Few things to clear up:

1) I know you are all excited about Texas, but give me a couple chapters (should literally be two)

2) For all my little counters out there, CH has said several times that blood bonding is not some specific formula, and I plan to stick to that. That is to say, if Sookie and Eric exchange blood again, that will not necessarily mean they are bonded

3) I have obviously decided to use Godric, but the actual story line will be much closer to SVM and all of the backstory with the two and Eddington will not be making an appearance

4) After a very serious discussion with one of my reviews (Thank you Sarifina) I have realized some flaws with the early story line. I will be re-writing some key sections. My next chapter will probably be a short section, and I will include the chapters that have been reworked in case you all want to read the changes.

Now that all of that is finished, hope you all enjoy this chapter… It is a little shorter, and it definitely changed when I wrote it out. However, I kind of like it!

Eric attempted to cover up his anxiety over the matter as they discussed details. He had many instructions for Sookie, including that she should go ahead and start calling him Leif to cut down on the chances of slipping.

He wrote her an advance check to go shopping. Appearance seemed to be a big thing to him all the sudden. She put up a small fight, but was much too tired to make a real go of it. The clock had signaled the end of Wednesday and the beginning of Thursday by the time Eric/Leif finally decided Sookie was yawning too much to be paying proper attention. Or maybe it was that the sun would be making an appearance before too long. The poor waitress had found a dead body, worked a partial shift at Merlotte's, been attacked by a crazed immortal, been sucked dry by some vampires, had a blood transfusion she couldn't remember, and then had a major vampire emergency dropped in her lap. She was beyond worn out.

She traipsed out to his car through the completely empty parking lot, having refused to let him carry her. Her current apparel was forgotten momentarily, until the breeze from Eric passing her to open the passenger door brought the tails of the shirt flying up. Sookie quickly flattened the cloth out, but from the way Eric was smiling it was too late.

Then again, the Viking had been her shirtless earlier… what were a pair of lacy panties? She stuck her chin up in the air with more dignity than she felt and refused to look at him or acknowledge his smirk as she carefully situated herself in his car.

Neither said a word as Eric drove back to Bon Temps. Despite the ridiculous speed at which they were traveling, Sookie actually dozed off once or twice. The change of pace when they got to her driveway was jarring. Suddenly, they were a part of some snail race. Eric was grimacing as he eased along.

"There's no one home to worry about waking, Leif." She was proud of herself for remembering despite her exhaustion.

"I am not worried about that. Your driveway is terrible, and I do not want to damage my car."

Her fatigue made that funnier than it should have been. In fact, normally, she would have been up in arms over his talking about her home, but all she could do right then was giggle.

Eric looked worried as she started tearing up. Sookie fought for control, finally ending the giggle fits, while wiping away her tears.

"Sookie… I need you to get rested and be ready for this assignment." Eric was not laughing.

"I know."

"Saturday was the earliest they could book a jet for us, which puts us in Dallas later than I wanted. You will have to make up that time."

Sookie looked at Eric with heavy lids, nodding. "I will find him, Eric. I promise."

"Leif."

"Right, good night, Leif." She leaned over in the car and kissed Eric's cheek. "Better not tell Eric about that. I don't think he likes me kissing anyone." She had definitely crossed over to that stage of sleepiness that closely resembles drunkenness.

Before she could lean back, Eric had turned his face. He grabbed her hand, which was still wiping away stray tears. Slowly, he took one of her fingers into his mouth, sucking away the drops that remained. Then his arms were around her, pulling her into his hard frame, but there was nothing uncomfortable about the way that his lips were moving against hers. Eric had obviously written the text book on kissing, and Sookie was more than happy to let him work his way through the techniques. His tongue must have had more muscles than a human because it was doing impossible things.

A desperate need to breath finally pulled her away from him. She stared at him wide-eyed as what just occurred penetrated through the haze of exhaustion. The heat in the car was suddenly unbearable, or maybe it was the way that Eric was looking at her.

Sookie opened her door and stumbled out, right into Eric.

"Sookie…"

"Leif, that was a lot of fun, but I need to go to bed." She patted him on the arm genially.

"Invite me in Sookie… just say the words."

"Leif, I hardly know you." She tried to step around him, keeping it light. Somehow she had gotten turned around and was facing him again. His hand around her arm should have been a good indication, but she was honestly confused.

"Sookie, I want you." His voice was raspy with need.

"Oh, I know…" She said that almost too convincingly. Luckily, he had no way of knowing how clearly she had seen it in his mind. "I will tell you the same thing I told Eric… I don't do fuck and feed, Leif." That was not exactly what she had told him, but it would seem a tired Sookie equaled a vulgar Sookie. She had heard the phrase enough outloud and in people's minds at Fangtasia to understand the concept.

She pulled her arm away, or more precisely, he let her pull her arm away. The lack of inhibition was also making her personal sense of outrage come much faster. Sure, he was a good kisser, alright, amazing, but that did not give him a free pass into her panties!

"Now, good night!" She marched up the stairs, unlocked her door, went into her room, and crashed out on the bed. Sookie quickly nodded off in Eric's shirt with lips that still tingled.

Her near death experience and whatever had happened with Eric had solidified her need for a non-vampire getaway night. Eric wanted her prepared for Texas, and she intended to be. However, there was no way she was going to be of much use as stressed out and uptight as she currently was.

With that in mind, she had gone to her mental checklist of possible candidates for her night out. Arlene had been quickly crossed off. Besides the kids, she was still recovering from Rene despite what it might look like. Everyone else in the town had been so glad the messy affair was over, they had not thought too much about how he was killed, but it hadn't sat well with his wife. She was suspicious, though she wasn't quite sure of what yet.

Of course, Sookie couldn't go out with Jason. She wanted to have a good time, not watch her brother make a pass at everything in a skirt. She called Tara, enticing her with Girl's Night Out, but her friend already had plans with Eggs. Tara had suggested JB, but Sookie knew that he would expect more out of it. No matter how pretty and dumb he may have been, Sookie could not see anything lasting with him.

She was not really close with any of the other waitresses, and really, she needed someone who could be there just in case. Her incredibly bad luck had not gone unnoticed. That was when a thought struck her. It did not take long to find a rather large ad that included a phone number.

"Herveaux and Son, how may I direct your call?" A very professional lady's voice picked up after only one ring.

"Hi, may I speak with Alcide, please?" Sookie used her polite phone voice, calling him by his first name made it sound like she was already on good terms with him.

"Mr. Herveaux is out of the office. Could I take a message?"

"Please tell him Sookie Stackhouse called." She listed off her cell numbers for the woman who repeated it.

After a thank you for the receptionist, she hung up. Sookie's mind immediately started to wonder if he would get the message, if he would even remember her, if he ended up deciding not to call her back. But she knew all that negativity was useless. If he didn't call, then he didn't call. She would just figure something out.

Luckily for her peace of mind, she did not have to wait long before her phone was ringing. She was in the laundry room washing a few basic garments she knew she would need.

"Eric got you working as his secretary during the day now?" Alcide asked after the customary greetings.

"Actually, this is a personal call."

"Oh?" He sounded much happier now.

"I need to blow off some steam before a big business thing this weekend, only all my friends in town are busy. And the last time I went to a bar alone… well, let's just say that it ended with me agreeing to work for Eric, and it was anything but relaxing. So, if you are seeing someone, I totally understand, but if not, I was hoping you would be willing to escort me out for the evening. Just as friends." She added quickly. "But it could still be fun. Do a little dancing or whatever." She knew she was rambling, but this was only the second time she had ever asked a guy out, and the last time, she had been turned down for another woman. She was nervous; she really needed this to work.

"Sookie, breathe."

She did as he instructed, laughing at herself.

"I would love to go out with you… just as friends." He sounded amused by the phrase. "What night?"

"Tomorrow… I know it is short notice."

He hesitated. Of course, he would have other plans. "Yeah, we can totally do that. It is the full moon, so we can't be out terribly late." Sookie knew from Sam that shifters had to change on a full moon; the same was probably true for Weres.

"Oh, I forgot it is a full moon, sorry. You know what, never mind. We can just do it some other time." Sookie felt bad asking that of him, no matter how much she wanted a normal evening.

"Sookie, we are going!" His voice was playfully stern, she must have sounded as desperate as she felt. "Now, where did you want to go?"

"Honestly, besides Fangtasia, I don't really know any clubs, and I definitely don't want to go there. In fact, no supernatural bars. I don't know if you all have like a Were bar or whatever, but I'd really like to go some place regular. No offense."

"Considering your boss, I think I understand." Of course, he meant Eric, but Sookie couldn't help but think of Sam as well. Odd that the only person she could find to go out with her for a human night was a Were… "Tell you what, I'll come pick you up around 7; I know the perfect place up here."

"I just want to dance."

"Oh, we can make sure that happens! You got a cocktail dress?"

Well, she had to go shopping for some new clothes anyway, why not pick up a party dress too. "I can find something appropriate."

"Alright, I will see you tomorrow night!"

"Looking forward to it!" Her excitement was bubbling over as she hung up. Of course, that only lasted for a moment before she realized that she was stuck at her house. Eric had brought her home, and she had no idea where her car was. How was she going to go shopping?

Before jumping to any judgments, well, any more judgments. Sookie decided to go outside and check. She had been in the house all day, it was possible that someone had dropped her car off. It would not be that out of character for him to do that. When she reached the porch, it was not her little yellow car in the driveway, but some shiny silver sedan that she did not recognize.

"Eric, you better not have." One kiss did not mean he could buy her a new car, especially not a kiss when she was practically mentally impaired. She had been so tired.

She opened up the driver-side door to find the keys sitting on top of a note.

Your car had to be taken to the shop. They are fixing the numerous problems with it. Until it is finished, I have arranged this rental so you can run your errands and work for the shifter, if you must. Don't forget to pick up outfits that look professional with my money.

- E

She resisted the urge to once again rip up his note, but it was a close thing. Eric was by far the most high-handed being she had ever met! She had actually been inclined to think nicely of him for all of two seconds when she realized that he had not actually gotten her a new car, just a loaner. Only to finish the note with a statement which implied that without his warning she might have come back with Daisy Duke's and midriff shirts.

Sure her "professional" wardrobe was not exactly extensive, but for her entire working life, her day-to-day business attire was usually shorts and a logo-ed t-shirt. She had fashion sense, and she knew how to look nice.

Sookie folded up the note and stuck it in her pocket. She would show Eric Northman!