Chapter 29

I was awake the next morning by 9am. I thought I would end my last day the same way I started. A nice relaxing day on the beach I hoped that Natasha and Justine would be able to join me. I felt fantastic. I looked in the mirror and I could see the glow I see when I see vampires. My hair was shinier and as I looked real closely into the mirror I could swear I saw some of the small lines on my face that you naturally get as you begin to approach 30 had disappeared. My laugh lines were almost completely gone and the little lines around my eyes were gone. I had to look really hard to see the bite marks on my shoulder the one's on my thigh were a little more noticeable. I put on my swim suite under my shorts and t-shirt and slid on my sandals and headed down stairs. I didn't find anyone in the house so I went to the kitchen to make some coffee. I found a note on the coffee maker
Sookie, the staff has the day off make yourself at home if you get up before us. We will see you when we wake up.
Nat & Justine
I decided on a bowl of cereal, toast and coffee. That was fine with me. I ran back upstairs and got my book and headed out to the beach. I left a note on the coffee maker myself. Out at the beach, hope you can join me. – Sookie
There were workers all around cleaning up from the festivities from last night. I grabbed a beach towel and a water out of the cabana and settled into one of the lounge chairs took off my clothes and put on some sun tan lotion and started my book. I had been sitting there in my own world and someone walked up behind me and I jumped up. The guy approaching was definitely thinking of me but he was still 50 feet away. It was a young guy, one of the workers breaking down the set up, odd the way I felt his mind I thought he was up on me. He smiled as he approached and as to not look odd for standing I adjusted my lounge chair. "I am on a break and you looked lonely out here," he flashed his smile again. "My name is Todd."
"Well, Todd, I am not lonely, I am trying to relax and enjoy my day sunning on the beach. I am sure you are not being paid to socialize, not even on your break." I sat back down on my chair and he was actually arrogant enough to sit on the end of my lounge. "The boss doesn't mind. Like I said I am on a break," This chick is hot, this is just what I need is to hook up with a little rich chick, even if she is a bitch, the money would be worth it. She's just playing hard to get. Then he put his hand on my knee and I put my hand on top of his and I plowed into his brain, Todd Johnson, Elm Street, Daytona Beach, FL. "Todd," with my hand on his knee he was feeling very confident, I slid his hand up my thigh just a little bit at a time and opened my legs ever so slightly, his mind was buzzing and his pants were beginning to bulge, "let me show you something," I said in a sexy little voice.
"Sure, anything." I don't think his smile could get any bigger.
"Take a look right here," I had moved his hand only two inches up my thigh and had a good hold on it with my other hand I moved my left hand in sight, "you see this ring, it's probably worth more then everything you own plus your annual salary, it's my engagement ring. He was staring at it and feeling a little pain from me squeezing his hand. With his eyes fixed on my ring I pointed to my thigh, "Can you imagine what my fiancé would do to you if I told him about your intentions and unwelcomed solicitation? We could easily come pay you a visit any night just after dark on Elm Street here in Daytona Beach." Fear filled his eyes, I squeezed just a little harder, increased strength I knew was a side affect of Eric's blood, "Todd, when a girl brushes you off take it as a hint. If you want to move up a class you have to start with getting some class" I released his hand.
"I am so sorry. I promise I won't bother you again, please don't tell your boyfriend. I have never met a vampire and I really don't want to start with meeting one mad at me for offending his lover." He was rubbing his hand with his other one and he scurried off. I was actually laughing to myself when Natasha walked up. "Sookie, what did you do to that poor boy? He looked like he was about to throw up." "Oh, you know, unwelcomed advances, I decided to teach him some manners and give him a little scare both with a little glance in his mind and a threat with a vampire boyfriend"
"Oh you are so bad, sorry I missed that one. Natasha is on her way out, we were talking, we are so bummed that you are leaving today, we would like to treat you to an early dinner before the guys wake up. You don't even have to get dressed up just put your clothes back on over your suite we want to take you to a favorite place of ours on the beach just about 15 minutes from here. But we would like to treat you to some other fun too so we would like to leave soon if that's ok with you. It was fine with me so we headed into the house. We gathered our purses and headed out to the garage. The three of us climbed into a pretty black 300Z with IMORTL on the license plate and the T-tops were off. We took our short drive and parked near a pubic beach. The girls grabbed my hands and we took off. We went into a surf shop, "Hey Seth," Justine said as we walked in, "this is our friend Sookie and she is going back to Louisiana today but we wanted to teach her to catch some waves before she left, you mind if we borrow some boards?" "Nice to meet you Sookie, with that glowing tan and that blonde hair I would have pegged you for a surfer girl anyway. Anything for you Justine, help yourself you know where everything is."
"I don't know the first thing about surfing, but I am willing to give it a shot." We got boards and walked down to the beach and they gave me some basic instructions before we got in the water and then we began to paddle out. I was really excited and I fought the waves coming towards us with ease and paddled through them. I found that I had reflexes like a cat, I was having a blast surfing, I was beginning to enjoy the side effects of the vampire blood. We surfed for a couple of hours before we took the boards back. We showered the salt water off of us at the public shower on the beach toweled off got dressed and I was famished. We went to this quaint little burger shop and I had a huge burger, medium well with onion rings and a chocolate shake. I must have eaten like a horse because a couple of times I caught the girls staring at me a little strange. Instead of looking into their minds, after all I made every attempt not to look into the minds of my friends, I was finding it extremely easy to keep up my shields. "What, why do you keep staring at me?" I asked finally not wanting to probe.
"You seem so different today, Sookie. It's like you are you or at least the you we have gotten to know over the last few days but only improved. You look different, Seth was right you have kind of a glow about you. Has something happened?" Natasha had a very serious look on her face.
"I'm the same me. I think I am just relieved that we are finished with the summit and done with the Fellowship and I am going home and I am going to start planning my engagement party. Eric and I get to get on with our lives, I think y'all are just picking up on all of my excitement and joy." I gave them a convincing smile but I knew that wasn't what they were picking up on.
"Party, are we invited?" Justine was so excited.
"Sure, I will be sure you receive your invitation in plenty of time." I smiled a little more self assured.
"Sookie, I have a great idea," I didn't realize Justine had ideas of her own, "when you decide when the party will be, call us, we can come to Louisiana and help you plan and decorate."
"Great idea! Sookie we would love to come and visit. Since the King and Eric seem to be such good friends I am sure he wouldn't object to us being gone for a few days. Everyone deserves a vacation every once in a while." Natasha was just as excited as Justine. "That sounds great! If you guys don't mind staying about an hour away from Shreveport I could put you up in my family home in Bon Temps, Amelia is living there now but there are two more bedrooms. It's nothing fancy but y'all are more than welcome." I was so happy to have met Natasha and Justine, I really felt like we were true friends.

We went back to the mansion and I was enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face and the wind in my hair while Natasha zipped down the costal highway in the fancy sports car. By the time we got back it was getting close to dark and I could feel Eric starting to wake up and I hadn't even gone upstairs yet. We walked up the stairs and the girls and I said our goodbye's and passed hugs around and I went into our room. I had packed our luggage and left Eric out clothes for our trip home. I wasn't going to have time to shower before we left so I decided to just wash up and put my hair up and change clothes. I walked out of the bathroom and Eric was awake sitting on the side of the bed. I walked up to him and gave him a kiss. He inhaled me, "I can smell the sun and the ocean on you. Did you have a good day?" He licked my neck, "I can taste the ocean on you as well."
"I did have a good day, I went surfing."
I knew he wanted to know about any side effects I might be having, "Eric, do you notice anything different about me? Anything at all? Really look at me." He leaned back and gazed at me.
"Your hair is different. Is that an effect?"
"You really don't know what I should expect?"
"No"
"Yes, my hair is shinier, the laugh lines around my face and eyes have near disappeared, of course I have the increased strength and speed, I feel great, I feel younger, healthier. I can also control my gift better, I can put my shields up and keep them up with almost no effort. But that's not all, I can also pick up on thoughts much easier. Eric, is it possible that your blood in the amounts that I have had can reverse or slow my aging?" "With my age my blood in quantity could have many effects. Sookie, you realize that if this is the case and you continue to drink from me and your aging slows this will just prolong our time together in this lifetime." Eric had a bit of a concern on his face as he raised his hand to my face and caressed it softly.
"A similar thought ran through my mind this morning. But we will talk about this more later. Now you have to get dressed so we won't miss our flight home." I gave him another kiss and pointed to the clothes I put out for him.
"You picked my clothes out," he said with a smile.
"Well, I picked out your clothes from the clothes you already had. It's not like it was a big choice, your jeans, a t-shirt and your boots. I already packed your bags." "Thank you, Lover." He stood and got dressed, brushed his teeth and hair and he grabbed all the bags and we headed down stairs. Drake met us at the bottom of the stairs and he and Eric said a few words to each other in the language I still didn't understand even though I spoke it last night. They hugged, heavy pats on the back, Drake thanked me again and hugged me, "Sookie, if you ever tire of this buffoon, move to Florida and I will take care of you." He smiled and he and Eric shook hands and the limo was out front waiting on us.

We arrived at the airport and as we walked through the terminal you would have thought we were running through the terminal naked with our hair on fire with all the stares we got. We boarded our plane and had an uneventful flight home. "When do you think you will be able to meet with Filipe de Castro? I am anxious to start planning our engagement party."
"I will request a meeting with him at his earliest convenience. I will contact him as soon as we are back in Louisiana. Lover, do you have a wedding date in mind?"
"I know the nights are shorter during the summer but I was hoping to have it while the weather was warm so we could have an outside ceremony. If you aren't up to this summer then we could plan it for next if you want to wait." I was hoping he wouldn't have changed his mind about whenever I wanted he was ready.
"Lover, I told you that you pick the day and I will be there. I can't wait to make you my wife to make you Mrs. Eric Northman – Sookie Northman. Do you like the way it sounds?" He was rubbing my hand.
"Oh yes, nothing could sound more perfect."
I was so glad to be back in Louisiana when we landed. I loved the sun and the ocean but home is home.