"Pam, no smiling. You're bored, remember?" Sookie said under her breath.

"Oh, but this is wonderful. We own this? Look at the line of people!"

"Yes, exactly," said Eric. "This is why we'll go in the other way," he said leading them around the club to the back entrance. They walked through and straight to Eric's office.

"These people sure don't smell as good as you, Sookie," said Pam on the way there.

"Uh, thanks?" said Sookie.

"It is true, lover," said Eric with a leer.

Sookie simply rolled her eyes.

Once in Eric's office, he called for Ginger to bring Sookie a drink. She asked for a gin and tonic.

They all took seats but Pam was obviously bored. She kept tapping her foot to the beat of the music she could hear.

"I love the music! Should we dance, Sookie?"

"I don't know. Does she dance Eric? I've never seen you." Sookie wanted to make sure Pam kept to her normal personality as much as possible.

"Not usually, you usually check IDs at the door. I don't suppose we can put you there tonight. We'll have to get someone else."

Ginger interrupted with Sookie's drink and when it was obvious that she wanted to hang around with them in the office, Eric dismissed her curtly.

"Ginger is really nice, Eric. And loyal. You should be nice to her," Sookie admonished.

Eric just grunted.

"I can man the door," said Pam eagerly, "Then I can find a suitable human for later. Surely I can't be expected to drink bagged blood until I get better. I will even feed on a man!"

"Well, Pam, you must be desperate," Eric joked. He added, "But without me there to make sure things do not get out of hand, you need to drink bagged or bottled."

"Well, you can be there. I told you I wouldn't mind being with you."

Sookie coughed loudly, choking on her drink. "Pam!" she yelled.

Eric waved his hand, "Pam, as abnormal as it is for vampires, I am monogamous with Sookie. Neither one of us will be with anyone else."

Sookie was proud of Eric for explaining that so well. She got up and went to sit on his lap to kiss him. "I love you," she whispered into his mouth.

He made a satisfied noise against her lips, slipping his hand into her hair to tilt her head. He could feel her happiness humming in the bond.

Pam groaned and Sookie and Eric reluctantly parted. Sookie went to sit on her own chair because she knew Eric would not keep his hands to himself if she stayed on his lap.

"We have two hours until Lafayette and Jesus get here," said Eric, resuming business mode.

"Are those the people who can help me?" asked Pam.

"Yes, hopefully. They will try if they wish to live," Eric said gruffly. He felt an immediate spike of irritation from Sookie and looked at her. It was going to make it hard for Eric to operate as usual if he had to feel Sookie's reactions to everything he did.

"Eric!" Sookie said in exasperation, "You promised to be nice!"

"I said if they help I would be nice, lover."

"They're coming. I talked to Lafayette. I wanted to make sure they were coming and let him know I'd be there too."

"Very well," said Eric.

"So be nice to them when they get here. Be polite. Don't scare them!"

"I am a vampire, Sookie. I am scary." he said smugly.

"You know what I mean, Eric. Don't be menacing!"

Eric felt her anger rising and decided to stop incensing her further. "Okay, my lover," he said playfully, "I will do as you say." He smiled brightly at her, hoping she would be happy with him.

He longed to feel her happiness. It was a pleasure he had forgotten since the last time he could feel her but oh, how much more delightful it was when the happiness was directed at him. This bond was proving to be a sweet torture to its vampire owner. He would do anything to make her happy just so he could feel it too. When she was angry it was agony for him and when he remembered her sadness at the reveal of Bill's betrayal, he knew he would never want to feel that through the bond. Yes, he would do whatever he could so that Sookie would be happy and especially, happy with him.

So Eric mused about his new bond with Sookie, and he concluded that he was owned completely by a small human girl. She already owned his heart and soul and now she would own his actions too. The thought simultaneously pleased and enraged him. He could not reconcile the fact of his thousand undead years with the equally impressive fact of his deep and abiding love for Sookie Stackhouse. Would he really sacrifice his ego for her? He searched inside himself for an answer and the only one that he kept coming to was –yes. Unerringly, immutably yes. He would sacrifice anything for her and while that thought would have terrified him weeks ago, tonight it scared him just a little but he mostly felt a profound sense of peace at their deep connection. He was eager to complete their bond so that she could feel him too.

Sookie smiled back at Eric. She was happy that he was listening to her. This excuse he had of being a vampire did not hold much water with her. She believed he could be polite and act right. He did not need to intimidate in order to get what he wanted. She understood that he was extremely worried about Pam but in her mind, even that was not an excuse for bad behavior.

Eric wanted to spend the time waiting for his guests by working in his office. He encouraged Pam to stay with him but she wanted to look around the bar and watch what was happening.

"Ok, but remember how to act, Pam. Do not smile and be nice to these people. They know you as different than that, okay?"

"Ugh, Eric. As if I need any help from you," she said in a scathing tone.

Eric just looked at her blankly until she smiled and said, "See? I can do it!"

Sookie laughed. Maybe Pam really could do it. "That was excellent, Pam!" she said.

Eric was less amused. "I see," he said, "Well have fun. Sookie, will you be staying next to Pam?"

"I will. We'll dance and have a drink. It will be fun!" Sookie enjoyed dancing even though she did not get much of a chance to.

So Sookie and Pam shook their stuff out on the dance floor and had every single being- human and otherwise- watching them intently. As Eric walked out of his office he sensed an immediate wave of arousal from the room and heard many vampires murmuring about his progeny and his bonded. As Eric looked over at Pam and Sookie, he felt lust course through him to see their bodies so close together and writhing rhythmically on the dance floor.

"Shit," he muttered to himself, shaking it off. As a young male approached Sookie to ask for a dance, Eric growled possessively and moved to block his path.

"You want to turn around and walk away now," he said menacingly to the man.

The man stared with huge eyes for a second and then scrambled to move out of proximity of the hulking vampire in his way. "Y-yes," he stuttered.

Eric walked up to Sookie and immediately smelled the presence of another male on her body. He walked up closely behind her and growled in her ear, "You have let another man touch you."

"I danced with someone who asked, Eric. It's not a big deal," Sookie said lightly.

"It is a big deal," said Eric gruffly, turning Sookie around to face him.

"Seriously, Eric. You weren't here. What does it matter?"

Eric sensed her growing irritation at him and changed tactics, "Sookie, it makes me look weak if my human, and I know you don't want to be called that but that's how they see you, but if my human is rubbing herself on another man."

"Rubbing myself? It was a dance!"

"Yes, fine. You dancing with another man makes me look weak, Sookie. You must understand that, my love?" He looked into her eyes to convey his sincerity.

Sookie's anger softened at the look in his eye and the name that he called her, and she hugged Eric, "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't think about that. I'm really sorry. Do you want to dance with me?"

"I want to do more than dance with you," said Eric, his eyes clouded with lust.

Their bodies were close together and they were swaying slightly with the music. The friction was enough to arouse Eric and Sookie could tell what more he wanted to do.

"My office locks," said Eric in a suggestive tone.

Sookie was debating whether to have an office romp with Eric when she caught sight of Pam, who was running her hand dangerously low on a female patron's stomach.

"Hold that thought," she said to a grumbling Eric, as she walked up to Pam. "Hi, Pam. Who's your friend?" said Sookie.

"This is Amelia. She would like to go somewhere more private with me," said Pam. Then she turned to Sookie and whispered, "Do you know where we could go?"

"Uh, nowhere!" Sookie whispered harshly.

Pam looked heartbroken and Amelia just looked intrigued and a bit excited to have garnered so much attention.

Pam whispered into Sookie's ear, "But she smells good, Sookie. And she likes girls. Is there not somewhere we could go? Ask Eric."

Sookie rolled her eyes and told Pam to wait while she talked to Eric.

Eric, knowing what it is like to be denied when aroused, let Pam into the basement bedroom with a maker's command not to feed from the girl. He couldn't be sure Pam would be safe and not drain her.

By the time Pam and her lover of the night emerged from the basement, disheveled and breathless- the lover because she was winded, Pam because she did not need to breathe- it was time for Lafayette and Jesus to show up.

Sookie was nervous as time ticked by and at five minutes after ten was about to freak out, when they walked through the door.

Lafayette and Jesus walked right up to Sookie. "That damn line is too motherfuckin' long, girl!" Lafayette said, hugging her.

Eric was instantly at her side. "You are late!" he said harshly which earned him a glare and spike of anger from Sookie. He softened his voice and said, "Thank you for coming. Follow me to my office." He led the way and everyone followed.

Lafayette nudged Sookie and widened his eyes while looking at Eric, surprised by his polite thank you. Sookie just smiled.

Once in his office, Eric sat and motioned for the others to sit as well. "Did you find anything to help Pam?" he asked.

"Shit, Eric, we tried. We looked through hundreds of books. Marnie don't even know what she did. Its next to impossible," grumbled Lafayette.

Eric slammed his fists onto his desk in frustration causing everyone to jump. "So, you have nothing?" he yelled.

"We found something, uh, but we ain't sure it's gonna do what we want."

"What is it?" Eric sat forward in anticipation.

"We found a spell, just a kinda general reversal spell, I don't know, we could try it...if you want us to."

Jesus, who had until now been silent, leaned forward and said angrily, "We did nothing to cause this vampire. We are helping you because you threatened Lafayette. We were there all day looking for something, anything, that would help so if this doesn't work, I hope you will remember that."

Eric opened his mouth to speak but Sookie beat him to it. "Of course he knows that, right Eric? He is worried about Pam-"

"Sookie," said Eric harshly, cutting her off. He did not want to be made to seem weak in front of others. He continued with, "I understand that Jesus. I...appreciate your help." He nearly choked on the word appreciate. It had been so long since he offered his sincere thanks to anyone, let alone humans.

Jesus and Lafayette visibly relaxed and Eric felt a pulse of happiness come through the bond from Sookie. Each time he felt her happiness it was like a small caress to his skin from his lover. He wanted this whole thing with Pam to be taken care of quickly both because he loved and worried about his progeny and because he wanted to enjoy his newfound relationship with Sookie and bond completely with her.

"Are you ready to try the spell?" he asked. When they nodded, Eric got up and asked everyone to come to the basement with him so they would have more room.

Sookie could hear Lafayette's scared thoughts about having to return to the basement that was the cause of so many of his nightmares. She put her arm through his and gave him a smile. "You will be okay, Lafayette. Eric won't hurt you," she said softly to him. Raising her voice, she added, "Right, Eric? If this doesn't work, they are free to go, right?"

"Yes," Eric said after a short pause, "You are free to leave but if you find out anything else you had better," he paused at Sookie's sharp look. "I wish for you to tell me," he finished, politely.

Sookie smiled at him. He was showing remarkable restraint tonight and Sookie was glad he was trying to be polite and not demanding and scary. She thought of a little reward she could give him when they got home. Thinking of what she would do for him made her heartbeat pick up and Eric and Pam suddenly looked over at her hungrily. She smiled sheepishly and Pam looked away but Eric's eyes glazed over with lust for a brief second before he too looked away.

"So should we get started," said Jesus rather impatiently. He was angry about having to be in this place that caused his beloved Lafayette so many bad memories.

"Please do," said Eric stepping back to give them room to do whatever it was witches did. Eric was not fond of witches but if they could help his Pam, he would let them cast their spell.

They drew a circle on the floor with salt and asked Pam to step inside. Then they held hands and began chanting in Latin.

They had both obviously memorized the spell, which made Eric feel like they had tried hard for him. Maybe these friends of Sookie's were not too bad, he thought.

Eric watched Pam intently as their chanting got louder and louder but he saw no change. They stopped chanting and Lafayette unclasped his hand from Jesus' and reached out for Sookie's hand.

"Maybe we need more people," he said, and Sookie started toward him. Eric was conflicted about letting Sookie get involved but he didn't see how any harm could come to her from just holding hands so he did not protest, though he watched her closely.

As they began chanting again, Sookie tried to copy what they were saying but did not have much luck. She was still hopeful that some part of her Fairy-ness would help the spell.

Jesus and Lafayette, too, were hopeful for a successful spell and the subsequent ending of their debt to Eric Northman. As polite as he was being to them, they were still scared to be here and to owe him for their part, however unintentional, in hurting his progeny.

But when they had chanted the entire spell three times with no change in Pam, they decided that it was not working and unclasped hands.

"Thank you for trying gentlemen," said Pam. She walked up to Lafayette and touched his shirt. He visibly stiffened but relaxed when she smiled and said, "I just love this fabric. And the accessories you paired with it really set it apart. These earrings are divine!"

He looked at her blankly for a moment before regaining his ability to speak. "Thank you," he said with obvious surprise in his voice. "You sure you need her to get her memories back?" he added with a laugh. When Eric growled and glared at him he put his hands up. "Okay okay, shit, I was joking," he said, alarmed.

"Well, thank you for your time this evening but it appears to have been wasted. But, if you find out anything else I would be grateful if you will tell me right away," said Eric. He could really be a politician if he wanted to. Now that he had some incentive to behave well toward Sookie's friends, he would turn on the charm, though he really was happy for their help.

"I'll walk you out," said Sookie.

They walked up the basement steps and through the club before Sookie hugged them each goodbye at their car. "Thank you so much for trying to help. Eric is trying not to be scary because I asked him to. But I'm still sorry you had to come here. I know how hard it must have been."

Lafayette smiled and said, "Hooka, I almost fell right the fuck over when he said thank you! You must be working some of that pussy magic!"

Sookie blushed and swatted at his arm. "You hush your dirty mouth!" she said with a smile.

Jesus laughed, "Let's hope your magic keeps working because I have a feeling we'll need it."

"Well, good night fellas. Have a safe drive home," Sookie said. She walked back towards the club as soon as they got into their car. The parking lot was eerily quiet and she should have sensed the void closing quickly on her location but she was distracted by thoughts of Pam and Eric.

"Hello darling," said the voice of the vampire who had grabbed her arm.

Sookie spun around to face him. "Bill," she spat, "Let go of me!"

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Thanks for reading! As you can tell, sometimes it takes me a while to get a chapter of this story out to you. I apologize for less than weekly updates like I promised but I find this a more difficult story to write than my other one. I struggle to keep the people mostly in character and remember what has already happened by this point on True Blood. So I hope you will forgive me and cut me some slack if the characters or plot don't mesh all that well with what you know from the show. Thanks! :)