I'm really sorry this took so long. A ton has been going on in my life personally and at work, so it's been hard to get a chance to write and I've kind of lost my muse when it comes to this story. I have the rest planned out, but actually writing it has been difficult lately. Your encouragement really helps! Thanks for sticking with me, you guys are the main reason I'm still writing this! -R

It was Eric who broke the spell.

"Will you still be with me," he asked and although she could not see his face, she could detect the uncertainty in his voice. "When I return to being vampire?"

Her first instinct was to immediately tell him yes, to espouse his fears and comfort him, but she knew it was a serious question and she respected him enough to provide him with a serious answer. Tense moments stretched by as she pondered her response and he held her against him, despising his growing anxiety and vulnerability.

"Yes," she said finally. "Yes. You know I don't agree with everything you do as a vampire, but I can acknowledge that I don't understand all the complications of that life. And I feel…an undeniable connection to you. I don't want to give up on that, on us and what we could be, just because you're undead."

She felt him nod against her hair and they were quiet. Sookie traced a pattern on his bare chest.

"But will you still be with me as a vampire, Eric," she asked.

"Of course," he said quickly. "You know I have wanted that for a long time. You will be mine."

The silence enveloped them again, but the peaceful atmosphere of before was absent. Eric felt as though he were drowning in his thoughts. He reflected on the demands of his work: the fangbangers who his club required he appease, the vicious deeds he performed that Sookie would never approve of, the vampire politics to which he must yield, he shuddered at the thought of what the Authority would do with Sookie if they learned of her power. He thought also of the expectations of a vampire being unconnected to humans, the way he would lose authority if others sensed he was going soft, his own scorn of Bill when he showed love toward the woman, and the danger he would put Sookie in if other's believed he loved her. He pictured Sookie growing old and dying, feeling her warm body grow cold and her golden hair turn gray, her joints stiffening and freezing up until all of the life she sparkled with was gone.

He realized with a pang that they could never be like this if he went back to being a vampire. They would never spend lazy afternoons in bed eating ice cream and laughing together. He knew that before this event it never would have mattered to him that he could only see Sookie at night, that he would miss most of her time awake, and the requirements of the supernatural world would distract him during what time he did have with her. Before, that would have just been a fact, a minor blip on his radar of things to be concerned about, but something was different now that he was a human. As much as he had drilled into himself that he wouldn't change, he had. Something had shifted and he was glad that it had, and he would lose it when he became a vampire again. The life that he had caught a glimpse of would be forever taken away at his own hand.

"Maybe," he said slowly. "Maybe it doesn't have to be like that."

Sookie stilled against him. "What do you mean?"

"Maybe I could stay this way."

Sookie rose on her arms to peer at his thoughtful face while he lounged against her pillows. "Stay human?"

"Yes."

"Forever?"

"Yes."

"Not become a vampire again?"

"Right."

She almost smiled at his simple answers, but the serious look on his face stopped her. "You're not joking."

"No, I am not." Her stunned silence frustrated him. "You are the one who told me to listen to my inner desires, to give myself the chance to consider this life."

"I know! It's just…what would you do?"

He shrugged. "Isn't that the beauty of the human life? I could do whatever I wanted. I have money, I wouldn't need to work. Or, I could go back to school. I could stay with you, Sookie. We could build a life together, a human life that neither of us has had the opportunity to have: marriage, careers, children."

Sookie's laugh sounded a little hysterical even to her ears. "Children?" She echoed.

"Yes, children! Many of them. We could have boys and girls walking and crawling and laughing and crying all over each other. We could have a house full of love."

"What would our children be like with a mother who is a crazy telepath and a father who is over a thousand years old and used to be a vampire?"

"They would be perfect." He sat up and pulled her against him so that her back rested against his chest. "They would be talented and brave and smart. We have much we could teach them. I could teach them history and how to fight and hunt and think things through and you could show them to be kind and loyal and hardworking. We would be good parents together. Our children would be happy."

Sookie smiled at the image of blond, blue eyed miniature Erics running around. For a second she allowed herself to imagine that this could be a possibility. Then, she pushed away from him so their eyes met.

"I just," she said softly. "I'm not quite sure I understand this sudden change of heart here, Eric. I mean, I know you were thinking about it, but the sudden certainty that you could stay human is a little odd."

"There are complications," he let the word hang in the air and Sookie felt a chill as it settled over them. "There are those in this world who would take great joy in seeing me suffer, in seeing me die. They would put you and me in great danger and in human form I would not be as able to protect us."

"What would we do?" Her whisper caught in her throat.

"We could run."

"Run? Eric, since when do you run from anything? You're the most impossibly stubborn and macho guy I've ever met."

"Some things have to be sacrificed if this is the life I will choose. It will be difficult, Sookie. For a long time we will always have to look over our shoulders, we will always be on the move. The fact that I have money and a certain few I trust will aid us, but it will be a risk."

"Eric…"

"Would you accept such a life, Sookie?"

"Eric…"

"Would you?"

If she reached out, she could touch the warmth of his skin, count the beats of his heart.

"But what about," she said softly. "All that you would lose? I want you, Eric. I want you to be happy with me. You shouldn't have to sacrifice who you are to be with me. I know I've been pressuring you and I want you, God knows I want you, to stay human, but don't let this be another sacrifice. Do what you want and I'll be here with you no matter what. Don't worry about what I want. I can," she faltered. "I can adjust to cold skin and long nights as long as you're still you. Don't lose yourself. Don't give up all that matters to you."

"You matter to me."

When she closed her eyes, a tear slipped down her cheek and he brushed it away with the pad of his thumb.

"I will gain more than I will lose and I couldn't lose myself if I stayed with you." His eyes tugged at her, and pulled her in. "I found myself with you; the part of me that I thought was gone forever you brought back to life. What I want it this: me and you…together."

Her lips smashed against his and she threw her arms around his neck. When they broke apart for air, her cheek rested against his and her eyes stared blindly at her white-washed wallpaper. His chest heaved against hers and their hearts clashed against each other, battling, sidestepping, until finally they met and found a rhythm, beating as one.

The rap on the door was not loud enough to rouse Sookie from her slumber, but Eric shot up at the noise. Gazing at the sleeping form beside him, he tenderly brushed some hair off of her forehead. Sookie snuggled deeper against her pillows at his touch and Eric smiled. A second impatient knock sent him hurrying to the door before Sookie's sleep was disturbed.

Pam's annoyed face appeared as he swung the door open.

"What were you doing?" She stomped into the house. "I've been waiting out there for ages!"

Eric put a finger to his lips urgently and Pam blinked at him. "Are you shushing me?"

"Sookie is sleeping," he looked down sheepishly. "It will be easier if she is not here for this meeting."

Amusement and concern flittered across Pam's face in equal amounts. "Eric…" she began, but he held up a hand to silence her.

"What news do you bring?"

She pulled a small vile from her purse. Thick, black liquid swirled dangerously in the container and Eric stared at it for a moment.

"You expect me to drink that?"

"No!" Pam smirked at him. "First you have to add three pieces of hair and let it sit for at least a day. Then you drink it." He rolled his eyes at her joke and took the potion from her. It bubbled unnaturally warm in his hand. When he glanced up from studying it, Pam was glowering at him expectantly. When he met her gaze but made no move to pluck any hairs, she hesitated.

"Are you okay, Eric?" She took a step toward him and her voice was uncharacteristically serious. "You seem different. This human experience hasn't-"

"No," Eric snapped harshly. "Forgive me if I am suspicious of a potion made by my enemies."

"You're afraid?"

"No." His look was severe and she backed up a step. "I am cautious."

"The potion has been guaranteed. They know their only hope to live is that you will be transformed back to your rightful state. We also had another witch supervise and she assures us the process was legitimate."

Eric glanced at the vile with distaste.

"So," Pam urged and Eric's jaw clenched as he ripped the hairs from his head. They both watched as the blond strands flittered into the liquid. "Excellent." Pam beamed at him. "Now we can go."

"Go?"

"Yes, you can drink the potion tomorrow night and I assure you I can keep you safe for a night, especially with the witch and Yvetta in captivity."

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

Eric glared at her. "I mean what I said, Pam. I am not leaving this house tonight."

"But Eric-"

"I have made a promise to Sookie and I will remain until it has been fulfilled."

"But you'll risk your life by doing this!" When he made no move she raised her voice. "Come back with me tonight, take the potion tomorrow, and then, if you must, come back and help her find her foolish sibling."

"There is no time for that. Her brother is in grave danger. I need to be able to walk around in the day and find him immediately."

Pam studied him long and hard.

"You are planning to come back, aren't you Eric?"

"Of course!" His voice was gruff and angry. He shook the vile to showcase the dissolving hairs to her. The potion began to shift to a deep shade of crimson. "I will do what I have to do. I will do what is right."

Pam's eyes searched his face and he looked away from her. "Then," she said finally. "I will be waiting for you."

Eric watched her leave silently until she melted into the night. He shut the door firmly and walked back to Sookie's room. Glancing to make sure she was still sleeping, he tucked the potion deep into his bag so it was hidden from sight. Then, without a second glance, he climbed back into bed, wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in her neck. Neither lover stirred for a long time.