*Disclaimer*
Not my characters. They belong to HBO or Charlaine Harris. But I just love S and E together so much.
Sookie's POV:
We walked into the bar and I noticed that I was the only human there. I suddenly felt like I shouldn't be there, but Eric had told me that I was expected to come, so I continued to follow Eric up to the platform. I noticed that another throne had been placed next to Eric's. He motioned for me to sit there and I felt slightly uncomfortable in front of so many vampires.
"Good evening," Eric said, talking to the group. He was in his badass, political mood. I couldn't help but admire him.
"I understand that some of you have had some concerns over my becoming King. There should be no concerns. William Compton attacked my bonded, Sookie Stackhouse, and I was well within my rights to eliminate him. Let it be known that if anyone else touches my bonded without my permission, they will suffer the same consequences. Pam, please go and get the prisoner."
Pam left the room, disappearing behind the door leading to the offices. She came back with the vampire who attacked me earlier and I immediately tensed at seeing him. Eric sent me a huge wave of calm and I sent him back love.
Pam brought the man toward the platform. I noticed that a plastic tarp had been placed beneath the stage.
"This vampire attacked Miss. Stackhouse tonight in the back parking lot. Luckily, I was able to get to her before any real damage could be done. But, touch her he did, and now he will be issued the True Death. Let this be another example to you all. I do not FUCKING FORGIVE."
And with that, Eric took a stake from his jacket pocket and plunged it into the vampire's dead heart and he disintegrated into a pile of gore. Pam quickly closed the plastic tarp and disappeared behind the doors.
"Now, do any of you have any questions?" Eric waited a moment, but not a sound besides my breathing could be heard. "Good."
He sat down on his throne and all the vampires stood up. There must have been at least 400 of them and I was not sure how they all fit into the bar. They formed a line in front of the stage and "pledged their fealty" to Eric, and then to me. I was a little surprised that they offered it to me as well, but I figured they just wanted to be on Eric's good side. When they were done, they talked amongst themselves. I had to admit, it was really nice to be able to be in a crowded room and not hear a million thoughts.
Pam was last in line, and she came up onto the stage and kneeled before Eric.
"My King, my maker. I pledge my fealty to you and your bonded. I also would like to apologize for the juvenile way I have been acting. I am sorry about the things I have said to Sookie and I hope that we can move past this."
"Rise, my child." Geez, it was all really medieval. "You are forgiven. This time."
She nodded once and moved over to me, except she did not kneel.
"Sookie, I am very sorry for the way I treated you the other night. I would like to take you shopping soon, if that is alright with Eric. I feel us girls need to get to know each other, and then we can all live in peace." Pam looked so hopeful, and it was an emotion I had never seen on her face.
"Yes, of course we can go out. Sounds like fun," I said with a smile. Pam smiled back for a moment before her face returned to her usual bored expression.
"Pam, I think it is time to let the vermin in," Eric said from beside me. She nodded and went over to the door. "Everyone! You are free to leave. Thank you."
Most of the vampires got up and left through the back door, as Pam had advised them to. I guess she did that so there wouldn't be a traffic jam at the front door.
Pam took her place by the front door and opened it. I started to hear them right away.
Oh I hope the big, tall, blonde is here tonight!
It's not gay if they're dead, right?
I just need to get bitten!
I need some V, some V, some V. V, V, V! Hopefully one of these vamps will come with me tonight!
The last one made me pause and I turned to Eric.
"Eric, I heard a drainer," I told him as discreetly as possible "He's over there in the black V-neck and red pants."
Eric nodded to me and looked up. A vampire, that I did not recognize, came up and Eric told him what I had heard. The vampire left and grabbed the guy and took him behind the door that lead to the offices. I guessed he was taking him to the basement.
I couldn't find it in me to feel bad about it either. I mean, this guy wanted to drain a vampire. He was no saint.
We sat there for another 20 minutes or so, until I started to get bored.
"Hey, Eric? Can we get out of here soon?" I asked him, while hearing the thoughts of a bottle-dyed blonde who was thinking about my Viking.
"Of course, my sweet." He stood up and offered me his hand. I took it and we made our way off the stage.
The woman from before had made her way over to us and reached out and touched Eric's arm.
"I could give you a much better time than her, Sugar," she said in a voice that she probably thought was sexy, but I felt Eric's disgust and rage through the bond.
He ripped his arm away from the sickly-thin women and bared his fangs at her.
"That women is my fiancé. You EVER come here again and you will pay dearly. Now apologize to her," he said, motioning toward me. I couldn't help but be slightly annoyed that he called me his fiancé again, but I was slightly turned on by his protectiveness. Wow, when did I become such a damsel? I didn't need a man to protect me. I didn't need anyone.
I let go of Eric's hand and ran away from him and the woman. Maybe she could give him a better time. All I knew was that I needed to get out of there.
I got to the front door and kept on going, hearing Eric calling my name, but I didn't stop. I had to get away. He was changing me and I didn't like it.
I was a few blocks away before I finally stopped because I couldn't run anymore. I was crying and scared and I heard someone come up behind me. I screamed when I felt the two hands reach out and grab me.
"Sookie! Sookie, it is me! What is going on?" I turned around and saw that it was Eric standing there.
"I just, I can't, I don't, I, I, I," I sobbed out, not able to tell him what I was feeling.
"Sookie, Sookie! Calm down! This is not good for the baby! Take deep breaths," he said, and when he mentioned the baby, I realized how stupid I was being.
Sure he was changing me, but it was for the better. If I was going to have a baby with a vampire, I needed to accept his protection and his way of life. I was not the only one I had to think about anymore.
"I'm sorry, Eric. I just felt overwhelmed and I panicked," I told him, finally able to catch my breath.
"I do not understand. What overwhelmed you? That vile women's thoughts?" he asked me, confused.
"No, no. It wasn't that. I just felt like you were changing me and I felt like I just had to get out of there. I'm sorry. I realize that everything you do is for mine and the babies protection," I told him, wiping my tears away. "I'm fine really. Let's go the store and then we can go home okay?"
"Alright. We shall go to the store. But, Sookie, are you sure you are alright?" he asked, brushing my hair behind my ears.
"Yeah, yeah. I just was a little overwhelmed is all. I'm good now," I said, taking his hand.
But Eric had other plans. He pulled me into his chest and kissed the top of my head. Then he picked me up and somehow I was suddenly on his back.
"Hold on!" he said, and vamped us back to Fangtasia and to the car.
He set me down and we got into the car and drove toward the big sign that said "Wal-Mart."
I had wondered what this would be like. Grocery shopping with Eric.
Eric pulled into the parking lot and found a space easily, seeing as how it was 10:00 p.m. on a Tuesday. He got out of the car and came around to my side and opened my door.
"Uh, how about I meet you in there in a second?" I asked, wanting to clean up my makeup a bit.
"Not a chance. After what happened tonight, you will not be leaving my sight," Eric told me. I knew there was no point in arguing, but we were no longer in the vampire meeting and I was free to speak my mind.
"Excuse me! I can take care of myself. I was doing just fine before you came along, Mr. High-handed!" I wasn't completely sure what was causing me to be so angry. It was then I realized that I was being influenced by a person's thoughts.
Their mind was all tangled and hard to read, but I kept getting pictures sent to me from somewhere. I got out of the car and looked around frantically. The thoughts I was hearing were eerily similar to the night terror I had had the other night.
Vamper King...Dead...Silver...Stake...Closer...Get the blonde!
I was finally able to place where the thoughts were coming from. I could see a truck parked, with its lights on, across the lot, but I couldn't see into the car.
"Sookie? What are you doing?" Eric asked. I had almost forgotten he was there and I felt horrible for the things I had said to him.
But I couldn't focus on Eric now, so I ignored him and tried to concentrate on the person's mind. I could tell that it was a man, and a were of some sort, maybe a bird? I wasn't sure, but I was able to hear that he was not alone.
I started walking in the direction of the car when I felt my hands start to blaze up. When I was standing right in front of the car, with the headlights clearly showing who I was, I started talking.
"Hello. Do you know who I am?" I asked, with a serious expression. I knew they could hear me. I heard a woman's mind and I could tell she was also some sort of were, but not a full one. I was able to hear inside her mind much better than other were's mind.. "Your FUCKING worst nightmare!"
Gosh Darn-it! What is this crazy woman doing? Carl is going to run her over and it serves her right, the stupid fangbanging whore.
Just as the were, apparently named Carl, started reviving his engine, I noticed that Eric was standing beside me with his fangs down.
"Do it," he said, and with that I shot their car and it flew back about 30 feet. The lights went out and I could tell that I had damaged the engine somehow.
"Can we not go ANYWHERE without being attacked?! I mean, honestly! This is getting so annoying," I complained, crossing my arms over my chest. Eric started laughing right next to me and I just gave him a glare. "What in the fuck are you laughing at?"
"You! You are magnificent! I did not know you had such power!" he said, standing there with a huge grin. "Why were you so angry before?"
"That guy's thoughts! I heard him but it didn't register in my mind that I was hearing him until I saw us from his point of view. I saw him looking at us, if that makes sense." I tried to explain to Eric. I felt bad for yelling at him before. "I am really sorry! That was really weird. It's never happened before. Something was annoying me but I didn't know what until I saw his mind."
"It does make sense. I would love for you to tell me more about how your telepathy works, but for now, I have to go and glamour some stupid hicks." Eric vamped over to their car and I heard the woman scream. I just rolled my eyes because I could feel how satisfied he got with what he was doing.
I walked back to the car, grabbed my bag, locked the car, and shut the door. I walked into the store and grabbed a cart, blinking at the bright lights for a moment. I walked into the produce section and there were a few other women around me who were talking.
Suddenly they all went quiet and I looked up and saw that Eric had come into the store. I rolled my eyes at their reaction. If only they knew what a big dork he really was. Sure he was a badass Vampire King, but he was also very silly and playful.
I didn't wait for Eric to catch up. I kept walking through the store until I stopped next to one of the women, who was a pretty loud broadcaster.
I wonder if he would come out to my car with me. I bet he's HUGE.
I turned around and saw that Eric was a few steps behind me.
"Hey, Sweetie! There you are! Come on!" I said to Eric as he walked over to me. He kissed me on the cheek and the woman's thoughts suddenly turned to jealousy.
Why is it always the ugliest girls who get the best-looking guys? I am so much better looking than her, it's crazy!
I turned and looked the woman straight in the eye. "He would not and he is," I said to the woman, answering her previous questions. "And I'll let him be the judge of that. Ask him."
Her face paled when she realized what I had done.
"I...I...sorry," she said, her face turning bright red.
"What do you want her to ask me, my dear?" Eric asked, with a smirk.
"Hey, look, I'm-I'm sorry o-okay?" she stammered out. "Sorry!"
The woman ran out of the store and Eric and I burst out laughing.
"Oh, oh, I'm dying! That was priceless!" I said in between fits of giggles.
"What did she think, dear one?" Eric asked, still chuckling.
"Well first she was wondering if you would go out to her car with her and then she wanted to know how, you know, big you are," I said, gesturing to that area of his body.
He gave me a knowing smirk. "But what did you want her to ask me?"
"Well then, when I called you over to me, she thought she was prettier than me and that ugly girls always somehow get the best guys," I said, still laughing, but I stopped when I saw Eric's face. He looked so angry.
"What!?" he asked, starting to turn and follow the woman. I grabbed his arm before he could get very far.
"Hey, hey! It's fine!" I told him, not wanting him to go after that woman.
"You are much better than that vile women!" Eric said loudly, causing a few people to look over at us.
"Thanks, but you can't go and kill her just because she thought something rude," I told him, leading him over to the meat section.
"I could. But since you do not want me to, I will not," he told me, reaching forward and squeezing my ass. "When did I become such an ass-kisser?"
"When you met me, Sweetheart."
Eric and I made our way throughout the bakery, me pushing the cart, and him walking slightly behind me. I couldn't wait for when we could go shopping as a family and that made me look down and place a hand over my stomach.
"What? Is he kicking?" Eric asked, really excited.
"No, no. It's a bit too early for that. I was just thinking about him is all," I said with a smile at his eagerness. Eric leaned down and kissed my little bump. I smiled down at him until he stood back up and kissed me.
"So, what else do you need to get?"
I had made a grocery list in the car and I took it out of my bag, crossing off a few items that I had already picked up.
"Well, if I give you of half the list, we can speed this up."
Eric nodded and I ripped the list in half, giving him the bottom half. He looked it over and then took off. I continued looking for the items on my half of list and was working my way over to the dairy aisle when I heard Eric swear. I looked around but I didn't see him anywhere, so I continued on my way. Then I heard it again, but this time it sounded closer.
"Where the fuck do they keep the fucking peanut butter?" I spotted Eric looking at the display of butter and eggs, talking to himself. I stifled a giggle and made my way over to him. I noticed that he had grabbed a cart and had gotten most of the items on the list I had given him.
"Can I assist you, Sir?" I asked him.
He turned to me and had a frustrated, but playful, look on his face.
"Yes. There is no peanut butter here, but I am in the butter section. I do not understand."
"Well that's because peanut butter isn't kept here. It's not really butter," I said with a giggle. Eric's eyebrows rose in question.
"I think I am going to need to talk to your manager," Eric said, walking toward me.
"Well you see, I don't actually work here. I was just looking for my boyfriend. Have you seen him? Tall, blonde, answers to Eric, Sweetie, and My King?" He looked down at himself and then back up to me.
"Well, you are in luck! Because that is me! I am the one you are looking for." He came closer to me and reached out to grab me.
I took a step back. "Hey, he gets really jealous, so I wouldn't do that if I were you."
He took another step closer and I took another step back. "Really he does!"
Without warning I took off running through the store with my cart. I felt Eric running behind me, at human speed, with his cart, trying to catch me. He finally caught me and turned me around and planted a big kiss on my lips.
"There you are Eric! I'm so glad I found you! This guy was just chasing me! Did you see him?" I asked, slightly out of breath, still joking around.
"No. I just saw you running though the store like a madwoman, pushing your cart. Are you sure you did not imagine this man?" he asked me, brushing my hair back behind my ear. I noticed that he did that a lot.
"No, he's real," I said, and pulled him in for a soft kiss. Then I noticed that we were in the baby department and I saw the cutest little shoes. They were little leather boots, like the kind Eric was wearing.
"Oh! Eric! Look!" I said as I went over to the display, grabbing them from the shelf. I pushed them towards him. "Aren't they just he cutest?! They are baby versions of your boots!"
"Yes, they are, my sweet."
I began to collect a pair of the boots in each size they had, so the baby would be able to wear them for a long time, and placed them in the cart. When I was done, I noticed that Eric was standing there, smiling at me.
"What? Do you not like them?" I asked, suddenly embarrassed. I went to put the shoes back but Eric reached out and stopped me.
"No! They are perfect! I was just thinking about my son and how wonderful a mother you will be," he said, leaning in to kiss my forehead and then kissing my mouth. The kiss got heated very quickly. I heard someone clear their throat. When I pulled away and saw two old women glaring at us.
Stupid girl went and got herself knocked up. No ring, so they are obliviously not married. What is wrong with her?
The second one was worse.
What a tragedy?! That poor baby isn't going to know what it's like to grow up with a real family.
My eyes welled up with tears and I grabbed my cart and tried to walk away, but Eric grabbed my arm before I could go anywhere.
"Sookie, my lover, what is wrong?"
Did he really call her 'my lover'? I bet he's married, that little whore! Get's knocked up by a married man.
That's when the tears started to fall.
"Can we please just finish shopping and go?" I asked Eric, trying to be discreet. I saw that the two women were whispering to each other and looking at us.
The shorter of the two then started talking. "If you two would move and stop your sinning, we would appreciate it. It's bad enough that you are not married, but to be doing that in public..." She trailed off, shaking her head.
Eric looked over to the women and straightened up, standing at his full height. He turned to them and barred his fangs.
"You have upset her," he said simply, pulling her under his glamour. I had stopped crying and was wondering what was going to happen. "Apologize and forget about us. You never met us."
"I-I-I, I'm sorry!" one of the women said. Then Eric did the same with the other women before she and her friend rushed away. He turned back to me and wiped away my tears. I was beginning to wonder what the point of wearing makeup was, seeing as how I kept crying.
"Are you ok?" he asked me, leaning in close to me. I nodded and smiled up at him.
"Yeah, they were just two old bats who have nothing better to do but judge others."
"I love some of the sayings that you use." Eric laughed slightly and kissed my forehead and then took a step back. He then got onto one knee.
I couldn't believe that this was happening and in Wal-Mart of all places. He pulled out a jewelry box from inside his jacket pocket. I briefly wondered what else he kept in there. He had pulled out his wallet, a stake, and now this. I gasped at the sight of it. It was beautiful. Just a simple diamond on a white gold (no silver obliviously) band. It was perfect for me. I had feared that Eric would get something gaudy, but I loved the ring.
But did I really want to get married yet? Sure we were having a baby, but I still was unsure.
"Sookie, you are the girl in the white dress who walked into my bar and changed my life. I remember thinking how much I wanted you back then and how different this want is now. I want you as my equal and as my wife. I know that we just recently have gotten back together, but there is no use in waiting. I love you more than anything in the whole world. I planned on doing this in a much more romantic and private setting, but after seeing what just happened, I want this ring on your hand. So, Sookie, my sweet, my dear, my lover, my bonded, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
I stood there for a moment, with a shocked look on my face. I looked around and gasped, noticing that a group of people had surrounded us. I felt a ton of pressure.
Hell! You love him, you're bonded to him, basically immortal because of it, and you're pregnant with his miracle baby. Why the hell would you even question whether you want to marry him? Come on Sookie! Say something!
Taking a calming breath, I looked back to Eric and said my answer.
"Yes."
The look on his face was, it was indescribable. All the people surrounding us clapped and cheered. He stood up and slid the ring on my finger before pulling me in for a kiss. When I pulled back for breath, he leaned his forehead on mine.
"Yes," I whispered.
"You have made me the happiest man in the universe." Then he picked me up and spun me around, laughing.
"Okay, okay! Put me down!" I pretend scolded him. He did and kissed me again.
"Let us finish shopping and get out of here," he said. I could tell why he wanted to leave. It was pressing into my stomach. He really was much taller than me, but we always made it work.
"Okay. I think we have pretty much everything. We just need bleach and laundry soap. Why don't you go get it?" I asked with a smile. Eric smiled back and vamped away, only to return with the products 15 seconds later.
"Sorry I took so long. They were on the other side of the store."
I laughed at him and started putting the items from my cart into his. I pushed the cart over to the checkout and Eric started unloading the items quickly.
I rolled my eyes at his eagerness but couldn't bring myself to scold him.
"Hello. How are you tonight?" the cashier asked, with what she thought passed as a sexy grin.
Oh, wow, you don't see men like this everyday. I wonder if he would be willing to wait until my shift ends.
I didn't listen to anymore. Instead, I grabbed Eric's arm and pulled him to me. I planted a huge, passionate, kiss on him and when I pulled away I just glared at the cashier.
"No, he would not be willing to wait until your shift ends. He's going to be taking me home and fucking me till dawn. Aren't you, Sweetie?"
"Yes, of course, my future wife," Eric replied with a smug smile. "Why would I want you, when I have perfection?" he asked the cashier.
"I'm sorry," she said embarrassed, her face as pale as a ghost. She quickly rang up everything else and when Eric pulled out his wallet I didn't fight him on it. It was still a bit annoying but we were getting married after all.
He walked out of the store and brought the cart over to the Corvette. He opened the trunk and started emptying the cart into it. I tried to help him but he just wouldn't have it.
"Sookie, I got this. You can go wait in the car." I nodded at him and went and got into the car. He finished a few moments later and came into the car.
"Ugh, I'm hungry," I whined, all of the sudden feeling very hungry.
"What do you feel like?" Eric asked as he pulled out the parking spot. "Blood?"
"No!" I said, burying my face in my hands. "That was so embarrassing!"
"Well, I purchased every type of Tru Blood so we can see if you can drink those."
"I really don't want to but if little Ricky wants it, I'll just have to drink it for him."
"What did you call him?" Eric asked, looking over at me with a wondering look.
"Uh, well that's what I've been calling him. I mean, he has to have a name, so I was thinking we could name him after you, but call him Ricky as a nickname." I was kind of embarrassed that I had let it slip. "It's stupid, just forget I said it."
"No! It is fine! I did not know you wanted to name the baby after me."
"Well, I mean, you are his father after all." He picked up my hand and kissed it and didn't let go. "What do you want to eat?"
"Oh, I don't know. I don't really want to eat fast food again because I don't think it's good for the baby or me."
"Then that is definitely not an option. Do you want to go to this new restaurant that just opened up?" he asked me, glancing over at me with an excited look, which I was confused about. Why would he be so excited about a new restaurant? Unless...
"Eric, do you own this restaurant? And I thought you wanted to get home?"
He gave me a 'come on' look. "Sookie, I can wait. I do have some control. Besides, I would rather you eat. I do not want you to get sick. And yes! I do own it. Do you want to go?"
"Sure, what kind of place is it? Am I dressed okay?"
"Yes, it is a steakhouse for supes. Anyone can go there but it is catered toward vampires and other supes. It is called Stackhouse's Steakhouse." He looked so excited and happy. I guessed even a vampire as confident as Eric wanted approval. "I renamed it a few nights ago when we got back together."
"Wow, you named it after me? That's really sweet, Eric!" His whole face lit up and I could tell he was happy that I approved.
We pulled into the parking lot and I loved the look of it. It looked like a farmhouse except it had the name of the restaurant on the roof. He pulled into a 'Reserved for Owner' spot and turned off the car.
"Do not be surprised if the wait staff is very attentive," Eric told me, opening up his car door and vamping over to my side. "My lady," he said, holding out his hand to me, bowing slightly.
"Why, thank you, kind Sir!" I said, taking his hand and getting out of the car. "Oh, wait! I have to get my bag."
I turned back to the car and bent over the seat to get my bag off of the floor. I heard a low groan behind me and I looked over my shoulder to see Eric's eyes staring at my bottom.
"See something you like?" I asked as I straightened up.
"Let us get you something to eat. I want to take you home."
I laughed and lead the way to the front door, but he vamped ahead of me and opened the door for me. I thanked him and we went inside of the restaurant. The hostess had been looking down at some sort of book, probably a reservation book.
"I'll be with you in one moment," she said, writing something down. I could tell that she was a werewolf from her thoughts. She looked to be in her 50's.
Eric cleared his throat and she looked up, shocked, but happy.
"Oh! Mr. Northman! We were not expecting you! And who is this lovely woman? Wait, is this the woman you were telling me about?"
Eric looked embarrassed, something that I never thought that I would see.
"Uh, yes, this is she. Sookie, meet Kathryn. Kathryn, this is my fiancée, Sookie Stackhouse."
"She said yes?! Congratulations, Mr. Northman! It's nice to meet you Miss. Stackhouse. Let me show you to your table."
"It's nice to meet you, as well." I was wondering who this woman was to Eric but I would wait to ask him once she left.
She brought us over to a booth in the back of the room. While the outside looked like a house, the inside looked like any restaurant would. I loved it so much already and the smells coming from the kitchen were amazing.
"Your server will be with you in a moment," the hostess said, handing me a menu and giving Eric a one-page menu, with a list of different bloods.
"Thank you," Eric said before she left.
"How do you know her?" I asked him, once she was far enough away.
"She has worked for me since she was in her twenties. I have owned many different restaurants and I usually have her work at them until they are able to run smoothly on their own."
"She seems nice. You told her about me?"
"Uh, yes. She has always been someone I could trust and I was having a particularly bad night and few weeks ago. I was here looking over last minute things. She knew something was wrong and we talked about you."
"Eric, I'm sorry that I broke it off with you. I really am." I felt so bad for everything that had happened. I knew that we were together again and stronger than ever, but it didn't mean that I didn't still feel bad about it all. Just thinking of the crushed look on his face that night made me want to cry.
"Sookie, it is all fine now. I have you and I am not letting you go. What has passed has passed." He smiled at me and took my hand.
The server approached our table to take our order.
" Good Evening. My name is Robert and I will be your server. What can I get for you this evening?" the server asked when he reached us.
Eric motioned for me to go first.
"I'll take the house steak, medium, with green beans and steak fries. Oh and some water, when you get a chance." I handed him my menu.
"Ok, I'll bring your water right over. And for you Mr. Northman?"
"I will have a Tru Blood, type AB Positive." The server nodded and went to get our drinks.
"Wow, a guy who didn't think about my boobs for once. How refreshing." Eric laughed at that and the server came back over our drinks.
The rest of the meal passed uneventful, except for when I took a bite. I moaned because it was so good, and Eric gave me a smoldering look. We finished up and left shortly after, driving home very quickly. Eric pulled into the garage and quickly locked everything up, while I went upstairs and stripped off my clothing.
Eric met me upstairs and he was a very happy vampire until dawn.
Thanks! This one is super long! Tell me what you think!