Hello!

How are you all? Sorry I didn't get to update last night, got preoccupied. My parents finally told me that after about six months of talking together they're finally going to go and speak to someone about moves out the USA permanently (we already have a home in Florida that we go to as often as possible). The RVC where I hope to go to Uni has a qualification accredited with the American board of vet surgeons. Pretty awesome stuff, I'd always wanted to move out there and it'll be even better if my parents come too. Anyway, here's the update I think it's a little filler-ish but I kinda wanted it to be like that. Charlaine Harris owns the wonderful Southern Vampire Mysteries

"We're attacking tomorrow evening." She stated simply and all I could hear after that was my heart thundering in my ears from nerves.

"Why?" I asked after a few seconds during which I'd managed to calm my heart, helped by the cool hand that had gripped mine tightly.

"They turned up early for the meeting two of them and they'd brought us a gift." That just didn't sound like it was going to be a pleasant gift. I didn't bother asking though, I knew she would get to the explanation point eventually; Pam liked to play things up a little, sometimes she could be downright dramatic. "Two witches accompanied one of the waitresses into the bar, she'd been beaten bloody. Apparently they didn't like the idea of compromise." I couldn't even force myself to even laugh slightly at her drawl given the circumstance.

"Who was it?" I asked, I wasn't particularly friends with any of the waitresses; most of them disliked me on sight as I was so cosy with their boss, the vampire they all seemed to want but I still had a few of them that I liked.

"Ginger, we've got her in the hospital to get bandaged up; cuts, broken nose and a few fractured ribs. She'll heal but we're giving her the option to quit the job and we're paying her." The money pay off would be given for a few reasons; pay for her medical bills, compensation for injury during work and to keep her quiet about how she'd received the injuries. I didn't have to like it but I had to agree that it was necessary.

"Okay. What's the plan?" Better to know beforehand because I had an inkling that I would be involved in the plan, my telepathy could be useful in many situations, and they were my friends, as strange as that sounds.

"We're all staying at mine and Chow's house and we're going to be ready for first dark. We're meeting the Weres at a meeting point near to the warehouse where they're cooped up. From there we send a few scouts, assess the situation and essentially go in guns blazing. We're still to hear whether the local witches are going to be joining."

"Do you need me?" Even if I wasn't part of the plan I wanted to go to the meeting point with them, for support and so I could keep an eye on what was going on. I had a problem with that though in the form of a six foot four blond haired vampire who was currently clutching my hand.

"Yes, we want you to analyse the warehouse, see how many people we're dealing with and what they are." Oh shit, I thought emphatically, I'd known on some level it was coming but now my heart was threatening to break through my chest.

"Okay. Where am I meeting you?"

"I'll text you as soon as I wake tomorrow, we don't want details getting out too soon, just in case." She was mistrusting me she was just being cautious. With so much at stake I couldn't blame her at all.

"Okay."

"Where are you? I can here traffic in the distance." Oh we were so busted.

"I've taken Eric out for a drive, we're down by the old industrial estate on the outskirts of town, he can remember how to drive."

"Sookie, go home now. It isn't safe for you two to be out; we don't know if Eric could defend you." My pride ruffled at that, I could take care of myself. Well I could against any human and even some lesser shifters but vampires I didn't really stand a chance, even against baby ones. I had a feeling that Eric would defend me, I was basically his only connection to the world and his memory on that sort of thing seemed to be intact it probably wasn't worth risking it though.

"Okay. We will, fast as we can. I'll see you tomorrow." She hung up without giving any form of goodbye, as was customary, and I was left to worry about what the next night would bring.

"You heard?" I asked after a few moments of silence, Eric hadn't moved at all.

"Yes."

"Let's go home, you want to drive?" he would be able to get us home faster as he could dare to go faster, he had much better reflexes and he could simply handle the car better.

"I don't know the way," he replied weakly. I finally looked at where we were parked and found that we were on the opposite side of where we'd entered the estate, there was no wonder he wouldn't know the way from here even if he could do the reverse of the journey we'd taken to get here. With all the turns we'd taken while driving round I was a little unsure whether I could get back to the entry way, luckily I knew how to get out through the front.

"I'll show you." He smiled at me then and just like always it had that calming effect on me; I could feel my heart slowing, my blood pressure reducing as the power behind each pump reduced and I began to breathe normally. He took my hand then, brushed my knuckles across my lips and then placed it gently on his knee before easing the car into first gear and setting off. I didn't bother to remove it; I actually liked being connected to him even in such a small way. The journey back home passed rather quickly even though he was driving slower than he normally did, and it was rather simple to take him back home.

When we arrived home I walked straight into the kitchen to pop the kettle on for a lovely cup of tea and also popped a bottle of blood into the microwave for Eric before taking a seat at the table. Eric immediately sat down opposite me and the look of confusion that hurt to see was back on his face. I never wanted to see that expression ever again. We sat in silence, just watching each other and I felt like he was memorising every little part of me, until the kettle boiled and microwave pinged. I got the bottle first, shook it up with my thumb over the opening before placing it on the table in front of Eric before getting myself the drink. I also got the slice of cheesecake, this time double chocolate, out of the fridge before sitting back down.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" He asked quietly after taking a few rather large gulps of the blood; perhaps he hadn't had anything when I got back. I'd assumed because he was awake that he would have had something.

"I'm going to scope the warehouse where the witches are staying, it must be at the other abandoned site across town; in recent years Shreveport had suffered a down turn on manufacturing but it was definitely up and coming in more tertiary industries and the nightlife was definitely still booming.

"I'm coming with you." He stated.

"I don't know if that's a good idea Eric, we can't have you in danger."

"But I want to protect you." His voice was weaker now, unsure. He was being sweet though and it started to melt my heart, I had an overwhelming urge to give him a big hug.

"That's really sweet Eric, thank-you. But do you remember how to fight?" If he couldn't remember how to defend himself, let alone me, I couldn't let him come with us even if I somehow had to lock him in the house.

"I'm not sure," he replied honestly and he looked up into the corner, deep in recollections to see if he could come up with anything. "I have no memories of fighting but I can feel it in my bones if that makes sense, I just know I can. My body remembers the motions." He smiled slightly at that thought, and he flexed his muscles to emphasise his point, with the size of some of his muscles it was quite a large point.

"Okay, you can come down to the meeting point but it'll be up to Pam to see if you can come with us. I'm not fighting anyway, I'm no match for a Were or a witch so I'll be staying at the meeting point. You can look after me there."

"Okay, I don't want to leave you."

"It's okay." Now that the heavy part of the conversation seemed to be over I grabbed my fork and began eating the rich goodness of the cheesecake; I thought I deserved a treat. Damn it was good. When I glanced up I saw something dark in his eyes, turning them a deeper shade of blue, they were almost burning into me though I didn't find him staring at my eyes, or at my chest, rather something in between.

"Fascinating." He murmured quietly so that I barely heard it.

"You like watching me eat?" I asked with a bit of a giggle, he was appearing much more confident tonight and as much as the more timid version of my vampire had its sweet upsides, I definitely preferred this more confident one.

"Yes." He stuttered out, his voice taking on the deeper growl that sent the muscles low in my stomach tightening and I remembered my shower from earlier where I'd been interrupted quite abruptly. I smiled at him; the corners of my mouth twisting into a cat that got the cream grin, I'm sure it appeared more like a smirk.

I scooped up another forkful of the cheesecake, even getting some of the base which I usually saved for last. The next thing I knew though, I'd only taken my eyes off of him for a second, he was knelt down beside me with the filling piled up on his index finger. I swallowed and then instantly opened my mouth, inviting him in which he immediately took. His finger popped into my mouth and I used my tongue to scrape the chocolate-y deliciousness from his flesh, sucking as I finished all the food. When my eyes popped open there was open desire in his eyes and I couldn't keep my hands off of him anymore. I was stupid before when I'd considered this cheating, he was the same man, he just didn't have all of his memories. He was still my vampire.

"What time is it?" He asked quietly, sounding as though he hated to ask it but also as though it was a compulsion he just couldn't deny. I didn't have a clue why he was asking.

"Just turned eleven." I replied after glancing at the clock that was high on the wall behind his back.

"Then you need to sleep." Why the hell did I need to sleep? I voiced that opinion to him immediately which earned me a little chuckle and a grin as he knew that I really wanted him in that moment. "I don't want you tired or weak for tomorrow. I think I can protect you but I'm..." he paused in his utterance to break eye contact with me and stare down at the floor, running his non sticky hand through his long hair which was now hanging free around his shoulders. "I'm not sure I can."

At his admission I slipped down off of the chair to join him on the floor where I wrapped my arms around his neck and cradled his head into my chest. I gently stroke the hair back from his face as he gripped my forearms with his hands, making sure that I didn't relinquish my grip.

"I have faith in you." I said softly, accentuating the statement with a soft kiss to the top of his head.

"How can you have faith in me? I don't even know myself." I sat down on the floor then, going lower from where I'd been kneeling and pressed my back up against the table leg and opening my legs wide. He instantly sat between them and pulled my arms around his waist before sitting back so that his back was flush with my chest.

"Because I know you and I know your heart. You'd defend me wouldn't you?" I rested my chin on his shoulder which was more than a little difficult considering how different in height we were but it was achieved when he slouched down a little. I'd never sat quite like this with him before; I'd always been the one being cradled.

"Yes, I think I would die for you." He whispered his voice fading as though he was only just realising the words as he spoke them.

"Then I'm safe. I trust you and I believe in you. You'll get your memories back, you'll remember me."

"I want to remember you. I can feel you inside me," he once again patted his heart and pointed to his head. "I always want to be near you."

"Do you trust me?" I asked. If he felt better when he was near to me then I could most definitely help him out and it would help my earlier situation too and I was likely to be asleep by a reasonable hour; his point about needing my strength may have been annoying but it was definitely the truth.

"Yes." He replied swiftly and sincerely. It was all the encouragement I needed.

I placed my lips on the exposed skin of his neck, and let my tongue dart out to lick the cool flesh followed quickly by my teeth as I nipped, drawing his skin into my mouth where I sucked it. Instantly his head fell back onto my shoulder and a gravelly groan emitted from his chest. My hands wandered over his chest feeling his hard packed muscles underneath while I continued to lavish his neck with attention. I moved my mouth, working up his neck and along his jaw line in open mouthed kisses until I was close enough to his mouth for him to turn his head to kiss me back. Our mouths met, already open, and our tongues wasted no time in getting intimately acquainted again; it seemed our interruption earlier had bothered him as much as me. My hands wandered back up to his shoulders, pushing on one side and pulling on the other, successfully getting him to turn around so that he was facing me on his knees between my legs.

His mouth never left mine but as soon as he was facing me his hands trailed over my body starting at my shoulders to sweep down over my chest, pausing at my breasts until he reached my inner thighs before working his way back up. I moaned into his mouth, loving his caressing touches. My back arched up into him and I felt the slight smile against my lips when he knew I was reacting this way to only him. My hands found their way up underneath his t-shirt to trail my nails lightly over the defined muscles of his stomach then his chest. Almost without realising it I'd pulled his shirt up, silently asking for it to be taken off. He only broke the kiss for an instant, teasing my bottom lip with his teeth as he pulled back, to remove the shirt and then he was back again, kissing me with newfound passion.

His jeans were quickly unbuttoned so that they rode deliciously low on his hips which was when I knew we had to go to the bedroom or end up laying down on the kitchen floor which wasn't one of my favourite places. When we'd first moved in together we'd successfully christened every room and over a short period of time every available surface as well, coming up with a mental list of our favourites such as the shower, the study and let's face it the good old fashioned bedroom. So it was with my hand on his chest that I pushed him back, going up to my knees too so he knew I wasn't trying to push him away. I began to stand and he followed without any need for a hint. He did rise faster than me which gave me the perfect opportunity to pull his jeans down revealing that he hadn't bothered with his underwear.

He didn't make any advance to carry my, like he usually did if we started out in an unsuitable room, instead I led him by the hand towards our room. During the little journey he stepped out of his jeans, leaving them on the floor wherever they fell. I'd only just walked into the hallway, my back turned to him when both of his hands found the bottom of my shirt and tugged upward sharply so it was with pure instinct that I raised my arms. My shirt was gone quickly and I giggled at the awed look on his face. It appeared that I would have the impressive job of being his first, just like he had been mine. I relished the thought.

My hands hit the bed quickly as I'd rushed the last few steps to the bedroom and I was just beginning to crawl up toward the pillows when strong hands on my hips stopped my progress. Glancing back I found his eyes glued to my bottom and his hands were finding their way around to unbutton my jeans. It was less than two seconds later that they dropped to the floor, along with my panties, after he'd pulled them down my legs leaving me as naked as him.

"Lay on your back." I whispered, lowering my voice into what Eric liked to call the perfect bedroom voice. It seemed to work on this version of him too as he launched himself onto the bed, slinked up to the top and proceeded to lie down on his back, his hands already reaching for me. I didn't need any encouragement though to clamber on top of him, situating myself on top of his gracious plenty that was more than ready for what I had planned.

Our lips met again as our hands explored and he finally cupped my breasts, massaging his fingers into the sensitive flesh causing me to moan as he gently squeezed my nipples. He was a complete natural at this apparently. Soon I left his mouth to trail lips down his neck, pausing every few inches to nip lightly which caused him to rub up onto me, creating friction that I was really beginning to crave. When I hit his chest my hands gripped the flesh around his nipples so that I could brush my teeth against his skin, grazing.

"Bite please, even just a little." He whispered into the night and I smiled against him; when it was such a little request he didn't usually bother with the please, he knew I wanted to do it anyway. I did as I was told and brought my teeth down over his right nipple, hard enough to indent the skin and bruise a human. That was all I gave him though before kissing further down his body, eventually reaching the blond hairs that led down from his belly button. I gripped his rigid gracious plenty with both hands, causing him to buck his hips, before easing the engorged tip into my mouth, swirling my tongue from the state.

I enjoyed every minute of giving him pleasure even though it sent desire surging through me that I could barely contain. I kissed my way back up his body, sliding my heated flesh along his cool skin as I went. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me up faster we were face to face and our lips met with fire. He moaned into me as he realised it was himself he could taste in my tongue. Suddenly I found myself on my back with a giant of a vampire looming above me, a devilish grin on his face. He didn't waste any time inching down my body; he just pulled himself down, situating his face at the junction between my thighs. The next thing I was aware before my eyes snapped shut with overwhelming pleasure, was a flash of blue eyes as his tongue licked me, delving deep.

"Fuck," I whispered with passion when my breathing had finally calmed down enough for me to be able to speak. Eric chuckled, his mouth still occupied by kissing and licking my flesh, simply exploring my body. "Come here." I added and instantly he moved up to lie beside me, needing no further hint about what I wanted. His left arm reached back behind his head, acting as a further pillow, whilst the other snuck underneath my neck to rest along my back. He pulled me to him then so that I was draped over his body and it was only then that he gripped the duvet to pull it up around my shoulders, keeping me warm, especially since I was snuggling with someone who had no body heat.

"Hmm." He sighed, actually taking a breath so that the motion was genuine; he sounded perfectly content without any of the uncertainty or confusion that had been plaguing him.

"Okay?" I asked, unable to form a full sentence as it required too much energy and effort.

"Perfect," he whispered back, his voice thick as though he was tired, at least were on the same wavelength. "We are intimate yes?" I wasn't entirely sure what he was talking then, he'd lost me, if he was talking about what we'd just done and were currently doing then the answer was most definitely yes. I had a feeling though he was talking about our usual life together, before he got magic induced amnesia.

"Yes." I replied before adding with a slight giggle, "a lot."

"Is it always this good?" This was dangerous ground to be walking on; it was definitely this good but if I was honest I didn't think anything could ever top our nights of bonding. Speaking of which he was firmer presence in his mind, I could feel him close to me, more than our physical contact.

"Yes." I settled with after only a second so he wouldn't get suspicious about my internal monologue.

"If that's true then I really wish I could remember you." I could see him grinning through the corner of my eye and I couldn't help but giggle again at his statement.

"You will remember, we'll get the curse reversed or I'll help you to remember. We could even create new memories." Of course I would retain all of my old memories and I would have to have him fall in love with me all over again but I wasn't giving him up. Not now that I'd come to my sense.

"Oh lover." He whispered before placing a sweet kiss to the top of my head. My breath had already caught in my throat though and my muscles had lost their languid grace; it had been several days since he'd called me lover, specifically we'd been in the parking lot of Merlotte's, it was just a couple of hours before he'd had his memory wiped.

"What did you say?" I asked in amazement, my voice taking on a very breathy quality and I spoke while leaning up onto my elbows so that I could see his face.

"I called you lover. Shouldn't I have?" He was back to doubting himself, uncertainty was clear across his handsome face and slight disappointment washed over me at the same time. He didn't remember.

"No, it's fine. It's just, that's what you called me before. It's your pet name for me." I explained, crossing my arms over his chest and then resting my chin on top of them.

"I'm not sure why I did, it popped into my head, it felt right. Can I keep calling you that?" He'd lost some of the fear from his eyes but he wasn't confident yet.

"Of course." I placed a chaste kiss on the centre of his chest.

"Hm, lover." He repeated, speaking slowly to test how the word sounded coming out of his mouth. "Do you have any pet names for me?" This might be a sore point for him.

"No, you don't like them."

"Why not?" This was going to be experiment time.

"Well honey, you don't particularly like being called sweetie but I don't think I've ever tried cutie or baby. What do you think darlin'?" He actually growled at me, I could feel the vibrations in his chest underneath me and I couldn't suppress my laughter.

"That's why." I settled back down against him, more to the side than before and used his chest as my pillow, letting the coolness soothe me and ease me down into sleep. Less than five minutes of him rubbing my back gently and intermittently sweeping back my hair I was asleep.

When I awoke the next day, or rather due to the time I'd actually fallen asleep, later the same day it was already early afternoon and probably only about two hours until Eric awoke for the night. The first thing I did was pick up the phone from the night stand, the curtains had been left partially open again with the bathroom light on, without getting out from under Eric's arm to call Sam.

"Merlotte's Bar and Grille, Arlene speaking." Her voice sounded strange and it was only later, in the shower, that I realised it was because until that point I hadn't spoken to her for more a customary greeting or a pass the order, for about six months. About the same time that I'd moved in with Eric; we'd been on the outs long before that, she didn't agree with vampires being part of the community and I whole heartedly did. Something about being different had alleged me to their side since they'd come out of the coffin.

"Hello Arlene," I greeted her, keeping my voice light and as cheery as I could so that things would remain at least civil. "Can I speak to Sam please?"

"Who is it? He's kinda busy right now."

"It's Sookie, it's really important or I wouldn't have called." I crossed my fingers on my free hand, praying that she wouldn't go off on one.

"Fine, but if he's mad it aint my fault. Also where the hell were you?" She asked referencing last night's missed shift that I'd supposed to have shared with her.

"We had a few problems..."I started out but I was cut off before I could get any further.

"Alright, alright, I don't wanna know about any problems you and your vampire have. Here's Sam." There was an indistinct thumbing sound as the phone receiver exchanged hands and then Sam greeted me on the other end.

"Hey Sam, you still want in with the shifters and vamps?" My free hand began to swirl the hairs on Eric's cool arm which was sprawled across my stomach again.

"Yes, just give me the details." He sounded resolute.

"We're meeting at first dark, or as close to it as possible, just outside the disused industrial estate on the north side of Shreveport. I don't know any specific details yet but I can text you as soon as I find out myself."

"That sounds fine, I'll head in that general direction this evening then I'll meet you there when I get directions. Right, I gotta go, I need to finish the books if I'm coming tonight."

"Okay, thanks Sam." We exchanged goodbyes and I clambered out of the bed as soon as I'd hung up.

When Eric arose later, pretty much the time that I'd estimated, I had a bottle of synthetic blood in the microwave and I was all ready to go; I was dressed with stealth and ease of movement in mind, I had a small back pack ready with things I might need such as a bag pack, blood bottles, and my hair was scooped back into a pony tail. The latter I couldn't quite decide whether I'd done so soon for practical reasons or because it was a nervous habit of mine. As soon as he walked into the kitchen, fully dressed including his jacket and boots, he grabbed the bottle of blood and sat down beside me where he reached for my hand.

"You ready for this?" I asked him quietly, I knew I wasn't ready for this although I severely doubted I ever would be.

"Of course lover," he replied sounding very much like my Eric, the one that was always ready for a fight although tending to not actually go looking for one. Apparently he'd mellowed a little over the past hundred years, his age meant that very few vampires were worth fighting, according to Pam and when the vampires came out of the closet the affect had only been heightened. "Are you?" I knew that the attack as we'd been referencing it could very easily turn into a slaughter, and as far as I could see go either way depending on the specifics of what we found. I knew that people would be lost tonight; I just didn't know whether they would be lost from my side or the opposition.

So it was with a resigned sight that I replied. "As I'll ever be."

So what did you think? You know I love feedback almost as much as I love a certain Viking vampire. Thanks for all the feedback from the last chapter, much appreciated, now keep on making this writer happy :)