I do not own any True Blood characters,

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Carli woke up to the alarm the next morning, wrapped tight in Eric's arms. She moved to shut off the song, and realized that she was sore in a few places as she winced. The night had ended with a hot shower shared by them, and rough sex as he pinned her against the wall as well as in his bed a little while later. She had been exhausted and spent after the first round, but his fingers and lips were very persuasive when he wanted them to be. She slowly removed his arm and sat up, glancing at him as she did. He was stunning against his cream sheets, and she bit her lip as she took in his near nude body. Carli winced again and stood up, regretting a late night before a shoot and interview. She glanced in the mirror and the only redeeming quality about her was her freshly colored red hair with a few deeper chunks of burgundy for good measure. Her eyes looked like they had circles and she groaned inwardly. Carli took a very long shower, making it as hot as she could stand it. She moved in the shower, letting the water run over every sore part as best she could and removing part of the shower head for other places. She found herself thinking back to the night before and she aimed the water right between her legs as she felt a hint of desire, and then shook her head. "I hate you, Eric." Carli murmured, removing the water despite the fact that it felt good. In truth, she loved him. She loved him but she knew that it could be unhealthy, and she sighed audibly. Carli finished up and simply brushed her hair out and dressed in leggings and a tee, with a hoodie zipped up to keep her warm against the cooling fall air. Carli slid her feet into her black boots and glanced at Eric again, watching as he rolled over in his sleep. "I love you." Carli whispered, pulling the door closed and walking to the elevator. She went down and caught a cab, seeing the others arriving as she pulled up to the curb.

"Late night?" Jimmy asked her, and she just looked at him.

"Going out last night was not the most stellar idea we have ever had." Carli replied, and he smiled. She knew that she had gotten to Eric's in time to get some sleep, and she blushed a little as she looked at the sidewalk. Her friends looked curiously at her and she let them lead the way into the building, quiet until they got to the magazine office where she talked cheerfully and shook hands. She could turn on happy Carli on a dime. She didn't miss the look the make up artist gave her, but once she had short pigtails in and bright make up on she looked a lot better. Her eyes popped with the colors and she smiled gratefully at the petite girl. Carli went to change into the short red dress they handed her, and buttoned the front of it up to an acceptable level, and slid her feet into the chunky heels. She met back up with the guys and they posed inside as well as a few outside locations, driving with the photographer around town. Carli huddled under a blanket when she was not posing, covering herself up tightly to stay warm. They went back to the office for a quick lunch and then sat down with the writer. He asked some questions that made her think a bit deeper than she wanted, and she frowned slightly at the mention of Ryan's name. she answered everything with the idea in mind that the fans needed positive as well as truth, and hid a few true thoughts. Eric was brought up and she blushed as she bit her lip and glanced down. She only admitted to seeing him for a couple of months and that things were just fine. Carli was exhausted when she was finished and changed out of the clothes, keeping the make up and ponytails as she pulled on her original clothes inside of the dressing room. She knew that Eric would be working when she got back, and she decided to sleep at his apartment for awhile. Carli did join the guys for lunch and then headed back to crawl into bed after pulling off most of her clothes. She woke up to a hand stroking her face and moved onto her back under the covers as she moaned.

"You should wear ponytails a lot more, Carli. Very sexy." Eric whispered to her, and she felt him kiss her hair.

"Doesn't it make me look young?" Carli asked, knowing she already did anyway.

"That is part of it." Eric's lips captured hers and she allowed his mouth to devour hers, sighing happily as he sucked her full lower lip between his teeth slowly. "Are you sore at all, lover?"

"Little bit." Carli replied, and he brushed his lips over hers as she waited.

"Sorry." Eric told her, moving beside her on the bed. He slid his hands under the sheets and over her barely covered body and she felt the desire beginning to flow through her. "You felt so good last night. I wish we could make love again." He took her hand that was on her pillow and moved it down her body between her legs. "Touch yourself for me. I want to hear you make yourself come."

Carli could feel the heat that flowed through her underwear, and she moved her fingers over them as Eric slid the sheet down to watch her. She slid her legs apart and slid her hand down the front of her panties as she moaned softly, stroking her rapidly dampening folds. He stroked her stomach as she did and she felt him move his fingers over her tank top and her hardening nipples. He urged her on in his low voice, and the sound of it made her shudder. She knew where this was going, and the idea of it in her mind seemed to excite her as she felt the pressure building up within. One hard stroke later over her clit and she cried out with the orgasm as it hit her, leaning her head back. She felt Eric move beside her, and suddenly he was filling the space between her legs with his mysteriously nude torso and expert tongue. Carli moaned as he licked and sucked all of her moisture out of her, coming again against his demanding mouth. She begged him to take her, and breathed as she felt him slide over her.

"Are you sure?" Eric's voice moved over her, and she opened her eyes. He was obviously hard and ready as she felt him pressing almost into her, and she slid her hands up his back slowly. "I do need the release, lover, but there are other ways."

"Fuck me, Eric." Carli told him again, and he slid inside of her as she gasped. Her sore opening protested silently for a moment, and she winced as she felt herself getting used to him. She remembered him last night fucking her very hard after the first time, obviously turned on after their new venture. He slid over her sore walls, and she finally focused on pleasure as he leaned back slightly and hooked her leg over his shoulder, hitting her sweet spot inside. He took it slow at first, but deep, and she moaned as his thrusts grew more aggressive, finally screaming his name hoarsely as she came for a third time. Carli felt like she was always screaming his name, and her head spun as he fell beside her. She could never say no.

"I realize your friends are leaving tomorrow, and I was wondering if you would like to have them over for dinner beforehand." Eric said in the dimly lit room, and she blinked.

"Really?" Carli asked, and looked at him.

"Yes, really. We could grill salmon and make some veggies. Get some wine." Eric told her, giving her a strange look.

"I'll call them." Carli said, sitting up slowly. She pulled on some pants that were on the floor and found her phone in her purse, calling them to ask. They agreed and she told Eric, who pulled on some clothes to run to the store. Carli cleaned up and got dressed in some leggings and a tee, and made the bed as she stared at it. She had spent so much time in it, so much energy spent trying to get her fill of him. She shook her head and lit some candles, glancing outside to see the weather overcast still but not raining. Eric came home and put the food in the fridge until it was ready to cook, and walked over to her and hugged her.

"I love you." Eric told her, and she looked at him. "Thanks for cleaning up."

"Of course." Carli replied, and he smiled at her. His eyes caught the candlelight and she stared at his mesmerizing face, remembering the first time she had seen it. "I love you, Eric."

"Good." He bent down and kissed her with lingering lips and she pulled him close to her. The doorbell rang and they laughed as they parted, and she went to answer it. The guys and a couple of the girlfriends entered, and she hugged them with a big smile. Eric greeted them and Jimmy went outside to the grill with him after getting a glass of wine, and Carli hung out with the girls in the kitchen steaming a bunch of vegetables and making a salad. The others gathered in front of the big screen TV and some hockey game, and Carli laughed to herself. She remembered nights at the Blackhawk games and their insanity over it. She was spooning the food into a wide bowl when she heard the slider open and she looked up to see Eric coming in as he laughed over something with Jimmy. He caught her gaze and she sucked in her breath at the heat in it, and dropped her spoon onto the counter. Jimmy glanced at her, and she picked it up quickly and finished.

"He gets to you a lot." Jimmy's longtime girlfriend noted aloud, looking at Carli's face. "The intensity between you is something to see. It's nice, Carli."

"Yeah." Carli replied, staring at the variety of vegetables in the bowl. "It is also a bit scary at times."

"Nothing has to be permanent." Lisa told her in a low voice, and Carli looked at her. They set the food out buffet style on the counter and Carli busied herself getting plates and silverware ready, finally sitting with Eric and the girls at his table while the band watched sports. Carli sipped her wine and thoroughly enjoyed her food, feeling Eric's gaze on her from time to time as she ate slowly. They all ended up in the living room and an upcoming tour was brought up, beginning a month and a half from then, and just after the holiday. Eric glanced at her and she listened to the details as she avoided his gaze, realizing what a good idea it was and not willing to let him see that in her face. They wanted to work on writing for their new album in the meantime, and she had already been jotting down things for that. She agreed to come to Chicago a week before the tour to practice together and then head out on the road, and she got up to go to the bathroom as the conversation finished. The few glasses of wine were hitting her in more ways than one, and she laughed as she stumbled a little. She left the bathroom in the master bedroom, shutting the light off and bumping into someone in the dark.

"Leaving me so soon, lover?" Eric voice was low, and she reached up to grab him to avoid falling down.

"You knew what I did before we ever got involved." Carli reminded him, and felt his lips brush hers.

"That is true, but I despise the idea of your absence for a couple of months." Eric told her, and she slid her arms around his neck.

"It is work, nothing more. It is what I love doing, Eric." His lips brushed hers again, and she searched for his tongue with her own as he held them there.

"I am going to make you remember me when you are gone, beginning with tonight." Eric promised her, and she felt him press her into the wall. They both became aware of their surroundings soon, and she pushed him away as she said she was getting back to their guests. She fixed her hair and face in the mirror and walked past him, grabbing her glass of wine as the guys hollered over a goal in the living room. She rolled her eyes at the girls, and settled back as she felt Eric sit beside her. She didn't look at him, but shuddered slightly as he took her hand and held it tightly. They finished the game and Travis picked up the guitar she had over there for writing, and began to strum it. He had a look on his face and she frowned as he strummed a familiar tune.

"Trav?" Carli asked softly, and he looked at her. It was the song that Ryan had written for him, and the one she had performed with Ryan at XM. She knew then that he was feeling more of Ryan's pain than anybody, and she looked at him. She started to sing the words and he smiled a small smile as she did, and added his voice to the chorus. They shared something in that song that they didn't speak of, and then he moved on to Toxic. She met Eric's gaze during that one, knowing that it could have been written by her about him. It turned into a jam session as it most always did with them, but she liked working her voice out a little bit. She also settled better emotionally when she sang, and she felt lighter when her friends left for the night and left New York the following morning. She said goodbye sadly, missing living by them as she hugged each one of them. Living far apart was difficult at times, and she slid her arms around Eric's torso as she closed the door and took a deep breath. "I miss them."

"Any regrets about moving here?" Eric asked her, and she shrugged. "Any regrets about being here with me?"

"Not completely, but we scare me." Carli admitted, and pressed her face into his chest.

"We?" Eric asked her, and she pressed her lips into his button up shirt.

"The way we are. The person I have become since meeting you." She slid her hands down to tug the shirt out of his jeans, and over his bare skin. "The way my heart and body crave you. I felt a comfort in Chicago that I miss. I miss my friends, but I physically crave you in a way that might never let me leave you."

"Have you ever thought that I felt that way about you from the first touch, lover?" Eric asked her, tangling his hands into her hair. "Have you ever considered what you have done to me?"

"Anything like what I am feeling?" Carli asked, and he sighed aloud.

"Yes, Carli. I love you so very much, but you do torment me a little bit." Eric assured her, and she lifted her face to look at him. She unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off, initiating everything for the remainder of the night. She slept pressed tightly against him, feeling sleepy and tired of thinking for the night.

Carli focused on writing after that, staying mostly at Eric's. It worked out when Pam came back after her life was back in order and needed a place to stay while she looked for one. Eric was in no hurry, since it kept her at his house, and she knew that she was leaving anyway in just awhile. She spent time with him when he was not working, and they seemed to go on more dates than before. He took her to good places to eat in New York, and they frequented the movie theatre she had grown to love. They spent equal amounts of time in his bed, and she found that he claimed every part of her body now. She gave it all to him, and he favored every part of her. She wrote when she was alone, and her and the band communicated every way possible during that process. It was irritating not to just go over to someone's house and sit together instead of skyping or calling. She spent time with Pam here and there, and they became friends on some level as the time ticked away. She was at the theatre with Eric one night after a great dinner, and she was relaxing against him with her leg hitched over his as the room darkened and the previews started. She turned her face to his and found his lips in the dark, and sucked his lower lip into her mouth. "Don't start something you can't finish." Eric whispered to her, and she slid her tongue into his mouth. He placed his hand on her leg, and began to slide it under her skirt as she felt herself heating up. "You want to try and hold back a scream in this room, Carli?"

"Try me." Carli whispered, and he raised an eyebrow at her as he looked at her. She bit her lip as he slid his talented hands over her thigh and under the lace of her thong, She stared at the movie screen and jumped when it got especially bright in the room, hearing him chuckle softly. It darkened again and he increased his pace and she breathed deeply as she fought the sensations flowing through her. "Almost there." Her voice was low as she spoke aloud, and he slid his finger inside of her. She came at that moment, and gripped his leg tightly as she remained silent through it all. They could not stay for that movie and ended up at home making love fiercely as she moved over him, before he flipped her over. They fell asleep tangled up in each other, and she woke up with the now familiar soreness. She ended up alone most of that day as well as others, since Pam was getting accustomed to the business again and he was insistent on being there. Eric was irritated with her lack of motivation towards the business, and it showed at home. He was fond of using sex to release his emotions, and she didn't know if she should speak to him after a couple of rough nights. She was hitting a roadblock herself in writing and watched movies on her downtime, basking in her writer's block.

One night, she was sitting with her notebook in front of her and a movie playing in the bedroom. She had lit a fire and was sitting in bed in a tank top and underwear, with the blankets loosely around her waist. Her phone rang and she dreaded another call from her band about what she was not writing, and she glanced at it with anxious eyes. "Pam?" The woman asked if she could come and hang out with her and that the empty apartment down the block was depressing. Carli grudgingly agreed and got up to pull on a robe as she went to get the door. One look told her that Pam was tipsy, and she raised an eyebrow at the pretty blond.

"You look far too much like Eric when you do that." Pam informed her, stepping in and looking around. It was clear that Carli was not hanging out in the living room, and Cali rolled her eyes as Pam walked into the bedroom.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Carli asked her, tipsy herself on some wine she had drank earlier.

"He sent me home when I had a glass of wine with a girl." Pam said in a glum voice, sliding off her wet jacket.

"A glass?"

"Okay, several. She was very hot and I haven't been with a woman since….well, you know." Pam said, and Carli blushed a little. "I am going to take a shower and warm up." She walked into the large bathroom and pushed the door closed to a crack, and Carli sighed. She heard the water start and she stared at the movie again as she glanced down here and there at the blank paper. She jumped when she felt Pam slide onto the bed behind her, and slide her arms around waist.

"Pam, you know he just wants you back at work again. Eric has been busting his ass running it alone, for the most part, and he needs some help." Carli told her, realizing that the tour in two weeks was not helping matters.

"I am adjusting, Carli. He should know that." Pam said in a petulant voice, and she moved her hands over the knot in Carli's robe. She slid it open and pulled the neck back to kiss the back of carli's neck, and Carli froze.

"What are you doing?"

"I am a little tipsy on wine and a lot horny." Pam informed her, and Carli grabbed her hands. "I like your body, Carli."

"It was a one time thing, Pam." Carli reminded her, and Pam laughed casually.

"He is at work for awhile, and I am sure that he would not mind walking in on something." Pam told her, and slid the robe off of her. She moved in front of Carli and the loose robe showed her bare skin as she leaned in close to kiss her. Carli wanted to protest but she found herself kissing Pam in return, and her hand slid around her head into her tangled hair. Pam moved closer to Carli as she spread her legs with her knees gently, sliding her hand over her tank slowly to cup her breasts. "I guess he is taking out his frustration with me on you. He must be fucking you good and hard these days." She laughed a little bitterly. "I have been on that end of things, so I hope he is being good to you." Pam kissed Carli again and slid her hand down to Carli's legs as she pushed the robe open further. Carli wanted to stop her, and she reached down to do so. But she only pulled Pam's hand further up to her thigh, and she moaned when the hand brushed her underwear. "That's my girl." Pam slid her fingers under the material and Carli took a deep breath as she found her own hand moving to Pam to touch her under her robe. She was naked and Carli traced her nipples with her hand, feeling them harden instantly. She felt Pam stroking her and she whimpered as her body took care of any doubts and responded. Pam slid a finger inside of her, and Carli moved against it as she slid her hand down to touch Pam. She was very ready, and she thrust her finger in Carli as she felt Carli's fingers on her. The girls continued to touch and tease, and soon Carli cried out as she came. She was over the edge of her mental cliff now and knowing who she was just never seemed possible, and she felt Pam push her back onto the mattress and slide the underwear down her thighs. She had already had an orgasm herself, quickly and hard.

"Well, well. You just had to come over and finish it off with my girlfriend." Eric's voice broke their moment, and Carli gasped and looked at him. His eyes were deep blue, and she could see the anger in them. He stepped closer and it turned to lust as he looked them over in the light of the TV and the fire, and Pam continued to move down between Carli's legs without missing a beat. She slid her tongue inside of Carli, and Carli could not help but cry out. Eric sat down and watched quietly, and Carli could not focus on him as the talented mouth worked on her, and she cried out as the pressure built inside of her again. She heard Pam moan, and she opened her blurry eyes to see Eric's hand under the robe that loosely covered her body. She could only assume that he was touching her, and the way that Pam whimpered made it clear, but Carli was too close to care at that point. She came hard and long and bucked her hips forward and threw her head back. Pam began to moan in earnest and Carli watched Eric's arm move against her, and she knew that he had his finger inside of her. She was all too familiar with the feeling. Pam bucked and cried out loudly, and crawled over Carli's body as she came again, her lips seeking out her nipples under her shirt. "Your turn, Carli." Eric told her, and Carli looked at him. "I want you to eat her pussy now, and I want to touch you as you do." He stood and unbuttoned his shirt, and she could see the bulge in his pants.

Carli turned Pam over easily, since she was spent at that moment. She touched her, feeling the wetness and let it sink in that her boyfriend had done some of that. Pam begged her to go down on her, and Carli parted her legs and moved in. Pam was hot and sweet as she licked her, and she moaned in response. Carli felt Eric's hand over her ass and then his fingers on her clit, and she cried out. She came as he continued, and she tried to focus on her own task. Pam was into rough foreplay and Carli gave her that, feeling Eric move behind her on the bed and move inside of her. He urged her to finish Pam, as he moved slowly in and out of her, and Carli did it with one long stroke of her tongue as Pam writhed under her and cried out. Eric began to fuck her then, deep and hard, and Carli went face first into Pam's robe as she cried out with it. He spread her legs further and increased his pace, and Carli felt him slide across her sweet spot and she screamed as the sudden orgasm flooded her. She felt him pull out of her and further collapsed on her friend, as Pam stroked her hair. "That makes me wish I wanted a turn." Pam remarked dryly, and Eric chuckled as he moved into the bathroom.

Carli sat up as she recovered and pulled the robe over her body. She sat next to Pam, who snuggled in her own robe and closed her eyes wearily and with a smile on her face. Eric came back out, but Carli could not look at him. She pulled the robe closer and he looked down at her, finally sitting beside her. "What is it?" His voice was cautious, and she felt him stroke her messy hair. She moved away and he tilted his head.

"What am I? Who am I?" Carli murmured, and shook her head. She had the urge to run away and the idea of her empty apartment sounded great right then. She moved forward and off the bed, trying to find clothes. She found jeans and went to get fresh underwear, cringing as she pulled them on over the mess between her legs.

"Where are you going?" Eric asked her, and she glanced up to see the pain in his eyes. "I let you finish what you wanted to do. I only made love to you."

"I need to get out of here for awhile, Eric. I need to figure myself out." Carli told him, not even caring that she was leaving a sleeping Pam there.

"You just enjoyed a sexual encounter. That is all." Eric told her, and she yanked on her jeans. "Why are you making so much of it?"

"I wish it was so simple." Carli said, pulling a hoodie over her tank top and covering her head. She went out into the living room to pull on shoes and heard her phone ringing. She stared at her purse, but he was trying to hold onto her.

"I love you, Carli. Don't leave like this." Eric told her, and she shook his hands off. "We need to talk about this."

"Later." Carli shot back, hearing the ring of her phone again. She grabbed her purse and walked out, letting the tears slide down her cheeks as she shut the door. She had missed that call as well, but she pulled the phone out of her purse and she hit the button for the elevator. All calls were from Jimmy, and she hit the button to call him back. She asked him what was going on when she was on the elevator, and his words made her nearly forget what had happened. She felt bigger tears slide down her face as her mind and body went into shock, and she stepped off of the elevator as she spoke quietly with him. They talked for a few minutes, both stunned, and she hung up and took a deep breath. She started to call for a cab, but she heard Eric's voice and she glanced up slowly.

"I will allow you your time, but I insist on driving you home." Eric told her, and took a closer look at her. "You look so pale, Carli. What is it?"

"Let's go. I need to get to my apartment and pack." Carli said, pulling up the airline website on her phone as her mind moved forward to what she needed to do. She walked with him to his car, and finally looked up at his confused face.

"Where are you going?" Eric asked her, and she saw the surprise in his eyes. "Did this make you want to leave?" He opened her door for her and she slid in, sighing out loud as pain began to hit her all over. He hurried to his side and started the engine, and she wiped another set of tears away.

"I am going to Chicago as soon as possible." Carli told him, and stared forward. "Ryan…..got into a car accident earlier tonight. Everyone is going for the funeral, and if we do tour, it starts right after. I need to be there now."

"I'm very sorry, Carli. I know he meant a lot to you." Eric said, stroking her cheek as she brushed his hand away. "I do not want you to leave like this. I want to work things out."

"I can't even think about that right now." Carli snapped at him, and finally started to cry. "I just lost one of the most last normal things about my life, Eric."

"Fine. I can see it isn't going to happen tonight." Eric said, pulling away from the curb. They drove in silence and she was out of his car the second he pulled up to the curb. She ran inside of her apartment, and booked a flight four hours from then. Carli yanked her suitcase up onto the bed and tried to calmly add what she needed for a funeral and another two weeks to it, but she ended up sinking to the floor crying into her hands. She would always remember that he was not speaking to her when he died, and she hated that. She finally calmed down and finished packing, dropping what she needed from the bathroom. She could see Pam's things set about here and there, and she wondered dimly if she would continue to stay there. She knew that she was asleep at Eric's at that moment, and it stung. Carli stubbornly decided that she could stay there if she wanted, since she was possibly going for a few months. She was done with it for now, and she hated feeling as insecure as she did at that moment. Carli took a shower to clean herself up, pulling on leggings and a tee shirt, with a hoodie over that. She braided her too long hair and pulled the hood over that, not bothering with make up at all. Carli sent texts to her friends in Chicago telling them her flight info, and then got one from Eric.

I love you, Carli, and I am here for you. Call me if you need anything at all. I will miss you, and I am sorry for what happened.

Carli sighed and pushed that particular pain behind the pain of her loss. It was all she could focus on and she rested her head on her knees as she sat on the couch in her empty living room and waited until she needed to call a cab for the airport.