Hey There! Yes, I know Eric really put his foot in his mouth last chapter! What can I say- he's all sorts of crazy right now. Anyway...I thought we needed a little citrus squeeze to get over the war of words from last chapter. Thank you to everyone for the incredible reviews! *hugs*

Also, I know I shout out a special thank you to Ms. SouthernLady23 each chapter for her amazing Beta work, but, she has truly gone above and beyond this time. She has created an incredible banner for this story-simply fantastic! When I saw what she had created, I was at a loss for words. She didn't stop there...nope! She created another banner for another of my stories, I Will Not Break. This is also a creative masterpiece!

Take a moment and check these babies out...

http:/ fangfics. blogspot. com/2010/07/ only-when-theyre-gone-by-charlotte. html (smoosh it together)

http:/ fangfics. blogspot. com/2010/07/ i-will-not-break-by-charlotte-clark_02. html (Smoosh)

Her Beta work was brilliant on this chapter! Any mistakes you see left behind belong to me!

CH is the owner of the characters.

I was way too exhausted to protest. I could feel my eyes drooping and my knees giving out as his arms wrapped around me, coaxing me to stay the night. As much as I would have loved to slam to door in his face and run to my car, I knew I was too tired to drive. Plus, the feeling of being wrapped in his arms, despite my anger, was a comfort I didn't want to give up.

He guided me to his room, making sure I was steady on my feet. I sat down on his huge, comfortable bed and was immediately ready for sleep to take me. I felt his strong hands on my calves and realized he was removing my shoes. I was really uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping naked in his bed, so as soon as I felt my shoes slip off, I laid down and buried my head in the mountain of pillows.

I felt Eric slip under the sheets next to me, and involuntarily let out a sigh of contentment. This is what I had dreamed about the entire time he was gone. The idea of never being able to feel his body next to mine again as we laid in bed used to cause me panic attacks. Now, I had exactly what I was petrified of losing, but the reality was bittersweet. We were miles away from each other.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the blissful silence of his presence. The scent of his cologne and his body invaded my senses, forcing me to turn over and put my back to him. Of course, Eric being the opportunist he is, decided this was his invitation to spoon up against me. I instantly tensed, his razor sharp words still fresh in my mind.

"Ssh, I won't hurt you. Just sleep, my love," he whispered as his mouth hovered above my ear.

I didn't have the energy to argue with him, or to wiggle out of his arms. I just closed my eyes and fell into the soundest sleep I had experienced in months.

When I opened my eyes the next day, I saw it was almost three in the afternoon. I couldn't believe I had slept as late as I did, but given the emotions of last night and the impromptu workout, my body seemed to need the extra sleeping time to recover. I stretched out like a cat in the sun, and took immense joy in my deliciously sore muscles.

I looked over to see Eric in his day time rest. He looked so completely peaceful and perfect. His right arm was draped over his head, while the other seemed to be reaching out towards me. His pale hair fanned out all around his head, causing an aura of blond to surround him. What seemed to hit home with me the most was the fact he was wearing sleep pants. Eric always slept naked, but last night he was apparently thinking about making me comfortable, and slipped on a pair of cotton pants before getting into bed.

I jumped out of bed and used the bathroom, thankful for the close proximity. I thought back to last night and blinked the tears which threatened my eyes. I wouldn't cry, at least not until Eric and I had another fight. Instead, I washed my face and tried to remember all the happy times we had shared.

I went downstairs and made some coffee, happy there was still coffee in his house. What there was none of was milk or cream. Not that I could blame him, as of yesterday he was tossing me out like garbage...so why would he stock his fridge with food and provisions for me?.

I turned to the coffee maker and found a note from Eric. My heart skipped a beat as I read my name on the heavy paper.

Sookie,

We still have much to discuss, and I am hoping to clear the air when I rise. I apologize for not having the house ready for you. Please understand, last night was not how I expected things to go. There is food in the freezer if you get hungry.

Eric

That's it? I stared at the note for what seemed like hours flipping it over constantly, making sure nothing magically appeared in the back. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but somehow I felt...disappointed. I made the coffee and searched around the cupboards, and was more than excited when I found some of that fake powdered creamer stuff. I'd have to ask Eric about that later, though I couldn't help but see the similarities between the fake coffee creamer and True Bloods. Well, that simply wouldn't do for me. I needed the 'real' thing to get through the day, and suddenly I wondered if Eric felt the same way. I put the thoughts away as I held my mug of nirvana, and found myself unable to stray my thoughts away from him. As much as he had hurt me last night, I still needed to be next to him. I climbed the stairs, coffee in hand, and made my way back to his bedroom. I stood in the doorway for several minutes, just watching him as he rested.

I didn't realize it, but silent tears had started falling from my eyes. He had been gone for three months, and there were several moments I believed he was finally dead-gone from this world. Every day, for me, was a struggle to survive. But, here he was...in his bed.

I walked towards him and placed my coffee with imitation creamer down on the nightstand, not wanting to spill any on the expensive sheets- worth probably more than one of my paychecks. It would be just my luck to ruin such luxury with human food. Now, if it was my blood, we'd be having a completely different conversation as I don't think Eric would mind one bit. How ironic was that?

Before I could change my mind, I nestled myself as close to his body as I could get. I buried my face in the crook where his shoulder meets his neck and thought about how perfect I fit with him. I breathed in his masculinity and wondered how he could possibly smell as good as he did.

Bill always had a scent, but it was dry and...boring. Eric had a unique scent, like a mixture of earthy musk, rain, and something kind of sweet. I'm not sure what it was, but whenever I breathed him in, my head got fuzzy. If someone asked me what my favorite scent in the world was, I'd answer Eric, without even thinking about it.

The pang of not feeling our bond was eating me alive. I wanted desperately to get lost in the emotions of our mingling blood, but instead I was left with the silence of the room. I closed my eyes and allowed my arm to creep around his waist, trying to get even closer to his still form. Just being beside him like this made me relax-really relax. I fell asleep, nestled in his arms.

I woke to the feeling of someone watching me, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the pure blue of Eric's cerulean eyes staring down at me. It looked as though he hadn't gotten out of bed yet as he was still in his sleep pants and his hair was in disarray.

"I'm glad you stayed." He spoke softly as his eyes focused on mine.

"Well, it's not like Bobby was around so I could steal his car or anything." I smiled softly and giggled a little, remembering the last time I had left his house.

I watched his mouth curve into a slight smile, but it quickly disappeared as he looked away and into the distance.

"Yes, I wouldn't want a repeat of that night." He didn't look at me as he spoke.

He was right. My attempt at a joke was really actually a painful memory for us both. I guess it was the night which changed everything-the night that changed us.

"I'm sorry, Eric. I wasn't thinking when I mentioned that night..." My voice trailed off as I tried to swallow the pain and memories from those months ago.

"I know." He turned to face me again, and I could see the many years of his long life set in his eyes.

As if beyond control, my hand reached out and cupped his cheek. All the anger and hurt I was holding onto temporarily left me, and all I wanted to do was lift the imaginary weights sitting on his shoulders.

As soon as my hand touched his skin, he drew a large unnecessary intake of breath and leaned into my hand. I couldn't bring myself to pull my hand away-I wanted to feel his cool skin against my palm. He brought his hand to mine and closed his eyes, rubbing his cheek on our entwined fingers. Soon, my eyes were closed as well, becoming lost in the sensation of his movement.

I felt his cool lips gently brush my palm, and then my wrist. I didn't want to open my eyes, because if I did, I would certainly be pulled from my Eric trance. For right now, I was perfectly content basking in the feeling of him.

His lips ghosted over my skin, causing me to break out in goosebumps and shiver from the feeling. How the hell he could do this to me with barely a touch, I'd never know. Suddenly, I felt his lips at my neck, gently kissing and tickling my sensitive skin. God help me, I wanted to feel his lips on me everywhere.

He must have been reading my mind, because as soon as I thought about it, his mouth was on my lips. It was nothing like the night before. He gently kissed me, softly tracing my lips with his tongue. My mouth parted, and he slipped his tongue inside. The kiss wasn't rushed or dominating, it was simply tender.

His hand tangled in my hair, while the other caressed the small of my back. I could have easily died right there in that kiss, and I would have died satisfied. My arms wrapped around his neck, desperate to keep him close. His bare, sculpted chest pressed against me, making me realize he was half naked, while I was completely clothed.

When he finally broke the most sensual and tender kiss we may have ever shared, he looked into my eyes and I'm certain he was looking for an answer to all our problems. Reflecting in his eyes were all the questions he had never asked, all the answers I could ever want, and all the age of his one thousand years. But, for the right now, words had no place in his room. I wasn't in the mood to talk.

"Sookie, we need to talk." His words whispered softly in my ear as I caressed his back.

"All right...talk." My voice was deep and husky, full of need. I ran my fingernails down his back and around his waist, barely ghosting over his straining erection.

"Ah...you are making it very difficult for me to concentrate, lover. We must discuss Victor..." His words died in his throat and his head fell back as my hand came in contact with his length, stroking him firmly.

I looked at him and bit my bottom lip, hoping I would be able to bend him to my will. He finally looked at me and I knew I had won.

"Hmmm...later." His words came out as a desperate moan.

He took my shirt by the hem and lifted it over my head, dropping his mouth to my shoulder to kiss it as my hair spilled back over it. His fingers danced over my skin, igniting my entire body as he skillfully removed my bra. He moved to lay us down, and let his mouth wander over my chest and stomach, causing my limbs to quiver.

He gently tugged my skirt down, making sure to take my panties with it, and dropped them to the floor. His eyes raked over my body, looking at me as though it was the fist time he had ever seen me naked. The way he was looking at me almost made me feel bashful, and I felt the need to cover myself, like I had never been bared this way to him before. I watched, as if glamoured, the way his fangs extended out to their full length, and sight which never failed to fill me with wonder and inexplicable lust.

He stood to his full height and never broke eye contact. He untied his pants and let them drop to the floor, falling in a pool of Egyptian cotton at his feet. He joined me again, placing another tear inducing kiss on my lips. He placed himself between my legs and rimmed my wetness with his erection, knowing I was more than ready for him. He smiled as he reveled in how he affected me so. He gently pressed into me, causing my body to arch into him.

His movements were slow and precise but the slow friction was exquisite and breathtaking. I wrapped my legs around him, locking them behind his back in the hope of drawing him further inside my body. He took both my hands in his, and locked our fingers together, bringing them above my head. He rested his forehead on mine and looked into my eyes as he slowly made love to me.

I was so immersed in his eyes, the emotion they held and the history they had seen. Being this way-this connected, made everything so much more intense. Each thrust of his hips brought me closer and closer to heaven. I wanted to scream his name, but neither one of us could bring ourselves to utter a sound, other than an escaped moan.

I stretched my neck up and caught his lips, pouring all the emotions I was feeling into a kiss. His soft, cool lips moved against mine in a languid way as I traced the points of his fangs with my tongue. He slowly brought his mouth down, trailing a kiss along my jaw and neck. I felt him lick the vein on the side of my neck and knew he was going to bite. Hmm, I thought with a slight smirk. Guess there'll be no imitation coffee creamer for him either.

His hips moved gently as mine moved to meet him. Everything about our coupling was soft and sensual. He still held my hands in his, and I could feel him squeezing my fingers, almost trying to hold on. I squeezed back, letting him know it was okay to let go.

With a bite so skilled and tender, he slipped his fangs into my neck, bringing my climax to a head. It washed over me as strong as any screaming orgasm I had experienced in the past. I let the feeling take over my body as I felt Eric begin to tremble with his own release.

"Sookie..." My name fell from his lips as he released everything he had inside of me. It was just above a whisper, soft and full of emotion.

He collapsed on top of me, releasing our hands and allowing his weight to press on me. I held him to me, relishing the feel of his body against mine. I wanted nothing more than to stay like this for as long as possible.

We laid there, silent and spent. He slowly moved to the side of me, allowing me to breathe while still feeling him near me. I needed to hold on to this moment for as long as possible. This perfect, quiet moment where we were us and the past three months had never happened.

After nearly an hour of laying in silence, wrapped in each others arms, Eric finally sat up and looked at me. The tender, vulnerable eyes I had seen moments earlier were gone, replaced with hard, dark orbs. I could feel my own eyes swell with tears as I knew our moment had passed.

"Sookie..." He said my name as he would any other person, with no hint of emotion.

I held my hand up and stopped him short.

"No-not yet. I'm not ready for this to be over just yet." The tears fell from my eyes, falling on the bed linens I was so careful not to stain earlier.

A/N- Poor Sookie. Think she can distract him again? Let me know!