Episode 5 - Trust in your inner guidance. Either that or I'm going completely insane.

SPOV

"Sookie," I hear someone say. "My little Fairy, open your eyes."

I do as the voice asks. Standing in front of me surrounded by a golden mist is someone I thought I'd never see again. I blink twice thinking that I must be seeing things.

"Claudine?" I ask her as I sit up and look around realizing that I'm not on the plane. "Where, where are we?" I begin to panic.

Shit if they all wake up and find me gone they are going to freak out. Either that or my mind has finally given up and I've gone completely insane.

"Calm yourself," Claudine says as she moves closer to me. "You haven't been taken from where you are and you haven't gone insane," she says as if she's reading my mind. Oh, yeah, she can read my mind.

"I'm still on the plane?" I ask her.

She nods. "You are. I am no longer able to teleport you anywhere my darling girl."

"How are you here?" I ask her.

She smiles. "I'm here because you need me."

"But you're dead," I say to her. "I watched Eric drink you dry. I am so sorry about that," I say softly.

She shrugs. "I should have known better then to allow myself to get that close to a Vampire," she says and comes to sit beside me. "I knew that there were several in the area. I should have known better than to get so close to them at night."

When I look around it seems to be the meadow where the entrance to the Fae club used to be but what do I know. Hell, we could be anywhere.

"Aren't you pissed off that he killed you?" I ask.

"I should be," she says. "But I'm not. It was my fate and it will serve your Vampire well in times to come."

"I don't understand. What do you mean my Vampire?" I ask her.

"I mean that YOUR Vampire is doing everything he can to solve this problem your realm now faces and I believe having my blood within him will assist him," she pauses, "and you with what is to come."

"He isn't my Vampire," I say in a huff.

"Isn't he?" she asks and raises an eyebrow. "By the light child, you are more stubborn than any Stackhouse I've ever met."

"You have met many?" I ask her.

She nods. "You are the first female but I've met many of the males in your line. They have all been stubborn and pigheaded but none as much as you."

"Hey," I say to her. "That's not very, I don't know, Fairy Godmotherly of you." Is Godmotherly even a word?

"The time for subtlety is over, Sookie Stackhouse. Besides subtle doesn't seem to work on you so we shall go with blunt. I wish to pass on to Summerland and I can't do so until I know that you are safe and taken care of," she says a little sterner with an eyebrow up.

"I would have thought you would have gone, what did you call it; Summerland already," I reply.

"Well, I would have if my charge would pull the wall away from her eyes and start acting like the fairy she is," she pauses waiting for me to reply. When I don't she continues. "I have been tasked with helping you see what you cannot or will not. Though I can't believe after everything you have seen, heard and experienced that you are continue to ignore what is so blatantly right in your face."

"First of all, I can take care of myself fine," I say to her.

"Yes, because up until now you have been doing such a superb job."

I just glare at her and continue. "Secondly, I see fine. What haven't I seen?"

"You are so blind. Why can't you just admit what your eyes are showing you?" she asks.

"You know what I see? I see a family who were so afraid of me becoming a Vampire that they were going to drown me. I see a town that has been terrified of me for years and ignored me instead of getting to know me. You," I point to her. "I see you take me to a crazy place that some crazy ass Fairy wanted me to eat something to make me stay."

"I was trying to protect you," she interrupts me. "I was unsure of if you were going to be well with that, that, creature living so close to you."

I ignore her and keep on going. "I see that all the men in my life have done nothing but lie to me and take advantage of me."

"All of them, Sookie," she pauses. "Are you sure of that? Has every man in your life taken advantage of you and lied to you? Is there not one that told you the truth and was there to protect you? One that would give up his own happiness to grant you what you thought you wanted?"

I lean back on the bench and sigh. Closing my eyes I will my anger away. I hate these riddles. They are almost as bad as Vampire non-answers.

"I am not giving you riddles," she says in answer to my inner monologue. Damn mind reading Fairy. "Nor is the Vampire giving you non-answers. You just wish to stay behind your wall with your blinders up."

"Fine," I huff again. "What do I refuse to see?"

She smiles. "Who has been there for you when you needed him?" she asks.

I shake my head. "They've all had hidden agendas."

"Really?" she asks and stands. "Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"

I say nothing as she waves her hand and I see what looks like a portal. Only this portal shows the scene of Eric and my first meeting. I smile when I see myself tell him that I don't think I am sweet. What I didn't see the first time is the gleam in Eric's eye when I said it and the small smile he gives me before stealing away his expression.

The image fades and Claudine turns back to me. "Did it never occur to you that the Vampire knew you were lying when you said you belonged to another? Did it never occur to you that he could have taken you then and never looked back?"

I shake my head. "Eric wouldn't have done that. He knows I'd be pissed."

"He knew nothing of you then, my dear Sookie. Besides, if all he wanted was your body or blood what would he have cared if you were angry with him?"

I say nothing thinking about what she was saying. She's right, of course. He could have taken her from Bill. She wasn't bonded to him. Sure she had his blood but that's it. Eric could have demanded that she be given to him and Bill being the underling would have had to comply.

"What about your trip to Dallas. Eric offered himself up for you to those horrid extremists," she says.

"He offered himself up for Godric too," I say to her.

"The Vampire Godric was twice as old as your Vampire. He would not need anyone's help if he decided to escape or to pillage the lot."

"Stop calling him my Vampire," I say to her. "I haven't laid claim to him."

"Yes but he has offered himself up over and over again to you and you have denied him everything time and time again," she says.

"No I didn't. I opened myself up when he lost his memories," I say to her.

"Yes, and you fell in love with him and him you. Did you ever wonder why he was on that road heading toward your house?" she asks me. "Did it never occur to you to ask how he got there?"

I shake my head. Of all the things that had gone on when I got back from the Fairy land, no I never did think about how Eric got all the way to my place or why he was in Bon Temps, on my road heading toward my home.

"He bought and repaired your house after the Manead attack. He made sure that everything was the way you would have wanted it. He believed you would return. The Vampire King and your brother gave up on you but your," she pauses. "The Viking Vampire never did. Even after you rejected him once more, he somehow found you while in his sensitive state. Why is that?"

"I don't know," I say and cross my arms. "You would have to ask him."

"I don't need to ask him and neither do you. He was lost without his memories and trusted in his inner voice that told him to get himself to a safe place. Vampires, after all have base instincts like any other creature. He was scared and panicked. He told himself to get to somewhere he could be safe. That safe place was you, Sookie." She says softly.

I say nothing for a moment.

"When the Vampire called Bill was taken, the Viking helped you to find him. Even though he not only wanted you but knew that Bill had been sent by the Queen. When you landed in Edgington's grasp, he was there to protect you. When they wanted to take you.."

"He took my blood," I say, well almost shout it really.

"He knew that your blood wouldn't sustain even someone as old as Edington for long. If it did, your Bill Compton would have been walking in the sun after almost draining you in the back of that van," I cringe at the memory of that. "No," she shakes her head. "Compton relished in the sun for only several moments before needed to take shelter. The Viking knew this and did what he had to inorder to protect you. He would have died that day if you didn't pull him in from the sun. He was prepared to die next to Edgington without so much as a second thought."

I say nothing. What is there to say?

"He offered you back your home when you denied his love once more. You thought he owed it to you but in truth, it was you who owed his so much. However, he offered to release you and walk away if it was what made you happy."

"He left," I say softly.

"He needed to grieve for his losses. You cannot deny him what any creature would need."

I shake my head. No, I couldn't deny him his grief. He lost so much and I ached for him.

"He has been watching over you since he departed. Even in his own grief, his own pain, he looked after you; only deciding to take you when you were in danger. Yet you still question whether he's doing this for you or himself. Believe me that I don't say this lightly. That Vampire loves you more than either of you realizes. Everything the Viking has done has been to protect you."

I shake my head and push back the tears. "How can I be sure?"

"You want assurances?" Claudine asks. "What assurance are you looking for? Humans can't give you assurances. Look how so many come together and then fall apart daily. Even with assurances given, there are no guarantees. Yet this Vampire who has walked this plane for over a thousand years tries time and time again to show you his sincerity yet you question it. Yet you let the likes of that other Vampire and the two-natured into your life without a second glance. Why is that, Sookie?"

I say nothing again.

"Is it because you know that you don't really love them and because of that they can never really hurt you?"

I spin my head around to look at her. "I loved Bill. He was my first everything. I gave him everything."

She shakes her head. "You didn't give him your heart Sookie. Did sharing blood with him ever produce a Winter love dwelling for you to spend time in with him?"

"How do you…" I pause. "No, it never did."

"You loved the silence you found in him. You loved the strength and power he possessed being a Vampire. You yearn for something more than what that little town has ever been able to offer you. But once you met the Viking you knew that your Bill had nothing on him. If you are honest with yourself, you will admit that you were attracted to the Viking from the moment you saw him and it scared you."

"I wasn't scared," I say.

"If you can't be honest with me, be honest with yourself," she says. "The feelings you had for the Viking scared you. You did everything in your power to put up walls and to push him away because feeling for someone that intensely terrified you."

"My parents tried to kill me. My brother has blamed me for not only their deaths but our Gran's. My uncle was planning on raping me and my cousin sold me out to a deranged Vampire Queen so that she could get laid. Excuse me if I am leery of trusting people."

"Yet, you allowed another of his kind, the two-natured, and that political shifter into your heart?" she questions me. "What have they done for you other than betray you? Face the facts, Sookie. The one you continue to push away is the only one that never abandons you."

"Yes he did," I say softly. "He left," I stand and walk away from her. "Without so much as a goodbye he left me after blaming me for his sister's death."

"As I said and you agreed, he was mourning, Sookie," she pauses. "You must believe after all you have heard since you left the farmhouse that he has never stopped feeling for you."

"How can I be sure?" I ask her. "I need something, anything that will assure me that he's the one."

She laughs. "He has already given you what you need."

"I don't understand," I say to her.

"My dear Sookie," she puts her hand on my cheek. "Only the joining of two Fae souls could have conjured up the Winter garden that you dwelled in. If you had both wished it, you would have stayed there forever."

"I don't understand," I say again.

"The joining of light. Your Vampire had taken in my light. Together you joined. The exchanging of light by two joining souls could be the only thing that would have conjured such a side realm."

"Is that what we did?" I ask her.

She nods. "You made one for that Warlow to keep him safe but it would have faded in time. Your souls were not one and even if the contract could and would have bound you to him, your soul was already joined with another."

"Is that why he couldn't control me?" I ask her.

She nods. "The contract was bound by blood in a way that once he claimed you, you should have been his. You weren't. All he gave you was his light."

"That didn't break the bond I have with Eric?" I ask.

She smiles. "No, it did other things. But break your bond? No, nothing can break the joining of two Fae souls."

"But Eric isn't Fae," I say to her.

"Once he took me in, part of him became Fae. Joining with you sealed it within him. He is not what Warlow was but he is part of you and you him. Other than your resistance to see and feel it, I have no other reason why you haven't felt him all this time. You are much stronger than any anticipated. You will be good for one another. That is if you accept what has been hitting you upside the head since you met him."

I go to sit back down on the bench and put my head between my hands. "Am I that stubborn that I blocked him out?"

"You could be or he could be holding you at bay so you wouldn't feel what he's been going through," she says.

Those words pull me up short. "What is wrong with Eric?" I ask.

"You will see soon. But first, do you agree that the Vampire loves you?"

I sigh and close my eyes. "I want to but I'm scared."

"He loves you Sookie. He wants only what is best for you. He was willing to leave you and never return if it made you happy. All he has done is for your safety."

I think of all the times Eric and I've been together and how things have played out. Time and time again, he bent to my will, did things to keep me safe or tried to do what was best for me. Every time I thanked him by throwing it back in his face. Every time I willed my feelings for him away.

"I'm so stupid," I say to myself.

"You aren't stupid," Claudine comes and wraps me in her arms. "You are a fearful creature who is protecting itself. But no more," I look up at her. "The only way you and your Vampire will get through all of this is if you depend on one another. He's needed you for some time Sookie. He was not willing, however, to ruin your happiness with the Were for his own gain."

"Why?" I ask. "What is wrong with him?"

"Again, you will have to wait and see," Claudine looks out at something in the distance but for the life of me I don't know what it is.

She smiles. "I'm being called," she says softly as I see a light in the distance come closer.

"What is that?" I ask her.

"Summerland," she says and turns to me. "You've made your decision. I'm free from my obligation to you," she hugs me harder. "Thank you."

"You mean, You literally couldn't leave until I was protected?" I ask her.

She nods and I see tears in her eyes. "Now I can move on," she smiles at me as she stands and starts to walk where the light is coming from and looks to be getting bigger.

"Claudine wait," I say and go to stand but find I can't.

"Remember love and our light are all through you, my darling girl. Be true to yourself and to your Viking. He will be what you need now," she says.

Before I can say anything else, the light engulfs her and blinds me at the same time. I close my eyes against it and put up my hand in fear that it will engulf me too.

As the light starts to fade, I hear her soft voice. Remember Sookie, he shares your light.

"Sook," I hear as someone shakes me. "Hon, it's time to wake up."

I open my eyes to see the bright smile of my oldest friend.

"Hey there sleepy head," she says as I move to sit up and look around.

I'm back in the plane and I seem to have slept for quite a while because all the Vampires are up.

"How long was I out?" I ask.

"About three hours," Tara says. "We will be landing soon."

"Three hours," I say and jump up to look out the window. "How can it have been three hours?" I ask. "It would be morning still."

"It's three in the afternoon with the time difference," Pam interjects. "We will be landing in about ten minutes."

"Three?" I look around. "How?"

"It's called Polar Nights," Pam answers me.

"I'm sorry, the what?" I ask as I move over to one of the seats to prepare myself for our landing.

"Polar Nights," Pam says again. "Endless darkness, the sun never rising over the horizon, I'm sure they talked about this is school. Even in a small town like Bon Temps you must have had geography."

"Polar Nights," I say softly. "Isn't that in the north pole or something?" I ask her.

"It is there, yes. But it reaches northern Europe and the like. It really is a Vampire's paradise."

Before I can ask anything else, the pilot informs us that we are coming in for a landing. I'd noticed the plane wasn't very big when we departed Louisiana but it feels a bit like its getting bounced around as we come in for a landing. It takes no more than a few minutes before I feel the wheels touch down and we begin to slow.

"We are down, Ms. Ravenscroft," the pilot says.

Pam smiles and goes to take off her seatbelt. Standing, she turns to me.

"Welcome to Norsgod, Sookie," she says and turns to head to the doors.

"Where?" I ask.

***0***

EPOV

I sit at my desk looking out at the night, or day whichever you want to call it.

I am actually getting a little feeling in my heart. Okay, perhaps it's not in my heart but she's close. Even without knowing the time they will arrive, I'd know that she was close.

"Eric," I hear from the door.

I turn to see Brandon Barrack walk into the room.

"Here are today's reports," he hands them to me.

I hold out my left hand to him and cringe when the papers meet my skin. Not wanting him to notice, I nod and place them on the table before grabbing my black glove and covering my hand. It does seem to help with the pain. I'm assured that, in time, the nerves will heal fully and I'll be able to touch things once more. Until then, I'll have to deal with the damn gloves.

"What does it say?" I ask without bothering to open the file.

"They have the cousin and the child. Since they can't find Miss Stackhouse they are turning their focus on finding the other one from that town," he says.

"What are they going to do with the child?" I look up at the man in front of me.

"They are unsure they can do anything. For all appearances he seems to be a normal boy. The blood in him seems to be diluted as the others," he points to the folder. "We have acquired the results of the first tests. To them, his connections and blood counts seem to be week. They are thinking that they will need to run tests in the next few days," he answers as I look through the papers. "If they can't find the other one, they may think that they can get something out o of the child. Up until now, they have been leaving the very young along. But I believe after the latest findings," he motions to the file again. "They are panicking."

I open the file and glance over the papers within it. I see the information on their latest results including what the facility in Louisiana is doing. They seem to be ahead of the other two and with the latest findings, I feel that they may be on the right track. Not as far as us, mind you, but at least that female doctor is looking in the right directions.

I then look at the information about their search for Sookie and the other girl from her town. It pleases me that they believe that Pam and Sookie are moving to the mid-west. Luckily, it will keep them off the trail for some time. I then look at the report on the other Fairy.

"Compton's progeny has taken the child?" I ask looking up at him.

He nods. "We have located them. Though, it wasn't difficult, our people believe that we may be three days ahead of the military, no more. We will need to work fast."

I nod. "Offer her the same as you have offered the others. Find out where they are holding her father and see if we can extract him as well. It will depend on where they put him. But make her aware of the danger she is in whether we can collect her father or not. She is a gold mind and they will stop at nothing if they get their hands on her," I sigh. It's true that they probably wouldn't get this close to a full Fairy and I'm not sure how that would go in the facilities. If those that are inflicted get a whiff of a Fairy that can't control its scent, the repercussions could be fatal, for everyone.

"We will make sure she sees reason," Barrack nod.

"I realize she is young, perhaps have Claire speak to her," I look at the file once more.

"That may be wise," he says. "The girl is very young by all accounts. Claire may be able to get through to her better than I. However, she has just now returned from the last trip."

I nod to him. 'I understand. Explain to her what is at stake. I'm sure she will be willing to travel again under the circumstances," I smile. "Claire is a calming soul for a human. She will find a place in her heart for this other Halfling, I'm sure of it. If it wasn't so dangerous, I'd suggest that she take Spencer but I do not wish to risk his him being found."

"Not to mention that we need him on the intelligence feeds," Barrack interjects.

"Indeed," I move to stand. It takes me longer than normal to do this and I watch as Barrack struggles with himself to not assist me. In the end, he stays where he is and allows me to do it myself. I nod my approval at his decision.

"Now what are we going to do regarding the young child?" I ask.

"According to our surveillance, they are going to move him down to the Louisiana facility the day after tomorrow. That is our window,," he hands me another file. I take it and read through it quickly. "If they get him in the facility, we may have issues. They beefed up the security and have double the guards since our last extraction."

I nod and hand him back the file "Make it so. He needs to be here sooner rather than later."

"What of the mother?" he asks.

I turn to look at him. "She sold her kin not once but twice," I growl at him. "For the child's sake, I hope she sees the benefit in him coming to us. However, if she causes any sort of problem, leave her."

"They will torture her trying to find out who took him," he says.

I close my eyes and take a breath that I no longer need. This is where my heart and my head conflict and it's all because of a blonde telepath.

"Try to get her to see reason," I say slowly. "But the child is our priority. She has proven, at least to me, time and time again, that all she thinks of is herself. If the mother can't see that this is the best and only option for her son, then she is not worth our time."

He says nothing and when I look at him, he nods.

"You meeting them I presume?" I ask changing the subject. Barrack has strong feelings about family. Perhaps because he lost his own at such an early age. In all the other extractions we've made, I agreed with him that getting the family to come along was beneficial to the one in danger. But this is different. I know this blood bag. She was Sophie-Anne's prize pet. She would do anything and did do anything to keep herself in the good graces of her Queen. The woman doesn't deserve our mercy but the child is another story. Besides, Sookie would never forgive me or herself if any harm came to him.

"I am heading out to wait for them now," he bows his head. "We will return shortly."

He turns to leave and look out the window once more as I watch the lights move in the distance. The sensation in my chest is getting warmer. I can feel her. For the first time in months, I can feel her. I can only hope that it is not my imagination. Moving to sit by the fire, I pull out a book I took while repairing her home. I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help it. It has calmed me so many times over the last months. Turning to the first page I see a smiling three year old girl with bright eyes and pig tails smiling at the camera. Touching my lips, I touch the picture and sigh.

"I pray to Odin that you will understand," I say softly and switch to the next page smiling at another picture of the pig tailed child.

***0***

SPOV

We wait for the plane to taxi to a stop and everything seems to quiet within the cockpit. A few words are said on a phone between Claire and someone but I don't have the hearing that the Vampires have so I don't know what is said.

Before I can ask any more questions, Claire is before me, handing me a very long, very heavy fur coat.

"What is this for?" I ask.

"Sookie," Pam says and turns to me. "We are up in the Polar Cap. Eric would be very put out if we got you all this way only for you to freeze getting off the plane. You are still warm blooded are you not?" she asks as she puts on her own coat and the others do the same.

"If this is only for the warm bloods then why are you wearing one?" I ask her.

"It's very expensive and Eric bought it for me," she says as if it makes all the sense in the world.

We wait as the door opens and are ushered out.

The moment I feel the cold air I let out a gasp.

"You get used to it, Miss," the Pilot says. I turn to see that he's come of the cockpit. "It really doesn't take very long. Before you know it, you will not know the difference."

I highly doubt that. I didn't have the heart to tell him that other than a trip or two to Dallas, I've never left the state of Louisiana. The temperature very rarely drops below fifty in my part of the state. Snow very rarely falls and if it does, it's gone by morning. I don't think Bon Temps even owns a snow plow. Though, I've no idea how cold it is here but I don't think I'll be getting used to it any time soon. I vaguely remember learning about this part of the world when I was in school. There is a very good reason there aren't a lot of people who call this place home.

I head down the stairs after the others and we are quickly ushered into a waiting hummer that looks more like a stretch limo on steroids and off we go. The moment we are away from the plane, I strain to see out the windows. But with the tint on them and the darkness of the sky, I have a hard time making much out. Tara and Willa seem to be looking around as well and I'm sure with their sight, they can see a great deal more than I. Damn Vampires and their super abilities. Why couldn't Fairies be able to see in the dark or breathe under water or something really cool like that? No, all I got is sparkly hands and an ability to move myself from place to another. But the latter I don't seem to have a handle on yet. I don't even know how I was able to do it.

Looking out the window once more I try to look for anything that will give me a sense of the area. Squinting, I do see a few buildings here or there but nothing I can pinpoint.

"Where is Norsgod?" I ask the people in the vehicle. Not really caring who answers me.

"We are north of the Svalbard Islands. Eric acquired this island not long after he and Godric ventured to the area. He's owned it for about seven hundred years now," Pam says to me.

I turn to face her. "How many people live here?" I ask.

"Before the past half a year, there were less than fifty. Now, I think," she pauses. "We are around three hundred," she smiles at what I'm sure is my very shocked expression. "Until recently, it was far too cold to have you humans living here full time. Though, there were quite a few who weathered it just fine. Eric made a permanent compound here about five hundred years ago. He and Godric used to come here as a retreat. Until now, I found the area rather uneventful for my tastes."

"What changed?" I ask.

"Everything," is all she says.

We slow down and I look out to see what looks like what I'd expect a high end Spa or ski resort would look like.

"Where are we?" I ask.

"This is Eric's Villa," Pam says. "He requested that we come here first."

"His Villa," I look out the window again. "It looks more like a resort."

Since all I have is pictures and TV to go by, it does look like something that would look at home in Aspen and Vale. I've only seen a few movies that include skiing but that is what it looks like to me. Perhaps it's the mounds of snow everywhere. I wonder if this place ever gets green.

Looking again as we make our way around the circular driveway and up under the covered entrance I get a better view of the place. It isn't grand like I would assume a Vampire home would be. It isn't like the stately mansion I was taken to when Russell was still alive. I'd only seen pictures of Sophie-Anne's compound in a magazine, but it looked nothing like that. In the years since Vampire's have come out of the coffin, not many of them have had their places photographed. It really is a smart move on their part, if you asked me. But other than the renovations done on Bill's place, I really have nothing to compare this place too. Though, it does look, I don't know, like Eric in a way. In fact, it looks perfect on the snowscape surrounding it.

The car door is opened and we all file out in turn and are ushered to the front door. Someone opens it and I find myself in what looks like a grand entrance to a hotel. Only I don't see an elevator or a reception area. No, this hall has floor to ceiling windows and a fire in a corner fireplace. A fireplace, mind you that looks like you could stand in. The smell and warmth of it feels welcoming and soothing. The entrance way is modern with light floors and expensive looking lighting fixtures. The winding staircase on the right looks like it is almost floating.

"Welcome home," a man says from the side doorway.

I turn to see a delightful looking tall man with striking features and a gait in his walk that would make anyone take notice. Without him saying his name or me peeking into his head, I am assuming that this is Mr. Barrack.

"It is nice to be home," Claire says and smiles at the man.

He smiles back and turns to Pam. "Any issues?" he asks.

"None that we didn't expect," she says taking off her coat.

I follow suit and hand it to the two women that have joined us.

Once we are divested of our outer clothing, the man looks to us.

"I am Brandon Barrack," he begins. "I am Mr. Northman's assistant. He has asked that you kindly meet him in the lounge," he says and motions his hand to a door on the far side of the entrance.

Pam is the first to move followed by the rest of us.

We walk in silence down the hall, through and archway and down another hall. The farther we walk, the feeling I started to get early feels stronger. It's like it's pulling me in a direction. I can feel something and know that instinctively it isn't me. Without too much thought, I know that it has to be Eric but why after so much time am I only feeling him now?

Once we pass through another doorway, I know he is close. I quicken my pace and pass Pam to be the first through the door.

Once I'm through, I stop dead, looking at the tall man standing by the fire. He still has his back to me but I'd know him anywhere. He turns slowly, much slower than I've ever seen him move before. Granted, Eric did know how to move at Human speed but it didn't mean that he always did. In fact, I think he liked to see the shock on people's faces when he'd move at his normal speed. But now, he moves slowly and I can't take my eyes off him. His hair is shorter than it was before. Even in the low light, it seems lighter somehow than it was. If I'd have to give it a name, I'd say it was almost white. Sure his hair was light before, but this is even lighter than you would see on a toeheaded infant. His dress is the same, dark jeans, button down and boots. I trail up his body to his face. His smile is the same but his skin is what stops me. He is as ivory as he always was but his face is, shiny. Like what you see on burn victims that are recovering and growing new skin. The color of his lips is off and I can tell, even in this light that either he has no eyebrows or that they are as light as his hair.

I feel my legs move but I don't have the will to stop them. I walk up to him and stop only feet away. His eyes have never left me. It was like they knew I'd enter the room first. On closer examination his blue eyes are clouded somehow.

Reaching up to touch the side of his face, I feel him lean into me as he closes his eyes.

"Sookie," he says softly.

"Eric," I say as he places his gloved hand over mine.

Suddenly, I feel something between us. It's like it's always been there and I'm only just feeling it. I gasp when I feel it rush over me and do the only thing I can think of. I launch myself at the Vampire before me and wrap myself around him.

It only takes him a second to catch me. I feel his strong arms embrace me.

"How I've missed you," he says softly.

I say nothing but hold him tighter. As if I can't get enough of the feel of him. Like I've only learned to feel. The feeling is perfect, scary, and overwhelming all at the same time.

For the first time in my life, I don't care.

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