Hope you enjoy. I know there's not much happening yet still, but hey, this is not going to be a disaster of a wedding, and she's not a Bridezilla. Sorry, wrong story if you're hoping for that. She's happy, and the wedding is a small affair. Pam and Viktoria have it handled, and all that's left is for Sam to show up and the gang will all be here. It's nice having a wedding planner or two do it all for you! I have to say I certainly enjoyed having mine all planned out for me. His mom and two aunts did everything, and I mean everything. They found the cake lady, the florist, the music, photographer, tent vendor, caterer, it was awesome. We just showed up from out of state and did some landscaping with them. So yeah, it can happen, folks. Some brides can just be happy with the spirit of the day and not find happiness in being a control freak. Sookie is worried about Eric's G.P., not what florist Pam's choosing. Know what I'm saying? Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty

"Tara Mae" I shrieked, and threw my arms around her, grabbing her tightly for all I was worth. "Tara,

I thought.." I started to say, until I saw Eric and James carrying in luggage from the car out front. Eric.

Last night at dinner, when he excused himself to make a call, right after I'd talked about Tara. Was there anything he wouldn't do for me? Not a thing, and I knew it.

"You can thank Eric, he made a call and bam, Alisha was there" Tara gushed, hugging me back just as hard. She was warm, that much I noticed immediately. So she hadn't went through with it just yet. I was dying to know if they'd discussed "when", as Eric and I had already decided.

"I want to talk to you soon about something Eric, James, and I discussed on the way from the airport.... not tonight, though, I want to hear all about you first."

We broke apart so the boys could get through the door and bring the bags in. Eric leaned over to give me a kiss hello, but I threw my arms around him and almost pulled him down on top of me. He laughed, and set the luggage down right where he stood, giving me a very nice hello/tongue swap. Loki breezed past my feet on his way back inside, panting and making funny noises to get attention from everyone.

"Well, who's this little crazy thing?" James asked, bending down to get a closer look at the attention hound. Loki seemed to like James very much, as he proceeded to give his face an enthusiastic tongue bath. Looks like we weren't the only ones who greeted each other with tongues. Somehow that made me feel a bit giggly.

"This pain in the Manolo chewing ass is Eric's gift to Sookie" came Pam's dry voice floating over from the living room, along with a stifled snicker from Viktoria.

"This guy is a Swedish Vallhund. His name is Loki, and his breed has been around as long as myself." Eric tussled Loki's head a bit before straightening again and closing the front door.

"Thank you" I whispered to Eric as he brushed past me to carry their bags upstairs to wherever they would be staying. He winked and streaked up the stairs with the luggage, James close behind. I held Tara's hand and pulled her into the living room for introductions.

"Tara, you know Pam" I held out my hand as Pam nodded and said hello. "And Viktoria, who is most graciously hosting this event and letting us stay while Eric looks for our own place." Viktoria rose to greet Tara, embracing my surprised friend. Tara would very quickly notice that not all vamps were alike. It was different here, and I hoped she would feel as comfortable here as I did.

"Any friend of Sookie and Eric is welcome here. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask" she charmed, releasing Tara and taking her place back on the couch to watch the end of Sabrina. Tara looked at me in surprise at the physical contact, as most vamps back home wouldn't want a human to touch them, let alone wish to embrace a human.

"These two have single-handedly planned a gorgeous wedding all on their own, and Tara, it is going to be small, but beautiful. And perfect, now that you're here" I added, once again embracing her as if I hadn't seen her in years. It sure felt like it, for some reason. I felt like I'd lived here for years instead of days. It truly has become my home. I hoped Eric and I could show her Stockholm before they had to leave, and perhaps even introduce them to Yrjan and the gang. Please God let her not be leaving right after the wedding. I wanted every greedy day I could get with her before she left.

Viktoria and Pam were enthralled by Harrison Ford's scene playing out on the screen, the one where he tells Sabrina he wants to move with her and start over, just him and her. Pam looked over her shoulder and smirked at me a teensy bit. I stuck my tongue out at her, and she turned back to the movie, satisfied. Yep, I had been a schmuck so many weekss ago. Lifetimes ago, it felt.

"Come on, let's go upstairs and find out where Eric's got you guys situated." We bounded up the stairs, arms around each other like we were ten again. She was very glad to be here, and seemed to be at ease around nothing but me and vamps as far as the eye could see. We passed our room, then Pam's, and finally found the boys at the very back room of the upstairs level. They were laughing about something and enjoying themselves as we walked towards the doorway. The bedroom they were staying in was impressive. It was much larger than ours, with a sitting room and a huge walk-in bathroom. I was very pleased it would give them a place to themselves for when they wanted to be alone. I liked our smaller room. We didn't spend too much time in there, and when we were in there, we were either dead to the world or having way too much fun to even think about right here and now.

"Wow, this is incredible" Tara marveled at their space, walking to the bathroom to admire the walk-in shower. Yes, girl, you and James are positively going to love that most of all.

"It's very generous of Viktoria to accommodate us with only a day's notice" James said appreciatively.

Eric looked at me, knowing I would now know for dang sure what he'd been up to last night. Of course I already knew. I mouthed a 'thank you' at him and blew him a kiss. Oh, the reaction that got made my insides take notice. He was obviously planning all the ways I could thank him for it later. And thank him, I would.

"As much as I'd like to bogart you all to myself, you look positively worn out. Why don't you and James try out that nice hot shower and let him get you situated. We'll be up for a while, so you can either get some sleep or come downstairs if you feel up to it. A shower will ease the jetlag a bit."

Tara looked relieved, and fatigued suddenly. She had been prepared for an all-night catch up fest with me, but was worn out from the long plane ride. She looked at James, and he nodded in agreement with me.

"You are pretty tired, you know. I think a shower and some rest would be good for you" James stroked her arms as she melted into him. I suddenly felt like I was intruding on their sweet moment, and Eric as well. He clapped James on the back, and walked towards me, lacing his hand through mine.

"We will be downstairs for a while, if you feel like company" Eric offered, and then closed their door behind them. We walked hand in hand down the hallway and into the library. He flipped off a dim light at a table near the doorway, and closed the door behind us, leading me to the leather sofa near the balcony. He laid down and pulled my to lay between his legs, my back to him. We had a direct view overlooking the property, the lights of the city glowing vibrantly over the treetops.

Laying together in the dark room admiring the view, I nuzzled my head back into his shoulders. We were having one of those unspoken conversations together, his heart and mine, our bond and his touch conveying everything. It was heaven right now, just laying here with him. His fingers traced up and down my arms, while I absentmindedly twirled my ring around on my finger. I felt his lips to my hair as he kissed me quietly, and heard the leather crinkle as he laid his head back again. It was the simple things I'd always loved the most. The night under the stars: free. The nights at his house and mine: free. The nights in our shower: free. Tonight: free.

I kicked off my shoes, breathed a deep breath in and let it out deeply, relaxing myself into him completely. His fingers continued to feather strokes along my arm, not seeming to mind the sweater being between him and my soft skin. I could feel he wasn't trying to seduce me, yet. I felt it between us through the bond, but he was holding back.

"Eric?" I said softly into the dark, gazing at the sky in peaceful contentment.

"Yes lover?" he replied quietly.

I sat up and laid back down on him, this time on my side so I could see him and touch him.

"Thank you for being you" I said, which just about covered it all. His lips moved slightly as he focused his intense gaze on my eyes. The light from the city glow gave just enough light for me to admire his beautiful features.

"Anything for you" he replied, his eyes lowering to my lips for a moment, and then back up.

I said nothing more for a moment, playing the song in my head he'd played for me not too many nights ago, as I gazed upon my mate. I softly sang to him the words he'd played for me, knowing he'd remember the night we made love to this song.

"You calm the storms, and you give me rest. You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You still my heart, and you take my breath away. Would you take me in... Take me deeper now..."

His eyes held my gaze as a strong wave of warmth rushed through me.

"And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you? Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?"

I put my hand on his face and rubbed his cheek with my thumb as I sang to him softly.

"Cause you're all I want, you're all I need. You're everything, everything."

His fingers went to my lips, and his gaze was intense. His eyes blazed with something, while our bond mingled lust, warmth, and happiness. As his lips moved, the bond took me in deeply till I was no longer inside myself. It was like last night, and I was all in. He sang to me in a deep quiet voice.

"'Cause it's you, and me, and all of the people with nothing to do.....nothing to prove
and it's you, and me, and all of the people and I don't know why.....I can't keep my eyes off of you."

"There's something about you now....I can't quite figure out....
everything she does is beautiful-
everything she does is right-

"It's you, and me, and all of the people with nothing to do.....nothing to prove
and it's you, and me, and all of the people and I don't know why....I can't keep my eyes off of you"

"Come back to me, lover" I heard him say, and reluctantly I snapped myself alert again, letting the bond retreat again. "Hello, beautiful" I was rewarded, as he gazed upon me thoughtfully.

"It's hard to let that go" I marveled to him, earning a throaty rumble from him. He seemed to be extremely pleased that I enjoyed immersing myself in us this way.

"Do you ever let it take you in like that?"

He looked at me like I was a sweet but clueless girl. "Frequently, and often. I've sought solace deep in our bond since it was formed. It has always been there for you as well."

Okay, now that was heavy. I had missed out on so much. God I felt like smacking myself in the forehead at my stubbornness.

"It is all behind us" he softly assured me, and he was right. I couldn't accomplish anything by beating myself up every time a damn light bulb went off. We had nothing but time to make up for past lost time. Which reminds me........

"I talked to Pam and Viktoria tonight about some worries I had.......about, what I'll feel when my big night gets here." His expression softened even further, and he cupped my face in his hand as he spoke.

"Do not fear it, or me. You will have no pain, I promise this. You will simply sleep, and I will be there when you wake. I will take care of you." His eyes sealed that promise with earnestness, and I believed every word he said.

"Pam said I would feel cold as I weakened, and then I would have the best, deepest sleep of my life." He nodded, so I continued, making sure I had the rest correctly assumed as well. "She said when I wake, I'll be thirsty, but that I'll mostly still be myself. I think I'm more afraid of not knowing myself or not feeling what I feel for you more than anything."

He recognized that this was a pressing fear of mine, that I might lose what I feel for him, and lose myself as well. He put the kabosh on that pretty quick.

"You do not lose yourself; however, certain things are amplified, such as your sexual appetite" he leered a bit, before continuing, serious again. "What we have will be there when you awaken, I promise, and then some. As I said, it does intensify things some. You may find that it is a bit much to process the first night, but you will quickly adjust. I will certainly have my hands full trying to resist your advances when you make your desires known as we're out and about."

Pam was right, this was going to be hard for him, as the grimace on his face told all. He was going to hate having to be good, when he was the one who usually had me to keep him in line. It was going to take all of his control to keep me in control.

"I know I'm ready. I have nothing in me that's not ready for this. I just wanted to know for certain that I will still know myself when I come out of this, and that we will still have what we have."

"Of this I am certain. I have been a witness to many transformations as well has being a maker myself. I can tell you of this for certain."

I had one last nagging curiosity, and then it would be settled for me. "Bill told me once that a maker and child cannot stay together, that eventually they would not stay together." I saw a glimpse of anger pass across his face, and the bond shake slightly with unrest, before he composed himself.

"Bill told you this? Bill? Bill has never been a maker. He knows nothing of it. He has a nasty habit of not being forthcoming with you, lover. It angers me."

Every once in a while I see a glimpse of just how lucky Bill is to still be walking the Earth. I should have not let anything he told me on the subject bother me, but it felt good to be honest with Eric regardless about my concerns and where I got them from.

"Look at Pam and I. I did not love her when I made her, so of course anything more than a platonic interest faded over time, but she is loyal to me, and loves me in her own way, fiercely. She came here with us, lover, and left everything behind. She could have assumed my operations and took control of my area, I am confident of this. Yet, she came with you and I. Does this give you any indication of how strong the bond will be between us? It will be unbreakable, and it will not diminish. I will not grow tired of you, and you will not grow tired of me."

Words never sounded so good, and I was all over him in two seconds flat. He let me pillage him for a few moments, and then reluctantly pulled me away.

"I hear your stomach growling, have you not eaten tonight my bride-to-be?" My lack of concern only aggravated him slightly. "You must eat and maintain your strength. The next couple of days will be busy for you." He sounded like he was almost scolding me, so I didn't protest. I knew he had a point.

"Fine, I haven't eaten anything but some grapes, so I guess that doesn't count, huh?" He had the best "no shit" look on his face I'd ever seen him wear, and it made me giggle.

"No, it most certainly does not count. I know of a little place that is open all night long. We can steal away for a quick dinner, and then get back here for some serious catching up to do. I haven't had you once tonight yet."

Sold. A quick dinner and then back for some serious nookie. We flew up off the couch, and somehow I ended up over his shoulder. We stalked our way down the stairs, Eric almost squashing Loki as he ran right underfoot as usual. He smacked my butt playfully and set me down in the living room. Pam and Viktoria were now watching some weird show that was making them laugh randomly. It was some sort of game show, with an obstacle course, and the contestants were Japanese. There was English being dubbed over the Japanese they were speaking, and I found it to be really, really funny. Before I could plop myself down and watch with them, Eric The Killjoy had to ruin the fun.

"Viktoria, Pam, I'm taking Sookie for some dinner, but we will return shortly. If Tara or James need anything, call me."

They burst out laughing and waved us off, too interested in the show to look away. He shook his head and walked me to the door. Grabbing the keys from the table, he slid my jacket on me. Loki ran over and stood there, as if he wanted to come with us.

"Wanna come with us?" Eric asked him, getting a hearty affirmative in reply. He opened the front door and out Loki went, heading straight for the car. When we got to my door, Eric pointed at Loki and told him to stay, in a firm voice. He obediently sat down, looking patiently up at us. Eric opened my door for me, keeping his eyes on Loki. He didn't move, to his credit. I climbed in, and Eric told him to hop in. He hopped over me and into the back seat of the Mercedes. Was I the only one that hadn't heeled for Eric every time? That thought made me shake my head, noting that he'd probably enjoyed some of the chase to win me over. He did like a good challenge.

Eric climbed in and started the car, leaning over me to fasten my seat belt that I'd forgotten to put on. "Soon you won't need this" he smirked at me. As he looked at me, his smirk changed to a something of a proud expression. "You will be magnificent" he predicted confidently. Loki barked once from the back seat as if to agree. "You see? He obviously thinks so too." I rolled my eyes at both of them, but felt a little bit of anticipation starting to build. The nagging concern about how it was going to feel had been replaced with knowledge and assurance, and in its place excitement was building. I was ready.

As we drove through the city to the pub Eric was telling me about, I found myself jumping out of my skin to be able to talk to Tara about everything; about James, Eric and I, and our decisions to be changed. Yes, the next couple of nights were going to be busy. My stomach growled at me as if it could hear my thoughts, and Eric laughed next to me.

Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris owns the Sookie series and its characters. I am just playing with them as Eric sees fit.