A/N: unfortunately this should be the last chapter posted for a day to two but we will see… as sometimes I fly through new story chapters.

Chapter Four -

The lights went down and the previews began playing, but Eric was oblivious to it as he gave thought to how the anniversary of Zoey's disappearance was just around the corner and he knew that that was why he was feeling so conflicted recently.

He needed to move past whatever this shit storm was that Sookie's presence in his life was causing, it was all finally beginning to get to him. There were too many coincidental encounters, he was too drawn to her and he was feeling himself become far too attached to a woman that he shared very little time with.

He was annoyed by the person seated behind him as he heard them returning from wherever they had been, the bathroom, the concession stand. It didn't matter, the only thing that mattered was that they were in his seat. He and Zoey always made a point of showing up extra early in order to snag the back seat.

"What the fuck?" He mumbled as he felt a piece of popcorn hit his head and watched it fall to the floor at his feet. He started to turn back and froze when that damn voice began whispering in his ear.

"You're not stalking me are you, Mr. Northman?" It was sweet and sexy as hell all at the same time, and the heat from her breath as she spoke was like nothing he had felt before. He choked on air as he attempted to respond, and quickly took a sip of his soda to calm his coughing fit.

He couldn't help but notice that it sounded an awful lot like she was flirting with him, and it of course, caused a reaction down south.

"Umm… nope, no stalking but if I were to be 'stalking' you I would much rather see it as running into you in a premeditated measure"

"Hmm… well aren't you sweet." She whispered still leaning forward "This isn't quite the movie I would expect to see you at, are you here with someone?"

"No, it's just me." He responded ignoring the sweet comment. "You here with someone? Didn't you mention something about having big plans?"

"No, I am alone and this" She gestured around the theatre. " is my big plans. I haven't been out in months and I just needed to get out of the house for something other than work, and buying you shirts." She giggled.

"Yea, me too."

"Hey, why don't you come sit with me. We may have come out alone but there's no sense staying that way." He knew that this was going to be a mistake, he was supposed to be trying to rid his mind of her, not basically go to a movie with her. Even if they had randomly shown up on their own without knowledge of the other, this… was really starting to freak him out.

He gathered his jacket and his drink and nervously slid into the seat next to Sookie and wondered why the fuck this kept happening to them, why they were continually thrown together. They were quiet for a few moments, just watching the movie before Sookie broke the silence.

"It's six months today."

She didn't need to elaborate, he may not have realised it himself but as the words left her mouth he knew exactly what she meant. Holly was taken six months ago.

"I would have brought her to see this" She continued "maybe not today but I would have… so I just thought… why not."

Eric reached over and rested his hand over hers in comfort and this was how they sat for most of the movie. He hadn't heard her crying, only a few sniffles here and there but when the lights were finally raised as the movie ended he noticed that she had been silently shedding tears throughout the movie.

He put an arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry I thought you were ok, I didn't know you had been… upset."

"Don't worry about it, Northman, I'm fine besides I am more of a 'suffer in silence kind of girl'." She told him as she wiped her face clear of tears sniffling just a little.

"I should have known, I know how hard it is when you reach a marker… I've been there." He whispered. She could sense that Eric was close to opening up to her but he didn't say any more than that, instead they gathered their belongings and left the theatre with his arm still wrapped around her.

"I think I'm going to stop in here for a drink, I'm not ready to go home yet." Sookie told Eric as she pointed out a small pub on the corner. Eric frowned not liking the thought of her drinking alone, not to mention the walk home after a few drinks.

"Sounds good" He didn't ask to join her or if she would mind the company because he was not comfortable given the circumstances in leaving her on her own. So, he simply invited himself.

Three hours, far too many drinks, and some extremely intimate as well as difficult conversation later, they were huddled in a booth that sat in the far corner of the pub nursing a final drink since the bartender had announced last call.

"Oh god, Eric, I… I don't know what to say. H-how did you get through it?" Sookie asked as she wiped another lone tear from her face.

"One day at a time, Sookie, one day at a time… It was different for me, I knew who had taken her and I also knew what he was looking for."

"How did you know?" She breathed, completely enveloped by Eric's 'story'.

"He left a note, he wasn't trying to hide his identity. He wanted me to know… like he did." He paused, taking a large gulp of his drink before he continued. "His family… his wife and two children were murdered and he wasn't happy with the outcome of the trial, nobody was. The man who had killed his… daughter was never tried, the DA dropped the charges on a technicality due to evidence that went 'missing' it was strong blood evidence and the only thing that linked him to the crime. Without it there was no case against him."

"Why you… I mean why would he blame you?"

"I was the lead investigator on the case, he lashed out at a few of us. The evidence went missing from our office, in his mind I was the one accountable for it. I was in charge."

"I still can't believe that was you, I remember it being all over the news. About her and the DA, Holly was just a baby, I was so paranoid and wouldn't let her out of my sight and I hated Bill going to work. I… that's horrible… there are just no words."

He chuckled darkly. "No shit… but I knew… the moment I saw that fucking note, I knew she wasn't coming home. He had lost it during the trial, I seen it with my own eyes. He was so far gone there was no going back for him, I might have had hope if he hadn't already… killed the Assistant DA that had dropped the case. He said it was an eye for an eye, like I fucking killed his dau-ghter…" His voice cracked as he trailed off and Sookie pulled him in for a hug. He held it together though, he had many years of practice but nights like this when he let the booze take over… it could be difficult.

"Thank you" Sookie whispered while she hugged him tightly, to others around the bar it probably looked like they were making out in their booth as he buried his face into the side of her neck. While they were doing nothing but providing a mutual comfort for one another.

"Lorena blamed me, she still does."

"Well, that's just crazy, Eric, you were just doing your job and having evidence go missing is not your fault. I just can't believe that someone who had suffered the same loss could harm an innocent child, out of some sick and twisted form of revenge."

"Sookie, I can't hold it against Lorena. Think about it, it's not technically my fault, I know that but my job is why my daughter is no longer… here. She has the right to feel what she feels, hell for a long time I blamed myself too."

She frowned at him because it saddened her that he had this burden to carry, he would always know that although it was indirectly, he by way of his job and an unstable man was involved with and felt responsible for his own daughters murder.

He was tired and looked worn out after sharing such a huge part of his past, it was draining for him to have to think back to and talk about that part of his life. The night had started out with sharing happy memories of their little girls, birthdays, holidays, all their firsts. Eric had even shared that he has random and meaningless sex with women, that he refuses to get involved with anyone now because a family is generally inevitable and he just didn't have it in him, that the guilt of bringing another child into this world when he failed the first would tear him apart. He refused to replace his daughter and Sookie knew after five years he was obviously too stubborn to realize that it wasn't like that, a new baby would not be a substitute for Zoey.

"Come on, lets get out of here. I think you're about ready for bed." Sookie told him, Eric slid out of the booth taking her hand to help steady her. It had been a while since she had drank and she had consumed more than her fair share tonight.

"I'm going to see you home first, Sookie, and it's no use arguing with me. It's late and I refuse to send you off alone."

"Not to worry, this is one time I won't fight you on something. My balance is a little off." She laughed and made a point not to release his hand as they walked. They only lived a few blocks away and it wasn't too out of his way to escort Sookie, maybe a ten minute difference. Not that it mattered, he would have walked her anyway.

Eric was surprised to realize that they lived pretty close to one another, which made sense since they ran in to each another just that afternoon while walking. He walked her right up to her door where they conversed for a few moments on her porch as she unlocked her door.

Everything from that point on happened so quickly that neither had a chance to even consider their actions. Sookie had stepped inside her door and turned to say goodbye, they had been embracing so much throughout the course of the night that by this point… it felt natural. They both leaned in for a hug, which was innocent enough and Sookie pulled back looking Eric in the eyes.

"It wasn't your fault, Eric, you can't shoulder the blame for the rest of your life. It's not fair to you and it's not fair to your daughter, she wouldn't want to know what this has done to you."

The two maintained eye contact for a moment before Eric's gaze shot down to her lips and then back to eyes several times. Without even realizing it they had both been gradually leaning into one another and their lips met tentatively at first, Eric had been the first to close the distance letting his lips gently glide across hers before pulling away.

Sookie was unconsciously taking a few steps back leading him into her home while Eric's body feeling that same magnetic pull to her only stronger than ever, took a few steps forward. Her breathing hitched while he drew in deep breaths as he brought his hand to her cheek and sensually ran his thumb across her lower lip, causing Sookie to feel the hot liquid to pool between her legs.

Without any thought to tomorrow or the day after that, to the repercussions of what could happen next. What this could do or mean to the other, their lips crashed together and Sookie wrapped her arms around him, digging her nails into his skin as he ravaged her mouth. Her heart, drumming heavily in her chest mere moments ago, seemed to have moved to the bottom of her throat, cutting off the oxygen to her lungs while, simultaneously, sapping every drop of moisture from her mouth. She pulled back in an attempt to catch her breath.

He kicked the door shut by reaching back with his foot and spun her around, pushing her against an antique looking solid wood console in the entryway. He kissed her again, parting her lips with his tongue, groaning as he tasted her sweetness once more. Her tongue shot out and fought against his for dominance while she tangled her fingers through the hair at the back of his head.

His strong hands gripped her hips lifting her to set her on the edge of the table and she wrapped her legs loosely around his waist whimpering at his touch as he trailed his hand from her hip over and down to her inner thigh. She moaned into his mouth as he trailed his hand further up, reaching under her skirt and finding the thin barrier that separated her from him. He could feel heat and dampness from the moisture as he stroked her, running his fingers over her panties until the material was soaked.

She hadn't felt the lips, hands or anything else of a man against her in over seven months and growled when he ripped her blouse open, yanked down one side of her bra and took the pert pink exposed nipple into his mouth. It was the sexiest fucking sound he'd ever heard.

She brought her own hands between them unbuttoning his pants with shaky fingers and palmed his massive erection, he didn't hesitate as he pressed himself even further into her hand, letting her know how much he wanted her. "Oh god" she moaned as she felt how hard and big he was as he pulsed in her hand while she stroked him a few times, before she pushed his pants over his deliciously magnificent hipbones and they slid down his legs, pooling at his feet. She felt as he brought his fingers to the edge of her panties "These have to come off" it was his turn to growl as he hooked his fingers into the fabric and pulled them down her legs.

She wrapped her legs even tighter around his waist this time pulling him into her while grinding her hips against him, skin on skin, trying to find the much needed friction her body sought, She was so very wet at this point and wanted him. A small part of his brain was screaming at him to back the fuck up.

'This is wrong, so very, very wrong!' This was the thought running through the back of his mind on a perpetual loop, even as he held his length in his hand and ran his tip up and down Sookie's wet folds. He lined himself up at her entrance and pushed forward, it seemed like a good choice, the only choice through his alcohol induced haze.

He felt a surge of heat, an almost electric current, as he entered her, a whispered 'fuck' escaped his lips and he wanted to pound into her but he stilled for a moment letting her adjust to his size and simply enjoyed the feel of being sheathed within her. He stared into her eyes, willing her to stop him, because he was far too gone to be capable of stopping himself. He both wanted and needed her, and selfishly was going to take her unless she put a stop to it. She didn't.

He pulled back and thrust into her, his movements slow and steady soon, however, he quickened the pace and he was thrusting deeper and harder within minutes." Fuck, Eric" she panted as she clawed at the material that covered his back.

"Come on baby, cum for me" he whispered back, his voice thick with want as the grip of his hand on her backside tightened, she could feel as her muscles begin to tense around his length sporadically and knew that she was so close to letting go.

"Fuck, you feel so good, so hot, so fucking tight." He grunted, his words were driving her insane with need, she was silently willing him to keep talking to her, keep whispering his wants, needs, and desires as he fucked her.

"Come on baby" Eric groaned into her ear as she arched her back and began to clamp down on him. He could feel the heat of her fluids as they covered his shaft, the squeezing, pulsing, and tightening around him as she found her release and he followed right behind exploding deep inside her.

He stilled as her body relaxed and dropped back against the wall, burying his face in her breasts as the two panted, gasping for air. He was still feeling the effects of the alcohol he had consumed enough that he was able to enjoy the feeling of being completely sated, yet not quite enough that somewhere in the back of his mind a little voice was reminding him that this was wrong, so very, very wrong.

He removed himself from her and stepped back pulling and gently closed her legs in front of him, he wouldn't look at her. He pulled up and adjusted his before he stumbled back a few feet and took a seat, slouching forward on the bench he saw behind him. He was shaking his head and looking down as he brought his hands to cover his face.

At this, Sookie got down resolutely on her knees. She grasped both of Eric's hands, squeezing them tight. Eric's back slanted even more as he lowered his head even more, as if he was ashamed. "Don't do this, Eric."

"I'm sorry, it never should have happened." He didn't explain that he thought that way because he felt he was taking advantage of a vulnerable woman, or that he was an agent, hell, the agent in charge of a case so very directly related to her or that he was having inappropriate thoughts and feelings towards her.

She stood and walked away from him hurt, and feeling rejected by him. Since he hadn't voiced the other concerns she was left to think that his only reasons behind his words were the ones he spoke at the pub. He was unwilling to move on, did not want a relationship nor a family so he fucked women randomly and apparently, Sookie was no different in his eyes. She had just become one of his many conquests and as far as she was concerned he could go fuck himself.

"Sookie, I"

"Just go, Eric, there isn't anything to say here." So he did. He stood and walked out her door knowing there was nothing he could offer her, not this night. The moment the door closed behind him, a violent sob wracked her body. She cried for over an hour before finally running a nice hot bath and settling in for the night.

Eric went home upset, disappointed and frustrated with his actions. Up until now Sophie had been his biggest err in judgment, being a friend of a friend and co-worker that he now had to avoid. Today had been a first, he had never slept with a grieving parent to one of the lost children they were investigating, shit, it was still an active case. It should never have happened because he was already emotionally invested in her regardless of how much he had fought it.

He made the only choice he could, from this point on he could be nothing more than Special Agent in Charge, Eric Northman. It had to remain this way for both their sakes, he would keep his distance from her.

A/N: All characters belong to Charlaine Harris, I just like to take them out to play.