Sookie

Eric got off of his knee and joined me on the sofa again. I was examining my new engagement ring, wondering where on earth Eric had gotten it. I had never seen a diamond that big before in my life and it was flanked by two beautiful blue stones that I assumed were sapphires. I told Eric that it was the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen. He smiled proudly and said, "I'm so glad you like it, love. It belonged to my mother."

"Oh, Eric. I can't accept this. Your sister should have it. It was her mother's."

"No, no, Sookie. It was actually Pam's idea to give it to you. I told her about your beautiful blue eyes and she insisted that this should be your ring. She even took it out of the safe herself."

"But if she ever wants it as her own…"

"No. Believe me, she won't. She already has our mother's engagement ring that she wears on her right hand. Just wait until you meet her. She's very unconventional. She didn't want to wait to find a man before putting diamonds on her hands, so she started wearing our mother's ring years ago. Our mother wore your ring on her right hand and called it her anniversary ring, although neither Pam nor I know for which anniversary it was given. But it was very special to her. It makes me so happy that you like it."

"I love it, Eric. I'm overwhelmed, really."

"Good. But if you'd rather pick out your own ring…"

I cut him off, "This is my own ring. I'll never take it off."

"Except for tomorrow. To put the wedding band back on."

"Right. Except for then."

We both started to smile at the thought of what tomorrow held in store for us. Eric touched my face, wiping the tears from my cheeks and placed the softest sweetest kiss on my lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on to him fast while we tenderly kissed for a long time. I became very aroused, as I'm sure he did, but we never went any further than just holding each other and kissing. When Eric finally broke the kiss, he just kissed my neck, my hair, behind my ear, whispering over and over, "I love you so much."

Eric

Sookie said yes, or maybe she just nodded, I'm not sure. I was unexpectedly nervous and the details were a little lost on me. But the bottom line was that she loved the ring and we were both excited about getting married the next day. We sat on the sofa and kissed for a very long time before it started to feel late. We had both had a long full day and were feeling the effects. I took Sookie's hand and walked her into her room. I watched Pamela sleeping for a minute before kissing her gently and then gave Sookie one last goodnight kiss telling her that I couldn't wait until the morning when she would become my wife. I know I fell asleep with a smile on my face wondering what I had ever done to deserve such happiness.

Sookie

I slept a little later the next morning that I had the previous morning. It felt rather luxurious actually and when I came into the kitchen with the baby, Amelia and Eric were already having coffee. Eric jumped up and poured me a cup and toasted some bread for me and set a bowl of fresh berries in front of me. I felt very spoiled and told him so. He seemed to like that and rewarded me with a kiss on the cheek. Amelia gushed over my ring and I explained the significance of it as Eric's mother's anniversary ring. She and I both teared up a little and Eric chuckled at how sentimental we were but I could tell that he was proud that I loved it so much.

The wedding was in the courthouse and was simple and sweet. I wore my best suit which was a crisp lavender cotton with a white lace collar. Eric looked amazing in his crème linen suit. Amelia held Pamela who was dressed in a white lace dress that had been my mother's when she was a baby and Gran had kept in the cedar chest. My plain wedding band looked perfect with Eric's mother's ring as they were both white gold. Eric brought his father's simple gold band and I placed it on his finger as well. (It was unusual for men of Eric's father's generation to wear wedding bands, and so the heirloom was very special to Eric.)

Afterwards, we all celebrated with lunch at Merlotte's. Sam poured the champagne and the whole restaurant toasted to our future happiness. All of the women in the place admired my ring and the men shook Eric's hand. If there were any funny glances exchanged at the fact that our child had preceded our wedding, we certainly didn't catch them. People seemed genuinely happy for us.

Amelia parted with us at the bus stop. She had kindly and discreetly insisted that she wanted to spend the night at the Dawson's, leaving us the rest of the day and night to ourselves at the house.

When we got home, Pamela was hungry and so I got her fed and changed and settled down for a nap. I started to get out of my suit and Eric stopped me saying that he wanted to do that himself. I watched his face as he slowly unbuttoned and unhooked and peeled away each piece of clothing and carefully placed them on a chair. When I was naked before him, he whispered, "So beautiful," before he began to kiss my lips, my neck, my shoulders and his hands began to explore my body.

I said, "I don't quite have my figure completely back, but it will..."

He stopped me, "Sookie, you are more beautiful than ever to me. I am the luckiest man in the world."

I reached up and began to loosen his tie, unbutton his shirt. I removed his clothing at the same pace he had mine, lingering to touch the scar on his shoulder that I had stitched up a long time ago. When we were both completely free of our clothes, Eric pulled the covers on the bed back and picked me up, placing me gently on the bed. He climbed on top of me, kissed my mouth tenderly and then trailed his kisses down my neck. He reverently and gently kissed my breasts and then lowered his attentions to my stomach. "I wish I could have seen you when you were carrying Pamela. I missed so much."

"Well, you can watch me carry the next one."

He smiled up at me with a devilish twinkle in his eye. His hands gently parted my thighs and his kisses trailed even lower. I closed my eyes and rested my head back onto the pillow as I reveled in the new and amazing sensations of my husband pleasing me. I had never felt anything even remotely like what I was feeling as Eric was doing whatever it was he was doing. It was all overwhelming and amazing. I placed my hands on his head and he stopped just long enough to say, "Watch me, lover."

I opened my eyes to the most amazing sight and felt myself nearing the bliss that I had only experienced on one other night of my life. I was running my fingers through his hair, moaning and moving my hips in the same rhythm. I wanted Eric to know how much I was loving his attentions, but all I could manage to say was a mumbled, "So good," before my eyes involuntarily closed and I felt an explosion of pleasure. I was still in the throes of my climax when Eric crawled up my body and his tongue and lips found my mouth in a searing kiss. I reached down with both hands and wrapped my hands around him as I guided him where I wanted him the most. He plunged in with more force of course than the first time and we both groaned loudly at the pleasure. He was fast and forceful at first and I thought I would come undone at the power of the sensations. But then he slowed down and raised himself up, straightening his arms. I looked into his intense blue eyes and then let my eyes wander along his beautiful chest and arms. I reached up to touch his chest and caught sight of the rings on my left hand. Their meaning touched me so that I began to cry. Eric stopped and said, "Are you okay? Am I hurting you?"

"No, no, sweetie. I'm just so happy. I love you so much."

His lips crashed into mine and he resumed the faster more powerful rhythm and I let the feelings of joy and relief take me away as I wept openly and moaned in pleasure. I recognized the feelings inside me as well as Eric's breathing and pace and I knew what was coming. I closed my eyes, opened my mouth further to suck on his tongue and held on fast as we were both swept away in ecstasy together. Even as we came down from our mutual high, we continued the kissing and my tears didn't stop. Between kisses Eric told me he loved me and how happy he was. My emotions finally settled down to a simple and pure satisfaction as I held onto my new and very loving husband.