Where Were You

by InLoveWEric

Many times in our History, we have heard these words. These two families were in completely different places on September 11th. But could tragedy, hurt, pain and suffering help them find their way to one another. Follow Eric and Sookie as they find out, with a little divine intervention that though Where they were is important but not as important on where they go from here. AH

25. Chapter 24

Chapter 24 – Only the tip of the iceberg is ever seen

***0***

Lorena's POV

I make my way back to the suite. Entering, I slam the door behind me and begin to pace. I can't believe, that all the work I've done in the past three months is shot to shit in one evening. No, not just one evening but, also by some two bit little hick that doesn't have the sense that God gave a lemon. Why on earth would she subject herself to someone like Eric Northman? The man is nothing but an airhead and womanizer. No, he is nothing and if I had my way and my plans had worked, he would be on his way out of Viking and with my husband, the idiot that he is, in his place. I'd get what I needed and then I'd continue on with my plan. WE would make millions and the Northman's would be none the wiser.

"Who does that little bitch thinks she is mouthing off to me like that? How did she play Alcide with that stupid fake southern twang and smile?" I begin to pace even faster. "Shit she must have googled him or something."

How else would she know all that stuff about him? I didn't even know all that stuff about him. But what did I care? I wasn't going to be negotiating his contracts. I wasn't going to be editing his stupid book. No, I was going to be making my name and securing my position at the firm with winning a lawsuit against the NFL and the notorious New York Giants not to mention getting Alcide off felony embezzlement charges. Yes, Debra has been finding a way, or should I say the head accountant for the team's corporate franchise office, has found a way to embezzle thousands upon thousands of dollars for the organization. The accountant was getting itchy, thinking that the upper brass were on to him. Since Debra has been his "special" friend, who has also been helping to support his rather intense cocaine habit, she has also been working on him to frame her husband. She must have promised him the moon and stars, never mind her body to get him to go along with it. I don't know all the specifics but for some reason, she said they would be able to link Alcide to the mess without implicating herself. Debra assured me that the plan was fool proof, but she would need a little more time. I'm not sure what was going on, only that they had hit a snag but that sometime very soon, Alcide would need a good lawyer. As long as I kept her name and dealings out of it, I could have the accountant or anyone else I wanted. She knew I would get her husband off with a little help from pillow talk from her friend. I don't know what this guy did to piss off Debra, but she was willing to nail him to the wall. All she wanted was her husband in this scandal. It's another thing I'm not sure of, but she insisted that this would be the best thing for all of them. Even if Alcide was guilty, I could most probably get him off. Hell, I've successfully won six out of the last seven cases I've tried, knowing full well that all my clients were guilty as sin. The last one was defending a very famous musical artist that shot some guy in a club. He had done it, we all knew he did it. There were five people in the club that night that knew this guy was packing. They saw the victim get into my clients face several times over the course of the evening and had even tried to get his girl to leave with him. There is even footage of said defendant, being ushered out of the club by his handlers not five minutes after the shooting. All fingers pointed to him as the shooter but I managed to convince a jury that the first cops on the scene not only trampled all over the crime scene but hadn't waited for CSU to gather evidence. I had several witnesses testify that the initial officers didn't do anything to secure the crime scene which was a corner booth of the club. They didn't secure the footage from the dance area which somehow got misplaced or destroyed. They actually moved the body without taking any photos and the bartender from a place not five blocks away actually testified that both cops were in his establishment not an hour before drinking. Yes, I said drinking while on duty. I am sure that it goes without saying that those officers are no longer on the force and said artist had his latest CD go platinum in three days.

I smile. Yes, I'm that good and if I believe what Debra has told me, the plan to implicate her husband in this controversy is ironclad. With the information she says she has for me, it will take me no time to get this all cleaned up. Then, after I get him off, Alcide will agree to follow his wife to LA and get into movies, sighting that staying in the city will be much too painful and that his desire to play football will be squashed.

I was curious on how she was going to pull that off. She informed me that she would get him to agree. Even though he would have been suspended from play during the trial, she would convince him that the NFL was no longer for him and as such, he would break his contract. The Giants would, of course, sue him for everything he had. I would take on the case with the rest of our corporate and civil team and with my understanding of our client we would win and the rest would be history. The case would raise the firm to a new level and it would all be thanks to me.

I shake my head at how quickly everything has unraveled.

Debra promised me it was a done deal. She told me all I needed to do was convince my firm to work with Alcide and to get him to agree to meet with some producers and big wigs to discuss his story. Especially since Debra promised me that his NFL career would be in ruin before the end of the summer. It was to be an easy task and one that Adam agreed to take on. The rest would handle itself.

I should have known that coked up pin head wouldn't be able to handle managing her husband. But she did get him to come to the Giants. Though, it did take her overdosing to make that happen. Clenching and unclenching my fists, I growl at my own stupidity.

I hear the door open behind me and I turn to see Adam standing there glaring at me.

I walk toward him but he shakes his head as he moves past me.

"Adam, you know that…"

"Stop," he puts his hand up. "I don't want to know what that coked out bitch told you. I don't want to know what you and she had planned for that man because clearly it was a hell of a lot more than some stupid book deal."

"Adam, you can't honestly think that I…"

"I know what you are capable of when you want something, Lorena," he says.

"What is that supposed to me?" I place a hand on my hip.

"We took this client on your say so, Lorena. You promised me that you could assure that this would bring in big money for the firm. All I had to do is get Alcide Herveaux to think bigger than his little book which I did. But something tells me that before this is all said and done, you will have cost this firm a lot of money, not to mention our reputation."

I shake my head. "Adam, you know that my focus is always on this firm."

"No, Lorena," he says. "Your focus is always on yourself. That is why you have pushed for the hard accounts. We have overlooked your tactics for years because you have gotten results for us."

"What tactics?" I ask moving closer to him. He doesn't move.

"You always seem to know things that the police haven't found. Why is that Lorena?" he asks me.

I say nothing.

"You seem to always find someone or something that puts doubt in juries' minds. How do you do that?"

"I'm good at what I do," I don't understand where he is going with this line of questioning and it's making me a bit nervous.

The firm has never once questioned how I do things because I bring in the big cases and win them. Even when we lose, I manage to have a contract that gets a monetary win. The firm cares for very little else.

"Okay," he says. "What about how you push your junior associates to the edge of quitting?"

"They are young," I say throwing up my arms. "They need to learn to toughen up…"

He seems to not even hear me when he adds, "and why have you gotten into bed with me?"

That one brings me up short.

"I got into bed with you because I love you," I say to him.

"Spare me," he laughs. "You love my position, my money, and my name on the firm's masthead. I know it and you know it. You don't love me anymore than I love you. Face it, Lorena, we were using each other. You were using me to get your name on the masthead and I was using you because you would let me."

"No," I say to him. "I was hoping that in time we would be together in a more permanent way," I try to move closer to him but he pushes past me laughing.

"You honestly thought I would leave my wife for you?" he laughs even harder. "Oh that is rich."

He looks at me and his expression changes. "You really did think I'd do it, didn't you?"

I don't say anything.

"I thought I made our position with one another very clear but I must have been mistaken. You see, my wife is a Vanderbilt, Lorena. We have three children, all in college. You understand what that means?" he pauses but I continue just to stare at him. "Her money runs through this firm. Her reputation is what got my daughter into Vassar and my youngest into Radcliffe. Her position is what gets us the big clients for the firm and dinner invitations to the biggest benefits on the eastern seaboard."

"We get the big clients because we are the best firm in the city," I say to him. "You and I would be so great together. Think of the team we could make."

He looks at me and he stops laughing. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Adam, I know you feel something for me other than lust. We have been together for almost a year. Think about it?" I smile at him. "We would be unstoppable."

He says nothing for a moment.

"Adam?" I ask him trying to get him to see reason.

We would be the most powerful team, not only at the firm but in the circles we run in. We would be THE power couple. He must see it.

"Adam," I say again. "Say something."

"You're fired," he says and moves over to the desk in the corner.

"WHAT?" I scream.

"Get your stuff and get out of here. I'll call you a car to take you back to the city. Have your files organized and leave everything regarding the Herveaux account on the conference room table. The rest your associates can go through them and anything else you are working on over the next few days. With any luck we will be able to side step not only a lawsuit but an ethical sanction for what you've pulled with that woman today."

"You…you're firing me?" I ask him. "What about," I look around the room trying to think of something. Suddenly I feel like a ship that is floating out to sea with no engine and no direction.

"Adam, please. All I've ever done is think about this firm and you. You can't fire me for trying to hook a big fish!"

"I can," he steps up into my space, so close that I have to step back. "And I will. You should feel lucky that I'm not reporting you to the ethical committee myself. If you leave quietly, we will give you a recommendation."

"You can't do this to me," I growl at him. "I'll go public with our affair. What do you think your wife will do then? How will your kids feel knowing that their precious daddy stepped out on their mother? Do you think she will allow you to accompany her to all those big events when she knows that you were sleeping with someone that works for you? I don't see that being a topic of discussion at her next tea party," I smirk at him. "Talk about unethical, what will the board of directors say about you sleeping with a subordinate?"

Suddenly his expression turns to stone. The look on his face makes my blood run cold. "You breathe one word about us and your career ending will be the least of your worries Lorena Compton." His says in a voice I've never heard him use before. "You aren't the only one with friends it the right places," his eyes darken further. "Now get out of here before I do something you will regret, permanently."

He turns and walks back over to the desk without looking at me again.

"Adam, please," I say in a whisper. "I didn't mean that. I love you and I'm angry. I can't bear the thought of you ending us. I love you so much and I know you love me."

He shakes his head without looking at me. "You were just a fuck, Lorena, nothing more."

I say nothing and will the tears back. I can honestly say I have feelings for this man and he's throwing me away like yesterday's garbage. For what? Because I made a mistake and trusted the wrong person. He can't throw me, us away because of a mistake.

Adam sighs.

"I'll leave you to get your things together and make sure there is a car waiting for you in twenty minutes. If you aren't in it and on your way back to the city within the hour, I will be forced to take further actions."

I laugh. "What further actions? You have just fired me and threatened me with the ethical board. Not to mention, thrown me aside along with a yearlong affair that I risked everything I have to be with you. What else could you do to me?"

He slowly turns and looks at me. His eyes are cold and hard as before. I've only seen him look like this in court when he's after blood. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think he would levy those eyes on me. He has already threatened to kill me. What more can he do to me.

"There is a matter of fifty thousand dollars missing from one of our larger trust accounts, Lorena. I was hoping that the auditors we hired would have found it by now but they haven't. It would be a shame if they found information implicating you in the fraud," he folds his arms in front of him.

"I don't know what you are talking about!"

He shrugs. "Maybe you do and maybe you don't. But you have just threatened to go public with a very private affair. You have put our firm at risk by attempting to secure a very unstable client and have misrepresented yourself to said client. Your behavior has become erratic and your motives suspect. What else have you been up to? After all, we have given you a lot of freedom as of late. What could you be up to?"

"I've never stolen a dime from the firm and you know it!" I shout again.

"And if you do as you are told and leave quietly, then that is the last time we will need to have this discussion," he says as he goes to the door. "Good luck Lorena."

I watch as he walks out the door and shuts it behind himself.

I sit down on the side of the bed. This can't be happening to me. Things like this happen to other people. I make these things happen to other people. How am I going to explain this to Bill? What am I going to say to my friends?

I look around and decide that I need to get out of here and regroup. I will figure out a way to not only fix this but to get that promotion I so deserve. I just have to get out of here and think.

Grabbing the few things I removed from my bag upon my arrival, I quickly pack and head toward the door. Making my way down the hall I turn into the grand lobby and sitting area. I am purposely not looking at anyone.

I'm just about at the door when I hear a voice and stop.

"Judith baby," he says. "You don't understand. That's my wife's boss. If he sees me with you…"

"Billy, honey," I hear a woman purr. "I'll mingle and you get us a pretty suite. The room I got in town is nowhere near as nice as the ones we have here. I promise to do wicked things to you later if you do."

"How wicked?" my husband asks the filth in front of him.

My legs have been moving me toward them without me willing it. Bill still has his back to me and hasn't seen me.

"Yes, he isn't the only one that would like to know the answer to that question," I say.

At the sound of my voice Bill spins around.

"Lorena," he gasps.

"Yes, please tell me how wicked you intend on getting with my husband?" I drop the bag and cross my arms.

My life has now reached the fifth level of hell.

***0***

EPOV

I sure as hell know that I need a drink after watching Sookie switch on her corporate persona. It's either that or I was about to jump her where she stood. Hell, my little southern belle is a vixen at the best of times. Seeing her in business mode, makes me think we seriously are going to need adjoining offices. Shit, now I'm thinking of taking her over my desk. No, not my desk, a new desk. I've taken too many skanks on my desk. I need a bigger desk, a new desk. A desk that she and I will be the only ones that christen. Speaking of christening, I'm going to need a new couch too. Hell, thank God I never took anyone to the Penthouse. I'd have to get a decorator in before Sookie starts on Monday. Hell, maybe I should just sell the place and get us a house somewhere. But she seems to like Brooklyn. Hell, now I'm ranting. I think I need two drinks.

I smile as I make my way through the crowd. I get a few weird looks from some of the party goers. Well, those who aren't three sheets to the wind already. No doubt from the stupid smile on my face. I can't help it. At every turn, my Sookie does nothing but amaze me. I'm really going to have to find a way to thank Pam for finding her for me, for us. No, for me, I'll go with that. Because that is what she is, she's mine and every fucker in this place better know that by now or we will be having words.

I know that I was doing a cave man act on her earlier by the way I was holding her but fuck it, I needed to stake my claim. Every man and most of the women were looking at my girl like she was a new cut of prime beef and I wasn't gonna have that. She's mine and only mine and the first one who challenges me for her will find themselves in a world of hurt.

Okay, getting a little too "caveman-ish", I think. But I need her, and everyone else to understand that I can no longer breathe without her near me. It's like she's the other half of me. I already know she's my soul and Maddi is my heart. Without them I'm less than I was before. Without them I am just a shell.

Walking over to the end of the bar, I wait for the bartender to get to me. I look around and can tell that the party is heating up. I've no idea where all these people are coming from but I know for a fact that most of them are what makes up the Hampton party scene and not members of the publishing world. Hell, you would think that Debra put a flash text out to everyone she knows to come and hang out. Truthfully, I wouldn't be surprised. Sookie knows a lot about what has been written about that so called model but I know what she's been like on the party circuit. Believe you me, she was so not worrying about her hubby's career the last six or seven times I've seen her at one club or another. Hell, I don't think she was thinking about much at all. Not by the way she was saddling up to this guy or that one. She was always ready for a good time and I really didn't think she cared who came along for the ride. The rumor has been that as long as she was supplied well and shown a good time, she was willing to be ridden by anyone, male or female. Lately, there has been this guy with her, Marcus something or other. Some high roller suit that she knows from somewhere or something. I'd never seen him before Debra brought him around and he was usually higher than her.

I see the bartender coming toward me but before I can tell him my drink order, I feel I hand rub against the front of my shirt.

"Hey there handsome," she purrs and moves closer.

I look down and see someone I was hoping wouldn't be here. But with the likes of Debra Pelt here, you know all the gal pals, bitches, whores, wannabe's and the like, would be getting their party on.

Yes, Deb is like all the rest of those wastes of spaces. They are at every party; every club, everywhere the paps will be or the famous will congregate. Deb, like this one before me, has been to every IT place last season when Alcide was still in Louisiana. I heard about them not showing up for events and missing photo shoots. Everyone who was in the know and the paps taking all the photos wouldn't buy the lame excuses they would give after seeing the photos of them at one party or another the night before. I've stayed away from Debra and since she didn't so much as acknowledge me, it would seem that she was either otherwise engaged when we crossed paths or so stoned she didn't remember her up from her down. From her display tonight, I would bet money on the latter.

For some reason she reminds me of Heidi and for that reason alone I can't like her.

"Tia," I say to the woman that is now trying to climb me like a pole. "I need you to step back."

She purrs again. "Oh come on, baby," she whispers. "I haven't seen you in what feels like forever. This party isn't what I thought it would be. How about if we go have some fun? You have a room here right? You can't be going back to the city after this shin dig. According to Deb, that new lawyer of theirs booked the place for the whole night. Once these suits clear out, Deb promises a party to remember or not as the case may be," she laughs at herself and moves in a little closer to me.

"Tia," I say and grab her arm stopping her. "I said no. Now, I want you to step back. I'm not interested in what you have to offer."

"Not interested," she growls. "Why the hell not?"

"Because Eric isn't into trash," I hear from behind her and look to see my beautiful girl standing there with one hand on her hip and the other holding her purse.

"What did you call me?" Tia pulls away from me and stumbles a little. I don't make an attempt to catch her. I just don't care enough.

She and Debra must have had a party earlier. Then again, why am I not surprised. Tia has a steady diet of Vodka, pills and white powder. Before I never really cared that much. Now, seeing her in light that isn't dim and smoky, I can tell the toll it's taking on her body, face and life. Now, well, now she just looks really sad and worn out to me. It makes me think that I was truly lost when I was with her. I'd never look twice at her now. No, not when I have my Sookie to look at.

"I don't think I stuttered," Sookie raises her eyebrow at Tia. "Are your ears numb from all the shit you put in your body?" she doesn't wait for an answer before she continues. "Now Eric asked you and now I'm telling you, get away from my man." Sookie growls.

Well fuck if that is not sexy too. Shit is there anything this woman does that doesn't get me hard? Nope, haven't found a thing yet and I don't think I'm going to. Thank God for small or in my case big miracles.

Tia laughs. "Eric isn't anyone's. You are new to the scene honey," she sort of slurs. "Eric isn't into being owned. Least of all, owned by a fat cow like you."

"Really?" Sookie says stepping forward. "I think Eric likes to have something more to hold onto than having a stick under him. What do the guys say? Oh right, cushion for the pushin'?" she smirks at me before she turns back to Tia. "I'm going to tell you once more. Step away from him or you and I will have issues."

"Eric, tell this troll that you are busy," Tia says.

"I am busy," I say with a smile to my girl. "For the rest of my life. Tia I would like to introduce you to my fiancée."

She looks at me and then back to Sookie. "Since when?"

"Since today," I say with a smile. "Now if you will excuse us," I push past Tia and walk up to Sookie.

Wrapping my arm around her, I turn her and make my way past the pool and towards the lobby.

"Eric," Sookie says. "What about our drinks."

"Sookie," I lean down to her. "I need to be alone with you and I can't wait any longer. I know I promised that we could take our time but right now I need to be naked and rubbing myself all over you."

She laughs. "ERIC!"

"What?" I ask. "You are fuck hot and you standing there, telling Tia to get her hands off me, had me close to coming in my pants."

"Again?" she whispers.

"Baby, if you claim me like that again, I'd gladly cream my shorts any day of the week." I whisper back to her.

We turn the corner and stop when we see the scene before us.

"Tell me, Bill. Tell me it's not what it looks like!" Lorena is screaming at my cousin.

"Lorena please, we can go home and discuss this," Bill says, trying to steer his wife away from another woman.

It takes me a moment but then I recognize her.

"That's my secretary. Or rather the one I got rid of. I knew she was sleeping with Bill."

"That's," Sookie points in the direction of the screaming woman. "That's Judith?"

I nod as we walk towards the service desk.

"Eric," Sookie says. "They are making a scene."

"So," I say. "It's their scene and their marriage. Bill is my cousin but we aren't close. He's been with Judith for some time, as I'm sure that Lorena has been having her flings for years. Bill will figure a way to contain this and they will deal with it. They have nothing to do with us."

Sookie pulls on my hand again. "Baby," she says softly.

I turn to look at her. "I know that you want to be alone but I'd feel better if we were alone back on the estate. I've very rarely left Maddi and I want to make sure she's okay. I'm sure she's fine and having a blast but she's never been away from me over night and I…"

I look at my beautiful girl and smile. "How heartless of me," I say and kiss her forehead. "Let's go back to the house and check on the doodlebug. Then we can be alone."

"I don't mean to ruin our night," Sookie looks up at me.

"You didn't," I say softly. "We are parents and I got caught up in the moment. But you can hardly blame me when you get all hot and sexy like you have tonight. I'm not sure what got me hotter; Corporate Sookie or Cavewoman Sookie. Plus this outfit," I motion to her. "Every man in here has been looking at you since we pulled up. I can't help but want to scent and mark you."

She smiles at me. "I know that, having to think of Maddi will take time for you. I just…"

"Hey," I say and pull her close. "I'm all in. You're right. Maddi may be having fun but she is in a strange place with nearly perfect strangers. If she gets spooked, it could be bad."

She nods into my chest. "Thank you for understanding."

"Not at all," I say and move away from her slightly. "I love you and Maddi. Once we take care of her, I want you all to myself for the rest of the night."

"Then we can rub on one another naked?" she smirks at me.

"Woman, you are testing my control. But I will have you naked, with my scent all over you before the morning."

"Considered it done," she smiles up at me.

I kiss her softly before I pull away and make our way to the steps leading to the Valet post. I pull out my phone to let Pam know that Sookie and I are leaving and that I'll send the car back for her and the others.

I went to look for you and Sookie and saw the whole thing. She texts me. You are an ass to have ever touched that two bit slut but we will take care of her. Have fun with your girl and we will see you later.

I smile at my sisters words and wish her a fun night. I know that Pam and Amelia will party until well into the early morning but Bob and Erin will probably be ready to leave within the next few hours. Pam texted back that she will make sure Bob and Erin get back safely.

I don't even waste a glance on the drama that is happening between my cousin and his wife. As far as I'm concerned, they brought it on themselves. I do hear voices getting louder and words being thrown back and forth. I'm hoping that either Lorena storms away or Bill gets her away soon. I may not care about their marriage but this whole thing will bound to make some headline somewhere. Bill may not be directly related, but he is a Northman in some form. People just love writing about us. It's surprising sometimes how little has been written about me. But then again, it really is something else to be thankful of.

Quickly, Sookie and I are in the car and I can't help but to pull her onto my lap and begin kissing her anywhere I can reach.

The noises coming from her are egging me on. So much so that if she doesn't stop and we don't get to be alone soon, I seriously may have another issue in my pants.

"Eric," she moans to me.

"Sookie," I say softly between kisses. "I can't get enough of you," I kiss her again. "You and me baby. We are forever."

She pulls away from me and looks me in the eye. "You called me your fiancée?"

I nod. "As soon as I can, that will be more than words, my beautiful girl," I say and pull her back to me.

She smiles into my kisses and all I can think is that this driver better hurry the fuck up and I hope to God Maddi is asleep so I can have my quiet time with her mother.

Shit, what did I ever do without her?

***0***

I am lost in the feel of my girl when the car slows and comes to a stop. Looking up, I see that we have entered the Estate and our good driver is waiting on us to depart from the vehicle. I smile at the discretion he is showing toward my future bride.

Bride, Sookie as my bride. The sound of those words does something to me that I never thought possible. I can't quite pinpoint it but I think what I'm feeling is hope. Yes, hope is what it is. The last time I felt anything close to this was the day I held my precious girl for the first time. The hope I feel with Sookie is different, of course, but the same if that makes any sense. Sookie and Maddi are my future and to be honest with myself, I want that future to begin as quickly as possible.

Sookie takes a moment to right herself before I open the door. Once she nods in my direction, I tap on the partition glass and as it lowers, I inform our driver that the others would be home later and they would need his services. Derek, who has been my parents and grandmother's driver for years, nods and smiles at the both of us.

"You both have a lovely evening," he says.

His smile is genuine and I feel that there is no underlining meaning to his words. He is part of our family and has been for years. He may work for the family but it doesn't make him outside of it.

Taking my beloved's hand, we walk up to the house and slip in as quietly as the old house will allow. Standing in the center hall for a moment, I listen to see if there is any noise. I hear whispering coming from the back family room and lead Sookie down the hall, through the kitchen to where I know they all must be.

We enter and Sookie and I stop just inside the room and take in the scene.

The children have made some sort of a makeshift camp on the floor with pillows and blankets from the couches. My mother and father are curled up on one side of the long L shaped couch whispering to one another and glancing down at the three little ones on the floor.

Maddi has wrapped herself and her doll, as close to Reese as she can while Sammy is sprawled out beside them. The ending credits of some animated movie are rolling with the sound set just low enough to make out the words but not loud enough to disturb the sleeping cherubs.

My father looks up and smiles at us. "You are home early," he says. "Did the party not go as expected?"

"Oh, it went quite well," I say to him and walk closer so we don't have to talk as loud. "Thanks to our new executive publisher," I say and kiss Sookie on the temple.

"I wouldn't go that far," she smiles up at me and then looks at my parents. "But we seem to have the account so that's good."

"Well that's wonderful," my mother smiles brightly. "You two should be celebrating. Why did you come home?"

"Well, I'm not one for big parties and I wanted to make sure Maddi wasn't giving you any trouble."

"Oh, she is an angel, Sookie," Dad says while looking down at the children again. "She and Reese have been attached at the hip and Sammy has been perfect with them."

"Well, let's grab her and then we can get Reese and Sammy to their room," I say.

"Oh, they wanted to have an inside camp out. Don't worry about them. They'll be fine," Mom waves us off.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Believe me son," Mom smirks. "You and your sister would do the same when we would come to visit when you were younger. When the weather gets even warmer, they will want to spend the night on the porch."

"Well as long as you think they will be okay," Sookie says eyeing our little one once more.

"We are," Dad nods. "Go and have some quiet time, just the two of you."

Sookie looks up at me and I nod in agreement. After all, she had promised me some naked rubbing time, hadn't she?

We turn to leave but before we go, I remember the other interesting thing of the evening. Though, I wasn't much concerned with it, my parents might be.

"You may want to warn Uncle Edward," I say to them. "Apparently Lorena and Bill have landed on a trouble patch."

"Oh really," mom says.

I nod. "I suspected that Bill was involved with someone at work and well…."

"Tell me you didn't tell Lorena?" Dad asks.

"No," Sookie says, "but evidently, Billy showed up at the event with a woman and Lorena saw them. We don't know what was said or anything. We just happened to come up on them arguing when we left."

"I see," Dad sighs. "Well, they have made a bed that they need to lie in now. Why were either of them there anyway?"

"Not sure about Bill," I say. "Lorena's firm was supposed to be representing Alcide. However, that was another bit of drama. Suffice it to say, Lorena may be in a bit of trouble with her Senior Partners."

"Huh," mom smirks. "Lizzy and Ed suspected Lorena was stepping out on Bill. Not the other way around. Well," she waves off the thought. "It's the kids' mess and they will need to sort it."

"I only mentioned it in case there was any gossip."

"Well gossip and old newspaper are good for the same thing," Mom replies. "You two go enjoy the rest of the night. We will see you in the morning."

We say our good nights and make our way out of the house and down the path. Sookie was quiet the whole way. I get the feeling that she is rethinking our plans for the evening. Perhaps she is rethinking what occurred earlier with Tia and maybe she is rethinking me.

A cold chill starts to grow deep within me. It feels like if the chill continues my whole body will be ice in moments.

I quickly open the door and hold it open for Sookie, she passes through and walks into the living area. Stopping by the windows she turns to look out at the sea. The lights are off and you can see the dark waves crashing on the shore line.

Finally, I can't take the silence any longer.

"Sookie," I say softly. "If you…"

But before I can say anything else, she turns and moves quicker than I thought possible and has her lips on mine.

The kiss is hotter, deeper, more than anything we have experienced so far and our kisses have been intense. I feel it in every part of me. Sooner than I could think it, the chill that I was experiencing, on the walk over is replaced with fire so hot that I swear I could melt the floor below me.

Allowing my instincts to take over, I pick her up. Allowing her to wrap her legs around me and move us as efficiently as I can to the bedroom. Kicking the door closed, I turn us and place her back against it without stopping our kiss. Soon, we both need to breathe but I don't stop. Kissing along her long neck, I start a trail down the line of her collar. I am rewarded with the sweetest moans from this beautiful creature before me.

"Eric," she moans. "You promised to have us naked remember?"

Stopping my ministration I look up to see that her beautiful blue eyes are now darkened with the lust I'm sure is mirrored in my own.

Smiling, I lower her to the floor, where she immediately starts on the buttons of my shirt, while I go for the zipper on the back of her shirt. Without words or much noise at all, we assist each other our clothes and before I know it, I'm helping her out of the champagne colored thong she is wearing. The sight of which almost ends this party before it begins.

I must have moaned because when I sneak a look up at her she is smiling down at me.

"You like them? She asks.

"I'm getting you an account at every lingerie shop in the city and if I have my way," I rise to my feet, "you will wear nothing else."

She kisses me, as her hands go to help me out of my boxers.

"The staff may have a problem with that at work," she says with a huskiness to her voice.

"I'll fire them all," I kiss her deeply, "and we will be able to run around the office naked."

She continues to assist me and soon enough we are standing in front of one another naked as promised. I watch as she looks me up and down. Her eyes feel like they are burning into wherever they land.

"You are the most beautiful thing I think I've ever seen," she whispers to me.

I pull her closer to me, after taking her in just as closely. "I think that should be my line," I feel the warmth of her skin under my touch as we both move our hands everywhere and anywhere.

Sookie starts to walk backwards and I follow as if I am tethered to her. Once we reach the side of the bed I lift her slowly and lay her down.

Looking down at her, she takes my breath away. Her hair spread around her looks like a golden halo.

"You are my angel," I say more to myself than to her.

She smiles and reaches up to me. I slowly move closer and closer until I am leaning over her. I allow only the lightest touch of our bodies, holding the rest of my weight on my arms and knees. Leaning down, she meets me half way and we begin our heated kisses but this time she accompanies them with soft heated touches. I moan into our kiss and will myself not to lean myself onto her. I promised her that we would take all of this slow but all I really want to do right now is seat myself inside her.

Kissing down the side of her face, I find that perfect sweet spot right behind her ear. She moans and moves slightly and I know that she is enjoying herself.

"Eric," she moans and I continue my ministration. "Baby, make me yours."

I stop what I'm doing and look over into her beautiful blue eyes. I see love, desire, determination. But most of all I see my future.

"Are you sure my love?" I ask her.

She nods slightly and smiles. "I want you to have all of me and me all of you. Nothing and no one will ever matter. Just us two."

I know what she is saying and I know what she isn't saying. I want everything with her and it starts with just the two of us.

As if we are in perfect sync, she moves slightly and allows me between her legs. Lowering myself I kiss her once more. This time the passion has something else behind it. I'm not sure if I can even explain it.

Moving slowly but with determination, I lower myself further and find her open and ready for me. Without taking my eyes off her, I slowly begin to seat myself in the place I've only ever dreamed up. Moaning in unison, I feel my eyes roll back in my head. She feels like home, heaven and the heat of hell all rolled into one.

Stopping my movement I will my eyes to open and I see hers closed.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

Slowly her eyes open and I swear I see inside her soul.

Slowly and without words, I move within her further and know that this is what love is. The feeling is new and familiar all at the same time. She knows my movements before I do and her body dances with mine as if we have danced lifetimes together.

"Home," I say but not sure if I say it out loud or not.

I am home.

***0***

Abbie's POV

Curled up on the oversized couch, I feel the warmth and weight of my husband's arms wrapped around from behind me. Even after all this time, the feel of him close comforts me in ways I can never explain. I smile with my eyes closed, listening to the soft snores of the three cherubs on before us. I've always considered Bob and Erin's children part of our family. I was not sure if Pam would ever grace us with grandchildren and after what happen to our little one, I was sure that Eric would never risk his heart again to any woman especially those I knew he spent time with.

But now I have hope. I have a beautiful new granddaughter. I know that she will never replace the one we lost. That is impossible. One child can never replace another. No, Maddi is something else, something different, and something for us. She is sunshine and butterflies, spring morning air and the spray of the ocean all rolled into one. She is love for us. Love that we need. Little Maddi and her beautiful mother are like missing pieces to a puzzle I was never sure we would be able to complete. No, Maddi doesn't replace our angel, she is the other part of our world. Part that we were not sure we would ever have.

Suddenly as if it waffled in on a breeze, I hear a soft giggle. Opening my eyes I look to see which one the children have been roused from their slumber. I look at each of their faces. Each of their eyes are closed and their mouths are slightly open. I lean up further to get a closer look.

"What's wrong?" I hear my Edwin ask.

"I thought I heard one of the children," I reply just above a whisper.

He leans up as well and looks down at the children.

"You must be dreaming," he says. "Go back to sleep. They'll be up soon enough."

I look again to make sure but the only one with eyes open is Maddi's doll.

Deciding that my dear husband must be right, I settle back down and allow his arms to engulf me. But I swear I heard a child's laugh.

Soft and innocent.

Like the sound of angel's wings.