Charlaine Harris owns them all, but one

Thanks guys, I never dreamed I would reach 100 reviews and I can't thank you enough for leaving them. Knowing your reading and commenting makes me beyond happy. I just want to say that our Sookie's life has changed and I really think she needed to do that. However, for all you Sookie and Eric fans, like myself, this is still a story about their growth as individuals and as a couple.

Sassyvampmama, thanks for your mad beta skills and for just being the Best!

Chapter 6

One Year Later…

The restaurant that Sookie and Amelia were having dinner in wasn't too crowded for a Friday night. The booth they were sitting in was in the far back corner and there was very little lighting except for the small lamp that was illuminating the table. Sookie and Amelia had placed their orders already and were enjoying a nice glass red wine. Amelia was so happy to have this alone time with her friend. Ever since Sookie started working for Channing Enterprises, she saw very little of her.

"Sookie, admit it, you have feelings for Declan." Amelia was goading her best friend to admit her feelings for her boss. Amelia could not get over the transformation Sookie had made over the past year. She was convinced Sookie would make a great personal assistant to Declan Channing, but had no idea she'd take to it like a fish to water. She also knew her friends success was driven by her will to become an entirely new person. Every new challenge she faced was met with sheer determination and success.

Amelia chuckled softly to herself, thinking back at how panicked and intimidated Sookie had been before her initial meeting with Declan Channing. She smiled again, thinking of how Sookie was practically bouncing off the walls when she came back from the interview, having already been hired as his personal assistant. Even then, she felt Sookie was captivated by the man. And who wouldn't be? He certainly was a looker. She was a fool not to have inquired more about the man when her dad initially told her about the position. She assumed he was just another one of her father's uptight business associates; oh how wrong she was. Then Amelia smiled once more and remembered the conversation they had after her interview with Declan a year ago.

"Well, I don't even have to ask if you got the job, I can tell by the look on your face that it's a yes." Amelia beamed at Sookie walking through the door.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I did, and I can't believe he hired me." Sookie shouted. "But I'm determined that I won't let him down, or more importantly, I won't let myself down." Sookie said it with such conviction in her voice that Amelia immediately thought 'who is this person and what has happened to the girl who was so heartbroken these past few days?'

"Sookie, sweetie, you are going to be great. He wouldn't have hired you if he didn't think you were capable of doing what the position requires" Amelia leaned back in the corner of the coach and grabbed a pillow and placed in on her lap. "So tell me all about him. First, what does he look like? I know from what my Dad told me he is in his early forty's and is a widower."

Sookie just laughed at her friend.

"Meels, you are a piece of work. I can't believe your first question is 'what does he look like?' Not how was the interview? What will you be doing? Where will you be working? What are your hours? What's the pay going to be? No, all you care about is what does he look like. I'm surprised you didn't ask me if I knew how much he is worth." Sookie let out her breath with a bit of frustration from her friend's question.

"Sorry girl, but I have my priorities. I want to hear about what he looks like first and then I want to hear about the rest." Amelia scooted herself more into the couch ready for answers.

"Well, he looks a lot younger than his 43 years. He has sandy brown hair, green eyes and I'd say he was about 6 foot. He appears to be in great shape and he did mention he works out regularly and is runs marathons once in a while. Does that satisfy your question?" Sookie said with sarcasm.

"No. You didn't say if you find him attractive or not." Amelia quickly replied.

"The man would definitely be considered attractive Amelia, and I know where this is going. Just so we're straight, I am only interested in being his personal assistant. I am not looking to find another boyfriend anytime soon. Jeez, Amelia that is the last thing I'm thinking of and from what I gathered from the interview, Mr. Channing is a recent widower. He isn't looking for a girlfriend either,, Amelia. He is looking for someone to be his assistant, got that?" Sookie eyed her friend and made a face as to say, don't push it.

"Alright, alright," Amelia threw her hands out in front of her teasingly in surrender and continued, "I get it, now tell me the rest."

Then Sookie went on to tell her everything about Channing Industries, her duties, and her compensation package. What excited Sookie the most was that she would finally have health insurance. She thought it was ironic that when she finally had medical coverage she would probably never have to use it. Just the thought of not worrying about being shot at, staked, drained, or tortured was unbelievably comforting. She practically squealed when she told Amelia that she would be getting a company car and a line of credit at certain department stores. Apparently she would need to buy certain outfits for events that she would be required to attend with Mr. Channing. She also was happy that her hours would enable her to enroll in on line classes. Channing Industries offered to pay for continuing education and Sookie was going to take full advantage. Amelia was just so happy for Sookie and knew no one deserved a second chance more than she did.

Amelia was focused on her friend who appeared so different than from the woman who was sitting on her couch, a year ago, telling her about her new position.

"Your right Amelia, I admit it, I think I am falling in love with Declan. I never thought I would be able to love a human man, but I can. I thought my telepathy would never allow me to have any kind of a relationship with a normal man, but I have been able to control it and use my shields like I never have before. I'm not sure why, but I am glad. Now granted Declan and I have never been intimate, but when we have ever held each other, dancing, a hug, or a kiss, I have been able to block out his thoughts. I try to always block them, but once in a while I pick up on them. Like I do know he wants to take our relationship to the next level."

"Oh Sookie, you don't have to be a telepath to know Declan has strong feelings for you. You can see it in his eyes when he looks at you. He is a good man Sookie and I think you would be crazy not to let your relationship turn into something more than what it is now." Amelia was so glad to see that Sookie was being open and honest with her and not denying her affections for Declan.

"I think I am hesitant because I don't think he is fully over the death of his wife." Sookie looked defeated.

"Sookie, I'm sure part of him will never stop loving her, but you know you never love any two people the same way. He can still love his wife and you too. Just like a part of you will always love Eric." Amelia was holding her breath and waiting for Sookie to flip out at the mention of Eric's name. For a good month after Sookie's heartbreak, Amelia tried to talk to her about what Eric had told her, but she didn't want to hear it so Amelia never pushed the subject again. However, that was the old Sookie. New Sookie didn't get angry or shut down. To Amelia's happy surprise she continued to be engage in this conversation.

"I've tried very hard not to think about Eric, and when you told me that it wasn't possible to break the bond without endangering my life, I think that only furthered my resolve to never think of him. I realize that I can't do that. I need to let my anger go. I need to forgive him, in order fully open myself up to Declan. I can't forget what Eric did and how he betrayed me, but it made me realize that in order to have a successful relationship, you need open and honest communication. You have to be honest with your feelings and not hide your past. I need to tell Declan everything about Eric and even about Bill too. I also need to let him know about my telepathy." Sookie let a huge breath. It seemed she had been holding that in for an entire year.

"Sookie, Hun, I'm so proud of the woman you have become, and I think it's time for you to know everything Eric told me about what you saw in his office that night. If you want to move forward then you need to know everything. This way you'll have all the facts." Amelia was so relieved to be telling Sookie this information. She hated her not knowing the whole truth.

Amelia went on to tell Sookie everything that Eric had told her, along with how saddened he was. Sookie listened, and when she was through, she told Amelia that she was glad to know, but it still didn't change the fact that she didn't think she could ever trust Eric again. That without trust, there is no true love. She said she was not blaming everything on Eric. She knew that she handled a lot of things wrong when it came to her and Eric, but that she couldn't go back to that life. She felt more determined than ever to open up to Declan and to fully love him.

There was a large crowd tonight at Fangtasia and Eric was sitting on his throne entertaining the vermin, as Pam always so nicely puts it. Many came to the bar just to see him (or in hopes of being seen by him) and they looked upon him with sheer admiration. Eric appeared to be completely bored and as long as no one offered themselves to him, the crowd was safe. Pam was getting so frustrated with her Master. Nothing she said or did could get him to break out of his foul mood and she didn't know how much longer she could take it. She tried so many times to get Eric to feed. She offered him every type of blood bag she could find; women, men, demons, even some Were's and shifters. Nothing would tempt him to feed, let alone entice him to get a quick fuck, and Gods knew he could use a good lay. He's been downright petulant lately. She tried to reason with him. She knew it was because of Sookie that he would not feed on anyone. She told him that Sookie did not look at them as having any kind of relationship, let alone a marriage. She refused the bond and considered them separated, but Eric would not listen.

"Master, how much longer are you going to continue refusing to feed from these blood bags? It has been a year; you need to accept that Sookie is not coming back." Pam had silently communicated that to her Master across the room from him. Eric immediately got out of his throne and in a blink of an eye went to his office. Pam followed behind him. She was going to try to get Eric to face the harsh and bitter facts about his relationship with Sookie.

"Please Master, you must move on." Pam was completely convinced that Sookie would never be Eric's. Now she just needed him to believe that.

"Sookie is my fucking wife and I will not betray our marriage. I have already betrayed her once and will never do that again. If you continue to hound me about how I choose to exist, then I will compel you to never speak her name again to me." Eric was calm in his words, and for once, Pam was at a loss as to what to say.

"Eric, you have had Sookie followed throughout this past year. It is quite apparent that Sookie has made a new life for herself and has no intentions of coming back. From what Amelia has told me, Sookie has forced herself to become a new person. She is happily employed with Declan Channing and is quite successful as his personal assistant." When Pam mentioned Declan's name Eric let a low growl and did not look pleased. Sookie has never slept with Declan, of that Eric was sure, but it was apparent from his investigators that Sookie and Declan appeared to be very fond of each other. Eric had a whole file full of Sookie's daily activities since he left Amelia's that night. He also had countless photos of her both alone and with her employer.

"I only want to see you happy, Eric, and I'm afraid that your prolonged misery will harm you." Pam was truly heartbroken for her Master.

"Pam, she is mine and I know we will be together again one day." Pam nodded in agreement with Eric and decided not to say another word. If he wanted to continue to drink that vile liquid, that True Blood, then so be it.