A/N: Hey, everyone! This is the last regular chapter of Dead and Blonde. I have the epilogue, ready and waiting. I thought about trying to drag it out, but, who am I kidding? I'm as anxious to get it done as you are (at least I hope you still are interested)! As usual, this chapter has been beta'd by the amazing Northwoman. All remaining mistakes totally belong to me!

Note: I don't own anything - it all belongs to Ms. Charlaine Harris, who is awesome.

Ch 1: Friday - Sookie / Eric meet at Merlotte's

Ch 2: Saturday – Eric comes to her house to introduce himself and make a date for dinner with her & Gran

Ch 3 & 4: Wednesday - dinner at Gran's, first kisses

Ch 5: Friday - Eric calls, makes dates for Sunday & Tuesday; SaturdaySookie shops for clothes.

Ch 6: Sunday first date and 2 trips to 3rd base (woohoo!)

Ch 7: Monday – errands; Tuesday - business meeting at Fangtasia; Sookie meets Pam, Bill and Felicia.

Ch 8: Tuesday - night with Eric at hotel; Wed - talk with Sam about shifters; Thur/ Fri - prep and start of trip to NOLA

Ch 9: Friday - Flight to NOLA, shopping and bedtime

Ch 10&11: Saturday - Meet Sophie-Anne, read Jodee; Sookie's first (and second) time

Ch 12: Sunday - Sookie's spa day and dinner date with Eric; first blood exchange

Ch 13&14: Monday - See graffiti at Hadley's apartment; Reads Fabrizio and solves mystery; Eric tortures Andre in retaliation for hisassault on Sookie

Ch 15: Tuesday - Andre's trial and flight to Shreveport; Eric invites Sookie to stay at his home

Chapter 16

Sookie's POV

The next afternoon, I woke up next to Eric and realized how much I loved doing just that. It disturbed me a little; where I'm from people don't just fall in love and forget everything else in their lives. I had to get back to Gran and shifts at Merlotte's and keeping Jason out of trouble.

So, I slipped out of Eric's bedroom, being careful to get both doors closed tightly, then used his landline to call Gran and tell her I'd be home after dark.

"Take your time, Sookie dear," she said, her voice gentle. "I'm sure you'd rather be spending time with your beau than chatting with this old woman."

I'd laughed at that – she knew I'd missed her – but then she said something about getting off the phone so she could make her Descendants of the Glorious Dead meeting and hung up. Then, I picked the phone up, one more time. I couldn't leave well enough alone, naturally, so I called Sam.

"Hey, cher!" he'd said, once he realized it was me. "I hope you're back safe."

"I am," I replied. "I'm not sure when I'll be needed again but I could pick up a few shifts for you if you need me." Seems harmless enough, right?

Sam was quiet for a few moments, prompting me to make sure he was still on the line.

"I'm here," he said, low and tense. "What do you mean you'll be needed again? I thought this was a one-time thing?"

"No," I said cautiously. "It comes with a salary and benefits and everything, but I only work when and where I'm needed. So, until they call again, I'm all yours." I thought I had explained that?

"Sookie," he said, disappointment shading his voice, "I thought this trip to New Orleans would teach you that vampires aren't worth working for. You aren't safe working for them."

"Sam," I said warningly, "I am not a child, least of all yours. I'm old enough to make my own decisions and I like this job. It makes me feel useful, like I'm doing some good."

"You do plenty of good here, Sook, at the bar."

I snorted. "Yeah, slinging beer and burgers is really enhancing our society, Sam. Not that I don't like working for you, but this other thing is a totally new challenge. They make me feel normal, Sam; like my disability isn't something to be ashamed of."

He sighed. "Why don't you just come by later, Sookie, and we'll talk it out in person? I don't like fighting over the phone."

"I'll come by tomorrow, before the lunch rush," I said, knowing he had meant tonight, but I was not cutting into my Eric time for him. No way.

"What's wrong with tonight?" he asked. It seems like I wasn't the only one who couldn't leave well enough alone.

"I'm busy tonight," I said curtly. None of your business, Sam.

"Your Gran need you at home?"

I rolled my eyes. "Does it matter, Sam? Unless you need me to work, which I know you don't, my time is mine."

I swear it sounded like he growled. "You're with Northman, aren't you?" he asked, his voice laced with derision. "God dammit, Sookie…"

I cut him off. "Not that it matters to you, Sam Merlotte, but, yes, I am with Eric. I'll be home late tonight, after he rises. He's bringing me."

"Why don't you just catch a taxi from the hotel, if you're stuck there? Or I could come get you?"

"Sam, I am not at a hotel. I am with Eric, and I will come see you tomorrow. Have a good day, I've gotta go!" And I hung up. Which, I'm pretty sure makes me the biggest weenie in the universe, but I couldn't take it anymore.

I slid off the barstool I'd been using to talk on the phone in the kitchen and put the receiver back in its cradle, pushing Sam out of my mind. There would be plenty of daylight tomorrow to make him understand I was just another waitress who could move on. I hadn't really thought that much about giving up my position at Merlotte's, but it was becoming more and more tempting; I only worried about how bored I would be when I wasn't working for the Louisiana vampires. I don't think I could be happy just sitting at home all day, at least not for days at a time.

I got myself a glass out of the cabinet and walked over to the sink, staring over the bar and out the window as I filled it with water. I still had a few hours before Eric would rise; what to do? I thought about going into his study and perusing his bookshelves, but looking out the window onto the veranda reminded me of the gigantic pool he had out back. A girlish excitement came over me and I ran back to his bedroom to change into my bathing suit – a totally perfect tanning opportunity cannot be wasted!

I alternated between lying out and swimming – reading my latest romance novel and taking a dip to cool off when the sun got too intense – for my entire afternoon. I was enjoying my free time so much that I didn't want it to end, and I kept telling myself I would read for just 15 more minutes. Then, I would go shower to be fresh for my evening. But, I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, I was being examined by a very large – and very naked - vampire who seemed to be sniffing every inch of my body.

"Eric!" I shrieked, being surprised out of my involuntary nap. "What are you doing? And why are you naked?"

He lifted his head to meet my eyes from where he was hovering over my stomach with a fangy smile. "You smell like sunshine, Lover," he said in that deep, throaty voice of his that made my knees weak. "I thought for sure I would rise with you by my side tonight," he continued, leaving kisses in his wake as he slid up my body, "but finding you in a tiny bathing suit, drenched in sunlight may not be a bad substitute." Of course he totally ignored my second question.

I giggled when he buried his face in my cleavage, breathing deeply. "I'm not a scratch and sniff card, Eric."

He met my eyes again, looking puzzled this time. "A what?" he asked. "Why would I scratch you first?"

I laughed again. "Never mind. If you'll get up, we can go inside," I said, a little leery of our combined weight in the lounge chair I'd parked myself in.

He shifted his hips against me as he kissed my neck. "Why would we need to go inside?"

The thoughts in my head became fuzzy as I felt the evidence of his arousal pressed firmly against my thighs and his tongue on my neck. "Um, the chair? Naked?" I said shakily, my hands sneaking into his hair.

I felt him grin against my skin as his hands did some sneaking of their own. "Perfectly safe, Lover," he said. "I would never buy poolside furniture that would not stand up to proper use. And why would I have gotten dressed when I fully intended to be naked with you anyway?"

I'm sure I would have had an intelligent response, but he chose that moment to slant his lips across mine and slip his sly fingers into my bikini bottoms. He kissed me expertly for a few minutes before he flipped our positions. It happened so fast I really couldn't tell you how I came to be straddling him instead of the other way around.

I could tell you how I was writhing against his fingers for friction, but it'd probably just make me blush. When he reached his other hand up to undo my bikini top I stopped him. "We're outside!" I said quietly, trying to be serious in spite of the serious business going on under my bottoms.

He quirked his brow and wiggled his fingers for emphasis. "And? We were outside the first time we were naked together."

I felt the blush work up from my chest. "We were in the middle of nowhere then. Here, someone might see! Or hear!"

He scoffed. "Ridiculous! There is no one for miles about but you and me, Lover." He paused a beat before adding, "So scream my name as loud as you like," with a waggle of those eyebrows and my blush deepened.

"It just seems so wrong," I managed to say. "These kinds of things are supposed to happen in private."

He leaned forward slightly and dragged his fangs lightly across a covered breast. "We are in private, Sookie," he said, then as he removed his fingers from their naughty business below, continued, "but if it means that much to you, we can go inside."

I moaned at the loss of his crafty hands, leaning into him. "You promise there's no one around?" I whispered, pressing my thighs together to create some friction.

"I swear it, Lover," he said, his blue gaze burning into mine. "Only us."

It only took a second for my endorphin-addled brain to decide. I reached up and untied my bikini top, then discarded it on the ground beside us. Eric gave a satisfied growl as he leaned to take a nipple in his mouth. I gasped at the surprisingly erotic nick of his fang on my breast and arched my back into him. He untied the strings across my hips and before I knew it, we were both naked by the pool. Yikes.

His fingers slid back into my heated core and I couldn't help but let my head roll back as he kissed and licked and sucked his way up my neck to that spot beneath my ear that gave me chills. After a few moments, I couldn't wait anymore, so I scooted myself closer to him and lowered onto his prominent erection, sliding slowly, savoring every second.

It didn't take long for me to reach my first peak with my hips rolling against his. He growled as I tensed around him, and then flipped us again, thrusting into me hard and fast. Finally, he leaned forward and sunk his fangs into my left breast, sparking his release and another one from me. We lay still for a few moments, me catching my breath and Eric tracing patterns on my skin.

He was the first to speak. "I suppose I should get you home," he said quietly.

I nodded slightly, looking away. It surprised me how much I wanted to stay. "I guess."

We moved slowly into the house and redressed. I gathered my things together and we walked to the car. The drive to Bon Temps was quiet and I noted that the silence between us was comfortable. I knew from my disability that a lot of couples felt the need to fill the stillness with meaningless chatter, and I was glad we didn't.

Eric kept his hand on my leg, his thumb caressing softly back and forth which I found comforting. I was so deep in my own thoughts – of Sam, Gran, Jason, and Tara – I didn't realize we had arrived until Eric turned into my bumpy driveway. We really needed to get it re-graveled.

"Here we are, Lover," he said gently, looking past me to the glow in the windows. I could see Gran's silhouette outlined in the kitchen window, standing at the sink.

I met his eyes and smiled sadly. It surprised me how sad I was to be home. "Thanks for the ride," I replied, leaning in to kiss his cheek softly. "I know you have to get to Fangtasia."

His brow furrowed ever so slightly. "It is true I have some matters to see about since I have been absent for a few days, but I do not want to leave you." The sincerity of his statement made my heart flutter. "When can I see you again?"

I didn't have any idea when I would be working – or if I would be working, my brain added, replaying the call I had with Sam earlier. "I have to go talk to Sam tomorrow, Eric. How about I call you tomorrow night and we'll figure it out?"

His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. I knew he hated having to play second violin to Sam when it came to anything. "That will only be acceptable if you call me at first dark," he said, his hand coming up to caress my face. "I am too accustomed to seeing you when I rise. I will miss you."

I grinned, a little lopsidedly. "The great Viking vampire will miss little 'ol me?"

He leaned closer to whisper conspiratorially, "You must never admit it to anyone. They will think I have gone soft in my old age. And never tell Pamela. She will ridicule me mercilessly."

I giggled, leaning my forehead against his. "I love you, Eric Northman, Sherriff of Area 5 in Louisiana."

He pushed my hair back off my shoulders and took my face in his hands, his deep blue eyes piercing into my own. "I am yours, Sookie Stackhouse, Bon Temps Telepath."

I laughed at that, I couldn't help it. "We're ridiculous, you know," I said. "You'd think we've been together much longer than two weeks."

Eric kissed the tip of my nose, then got out and sped around to open my door. He was silent as he walked me to the front door, my suitcase in his hand. He set it down on the top step of the porch and wrapped his strong arms around my waist to pull me into an embrace that left my toes barely sweeping the ground. He pressed his lips to mine, my body igniting from the fire between us.

He pulled back suddenly, setting me back on my feet where I swayed, trying to regain my equilibrium. I was looking up to question him when the front door opened and Gran peeked out. "Sookie? I heard the car and wondered if it was you."

I smiled back at her, walking into her open arms for a hug. "Hey, Gran. Eric is just dropping me off."

She smiled over at Eric. "Thank you for delivering her home safely. Won't you come in for a drink?"

I blushed at the thought of the drinks Eric normally took and saw a tiny smirk start at the corner of his mouth. "Not tonight, Adele, thank you. I must get back to Fangtasia to make sure all has been well during my absence. It is my hope that I will be seeing both of you again soon."

Gran nodded and I stepped back over to him for a much more chaste kiss on the lips. "I'll call you tomorrow night, Eric," I whispered, willing myself to stay put when I really wanted to get back in his car and be with him all night.

He started back down the steps. "Good night, Sookie," he called as he walked to his car. I stood on the porch until his taillights disappeared down our winding country drive, and then reluctantly began to wheel my suitcase inside.

Gran ushered me inside, bringing me a glass of sweet tea as soon as my bottom hit the sofa. She sat across from me, leaning forward in her chair. "Did you have fun, Sookie?" she asked. "Did you meet anyone interesting?"

Oh boy. "Well…." I began, regaling her with descriptions and stories of everything I could tell, including my rediscovery of Hadley. We were up until the wee hours of the morning, when our eyes would hardly stay open another minute. We walked down the hallway together toward our respective bedrooms, and I paused to give Gran a hug and kiss as she turned off into the master.

"Good night, Gran," I said, thankful I decided to come home, even though I was missing the late night activities Eric could provide.

Gran cupped my face, patting my cheek lightly. "It's good to see the light behind your eyes, girl," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Don't let that Eric get away, you hear? He's good for you and I won't be around forever to take care of you."

Instead of retorting about how I could take care of myself, or pushing aside the comment about Gran being mortal, I surprised myself when I whispered back, "I know, Gran. I know."

Eric's POV

The drive home was almost unbearable without a tender knee to stroke, but I managed. Fangtasia, of course, had almost fallen apart at the seams without Pam and me over the last few days. There were wait staff complaints to be seen to, orders that hadn't been properly inventoried, and, naturally, 1,932 emails in my inbox which needed my attention.

Luckily, Pam had seen to most of the serious issues, and I was left with only 1,237 emails to read. Even with my superior reading comprehension, it took most of my evening to wade through the meaningless chatter to the interesting stuff. I handled area business, maneuvered a conference call with the other Sheriffs of Louisiana, and even enthralled the vermin for a time. Finally, with hardly more than an hour left of darkness, I could go home.

I could still smell her in my home, on my sheets. I had half a mind to force her to live here; I got hard at the thought of rising to her every night. A new plan hatched in my head to encourage her to relocate to my house, but I didn't want to rush it. I know humans have a sense of propriety and it is unusually strong in my Sookie – she would not take cohabitation lightly. I vowed to ask Pamela what Dear Abby had to say about the matter.

I bathed languidly, feeling the hot water run over my body and imagining the previous days when Sookie had joined me during a shower. My recollections were so pure I could almost feel her next to me; smell her there. I crawled in my bed with ten minutes to spare just so I could bury my face in the pillow she had used. Her scent was intoxicating; I could never get enough.

Just before the dawn pulled me under, I shook myself. Vikings don't get love-sick, I reminded myself, questioning my manliness, my vampire nature. I am a killer, ruthless and strong, I repeated.

Despite my pep talk, as I was falling into my daytime death, my brain taunted, Vikings didn't have Sookie Stackhouse, Northman.

Indeed.

And, unfortunately, not all mid-twenty young women have an Eric Northman. Right? Right? 3