A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews- I was seriously doubting myself, so to hear that ya'll like it was just awesome.

Also, I'm both really excited and kinda bummed that the number of people who have added this story to their "alerts" almost equals the number of reviews...please please please take a sec to review- I read each and every one and I really appreciate your comments!!!

Disclaimer: All these awesome characters belong to the equal awesome Charlaine Harris.

_______________

Sookie POV

I woke up with the sunlight streaming through the windows onto my face. It was chilly and still quite early, and after my bath last night I hadn't bothered to put on clothes, so the sun's warmth felt especially welcome. I was lying on my stomach, with half of my face smushed into the soft pillow. I lifted my head and turned it to see that Eric, (who always slept naked, I remembered gleefully), was already awake. He was lying on his side, with his face propped up in one hand. He was watching me intently.

My breath caught a little.

Under the sun's golden rays, he looked like a divine being; too beautiful to be human. His blonde hair shone, his blue eyes glimmered, and boy howdy, the muscles flexing in his arms...

On the other hand, there was the utterly unglamorous me. I was pretty sure my face had unfortunate creases from the pillow, my hair was a hot mess, and my limbs were still sore from our sexcapades on the couch last night. But all of this was forgotten when he smiled.

His fingers reached over and brushed my hair to the side. He leaned over to place a gentle kiss on my shoulder.

"Mmm, good morning to you too, " I murmured drowsily. His thumb caressed my shoulder, sending secret tingles of delight all over my body. I clutched my pillow tighter.

"I love watching you sleep. You're so unbelievably gorgeous," he whispered, grinning boyishly.

I snorted to hide my own goofy smile. "Creeper," I teased him. In a move that somewhat negated my comment, my hand snuck under the sheets and found his gracious plenty. His eyes darkened and he leaned in to give me a proper kiss.

I wanted him (geez, when didn't I?) and I was ready for him but he pulled away. I pouted, but he was adamant.

"No, Sookie. In fact, I think now might be a good time for our talk."

He disentangled himself and I reluctantly fell back against my pillow, turning my head to look at him. His actions mirrored mine, and he enclosed my hands in his.

Pillow talk, indeed.

"Eric, I think we covered the main points last night. One, you won't make decisions about us by yourself. Two, I promise not to act like a...well, like a high schooler—" and here he winced slightly "—when we have a disagreement, even though that's what it took to bring you to your senses." Another grimace. "Finally, no more games, especially at school. Mmmkay, I think that about covers it," I summed up before moving to kiss him.

He scooted back and pressed a conciliatory kiss to my forehead instead. I huffed indignantly. Even when the lower half of my body was aching like I'd just done about 50,000 lunges, I wanted me some Eric lovin'. The idea of his naked body lying less than a few inches from my own naked form, and me not touching it, was driving me wild. Huh, and to think that I could have cared less about sex only a few short months ago...

"That is, assuming that we are staying together, Sookie," Eric spoke softly, but nonetheless, I was drenched by the proverbial bucket of ice water.

He spoke quickly once he saw the fear in my eyes. "I only mean that the issue of the future still remains. We have avoided discussing it as much as possible, but if we are going to move forward, we can't any longer. Our options are just so..." he sighed, frustrated, "...limited. And Sookie, I cannot allay my fears about the possible consequences if we're discovered."

I thought for a moment.

EUREKA!

"What if I transfer to Ms. Ravenscroft's class? That might lessen the chances of us getting caught, and even if we were, you wouldn't technically be my teacher."

He considered it and slowly agreed. "Yes, I think you're right. And honestly, it would ease my conscience as well. It's becoming more and more difficult," his fingers coasted down my waist and came to rest lightly on my bare hip, and I shivered in response, "to be objective when I'm grading your papers."

He paused as his eyes searched mine.

"Are you sure you want to be in this relationship?"

Gee, Eric, heck no! I only walked around school wearing nothing but a trench coat for an entire freaking day to get your attention. And gave myself a goddamn Brazilian wax. Er, sorry God.

Although tempted to roll my eyes, instead I counseled my features to remain as blank as possible. "Are you sure you want this, Eric?"

He kissed my hand resolutely. "Yes. I love you, and I couldn't imagine my life without you in it."

A tiny smile escaped as I said, "Ditto."

Perhaps he would always have reservations about our relationship, at least while I was still a student. But he was looking to the more immediate future, whereas I was looking beyond that.

Maybe I was foolish to hope for so much, (ok, I definitely was) but I felt like maybe Eric was The One. He could make me crazy with jealousy and heavy with sadness, but I knew without a doubt that the humor and happiness and joy and pleasure that he had brought into my life far outweighed the negative things. It may have been foolish (ok, noticing a pattern here) to trust him with my heart again so soon after he had broken it, but love is inexplicable. And I loved him.

The idea of not trying to make it work seemed so foreign and horrible that I couldn't bear to consider it.

But I also meant what I had said to Eric the night before; that he only got one more chance and if he colossally messed up again, there wouldn't be the opportunity for a third. I thought I would be strong enough to follow through, but hopefully I wouldn't be forced into a position to discover whether or not I actually was.

I didn't want to ruin the moment, and I knew that asking a guy for commitment was supposed to be the quickest way to run him off, but I couldn't help myself.

"Eric..." my thumb stroked his hand for a moment as I hesitated. He waited patiently.

"I know you're worried about this year, but have you thought about afterwards?"

His brow furrowed, so I continued.

"Like, um, if I went to college or-or didn't," I stumbled slightly, "...could you see us together then?"

*********

Eric POV

Shit.

How could I answer that one?

If I said yes, then later one she might feel obligated to sacrifice a very important part of her future. And I had personally experienced the problems that that kind of resentment could lead to. But at least I would be telling the truth. Which was that I had imagined creating a life with her, a home and even children. (Jesus, I was such a girl.)

And if I said no...Well, I would be a liar and she would be hurt.

Apparently my hesitation answered her question.

She shook her head, embarrassed, and slid out of the bed.

"Never mind, just forget I asked."

I was about to reach for her but she moved too quickly, scooping up one of my t-shirts and throwing it on. She went into the adjacent bathroom and the sounds of teeth-brushing followed. Rolling onto my back, I reached up and rubbed my forehead in consternation. Fuck.

Sookie eventually finished in the bathroom and hastily left my room without looking at me.

I flung off the covers and threw on some cotton drawstring pants. After my own haphazard grooming session (this short hair was ridiculously manageable; I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before), I went to look for her. The familiar, delicious smell of bacon wafted towards me as I headed into the kitchen.

The sight that greeted me was even more mouth-watering. Her soft blonde locks were held back in a loose ponytail, with a few strands escaping. She was wearing one of my white UT shirts, which ended just below her ass and emphasized her long, tanned legs.

When she turned around, I could see her hardened nipples poking through the thin material.

"Did you want scrambled or sunny-side up today?" she inquired distractedly, moving to the fridge.

I reached her in two strides and placed my hands against the fridge on either side of her, effectively trapping her between me and it.

"Yes," I growled, unable to stop myself. I lifted her legs and wrapped them around my waist.

She instinctively ground into my hardness and her hands clasped my neck, but she asked, confused, "Yes...ah, what?"

My hands moved to cup her face. "Yes, I think about us being together after you graduate, and even further in the future than that. I think about making a home with you. And a family."

I paused, looking for the right words.

"And it scares the hell out of me, Sookie. Not only because you're so young and I don't want you to feel pressured into anything, but also because I never thought I could feel this way...having a family wasn't even something that I considered with Vivienne."

Her eyes widened and there was the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Really?"

I caressed her cheek and bent to kiss her.

"Really."

I carried her back to the bedroom and we made love slowly, sweetly, tenderly, gently; with whispered pleas and murmured endearments. We crested simultaneously, worshipping each other's bodies and losing ourselves deep in each other's eyes. When it was all over, she seemed totally drained of energy and fell asleep again in my arms, but I couldn't do the same in hers. My thoughts were too heavy.

There was something so earnest and trusting at the essential core of her being. I only ever wanted to protect that, and protect her. And I'd be damned if I let anyone stop me from doing just that.

*******

Sookie POV

I spent the rest of the day at Eric's.

After the past tumultuous week, it was nice to fall back into our routine. The weather was gorgeous, so after we woke up (again) and ate breakfast, we walked down to the pier and the pond that were at the back of the house. The trees were in various stages of undress; some were completely bare, with huge piles of crunchy, dead, brown leaves underneath, whereas others were still covered in orange and yellow foliage.

We sat on the bench swing and Eric, with his arm draped atop the frame and loosely around my shoulders, gently rocked us back and forth with his long legs. His left hand sought to clasp mine and for a long while we didn't speak, content to bask in the serenity of our surroundings and the feeling of each other.

My head rested against his chest and I thought about his earlier admission. More than anything else, this encouraged me to hope that we might be together in the future. I knew that things might change, our circumstances and even ourselves, but whatever happened, our relationship right now was real and valid.

And no one and nothing could ever undo that, I thought fiercely, as my grip on his hand tightened ever so slightly.

­­­­­_______________

Coming up: Next chappie is up!!! Enjoy :D