A/N This chapter is from Eric's POV and in first person. He's reflecting on everything that's happened between him and Sookie. It'll start at the party and continue into the next day. It's shorter than the others.

I was sitting at a table fit for a Viking and his family and friends, hosting a Charity Party to help relations between vampires and humans. Sitting next to me was an ex-fling or girlfriend, whichever you humans would like to label it, and I was thinking this is as close to home as I'll get this year. I've never loved another in over a thousand years except for Pam.

And I don't like the feeling I get when I'm not chosen. This is what humans call heartbreak. It is an infuriating yet lonely feeling. This is why I don't do emotions. So I was sitting there at the table taking in my surroundings, with Sookie beside me. Although she hinted I would be chosen, it wasn't nearly enough to fix this. She still looked at Bill as if she just lost her first puppy. My mind drifted towards a conversation we had earlier about him confessing that his cheating was not on command. It really disturbed me that she still looked at him that way. How could she? What if she was to change her mind about choosing me, and by some chance, a very slim chance, but by some chance I fell for someone else? Would I look at Sookie the way she looks at Bill? How on earth do humans do this first love thing?

I watched as Jessica and Jason played Elves and caught sight of Hoyt. The poor man looked miserable. My thoughts wandered to another earlier conversation where I had bet Jason is glad to have Jessica now. To be honest Jason looked a little down too. Perhaps losing a best friend wasn't worth a girl. As I thought this, I looked down at a locket Sookie had given me.

I am still wearing it. I almost forgot. Inside of it was a picture of Pam and me. Pam was sitting across from me smiling, but her smiled seemed hesitant. We had made up for now, but what I said to her was still lingering. "Get out of my face before I kill you or something to that affect." I can't even remember the exact words I used, but I threatened to kill the only friend I had until I met Sookie. The hurt on her face will always be there, and I can't fix any of it the way I want to. That's the thing about emotions. You do and say things you don't mean. Then you have the hardest time repairing it all. Damn Sookie Stackhouse!

My thoughts were interrupted by the King. The Elves, Santa, and everyone else came to join in the feast. It was a sight to see Traditional Norse customs mixed in with today's. King Bill said a few words and the toasts began. Jessica and Bill toasted Odin with everyone else. This was expected of course, but I had not expected what happened next. Sookie stood up and toasted me. The toast was a touching tribute to a Viking King. Bill seemed to have this astonished look as if he warned her not to do it. When she was finished she whispered to me, "Bill told me not to do that because it might bring up painful memories, but a true Viking also toasts to their king and you were king after your father, and I wanted to be as true as I possibly could for you." That was the best part. She went against what Bill suggested and did what she thought I'd appreciate. And I appreciated it more than she could ever understand.

I said her words over and over in my head. "I wanted to be as true as I possibly could for you." How can I stay livid with the woman when she says shit like that to me? I wanted to say something sarcastic or mean or make her gesture feel worthless. That's what I always did when she disappointed me and then made me happy again. Instead I refrained from doing so. Why? I didn't want to give her the wrong idea. That I was hurt by it and that Bill was right. I wasn't hurt by it. I was grateful for it. Still didn't make me feel any less annoyed that she does this to me.

Shortly after Russell stood up and gave a speech including an apology. I tried to hide my laughter as he described his antics on the news as his mental breakdown. He gave the full details of his "mental breakdown" and told everyone his beloved Talbot was staked and he was in grief and vampires wouldn't harm your children. I glance toward Sookie. She was shaking her head. She knew by now whose fault Talbot's death was, I was sure. Shortly after Steve Newlin came up and started babbling about charities and how Russell was correct, not all vampires were evil. To my amazement he quoted me. I did a PSA for the AVL and I stating that vampires were as diverse as humans. Oh, the irony. Steve Newlin, an anti-vampire human becoming a vampire and using my line to show that not all vampires are the bad guys. I thought I had seen it all during my one thousand plus years of existence.

Afterwards Sookie and I "mingled", as humans say, for a little bit. Human families didn't seem so bad right now. I had a child come up to me and thank me for my charitable donation. Oddly enough it felt good. It must be the Christmas Holiday. I thought of my baby sister that never got to grow up because of Russell. I was feeling way too nostalgic. I never really get like this, but you can blame sookie once more and I say that in a good way. Just then Pam came up to me.

"Eric I have a present for Sookie," she said with a smile.

I was quite surprised. Pam had learned a bit of tolerance for Sookie, but I didn't expect a gift for her.

"Would you like me to give it to her?" I asked.

Pam nodded. "If you could she seems ready to go."

I sighed and took the gift that was wrapped for Sookie.

Pam smiled. "Don't you dare open it Eric."

I was rather curious but I promised Pam I wouldn't open it.

Sookie came up and tapped me on the shoulder. "So King Erik care to take a girl home?" Pam had a smirk on her face.

I smiled. "Sure thing, Fairy Princess"

Sookie frowned. Actually frowned. "Only Pam can call me that."

Pam smiled. "Yes, sorry the name is reserved."

I looked between the two. "Is the Apocalypse here?" I asked.

Sookie smiled. "Haven't you ever heard 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'?"

Pam snickered. "Oh yes, keep those enemies close."

Yes sure thing. Close enemies. If I am not mistaken, those two actually seem like they're becoming friends. And Sookie thought Jason and I bonding was strange. I didn't think anything could get weirder than Steve Newlin defending vampires and quoting me. I was definitely wrong.

I shook my head again. I had been doing that a lot this night. "Well, let's go, Tinkerbell!"

Sookie made a face at me. Apparently calling her Tinkerbell was not cute, but an insult. "Only call me that if you plan on wearing tights," was her comeback. I assured her I would not be wearing tights anytime soon.

As we walked home at human pace, I realized I was clutching onto Pam's gift for dear life. Sookie hadn't seemed to notice. I had hidden it from her without knowing it. Maybe I was a little skeptical of the gift and was afraid it was a gag one. Something mean and harsh. It'd be a hell of a lot easier if they did get along. Were they enemies getting closer, or were they being sincerely nice. The locket was a gift to me mostly and Sookie didn't hint much to Pam-she wanted her to play nice too. I got the lecture and a picture of Pam to wear around my neck.

When we came into the house, I told Sookie she could sleep in my cubby with me.

"You don't have to sneak into my cubby to sleep next to me. You can just go to bed with me."

She smiled. "I have to get up early for work tomorrow."

"No sun will come into it. I might not wake up to you, but I can still sleep next to you." I informed her.

"You just want to sleep next to me?" she had asked, skepticism in her tone.

"Yes, it's what people starting over as friends do."

She gave in easier than she used to. "Okay, I'll sleep next to you."

By time we went downstairs to sleep we found ourselves talking again. We do a lot of that. She was dozing off when she was rambling on about me being patient about giving her time to choose. To help her along I reminded her of words, for it seems she certainly had the in one ear and out the other way of listening down pat.

"What did I tell you when you said I'd changed?"

"That you were still the same Eric, just more."

Before I could comment on her remembering and proving me wrong; she was passed out. I was still holding onto Pam's gift for dear life. So I decided to hide it some place in my cubby before the morning came. Once it was hidden, I layed on the bed and fell asleep as well.

When I rose the next night Sookie was gone, and I had a gift to take out of hiding. I knew the exact time without a clock. I woke up the same time almost every evening. Sookie, if she wasn't closing, would be back by now. So I grabbed the gift from its hiding spot, and went upstairs. Just as I suspected Sookie was coming in the door. "Welcome home, Honey!" I said sarcastically and teasingly. She made the same face she did when I called her Tinkerbell. "Don't go buying a white picket fence just yet," was her comeback this time.

I decided it was time to get serious. I handed her the wrapped up item. "This is from Pam. She wanted me to give it to you." I watched her as she opened it. Her eyes got wide with surprise; then a huge smile formed on her face. Finally she revealed the gift to me.

It was a locket just like the one Sookie had gotten me. There were two faces on the front. One looked like Tinkerbell and the other had fangs. Inside there was a picture of Sookie and me, and on the back she had engraved "true love" in Swedish. Sookie seemed overjoyed by the gift.

"She stole your idea," I joked.

Sookie shook her head. "No she returned the favor."

I still found it amazing Pam put thought into this. Pam! Of all vampires! Pam, who was so distraught and unhappy over me falling in love with Sookie. Pam, who I had hurt. Pam, who on her best days hated Sookie and on her worst days wanted to kill her. Or was I wrong? Did I read too much into Pam's unhappiness. Did she ever truly hate Sookie? Who knows? I learned this year that you do things you may or may not mean when you're full of emotions. This year I believe Pam and I both got a lesson in being more human.

I looked at Sookie. "So am I yours yet?" I've had just enough of this "I'm gonna choose you but I don't know when bullshit." There was no point in delaying a decision she already made.

She stood on her tip toes and hugged me. And doing her very best Eric Northman impersonation, she stated, "Eric Northman: YOU ARE MINE!" It would seem I was going to shake my head a lot today as well.

So what did you think? Did you enjoy Eric's perspective? So now that Eric is Sookie's what do you think will happen? Russell is still bitter towards Bill. Nan is still truly dead at Bill'shand, and her guards at Eric's. A True Blood romance is never without an obstacle. So what will test the two lovebirds next?