A/N: This is it, guys! I hope you like it, and thanks so much for reading, reviewing, and favouriting!

And thanks a million to my beta, ilovemysteries! She was a trooper, even though I gave her 3 chapters to do in less than 24 hours. Sorry! :P

And neener to the guest reviewer who said I'd probably never finish. :P J/K. Sort of.

Chapter 7

Eric rose in the sleeping chamber in his home in Shreveport. It was so good to be home! It was just before sunset on Christmas night. He even checked the date on his cell phone to be sure. He ignored the missed calls from Oklahoma. He would never have to deal with that cunt again. That's what he paid his lawyer for.

He stretched happily and sighed. He tested his senses, checking for danger, just in case. He didn't want any more surprises like yesterday.

A heartbeat. Faint from here. Maybe directly above him in the living room? He smiled. Ghosts didn't have heartbeats.

When the sun had set, he threw on a pair of jeans and crept upstairs.

Sookie leaned against the door casing, her ankles crossed, trying so hard to look nonchalant.

He crossed his arms and pretended to look stern. "How did you get in here?"

She smiled slyly, "Your child was a bad girl. She left me a key and the alarm codes in my kitchen. I don't even know when she did it. I think she wanted me to sneak in and have my way with you."

He ran his hand through his hair and then stuck his hands in his pockets. "Well, it's too bad she was wrong, then."

God, he was beautiful. He looked almost childlike with the cheeky grin and his hands crammed in his pockets and his hair all in a mess around his face. She wanted to smooth it down. To sink her fingers in and mess it up more. She wanted to kiss him senseless, to take care of him, to be taken care of by him. To love him. To be loved. Even, she thought, to own him. And to be owned by him. She wanted everything. It was scary as hell, but she was ready. No net, ladies and gentlemen. She took a steadying breath and looked him dead in the eyes.

"So, you're currently unaffiliated?"

"Pardon me?"

"Not a Royal Consort in Oklahoma? Not a Sheriff in Louisiana? Not the King of Timbuktu?"

"No, Fatima is the Queen of Mali…"

"No more politics, Eric?"

"No. For now, no more politics."

"For now?"

"Unless I have to make a move for your protection, I am currently no more than a Vampire resident of Area Five, and I intend to stay that way indefinitely."

She smiled happily, "No more drama and intrigue?"

He smiled back. "I'm counting on it."

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was trembling. She walked toward him and took his hand.

"Could you stay with me always?"

His Adams apple bobbed, but then he grinned wickedly, "We could know each other's bodies in every way, night after night."

She whispered, "Could you love me?"

He nodded.

The right side of her mouth curved up into a grin. She bit her lip. He wanted to bite it, too.

Eric continued, "I could work. You would not be poor. I would help you. "

She tucked her chin down and looked up at him, her eyes wide. Puppy dog eyes. "Sounds like a marriage."

"Yes. If you'll have me."

"Hey, that's not what comes next!"

He wrapped her in his arms and smiled into her hair, breathing deep. She looked up into his eyes and smiled. "Always, Eric. Always."

Her lips finally met his, but he pulled away after only a moment. He needed to know.

"Why? After what I almost did."

"No, you actually did it, but then you were just able to take it back in time."

"Sookie…"

"Seriously, if Niall hadn't intervened, I'd be dead right now, and you'd be a huge a-hole stuck in Oklahoma."

He snorted and shook his head.

"Because I love you, Eric. You're it for me. And, apparently, I still will in 200 years, even if you kill me."

He smiled wryly. "You hated me more, then."

"That's because you drive me nuts."

Gods, he loved her. "I know." He kissed the top of her head.

All of a sudden, she looked ferocious. He thought it was adorable.

"I want a partnership."

"Of course."

"And none of that mine bullshit."

He laughed out loud. "Now, you have to give me SOMETHING to negotiate with, Lover."

She squinted and frowned, but her eyes twinkled.

"Equal playing field, me and you."

"Absolutely. You will be mine," he kissed one eyelid, "and I will be yours." He kissed the other.

She rolled her eyes. "And I want to pull my own weight."

"Yes, dear."

"Did you just yes dear me, Eric? Seriously? You are going to get it."

"Promises, promises."

She was laughing when she kissed him that time.

He deepened the kiss, stroking her tongue with his. She moaned into his mouth and dug her fingers into his hair. He had almost forgotten all of the little sounds she made while making love.

He picked her up, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, her hot centre notched against his hard cock. He carried her back down to his bed.

He laid her down on the middle of the mattress and stretched out over her, his weight on one elbow. She reached up and swept the hair out of his eyes. She cupped his face in her hands and looked at him hard, a crease between her eyes. "I love you." She was so serious she sounded cross.

He smiled warmly back. "I know."

The crease got deeper and he laughed. "I love you, too, Sookie." He lightly rubbed his nose against hers, and then kissed her hard. He mouthed her neck and licked up the pulse point under her right ear. He scratched his fangs across her collar bone and sucked hard on the pulse point under her left ear. She was panting. Fully clothed, two minutes, and she was already putty in his hands. He still had it.

"Please, Eric. Love me. Be sweet."

Who else would demand sweetness from a thousand year old vampire?

Slowly, he unwrapped her. The greatest Christmas gift of all. And when she lay warm and naked under him, he knew he could never let her go again. He quickly shed his jeans.

He worshipped her perfect breasts with his hands and his mouth. She was always so responsive. He kissed his way down past her belly button to between her thighs.

Sookie was running closer to a size 10 than an 8 right then, owing to the holiday and some comfort carbs, and Eric loved every extra ounce. She was so soft and warm and curvy and delicious. Her mouth tasted amazing, her skin delightful, but the third course, the honey between her thighs, was indescribable. And he had craved it for months. His first taste was a long, slow swipe of the tongue. He inhaled a deep breath through his nose, savoring the smell. Spun sugar, sunshine, and her desire for him. Heaven. He kissed her sex, a benediction, and then started circling her clit with his tongue.

He could play her body like a harp. He stretched her with his fingers as he sucked lightly on her clit. He stroked her g spot while he suckled and pinched her nipples. He fucked her with his tongue while rubbing circles with his thumb.

Finally, he flicked the tip of his tongue back and forth at vampire speed over her button while he fucked her hard and deep and slow with his fingers, and she fell apart around him.

His cock was so hard, and she licked her lips as she watched him stroke himself, her eyes hooded.

"I need you."

She sat up and kissed him, pulling him down on top of her. "I want to be able to touch you. To kiss you."

She reached down and stroked him and then lined him up with her centre. She was hot and wet and perfect, and as he sheathed himself in her, he was finally home and free. He laid there and basked in the feeling.

She grabbed his ass and rolled her hips and he got the hint and started to move, slowly stroking all the way out and all the way in. An exquisitely slow pace.

Sookie wrapped her legs around his waist. He was so big, and was hitting her just right on every stroke. It felt incredible. She kissed his mouth, licked and sucked on his chin, rubbed her smooth cheek against his rough and scratchy one. When the tension began to coil in her belly, she tilted her head back and gasped his name, baring her long neck to him. He couldn't resist. He licked it once lightly, and then hard and rough before sinking his fangs in. His hips sped up just a bit. Course number four was exquisite.

Sookie came hard, and as her pussy clamped down on him, she bit his shoulder and sucked. He came so hard he saw spots. Perfect.

Perfect.

When they were both spent, Sookie pushed him onto his back and arranged herself up on one elbow with her chin in her hand, looking down at him. Their legs were tangled together. He probed the new weak blood tie. Contentment, resolve, and love. So much love. It too felt like home. He didn't think he'd ever been happier.

"I promise I won't run away." She was very serious.

"Me too."

"I promise to work on communication."

He smiled. "Me, too."

"Will you bond with me? "

His eyebrows went up. "Are you sure?"

"Freyda and Felipe are gonna be pissed, whether it was above board or not. I want to be safe. You make me safe."

He frowned, but leaned up to catch her lips in a quick kiss. "I will keep you safe, Sookie. With or without a bond."

She played with his hair. She sighed and said, "I never thought I would say this, but it's also because I miss you. I miss feeling you with me."

He kissed her nose. "I missed you, too." He tried not to show how moved he was, but then resolved to let her in. Masks were a mistake with her. She had always needed reassurance. He was an old dog, but he could try learning some new tricks. He kissed her hard, but his eyes were soft and full of love. "You honour me, Sookie."

"I don't know if I'll ever want to be turned."

He smiled and turned her onto her side so he could be the big spoon. He entered her slowly and just held her there, her back to his front, just needing to be as close as he could be. He wrapped his arms around her tight and cupped her breast in his hand. He kissed behind her ear and sighed in absolute contentment. "Ok."

"Ok?" She tried to get up on the elbow to look back at him.

"Sshhh." He cuddled her back into submission and sighed again. "I don't know is better than absolutely never. I have you in my arms. This is everything I need right now. This is best. We will worry about tomorrow tomorrow. For now, I am going to live in today."

"Oh. Well, good." She started rocking her hips against him, and moaned contentedly. "Mmmmmerry Christmas, Eric."

"Merry Christmas, Sookie. I love you."

And all was right with the world. At least in this moment. And, who knows? Forever, for once, wasn't off the table. That was good enough for him.