Finally I figured out, but it took a long long time

And now there's a turnabout, Maybe cause I'm trying

There's been times, I'm so confused

All my roads, They lead to you – Sister Hazel

Pam POV

Having Eric and Sookie gone is no fun and it's not just because I'm stuck doing more work when Eric isn't here. While working, I don't get to watch them make googly eyes at each other from across the room, or when Sookie is on Eric's lap, or when they are in different rooms and they think of the other, or well, you get the idea. It's only been a few hours and yet I feel like I am going through googly eye withdrawal. It is always quite entertaining, as they each never wanted to be caught doing it by the other. It's always fun to watch.

Now I am stuck watching Thalia pout, which is decidedly less fun. But of course that has nothing to do with the fact that I just want to pout along with her. None at all.

See she can get away with it because that's just…her. Well, at least to those who don't know her too well. And those that don't are getting few and far between in Area Five. We have been getting to know her here and she really isn't all that scary.

Don't tell her I said that.

But tonight she is back to the sullen vampire she was when she first got here. She looks how I feel. But if I start to pout, well the other vampire's reactions would be interesting. Of course my reaction to their reaction probably would have left us with fewer vampires in Area Five, and we need all the help we can get at the moment.

So there goes that idea.

It's always a little nerve racking to go and visit Sophie-Anne regardless of the reason for the visit. When trying to find out who is involved in a plan to takeover the state, nerve racking is an understatement. Add the fact that my little friend is human and we have moved so far past nerve racking that I don't know if there is a word to describe it.

I throw some paperwork at the despondent vampire, which earns me a hell of a glare. I give it right back though. We need to stay on top of this stuff otherwise we will be in another whole league of trouble. We need to sort through the paperwork to make sure no one else got any visitors last night. We have the oral reports but we could always discover something new in the written reports. We also have to go through the paperwork for vampires wanting to move into the Area and crosscheck them with known vampires from Nevada to make sure they are not invading us like Arkansas tried. Of course, that didn't work out too well for them but with a little more organization, it could have been a different outcome.

We need to make sure no one else even has the chance.

Thalia and I work in silence, or at least I work in silence as Thalia continues to pout. Or it seems she is actually thinking as she says suddenly, "Can we trust the Queen?"

She asks it obviously looking for a simple answer but it is anything but simple. Can we trust her as long as it fits her needs, yes. As long as it fits with her wants for the states, another yes. If Thalia had asked me this question months ago before any of this happened, my answer may have been different. But I look at her and know what she is really asking me and I say, "Yes, she will do what she needs to, to make sure Eric and Sookie come back." I don't add on because it's in her best interest. Thalia knows that. But Sophie-Anne also knows she has a great ally in Eric as long as she continues to play nice, and that is not something you throw away lightly.

Thalia nods and pretends to get back to work but I know she won't be comfortable until they are back. I know I won't be comfortable until they get back. Unfortunately, there's little we can do about that. But I bring my chair closer to where Thalia is sitting so we are sharing the same desk. We can draw comfort from each other. That's something we can do until they are home safe again.

Eric POV

I am not able to relax until we are on the plane returning home and Sookie is curled up in my lap. She fell asleep within five minutes of takeoff, but I am happy that she did. She may not say so, but I know using her telepathy can take a lot out of her especially when focusing on and looking for something specific. So sleep for her is good at the moment. It also allows me to go back through the evening.

We almost left only after 10 minutes of making it to New Orleans. Well, really I almost left but I would have dragged Sookie kicking and screaming with me as I did so. And she most definitely would not have appreciated that so I am thankful I did not have to do so.

It was Sophie-Anne's suggestion that I not be with Sookie while she was here that almost had me leaving. I could not believe she was even suggesting it. I barely even let her tell me what her plan was. It was only Sookie's calm presence in the bond and her need to help that had me humoring Sophie-Anne as I pretended to entertain her idea. The bond I have with Sookie showed her appreciation of me doing so.

I enjoy the bond. It is the first thing I feel for when I wake from my rest and it is the last thing I take comfort in before I succumb to it at sunrise. The thought does not escape me that this is all before the bond is even complete and that makes me eager to learn what it will be like when it is. But I know there is a reason neither one of us have yet broached the topic even though it is clear it is something we both want. I just hope I do not let us down. I hope I do not let Sookie down.

Sophie-Anne's plans involved me being seen but Sookie staying hidden. That of course would keep us separate and that was not something I was going to allow. But Sookie's gentle hand on my arm had me listening. Then I was planning to take Sookie and leave.

I did not account for the Queen's plan be logical.

As Sophie-Anne explained, I would be in the main room with her, Wybert, and another Louisiana Sheriff, Tyler. We would be talking to vampires and their humans, who worked for Threadgill trying to see if they can be trusted. It could have been done without Tyler but the presence of another Sheriff could put them at ease with seeing me.

Sookie and Sigebert would be in a smaller room, with the only entrance to it in the room I will be in. If anyone wants to get to the room where Sookie is they will literally have to go through me to get in. But no one should even know that she is here, us having taken great care to hide her scent. Sophie-Anne had tried this before, having Sookie here listening in secret and that night Threadgill paid her a visit out of nowhere. Thankfully, it went a bit better tonight.

The tricky part was getting the vampires to bring their humans. The humans Threadgill employed directly were simple enough. If they wanted to have a role in Sophie-Anne's retinue they would have to be interviewed. It was the humans that belonged to the vampires that were a little trickier but they were the ones we needed the most. The vampires would feel most at ease with their humans not seeing them as a threat, so the humans may have overheard some things. It was our best bet to having Sookie hear something useful. So Sophie-Anne with her penchant for taking pets, said that all Arkansas vampires would bring their humans, alluding to the fact that if she wished, she would take them. This would make many of the vampires unhappy but hopefully when she did not actually take any, it would not earn her too many enemies.

I could not deny that Sookie may even be safer in the separate, smaller room. Her presence would be much appreciated when droning on with the Arkansas vampires as I tried to ask questions that would get their humans thinking of something helpful. But I would not let my stubbornness or my want to have her close put her in danger. I had to agree that it was the safer plan.

But that does not mean that I have to like it.

I am keeping close tabs on my bond with Sookie as Sophie-Anne and I speak with the Arkansas vampires. Wybert would be taking any phone calls from Sigebert if anything that cannot wait comes up. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, most of the night I am not getting anything from her and Wybert's phone never goes off.

We were almost at the last vampire and his human when I felt something from the bond I share with Sookie. The only thing that kept me from jumping up from the table and charging into the room was that it was neither pain nor fear I was feeling from her. I continued the questioning asking the same question a few different ways to try and keep the human thinking about whatever the hell he was thinking. I could tell the vampire was growing impatient with me but had enough control not to act on it. That was definitely a positive in his column.

Though I wanted to know what information Sookie was able to gather, we still had two more vampires to talk to, but neither of them triggers any more feelings from Sookie. After the last vampire leaves, Sophie-Anne dismisses Tyler. He does not like it but goes off without an argument. Once inside, I can see Sookie's excitement but I can also feel that she is nervous, making me worried about what she has found out.

"The human," she started off by saying. Sophie-Anne looked to me confused and I let her know what vampire the human was with. She nodded and sent Sigebert to tell that vampire to stay but to allow everyone to leave. Sookie continued, "The vampire he came with is not his only master." She explained that she has learned that the human was placed with the vampire by whoever is the one calling the shots. The vampire is clueless but his human knew he reports to someone. Unfortunately, that is where his brain gets foggy, the telltale sign of being glamoured. He did not know who he reports to and he is not supposed to discuss this with anyone else.

"Right now, the only other thing he knows is that the vampire is not currently in the United States," Sookie told us. "But that can be changing soon. If he doesn't see the progress that he is looking for, he will be coming here."

She fell silent at that and the rest of us followed suit. On the one hand, it would be good if who we were fighting were here. It would be easier to find them. On the other hand it brings the threat closer, which may be a bad thing. Sophie-Anne voiced what the rest of us were thinking and we spent a little time going over short-term precautions, which were pretty much what we were already doing across the state. We would have to be sure to implement them in Arkansas too as it is the weaker one right now. Sophie-Anne then let us go which should get us back to Shreveport with an hour to spare before sunrise, if we are lucky.

I kiss Sookie's hair as I start to run my fingers through it as she burrows further into my chest. I could have been really close to losing her just last night. Who knows what Jonathon's goal had been? I have no idea what Felipe wanted when he sent Jonathon after her. I hate to think what could have happened if I were further away or if Sookie had gone to Merlotte's by herself. Felipe may have overplayed his hand a bit by showing his interest in Sookie. He would not send Jonathon to her if he were not interested. No one else in Louisiana got a visit from anyone from Nevada. It does not seem that he was scouting the state. It seems like he was scouting Sookie.

And I need to find out why.

Do not get me wrong. I know more than anyone that Sookie is special, though probably not for the same reasons vampires seem to want her. I can understand wanting her for her telepathy. I can understand wanting her for her Fae connections. What I cannot understand is why they would risk everything to get her. The only thing that I can come up with is that whoever is calling the shots, either had something over Threadgill and now Felipe, or he really is that big of a threat.

Definitely not a good thing.

Sookie mumbles something that certainly sounds like my name in her sleep and I can feel the smile appear on my face as I hear it. I like the fact that even in her sleep, Sookie is thinking of me. I know that if I were able to think during the day, she would be the topic of most, if not all my thoughts. She stretches in my lap as her eyes blink open. She blinks against the light a few times before I reach up and dim it so it would not be so harsh on her eyes. She sits up a little straighter but does not leave my lap, which is more than okay with me. As a matter of fact, if she had left my lap, I probably would have dragged her back on it.

"I'm sorry I slept through most of the flight," she tells me through another yawn.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You needed it."

"You look like you could have used someone to talk to." I shake my head and tell her that time to go through everything was good. Eager to get me out of thinking mode as she calls it she asks me, "Recent happiest moment," going back to the game we have not played lately.

I smile, knowing that she is trying to keep me from my thoughts. I search my mind for what has made me the happiest lately. The little being perched in my lap has been there for all of them and that is something that does not escape me. I owe much to this fantastic creature and I am hoping that I find a way to show her how much I appreciate it.

I have a thought in my mind when I feel her tiny fingers tracing over my face. "Now, that's a smile," she says her fingers dancing over my upturned lips. "I think you've found the memory."

I nod before telling her, "I have many happy memories lately. But my happiest one has been talking with Karin recently." The smile that appears on her face tells me that she is not disappointed in my choice of memory. "And I owe that to you."

She shakes her head and tells me, "You owe it to yourself, Eric." I start to shake my head and disagree with her but she repeats, "You owe it to yourself to give yourself credit here, Eric. You could have simply kept denying everything. You could have continued to believe the lessons your maker taught you, as he wanted you to. You didn't though. You haven't been. You, Eric have been better than that, stronger than that."

I have no words for a second as I take in her thoughts. It is true that I credit her for most of the changes to my mindset. She has released me from the mental prison I had put myself in for centuries. Pam had done her best, done all she could but I still would not allow my freedom. It was not until I had heard it from another that I had started to break free. It was Pam's continued, unwavering belief in me that allowed me to start loosening the chains. It was Sookie's patience with me that let me to come to the realizations myself that allowed me to unlock them. It was their combined love for me that allowed me to break free completely. It was with their encouragement, and even with Thalia's that had me dropping the chains and walking far away from them.

"It was you though," I tell her. "It was you that gave me the strength. It was you and Pam that I wanted to be strong for."

Again she shakes her head at my words. "We may have given you a reason to use it but the strength you have been using to overcome this, that's all on you Eric. The strength you are using to make these realizations about yourself, to fight against what you have thought to be true for countless lifetimes, that's all you. You can't give me credit for that."

I feel something in me grow at her words. It has been something that I have felt since the night she walked in my bar. It is something that increased exponentially when we were in Jackson. It has been steadily increasing since then with every kiss she presses to me, with every smile she gifts me with. It is something that years ago hell, even a year ago, I would have denied wholeheartedly. I find myself not only not denying it any longer, but also searching for what it could possibly be.

And this is the closest that I have come to knowing what it is, to understanding it. I can feel it just outside my grasp though. I turn Sookie slightly in my lap and press my lips to hers. What starts out as a gentle kiss becomes so much more as I deepen it trying to convey to her in that kiss just what I do not quite have the words for yet. It would be simple to say but meaningless if I do not have the understanding of what they mean. But I can clearly see the picture in the puzzle now and I just need a few more pieces.

As I deepen the kiss, Sookie's hands come up to play with my hair. It is only when the pilot announces that we will be landing in five minutes that we separate. I look at Sookie hoping that she understands what that is for, what I was trying to tell her. And I am so happy when I look in her eyes and I see nothing but understanding in them. She will get more soon enough once I am sure I will not be cheating her with simple words. I am only thankful that she is willing to wait for it, wait for me.

"I am so proud of you, Eric," she whispers as she puts her head back on my chest as we begin the decline back down to land. And this time I do not fight her on it. Not because I know she will fight back, but more because I am starting to think that she is right.

After all, she has been in the past.

As the plane comes to a stop, I stand gently lowering Sookie to the ground and making sure she is steady on her feet before letting her go. The second I do however, she grabs onto me and says, "Eric, there are two vampires here. I feel them." I am not too concerned, which seems to make her a little bit upset. "You don't trust me," she asks.

"I need you to trust me," I tell her, knowing full well who is out there, but not wanting to ruin the surprise. She takes a look at me before sighing and putting her hand in mine. She knows that I would do nothing to ever put her danger. What she should also know is that being dropped off earlier by Thalia, we would need a ride home from the airport.

The door opens and the stairs extend and I use my senses to ensure that I am correct before I step to the side and allow her off first. That there should tell her something and it does. She looks past me and sees who it is and it is everything I can do to keep her from falling down the stairs as she runs to greet them, squealing as she moves. But what shocks me even more is the squeal my child makes in response.

I would say I do not understand as it has only been a few hours, but I understand the ways tonight could have gone badly. I know that Sookie and I may not have been able to return from New Orleans if something bad had happened there. I know that there was a chance we would not be coming back to Pam and Thalia if Felipe had decided to attack. Because of this I am more than happy to see the two of them.

I just will not be squealing like them to show my excitement.

I make my way over to the three women just as Pam and Sookie are breaking their hug. As I embrace Pam, I see Sookie take Thalia in her arms and the vampire gives her a hug in return. It was funny when this first started. Thalia would simply stand there and take it. Now, she is more than a willing participant.

When they break apart, Thalia gives me a wave but I wrap an arm around her, wanting to share what I had learned on the plane with her, in the way that I could. "There is not enough time before sunrise to drop everyone off at their respective homes," I point out. "Would you two like to stay with Sookie and I for the day."

Thalia smiles and gives me a nod and Pam responds by yelling, "Slumber party!"

As Sookie and Pam discuss the logistics of said slumber party, I feel another smile appearing on my face. I look to Thalia who still has my arm wrapped around my shoulder to see her smiling as well. "Come on then. Let's go home."

Hello readers. Sorry this is a tad late but one dead laptop plus a missing charger equals no editing or positing. I am so happy you liked hearing from Thalia in the last chapter. I know a few of you, ok maybe most of you, expected some drama down in New Orleans, but Eric needed to have a light bulb moment. It was very important of him to do so. Plus, they did get a little more information. It will be coming a bit more slowly in this installment as other things get dealt with too.

As always, thanks for giving this little story a try. I appreciate those reading and taking the time to leave a comment or two.

I am hoping to remain on a weekend posting schedule but life is throwing me a few curveballs at the moment. I'm hoping to catch them all but one never knows.