Many thanks to AmaZen for beta'ing for me. Her insight rocks. You guys should thank her too, because she somehow motivated my brain to not only make a chappie which exceeds 1,300 words, but exceeds 2,000. That, ladies, is a huge accomplishment for me.

"The new occupant in your room was more than pleased to accept my bouquet of flowers, but her husband did not look happy."

"Oh shit," I whispered. Amelia was practically vibrating with glee. I rolled my eyes and called the source of Amelia's glee. He answered on the first ring. I asked him if this meant that I wasn't getting any flowers. Amelia began bouncing up and down while clapping her hands like a moron as she heard his booming laughter come over the speaker. It was loud.

"Yes, I am home."

"No, I don't have any plans." Amelia looked affronted.

"Sorry, I do. I'm watching a movie with my friend."

"Yes, that's her giggling."

"Here? Tonight?" My panic did nothing to deter Amelia's glee.

"Twenty minutes?" I gulped.

"See you then." I shut the phone.

I was calm. I could do this. Or at least I could before I realized I probably smelled funny since I'd run the house cleaning marathon all afternoon. "Twenty minutes! Holy shit, Amelia!" I was panicking. Full on. Amelia was loving it.

"Just calm down and go take a shower. I'll pull out an outfit and be in the bathroom in ten minutes to begin the war paint. Hurry." She was absolutely delighted. I hoped like hell she didn't pull out something that made me look like a floozy, but I didn't have time. I made the mad dash to the bathroom and turned on the shower. I spun, grabbed my toothbrush, lopped on some toothpaste and jumped in to the shower before the water could warm up. Frantically, I shampooed my hair and lathered up my body. I scrubbed my teeth ferociously while trying to rinse my hair. Conditioner would have to wait. The shampoo burned my eyes while I rinsed my mouth from the shower head's flow. I quickly shaved my underarms and managed to avoid cutting myself. Maybe he'd prefer the scent of blood? Ick. By the time I cut the water and was finished mopping the water droplets off of my skin, eight minutes had passed. Shit! Twelve minutes! Good to her word, Amelia was in the bathroom with a stack of clothes.

She kept her back turned and handed me each article one by one, announcing the same like a nurse handing tools to the surgeon. "One pair of baby blue lace boyshorts. One matching demi-bra." As soon as I clasped the bra on she was back at it. "One pair of yes-I-know-my-butt-looks-good jeans," which I damn near fell over trying to pull on because I'd neglected to dry my legs thoroughly, "and one baby blue peasant blouse, complete with lace up front," I scoffed. "You can thank me later, Sookie."

"Thanks for feeding me to the wolves, Amelia," I mumbled dryly.

"Wolf? I thought he was a vampire?" She thought.

I paused mid pull, "Don't tell me."

"Fine, then I won't. Six minutes to go!"

I ran a pick through my hair, thankful that there were minimal snags and had just enough time to wrap it in a towel when the door bell rang. "Whoa, shit, he's fucking early!"

"Chill out, I'll get the door. You finish drying your mop and try to find some lip gloss," and then she skipped out of my room.

I didn't know which scared me more. Meeting Eric while slumming it, or leaving Amelia alone with him to run her mouth. Going for broke, I flung the towel into the hamper, shook my hair out and went running. I came to a skittering halt to find Eric standing in the doorway, once again leaning against the frame, ankles crossed and looking like a Viking god. He had on faded, low rise jeans and a sheer, tight, black, long sleeved shirt which exposed a smidgeon of happy trail as he stood with his arm leaning against the doorframe, and a black leather jacket. I was licking my bottom lip and didn't even notice it. I noticed he didn't have said flowers, which are probably sitting in some rogue woman's hotel room water jug.

Amelia was giving him the once over and ended up bug eyed staring at his boots. "My, what big feet you have!"

"Amelia!" I hissed, "Stop!"

Eric was enjoying the show. "Wait until you see my fangs?"

"Ooh!" Amelia clapped with glee. "Show me what you got, big man."

Eric gave me his award winning smile and his fangs went down. Hot. Wait? What? No! Maybe?

"Lover, this feels like a flashback. Care to invite me in?"

"Jesus, Amelia, you didn't even invite him in?"

"Sooks, I could have just slammed the door in his face, but I figured I'd leave you the honors." I shot her the death glare. Eric chuckled and politely asked Amelia to refrain from encouraging me.

"Actually, since this is your house, you have to be the one to invite me in."

"Oh, sorry. Come on in." I could hear Amelia, "How eloquent." Death glare was back in full force.

I offered to take his jacket while Amelia went behind him to close the door. As Eric shrugged out of the jacket I could see Amelia behind him holding her hands shoulders width apart and thinking, "Huge fucking peen!" I choked and tripped on my way to hang up his jacket. The three of us stood in the doorway and waited on someone to make a move. Amelia thought, "Offer him something to drink, Dumbass!"

Right, Sookie. Stop watching his pecs twitch under his shirt and remember your manners. "Eric, I'd offer you something to drink, but I don't have any of that synthetic blood. Is there anything else I can get you?" Eric's eyes sparkled as he waggled his eyebrows at me. He stalked, yes stalked, into my house and paused as he was about to pass me. He leaned in to the crook of my neck. I unconsciously leaned in to him and felt him inhale.

"I can think of several things, but I've only one in mind at the moment. It would, of course, be impolite with your friend here," he whispered against my ear. I think I wet my panties... just a little.

Amelia cackled and thought, "Can I watch?" I almost fell over. Eric was beginning to look puzzled.

"Sookie, are you okay? You've not been drinking again?"

"What? No! Just excuse me and Amelia for a moment." I dragged her into the kitchen and whispered against her ear, "Amelia, they have super sensitive hearing. Also, the whole telepathy thing is a secret. You can't be thinking this crap in front of him. I think he already suspects something, and he thinks I'm bat shit crazy as it is."

"Then I suggest you put your shields up because I'm going to go out there and undress him with my eyes and mind fuck him. Mmkay?"

"Oh no you're not! Amelia, please?"

"Fine, I'll behave. How long till you want me to bolt?"

"Not for awhile yet. I'm not so sure I'm comfortable being alone with him quite yet. At least at the hotel, people could hear my screams."

"Right. Because you know I'm such a deterrent to bloodshed," she replied with an eye roll.

As we walked back into the living room, Amelia piped up, "Yea, next time, park out back, Eric. Sook here has back door access." Eric snorted. "Seriously, people are always coming in her back door." When Eric burst out loud with laughter, I finally got the joke. Eric assured us both he would never think of such a thing, at least not without flowers and dinner first. I turned bright red and snatched Amelia's arm again.

"Okay, now you're leaving."

Amelia was loudly broadcasting, yet again, "Shit! I didn't mean it that way! I'll behave, I promise!" I leveled a dirty look at her and said, "Last chance." I couldn't hold it for long though and soon we were both giggling. Amelia turned the brightest shade of read and pinched the bridge of her nose trying to recompose herself. "Shit, Sookie. I feel like an ass." She was hiccupping, trying to contain herself. Eric gave our silent conversation a raised eyebrow, but didn't press the issue.

I wandered over to the couch and plopped down, exhausted already. I should have known that I couldn't handle these two at the same time. Eric glanced around the living room and noticed the wall of photographs I maintained. As he approached the framed pictures, he gestured with a finger, "Your family?"

"Yes," I replied while getting up to stand next to him. I waited for him to begin to ask questions, and knew I didn't want to give him answers. This was too personal. He was in my space and now looking at my personal life on display on my wall. Amelia diverted any possible conversation of this nature, and I was immediately thankful.

"So, Eric, how was the drive?" She'd asked. With his hands in his pockets, Eric shrugged slightly as he turned around.

"I didn't quite drive." He didn't what?

I glanced at Amelia and heard her think, "Wha?"

I looked back to Eric and asked, "Then how did you get here? Fly?" I immediately regretted my sarcasm.

He shrugged again and resumed looking at my pictures.

I snorted. "Like with a plane?" Please say plane, please say plane.

"Not quite."

"I'm not seeing any wings, so?" I looked to Amelia hoping she'd have a suggestion. She sent out, "I read somewhere that vampires can do all sorts of interesting things. I bet your Viking can fly."

I chuckled out, "Like Peter Pan?" Eric turned and squinted his eyes. Yup, he was daring me to make fun of him again. I bit my lip.

"All children, except one, grow up," he mumbled. Indeed.

"Sookie, don't be rude. I'm sure there isn't a floating ship outside being commanded by a one-handed captain threatening to make everyone walk the plank." Amelia mused out loud again. "Besides, I'm totally envisioning spandex and a cape."

Eric leaned forward to better scrutinize a picture on the wall. "Yes, like Peter Pan, although I refuse to wear tights, Amelia. Unless, if Ms. Stackhouse was into fantasy role play? I think she would look delicious in a Tinkerbelle costume."

"At least he's thinking Tinkerbelle and not Wendy. Good to know he's not a perv." I wished Amelia would shut the hell up.

"Delicious as in dinner?" I gulped.

"No, Lover, as in delectable."

"Isn't that the same thing?" I shot Amelia a worried look.

Without looking away, Eric replied, "You can be pleasing to the palate without needing to be made a meal."

"Holy crap, girl. You've got your hands full." I shot a look at Amelia and she didn't look like she felt bad for me. Not one bit. I scowled and signaled her to cut it out.

"What? I'm just stating the obvious. Why does he keep calling you `Lover' ?" I wrinkled my nose and shook my head slightly.

In question, Amelia arched an eyebrow, "He's hot, doesn't look to be older than twenty. Younger man and all. He's smart and is never going to age. He also flew to your house looking for you when you weren't at the hotel and he had flowers waiting for you. What is your deal?"

I shrugged. I didn't know what my problem was. This was all too fast, too soon. I looked over to Eric, and realized he had been watching us. Shit.

"I'm beginning to feel a bit left out watching your silent dialogue. Would either one of you care to share with the class?"

Amelia sank into the chair and sent out, "Busted."