that you are finally admitting that you are my wife. You know I really love you, don't you?"

"Yes, Mr. Northman, and do you know what?" I asked.

"What's that Mrs. Northman?"

"I really do love you too."

The rest of Eric's waking evening was spent showing me just how much he loved me. It turns out he loved me many, many, many times over. I loved him back quite a bit too. As I drifted off into slumber, I pondered why I gave him such a hard time about being married to him and being his wife.

Wednesday morning and afternoon we both slept next to each other exhausted from the previous night's activities. I woke in the early evening to the sensation of being entered. My eyes flew open and Eric grinned as he pushed into me. I tried to protest and he caught my mouth with a kiss and played with my nipples until I moaned. I came hard with Eric and we lay there for a little while, just stroking each other, enjoying our oneness.

"Bathroom," I said as I patted his magnificent ass. He grunted reluctantly and rolled off me. I peed, brushed my teeth and combed my hair and was back in bed with him in a minute and a half. "I need to get you a wedding present, Eric. What do you want?"

"Done. You are all I ever wanted. I need nothing more."

I rolled my eyes. "I have to get you something, it's a tradition. It doesn't have to be much. I'll just surprise you with something when you're not looking."

"Fine. I get to get you something too then, what would you like?"

"Victor Madden's head on a silver platter," I said before the words could escape my lips.

"Consider it done. Although I should point out that Victor Madden's head will be nothing more than I pile of ashes a few minutes after leaving his body and I can't hand you a silver platter without burning my hand…"

"You're mocking me! I meant I want him dead and soon, but what a thing to ask for as a wedding gift, sorry. You could get me a necklace with a topaz the color of your eyes. How is that?"

"Consider it done, wife."

"Thanks. I just thought of what I am going to get you, but it will be a surprise. Right now though, I just want to take a nice warm shower with you, make love one more time, and get on the plane before we get caught in Vegas, husband."

"I love it when you call me husband…now about that shower…"

A/N: Thanks for reading my little tale featuring Charlaine Harris's characters. I appreciate all the lovely feedback I've been getting. The next few posts won't be as quick, but I won't leave you hanging!