AN: Thank you for all the lovely reviews and I know you all must hate me but its fun to add a bit of dramatic stuff to the story. If it was all happy the story would get boring just like with shows/movies; the happy couple can't always be happy. Well don't worry these two are totally gonna end up together and all that jazz. Well, hopefully this chapter makes up for the previous one and makes everyone happy.

I want to thank my new beta-reader Christine86 her first time being a beta and I gotta say she is doing a great job! Thanks so much! I really like your style of correcting my horrible errors lol…thanks!

Now on with the story!

Chapter 11: Red Velvet Box

Few Weeks Later

SPOV

Eric and Pam went to Vegas to speak with this Felipe De Castro and were gone for about a week. When Eric returned he gave me the bad news, bad news for me at least. Felipe De Castro gave them the okay and they would be returning to Vegas in two weeks. Eric already gave his two week noticed to Lafayette and they began trying to find his replacement. In those two weeks, Eric and I spent every day together.

There was only two days left of Eric being here with me and then he was off to Vegas for who knows how long. I went to the supermarket because I wanted to cook Eric my famous dish which was fried steak, mash potatoes with bacon pieces in it and cheese, corn bread, and bread pudding. People are amazed and jealous that I eat all this food and don't gain a pound – it mostly goes right to my hips and butt.

I told Eric I didn't want to spend our last days together in some restaurant or movie theater etc I just wanted to be alone with him in his house. I was in the meat aisle and a familiar voice called out to me. I stood frozen and turned to see my ex boyfriend Bill standing a few inches away from me.

"Hi." We both said as we shared an uncomfortable hugged. We hadn't spoken and/or seen each other since the break up. We made small talk about Gran, his family, work etc. He noticed the items I had in my basket, "Oh you're making your famous fried steak. You made that for me on our first month together." Bill knew I only made this dish on special occasions, busted!

I began to panic and my hands were getting sweaty, "Yeah, special occasion." I stuttered. Bill placed his hand over mine to calm me down, "Sook, its okay I know. I saw you with him the other day in the Wal-Mart." Bill said but I was still nervous.

"It hurt to see you with him but I could tell how happy you were. Sookie, I want you to know the reason why I let you go so easily was because I love you so much and just wanted to see you happy, and I knew you weren't happy with me any more. I put you through a lot in our relationship and you didn't deserve that. I'm sorry that I hurt you but I hope we can still be friends because I'd like to still have you in my life." He admitted.

"Thanks Bill, that means a lot to me. And of course we can be friends." I said in return as we hugged it out. I was so relieved to hear that he let me go because he knew I wasn't happy with him any more. The entire time we were together I hadn't thought Bill loved me, and thought he had cheated on me throughout the relationship. It was nice to find out I was wrong about him and he did actually care about me.

We continued shopping together while he was telling me that his job had offered him an IT management position. "I'm just not sure if I want it." He said. I put my items on the conveyer belt so they could scan them. "Why wouldn't you want it? It's been your dream to become an IT manger." I said to him. "Yeah but I also just got this other offer in New York to work with NBC in their IT department." Bill said.

"Wow that's awesome. I'm so proud of you I know you've been working extra hard in school and work as well. So which do you want more?" I asked him and handed the cashier my debit card. "I don't know yet. Maybe its time for change and I should move to New York or maybe I should just stay here." Bill was uncertain on his decision.

"Yeah that is a big decision." I took my bags and moved aside so Bill could pay. "Yeah I know I just don't wanna make the wrong one. I just need to clear my head and figure out what I wanna do." He sighed deeply.

I wanted to tell Bill that maybe it was best if he did go to New York; he needs to escape his dysfunctional family and do what he really wanted. He just needs to figure that out on his own without his families input. We said our good byes and I told him if he decided to go to New York to let me know so we can have a farewell dinner.

I drove to Eric's house and took the grocery bags to the kitchen. I put the food away and went to check if Eric was home. I checked the bedroom but he wasn't there so that only left his office lately he was spending all his time there. I was right he was in his office pacing back and forth with papers in his hands shouting over the phone.

He saw me come in and he gave me the waiting finger indicating he would be with me in a moment so I sat on the couch in the office. I did that not like when he did that to me, I wasn't one of his employees I was his girlfriend.

"I told you many times that I want the club to look exactly the same as my club here. If you don't get the job right, you're fired!" Eric yelled angrily into the phone. "Next time you fax me the blue prints make sure it's done correctly!" He yelled once more and hung up.

He plopped himself on his desk chair and groaned loudly, "This club is gonna kill me." He said. I walked over to him and gave his shoulders and neck a small massage. He was so tensed and I didn't want our last two days together with him being all cranky. "How about we just enjoy tonight and not worry about the club." I kissed his neck to show him what I meant.

My hands travel down his chest, "I'm going to make my famous fried steak and," Eric stopped me by removing my hands from his chest. "Sookie, I'm too tired to do anything. Let's save this for tomorrow. I'm gonna go upstairs and rest." He just up and left without waiting for my response.

I was very upset because I had this whole meal prepared and ready to cook. I ended up just putting the stuff in the refrigerator for tomorrow and made myself a ham and cheese sandwich. I went to the library he had in his mansion and read while I ate my sandwich.

I wasn't tired enough to climb into bed with him so I decided to read a romance novel. It was about a young couple who were pulled apart because a war had started and he was drafted. It was a very sad story and definitely hit close to home, even though Eric wasn't being drafted he was leaving me.

My phone vibrated indicating I had a text message; it was from my boss Lafayette. I requested the week off so I could spend it with Eric and look how I'm spending it, alone. Lafayette told me in the text message that they found Eric's replacement and he would like for me to meet him tomorrow morning. Great it's another guy, I said to myself. I decided I would go meet with the new intern for a bit then come back to Eric's.

I finished my sandwich and went to the bedroom. When I opened the door Eric was knocked out on his bed, he hadn't even taken off his clothes. He was exhausted; this club was taking a lot out of him. I wondered if Pam was going this crazy.

I removed his shoes and jeans; he didn't even feel me doing any of this. I covered him up and laid next to him once I was in my own pjs. I just laid there wanting to touch him and be close to him but I stayed in on my own side of the bed and drifted off to sleep.

I woke up the next morning to Eric yelling over the phone again. I turned to look at the clock, and it was only seven in the morning I didn't need to wake up for another hour, argh! I covered my head with the pillow but it was no use.

I threw the covers off and sent him a deadly stare but he didn't even notice. I yanked my over-night bag off the floor and went to the bathroom. I took a quick shower and dressed in my black knee length skirt and grey button down top. I pulled up my hair with a clip and put on some light natural make up.

When I came out the bathroom Eric gave me a confused look and asked me where I was going. "To work. I'm already up I might as well go." I said in a snapping tone and put on the blazer that matched my skirt.

He told the person on the other line that he would call them back and gave me a hard look, great just what I need a fight. "I thought you took the week off. Why are you going to work? It's our last day together." He pointed it out as if I didn't already know.

"I just have to go in for an hour or two because Lafayette hired someone for your old position. Lafayette wants me to meet with him. Besides you've been ignoring me lately so why bother staying I'd rather be at work than sitting here listening to you yell at people on the phone. See you later." I left the bedroom and ran down the stairs before he caught up to me.

He ran right behind me and turned me around to face him, "So it's my fault that this club is opening? I thought you were happy for me?" He questioned. "Listen," he said lifting my chin so I was looking into his eyes, "Yeah these days have been stressful as hell for me but I like knowing that I have you there to make it all better." Great the guilt trip.

"Okay I just promised Lafayette last night I would meet with the new intern. I'll be back before lunch, okay?" I said to him because I really didn't want us to fight on our last day together. "Okay, see you then and I hope he's an ugly guy with bad teeth." He said as we kissed each other goodbye. I sat in my car and smiled to myself at what Eric said about the new intern as I drove to work.

I went inside the office, said hello to a few co-workers and went straight to the kitchen to make myself some coffee since I woke up super early today. I was staring at the coffee pouring into my cup and I think I completely spaced out, "Excuse me your coffee is almost over flowing." Someone said and broke me off my trance.

"Oh sorry, thanks I must have zone out." I said and took my mug. I looked at the someone he was tall but not as tall as Eric, bald headed he wasn't old it was just his style of hair, grey kind of hazel eyes and very well built even in his suit you could tell. "Rough morning?" He said as he placed his mug in the coffee machine.

"Yeah my boyfriend woke me up early with a phone call from his job. Wait where are my manners? I'm Sookie Stackhouse Administrative Assistant to Lafayette Reynolds." I extended my hand to greet him and his large hand took mine.

"John Quinn, I'm the new intern." Oh sweet niblets, I said to myself. "Well welcome to the team. Incase you didn't know, we will be working together." I said to him and flashed him my Sookie smile. "Thanks I'm gonna enjoy working here." He smiled in return.

This is bad, real bad – Eric isn't going to be happy that the new intern is so nice looking. We made small talk as we walked to our desks; John took over Eric's. "Ah so this is the famous boyfriend that woke you up this morning?" He pointed at the picture I had with Eric by my computer screen.

"Yup that's him. My boyfriend Eric, my boyfriend." I sound like an idiot but he needed to know that I was off limits. Well not like that stopped Eric when I was with Bill. This was different I was happy with Eric so it didn't matter if John tried anything with me or not because I love and only want Eric.

We had our little meeting and filled John in on the project that Eric and I was working on. After our meeting, Lafayette suggested I take John out for lunch, crap. "Mr. Reynolds I promised Eric that I would return home since I'm not supposed to be here." I reminded him.

"Oh sorry I forgot. Yeah you go spend time with your man. Tell Eric we miss his sweet behind here." Lafayette said with a wink. I gathered all my stuff from his office and returned to my desk.

John soon followed and he gave me some paper work, "Mr. Reynolds said to review this when you return on Monday." He said and sat at his new desk. "Thanks, it was nice meeting you John." I said to him. "Quinn, I like to be called Quinn instead." He said to me. "Oh okay, well nice meeting you Quinn. I look forward to working with you." I said to him.

We said our goodbyes and I ran out the door without another word and drove quickly to Eric's home. My Gran understood that I wanted to spend the last week of Eric being here with him at his home. She knew I wasn't a good girl any more but also knew I had a good head on my shoulders.

I made it to Eric's house and saw his car wasn't there, where the hell was he?! I searched around the house but he was nowhere to be found not even a note. I sadly well more angrily sat on the couch because our last day was ruined. I tried calling him but it went straight to voicemail. I waited an hour sitting there on the couch waiting and calling him over and over again. I just got madder and madder.

Then I heard a call pull up the drive way and look at that it was Eric. He was dressed in an all black suit and looking as fine as ever but I was too mad at him to even think about that. He came inside and was surprised to see me, "I thought you were at work." He said as he kissed my cheek and kept going about his business. Is he serious?

"We agreed to spend the whole afternoon and rest of the evening together after I came home. Did you forget?" I was beyond furious now. He was pulling the same crap Bill did when we made plans and he forgot and/or didn't show.

"No, I didn't forget which is why I got this," He took out a small red velvet jewelry box from his suit pocket. Oh god was he going to proposed. I wasn't expecting this.

He took my hand in his and kneeled down before me, oh god he was going to propose. He opened the little red velvet box and there stood looking at me was a heart shaped pink diamond ring. He took my hand and placed the ring on my ring finger, "Sookie Stackhouse, this ring is an - I don't wanna say promise ring because that's so high school but that's the best I can come up with," He paused and I softly laughed at his statement because Eric was beyond a young high school boy, he was a man.

He continued, "This ring promises that when I return I want to replace it with an engagement ring. I um went to visit my wife's grave before which is why I was away and I went to buy this ring after. I did a lot of thinking about us while I went to visit her and I realized that I want this for us, I want you as my wife. I thought I wasn't ready because we only dated for only a month but I know I want this more than anything. Do you want it?" He stopped to hear my reaction to the whole thing.

I was still stunned from the whole speech and couldn't help but say how I felt at that moment, "yes I want it too." I happily smiled and he did too. This was like a pre-engagement and I couldn't believe it was happening.

We both decided we wanted to keep it a secret between us since it wasn't a big deal just yet but once he returned we would tell everyone we know the good news of course after he pops the question for real. I had no idea when he would actually propose to me but that's the fun part - not knowing.

I finally made him my famous fried steak and he absolutely loved it. We made love that night a couple of times and I watched him soon drift off to dream land. I was so happy, this was way better than how I pictured our last day would be. I will be Mrs. Eric Northman one day. I looked at the ring and couldn't wait to become his wife and for it to be replaced by an actual diamond ring.

AN: There! Are you guys happy now? For those of you that think they are moving too fast – when you find the right person and you want to spend your life with them doesn't matter how long you were together. This Vegas trip will be a big test for our couple because they will have to deal with a long distance relationship. I know you must all hate that Quinn is in the story now *evil laugh* but I want to use him and play with his character a bit. And now that we know Bill didn't cheat on Sookie or anything. I agree with you fellow readers it was time for a change for Bill not to cheat on Sookie. Well that's all for now. Let me know what you think! Until next time fellow readers!