Author's Notes: Hello once again readers! Here is the next installment of my story. :)

I hope you are all happy now and aren't mad at me anymore. I am truly sorry that I made you suffer but I hope this chapter will make you feel better. A lot of drama is still to come and I am still working on how I want to bring it out. It's stuck in my mind, now I just need to type it. :)

Remember to review. I love it and it gives me inspiration. :)

Thank you to all that read my story and I am really hoping you will enjoy every little bit of what is to come. Thank you for being awesome reviewers and readers. You guys make my day, every time I get on and read more of your wonderful reviews.

You're all awesome and I just wanted to let each and every one of you know that!

R&R!

I own nothing, nada, zip, zilch.

Enjoy this chapter. :)

XOXO-Sharamoon

My knees hit the dirt and then my hands. I bent low and cried hard. My heart seemed to thump so loud that I could feel it against my ribs. I sat like that for what seemed like hours. Finally I got up, still unable to control myself. I saw Claudine sitting almost next to where my pitiful form was just seconds ago. She looked incredibly sad.

"Sookie I am so sorry." She told me and stood up. I didn't say anything but stare at her for a moment before turning to the house.

I walked up the steps and crossed the porch. Noticing that I needed to get the railing fixed after the wolf attacked me. Eric. That was all it took and I began crying once again. I turned the knob and stepped inside. Niall and Amelia were both there, standing next to me when I walked in.

"Sookie…" Niall said. I closed my eyes tight and took a deep breath.

"I don't want to talk about it." I whispered. It came out trembling.

"Maybe I should take you to Faery. We can protect you better." He whispered and I lost it on him. My great-grandfather.

"I do not want to go there. That is not my home. This is my house and I shouldn't have to run from anything! It's my life and if I die, you know what? I honestly don't fucking care anymore!" I turned on the spot and continued on my path.

I walked to my room, not caring if I needed a shower. My face was all red and my injures were hurting but most of all my heart. This seemed harder on me; if I was comparing it to Bill's betrayal. I was in love with Eric, plain and simple. More in love than with him than I ever was with Bill. I even wondered if I ever loved Bill in the first place. Was it just nice to have someone that cherished me? No, because he really didn't. That was a lie. I liked the quiet a vampire could offer me and the first vampire I ever met was Bill. I didn't want to think about either one right now. I was being ripped apart from Eric's words, it was killing me. What happened with Bill was different in every aspect and thinking about him just made me want to puke.

I crawled into my bed quite literally. On my hands and knees I climbed up to the head of the bed and collapsed. The tears started up again because there was no way I could simply forget Eric's words. My hand flew to my chest, above my heart. I brought my legs up to my chest and cried. As if crying would take away the pain I was feeling. To be honest, it made it worse. My whole body felt like it was shaking and all the nerves felt like they had been fried making me unable to get ahold of myself. It seems with every step I took away from him and him from me, it hurt ten times worse. Eric was so far away now, in Shreveport and I wasn't going to see him again.

That brought on harder sobs and I found myself screaming with pain. No one came in, but I knew they could hear me. The whole world could probably hear me but I didn't care. I just didn't anymore.

I was like that now for a while; seemingly lost in my own suffering that I didn't notice that I was calming down. Maybe I was going to pass out? I didn't know why I felt more at peace all of a sudden until my door opened slowly.

My heart started to pound hard; but it didn't hurt anymore. I sighed with a strong relief as I took in the man standing in my door way. I leaned up on my elbows and tried to wipe the tears away to get a better look at him.

"Eric…" I barely whispered because my throat burned from the screaming.

His face was hidden in the shadows so I couldn't see his features. Therefore I didn't know why he was here.

"You came back." I said when it looked like he wasn't going to say anything.

My words made him finally unfreeze from my doorway. He took three careful steps in and now I could see his face from the moonlight. I gasped. Red streaks stained his white face and he looked upset.

"Your pain…" He whispered. "Hurts me too."

"Is that the only reason you came back? To tell me how my pain is making you suffer?" I whispered because I was simply unable to get angry.

"No because it is also my pain." He took more steps, faster than I could ever watch and then he was kneeling beside my bed. "Sookie, I have…lied to you."

I closed my eyes for a moment and wondered if I should just kick him out of my house. Was all this worth it? I opened my eyes and looked at him hard, thinking if I should really go through this pain. If Eric was worth everything I hoped he would be. I knew he would always have to lie to me about something or he would have to kill someone for me. Did I really want this life anymore?

"What did you lie about?" I said to him.

"I remember…everything we have done." Eric said. That was a shocker. My eyes grew wide as I looked at him.

"Everything?" My voice came out small.

A slight smirk started. "You yielded to me."

"Of course you would think of that!" I nearly screamed. I didn't know where the rage was coming from but it finally emerged. "Maybe Bill was right. That's all you were after! You got what you wanted Eric, you fucked me, now you can leave. Go!"

Eric's eyes grew dark and a growl erupted from his chest. One second he was knelt before me and the next he was on his feet. "Do not presume to even know what I am after! Do you really think if that is all I wanted, that I would be here right now? I would have left you standing there and I would never have come back." His growl increased in volume. "Do not even start to compare me to Compton. He is nothing and will never be anything compared to me." I sucked in a sharp breath as I noticed his fangs were out. "I came back because I couldn't handle the distance that was put between us. I have tried to separate us, for your protection. I lied to help you because I didn't want you to have to deal with my daily life. I did it all for you and it turned out to be the wrong decision. It isn't only your pain, Sookie, its mine. We are bound close, closer than I would ever have gotten to anyone; but you're different. You always have been to me. I never wanted to look too closely to even comprehend what that must mean because I never have felt that way before." He paced to my door. "But by all means, if you want me to go, then I will go."

Tears sprang to my eyes and I flung my body up too fast. I felt the pain in my side but I ignored it.

"No!" I screamed at him. "Please no!"

His back was to me and he whispered, "You don't know how important you are to me. I was willing to let you go, so you could live a normal life. When I want something, I get it." His voice was so strong that it made me shiver. "But when it comes to you, I would rather you be away from me then to be at my side and possibly get killed because of the life I live." He paused. "I risked your heart ache because I was afraid for you and for myself. It was a failed attempt on both of us. One that I won't make again because I can't turn away from you."

"Do you want to turn away from me?" My breathing took on a ragged edge and I felt tears prick my eyes.

"No," He whispered. "But that is putting you in harm's way. I can't protect you from everything. No matter how much I will otherwise."

"This is my decision though. You can't decide what is best for me. I need to choose my own path no matter what the consequences." My voice quivered and nearly broke at the end. Not from fear but because of how emotional I felt in this moment.

"Even if the path you chose led to your death?" I barely heard him. The wave of sadness I got through the bond hurt me and nearly speared my heart. I breathed in deep to keep ahold of myself and to separate my emotions from his because I couldn't take both.

"I don't want to think about that but if I die, I want there to be a purpose for it. I don't want to die for just anything. If it were because of our…relationship, then I would feel better about it. Knowing and be proud I would die happy because I knew I would have someone that cared about me."

Eric's back was still to me but I heard a sort of choking sound come from him. His back hunched over a bit and he leaned his head on my door. "I don't think I could handle it if that was the reason behind you dying. That I couldn't…save you."

"Then let's not think about it." One tear fell from my left eye and coursed its way down my cheek. I waited for him to turn and look at me but he wouldn't. I gave him time and still he wouldn't move away from the door. Slowly I stood up, carefully walking toward him. I leaned forward and said so softly, for only him to hear. "Just…just take my hand and everything will be alright. I promise."

"How do you know?" He asked me in the same hushed tones. His hand slowly slipped into mine.

My other hand went up to turn him slightly until I could meet his face. New fresh tears were evident and I leaned up and brushed my fingertips over them. I then smiled slightly as his other hand came up and did the same to my own tears. He kept his hand on my cheek and I leaned into the touch. Never in my life would I escape the love I have for Eric. I didn't want to either.

I moved my hand to rest my palm on the back of his neck. I had to reach up to get a good grip before I pushed his head closer to mine. He leaned down slowly, his eyes watching mine with such force that it could knock the wind out of me.

With our lips inches apart I whispered, "Because I have faith." I leaned in to fill in the distance and my lips were on his.

It was different and I knew it would be. It had much more force behind it and you could tell how much it changed from when he didn't remember anything about his life. Eric was gifted and he knew how to work his mouth. His tongue traced the lines of my lips and I couldn't push my mouth open fast enough but when our tongues met it was heaven. Our hands were still connected and I felt his fingers grip mine tighter as his other hand dropped from my face and went to my back, pulling me closer to his body. My head was spinning as I gripped his hair with my hand. I began to walk backwards and Eric followed, taking steps and making sure I didn't fall over. I sat on the bed, making him lean over so that his hands fell to the sheets on either side of my frame. Still the kiss did not end.

I moved my hands to his shoulders and started to lean him over top of me but he held still. I tried again and then one more time before I got frustrated. Breaking the kiss didn't sound like something I wanted to do, but I had to talk.

"Eric, why?" Was all I could say because I was that breathless.

"I don't want you to think that is all I am after." He smiled slightly at me. A very Eric smile that I missed so much.

"I don't think that, so would you please…?" I motioned to the bed and leaned back so I was laying half on the bed with my legs dangling.

"Not tonight." He said simply and I nearly growled. Sexual frustration is no fun, by any means.

Eric chuckled at my face which must be hilarious right now. All red with lusty eyes for the only man I ever wanted to look at again. His arm went under my knees and with no effort at all, sort of shifted my whole body so I was lying flat on the bed. I sighed a mighty sigh as he looked over me.

"Do your wounds hurt?" He asked me back in his normal Eric tone.

"Now that you mention it, it really does." I scooted back so my head hit the pillows. It was true I didn't feel the pain until now. I guess I had more to worry about. "Can you hand me that pill bottle? It's on the nightstand." I pointed at it. In a flash he had it in his hand and then passed it to me. I leaned up, opening the little contraption and then swallowed the pill without water. I didn't want to get up to get it and I really didn't want Eric to leave the room, no matter how little time it would have taken him.

Finally I was able to lean back on the pillows and feel like I could sleep for the first time tonight. I felt at ease and very relaxed as I knew that we would have a future. It was a work in progress I should say. I was still upset with what he did but I had to let it go. I could see where he was coming from and to be totally honest, how could I stay mad at someone I loved so much? I couldn't, simple enough.

I patted the bed next to where I was laying. Silently asking him to join me, not for sex, no matter how much I wanted it; but to just lie together for at least a little while. Eric moved around the bed and sat next to me. He carefully took off his shoes and jacket before climbing under the covers with me. Instantly I was at his side and I put my head on his chest. Eric's hand fell into my hair as he started to play with it. Slowly brushing his fingers through it.

"Have you forgiven me?" He asked and I had to smile.

If he didn't think I forgave him after almost saying that I wanted to jump his bones, than I really had no idea how to tell him. I guess he wanted to hear me say it.

"Yes I forgive you. Though I am still mad at you for how you went about things." I smiled half way through my sentence though.

"I am sorry." Eric said and he leaned over and kissed my head. I knew it to be true because the bond told me so.

My arms gripped him around his waist tightly, wanting to hold him here forever. I do have a destiny and I know what it is now. To never be away from Eric Northman, because I know now that I simply couldn't live without him. Not only because of the bond we have, but because of how much love I feel for him. It's stronger than anything I have ever felt and it made me proud to have such strong emotions after everything. My great-grandfather was right when he told me that one day I would need to make that giant leap into trusting someone again. Never did I think I would be able to fully trust Eric, let alone love him; but I am fortunate enough now to know just how gifted I am. Yes, he did just lie to me and broke my heart but he came back. He showed just how hard it was for him as it was for me. That is what counts. I hate looking back onto the past because it holds things that you don't ever want to deal with again. Though it just happened, it's already behind me as I strongly look to our future.

Eric chuckled softly and I joined as my head bobbled up and down from his laugh. He could feel as I felt and how strong my emotions are as I thought to myself. This was the easy part of a relationship; together when no one else is looking in. It's when you are being watched that your relationship can become stressed. I knew we would have many more of those stressed moments, with the days, months and maybe even years to come. What we have is going to take work and there will be speed bumps in our road but I want to take this one day at a time. Small steps toward our future and right here, with him pulling me closer to his chest is where we begin. A new slate with everything on the table for both of us.

"Eric?" I cocked my head back so I could look up at him.

"Hmm?" He answered, turning his face down to look at me.

"You remember that song you sang to me?" I asked.

He laughed lightly. "Of course I remember it."

"Can you sing me to sleep? I know you can't stay long because you probably have to get back to the bar and all that."

The smile that lit his face was beautiful, it was soft and so tender hearted; something you don't see on Eric's face. Somehow I knew that this look was only meant for me and I knew I would be the only one to see it. He moved his hand so it cupped my chin. I leaned up and gave him a small but sweet peck on the lips before settling down in the bed on my left side. Eric proceeded to lie down next to me and glide his hand over my side to rest on my stomach, pulling me closer as he did so. He then proceeded to rub small circles as he began the song that his mother sang to him so long ago and it slowly started to drift me away.

"I love you Eric." I whispered as I was on the edge of sleep. My eyes finally fluttered closed and my breathing eased. I heard a whisper, "As I love you." It sounded like but I was too far gone to really notice it.

I didn't dream at first; it was dark for a long time or what I thought to be dark as I slept soundly. I felt something slide away from my stomach but I didn't know if I was dreaming it or not. That was when my dream started. One I will not forget.

I found myself lying in a mist of fog; so cloudy I that I couldn't see far in front of me. I couldn't tell if I was in a room or outside. Have you ever had a dream where you just knew something bad was going to happen? Yeah, this was one of those moments.

My heart started to race as my head swiveled back and forth, trying to find the source for my terror. Just then something brushed the back of my neck, making my skin bust out into goose bumps. With trembling hands, I reached out in front of me, trying to grab onto something but I found out all too soon that I was sitting somewhere where there wasn't anything to take hold.

Breathing heavily I stood on shaking legs; still looking around as if I looked hard enough I would see something. To say the least, I couldn't see whatsoever but I could hear and there was a sound of movement. Someone was near me, watching my every move, stalking me.

Tears started to fall out of fear but they felt different; the fluid felt heavier. I reached up and wiped across my cheek. When I looked down, I had to stifle a scream because it wasn't just tears; I was crying blood, like a vampire.

"You are mine," A wispy voice entered my ears. It was too low and drawn out for me to identify who it was. "Always will be."

Something blurred past me, making the fog twirl and dance in a spiral. I jumped away from it. My chest heaved up and down as I spun and spun, trying to find out who was around me. The tears of blood kept seeping from my eyes and I couldn't stop them. I felt trapped and somehow I knew there would be no exit anyway. That sat in back of my mind. That I would never get away; I couldn't because I was bound. Bound by what? I asked myself.

Finally the turning stopped as I felt cold hands grip me tight from behind, forcefully pushing me against its chest. I felt cold air being blown in my left ear and it made me cringe but I couldn't move away. I was frozen and I was chained to this person in such a powerful binding way that I would never escape. It sat heavy on my soul as I felt tormented inside but there wasn't anything I could do about it.

"I will get you." The voice took on a demonic edge as it whispered into my ear. I let out one sob because I felt like whoever this was, was going to do just that. Get me and never let go. Its mouth then latched onto my neck and fangs pierced my skin.

I woke up screaming.

Also: Here we go again! Give me reviews and I will give you a sneak peek of the next chapter. I haven't written it yet but I am starting first thing when I wake up later today. So give me reviews and your gift is the some part of the next chapter, which is probably, most likely, DEFINITELY, going to have some lemony goodness in it. :)

Thank you. :)