A/N Back to Sookie's POV in third. This story has been through a few beta's and edits. I decided while I was trying to aim for perfection you guys were patiently awaiting a new chapter. For those of you who've read the novels you'll see a lot of book references. Yes Pam is playing nice with Sookie. The only way to write these scenes in my head were to use the Pam and Sookie friendship from the books. I had this idea while writing The Other Locket. Which is why I made them make up, and become friendly in the last chapter. This combines book and show elements because the first chapter started out as a true blood fan fiction contest. So I had to make it work while adding onto it. This is how I feel the book wedding/Pledging should've gone. Sorry no lemons. Sookie and Eric have no time yet for that. But one day you might get some. I hope you enjoy it.
Sookie had chosen Eric. Officially. Now what was she to do? She hadn't expected to choose so easily. There was a reason she had walked away from both Bill and Eric, but Jason was right. Eric was the one she wanted, and possibly needed. So she went back on what she said.
She was getting ready for work. Around her neck was the locket Pam gave her. She put her hair in a French Braid, and did her make up. Then she put black pants and the Merlotte's shirt on, and put some earrings in. Got her shoes, and her car keys finally, she headed out. When she reached her destination it was evening. She was working more night shifts lately.
Sam noticed her necklace and came over to look at it. "What is this?"
Sookie smiled. "A necklace Pam got me."
Sam looked confused. "Didn't you tell me she hated your guts?"
Sookie laughed. "She did for a little bit. I was coming between Eric and her."
Sam nodded. "What changed?"
Sookie shrugged. "I refused to come between them and made them both make up."
Sam grinned. "I figured as much. And how did you win Pam over?"
Sookie smiled again. "I bought Eric a similar locket. It had a shield on it, and inside was a picture of Pam and him."
Sam took a look at the locket around Sookie's neck. "What does it say in Swedish?" Sam blinked. "I am assuming it's Swedish or some Scandinavian language."
Sookie shook her head at him. "Yes, it's Swedish. And it means true love."
Sam thought it was cute. Very out of character for Pam."
Sookie shrugged. "Eric has been out of character lately."
Sam disagreed.
"Why hide behind masks if he was like this all the time?" Sookie asked confused
Sam sometimes thought for being mostly human Sookie didn't get being human. "Eric told you once you made him feel disturbingly human. That's what you told me. Which means he can be as guarded as any other human."
Sookie looked around. It was rather slow. "But before then? Before me he was cold and heartless and was all vampire."
Sam still didn't think she was getting it. "That was on the outside. He doesn't like to have emotions and therefore he never felt them. You forced him to."
Sookie sighed. "To feel."
Sam sighed as well. "Of course. You made him experience emotions and now he's less guarded with at least you. The fact that he actually started to feel something brought out a personality he already had, but was hesitant to share."
Sookie thought that was just like his kind. "How vampire of him."
Sam laughed. "No, how human of him."
Sookie found this conversation odd. "Well, I suppose humans have their masks, too."
"Yes, they do," Sam agreed
Sookie went about taking tables. A lot of people commented on how pretty the locket was. Arlene took a look at it. "How disgusting. Tinkerbell and a vampire."
Sookie didn't inform Arlene the "Tinkerbell figure" was supposed to be her. Fairies weren't out like vampires, and Sookie wasn't sure she wanted just anyone to know she was part fairy.
Holly came by and smiled. "I like it," she told her.
Sookie smiled back. Then Holly said something rather strange, or at least Sookie thought so.
"Is the Tinkerbell look alike supposed to be you?"
I could be paranoid, but does she suspect I am a fairy? How odd of me to think.
"Yes, but what makes you think I'm supposed to be the fairy?"
Holly smiled and whispered, "Because I believe in fairies, and something you said on Halloween made me think you knew a thing or two about them."
Sookie blinked. "That I knew something about them?"
Holly nodded. "Yes, I thought maybe you were into Fairy myths and stuff."
Sookie sighed. "Oh, okay," she said, relieved that was all she meant.
She continued on about her business. When she saw Pam enter and go to the bar ordering a True Blood.
Pam didn't usually just hang out at Merlotte's. In fact, most breathers Pam couldn't stand to be around, but here she was at a bar sitting next to humans. She was even having a conversation with one. Sookie went to attend her tables before going over to question her. Pam waved to Sookie with a smile. Sookie waved back and promised her table she'd be back with some mayo.
She walked over to the bar once she'd finished taking care of her all her tables.
"So what brings you here to tolerate breathers?" she teased Pam.
Pam smiled. "The one I've been talking too isn't so bad, but you're right: I am not here to make nice with Sam's customers."
Sookie didn't think that was good. "What brings you here?"
Pam got a serious look on her face. "Bill's crown is in jeopardy and Russell wants you."
Sookie seemed confused. "Bill's crown was in jeopardy with the whole witch fiasco, and his life too, and Russell always wanted me."
Pam shook her head. "This is true, but his crown is in jeopardy from another King, and if this King takes over, your life is in more danger than just Russell wanting you."
"Another King is trying to take over Louisiana?" Sookie asked, curiously.
Pam was glad Sookie finally understood. "Yes. Felipe of Nevada, and he won't punish Russell like Bill. In fact, he could care less if Russell took you as his pet."
This angered Sookie. "Why is he trying to take over such a small location? You'd think Nevada would be more fun to run."
Pam shrugged. "Russell and he are close. He's doing it for Russell. It's a revenge plot"
Sookie seemed baffled. "Vampires don't seem to have 'friends' and are big on double dealings"
Pam was proud Sookie caught onto the typical vampire personality. "You're getting it more."
Sookie didn't like the sound of that. "So, even though loosely speaking they're friends, there's still something in it for Felipe?"
Pam smiled. "Yes. Russell promised him something. I just haven't figured out what that is yet."
Sookie seemed surprised Pam was warning her. "Why are you warning me?"
Pam took a sip of her True Blood. "Because as ironic as this sounds, you've become my friend, and, as you say, vampires have friends, loosely speaking."
"Are you saying true friends are hard to come by for a vampire, but not unlikely, and that I've grown to be a real friend of yours?"
Pam laughed. "Yes, something like that. I am warning you because along the way I sort of grew to care about you in my own way as well."
Sookie smiled. "Well, I secretly always liked you too," she said with amusement.
Pam motioned for Sookie to sit next to her.
"I have to work, Pam."
Pam was insistent. "Your tables seem fine and if they need something I'll let you get up."
Sookie loved how Pam said 'I'll let you get up', as if she needed her permission to do her job. That was the thing however with vampires. They saw you as inferior even if they just admitted they grew to like you as a friend. You had to listen to them, or you were seen as a petty stupid mortal that needed a lesson in respect. Sookie could care less about that attitude. She sat down anyways because she liked the newly formed friendship. She'd like to talk to Pam when Pam didn't sound like she wanted to rip her head off.
"So if you asked me to sit, there must be more?"
Pam seemed hesitant. "Eric will be mad at me again, but you need to hear the truth."
Sookie sighed. "Is Eric planning to do his lying-by-omission habit?"
Pam grinned. "Oh, yes. In fact, he plans to trick you into something for your protection."
Sookie didn't like that either. "I could understand back when I was with Bill him resorting to trickery when it came to his blood, and even him chaining me in his basement and forcing me to partake in his absurd scheme to get rid of Russell, but…"
Pam was curious to hear Sookie's thoughts. "But what?"
Sookie sighed. "But now that I am his girlfriend, he needs to stop that sort of behavior. He has me already. He can trust me to work with him in a bad situation."
Pam found that interesting. "I told him that myself actually."
Sookie was amazed again. "You did?"
Pam sighed. "Yes. I told him if he loved you, and he told you about his plans, you would be more inclined to go along with them than if he forced you to partake in them."
Sookie had a lot of questions. "So he's really afraid to ask me to go along with whatever he's plotting for my own safety?"
Pam drank the last of her bottle. "Yes, he genuinely is. He thinks you won't consent to it and he'll lose you to Russell."
Sookie sat in thought for a moment. "Hmm. Do you think I'd go along with it?"
Pam shrugged. "I think you won't like it, but if he were honest you'd go along with it in spite of that."
Sookie took that into consideration. "So, it's not that bad?"
Pam shook her head. "It's not the worst he could ask you to do, and you'll learn to be okay with it, I truly believe."
Sookie was even more curious as of what Eric had planned. "Will he be really angry with you?"
Pam shrugged again. "I don't know, but at this point I don't care. You have the right to know everything that concerns you."
"Well, he can't be too angry for that'd make him a hypocrite. He told me about Bill's lies and made Bill confirm them because it concerned me, and he felt I had the right to know."
"Oh yes! You're right. I can hold that against him if he gets upset with me." Pam smirked
Sookie blinked. "Well, should I call him and ask what his plans are so I can consent to partaking in them?"
Pam nodded. "Yes, after work go to Fangtasia. It's best you deal with it in person. It might be hard to believe, but his anger over the phone is a lot worse than in person."
Sookie did find that hard to believe, but she took Pam's word for it. Finally, she went back to her tables. Pam hung around while she worked. I never thought I'd see the day where Pam came in to warn me about danger and chatted up the breathers. What is it about me that causes such odd changes in vampires? It's not my blood, I can tell you that.
Finally, her shift was over, and Pam waited for her. "You have fun with your new human friend?"
Pam smiled. "Oh yes, her name is Amelia and I think I'll be feeding nicely."
"Amelia doesn't seem the fangbanger type."
Pam's smile got wider. "Exactly. That's why I like her so much. She's as tolerable as you."
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
Pam shrugged. "Take it as you wish."
The two women walked out of the bar together. Pam decided to drive with Sookie to Fangtasia. To Sookie's surprise, Pam liked a lot of the music she listened to. Once they reached the bar,
both women got out and walked inside Eric's office.
He looked them over. "What is this?" he asked.
Pam didn't dare to meet his eyes. He knew then she had done something he wouldn't approve of.
"Pamela, what did you do this time?"
Before Pam could answer, Sookie spoke.
"She told me of the king of Nevada, Russell and a plan you had to keep me safe."
Eric's anger was starting to show.
"Pamela, why did you do that? Do you have fun annoying the hell out of me?"
Pam laughed. "No, and calm down. I didn't tell her the whole plan. I warned her of a few things."
Sookie nodded. "She didn't tell me the plan, but we shared a common view that you should inform me."
Eric was cornered and he didn't like it. "And if I didn't tell you?"
Sookie crossed her arms. "Consider yourself sex less for all eternity."
Pam enjoyed Sookie's threat. Eric noticed this. He didn't seem too happy.
"I could live for eternity without sex," he replied.
Sookie called him out. "Oh, could you? You've never lived without sex; how would you know?"
Eric stood in thought. "I could do it. I think."
Pam burst into laughter. "You're being ridiculous. You'd go without sex rather than tell her the plan?"
Eric looked around. "Uh, yes...?"
Pam was highly amused by this exchange.
Sookie sighed. "Oh, for heaven's sake, Eric Just tell me the damn plan so I can consent to go along."
Eric seemed puzzled by her statement. "You'd go along with it?"
Sookie threw her hands up. "If I knew what it was, then maybe there is a possibility I would."
Eric thought about it for a moment. "A vampire marriage," he simply stated.
Sookie remembered back to when she thought of Eric pledging himself to her for eternity. It wasn't necessarily a serious thought.
"Are you asking me to marry you?" she teased.
Eric shrugged. "I was going to make you marry me to keep you from Russell," he confessed.
Sookie didn't get how that worked. "How can I marry you?"
Eric decided it was best to explain to her. "Well, humans won't recognize it, but it's more of a pledging ceremony."
Sookie had a few questions before consenting. "So if I do this Russell can't touch me?"
Eric nodded. "Yes, if I claim you in a legal vampire marriage, he can't take you."
Sookie understood the importance of this. And she wasn't mad at Eric for wanting to do it; though, she would've been pissed if he had tricked her into it.
"I'll do it," she told him
Eric was surprised. "Really?" he asked.
"If it means Russell can't touch me, then yes," she replied.
Pam looked over at Eric. "See? I told you if you let her in on the plan, she'd do it. She might not like the idea, but she'd do it."
Eric looked at Sookie. "You don't like the idea?" he teased.
Sookie shook her head. "You knew damn well the idea of marrying you so soon after I chose you would seem absurd to me. That's why you were going to trick me into it somehow."
Eric shrugged. "Well, then let's make plans to get married."
Sookie shrugged as well. "I think we should, but you didn't explain how this pledging works."
She had heard about vampire marriages, mostly between Queens and Kings. And she heard a story of a King marrying another King and exchanging blood.
"It won't involve any form of knife, would it?"
Eric laughed. "Not in the sense you're thinking of. No blood exchanges or bondings or anything like that."
Sookie felt relief. "Good, because that wouldn't be good."
Eric agreed. "No, it wouldn't. All vampires present would want to drain you dry."
"So, what is the knife for, then?"
"You'll hand it over to me in the presence of Russell," Eric explained.
Sookie thought that was a little weird. "So, I give the knife as a gift and I am pledged to you?"
Eric nodded. "Yes. Russell will ask both of us to confirm your pledging, and when we do, that's it."
Sookie laughed. "And vampires think humans have odd customs. That's the strangest way to get married I've ever heard of."
Eric smiled. "Not really; think of the knife as a ring exchange in human terms. When Russell asks 'and is this woman pledged to you?' and I say yes, that is the same thing as me saying I do."
Sookie thought about that for a moment. "I see your point, but… Wait, there's only one Knife? I give you a knife and he asks 'is this woman pledged to you?" Sookie didn't like that. "So let me get this straight: instead of asking you if you're pledged to me, he asks if I am pledged to you, and you get to say yes on my behalf?" She shook her head. "Eric, that's not like a ring exchange. Nor like you saying I do. That's you telling another man I say I do and there's only one 'ring'."
Eric looked at her. "Does it matter how it's done, as long as it's done? If you agree to the plan, you're already saying I do, so why does it matter if I say it for you or not?"
Sookie shook her head. "To a human it matters."
Eric still didn't get it. "So I'll buy you a ring later."
Sookie sighed. "Not the point, but moving on."
Pam smiled. "Eric, I sort of see what she's saying. Now that she's pointed it out, our custom is quite old fashioned and sexist."
Eric's frustration with both women grew. "I thought it'd be easier for you two to get along, but now..."
Pam and Sookie said at the same time, "Now that we're friends, you are having a case of 'be careful what you wish for'."
Eric blinked. "Now you're finishing each other's sentences and saying the same ones at the same time? What's next – a slumber party?"
Pam laughed. "Oh yes, we can paint our toenails pink and talk about boys."
Eric smiled. Or girls," he teased.
Sookie wanted to get this plan over with. "So where is this knife and when should we do it?"
Eric looked down. "See, that's the problem."
So there was a flaw in his plan. He didn't know where the knife was? Or he knew where it was, but he couldn't obtain it? Sookie wondered which it was.
"You're telling me you thought of this plan and you don't have the knife?" Pam said
Eric knew he should be honest once more, but he didn't want to admit one of his plans was severely flawed again. "Well, it was in Sophie Anne's possession last, and now it's been moved to The Compton home."
Oh great, so this marriage knife that I am supposed to marry Eric with is at my exe's whom we're supposed to somehow retrieve it from. That'd be impossible. Bill would never give it to us or 'consent' to us marrying. Like I need his permission! Sookie thought.
Sookie looked over at Pam and then to Eric. "How on earth did you expect to get it from Bill's home?"
"That's the thing, I haven't thought about that."
Pam shook her head. "Just ask him for it."
There was a thought, but both Sookie and Eric knew Bill. They didn't expect him to just hand it over.
"Well, sure, you go over there and ask, Pamela. I'm sure he'd hand it over to you immediately once he knew why you wanted it."
Pam smiled. "Okay, maybe I will."
Eric looked at Pam. "I command you to simply ask for it and respect your King," he said.
Pam wasn't too pleased about this. "Why am I respecting him? Is he our friend now?"
Eric kept his eyes on her. "For now yes. Anything done to him would not look good on our parts, and he's still our King."
Pam crossed her arms. "Fine. It's not like I could do much damage to him. He's about seventy some years older than me."
Eric laughed. "Oh, you'd find a way. I know you."
Pam had one little question for him. "And if I don't return with this one, were you willing to tell Sookie about the other?"
Eric's patience with his progeny was running out. She seemed to enjoy making him angry. "There's no need for that yet."
Sookie looked over at Eric. "Why is it like pulling teeth to get you to tell me things, to the point where Pam has to call you out on your B.S. as best as she can without crossing a line?
Eric turned to Sookie. "My B.S., as you so nicely put it, is going to save your ass."
Sookie wasn't in the mood for this. "This is true, but it'd be nice to know when my ass needs to be saved. The only reason I know I am in danger is because Pam told me I need to get the information out of you."
Pam watched them as they fought, not daring to intervene.
"Sookie, there are reasons why I don't tell you things. You don't always think things through, and I am keeping you from doing something too spontaneous."
Sookie glared at him. "I wonder who that sounds like."
Pam thought Sookie had gone mad. Sookie hadn't had the guts to flat out call Eric stupid when it came to tough situations, but she might as well have. You're lucky he loves you. You'd be dead right now.
Eric didn't take his eyes off of her. "Don't be spoiled by what you've gotten away with things before, Sookie. You've slapped me once, and I let it slide. You called me stupid twice, and I let it slide."
"Are you threatening me?" Sookie asked.
"No warning you is all"
Sookie rolled her eyes. "I won't do it again."
Eric had a cocky grin on his face. "Good girl."
"But please do not underestimate me, and treat me like some stupid child. I won't hold your past mistakes over your head, don't hold my past foolish ones over mine."
Eric felt that seemed fair. "I will trust you if you asked me to."
Sookie nodded. "Then, on the same token, can you promise I can trust you?"
Eric sighed. "I've never lied on the same level as Bill."
"Yes, but staying silent on things is the same thing to a woman."
Eric looked at Pam. "Well, get going. I'll tell Sookie everything when you leave."
Pam took off to Bill's.
Sookie looked at Eric. "You mean that? You're going to tell me what she meant?"
Eric nodded. "I might as well, before we fight all night."
"So there are two pledging knives?"
"Well, there's probably more than two. I only know of two, and I shouldn't even know of their whereabouts. They are very rare, Sookie, but when a vampire obtains one, they are used for marriage ceremonies only, and they're unique to any other knife that isn't one of them."
Sookie smiled. "Thank you for telling me. Now, I have more questions."
Eric was expecting this. "Of course."
"Where is the other one?"
"It's in Nevada at King Felipe's," he answered.
Sookie was afraid of that. "That doesn't do us much good, so why would Pam bring it up?"
Eric smiled. "As you said, she was calling me out on my B.S. without crossing a line."
"I think it's more than that."
Eric thought for a moment. "You think she wants to have one at her house in case she ever wants to get pledged?" he teased.
Sookie shrugged. "I don't know, but that's not an impossible thought, Eric. No one would ever dream you'd fall in love with and soften to a human."
"What are you saying, Sookie?"
She laughed. "That you two are more alike than you think, and if you can find love, so could she."
Pam was taking a long time.
"She isn't coming back with it."
Eric had a feeling Sookie was right.
Just then Pam walked through the door. "Hours of arguing on your behalf, and he didn't give it to me. He even got silver in the eyes again."
Eric was irritated again. "I gave you a direct command,. so you couldn't have silver him yourself, which means you got someone else to do it."
Pam shrugged. "You told me I had to simply ask and respect our Queen. You didn't specify I couldn't get someone else to disrespect him."
Now it was Sookie's turn to be amused.
Pam rolled her eyes. "Sookie, I wouldn't be so entertained right now, with Bill wanting you to pledge to him instead of Eric."
"What? That's not going to happen!"
Pam laughed at Sookie's face. "Well, that's his request. He said you'd be just as safe if you pledged to him instead."
"I'm going to go over there myself!" Sookie told Pam.
Pam smiled. "Go for it, but don't get yourself tricked into a marriage."
Sookie was in the worst of moods now. "Don't even joke about that."
Once Sookie took off, Pam turned to Eric.
"What makes her think she'll have better luck than me?"
Eric smiled. "It's Sookie. Do you really have to ask that?"
Sookie was taking a long time too. When she finally arrived she looked beyond angry. "He told me we could have it if I found it." She felt the urge to hit something or someone. "Well I looked everywhere and couldn't find it. He told me he'd give me one hint only. His hint was black."
"Well, that's not useful," Eric stated.
Sookie decided to call Jason's. "Jason, is Jessica there?" she almost demanded.
"Uh, yes," Jason said, handing the phone to Jessica. "Watch it, Jess, Sookie sounds pissed."
When Jessica answered the phone, she immediately said. "Sorry, I've been commanded not to help you find the knife."
Sookie at this point wanted to silver Bill herself. "Thanks, anyways," she said and hung up the phone, greatly irked.
"It's not like I am desperate to get married, but now I just want to get one of those damn knives and marry Eric to spite Bill."
Pam shook her head. "I could've told you he'd command her not to help."
Sookie was just so irritated at this point. It was a childish game. "I am going to Vegas to get Felipe's," she turned to Eric.
"Is that look you asking me to go with you and help you?"
It was, but after their fight she didn't exactly want to admit full on that he was partially correct on her personality and she was in over her head on this one.
"Maybe?"
Eric smirked. "I'll go with you if you admit you need my help."
"Fine. Eric, this one is beyond me; can you please come with me and help me?"
He gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Of course. No need to ask me twice. I wouldn't let you go alone anyways."
Sookie glared at him, hearing the last line. "You and Pam better get to bed soon. Don't need you bleeding everywhere."
Eric nodded. "We'll fly out tomorrow."
"Okay, I am going to bed. I am tired and all this is giving me a headache," Sookie replied.
The next day when Eric rose, Sookie called Sam to tell him she would be gone to Vegas. She wasn't sure how long they'd be, but better to inform her boss of any traveling plans. That way if she didn't come back immediately, everyone wouldn't freak out. Seems every time she goes out of Bon Temps it's not exactly a quick trip. Even if the last time it felt like one to her.
"Why are you going to Vegas?'
Sookie thought for a moment. "Uh, Vampire business"
Sam didn't seem please. "For Bill?"
"Absolutely NOT! I'm going with Eric."
Sam had a few more questions.
"What's this about?"
Sookie sighed. "An unofficial, illegal to humans marriage?" she said with a tad bit of question in her tone.
Sam seemed confused. "You pretending to get married in Vegas?"
Sookie decided against telling him the full story. She's learned to tell half-truths since meeting vampires. "Something like that."
Sam laughed. "Well, whatever the reason, don't get illegally married by Elvis."
Sookie was pretty sure Elvis wouldn't be involved
She got off the phone with Sam and found Eric. "What are we going to do to get a word with Felipe?"
"What do you mean? He knows me. He'll speak with me because I am going to be one of his new Sheriffs."
"You really think his takeover will be successful?"
Eric didn't want to admit as much, but Felipe was older than Bill and they already lost some Louisiana Sheriffs to the witches. "Yes, Sookie. I have no doubt in my mind he'll be my new King."
Sookie was curious about Russell now. "What exactly is Russell's relationship with Felipe? Pam said she was certain Russell promised Felipe something or vice versa."
"Well, I have a feeling Felipe won't be ruling Louisiana directly. In fact, he seems to like Nevada."
Sookie didn't like how that sounded. "Eric, are you saying Russell will be sort of like a substitute King?"
Eric nodded. "More or less. Right-hand guy. His messenger, etc."
Sookie found that amazing. "You know, that's kind of like the President putting the vice President in charge for a day because he's too lazy."
"Well, don't tell him that. I'd like to see you come back fully alive and in one piece, Sookie."
"If we don't come up with a plan to explain my being there, I probably won't, Eric."
Eric hadn't thought about it. "You're right. If we express wanting the knife that might imply we want to get married and Russell could be around."
Sookie smiled. "Yes. The idea is not to let Russell know, if I am not mistaken, because then he'll try to stop us. Not that it matters much. He doesn't follow rules very well, and was only listening to King Bill until he had a moment to get his revenge. What makes you think he still won't take me after I pledge to you?"
Eric smiled. "His undead life. I get to kill him if he touches you."
Sookie nodded. "I suppose I am no use to him if he's dead. However, your last attempt to kill him didn't go over well. If he tries to take me anyway, may I help you out a little and stake him?"
"Yes. I think that sounds like a good plan."
Sookie brought the conversation back to their problem.
"So, what are we going to do?"
Eric thought about it. "You're going to be in a disguise. You can pretend to be my new dancer."
Sookie blinked. "Based on our previous discussion on this issue, I assume Felipe knows we're together, as in a couple. So wouldn't that spark the question of whether or not you're cheating on me?"
Eric realized she had a point, but didn't know why it'd matter. "If you're correct and Felipe knows about my love life, he wouldn't care if I was unfaithful."
That didn't sit well with Sookie. "Well, I would care if you were, and I don't think I like the idea it looks like you are."
"Fine. You'll be my new bartender – the first human hired for that position."
Sookie approved of that plan more. "A better idea, but if I am asking to be pledged to another vampire in disguise, who will we say if he asks us to whom?"
"I have more than one bartender. Take your pick from my vampire bartenders."
Sookie didn't know any of the other bartenders, except Chow.
Eric shrugged. "I have a new bartender named Bjorn, and then one named Felicia, but Felicia blames you for Longshadow's death. She thinks Chow will be next to die, and considers you a curse."
Sookie sighed. "Nice to know. Well, Bjorn it is then. What does he look like, so we can make this believable?"
Eric smiled. "Felicia says he looks like me a little bit."
Sookie wanted to meet him. "Can I meet him so he doesn't think I am some stranger asking a favor of him?"
Eric shook his head. "Doesn't matter if you meet him. You won't be asking him the favor."
Sookie crossed her arms. "So he won't question who I am if you ask him."
Eric smiled. "No. I am his boss and Sheriff. If I order him to pretend to be your fiancé, he will."
"Oh right. You say jump, he asks how high." Eric had as much power as he wanted without becoming a King. He was quite cocky about it at times.
Sookie sighed. "Well, he won't ask the plan?"
"Oh, he might, but I won't tell him everything, of course."
"Of course!" was all she responded.
The flight to Vegas was somewhat dull to Sookie. If she had a human boyfriend, he'd be sitting with her. Instead, Eric was in a coffin hidden away. When they landed, they went to the hotel immediately.
"We got here just in time for you to sleep for the morning," Sookie said.
"Yes, which means you're going to serve as my day man tomorrow."
Sookie was confused. "What am I doing tomorrow?" she asked.
"Checking me in with Felipe. It's his territory, and he won't be pleased to hear a Sheriff from the area he wants to take over is visiting unannounced. So, you will make sure he knows we're
here" He handed her a number and told her to leave a message for Felipe.
As soon as Sookie woke up the next day she dialed the number.
"Oh yes, I'm calling on behalf of Eric Northman. He is here and would like to request a word with The King."
The woman seemed even more impatient. "Well, being the King is currently sleeping for the day, it'd be best if you gave me a more informed message than that. Like say how he can contact Eric to give his reply when he wakes."
Sookie was now in a foul mood. She had very little tolerance for being talked to so rudely. However, it would not be wise to tell off an employee of a vampire King. Sookie apologized and gave her a number.
Once she hung up the phone, she noticed a note on the nightstand. They were in a windowless room, and there was one lamp on the stand. Sookie turned it on to read it. Eric must have left it before he went dead for the day.
Sookie, here's my card. Order room service, go shopping, or whatever you like to keep occupied until I wake. Just don't go too far. I don't want to have to send a search party through Vegas to find my fiancée
-Eric
Sookie looked at the card and wasn't too happy about the note. "What's that supposed to mean?" She felt like burning the note. "It's like daddy leaving his credit card and telling his seventeen-year-old daughter not to go find drug dealers and hookers on the sidewalks of Vegas."
She turned the note over and then called room service. She decided she was hungry, but as she was dialing to order food she saw he wrote on the back of his original note.
And don't take offense to my note. You admit that trouble finds you, otherwise you wouldn't have asked me to come with you before I insisted.
She ripped the note up and threw it in the trash can. Why is it so frustrating he knows me so well.
She realized she hadn't called the room service yet. She ordered a burger and fries and hung up. Something ordinary and something she could get at Merlotte's. She wasn't going to be parading around town with Eric's credit card. She'll eat and then take a nap.
Once her food came, there was a knock on their room door. She opened it to find no one there. She looked down to find a card. She picked it up and opened it. It said, "Congratulations to the happy couple. Enjoy for as long as it lasts." It confused Sookie. "It doesn't sound threatening. Yet, it doesn't sound like they got the wrong room."
