"Thank goodness that annoying creature is gone." Pam sighed as she shifted her car in gear. Eric nodded and waited before sliding into the passenger seat of Pam's car.

"You go on ahead. I think I'll observe things here a bit."

"Suit yourself. If I never see that girl again it will be too soon. Could they have picked a more annoying…" Her words were cut off by Eric slamming the passenger door and stepping away from the car. He watched Pam leave and slipped quietly in the woods. It wasn't long before he saw another pair of head lights bouncing down the driveway toward Bill's.

"Sookie, wait!" Bill calls after her as she storms from his house.

"How could you?!" She turns and screams at him. She looks past him to see Jessica smiling at her with full fang. Sookie glared at her and turned on her heels once again. Bill reached for her elbow and she forcefully pulled it from his grasp.

"Please let me finish…let me explain!"

"You've explained enough!" She rushed down the steps to her car. Thankfully, Terry was able to fix it with just a few hoses. Bill was standing in front of her door before she could hit the bottom step.
"No. You have to listen." His voice was controlled rage. She stopped and glared at him. Jessica's laughter pierced the silence that had fallen between them.

"I can't even look at you." Her voice was low and sad as she looked away from his face. The laughter rose and Bill directed his anger to his new child.

"Shut up and go back inside. Now!" Jessica's eyes widened and for once had the intelligence to listen. Sookie took advantage of the distraction and pushed past Bill to her car. He grabbed at her open door in an effort to stop her.

"Sookie, please listen."
"Just…just leave me alone." She slammed her door and started the car with a little more force than necessary. The tears pooled in her eyes before she could turn past the cemetery. She swiped at her eyes and cursed under her breath.

Eric watched as Sookie roared down the driveway. Bill went back inside, his shoulders slumped in defeat and resignation. Jessica cackled again and was quickly silenced by a hand gripping her throat.

"You will not speak. Understand?" She nodded her head slightly and slumped back down on the couch. She looked around to see where he went, but he was gone.

Sookie sat in her car a few minutes clutching the steering wheel and crying. She finally lifted her head and noticed the tall figure standing on her front porch. She grabbed her purse and opened the car door slowly. She sniffed a few times as she walked stiffly to the porch.

"What are you doing here, Eric?" She looked up at him and she could see his eyes soften slightly at her pitiful state. He reached his hand to her face and used his thumb to swipe the tears from her cheeks.

"I see you've met Jessica." He stated softly before pulling his hand away from her.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Her words were harsh as she stepped past him to unlock her door. She tossed her purse on the chair and huffed through to the kitchen. Eric closed the door behind him and followed her. She snatched a bottle of water from the refrigerator, slamming the door with more force than she realized. Eric leaned against the counter and watched her for a few minutes.

"It wasn't my place to tell you. I'm surprised Bill did not."

"Well, that makes two of us." She lowered herself into a kitchen chair and rested her forehead in her hands.

"She's….annoying." Eric glared out the kitchen window toward Bill's.

"How could he do such a thing?" She struggled to keep her voice even through the sob that escaped her throat.
"He had no choice."

"He had a choice in tellin' me! I walk in and find some woman spread across his couch and he just looks at me. Where's she been?"
"With me. I took her as a favor for Bill."

"Why'd you bring her back?"

"You met her. I'm just not willing to do that big of a favor." She slumped her head to the table and took a deep breath.

"He made her."
"That's correct. Did he tell you what that means?" She rolled her forehead back and forth across the table to indicate her negative response. He tried to keep his amused smile from her view as he strode across the kitchen to sit beside her at the table.

"She is his child. He will need to teach her. She is forever bound to her maker. When he calls, she can not deny him without severe punishment."

"Pam's your child, right?"

"Correct."

"So this Jessica girl with be with him from now on?" She finally lifted her head to look at his face; searching his eyes for answers and hope.

"Not always. I'm sure once Bill has fulfilled his obligations of teaching her responsibly in regards to living among humans, he will free her."

"Free her?"

"Allow her to leave; start her own existence."

"Why would he keep this from me? What else is he keeping from me?" Eric knew she didn't expect him to answer. But he found he was wondering the same thing himself. Did Bill just think that handing Jessica over to him was going to be the end of it? What else was going on with Bill? His remarks and threats didn't go unnoticed. Eric reached out to stroke her arm.

"He should have told you." He offered.

"We had a date tonight. We were celebrating."

"Celebrating?"

"Vampire rights." That caused a bitter humorless laugh to escape her lips as she dropped her fist to the tabletop.

"Ah, yes. Vampire marriage. You think Bill was going to…" His words trailed off as he thought about Bill and Sookie getting married. His eyes darkened and he wasn't quite surprised at the small amount of rage that built up inside him.

"Does it matter?"

"You don't think you will work it out?"

"He killed that girl."

"If it's any consolation, she's overly thrilled about being vampire."

"Great." Eric smiled at her tone. "You seem to be defending him a lot tonight." She looked in his eyes again trying to gage his reaction. He stared coolly back at her and grinned.

"I am not."

"Sounds like it."
"I assure you. I feel no need to defend Mr. Compton. Especially, when it comes to you."

He smiled at her and let his words sink in. She ducked her head and swallowed. Her head was starting to hurt and she really didn't want to think about what it meant to be sitting in her kitchen being consoled by Eric Northman. Her emotions were starting to overwhelm her. Her shoulders shook as another sob rose from her chest. Eric stood beside her and pulled her to her feet. He enveloped her in his arms and held her securely against his chest. She didn't want to be here but she felt so much better because she was. Eric gently rubbed his hand down her back and allowed her to cry. When she calmed a bit he guided her to her living room. Settling into the corner of the couch, she leaned against his side and tucked her legs beneath her.

"It seems I only see you when you've had a difficult day." He soothed as he lightly played with the material on her sleeve.
"I'm tired of difficult." They sat in silence a few minutes. She managed to stop crying but now depression was settling in.

"I had just gotten him back. I thought he was gone for good. Now he lies to me and has…has a….child." The disgust at which she said it made Eric grin. He knew that this was something that Sookie wasn't likely to forgive any time soon.

"You're tired." He observed tightening his arm around her shoulder. She sighed and allowed her head to fall against his chest.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Why do you keep showing up?" She relaxed at the rumble of the chuckle vibrating his chest.

"Have I worn out my welcome?"

"I'm just trying to…I mean…when I first met you, you wanted to…I can't…I mean…"

Eric nudged his shoulder slightly to get her to lean up so he could look at her face. He felt her body tense under his gaze.

"I won't pressure you, Sookie. For now, I would just like to be in your life…in what ever capacity you choose." She nodded her head mutely and felt the tears pooling in her eyes again. He hugged her to his chest again and allowed her to cry.

She and Eric had settled into a comfortable silence when the doorbell jolted her upright. She noticed Eric's jaw tighten and gave him a questioning look before standing.

"What's wrong?"

"If you'd like me to stay I will."

"It's Bill, isn't it?"

"Yes." She stood and weighed her options. Did she want Eric to leave so she and Bill could get into another screaming match? Did she want Eric to stay? Why did she want Eric to stay?

"Don't move. Just stay here, okay?"

"As you wish."

She took a deep breath and steeled her nerves. However, her heart betrayed her as it sank to her stomach once she saw Bill's face.

"I told you to leave me alone."

"Sookie, please." He stepped forward into the entry way and held her by the shoulders. "I can't lose you. You have to understand."

"You lied. How can I ever trust you again?" She tried to pull away from him but he refused to let go. His fangs were fully extended and she could feel his anger building.

"I had no choice, Sookie. Why can't you understand?"
"You told me the night you came back and fought with Sam that I had no idea what you had done to return to me. You're right, I didn't. But you sure didn't tell me. Did you think I wouldn't care?!"

"What should I have done?" She grimaced at the pain shooting through her arms.

"Let go!" She screamed. He dropped his hands and tried to pull her into his embrace.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She pushed against his chest but he refused to let her go. She suddenly felt his body stiffen and saw his features change. His nostrils flared and he held her by the shoulders again.

"Why do you smell like Eric?" He demanded.

"That's none of your business."
"Stay away from him, Sookie. You are mine." She was able to push away from then. Her sadness turned to rage and she balled her hands into tight fists at her sides.

"Not anymore! You have Jessica now. I hope you enjoy her!"

"Sookie." He tried to reach for her again but she held up her hand to stop him. He went to step forward again and saw Eric standing in the entry way to the livingroom. Bill's eyes widened and a growl escaped his lips. Sookie turned to see Eric behind her. His jaw was tight and she could tell his fangs were extended.

"What are you doing here?!" Bill snarled.

"Don't put your hands on her in anger again, Compton. It will be the last thing you do."

"You have no right to her. She is mine."
"Sookie doesn't seem to think so."

"I'm the one that's supposed to…." Bill stopped himself when he realized he said more than he should have.

"You're supposed to what? This isn't the first time you've made reference to an edict in regards to Sookie. What are you keeping from me Compton?" Eric rose to his full height and gently took Sookie by the arm. He guided her smoothly until she was standing slightly behind him.

"Nothing. She's mine and you have no right…" Sookie's eyes widened. She could tell he was keeping something from them. She absently grabbed the back of Eric's t-shirt.

"I'll find out. When I do, you better hope that you will live through it."

Sookie finally found her voice. She stepped around Eric and stood between the two furious vampires.

"What's going on? What are you not telling me? What else are you lying to me about?"

"Don't you see what he's doing? He's trying to pull us apart. He wants you for himself. He just wants to use your gift and then he'll cast you aside." Bill pleaded.

She looked at Bill's stricken face and then to Eric's. Something just wasn't right. She turned to face Bill again.

"Get out."

"Sookie, please."

"I rescind your invitation."

"No!" His voice rose as he walked backwards toward the door. Before Eric could move to a more protective stance around Sookie, she bolted forward and slammed the door in Bill's face.

~~
A smile settled on Eric's face at the scene before him until Sookie turned from the door. The emotion and pain she felt quickly erased his smugness. He moved to comfort her again but she shrugged him off. He heard the sob escape her throat as she walked down the hall and into her bedroom. Eric stood in the foyer a few minutes and debated what to do. She didn't ask him to leave, but he didn't want to push her fragile human emotions to the point that she would lash out at him. He walked slowly down the hall and stood in her doorway. She was curled up on the bed shaking with tears. His mind took him back to just a few weeks before when he was in this same spot. He slid his boots off and walked to the opposite side of the bed. She was too exhausted to care what Eric was doing. She felt the bed shift and then his cool body mold against her back. He slid his arm underneath her and pulled her into his embrace.

"Eric?" She whimpered, but he shushed her and started to gently rock her back and forth.

"I will stay."

She nodded her head and turned into his chest. She found herself once again sobbing into his chest allowing herself to release all the pain and hurt.

She woke slowly. Strong cool arms were still wrapped tightly around her. Eric stirred once he knew she was awake. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead.

"What time is it?"

"One o'clock. How are you feeling?"

"Wrung out." She shifted in his arms and tried to sit up.

"What would make you feel better?"
"A time machine?" She mumbled and he chuckled. The sound of his laughter comforted her and she offered him a small smile.

"That's a little out of my scope."

"Really? I thought you'd be able to get your hands on something like that. I mean, you're this bad ass vampire sheriff right?"

"That's true." They were both sitting on the edge of her bed and she enjoyed their playful banter.

"Everything's so screwed up." Her emotions flipped again.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"When you came into the bar the first time, I could tell that you had never…" She looked up from her feet and stared at him. Was he going to say what she thought he was going to say? Sensing her anxiety, he tried to soften his tone.

"Bill was your first?" She dropped her gaze and quickly nodded her head.

"You haven't dated many human men?" She shook her head, refusing to give voice to her sex life.

"Why? Because of your gift." He quickly answered his own question and looked at her embarrassment on her face.

"So that is why you allowed Bill to…." He dropped his thought and rubbed his hand along the back of her head. "That's why the pain is so deep. It will fade over time." He assured her.
"You mentioned an edict last night. What does that mean?" She quickly changed the subject. He stood and started pacing. She could tell his was turning last night's conversation over in his mind.

"He keeps slipping up in his conversations in regards to you. He's made veiled threats and comments that lead me to believe that someone with more authority than I has sent him here."

"Sent him here? For what?"

"You."

"Me?!" Her heart plummeted and she could feel her stomach start to churn. She tried to keep from rushing to the bathroom to vomit so she concentrated on Eric's face. He was still pacing and his forehead had creased with thought.

"I wonder who else knows of your unique gift?"

"Half the town knows something about it! They all think I'm crazy."

He looked at her expression and tried to fight the urge to gather her up in his arms again. He had more pressing matters. He needed to know what was going on in his area. Who dared usurp his authority?

"I'm talking about a vampire, Sookie. I don't think Bill stumbled upon you by accident."

"You mean he…that we…." She lunged for the bathroom and heaved as the bile rose in her throat. Eric grimaced at the noises she made but moved to stand in the doorway.
"I'm sorry." Was all he could think to say. She wiped her mouth with her hand towel and brushed her teeth. She knew she should be crying, but she just didn't have any tears left.

"So he was just following someone's…orders?"

"We don't know that for sure, Sookie. But I believe Mr. Compton has been less than forthright with both of us."

"He never loved me." She whispered to herself as she hugged her arms around her in an effort to keep her heart from falling from her chest. Her head snapped up and her stare turned to one of rage.

"Are you here for the same reasons?! Is that why you keep showing up?!" Her hands tightened in to fists and she stepped towards him. He was shocked at first at her accusation and then quickly amused at her fighting stance. She was such a thrill to him.

"No, dear one. I promise you that is not the case." He stepped forward and reached to stroke her cheek. She stiffened and he smiled.
"Are you going to fight me?" His tone was teasing and she relaxed a little.

"I trusted Bill." She didn't have to explain herself anymore, he understood her intent.

"I'm not sure you should trust anyone. Your gift makes you valuable."
"Should I trust you?"
"Probably not." He laughed a little louder this time. "But know that I have been nothing but honest with you. I feel no reason for lying or deceit when it comes to my intentions in regards to you." She eyed him for a moment taking in his words.

"And just what are your intentions in regards to me?"
"You want the long or the short?" He smirked. She couldn't stop the small flicker of a smile twisting at the corner of her mouth. She liked Eric. She liked his humor.

"Let's start with the short and I'll get back with you on the long."

"I find myself thinking about you more than I care to."
"What does that mean exactly?" This time she allowed him to rest his hand against her cheek.

"It means that the more I'm around you, the more I have to fight the desire to fuck you." Her eyes widened at his vulgarity. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. It comforted him that she did not pull away but he saw the fear in her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and laughed. "Don't worry, Sookie. I'm not going to force you. I would never force you. But, I'm sure you will yield to me one day soon. One day you will be mine."

"No, I won't." Her voice was filled with emotion and pain. "I can't."

"It's my hope that one day you will." She shook her head against his chest and sighed.

"Why me?"

"I ask myself that daily." The rumbling of his laugh was contagious. He felt her relax a little.

"Gee, thanks."

"So you don't think I could ever win your favor?" He rested his chin on top of her head and gently stroked her back. She allowed herself to tighten her arms around his torso as she tucked her head farther into his chest.

"I can't."

"But I can try."

"I wish you wouldn't."

"But I will." She pulled away from him and slid her hands along his waist looking up at his face. His eyes were bright blue and bored into her.

"I feel empty inside. I've never…It hurts so much."

"I can make you forget him, you know." He leered at her.

"I doubt that. I feel him burned across my…heart." He kissed her cheek again as her voice broke. His lips lingered along her jaw and he pulled back slightly gauging her reaction. He brushed his lips lightly across her lower lip as he rested his hand against her cheek as she closed her eyes. He applied slightly more pressure and kissed her again. She didn't pull away but she didn't initiate either. Eric lightly swept his tongue across her upper lips and felt her heart speed up. He slid his other had to her hip and pulled her closer to hip as she parted her lips for him. Her mouth was hot and sweet and he wanted more. He moaned slightly as he felt her respond to him. She slid her hands up his back and balled his t-shirt into her fists. He wanted to pick her up, throw her on the bed and ravage every inch of her, but he had to maintain control. She was hurt and fragile. Pushing her would only cause her to retreat from him. He pulled back slightly and smiled at her wide questioning eyes.

"What am I doing?" She whispered to him.

"You're making the better choice."

"It's too soon. I can't." He stepped back and smiled softly.

"I'll wait."