A/N: Sweet vampire meat. This was painful to get back in to. Not in a bad way, but you know that feeling when you have shut something out of your brain for a period of time, then revisit it very suddenly? Yeah, that. Anyhoo-I won't wax on about my personal struggles and where I was 2 years ago when I started writing this versus now. If this chappy sucks, I apologize. In the most fucktarded fashion, I stopped right at the most important scene to this story. So, no pressure or anything to make it mind-blowing and consistent to the rest of the story one and a half years later, or anything. *facepalm Off topic-how 'bout that Fifty Shades of Grey business, huh? Never read it, but I heard it started as fanfic. There are so many authors here who deserve the same fame, for sure. Thanks so much to all those who stuck around and/or came back to this story. As always, these characters (except for the ones I made up) are the sole property of the HBIC Charlaine Harris. So, hang on to your monocles and top hats, my Vampire Viking lovers, swaggy weddings to ensue...

Chapter 32

Sookie awoke with a start, unsure how much time had passed, only knowing she heard the door downstairs and voices. How am I-? Oh, maybe it was the buckets full of 1,000 year-old vampire blood you've ingested that has enhanced your hearing, dummy. Slipping her sundress and sandals back on, she did a mental scan of the minds downstairs, keeping close to the bed and Eric, in case there was trouble. One fuzzy Manny mind and...Lucinda! She breathed a sigh of relief, kissed her sleeping Viking and headed down.

Padding down the stairs, she heard the two conversing in Spanish. Sookie mused how exchanging pleasantries sounds the same in any language. She had a fleeting thought at how she should try to get the two of them together, but Lucinda's voice broke her thoughts.

"Senorita Sookie!"

"Lucinda!" They said at the same time, laughed, then hugged.

"I can't thank you enough for getting my dress done so fast and delivered here. You have no idea how much Eric and I appreciate it!"

"Miss Sookie, you are more than welcome. That dress was made for you-there were so few alterations, it was very little trouble, I promise." She held Sookie at arms length and gave her a motherly, yet approving once over. "My dear, you look so tan and rested, almost like a different person from the one I saw just last night! The sun and our little island here suits you." That and a lions share of vamp blood! "That and the attentions of your soon-to-be-vampire husband, no doubt."

Sookie's eyes narrowed a little and she gave her new friend a glance through her slanted eyelids. Lucinda stared back at her, still holding her at arms length, looking very innocent, but when Sookie tried to read her mind, she was this time met with a brick wall. What the hell? Lucinda winked at her, "Now then, shall we talk?"

Sookie shook her head to clear it vowing to investigate this matter thoroughly. And to tell Eric, but first, her manners. "I am so sorry! Please come in, let's sit by the pool, if that's okay."

Lucinda's laugh was musical. "I would love it. There is never too much time spent in the sun, no?"

Sitting on a lounge loveseat, in front of the pool and the gorgeous view, they faced each other.

"Very true. I love the feel of the sun on my skin. And even more so here, it's so much stronger than back home in Louisiana."

Manny appeared with two drinks, they even had fruit and umbrellas on them, Sookie marveled. "This one is for you, Miss Sookie, no alcohol. And Miss Lucinda, I thought you wouldn't mind alcohol in yours since it's late afternoon."

"You know me so well, already, Manuel?" She flirted with him, and he may have even blushed a little, which made Sookie think once again of the possibility of a hook-up.

Pondering, she took a sip, "Holy crap!" She almost choked. "Sorry." She composed herself, "Uhm, this is awesome, Manny, what is this drink?!" Lucinda ardently gave her approval also.

"My specialty; Mojitos. Glad you like them. I will make a few more for you ladies." He bowed with a ghost of a smile and disappeared.

"So, Lucinda" Sookie sucked back more of her drink and almost rolled her eyes back in ecstasy, "what brings you here? The dress already came this morning, so- Not that I mind at all!" She blurted out. Maybe I am drinking too much of Eric's blood. I'm starting to sound like BAMF Sheriff Northman. She snorted to herself.

Again, Lucinda's musical laughter, "I know what you meant Miss Sookie. I received a voice mail this morning from a woman named Pam." Sookie's eyebrows shot up. Lucinda put a finger in the air and continued, "She said I was to come here to offer my services to you for hair and makeup this evening. I was told to make you look like the angelic goddess you are and, this is a quote, 'whatever the fuck else her little heart desires' or I would face her wrath. Let me guess, this Pam is also a vampire I take it?", she said with a slight smile.

Sookie fought back her anger at Pam's rude treatment of this wonderful woman who had done nothing but go above and beyond to accommodate them. "Yes, she is. I am so sorry for that. Pam is a...colleague of Eric's and she forgets that manners and courtesy still exist on this planet."

Lucinda smiled, a dazzling smile that reminded Sookie of someone else for a fraction of a second-she couldn't quite grasp who..."It does not bother me in the least." She patted Sookie's hand. "I have dealt with more than a few...curt vampires in my day. They don't bother me. And I find they always more than compensate me for any task and their...curtness. Now then. You have decided to push the ceremony to tonight, I assumed from Pam's message. How exciting. I have never heard of an actual vampire wedding before. Tell me all the details so I know how to do your hair and makeup."

Sookie swallowed nervously and sipped on the Mojito that seemed to have magically refilled itself via Manny stealth. She wished there was alcohol in it for a passing moment. She felt the familiar blanket of calm that seemed to wrap around her whenever she needed it lately and said a silent thank you to whoever was responsible. "All I know is it's in a place called Yunque National Park at a waterfall? Somehow. Not sure how that will work," she shrugged. "But it sounds beautiful."

"Ooh" Lucinda clapped her hands together excitedly, which made Sookie laugh. They chatted a little about the area-the park and surrounding waterfalls and if she knew of the local B&B's Eric had referenced. She looked at her watch. "Let's get started, since it's almost 5 o'clock."

"Oh no! How did it get so late?!" Her nerves jumped into her throat again, then she recalled the events of the afternoon shared with Eric and his new-found awake-at-daytime sex powers. She got warm in her nether bits and slid a look to Lucinda, who was giving her a knowing look back. How the hell is she-

"Come, let's go get you ready. Does Senor Eric have a suit already, I hope?"

"Yes, actually. I had forgotten about it till you said that. I meant to look at it earlier. I'll go get it if it helps you decide how to do my hair and makeup." I like her but there's no way I'm trusting anyone up in our bedroom while Eric sleeps. This bitch has some kind of magic mojo and she thinks she is distracting me from it but I will figure out what it is.

Lucinda gave her a sideways, yet reassuring glance "That's not necessary, dear. I was merely curious. Now, is there a bathroom down here" she looked at Sookie pointedly "we could use to make you look like the angelic goddess you are? And are you ready for me to start or do you need some time?"

"Hm. Yes, I would love a quick shower."

"Okay, then, off you go, take your time. I'll chat with Senor Manuel while I wait." She gave her a sly look and Sookie smirked and headed up the stairs, taking three at a time.