AN: Okay so this is kindof a flyby chapter, but I wanted to get something up before the show tonight! Hehe, and I so cant wait, especially for more Eric/Alex goodness :D, but I wanted to make sure I had something incase it takes a couple days for me to get my concentration back, hehe. I will say, I did start working a little on chapter 5, and its going to get more intense, especialy for those of you who like the mature content. So know, theres some stuff coming your way. Anyhow, okay without further adieu, here you go. As always, let me know what you think good or bad. Thanks so much for reading!
Chapter 4
"Sookie! My dear one!" Niall proclaimed as Sookie threw her arms around him. If it had been any other time, he was sure his reception wouldn't have been so sweet and she took in a deep breath…
"Thank god you came, did you get my message?" Sookie asked him her brows rose in question as she pulled away and met his gaze. Niall nodded calmly and he replied…
"Yes, I did…."
"And?" Sookie led him into the kitchen and gestured to one of the seats at the kitchen table so he would be more comfortable.
"Can anything be done to undo my wish?"
Niall looked at her for a moment as if he were mulling over his words and Sookie handed him a glass of orange juice but Niall waved his hand over the glass in refusal and he explained…
"I can't stay long."
Sookie creased her brows sensing like something was off here and she took the chair opposite Niall feeling like she had to get down to his level so he could explain and Niall finally answered…
"Sookie, you did not make your wish…I don't know how your Vampire became human, but it was not by your doing."
Sookie's face fell in confusion as she tried to absorb it all and she shook her head…
"But I said it and everything…" She exhaled still surprised that it wasn't by her doing. Than who was it who did this to Eric she wondered?
"Whatever you had said, it was not the correct incantation dearest." Niall proclaimed and Sookie shook her head mumbling her thoughts out loud…
"Then who is responsible for turning him into a human?" She met his gaze searchingly and Niall shook his head…
"I do not know."
Sookie had thoughts of beating whoever it was over the head with a shovel. Angry for what they did to Eric. And then she came to a realization. She didn't make her wish yet. She still had one wish! As if Niall could read her thoughts he replied…
"Yes, you still have your wish, but I must speak to you first dear grand daughter."
Sookie creased her brows in confusion and asked him not quite understanding…
"What?"
Niall closed his eyes briefly and replied….
"It was not my original intent to include a condition with your wish, but I believe what has happened here could be a wish of your subconscious."
"That's ridiculous!" Sookie proclaimed and she shook her head in denial…"I never wanted this to happen!"
"But you said it didn't you?" Niall asked her thoughtfully. And Sookie creased her brows in regret. Yes that was true, she did say it.
Niall sighed and he explained…"The wish is from your fairy godfather, but the condition I leave you with is from me, your grandfather."
Sookie had a feeling she wouldn't like this condition and Niall stated his terms…
"I want you to wait 3 days until you make your wish, I will not grant it until 3 days from midnight last night. If you still want him to return to his Vampire state at that time, just say the magic words and your wish will be granted."
Sookie shook her head trying to explain…
"Niall, we are both in grave danger, another Vampire is after Eric, you may know of him Victor Madden, and he has pretty much said he wants Eric dead and continues to taunt him. I have no doubt, if he caught wind that Eric was a human now he wouldn't hesitate to make his move."
Niall nodded looking back at her thoughtfully. Sookie hoped she had made a dent in his stance and Niall replied…
"The three days stay the same my dear, do not forget, humans have advantages too, Vampires can not come out during the day correct? They are creatures of the underworld, weakened by daylight and must go into their holes for protection. Humans on the other hand may roam about whenever they wish, they also possess the strength to kill those creatures if they can discover where those enemies reside."
Sookie gasped and she shook her head in refusal…
"Are you suggesting that we go after Victor ourselves?"
Niall looked back at her thoughtfully and he replied simply…
"I would wait a day or two, once you have won him over and you have gained his full loyalty!"
Sookie stood up visibly upset now her chair screeched out as she went over to the kitchen sink dumping out the glass of orange juice angrily and she replied…
"Forget it, I wont put him under that kind of harm, or myself!" She went back to him and pointed her finger proclaiming…"Whatever beef you two may have, this is his life at stake, this is my life, doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Sookie put her hands on her hips and waited for him to answer expectantly. Niall stood up and went over to her taking her hand in his he replied simply…
"My only wish for you my dearest granddaughter, is that you are happy."
"Can't you see that I am not happy?" Sookie asked and Niall simply smiled in acceptance as he explained…
"Think about what you have been given my dear…This is a second chance, you have a man who loves you, who you love, and he can spend his days with you. He could even marry you, and live with you, and start a life with you, you could have children…"
Sookie creased her brows fearful of where he was going with this. Not so much because she feared the future, but because she was worried Niall might be right. And he continued…
"I have watched you for some time now Sookie, I know what you yearn for, what makes your heart ache, it's high time you think of yourself for once. I want you to try on this life for a few days, if anything for the educational experience…."
Sookie sighed defeated and she proclaimed in one final attempt of protest…
"If you are trying to drive us apart, it won't work."
Niall smiled and he put his hand on his shoulder and replied…
"On the contrary my dear, I am ensuring the sealed fate of your eternal bond."
Sookie had to roll her eyes at that feeling all of the sudden like a little kid who was being lectured oh the do's and don'ts of relationships by her grandfather. But before he gave her a chance to sulk and really send that teenage image home Niall proclaimed…
"I must go now but I wish you all the best grand daughter, and most importantly…(Sookie looked back at him in question and he finally replied after a long pause…) Have some fun!"
And then in a poof he was gone.
"Oh for Pete's sake!" Sookie exclaimed throwing her arms up in the air. Well it was official now; Pam was going to kill her. She might as well go pick out her memorial service flowers now.
Sookie looked at the clock on the wall, noting that it was 10:27a.m. So she had 61+ hours to entertain her grandfather's ridiculous whim. She wondered if this was the fairies idea of a joke, and she was most certainly not amused.
Unfortunately, Sookie didn't have much time to fester over her anger, when she heard another knock at the door.
If it was Niall returning with another condition, she thought she might just be tempted to slap him.
But to Sookie's surprise, or maybe it was more like unprepared ness, it was Tara.
"Hey there!" Tara replied cheerfully as Sookie opened her door, the look on her face was not one of amusement, Tara of course picked up on it right away and she asked her inviting herself in…
"What happened to you? You were at the bar last night and then you just disappeared?"
Sookie walked back into the kitchen deciding right then and there, she was going to make breakfast, she was going to at least give herself the luxury of that, despite her oncoming interruptions and Sookie shook her head as she went back to beating up her eggs…
"I don't know if you'd believe me…"
"Did you finally reconcile with Tall, Blonde, and Bad?" Tara asked looking out again at the driveway, noting that she didn't see Eric's car parked outside and she quickly recoiled her reaction. Worried they might have had another fight, or just made the last one worse.
Sookie looked back at Tara and was about to reply when Tara looked up, her jaw nearly dropping as she gasped out….
"Holy Mary Mother of God! What the fuck did y'all do last night?" The fight explanation left Tara's head quicker than she could say 'Son of a bitch!'
Standing there in her kitchen doorway, in the exposed light of day, all 6'5" of him was Eric.
Tara swallowed and Sookie looked back at her and then to Eric, who looked just as lost as she. And she introduced them…
"Eric, this is my friend Tara, she's the bartender at the bar I work for…"
Eric smiled and he went over to take Tara's hand as he exclaimed…
"Nice to meet you Tara, any friend of Sookie's is a friend of mine…"
"Holy shit!" Tara took a swig from the glass of orange juice Sookie had poured her and she replied absently…
"Well Id say if there was a contest, you'd both win hands down for most interesting night."
Tara looked back at Sookie in question, wondering just what in the fuck was going on and Sookie explained…
"Eric is a human now, but it's only temporary, he's also lost his memory."
Tara raised her brows and looked back from Sookie to Eric in question. Wondering if things could get any weirder.
Sookie poured the eggs in her frying pan along with the chopped vegetables and put some chopped potatoes with peppers and onions in another pan. She seasoned it with a little garlic salt and then let them brown while she popped a couple pieces of toast in the toaster.
"So you don't remember anything?" Tara asked Eric looking back at him strangely, and Eric shook his head answering…
"Nope..Nothing before last night…" He looked back at Sookie and Sookie looked back at him and Eric suddenly wished he had woken up earlier when he could have had Sookie all to himself.
Sookie's face colored pink feeling the heat come over her body as she saw the familiar desire in his eyes, but she shook it off knowing Tara was here, not to mention it was inappropriate behavior and things were very complicated between them, and Sookie offered…
"I nearly hit him with my car."
Eric smirked and he went over to the cupboard to grab some plates for the table. Adding…
"I guess it puts an entirely new spin on being struck by beauty!"
Sookie blushed and Tara rolled her eyes, wondering…
'Was he always this corny? I think I liked the Vamp version better.'
Now it was Sookie's turn to roll her eyes as she brought a plate to Tara and handed Eric his, sitting down next to them. She raised her brows, deciding it was time for Tara to take a turn in the hot seat and she asked her directly…
"So what about you Tara? You seem to be having a pretty good time yourself last night with my brother?"
Tara raised her brows in surprise, not realizing Sookie had seen that and she quickly inhaled her orange juice jumping up quickly to refill her glass she choked out a…
"Nothing happened!"
Eric raised his brow and he looked back at Sookie with a smirk replying…
"Yes, nothing happened obviously and that's why she can't look at you in the face…"
"I heard that!" Tara spat back from across the room replying out loud this time…
"I so liked him better as a Vampire! At least then he knew when to mind his own business..."
"He just didn't care before." Sookie explained, smirking as well, and then she watched Eric take his first bite of food. Hoping he would like it, it was his first real meal after all in 1000 years. He took a large forkful and brought it up to his perfect mouth, biting it off the fork carefully, Sookie found herself licking her lips. Okay, it was true, she could admit that she did still lust after him, it seemed some things didn't change.
Tara came to sit back down and Sookie asked Eric…
"So how is it?"
Eric chewed for a moment, he took his time chewing, as if mulling over his answer he finally replied…
"It's delightful…"
Tara raised her brows and then she dug into her own plate. And she replied offhandedly…
"Thanks for the breakfast Sookie."
"No problem!" Sookie smiled, but then her smile straightened when she looked over at Eric and noticed what he was doing.
"Okay, ew!" Tara replied seeing it as well. He had just spit up a biteful of his potatoes into a pile on his napkin and he asked Sookie…
"What is in this?"
Sookie looked back at him confused and she answered plainly…
"Potatoes, green peppers, onions and some seasoning….garlic salt…" Sookie replied not understanding why he didn't like it and then Tara chuckled…
"Oh you gotta be kiddin me?"
She looked back at Sookie who was clearly still lost and trying not to take Eric's dislike for her cooking personal and Tara proclaimed…
"Boy don't like garlic Sookie!" She giggled again and then tried her own potatoes…Adding smartly winking at Eric…
"Must be a vampire thing!"
Sookie flipped her eyes up thinking that was the stupidest excuse for not liking her cooking, but she realized it did make sense. And she added offhandedly…
'Ill have to remember not to use garlic next time…"
"It's alright Sookie, everything else is wonderful…" Eric replied.
"Suck up!" Tara replied with a smirk, oddly enough feeling more on the level with Eric now that he was human. Plus it was fucking entertaining to watch a grown man have to learn how to do everything all over again after being a vampire for 1000 years.
Eric mockingly glared back at Tara and then a voice from behind broke their lightweight banter…
"Hey Sook, you got anything left over? Im starving!" Everyone looked up as Jason walked in, although the color in Tara's face had practically disappeared and Jason smiled grabbing a plate for himself, and helping himself to the food that was left over on the stove.
"So, looks like a party, what did I miss?"
Jason asked taking his plate he sat down at the table with the rest of them. Sookie looked back from Tara, who still had her mouth open, to Eric, who's thoughts popped out in that particular moment causing her to hear a…
'Who's the dumbass?'
And she waited carefully for Jason to catch up to speed, replying…
"Oh, the usual chaos and excitement."
Jason nodded his head as his eyes momentarily flashed with Tara. Something was clearly going on there, Eric thought. Jason smiled faintly and then shoveled a few forkfuls of omelet and potatoes in his mouth. And then he finally set down his fork and looked back from Sookie to Eric strangely and he replied…
"Hey…When did he get here? I thought them vampires couldn't go out during the day?"
Tara had to roll her eyes and Sookie just glared back at Jason. She wondered how they could ever be related sometimes.
"He's not a vampire anymore." Tara explained and Jason raised his brows as he looked back at Eric curiously and he asked them…
"They can do that?"
Tara wondered how she could be attracted to someone that clueless. But goddammit, the damn redneck did something for her.
Sookie didn't think she could take any more of Jason's stupid questions however, growing impatient, Sookie replied…
"Eric was turned to a human last night, magically, he doesn't remember anyone or anything before that."
Jason looked back at Tara and he replied absently…
"Well all be damned." And then proceeded to take another bite of his breakfast.
"Eric, this is Jason, my brother." Sookie looked back at him and smiled faintly. And Eric nodded his head…
"Yes, not the brightest bulb in the box is he?"
"Eric!" Sookie exclaimed and Jason set down his fork replying offended…
"Hey!"
"Jason he didn't mean it, did you Eric?" Sookie looked back at Eric hoping he would take it back trying to raise her eyebrows in signal, but Eric simply took a sip of his orange juice and he replied…
"Of course I meant it…"
"Boy, you're just lucky you aint a fanger no more or I might be tempted to stake you!" Jason replied looking back at Sookie with a glance that said he knew what he was talking about.
Sookie simply sighed just wishing this breakfast would be over soon. It was one thing to have just Eric on her plate, but Jason and Tara adding to the mix too? Not to mention, she had a sneaking suspicion something was going on between them too. And Sookie just wondered how long that would last and how ugly their breakup would be. Of course, she'd have to pick up the pieces when they were done.
Tara and Jason left a little while later separately, for which Sookie was thankful and then she went to go find Eric. Sam had called after breakfast to check up on her, he was already being apologetic for what happened yesterday and Sookie used that to her advantage to get today and tomorrow off. She called Arlene as well to confirm that she would be all right with trading shifts.
And then it was just she and Eric.
"So…" Sookie replied when she turned around to face him realizing he had already stepped closer to her she let in a breath and replied…
"I guess since you haven't seen the sun in over 1000 years, maybe we should do something outside…do you have any requests?" She asked with a smile itching her nose, but as she brought her arm down to rest along her side, Eric caught her hand and he replied flirtingly…
"How about a nude beach?"
Sookie got a flash of Eric picturing her nude and she whacked his arm in outrage as his fingers weaved in through hers and she felt her pulse race again…
"We are not going to a nude beach, but how about I negotiate and we can just go to a public beach instead? I know this great spot on the Gulf…"
Sookie offered raising her brows in question, trying not to acknowledge the heat returning to her face as she gazed into his deep blue eyes.
"Yes, that would be quite nice…" His eyes followed the curve of her breasts down to her hips and then they flicked back up to meet hers and he replied…
"Anything that involves you in less clothing is fine by me."
Sookie rolled her eyes and she started heading towards her room replying over her shoulders…
"Ill make sure to pack an extra long cover up just for you!"
Eric smirked and four hours later Sookie was navigating their way to a good spot on the beach. They had made pretty good time, but it was late afternoon and Sookie just wanted to relax for a bit before they had to head back. She was glad it was warm out today. Worried that since it was New Years day, it would be too cold, but it was almost 80 degrees. She figured they had 2 hours max left of sunlight, so she wanted to get a good spot. Finally settling on a place down by the end along the rocks Sookie dropped a towel on the complimentary lounge chairs laid out on the beach and she looked back at Eric and smiled.
"Does this look like a good spot to you?" She asked, still in disbelief that he was out here with her, in the sun! Although when he first stepped out into the light before they left today, it was amazing how natural it seemed, like he had been doing it every day of his life.
They had also dropped by a K Mart along the way down and Eric picked out a very sporty hip hugging pair of swimming trunks for the day. They were black with blue surfer stripes. He bought a light blue form fitting tank top to complete the ensemble and as he tore off his top and tossed it on the sand next to her feet, he answered…
"It looks fine to me."
Sookie couldn't help but lick her lips when she watched Eric set down his chair and adjust the back shirtless. Indeed it did look fine, and although her favorite part of him was his glorious backside, he had a chiseled rock hard chest that most men would kill for. She felt hot all of the sudden, fanning herself realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere having thoughts like these, Sookie untied her own cover up, revealing a tiny red bikini and she bent over to dig in her beach bag for her water.
Eric had already sat down in his own lounge chair, ready to soak up some rays with his angel, when he took off his sunglasses and found her ass practically flashing in his face. He saw the curves of her breasts outline as she bent over and dug around feeling himself grow hard. Licking his lips he wondered just how hard it would be for Sookie to open up to him.
They sat there for some time in silence, enjoying each other's company while soaking up some rays. Eric noted that being with Sookie felt very natural to him, like hanging out with an old friend. Except she was much more to him than just a friend. Infact, he knew she was something infinitely deeper to him. Thinking again about the day's events, Eric went over again in his mind what had happened and how he could gain her trust.
He could sense that she had kept her distance from him on purpose, perhaps because of caution, perhaps because she was afraid of him, or what he had now become, but he knew he couldn't be happy unless he had her all to himself in some form or fashion. He also had accidentally overheard part of her conversation this morning with her grandfather. Unbeknownst to Sookie, but Eric was keeping that little jewel to himself for later. For now he knew he had to play by her rules, but he wasn't about to let their relationship be jeopardized. He would do anything to make sure of that.
'She's going to cave soon, it's only a matter of time!'
"You realize I can hear your thoughts don't you?" Sookie asked him with a smirk as she turned around and looked back at him brows raised in challenge.
"And for your information, I won't cave, I have a pretty strong threshold actually, you and I are nothing more than friends." Sookie declared sternly, still trying to convince herself that was true. And she flashed him a pointed look that told him she wasn't budging on that. Things were far too complicated to take this past anything more than just mere flirtation.
Eric put his sunglasses back on deciding to play it cool, he lay back and relaxed his head against his chair and replied…
"Yes, well that has yet to be determined, and by the way, I think its completely unfair that you can hear my thoughts, perhaps to level the playing field you can share something with me about you, something personal?"
He looked back at her and she could tell even though he was wearing his smoking aviator glasses, that his blue eyes were boring into hers and Sookie finally replied laying back herself…
"Alright…What do you want to know?" She asked him, knowing she would probably regret being so open to his wish and Eric paused for a moment looking out at the ocean and he finally asked her…
"Why did you wish for me to become a human?"
His eyes glanced back to meet hers asking point blank. Sookie suddenly felt like a dear caught in the headlights, not prepared to answer this question, of all of the questions, why did he have to ask that one?
Re-igniting all of the pain and hurt she felt the day before, she closed her eyes and blinked glancing back at him. He was waiting patiently and she knew at the very least, she owed him the truth. Swallowing she took a moment to think over her words and then she looked out the at the crashing ocean as well, the wind was causing her hair to blow gently around her face and Sookie finally explained…
"It's not what you think, I didn't wish for it intentionally, it was a wish, a fantasy almost…"
"You fantasized about me being human?" Eric asked feeling a small tinge of hurt and guilt for what events must have brought her to make that wish and Sookie shook her head, realizing her words might be hurtful to him and she tried to backtrack, proclaiming…
"No, not you, it was more the circumstances surrounding our lives…It wasn't
about you." She assured him and Sookie shook her head blinking back another onset of tears as she recollected all of the terrible things they had experienced together…
"A vampires life is a very dangerous life, you were doing everything you could, but it just got to be too overwhelming…You know like when your at work and you've had a particularly hard day and you wish for a vacation, but you know in reality you need to deal with the obstacles in front of you? That's what this was, a fantasy, a vacation…This isn't my reality…"
Sookie explained and she looked back into Eric's deep blue eyes and he looked down at his hands in thought and finally replied…
"Sookie, this may be a fantasy for you, but this is my reality, I don't know any other life but this one, as hard as I try to remember as many stories as you and your friends might have for me, I cant remember anything but last night."
She nodded her head feeling bad all of the sudden. She could be so selfish sometimes, Sookie whispered…
"Eric, I'm sorry.."
"Stop apologizing!" Eric proclaimed standing up all of the sudden and Sookie thought she did it now. If Eric walked out of her life pissed off and she lost him, shed never forgive herself.
"Eric!" Sookie sat up in an attempt to stop him but he simply threw his tank back on and he replied…
"Just take a chance for once in your life and let go of your inhibitions Sookie, you have nothing to lose but time!"
Sookie couldn't help but feel a bit baffled. It was like he was channeling her grandfather and she half wondered if Niall had spoken to Eric as well. But Eric wasn't budging from his stance; it appeared that it was either all or nothing with him.
"I'm going for a walk." He announced and Sookie thought she had really done it now, he wasn't going to forgive her for what she did. But Eric held out his hand and he invited her…
"Would you care to join me Sookie?"
Sookie raised her brows, not really sure what Eric's intention was, but she supposed a walk would be good. She could stretch her legs a bit and get some fresh air before they had to return to Bon Temps.
"Sure." Sookie replied sitting up, she had a nice golden hue on her skin. Even though it was still windy, the sun had been out and she was happy for that. She always felt better when she could feel the sunlight on her skin.
Sookie put her cover up back on and slung her beach bag over her shoulders, opting to put her sandals in the bag she went barefoot. Eric was already down by the water and when she went down to meet him he had a big smile on his face as he spotted something down the beach…
"What? What is it?" Sookie asked him curiously and she followed Eric's line of site. On the other side of the bay were a series of docks, each one had a number of yachts tied to the long piers and Eric saw a building that looked like some resort. The wooden sign on the boathouse read…
'Holly Beach Yacht Club.'
"Come on!" Eric took Sookie's hand and began running towards the dock like a kid who had just spotted the candy store down the block…
"What are you doing?" Sookie asked him, but he was running too quickly, pulling her along with him, he didn't have time to reply, the wind whipping through both of their golden manes and they finally arrived stepping onto one of the piers.
Eric pointed to the Resort and Sookie looked over there spotting what looked to be some sort of party going on inside, tiki torches lined the beach and everyone was dressed to the 9's inside the formal ballroom. She looked out to the water and noted it was nearly sunset and Sookie proclaimed…
"Eric, the boats are beautiful, but we should be getting back soon…"
"Just one spin around the harbor, they won't even notice it's missing."
"What?" Sookie's eyes widened and she asked Eric in a panic suddenly realizing what he was doing…
"What's missing? Are you going to steal one of these boats Eric?"
He looked back at her wickedly and Eric replied with a smirk…
"Actually, I'm going to borrow one, its more like commandeering it you see, and I promise you Sookie, they will never know it's gone!"
Her head was spinning too fast as she helplessly watched Eric run over to the side of one of the yachts and untie the rope and she shook her head in refusal…
"If you think I'm going to be your little criminal accomplice in this, you have another thing coming, this is ridiculous Eric!"
But Eric wasn't listening as he hopped on the boat and navigated his way over to the power switchboard. Somehow he had maneuvered the wires so it had ignited the engine and Sookie's blood began to pump faster, the adrenaline running.
Eric smiled proud of himself, not sure where he gained the knowledge to jump start a yacht, but thankful despite his surprise that he had picked it up somewhere and kept it stored in his subconscious and then he went back out to hold his hand out to Sookie once more…
"Come on Sookie, its now or never!"
"NO!" Sookie spat back tapping her foot she nervously watched the main building for anyone who might suddenly notice one of the boats was missing and she cried out…
"Your insane Eric!"
Her angry eyes flashed back at his and he replied calmly taking her hand in his…
"What happened to removing all inhibition? Taking a risk for yourself! Don't you want to have a little fun Sookie?"
Her eyes narrowed and she now wondered if Eric had somehow been telecommunicating with her grandfather, it was clear this was an ambush…
"Do it for yourself!" Eric concluded in his final attempt to per sway her and then to both his surprise and hers, just like that she jumped over the side of the dock onto the boat into his arms.
She didn't know what possessed her to jump into that boat, or what the evening had in store for them, or how risky it was for her to be trapped out in the open water alone with Eric on this boat, but Sookie had a feeling she was about to fall down that rabbit hole, and find out just what her grandfather Niall was talking about.