"Eric! Eric, honey! Are you here?" I take a quick glance at the time to see that it's five in the morning. Who the fuck is that, I wonder? Is he used to five a.m. wake up calls? I look over at Eric as a few expressions flash across my face but he just smiles, placing a chaste kiss on my lips.

"Eric! Where are you?" A female voice (that sounds familiar) says as it gets closer to his bedroom. I figure I have a few options. One, hide under the sheets like an idiot; two, hide under the bed like an idiot–I didn't have an option three because the door creeps open just as I slide off the bed and onto the floor. I push myself over to roll under the bed when I discover that there's no room for me to fit AND I'm tangled in the sheets. Ohshitohshitohshitohshit!

"Sweetheart, didn't you hear me calling you?" Eric's mom? Well fuck me sideways.

Out of all the people who could have walked into this bedroom, it has to be Portia. If she knows that I'm here she'll tell Bill for sure, then I'm fucked. I fumble around for a bit trying to get up as quickly as possible but the damned sheet is impossible to get out of. How did I get so tangled up in this thing? I have to make a break for it and pray she doesn't recognize me, and I don't bust my ass in the process. I push myself up from the floor and dart off into the bathroom as she rounds the bed to Eric's side.

"Mamma ut, jag är naken! Varför har du inte vänta på mig?" I slam the door so hard I think it'll fall off the hinges. With my ear pressed to the door I listen to be sure she didn't see my face.

"Excuse me, Mr. Northman. Don't you yell at me in Swedish! You speak English when you're talking to me."

"You caught me off guard. I apologize."

"That's better. Now, I'm so sorry to have disturbed you and your, whoever she is, that was hiding under the bed and is now hiding in your bathroom. Why is she hiding?" FUCK!

"Uh, you scared her. It would be nice if you called, you know? You can't just show up unannounced like this. What if we were having sex?"

"Sweetheart, I have to say that I'm not sure I want you having sex with a woman that hides under your bed. That's not respectable behavior. Why can't I meet her? Is she someone I know?" She didn't recognize me. Thank God! I take a much needed deep, cleansing breath.

"Mom, she can hear you."

"Right. Well, I'll let you two make yourselves decent and I'll be in the living room. We need to talk."

I sigh as I hear the door close and hesitate to open the bathroom door. I'm so embarrassed and not just because Portia almost caught me. I hit the floor pretty hard. My hip will probably be sore the rest of the week. I feel like an idiot but it was necessary. Eric doesn't seem nonplussed about the situation at all. How can he remain so calm while I'm flipping out? Having Portia catch me in her son's bed would have been detrimental to my health. I would have had a heart attack. The fact that she saw me run into the bathroom naked is bad enough. I can't believe he didn't stop her from coming into his bedroom. I guess he couldn't but, really?

I hear a light knock on the door before Eric walks into the bathroom. I should have locked the door. He's wearing black sweat pants and a smile. With the bed head, he looks sexy as hell. I so wish his mother hadn't interrupted us this morning. He's trying to keep from laughing but a chuckle slips between his lips.

"It's not funny, Eric!" I fight to keep my voice down.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I didn't know you could move that fast." I smack his arm, hard.

"You can laugh now, but you wouldn't be laughing if she saw me lying naked in your bed."

"No, I'd still laugh. You worry too much."

"I see you aren't taking this seriously. Since you feel that way, maybe I should just go." He drops the smile and his face hardens.

"I'll go get rid of her. Really, she doesn't know that you're here so you don't have to worry."

"Oh, I'm not worried. Why would I be? There's no reason at all for me to panic because my husband's cousin just witnessed me dash in to her son's bathroom, naked. There's nothing you could say to explain that away. What if I left something out in the living room that she sees and connects to me?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know but I'm freaking out here, Eric. If she knows I'm here, she'll tell Bill. He's her cousin for crying out loud. Not sure if that point is coming across to you. She has no loyalty to me."

"But she does to me. I'm her son. She won't do anything to hurt me and hurting you would do that. Trust me, Sookie. I'll take care of it." He says placing a kiss on my forehead before turning to leave the room.

I'm reluctant to do it, but I believe him. I have my doubts that Portia will just give up on finding out who I am, but I need to let Eric work his magic. I didn't think that Portia hated me, but if she knew I was here, I'm sure that would change.

I'm so nervous I can't even think straight. I hear Eric close the bedroom door and after I finish my business in the bathroom, I creep out into his room grabbing his tee shirt on my way to stand by the door. Eavesdropping is frowned upon (and I'd be pissed if someone did it to me) but I have to be sure he takes care of this. Their voices are muffled so I crack the door a tad to hear more clearly.

"Are you going to tell me who you have hiding in there or what?"

"I can't do that Mom. It's not really something I feel comfortable with. Besides, you come barging into my bedroom so early in the morning like you live here. Where's the respect for my privacy?"

"I have a key so I didn't barge in. I don't like this Eric. Not one bit. The fact that you don't feel comfortable telling me who she is speaks volumes. Are you at least using protection?"

"It's not really your business, Mother."

"You need to be safe. There are women in the world who would love to trap a young, handsome, rich man like you. You can't afford to get some girl pregnant. You know your father depends on you to take over for him. Don't do something stupid that will ruin your life." Wow, this bitch is really off her rocker. There seems to be much more to Eric than I realized.

"That's enough Mother!"

"Are you having an affair with this woman? Is that why she's hiding?" Now why would she jump to that conclusion?

"What are you talking about? Why would you ask me that?"

"Well, I noticed…you know what, I'll find out for myself." I hear footfalls approaching the bedroom and I'm praying to God they are Eric's. But the sinking feeling I have inside tells me they aren't and I look back and forth between the closet and the bathroom needing to make a decision, and fast.

Just as I reach the bathroom and shut the door behind me, I hear Portia call out to me. I make sure to lock the door. She starts banging on the door as if that will make me open it.

"HELLO! Who are you and why are you hiding in my son's bathroom?" What is she trying to prove? Why doesn't she just leave? And how the fuck did she get around Eric so fast?

"Mom, seriously this is bullshit. I need you to go. I'm assuming you came here for a reason and it was not to snoop. Please, you're making my girlfriend uncomfortable."

"Girlfriend!" Portia and I exclaim at the same time. He called me his girlfriend.

"Yes, my girlfriend."

"Well, when do we get to meet her?"

"Mom, it's complicated."

"It's complicated? Eric! If she's a respectable girl then I should be able to meet her. Now, you and your girlfriend will come over for dinner this evening. Your father will be excited to meet her as well, I'm sure."

"No!"

"Excuse me young man?"

"No. We have plans."

"Then cancel them."

"Mom–"

"I won't take no for an answer. You have yourselves at our place by seven tonight or there will be consequences. Do you understand me?" I'm pleading with him to say no but I know it's a lost cause.

"Yes."

"Good. I'll see you later then. Ooh, this is so exciting. My baby has a girlfriend. It's about time; I was beginning to worry about you not settling down…" Her voice trails off as she leaves the room. I finally release the breath I'd been holding for the past five minutes. After a while, Eric comes to the door and knocks.

"Sookie, she's gone. You can come out now. I put the deadlock and the chain on the door so she won't be barging in again." I reluctantly open the bathroom door and peek out to see Eric standing in front of me looking sullen.

"Eric, if I go with you tonight…"

"I know. We'll think of something." He runs his fingers through his hair out of frustration.

"There's nothing to think about. I can't go. Your mother will flip out and probably try to kick my ass."

"I'd actually like to see that." I glare at him.

"I'm being serious here."

"So am I because I think you could take her."

"Eric…"

"Sookie, she's always poking her nose into my business and my father won't put up with it. Speaking of my father, I should just call him and have him put the kibosh on things. I'll do that now. Relax lover. I told you I would take care of it and I will."

Eric grabs his phone and calls his father. I sit quietly listening to Eric's side of the conversation. I actually happen to like Alexander. He's always been kind to me although Portia has never made any extra effort to be friendly. Maybe she thinks I'm not good enough for Bill. I can't really worry about that right now. I've got bigger fish to fry.

"Dad, Mom was here this morning. She called you already? Man she's fast. I need your help. My girlfriend can't make it tonight and I need you to run interference for me with Mom." There's a long pause. Eric sits looking at me with a small smile on his face. I want to kiss him. "I can't tell you that. Because I can't. She is someone that you know. Really, Bill called you yesterday?" I clutch my stomach in fear as a surge of nausea overcomes me. I don't think I can listen to anymore so I get up and retreat to the bathroom, again.

I start running a bath and wait for Eric to finish his call. I feel like I may pass out as I sit and wait for him. This is getting out of hand and I really need to relax. I put my hair up in a messy bun to keep it out of the way. I test the water temperature once more before climbing into the tub. Once I settle in and sink down to get comfortable, Eric comes into the bathroom. If the look on his face is any indication of how his conversation went, I really don't want to know. For a brief second I think about going home and hiding at Amelia's.

"So, I have some news. Bill called my father asking about me. He wanted to know how I was. My dad wasn't sure why but it wasn't unusual for him to ask. We are family after all."

"Did he mention me?"

"No, he didn't. Your name wasn't brought up until Bill said something about not having enough time to talk to you. Is that true?"

"Among other things. We can talk about that later. What else?"

"Dad said something that I don't think you'll like. He told Bill that he needed to pay more attention to you or someone else would. Then my father mentioned to me that he noticed the way I looked at you. I guess he figured that would be a good segue into what he wanted to say next. I'm glad you're sitting down."

"Eric, please. Just tell me what he said."

"It didn't slip by him that I went missing for a while during the New Year's Eve party. He came looking for me and happened to walk by the office when we were…." I hold up my hand to stop him. I know what we were doing. I could swear my heart stopped. I feel the blood draining from my face and my breathing halts.

"Sookie, are you okay? You don't look so good." Eric falls to his knees by the tub. I sit up and hold onto the edge of the tub like it's my lifeline.

"He heard us? He knows?"

"Yes."

"Fuck Eric, what am I going to do? Did he tell Bill? Will he tell Bill?"

"Calm down min alskare please. He didn't say anything to Bill."

"Stop calling me that! I can't…I'm scared. Why hasn't he said anything? Do you know what will happen if Bill finds out?"

"He won't find out."

"How can you be so sure?"

"My father won't say anything. He hasn't told my mother and they don't keep secrets from one another. That has to count for something."

"Yeah, well your mother isn't married to me now is she? FUCK!"

"Please, calm down. My father is…he understands. I've explained to him that you two are separated. He wasn't too happy to hear that but–"

"I have to tell you that does not make me feel any better. I want to go home."

" Why? Sookie…"

"I don't want to cause any trouble for you and when your mother sees me she'll know what's going on and that'll be the end of the charade. I can't do that to you. My life is fucked up enough as it is and I won't–"

"That's enough, Sookie! I won't let you talk like that. Don't worry about me. My dad will take care of my mother. He has his ways, trust me. There's nothing to worry about."

"You don't know that, Eric."

"I do and I won't let anything happen to you. I promise. Do you believe me?"

"I want to but…I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I love anything you call me in Swedish." I attempt a smile to lighten the mood and fail miserably.

Eric moves closer to the tub as I lean away from him and runs his fingers down my cheek. His hand cups my face, his thumb caressing my cheek gently and I lean into it. I have to admit I feel safer, calmer with Eric but I just can't be sure this will work out.

His lips brush across mine and he nibbles his way up my jaw line to my earlobe. I tremble under his touch and feel him smile against my neck. He whispers sweet nothings in my ear (in Swedish, of course) and I melt. I'm so relaxed that I don't notice his hands have left my body. He grabs the bar of soap and a washcloth, working up a later. Pulling me to a sitting position he rubs large soothing circles on my back with the washcloth.

"Mmm…that feels so good. Thank you."

"You know that I would do anything for you." He lifts my arms in turn, washing down my sides.

"It would seem that that's true. How many of your other girlfriends have you bathed?" He works his way around to my front, gently scrubbing my stomach, his hands gliding over my breasts up to my neck.

"I've never had a girlfriend before you."

"Now that I do not believe. You've never had a girlfriend? And speaking of which, I'm your girlfriend? I didn't know…"

"I'm completely serious, Sookie. I wouldn't lie to you. I've never had a girlfriend and yes I do consider you to be my girlfriend. Why wouldn't I? Was I wrong in thinking that?"

"I just didn't know what, if anything, we were." His hands make their way back to my breasts and my concentration fades. I close my eyes relishing in his touch.

"Sookie…" His left hand dips below the water as he calls to me again. "Sookie…"

My eyes flutter open and I hold his gaze but no words escape my mouth as his hands set to work. He knows just the way to touch me and my body reacts to his roaming fingers. A small moan escapes my lips as Eric continues his ministrations between my thighs. My back arches as he tickles his way down my spine and my legs fall apart touching the sides of the bathtub. He slips a finger into my aching center and I clamp my legs together to get more friction where I need it most.

I am completely floating on cloud nine when Eric leans in to kiss me. He puts so much passion into the kiss that I forget about all of the bad stuff going on in my life. My legs fall open again as he pushes another finger into me, rubbing my nub in time with his thrusts. I lay a hand over his to keep it in place and guide his movements. As I come down from my high, I look deeply into Eric's eyes searching for what eludes me–an answer to my mess. Maybe he is it.

Nothing much matters when I'm with Eric. He makes me happy and I think I truly do love him. I am not sure what to do with that revelation right now so I file it away for later. I don't think I've loved Bill for at least the last year of our marriage. How could I love someone who treats me like a piece of property? I am not his to be possessed. I deserve much more than he can give me and it's taken me this long to realize it. Why the fuck am I wasting my thoughts on Bill when I'm here with Eric?

I reach up to thread my fingers into his beautiful blonde hair, wrapping them around the nape of his neck; I pull him to me and subsequently, into the tub. The water sloshes over the sides as he tries to avoid landing on me. I laugh at the look on his face. He was not expecting me to pull him in with me but he seems to be in a playful mood. So we play, for hours.

Having been in Sweden for an entire day now, I figure I should call Amelia to make sure she's okay and to check up on Sammie. I haven't even thought to call Jason and let him know where I am. I know Jason will call Gran and tell her what's going on. Now, I'm not sure if I should call Jason at all. Bill won't call him since Jason hates him but, he might try to coax my whereabouts out of Gran. Bill can be very charming when he wants to. I decide to just call Amelia and go from there.

"Hey Ames! How are things? Sorry for calling so late."

"It's okay Sooks. I'm up anyway. Tray is having a poker party and I'm waitressing." We laugh. Tray must have promised her something big if she's sticking around for one of his poker parties.

"Why are you 'waitressing' at two in the morning? Shouldn't those guys be done with their game?"

"Sook, you know how it is when these guys get together. They start howling and frolicking like animals and don't want to go home. I'm just happy to be keeping busy. I've been worrying about you. Captain Shut the Fuck Up called trying to threaten me into telling him where you are. "

"Wait, what did you just call him?" I couldn't stop laughing. Amelia says the damndest things. "Ames, seriously where do you come up with these names?"

"You know how creative I am. He inspires me. I've never met anyone who makes me want to come up with new nicknames for them. He's such a pain in the ass. He actually tried to tell me that he'd been called worse than a douche. I guess that would have been your doing."

"Oh you know it." Eric slinks back under the covers with me. I was wondering how long he'd stay away. Going to get coffee, my ass.

"So, Sook. Is everything okay? I mean you're not coming back anytime soon right? You should let things cool off here first."

"Yeah, I know. I just wanted to make sure you were okay and weren't being harassed. I'm really sorry about Bill calling you Ames. Things are okay but there may be a little snag. I won't bother you with the details but if something goes wrong, I will be back sooner than I planned."

"Wait, wait, wait. First, don't worry about me. I can handle Bill. I have Tray, remember? Second, you're my best friend. If there's trouble you know I have your back and that's what friends are for. Third, if there is something going on that I need to know about, you have to tell me. Maybe I can help."

"I wish you could but Eric is handling it, so no need to worry. Have your heard from my brother? I was afraid to call Jason because he'd tell Gran what's going on and you know how that would go over. How's my Sammie? Is Tray really okay with him being there? Did you talk to Laff?" My rapid succession of questions should get her mind off my slip up.

"I haven't talked to Jason but I think you're right. I'll call him to at least let him know you're okay. Sammie's fine here; Tray loves him. Laff is ready whenever you are. I didn't know when to tell him that was though…"

"I'll call when I've figured that out myself–" Eric nuzzles into my neck, licking the area just below my ear. I flag him off but he wraps his arms around me pulling me closer to him.

"Listen Sook, I have to go. The guys need more beer and it looks like I'll be up until dawn. Call me as soon as you can."

"I will. Bye." I have to keep my response short as Eric works his hands up my torso to the valley between my breasts. He cups one in each of his hands, his thumbs grazing my nipples.

"What are you doing? I was on the phone. Ungh…"

"I missed you. Is everything okay at home?" He says while flicking his tongue over my earlobe, slipping it into my ear.

"Unh…as far…as I can…unh…tell…Eric…" His hands work their way back down my body to my center. His fingers hover just above my mound teasing the flesh of my abdomen.

"Did you miss me, Sookie?" I nod as his fingers slip into my wetness. He flips me over so fast that I barely register him entering me in one quick thrust. We move slowly together, whispering 'I love you', licking, sucking and nibbling at every inch of flesh we can reach. Before long I'm calling out his name and he's growling something incomprehensible into the side of my neck. He hops out of bed and runs into the bathroom. I turn onto my side reaching out for him. I don't know how I'll ever be able to leave him. I must have dozed off because my eyes open to the sight of Eric staring at me from the bathroom door. I thought he would have made it back to bed by now.

"What you doing standing there? I'm cold. Come warm me up."

"You fell asleep when I got up a while ago and I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful."

"Thank you. I think I needed to get a nap in. I'm wide awake now." He shoots me that familiar sexy grin that I love.

"I'm getting the shower started. You're more than welcome to join me."

"As soon as I think I can walk, I'll be right there." I feel a whoosh of air and he's kneeling next to me on the edge of the bed.

"No worries min alskare. I'll carry you." He pulls the covers back scooping me off the bed and carries me into the bathroom, bridal style.

If I thought bath time was fun with Eric on the phone, being with him in person was fucking fantastic! I didn't think I'd be able to stand up by the time he was done with me. We start off washing one another's hair. Eric leans back to rinse the shampoo from his hair and I run my hands up his chest to his neck, pulling him down to kiss me. His hands snake their way around my waist and he pulls me against him. He backs me into the tile wall, lifting me and my legs wrap themselves around his waist. I position his tip at my entrance as he grips my hips pulling me down onto him slowly. His momentum builds and soon he is pounding into me with no thought of letting up. My arms around his neck keep me from sliding down the slick wall as he moves within me. The sloshing of the water around us makes me giggle and Eric asks me what's so funny.

"Lover, if you are laughing then I am not doing a very thorough job." He says in a voice dripping with sex. My walls clench at his words as a spasm rips through me spurring him on.

My only reply is a string of low grunts and profanities. He holds my gaze and makes sure the only other sounds that escape my mouth are not giggles.

A/N: Translation: Mom get out, I'm naked! Why did you not wait for me?

I cannot remember who it was that suggested Sookie hide under the bed but I didn't forget about you. Thanks for the suggestion. She didn't quite fit though. LOL. Next chapter is Meet the Parents…