So, it's been like ages... but... I finally completed the story and it's ready to be posted. As soon as I get a handle on this Document Manager which seems to be getting its revenge on me. I'm also crossposting this on ao3, so don't be surprised if you find this story there as well.

It's been more than a week since that evening and I've been avoiding Eric like crazy. I refused night shifts at Merlotte's and asked for the morning shifts instead. I did not walk around after dark and always got home before sunset. I left my apartment in Bon Temps and rented out a few more apartments in different houses. By now I had already rented six rooms and I kept changing between them every few days, afraid that Eric might somehow get hold of my new whereabouts.

I placed mirrors by the doors and put brooms behind them, scattered iron and silver around and even hung a few garlic strings just in case. I remembered Mircea did not enjoy the smell of garlic much and so I decided I'd better use more protection than less. Of course, he might not have liked them simply due to the horrible smell but who I was to deny myself even the smallest hint of security.

Everything would have been way simpler if I just moved out. Left Bon Temps. And Louisiana. Perhaps, the USA too. But there was something squirming in my chest and I found it hard to just take a hike and leave for good so simply as that. A part of me had gotten accustomed to living here, working here. I finally had a friend who accepted me as I was or, at least, I hoped she did. And speaking of Sookie, she was urging me to have a talk with Eric. According to her, he had been coming to Merlotte's every night to check if I was there.

I refused the idea. I was not even sure why I was dawdling around. Why didn't I just leave?.. I never had problems with leaving. And now, that Eric had woken up the hunger in me, I could feel it rising steadily with each hour that passed. I needed to feed if I wanted to return to my usual self. That's right, perhaps, my attraction to Eric was due to my hunger. Nothing serious. Just thirst and hunger.

I repeated it like a mantra every morning and evening until the day I actually decided to satisfy my hunger until it got worse. The man I picked was ordinary and I charmed him easily. Yet, when it came to sucking his life force out I could not help but recall Eric. His passion and his firm embrace, his steely blue eyes captivating and entrapping. Needless to say, the experience soon turned sour and less than satisfying. I let the man go without getting the full nourishment I needed and fumed silently as I walked towards Merlotte's. Apparently, Eric even had a way of ruining my dinner. Eh, breakfast.

I sighed. I had to solve this problem somehow, even if for the sake of feeding properly. As I entered the bar, Sookie greeted me with a broad smile and I smiled in return. She had changed her shift to spend more time with me and help me out if needed. I smiled at my friend. She was very supportive of me even though Sookie did not agree with my hiding tendencies. According to her, Eric did not seem even a bit different from the last time she saw him and if he really wanted me, he could have ordered his goons to kidnap me in the middle of the day. I found the thought disconcerting. She was right, after all. He was a powerful vampire. Surely he could have found me by now, if he wanted to. Perhaps, I was acting silly?

But the thirst in Eric's eyes was so reminiscent of my old lover Mircea who had all but sucked me dry at the first taste that I could not stop myself from falling into a small bout of panic. Me, a few thousands old creature, scared to the point of hysterics? I sighed at my own weakness, angry and frustrated, as I continued folding napkins in sharp and precise movements. This was stupid. I was stupid. I had to face this situation with Eric sooner or later. Why was it so hard? So what if he attacked me in the throes of bloodlust? I could always stake him, if worst came to worst.

"Hey, Lily," Sookie touched my shoulder holding my line of thoughts and I turned to face her. "There's someone here for you."

My heart froze for just a moment and the world stopped around me. Eric? But that couldn't be. It was near midday. No vampire could walk around in sunshine without repercussions. Fatal repercussions.

I blinked and turned my head towards the doors only to blink again.

"Miss Lily? These are for you," A young man pushed a huge bouquet of crimson red roses into my hands and I swayed on my feet from the heady aroma. "Please sign here."

Baffled I let Sookie help me put the bouquet on the counter as I obediently signed on the paper. With a beaming smile, the flower shop boy left and I turned to the flowers dazed. They must have cost a fortune.

"There's a card over there," Sookie pointed it out to me and then grinned mischievously. "Though I bet I already know who it is from."

I ignored her and my fluttering heart as I picked the white card and opened it up. In an elegant, yet, strict looking script it said, 'To the thorniest rose I had the pleasure of meeting. Give me a chance. Eternally yours, Eric.'

I snorted and Sookie leaned over my shoulder to read the card.

"Wow, never took him for a romantic."

I rolled my eyes but then gave another appreciative glance at the roses. I've always loved flowers and it's been hundreds of years since I received any.

Apparently, it wasn't the last one. The next day another bouquet, this time twice the size of the previous one, arrived, signed by Eric. The day after, yet another bouquet awaited me and so it continued day after day. Each card had different words but each of them was assuring me of his patience and asking for another meeting, another chance.

I could not help but waver slightly. Surely, if Eric was overcome with bloodlust, he'd have gotten to me by now? Why all the flowers and the trouble?

Fingering yet another love message in my hands, I let out a heavy sigh. "You take my breath away… today and every day", it said. Sassy romance it was but my heart tingled and I felt somewhat pacified.

Should I meet him? Should I give us this chance? Perhaps, I could. What's the worst that could happen, after all?

It was only a day later that Eric stood with yet another large bouquet of crimson roses outside the diner. I smiled sheepishly at him as I muttered a greeting. Eric simply stared at me for a while, his eyes taking me in hungrily. Yet, I could see this was not the hunger for blood but a deep churning lust and appreciation. My smile broadened a bit and I reached for the huge bouquet.

"Thank you," I said as I took the flowers into my hands.

A smile lit up on his face and I busied myself with the roses, wary and unsure if this was a good idea. I hoped it was.

"Why did you run from me, Lily?" Eric asked softly and I blinked in surprise, turning to only find him standing close to me, his eyes glowing an electric blue.

"Why?" I echoed, surprised and Eric's searching eyes stared into mine silently for a while.

"Yes, why?"

I gave him a disbelieving look and then turned back to the flowers, "You don't know?"

"I only know that what I feel for you is something I've never felt before," he said as his hand reached out to pluck a white greeting card. I took it from his hand and my eyes landed on the elegant script I've come to know as Eric's.

"I send a kiss inside the petals of each rose. Be mine, Lily."

I bit my lip, "I'm not good with all that dating and long-time stuff, Eric."

"Me either," he said, "But I am willing to try. Are you?"

For a long moment, I stared at Eric, searching for the answer in his eyes and the soul that vampires claimed not to have. I was yet so very unsure of this but perhaps I could give it a try. After all, Eric did not jump me the moment I met him and he never mentioned my sweet blood. No, if this was all a trap to simply get to me, it was way too elaborate.

I did not know what this might mean for me but I was willing to find out. And so, with a slightly trembling voice, I replied, "Yes."

The smile that graced Eric's lips was almost blinding and I blinked as his grin showed the peeking tips of his fangs.

"Excellent," he muttered. "And now we shall continue with this… date attempt."

The mischievous sparkle was back in his blue orbs and I smiled despite any foreboding feelings I might have still had. Perhaps, this would work out.

Eric grabbed my hand and I reveled at the coolness of his skin. He tugged me after him and we headed towards his sparkling red Corvette. The vampire opened the doors for me and I slid in feeling both giddy and anxious.

"Where are we going?" I asked Eric as he took his place behind the wheel.

"You'll see," was all I got in return as he powered up the beast that was his car.

To my surprise, he didn't turn towards the city but veered off the road. The city lights got left behind as Eric drove expertly on the gravel road towards the looming forest. For a moment then, I wondered if it was truly a good idea.

"Are you gonna take me deep into the forest, chop my body into pieces and bury underneath an oak tree?" I asked jokingly as I watched the night landscape whizz by.

Eric snorted, "Wherever do you get these ideas?"

"Books, movies, comics, news?.." I replied glancing at him as Eric slowed the car down bringing it to a halt. He turned to me, his one arm snaking around my neck and leaned towards me, his eyes glinting in the dark.

"I have no intent on harming you, Lily," he said and I felt inclined to believe him, for some reason. In a flash of movement, Eric got out of the car and opened the passenger door for me. I stepped out of a car to find myself in the middle of the woods.

Eric took my hand as he led me towards a small trail I could barely see in the dark. Thank goodness the moonlight shone bright down upon us.

"I discovered this place on accident," Eric said. "Despite the circumstances, I came to enjoy it. I figured it could be a nice place for us to have a walk and talk, get to know each other better."

I followed his lead for a few minutes, careful of the nature trail beneath my feet. My eyes were not as good as the vampire's, after all. Then again, I was pretty sure that were I to stumble and fall, Eric would surely catch me. It did not take long for us to reach out destination and it took me completely by surprise.

"Wow," I exclaimed as I passed Eric by to walk out into a spacious clearing by a deep dark lake. The moon was shining down, hanging just above the lake. The sky was full of starts, blinking bright and shiny, adding to the moonlight. Without a second thought, I took off my shoes and laughed as my bare fee touched the soft grass.

"I thought you might like this place," Eric noted as he came closer to wrap his arms around me. "I do not know why but I am drawn towards you like a moth to a flame or a mosquito to a potential prey."

I laughed at his comparison, reminding me how I've once called him a mosquito to his face and turned around to face him.

"This is a beautiful place, Eric, thank you for sharing it with me."

"I know this sounds strange, Lily," Eric replied as he stared into my eyes. "But I do feel a connection with you and I wish to pursue it, to know what it is. I admit your blood smells… exquisitely but I would never hurt you."

I did not reply as I glanced away, avoiding his glance. This romantic and honest side of Eric was confusing and mesmerizing, at the same time.

"You do not trust me," Eric noted but I remained quiet again. I did not know what to say. It was true that Eric did not seem too eager to drain me. He could have tried that already if he wanted to. I was used to vampires jumping on me the moment they scented my blood or trying to track me down in their urge to drain me to my last drop. It's not that I was scared that I would die if I lost all of my blood. That was not true. I would not die. I would simply go berserk with sudden hunger for life. And that was what I was afraid of more than anything, even more than dying. And yet, Eric had done nothing of that. Instead, he waited weeks, he gifted me flowers and brought me to a lakeside just to share the beautiful view.

"Then, I shall wait," suddenly, Eric said and I lifted my gaze to meet his. "Just don't run from me, Lily."

His fingers brushed away a lock of my hair, tugging it behind my ear as I stared at him surprised.

"You're… acting differently," I finally muttered and Eric arched his brow elegantly.

"Why? Did you expect me to jump on you and drain you dry?"

I shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah, something like that."

"I'm not some recently turned vamp that can't even hold his urges," Eric said with disdain in his voice. "I have control over myself."

I glanced at him and he seemed to be honest with me. Perhaps, he was right. And, he really did not jump at me as I expected him to.

"I shall wait for you Lily," he whispered and shivers ran down my spine. Pleasant shivers.

That night, we stood by the lakeside staring at the sky, and the moon, and the stars. All was quiet and still, just like us. Two beings drawn together by something they could not perceive. And I wondered, if maybe I could give it a chance, after all. Would it really be so bad if I did?