Chapter 10

Sookie took Drex to the kitchen and placed him in his high chair. She then grabbed the plate of cooled potatoes and carrots that she had pulled from the roast when Eric was still outside. She had also taken time to use the blender and almost puree some meat for Drex. There were still some small pieces but he did have a couple of teeth in the front of his mouth and he would enjoy the texture. Drex dug into the food with gusto and had a great time with the finger vegetables. Sookie spooned a bite of the meat into his mouth ever so often.

Sookie had made herself a plate and was trying to enjoy the meal but Eric kept invading her thoughts. What was she doing? She had sworn off vampires after Bill's deception. With the little power struggle she had watched Bill and Eric in; she knew it was only a matter of time before either the Queen came after her again or someone else, maybe more powerful. She knew this was inevitable but she had no idea what she could do to stop this. Bill had promised he would kill everyone that threatened her but she knew that the Queen still lived so Bill was not successful. She asked Eric once, where Bill was and all she was told was that the Queen had tasked him with some new project and that Bill was being forced to travel to other states doing research. Eric assured her the Bill had not met his true death so Sookie had dropped it. It was not like she wanted to see him or anything but she did not think she could live with herself if she thought Bill met his final death because of her. Even if at times she thought he deserved to die a slow painful death for his lies to her.

Now here she was getting dangerously close to another relationship with a vampire. But what a vamp! Eric was a truly perfect male specimen whether human or vampire. Women and men lined up to try to get a touch or taste of this amazing Viking Vampire and yet he spent much of his time trying to get a taste of her, in more ways than one. Eric always protected her and never lied to her, unless you counted the deception with the bullet. But Eric was an opportunist foremost and when he decided he was going to find a way to get some of his blood into Sookie, he jumped at his first opportunity even if he told a lie to get it.

Sookie asked herself. What did Eric want? She knew he wanted her body but did he want more? Did he want a relationship or just a roll in the hay and then see ya? Sookie had already gone pretty far with Eric and there was only one step left before she fell off the pier so to speak. Was she willing to go that far? Even after what Bill did, Sookie still felt she deserved to be with someone who she could love and trust and who would do the same with her. Was Eric that person? Heck, he was a Viking for Gods sake. Vikings were known for invading, pillaging, and raping. Then they were gone.

She would be alone.

Again.

Sookie took a deep breath and sighed. She was starting to imagine her life to be very empty. She could not have a successful relationship with a human man ever because of her disability. Even if she tried to block out his thoughts, when they touched or in heated arguments she would hear him no matter what she did. There was no way to live with a human male when she could hear his most angry thoughts at her. It would be too painful.

She did not know much about Weres but their minds were all twisty and dark and she did not think she could feel very comfortable with that relationship either. Plus she would have to deal with pack laws and she had seen enough with the Russell situation to know that was something she did not want to deal with.

So as of right now her options were limited to vampires and some of them were pretty evil to the core. Bill had been a gentleman but he had an alternative plan when he met her. Eric had been a warrior through and through but had shown her kindness. And when he had the opportunity had flirted very heavily with her. Should she give him a chance?

Just then Sookie felt eyes on her and looked up to see Eric leaning against the door frame of the kitchen. He was studying her very closely. Sookie tried to keep from showing any signs that she had been thinking about him. She realized she had pretty much finished eating and that Drex was just playing around at this point so she swept up their dishes and went to the sink to wash them and put them in the drainer. She grabbed one of the washcloths she had stacked on the counter for Drex and got it wet then went to clean him off.

Eric had no moved from the spot and he was starting to make her nervous. So Sookie took a cleaner Drex out of the chair and walked over and handed him to the gawking vampire. Eric's eyebrow shot up but he did not argue. He took Drex and positioned him on one side of his chest so he could still watch Sookie. Sookie turned and cleaned up the chair and table and put her kitchen back to order. When she finished she turned to see Eric and Drex both still standing in the doorway watching her.

She did not know what to do so she tried to swallow her nervousness and said "Why don't we go into the living room and watch some TV. Drex should be ready for his nap in the next hour." Sookie then realized she had less than an hour to make up her mind about what she was going to do with Eric because when Drex was asleep she would no longer have the chaperone to hold him at bay.

Eric gave her an inquiring look but he slowly turned and carried Drex to the living room. Eric sat down on the couch and spread one of his long legs out to the side on the couch and positioned himself to take up the entire space. He then deposited Drex in his lap and leaned over to the floor to grab a brightly colored baby toy and handed it to the child. Drex immediately began to gum the toy and shake it. Still keeping an eye on Drex, Eric watched Sookie settle herself in a chair and turn on the TV and peruse the channels. She settled on some comedy show with three aliens who were trying to live amongst humans unnoticed.

About ten minutes into the show Eric heard something outside. He jumped to his feet and thrust Drex into Sookie's hands and shot out the front door. Sookie clutched Drex to her and cautiously moved to the hall to be in position to make a run for it either to one of the bedrooms or out the front or back door if she had to. Drex was amazingly quiet as if he knew something was wrong. He silently clutched at her shoulder and watched the front door as did Sookie.

Sookie heard the roar and sounds of battle in her front yard once again. As Eric had ran out the door she saw he grabbed the sword he had placed on the entry table so she knew he was armed this time, even though Eric was just as deadly an opponent without weapons. Sookie heard a crash and glass breaking in the back yard. She realized the battle surrounded her. She knew there were three vampires fighting outside on her lawn but she had no clue how many demons were attacking. Sookie reached into the water heater closet in the hall and pulled out her shotgun. Jason had insisted she learn how to use one when he moved out to leave Gran and her alone in the house. Now she silently thanked him for the lesson. She checked and the shotgun was loaded. She awkwardly cocked the shotgun and held in front of her slightly pointed to the ground still watching both doors.

Suddenly the back door was busted through by a strange man. He saw Sookie and the baby and began to move toward her. Sookie threw the shotgun up into the air aimed toward him and fired off two shots. The demon flew backwards toward the door from the impact. Sookie wondered if she had time to reload before the demon could get up or another entered. Suddenly there was movement at the door behind the fallen demon and Sookie screamed.

It was Eric, he swung his sword and cut the demons head off then stepped over him towards her. Sookie dropped the shotgun and threw her one arm around Eric's neck. Eric squeezed her tightly but told her to get a blanket and wrap the baby and cover his head. Sookie grabbed the closest blanket she could find and wrapped up Drex. She turned and Eric stood with three baby bags over his shoulder at the back door and reached out and called for her to come. She realized they were making a run for it. Or at least she thought it was a "run".

Once they stepped out on the back porch, Eric scooped up Sookie in his arms and took to the sky. Sookie clutched Drex in her arms praying she would not drop him and praying Eric would not drop her. Sookie leaned into Eric's chest to try to shield the stinging wind from her face. Eric was flying very fast and even in the mild Louisiana winter, she was chilled. She hoped that Drex was okay wrapped in the blanket. She could feel him clutching to hold on to her but she did not dare move her arms to lift the blanket and expose his face to the harsh wind.

What seemed like an eternity but was probably only ten or fifteen minutes they arrived at a nice two story house in a gated community. Eric landed in front of the garage doors and reached over to a keypad to enter a code after setting Sookie down on her feet. When the garage door lifted, Eric ushered Sookie inside and through the door that lead into the house. He then shut the garage door from a button by the door and waited watching until the door was fully closed. He then followed Sookie into the house. Sookie stood still clutching Drex in what appeared to be a laundry room. Sookie pulled the blanket down to reveal a blinking Drex.

Eric placed his hand on the center of Sookie's back as he led her further into the house. They came into a larger room and Eric flipped on the light to reveal a modern kitchen. Eric stepped around her to place the three bags of baby's things that he had slung over his shoulder on the bar. Eric turned and said "Let me give you a quick tour around the house. Make yourself at home. I don't know what we may not have for the baby because I just grabbed these three bags as they were. If you make me a list of what we need, I will arrange for it."

Sookie looked at Eric and took in his slightly bloody appearance. She saw a few pink healing scars on his arms and one across his cheek. She reached a hand out to gently run her finger across the raised and pink scar. Eric covered her hand with his and placed a gentle kiss to her palm. Sookie smiled at him and he returned the smile.

"Where are we Eric?" Sookie asked even thought she was almost sure where they were.

"This is my home." Eric replied calmly. "I have other safe houses, but I brought us here because it has the most supplies and no one but Pam knows where it is." At that comment Eric reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a True Blood. He took the cap off and put it in the microwave to warm.

"Oh." Was all Sookie could say. She was actually standing in Eric's house. This is where he rests and stays when he is not at Fangtasia or gallivanting around Louisiana. When the microwave dinged, Eric took the blood out and took a long draw. Still holding Drex, Sookie followed Eric through the downstairs as he showed her around.

The living room was large with a tall black marble fireplace and grey walls. There was a large black bookcase that extended the wall and descended in height as it run along the side of the staircase from upstairs. The staircase descended to the entrance into the hall that led to the front door. The living room was warm. It was furnished with two rich red sofas with black and white fur pillows. The hard wood floor was covered in some kind of hand woven rug that Sookie had never seen before. There was a large straight back chair setting opposite the sofa that was black with a throw blanket across the back. There were a couple of small black ironwork end tables and a coffee table with a glass top. A few odd decorations adorned the tables including lamps, books, and a large wooden hand carved bowl with some type of engravings along the edge. The bookcases were full of books and even from where Sookie stood, she could tell some books were very very old. There were decorations from many different countries and times scattered amongst the books. The walls had a few choice paintings that were probably also very valuable.

Eric gestured her to follow him through the hall way towards the front door. Off to the right towards the kitchen was a sliding door that Eric opened to reveal a large fancy dining room with a large mahogany dining table that set twelve. Eric then turned her toward the doorway on the opposite side of the hall and he reached in to turn on another light. There were two steps that stepped down into a very lush rich white carpet. The room was filled with a large brown sectional sofa with large white throw pillows in the corners. There was a beautiful quilt draped across the back of one side of the sofa. The sectional covered three sides and a large wooden coffee table was in the center. There was another stone fireplace in the corner with a set of swords hung crossed over the top and a mantel with what appeared to be other antique weapons scattered across. The walls were covered in a rich burnt red fabric framed out every three feet by wide dark wood boards. There was a very large entertainment center that covered one wall. There appeared to be a large flat screen TV, DVD player, Stereo, and other components that Sookie was clueless as to what they were. As in the first room, this room was scattered with decorations from all periods of time but they went well together. At the back of the room was a large window that viewed a large expanse of yard scattered with trees and flower beds. In the distance Sookie thought she saw a black iron fence which probably extended the area around Eric's home.

"This is very beautiful Eric. I never imagined you living in something quite so warm." Sookie responded.

"What did you think; I lived in a cold castle and kept my coffin in the dingy damp basement." Eric chuckled.

"Not exactly but I guess I never gave it much thought." Sookie smiled as she replied. Just then Drex let out a loud yawn.

"Come. Let me show you the rooms upstairs and we will get Drex settled for his nap." Eric once again turned and placed his hand in the center of Sookie's back as he guided her out the hall to the staircase. At the top of the stairs Sookie was guided into the first room to the right. This room was done mostly in pastels with heavy use of pink. It looked obviously feminine. There was a vanity covered in perfumes and cosmetics in the corner. Sookie looked up at Eric with a puzzled look on her face. Eric only grinned and chuckled at her. "This is Pam's room when she stays with me. She has her own place but when she first moved here to assist me with setting up the bar she stayed with me for a while. She left some of her things here in case she ever had to stay here in a pinch."

Sookie continued to cradle and rock Drex in her arms as she took in the room. Eric suggested she put the baby down on this bed to nap. He assured her he would hear him when he woke and started to move around so he would be safe. There was a plush rocking chair in the corner so Sookie walked over and took a seat to rock and soothe the baby.

"When he is asleep feel free to check out the remaining three rooms and the bathrooms. I never anticipated guests in my home so one of the other rooms serves as an office and the extra room is just used for storage at this time. I am going to go shower and change into something less gory and I will join you in a minute." With that Eric turned and left the room.

When Drex was sound asleep, Sookie stood and placed him in the center of the bed. She pulled two pillows down to place on either side of him and covered him. She then poked her head into the closet to find it was filled with clothes that were obviously Pam's. Mostly pastel but she did see a small cluster of black items, probably for Fangtasia. She then stepped into the bathroom and took in the large garden tub and separate standing glass shower. The room was mostly white with scattered gold and pink accents. Sookie took that moment to take care of her human needs and freshen up before she left to explore the rest of the house. She poked her head into the room that served as Eric's home office and took in his massive wooden desk and the bookcases filled with even more books. The room was richly decorated in wood and an obviously manly style. Afraid she would appear too nosey, Sookie quickly closed the door and looked into a small hall bathroom then another room which was filled with boxes and other odd weapons and tools. This must have been the storage room Eric referred to. She then ventured down to the end of the hall and there were two large doors. She took a breath and opened the doors to the master bedroom.

The room was very large and there was a massive bed in the center of the room raised on a platform. It was a four poster bed and was a very heavy wooden bed with large carved posts. The bed was covered with a very dark brown suede spread and large pillows were piled on the headboard. The walls were papered in a rich design of gold and red. The curtains hung from ceiling to floor. What appeared to be solid beige sheers were surrounded by thick red drapes. Obviously this was how he made the room light tight. The dresser and chest of drawers were made of the same rich wood as the bed with similar carvings. The floor was once again the rich white carpet but there were fur rugs also along the sides of the bed. In the corner was another fire place with two wing back chairs set in front to obviously sit in and enjoy the fire.

Suddenly Sookie heard a noise and she turned to see Eric standing in the doorway from his private bath still slightly damp with a towel draped around his waste. The light from the bathroom silhouetted his muscled features and they seemed to glow slightly. Eric stared back at her with a look of pure desire in his eyes. Sookie realized the time was up and she had to make her choice now to step off the cliff or turn and run. Sookie took a deep breath then opened her mouth to try to speak.

TBC