Hi everyone! I want to start out this chapter by clarifying something. I am writing this story purely for my own pleasure and for my amazing fans. Even though I enjoy writing it and put thought into this story along with all my other stories, it is not, by any means, my magnum opus or anything. I want the people that read my stories to enjoy them, however I am not begging for readers. If you really hate my story or feel that I am not going in the direction you would like, then by all means, stop reading. It won't hurt my feelings in the least.

I am not saying I don't want feedback or constructive criticism, but to the readers out there who post non-constructive criticism, I just hope you find the story out there that caters to your every whim. I have never really had to deal with mean-spirited commentary before and I don't want to have to deal with it now. It throws me off and I think even some of the other readers have expressed that these type of comments affect their reading experience. As a reader, I always try to be supportive of my fellow authors because it is hard to put yourself out there and post stories, and to read bullshit posts can be really discouraging (more times than not by anonymous readers - cough - cough - COWARDS! - cough).

Anyway, thanks for reading everyone and a BIG thanks to those that are so supportive and encouraging. I hope that this chapter makes those that have stuck it out feel a little better about being so patient! Enjoy!

Where Love Will Lead

Chapter 25

Sookie

Sookie continued to cry well after Eric left. After fifteen minutes, Jason and Preston came in after she didn't come out for them.

"Sonofabitch, I'll kill him," Jason seethed.

"No, no. I am crying for a different reason. He was fine. Nice even. I think I have just been through too much. And I am sore," she said, talking him down and distracting him from her tears.

Preston came to her side and said, "Lie down."

"No, I think I am sore from lying down so long. I could go for a walk actually."

"I will take you," Preston said, helping her to her feet. Her legs felt a little shaky, but it felt good to have the muscles on the move and stretch them out.

"I will wait here," Jason said as he followed them out to the club area.

There was a flutter around the club as the fairies spied Sookie on Preston's arm. They were relieved that she was okay and excited to see her up and moving around.

She gave them all a smile, but continued to walk to the exit leading out to the meadow. Preston guided her out and Sookie smiled as the fresh night air hit her face. She inhaled deeply and they paused as Sookie sighed in relief.

"It feels so good to get out of that room," Sookie said.

"Good," Preston said, his tone off.

"What?" Sookie asked, as they started walking. It was slow at first, but their pace became an easy and relaxing stroll after a couple of minutes.

Preston hesitated before answering and Sookie felt that this conversation was not going somewhere good. She waited for him impatiently to respond and then she gripped his arm to stop him, "Come on, what? You can tell me."

He looked at her and then at their joined hands before looking back up into her eyes and asking, "Was there a reason that the first person you asked for was Eric and not Jason or me?"

Sookie flinched, literally shocked at his question. "Umm, well I guess because Dr. Ludwig mentioned somethin' about him waitin' for me to wake up so I could talk to him about breakin' the bond."

He held her gaze and then looked down, but not before Sookie detected his look of disappointment and hurt in his eyes. Sookie cleared her throat and said, "I am guessin' by your silence that you think there is another reason."

He looked back up to her and asked bluntly, "Do you still love him?" It was the thing she loved about Preston. He was direct and said everything he thought and meant everything he said. There was no confusion or room for miscommunication with Preston. She would never wonder what his feelings were or what he thought about something. He told her.

Sookie blinked and then looked down responding, "No. I told him that too."

The silence between them was palpable for what seemed like forever and Sookie's stomach felt so tied up she thought it was related to her recent brush with death. "Preston?" she nudged.

He squeezed her hand and then looked into her eyes and said, "You can't even look me in the eyes and say that. And my guess is that the reason you struggled with saying 'I love you' to me was because your heart belongs to him."

He took her arm from the crook of his elbow and held it. "It's okay Sookie, if that's the case. It's...hard to hear, but you can tell me. You are one of my dearest friends and I love you very much. I want you to be open with me and I promise I will be as open with you."

Sookie choked up and said, "I...I...don't know what to say. I don't know what I feel anymore."

Preston inhaled deeply and whispered, "Dammit." Sookie felt terrible and she wiped her face for what seemed like the hundredth time tonight.

"I am so sorry, Preston. I...I-

Preston cut her off and nodded and squeezed her hand, saying "It's okay. I think that you need some space. I know you been under pressure, so I want you to know that even though I am here for you, you have room to make sense of everything and sort things out. The only thing I ask is that when you do know how you feel, you will be honest and tell me."

Sookie let out a whimpered cry and then hugged Preston, who returned it by patting her back and hugging her.

When she pulled away he said, "I think you need to get back inside and get some food and rest."

Sookie nodded and then took his hand once more and said, "Thank you Preston. I don't deserve you, ya know?"

"That's just it Sookie. You deserve so much and you don't even see it. You never have," he said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

She gave him a weak smile and he led her back into the fairy club where Jason was waiting for them with looked like a feast in front of him.

"Sook, you gotta try this steak and mushroom gravy! It's fantastic," he said, looking between the two, aloof of what was going on between them.

Sookie gave him a weak smile and headed over to him and sat, Preston following and sitting across from her. She reached for her plate and inhaled, the aroma filling her senses. She was starving. She gobbled the food down and soon Preston, Jason and Sookie were conversing freely and with no awkwardness.

Sookie smiled and Preston reached his hand out across the table. Sookie placed her hand in his and mouthed the words "Thank You" and he nodded and asked, "Ready?"

She nodded and he stood and helped her to her feet and then to her room. He kissed her forehead and then left her to herself. Sookie sat on the foot of the bed and thought about what her next moves were. She didn't even want to make a move, wondering what she could ruin next. Sookie rubbed her face and decided on a hot shower to help her feel better.

As she towel dried her hair she thought about what Preston said. Did Eric have her heart? Was the reason she wasn't able to fully give herself to him was because she had already unknowingly given herself to Eric. And if it was true, was it because of their bond. And if it was their bond, what would happen now that it was gone? Would she still feel so deeply for him?

Sookie rubbed her forehead and grabbed a new pair of comfy pajamas. As she changed into them she noticed that someone had come in and cleaned up the room and changed her bedding for her while she had been walking and eating dinner. She crawled into bed and sighed as she sank into the soft downy pillows.

She wasn't really tired, but her body told her she needed to take it easy, so she just laid there and thought about the past few days. In just a week, everything had turned upside down again and she didn't know if she was right side up or not.

Sookie laid there and looked up at the colorful drapes and tapestry that adorned every inch of her bedroom. It was like a magical tent or fort you made as a kid, but sturdy and extremely elaborate. She couldn't sleep, which was good because she needed time to think and she had it now.

Eric

Eric rose for the evening, wincing at the emptiness he felt inside of him.

He quickly got ready and it was then that he noticed that his phone was lit up with waiting voicemails.

He checked them, the first few were concerned calls from Pam, which he deleted. He needed time alone right now. Leaving Louisiana and Sookie had been a mistake and he wasn't about to make that mistake once again. No. He would remain here until she didn't. But was he supposed to pick up the threads of his old life? Like Sookie had never walked into his bar? Not likely.

The fourth message was from Nora, who was calling to say she had received word that he was back in the states and more specifically Louisiana. He heard the hope in her voice that maybe it was because of her that he had returned. Eric deleted her message. She was a busy woman, building a new power structure for the vampires.

Nora had always been manically political and she swam with sharks, often finding herself in treacherous waters. But Eric never seemed to worry about her. She always survived.

The last was from Ginger at Fangtasia. "Master, I hate botherin' you, especially when you told me only in emergency situations was I to call this number, but there is a young lady named...uhh...oh right...Sookie here to see you. She says it's urgent and that she will wait as long as it takes for you to come in."

Eric listened to the message and in the background he heard Sookie's unmistakable voice reminding the halfwit Ginger of her name. He clicked the phone off and took flight into the air, heading for Fangtasia. He landed and smelled Sookie still here and spied her crappy yellow car parked a few spaces away from Ginger's.

Eric went in the front door, expecting Sookie to be waiting in his closed club.

When she wasn't in the main room, he looked behind the bar where Ginger was stocking liquor bottles. She turned and shrieked when she saw him there and Eric walked toward the bar and asked, "I got your message," he said, not waiting for her to calm, "Where is she?"

"Yo-You're office. She insisted she be here if you came in," she stammered. "She told me she wouldn't touch nothin', please don't be mad at me, Master!"

"Ginger, dear, I am not angry. Don't let anyone come in and disturb us, do you understand?" he asked, not staying to hear her answer.

Eric reached his office door and inhaled deeply, gathering the strength for whatever was to come next. He opened the door and found Sookie almost instantly, lying on his leather couch, sleeping. He looked at the clock and found she had been here for at least three hours. He walked to the couch and knelt beside it, checking her breathing and her pulse. She was fine, just sleeping.

He brushed the hair from her face and she stirred, slowly opening her eyes to his. She gasped as she recognized his blue eyes staring into hers and she sat up, looking at the clock. "Oh jeez, sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I just...my sleep schedule is off."

Eric nodded and stood and walked to his desk and leaned against it, waiting for Sookie to speak. She was starting this conversation.

Sookie awkwardly straightened her clothes and then stood too. Even without the bond, her unease and agitation was coming off of her in waves.

"Sorry, I just...had this all planned out and me fallin' asleep wasn't a part of that and now I am flustered," she said closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, like he had before he walked in. he smiled and looked down at his boots waiting for her to collect herself.

"Okay," she said as she exhaled and opened her eyes focusing on him. "I wanted to say that I am sorry. I overreacted the other night. I want you to know that I don't want you to go, but that doesn't mean I want you. I don't know what I want with you. I do know that I need time to sort everything out," she said.

"I know it seems selfish, but I am askin' that you wait for me to figure things out. Preston and I had a long talk, and while we aren't broken up, he is givin' me space to figure out what it is I want. He suggests that...that might be you, and I can't say for certain it isn't. I...I just need to know what exactly it is you want from me? I know you want somethin', but I don't know what. To be honest, I never have been. Not the real you anyway. I know what Amnesia Eric wanted. He wanted me. All of me. He wanted a relationship and I know he would have been faithful. So as I make my decision, I want to be clear what you want. If you want nothin', just tell me and if you want somethin', I need to know exactly what," she finished.

Eric only stared at her for a moment, before standing to his full height before walking slowly toward her and asking, "Do you remember when you returned from Fae and asked me what I wanted from you? I responded that I wanted everything. I still want everything, I still want you to be mine, but more importantly I want to be yours. I want you to understand that I am Amnesia Eric and I want you. All of you. And... I will give you all of me," he finished, slightly embarrassed.

Sookie eyes watered and he was now close enough to do something about it. He cupped her face and she closed her eyes at his touch. He inhaled deeply and said, "I love you."

Her eyes popped open and the tears fell. He repeated, "I love you."

She shuddered and backed away. He never knew such a small movement could cause so much hurt. "Thank you. Now I know. I...well, if you are willin' to wait, I will tell you what I decide soon." Eric only nodded, and responded, "I am not going anywhere, Sookie."

She nodded and then with a final look at him, she left.

Eric exhaled and couldn't help the small smile that graced his lips. Hope filled his chest and the possibility of something with her gave his life purpose once more. He would do everything in his power to show Sookie he was in this for the long haul.

He sank onto the couch which still smelled of her and he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Eric grabbed the makeshift pillow she had made out of a stack of folded shirts and inhaled the first one. He leaned back on the couch when he heard it. Sookie talking in a heated voice with someone. Who could she possibly be fighting with?

Then he remembered. He zipped out of the office and into the main club area and said in a calm, but deadly serious voice asked, "Bill?"

"This is none of your concern," Bill grit out.

Eric clucked his tongue and noticed Bill had Sookie by the arm and his grip looked painful. Sookie shot worried glances between Eric and Bill. "Bill, let go of Sookie. She is my concern."

"She isn't yours," he snarled out.

"She isn't yours either. So let her go before I rip your arm off," Eric warned.

Bill shot Sookie a glance and after a moment, he released her arm. "What's this about?" Eric asked, directing his question to Sookie.

"He wanted to know why he didn't feel me anymore in his blood. He wasn't satisfied with my answer, I guess," she said, shooting him an annoyed look.

"You did this, Eric. You got rid of my blood from her system so that yours was the only one remaining," Bill accused.

"Bill-" Sookie began, but Eric cut her off, "I no longer feel her in my blood either. She is untainted by vampire blood now."

Bill looked at Sookie in curiosity, but there was something there that was far more alarming than anything he had seen so far. Intrigue. Bill was intrigued that Sookie was once again her own woman. It was almost as if Eric could see the wheels turning in Bill's head to see how he could manipulate that.

Sookie, thank God seemed to see it too, and straightened her spine and she glanced at Eric, fear clear in her eyes. He shot her a reassuring glance and then focused back on Bill.

"Is that all you were curious about, Bill? Sookie's blood tie to you being broken?" he asked in a patronizing way.

Bill only glared and then turned back to Sookie, "I am sorry I grabbed your arm, Sookie. My behavior was most unbecoming and I am sorry if I hurt you. Please accept my apology."

Sookie only looked at him and he didn't wait for her answer before he left the club.

Sookie stared after Bill and then looked to Eric who only looked at her, trying to discern if she was okay. He was usually good with reading human emotion, but Sookie was like a riddle. He couldn't grasp what was going on in her lovely head.

Sookie gave a nervous chuckle once Bill was gone and she grabbed her purse from a high top table and smiled at Eric. "Thanks. I'll be seein' ya."

He smiled back at her and then walked her to the club entrance door. "Be safe."

She nodded and then walked across the parking lot. Eric watched her get in her yellow car and drive away. Hopefully he would be seeing Sookie soon and she would be picking him.

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