I am back on track and even though the holidays are still running crazy as hell, I need to see where this story goes as much as you all do! How crazy is that? Well anyway, enjoy, and please let me know what you think by leaving me a review or a PM.

Happy Christmas!

Chapter 21: In the Pines –Doc Watson

Sookie

Sookie shivered as she watched Eric speed away from the restaurant. She had asked the valet to lie for her. Meanwhile she crouched down in the booth.

Sookie climbed out of her hiding space and thanked the valet who gave her an odd look. She gave him an awkward smile and sat on the bench near the valet station. She took out her phone and called Jason. He picked up after the first couple of rings.

"Hey, baby sis."

"Hey Jase, umm, where are you?" she asked, hoping he wasn't busy. "Just at my house," he replied as he chewed on something into the phone.

"Would ya do me a big favor by comin' and gettin' me?" she asked.

"Yeah, your car break down or somethin'?" he asked.

"No, I just need a ride Jason," she replied, not really wanting to talk about it with the valet listening in on everything she was saying.

She gave Jason directions to the restaurant and he said he would hurry, which she was grateful for.

Sookie thought about how Eric had behaved tonight. He had been rude and when he asked to 'bond' with her, he acted as if he was doing her a great favor. Now as she thought about it, it was a big thing for him to do for her, but it still stung for him to be so business about the whole thing. It felt like he was offering her a green card marriage or something.

She did feel bad about one thing though, and it was her temper going off. She hated to admit it, but her storming off hadn't been uncharacteristic. She hadn't sat and talked through it like she should have. Even her Gran would say she was childish in this respect. She had always warned Sookie that if she didn't get control of it, it would end up controlling her and now Sookie realized she had been right. Like always.

An older couple came out of the restaurant and waited for their car as the valet scurried off to get it. While he was gone, Jason pulled up in his big truck. She sighed in relief and waved to him happily as she walked to the passenger side of his truck.

Sookie climbed in and buckled up. He mumbled, "Sorry, I drove as fast as I could."

She waved him off and said she hadn't been waiting long. "So how did you get stuck out here?" he asked.

She sighed, knowing she owed him some kind of explanation. She would want one if it had been her picking him up. She said, "Well, you know Eric?"

He nodded and glanced sidelong at her, "No Sook, not another dang vampire? I thought you were done with them."

"Ya know, I never thought I would again, but I am in love with Eric. I love him so much, Jason. And this time there is no blood in my body pollutin' my thoughts about him either. And he loves me too."

"Is that why you were stranded at that restaurant?" he asked stiffly.

Sookie shook her head and tried to calm herself at his words. She had just lectured herself on her temper and by God she was going to try and remain calm and talk it out.

"Jason, I love him. I know you don't approve, but it is my life and I am choosing him to give my heart to. I really wish you would support me. Please?" she asked.

Jason sighed, but as he stared out the windshield he nodded in agreement. "Alrigh'. I will support you."

Sookie smiled and placed her hand over Jason's and he took it and squeezed it back. "Thanks, big brother."

Eric

Eric was now panicked. He was pacing the front porch. He hadn't heard nor seen Sookie in more than an hour. Her phone was turned off and he had called every place he could think of that she would have gone, including Merlotte's and Fangtasia.

Eric looked in the direction of Bill's house. What if he had somehow intercepted her? Fuck. He needed to go over there to see, but he didn't want to let on that Sookie, his supposed bonded, was missing.

If they truly were bonded he would be able to find he her.

He zipped through the graveyard until he was met by Bill's guards. Eric inhaled deeply. Nothing. Not even a faint smell of Sookie.

"Is the king available? I am one of his sheriffs."

"Do you have an appointment?" the human guard asked. Eric rolled his eyes. "No, I don't need one typically since I am in his service."

The guard looked over his clipboard. His ear buzzed and crackled and Eric heard Bill tell the guard to let him in. The guard nodded and motioned for Eric to pass and Eric walked to the front door and simply walked in, heading for the sitting room.

Eric waited for the king to come and receive him.

He glanced around the room and gritted his teeth when he saw an old photo of Sookie and Bill framed on the mantelpiece. He stood and walked to it, picking it up gingerly.

In the picture, Sookie had been at work and looked happy to be taking a break for a picture with her boyfriend. And although Bill was smiling, there was a look of unwilling indulgence for the photograph being taken. The fact that Bill clung to the photo of him and Sookie pissed Eric off. But what pissed him off more was Bill's fucking haircut. Seriously, Eric had Pam cut his hair and it had always looked better than the fucking mess on top of Bill's head.

Bill suddenly entered and Eric turned still holding the photo. "Hanging on to better time Bill? Well better times, but not better haircuts."

Bill smirked. "Yes I like to keep that photo there on the mantel because it's where I first took Sookie."

Eric's muscles tensed, and his fingers were clenching the frame so tightly it was sure to break any moment. "Ah yes, when you basically forced yourself on her blood addled mind. Way to go Bill. That must have been a big accomplishment to you. Lord knows you wouldn't have had her otherwise. Now I have my bonded and I can have her anywhere I want. And she chose me all on her own."

Bill snarled, but Eric simply smirked. What a fucking pathetic moron.

"What brings you here Eric?"

"Sookie, as a matter of fact."

"Oh?" Bill asked, still riled up over Eric's earlier statement.

"Yes, I wanted to save the kingdom money by telling you we would only need one hotel room in Rhodes. I was told that Sookie would be attending the Summit with us and she has asked me to be with her at all times. Otherwise she won't accept your generous offer."

"Well, naturally I will need to speak to Sookie about that," Bill said.

"No," Eric said simply, "As she is my bonded, I am requiring that all interactions between you and Sookie be filtered through me. Sookie has actually requested it since…recent disturbing event involving you."

"I just wanted to let you know that we will be sharing a room one way or another, so might as well save the expense," he said casually as he walked out. Eric listened and smelled nothing of Sookie as he walked through the bottom floor of the house. If she had been here or with Bill, he would catch her scent.

Eric walked out of the house, checking his phone as he went. Damn. Another half hour had passed. Eric wracked his brain and suddenly remembered Jason. He hadn't check in with Jason. Honestly, sometimes they were so different that he forgot they were related.

He sped to the house where he remembered Jason lived. The last time he had been here was when he had come to say goodbye to Sookie a couple of years ago. At that point Sookie had just saved Bill and released from the hospital. She had then been attacked by wolves. And she had once again accepted Bill back into her heart.

Eric had come for one last glimpse of her. He had been a coward then. At the time he couldn't even admit he had any feeling for her. Big hat and no cattle, indeed. He came to warn her of her impending dealings with Russell. But that was an excuse to see her one last time.

It almost broke him to walk away from her without admitting his love for her. Almost. It did break him when she disappeared. He became unstable and as Pam called it, "unglued'. He lost grip on everything that he was. He searched the ends of the earth and back for her. Any whisper of a blond with a southern accent was reported to him and he would fly to where the report came from, disappointment and depression flooding him each time it wasn't her.

Inside he heard Sookie and Jason talking about some man named Hoyt. Jessica had been living monogamously with a man named Hoyt. He walked to the door and knocked. He heard the voices quiet and both heartbeats inside speed up slightly, then calm as Sookie said, "Vampire. It's probably Eric."

Jason said, "I am not so sure, Sook. They can't come in without an invite, right Sookie?" he asked.

Sookie must have nodded because a moment later, Jason opened the door.

"Ah man, ya scared me to death…eh, no offense."

Eric chuckled briefly, but it died on his lips as his eyes searched for Sookie. They landed on her after what seemed like forever. She was snuggled on the ratty couch she had been sleeping here the last time he had been here.

"Sookie?" he asked, begging her to come out to him. She looked at him and he could see she was still pissed. His own heart hurt as he saw the hurt in her eyes.

"You may love her, but you need to treat her better."

Eric looked to the idiot that was Sookie's brother. But as idiotic as he was, her was right. Sookie deserved way better than how he had behaved tonight.

"You are right, Jason. My sincerest apologies. I love your sister, Jason. I am attempting to embrace human traditions and find I am struggling. One I do remember is approaching the man of the family and asking for the hand of the one he loves. Will you give me your sister's hand, Jason?"

Jason's eyes popped out and Sookie flushed red and he saw a faint smile play on her lips. He also saw her eyes fill with tears.

"Uhhh… well I don't think that Sookie would care whether I agreed or not, but we talked and it's better that I agree than not. If I don't, I will be on Sookie's bad side, which is a place I never wanna be. Plus you don' seem too bad. Just don' hurt her anymore."

Eric nodded and looked to Sookie, then to Jason, "I will never intentionally hurt her, I promise."

With that he looked to Sookie and put his hand against the barrier that separated them. "Sookie, please be my bonded, my pledged, and my wife?"

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