A/N I'm really sorry for the delay in posting. Sookie was being a stubborn little ... and would't talk to me. I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I figured something was better than nothing.

I own nothing, Charlaine Harris owns all.

Chapter 11

Thanksgiving was a day filled with food, food and more food… Gran had been up early of course to get the turkey in the oven, so breakfast was on the table and Jason had already joined us for the day.

"Hey ya Sook" he smiled, jumping up from his chair and wrapping me in a hug. I missed his hugs.

"Hey Jase, how've you been?" I smiled, kissing him on the cheek and turning to get a cup of coffee "It's really good to see you." I added as I settled into my chair, reveling in the smell drifting up from the cup of heaven in front of me.

"You too" he grinned and shoved half a pancake in his mouth, maple syrup dripping down his chin and proceeded to chew with his mouth open, just to annoy me.

"Jason!" Gran scolded and poked him in the side "I know I taught you better than that."

"Sorry Gran" he said with a chuckle "I was just tryin' to make Sookie squirm"

I poked my tongue out at him and put it away quick smart when Gran turned the evil eye on me.

"You two…" she huffed. Crossing her arms and pretending she wasn't pouting.

We both jumped up from our chairs and kissed her cheeks at the same time, as was tradition when we had pushed her that little bit too far.

"Love you Gran" we said together as a little smile creased her face

"I'm getting almost as good at playing you two as you are at playing each other" she laughed, with a quick swat on our butts as we scooted away laughing.

Amelia bounced in from outside, having been for a run, who knows why… she looked bright eyed and bushy tailed and if I didn't love her I would have pulled out her hair one strand at a time… I was not a morning person.

"Morning everyone" she chirped as she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table

"Morning" we all replied with varying tones of happiness.

Breakfast was soon over and the table cleared. As was tradition on Thanksgiving the Monopoly board was pulled out and we started a game.

"I still don't know why I bother playing, y'all cheat anyhow" I pouted; I had two hundred dollars after passing 'Go' and had just landed on one of Jason's properties which meant I had lost it again straight away.

"Hey, it's not my fault you're not cut throat enough to snap up property when you can" he laughed "Gran and Amelia seem to be doin' alright!"

"Yeah, cause y'all are ganging up on me!" I said with a laugh "I hate this game… I vote we get something else to play next year."

I was cried down by the other 3 participants who saw fit to list the many good qualities of a game of monopoly…I told them it was horse pucky and earned a cuff on the ear from Gran. She didn't like that kind of language except in extreme circumstance.

I wasn't allowed to leave the table until the game had been won, I sat there for another two hours. Luckily my family is also as funny as hell and when Gran got up to do her happy dance after taking Jason's last hundred I was done for. I laughed so hard tears were streaming down my face, my stomach hurt and I think I might have peed a little.

Gran ended up winning and we cleared the table again. It was time for feasting and giving thanks. We heated things that needed heating, set the table with Gran's wedding china and crystal, popped open a bottle of sparkling cider and prepared to stuff ourselves silly.

Stories flowed, laughter bounced off the wall and somehow Jason ended up with the wishbone stuck in his nose. Gran couldn't figure out if she should laugh at him or scold him so she settled for cuffing him over the head and laughing as she tried to remove it.

"So little sister" Jason said with a stretch while rubbing his nose, which was still a little sore "tell me about this fella… he's some kinda nerd?"

"No Jase" I said rolling my eyes "He's smart and he's into computers, he's not a nerd though"

"In my experience a guy who's more interested in computers than chicks is a nerd" he argued.

"Well would you say someone who was more interested in cars than girls was a nerd?" I asked "because if not then you need to rethink your definition… besides, he's more of a computer ninja"

Jason laughed hard at that "he's Ninja? At computers?" he laughed again "Sook, you've got it bad… I think it might be lurrrrrrrve" he added, dragging the word out and fluttering his eyelashes at me.

"Oh shut up" I said with a pout, blushing… I couldn't think of a better way to describe Eric. He was interested in other things, he just happened to be awesome with computers.

"Jason, stop teasing your sister" said Gran with a smile "He makes her happy, that's all that matters"

"Besides" Amelia chimed in to back me up "I have never, ever met a nerd that looks like Eric… he is the least nerdy person I have ever met… including you" she laughed.

Jason looked like he'd been mortally wounded "You're sayin' I look like a poindexter?"

"No Jase, you're too pretty" she teased with a laugh as he preened and fixed his hair "I'm just saying that he doesn't either… he's... sorry Sookie… he's yummy"

I laughed and stuck my tongue out at her "It's ok Ame, you're right… he's all kinds of yummy…" I daydreamed for a little while about my boyfriend and his perfectly shaped rear.

"Well, I can't take your word for it" Jason said interrupting me "Y'all are biased…being the opposite sex and all… maybe he put his whammy on you. Ooh! I know… he used a mind ray… No! He designed some kind of cologne that changed the chemicals in your brain to think he was hot… No! No! I know what happened! The glare from his pocket protector reflected off his coke bottle glasses and partially blinded you so you thought he was hot…"

"Look, I'll show you, I can prove he's not a nerd. He sent me some photos." I said, realizing that Jason had a mental picture that would never, ever fit Eric.

I ran upstairs and grabbed my laptop, opened it up to his photos and came back down with a smile the size of Texas. "Here Jason, look through these and tell me if you still think he's a nerd"

Gran and Jason curled around the laptop to get a look at my honey…

As soon as Jason saw Eric he stopped laughing and stared at me like I had two heads "That's Eric?" he asked incredulously "but… he's cool!"

Gran chuckled and smiled at me with a twinkle in her eye "I can certainly see why you're so smitten, Sookie! He is a very handsome man."

"Humble Pie Jason?" I asked holding out my hand like I was offering something to eat… Point for me!

"Mother Fu…udge." Jason started and stopped himself before uttering the word that would have ended up with a severe tongue lashing from Gran "He's got a corvette? What kinda nerd has a corvette?"

"I told you" I smiled "He's Ninja"

"Who's the babe?" he asked after clicking through the other photos.

"His sister Pam" I said with a laugh "but I don't think you're her type…"

"What? I'm everybody's type…" said Jason puffing out his chest in a manly display of stupid.

I just shook my head and laughed "Sometimes it's easy to forget you're smart Jason"

"What?" he laughed "It's true! I had to run away from Old Mrs Bellefleur last week, she was trying to grab my…"

"Jason Archibald Stackhouse!" Gran scolded, interrupting "Don't even think about finishing that sentence!"

"Sorry Gran" he said, hanging his head a little waiting for the cuff around the ears "She did though"

Amelia and I burst into laughter at that trying to imagine the tiny Mrs Bellefleur chasing after my brother with her walker.

Jason pouted and walked into the living room. He turned on the game and set the volume loud enough to drown us out, so we just grabbed at the air with our faces screwed up instead. He pouted a little more at that and crossed his arms across his chest in a sulk pretending to ignore us.

Amelia and I started clearing the table and putting away the leftovers. We talked Gran into having a nap as she'd been up for so long already today. I day dreamed while we did the dishes. Imagining a future where Eric might be sitting in the living room watching the game with Jason, or outside playing with our children.

Gran joined us again after a while; Jason's team had lost miserably so we decided to watch a movie instead. After we had made the popcorn, had a quick game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' to decide who got to pick, Amelia picked You've Got Mail with a cheeky grin and wink in my direction.

The movie finished and we migrated back to the kitchen for leftovers. Gran announced we would be having visitors tomorrow and wanted us all to make sure they had a good time.

"Who's coming tomorrow Gran? Someone we know?" he asked

"Oh... ah… just some friends of mine… from um… church… they're err…new." Gran replied awkwardly.

We all looked at each other knowing she was lying through her teeth, but we didn't want to call her on it, so we let it pass.

"Ok then" Jason said with a grin "When would you like me to come over? Help out with the leftovers?"

"You know you're always welcome here honey" Gran said with a smile and pulled him into a hug, standing on her toes to kiss his forehead. "You can bring your football and some other things appropriate for small children though. Sookie you still have your dolls upstairs?"

"Well sure Gran, you know I'm a pack rat" I replied "You want me to bring them down now?"

"I think that would be a good idea" She nodded "I just want to have everything to hand for them so the parents can relax and not worry about them causing a fuss if they get bored"

"Where do these new people live Gran?" Jason asked "I didn't know anyone had moved in around here recently"

"Oh… they're um… thinking of it. You know the old house across the way is empty so…er… I said to come on by and check it out" she replied, and took a huge bite of food to show us she wasn't going to answer any more questions.

"Ok" Jason laughed "I'll bring over some things too… I don't know why you're being secretive, but it's only tomorrow so…" he shrugged.

"I'm old… I'm allowed to have secrets" Gran poked her tongue out

We laughed and changed the subject…Amelia launching into a story from her LSU drama class that had us all in stitches. There's no class that could teach you to be as funny as Amelia.

Before long Jason decided it was time to head home, we followed him out onto the porch to see him off…

"Night Gran" he said, hugging her tightly "I'll see you in the morning. Night Sook. Night Amelia…"

"Night Jason" we called after him and waited until he turned onto the main road before turning to go back inside

"Well I'm beat, I'm gonna go read myself a bedtime story" Gran piped up just as Amelia and I were about to question her again about the 'visitors' "I'll see you in the morning" she added as she bustled past kissing us both on the cheek.

We heard her door slam a minute or so later and turned to each other with questions on our faces

"What the…?" Amelia said

"I have no idea!" I replied with a laugh "I guess we'll find out tomorrow"

We gave each other a hug goodnight and I grabbed my phone.

"Hi Baby" I said softly as Eric answered his phone.

"Who dis?" A little girl asked

"This is Sookie, who is this?" I asked with a little chuckle

"Dis is Heidi May Dawson. I'm 4" She answered "Why you callin' so late? Is bedtime!"

"Well" I laughed "I rang to say Goodnight to Eric, is he there?"

"Yup" she chirped

"Well, Miss Heidi, May I please speak with him?"

"Uhhh" she pondered for a minute "nah…we busy"

"He's busy? With what?" I asked

"We playin' tea party… he drinkin' tea silly" Heidi said with a laugh.

A short rustle and many more giggles later Eric was on the line.

"Hello my love" he chuckled "I'm sorry about that, I didn't realize she had my phone, I thought she was talking to an invisible friend"

"She's cute" I laughed "although I'm a little upset that you play tea party with other girls"

Eric groaned and laughed again. "Promise me you won't tell Pam? I'll never hear the end of it!"

"Tell me you love me and I promise not to tell Pam" I laughed

"Sookie Stackhouse, I love you!" he declared dramatically, making me laugh even harder.

"Want to watch the stars with me lover?" he asked softly.

"I'd like that" I replied with a smile "just let me grab my coat"

We sat out in the chill night air, he described where to look and what we were looking at turning the inky blackness above into the marvel that it was.

"I love doing this with you honey, but I'm getting cold" I said after a while

"Sorry love" he chuckled "I get wrapped up in possibility and forget things sometimes, I should have been more attentive"

"It's ok honey… I just wish you were here to warm me up again" I teased

"You and me both" he growled "are you trying to seduce me Miss Stackhouse"

"I would… but I'm kinda tired tonight… wanna snuggle?" I asked with a giggle

"Anytime Sookie" he laughed

We talked for a little longer, swapping 'I love you' and 'I wish…' when I started yawning he talked me into going to sleep. With one last I love you we hung up and I fell asleep with a smile.

The next morning came and I wished yet again that I was waking up next to Eric. I remembered the feeling of being in his arms, his fabulous smell… oops, I'd better stop that line of thought before I get myself too worked up.

I gathered up all my dolls and little girl toys in a basket and carried them down to the living room. Amelia had bought hers down along with her collection of My Little Ponies and Smurf figurines.

Gran was at the table yet again with a smile on her face and breakfast ready. Amelia was pouring a coffee and gave a shrug and a confused glance at Gran signaling me that something was weird this morning.

"Mornin' my darlin' girl" she chirped "did you sleep well?"

"Fine thank you" I chirped back "And you?"

"Oh, just fine… I'm so excited about the family coming over today, I'm sure you'll just love them" she said with a chuckle.

I looked at Amelia with a question in my eyes and she just shrugged again.

"Oh! I have to call Jason!" Gran suddenly yelped, jumping up and dialing his number quickly. "Jason honey? – oh fine fine – no of course nothin's wrong – no I just remembered, could you bring over your folding table and all the chairs you have? – well I just now remembered the family that is coming over is quite large – oh well there's ten of them – of course I'm serious! Do you think I'm going senile and I've forgotten how to count? – well good – alright then I'll see you soon – love you too honey, buhbye now"

Gran turned around with a grin on her face "Maybe I am going a bit silly in my old age! I don't know how I forgot they were such a large family…"

She fussed around in the kitchen putting things to rights after making breakfast, we did the dishes while she set the kitchen table for six.

Jason showed up a little later with looked to Amelia and I for answers and we both shrugged… if I didn't know better I'd say she was on drugs.

We set up the table and the six chairs Jason had bought in the living room, covering it with a table cloth and setting it for lunch, making sure everyone had room to move. Gran set up a little table for two on the coffee table with a little vase of flowers in the centre.

"They have two little girls, I don't want them to feel left out eating down there" she said justifying the addition of flowers on the tiny table.

"Now, why don't you girls go and make yourselves pretty… they should be here soon" she added with a twinkle in her eye…

I was upstairs pulling on my jeans when I heard a car on the gravel drive, soon followed by the slamming of multiple car doors and the woof of a dog obviously relieved to be released from a car with ten people in it.

"Sookie! Amelia! Come on down here… we have visitors" Gran yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

"Be there in a minute Gran, Sorry!" I yelled back.

I heard her greeting everyone and asking them to come in, offering drinks and generally being the good hostess she was. I could hear the little girls diving into the toys, delighted giggles drifting up the stairs soon afterward. I heard some boys outside yelling for 'Sam' and laughing hard at who knows what…

Amelia walked past and yelled at me to hurry up, and walked downstairs. Her chuckle that normally indicated mischief drifted up a few seconds later and I heard her greeting everyone as well.

With one last smoothing swipe of the brush to my hair I decided I was as ready as I was going to get. I bounced down the stairs and into the living room "So sorry to keep y'all waiting I was just…" I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at the miracle before me.

"Hello dear one, nice of you to join us" said Eric with a smirk, opening his arms for a hug.

I burst into tears instead.

A/N Please be gentle