AN: Hey guys! I'm SO happy that everyone's liking the story so far. The next few chapters are going to take a little longer to come out because I have to try and decide just how much I can actually involve my OC. Until I rewatched the show, I forgot a lot of what happened, so that's tricky. Oh! And I'm going to follow the show, but my story isn't going to end all 'happily ever after' like it did. At least, not for some characters. Mwahahaha! Lol. Anyway, let me know what you guys think and, as always, enjoy!

Chapter 26

Eric sat in the cell still trying to sift through everything Maria had shown him. It was a jumble of events, but the most recent were vivid, and confusing. Through her eyes, he could see a lot. She'd been right when she told him it was like a movie. The emotions might have been there, the images too, but he didn't feel connected to any of it. It was no different than someone telling a story and then, at the end, they add and you were there, too. That was how much a part of the events he felt.

Eric saw Maria, him and Pam together. That was the constant. The three of them were together every night, and nowhere, not once, did he see Sookie. Miss Stackhouse wasn't even a glimpse in the background. It was simply Maria and his Progeny.

Through Maria's eyes, Eric saw them at Fangtasia. He saw them lying together in bed, sharing a sweet moment or two multiple times, and glimpses of animalistic sex that wasn't shy on passion. Eric saw months and months of them together, of fear and more pain than a person should ever have to go through, and the safe relief she felt when he was near.

One memory that turned his stomach was of Maria, consumed in a genuine terror, holding a burned, bloodied husk of a creature that looked no different than Pam. Somehow, he knew it was him, and that she'd saved his life.

It was all so confusing and so fraught with emotion that Eric was dizzy, but he knew he needed to try and make sense of it. As he did, pouring over and over everything, people approached. Eric looked up and saw men in black flanking King Bill.

He knew what was coming.

An untold amount of time passed before Maria finally returned home. She didn't know how far she'd run until she didn't feel like slaughtering people, but it could have easily been to the other side of the county and back.

As she walked leisurely across her property and back to the front of her house where she'd left the pile of her clothes, movement on her front porch caught her eye. To her surprise, it was Eric. Maria paused. He heard her, too, and turned. With what could only be classified as wonder, he left her front porch and approached the massive beast.

His wide eyes danced over her. To him, this was the first time he'd seen what her other half looked like. It might have sounded conceited, but Maria rather liked the way her lion looked. She found it beautiful, really. It could have been because she felt more comfortable in its skin than her own. Whatever the reason, she felt her chest swell with a little bit of pride when he spoke.

"You're incredible." He said in a voice laced with awe.

Maria smiled to herself, but knew she had to change back. She could understand conversation just fine as she was, but clearly speaking back would be an issue.

Easily, Maria shifted and soon stood before him naked as a baby. Eric immediately looked away, further proof that he wasn't the man he usually was.

"He let you go." She said.

"Yes," Eric nodded but refused to look up until he picked up her shirt and offered it to her. Maria, to save him the apparent embarrassment he felt, put it on. It wasn't incredibly long, but long enough to keep her somewhat decent. He finally looked up at her. "The King said I could leave."

"Good," She nodded. An awkward moment passed between them before she spoke again. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to thank you."

She gave a small smile.

"It's still a little confusing."

"It might take some time to get through it all."

"Are we together?" He asked tentatively.

"Something like that."

"But I live here, with you."

"You stay here sometimes, yeah." She nodded.

"But," he took slow, measured steps towards her. "You love me."

Heat immediately flushed through her body and found focus in her cheeks. She felt like she was on fire.

Fuck, she hissed to herself. The emotional transfer. Strong feelings make their way through and that must have been mixed in there.

"I uh…" Maria had to force herself to say something, but she wasn't willing to say that in particular. "I care about you, yes."

He nodded once more and mulled over the information. "Thank you." He told her again. Eric began to take a few steps away and, for a split second, she was afraid he might leave.

"Wait," She said. He paused and looked at her. "If you need anywhere to stay, you're welcome here, still."

Eric smiled sweetly again, that innocent little smile that her Eric couldn't manage without a hint of wickedness.

Like before, he attempted to leave, but yet again paused. He turned a questioning eye on her. "May I ask you something, Miss Romanov?"

"Of course." She nodded.

"What would happen if I get my memories back?"

Her brows furrowed slightly. "I don't understand."

"Would you still want to be around me, be friends with someone like that?"

"Yes," She told him, surprised he felt the need to ask. "Of course I would. That's the Eric I met. He's saved my life, more than once."

"What if I never remember? Would you still be my friend?"

The way he posed the question was so… meek. He sounded as though he was genuinely worried that she would, for whatever reason, would turn her back on him. It made her a little sad, honestly.

"I would." She nodded with a sympathetic smile. "And, if you ever needed me to, I could help you answer some questions."

"Like what?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "Just, any questions you might have."

"Like where I was born?"

Maria smiled again and nodded. "Yeah, like that."

Eric smiled, too. He seemed relieved and, with a small wave, he disappeared into the distance. Maria watched him vanish and her smile faded. She didn't envy his circumstance, but hoped she'd instilled the point that he wasn't alone. If he wanted it, he had friends and help.

Sookie trudged through the woods searching for Jason with her shotgun in hand. He'd run off and she needed to find the idiot before something bad happened.

A sudden crunching twig caused her to stifle a gasp. She spun with her weapon aimed and was surprised, but so happy to see Eric was the one standing behind her.

"Oh, thank God." She lowered the weapon and charged for him. Sookie instantly wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Eric returned the affection. "Bill let you go?" She drew back.

"Yes," He said.

Sookie let out another sigh. She dropped the gun at their feet, wrapped her arms around Eric's neck, and pulled him into a deep kiss. Like before, Eric returned the affection, but something felt wrong. He wasn't as 'into it' as he had been before being arrested by Bill.

When Sookie drew back, she stared up at him curiously.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

Eric, tenderly taking her wrists in his hands, unfurled them. He looked down at her unsurely.

"I think Miss Romanov and I were together." He said.

Sookie felt an immediate chill of anger. Her face fell as she stared up at him.

"What?" She tried to keep the emotion from her voice, but she wasn't entirely sure she succeeded.

"She showed me some of the past, and I think she and I were together." He repeated. "There's still a lot to go through. It's very confusing."

Sookie didn't say anything at first. Instead, she did her best to absorb the information. Her first question was how the hell someone like Maria would be able to show Eric anything at all, but at the same time, she could un-glamor people. Maybe it wasn't completely out of question, but she didn't like it. It put a wrench in her plan.

"Okay," She finally mumbled. She wasn't entirely certain what else she was expected to say. "Well," Sookie threaded her fingers through his and held his hand. "Come on. Let's go home."

But Eric didn't move. He just stood there like a marble statue. After a moment, he pulled his hand out of hers.

"I think I need to take some time to think." He said. "I need to try and understand everything she showed me."

Sookie tensed her jaw. She was becoming frustrated, but pushed it down. She forced a smile that she hoped wasn't as uncomfortable to see as it was to form.

"Okay," She nodded. "I understand. Um, well, come home before sunrise, okay?"

He smiled as well and nodded. She watched him take a few steps before he stopped.

"What would happen if I get my memories back?" He asked her, seemingly out of nowhere. "Once I know who I am, what I've done, would you still want me then?"

She didn't answer at first. Two thoughts were coursing through her head at a million miles a minute. On the one hand, she wanted to be honest and tell him that no, of course she wouldn't want to be with him anymore. Eric Northman, that version of him at least, was a monster. On the other hand, she knew she could use the situation to her advantage.

As innocently as she could, she said, "I don't know." Her voice was delicate and soft. She noticed him flinch. "You've done a lot of terrible things to me," She stepped closer and tenderly placed her hands on his chest, "And the people I love. But," A slow smile curled her lips. "This you, this is so kind and sweet. I never would have let the old you in my bed."

She could see him thinking, taking in everything she'd said. Sookie knew that, if she played it right, she might be able to make him second-guess wanting to get his memories back. Maybe she could get him to stay the way he was.

"I hope I do, but I don't know. I just know that I want to keep feeling like this."

She smiled again and, like before, pulled him down into another kiss. Sookie made it as passionate and alluring as she could. When she finally drew back, she was sure to nibble slightly on his bottom lip as she did.

Eric looked at her. He reached up and tenderly glided his hand down her cheek. A moment after the tender touch, he backed away and vanished into the woods again.

Sookie's kind exterior immediately melted away. She stared into the shadows, filled with an anger that surprised her. Fucking Maria just had to get involved. That damn cat couldn't leave well enough alone. Sookie had everything perfectly planned, and it was all going her way, until Maria put doubt in Eric's head.

Now, if she didn't play her cards right, Sookie might not get the Eric she wants. The real one might come back.

Eric felt the pull of the approaching dawn in his gut. He might not have the slightest hint as to who he was, but his instincts were still there. Every vampire just knew when the sun was close to dawn, an internal thing that told them they needed to go to ground.

He'd spent the night deep in thought. It was overwhelming, but he needed to do his best to go through it all. He had to be on his own for that, but now, with the sun nearing, he went home.

As he walked up the path to the house, every light was off save the front porch light. She was asleep, he was sure, so he was as quiet as he could be.

Eric made his way up the porch and through the unlocked door, grateful that he could walk right through the threshold. It was his house, after all. Apparently, he'd bought it some time ago.

His feet took his slowly upstairs. Eric did his best to avoid any creaking floorboards because he didn't want to wake her up. That would be rude.

When he reached the second floor, Eric found the bedroom door open as well. On the toes of his feet, he stepped inside. She was asleep in bed, lying across from him in a sea of pale bedding. She was practically buried under the thick, plush comforter. He made his way to her side where he simply stood, watching her sleep. Even Eric knew it was a bit creepy to stand over someone and watch them while they were asleep, but he couldn't help himself. She was beautiful.

When they 'first met', Eric had been struck by an odd sensation. She felt familiar, but not in a way that told him they knew one another. That was impossible, even after she introduced herself, but there was a level of comfort that surprised him, and he was grateful for.

As he stared down at her and the way she was curled against her pillow, Eric thought about how soft her skin was, noticed the slope of her jaw, her lips, and the way her delicate hand clutched at the blanket. In his mind, he saw those brightly-colored eyes sparkle as they looked up at him through thick lashes.

Eric began to disrobe. He removed his sweatshirt while he kicked off his tennis shoes. After he took off his socks, he grabbed the corner of the comforter and as tenderly as possible, he peeled it back. Still sure to keep from waking her up, he slid into bed. She must have felt it, though because, after he got comfortable on the mattress, she moved.

Eric didn't breathe as she rolled over to face him. He watched, waiting for her to wake, but it never happened. He allowed himself to relax completely when her eyes remained closed.

As he laid there staring at her, filled once again with that familiar comfort, Eric reached forward. Some of her hair had come free of the ponytail that held the rest of it back, so he twirled it around his fingers and guided it back behind her ear where it could rejoin the rest of her long, ebony-colored locks.

Maria remained still, so Eric scooted a bit closer. The heat from her body poured into him and helped lull him into sleep.

It was late in the day when Maria was ripped viciously from her sleep. The room was shaking. Violent wind wiped through the space, knocking over knickknacks, ruffling the curtains, and bringing with it a bevy of whispering voices.

A loud scream echoed from her side. It was Eric and, for some reason, he was heading for the curtains. The shock of seeing him in her room was quickly overshadowed by the fact that he, despite it being midday, tore open the curtains, bathing the room in light.

She was out of bed in an instant. The second she reached him, Maria dug her fingernails into his shoulders and yanked him back. Eric flew through the air and slammed into the far wall. Maria immediately shut the curtains and spun around to face him.

"What the hell are you doing?!" She demanded.

"Get out of my way!" He yelled back.

Eric charged for the double doors once again. Maria, without hesitation, reared back and slammed her fist into the side of his face. She felt the bones in his jaw and cheek shatter under the force. She didn't hold back, smart enough to see that something had control over him. Given his run-in with the witches, she wasn't foolish enough to give him any leeway.

Eric fell to the floor hard enough that Maria heard the wood splinter, despite the torrent of wind that surrounded them.

"You'll burn, you fucking idiot!"

"I dun care." He said, his words slurred by his broken jaw.

Eric rose to his feet and attacked again. Maria knew she had to take things further and, before she could talk herself out of it, when he was close enough, she brought her heel down violently onto the side of Eric's knee. He screamed in agony and fell to the floor once more, but he didn't remain. Despite the bone jutting out of the side of his leg, he pushed himself to his feet once more. Maria repeated the action on his good knee. As before, he screamed in pain.

To her shock, he began to claw his way across the floor and toward the curtains. Maria knew nothing would stop him, so she acted accordingly. She grabbed her comforter and proceeded to wrap Eric up in it. The Viking fought viciously, but she had full use of all of her limbs and eventually won out.

When he was as secured as he could be, Maria grabbed the edges of the blanket and dragged him out of the room. As quickly as she could, she made her way downstairs, not the slightest bit worried about the fact that he was bouncing down each step as she did. When she made it to the main floor, she instantly reached the cellar door, kicked it open, and dragged him down into the dank, light-tight cave.

She didn't let him go until he was in the center of the room. Eric kicked the blanket off as best he could and fumbled to get to his feet.

"Let me out of here!" He yelled. His words were fully formed, hinting that his jaw had finally healed.

"I don't think so." She told him firmly.

As she knew he would, Eric charged her yet again. The fight that broke out between the two was feral, like two rabid animals hell-bent on killing one another.

It went on for minutes, the two as desperate for what they wanted as the other. Each drew blood. Each fought dirty.

Eric had somehow gotten on top of her. A hand was firmly wrapped around her throat, his fangs were out, and Maria could do nothing more than slash at his skin with her claws. He didn't even seem to notice until, just as suddenly as it had begun, everything went still.

The wind stopped, the voices followed suit, and Eric was motionless. His eyes went wide and the second he realized what he was doing, he let her go, stood, and stumbled back. Maria coughed as the blood poured back into her brain and she was given the ability to breathe again. Slowly, when she was sure her head wouldn't explode, she got to her feet as well.

Eric stood on the other side of the cellar with blood smeared across his skin, his arms slowly healing, and standing at an odd angle. His hip was still broken from when she'd kicked him only a moment earlier.

"I'm so sorry." He said in a desperate way. "I'm," He took a wonky step forward, but stopped himself. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."

She waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine." She said. Maria's voice was a bit hoarse, which she expected. "It's the witches."

Eric nodded, but didn't seem to be put at ease by her words.

"Come on. We should probably get cleaned up."

"No," He said quickly. "No, I think… I think I should stay down here. At least for now. I don't want to hurt you again."

Maria was slow to agree, but did. With a final glance to him, she ascended the steps onto the main floor. Maria closed the cellar door and eyed the small latch that locked it. It was one of those little, inconsequential locks that does practically nothing against a good bang, and yet, she locked it anyway.

Not long after the sun set, there was a small knock on the door that led to the cellar. Maria rose from her spot on the floor against the wall and approached. She touched the lock, but paused.

"Miss Romanov," She heard Eric mutter from the other side. "I think I'm okay, now."

She smiled to herself at the childlike way he spoke, and opened the door.

"Thank you." He said. Maria stepped aside and let him out, closing the door behind him. "Do you have any TruBlood?"

"No," Maria shook her head. "You don't drink it, so I don't keep it in the house."

His brows pulled together slightly. "Then what do I eat?"

"Well… me."

He seemed a little surprised which surprised her.

"Oh," He said. "Well…"

Eric moved sheepishly. It was clear he wanted to eat, and given the physical damage she'd done to him, it bore to reason he needed to, but he was a little embarrassed.

"Come here,"

Maria took on a motherly tone whether she meant to or not. That's simply how it came out, comforting and reassuring.

Eric stepped closer. Maria gathered her hair and moved it away from her neck. He was hesitant, but eventually Eric wrapped his arms around her, hugged her to his body, and bit down into her throat.

Maria gasped and clung to him, consumed with the feeling of him biting into her. She couldn't explain how it felt to have it happen again after everything that had transpired the last few days. She found she missed it, missed the way it felt to have his cold lips on her neck, the sharp twinge of ache when his fangs pierced her skin, and the feeling of his body against hers.

Eric fed for a moment, perhaps two, before he drew back. His lids were low, at half-mast and filled with something other than satiation. The emotional shift was evident to both of them, but she had the context behind it. He didn't. That didn't seem to stop him, however.

His grip around her waist tightened, bringing her against his chest harder than before. Eric stared down at her with what could only be described as hunger reflected back.

"You're delicious." He said in a thick voice. He took steps toward her, guiding her back until she hit the wall. He pressed his body to hers. "Why are you so delicious?"

"I'm not human." She replied.

"Those things you showed me, were they real?"

"Yes," She nodded.

"How?"

"If I touch people, I can see their whole lives, but I can do the same thing to them. If I concentrate, I can show them my life, too. That's what I did for you." Her brows came together. "I wanted you to remember."

"I don't understand what's happening around me." He whispered. "I…" he hesitated briefly and pulled away. He looked at her with guilt. "I have feelings for Sookie." Maria felt a stab in her chest. "But…" He paused again. He looked over her face before tenderly touching it, caressing her cheeks endearingly. "You make me feel safe."

"I do?"

He nodded. "You make me feel like I belong. I don't remember anything about myself, but I feel safe with you. Why?"

"I don't know." She said because she honestly had no idea why he would feel comfortable with her and no one else. If anything, she'd expect him to feel that way about Pam, not her.