A/N I did not expect this update to take so long. My muse decided to pack her shit and take off for a while, but she is slowing coming back, so hopefully all of my stories will be updated sooner rather than later. The one thing that i don't like about this chapter is the lack of Viking, but i promise to make it up next chapter if i feel the love, so read on and let me know what you think!

The few hours that I spent sleeping beside Eric were the most peaceful and content hours of sleep that I'd had in a very long while. When I woke I didn't want to leave the comfort of his arms, but my full bladder and empty stomach were screaming in protest for attention.

I managed to wiggle myself out of Eric's death grip and just made it into the bathroom. I did my business as well as brushing my teeth and washing my face, then I slipped back out into the bedroom. The fact that I was still naked didn't bother me half as much as it would have just a few days ago. What did bother me was the fact that I really didn't want to leave Eric or this room right now. After last night I felt the need to be close to him, but I had too many things to do to stay up here all day.

I sat down on the bed and just looked at Eric in his daytime rest for a few minutes. He looked so peaceful and content and I just wanted to stay her and watch over him. I looked over at the clock and it was after one o'clock in the afternoon. No matter what I wanted I had spent enough of my day in this room and I needed to go out.

I decided to save my long lists of items for later and set myself to go clothes shopping. I needed clothes for Fangtasia and maybe I could find a little something special to wear for Eric.

I slid on my nicest bra and panty set, a blue sundress with white flowers on it that would be easy to get off and on while I was trying on clothes and a pair of flip flops to finish the outfit. I went to get my purse, but I couldn't stop myself from getting back on the bed with Eric for just another minute.

I slid up next to him and slid my fingers over his relaxed face. "You have changed my life so much in just a few days and I hope that your presence changes it even more. I know that you are not ready to say it back and I'm not ready to say it to you while you are awake, but I do love you Eric Northman no matter what anyone will every tell me and when the time is right I will be yours in every way possible and that matters." I leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I will think about you every second that I am gone." I forced myself to get off the bed, I grabbed everything that I would need and I made my way downstairs.

When I walked into the kitchen I dropped my purse on the table, then turned on the coffee maker and went about fixing myself some toast for brunch. As I fixed my food I tried to focus on what kind of clothes that I would need for work, but I couldn't stop thinking about Rene. The little bit that I had seen in his head the other day was enough to turn my stomach and I really wasn't looking forward to delving any deeper into that dark pit, but I really didn't have a choice. This was part of the job now and I was just going to have to fight my way through it.

I quickly scarfed down a couple of pieces of toast and two cups of coffee before I was ready to leave. I put Rene out of my mind for now and focused on the task I had at hand.

It didn't take me long to get to the strip mall where Fangtasia was. The clothing store a few doors down was called Goddess Designs and there was just something that drew you to it. I found a parking spot right in front of the store and made my way inside.

As I stepped inside the store for the first time I could feel magic that was surrounding it. It was not something that I had come in contact with before, but I just knew that it was magic.

I stood just inside the door taking in my surroundings when a woman a few years older than me, a few inches taller than me with a short, bob haircut and dressed as a hippie came running up to me. She had a huge smile on her face and I couldn't stop my own smile from making an appearance. She came right up to me, threw her arms around me and pulled me into a huge bear hug that I wasn't expecting. "I am so glad that you are finally here Sookie. I have been waiting for you."

I quickly pulled away from her and looked at her face. "How did you know my name?"

Since we were touching I could hear her answer in her mind before she actually said it, but she said just what she was thinking. "I'm a witch and I have this ability where I just know most things that are going to happen. I've has this ability since I was a little girl. I've been seeing your arrival for weeks, but I never really know when something is going to happen, just that it's going to happen."

She kept going on and on in her mind and I couldn't keep her out since she was still touching me. "Um, Amelia, could you tone down your thoughts just a bit please? You are starting to give me a headache."

She quickly pulled away and her thoughts immediately quieted down. "I'm so sorry Sookie. I forgot that you were a telepath."

"You sure know a lot about me."

"I know more than you think, but I promise that I would never tell anyone about your gift."

Gift my ass, but I wasn't about to say that out loud. "Thank you Amelia."

She smiled at me. "now we need to pick out some Fangtasia clothes and maybe something sexy for your Viking sheriff?"

"You do know a lot, don't you?"

"I know that you two are suppose to be together and I'm going to help you find some clothes that will make him never look at another fangbanger ever again."

Before I could reply to that, I was pulled through the store and my arms were quickly loaded up with more clothes than I had ever owned in my entire life. There were tank tops, halter tops, skirts that were shorter than I'd ever worn before, short shorts, bras and panties that I never would have picked on my own, thigh high stockings, and knee high and thigh high boots with heels so high that I would probably fall and kill myself in.

When I couldn't hold anymore, Amelia pushed me into a dressing room and made me try on every last item and model each one for her. I felt like a giant, human Barbie doll, but I fell in love with every single thing that I tried on that she had picked out for me and that was very bad. There was a small fortune's worth of clothes and not all of it was for Fangtasia. I knew I had to put some of these things back, so I started with the knee high platform boots that I was wearing. They were really comfortable, but I knew that wouldn't last long especially if I was walking around. "Amelia, where am I going to wear these boots?"

"Fangtasia." I looked over at her like she was nuts. There was no way that I would be able to wear these for hours at a time running around slinging drinks. She just smiled at my skepticism. "I put charms on all the shoes that I sell. You could wear these boots for days at a time and you would feel like you were walking on a cloud every step." That was definitely going to be a plus and I also knew that I would be keeping the boots, but I had to put some of these things back.

"I love everything Amelia, but all of it is too much. I can't buy all of this stuff no matter how much I love it."

"Oh Sookie, I know the Sheriff and how generous he is. I know that he would want you to have all of these beautiful clothes and more."

"Well I do still need to pick out something extra special to wear for him." I was not going to win this, so I thought of how I could wake him up later tonight. That made me think of what we had to do tonight and that took some of the wind out of my sails.

Amelia interrupted my internal musings. "Sook, why don't you look around some more for something special for your Viking and I'll be back in a little while."

Before I could ask where she was going, she was already gone. I decided that it wouldn't hurt to look around for a little longer. No matter what we needed to do tonight I still wanted to find something special to wear for him sometime.

As I wandered around the store I noticed that there was a back area that was separate from the rest of the store. I decided to take a peak back there and see what Amelia had to offer.

I stepped back there and this was definitely not a selection of clothing that I would normally choose from. There were items made from leather and lace that would barely cover my ample bounty. I passed those things by until I found a few things that I would be more comfortable with, but would still hold Eric's attention.

I was all the way in the back when I found an outfit that would be perfect to wear when I was ready to give myself fully to Eric. It was a white satin gown with sections that were sheer and completely see through that fell to mid-thigh with thin spaghetti straps, a matching sheer robe as well as matching thong panties. It was perfect, but I still wanted something special to wear now.

I went back around the room once again until I found an outfit that reminded me of the night before and how I had to care for my Viking. It was slightly out of my comfort zone, but this outfit I could live with and there were a variety of others as well. They were slightly playful and hopefully something that fangbangers hadn't tried with Eric.

I scanned through the rack of costumes and picked out a nurse outfit, a French maid's outfit, a Moulin Rouge dancer outfit, a school girl costume, a belly dancer costume, and a flapper costume.

I brought everything back to the dressing room and tried them all on. I felt a little silly trying on costumes when it was Halloween, but knowing that I was going to wear them for Eric made me feel sexy. I knew I was being frivolous buying all of these costumes and accessories when I thought that everything else was too much, but I was sure that Eric wouldn't object when he saw me in my new outfits.

I was gathering my purchases and heading to the register when I realized that Amelia had been gone for quite a long time. I opened my mind to listen for her and I realized that I couldn't hear anyone. Even the people outside were blocked from me and I assumed that was due to the magic surrounding the store.. It was very peaceful in here.

I was lost in my thoughts when suddenly Amelia's screaming mind came back. I quickly pulled my shields up and put on my crazy Sookie smile since she startled me and my shields weren't keeping her out. She stopped short when she saw my face and quickly quieted her mind. "Sorry Sookie."

"It's okay Amelia. Where have you been all this time? I thought that you had bailed out on me."

"No, I just had something important that I had to take care of." I watched her pull something out of her pocket and she held it out to me. "Here, I think that you need this to save yourself some grief and trauma."

I took the object from her and saw that it was a cassette tape. "What is this?"

"The taped confessions of one Rene Lanier."

I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks in relief. "Are you serious?"

She pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped away my tears. "Yes I am. If you had delved into that man's mind like you were planning on doing it would have done irreparable damage to you psyche. I couldn't let that happen to one of my new best customers and my new best friend."

I couldn't believe that this woman that I had been a stranger to me up until a short while ago had done something like that for me. "I'll be more than your best friend, I will be your slave for life and name my first daughter after you."

"Slave, unnecessary, just remember the naming thing down the line."

I wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying I was so happy and I just pulled her into another hug. "Amelia, you are a life saver. I will never be able to repay this kindness."

She pulled away and looked down at all of the extras that I had added to my pile. "I think that all of this is a good start." I blushed bright red at her knowing why I was going to be wearing these outfits, but I pushed my embarrassment aside she started ringing me up.

I looked at the cassette in my hand and I had some questions that I really needed her to answer. "Amelia, how did you get this?"

"Magic."

I waited a moment for her to continue, but when she didn't I kept right on asking. "How could you stand listening to what he was saying?"

"I didn't have to listen to him Sookie." She stopped what she was doing and looked up at me. "I wasn't traumatized by anything because I didn't hear anything. With magic you don't have to hear what you don't want to. You have everything that you and the Sheriff need. Now I don't want you to spend another second worrying about this. I want you to enjoy your new clothes and have fun with you Viking. All right?" I nodded my head as she went back to ringing up my purchases.

When she was finished the total was shocking. I had never spent so much money on clothes in my life, but Amelia kept telling me that it was fine, so I let it go.

After everything was paid for she helped me carry everything out to the car, then handed me her card. She told me to call her anytime day or night and I said that I'd invite her over for dinner in my new place when I was all settled in. I waved to her as I pulled out of the parking lot and made my way home.

As I was driving along a strange feeling came over me. I felt like I was being followed. Part of me wanted to believe that I was just being paranoid, but my gut was telling me that something bad could happen if I didn't pay attention to my surroundings.

I checked my rearview mirrors and caught a silver SUV a few car lengths behind me. I opened my mind and focused only on that car. There were four snarly minds in there that I new were Weres. I tried to believe that they weren't following me, but when I heard my name and Bill Compton's name, I knew that I was in trouble.

I took a deep breath to stay calm, but it didn't work out very well. I wanted Eric with me so much at that moment, but there were still too many daylight hours left for that to be possible.

I knew that I couldn't go home with these goons following me. I would never do anything to endanger Eric no matter how frightened I was.

I was starting to panic listening to what these guys were planning on doing with me. They were to abduct me and take me down to New Orleans, but they had special plans for me. They were going to have "fun" with me first. I could feel the tears trying to spill, but I wouldn't let them fall.

I tried to find some way to get away from them, but they kept right on my ass. I was more scared then ever and I wished harder than ever before that something would happen to make them stop following me. Suddenly the Weres minds went chaotic. I looked in my rearview mirror and their car swerved off the road. I don't know why happened or how, but I thanked God and anybody else who had listened to me in that moment.

I turned off the main roads and took the back streets home. I double and triple checked to make sure there wasn't trouble around before I quickly parked my car in the garage and got the door shut as fast as I could.

I gathered my bags as fast as I could, went inside making sure the door was securely locked behind me, then I ran all the way upstairs. I fumbled a little as I entered the code for the bedroom, but the second I was inside with Eric I could feel myself physically relax.

I dropped the bags inside the door, secured it behind me, then leaned against it sliding down to the floor. This was not good. When it had just been Bill coming after me I was relatively safe going out during the day time, but now that there were Weres after me, that changed everything. But the biggest of my problems right now was how did they find me so fast? I didn't tell anyone where I was going or what I was doing today. I couldn't handle thinking about this right now.

There were still a few hours before Eric would be getting up and I was more than happy to stay in here with him now, so I decided to put all my purchases away and hope that Eric knew what to do when he found out we had more trouble coming our way.