My little fic has over 150 reviews and nearly 100 follows. I know that it's a pittance compared to other people in this fandom, but I'm so thrilled to have anyone read my story - thank you so much to those of you who have joined me on the journey. (Especially those of you who comment/review on every chapter). It truly is motivational for me, and I do appreciate it.

This chapter is a little bit of fun and sass before things take a more serious turn.

In other news, I've decided that I may actually end this story earlier than I expected and have a follow-up. That way I can explore different ideas without leaving the core of this story behind. Let me know if you'd be interested in reading more about this messed up family I've created. (I promise, any sequels will feature more Lafayette!)

"I was a dick before," Eric says, standing in the doorway to her room.

Sookie glances up from the book she's reading. "I was pushing pretty hard," she replies.

"Could I take you up on that offer for a shave?"

"Now?"

"Well, whenever's convenient."

"You trust me to have a blade near your throat after a fight?"

"I like to live dangerously," he grins.

"Of course you do," she replies. "Meet me in the kitchen in twenty."

~0~

Sookie hadn't been lying when she'd told Eric she learned to shave for a boyfriend. She just hadn't explained why. He had a bit of a thing about shaving, apparently. First, she learned how to give him a shave with a regular razor. It had been an excuse to flirt and be close and get in his space. He returned the favour by shaving her legs in the bath. It made something mundane seem sexy and fun. She'd learned to use a straight razor after she'd discovered that her boyfriend thought it was one of the sexiest things ever. He'd made her watch a documentary about how sensual it all was and she decided it would make a great anniversary surprise.

She had no idea at the time how handy the skill would be in her work. Electric razors were just dandy, but people had their preferences and shouldn't be denied them simply because they can't complete a task for themselves. Experience has taught her that a super close shave meant the patient could go longer between visits - something handy for those who didn't have a lot of money or regular help.

She feels nervous and hot. She can shave a patient without getting excited, of course, but Eric Northman is hardly a typical client. He's an incredibly attractive man that she's been crushing on for years. It makes her tingle in an inappropriate way. She hopes she doesn't start breathing all heavy on him or anything, because that would be embarrassing.

~0~

She is setting up in the kitchen. There's lots of space and the lighting is good. Also, there's a reasonable chance Jack can come by at any time, which is totally unappealing and therefore a great preventative measure. She sets out the things she needs: the razor, the brush, the dish of soap, towels and a bowl of water.

Eric comes in wearing a black singlet. It emphasizes his shoulders. They are quite broad and well defined, not that she cares about such things. She indicates he should sit down. She drapes a towel around his front. She can feel his eyes on her as she moves about the room, getting everything ready. She feels anxious. She takes a hot wet towel and wraps it over his face to soften his beard. The fact that it prevents him from seeing her is just a fringe benefit.

She looks down at his lap and sees that he's just as excited about this as she is. That's an interesting bit of information.

~0~

Typically, she shaves a patient while she's standing up. With her boyfriends, she sits herself down on their lap. With Eric, she has no idea what to do. She hasn't wanted to sit on a man's lap so badly since she was a little girl visiting Santa. It's pathetic.

She settles for in between, standing with her legs straddling one of his thighs.

She shaves his face with the same precise motions she'd use on a patient. She can't help but notice how pronounced his Adam's apple is. As she places her hand against his neck, she becomes aware of how small her hand looks, how thick and long the column of this throat. He has a cleft chin and his jaw is a little less square than it appears in pictures. She carefully wipes the blade clean after each pass, peering closely to ensure that she's not scraping his face raw.

His eyes have been closed the whole time, but when she glances up, she finds his eyes locked with hers. She swallows thickly. His gaze is penetrating. She can feel the heat of the blush as it moves over her face.

"What?" she asks.

He replies with a minute shake of his head.

~0~

Good god, she's trying to kill him, he thinks. She practically giving him a lap dance and he has to sit there and not move a muscle. This is way hotter than it is when he goes to the barber. Totally unfair. Sookie smells really good too. He wonders if he'll need to sit on his hands to keep his paws to himself. Wait, did her breast just brush against his chest? He feels like a teenager who just popped a boner in class. This must be his punishment for being a jackass to Yvetta, he's convinced of it.

~0~

"Did you see that interview this morning?" Sookie asks.

"Yeah," Eric sighs.

"She's engaged to that England guy already."

"She does like to get engaged..."

"Are you bitter?"

"Not at all," he laughs. "She kept planting all sorts of stories about our engagement until finally I just gave up."

"What do you mean?"

"That photo she tweeted out as our announcement - the one with the ring?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, I took the photo, but that ring was one she got for herself. I had no idea she was tweeting out that we were getting married."

"No way!"

He shrugs, carefully not to jostle her while she works. "I liked her, and I guess I thought that maybe it would be nice."

"Wow."

"I know," he replies. "I realize now that she's been 'engaged' to every guy she's dated in the past five years. It's kind of her thing."

"Well, better you figured it out before you married her," Sookie says.

He shivers. "Thank goodness. I don't think I could have ever made it through her bridezilla phase."

"That bad?"

"Everything was about the most boring minutiae. It's probably what drove me to drink," he jokes. "She was all about the guest lists and sponsored gift bags and designer dresses. I hate that shit."

"Understandable."

~0~

"Speaking of things I don't like, I have a favour to ask," Eric asks somberly.

Sookie's expression turns serious at the tone of his voice. "Okay?"

"I'm writing this travel blog, about this trip and my Dad," he explains.

"Uh-huh." That explains the writing he's been doing.

"I need a few photos of Jack and I," he hesitates.

"You want me to take them? Sure," she says. That's not a big deal; it certainly doesn't merit his serious tone.

"And, um, my manager wants to get a picture of you and my Dad, doing his therapy."

"Oh." That's not so bad either, considering.

"They want me to explain who you are, you know, to ease the tabloid speculation," he explains.

Sookie nods. Of course they want to deal with the rumours. She figures it can't hurt at this point, since she's already had her face on the cover of two major magazines this week. "Okay."

"Okay? You'll do it?"

"Yes," she answers. "On one condition."

"Shoot."

"You have take Jack out for dinner," she says. Eric starts to argue, but she holds up her finger, indicating that she's not finished. "You have to talk to him. You need to have an actual conversation with him, about whatever he wants to discuss."

Eric's mouth drops open in surprise. He really needs to get better at anticipating the conditions the women in his life give him, he thinks, he'd been way off with Pam and the Louboutins, and now this.

"I don't know what the story is, what beef you have between you," she says. "But I know that there's something and you need to work it out - before your dad dies, Eric - when he's gone it will be too late."

~0~

Eric has no good comeback for that.

"Face it; you have massive Daddy issues, Eric. It's kind of unattractive on a man your age."

Ouch. That hurt.

"If you knew my father like I did, you'd understand."

"Well, I obviously don't know your father like you do, so I don't understand," she argues. "Why don't you explain it to me?"

"I told you before, he left my mom out of nowhere and started a new family with a woman my age and didn't fucking care that it was killing my mother."

"Do you really believe that?"

"What?"

"That he didn't care about your mother and that it was truly out of nowhere?"

"Everything was fine and then bam; he wanted a divorce and a do-over."

Somehow, Sookie didn't believe this was the case at all. Eric had been too wrapped up in his own life to see it. His own issues with his father and his mother's unwillingness to talk about it probably coloured his perception of events even more. She wasn't saying she though Jack was innocent, just that Eric was likely missing a few pieces of the puzzle.

"This is why I think you need to speak to your Dad about this," she says. "Because I'm pretty sure he doesn't sees it the way you do, at all."

"How does he see it?"

"I don't know, which is why I think you should talk to him," she continues. "I get that you feel he wasn't there for you growing up, but neither was my dad. I'm angry he died. As a teen, I felt like my parent's had both abandoned me, but eventually I got over it. Now I wish I had a chance to see him again, tell him I love him. Don't let that opportunity pass you by," she warns. "I'd do anything for one more day."

Eric says nothing. Sookie can't tell if he's shut her out or if he's just considering her words.

"Your father's not well, don't let something stupid come between you and let him die before you've had a chance to resolve it."

~0~

"Did you get her to agree to the photo?" Pam asks.

Eric sighs heavily. "Only if I agree to - and I'm quoting here - have an actual conversation with Jack, about whatever he wants to discuss."

"It's about damned time," she replies.

"Thanks for your support, Pam."

"Well, she's right."

"That seems like a pretty hefty price for one measly picture."

"Forget the photo, Eric," Pam says. "What about the potential gains?"

"Such as?"

"Oh, I don't know: resolution, closure, happy family Christmases?"

"Overrated," he says sardonically.

"Grinch."

"Look who's talking!"

"You agreed to do it, right?"

"Whose side are you one here?" he asks. She actually wants him to do it. Fuck. He's kind of on the verge of freaking out. Okay, totally in a freak out, like he could use a drink freak out.

"I'm on your side, always," she says. He can tell she's taking delight in his misery. "I don't care what she's making you do; you go tell her she's got a deal."

For a moment Eric wonders if this is what Pam is talking about when she bitches about having to "deal with him." Note to self: never allow Sookie and Pam to collaborate.

"Fine, but you'll both owe me one."

"Sure, whatever, add it to my tab," Pam replies dismissively. "Look, I've got a call on the other line, we'll talk more later. And Eric? Man the fuck up at talk to Jack."

~0~

"Final offer: I'll talk to my dad if you'll let me use your picture and take me for dinner."

"You want me to take you to dinner?" Sookie repeats.

"Yeah," he says.

"Um, uh... okay." Eric Northman wants to go out with her?

"Yeah, I need to get the heck out of this place."

Of course, he wants company because he's feeling stir-crazy. Sookie mentally kicks herself for even thinking he might have been wrangling for a date. Duh. She pretends to contemplate the offer.

"Okay," she says. "But you're buying, Mr. Hotshot Hollywood Actor."

~0~