Authors Notes:

Hey howdy hey ladies and gents. So we have the next chapter of SoD up for you today. Just a little warning there is a ton of smut here. So don't say I didn't warn ya. Lol ummm, thanks as always to all of you who take the time to write me and tell me how you feel about the chapters. It is always appreciated and much anticipated. So please continue to take the time to do so, it means the world to me. As always everyone should send their love to my girl Catie, she does all of my editing and is a saint I swear. I sent her this chapter yesterday and she had it back to me bright and early this morning. God send I swear. Hehehe. Okay I am going to let all of you get to the good stuff. Have fun *wiggles eyebrows*

Much love from the west coast,

Lilli

Chapter 13

** Godric's PoV **

I carry Sookie into our room and place her softly onto the mattress. I watch as Eric climbs next to her and pulls her snugly against him. Her body molding perfectly into his, he wraps himself around her and kisses the crown of her golden head softly. I watch silently in wonderment; I don't know how or why I am so blessed, but watching my two loves is enough to make my heart want to burst with joy.

I will admit though that I was more than a little pissed off at both of them earlier. If I am being truly honest, I am still more than a little irritated with them. Their behavior earlier was unacceptable. Between Eric's stubborn nature and Sookie's lack of worldly experience, the two of them nearly driven drove a wedge into our newly developing little nest. This is something that I would not and will never allow to happen. They are my destiny and I there's. I am only further irritated by the fact that I had to play referee and parent to these two fully grown ADULTS. Their argument was petty and childish to the point where I had to step in and scold them both for their behaviors. It's appalling to me that I had to do such a thing, but with my two loves I have a feeling that I will quite often be drawn into the middle of their petty disputes.

I know that it will all be worth it in the end. I have no doubt that the promise to me will be fulfilled. That I will be truly happy with these two, and that with that greatness will come to us. We will change the very shape of existence, but I need to find a better way to deal with their bullshit. I do not have the time or the energy to be pulling them off their sanctimonious high horses every time they are pissed at each other. They are going to have to find a way to work out their issues between them, just like I would have to work out any issues I have with either one of them on a one on one basis. It is not fair to pull the odd person in the argument into the middle. I know life is often unfair, but this is something that the three of us will have to sit down and work out. We have to find some kind of balance between the three of us. I know it is going to be difficult; this is a new territory for all of us, but it has to be done.

"Aren't you coming?" Sookie asks softly to me and I smile at her.

"Of course little one," I say.

"What is wrong Godric?" Eric asks, a look of concern spreading on his face.

"Just pondering life's little quirks, it is nothing to worry yourself with." I climb into the bed and face my beloveds and I can feel my heart swell with love. I am truly blessed despite all of the headaches that I have no doubt these two will cause me. I run my fingers through Sookie's soft tresses and then down Eric's strong arm. Goddess, thank you for giving them to me, I pray in thanks for two people that lay beside me.

"So, little one, you want to know how it is that the cup chose you? Just like before you it chose our Eric for me, I met him and I knew he was my destiny. Much like I did with you I offered him the cup and it glowed when we both touched it at the same time. It let me know that Eric was and is a part of my destiny. Just like with you, you are meant to be with us, you are part of my destiny, and you are part of Eric's destiny. The three of us are meant to do great things, and you joining Eric and I is part of a promise that I was given a very long time ago."

"But Godric," Sookie says cutting me off, "if the cup chose Eric, does that mean, that you…" She pauses with a look of fear and worry on her face.

"That I what little one? You can tell me what you are thinking. You can always tell me how you feel about something. I may become upset, but I promise that I will hear you out and talk with you about your fears." I kiss her forehead gently and I notice Eric squeeze her hip in encouragement.

"Well…" she says and pauses for a minute. I watch as her face flashes through various emotions; fear, love, fear again, and finally determination before she voices her concerns. "It is just that. Okay, if the cup chose Eric does that mean that you are going to want me to become a vampire too? I mean you changed Eric over after all, following that reasoning you would expect me to become one as well."

I sigh; this is not the discussion that I had bargained on. "Someday, yes I would like that very much and I am positive that Eric feels the same way."

"I don't think I want to be a vampire though!" She says and sets her chin in a stubborn line.

"To be honest little one, we have plenty of time to discuss it and Eric didn't really want to become a vampire either. The circumstances were forced upon us. The cup doesn't show me people who I will bring over to become vampire. It shows me the other parts of my soul, my bonded mates."

"Wait, does that mean that you and Eric were…" She trails off her thought.

"Yes, we were bonded before I turned him. Eric too did not wish to become a vampire when we first met. He wanted time to think about it, as much of a warrior that he is, he was unsure if he wished to live that way forever. For me, it was nothing of consequence. I was not worried about his decision one way or the other. We were together and I loved him very much, and that is all that mattered to me. As a bonded pair the human life span is expanded greatly. We can bond today and you will have another two hundred years before you look to be in your early sixties. We have all the time in the world for you to make up your mind. And to be honest, just like with Eric, I do not care if you ever decide to join us. I will love you no matter what. With you receiving both mine and Eric's blood you could probably live at least another four hundred years." I shrug.

"Okay." She thinks for a moment and continues. "I will think about it. I just think it is a serious commitment and there is no going back from that."

I laugh. "That is very true, but we can discuss your pros and cons for not wanting or wanting to become a vampire at another time. I am more than willing to hear out all of your reasons and discuss them with you and perhaps give you a different perspective."

"I agree," Eric says and squeezes Sookie's hip again. "It isn't like either one of us are asking you to make a decision today, right now."

"But you said that Eric's choice was taken away from him. That you bonded and then you had to turn him. I don't want that to happen with us."

Both Eric and I go very still next to her, because neither of us want to relive this particularly painful memory. Eric slides his hand off Sookie's hip and drapes it over my own. I move my hand up his arm and gently squeeze; we are both just lending the other a little emotional support and showing our affection. "Eric's being turned is something that is very hard for me to talk about. I am sure it is just as hard for him as well."

"Lover, Godric and I were together many years before I was turned. We had discussed my crossing over many times and yes, I admit that at the time of my death I was unsure if I wanted to join him in this new life, but I will never say that I regret the decision that he made for me. To be honest a lot of my reservations had to do with the unknown. I had never been a lover of men and even at my death I was unsure that my love for Godric was not some sort of phase I was going through. I had many, many doubts." Eric sighs and I smile at him softly and try to send him as much understanding and love as I could through our bond. That was a very long time ago and I hold no grudges for his feelings then. What's done was done and there is no going back, in this Sookie is very accurate.

"Although the circumstances around my crossing over are unfortunate, a piece of me knew that I could never leave Godric. I also knew the story of the cup and knew what awaited us if I chose to join him in this life. I had no human life to go back to and being by his side was a constant joy, and still is. I was too scared to make the commitment that I knew needed to be made and I like to look at the whole unfortunate event as the Fates giving me a shove in the right direction. I loved him then and I love him even more now, and the cup has now indeed delivered on part of its promise. We have you and I know the three of us will be happy." He squeezes Sookie to his chest and kisses her forehead lightly.

I am truly amazed at his openness with his feelings. In all the years we have known each other and been together, I don't think I have ever heard him speak this way. Sookie has brought out the best in us, and part of that is us feeling comfortable enough to share our emotions openly with one another. I lean forward and cusp Eric's cheek in my hand, and try to send all the love and devotion I have for him through our bond. His eyes twinkle merrily and the emotions that I receive back from him mirror my own.

My Viking sits up slightly, leans over Sookie, clasps the back of my neck in his strong, muscular hands, and pulls me too him. His strong lips brush against my own, gently at first, nothing more than a tender caress and softer than the kiss of a butterfly's wings. My hand slides from his cheek and tangles into his golden mane, and I pull his lips tighter against my own. He nips at my lips, breaking the skin just enough to allow a few drops of blood to coat the surface, and he quickly darts his tongue across me, and sucks up every last drop. I groan slightly and he pushes the advantage of my open mouth, and darts his tongue quickly inside my own. Our tongues slide against one another, in a slow sensuous dance that we have done together many times. His tongue swirls around my fangs, pricking it slightly, and I slowly lap up his own sweet concoction. He slowly pulls away from me, rests his forehead against my own, and he closes his eyes and I follow suit. I bask in the love and lust that is bouncing back and forth between us.

I take a deep breath and the sudden sweetness of arousal fills my senses, and to my great surprise it is not mine or Eric's that wafts through the air, but it is my Sookie's. Eric and I look at each other and slowly pull apart, looking down on our Sookie who is sandwiched between our lower bodies on the bed. She is just staring at us, a look of amazement on her face, combined with a healthy dose of lust. Well, well, well. If I had thought of it, I would have gone about this morning's wakeup very differently.

"Can I just say," she squeaks and clears her throat, "that was the fucking hottest thing I have ever seen in my life."

Eric smirks at her and chuckles lightly and I try to contain my amusement and excitement behind a kind exterior. Oh the possibilities that will be open before us if we can expand this little girl's horizons. To be honest, the reason I had not thought of using mine and Eric's attraction for one another to help lure her into being with us both at the same time, was because I was more fearful of what her reaction would be. My logic was that it would be easier for her to accept the three of us together, than for her to accept Eric and I together. I had thought perhaps in time, after she became accustomed to seeing Eric and I together with her in a sexual situation, it would be easier for her to accept seeing just Eric and I in the same situation on our own. Apparently I was wrong, and my little one was extremely turned on by seeing her two men kissing one another. It really seems kind of backwards to me, but who am I to judge.

"Perhaps we can give you a repeat performance later little one," I purr at her, and another strong wave of her desire floats through the air. I know she is probably dripping wet and burning to be stroked to completion.

Eric looks between her and I and leans forward slightly, and brings his lips right next to her ear. "Would you like that lover?" Her entire frame begins to tremble with desire. "Would you like to watch as I kiss our Godric?"

"Mmmhmm," she hums and nods her head in agreement.

"What else do you want to watch me do to our Godric lover? Or what do you want to help me do to our Godric?"

Sookie blushes, and her cheeks turn the most beautiful shade of pink I have ever seen in my life. I know she is embarrassed; she has very little experience with sex at all, let alone expressing her desire vocally. But, by her smell and her squirming body, I know she is picturing several scenarios that are exciting her a great deal.

Eric starts to kiss her neck, nipping at it every now and then, which forces out a small squeal of enjoyment every single time. Watching the two of them together is way more gratifying than I thought it would be. That minx of mine just turns it up a notch though, as she looks me right in the eyes the entire time Eric is bringing pleasure to her body. I suddenly understand why she was so excited by watching a simple kiss between Eric and I. Yes, Eric and I had shared women before, and I can't say watching it didn't arouse me, but somehow this is on another level entirely.

I grab Sookie's thigh in my hand, unable to resist touching her any longer, and she moans loudly with just that simple touch. She pulls away suddenly and sits up on her knees, and pulls Eric up onto his. He eyes her questioningly, as do I. She looks at Eric and says, "Kiss him." I must admit, normally I am always the one in charge of things, but there was something so hot about Sookie bossing Eric and I around.

Eric smirks at her and turns towards me. He reaches out and slides his muscular arm around my waist, and pulls me across the bed and flush to his body. I growl softly at him as he grinds himself into my hip. Eric is nothing if not a showman, and if Sookie wants a show, he is going to give her one. His large hand palms the back of my head and his lips press firmly against mine; he nips and sucks and pulls them with his own. A moan of appreciation escapes me and I can feel Eric through our bond, and he is very pleased with himself.

That small distraction is just enough to realize why he is so smug. I can hear Sookie, panting heavily, her body moving restlessly on the bed. Eric pulls away from me and looks over at her and I follow suit. She is practically writhing there on her knees, watching us, her thighs pressing and releasing, begging for some kind of friction to help alleviate her desperate need. Her cheeks are flush, and the most lovely shade of pink, but no longer from embarrassment. No, this is a horse of an entirely different color. This is need, desire, want, and right now I think our Sookie wanted us to fuck her senseless. I want nothing more than to throw her down right this second and have her screaming beneath me.

This is her show though and, for at least the first time, we have to allow her to run it. If we move to quickly she is going to get scared off. Eric's arms twitch around me and I know he too has the strong urge to pleasure our mate; I try and send him as much strong reassurance as I can. He turns back to me and smiles softly, the love and adoration coming through his eyes and through our bond loud and clear. I tangle my fingers into his golden locks and bend him backwards slightly; his back arches and his hips are pushed into me even further. I moan in appreciation and press my lips into his, almost with a brutal force. My tongue shoves its way between his lips, nicking lightly on his fangs and allowing some of my blood to trickle down his throat. He grunts and his hips buck against me as he sucks every last drop down into himself.

I release his lips and pull his head back further and kiss down his strong jaw, nipping here and there and his body twitches in response. I find that beautiful spot, where his pulse point should be and suck his soft flesh into my mouth. I pull and pull and pull, never breaking the skin, but I know that if this were Sookie, her whole damn neck would be black and blue from the force of my suction. I release his flesh with a loud pop, pull back, and I look down at the face of my beautiful Viking; his eyes almost dazed with lust and desire, and I find a very familiar smirk curling up at the corner of my lips.

I jump slightly as Sookie's small arm wraps around my waist. I look over at her and she smiles hesitantly at me. I pull Eric upright and slowly pull Sookie between the two of us. Eric growls appreciatively as Sookie grinds that beautiful ass of hers into him and she slides into place. This woman is the fucking hottest thing I have ever seen in my long life. It is like she is fucking made for us. Maybe she is; who am I to question what fate has placed before me.

Her hot little hand slides down my chest and into my pants, and wraps itself around, my already hard cock. "Fuck," I say appreciatively, and from the grunts that Eric is making she is doing the same to him. Eric and I mirror each other, both leaning back slightly so that Sookie can have her way with us and also have plenty of room. Harder and faster she works me and my eyes drift closed, so that I can further enjoy the moment.

My moans of appreciation only egg on Eric's moans, and slowly but surely the room is an echo of Eric and I singing our desire and pleasure that our woman is bringing us. Every stroke is a little more confident, every swirl and twist a little bit more predominant, until finally I can hear Sookie's moans of pleasure accompanying our own, and that is just it for me. I buck my hips in quick succession and scream with delight as I spill my seed into her hot little hand.

I flop backwards onto the bed, and stare up at the ceiling, reveling in the delight of orgasm that my woman gave me. "By the Gods Sookie," I almost pant and roll my head towards her. "I don't think that…" I let my words trail off; I am not sure how to describe what I am feeling at the moment.

"Have ever been so satisfied by a hand-job?" Eric asks, as he finishes my thought. Got to love my Viking, he always knows how to put it out there, even if sometimes he is a bit crude about it.

Sookie giggles at us, and bounces off the bed, and goes into the bathroom, I assume to wash her hands. I hear the water running and Eric and I quickly pull ourselves back together. There is no way I am going to let myself be out done by Sookie. Somehow, something that was supposed to be about her satisfaction and having her become comfortable having sex with the two of us at the same time, turned into her taking control and turning myself AND Eric into large puddles of vampire goo.

I look over at Eric and he nods at me; I don't even have to speak my thoughts to him, because he knows where I am going with this and he will follow my lead seamlessly. If I have my way, I am going to have Sookie screaming her release in about two minutes. There is no WAY I am going to get to cum and not have her be equally satisfied.

I can hear Sookie puttering about in the bathroom, humming a little tune of satisfaction. I smile lightly at her happiness; she is so pleased with herself right now. I have the utmost confidence in her that she will work out all of her issues with the three of us being together. With what just happened and the fact that she isn't ashamed, I know she is taking a huge step in the right direction.

She bounces back into the room, still humming that little tune, that I can't quite place, and her face is lit up with the brilliance of her smile. She makes it about half way into the room before she skids to a stop and takes in Eric and myself. I am leaning up against the headboard, shirt off, arm draped loosely over my belly and the other stretched out across the top of the headboard. Eric is draped across the bottom of the bed, and his large frame is almost dangling off the sides of the mattress. He of course is never to be out done, and has stripped himself bare. His knee is just blocking the full Monty view and he has turned just enough so that she can see the full round shape of his ass, and the cute little dimple that he has just on the side of it. Even Michelangelo's David couldn't compare to the fine specimen that is Eric Northman. By Hades I think that Eric should be in a class all by himself; people should think of him as the epitome of masculine beauty, instead of Adonis, or David, or even Atlas.

Sookie sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing just slightly on the corner of her mouth, and it is fucking delicious. Her cheeks flush and her breathing becomes rapid to match her thundering heart beat. No doubt she is having issues controlling herself right at this moment, which is exactly what I want.

"Come here little one," I purr at her and crook my finger motioning her to come closer. As if pulled by magical strings she lurches forward a step and then slowly, almost cautiously approaches the side of the bed. She stops dead in her tracks when her luscious thighs bump the edge of the mattress, and she looks at me with big doe eyes, a mixture of fear, excitement, longing, and most definitely lust flits through those baby blues. I pat the bed, and she slowly climbs up and kneels about half way between Eric and myself. Eric rolls over to face her and her head turns when she caught the movement in the corner of her eye. I can hear her heart pounding louder and harder in her chest, and she is continually holding her breath for long periods of time before remembering the need to breathe.

I reach out and run my fingertips down her arm and she jumps slightly with the touch. She is so distracted by Eric's rolling over that she isn't paying attention to what I am doing. Not that I can blame her; that man can make anything sexy. It amazes me at times because he just exudes sex from every pore of his body. "Sshh, little one," I say softly and try to get her to calm slightly before she hyperventilates or something. I wonder if you can hyperventilate from being to sexually aroused. If anyone could do it though I think Sookie would.

I place my hands on her waist and gently lift her from her position on the edge of the bed; she is too far away from me for my liking. I place her so that her knees straddle me mid-thigh; I don't want to spook her too much by placing her directly into my lap. I ghost my thumb across her lips, pulling the bottom one free from between her teeth. I watch in fascination as the blood rushes back to her full lips. I lean forward and suck that beautiful lip into my mouth. I slowly begin kissing her, sliding my tongue against hers, tasting every bit of her, and when she finally starts to relax, I wiggle my fingers at Eric for him to join us.

He silently slides up behind her, and he moves so easily that she isn't even aware of his presence until he starts placing tender kisses along the nape or her neck. I feel her body stiffen slightly against me, and I pray that she isn't about to bolt, again, but after a few moments she relaxes and leans some of her body weight back against Eric's large frame. She pulls away slightly and turns her face up to Eric, as he leans down and kisses her, and I watch in fascination as these two beauties exchange their passion with teeth, tongues, and lips. I suddenly understand why Sookie was so excited earlier watching Eric and I kiss; if it looked half as good as this, I am surprised she contained herself as long as she did.

I could no longer be denied. My patience and gentleness has finally come to an end. I lean forward and roughly kiss her hot skin. I suck and nibble each tender piece of flesh that I can get to, and her delicious flavor lingers on my tongue and pushes my lust into overdrive. I slide my hand around her and make quick work of unzipping the dress she still wore. I pull the top down, the fabric stopping at her full hips, revealing just the slightest hint of her pale pink underwear.

Just the sight of that small pink strip of fabric sends me into a frenzy. I pull her nipple into my mouth and can hear soft moans, muffled slightly by Eric's lips, emanating from her. She slowly begins to rock her hips against me, and the smell of her arousal permeates the air like a heavy perfume. I growl against her breast, and she jerks slightly against me, while another louder moan escapes her lips. I release her nipple and move onto the other, and give it the same rough treatment as the first. Pulling and pinching, biting and sucking, twirling it around and around, until there is nothing but a steady stream of moans pouring from her. I look up and realize that she has pulled her lips away from Eric and is resting most of her body against him. Her head lying backwards against his shoulder, her hair almost wild, a few delicate strands ghosting across her face and neck.

I can't take it anymore; I release her delicious breast from between my lips and lift her so that she is standing on the bed, her delicate feet sitting just next to my hips. I rip her dress and panties from her heated body, in one quick motion, and she gasps and moans with the suddenness of it. Note to self, Sookie apparently loves having her clothes ripped from her body. "Fucking beautiful," I say and kiss her belly softly.

"Put your hands on the wall and lean your weight against them," I growl softly, and kiss her hip, nibbling on it slightly while I wait for her to obey. She hesitates only for a moment, before she places her hands on the wall and leans her weight into the palms of her hands.

"Good girl," I say and run my fingers lightly down the entirety of the front of her body, while Eric mirrors my movements perfectly and runs his down the back.

"Spread your feet further apart." This time she does it instantly, not even a moment of hesitation, and I can't help but to smirk slightly at her sudden willingness to comply. Simply amazing.

"Don't move," I say and she nods her head in understanding. I scoot a little bit, and my tongue quickly finds its way to her beautiful clit. I pull it between my teeth and nibble just slightly and her body spasms with pleasure. I release it and pull back just enough to watch as Eric's long fingers slide into her, slowly moving in and out searching for just the right spot. I can tell the moment he finds it because; once again her body spasms and I know it is taking every ounce of energy for her to keep herself standing.

I smirk again. Normally I would take my time, and have Eric take his time, slowly bringing her to the edge and then backing off over and over again until she is begging for release. Not this time though. This time I am going to hit her hard and quick and not let up. Pedal to the metal I think is the human phrase. I want her to go from 0 to 120 in three seconds flat and keep going until she can't move. I wait patiently, and watch silently as Eric pushes her closer and closer.

I can't wait any longer. I latch on to her clit and pull it into my mouth. I pull and twist and suck as quickly and hard as I can. I move my tongue rapidly against her and her back arches as she explodes in orgasm not even two seconds later. I move my thumb to her nub, vibrating it against her as I lick her juices from Eric's fingers, and he continues to work her. I move back to her clit, pulling it back into my mouth and again she cums almost instantly.

Her body stiffens slightly and I have a moment of curiosity on why she would suddenly be tense after two huge releases. Eric must have felt my curiosity because he tells me silently, 'Our Sookie just discovered the joys of anal stimulation.'

It takes every ounce of my willpower not to burst out in laughter at Eric's little trick. I kick it up a notch and push her harder and she quickly tumbles over the edge into another orgasm. Every muscle in her body is trembling and her knees keep buckling slightly before she catches herself and resumes her steadfast stance against the wall. I know she can't take much more, but I am determined to give her at least one more orgasm before I allow her to rest.

I pull back slightly, allowing her at least a partial moment of rest, and look up her body. She is truly divine. Her entire body is flushed a rosy pink, and a light sheen of sweat coats her everywhere I look, causing her to shimmer slightly in the dim lighting. Her head is thrown back in ecstasy, as her loud moans of pleasure escape her parted lips. Her eyes are clinched shut in concentration, the only thing she is living for, and can concentrate on, is the pleasure she is receiving at our hands. I have never seen anything more beautiful in my entire existence, and I find myself in awe of this woman before me, while at the same time feeling more confident and powerful then I ever have, because I am the one delivering her into this heaven. Well, Eric and I, but even that doesn't take away from the feeling of perfect bliss I feel in this moment.

I wish so much that Eric could see Sookie looking this way. I decide to try to do something I never have before. I form a perfect picture of Sookie in this moment at the forefront of my mind, I reach into myself, tapping into the bond that Eric and I share, and push the picture through. I know the instant that Eric receives it, because I get an overwhelming sense of awe and wonderment flowing from him, while at the same time he gasps and then growls in excitement. His hand picks up its pace and I know we are going into the home stretch.

I latch onto her again, and her body bucks slightly against me. I place my hands on her hips, trying to hold her steady and still. I work her more and more and despite my best efforts she still moves herself against me slightly. All too soon, she cums again, her moans suddenly cut off, and I know that this moment is beyond sound. It is all too perfect. I turn my head and slide my fangs into her thighs and she jerks, I know that she has just cum again, and then a second later I feel her tense because she is cumming once again. Eric must have chosen to wait a second longer before biting her, which of course triggered another orgasm. Tricky, tricky, trick boy; he always has known how to optimize any situation to get the most reward out of it, and I would say having Sookie have one orgasm on top of another is definitely a large reward. I pull once, twice, three times, and then all too soon it is over. I lick the wound and Sookie's body collapses. Eric and I move quickly and catch her falling form and gently lower her to the bed.

If I couldn't still hear her heart beat I would have been worried, well if I am being honest I am still slightly worried. She is shaking almost like she is having convulsions. Eric reaches out and pulls the two of us into him. The two of us run our hands up and down the length of her body, holding her tight and trying to be comforting while she recovers.

"Sshh lover, sshh. It is all right, we are right here," Eric says softly.

Sookie manages a small little laugh. "I'm okay, I am just trying to get my brain and body to work again." She laughs again and we both join her.

"Well at least we are all very relaxed now little one. Did you enjoy yourself?" I ask and kiss her forehead softly.

"Uhh duh, I think having six orgasms counts as thoroughly enjoying myself don't you?"

"Without a doubt," I laugh.

The three of us lay together for a long time, holding each other and just enjoying the afterglow of a beautiful experience. After awhile Sookie looks up at me and crooks her finger slightly, motioning for me to bend closer to her. I get closer and she softly kisses my lips; it isn't passionate or needy, there are no promises of sex or things to come. It is simply a soft caress of tenderness, that is almost chaste and reverent in nature. She pulls back slightly and looks me in the eyes. "I love you," she says and I feel like my heart is going to burst in my chest. Amazing, simply amazing.

"And I you, little one," I say softly. She smiles lightly at me and turns to Eric, repeating the process, and I can feel that his joy matched mine just as equally. We are truly blessed in this moment. As long as we have this, as long as we make sure that we take the time to be together, we can do anything.

"Now," she says softly, "I think I am ready to hear the story of the cup and move forward. I am ready for our lives to start, and I don't think it will until we get this story out of the way."

I smile at her. "How astute of you love. Very well. I lived in the Provence that is now known as Campania, in a little town that no longer exists but is close to the town now known as Caserta. My family was a family of farmers, we grew tomatoes and olives, and other various warm climate fruits. I lived there quite happily for most of my life, and then one day tragedy struck."

I let my eyes drift close and I slowly allow the memories of so long ago to drift into my mind. The memory of my former home, my former life, before I was tossed onto a new path that I never wanted or anticipated. I will never say I regret a thing, but I had a much different picture of what my life was meant to be then. Although lying here, in the arms of Sookie and Eric, I can see a new picture coming into focus. One where I am happy and whole, one where we will always be together. I guess it isn't that different than the ideals I had for myself back then. It is just skewed slightly. The memories come rushing back to me almost eagerly at my call, and I smile at the idea of telling my new love all about my history. I think this is a story she will enjoy immensely.