AN: Eric and Sookie finally have 'The Talk' :)
Enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading!
Chapter 10
SPOV
"So, Mrs. Northman, where to?" Eric questions once the two of us are dropped back at the motel by the yellow taxi cab. I pay the driver before shrugging to him.
"I'm not your wife. That was just a bit of a…misunderstanding is all," I explain as a cocky grin spreads over Eric's face. "Ugh, so I lied, okay? I lied so you wouldn't have to be rushed off in the ambulance by yourself, so you're welcome," I challenge as his smile widens.
"You don't hate me quite as much as I thought you might. This is good," he retorts and my traitor heart begins pounding at his words. God, will he always be able to affect me like this? "So, you didn't answer me, what's your plan? You said you're gonna see that I turn my life around, how you planning on doing that?" he questions as I lead him across the lot to my small, yellow beater.
"Um, well, I haven't really thought this whole thing out just yet," I admit, digging my car keys from my purse as Eric leans casually against my car, hitting me with yet another heartbreaking smile. "But we still need to talk, so why don't you come back to my place and we can figure out the rest from there, alright?"
"Your place, my place, makes no difference to me," he retorts, waggling his brows suggestively as I let out a loud sigh, rolling my eyes at him.
"Just get in," I tell him, tugging open my door a bit harshly before plopping down to the driver's seat, wondering just what the hell kind of mess I've gotten myself into. Adeline. You're doing this for her, Sook; you're likely saving her father's life, I remind myself grimly.
Eric slams his own door and with that, we're off, speeding back home towards the place that holds the two people I love above all others and the place that holds what is apt to be a harsh reality check for one cocky, blonde bass player.
"You're awful quiet over there," Eric says, making me glace over to see him raising a brow at me. "I remember you being quite the chatterbox."
"Yeah, well, five years is a long time, Eric," I throw back a bit irritably, seeing him flinch slightly with my stinging retort. "And this isn't exactly the situation I thought I'd be finding myself in," I admit, knowing there is much more to that statement than Eric could possibly understand.
"You don't have to do this, you know," he insists. "I'll really be fine on my own," he says softly as I glance over to see him staring out the car window, a forlorn expression stretched over his handsome face. God, I hate seeing that look on his face and hate myself more for being so affected by it.
"If I believed that for even a second, I'd be kicking your stubborn ass to the curb," I reply teasingly as he looks over to me with a smirk. I pull into the drive then and Eric glances through the windshield, gazing up at my ancestral home. "Just come in and hear what I have to say and then we can figure out where to go from there," I suggest. Eric nods his agreement as we both step from the small car together.
I glance over to see Godric's truck is gone and let out a small sigh of relief, figuring this conversation is likely to be at least somewhat less awkward without my fiancés' harsh glares added into the equation. I lead Eric inside and spot Godric's note on the kitchen table right away, telling me he took Adeline for ice cream and the two of them will be returning home soon.
"Hey, I remember this guy," Eric's voice sounds from the living room and I walk over to see him gazing at the many pictures of Godric and I spread over the mantle. "He fuckin' hated my guts," he grumbles, making me snicker softly, recalling just how much Godric hated Eric, but sober quickly, realizing how much he likely still hates this man I've invited into our home. Just what the hell am I doing anyways?
"Uh, yeah, that's Godric," I remind him, propping myself on the arm of the sofa as Eric continues gazing over the many photographs. "We got together shortly after, well, um, it's been about five years now," I conclude softly, my heart pinching in pain as I recall that awful day I was left weeping in my bedroom when I finally realized what a fool I had been trusting this man with my heart.
"So he's the lucky guy then, huh? The one that popped the question?" he asks softly, running his finger over an image of the two of us smiling together on the front porch swing.
"Yeah, that'd be him," I concede. "He's a great guy. He treats me real well, he always has," I add, not sure why I feel the sudden need to defend him.
"So when's the big day?" Eric questions, looking to me with what appears to be forced smile. Odd.
"Um, well, that's a bit of a loaded question, really," I stumble out with a sigh. "We've been engaged for nearly four years now, but things just keep happening and I guess I just haven't gotten around to setting anything official yet," I admit as a sharp pain of guilt pangs through my gut, knowing Godric will unselfishly wait just as long as I need, even as he himself is ecstatic to finally tie the knot. Why is it I've been putting it off for so long anyhow?
"Ah, I see," Eric says, bringing me from my depressing thoughts as I see another smug grin stretch over his face, making me frown at him. Like it's any of his business anyhow. So why do I feel the need to explain all this to him? Ugh. "Who's this?" Eric says then, lifting up a picture of me and Adeline playing in the garden together. "God, she could be your clone. Is she your niece or something?"
"Or something," I mumble out as he lifts a brow at me. "She's my daughter, Eric. Adeline is my daughter," I inform him as his jaw drops in shock before he stares intently at the photo once more, shaking his head in disbelief. I notice his hands beginning to tremble lightly then and he has to work to set the photo down firmly once more before hitting me with a probing gaze.
"How old is she, Sookie?" he asks softly, his shaky voice barely a whisper as his towering form falls to the worn loveseat.
"She'll be five this year," I admit softly, watching as Eric rakes his fingers through his greasy hair with realization shining in those blue orbs of his. The front door is thrown open then and I turn to see said little girl rushing towards me excitedly.
"Mommy!" Adeline cries out joyously as I lift her into a tight hug, squeezing her against my chest before taking in her sweet vanilla scent as Eric stares at the two of us in shock.
EPOV
I sit, dumfounded by this startling revelation, as I watch Sookie and her daughter, scratch that, our daughter, talking excitedly with one another. Holy hell, I have a daughter. Fuck me, I'm a fucking father. How the fuck did this even happen? Alright, so I obviously know how it happened, but just what the ever loving fuck am I supposed to do with this shocking information?
"Why don't you go play in your room for a little bit, sweetie," Sookie tells our daughter. "Mommy needs to speak with her friend for a bit, alright?" Friend. Yeah, that one hurts like a son of a bitch. My daughter looks to me then and my breath hitches seeing the uncanny resemblance between us. She looks me over curiously before nodding her approval to Sookie and skipping merrily from the room.
"She's mine," I say, not having to ask as the evidence is just too plain to see. "I have a kid," I whisper, leaning back against the small loveseat as my mind is whirling with what all this means.
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way," Sookie says then, bringing my attention back to her to see Godric sitting on the couch beside her, hitting me with yet another hard glare, reminding me what he really thinks of me.
"God, I need a fucking drink or a hit or fucking something," I grumble out, dropping my face to my hands and rubbing my eyes harshly, feeling as if my entire world is crashing down around me.
"Yeah, cuz that sounds like the perfect solution," Godric chimes in sarcastically as I meet his glare with one of my own. "You just overdosed are you really that dense?" he continues irritably as my anger is building up within me. Just who the fuck does this guy think he is?
"Hey, knock it off, both of you," Sookie says then, placing a comforting hand on Godric's forearm. He nods to her before leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead, leaving me looking on in fucking misery. "But Godric does have a point, Eric. I told you I was willing to help you get your life back on track and if I'm gonna do that, I need you to do your job in getting clean," she tells me as my anger is rising once more.
"I never asked for your fucking help. I don't fucking need it," I throw back, seeing her flinch at my admittedly harsh words before her face is flushed bright red in anger.
"Excuse me?" she says, rising to her feet and placing her hands on her hips in a challenging stance as she proceeds to stare me down. "In case you've already forgotten, I saved your life this morning, Eric. I think you owe me this much and if you aren't willing to get clean for me, or even for yourself, I think you best think of our daughter, your daughter, because she'll surely be looking at you, that is if you stick around long enough to have a real part in her life."
"I, well, I," I fumble out awkwardly, feeling rightly chastised. "God, this is just so much to take in, ya know? I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do now," I explain rather lamely as Godric snorts at me. Ugh, this guy is a pain in my ass.
"Try being eighteen and finding out your pregnant by the man who just up and left your ass without so much as a backward glance," Sookie challenges, obvious distress lacing her accusing words as I'm harshly stabbed by guilt.
"I, there was…no," I sigh out trying to explain myself before realizing there's no justifiable excuse for my behavior. "You're right," I concede with a defeated sigh as the two of them look to me in shock. "Yeah, I can admit it. I fucked up, alright? I shouldn't have left the way I did. It was a dick move. I can see that now."
"Neither of us planned on this happening, Eric," Sookie says then, stepping forward before kneeling down before me. "But the fact of the matter is, we have a daughter together and even though you missed out on the first five years of her life, I really hope you'll make a place for her in your life now, though, you can't rightly do that until you fix yourself," she explains as hot tears are stinging at the corners of my eyes.
"You'll truly give me that chance? Even after all I've done to you?" I question, knowing full well I don't deserve as much from her as she nods lightly, a warm smile pulling at her lips.
"Please, Eric, I want to see you get clean, to get well again," she says, laying her hand over my own. "And Adeline deserves to know her father, her sober father," she adds that last comment with a raised brow as I nod my agreement. I know, better than most perhaps, exactly what it means to have an addict for a father and never would I want to put my own child through that kind of hell.
"Thank you, Sookie," I tell her earnestly, taking hold of her small hand as I'm filled with overwhelming gratitude. "I'll really try, I promise," I assure her, eliciting a glowing smile from the girl who's held my heart for the last five years.
"Good," she states, nodding her head firmly. "I'll get the guest bedroom set up and Godric can drive you back to the motel to pick up your things," she explains as Godric and I are both left staring at her in complete shock.
"What!?" we question together as she shakes her head at the two of us.
"You really expect me to let you stay in that filthy motel, surrounded by those shady people? Those two floozies left you to die this morning, Eric," she insists challengingly. "You have no job now that the band took off on you and as we're the only people left to look after you, that's exactly what I intend to do," she states firmly.
"Sookie, I'm not so sure about this," Godric says hesitantly, looking to me warily and for once I find myself in agreement with him.
"This is too much, Sookie, I couldn't put you out like that," I insist as she lifts a brow at me, shaking her head once more, apparently completely undeterred by the both of us.
"The doctor left you in my care, Eric, and I have every intention of seeing you through this; we owe as much to our daughter. Besides, if seeing her face every day isn't enough to finally get you to straighten up, well, then I'll just have to assume nothing will," she insists as I finally nod, realizing I'm in no position to argue, even if I thought it would do me any good at this point.
"You're certain about this, dear one?" Godric questions softly, earning a firm nod from the resolved southern belle. "Alright then," he concedes, hitting me with a discerning gaze. Well, this should make for some fun times. Fucking hell, what kind of mess have I managed to get myself into this time?
AN: Oh, boy...things are getting interesting now!