Thank you for reading and reviewing so far. I myself, enjoy this chapter much more than the last. I know there were quite a few worried people after reading the last chapter. So I hope you enjoy! Oh and hey, it only took me 8 days to update this time!! I'm improving! Again thanks for reading, and please please review. You have no idea how much it affects how much and how often I write. You guys are the ticket to my willpower!! ")

And as usual, I don't own these characters. I just play with them. Want the owner? Go to the great Charlaine Harris!


That night I didn't sleep much. Between the nightmares, Eric's flash of a thought, and my emotions, I was lucky to have gotten the two hours of sleep that I did. Now three days had gone by since I had forced Eric to leave my home, and not a single word from any vampire. What did I expect? All too often Eric gave me the chance to be furious with him, but for once I had no right to be angry. No, our roles had switched somehow, he "had the right to remain" furious as long as he pleased. There were vampires who were desprate to seperate Eric and I. This time was more crucial than ever for us to stick together, but I pushed him away when I needed him most, and it was unecessary. If it made any difference, I pushed him away because I couldn't handle someone else taking him from me, or rather me from him. I was beating them to the punch so to speak. Pathetic reasons don't make any difference at all, Sookie.

But things were beginning to get a little out of hand. At random times, and always during the night, I had the feeling that Eric was coming to see me. The feeling of his presence growing nearer pulsed through my veins straight to my beating heart. It would last only long enough for me to stop breathing, and then this excitement would always end abruptly. The first time it happened I raced to my front door, but I waited for him to actually knock before opening it, with a crazy Sookie smile across my face. Of course, I never received such knock. When the intensity of his feelings stopped I only assumed the worst: I had thought someone had finally killed my vampire, but shortly after I was made aware that that wasn't the case. Thank God! For another precious minute or two I was aware of him again. Was I so lost without him, that I would go as far as imagining he would stoop to visit me, just so I wouldn't feel so alone? I knew deep down I would have to be the one to make the first move. I would have to show up at Fangtasia, confess how sorry I was, how wrong I was. . . and the reasons behind my poorly thought out actions.

Last night, Eric had the audacity to show up at Merlotte's while yours truely was busy working. Just a split second before the Viking eye candy entered through the front door, I knew he was there. Not at all enough time to prepare your eyes for the wonderful Mr. Northman, let me tell ya. I also had the pleasure in knowing he had glanced my way not once, even though we were merely a few feet from each other as he walked past. How could he not even glance at me? God and every customer at Merlotte's knows I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. Oh, and did I mention I spilt a beer on Andy? Yeah, I was that aware of Eric. He was sporting the usual black tank top that hugged every single upper-body muscle so nicely, the dark washed jeans that formed around my most favorite part of him perfectly, and a look full of seriousness and purpose. A customer snapped at me, trying to drag me back to earth and away from the handsome vampire. Why the hell is he here? Eric simply strolled in as if he owned the place, walked past Sam at the bar, said the word 'shifter,' and then proceeded towards Sam's office with the annoyed bartender following. Who would have guessed anything different from the great Sheriff of Area 5? I assumed he would speak to me at some point before leaving, whether if it was to yell at me or not. I assumed wrong; Eric left just as he had entered. . . ignoring me. Before the night was over I took a minute to ask Sam what Eric had wanted, but all he did was laugh a bit and say, "Nothing." For some reason I didn't pressure Sam into telling me the truth, nor did I read his mind.

Today was my off day, and I was less than pleased by this. Staying home alone with no plans and no company, meant there was a lot of time to mull things over in my mind. A whole lot of time to feel guilty. After I poured my coffee, I attempted to call Amelia. She had only called me once since she had moved out. I wasn't home at the time, so I was only left with a short message on my answering machine. I had called her twice before, and just like this time. . .she didn't answer. It saddened me a bit to know that my somewhat of a best friend and I were growing apart already, but I couldn't bring myself to hate her for it. She was still grieving over Tray, and that was just fine.

With no distractions from Amelia, I decided I needed to keep myself busy. First with a shower; I even did something with my hair besides pull it into a ponytail. Within a half an hour later I also had my room spotless, so I assumed it was as good a time as any to make myself lunch. Two bites of my sandwich was all I took; with an angry vampire on your mind food just doesn't seem all that important. Running out of things to do quickly, I attempted to lose myself in one of my romance novels. But honestly, that was the worst idea I had all day. Who wants to read about lucky people and they're perfect romances when you're still trying to figure out a way to fix your own? They could just shove their romance right up their asses. I really was becoming a bad Christian. Envy is one of the seven deadly sins, Sookie.

A tan was out of the question considering the weather, so I had to resort to television. Don't ask me why, but I ended up watching Dr. Phil. Of course the segment had to be on infidelity. That got me to thinking: what if my little mistake the other night caused Eric to make mistakes of his own, possibly with some no good trashy fangbanger? That's it. I had made up my mind. The next night, after work, I was going straight to Fangtasia to tell the big vampire I'm sorry. I'll say whatever I have to say for him to forgive me. At that rate I'd almost do anything for him to forgive me, but I decided that wasn't the first thing I was going to say to him the next night. Eric would undoubtedly love to take advantage of that one. . .if he forgives me.

Luckily, something distracted me from my many future apologies to Eric Northman; a doorbell. I was becoming really pathetic because I rushed my ass to that front door. Finally something to distract me. "Remy?" I questioned as I peaked around the door, and then proceeded to swing it open the rest of the way. "What are you doing here?" The man looked awfully confused and he had a suitcase in his hand. Hunter was in the car. "Is everything alright?"

Remy gave me a hard look, but didn't speak; he thought. "Sookie... I need you to take him." I gaped. "I'm an awful father. I'm doing this for his own good. I cannot raise him when I'm ashamed of my own son and I cannot even help him. You're the only one I can trust to keep him."

"Remy, you can't be serious. . . This, this is your son we're talking about here. He needs his father. You can't just, just abandon him!" it was safe to say that I was outraged. I knew from experience that parents had a hard time with telepathic children, but even so, who could turn their back on their own child? This must've been Remy's reason for acting so strange the last time I visited Hunter.

"Please," he finally spoke outloud.

I stood there not knowing what to say or what to think. "Um, I uh. . .If you leave him here, Remy. . . don't come back. He deserves better than this." Right then, I wasn't sure what I was doing. I just knew my life was about to change drastically, but I had to help Hunter because his father wouldn't.

"I'll fill my part of the adoption papers and then I'll send them to you." This seemed too easy for him. He wanted a way out and I was just that.

"Have it all planned out do you?" I threw the most disgusted look I could make at him and walked to his car. Hunter was staring at his fidgeting hands in his lap, with no smile upon his face. He wasn't the happy little boy I first met. I lightly knocked on the window before opening the door, "Hey Hunter, how would you like to stay with your aunt Sookie for a while?" He only nodded. Hunter slipped his little backpack over his shoulders, I picked him up, closed the car door, and carried him to the house. As we made our way closer to the front door, Remy made his way closer to his car, keeping his distance from the both of us. I shut the door behind Hunter and I before he witnessed his father driving away without saying goodbye.

After placing the young boy on his feet, I expected him to cry. Crying was a natural reaction to abandonment, wasn't it? But Hunter didn't cry, and he definitely did not he smile.

"It's going to be okay Hunter." I slightly ruffled his hair. Once again all I received was a nod.

"Why don't we go put your things in your room?" I grabbed the suitcase Remy had placed inside the door and led Hunter to Amelia's old room. Suddenly, I felt as if I was in my own version of the movie Big Daddy. I don't think I had yet grasped the concept of what I had just done. Spontaneous? Yes, but not even Adam Sandler could refuse the cute little boy left at his doorstep. I unpacked the clothing and toys he had with him. I wasn't sure how exactly to raise a little boy, but I knew I had to make him feel welcome somehow. After all, I had babysat Arlene's kids numerous times so it couldn't be that difficult.

"Aunt Sookie," he spoke! as he climbed his way onto the edge of the bed.

"Yes?"

"Are you going to take care of me?" he seemed to feel embarrassed of his question.

I kneeled in front of him to get a good look at his face, "Of course." This must've brought his worries to an end because he flashed me a wide baby-toothed smile. "Let's go find something to eat for dinner, okay?"

We decided on grilled cheese sandwiches. Yes I know, not the fanciest of dinners, but he seemed to be more than okay with it. I sat him on the edge of the counter and poured him a glass of milk so he could watch while I cooked. He kept quiet, but I wasn't sure if the reason for the silence was because of his father or if he just wasn't that comfortable around me yet. Easily, I could have found this out on my own. One little slip into his thoughts, but I kept my guard up; today was a hard enough day for him and I.

The sun had just finally ceased to shine as we finished up our easy dinner. I took notice right away that Hunter was a very polite little boy, saying 'please' and 'thank you' during dinner. His tiny little yawn hinted at me that it was time for a bath and bed for him. Even though he didn't let on that he was having a rough time, I knew he must be distressed. Stress will take a lot out of you; this I would know. I ran the bath water for him, making sure it wasn't too hot or cold, and placed his bed clothing on the bathroom counter. "Yell for me if you need me okay?" I said, leaving the door only slightly cracked open. He gave me a little nod, and a tiny grin.

My job now was to finish dinner dishes. I was feeling quite motherly already. As I scrubbed away the cheesy mess I suddenly dropped one of the plates in the soapy dishwater. . . the feeling was back. I stood there waiting for the intensity to ware down, but after a few minutes nothing had changed. I began to feel over-joyed, and I was already assuming this wasn't really my feeling. Would I be really crazy if I checked to see what was behind the front door? Nobody is watching. . .Oh hell, just open the damn door Sookie and put you're mind at ease.

Eric was leaning against the door frame with a surprisingly cocky grin on his face. He was dressed in a tight-fitted black t-shirt with the word 'Fangtasia' written in red, and the ever so perfect fitting blue jeans. Although I could have guessed most of what he was wearing without looking, because I mean, c'mon this is Eric we're talking about, his appearance still turned my heartbeat up a few hundred knotches though. Even if I somehow lived as long as he has, I probably would still not get over the sight of his tall, blond, muscular self. He ran one of his hands through his hair, and I had the sudden urge to do the same, but I kept myself from touching him. This wasn't the time.

"I believe you wanted to say something to me?..." Where is he going with this? There were plenty of things I'd like to say to him, but what is he talking about? I go days without seeing him, and this is the first thing he says? Well, I guess it's better than him yelling at me. My eyebrows came together in confusion. "It starts with the words 'I'm sorry,'" my grip tightened on the doorknob as he flashed me my favorite evil grin of his; I'm pretty sure I liked my lips as well, "And it ends with the words 'I've missed you so. . . take me upstairs, rip my clothes off, and have your way with me you big Viking Sex God," he said this with more than enough exaggeration.

I grinned, just slightly, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Eric, um. . ." I shook my head trying to erase the pictures his last suggestion had just painted in my mind. I owed this vampire an apology in the worst way and I had not a clue where to begin. Should I start by telling him I pushed him away and forced him out because I was scared, and being near him reminded me too much of what I had to lose? Or should I confess my none too frequent glances into his mind?

Every ounce of the arrogant Eric left his face as time ticked on without my lips speaking a word. He was in no mood for making more obscene jokes; this ice could not be broken apparently, "Sookie, please. May I come inside?" his deep voice was as gentle as it could possibly manage.