The next evening at sunset I was sitting at the table waiting for Eric when entered the cabin it was time to put operation Let Sookie Stay into action. I had thought about it all night and knew my plan just might work.

Handing him a cold bottle of True Blood I said. "Eric it's true you have paid all your debts to me. However, Pam has not. So I am calling in the favor owed me. You will allow me to stay with you for one week. And then all debts will be paid.

Looking toward the wall he spoke in a soft voice. "Sookie, I am no longer a maker therefore there is no debt to repay on her behalf. So you will leave now."

"No Eric she was your child for over 200 years and just because you are not her maker now does not absolve the debt she owed me when you were her master. And seeing as I can no longer collect the favor owed me from her without putting my life in danger. I am collecting from you because you were there when the debt was made. Did you forget I saved her life in Rhoads as I did yours?"

"No I have not forgotten. I am nothing if I am not a man of honor therefore, I will pay her debt to you by allowing you to stay for seven days. But at the end of the seven days you must go Sookie and forget you ever knew me."

"OK."

"Have you eaten today? I know there was nothing here for you."

"Yeah I had a couple of energy bars in my pack. I know they are not really filling but they are nutritious."

"Come we will fly to a store and get a few food items,"

Walking over to the cabinet he removed a leather pouch taking out a roll of money he peeled off a couple of bills. Sticking them in his front pocket he motioned for me to join him on the front porch.

As I turned to face him and wrap my arms around his neck I saw him visibly flinch at the thought of my touch.
"I won't hurt you Eric. I'm sorry this is so uncomfortable for you."

Nodding his head at my words I felt his hand on my thigh indicating that I should lock my legs around his waist. Jumping up I hung onto him like a child and we took off into the sky.

At the store I had only selected items that need no refrigeration or could be cooked over the open fireplace at the cabin. Eric didn't seem to have a problem flying home with me or the many food items I had bought. One thing I did notice was that Eric had selected a cheap paperback from off of the display rack. Looking at the title I knew he had selected it for me. Before we left town he treated me to a juicy cheeseburger and fries. In his own way I knew that it was his way of showing me he still cared. Not once did I allow my stubborn side to surface and insist that I pay for the food.

Two nights later as we sat on the porch swing together I ask him how long it had been since he had drank real blood instead of that synthetic crap in a bottle.

"I drink a small amount of bagged blood every other night. It is very expensive and it seems that now my funds are limited so I make an effort to make it last."

"Eric how do you keep it cold?"

"There is a root cellar below a trap door in the west corner of the cabin beneath the floor. It stays cool enough to not spoil on me."

Taking a sip of my instant coffee I said.

"Can I ask you something else?"

Nodding his head the swing continued its rocking motion as he waited for me to ask the question that was on my mind.

"Eric will you tell me what happened to you?"

"Sookie it is not a tale I wish to share."

"Please Eric I want to help. I want to know if you will tell me."

"My Sookie what purpose would it serve other than to bring you pain as it has me."

"Eric if you ever loved me at all you will allow me this."

Looking at me with hard eyes he drew in an unnecessary breath and began.

He told me of the physical punishments he endured by De Castro's hand. He told me of the emotional abuse…the loss of his status, wealth, and his child. Lastly as he cried in my arms he told me of his multiple rapes and the loss of his dignity. Rocking him in my arms until his crying subsided I took his hand and led him to the stream.

As I removed his shirt I ran my hands softly over his scars. When I started to remove his pants to lead him in the water he stopped me.

Speaking in a soft sorrowful tone he said. "Sookie, he damaged me. I am not the man that you remember."

Wiping the tears from my face I brushed his hands away and said the same words he had said to me so many years ago.

"Lover you are perfect…perfectly beautiful."

Lowering his pants to his knees I saw for the first time the horrible evil that had been done to the pride of a great warrior Viking. Eric had been forced to endure the pain of his genitals being pierced and flayed. By denying him blood he had not healed correctly and now he was mutilated with scars.

My hands began to glow as anger burned in my chest. When I looked up I knew this was the wrong reaction to show Eric right now. He needed my love and acceptance not my anger.

Trailing my hands up his body I softly cupped his face and kissed him slow and gentle. Pulling away I tugged on his hand leading him into the water. When we were finished we went back to the cabin and I had a snack while Eric quietly picked up a piece of wood and settled himself down in front of the fire place and begin carving out the form of some animal.

Placing my hand on his shoulder I got his attention and moved toward the bed inviting him to lay down with me. Once on the bed I hovered over him flipping my hair to my opposite shoulder I offered my neck to him.

"Please lover drink from me."

As his fangs snicked into place I gently stretched my finger tips up to his mouth and he let me stroke the short fangs for a moment before capturing my hand in his and placing it on the back of his neck. I pulled him in close and felt his cool tongue lick the vein causing it to rise and kiss me softly seconds before he broke the skin.

Moaning at the pleasure he was giving me I did not notice until I felt him retract his fangs from my neck and seal the bite mark with his saliva that he had an orgasm while drinking from me.

Softly thanking me he got up and silently went to the shelf and got a clean pair of pants.

He stayed with me on that bed just allowing me to hold him until I drifted off to sleep. Sometime before the dawn he quietly slipped away to his resting place for the day leaving behind a small wooden figurine of a bird. It was the carving he had been working on last night. Tears sprang to my eyes when I thought of all that had been done to him yet he was still so kind and gentle to me.

I didn't know how but I felt in my soul that at the end of my seven days I would refuse to leave this place without Eric. He was coming home with me. Maybe not home to Bon Temps but to my home here in Idaho. Where I would shower this wonderful man with more love than he ever had in his 1000 thousand years on this Earth and another day De Castro would get everything he deserved. I would see to it!