Disclaimer: I own nothing but my fantasies about a certain Viking vampire.

A/N: As usual, thank you to all of my faithful readers, especially those of you who give me moral support (and well wishes when I was sick last week) via your awesome reviews and PMs. You guys rock!

Chapter 36:

Sookie returned to work the next week feeling bloated, sluggish and more than a little bit stir crazy. Gwen had spent three days with her and together they had consumed massive amounts of wine, junk food and Lifetime television, while Andre moved his things out of their apartment. He had attempted to call Gwen multiple times the first two days she was with Sookie, but each time she either hung up on him or handed the phone to Sookie who gave him an earful until he relented and hung up. The only men welcome in Gwen's world that week were Ben & Jerry, who never let her down. Sookie even took her daily calls with Eric in her bedroom or on the patio to be respectful of Gwen's emotional state.

Les Bon Temps Rouler's next function was a major fundraising event benefitting the Southern chapters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and there was an incredibly long to-do list associated with it. It was to feature a much-anticipated private performance by the Blue Man Group, a wine tasting sponsored by a NC vineyard, some really amazing hors d'oeuvres and desserts created by the top local chefs, and a silent auction for which they had already collected over $200,000 worth of donated items, and the event was still 3 weeks away! Along with Arlene and Lafayette, Sookie threw herself mind and body into arranging all of the details, from the airline and hotel arrangements for the Blue Man Group, to the printed programs for the evening, to the floral and candle centerpieces on each table. Not a single detail was left to chance and by the time the week leading up to the event arrived, Sookie was getting to the office at 8am and not coming home until 9 or 10pm. Tina had let her know in no uncertain terms by peeing on the kitchen floor two days in a row that her behavior was unacceptable.

"Shit!" Sookie cursed, answering her persistently buzzing cell phone just as she discovered the second 'gift' Tina had left her.

"Fuck!" Eric exclaimed from the other end.

"What?"

"You said shit, I said fuck…I thought we were having a cursing contest," he teased. Sookie sighed but smiled in spite of herself.

"Tina peed on the kitchen floor again," she grumbled.

"I thought she was crate trained."

"She is," she said, "but she pees on the floor when she's mad at me about something."

"Uh-oh, what did you do to that poor rabbit?"

"I've been working 14-hour days this week and not paying her enough attention," she answered. "By the time I get home, it's too late and I'm too exhausted to take her for a walk or to do much more than feed her. I've tried to make it up to her by letting her sleep with me, but apparently that's not enough."

"Hmmm…that would be more than enough for me," he said, lowering his voice suggestively.

"Yeah, but you're easy," Sookie laughed. "Tina's a bit more discriminating."

"Hey, I resemble that remark!" She could hear the grin in his voice and smiled in response. "Are you really working 14-hour days?" he asked.

"This week, yes," she replied. "And tomorrow is the event, so I'll put in an 18-hour day…and then it will all be over until the next event."

"And when is that?"

"Well, we have a couple of small things in the next two weeks, but nothing of this magnitude," she answered. "The next full-scale blowout isn't until August 7th."

"So after tomorrow you won't be working outrageous hours and pissing Tina off for almost a month."

"That's right…we'll go back to her daily walks and extra attention. But no more sleeping with me," she added with a chuckle.

"If you said that to me I would be devastated," he laughed.

"I'll remember that if I ever need leverage against you."

"Sweetheart, you never need leverage of that kind," he said, his tone no longer joking. "You wield all of the power with me." Sookie swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat.

"Do you have any idea how much I miss you?" she asked softly.

"Me too, baby…," he whispered, "…me too."

The next morning, as expected, Sookie arrived at the Performing Arts Center at 8:30am, prepared for a long and busy day. The RSVP's for this event had been overwhelming, a good sign that there would be a great turnout and subsequently a high dollar amount raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. By 4pm, just two hours before the first guests were due to arrive, the venue looked stunning and everything was set up and ready to go. Sookie quickly changed into a gorgeous short black silk cocktail dress she had snagged on clearance from Ann Taylor, plus a pair of way-too-high-heeled black satin platform pumps that she knew she would regret by the end of the night. Oh, the price I pay to be beautiful, she thought to herself with a smirk. A string of pearls and matching pearl teardrop earrings completed the outfit and she was ready for the party.

Since Lafayette had already seen two Blue Man Group performances in other cities, it was decided that Sookie and Arlene would watch the show from inside the theater while he handled things out in the ballroom, keeping in constant touch by text messaging. Sookie had heard great things about their shows and was very much looking forward to seeing them perform. She and Arlene had secured seats at the end of a row near an exit to allow a quick getaway if any crises arose during the performance. Just after the house lights went off, Sookie stepped aside to let a late arrival into their row, not noticing that someone was behind her and directly in her path. Realizing that she had stepped squarely on someone's toe, she turned around to apologize and came face-to-face with a man who looked very familiar, but she just couldn't place. He was medium height and build and looked to be in his late 50's with a ruggedly handsome face. His dark hair was touched with gray, but it was an attractive look she decided. She apologized profusely, but he brushed it off with a perfect smile and continued forward to a closer row. Why does he look so familiar? she thought to herself, but her musing was interrupted by the lifting of the curtain and the first notes of the show.

The Blue Man Group's performance was incredible and both Sookie and Arlene were mesmerized. Wanting to check on things outside before the guests flooded the ballroom, they slipped out before the last number and went to find Lafayette. The evening continued without a hitch and Sookie was giddy with excitement over what she could tell would be a very successful and profitable fund raising evening. She noticed many bids on the silent auction items that were more than double the retail value. An engaging jazz band managed to get most of the guests on their feet and onto the dance floor, an occurrence that often proved to increase donations. (The more people dance the more they drink, and the more they drink the more freely they donate their money.) Sookie stood surveying the room when she heard a deep male voice from behind her.

"Are you Miss Stackhouse?" She turned to face the same familiar tuxedo-clad gentleman whose foot she had stepped on earlier.

"Sookie," she corrected with a smile, extending her hand to shake his.

"I'm Russell Edgington," he said, smiling warmly in return and shaking her hand. Sookie's eyes widened in surprise as things suddenly clicked in her head. That's why he looked so familiar, but I couldn't place him! Russell Edgington was the well-known music producer credited with discovering Eric and getting him started in the music industry at a young age. He had produced Eric's first two albums and they had collaborated on several songs since then. She had never met him before, but had seen many pictures of the 'Hit Maker' with Eric. "I understand you're responsible for this fantastic event tonight." Sookie blushed and averted her eyes briefly.

"It's a team effort," she said humbly, "and I have a great team."

"You should be very proud of yourself and your team," he insisted. "I've been involved with hundreds of these types of events and this is among the best I've seen anywhere. It's well-attended, well-organized and well-run…something that will no doubt result in it raising a lot of money." Sookie stood speechless beneath his praise.

"Eric has mentioned a time or two that you hung the moon," he said with a wink, "but I don't think he realizes just how good you are at your profession."

"That's actually how we met," she laughed. "And by-the-way, what brings you to a fundraiser in Shreveport of all places?"

"I sit on the board of an organization called the Hope Foundation," he explained. "It's a group of about 200 business executives who fund charities all over the country that benefit sick and abused children. We pool our resources and provide grants to other non-profit organizations…similar in concept to the United Way, but the majority of our funds are raised privately rather than through public campaigns." Sookie nodded in understanding and he continued. "The Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of the organizations we support and I'm here to present the Southern region with their annual check."

"Are you based in LA?" Sookie asked curiously.

"Actually, our headquarters is in New York City, but there are smaller branch offices in Chicago and LA."

Just then, the Shreveport director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation stepped up to the microphone and cleared his throat, demanding everyone's attention. "That's my cue," said Russell, putting his empty wine glass down on a nearby table and giving Sookie's shoulder a squeeze. During the 15 minute presentation, Russell awarded a giant replica check for $25,000 to the Shreveport Make-A-Wish director and a 10-year-old girl with leukemia. There wasn't a dry eye in the house and Sookie smiled through her own tears as the brave little girl held the check and beamed up at Russell. Eric would love this, Sookie thought with a smile. Heading outside for a breath of fresh air, she pulled out her cell phone and texted him: I just met your mentor. A few minutes later she received his reply: Who…Pee-wee Herman?

"Why do I even bother?" she muttered, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation as she returned to the ballroom where the crowd was beginning to dwindle. Russell approached her once again with a smile.

"Well, I'm heading out," he said, taking her hand warmly in both of his. "I have an early flight back to LA in the morning, but I wanted to say goodbye and tell you once again what a fantastic event this was. You really outdid yourself."

"Thank you," Sookie answered sincerely, returning his smile. "Would you do something for me, though?" He looked at her questioningly as she pulled her cell phone from her pocket. "I just want to prove to Mr. Rockstar that I actually met you." Russell laughed as he put his arm around her and posed for her to extend her arm in front of them and snap a picture. "Thanks," she said with a giggle.

"Anytime," he answered with a warm smile. "It was great meeting you and hopefully I'll see you again. You should come out to LA when Eric finally gets a break in the tour."

"I hope to do that," she admitted. "I've never been to California." He gave her a quick hug and then headed for the exit with a mock salute.

Sookie converted the picture in her phone into a pix message to Eric: Does this look like Pee-wee Herman to you?

A/N: To all of you here in the US, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I'm looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my family...especially the 30+ person family potluck we have on Thanksgiving Day. Let the overeating begin! LOL