Summary: Sookie returns from Fairy Land with a dash of reality, and handles her dangerous situation with more awareness. Watch the pretty ripples...AU Season Four. Eventual Eric/Sookie.

I do not want to be one of those writers who throw hissy fits and demand a certain amount of reviews, but I get dozens of alerts and my review numbers keep taking a stern hit.

Review for Naked!Eric.


The first thing Sookie did was push aside her outrage - which was more to the blatant murder than who he had murdered, and, yeah, she would need to lay down the law on that issue as soon as possible.

"Eric," Sookie said firmly, clutching her water gun tightly, sneaking a glance around. The forrest was too open, who knows what could be hiding in the trees? Well, Eric would but he was currently more interested in the glittery ashes in his palm. "We're like sitting ducks out here. We need to get inside. Come on."

Eric's blue eyes flitted to her, dazed and unfocused. Worried, Sookie started forward, ready to drag him inside if needed be. Eric swayed, eyes sliding shut, and then he pitched over, landing face first in the dirt.

"Eric!" Sookie hissed, barely able to stop herself from crying out. Thoughtlessly, she hurried to his side, kneeling down with more care, mindful of provoking his bloodlust. "Eric," she repeated softly, reaching out to touch his golden hair.

It was soft under her fingertips, and she ignored the instinctive urge to stroke his hair, though she had a moment of vivid imagination of doing so - of every blonde strand sliding through her fingers - before the potential threat hammered into her mind.

Claude hadn't warned her of anyone else but he'd hardly had the time. They needed to get inside.

Eric groaned softly, and Sookie felt a twinge of fear. Bill had gotten sick on Maryann's blood. Did Fae blood have the same effect? Eric had been fine on her blood before but she wasn't pure Fae.

"Do that again," Eric demanded, slurring his words and lifting his head slightly.

"What?" asked Sookie, face scrunching up in confusion.

"My hair, do that again." His head rose even more, pinning her with a...stoned, pleading look. "Please?"

"Okay," Sookie said, voice slightly higher in panic. "Real funny, Eric, but we have to get inside. If there are more of them - " They would be in so much trouble.

"I can eat them," he came to a different conclusion, blissful smile spreading across his face.

Sookie stared at him, mouth half-open as she tried to think of something to say in response to that. "Are you..." her voice started out hesitant but grew incredulous. "Are you high?"

Eric laughed at her playfully. "No. I'm on the floor, Sookie." His light blue eyes dropped to the dirt, and then looked back up at her. "It's...squishy."

Sookie blinked at him. "Err...yeah, I guess it is," she agreed tentatively before trying something else. "Why don't you come inside where the floor isn't so squishy?"

"I like it." All of a sudden, Eric was up on his knees, staring intently at her, bloody mouth curving into a pretty-boyish grin. "I like you more."

Before Sookie could react, Eric fell forward again, resting his head on her shoulder, nuzzling her neck with his hot, wet mouth. Her skin tingled, nerves sparking with pleasure, heart pounding, and Sookie had to resist the urge to giggle at the sensation which was both sensual and ticklish.

A hot blush rushed to her cheeks, and she half-heartedly squirmed away. "Eric, cut it out! You're getting blood in my hair!"

"You smell so nice," Eric told her blissfully, no trace of the scary hunger in his voice, but plenty of the other hunger. His large hand cupped her hip, holding her in place, stopping her from pulling away from him. "So beautiful and kind."

Her heart skipped a beat, pumping blood clumsily through her body. Sookie felt her stomach fluttering, as a pleasant sensation of falling came over her, filling her with adrenaline and making her painfully aware of Eric's lukewarm body.

Eric was pressed closely to her, hand claiming her hip with ease, nuzzling her neck with more affection than hunger. His slow, savouring breath fanned across her neck, making her nipples tighten and a white-hot shock of heat shot down her spine.

Her smaller, softer frame molded into his like a puzzle piece. It was, Sookie thought, leaning into his caress with no thought of Faries or any fear of his vampire nature, eyes sliding closed, water gun slipping unnoticed from her fingers, like this was meant to happen...

Sookie moved her hand to his hair, curling her fingers into his short golden hair, entranced by the silky texture. Eric stopped breathing, pressing his forehead into her neck, mouthing an unbearably sweet kiss to her collarbone. His chest rumbled against hers, purring like a giant jungle cat...

"Eric..." Sookie sighed, moaning the word out sweetly.

"Sookie," Eric sighed, and then a small, happy giggle slipped out of his mouth. The sound hit her hard between the eyes.

He wasn't himself, in more ways than one. He had killed her cousin. He was nuzzling her throat so sweetly with a mouth covered in blood. He was Eric Northman, and all she wanted to do was slam him to the ground and sink down on him until he was deep inside of her.

It took every inch of Sookie's restraint to slid her hands from his golden blonde hair to his shoulder, and push him gently away. Letting her, Eric moaned openly in disappointment.

"Sookie."

Sookie swallowed, blinking the dark spots out of her eyes, feeling herself throb with longing. "We can't do this. I can't do this."

"Why not?" Eric asked, seeming genuinely curious.

If she slept with Eric, memory or not, it wasn't a decision to be made were a million reasons that she couldn't, shouldn't, even care about him but she did. It was stupid and reckless but so true, and there was undoubtably something more to her feelings for him.

The thought was frightening. How could she even consider the possibility of...of loving Eric? Even as a friend/enemy. She barely knew him, and what she did know was not very compelling, or it shouldn't be. But he was deep under her skin, and she felt more passionately about him than she ever had with Bill.

But he was a total jerk, and she simply could not imagine Eric being her boyfriend, and she wouldn't share him, so that should be it. It might have been it if Eric hadn't lost his memory, and gained access to every single heart string she possessed.

"Eric, there are a thousand answers to that question," Sookie answered quickly, standing up hurriedly. Her legs were weak but they held. Slumped on his knees, Eric came up to her belly button. He was so impossibly tall. "If you want, I'll tell you inside."

Eric's eyes darkened at the word inside, and her knees almost buckled at the clear direction his thoughts had taken.

"I don't want to go inside," Eric grumbled petulantly, pouting up at her.

"Well, you have to."

"I don't have to do anything," Eric declared, climbing unsteadily to his feet. He swayed towards her, eyes alight with a simple happiness, a wide, delighted grin breaking across his face. Fangs were still down. "Come play with me, Sookie."

Sookie shook her head at him in disbelief. "No way! Eric, it isn't safe, being out here. We have to get back to the house. Hurry!"

Eric looked disappointed, but she assumed he'd finally got the message. Feeling the faint stirrings of relief, Sookie turned around, hearing a faint laugh from behind her and promptly yelped. Whirling around in surprise, she pinned Eric with a shocked look.

"Did you just pinch my butt?"

Eric circled her, head lowered, eyes hungry. There was a mesmerizing grace to his movements, even now, and Sookie forced herself not to stand still and just watch him move. "Beautiful butt," Eric told her with a lewd grin.

"Well, thanks," Sookie said, slightly startled at the appearence of that grin. Possessing eyes, Sookie had noticed that Eric had a world class butt on the first night she'd met him.

"I watched you walk up the ladder yesterday," Eric informed her, running his eyes up and down her body, lingering on her legs. He laughed again, drunken and slightly hysterical. "I couldn't look away."

"Eric!" she protested, blushing hotly, stopping.

The feeling of pleasure enflamed her chest, but she couldn't help but feel a little scandalised at his very plainly expressed desire. But the lust burned hotter, more powerful than her Light even. She'd always known Eric wanted her. and he'd certainly expressed it before, but it felt heavier now.

More of a possibility than a dirty dream to leave her shaking in bed, unable to catch her breath.

Eric reacted to his name, blurring in front of her. His head was lowered, and he loomed over her, a single inch seperating their lips. The burning cinders in Sookie's lower stomach flared up, and she inhaled shakily, eyes widening.

"I like it when you say my name," he whispered, words hitting her low in the stomach, breath fanning over her face.

It was only the blood on his face that kept Sookie from leaning forward and pressing her lips to his. Shaking her head, she clung to a thin shred of reason. "It'll be dawn soon..."

Eric laughed. "I don't care."

His recklessness stabbed at her, provoking a fierce stab of fear. "You will when your skin starts bubbling off!"

Eric let out another laugh. "Watch me." So fast that she could only detect a large black-clad blur, Eric zipped off into the woods.

"Eric!" Sookie cried, looking around frantically. The woods was silent, empty. Her eyes widened in horror. Oh, shit. The Fae blood would protect him from the sun, but for how long? A cold wave of terror crept up on Sookie, freezing her to the spot. What if...no, no time to panic, she needed to find him, now.

"ERIC!" Once again, there was no response.

Sookie's first urge was to run off into the forest and look for him but if he wasn't responding to her calls, he didn't want to be found. And if a vampire didn't want to be found, they weren't found. He needed to find her.

Praying desperately that Eric was close enough and Bill was far away, Sookie sucked in a breath and let out a loud, blood-curdling, wordless scream. There was a thunderous smash from deep in the woods, like a tree falling, and then the heavy slam of frantic, vampire-speed footsteps. The same black-clad blur burst out of the woods amist a cloud of detached green leaves, the speed making Sookie gasp in surprise.

Without pausing, Eric flitted around her in a circle that made her head spin, before crouching with his back to her, hands yanking her small body into his broad back, and releasing a loud, feral hiss aimed at whatever had made her scream.

"Eric," Sookie gasped, laying a tentative hand on his back, feeling the rock-hard muscle easing slightly under her soothing touch. "It's okay. I'm okay, I'm fine, really."

"You screamed," he muttered, whirling on her in vamp speed. His blue eyes were dark and intense, filled with a wildly protective rage that made her heart thump from a strong emotion that she could not name, and his fangs were down, sharp and very long, glinting at her from his bloody mouth.

Sookie arched an eyebrow at him. "Well, I had to get your attention somehow."

Eric's fangs retracted with a disbelieving click. "You...tricked me?"

"You wanted me to play with you, so I did."

"I didn't mean that kind of playing," Eric mumured petulantly, saying exactly the thing to make her cheeks flush.

"Eric," she hissed in protest.

Eric gave her that stoned, childish grin, snorting with giddy laughter at her expression. "You want to play with me?" he sounded sweetly hopeful.

Feeling a painful twinge of affection at his innocent tone, Sookie nodded stiffly. "But not that kind of playing."

Eric beamed at her, lunging forward, ignoring her startled shriek, and hauling her easily over his shoulder. From her current position, Sookie had an excellent view of his behind, clad in his wonderfully tight jeans, and the instinctive urge to appreciate the view stopped her from struggling instantly.

Before she could start screaming at him to put her down, Eric burst into a run, laughing like a maniac and reaching up to palm her 'beautiful butt'. Sookie was too busy trying not to throw up - though it would serve him right - and clutching at his shoulders to slap his hand away.

She got the feeling he'd planned that. Some things never changed.


"No!" Sookie said for the fifth time, shaking her head furiously.

"Please?" Eric coaxed, walking backwards to keep her in his sight, perfectly avoiding any trees with his super senses. His eyes were wide and hopeful, light blue turned puppy-dog pleading, but the drying blood around his mouth detracted from the adorable image somewhat.

"For the last time, I'm not gonna blast you - who knows what could happen?" Sure, Sookie had blasted Pam, but Pam had been attacking her and there hadn't been a bunch of trees around for accidental staking.

Eric laughed, placing his huge hands on her shoulders to stop her from moving, and digging his thumbs into the tense muscles there. It hurt a little, but in a good way. "Shhh, shhh, it'll be okay, just blast me. I wanna see."

It was almost dawn, and the two of them had been walking around for the better part of an hour. Eric was stoned to all hell, and unexpectedly chatty. She'd never heard him laugh before, let alone so much. Sookie hoped he avoided the munchies, otherwise, he would be getting blasted.

"I won't blast you, but I'll blast something else. Just...stand back." Eric backed away from her with another impish laugh, and Sookie turned her back to him. She could feel him zipping directly behind her and forced herself not to smile adoringly at his strange clingy actions.

Extending her hands, Sookie closed her eyes and thought about the night Bill's lies had been exposed. How Eric had cruelly dropped the bomb on her while casually picking the cerment out of his hair, Bill's tears and unconvincing pleas, so arrogant, so fucking degrading...

Within a second, Sookie's blood boiled, sparks shooting down her arm, hot and electrical. The power gathered, coiling through her, as bright as an exploding star.

"Stop," Eric's voice cut through her haze, a commanding hint in his deep but softened voice. Long, strong arms wrapped around her, hugging her form to him. "Sookie, stop."

Sookie's eyes snapped open, power retreating into herself with a snap that made her sway dizzily back into Eric's chest. "What?" she murmured, confused and barely understanding why. "I thought you wanted to see - "

"You were in pain," Eric explained, pushing his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply. The thought passed though Sookie's mind that maybe she should be worried, considering how high he was, but she just wasn't. "It upset you."

Eric was solid and steady against her, and Sookie was unable to stop herself from melting back into him. She was tired, running on so little sleep from yesterday, and knocking Claudine away had zapped her remaining energy worryingly, and for some reason, she (had always) trusted him, and it was so easy to just let him take all her weight...and drift away.

Quickly losing himself to the Faerie blood, Eric kissed her neck, committing the taste of her skin to his long, long memory and swept the tiny woman into his arms, blasting off at vampire speed into the woods, craddling his precious sleeping future lover close to him. She was so warm, so kind but so sad, so scared. He wanted to take care of her, love her, as she had him. Though she seemed to have difficulty admitting her feelings to herself.

He would convince her to accept them, Eric decided, racing around a tree he'd slammed his shoulder into in his hurry to get back to her after hearing her terrifying scream. Eric knew he could make her happy, and he would never allow any of the people who scared her so much, that Bill and whoever else, to harm her. He was in love with her already. He could sense it in his own blood, but if it was possible, he had fallen in love with her twice.

Ducking his head, Eric placed a tender kiss to her hairline. In her sleep, her hand curled into his shirt, and joy sang through the vampire. Her conscious actions were confused but her subconscious ones were clear.


Sookie was woken up by movement. Vibration against her thigh, her phone. Groaning weakly, feeling the sun burning into her eyelids, Sookie yawned and was hit by a nice smell. It was cool, like ice, like the ocean. It was Eric's scent. She loved it...but her phone, she needed to answer it. When Sookie moved her arm to get up, grass tickled her skin.

In a flash, a trainwreck of memories crashed into Sookie's mind, and she catapolted upright, weariness overtaken by an icy cold, desperate terror. "Eric!"

Dimly realizing that she was wearing Eric's shirt over her work clothes, she looked around frantically, big brown eyes darting around. She was beside the creak, and the sunlight was hitting the water beautifully but Sookie had never hated sunlight so much in her entire life. "Eric!"

The water rippled, and then Eric rose from the water like a sea god, dripping wet, pale blonde hair darkened to a golden color and plastered to his scalp, exactly like she'd pictured. The water poured down his exquisite pale-as-snow chest, and, yes, she stared, heart stuttering with overwhelming relief, memorising the sight. He beamed at her excitedly, unbothered by the sun, opening his arms wide in welcome. "Hey, Sookie!"

Good Lord.

"Hey...Eric..." Sookie replied faintly, eyebrows arched high, mouth parted in amazement. She tried not to look for his pants or even wonder if he had any pants on.

She was betting not but there was only so much denial could do for her restraint.


For those of you who have read my poll or just plain like my writing, I've uploaded another S/E fic. Have fun, my loves.