Hey guys,

See how much I love you all? Here's another update! So I did spend all day outside today, in the shade with sunscreen on, and I wrote in all my study breaks. I did take an impromptu ride though earlier, I know how to ride but I don't actually own a horse. One of my best mates has three, so he invited me along. Charlaine Harris owns the wonderful Southern Vampire Mysteries. Now, I have a very important question for you guys. I'm ready to go back to the first chapter now, according to my plan, are you guys ready for that? I might be able to squeeze another chapter of the two of these having a bit of fun though. The start is coming soon though. So, on with the chapter.

"Eric, what do you actually do?" I asked from across the mahogany desk. I was sat in Eric's office late one Monday night, directly underneath the air conditioning unit. Eric didn't need it but he'd still popped it on for me. Fangtasia was shut for the evening and we were the only people in the entire bar; the odd silence of the place that was usually quite vibrant was eerie.

"What do you mean?" He replied as he looked up from the sheets of paper he was poring over. The bar was shut because it was the yearly turnover of vampires where new schedules were given out, new jobs assigned and expenses tallied against the income. I had a feeling that things were going rather well if the strong waves of smugness rolling off of my Viking were any indication.

"What's your actual job? I know you run Fangtasia and you're some form of boss for the local vampires, but I don't actually know anything specific."

"You really want to know?"

"Yes, you know lots about me but I sometimes feel I hardly know anything about you!" I replied, the softness of my tone belying the harsher words.

"Okay, I'll tell you then." He shrugged his shoulders as though he thought it was no big deal and I was delighted to see his long hair fall in front of his eyes. He had the best hair I'd ever seen, on a man or a woman, but I was jealous of its shade, mine was at least three tones darker.

He leaned back in his throne like desk chair, placing his large hands behind his head, looking the epitome of relaxed. I noticed for the first time that the office had changed since the time we'd had the argument with Pam. The walls were lighter, a warm shade of cream, a rug decorated the wooden tiled floor and there were several ornaments littering the bare surfaces. They all looked to be from different times in history and I wondered if they were from his home. I smiled when I saw a sliver of checked material tied around the stationary tidy. It was from the shirt I'd been wearing when I'd donated my blood at his house; when I'd finally found it, laying behind a chest of drawers, it was in tatters and not fit to be worn so I'd thrown it in the trash can. Who knew that vampires could be sentimental? Well, millennia old vampires anyway.

"I'm the manager and owner of Fangtasia, but Pam is also my partner in the business, she provided 20% of the funds to open the bar up, so she has a fifth share in the business. I oversee the general running, income, expenses and Pam sees to most things that aren't paper work related. She organises events, hiring and firing to an extent. I invest in a lot of things, and I've been doing that for centuries."

I nodded my understanding before getting up and slinking down onto the soft leather sofa that he kept in the office. The leather was cool against my heated skin, for the time being it was lovely; I just didn't want to think about pealing myself off of it. Once I was settled and almost as relaxed as he was, he continued.

"As for being a boss as you call it for vampires, I'm the Sheriff of this area." I couldn't stop the image springing to mind of him wearing cowboy boots and chaps, and that would be the end of the clothing. "I run the area as such, working under the ruling vampire. Most of the time things run smoothly as they have generally for a few years. I'm the oldest vampire in the state, no one challenges me. I keep the vampires in order; give permission for their latest jaunts if it's acceptable, give minor punishments. It takes up far less time than Fangtasia."

That tallied with the information I'd gleamed from Bill, but it was more in depth and I was grateful for the trust he was showing me. "Would like to hear about how I came to sire Pam?" I'd been waiting weeks for this story, ever since me and Eric had gotten back together, or gotten together, depending on how you looked at it.

"Please, I think I need to know."

"You won't like this, but remember there is no bond like that between maker and child, it's also different for every pairing."

"Pam was turned at the end of the 18th century in England. She was the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat that was travelling the country with her mother. I happened to be in England, during those times a vampire couldn't stay in one place for very long. Not even a vampire as old as me; I only needed a few sips to maintain myself but the marks aroused suspicion. So I was constantly on the move." I laid my head down on the arm rest forming a pillow under my cheek.

"She's always been rebellious and she'd taken one of the horses out for a ride and had fallen. She would have died if I hadn't found her when I did. So I drained her, gave her my blood and took her with me. We were lovers for awhile, a decade or so before she grew fed up with my rules; they were only in order for us to stay safe. We parted ways and I didn't see her again until the turn of the 20th century, this time in Brazil. We stayed together as friends for a few months. We found each other again the fifties. We've never parted since then. We've gone into business together several times; understandably this has been our best venture."

He finished his story and I was actually relieved; I'd been expecting a lot worse in actuality. He'd confessed that they'd been lovers at one time, but I'd expected it to have been from centuries and I'd thus categorised Pam's actions as a lover spurned.

"Then why is Pam jealous of us? Of me?" I asked with blatant curiosity.

"We may not have been lovers for over a century but we are friends, we've been through a lot together. Especially in Pam's eyes as she is still so very young in comparison. We see each other nearly every day, we work together. She's jealous of my feelings for you because she can tell they run deep and that they're true. She's jealous of the time that I spend with you. She's getting better with the idea. Don't worry about Pam." He shrugged his shoulders again before shrugging and turning back to his paperwork.

I slouched down further onto the sofa, extending my legs up onto the cushions, leaving my flip flops on the floor. Shuffling back from the edge I settled down into the back to simply watch Eric work, poring over his files. He flicked his hair back over his shoulder when something didn't go entirely to plan and his fingers typed with incredible speed when something was going right. The low whirring of the computer was the only noise except my quiet breathing.

I awoke some time later to hear voices discussing something in hushed tones; they were still in the room and oblivious to me being awake.

"I'm want to cut back my hours at the bar." My Viking whispered.

"Would that mean more work for me?" A female voice asked that I couldn't quite place.

"No, Pam. Probably less actually; I'd do more paper work than I do now but spend less time in the bar." Ah so it was Pam that was in the room, Eric had mentioned at some point that she was incredibly lazy. I made a conscious effort to keep my breathing level and my eyelids shut lightly.

"You would cover the invoices, ordering and stock checking? I detest those things." Her distaste was clear and I could imagine Eric looking at her with his brows slightly raised.

"Yes, all you would have to do is note what things need ordering, send the list to me and I'll do the rest. I'll do the main stock check once a month and the small one once a week. Daily checks of things will be done by the main bar tender for the night. Pay will be adjusted accordingly." He spoke with a finality that meant this particular section of their conversation was over.

"Fine. Is there a reason you're doing this?"

"Yes. I want to spend more time with Sookie; our current arrangement is taking its toll on her. I don't want her to know though; she will feel bad, believe that she is taking me away from something."

"Well she is, if she is the reason."

"She may be the reason but if I couldn't afford to take a small step back I wouldn't be doing it, you should know this Pam."

"I do. It is true; the bar is running itself better with every passing month. I will keep your secret. Is there a reason why she is asleep on the couch?" Pam asked and I could hear more of her English accent peaking through. I realised she was relaxed, talking here with Eric.

"I told you our arrangement was taking its toll on her. She is exhausted. I'm letting her sleep."

"Fine." A few minutes of quietness ensued and I could only follow their movements by the slight scraping of a chair as someone sat down. I cast out with my telepathy, finding two vampires still in the room.

"Are you calmer about Sookie? This is the first time you've seen her since your outburst. If it had been anyone but you, they'd still be locked away with their fangs resting in my coffin."

"Yes, you explained everything to me well. Something happened to you whilst you were away, I still don't understand your feelings but I know the truth in them. You love her."

"Yes."

"Then I will leave you be; this no longer seems to be of any great threat."

The overwhelming urge to sneeze overcame me, convulsing my body as my eyes shut tightly under reflex. When I opened my eyes I found two sets of blue eyes staring back at me. I'd never realised that blue eyes could be so different. Eric's were currently a deep sapphire shade whilst Pam's were icy but warmer than I'd seen them before. Before I could even sit up a small cardboard box of tissues was thrown at me, luckily it landed softly by my feet.

"Thanks," I mumbled, not quite sure which vampire was responsible. I took a tissue that I didn't actually need and sat up, slipping my feet to the ground where my flip flops waited.

"Hello Sookie," Pam said; a nearly complete English lilt in her voice now. I wouldn't have been able to state anything specific though; I'm not that good with accents; I wouldn't have even been able to tell you north or south.

"Erm, hi," I replied hesitantly as I glanced towards Eric who gave the tiniest nod of his head. I wasn't too worried, I'd been in the same room as her for awhile now and nothing had happened, she really did seem to have come to terms with things.

"I don't apologise for things, as I've been told to never regret anything." She sent a pointed look towards Eric and I made a note to ask him about it later; if he never apologised for anything it may be a serious problem. "However, I will not make to attack you again for the foreseeable future." I noticed immediately that she didn't promise, it seemed that she liked to keep her options open.

"Thanks, I think." I offered a weak smile, still slightly uneasy. "Can I go get a drink from the bar? A coke or something," I clarified after seeing their raised eyebrows. It was true I rarely drank; so much so that it only took a couple of gin and tonics to knock me down.

"Here," Eric replied. He got up and strode to the far corner of the room, opening up on the cupboards to reveal a small refrigerator amongst the filing cabinets. He grabbed me a diet coke, popped the metal cap off with a flick of his finger and handed me the refreshing beverage.

"Thanks," I replied taking a sip. Pam stood over Eric's shoulder as I drank, looking at the computer screen as they discussed an upcoming event that Pam was planning. "Back in a minute," I said quietly as I left to find the restroom.

When I walked in a few minutes later Pam was gone and Eric was perched on the edge of his desk, his long legs stretched out before him. The computer was shut down and all the paper work was tidied away.

"I'm finished, shall we go." Although he phrased it as a question we were already walking back out of the door by the time he'd finished speaking. "Spend the night with me?" This was an actual question which we asked as we walked through the staff exit and entrance.

"Yes, of course," I replied with a silly smile plastered across my lips that only Eric could put there. "You don't have to ask."

"I always like to. I don't want to assume something, that way I never take it for granted." He whispered in my ear, giving my love a little nip as he finished. I couldn't stop the giggle that bubbled up through my chest.

It was almost 2am by the time we got back to Eric's house. I'd learned that he actually had three, a number given to my assumptions, though he only really used this one. This was the only one that he felt truly comfortable in. I was dead on my feet by the time we walked through the door and he carried me straight through to his bedroom. It was officially summer in Louisiana and the nights were drawing short; the time I had with my sweetie was limited.

"I don't want to sleep," I mumbled even as I realised I was losing the battle with my eyelids.

"Rest at least," he replied as he placed me on top of the covers before settling in beside me. I huddled into his side and felt the cool stone of his sculpted chest beneath my cheek. At some point he'd taken off his shirt.

"Good morning lover." The deep whisper brought me out of my slumber enough to hear the words and I realised the sun was rising; he was saying goodbye for the day. My mouth wouldn't work to verbally respond so I settled for squeezing the arm that wrapped around his waist tighter before relaxing completely against him once more.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you. Perhaps everyone's right. You deserve better than me." I rolled over in my fitful slumber until my sleeping form realised I'd rolled away from my vampire. With a moan I turned back, snuggling deep into his side, my nose buried in the crook of his shoulder.

"You should be treated like the lady you are. You should dance in the sun. See the flowers of spring and the butterflies of summer. The sun should shine from your hair. You're made for the day. I'm the monster in the night."The monologue finished and I finally settled down into a more restful sleep.

In the morning I changed into a spare vest and shorts set that I'd left in a bag here so that I always had a change of clothes if I was caught unawares. Eric was completely oblivious to my presence as I exited the room but I did notice the deep frown adorning his handsome face as I left. He was usually completely at peace in his sleep. I remembered the things I'd dreamed of the night before and I shuddered; I never wanted to hear the real words. I may be sunlight hours and he may be darkness, but together we made day.

There was a note waiting for me in the kitchen when I got there, still stretching the sleep from my muscles.

Sookie, lover,

The keys to the new truck are on the hook by the garage door. Please take my car. I don't have anything in the house; I wasn't really expecting you over here last night as Monday's are usually spent at yours. Drive to your house and I will see you there tonight.

Jag alskar dig,

Eric

The writing was in his curling, scrawling script but I could still understand every word. It was strange and felt oddly like he was sending me away. I shucked the feeling as there really wasn't anything I could do with it, they were also reasonable words. Mondays were usually spent at mine, he didn't have anything suitable for a human and I was supposed to be working the lunch shift which was only two hours away.

I crept back into his room out of habit of being quiet for a sleeping person; it wasn't as though I could really disturb him without great force. I walked over to his sleeping form and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, over the line between his brows created by the frown. The kiss worked, my lips smoothing the flesh out so that he once again rested with a serene expression.

The truck he was talking about turned out to be parked on the driveway, facing towards the road. The F450 Lariat was a beast of a truck of which my brother would have been severely jealous of me getting to drive it. I, on the other hand, was rather apprehensive of controlling such a massive piece of vehicle. The midnight blue shade gleamed in the sun and the double wheels at the back took up most of the driveway so that I had to walk on the grass to get to the driver's door.

Sat in the driver's seat I felt like I was in a bus I was so high up. There were more dials and knobs than I could of factors that could need to be changed so I just ignored them all. The cool air conditioning blasted in my face as soon as I switched on the engine. I was severely grateful it was still an automatic. I had the feeling that if I did crash it, which I assumed was a very real probability, I would most likely be fine, just ploughing straight through whatever I'd hit.

The truck turned out to be very easy to handle and I got home about fifteen minutes faster than what I had ever managed it in my car. I was impressed. The rest of the day passed quickly, work was nothing more than average and I didn't have any complications with anyone. I was just walking in the door, a couple of hours after sun down to hear the phone ringing.

"Hey Tina," I called out as I passed her sitting on the porch. I roughly shoved the door open and leapt for one of the cordless phones I kept on the table in the hall. "Hello?" I asked, not having time to have checked the ID.

"Hello lover," came the deep voice of Eric from the other end of the line.

"Hi," I replied happily and sat myself down on the bottom step of the staircase.

"I take it you arrived home safely?"

"Yeah, the truck was a little scary though." I heard his chuckling reply.

"I had to make sure you'd be safe and I'd been admiring them for awhile. They appear to be a moving fortress. Were you able to drive it well enough?"

"Yeah, it was fine after a couple of blocks. It handles really well for something so big."

"Good, then you can use the truck whenever you want." That was the second hint I got that something was wrong. First of all he hadn't been waiting for me at home like I'd more than half expected. Second, he'd completely ignored the option for one of his lewd jokes that I actually liked now that I'd grown accustomed to them.

"Erm, okay," I hedged, knowing that now wasn't the time to argue the fact of him essentially giving me a very expensive truck.

"I just wanted to let you know I'm running late, I won't be at your house for another few hours, possibly near dawn." His voice held a strange tone that I couldn't quite place but I did know that something was very wrong with him.

"Are you okay?" I asked sincerely, letting the worry enter my tone.

"I'm fine. Just look after yourself, I'll see you later, lover. Jag alskar dig, Sookie."

"Love you too," I replied back but I was almost positive he'd hung up before he'd even heard the start of my response. I heard the dialling tone before I'd finished.

That was strange; he liked to hear me confess my feelings for him. He'd taken to saying the words to me in Swedish so that most people wouldn't understand him. It was a way for him to show his feelings towards me in public, comforting me without taking away the bravado he showed to the other vampires. As far as I understood only Pam understand any significant amount of Swedish, enough to be able to understand him. He'd taught her years ago, when she was first turned just in case they needed to communicate without other people understanding them.

I tried shrugging the strange feeling away, to just ask him later, but I couldn't; it sat like a heavy weight in my stomach, dragging me down. I made my supper, fed Tina, and did some general chores. Two hours passed without word from Eric and I became even more cautious about what this strange turn would bring. I finally gave up and headed to my room; if I was going to be waiting I might as well be getting some sleep while I did.

Slumber didn't come easily though; I tossed and turned, willing my brain to shut down but to little avail. It was only when I got up and grabbed one of his t-shirts that had been left slung over my arm chair did I relax. I covered my pillow with the soft material of his shirt so that I could bury my nose in it. I revelled in his unique sense and let it wash over me, calming every muscles and filling my senses. I finally fell into much needed sleep.

Remember, reviews are almost as good as story time with a gorgeous Viking Vampire. Oh, and just in case 'jag alskar dig' is I love you in Swedish.