Eric POV:

I hated waking up without Sookie in my arms now that I knew what it felt like to wake with her curled up next to me. That thought along with my memories of last nights conversation left me with an extremely perplexing feeling…I had never been more confused by anything in my life.

My treacherous mind seemed all to willing to fuck with me, my thoughts were taking me from one extreme to the next. I was a man who never wanted to marry nor had I had any real interest in being a father.

There was no reason for not wanting children, it's not like I hated them or even the thought of them. More like I knew and hated that a child would tie me someone far more and for far longer than I ever wanted.

It would seem that I didn't quite hate the thought so much where Sookie was concerned and that threw me for a loop. I had met the woman all of three times and was practically naming our children!

I admit I am currently a little freaked out by these thoughts, I wanted to talk to Sookie, I wanted to call her but it just wasn't in the cards for today. Tomorrow I would, maybe by then my rational thought process will have returned and I won't be left feeling quite so…uncertain?

I spent the day doing nothing of any real consequence, a little light reading and I prepared for my first lecture of the year. Making sure I was prepared to put all the little darlings in their place from day one, it never did any good to put it off and let them think that they could flirt their way to a good mark or into my pants for that matter.

After spending Saturday very much alone I fell into a restless sleep I was not at all interested in spending Sunday the same way. I called Pam making plans to get together over lunch, she seemed rather happy to hear from as I hadn't talked to her in a few days at least.

We agreed to meet at Consiglio's for 1:00 and I quickly looked over my lesson plan for tomorrow before hopping in the shower. I was a couple of minutes late and Pam had already secured us a table.

She smiled warmly and stood to greet me, I attempted to place a chaste kiss on her cheek but she had turned her face and the kiss landed on the corner of her mouth. I felt a little awkward about it but brushed it off, it's not like we hadn't kissed before.

I was glad to be out of the house and conversing with another human being as opposed the internal debate I continued to have with myself.

Pam was acting a little differently then usual…more physical, she kept leaning forward and making contact with me. Sometimes just a quick stroke of my arm or hand while other times she'd rest her hand on me, leaving it there for a few moments.

I kept debating on talking to her about Sookie, but for the first time in our long friendship I was unsure of whether or not I could. Not because she was behaving differently, but because she was Sookie's boss and I didn't want to cause any issues between the two.

Instead I chose to tell her about Claire, well Professor Mason to most. I had had to attend a couple of faculty meetings in the week or so before classes started up and she was more than friendly as she welcomed me to the school.

I had met her once the week before and she had told me about Firehouse 12 and how it was well known for it's success in bringing in wonderful Jazz musicians, which I should really thank her for as that is how/why I came to run into Sookie in the first place.

She mentioned a few of them were meeting for a bite to eat and thought I should join them, get to know a few people. I could hardly say no as they all joined in our conversation.

Her and I showed up first and ordered dinner for ourselves, it was only moments later that three more people joined us that I recognized as my new co-workers. When the waitress approached them they only ordered drinks stating that they didn't normally eat when they got together.

I had glanced towards Claire, who would not look at me and I had a pretty good feeling that I had just been roped into what she might have thought of as a dinner date. The others left after the one drink and I was left alone with her.

She was more than nice and friendly, conversation was casual. She didn't flirt much and was funny so I chose not to call her on her shit, but it wouldn't happen again. She pointed out a few more interesting places to check out a later date and then hinted that we should do it together sometime.

I told her it wouldn't be a good idea as I was kind of seeing someone, I know one night together doesn't mean your 'seeing' someone but I wasn't interested in Claire. I was however more than interested in seeing Sookie again. I had sent her flowers the day before in hopes that she felt the same.

I left out the seeing someone and the Sookie portion as I described the evenings events to Pam, she had laughed it off saying that I was just too damn good looking for my own good and that all women fall over me.

Pam ended up coming back to my place, I hadn't invited her but was glad for the company. We spent a couple of hours talking about everything, the mistake that Felicia had been, my marriage and now impending divorce.

"I'm just glad she is out of the picture, Eric." She stated as the arm she had draped over the back of the couch came forward and she squeezed my shoulder. "I hated seeing you all the time and not having the benefits option that always worked so well for us."

"Yeah, well nothing lasts forever, right?" I replied uneasily.

"Always the pragmatist. Didn't you miss the comfort of our arrangement? No strings, no bullshit. Just hot, hard sex."

I wasn't at all comfortable with where I knew this conversation was going and wanted to stop the direction immediately.

"That was a long time ago, Pam. We've both moved on from it, it's not the same anymore."

"It can be." She stated before leaning forward and attacking my lips with hers so quickly that I hadn't even registered what she was doing.

I sat frozen for a moment while her lips moved against mine and was almost tempted to respond in kind, she was familiar, our history was never complicated or confusing…but she wasn't Sookie.

I placed my hands on her shoulder and gently pushed her away, she had a bewildered look on her face and looked somewhat hurt by my actions.

"Pam I told you when I was here for weekend that I didn't want this."

"No" She spoke quietly "You said you weren't ready, so I waited for you. I know it hasn't been very long but you seem so much more like yourself again, your happy and well…just you so I assumed…" She trailed off.

"You assumed what, that I would automatically want to jump into fucking you again?" I asked hearing and not really caring that I was being almost rude in my bluntness.

"No, I've always regretted that we were so casual about everything, I realised what I had lost when things between you and Felicia heated up enough that you didn't need me anymore. I hated her for taking that part of you from me."

I sat back my mouth probably gaping as I tried to take in what she was saying to me, I didn't say a word and just let her continue.

"It broke my heart to watch you marry her, I knew it would never work with you two so I waited. Why do you think I've never settled down, Eric? I've been waiting for you, it was always you."

I watched as she offered me a hopeful smile and hated that I was about to ruin her moment, but I didn't feel the same.

"You deciding to move here to be near me, and this job at Yale falling into your lap. It was the sign I needed and I knew it was our time. Don't you see how fate has brought you here to me, to us. I love you, I always have so no I don't expect you to just start fucking me again as you so graciously put it. I want you to be with me, to give us a chance."

"Fuck" I took a moment to think, very quickly averting my eyes. I didn't want to see the hope that hers held. I didn't know what to say so I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"I'm seeing someone, Pam" I heard her gasp but still refused to look at her as I spoke. "and as much as I love you, it's not in that way. Everything you just mentioned, all the things that brought me here. Yes, I feel like it was fate as well, bringing me to the most charming, vivacious, intelligent, sexy, kind and caring, endearing, soft hearted woman I could ever find." There were not enough words to even begin to describe this woman, my Sookie.

I hesitated knowing that my words were most probably almost cruel to her ears given her admission to me, but I had to make her understand where I was coming from. Christ I had to make myself understand as this was the first truly honest admission I had made to myself all weekend.

"She makes me want to be a better man, to feel and I mean really feel. She makes me think about wanting things that I've never wanted before. I want the chance to care for her, to love her. Hell I barely know her but she makes me think that maybe…just maybe marriage and a family are something I could want one day."

"What do you mean you barely know her? How can you claim all these things if you don't even know her?"

"It's just like you said, Pam. Fate. It's simple, she's it for me. I think I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her, something changed for me and I think for her too but I won't know that until I talk to her."

"Have you been with her?"

"As inappropriate as that question actually is, Pam, yes I have."

She didn't say anything else, she simply stood up grabbed her purse and walked out the door. Maybe I should have stopped her, tried to talk more but I didn't have it in me at the moment.

I didn't really need this right now, my life was fucked up enough as it is. Between everything that happened with Felicia, my divorce, meeting Sookie, my feelings for Sookie, and now this shit with Pam. I was pretty much down for the count.

I was currently more than a little floored by my own revelations, I had never believed nor would I have imagined that something that felt so akin to love at first sight would happen…to me. I knew it wasn't quite love, but something close, very close.

If I were being honest as well I would have to admit that I was scared to death realising that my feelings for a woman had morphed so quickly and un-expectantly.

Not to mention how scared I was of losing her once she became aware of how strongly I felt. She would think it too soon, she might even consider what I deem to be fate to be more of an obsession, and I couldn't really blame her.

It was these thoughts and this entire situation that left me unable to call her, at least not today. I didn't want to rush anything or scare her off, I'll send her some flowers tomorrow so she knows I am thinking of her and then I'll go from there.

I slept a little better with knowledge and better understanding of my feelings and was looking forward to starting my first day of classes. I was already running late as I had stopped to have another bouquet of flowers delivered to Sookie, so I was a little annoyed when Claire practically ran me over in the hall.

She followed me into my class and was asking me if I was free at the end of the day, she had dropped her car off at the shop and needed to pick it up but didn't have a ride. I said yes to get her out of the class and out of my hair.

My first class was with third year law students, I preferred these classes as they were usually pretty much already lawyers in knowledge anyway. Grading their work was a much more enjoyable task then a first year student.

I got started with class attendance, trying to familiarize myself with faces and names. I hesitated for a moment and smiled as I read the last name of my next student.

"Stackhouse, Suzannah?" I questioned as I looked around the room.

Although she never raised her hand or grunted a 'here' there was no mistaking who the name belonged to as she looked up from the paper she was reading and spat her coffee across her desk and laptop. Her eyes were big and round as saucers and I am sure mine were close to that as well, but I quickly masked my obvious shock and moved on to the next person on the list.

A few students laughed at her reaction, not understanding it at all.

'What the fuck was Sookie doing here? In my class…was she not a secretary at Pam's office?' I was completely at a loss for words. It didn't take me long to wonder what this could possibly mean for us.

I have no idea how I managed to coast through class without too much issue. I was fully aware of the woman around me making comments and the innuendo in their responses to me, but my mind was too preoccupied to deal with it today.

What the fuck am I supposed to do now? I had never given thought to carrying on a relationship with a student. It was morally wrong and just not acceptable by any standards to the school.

I was getting angry with myself for being so fucking thrown off by this, my students must think me mad as I scowl to myself about nothing known to them.

How do I feel about continuing a relationship with a student? Even if it was one that started before we knew the dynamics of it. Shit. How does she feel about having a relationship with one of her professors? One that would now have to remain hidden.

There was no putting anything off now, I asked her to stay after class with the intention of convincing her to meet me this evening. I thought it best to keep this conversation off school property.

I called her by her given name, not meaning anything by it but it obviously pissed her off. I was a little confused by the anger that seemed to be emanating off of her.

I cringed when she called me Professor Northman but mainly due to the hostility her voice housed. As much as it was an unwanted reminder of the situation I now find myself in it still un-expectantly caused a slight stirring down below as Eric Jr jumped to attention.

I was so fucked right now!

Sookie seemed to resign herself to the fact that we needed to talk and remained seated as everyone left the room. I closed the door and made my way to her, I was happy to note that although she didn't look overly enthused she wasn't quite as angry and maintained eye contact with me as leaned back against the chair in front of her.

I also hadn't missed that her eyes had visibly roamed my body once again as I approached her. It was nice to know that at least she was still able to find me physically appealing even in her anger. Anger that I did not understand but intended to by the end of this conversation.

What happened next was like a bad dream or something, I heard the door creak behind me and was annoyed to see Claire poke her fucking head in as I looked back.

"Oh sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to make sure we were still good for 4:00?"

I was about to snap a quick response at her when Sookie's chair slammed against the floor. 'What the fuck?' is what I was thinking until I seen the combination of anger, confusion and hurt cross her face.

I was horrified as I realised that she must think I have plans with Claire, possibly a date which was absolutely fucking not the case.

"Asshole" She shocked me by calling me an asshole under her breath, I don't know if I was meant to hear it or not but I did.

What?? "Excuse me?"

"There's no excuse for you." She whispered as she continued on passed me.

I couldn't say anything, I couldn't stop her with Claire standing there. It wasn't concern for myself that stopped me, if it wouldn't have affected her just as much disciplinary action wise, I think I would have said fuck Claire and made sure Sookie understood what had just happened.

The rest of my day was long as hell, and I kept seeing the look on her face as she cursed at me. I was pissed at the way this shit was playing out and I barely said a word to Claire as I dropped her off at the shop her car was at. I was even more pissed to realise that it was so close to the god damned school she could have walked.

She caused a problem for Sookie and I over one of her fucking games to get me alone.

I had no idea where Sookie lived and was not about to call Pam looking for an address so I spent the next two hours calling her cell every few minutes until she finally answered in a non too friendly tone.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"Sookie, please. We need to talk."

"There isn't much to talk about, Professor." So she was back to that and no matter how frustrated I was with her, I was once again rock hard.

"First of all that was not what you think, please come over so we can figure this shit out." She was silent which I felt was a good sign, at least she was thinking and not reacting just yet.

"Fine" She huffed "but I haven't had dinner and I'm starving so I expect to be fed."

I smiled at her through the phone, I knew she was being sarcastic but her comment was enough to convince me that things might be just fine….

A/N: So what do you think? Will their lives be filled with nothing but (sugar coated candies and roses) happiness from this point on, or could there possibly be more drama to come??

I don't know about you but I'd take the drama any day as long as Eric comes along for the 'ride' ;p

A/N: All Characters belong to Charlaine Harris.