A/N: Not much to say except thank you all for the wonderful comments and reviews for last chapter! And of course a HUGE, LOUD shout-out to my Beta, Northman Maille. Her encouragement with the chapter really made my week!

Disclaimer: I own nothing….

Forever is All Today (pt. 2)

Taking a deep breath, Sookie slipped her cell phone into her apron pocket (deciding it was better to keep it on her than in her purse where she might miss more calls) and headed back out to the bar's main dining room.

It was just after seven in the evening by then and the majority of the Saturday dinner crowd was leaving, being replaced with the usual Saturday night drinkers. Despite the anxiety churning around in her stomach, Sookie couldn't help but snort a little when the family behind Bill motioned her for their check, and Bill's shoulders visibly slumped in relief.

She'd have to make sure she bussed their dirty plates and glasses first and then stopped to ask if he wanted another blood. That way she could put her loaded tray on the table in front of him while jotting down his 'lengthy' and 'potentially confusing' order of a True Blood refill.

It might have been childish in the extreme, but if she was going to have to put up with his presence, after his behavior at the wedding, she was going to at least get a little fun out of it.

Instead of feeling amused or childish though, Sookie found herself contemplating the use of her number two pencil as a stake, when Bill grabbed her wrist just as she was picking her tray back up. Before she could breathe to start on an indignant rant, he took a long inhale of her scent.

"What do you want Bill?" Sookie asked through clenched teeth as she hastily righted herself.

"I want to know why Eric sent me here to keep an eye on you and why he sounded as close to unnerved as I've ever heard him. But most of all I want to know why you positively wreak of him, Sookie."

Under different circumstances, Sookie might have found it in herself to reprimand Bill more politely given that, unlike her boss, he hadn't gone as far as insinuating anything nasty. But whether it was hearing Sam's, frankly disgusting, thoughts all day, the truth she was herself unnerved by the details she'd put together in Sam's office, or the mere fact Bill had decided to manhandle her while prying into things that weren't his business, his question managed to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

Without a single bit of hesitation Sookie wrenched her wrist back with enough force to break Bill's hold and, while he stared at her in astonishment, picked up the half eaten basket of chili-cheese fries from her tray and dumped it over his head. Leaning down just a little, to better watch the chili drip all over Bill's shocked face, and the cheese start to congeal in his hair, Sookie hissed an answer for him.

"You'll have to ask Eric why he ordered you here and what's got him spooked Bill, I don't read Vampire minds. As to the last question…despite your best efforts to keep me in the dark about Vampire politics and culture, I've learned enough since I met you to know you don't touch what belongs to another Vampire. As you're clearly intent on being obtuse, I'll spell it out for you."

Sookie paused for a moment to turn her head and make sure Sam's attention was on them too. When she found her boss watching them like a hawk, from his place behind the bar, she nodded.

"Glad you're eavesdropping Sam, it means I won't have to repeat myself. I smell like Eric because I AM ERIC's. If either of you have any questions, comments or complaints about it, you can choke on them. Sookie Stackhouse is NOT a democracy!"

"That's a shame Lover, I was so hoping for a Cabinet position…Secretary of the Interior maybe.

She'd been so caught up in her anger at Bill and Sam and their obnoxious behavior she hadn't even realized Eric had reopened their bond, or that he was getting closer. Seeing him now, standing just inside the doorway, looking as beautiful as ever, in a pair of sinfully tight, black jeans and a black Fangtasia T-shirt, she decided there was only one thing to do. When Eric teased her about it later, which she was sure he would, she could always blame the Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum of unwarranted possessiveness for her behavior.

Dropping her tray of dirty dishes and glasses back on the table in front of Bill, Sookie weaved her way determinedly through the crowded dining room. With their bond reopened, she had no doubt Eric had already guessed what she intended to do. From the lust and possessiveness that were all but clouding her vision, and the fact he was now walking as determinedly towards her as she was towards him, she knew he was happy about it too.

Meeting in the middle, with three inches still between their bodies, Sookie flung herself at Eric, throwing her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist while he used his own arms to help lift her up. With their foreheads now level and pressed together, Eric smiled at her almost beatifically. The angelic curve of his mouth spoiled only by the devilish twinkle in his eyes.

"I thought public displays of affection where a Southern belle no-no." He teased, bringing his lips down over hers before she could give any kind of answer.

At another time, when more brain cells were firing, Sookie might have wondered what was responsible for the sudden quiet in her head. But as it was she was fairly certain the unexpected silence was because Eric's lips had short circuited her brain, telepathy and all.

When he finally broke their kiss, a full minute later, to let her breath, and put her gently back down on the ground, Sookie could only blush straight to scarlet. Eric hadn't just short circuited her brain, it seemed their enthusiastic greeting had pretty much shocked the entirety of Merlotte's customers into both mental and literal silence.

"Oh come on!" Sookie tried to laugh, sure she was still as red as a beet. "Like y'all never saw a girl kiss her boyfriend hello before." That seemed to start everyone's engines again and Sookie had to slam her shields up not to hear the barrage of thoughts, all centered on Eric and her, before they mowed her over like a bulldozer.

When Eric's arm came around her waist and pulled her close, gluing her to his side, Sookie spared a moment to look up at him and smile. It nearly made her melt to see him returning her expression so openly. If she wasn't one for public displays of affection then he wasn't one for open displays of adoration, but that was the only acceptable word to describe the way he was beaming down at her.

"There were some questions about the nature of our relationship." She whispered as Eric started to steer her towards Bill's booth. "I thought I'd let you know how much I missed you today and put an end to all that at the same time."

Eric's first response was a hearty laugh.

"How efficient of you, Lover. Let it never be said I'm not a fan of your ability to multi-task." They'd reached Bill by then and Eric let her go to slide into the seat across from him.

"I assume we're clear now on who Sookie belongs to and whether or not she does so willingly?" Eric said without preamble as he looked disdainfully at Bill, still covered in chili and cheese sauce.

Bill looked between Eric sitting across from him and Sookie standing at the head of their table, before nodding with as much dignity he could muster.

"Yes we're clear." He answered and then began to cough and sputter as a little bit of chili sauce and a few pieces of chop meat fell into his open mouth.

"Excellent. I have one more assignment for you tonight. The unknown Vampire, Jonathan, who attended the wedding you went to, do you remember seeing him?" Bill gave a questioning look and wisely picked up a napkin to wipe his face off before answering.

"In passing, yes."

"I need you to consult your database and see if you can find out anything about him. He claimed to be visiting the area for the wedding and told Sookie he had checked in with me at Fangtasia. The latter is untrue and I believe we'll find the former to be just the same. I want to know everything you can find on him, and I want the information before sunrise. I'll be at Sookie's."

"Yes of course, I'll go now." Bill said, seeming relieved to have been dismissed and rising from the table.

Sookie had just stepped out of the way to make room for him when Eric called him back.

"And Bill."

"Yes Eric." Bill answered again quite meekly.

"Make sure you shower before you bring me what you find. You smell like a Taco Bell dumpster."

Sookie couldn't help but laugh as Bill all but turned green and dry heaved before turning around and breezing out of Merlotte's faster than anyone but Eric could track.

"It's seven thirty now. I'll cash out and get my purse and then we can get on our way." Sookie said, still smirking as she dropped a quick kiss on Eric's lips and left to finish up and hand her section over to Holly.

When Sookie came out again she found Eric sitting at the bar, having what looked like a quiet but frank discussion with a scowling Sam. She didn't have to hear them to know Eric was more than likely putting Sam in his place, and she was happy for it. Sam didn't have to like that she'd chosen Eric, but if he wanted to stay her friend he'd respect it.

She'd told him where she stood and now Eric had as well. If he made an issue of it again, which she hoped he wouldn't, Sookie knew it might be time to reevaluate their friendship.

"I'm all done." She said, putting on one of her less genuine smiles as she walked up to the bar.

Even if she couldn't feel the barely restrained anger coming off Eric, the tension between the two men was still thick enough to cut with a knife at two hundred paces.

"Wonderful, Sam and I were just…settling a few things." Eric said, a rather triumphant smirk breaking across his face, even as Sam's turned darker.

"Oh good, then we can get home. Goodnight Sam. I'll see you tomorrow evening."

.oO~*~Oo.

They'd only just pulled out of Merlotte's parking lot, Sookie behind the wheel, when her anxiety got the better of her.

"You blocked off our bond tonight, didn't you?" She asked, keeping her eyes on the road.

"I did." He answered succinctly. "I was feeling…uneasy and didn't want it to negatively impact your evening."

"Why? I was worried for you."

"I'm sorry Lover, when I received Pam's voicemail message just after rising I realized I'd been giving our mysterious visitor less attention than I should have. Truthfully, I let myself get too distracted by Niall's impending visit."

There was a note of frustration in Eric's voice which Sookie felt resonating across their connection much more strongly. It was just dawning on her that Eric's poker face was far better than anyone gave him credit for. Far from being emotionally detached, he seemed to feel everything with a startling intensity. He just managed to control it really, really well.

"You're afraid of Niall?" It was phrased as a question but Sookie knew she'd hit at least close to the mark the moment the words where out of her mouth. The sharp spike in Eric's emotions was all the proof she needed.

"Of Niall, no. I have known him for a long time and as I told you, I believe his interest in you is genuine. But my warning from last night stands. Niall has a great many enemies. People who wouldn't hesitate to harm you if they thought your suffering would wound him. Fairies may be beautiful and alluring on the surface, but underneath they are vicious, bloodthirsty, and vengeful creatures. Association with Niall comes at a price." Eric looked at her then, and his eyes where filled with an emotion she wasn't sure she could name. There was a deep sense of possession and a need to protect, but also an air that what had happened was inevitable.

"If you're worried about what could happen to me, why did you offer to introduce us at all?" Sookie kept her voice carefully neutral.

She didn't want Eric to think she was mad at him. She wasn't. She was used to her life being dangerous by now, and the chance to know more of her kin was too important to pass up. She still had to wonder though, why Eric didn't put up more of a fight, especially given his own, horrible experiences with her Fairy family.

"Niall is over a thousand years old and a Prince. Men such as he are not accustomed to taking no for an answer. He wanted to meet you, therefore he would have found a way with or without my consent.

He has already imbedded his grandchildren, Claude and Claudine, into your life. He could just as easily have sent one of them to you with an invitation. He asked me only out of courtesy since we are now bonded. I agreed because I am aware he would have made contact with you one way or the other. At least this way I was able to be there should you have needed me."

"Do you think I have a reason to be concerned?" Sookie asked as she made the turn onto Humming Bird Lane.

"No, at present I don't think there is any reason for us to be concerned about Niall." Sookie put her hand over Eric's, on his lap, and squeezed it gently. More than declarations of undying love, hearing him say so clearly that her problems and concerns were his, made her feel loved.

"But you think there's a reason to be worried about Jonathan?" She prompted getting back to their original conversation.

"I do. I think he's a scout. I think he was sent here to assess my assets and I think, given the fact he showed up at the wedding you were working, he's extremely well informed. Up until Rhodes you and I were barely on speaking terms, something almost all the Vampires in the area can attest to.

The fact that we bonded in Rhodes is not yet widely known. From what you told me, when he spoke to you, he seemed to make a special point of noting your connection to me was not purely professional. He didn't say his interest was piqued by my telepath. He said he wanted to see the woman who was so important to me. It implies a great deal more than our business agreement. He knew I am personally attached to you, even though there is not an overwhelming wealth of material evidence to prove that.

The only person who would be able to attest to our attachment, before tonight, is Pam and I have never had a reason to doubt her. Even people I wouldn't trust with closely guarded information, such as the Longtooth pack, Bill, or your boss, only know we shared a relationship while I was cursed. Before tonight none of them would have had any reason to assume that relationship had recommenced, so would have no reason to believe you were worth more to me than your telepathy."

"So you're hoping he's in Bill's database and we can find out where he lives, or who his Maker is or something."

"Yes. Our situation right now is precarious. With the Queen gravely injured and, from the very little I've seen, mentally unstable, our state is vulnerable. If Andre had lived, he would have been able to take the reins until Sophie was well enough to rule again. Without a clear leader we are left with four Sheriffs who can control their areas, but who have no authority to make decisions for the collective.

It is my hope, if I can bring the Queen clear evidence we are being watched, she will name a proxy. One way or the other I'll contact her as soon as Compton tells me what he has, but I'd rather have something more concrete than a hunch to work with. I have no desire to be accused of crying wolf."

Sookie felt her stomach sinking into her feet again by the time Eric had finished his explanation.

"Eric, there's something I have to tell you." She started cautiously, pulling up behind her house and killing the engine, but not making any move to get out of the car.

Eric's only response was his typical raised eyebrow. Taking a deep breath for courage, Sookie braced herself.

"Quinn killed Andre during the bombing. We were searching for survivors and we came across Andre in the rubble. He was badly injured and just… crazed! He started dragging himself across the floor trying to get me. Before I could even scream, Quinn picked up a chair leg and shoved it through Andre's back." Sookie stopped there for a moment, hating herself for what she was about to say. "I didn't ask Quinn to do it, but I wasn't the least bit sorry he did...until now."

Sookie didn't know what she was expecting, though furious anger or betrayal were on the top of her list. What she got instead was Eric unbuckling his seatbelt and exiting the car so fast it looked more like streaked colors than actual movement. Before she could panic though, her own car door had been opened and Eric was kneeling down in front of her on the gravel, unbuckling her and pulling her into his arms. The only emotions she was picking up were love, comfort and resignation.

When he pulled away slightly to look at her, resting his arms on her legs which were now out of the car and on either side of him as she remained sitting in the driver's seat, there was something fierce but not frightening in his eyes.

"You're not angry with me?" Sookie managed to squeak out.

"No lover. I wish you'd told me this sooner, but I'm not angry. Andre needed to be ended. Knowing this only confirms my fear that, while he might have allowed me to take his place the night we bonded, eventually he would have come after us."

"I don't understand. Why would he do that? The Queen wanted me bound to someone loyal to her and that's what she got. Why would Andre have made an issue of it?"

Eric growled, his fangs running out just a bit.

"Because Andre was a spoiled, covetous little prick who'd been given everything he ever wanted by his Maker for almost a thousand years. The Queen wanted you bound and Andre decided he should be the one to do it. I cheated him out of something he believed was rightfully his. Had he lived, he would have waited to get his revenge in a less public setting, but he would have been intent on getting it all the same."

"Jesus Christ Shepard of Judea." Sookie whispered under her breath as her eyes started to mist over.

She refused to cry though. Andre was gone, there was no need to fear him or worry about what he might do to Eric. "If that's true then I wonder why she didn't just send him to take me right from the very beginning."

"You probably have your cousin to thank for that as well, although this time the thanks might be genuine." He answered, grimacing as he pulled back and stood up, offering Sookie his hand to help her out of the car.

"Still not understanding." She said as she locked the car behind her.

"I never noticed Hadley when she was a donor or a pet, and only met her a few times after Sophie-Anne brought her over, but the impression she made was very definite. I thought she was spoiled trash raised far above her worth. Prick though he was, Andre was never stupid. It's likely he thought the same thing and assumed you would resemble your cousin.

I wouldn't doubt Sophie-Anne offered him the opportunity to procure you first and he refused. It would have been bad enough to have Hadley as a sibling, but to be blood bound to one such as her, or eventually to have become her Maker, would have been intolerable.

It was likely his opinion didn't change until he met you after Hadley's final death, and I would bet he kicked himself. He passed up the opportunity, Compton got the job instead and botched it so badly you were unattached to any Vampire and going around with a shifter. I'm sure he decided to remedy the situation by bonding with you well before Rhodes.

As much damage as his death may do to Louisiana, had he lived he would not have stopped until he had you. Your bond to me, though sacred to my kind, would have been nothing more than an obstacle to creatively circumvent."

"You think he would have killed you?"

"He would have tried. We're nearly the same age, so we would have been matched in strength. But where his Maker coddled him and allowed him to spend the last ten centuries hiding behind my her skirts, mine was a sadistic fuck who spent nearly two centuries trying to break me to his will by whatever means possible. If my Maker could not get the better of me, Andre wouldn't have stood a chance. I would have killed him for all the good it would have done us."

Sookie felt her herself becoming dizzy as she tried to keep up with the twists and turns Eric's mind was making. Instead of asking verbally she merely shot him her own raised eyebrow.

"If Andre had killed me he would have taken you and forced you to submit to him. If I'd killed him, his Maker would have used her position to end me, uncaring of the fact Andre had tried to interfere with our bond, and taken you anyway as payment for the loss of her child. As long as Andre lived we were damned if we did and damned if we didn't. No matter what happens, we are safer with Andre gone and, though I will go to great lengths to protect my Area and my Vampires, you are what is most important to me."

"I love you."

"And I you, Lover."

"Do you think our lives will ever be normal?" It was probably pointless to ask, but Sookie felt like she at least needed to hear she wasn't the only one becoming bone exhausted by the constant threats to their lives.

Eric's eyes dropped from hers then and she could feel something dark churning up inside him. Something murkier and more painful than just his anxiety about their immediate futures or worries over what Andre might have done.

"Define normal." Eric asked her as she opened the door. "If you're looking for the American dream you've probably made the wrong choice, Sookie. We couldn't even manage to marry and have children when we were both Human. Now…it's utterly outside the realm of possibility."

Tossing her keys on the kitchen table, Sookie grabbed Eric's hands and pulled him over the threshold. When he was pressed up against her she wound his arms around her waist, before lifting her hands to cup his face.

"A thousand years ago, I would have given anything to live a normal life with you Eric. I don't just remember it like replaying a movie in my head, like it was something I watched happen to someone else. I remember every detail of our lives in the most vivid way, and when I wake up I have a hard time telling if I'm here or there.

I ache that we never got to have that life together, just the same as I ache when I think of all the things you've suffered to see me again. But Eric, whether you could or couldn't give me that life now, the fact is I can't give it to you either. I don't know how or why I am the way I am, but I can't, I WON'T risk passing it on. As much as I wish I could have them, as much as I envy people who do, I love my potential babies too much to pass this curse onto them. You aren't cheating me out of that life any more than I'm cheating you. It isn't for us. But we are for each other.

I didn't mean what I said that way. I just meant…are we ever going to have peace? Are we ever gonna get a moment to slow down and just enjoy what we have, or are we always gonna be fighting, worrying, looking over our shoulders?"

Eric said nothing for a long moment as he seemed to probe their bond, testing Sookie's truthfulness. She let him, not hiding any of herself from him. When she knew he could find nothing but her honesty, she went to her tiptoes and pulled his face down for a long, slow kiss.

Their mouths slid against each other softly, lips parting to allow one another in. And when Sookie was all but breathless Eric pulled away only a little, letting her draw air, but keeping his lips close enough to feel the little puffs of her exhales.

"Say the word, Love and I'll take us away. Peace and quiet are like anything else in this world. If you want them you have to grab them with both hands. I know how much your home and your friends mean to you, but one day I want to take you to our home, to show you where we lived."

"Does it still exist?" Having only known the truth for a single day, it hadn't yet dawned on Sookie that her very real dreams must have happened in a very real place, one she might be able to actually see.

"Not as it did then, but yes, it still exists. It is a great city now, but I own a home in the woods where we used to play."

Sookie hadn't realized she was crying until Eric leaned just that little bit closer and kissed a wet drop from her lips. The truth was still so surreal…beautiful, but surreal.

"If we live through this than yes, I want to see it. I want you to show it to me, it and everything else."

Eric's smile was again beatific, as their bond all but burst with happiness.

"As soon as this is over, we'll leave and we'll stay as long as you desire."

"You've got yourself a deal." Sookie whispered, laughing softly through her tears.

"I'll hold you to that." He replied kissing her nose. "But first you need a shower. You smell like a ghastly combination of jealous Shifter and a Vampire soft taco."

Sookie would have laughed at that, but somehow the mere mention of a shower…with Eric, managed to toss her anxiety, exhaustion and sadness right out the window to be replaced with one hundred percent pure lust.

"You're probably right." She said, taking his hand once more and pulling him through the house. "Would you mind scrubbing my back?"