Disclaimer: I only own my own creations, and love to make them play in the True Blood world.

A/N: Sorry for the posting delay…you know the drill. Finally wrapping up the funeral (need something less depressing in this story) and will try to keep posting a chapter a week. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Bon Temps, 2027

Sookie's POV

The sun has risen and a beam of sunlight casts its glow across my face. The warmth of the ray slowly wakes my mind, and my body soon follows. I stretch and yawn, and wipe the sleep from my eyes. I realize that I am on the couch in my living room, covered by Gran's old afghan. Eric must've covered me up before heading back to the cubby this morning.

The events of last night slowly start playing out in my head, and I start to feel the embarrassment all over again. I made such a fool of myself. At least Eric found it in his heart to forgive me (and in his head to refuse me). Thank goodness.

I hear someone in the kitchen, and reaching out mentally, I get a silent response from Ella, "Morning, Mom."

"Morning, El. Is there coffee?" I think back at her.

"Yeah, I made sure to leave you some after I filled up my travel mug. Jen will be here in an hour to pick me up." The response has me closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I forgot she was heading back to New Orleans today. It seems that everyone is leaving me. By this time tomorrow, I will be all alone in this great big house again.

I push myself off the couch, and make my way to the kitchen and some much-needed caffeine. My body slightly stiff from my makeshift bed. Another night like that, and perhaps I will find the strength to sleep in my own bed once again.

I find Ella near the sink, and walk over and put my arms around her. I need to feel her there…reminding me that I haven't lost everything that matters. We both find comfort in the embrace. I can feel her arms squeezing me just a little tighter and a little longer than necessary. My baby girl.

After breakfast is made and eaten, we both head upstairs so Ella can finish packing. We talk and cry a little until we are interrupted by the doorbell. It's Ella's friend, and she's right on time.

Ella tries to convince me to take some time off, and visit her. I promise I'll think about it, as I give her a final hug and kiss good-bye.

The car pulls away, and I stand in the driveway waving until the car is out of sight. I close my eyes once again, and raise my face to the sun. The warmth spreads across my face instantly, and I can feel my whole body start to heat up in its light. I can hear the birds chirping in the trees, and the bugs buzzing. There isn't another person around…no voices in my head. It's just a pure moment of peace...yet all I feel is the emptiness.

Not wanting to waste time dwelling on it, I make my way back inside and start the rest of my day. There are phone calls to make, papers to sign, and finishing up with the rental company. Before I know it, the sun is slowly setting and I can hear Eric make his way up the ladder. The doors to the wardrobe open slowly, revealing the man himself.

"Good evening," he greets me.

"Good evening to you," I respond.

"Pam texted that she'll be picking me up soon, but I wanted a chance to say goodbye…for now, at least." His ocean blue eyes stare into mine, and I can tell he's trying to gauge my reaction. "I really don't want to leave you, Sookie, but I have some business matters that need my attention back in LA."

"I understand, Eric. I appreciate that you came. You'll never know what it meant to me." I reach out to take his hand and continue, "I wasn't sure how I was going to get through this week by myself. I know that I have friends and family that are here for me, but it didn't feel right burdening them with my grief. Ella especially. But you…you gave me the strength I needed."

"Just as you did for me in Dallas, with Godric. It appears that you and I are not all that different." His eyes focus on mine as he says, "Sookie, it kills me to have to leave you so soon, but promise me you will stay in touch. These first few days and weeks are always the hardest. I assure you that it will get easier, in time. If you need anything, even just someone to talk to, please call me. Here, give me your phone." I let go of the hand I'd been holding, instantly missing the contact, as I fish my phone out of my pocket. I watch as he puts his numbers into my contact list.

"I mean it Sookie…call me if you need anything." he pleads.

"I promise." With my response, I find myself being pulled into his embrace. I feel him kissing the top of my head, and hear him inhale. He murmurs something that sounds like 'sunshine', and I assume he is smelling the sun from earlier this morning that is still clinging to my hair and skin.

We stand there holding each other for a few minutes, when once again, the doorbell rings. Another person and another car to take someone out of my life. Where did that thought come from?

As if knowing where my thoughts were taking me, Eric pulled back and looked worriedly at me. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Please don't keep Pam waiting." I plaster my 'crazy Sookie' smile on my face and hope that he'll buy it.

"I will text you tomorrow when I rise." He moves one of his hands down my back and the other wraps behind my head as he places a lingering kiss to my forehead. "Goodbye, my sweet Sookie."

"Goodbye, Eric." The moment becomes more emotional than expected, and I find myself crying again. Eric takes the thumb of the hand that was behind my head, and wipes the tears from my cheeks.

"Come on, no tears for me. It's going to be ok. You'll see." I want to believe him. I find myself nodding my head as he unwraps himself from me and makes his way to the front door. I watch as his gives me one final look once he reaches the car. And as before, I find myself waving until I can longer see the car.

I'm alone.

Shreveport Airport, 2027

Eric POV

Thank the gods that Pam is driving, because I wouldn't have had the strength to leave. My connection with Sookie, though small, has grown slightly due to our proximity to one another. I can feel waves of loneliness through the bond, and I know that it is in part due to my departure. Her loss was kept at bay during the busy days of preparation for and the day of the funeral. With her daughter and I leaving, it pains me to know that she will be alone in that house…and I can feel her coming to that painful realization herself. She has friends, family and her business to keep her occupied, but it's not the same.

Though my heart screams at me to stay, my head knows that I mustn't. Sookie needs some time to grieve, and I intend to see that she gets it. I know that each of us mourns differently…working our way through the denial, anger, bargaining and depression of loss in whatever order we see fit. I will do what I can to help Sookie navigate her path, knowing that the end of her journey will bring acceptance. She will never be free to love, until she is able to let go. If I am ever going to get her to open her heart to me again, I need to be certain that it's not because of convenience, distraction, or the fear of being alone. We both deserve better than that.

In the midst of these thoughts, I mechanically helped Pam with her luggage and boarded the plane. Sitting down she cast a sideways glance and says, "Hello, is there anyone in there? You've barely said two words since we left Bon Temps."

"Sorry, Pam. I have a lot on my mind."

"A lot, as in 5 feet 4 inches of fairy, you mean?" she retorts.

"Not now, Pam." I respond a little angrier than intended.

"If not now, then when Eric? I saw you, I feel you, I know what seeing her again is doing to you."

I cringe, both mentally and literally at her words, knowing that my child is right.

She continues, "You don't have the best track record when it comes to her. Let's face it, you have a nasty habit of letting the wrong head do your thinking when it comes to Sookie."

"Nothing happened, Pam! I didn't have sex with her, if that's what you're thinking." I lash out.

"Good. Because you'd be fucked if you did. That's the last thing she needs right now…don't treat her like Compton!" Her eyes caught the look of shock on my face at her last statement. "You and I both know that worthless excuse of a vampire preyed on Sookie's weakness and grief after the loss of her grandmother. He stole her innocence, for fuck's sake, and then weaseled his way into her heart."

Trying to find words, I muttered, "I would never do that." Pam cut me off. "No. YOU wouldn't. But if you're not careful, you could end up screwing her up, all over again."

I stared at Pam while I mulled over what she had said. "I know what Compton did to her. It's why I turned her down last night." I immediately regretted the slip, once the words left my mouth.

Laughing now, Pam chortles," Let me get this straight. Sookie came on to you, and you actually turned her down?"

"There's no need to laugh. And yes, I did." I straighten my back and push my chest out with a modicum of pride. "You may think that I am incapable of thinking clearly around Sookie, but you're wrong. I am trying to remain supportive, while giving her the chance to grieve. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to fuck this up, Pam." Her face softens as she looks into my eyes and sees my inner turmoil.

"See there, was that so hard to admit? It's about damn time…I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to pull your head out of your ass." She smiles. "You leave it to me, Jerry Maguire…let me help you, to help her."

At my look of confusion, she adds, "It's a pop culture reference, loose at best, and dated now that I think about it…but you get the gist of it, right? The point is, if you want her and love her the way I think you do, then you've got some work to do."

I shake my head yes.

"OK. Then I guess all you have to worry about right now, is breaking things off with Olivia."

I had come to the same conclusion myself, but it still distresses me. I believe we'll be able to end things peacefully, but the media is going to have field day with it. Whatever gossip I'll endure will be worth it, if it gets me one step closer to being with Sookie.

Appreciative of her support, it forces me to ask "Why are you being so…helpful? This isn't like you, Pamela. I remember a time that you would have rather ended Sookie's life than to see me with her. What's changed?"

Her eyebrow starts to arch, as she contemplates my question. "For starters, it's actually YOU who has changed. I was there, I remember the night you two met. I felt your initial interest and your immediate attraction. With Compton laying his claim on her, it started an unhealthy competition between you two. It was like watching two dogs trying to fight over the same bone." She smirked at her own unintended pun.

"I didn't realize until you refused to give her over to Edgington, how much you truly felt for her." She sniffled quietly, and I noticed that her eyes had become edged in red. "And when the witches cursed you? Eric, you were willing to die for her." A single blood tear rolled down her cheek.

"I still am," I replied quietly.

I heard the intake of breath, though I suspect she knew this about me already. "See? That's what I mean. You've changed. Somewhere along the way Sookie stopped being the prize you were trying to win, and simply became the woman you love. I suspect it was during your witches' curse, am I right?"

I nodded.

"And to know now, that you shared a bond with her…it explains so much. In all these years since we left Louisiana, I could feel that something was 'off' with you, but I could never quite figure out what it was. You still acted like the vampire I've known for over a century, but it was as if something was missing. My god, Eric. Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"What good would it have done?" I scoff, "Besides, I was trying to avoid having exactly this kind of conversation with you."

At that, the corner of Pam's mouth lifts in a half smile. "Well, better late than never, I guess."

"Says you." I chuckle, "So aside from my monumental change towards Sookie, what else has you on our side at last?"

She looks almost hesitant to respond, "I am no longer afraid."

Her answer has taken me by surprise, I don't know what I was expecting her to say, but it wasn't that.

"What do you mean? Afraid of what?" I question.

"Think about it, Eric. I thought Sookie was human. You were all that I had. I thought that she would be the death of you." She looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. "And I know that she may still be the reason for your final death one day. But we know that she's more fairy than human, meaning she will live much longer than expected." She looks back to me and acts somewhat embarrassed as she tells me, "And I have Emily now. I'm not alone. I get it. I know what it is to love someone. How could I not want that for you?"

I fall to me knees in front of her, and take her in my embrace. I rub my hand down her back as I place soft kisses in her hair. "What has happened to that cold-hearted bitch I love so well?" She winds her arms around me in response.

"She's still right here, and if you breathe a word of this to anyone…I'll stake you myself!"

"I'd expect nothing less."