Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris is still the Queen of the Southern Vampire Mysteries chess board, but I couldn't help messing with a few of her pawns.

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Eric POV

When I opened my eyes this evening, everything was as it was every night, dark and still, just waiting for me to own it. I am Eric Northman after all. My first thought was of my lover, and that if I took off immediately, I could fly to her side in less than 20 minutes. I raced to my closet, pulling on the first garments my fingers came in contact with. Tonight was the night that I planned on asking her to marry me.

I was at the Chevrolet Dealership early this morning, shortly before dawn, when I spotted the candy apple red Camaro. I didn't think even Sookie could turn down a beautiful piece of machinery. I even test drove it just to make sure it was up to my standards. The Camaro wasn't as sleek as my Corvette, but damn, if it didn't growl when I turned the key.

I think I might have shaved a few years off of the salesman's already short life, when I popped the clutch and threw the stick into first gear, holding down the gas and brake pedal for a few seconds, spinning the tires. The sound and smoke of the tires screaming for traction on the already warm Louisiana asphalt was music to my ears. I quickly released the brakes and slammed the car into second, literally launching us out of the parking lot. I flew down the highway, noticing the blood drain from the poor man's face, and watched his Adams Apple bob up and down as he worked to swallow whatever was in his mouth. As my surroundings began to blur, even for me, I felt the urge to throw my head out the window and give a Viking cry at the power under my hands, but I held onto my dignity just long enough to deny my desire.

As I rounded the corner back into the car lot, after putting about 50 miles in 15 minutes on the car, I knew I had to have it. It would be a nice toy to drive from time to time, giving my Corvette a rest. I pulled to a stop right in front of the show room doors and put the car in park. Before I could remove the key from the ignition, the salesman was out of the vehicle, puking in the bushes that framed the sidewalk. I laughed to myself, thanking Odin that I no longer had the weak constitutions that humans did. I could not do even half of the things required of me if I did. After waiting a few minutes for him to finish heaving, and then a few more for him to freshen up and compose himself, I made him a very happy man. I walked out of there the proud owner of two fully loaded and soon to be modified Camaros. Mine, of course, was bright red.

I decided to go with the bright yellow 2SS Coupe for Sookie, thinking that the color suited both her personality and her love of the sun. I made sure to have them upgrade the sound-system and a few extra security upgrades that she would never need to know about. The tracking device and the interior listening devices were just in case anything ever happened to her. I needed to know that she was safe at all times, even if it meant that she would hate me if she ever found out that I did this.

I walked out of the dealership, and hopped back into Pam's boring Toyota, wondering how she could drive this thing. Sure, it was tweaked under the hood to coax a bit more horsepower out of the tiny four-banger engine, but still, it amounted to a putt-putting go-cart on the kiddies track compared to the kind of cars I usually drive. But, it was a car, and I did have to make it back to my house before the sun rose for the day.

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With a warm True Blood in hand, I am looking through the packages that Bobby Burman delivered to my house this afternoon. I'm searching for one in particular – one that contains several things I specifically requested as I hope they will be the key to my happiness. It is a rather large box, bearing the moniker Tiffany & Co. with the famous address on the label. I pull the tape open, gently lift out each signature blue-colored box and carefully set them on the table. I take my time opening them, being careful not to touch most of it for fear of burning myself. I can't wait to see Sookie's face once she sees the whole set of silver jewelry I bought Sookie, mainly for her added protection when around other vampires I might not necessarily trust.

The last box I open is the most important one, in my opinion. It held the most beautiful engagement ring I have ever seen. Moreover, it is the ring I noticed Sookie glancing at it with longing while thumbing through Pam's Tiffany's catalog one night at Fangtasia. I quickly closed all of the boxes and shoved them into my waiting suitcase, all except the ring box, that went into my front pocket. I fully intend on asking Sookie to marry me before the night is over.

Should I get down on one knee as I have imagined over the years? What would she say? Would she say yes and leap into my arms? Would she be overjoyed? Or, would she reject me? With Sookie, I never know what she will do or what she will say, it is one of the many fascinating qualities I admire when I'm around her. Just as I am contemplating how many times she will deny me, or what kind of stipulations she will place on our impending marriage – that's if she says yes, Pam strides into my house as if she lives here. I see the stupid grin on her face and realize that I haven't looked outside yet.

I lean over to my left and look out the kitchen window, happy to see that the cars were delivered during the day as per requested. I walk back over to the table and rifle through the mail and packages until I see the manila envelope from Bobby. Inside it contains all of the insurance information and paperwork, along with each new set of keys on personalized key chains.

"You do know that she is going to have a fit when you tell her that one of them is for her, right Eric?" Pam asks with sarcasm oozing from her overly pink smiling lips. That Pam- she's always one to see the humorous side of any situation.

I can only smile at her.

"Yes, though I think that I might have the solution to her accepting my gift here in my pocket." I reply, tapping my right hip.

"You know, as the vermin say, sometimes you just make it too easy." Pam says, cracking up in a fit of laughter.

"I haven't seen you this jovial in a while, my child." I remark. "What has you in such a good mood tonight?"

Raising her eyebrow and smiling wickedly at me, she says, "Other than the fact that I have free tickets to the 'Humiliate Eric Northman Show'? Not too much. I just can't wait to see how far Sookie runs from you this time. There is simply no way that she will agree to both accepting the car and marrying you in one night."

"Well, my child, we shall see." I smirk at her as I throw the key to Sookie's car to her and we make our way to the door. I hold it open for her, gesturing for her to exit before me, and I say, "After you."

"Thank you Eric," Pam hesitates before opening the door to Sookie's car, calling out to me. "Clancy and Chow will meet us at Fangtasia to follow us out to Sookie's, and I will ride to New Orleans with them, unless you require me to be with you tonight?"

"No, that sounds just fine." I smile as I climb into my bright candy apple red Camaro, inhaling that new car smell.

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Several hours later, after some intense negotiating, I finally got Sookie to agree to both marry me and keep her new car. Once my concessions were made, and she got what she wanted, we had our own form of celebration dance – twice, christening each car properly.

As Sookie is catching her breath, I can't help but replay what she said.

"Yes, Eric, I will marry you," she said. It was like music to my ears when she said yes, but that quickly changed once she added that she didn't want to marry me right away. Why the wait? Did she know of my plans to protect her, to make sure she was safe from the Queen? It broke my undead heart to hear her say that it was because she did not trust me and my devotion to her. Hadn't I proven that to her repeatedly, even when she was with Bill? I had always been there for her. Usually in the shadows and out of sight, but I was there.

I might not have gotten her to agree to marry me tonight, but I can understand her wish to wait. I definitely don't agree with her reasoning though.

"I know how manipulative you have been in the past. I know how your position as Sheriff means everything to you, and I also know that you can withhold emotions from the bond. I cannot be sure that you aren't just trying to do what Bill failed at." Her words stung me. I had thought that she would be able to trust me by now, and truthfully, I was a bit disappointed that she didn't – it was one of many things I would have to work on, for her.

She is still trying to catch her breath, and I know that we need to hurry if we are going to make it to our hotel and meet with Pam, Chow and Clancy before sunrise to go over our strategy for keeping Sookie safe from the Queen.

"We need to get going if we are going to reach New Orleans before morning. Are you all packed and ready?" I ask her, handing her the clothing that I had scattered all over her front yard, just a short time ago. I myself am already dressed and ready to go.

"Yes, I'm all packed, but I'll need a few 'human' moments to clean up after your little stunt here buddy." She turns and points her finger at me as she makes her way up the porch steps.

"My little Stunt? Did you not enjoy it too, my love? I seem to remember you screaming my name several times, along with a few other things." I can't help but laugh at her pretended anger. As if anything about me is 'little', I think, smirking to myself.

"Oh yes, you were certainly enterprising tonight, getting engaged, getting me to accept a gift that cost as much as I make working at Merlotte's, and christening both cars almost simultaneously. And yes, I did enjoy it too… immensely!" she says as she looks back over her shoulder at me with a smoldering look in her eyes.

Oh Shit, this woman is going to be the final death of me.

I walk back over to my shiny new Camaro, open the trunk, and lean against the side of it while I wait for her to clean up and bring her bag outside. I think back over the last hour, wondering why I ever expected her to take one look at the ring and instantly fall into my arms. Of course, that would've been nice, but it wouldn't have been my Sookie. She just has to overanalyze everything. Who cares what the pathetic people in this town think about us? I don't want to wait. I want her now, for far more than just merely protecting her. I love her.

If I could convince her to accept the car so easily, then maybe I can also persuade her to marry me while we are in New Orleans. Mississippi allows for Vampire- Human marriages, and I have heard that Biloxi has several 24 hour chapels that cater specifically to the undead. Crossing state lines from New Orleans to Biloxi and getting married would only take a couple of hours total. We could be back before anyone ever missed us. It would be nice to return to Shreveport with Sookie as my bride. Yes, I think that we might make a slight detour on our way home. It couldn't hurt to try anyways. Once we deal with the Queen, we will be free to enjoy ourselves for a while. Given a few nights, I know that I can influence Sookie to cross state lines with me; it just might take a bit of 'sweet persuasion', which I am more than happy to provide of course.

Although, if we are wed before we meet with the Queen, it will tie her to me undeniably, and can only serve to help me protect her better. The Queen doesn't like to share. Now, she is being forced to share Sookie with me… needless to say, she isn't very happy about having to ask my 'permission' to use Sookie, whom she considers to be one of her assets. I can only guess that the Queen will try to separate us, and will try to test Sookie's love and loyalty to me, and may even try to force her to bond with her or another vampire. Despite the bond Sookie and I have, the Queen can order me to leave her, while she cannot if we were legally married.

It will not be a surprise to me if she tries to steal Sookie away from me, by hook or crook if needs be.That is what I would do if I was in her position, and I am prepared to do whatever I must to protect my bonded.

Hmmm, I wonder… if I share this information with Sookie, will she change her mind about waiting to get married a few needless months from now? And if it does, can I convince her to do it within the next few hours? What will it cost me?

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a/n: Also, a great big thank you is needed for my Betas; Misticbutterfly and teamedward86, and for my idea girl, Jeri, as well.

While this is a completed story, please remember that reviews are always appreciated.