Short and Sweet, taking the vamps and Sookie out to play again, thanks Charlaine.

You asked for it, Eric professes his love,… hope you like it, please let me know.

Merick

Part 28

Funnily enough I could not sleep despite the dawn that was dragging at me. And instead of waking Sookie by joining her and tossing and turning in anger; and possibly by having her sense my black mood, I stayed out in the sitting room for another thirty minutes or so after having bolted the downstairs door behind me. I flung myself at the couch and heard it creak under me. I wanted to hit something, something more than Arthur's car, but the sunlight had now trapped me and I was powerless to proceed; probably for the best as it was then. As I looked around the room at nothing in particular I spied Sookie's journal, left out on the little table in front of the fireplace. I retrieved it, and sat back down on the couch, that time more gently, and opened it to the last few pages. She had written a little before going out shopping.

'I feel important. And I just get the impression that I haven't felt this way much before. It's like he's put his whole life on hold for me. Or maybe that isn't the right way to phrase it, it's like he's made his whole life revolve around me right now. I know it isn't always going to be this way, it's just because of the spell, or the curse, whatever we're calling it now. But he just makes me feel important, like my ideas matter, and my decisions matter, he hasn't forced me into anything, or told me to do something because he thinks it's right. I haven't been treated that way before as far as I can work out. Whether it was the powers, or well, okay it's because of the powers mostly, people make decisions for me, like Bill did; pushing me one way or the other, not guiding me, but manipulating me. I imagine it was similar when I was younger, that I had to make decisions about my life because of the powers, not because it was something I'd wanted to do. I can't imagine I played on many sports teams, not that I know if I liked that kind of thing, or went out with a lot of boys. I think I kept to myself because I had to. That sucks. But now I have choice, and it feels so good.'

I sighed, it felt so good to read about her being happy, and it helped to dispel some of the anger. I read on.

'Diantha and Gladiola are coming to pick me up to go shopping in a little while, Eric gave me a pile of money to spend, just on myself. It was so kind of him, maybe more than kind.' I wondered what she meant by that?

'I find myself wondering how I really feel about him, and I know that sounds, or rather reads as a pretty dumb statement, after all, we've bonded by sharing blood so that we can feel each other's emotions when they are strong. I think it will only get stronger if we share more.' She was correct, the longer we stayed together; if we were to continue to share blood we would become nearly as close as maker and child. And there was a thought I had never considered, and I stopped myself from considering it then and forced my eyes back to the page.

'I made that commitment to him because of how strongly I feel for him. I've probably written it before, but just being with him feels like exactly what I am meant to do. So I guess it's obvious. Not that I'm going to start writing Mrs. Sookie Northman out in fancy little pens scrolls across this journal, or anything else so twelve-year-old-ish.' A drop of blood splashed down onto the page, damned bleeds, I wiped angrily at my face, bleeding like a baby vamp, ridiculous! I blotted the spot, knowing I could not erase it, and I closed the book. I did not feel guilty about reading it or about reading her thoughts; she had offered it and them to me before. But I will confess to a spark of glee that crossed my own frozen heart just then.

I prepared for bed as I always did, showering, leaving my clothing in the laundry hamper for the housekeeper, and walking to my bedroom in nothing but my fatigue. I opened and closed the door as carefully as I could, and did not wake Sookie. I looked at her there in my bed, the quilts drawn over her sleeping form just hinting at the beauty beneath. I crawled in beside her; it was amusing how that had become routine for me over such a short period of time, and how much I felt I would miss it when and if she was not there. The hot shower had imparted some warmth to my normally cold skin, and so Sookie did not start as I reached out gingerly to just touch her with my fingertips. Emboldened by that fact I kissed the back of her neck softly, loving not only the feel of her, but also the smell of us both on her skin. When I had put her to bed earlier I had stripped her of her jeans and her purple blouse, as well as the white undergarments, possibly from her shopping trip that past afternoon, so she lay, as I did, quite naked. I folded my body around hers and her unconscious pulled my arm over her chest where it brushed against the heat of her breasts. I shivered, and then let myself finally sleep.

I do not dream, sleep for a vampire is like a little death; and not the classic kind referred to in Victorian literature either. There is simply a state of 'not being' for a period of hours, until one is awoken, either by the sunset, or by other means. That night it was the sunset that woke me, Sookie still at my side and I clasped her close to my chest as I did wake, needing to be grounded in her being as all the thoughts of what was likely about to happen rushed back into my mind. She mewled softly and turned to face me, a lazy grin on her face that just begged for a kiss.

"You were tired yesterday?" I whispered between kisses. Yes, it was stating the obvious, but I have often found that an effective vehicle for beginning a conversation.

"Yeah, I guess I was." She stretched in a cat like manner under the quilts, all the while smiling at me. "Working at the bar last night was so much fun."

"I am glad you enjoyed it." I traced my fingers over her skin absentmindedly, feeling my arousal beginning again, despite the weighty matters on my mind.

"You didn't come to bed until really late did you?"

"No, I had a great deal to ponder last night. I am sorry if I worried you." My fingers kept up their drawing.

"I wasn't worried Eric, I just miss you, that's all."

"I like sleeping with you as well Sookie." I rolled myself on top of her carefully and looked down at her face. I brushed the sleep-tousled hair from her skin and laid it out around her face like a halo. "I want you to always be here with me."

"I will be, for as long as you will have me."

"Then it will be forever." I bent to kiss her again, and when I pulled back I knew it was time to finally be honest with her.

"I love you Sookie."

Her response was not at all what I expected.

My ideal response would have involved her throwing her arms around my neck, professing her undying love for me and then us falling into passionate throws of lovemaking. Did I not just say something about vampires not dreaming? I may have to go back and amend that statement.

Instead I was greeted with a sight I shall never forget, and not just because I am a vampire with an exceptional memory. I did not even have a chance to see the smile of recognition cross her face at my words, for as soon as they had fallen from my lips Sookie's face fell sallow, and her eyes rolled backwards in her head in a terrifying sight. Her body went suddenly stiff and then relaxed into a horrifying limpness, in which she remained as I scooped her up into my arms, beyond bewildered, frightened to my very marrow, and that is truly something.

"Sookie!" I called out to her, as I pressed my ear to her chest barely able to hear her heartbeat or her breathing. Both were there, both very shallow, but she did not respond.

"Sookie!" I called again, shaking her body carefully, fully aware of my strength. Still she did nothing. I laid her back down.

"Sookie, please, answer me." Her eyes fluttered, in a terrible replay of what had happened only a few days past, on the couch in my office. Focusing, she looked at me finally, and began to scream.