Her verbal spar with Eric left Sookie feeling much more confident about the task ahead. She followed he and Pam around the bar, reading over the list of improvements they both wanted, occasionally taking pictures on her phone to reference later. Pam gave her a bored run-through of inventory, hiring procedures, staff responsibilities and vendors.

"Two things," Sookie interjected, "One, hiring. Should that really be something you want me to do? I've done hiring for Sam before but I knew what he was looking for. Y'all run a whole different game around here."

"She's right, Eric. If I'm forced to be around these humans, I at least want a say in who they are," agreed Pam, looking at Sookie in a non-displeased way for maybe the first time ever.

Eric thought for a moment, then nodded. "You can set up a camera for the interviews, we'll supply you with a list of questions and we will review the tapes and make a decision. You may use whatever you gain through your telepathy at your own discretion, but understand we are not asking you to do so if you do not wish to. Your other concern, Sookie?"

She was pleased he was phrasing it that way. He would no doubt prefer that she did, but leaving it up to her was a nice change from being summoned against her will to do so in the past. She moved on to answer his question,"I wanna call around on some of your vendors. I think I can save you a good amount of money."

Pam raised a mildly appreciative eyebrow. "Your breather is growing on me," she said as an aside to Eric, then turned and walked away.

"You are learning that money is the key to my dear Pamela's heart, Sookie. Keep it up, and she might just tolerate you soon," Eric teased, placing his hand on the small of her back to guide her forward on their list of things to go over for the night.

Sookie laughed at that, but it turned into a frown as they passed the entrance to the basement. "Is…" Eric interrupted her by shaking his head sharply, and she gathered he'd understood she was about to ask about Sarah Newlin and didn't want to talk about it. She changed tactics, "What do you want done with the basement?"

"Nothing. Pamela is taking over the basement space when we get back, and will coordinate it all at that time. There is nothing down there, so feel free to use it as storage if necessary while we are gone."

Sookie took that to mean that they would be taking Sarah with them wherever they were going and wisely left it at that. "So, was there anything else you wanted to go over, or are we done?"

"Come back to my office, there is one last thing," he said, almost sounding hesitant.

Whatever it was, Sookie was pretty sure she wouldn't like it. She let him lead her back into his office, but once again took the desk chair. This seemed to lighten his mood a bit as he resumed his seat on the couch. "Sookie, won't you sit by me? I promise I won't bite," he drawled, grinning as he held his hand out to her imperiously.

Sookie rolled her eyes, but got up with a sigh and took the seat next to him, ignoring his hand. He moved it to place an arm across the back of the couch, effectively around her shoulders. They'd sat like this the night before, but the mood was decidedly less charged than at the moment. It wasn't as though she was unaffected by him, far from it. But two of her lovers had died in the same week, and she'd slept with them both in the same week. This thought sobered her up and made her scoot farther away from Eric.

He seemed to understand what was going through her head, and adjusted his posture so he was turned towards her, arm propped on his side of the couch. "I apologize for making you uncomfortable, Sookie. I was merely having a bit of fun, I know you are going through a lot and I realize now is not the time."

"Thank you, Eric. What did you want to talk about?"

This time when he reached for her hand, she let him take it. "Sookie, you will not like what I'm about to ask of you but I truly would not ask it if I didn't think it were important, please understand this," he implored, looking her straight in the eye.

"Go ahead," she allowed.

"I believe we should exchange blood before I leave."

"What! Why? Eric I'm Hep-V positive and you only just got cured, I don't want you going through that again."

"Sookie I am now immune. And I believe you would be cured too if you drank my blood. I also do not want to leave you without a lifeline, which this bond would be while we are apart. It would not cause you any discomfort or inconvenience, but it would allow me to sense that you are well and not worry. Which would be a relief, and allow me to focus easier."

"But the dreams!" she exclaimed, then clamped her hand over her mouth, mortified.

Eric tried to reign in his pleased smile, but didn't quite succeed. He quickly schooled his features and replied, "I do not believe that would be an issue. I have surmised that this side effect tends to be limited to the first exchange."

"Oh," was all Sookie could manage, her face bright red, avoiding eye contact with him at all costs.

"Sookie, really, considering everything that has happened between us since then, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Please look at me." She finally glanced up and met his eyes, noticing his gaze softening to a much more tender look. "There you are," he said softly, smiling slightly. "Please do this for me, give me this small comfort of knowing you are well while we are separated for so long? I swear I will not use it against you in any fashion."

She broke his gaze, looking down as she thought. She appreciated the growth in their relationship by him asking her, rather than manipulating her into doing this. And she appreciated his openness with his intentions. Finally, she decided there was no harm in it and nodded. "All right, Eric. If it will help you."

He gave a small smile, then reached to pull her into what he hoped was a friendly hug, so as not to put her off. He pulled back after a moment. "Thank you. I think this would be easiest," he said, turning her so her back was to him. "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

He bit into his wrist, then placed it in front of her. He kept his torso apart from hers, clearly trying to tamp down his body's natural reaction to her mouth on his wrist, drinking his blood, as he didn't want to scare her away. When he felt she'd had enough to suit their purposes, he pulled back and his wrist healed quickly. He then brushed her hair off of her right shoulder, leaning close to her ear to whisper, "Is this okay?" She tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress a shiver.. She could only nod, so he leaned down further to her neck and bared his fangs.

Sookie felt his hand run through her hair, then his lips placed a gentle kiss on her neck, before she felt the sharp stings of his fangs penetrating her skin. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt as much as it had with Bill, or even with Amnesia Eric (and especially Eric pretending to use her with Russell Edgington). She barely felt the sting before he withdrew his fangs and drank deeply, one time, and stopped. She felt a shiver from him this time while he tried to suppress his enjoyment.

"Thank you, Sookie. As usual, you taste magnificent. But I thank you more for the comfort this will give me while I am away. I would like to drive you home, now. Are you agreeable to this?"

"But Eric, I drove myself here."

"I am aware, but I would still like to see you home. I will have your car returned in the morning."

"All right," she accepted, surprising both of them with her easy acquiescence.

The ride back to Bon Temps was surprisingly peaceful and calm. Eric had taken her hand as they had exited Shreveport, and she found herself falling asleep on his shoulder. She was awoken by his soft voice informing her that he could not take her inside, as he no longer had an invitation. "Eric Northman, you are invited into my home," she murmured, sleepily.

He carried her to her room and laid her gently on the bed, placing a soft kiss onto her forehead before turning to leave. "Sleep well, Sookie Stackhouse," he said huskily, before disappearing. She fell asleep immediately and dreamed of nothing unpleasant for the first time in a long time.

That is not to say she did not dream. She awoke shortly before dawn after an intense dream about Eric. She gasped for a moment, recalling the events of her dream. Then reached for her phone, which Eric had dutifully plugged into the charger by her bed before departing, and sent him a text message.

"You were wrong about the dreams."

She had expected to not hear from him until the following night, and was therefore surprised when her phone chirped almost immediately after she set it down.

"I would say I am sorry to have been wrong in my assumptions, but that would make me a liar. I hope it was pleasant. x E"

She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile on her face, which disappeared when her phone chirped again not even three minutes later.

"Dear One, we had anticipated leaving in three days' time, but outside factors have necessitated a more expedient departure. Pam and I must leave immediately. I am very sorry to leave you so abruptly. But know that you are in my heart, always. And after tomorrow, I am only a phone call away. We will talk when I arrive at my destination. Keep dreaming sweet dreams, for me. x E"

Sookie felt like her heart was breaking, once again. But it was too early in the morning and with too little sleep to feel too deeply, and she found herself falling back into slumber within minutes.

When she awoke, she found three things waiting for her. A bouquet of her favorite flowers on her porch, with an accompanying letter, her car returned, and a brand new sports car sitting in her driveway.