Chapter 13 Lonely Misconceptions

Eric POV

I sat on the steps in the hall of my home. I was pissed as hell at what the woman I thought I loved said to me. She insulted me, berated me, and totally cut my heart out. Not fight for her? I'd been fighting for her since the day I met her. I'd saved her life so many times I couldn't name then all, but the one time, the ONE time I was prevented—by her own great-grandfather—from rescuing her—Arrgh! Stupid woman. Silly woman. My woman.

I could hear her outside crying her eyes out. I wanted to run to her, to protect her, comfort her, love her, but she'd spoken her mind, and she'd cut me so deeply, all I could do was sit and cry myself—DAMN HER!—I had shed a tear or two before, but I was crying. WHY?! I should have killed her or let her get killed when I first met her, or I should have turned her, so she would obey me…but then, as I sat pondering, she wouldn't be my Sookie anymore. Her free spirit is what draws me to her like a moth to a flame.

"Amelia…" I heard her say on the porch steps, "Eric and I…we," she sobbed again into the phone. "Yes…I don't know…No…I'll figure it out and let you know." I heard the phone snap shut. I my head, the conversation went like this:

"Amelia…" said Sookie.

"Sookie, is everything all right?" her friend would say, naturally. It's the only thing she would say given Sookie's opening remark and tone of voice.

"Eric and I…we" Sookie said but then she started crying again. I hate it when she cries. It fills the bond with sadness and I feeling very weepy too. I can be kind of embarrassing.

"You had a quarrel, but you still love him, right?" of course Amelia would know that Sookie loves me. Women are honest about that with each other—but they sure as hell fight telling men. I know it's part of the game, but still…

"Yes" obviously, right?

"Well then what's wrong?" Amelia knows Sookie and I can work anything out and would obviously tell Sookie that.

"I don't know" of course there isn't anything really wrong with us Sookie, come on.

"Then there isn't anything to worry about, is there?" In my mind, Amelia was making Sookie's doubts go away.

"No"

"You know you love him and you know he loves you…you just have to figure it out!" At a girl Amelia, reassure her of our bond and our love and the life we are building.

"I'll figure it out and let you know." That's my lover!—always willing to fix the problem. I'm sure she'd call Amelia again to gossip about how great the make-up sex was.

Obviously, that's not how the conversation went…just how I thought it played out in my mind. I thought she was going to figure out how to apologize to me, so I went upstairs to ready the bedroom and take a shower. I thought I would go out on the porch, sweep her up off her feet and carry her upstairs see if I couldn't get her to scream at me again, but in a good way.

I open the front door expecting to see her there huddled against the pillar. No Sookie. I looked around. No Corvette. No CORVETTE! No one drives my 'Vette! She couldn't have gone far in it. How long was I up there? Maybe ten minutes? Fifteen tops? Oh Sookie! I couldn't feel the bond again either, and that had me worried—more worried than anything.

Sookie POV

"Amelia…"

"Sookie, is everything all right?"

"Eric and I…we" and I couldn't continue, I sobbed.

"You and Eric had a fight?"

"Yes"

"About what"

"I don't know"

"Marriage, sex, living arrangements, the babies?"

"No"

"Look, Sookie—I am coming to get you…where are you exactly? Can you tell me?"

"I'll figure it out and let you know." I said as I snapped the phone shut. I promised Eric I wouldn't tell the location of this place, but I had to get away and I couldn't exactly walk back to Shreveport or Blanchard. I didn't know if I had enough for a cab anyway, but a greyhound…hmmm. I could disappear from the face of the Earth and no one would know (or care).

I didn't know where the hell I was. I could walk, but he'd just catch up to me—if he was coming at all. I could walk to one of the houses that were on the property, but it was dark and I didn't know where the paths were. I was kicking myself for not exploring a bit during the day. All the sudden I realized that I couldn't feel anything from the bond—no remorse, annoyance, love, lust, every emotion I had felt up until just a couple minutes ago was now quelled. I had a feeling that he shut his door on the bond like I shut my mind to…hey…maybe that was me! I tried to reach out a little and feel where Eric was. I could tell he was enormously sad and I felt awful. I slammed the door shut on the bond like he did to me. Then opened it, and then closed it again. Wow. The control is amazing—quite a power trip! I forgave Eric on the spot for calling me a child (I was behaving badly) and for slamming the door in my face (I probably deserved it) and I went in to tell him my cool trick. I thought he'd be sitting on the stairs still, but he wasn't. I went upstairs thinking that he might be lying down, pissed off and trying to calm down—then I heard the shower going.

A shower? I was going through all this and he takes a shower? Humph! I thought. Well, so much to telling him I was sorry! I grabbed the keys to his precious 'Vette and bolted all the way back to Fangtasia. I called Pam on my cell phone and told her that I need to drop the keys off with her that Eric had asked me to. She met me there and I took my car and drove, but I didn't go home. I called Amelia and to let anyone who was interested enough to ask know that I was safe but wanted to be left alone for a while. I didn't tell her where I was going, but I made a phone call to see if I'd be welcome…

A/N: I just hope she doesn't fall asleep at the wheel! More to come. I am re-writing some of the chapters I had sketched out. I wasn't expecting Eric and Sookie to fight, they were getting along so well, but that's a relationship for you!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters and I thank CH for letting us all take them out to the park to play for a whle...