Okay, changing format slightly. Since this story takes place right after the events in Changes, I'm continuing it on as part of that story. This update is (or will eventually be) also two stories in one since I couldn't find a good place to separate them.

Thank you for all your lovely comments, they really are appreciated.

I hope you enjoy!

Cat

-xxx-

III

As I drove to work that evening, I found I couldn't wait to see Sam. Sam could keep a secret and, though he probably wouldn't be thrilled, I could tell him that I had married Eric without worrying that he would reveal my secret.

Amelia and Octavia had noticed how happy I seemed when I got back, but I'd just regaled them with tales of Vegas, gambling and the party. They seemed happy with that.

I parked behind the bar and rushed in, eager to speak to Sam before the evening rush began. As I stowed my purse in the drawer in Sam's desk, my phone rang. I smiled when I saw Eric on the caller ID.

"Good morning, wife," he greeted me. Well for him it was morning.

"Eric! Shh," I chided, though I felt equal parts excited and frightened by his new term of endearment.

He laughed, "No one is around, love, trust me. Our secret is safe."

"You got home okay?" it wasn't really a question.

"I did. And you?"

"Fine." For some reason the conversation was awkward. I hoped this was just an adjustment phase.

"Sookie!" Sam's voice yelled from the doorway. "Are you here to work or to chat?" he asked.

I felt unreasonably hurt by Sam's harsh words. "I gotta go, Eric. I'll call you later."

"Goodbye, my lover."

Sam was glaring at me from the door. I wasn't even late. I'd arrived early so I could talk to Sam and now I didn't feel like even telling him the time.

I realised he had a right to be angry with me for the time I'd had off recently, but that didn't mean I was okay with him being mad at me. My temper snapped.

"'Hey Sookie, how was your trip?'" I mimicked his voice. "'Oh, it was great, Sam, thanks for letting me take the time off.' 'I told you, it wasn't your fault.' 'I know but I still feel bad.' 'Did you do anything special?' 'Well, actually I have something important to tell you.' 'You do, what's up, cher?' 'Oh, well something huge happened and you were the only person I wanted to tell because you're the only person I trust enough but since you're being such a dick, I've changed my mind'." I stormed past him.

He must have realised he'd hurt me. "Sookie," he called after me in an exasperated tone but I ignored him.

The shift changeover was quick and I began seeing to my tables. Bill was already here, obviously my guard for the night. He'd taken to bringing his laptop with him so he could work while he watched over me.

"Sookie, you look good," he said when I came to check on him. "And just a little angry. Something wrong?"

I shook my head. "Nothing important. Another True Blood?"

"Please, AB negative."

"Coming right up."

By the time I returned with his drink I had calmed down somewhat. "What are you working on?" I asked, motioning to the laptop. "Updating your program?"

"No. That was more accurately a database than a program and I finished the latest update last month. Now I'm learning HTML."

I must have looked blank.

"The programming language for websites," he explained.

"Oh, you're going to be a web designer?"

"Yes and no. Eric wants a site for his anti-ageing clinics, I told him I'd give it a shot."

"Doesn't Fangtasia have a website?" I asked.

"It does, but it's very basic. Eric isn't really technology minded but he knows he needs something special for this business." He shrugged. "I guess he's finally waking up to the twenty first century."

I laughed. "Go easy on him. He was around for the last millennia so he's seen a lot more changes than you have."

We had to cut our conversation short then as I noticed another table was running low.

The rest of the evening was uneventful and I did my best to avoid Sam as much as possible. It wasn't very grown up, but I couldn't help it.

Sam noticed but didn't push me. At the end of the evening I collected my bag as fast as I could and headed out. I wasn't fast enough as Sam stood blocking my exit from his office.

"Cher, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Sam." I tried to sound pleasant.

"Do you still want to tell me what you wanted to tell me?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I'm not supposed to tell you anyway so it's probably a good thing that I didn't."

He looked curious, but I wasn't in a secret sharing mood any longer.

"I'm sorry I shouted earlier, Sam. I shouldn't have. I know I've had a lot of time off and I get why you're mad at me."

"I'm sorry too, Sookie."

I walked over to him, hoping he'd move. "See you tomorrow, Sam."

Reluctantly he stepped aside to let me through the door.

Outside I found Bill waiting beside my car. He must have walked here tonight.

"Problems?" he asked.

We got in the car and I sighed. "Just life. I don't think I can keep my bar work and my vamp work separate much longer."

He nodded, needing no further explanation. "Your life would have been a lot easier if I'd never walked into Merlotte's that night."

"Nah, it wouldn't. The Queen would only have sent someone else and you know it. My fate was sealed the moment Hadley opened her big mouth."

"I'm sorry," he sounded sincere.

"I'm not." He turned to me, surprised. "Honestly. Sure vampire life is messy and dangerous and all those other bad things, but…" I couldn't think how to phrase it.

"But?" he gently pushed.

"But I wouldn't change it." I hadn't exactly had a lot of sleep so I wasn't at my most eloquent right now.

I pulled up behind my house and we both went in.

"I need to crash," I told Bill. It looked like Octavia was in bed already, Amelia I wasn't sure about but she was a grown woman, I didn't need to check on her. "Help yourself to blood and the TV set."

"Sleep tight, Sookie."

I changed for bed and picked up the phone. Contacting Eric was a lot easier now; I could just phone his mobile.

"Dear one," he answered, pleased.

"Hey," I smiled, pleased to hear his voice.

"Would you like me to kill the shifter for you?" He was only half joking.

"Let me sleep on it," I teased. "How's things there?"

"Busy, but Pam has done an excellent job in my absence. It won't take me long to catch up. In fact I could probably spend the last few hours of the night with you."

His seductive offer was tempting but, "Hold up there, buddy, not all of us slept all day, you know."

"You would deny your husband so soon after marriage?" He was trying to sound hurt but I could hear the teasing lilt in his tone. "I thought you humans had a seven year itch, not seven days."

"First of all, it's far too early to play the marriage card and second of all, it's only been 4 days. I'm more grouchy than itchy."

He laughed. "I know, lover. When is your next evening off?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"Then I shall have to learn patience. Until then, sleep well, my love."

"Night, Eric." As I hung up I had a sudden desire to go to Shreveport and surprise him, but I squashed the thought. Nice as seeing Eric would be, I needed to retain my independence. And I needed sleep.

As I drifted off to sleep I imagined what it would be like to live with Eric, properly, as man and wife.

It was a dangerously tempting image.

III

I slept until 11 the next day and awoke refreshed from a night of very pleasant dreams. Amelia was brewing something in a clay pot at the kitchen table.

"What's that?" I asked, pouring some coffee.

"It's the strongest anti-ageing treatment," Amelia told me. "We've done the weaker creams but this is almost pure blood. Not very visually appealing," she said, adding some dried leaved to the mix. "So I had the idea of making it a mud pack instead of a cream. Looks okay so far." She peered into the small pot.

"How's the business coming?" I asked. I hadn't even thought about Eric's anti-ageing clinic for ages.

"Good. The house is nearly finished being renovated and once we've tried this out then our products range will be done and we're ready to go."

"No adverse reactions?" I asked. Vampire blood, the whole basis of these anti-ageing treatments, could drive some people insane.

"No. One allergic reaction so we had to take the perfume out but no one's freaked out or anything. I don't think they can absorb enough through the skin for any sort of drug high." She stirred the thick paste. "Right, give me your arm."

"What? Why?"

"Just to check you're not allergic. It's safe, see," she smeared some on her own forearm. Reluctantly I gave her my arm and she painted a stripe. "It stays on for fifteen minutes. If you have any itching in the next 24 hours, let me know."

"Will do." I looked at the thick red-brown paste. "Looks like a mud pack. Not that I've ever had one before."

Amelia smiled. "I think it'll work too. And this one is the most expensive treatment. The vamp donors have to be 500 or older because their blood is more effective and you're probably wearing about a hundred dollars worth."

Just in that little stripe? This clinic was obviously for the rich. Then again, most anti-ageing treatments were for the rich.

"What are you up to today?" Amelia asked.

"I thought…" I had thought I'd run into town and get some groceries, but if I did that I'd need a bodyguard. I sighed, hating having to call someone for even the simplest tasks. "I'll just stay around the house, I think."

I could see the pity in Amelia's face and it irked me. I bit my tongue though because it wasn't her fault someone wanted to kill me.

"Well, I'm supposed to go to the clinic today and check on the work. Dawson's coming for a look, too. Don't suppose you want to join us."

Dawson was a great bodyguard, Eric's first non-vampire choice, in fact. And I would love to get out of the house. "That sounds great. And maybe we could stop off at the store on our way back?"

"Sure."

For all her faults, Amelia really was a good friend. I felt a twinge of guilt at not telling her my news.

I busied myself with recording my memories for the book the King was having written to discredit the Fellowship and its militant arm, the AEA.

III

The clinic stood about fifteen minutes outside Shreveport, on the Bon Temps side. It looked like an old farm house and a converted barn. The house itself was a good mile from the road, down a newly paved road and I'd noticed that gates had been erected at the turnoff.

We parked in front of the house and went in there first.

The interior had been made to look rustic but modern. The wooden floors were brought back to a brilliant shine and the furniture was the sort you could imagine curling up in. The walls had been painted a biscuit colour and abstract prints already hung on them.

"The house is pretty much done," Amelia was telling me. "Just needs furnishing but the treatment rooms in the barn still need some work."

We looked through the ten bedrooms in the house. They were the picture of understated class.

"Who decided on the decor?" I asked. This didn't seem like Amelia's style. While she had good taste, she leaned more towards marble and brass.

"Pam and Eric," she told me. "It's a bit homey for my tastes but Pam thinks it's great."

Dawson was looking around him, taking everything in without comment.

Next we crossed the yard to the barn. "This path will be paved," Amelia explained, "and the whole area landscaped once the builders are finished."

I could hear banging coming from the barn as we approached.

The barn had been divided into two floors and large windows put into the walls. The ground floor was half swimming pool (empty right now) and half gym, with changing facilities and showers at one end. The upper floor was sectioned off into rooms and the banging I'd heard was drywall being nailed into place. Although none of the rooms were finished, Amelia painted a good picture of how it would look. The barn seemed like it would be much more her style, with lots of shiny tile and wipe-able surfaces.

Most rooms would be multi purpose and each had their own small changing area.

Amelia then went off to speak to the foreman.

"Looks good, doesn't it," Dawson finally spoke.

I nodded absently.

"They'll be looking for staff, you know," he tried to sound casual.

"I know nothing about health spas."

Dawson shrugged. "It'd sure be easier to keep an eye on you if you were closer."

That irritated me, mainly because I needed looking after. I didn't want to put Dawson out, and I didn't want to be in danger.

A small voice also reminded me that if I was with Eric, this would be much easier. I could ask Eric things I couldn't ask of other people. If I got onto his sleep schedule, I'd hardly ever need anyone else to watch over me.

But did I want to be that… tied?

I surprised myself by saying, "Sam's mad at me."

Dawson nodded. "I can't say it's unexpected."

Sadly he was right. I'd brought an awful lot of crap into Sam's life in recent years.

"He'd still be your friend," Dawson told me. "Might even make it easier to be friends if you took work out of the equation."

"Did Eric put you up to this?" I snapped.

Dawson gave me a disgusted look before he turned and left. I shook my head. I was snapping at everyone and no one deserved it.

In fact if I were being logical, working here would be good. I would be working with humans, I was sure Eric would have the place kitted out with all sorts of security and I would be closer to him if I wanted to see him after work.

I had never thought myself as resistant to change before but I guess I really wasn't handling it well.

I went back to the car and listened to Amelia twitter on about the work and when it would be finished. As the daytime project manager she was very clued in.

I let her words become a sort of buzzing in my head as my thoughts drifted. Change didn't have to be bad, it could be for the better. One thing I was sure of, I wasn't a coward. I should no more run from change than I should run when people I loved were in danger.

"Shit!" Dawson cried, Amelia screamed and I felt the car swerve sharply before rolling. I hit the side of my head on something hard, heard glass shatter and Amelia scream. I didn't know how many times we rolled (some of the spinning could be because of the blow to my head) but when we finished the car was upright and the engine still running. Amazingly, Dawson hit the gas and we moved forward. From the thumping noises I guessed our tyres were gone.

"What's happening?" I asked.

Dawson didn't answer for a moment as he wrestled with the steering wheel. "Stinger on the road," he said succinctly. Finally he stopped the car.

A stinger? Didn't the police use those in car chases?

"We've got some cover from the trees, but we have to go now."

I understood and climbed from the car, staying low and ignoring the throbbing from my head. Amelia followed suit and Dawson rushed around the car to join us.

"Follow me," he whispered, "and stay low. Their goal was to stop the car so they'll be coming after us."

"But someone will come past soon, maybe we should stay in the car." Amelia offered.

"We'd be sitting ducks," I told her, and we headed deeper into the woods, staying as low and quiet as we could.

It didn't take long before I heard a shot, but it didn't seem close to us. Then I made out some voices, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. I stretched my mind out and found them. They were about two hundred meters away, approaching the car. They hadn't expected us to be able to drive so far on shredded tyres so we had a slight head start.

I hoped Dawson knew where we were going because I had no clue. I also realised it was a good four hours until dusk, so I could expect no vampire help. I saw Dawson check his cell phone but he put it away again so I checked my own. No signal. Damn!

We continued in a straight line for a long while, keeping low, then we turned right, heading parallel to the road. I wondered if the plan was to head back to the road eventually.

An hour later I stopped wondering, I didn't have the resources. Both Amelia and I had fallen a couple of times on the uneven dirt, my head and ankle were killing me and we kept hearing shots ringing out. They didn't seem too close but they were still frightening. I was exhausted, cold and miserable, I guessed I was running out of adrenalin.

Finally I tripped again, and I was sure I did some serious damage this time. Something kept me going until we came across a thick clump of bushes and Dawson told us to rest there. We all checked our phones again, but we still had no signal.

"I don't know if I can carry on," Amelia admitted. She looked a mess, her face was scratched up from branches, her hair was matted and her knee seemed to be swelling.

I knew how she felt.

"It's me they're after," I told her. "They won't kill you. You go with Dawson and send someone back for me." I began to shiver. Probably some form of shock.

Amelia shook her head. "I might be able to help you."

"We can't all stay here, they'll find us. I am the only one they want, it makes sense to split up."

Dawson intervened. "Whatever we do, we do it together." His tone was so sure we didn't question him.

I was going to vote for staying.

"I could try a stasis spell." Amelia offered. "Freeze them and give us time to get to the road."

"You'd have to cover a huge area," I countered.

Amelia looked worried but determined. "I know. But we have to do something."

Dawson and I shared a look. I hoped the desperation I saw in his eyes wasn't reflected in mine, but I thought it probably was. We nodded to each other. The spell was our only option.

Then Claudine appeared. "I'm sorry I'm late." She seemed breathless. "I wasn't in this realm, I didn't know."

I don't think I've ever been so happy to see someone.

"Can you get us out of here?" I asked.

"Not the way I came. Have you called for help?"

I held up the useless phone. "No signal."

Claudine took it and dialled 911 then held it at my ear. I tried to take the phone from her but she batted my hand away. Surprisingly the call went through.

"911, what is your emergency?"

I explained as best I could and was assured that the police were on their way. I don't think she believed me until another shot rung out and I gasped.

She asked if I wanted her to stay on the line with me but I told her no and hung up.

"How did you do that?" I asked.

Claudine shrugged, "I acted as a supernatural antenna for it."

"Thank you, Claudine, I mean that from the bottom of my heart, but you have to go," I told her. "The police will wonder why you aren't all scratched up like us."

Claudine nodded. "But I'll wait until I hear sirens, at least."

"Thank you for coming," I told her. Amelia and Dawson echoed the sentiment. While we waited she took a look at my ankle, it was nearly as thick as my calf.

"I think it's broken," she told me. "But I don't think you have any other serious injuries."

Finally we heard sirens and Claudine bid us farewell and disappeared. The next moment I wished I hadn't sent her away as we heard multiple shots fired. Luckily none seemed too close to our position. Then we heard more sirens and the shooting subsided.

Five minutes later we heard our names being called and Dawson chanced raising his head above the parapet.

"Over here!" he called.

The next hour was a blur. Amelia and I were carried to the roadside on stretchers where we were patched up by paramedics. Then we were questioned by two Shreveport detectives I didn't know. They wouldn't tell me what had happened to the Fellowship members following us. When they began going over everything for the fourth time, I pretended exhaustion (not hard since I was exhausted) and they let the paramedics take us to hospital.

My x-rays showed I had a broken ankle and because of my head injury, the doctor wanted to keep me in overnight but I just wanted to go home. Home to Eric. He wouldn't be awake yet but I had keys.

After my ankle had been set in plaster, Dawson dropped me off and helped me to the door. The cast and crutches took some getting used to but we managed. I headed to the bathroom first to shower. It wasn't easy since I couldn't get the cast wet but I wrapped the leg in a towel and detached the showerhead so I could aim the spray away from my leg.

Clean again, I dressed in the closest thing to hand, Eric's blue towelling robe, staggered to the kitchen and poured an Irish cream (adding an extra shot of whiskey) and made my way to the living room. The gas fire worked with a remote control so I turned it on high. I had left my bag in the hall so I didn't have my cell phone and Eric's cordless must be on its cradle. I didn't have the energy to retrieve either. Hopefully Amelia would call Sam. Someone would tell him, surely.

I sipped the Irish cream and tried to relax.

The next thing I knew, Eric was leaning over me, one hand cupping my face.

"I just can't leave you alone, can I, love?" he said kindly, but I noticed his jaw was locked.

"It's my sparkling personality, they just can't get enough of me." He wasn't asking me any questions. "You know what happened?"

He nodded. "Dawson left me a message, I called him as soon as I awoke and I've spoken with the police."

"Then you probably know more than I do."

He nodded. "Probably, but that can wait until you are more rested. Will you take my blood?"

I remembered how much blood I'd needed to heal after the Rats attacked me. Surely I'd need a lot again to heal bone.

"Too risky," I told him. "I'd need a lot…" He put his fingers over my lips.

"Then just a little, enough to heal the head wound and your abrasions?" I must have looked doubtful as he continued. "I didn't feed from you yesterday and it's been quite some time since I've taken your blood in quantity. You will be safe, dear one, you have my word."

I nodded. I expected this to be a sexual encounter since Eric always enjoyed me taking his blood but Eric simply bit into his wrist and held it to my mouth. I took a few swallows and stopped. Since vampires don't have a heartbeat to force the blood out, when I stopped sucking the blood flow slowed to nearly nothing.

He looked miffed that I hadn't taken more but didn't pressure me.

"Now we must get you home," he said.

"No, can't I just stay here until you get back from work?"

He frowned. "I'm not going to work, Sookie."

"But you have to. You just took a week off and you've only been back one day."

"That blow to your head must have been worse than I imagined if you think there is any way I am leaving you. Pam will manage perfectly well. Besides, I worked through last night, I am nearly caught up."

"Then why are we going to mine?" I was still feeling sleepy and like I was two steps behind everyone else.

"Because you are injured and unable to walk. You will prefer to be somewhere familiar, with your own things around you. It will also be good for you to have human companions to help you during the day."

I began to cry. Eric looked vaguely startled but took it in stride, brushing my still damp hair back from my forehead and wiping my tears away with his thumb. Of course he sucked my tears off his thumb.

"Why are you crying?" he was genuinely puzzled.

"Because I'm tired and in pain and miserable and you're being really nice to me."

"And my being nice makes you cry?"

I shrugged. "It does when I'm overwrought."

He smiled briefly. "Your word of the day last week, no?"

I gave a brief laugh. "Yes." I sniffled and Eric handed me a tissue.

"Come," Eric scooped me up into his arms. "Would you prefer to change before we leave?"

Part of me did in case we got pulled over or something, but a bigger part of me wanted my bed and the Hagen Daz ice cream in my freezer. Besides, if anyone did stop us I had a good excuse for not being properly dressed.

I fell asleep again almost as soon as we left Eric's and didn't wake up until he was carrying me into the house. He enquired after Amelia's injuries and general health (like a good mainstreaming vampire should) as he settled me on the sofa.

Octavia and Amelia fussed over me as Eric built a fire. I was soon fed, watered and, thanks to my earlier naps, rested. I was feeling much better now. I could already see that some of my abrasions were healed and my head felt much more normal sized than it had at Eric's house. I wondered absently if vampire blood could cure illnesses like cancer.

Amelia invited Octavia to watch a video with her and they disappeared upstairs. I wondered why Dawson wasn't here.

Eric got a blanket for me and settled me against him. I surfed the channels until I settled on Chicago, it wasn't my favourite musical, but I did like a lot of the music. Eric wasn't a musical fan but he didn't complain. Considering how little the women in this wore, it probably held some interest for any red blooded male.

After my nap, I didn't think I was still tired, but the next thing I knew I was in bed and bright sunlight was streaming in through the windows. Eric was gone.

I looked around the room and noticed that the top left drawer in my dresser was slightly ajar. That was Eric's way of letting me know he was sleeping under there, in one of his newly built hidey holes.

I felt much better today, thanks to Eric's blood, but my leg was still too painful to walk on. That meant getting ready for the day took at least three times longer than usual but I finally managed to make it to the kitchen, fully dressed.

"How are you?" I asked Amelia. Her face had a few abrasions but she looked okay.

She shrugged. "Oh, I'm fine. Nothing too serious. You look much better."

"Eric," she didn't need more of an explanation.

"He offered to heal me too," she said. "After you'd gone to sleep."

I didn't know that. "Why didn't you agree?"

"Because he would know my feelings, and I didn't think that would be much fun for him. Besides, I'm not badly hurt."

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault," she said. "And remember that when I tell you this. I've been thinking about this for a few weeks, this isn't because of what happened yesterday."

My reply was hesitant. "Okay." I made a real effort to stay out of her head.

"I'm thinking of getting my own place. And I swear it's only because things can get a bit crowded here with you, me, Octavia, Tray and Eric."

"So you're going back to New Orleans?" I would miss her.

"No, I'm saying here. I think I like small town life. For a bit longer anyway."

"Tray?" I asked.

She blushed. "He might have something to do with it. Anyway, I'm earning, I can afford to get my own place now so I thought I'd start looking."

"Renting or buying?" I asked.

"Renting."

"Okay, just… hold off a few weeks. I think there are going to be some changes."

She frowned. "Um, well I guess I can wait. I'm not in a huge rush or anything."

Amelia then left to meet Dawson for lunch. Octavia was reading on the front porch.

A big decision had been in front of me for a while now and it was time to act upon it. Unfortunately Sam wasn't answering his phone.

I found out why fifteen minutes later as he pulled up at my house. I hadn't managed to move from the kitchen yet.

"Hey, cher, how are you doing?" he asked kindly. He didn't seem even slightly upset with me.

"I'm okay Sam." I offered him a coffee but he poured it himself to save me getting up.

"How long are you going to be out of action?" he asked as he sat back down.

I took a deep breath. "Sam, I don't think I'll be coming back to work."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, really. It's just… Oh, Sam, I'm a terrible employee and we both know it. It isn't fair to you that I stay."

"Sookie, you need to work," he said reasonably. "I honestly don't mind that you need to take time off."

"Not this time, Sam, but when about next time, when it's vampire business again? Or what if someone in the bar gets hurt when the Felllowship tries again?" I shook my head. "No, I can't do that to you. I won't."

"Isn't that my decision?"

He looked a little hurt so I reached across the table and took his hand. "Sam, you are a great guy, you are a good friend and you are the best boss I've ever had. That's why I can't carry on working for you, it isn't right to bring my problems down on you." I paused as I considered my next words. "I hope that we'll still be friends, maybe even better friends now that you aren't my boss."

Sam looked down at our joined hands. I gently took my hand away, I didn't want him getting the wrong idea.

"Besides, I'll be around all the time," I told him. "Who else would Arlene find to judge if I disappeared?"

Finally he cracked a smile. "You've given this a lot of thought?"

"I guess."

"Do you have something else lined up?"

"Not for a while, three weeks at least. Then I thought I'd see about working in the spa Eric's setting up."

His smile grew a little strained then but I ignored it. He didn't like Eric, that was fine. In fact it was reassuring to see the old status quo still in place.

"I haven't asked him yet," I covered the silence. "I know nothing about spas or clinics but there must be something I can do."

After that things seemed to relax between us. I told Sam about most of the happenings in Las Vegas, and he told me what I'd missed in the bar. We were back to our old selves.

Since Terry was covering the afternoon shift, Sam spent a couple of hours with me. He was good company and I hoped I was true to my word and I wouldn't lose him as a friend.

He left at half past four to get ready for the evening crowd. As he was at the door, on impulse, I asked, "Sam, could I hire the bar for an evening soon?"

"Sure, Sook. Did you have a date in mind?"

"Not yet. Probably a Sunday though, so I won't interfere with regular trade."

"Anything special?" he asked.

"Maybe. But I can't say yet. I'm sorry."

Sam accepted that. "Don't be a stranger, you hear?"

I smiled. "Promise."

After Sam left I felt relaxed. For about fifteen minutes, then the fear set in again.

I examined my decision again from the unemployed side of the fence and I still came to the conclusion that it had been the right thing to do. Well, for everyone but me possibly.

I needed to distract myself. First I called Dawson. He was out with Amelia but I left a message on his answering machine, thanking him for, once again, saving my life.

Well, that hadn't been much of a distraction. I turned the TV on and tried to find a news story about what had happened yesterday. Considering I'd been in the centre of it, I was very poorly informed.

Surprisingly I found it on CNN and soon realised why. Along with one of the attackers a deputy had been shot and killed.

They were not just vampire haters now, they were cop killers. As sad as I was for the officer, my rational side had to admit this was good for discrediting the organisation.

There had been eight attackers in total, two others had been wounded. While they hadn't claimed affiliation with any group, Fellowship materials were found in their cars. The seven living attackers had all been charged with multiple offences.

Well, including previous attempts on my life, that was 10 now behind bars because of me. If I kept this up, maybe I could destroy the Fellowship all on my own.

Next I saw Janice Morrino (the best selling vampire author who was telling my story in her next book). She assured them I was very shaken and seriously hurt but recovering okay, having spoken to Eric last night. She went on to explain about some of the other attempts on my life because of my association with vampires. Since she glossed over Rene I guessed she'd gotten her information from Eric. Eric had been a periphery player in my life back then so he wasn't privy to all the details of Rene's attack.

Amelia popped back in later and collected some things. She was spending the night with Dawson. Octavia returned from shopping and began making dinner.

Eric awoke shortly after that, emerging from my bedroom clad only in his jeans. I noticed Octavia copping a look before she busied herself in the kitchen again. I couldn't say I blamed her.

"Love?" he sat next to me, looking confused. "You are anxious."

"I have some news." I took a deep breath. "I quit my job today."

"You did? Why?"

I explained my reasoning to him.

"And what will you do now?" he asked.

I'd been hoping he'd swoop in with an offer, but he didn't. "You don't have an opinion on what I should do?"

He smiled. "Of course I do, but you have a rather annoying habit of doing the opposite of what I want."

Touché. "Okay then. Well, I was wondering if you had a job available at the spa."

He didn't answer immediately and I couldn't read his expression either.

"I would do anything," I covered the uncomfortable silence. "Clean, change beds, anything."

He looked angry. "You will do no such thing." Great, so even my husband wouldn't employ me. "Why do you sell yourself short, Sookie? I have the perfect position for you, night manager. The hours are four until midnight, five days a week. Interested?"

"But I don't know anything about managing a spa."

"Nor do I. It's basically just making sure everything is okay, handling the requests of the resident clients, making sure the other staff do their jobs correctly. The work should be easier than Merlotte's."

"But I've never managed anyone."

"I can't think of a better manager, Sookie. You will know when the staff are lying, know what will calm irate customers down without having to ask, and I already know you are hard working. We will learn the business together. And Pam is a partner, she will help you if I am unable."

I felt a bit better. Hopefully we'd be starting slowly so I'd have time to ease into the role.

"So," I pouted, I hoped sexily, "who do I have to sleep with to get this job?"

"Pam," he answered, deadpan. "She's handling staff arrangements."

I laughed. It felt very good after being on edge all afternoon. So, that was work sorted.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Pretty good, other than the ankle."

"And you're sure you won't let me-"

"No, Eric, no more vampire blood than necessary." I kissed him briefly on the lips. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to get me addicted."

"Damn, my evil scheme has been foiled. If only I had found more effective assassins, you would be forced to take my blood to survive."

"Oh well, at least you're a good thief."

He looked quizzical.

"You stole my heart."

Eric groaned. "Oh no. If I had known how bad your sense of humour was, I may have reconsidered marrying you."

"That's rich. I'm not the one who named his business 'Fang'-tasia."

"There is something wrong with that name?"

"Not if you're a twelve year old girl."

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I suppose you think that because you are injured, I won't seek recompense for that remark."

"Honestly, Eric, I don't think my being in a full body cast would stop you."

He swept me into his arms. "How right you are, lover." He carried me through to the bedroom and duly made me pay for my insult. Twice. To my mind that meant I was now in credit.

When we emerged Octavia had left my meal heating in the oven and taken herself off upstairs to use Amelia's living room. Eric carried me to the kitchen, set me down at the table and got my food for me.

"I'll never learn to use my crutches if you keep carrying me everywhere," I admonished.

Eric shot the said crutches a disdainful glare as he heated a True Blood, but didn't comment. As I ate I contemplated the next challenge facing me.

"Eric." He looked up at me. "I've been thinking."

"About?" he prompted after a moment.

"Living together."

Eric sipped his blood and considered my words. "Love, of course I am pleased, but I am also curious. If either of us had doubts, it was you. We've only been back two days and already you've quit your job and want to move in. Next you'll be telling me you've announced our marriage in the paper." That wasn't exactly the reaction I'd been expecting.

"Well, no, but I did ask Sam if we could rent the bar for a party."

Eric raised an eyebrow. "Sookie, that is very good news, but I'm puzzled."

I sighed. A 'Yippie!' would have been nice. But not Eric, oh no, Eric had to understand everything before he could accept it.

I didn't really have an explanation, though. "I guess now that we are married, it doesn't seem so scary any more. And the attack just makes me think we'd both be happier if you were around more."

"So you are moving in for safety reasons?" There was a trace of contempt in his voice that I didn't like.

"No." I said, firmly. "No. I just… I miss you and, for a dozen different reasons, I want you closer. I want to be close to you. If I have a bad day, it's you I call. When I need space, it's your home I take refuge in, and when I'm feeling horny I wish you weren't an hour's drive away."

He nodded slowly as though considering what I had said. "Sookie, just to be clear, this isn't because of the way you were raised, you don't feel obligated to do this, do you?"

I smiled. "No, Eric. I'm still a little frightened, but I really really want to do this. I want to be your wife. And not just in name only."

The next thing I knew I was hovering three feet in the air, being spun around. "Eric, put me down!" I swatted at his shoulder.

"Never!" he laughed. "You are mine, Sookie Stackhouse. Finally, totally and completely mine!"

He lowered me down to kiss me passionately as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Usually so controlled, it felt odd when his fangs drew blood but I didn't care. His loss of control was somehow proof of how happy he was.

When he finally remembered that I needed to breathe every so often, I cupped his face with my hands. "And you are mine, Eric Northman. Don't you ever forget it."

"As if I could." He closed his eyes and buried his head in my neck, inhaling deeply. "You are the most exquisite creature I have ever encountered," he told me, carrying me towards the bedroom. It probably wasn't true, but it was nice to hear anyway. "Let's celebrate."

"Why do all our celebrations end up in the bedroom?" I teased.

"Because it's too cold outside for you mortals."