A/N: I'm back! I have to say, you have never really lived until you've seen Patrick Stewart cavorting across stage humming "The Wild Rover." Or Ian McKellen spit carrot all over the stage. In case you have no clue what I'm talking about, I was in London to see Beckett's Waiting for Godot with those two as Vladimir and Estragon, respectively. Absolutely brilliant!

Anyway, I felt like looking at this from Eric's POV, since we so often see Sookie's side of emotionally charged discussions. And after writing it, I know why. Eric refused to cooperate! This chappie's basically some housekeeping issues, airing all those little things our duo needs to talk about.

Disclaimer: I still own nothing. Now I need chocolate for solace.

Conversation n the spoken exchange of thoughts, opinions and feelings, social intercourse

EPOV

As I lay with my lover cradled in my arms, I could not remember a time I had ever been as wholly content as I was at that moment. Sookie had not only accepted the bond between us, but we had reconnected physically, as well. She had been beyond anything I could have imagined, inventive and I saw great possibility in exploring her apparent enjoyment of a touch of domination. I had to wonder, however, how long this new phase would last. Even if her reactions of late had been guided by an outside force for some unknown reason, my bonded has never been one to accept things as they are and I would be a love-struck fool to think that she would yield to me on all things. I quelled the urge to smile in amusement. Yes, my Sookie was stubborn and independent, while also paradoxically old-fashioned to the absurd, but with the strength of our deeper bond, I had a premonition that, while our fights may continue, the making-up would be so much sweeter, along with practically guaranteed. How can one fight when able to feel the total sincerity and love of their sparring partner?

My lover sighed, as satisfaction washed through the bond, and I realized that it was time to discuss everything, from the meaning of the bond, although I'd have to get the witch to fill in the details of this new component, to the events of the past night. We may as well get this over with, as I was beginning to feel a bit like a human woman, always carping on about needing to 'talk', but it was important we settle certain things left too long alone. I felt an unusual flash of trepidation in disturbing such a peaceful moment; given both our tempers and her propensity to fight anything she didn't understand, I did not anticipate this interview going well.

"Lover, it is time we talk. We have put this off far too long, and given recent events, it becomes increasingly obvious that an understanding must be reached." Given the fear and guilt coming through the bond, Sookie was not looking forward to our discussion anymore than I.

"Ok, Eric, I know there's a lot we need to discuss…It's just that, ok, I love you, and I think you care about me, and I want to be with you, really truly, but I've been on such an emotional roller-coaster lately and I'm just scared something's wrong with me, because I'm not acting normal."

I wasn't sure whether to simply enjoy that she admitted her love for me or be annoyed that she could still doubt my feelings after all we had shared. I did realize, however, that I had to remain in control. She was so emotionally delicate and, as I had no idea what the purpose of whatever was meddling with her, I had no way of knowing what could set her off. The alterations to the bond may have either broken the compulsion's hold or at least suppressed it, but I couldn't take too many risks until we knew for certain what was going on. I briefly thought back to her state after being rescued and my sheer terror that I would lose her wonderful mind to the despair in which she had been drowning.

"My lover, look at me." I waited until her troubled eyes met mine. "Surely you cannot doubt my love for you? I know I have not expressly told you that I love you, but it has been one thousand years since I have felt this way, if indeed I ever did. Regardless, I am not a human male; I will not react in the manner you expect, especially in discussing emotions, unless you tell me the way you would like me to respond. If it will not undermine my position, I will try to do as you ask, but the key is communication, my lover. Something we are both guilty of avoiding." I felt another flash of guilt from her, but it did not turn into the desperation of the previous night. In fact, all her emotions felt much shallower, with few of the recent extremes. Progress, perhaps?

"Now, we have many things to discuss; would you like to start with the bond?" I thought that might be the easiest to explain, rather than immediately diving into our theories on something controlling her reactions, although from her earlier statements, it seemed my clever bonded had realized something was irregular.

I felt Sookie nod into my chest, which I took to mean consent. I briefly contemplated shifting positions to be able to discuss this face to face, but ultimately gave in to the all-too rare contentment of our current situation.

"A blood-bond, as you know, forms a link between the participants, allowing each partner to sense the other's presence as well as emotions. Ordinarily, a bond between vampire and human is used when the human is considered indispensable, as it, when combined with the glamour, ties both will and emotion to the vampire. Hence, why Andre wished to use it to secure you for the Queen. Your resistance to the glamour, however, negates the compulsion aspect. In any case, I'd never try to force you to do anything against your will." I decided not to tell her how Andre would have resorted to physical control once she resisted the glamour and attempted to inject some levity into the discussion, adding with a smirk, "Mostly for my own protection if you ever found out I had done so."

I was soundly smacked on the chest by her small fist. "Eric! Ok, so I get why Andre thought it'd be a good thing for me to be 'controllable' even if it wouldn't have worked on me. And I am so grateful you stepped in, even if I was a horrible bitch about it. But I don't understand why I could hear your thoughts when I was grabbed. That's never…" Sookie trailed off.

Ah, so she was hiding something. "Sookie," I asked slowly, knowing how defensive she could be, "have you ever heard my thoughts before?" I probably should have been angry, but as I had never figured out that she had read me, and now with our deeper bond, it was a moot point anyway.

She tried pulling out of my arms, but I anticipated her and held her tight. She fidgeted, obviously not willing to tell me more.

I let a bit of reproach bleed into my tone, asking "Do you have something to tell me?"

"It's not like it happens all the time! I really can't hear vamp minds normally, but occasionally, it happens. I heard you shortly after meeting you, when you were thinking that if you threatened people I care about, you could make me do anything you wanted."

Oh. Well, that was my initial reaction, after deciding to take her away from Compton. It's in my nature to take what I desire by any means possible, so I wasn't going to apologize. I stroked her arm, reassuring her I wasn't upset. "Hmm, you hid that well. You didn't react at all, even though it must have been a shock for you."

She twisted slightly to look up at me. "Hello, telepathic barmaid here! I've had a ton of practice not reacting to the disgusting thoughts of customers; I can control my expression. Although you did scare me, a lot. Your mind was so dark and twisting."

I suddenly did feel slightly guilty for subjecting her to my darker tendencies without warning. "Sookie, I am…" I was cut off by a delicate finger against my lips. Impulsively, I kissed it, making her smile.

"Hush, I've been in enough heads to know that thoughts don't always reflect truth or even intent. You may have thought it, but you didn't follow through, which is what counts."

Who was this calm and understanding woman? I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or concerned, but would not risk disturbing her new equilibrium by commenting.

"But, seriously Eric, how did we manage to hear each other when you were coming to save me? And what was with that seriously weird connection thing? I…I saw you, your life, I mean. And I felt you seeing my memories. Is this a normal bond thing? Cause I think you probably should have mentioned that before!" Sookie was scared, and was, true to form, going to take it out on me.

"Relax, lover. No, I've told you all I know about the ramifications of a blood-bond. Given that there were already feelings involved between us, our connection has always been abnormally strong, but the events of yesterday were the result of your witch friend."

"Amelia? What does she…oh, that's what she was thinking when you carried me out of the barn. She was thinking something about you telling me about the bond and me being mad at her. There was also a comment about 'it breaking the other thing' but I don't know what she meant." At least she was confused, rather than angry now.

I filled her in on the events, leaving out the discussion of her recent manipulation, for the moment at least. "I could barely feel you through the bond, not enough to track with, and your witch came up with a spell that allowed us to actually see the bond. It directed us to you, but she warned there would be consequences, deepening the bond beyond what is normal. I'm assuming that this connection between us enabled our conversation, as well as the exchange of memory. We will have to see if the witch knows what exactly we can expect from now on."

"Amelia, Eric, her name's Amelia." I merely shrugged. I enjoyed riling my bonded up.

Sookie continued, puzzled, "How'd you know I'd been taken, though? I thought that after everything I said…well, I wasn't sure if you'd come for me or if you even knew something was happening."

I was not happy that she doubted me yet again, although after our words yesterday, I could understand her reaction. I told her, "I heard you, my lover. You called out to me. And I will always come for you, do not doubt that."

"But you heard me yelling out for you when they grabbed me? I don't understand, Amelia hadn't done the spell then. Why could you hear me? Especially since all I was getting off you was this horrible, frozen grey fog. I couldn't tell where you were or feel you or anything and, oh Eric, it was horrible!" My lover was shuddering and I scooped her into my embrace, soothing her with words and the bond. She had a point, though. How did I hear her voice call out to me that first time in Fangtasia? Something to be considered later, as it appeared we'd reached the point of her behaviour.

"I'm not certain, but that brings us to the other discussion we must have. Sookie, earlier you said you didn't feel normal. What did you mean?" I wanted to get her perspective, to try to understand what she'd been feeling that prompted her actions.

"Just that…after I told you off in Fangtasia and then at home, Pam and Amelia both said some things about my behaviour lately that made me think. I really don't know why I got so angry at you or said those things. And I've been pulling away from everyone else, too, but blaming them for abandoning me. I just sat and thought and realized that I wasn't really acting like me…and I, well I realized I love you, and went to apologize to you, but I was a complete mess and it just kept getting worse. That's why I didn't hear them come up, when they grabbed me; I was sitting in the car trying to calm down but I couldn't! And then when I woke up in that barn, I just thought about everything and was so sorry for myself and so guilty that I just didn't care if they killed me, so long as you were safe. But it was really after the memory-sharing thing and then taking your blood that, well, I could just tell something'd been wrong. I just don't know why I've been acting like I have!" She was awash in guilt and confusion, but at least the darker emotions stayed at bay.

"The witch and the shifter posed a theory regarding your recent conduct. They feel certain that some form of magic has been done to you, forcing you to turn away from those who care for you by acting in the manner you have. Who is behind it and what the purpose of such a manipulation is, has yet to be determined. I also do not understand why you had such a downward spiral. " I gathered her tightly to my chest. "Lover, when I found you, you were hysterical. I could feel you slipping away with your emotions and it was not something I ever wish to feel again."

I could feel the rise of both disbelief and anger and braced myself for a typical Sookie reaction. "Manipulation? Someone's been making me act like a total bitch to all my friends and making me say all those horrible things to you? Eric, I'd like to believe you, but wouldn't I know if some spell had been cast on me? I mean, yeah, I don't think I should have reacted the way I did last night, but who would gain anything by making me turn away from my friends and reject you? Besides, can spells even work on me? I mean, I'm part fae and your glamour doesn't work on me, so who's to say that spells would work, either?" My bonded was indignant at the thought that she wouldn't be aware of magic enacted on her sense of self.

She was so worked up over the thought of someone having control over a part of her that she began to contradict her earlier statements. "I'd love to be able to pass the blame around, but it was just a depression or something. I have to take responsibility for my own actions here! I mean, after I accepted the fact that I love you and that the bond wasn't the worst thing in the world, I felt awful and guilty, so surely that's a sign it was all me, right?"

Again, my lover said the right thing to fill in the gaps. "Sookie, if someone wished to harm you, or have you for their own, what better way than to have you reject your friends and your bonded, all of whom would protect you against anything inclined to hurt you?"

"Oh." Ah, her moment of realization was tinged with such adorable embarrassment. Adorable? By the gods, this woman was emasculating me. "I, ah, sorry, Eric. I guess I just jumped to conclusions again. I didn't think of it like that."

I had another moment of realization, one that was filled with personal delight, although I didn't like the other connotations. "And, my lover, when did you start to feel your guilt and anguish?"

"I guess it was after Pam and Amelia lit into me about being horrible and cruel to you. I was just thinking about things, and I…well, I just told you," she trailed off, realizing that she'd been laying her heart out, but I was too pleased to let her stay reticent.

"Yes, dear one?"

"You're gonna make me say it again, aren't you? Damn it, Eric, that's not fair!" She huffed. "Fine, I was thinking about what they said and what I'd said and I realized that I'd been blaming you for the bond, which actually wasn't a bad thing and then on my way to see you, it finally registered that I love you. There! Satisfied?"

"Immensely. I believe you were as well, not too long ago." That comment earned me another smack, but I could tell her good humour was returning. "Now, lover, is it fair to say that all those negative emotions hit you once you had accepted the bond?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I didn't look at it that way. Eric, now I'm getting scared! What does that mean? Someone's been messing in my head to get me away from you? Who could do that and who wants me that bad?"

"Shush, relax. You're with me, we are together now and nothing will happen to you." I turned her once again and simply kissed her. I enjoyed the feeling of her sweet, soft mouth against mine, for once not fighting against me. I would have liked to go further, but sadly, we were running out of time. "I suspect that, by accepting the bond, you managed to break the compulsion forcing you against it. It is pleasing to suggest that our bond, even before amplified by the tracking spell, was strong enough to break a major work of magic. I propose we go and visit the witch to discuss this further. I have set Pam, with Bill's aid, to oversee both the investigation into the explosion and the capture of the men who kidnapped you. It's likely they are connected, and we will deal with this, but first, I want to ensure that you are not subject to any further complications from this spell. If something can cause a relapse, I wish to know about it and prevent it." I was proud that it seemed to be the strength of our bond that had broken whatever enchantment against it; no other could boast of such a lovely, talented woman bound to them so tightly!

It was with no few caresses and laughter that we rose and dressed. Yes, this woman had me twisted around her little finger, but I was content in ways I had never known I could attain.