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Sookie climbed out of her vehicle and onto her driveway. She was tired and looking forward to a long hot bath.
Eric was busy working on preparations for upcoming trip to the queen's home and would not be over tonight.
She was almost to the stairs before car headlights were lighting her driveway.
"Why is there a car in my driveway? I'm too tired for this".
The car came to a stop and the door opened. It was Pam.
"I'm definitely too tired for this". Sookie kicked the gravel in frustration.
"Hello, Sookie". Pam greeted after exiting her car and shutting the door.
"Hello, Pam. Eric isn't here".
"I know. He is at home".
"Then what can I do for you"? Sookie put her hands on her hips.
"We're going shopping". Pam smiled sweetly.
"Are we? Great". Sookie resigned to getting no rest this evening.
"I'll drive". Pam smiled and unlocked the car with a click of her key fob.
"Yes, your majesty, Sookie will be joining me on this visit". Eric spoke into the phone.
"She is looking forward to seeing Hadley as well". He rolled his eyes as he leaned further back in the chair.
"Good evening to you too." Eric hung up the phone.
"Dealing with the queen may be the only part of being a sheriff that I absolutely despise".
Eric: Have you arrived?
Pam: Yes, Sookie is just an absolute delight to shop with.
Eric: Should I be worried?
Pam: No, I have faced worse foes.
Eric: Behave Pamela.
Pam: I always do.
Sookie came out of the dressing room with all of Pam's choices and hangs them on the rack.
"I want something elegant and definitely not with cut outs". Sookie complained.
"You're no fun". Pam pouted.
"I know" Sookie smiled as she thumbed through the dresses. "This one" She held out an off the shoulder, three forth sleeve dress with lace detail and a slight train, navy blue evening gown.
"I agree" Pam said in shock.
Sookie carried the dress to the register and then reached in her purse for her wallet.
"Eric gave me his credit card". Pam informed her.
"I don't need Eric's credit card". Sookie bit back.
The boutique worker finished putting the dress into a garment bag and zipped it up.
"Your total is 2000 dollars"
"Pam, I gonna need Eric's credit card".
"I know". Pam smiled as she handed the credit card to her.
Eric was down to the last item on his to do list. He needed to book a hotel suit for Sookie and himself. He wasn't going to trust his or Sookie's safety to the queen.
"I would like to book a suite". Eric informed the clerk who answered the phone.
"Of, course; what name will the suite be under"?
"Northman".
"Mr. Eric Northman"?
"Yes".
"The honeymoon suite has been booked and will be done to you specifications for you and Mrs. Northman"
"Good" Eric hung up.
Eric didn't know how he felt about hearing Mrs. Northman for the first time. That was technically who Sookie would be. This line of thought completely distracted him from the fact that Pam booked the honeymoon suite for himself and Sookie.
Sookie climbed out of the car and went to unlock the front door of her house while Pam gathered all of the items that were purchased for the trip.
"Why is there luggage on my porch"?
"I took the liberty of purchasing you designer luggage as well as other items".
Sookie took a deep breath. "I am fighting every fiber of my being. I don't want Eric to take care of me".
"Sookie, Eric is a 1000 year old. That means that he had 1000 years to acquire wealth. We didn't always have Fangtasia. We didn't always live as we do. Eric earned it all. Don't treat the means of which he chooses to care for you like it is an insult".
"I know that he cares for me. He told me so. I just don't want to be…"
"Yvette"?
"Exactly! I want to be more". She confessed.
"Let's talk about the knife that Hadley gave you". Pam directed Sookie into the house.
"What about it"? Sookie asked before complying.
"Let's go inside". Pam insisted.
Sookie unlocked and opened the front door. Pam followed behind her sitting the items that she was carrying in the dining room.
"Have a seat. You're going to want to be seated."
"You're scaring me, Pam".
"It's nothing to be scared of". She tried to reassure her sitting down across from her.
"Ok, what is the knife"? Sookie finally sat down on the couch.
"It is a vampire wedding ceremony knife".
"Excuse me? What is it"?
"A vampire…" Pam was cut off by Sookie waving her arms.
"I heard you. Why would she give that to me to give to Eric and not tell me"?! She stood and turned away from Pam trying to digest all of the implications. "And why didn't Eric tell me"? She quickly turned back.
"For the same reason, to make sure that you went through with the ceremony".
"Why do I need to marry Eric"?
"We don't know but if Hadley risked everything to bring you that knife, it's because something not good is going to happen if you don't".
"Did he agree to this"? She couldn't look at Pam as she asked the question.
"He knows the plan and has no intentions of stopping any of it".
"What do I need to do? I want to perform the ceremony correctly".
"Good evening, Pamela". Eric greeted as she opened the door.
"Good evening, Master". She returned the greeting as she entered the house from the garage.
"How was your evening"? He placed the book that he was reading on the table beside the couch.
"Insightful".
"Care to share your insight"?
"No". She answered with a cat that ate the canary grin before leaving the room.
Sookie woke early the next morning. There was only one week before the trip that she would return from as Mrs. Northman. She had to give Sam only a week notice and she hated it but she had no choice. Eric was a highly respected sheriff in the vampire community. His wife cannot work for a shifter.
Sookie showered and dressed for work. Breakfast wasn't an option. Her stomach was full of butterflies already. So, she grabbed her things and headed out of the door.
She pulled into the parking lot of Merlotts role playing her conversation with Sam in her mind. Every time it didn't go well. He would blame Eric and she would defend Eric.
"It's sad that Sam even hates Eric in my head". Sookie turned off the engine and exited the car. She walked to the back door of the restaurant and before entering took a deep breath. "Here we go".
She saw Sam in his office and walked in. "Can I talk to you for a moment"?
"Sure, come sit down".
"Sam, you have been a great friend and boss. I hate that I have to do this but I have to give you a one week notice".
Sam opened his mouth to speak and she held up her hand. "In that week I will my tail off for you to make sure that you are in a good place before I go".
"This is because of Eric, isn't it"?
"No, it's because of me. The vampire queen knows what I am and so to keep my freedom, I must make hard decisions like this one".
"So, if Eric wasn't in the picture, would you do this"?
"If Eric wasn't in the picture, I would still be with Bill and in a lot of danger".
"I hope you know what you're doing". He covered her hand with his.
"Me too". She patted it with her other hand in return before standing to leave the office.
That evening, Eric arrived at Sookie's home. He opened the front door. All of the lights were off and he could feel that she wasn't there. He pulled out his phone and called her. The phone call went straight to voicemail. So then he tugged on their bond.
Sookie was mentally exhausted from working almost a complete double shift. She sees that Eric is outside through the window. "I forgot about Eric, tonight". She rubbed her forehead.
He enters the front entrance of Merlotts. "Welcome to Merlotts". The waitress greeted.
"I wish to be seated at a table in Sookie's section of this… establishment". He tried to be polite.
"Right this way". She held out her arm in the direction that they were going to walk to his table. After he was seated the waitress left him.
Sookie stopped by Eric's table. "What can I get you"? She asked him.
"You were supposed to have the evening off".
"I know. Let me cash out my other table and I will be right back".
He nodded his agreement and then she left to go to her other table.
Eric watched Sookie as she did what she said that she would do. She went to the register and cashed out her table but before she could walk away, Sam grabbed her by the waist and whispered in her ear. It took everything within him to not get up and rip off the offending hand.
"Thank y'all for coming". She told her table before going back to Eric's table.
"Does the shifter always touch you like that"? Eric growled.
"What are you talking about"? She was completely confused.
"He put his hand on your waist".
"It was harmless".
"You. Are. Mine". Eric dropped his fangs.
"I am. Put your fangs away, now".
Eric retracted his fangs at Sookie's request.
"I don't know what has gotten into you but you can rest assured that I won't be running off with Sam".
"I know how he feels about you".
Sookie sat down in the booth across from Eric and reached for his hand that he gave willingly. "It doesn't matter how Sam feels about me. I am over here holding your hand and trying to calm you down while he is over there watching".
"Why are you working tonight'? Eric asked calmly.
"I gave Sam a one week notice. He is supposed to setting up interviews while I cover his shift".
"You will no longer work for the shifter"?
"No, I won't".
"Will you work at Fangtasia"?
"I will".
"Good".
Sookie patted his hand before getting up to finish her closing duties.
Sookie walked out to her SUV and noticed that Eric was in the driver's seat. She walked around to open her door and climbed into the passenger's side seat. She closed the door and then buckled her seatbelt before turning to Eric. "Take us home".
"Us? Home"?
"You called it home the other night"? She defended sheepishly.
"So, I did". Eric smiled.
They arrived at the house a little while later. Eric parked the car and then they both climbed out of the vehicle.
"I'm so tired ad have plenty of these shirts that I am not going to change".
"As you wish".
Sookie unlocked the door and entered the house with Eric to follow. They ascended the stairs together.
Sookie turned on the light to the bedroom before walking across the room and removing her shoes.
Eric removed his jacket and laid it across the back of a chair in the corner before removing his shoes.
They both climbed onto the bed. Sookie laid her head on Eric's shoulder. He bit into his wrist and offered it to her. She weakly latched on and began to take his blood. Eric ran his fingers through her hair in a soothing motion while closing his eyes.
It wasn't long before Eric felt no pull at his wrist and heard Sookie's soft snores.
"She fell asleep" He laughed softly.
He held her while she slept right until before dawn and only the sun could drive him away.