Here's the new chapter! I really hope you like it! I went a bit into the future for it, but don't worry, you still get to find out what Eric said to Sookie and a little of what happened after they went inside his house.

Also, I hope the first POV isn't too choppy and can be easily followed. There's a flashback in the middle of it and I fear it may be a little confusing. I guess while reading it keep in mind that the dialogue in the flashback happens first, the dialog in the beginning comes directly after it and then the dialogue after the flashback follows it. I hope that helps. If it's too confusing please let me know and I'll do my best to keep things more linear or at the very least try to keep them in sections that are clearly marked in the future.

Oh, one last thing before I get down to it, I'd like to just say a quick thanks to everyone for their reviews and adds to favorites and alerts. All of it means a lot and I know I don't always respond to everyone, but just because I don't doesn't mean it's not appreciated.

These characters belong to Charlaine Harris.

Eric's POV

Sookie and I had been together for nearly a month and a half and at first things were perfect, but lately, they were far from it. Her constant mood-swings were driving me batty! When I'd arrived earlier, things had been fine between us, but all of the sudden things had changed.

Sookie, don't be like this. Talk to me," I begged. "I have to leave soon. Please tell me what's bothering you."

Typically, at least three nights a week, I had been spending the night at Sookie's; arriving once Hunter was asleep and leaving right before dawn. Since we had decided to hide our relationship, on those nights I would park my car in a really secluded area near the main road at the end of her driveway, where it could not be seen or heard, and would make my way on foot to her bedroom window, where she would be waiting to let me in. I felt like I was sixteen again and hiding from her parents, only I was thirty-two, and we were hiding from way more than our parents; we were hiding from everyone.

It wasn't always like that, though; the "sneaking in windows" shit. On Mondays and Wednesdays, after school, Sookie had been coming to Shreveport and when we were there, it was like we were completely free to be ourselves; we didn't have to sneak around. Well, we didn't have to sneak around as much.

We had decided it was best to keep our public outings to areas across the Texas and Arkansas borders because there were a few teachers at school that lived in Shreveport and people from Bon Temps frequented Shreveport's stores, restaurants, and clubs, but we were free to do whatever we wanted anywhere in my house, she didn't have to hide her car, and she could use the front door.

We both had our reasons for keeping our relationship a secret and it really wasn't all that bad; all the hiding and sneaking around. Sure, it had its ups and downs, but I knew it was worth it for me, just to be able to be with her and to hold her, even if it was only behind closed doors and I was pretty sure it was worth it for her too.

"Eric, it's nothing; really," she said as she finally turned to look at me again. "I'm fine." She was even smiling which surprised me because not five minutes before she had seemed completely irritable, introverted, and depressed.

*~*~*

Earlier, I had woke up, noticed the time, and had realized that there were only a couple of hours left, before I had to leave. I pulled her body closer to mine, wanting to relish the way she felt in my arms for the short amount of time we had left together, which inadvertently caused my dick to nestle perfectly right between her soft, warm, and very bare butt cheeks.

I tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't. Maybe it was her scent or maybe it was the fact that I was having feelings for someone that I hadn't felt for anyone in over eight years. Or maybe it was just the warmth that was enveloping my dick, I really wasn't sure, but I found myself needing her desperately.

I didn't want to wake her, but I couldn't help it. "Sookie," I whispered in her ear as I gently moved her hair away from her neck. She let out a whimper and jerked, but that was all the response I got so I decided to up the ante.

I began peppering her neck with kisses as I ground my hardening erection against her. "Sookie," I whispered as I flicked her earlobe with my tongue before sucking it into my mouth.

She began to respond; grinding back against my movements. I even felt her breathing hitch, but all of the sudden she got stiff, pulled away, and turned to face me. "Eric, I'm tired. Let's just go back to sleep until it's time for you to leave," she insisted.

I stuck out my bottom lip and in my best pouty voice I said, "But, baby, I'm not tired," complete with puppy dog eyes.

"Eric, stop it, now!" she shouted. "I'm so not in the mood for your shit!" she added as she rolled her eyes and turned away from me.

*~*~*

She'd been acting weird for the past two weeks and she wouldn't tell me what was bothering her, but I could tell it was something. At first, she was just being really moody. Since we hadn't been together very long, I figured she was on her period, but I quickly found out that wasn't the case when we had sex.

Now, not only was it common for her mood to change at the drop of a hat, but she was also starting to give me the distinct feeling that she was pushing me away and it was killing me. I didn't want to lose her, but I didn't know what I could do to get her to open up to me. I was quickly growing beyond frustrated with the entire situation and I guess it was inevitable that at some point it would come to a head.

"Sookie, you have got to tell me what's been bothering you. For two weeks you've been...." I paused for a moment really trying to find the right words. Unfortunately, in my frustration, I couldn't find them, but I had to say my piece so I just let it go. "I'm sorry to be so blunt and I don't want to hurt you, but there's just no other way to say it; you've been a real bitch lately. You're killing me, here. I can tell something is bothering you and I just wish you'd tell me what it is so we can fix it."

"A bitch! You fucking think I've been a bitch," she quietly shouted. Really, it was one of those really pissed off whispers; Hunter was asleep in the next room. I'd really done it now, but at least she was talking. "You are the fucking bitch, Eric; too fucking afraid to admit you are with me to anyone because I'm one of your student's parents. Nobody cares if we're together, Eric! It's really a crock of shit you know!"

I admit, I had started this and I hadn't chosen the best words, but she'd really done it now. I was beyond pissed. How could she throw that in my face?

"I'm a bitch! I'm a fucking bitch!" I was now whisper-shouting as well. "If I remember correctly, Sookie," I spit at her, "you wanted to keep this a secret too! You had your reasons just like I had mine! Crock of shit! Really? Really, Sookie? Are you fucking serious?"

I grabbed my clothes and put them on as I continued, "Do you really think I enjoy sneaking around, not being able to have pictures of you on my desk at work, hiding my car when I come over so nobody sees it, climbing in your fucking window like a sixteen year old boy with a hard-on!"

I had my pants on and I was waving my the rest of my clothes around in my anger. "Oh, but only after Hunter's gone to sleep and let's not forget the fact that I have to be out before dawn to drive forty-five fucking minutes home to get dressed and then forty- five more fucking minutes back here for work, and having to drive to another state, just to take you to dinner; what the fuck is that all about, Sookie? I don't enjoy any of it. In fact, I fucking hate every minute of it, but like I already said, we both have our reasons."

I finished putting on my clothes, climbed out of Sookie's window and started to walk away. I felt this nagging urge to turn around and when I did, I saw that she was at the window with tears flowing down her cheeks. I hated to leave her that way, but we weren't going to get anything accomplished in the short time before dawn. Besides, I had to get home and get ready for school and she would soon need to get Hunter up and ready for school, as well.

"Sookie, I'm so sorry," I said as walked back towards her. I reached out to her, cupping her face in my hands and said, "I really do care about you and I hate leaving you like this...," this was the hardest thing I'd ever had to say, "but I think we both need to seriously think about what we're doing here and if it's what we want," I said trying to fight back tears of my own as I turned to walk away.

Two Weeks Prior

Sookie's POV

I found myself sitting, naked from waist down, in an exam room at Dr. Ludwig's clinic. I was really quite nervous. I knew it was no big deal and that it was something most other women did every year, but I absolutely hated going to the gynecologist.

I'd only slept with a couple of other men besides Eric and that only happened a few times, so I never really had a need to be on the pill. I also hadn't had medical insurance since I was eighteen, so even though I knew that it was important to get checked out for things like cervical cancer once you got into your twenties, I rarely did. It was just too expensive.

I was growing more and more nervous every moment I sat in that cold, sterile exam room. Why couldn't they just give me some birth control pills and let me leave? Why'd they have to make me sit there, totally uncomfortable? It all seemed so cruel.

Finally, after what felt like forever a short lady came in, picked up my chart, and said, "Hello, I'm Dr. Ludwig." She glanced down at my chart and continued, "Ms. Stackhouse, I see your are here for birth control pills. I'll need to ask you a few questions before the exam."

I nodded as she sat down on her stool and sat my chart down on the table beside of her. "Are you currently on any medications?" she asked.

"No," I said, "but in the spring sometimes I take Claritin for my allergies."

She jotted what I was telling her down in my chart and asked, "Is there any possibility you could be pregnant?"

"Nope," I said. That was an easy one. Eric and I always were very careful and we always used condoms.

"When was the first day of your last period?" she asked. Now that was a tough one. I was trying to come up with a date, but for some reason I was having a really hard time trying to pinpoint any day that I had even had my period the past month. "Ms. Stackhouse, would a calendar help?"

"Uh, yeah; sure. Thanks," I said as she turned to pick up a small desk calendar that was on the table beside of her.

She handed me the calendar and I frantically began looking at each day trying to recall something, anything that would tell me I was having my period on that day. As I tried to recall each day, I realized that since I'd been with Eric I hadn't had my period and we'd been together for a month.

I flipped the page to the previous month and October thirty-first was staring me right in the face. That was the first time I slept with Eric and we had both been really drunk. "Shit!Shit!Shit! We didn't use a condom on Halloween!" I shouted in mind or so I thought.

Dr. Ludwig responded, "Ms. Stackhouse, would you like to do a pregnancy test instead?

That was when I realized I'd spoken my thoughts. Very embarrassed at the entire situation I said, "Yes," as I felt a tear fall down my face.

Present Day

Sookie's POV

Eric was gone, Hunter was at school, and I finally had the house to myself. One might think that was a good thing, but I'd certainly beg to differ. Now that I was alone, I had nothing to distract me from wallowing in my own self-pity and fears, so I found myself dressed in raggedy old sweats, on my couch, with a carton of Ben and Jerry's Half Baked, flipping between home shopping channels and soaps while I thought about everything that had brought me to this point.

When Eric and I started our relationship, I don't think either of us thought too hard about the future. I mean, we both knew that our decision, obviously, could impact our futures, but we were both very much focused on the here and now and our attraction to each other.

Neither of us had a clue what the future would hold and we knew it was either going to be very, very good or very, very bad, but there was no way to be sure, so we opted to take things one day at a time and see where things went.

We both had our reasons for keeping our relationship a secret. Eric's reasons had to do with his job and mine had to do with Hunter. Honestly, we didn't think it would be a problem, and actually, it made it kind of exciting at first, but we didn't think about the toll sneaking around would take on us both and we obviously never discussed how something like an unplanned pregnancy could put a damper on the whole "Secret Lover" thing we had going.

I'd known I was pregnant for two weeks; two excruciatingly long weeks and in that time I had managed to construct several possible outcomes to my situation, all of which involved me keeping the baby. Surprisingly, there was never any question in my mind about that. The problem was that I still hadn't told Eric I was pregnant.

I knew I needed to tell him, but we hadn't even known each other for three months and had only been together for about a month and half. I was terrified of how he would react. I knew he loved kids and was pretty sure one day he wanted them, but I didn't know if he'd want them with me, especially given the fact that we were keeping our relationship secret.

How do you tell the man you've been secretly dating you're pregnant? And how the fuck is he supposed to react? I guess the answer would depended on how adamant he was about keeping the secret and I had no idea how adamant Eric would be.

After our argument this morning, I didn't know what to think. The way he just left, it worried me. It was almost as if he might not be back. He was right though, we did need to think about what we were doing, well, he needed to think about what he was doing. Obviously, he didn't know it, but thinking about what we were doing and if it was what I wanted was all I had been thinking about, lately.

How could I not think about it? I was pregnant and I really had no choice. I had already decided that the hiding was either going to have to end or Eric and I were going to have to end and it was as simple as that. I had made my peace with my reason for hiding us, which was Hunter.

I knew I was ready to stop hiding, not only because I was pregnant with Eric's child, but also because I really cared about him and I wanted him to really be in my life; not just behind closed doors. Even though I was terrified of his reaction, I, at least, knew that when I worked up the balls to tell him the ball would be in his court.

Eric's POV

My drive back to Shreveport was the longest and most miserable drive of my life. I felt like total shit. Actually, if it was possible, I felt worse than total shit. I had been so horrible to Sookie and she didn't deserve that, especially since we were both apparently feeling the same.

I didn't realize until our argument, that our hiding bothered me like it did. I thought I was okay with it; that it was worth it, but I guess I was wrong. It really was wearing on me and I really needed to seriously think about what our next step would be.

Part of me desperately wanted to say, "FUCK EVERYONE!" and be with Sookie. Fuck all the old geezers at the School Board Office, fuck all the other parents, fuck all the jealous teachers, fuck anyone that could stand in our way! I was damn good at my job and I cared about Sookie. There was no reason we shouldn't be able to have both.

There were no policies or rules stating that teachers or principals couldn't have relationships with parents in this state. Actually, there weren't in most public school systems. Rules like that were mostly found in smaller privatized entities, such as private schools, daycare, and after-school programs, so as long as I continued to do my job the way I had been doing it, there was no way anyone could say anything; or was there?

The other part of me realized that it was not a perfect world and sometimes people didn't care about the policies and rules. Sometimes all people thought of was themselves. All it would take would be one jealous teacher or one angry parent to twist things and ruin everything I'd worked so hard for. Maybe I was just being paranoid, but for me it was a real concern.

I pulled into my driveway, still no closer to a solution than I was when I left Bon Temps. As I made my way up to my front door I couldn't help to think back to when I had made the decision to start this whole thing.

I couldn't open my door. I couldn't leave her. I felt like if I did something as simple as turn my doorknob and walk through my door I would never be able to feel her, smell her, or hear her voice again and I panicked. In my panic, I made a split second decision to go to her. Little did I realize, while I stood at my door, she'd made the same decision.

As we ran towards each other, I couldn't help, but feel like I'd made the right decision, even though really, I guess my decision had been made in haste, but at that moment, she was worth anything. She was so perfect and she was everything I'd ever wanted. That was only reinforced when I reached her, took her into my arms, and kissed her. I think I even spun her around a time or two.

"Sookie," I said as I sat her back down on the ground. "I've always felt that a teacher, or in my case principal, should never get involved with their students' parents, but with you...I just can't help it. I just can't get enough of you and touching you...," I reached out and touched her face, "touching you is like...fuck...I don't know what it's like; I can't put it into words. It just does something to me; something so incredible and so good. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I just don't see how something that feels so right could ever be wrong."

"Eric, I feel the same way about you," she said smiling, "but how are we going to do this? How are we going to make this work? Hunter...."

I put my finger over her mouth to stop her and said, "Sookie, I don't know how. I know we both have our reasons for fighting this, but we'll find a way to make it work. I promise. Can you stay or do you have to leave right away?"

She smiled and said, "I can stay at least for a couple of hours, but I'll call my brother and see if he can keep Hunter a little bit longer." And with that we went inside and started this...this thing we called a relationship.

I walked through my door to find Killer excitedly wagging his nub, jumping up and down, and barking at me. I couldn't help but smile at him. Regardless of anything, I knew he'd always be there for me. "Did daddy's handsome little man miss him?" I asked as he jumped up and down at my legs. "Come on, let's go outside and do your dirties," I said motioning towards the door.

Killer happily ran out the door and into the yard. While he sniffed around trying to find the perfect place to drop a deuce, my thoughts floated back to Sookie and the first time she met Killer.

We had just walked into my house and were on our way to my room. I was a little surprised Killer hadn't attacked yet. Normally, that was the first thing he did when someone walked in, but I quickly realized why he didn't when I saw Pam's door barely open and shut quickly. Killer came barreling out of the room and straight to Sookie, in his best attack stance.

There was a line of fur standing straight up on his back, and he was barking and snarling as he started jumping up and down. When he did this, most people got frightened, but all he really wanted was attention. Honestly, I guess I didn't blame them, he certainly acted like he wanted to bite them and in a couple of cases he had, but luckily, the ones he had bitten weren't bitten hard and all very understanding. Most of them knew how territorial and paranoid small dogs could be.

Sookie surprisingly, wasn't the least bit scared. She laughed as he carried on and squealed, "Well, how cute are you! Don't you just think you're a big ole dog?" He continued to bark and jump and she continued to laugh and tell him how cute he was. I just sat back and watched smiling. It really made me happy that she seemed to like him, because as lame as it sounds, he was my best friend.

As she said, "I'm just going to scoop you up and squeeze the shit out of you," he jumped and when he jumped she actually snatched him right up into her arms in mid air, it was really quite impressive. Once she had him, she flipped him onto his back and held him like a baby. It was the cutest and most amazing thing I'd ever seen. It was also yet another thing, that reinforced the decision I'd made when I went to Sookie. I mean, she liked my dog; nobody liked my dog. Not even my sister.

I heard a noise and noticed that Killer was scratching at the front door. He was ready to go inside, so we went in the house and I went straight to the shower. There I realized it was all really quite simple. I had three choices. I could continue to suffer, with all the sneaking and hiding, simply end it and somehow deal with not having her in my life, or drop all the secrecy and just be with her; to hell with what anyone thought and damn any consequences.

As I finished getting ready and drove to school, I tried to focus on my three options and the impacts they each would have on my life. By the time I got to school I had managed to come up with the fact that I deeply cared for Sookie, my job, and my sanity.

Each choice was like a double-edged sword. Each had a really great prize, but also the potential for a really shitty loss in addition to it. It was kind of like if someone offered you a million dollars with the condition that a total stranger would lose a million dollars if you took it. Sure you'd want the money, but you'd still feel bad for whoever it was that lost it.

I was really starting to debate as to whether I should leave and call in sick as I got out of my car, but I was the principal and I needed to be there whether I wanted to be or not, so I went inside, made my way to my office, and shut my door.

My morning went quickly and smoothly and with limited interruptions, but by lunch, I was still not closer to figuring this all out. I had managed to figure out that the "ending it" option was out of the question, but that still didn't help me figure out whether I could live with the possible consequences our relationship could bring.

I realized that I really needed to talk to Sookie. Although she'd made it perfectly clear she wasn't happy with the current situation, I still didn't know how she wanted to proceed. Hell, I didn't even know if she was still meeting me at my house after school today, after our argument this morning.

I really hoped not, but for all I knew, she wanted to end things with me and if she wasn't comfortable letting Hunter know about us then it really didn't matter what decision I made, so I sent her a text asking if we could still meet. I really needed to know what page she was on in all of this before any decisions could be made on my part.

Several minutes later, she texted me back telling me to come to her house after school. I didn't know what to make of that seeing as how our Mondays were usually spent in Shreveport, but I sent her one more text telling her I'd be there and that I missed her. I was just happy that she was still willing to speak to me after this morning.

Sookie's POV

I was still on the couch flipping channels when my cell phone buzzed. I flipped it open to see a text message from Eric. It read: We need 2 talk. Will u still come over 2day?

I can't say that I was super-excited for our Monday get-together this week, but it was definitely needed. We definitely needed to talk, but I was a little unsure about going to his house. After our argument this morning, I realized how ugly fighting with Eric could be and with the nature of what we needed to discuss and the fact that I was ninety-nine percent sure I was going to tell him I was pregnant, I decided it was best to have that conversation in the comfort of my own home.

I picked up my phone and started dialing. "Hey Tara, it's Sookie," I said when Tara answered.

"Hey Sookie, what's going on? You're not calling me to tell me your class got cancelled and you don't need me to hang out with my favorite little guy today are you?" Tara asked laughing. I had told Tara and Jason that on Mondays and Wednesdays I was taking a creative writing class in Shreveport from five to nine o'clock. It enabled me to spend virtually the whole evening with Eric and Hunter got to spend time with Tara and Jason, which I found out he absolutely loved doing after he spent Halloween and the day after with them.

I felt awful lying about what I was doing, but really I had no other choice. Besides, I knew that even if they knew the truth, they'd still be more than happy to watch him. "No, actually, I'm not. I was wondering if you could pick him up from school today instead of picking him up here after school," I said hoping she wouldn't ask why.

"Why, you got a hot date before your class?" Tara joked. I almost choked when she said it.

"Uh, no...actually, uh," I had to come up with something and fast. "A couple of the girls in my class wanted to meet up and go to the library. Reading other peoples works is supposed to help you develop as a writer," I said hoping she bought it.

"Oh, well, picking him up from school is no problem at all, Sook," she said. "You know, I wish you'd do something a little more exciting in your free time, but if you going to the library gets me time with Hunter and keeps you stress free, then I guess its fine by me."

"Thanks Tara. I'll see you tonight when you drop him off."

Once I arranged for Tara to pick up Hunter, I called Holly and let her know that Tara was picking him up then texted Eric back: I'd like 2 talk. Can u come here?

A few minutes later I received another text from Eric. It said: I'll c u then. Miss u :(

About two hours later, Eric arrived. He had still apparently hidden his car, but he did use the front door. As he walked in, he chastely kissed me as he walked over to the couch. I was so nervous and I didn't know what I was going to say so I just sat down beside of him.

We were both silent for several minutes until finally, I said, "Eric, I know that after this morning we have some pretty big decisions to make regarding us."

He took my hands in his and nervously said, "Yeah, I guess we do."

I didn't know what was going through his head or if he'd made any decisions about us already. Honestly, I really hoped he hadn't because I knew he didn't have all of the information. I obviously didn't want him to leave me, but I also didn't want him to choose to stay with me because I was pregnant. Regardless, I knew that it wasn't fair to either of us to allow him to make that choice without knowing all of what he stood to lose. I had to tell him and I couldn't put it off any longer.

"Eric, I just want to start by telling you that I really do care a lot about you. I want to be with you, I really do." I felt tears forming in the corners of my eyes.

"Sookie, please don't cry," Eric begged as he pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder and he ran his hand up and down my back.

After a moment I realized that this wasn't going to get any easier and I needed to get on with it. I pulled myself out of Eric's arms and said, "I need to finish," as firmly as I could in spite of the fact that I was crying my eyes out. Eric looked worried, but nodded for me to continue. I took a breath, attempting to calm myself, and continued, "I don't want to lose you, Eric, but we can't keep hiding. I'm sick of all the lies and all the sneaking around."

I paused briefly and Eric said, "Sookie, I'm sick of lying and sneaking around too, but I just don't know if I'm ready to deal with the possible consequences of people knowing we're together."

"Eric, I get your concerns, I really do. I know I told you they were a crock this morning and I'm sorry about that. I really didn't mean that, I was just frustrated," I said hoping he realized how incredibly sorry I was for saying such horrible things to him. "I know your career is really important to you and that you've worked really hard to get to where you are, but before you say anything else or make any decisions, there's something you need to know."

I was starting to really panic and I felt like I was either about to pass out or throw up; I wasn't sure which. Eric was staring at me and I could tell he was just as nervous and terrified about what I was about to say as I was to actually say it and to make matters worse I was starting to cry so hard, I was to the point where I could barely breathe.

"Sookie," Eric said apprehensively, "What is it? Are you okay?"

I counted to ten in my mind in another feeble attempt to calm myself down then took one last deep breath before I said, "Eric, we can't hide our relationship anymore because I'm pregnant."

Sorry for the cliffy, but we all know it makes the story even more exciting! You can tell me how much you hate me for it in the review you leave me!

Obviously, some pretty big things went down in this chapter and the story has taken a bit of a turn. I'm thinking (and kinda hoping) that a lot of you were at least a little shocked at this chapter. I'd like to know if you were shocked or not! I really hope I'm not that predictable! LOL! I'd also like to know how you think Eric will react. Please, review and tell me what you think! I hoped you all liked it.