Thanks for all the love this story still receives! What an awesome episode of TB tonight! I still think Allen Ball owe's us more S&E time but we take what we can get I suppose!

On with the show!

Chapter 45

Sookie's POV

My mind is racing, what could Amelia have done that caused Pam to kill her. I never want a life to be ended but I'm sure whatever Amelia has done had to be justified. Pam may have hurt me in the past but I know it wasn't intentional. I'm still a little hurt by her glamouring those fang bangers but now that I realize how upset Eric was over us breaking up I can understand her wanting to help him. Pam is very protective of Eric and in her mind she thought she could help him. I do understand it but never the less it still hurt my feelings. I trust her and I know that she wouldn't do something to hurt me again if she could avoid it.

I need to talk to Pam and hear the whole truth. Things had changed between Amelia and I over the last few years. She had without doubt been avoiding me and her thoughts were always a little chaotic when she was around; which was far and few between. I still considered Amelia a friend but it's been a long time since she was my 'best friend'.

I must have been silent too long. I felt Eric's anxiety growing through our bond. I glance around and see Claude and Bubba pacing. I need to know our next step.

"When can she come here or should we return back to Shreveport?"

Claude immediately speaks up.

"She will come here. You're healing and need to rest. I would prefer that she waits a few days before coming so that you can relax and regain your strength."

I snuggle back up against Eric as I listen to him finalize the plan for Pam to arrive in two nights time. My heart aches with the knowledge that this had to happen to Amelia. I know that I should be more hurt that she has done something to betray me but I've grown used to people doing this. Eric finishes up his call with Pam and addresses the 'family'.

"Claude, will Compton be safe unguarded for a few nights?"

"Yes, he will. I'm able to monitor him. He's been pissed and confused but he hasn't acted out once."

Claude looks over to me and I can see the pity in his eyes. I don't want his pity. I want answers. I'm tired of people playing with my life. I'm finally happy and I'm not going to let anyone get me down. I meant what I said the last night that I saw Amelia and the others. I don't want to hear them whine about how sorry they are. Everyone had their chance to mend our relationships but they allowed me to remain ill and depressed. I don't want them hurt but they need to deal with any consequences they brought upon themselves.

"Claude, please don't look at me like that. I don't want anyone's pity. If she brought this upon herself then there is nothing I could have done. I never want to see a life taken but I truly can't see what I could have done to make her hate me or whatever the hell happened with her. I can't sit here and say I'm glad that this had to happen but she made her choices in life. I only hope that someone didn't manipulate her into this."

"Lover, did you ever get any malicious thoughts from her?"

"After Tray was killed, she didn't like me very much, but I understood that. I've seen people have these emotions before. It's understandable that she would resent me some and that's why I never pushed her to stay. I really haven't seen much of her the last few years. I tried to call her often but I wasn't in a good place and I'm sure she thought I was being a 'weeping willa'."

Eric must not have like this too much and growls before he expresses his thoughts.

"Isn't that what friends are for Lover? Are they supposed to care and support you in your time of need? I know you were there for her when Tray died. We were still together then. I remember you staying in and mothering over her while you were trying to heal. Why would she not do this for you? I will admit I do not care for her because of her helping you break the bond and then leaving so soon after but I was unaware that she abandoned you totally."

"Eric, you and Claude aren't going to like this but I have to tell you anyway. Some stuff is starting to come together in my head and it doesn't look good."

"Dear one, we need to know anything that could help us. You are excellent at thinking outside the box and I know you are grieving but we need to know if there is more to this."

"Eric, I shared with her how I really felt about you after she tied the bond. She is the only one who knew I was still in love with you. She kept telling me that you would never forgive me and I needed to let you go. I can see now that she was twisting my words about how I would try to help her let Tray go. But, it wasn't the same. Tray was dead, truly dead. I was just trying to help her move on. She used the words I had said to her in my efforts to comfort her back on me. She said I needed to live and move on from you. She said we would never be together again and that you weren't able to forgive me."

"Lover, I'm so sorry she did this. She kept us apart by fuelling your insecurities of my past actions. Do you think she could have tricked you into your attempt to break our bond?"

"I don't know Eric."

Claude has been silent this whole time as I glance over to him I'm shocked at what I see.

"Claude?"

He is standing tall and looks very fierce. His eyes have a soft glow to them and his hair is longer. I can see that his ears are pointed and does he have fangs?

"Cousin, I'm very angry right now and if this upsets you, I apologize. I have full use of all my powers in this realm and right now I'm not calm enough to rein in my emotions and keep my true form from view. If, Pam had not killed Amelia, she would have been dead before the hour passed. She was very disrespectful at our meeting and portrayed herself with a 'holier than thou' attitude. It wasn't her words but her mannerisms. I don't wish for us to concern ourselves with this any longer. We will wait for Pam so we have all the information. My main concern is you, Sookie."

"It will take me some time but I'll be ok with this Claude. Like I said, she was a grown woman and made her choices."

"Cousin, you focus on healing right now. This changes nothing of our plans for the next two days and nights. I want you eating and resting as much as possible. I will make sure that Doctor Ludwig comes to check you over before our meeting with Pam. If, you are not strong enough, there will be no meeting. I won't risk your health or emotional well being for someone who was being cruel towards you."

His high handedness almost snaps me into my old behavior. Thankfully, I stop myself before I speak. Claude has given me the so much in the last week and I won't throw it back in his face like I would have in the past. It's the same reason I accepted the necklace from Eric. He walked away from everything for me. I won't allow myself to hurt him by not accepting a gift that I know he can afford. I felt through our bond how concerned he was that I was going to get pissed at him for buying it for me. I won't make the same mistakes again. I confided in and listened to the wrong people in the past and where did it get Eric and me? We both almost died. I don't know how I know this but I'm sure if I had made the decision to end my life I would have caused Eric's death as well.

"I agree with you Claude. We will deal with it when I am well enough. Is there anything else we need to go over tonight?"

I can see that I've shocked both Claude and Eric. Bubba is just sitting there with a slight smirk on his face. At least someone knows I've grown up a little.

"Eric, Claude, trust me I'm not happy about this and I'm hurt but I'm learning to put this family first. I trust that you two, along with Bubba and Pam have my best interests at heart. If I don't have faith in you guys then it's like I'm saying I don't love you all."

Bubba rises from his chair. He quietly walks over to me and places a kiss on my forehead. He mumbles softly 'love you' and then strolls out the back door. During this time Claude and Eric pick their chins up off the floor. Well at least I can still shock and awe them I guess.

"Cousins, I'm sure together we will find out what we need to know. I'm going to take my leave and finish up a few things. Let me know if you need anything before dawn. I'll just be down in the kitchen area."

A stunned Claude retreats from our balcony and out of the room. I turn to Eric and see his brilliant smile. His hand softly caresses my check while he gently kisses me. The kiss is full of love and appreciation.

"Lover, will you ever stop amazing me? I can feel the hurt Amelia caused you but I can also feel your determination to not let this bring you down. You, my beautiful lover, are the strongest person I have ever met. How do you feel physically now that you have eaten?"

"I feel better. I'm still tired and achy. It's almost like I'm getting over the flu. What are our plans for the rest of the night?"

"I think we need a movie night. There is a very comfortable couch in the other room that is calling our names, dear one. Would you prefer a classic or a more modern movie? I saw that there is a large collections of DVD's down stairs."

I sigh. These are the little things we missed the last time we were together. Simple little evenings like this were very far and few between in our life. I hope I'm not getting spoiled and when we return to civilization we will still be able to enjoy these kinds of nights.

"Eric, will things stay this way with us?"

"What do you mean lover?"

"Eventually we will have to have some kind of life in the real world. What are we going to do with our time? There is no way for things to remain this calm."

"I can't see why it can't remain this way. We are in the real world Lover. We just went out and had a date in the 'real world'. The supernatural world changed since you were last involved full time. The elders and I have seen to that or have you forgotten. There is no more posturing for power. Yes, there are still a few wild ones here or there but for the most part life is calm all around us. Lover, I think we both deserve some well earned time off. I would like to see us travel and enjoy one another before we make any decisions on what we want to do with our time. I'm sure you will miss working but trust me, if you chose to never work another day in your life, we could live very comfortably. I have many businesses that make a lot of money without any of my time or attentions."

"So you're suggesting that we just vacation for the next however many years?"

Is he serious? There is no way he will be able to just relax and do nothing!

"You don't believe I can do it, can you? You don't think that I can just let it all go and relax? Haven't I been doing just that? Other than deciding to go on this trip with you lover, when have a made a decision since then?"

OH! Damn! He hasn't! He's let everyone else decide everything that has happened.

"Eric?"

"Yes Lover?"

"I love you"

He chuckles and kisses me softly before he gathers me into his arms and places me on the couch in the bedroom.

"I love you too. Did 'you' decide on what movie you would like to watch?"

I have to laugh at him. He won't even make a decision on a movie, well too bad! I'll make him.

"Surprise me!"

We both laugh and he kissed me before taking off at vampire speed for the downstairs. He is only gone a mere few minutes before he returns with a triumphal smile on his face. I can that he has gathered some snacks from the kitchen as well. Oh! Where did he find chocolate cake? He has all kinds of goodies!

"Eric, where did you get all these snacks from?"

"The kitchen lover, Claude has enough food down there to feed a dozen people. Are you comfortable?"

I nod to him as he takes the DVD over to the player before he settles in next to me. He reaches over for the plate that holds my heaven. I watch as the movie begins. This is one of my many reasons I love him. The beginning of 'Gone with the Wind' rolls across the screen as he picks up the fork and holds up a piece of chocolate cake for me to bite. His smile can light up the room at this moment. I smile back and take his offering.

It's not long before the cake and some of the other snacks are gone. I snuggle down into the couch with my Viking spooned up behind me. The whole time we lay together he kisses and soothes me. Our bond is open and there is a sense of peace and contentment I'm sure neither of us ever thought we would have. My eyes grow heavy and I allow myself to sink further and further into the bond until I fall asleep in his arms.