Author's Note-I am sorry for having been gone for so long, I started a new job over the summer and its certainly a more tiring one than my old job and coupled with other things, I don't have the time like I used to have. But I am still here and hope you enjoy this one. Hope everyone is doing as well as possible during these COVID days.

` The heat would have been unbearable to most people-either those from out of town or those who were simply not cut out for the Louisiana heat and humidity. As for the locals, they and those with supernatural leanings had something of an immunity from the heat and humidity. Not that they couldn't still feel it, but it was lessof a nuiscance to them than to normal humans. Either way, even though it was supposed to be the hottest day of the year, even thought the rest of the summer so far has been in the 80's to low 90's. Local poools and swimming holes were almost aplsays packed and thanks to some recent rennovatoipns on their property-a surprise from her always surprising Viking. The past years had been good to them, though there was no mistake of the losses and hearbreak that had also been thrown in the mix over the years too, with a lost daughter, Aurora, and their son Gunnar overseas, ruling over a small tribe of vampire Vikings . As far as their daughter who had bravely fought to the death to protect her loved ones, she was never forgotten. Niall was also long gone, giving his life for his kin and passing on his power to make Sookie that mucin turn shared that power and knowledge with her cousin Hadley, who, along with hunter, reigned over Faery. Hadley had gotten to become stronger and msarter over the years and though things in that realm were now settled and peaceful, Sookie knew in a pinch, her cousin and her son would be fierce figters, Hunter now being 16 years olf. AS she thought about how blessed her kin was, she turned her attantion back to the renovated pond. The pond was still a pond but had been drained and durne into a pool instead, though it still looked the same as it had before, save for cleaner water and no fear of fish or other critters in its depths. The trees had been shanged though, some taken down in order for a man bmade, albeit very accurate beach to be put in all around the pond. And it truly did look like a beach, complete with a pool house stocked with floaties, towels, beach umbrellasm and comfy folding chairs one would typically see on a typical beach. But this certainly was no ordinary beach, it was their own little private place, suited for anywhere from a just themselves to enjoy but should the mood strike, they could easily have fifty people here. And the one thing Sookie enjoyed the most was the little tiki bar at the far side of the pond where, when the fold down woon canopy was folded up, a fully stocked, three car length bar was at the ready, stools built into the bar counter and easily puled out for one to come have a drink. A snack counter to the far right was sully stocked I\like the display at a movie theatre concession stand and there was a grilling area for when perhaps Jason aould be over and they wanted to have burgers or steaks. Sookie was also well aware that in the cooler unit of the bar,plenty of blood was literally on tap, the certain tap labeled quite clearly as to ensure there were no humans begging snacked on an the only blood humans would be involved with would be a bloody mary, It was ready to go for the party they were planning next week but for now, it was time for them to christen it, ebing the first ones to use it and any of the acoutrements since it was all installed. Sookie had been surprised when she had gotten home from her girls weekend and had seen all the changes to the pond and though at first she was upset her Viking hadn't asked if it was ok, the more she thought about it and after getting the grand tour, she supposed it wasn;t the worst thing after all. He always managed to get himself out of the doghouse with her and she cursed him alll the time for being so dang cute.

"That smirk is a dangerous weapon." she said as she went into the little shed which had plenty of towels, sunscreen and other pool supplies. Thanks to her mixed blood she didn't need sunscreen and thanks to Niall parting magical gift before he passed on, for a few hours at a time, her dear viging could allow the sun for some time. That was something they had decied wantd to keep on the down low and only in emergencies or when here on their property was that ability revealed. The last thing they needed to attract attention to themselves was to have al already promoment vampire walking in the sun. nope, this was a secret kept between friends and family only.

"it's the upgrade I never knew I wanted and honestly, I donlt really miss the old look…especially when gators wanted to come in for a swim. Now you sad theres a retractable conver?" she said asnshe stole a glance at her Viking who, on cue, pulled out a slick remote tucked behind the bar area and without replying, pushed a buttin and like quicksilver, a shiny, sturdy, thick glass covering slid out and over the pool securing it closed and safe with a subtle click. "she gaped as she tok a tep onto the cover and found it more than secure. "A dance floor." she figured out easily.

"I did enjoy getting my hands on those gators though…." Eric replied almost wistfully. "Gave me something to do after a tough night at work."

"Oh, eyah, being the center of attention with people fawning over you, sounds like misery." she scoffed. "Tell me again how much you hated being on TV with all those infomercials…you said you'd rather have been staked in the groin repeatedly than do another one and yet how many did you and Pam do?"

His face turnd sour but she knew it was a kidding variety. Somewhat. "We did three, and look at the buisiness me made. Make no mistake though, I'm glad we sold the company. Corporate life was not for me. And I was not joking when I said id rather be staked than do more of those…..commercials…not one of my finer moments buti did it for what any other capitalist would do. I made the most of a situation and that, led us to where we are now financially."

"Even though you and Pam really don't need to run any bar anymore…I always wondered just why you didn't give it up…then you told me the story of you two landed in Shreveport and met Ginger…I guess its really more sentimental to you than I really realized. Because its not like you are hurting for money." she replied as she got off the glass pool covere, pushing a button to remove the cover, allowing the water to sparkle under the sun again. At night, strands of solar powered fairy lights were strong around all the trees and as the sun was starting to go down, the lights were starting to twinkle on.

"Which while it is nice to have the cash to do whatever one desires, which was why I wantd to give you this little surprise and it was not easy to keep you away from here long enough. I had Arelene throw you into longer work shifts and those times in the past week your brother needed a sitter or when Jessica needed help redecoration her and Hoyts house…"

"Distractions and diversions….how could I not have thought you weren;t up to something…..you'd think I would have wisened up by now…you are so bad." she said with a grin, shaking her head as if giving on up on the fact he would forever be full of surprised, though granted, now aways they were generally more pleasant tna anything else. I want to be upset with you but…..I find it hard to be." and as he flashed her that panty melting smirk of his, she went around the read of the bar area and opened the freezer and proceeded to check things out for herself and getting a closer look at their high tech hangout, she stepped up and into the bar, finding it roomier than she expected. Top shelf booze and a stocked fridge of bottled beer, canned seltzers and even a row of taps ready tobe put to use. "This is a better bar than Bellefleurs." she commented,, peering in the large frisge that had all the bottles and cans, seeing that which was now theirs to enjoy. "Its incredible….so when is the first get together gonna be? I mean, between this revamped area and the huose, we could litereally host the entire town…..I mean pretty much the whole town was here during the whole Maryann mess…..I saw some things during that time I really could have done without…"

"From the things you've told me, it would seem I missed out on a party that was akin to those back in my day…..the after pillaging parties ere always…..enjoyable. Pity I never met this Maryann the maenad, perhaps I culd have shown her some tips. I mean I know she was pretty old but I think I could have shown her some winning skillsets no one could match." Suggestvely, he bent over , allowing her a long look at the body of work she knew all too well had likely made many a woman-and possibly man, get hot and bothered over. Saying nothing and making sure the pool cover was retracted, she vanished in the blink of an eye and in a seonc flash, enjoying the brief look of confusion on his face, used a mild blast of her magic to send hin face first into the pool with a impressive splash.

"That will cool down your trip down memory lane, I can tell you needed to cool off thinking of days past." she said as he climbed out of the pool, looking amused….and even more delightful than usual. "I'm glad you never met Maryann….she made quite the mess in my driveway when we finally offed her. Plus she was clinically insane, though there have been times I feel you;ve been touched by a little of that insanity yourself. But I do love a touch of crazy, lord knows I;ve got that myself in spades after all that's happened over the years." she paused. "All things considered, I'm glad normal booze doesn't get me shitfaced anymore, with my magical blood… though perhaps I should see if I can get some of that new faerie wine, Bliss, that's absolutely divine…I think I actually may have some stashed…." she trailed off, vanishing into the house in a flash of light, reappearing with a dark blue glass bottle in hand and a sly grin on her face. "I live a little day drinking…"

"I could say the same." replied her Viking with a saucy smirk. He looked amused as she started drinking from the bottle she nad no need of a bottle opener for but had rather pulled the cork out with ease…and with a grin of her own. Several long pulls of the bottle later and the faerie drunk had taken hold. "I think its probably best we don't have company today…." she started pawing at him and certainly her inhibitions were….lacking to be sure. "This wine, its like I haven't a care in the world…no job respolsibilities, no bills, no yard work…nothing….well, almost nothing." she grinned, skipping around the pool, to his amuse,ent.

"Pity I cant indulge in that drink directly but I can do so indirectly, in a way that's quite enjoyable for myself and I know for you as well." Eric said with a smirk. "I am feeling a little…burned out, as it were."

She knew what he was playing at, that there was, of course, a way to stave off the suns effects a little while longer. But she also knew the effects that a drink from her would do to him if he indulged too much. "You'd best not run off and make me hunt you down if you take too much, you do remember the last time you had too much fairy."

He gave her a innocent look. "Your fairy godmother did give me some terrible indigestion, you know. Probably the fact she wantd to steal you away and was working for that scheming faerie queen you told me about wanted to seal all faeries away in that land.." his face turned serious "Fun as that night was, I don't regret draining that woman, not one bit."

"I do not regret what you did either, knowing what I know now about their plans…thank god Hadley is running Faery now. No more kidnapping halfkings or full faeries back there, keeping them there with the light fruit-which, from what I last heard from Hadley has been used to make this wine." she held up the wine bottle, shaking its remaining contents, whish sparled and glowed with the rustling. Clearly, this was indeed no ordinary wine. "Care to take the party inside, or have a taste of me and spend a little more time outside under the sunlight?"

Shrugging, he smirked. "I don't care either way."

"Of course you don't." he paused as she finished the reat of her bottle in one impressive swig, to whish she clearly became almost immediately tipsy. "I do have honor and don't want to take advantage of you in such a state. I may like a good blood letting and some ripping of body parts but I still have my Viking honor and I don't and won't go taking advantage."

"Let me take advantage then." she said with a drunken smirk, slapping him the same way he had done to her years ago when he had been stricken with amnesia, thought for her part, she added a quick and firm pinch. or two. Hell, she went for the hat trick and made it three. "I think this may be the best day of the summer yet. And its only just begun." she grinned, the two retuning to the state of the art bar where she mixed herself a cocktail and flung herself into one of the cushy lounge chairs that was set at the outside of the pool. "I could sleep out here."

"If it wasn't for my limitations with the sun, I surely would. There were times long ago I camped with my men back in my Viking times. The accommodations were…..rustic….but I never minded, I always loved the adventure and being outdoors…."

She nodded. "This is the best day I have had in a long time and you never fail to surprise me and I cant wait to get the party planned….in fact, I'm so excited, I'm going inside to get the plans in place. This time next week, this place will be hottest-wettest-place in town." she looked so excited as she ran to the house, her mind dead set on the party. Parties not being one of his favorite things, though it was pleasant to socialize with their friends and family-the Viking shouted back at her retreating form.

"I think I'll just spend a little more time out here." Sookie flashed a thumbs up as she entered the house, leaving Eric to grin and dive into the warm water, able to once more enjoy the life he had never thought possible for him to have.

THE END