A/N: Eric and Natalie arrive in Paris and get an unexpected visit. Someone as old as Eric has got to have some history.

Chapter 20

I

Natalie stood staring at the sleek space Anubis Air coffin. It didn't look much like a traditional coffin, but it still was, she thought. Could she help it if sleeping in a coffin creeped her out? She couldn't understand how so many vampires still loved sleeping in those things. She had seen Pam's pink coffin at Fangtasia. I guess, as far as coffins go, it was cute, she thought. But it still was a coffin, dammit. Natalie took a breath in and debated arguing with Eric again about this matter. It was then that Eric leaned into her ear.

"It's for your own safety, little vampire," he said.

"But, I don't need to travel inside one of these," replied Natalie.

"I'm well aware of that," said Eric. "And, I'm also aware that they scare you. But, you aren't immune to fire in case there is a crash."

Eric touched her chin and said, "You have to keep what you are a secret which means that you have to behave like any other vampire out in public, understand?"

Natalie stared into his eyes and saw only concern for her in them. She nodded her head and Eric kissed her on the forehead. Natalie grabbed his arm and raised her lips to his. One kiss became two and two became three kisses.

"You keep kissing me like that and we will miss our flight," said Eric.

Natalie kissed him one more time and said, "To be continued, then."

"I'll hold you to that," replied Eric. He held her hand and helped her get into the coffin. He felt her nervousness increase and he caressed her hand.

"You'll be beside me the entire flight?" she asked.

"Promise," replied Eric. "Remember to just go to sleep. When you wake up, we'll be in Paris."

Natalie looked up and gave him a brave smile. Eric smiled back and said, "You just might get one of my naughty dreams to keep you company."

"How naughty?" asked Natalie.

"So naughty that your panties just might incinerate," smirked Eric.

Natalie smirked back and said, "Maybe, I planned ahead and didn't wear any."

"Saucy little tease," hissed Eric.

Eric nodded to the technician that approached to seal Natalie in her coffin for takeoff. Eric watched as he made sure the locks were secure. Before moving to his own coffin, Eric placed his hand on top of Natalie's coffin. He didn't need x-ray vision to know that she placed her hand to the roof of her coffin in the exact same spot. He could sense her and through the bond, he sent her reassuring thoughts. Even though they would travel side by side in separate coffins, they would be able to sense each other and perhaps they would dream of each other. It wasn't such a bad way to pass the time, he thought with a smile.

II

Eric unlocked the door and Natalie rushed inside. He dropped the bags to find that Natalie had left him at the door and was breezing through the apartment. He had the caretaker come and get it ready for their arrival. The coverings from the furniture were removed and the place had been thoroughly cleaned of any dust. Human blood and Tru Blood resided in the small kitchen refrigerator and clean sheets and bedding adorned the large bed. Natalie took in the high ceilings with the beautiful and original moldings. An elaborate chandelier hung just inside the entryway. Coming inside, Eric found Natalie opening the French doors that faced the street. Noises of cars and nightlife filled the room. Natalie stood on the tiny balcony and stared in every direction.

"Well?" asked Eric, coming up behind her.

"I love it," said Natalie with a broad smile. She pulled him close for a quick peck and, then to his surprise, pushed him back inside. She closed the doors behind her and got a very serious look on her face.

"I want to know one thing, Eric Northman," she said.

"Oh, what's that?" he replied.

"Where is the bedroom?" she said. "Because I have serious designs on your virtue."

"I don't have any virtue," replied Eric.

"Well, that makes it even easier for me to have my way with you," said Natalie with a smile.

"I thought that you would want to see the sights," said Eric.

"Oh, I do," smirked Natalie. "And you, naked, on crumpled bed sheets is at the top of my list."

Eric smiled and picked her up in his arms and walked her into the bedroom. It was a large room with crisp white bedding. Natalie pulled him down with her as he eased her onto to the bed. She gazed at him and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Have I told you how handsome you are?" she asked.

"Not nearly often enough," replied Eric. "I am a vain creature and I like getting my ego stroked."

"It's just criminal of me to neglect you like that," said Natalie. She moved a hand downward and added, "Tell me, is there anything else that you like getting stroked?"

"You're starting to get warm," softly said Eric as he kissed her.

"Lower?" teased Natalie.

"Maybe a little," sighed Eric, as he began to have a serious interest in kissing the outline of her ear.

Natalie moved her hand lower to his belt and said, "How's this?"

"Warmer," said Eric, nuzzling her ear lobe. "But, I'm thinking a little lower still."

"Dirty boy," said Natalie. She moved her hand lower and began to caress him through his jeans. When Eric made a little growl, she asked, "Is this the right spot?"

In response, Eric moved and kissed her and his tongue teased and probed her lips. "There is still something that is not right," said Natalie. As she continued to caress him, Eric moved his hips against her. "I know what it is, now. We need to get you out of those clothes."

In a flash, Natalie used her strength and flipped him over. She began to undo his shirt and slipped it off his shoulders. She passed her hands over his chest and smiled.

"This is more like it," she said.

Eric pulled her down into a kiss and his hands began to play across her breasts. It was then that the doorbell began to ring.

"No," groaned Natalie. When Eric tensed to move, Natalie held him down and said, "Don't answer it."

Natalie moved down and began to kiss Eric on his chest and the doorbell went off again.

"I think that I should get-" began Eric. Natalie stopped him by placing her hand over his mouth. She then covered his mouth with a long passionate kiss. But, the doorbell kept on being rung.

"I am seriously going to rip that person's throat out," Natalie hissed.

"You know that gets me all hot when you talk like that," replied Eric.

Eric flipped them over and kissed Natalie. "I'll get rid of whoever it is."

He got off the bed and walked to the front door. Natalie got up and walked to the bedroom doorway in order to see who had interrupted her plans. Who even knew that they were here? Natalie watched as three vampires strode inside the moment that Eric answered the door. Two were males dressed in expensive suits and haircuts. The other vampire was a woman with long blonde hair and cold blue eyes. She was wearing a tight black dress and stiletto heels. The female vampire passed a long, lingering look over Eric that succeeded in angering Natalie. Eric must have felt something because he turned to look at her. The vampire followed his eyes and stared at her with a measuring glance. She could feel a flicker of unease from Eric and knew that these vampires were not friends.

"So, who's your plaything?" asked the woman.

"My ward," replied Eric.

"Does this baby vamp have a name?" she asked.

"My name is Natalie," said Natalie, coldly.

"How sweet," purred the female vampire.

"Simone, enough," cut in one of the other vampires. "We have a more important reason for being here besides harassing a defenseless child."

Simone gave her a predatory smile, "But none more fun."

Eric cut in and said, "Natalie, can you leave us alone?"

"Yes, dear, the grownups need to have a little chat," said Simone.

Natalie gave Simone a stony glare and turned around and left the room.

"My, she's got a little temper," said Simone.

"Your interest in her is unwelcome," said Eric. "And unwise."

"Relax, I don't have the time to give your ward a lesson in manners," replied Simone.

"Why are you here?" asked Eric.

"Did you think that you could show up back in town and no one would notice?" replied Simone.

"What she is trying to say is that Max wants to see you," replied the first male vampire. "Tomorrow night at his chateau."

The vampire smiled and said, "Bring your ward. I'm sure that Max will appreciate such a beauty."

Simone hissed in annoyance and the vampire added, "Sorry, Darling, I have to call them like I see them."

"And if I refuse?" asked Eric.

"Max would be disappointed," he replied. "And he doesn't handle rejection very well."

They turned and left, although Simone blew him a kiss on her way out the door.

Eric entered the bedroom to find Natalie reading a novel that she had found in bed. She lifted her eyes to him.

"Are your friends gone?" she asked.

"They aren't exactly my friends," replied Eric.

"She's an old girlfriend, isn't she?" asked Natalie.

"Something like that," replied Eric.

Eric moved next to her and Natalie tried to brush off his hands. Eric was persistent and took her chin in his hand. "I'm a thousand years old, Natalie. I have a few old girlfriends around. I haven't exactly been a monk all these years."

He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and added, "You're the only one that matters to me. You're the only one who I have formed a complete bond with."

"I….I didn't know that," softly said Natalie. "Why didn't you before?"

"Because they would have been able to detect the truth," replied Eric. "And, they would have known that I didn't return their feelings."

Natalie stared into his eyes. "You can't hide your secret side away from me, now."

"You told me to trust you and to trust my heart," said Eric.

"I don't remember that," said Natalie.

Eric pulled her down and moved over her, "It might have been in a dream, but you said it."

Natalie raised her hand and placed it over his heart. She gave him a smile and said, "I thought that you were a cold-hearted vampire."

"I am," said Eric with a smirk. "But, I do have that weakness for lost, little strays."

"Lucky for me," replied Natalie.

Eric leaned down and kissed her and said, "Let me show you how lucky."

Natalie pulled him in close, "I'm down with that."

Entwined limbs and muted growls of pleasure ensued. Eric set a delicious rhythm and Natalie pulled him in and matched him. Her sharp fangs nipped at his chest and throat and Eric groaned deep in his throat. Her fingers passed down his sculpted muscles and her nails raked across his bottom that made her drool. He hissed at that and doubled his efforts causing Natalie to close her eyes in bliss.

"Just like that," she moaned softly.

Eric leaned down and kissed her. Natalie returned the kiss and moved and kissed his throat as her fangs teased him by pressing into his flesh without breaking the skin. Her sweet voice urged him on and Eric focused on just them as everything else faded into the background. He moved to kiss her again and sliced his tongue on her fangs. His blood in her mouth caused Natalie to moan and she twisted into the kiss as she sucked at his tongue. Eric shuddered at the sensation of her tasting his blood. In an instant, they came together and they lay together long after, just basking in the sensation of each other's closeness.

Natalie brushed her hand into his hair and marveled at its softness. As Eric turned his blue eyes to hers, Natalie said, "You need to tell me what is going on with those vampires."

"Let me worry about them," said Eric, petting her.

"You aren't alone anymore," replied Natalie. "I've got your back, don't you know that?"

"Just my back?" asked Eric.

Natalie smacked him and said sternly, "Don't make fun of me."

"Never," replied Eric. "I know how brave my little vampire is."

"Just brave?" asked Natalie.

Eric trailed his fingers down her arm, "Well, brave and smart." His fingers slid down to her hips and he leaned into her ear and added, "And sexy."

"So which is more appealing, my brains or my body?" asked Natalie.

"Why do I have to pick?" asked Eric with a smirk. "My choice depends of my intentions."

"And what are your intentions right now?" asked Natalie.

"Absolutely wicked," whispered Eric in her ear.

"I think you're a bad influence," said Natalie.

"Hmm, I like the sound of that," replied Eric, pulling her close. "You're aren't exactly running way."

"If you have a thing for strays, then I must have a thing for wicked bad boys," replied Natalie.

"You can't fight that sort of attraction," said Eric, kissing her neck as he moved down to her breasts.

"Who's fighting?" murmured Natalie.

A/N: That Simone seems like a beeotch. Is there anything worse than a bad ex-girlfriend? I picked Paris because this season when Eric went missing and Bill was looking for him, Bill said to Sookie that they had searched his plantation in Barbados and his apartment in Paris. And I think that Paris would have been a city that Eric would have visited before he went to the new world.