Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Southern Vampire Mysteries Universe.

A/N: I'm back. I did not abandon this story. We're back to Eric's POV, which I like better. Takes place during From Dead to Worse. Contains a lot of the actual dialogue this time.

Theme 11: Memory

POV: Eric

Rating: K+

Everything

I raced up the stairs as fast as I could, "Bill, let me in. The sooner, the better!" The door opened and Bill led me through the hall to where Sookie, the witch and the tiger's sister were waiting.

"I was cut off from the club," I explained, "My house was no good, not by myself. I couldn't reach anyone else. I got your message, Bill. So, Sookie, I'm here to ask for your hospitality."

If circumstances hadn't been so dire I would have smiled when I realized she didn't even give it a thought before she answered, "Of course. But maybe we should go to…."

She didn't get a chance to finish her thought because at that moment, the idiotic sister of that weretiger suddenly started panicking Before she could cause too much trouble, Bill stepped in front of her and glamoured her into inaction. After thanking him, Sookie spoke to the room in general, "I'm going to get my shotgun."

Before I had a chance to think about what I was doing, I moved to the front closet and extracted said shotgun. How on earth did I know that was there? Puzzled as I was, I turned back to hand the gun to Sookie. She met my eyes with her own wide ones. Understanding crossed her face and I realized I must have seen her place the gun there while I was cursed.

She broke her gaze and turned to Amelia, her expression changing to one of apprehension. I was about to ask what was wrong but the witch chose that moment to open her mouth, "Are we getting all excited about nothing? Maybe we're panicking for no good reason."

The look Bill gave her was absolutely priceless. I'm sure mine might have matched it if I still weren't reeling over the shotgun incident. To try to help take my thoughts off it, I began to make a circuit of all the doors and windows. Unfortunately it did not take much time. I returned to the living room just in time to realize the witch had continued her speech.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Amelia is explaining to me why there's no rational reason the vampires would come after me in their attempt to conquer the state," Sookie filled me in.

"Of course they'll come," I glanced briefly at the witch, who did not seem to have the understanding of the supernatural world that she should before turning my gaze to the tiger's sister, who still sat in her trancelike state. I was more nervous than I cared to let on and wasn't sure where I could look, to keep that fact hidden. I moved to the window and looked out only to have the image of Sookie and I running over to Bill's house flash into my mind, "Sookie's got a blood tie to me. And now I am here."

"Yeah. Thanks a lot, Eric for making a beeline for this house," Amelia sarcastically echoed my own thoughts, as I began to realize just how much my presence might increase the amount of danger Sookie was put in, but I wasn't about to let her know that. Instead I questioned her about her strengths as a witch and her connections through her father and mentor.

I could feel pride coming through the bond as Amelia reluctantly gave in, speaking more to Sookie than to me, "Yeah. Okay, they'd be happy if they could corral us. But still, if Eric hadn't come here, I don't think we'd need to worry about physical injury."

I didn't comment that she would be lucky if physical injury was the extent of what happened here tonight. Sookie had a comment, though, "You're wondering if we're actually in danger? Vampires, excited, bloodlust?"

That was my girl. Nice biting remarks aimed at someone else's stupidity. She really was a good match for me.

Amelia wasn't finished, "We won't be any use if we're not alive."

"Accidents happen," replied Sookie and Bill snorted. Sookie turned her attention to me, "Why did Pam leave?"

"She can be of more value at the club, and she can tell me if they are sealed in it or not. It was stupid of me to call them all and tell them to gather; I should have told them to scatter." I explained. It had been stupid. It was an amateur mistake and one I don't think I would have made if my mind hadn't been preoccupied with Sookie's safety.

Bill checked outside again but no one was here yet. My phone rang and it was Pam informing me that most of the Area 5 vampires were at Fangtasia. I passed the message on to Bill, who nodded before turning to Sookie and asking where Claudine was. I saw a vision of Claudine standing in Merlotte's, surrounded by Weres and shifters.

"I have no idea. But I don't think she'll come, because you guys are here. There's no point in her showing up to defend me if you and Eric can't keep your fangs off her."

She had an excellent point. Throwing a fairy into the mix right now would only serve to further complicate the situation. I was drawn out of my thoughts as I caught the sound Bill had caught a fraction of a second earlier; the sound of a large cat growling. He turned to me, "Not the company I would have chosen but we'll make a good showing. I do regret the women."

I could both agree and disagree with Bill's statement. It was not normally the company I would have chosen, but it may come in handy toward keeping Sookie safe. I feel the need to explain this, however, so I merely replied, "We're not in our graves yet."

I could tell the exact moment that the women could hear the cars, for the witch gave a gasp of fear and the tiger's sister's eyes widened in fright. Sookie seemed to be bracing herself for battle. Moments later there was a knock. At least the witch's wards seemed to be holding up; the knock came not from the door but from one of the support beams on the porch. That was good. Sookie was moving slowly toward the door. That was bad. Bill stepped in front of her and asked, "Who is there?"

The cheerful voice that answered made me groan and close my eyes, "It is I, the vampire, Victor Madden."

Well, that was just great. Victor Madden was about the last vampire I wanted to deal with right now. I knew now that this wouldn't just be a fight to the death scenario. Things were never simple, by vampire standards, when Victor Madden was involved.

I was vaguely aware of an exchange of words between Sookie and Bill but she obviously didn't get the information she wanted for she called out, "Friend or foe?"

Victor laughed his irritating laugh and replied, "That's an excellent question and one only you can answer. Do I have the honor of talking to Sookie Stackhouse, famed telepath?"

Sookie made me proud as she replied, without losing the calm in her voice, "You have the honor of talking to Sookie Stackhouse, barmaid."

As she said this, I heard my own voice in my head ask, "Woman? What is your name?"

The tiger growled again and I could tell by the way she froze up that Sookie heard it, too, this time. The witch was babbling to herself as Sookie remained still. After a minute, she turned to her roommate to inform her that the tiger was with the Las Vegas vampires. They started a whole dialogue as to why the tiger was there while Bill and I silently discussed how we could pull off the best possible outcome.

Both exchanges were interrupted as Victor called out, "May we come in? Or may we treat with one of you face-to-face? You seem to have quite a few safeguards on the house."

The witch congratulated herself but it didn't help to release anyone else's tension. Knowing it may be last chance I ever had to do so, I kissed Sookie and said, more to convince myself than her, "He'll spare you. You're too unique to waste."

I opened the door. Pleasantries were exchanged. Victor lied to me about the number of companions he had with him, though seemed more impressed than upset when I called him out on it. We spent the next immeasurable amount of time discussing the takeover and negotiating terms. I was informed that the queen and other sheriffs had all been disposed of and that I was the only remaining member of the old regime. This was because I was the most efficient, most productive, most practical and had a big moneymaker working for me. I was informed that the new king would like to leave me in my current position, at least on a trial basis. I knew what the alternative was but I wasn't about to let him know my decision at this point.

The negotiations were briefly interrupted when the tiger burst through the door after his sister began to scream. Victor calmed him but then I had to prevent Sookie from calling Niall. I stared her down as I explained, "We can't bring him in or a war will start that will kill all of us."

In response Victor said, "There's no one you can call who would help you in this situation. Unless there is something I don't know about you?"

Again, my own voice echoed through my head, "You know me? Who am I?"

This voice was replaced by Bill's, in the real world, "There is much you don't know about Sookie. Know this: I will die for her. If you harm her, I'll kill you." He turned to me at this point, "Can you say the same?"

I could say the same and it would be very much the truth, but it would hardly help us out at this point. In fact, it would probably make things worse. They were willing to let us live, as things stood, but if I were to announce to Victor that I would kill him over a human, I had a feeling we would not see a happy outcome. So I replied, "You must also know this. Even more pertinently, if anything happens to her, forces you can't imagine will be set into motion."

After another brief exchange of wits, I informed Victor that I accept the sovereignty of de Castro as king and Bill did the same.

As soon as Victor left, I turned and fled to Sookie's room to think. I had no idea why I headed there, only that it seemed like the most comforting place to be. I sat down on the bed and was suddenly assaulted by a blur of images that started with a car pulling up behind me on the street to her house and ended with me climbing into the hidey hole in the closet after the battle with the witches. Every last detail of the time I had spent here came crashing back into my memory. I had felt myself more attached to Sookie since the curse had been lifted, without knowing why. Now I had my answer, even if I could barely bring myself to believe it.

I loved Sookie. I was so happy during my time here, despite everything that was going on around us. And she, she had told me that she cared for me as well. I buried by face in my hands, feeling mentally exhausted; something I was not used to. I remained that way until the door opened and I looked up and saw Sookie. Feeling shocked and helpless, I spoke in a voice I wasn't even sure she would hear, "Sitting here on your bed, smelling your scent…Sookie…I remember everything."

A/N: Next theme is "Insanity."