Alright ladies, I promised I'd get this chapter out quicker and thanks to my pretty new laptop, here it is.

This story is going to be wrapping up in another chapter or two. I know it's sudden but these characters have really stopped speaking to me and I don't want it to be forced. I do have another story posted. So, we'll see what happens.

Until then:

Enjoy!

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Eric woke up stiff the next afternoon. He still had his arms full of Sookie and she was still sound asleep. As carefully as he could he rose with her, slipping one arm under her knees and the other under her back with her head cradled against his chest.

Slow, light steps took him to his bedroom, where he laid Sookie back on his bed and pulled a blanket up around her. She needed sleep. He knew the past week had been tough on her. While she thought she was pretending well, he knew she wasn't sleeping. She tossed and turned and cried out in her sleep. Every night he held her close to her body and prayed that she would be at peace soon.

Because lord knew he wouldn't.

He leaned against the doorframe and watched over Sookie as she slept. A knock on the door interrupted his watch over Sookie.

Before making his way to the front door, he shut the one to his bedroom so Sookie wouldn't be interrupted. He wasn't surprised to see that Pam was the one knocking on his door. He was, however, surprised to see that Alcide was with her. The two of them were bound to either get married or kill each other, most days he'd bet on the latter.

Eric didn't even welcome them in before Pam was pushing the door open and demanding to see Sookie.

"Shut the hell up. She's sleeping. I know you're worried but she needs her rest."

Pam looked like she was ready to slug him, instead she turned into Alcide's embrace and hid her tears. Eric was shocked, he never saw Pam cry. He assumed she kept up her 'I'm a bad ass, fuck the world' front pretty much 24/7.

Eric watched with curiosity as Alcide stroked Pam's back and whispered words of comfort to her. His lips pressed against the top of her head. They looked like a couple very much in love. He knew he'd cut everyone off for the past week or so, but he was pretty sure he couldn't have missed this. He had talked to Pam a few times about the casino but she never mentioned anything about Alcide.

"I'm sorry. I'm just worried about her."

"I know you are Pam. But she needs to sleep." Eric reached out and rubbed Pam's arm for a second before the sound of Sookie's voice stopped them all.

"She, is right here." Sookie came into the living room and propped her hands on her hips.

"I appreciate the concern guys, but please don't treat me like I don't exist and can't make choices for myself. I'm hurt. I got shot and lost my baby. But I'm still here. So please don't ignore me."

Eric, Pam, and Alcide all started talking at once to reassure her that they wouldn't ignore her. She had to silence them with a sharp whistle.

"I'll get through this guys. I promise. Just give me time." After saying her peace, she walked off, heading back to Eric's room.

As he watched her go, Eric fell in love with her even more. He had to admire the strength it took to stand up to a room full of people when you were still on the mend. But Sookie handled it with the grace he'd come to expect from her.

When he was sure she was out of sight he leveled a glare at Pam.

"You will not upset her." The words were forced out between his gritted teeth.

"I can still hear you Eric." Sookie's sweet voice drifted from down the hallway. He gave Pam another warning look and then motioned for them to follow him into the kitchen.

With any luck they could at least have a peaceful meal.

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The peaceful meal that Eric wanted just wasn't destined to be. Halfway through the pizza he ordered there was a knock on his door, and then it swung open before he could even reach get down the hallway.

He turned the corner and immediately caught Felicia as she jumped against him.

"Oh God, Eric, I heard about Sookie. I'm so sorry she lost the baby. But I have good news. I'm pregnant Eric! I'm pregnant and it's yours. So you can leave the silly maid now and back to me."

"What makes you think I'd believe you?"

Felicia lifted up her shirt to show Eric her slightly rounded belly.

"Son of a bitch! How the hell did this happen?"

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"I forgot birth control once or twice."

"How do I know it isn't Bill's?"

"It isn't, I swear. Eric, we can be a family, a happy family."

Eric was just about to throw Felicia out when another familiar voice came calling through the house.

"To hell you will. That baby is mine Felicia and you know it."

"Bill?" The look on Felicia's face would have been comical if the shit wasn't going down in his living room.

"It's mine. You know it's mine. You never forgot birth control with Eric. That was something only you and I did. I knew you were using me to get you pregnant so you could claim it as Eric's, and claim all his money. But damnit Felicia, that baby is mine."

"That's nonsense. Eric, he's lying."

"18.9 million dollars Felicia." Bill's voice was tense. Eric was surprised Bill was about to reveal his secret to a gold digging bitch, but hey, to each his own.

"That's how much I'm worth. 18.9 million. Think you can live with that?"

"You never told me."

"I wanted you to love me for me, not for my money. But I love you enough for the both of us. So just leave with me. With both know the baby is mine."

Felicia's head swiveled back and forth between Eric and Bill. Eric felt Sookie's soft fingers brush his wrist and slip down to link her hand with his.

"You. Bill. I'll go with you. I'm… really sorry Eric."

He watched her step into Bill's arms and then walk away without a look back.

"I feel bad for Bill and the baby. She'll never love either of them." Sookie spoke the words as she leaned her head against his shoulder. He moved his hand from her grasp and wrapped it around her waist.

"No, I don't suppose she will."

"Are you sad it isn't yours?"

"No. You're the only one I want to have babies with."

She sighed and nuzzled her head against his.

"Why don't you head to our room. I'll see our guests out."

She released him and then gave him a peck on the cheek before heading upstairs.

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Eric got rid of Pam and Alcide as quickly as he could and went upstairs to insist Sookie take another nap. Sookie was already half asleep on top of the covers. Her eyes were mostly shut and her breathing slow. Eric curled up next to her and took her into his arms.

As soon as his hands brushed against her stomach he started to yank them back. Her hands stopped him.

"I don't regret getting pregnant."

Her words were barely spoken and almost too quiet for him to hear but they effected him all the same.

"I don't either."

"We should have a baby. On purpose."

Eric thought for a few minutes before answering her. He wanted her in his life forever, he wanted her as his wife, and of course he wanted kids with her.

The answer was so obvious he almost laughed.

"Of course I do Sookie. But first you have to marry me."

"Just because of a hypothetical baby?"

"No, just because I love you."

Eric felt the tension rise as Sookie remind silent. After what felt like hours, she looked up into his eyes.

"How long have you loved me Eric. Hours, minutes, days, years?"

"She the day you took this job. I've just been to blind to see it."

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, I'll marry you."

Eric had to restrain himself from jumping up and down on the bed. Instead he rolled Sookie onto her back and made slow, sweet love to her.

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A/N: I know this story being over in another chapter is abrupt for some of you. However, when the characters don't speak, they don't speak. The next chapter will be an epilogue. Juggling 3 stories is just too hard for me to do around a full time job and a 4 month old baby.

This was never meant to be a long drawn out ordeal. There may (I repeat, MAY) be a sequel depending on how the other stories go.