A/N: Cheese and rice, as Bookie would say. This chapter would not shape up. So, here's one of pure fluff. More to come fairly quickly, because this one was supposed to contain Alberik, Phaedra, Pam, et al, but then the whole chase scene shat it's way out. Jaysus. Anyhoo. Love you all, my little fang bangers. Your reviews make me laugh, cry and eat chocolate. I won't waste time on this note because I want to work on the next chappy. Enjoy, I own nothing, pardon any word fuckery, no Beta, yada x 2.

Ch. 25

The first thing I felt upon slowly gaining consciousness for the day was my bladder. Once that was relieved, I washed my face, brushed my teeth and I felt half alive again. Okay, it was noonish; I had some time. It felt good to get back to a decent schedule. I didn't mind staying awake till dawn with Eric, but I did mind sleeping as late as I had been the last few days. I really only needed about 4 hours, but forgave myself the luxury of 6 since I had a pretty eventful night. I immediately checked in with Claudine. Claude had said goodbye this morning but nothing new otherwise. I made some coffee, ate some granola and unpacked my bags. There was a note on the kitchen counter for me. It was in the most lovely script. It reminded me of my great grandfather's writing. Very old fashioned.

"Sookie, I hope you are well rested and comfortable this day. Make yourself at home. I have made room for you in the closet, if you need any additional space, feel free to move things around. There are groceries in the kitchen, please make sure you eat. I worry you don't eat enough because of me. Before you fell asleep last night, you mentioned Phaedra. I do know this name and am eager to talk to you about how. Until then, I look forward to your face being the first thing I see when I wake. Your naked body being the second. Yours, Eric"

I smirked. It seemed so wrong to have such lovely penmanship say something smutty. Only Eric. Well, this was some news. Damn I wish I had asked him about it sooner. On a whim, I Googled it. There was a reference to the name under Greek mythology, but it didn't tell me anything relevant. Guess I could wait a few more hours.

I threw on some loose clothes and popped outside. Now that I knew I could, without fear of him getting all fairy crazy, why mess with setting a code? I stood on the deck for a bit. I stretched and I listened. I absorbed and identified all the normal sounds around me: birds, wind through the trees, the flow of the river, an occasional boat motor far off in the distance. I scanned for any brain activity and found none. Taking off at a jog, I looked for the trail Eric showed me last night, I wanted to see if I could find it from a different starting point. I found the crooked tree quickly, then followed it through from there. Once I found the bunker entrance, I looked all around me. I studied every tree, bush, and the surrounding paths leading in and out of the area. Once I thought I had sufficiently memorized the area, I worked on getting inside. I went in and out, the manual way three times. Then I popped in and out three times. Note to self, get a few more flashlights to stash around. Every time I popped in, I ended up in a different spot and I couldn't see a damn thing. I found the escape tunnel and looked in. It looked a shade less awful than at night but not much. I jogged around the area some more, trying to lose the trail so I could pick it up again from different points. Emergencies rarely played out like you planned them, especially if under attack, so alternate routes were always necessary. Once I was satisfied there I jogged back to the cabin. I popped up to the roof and surveyed the area from that height. My assessment complete, I jogged for another half an hour, did my usual sit ups, push ups and pull ups, feeling like a slug for slacking on my workouts. Again, it felt good to get back to my routine.

I grabbed my phone and laid out in the sun for a bit, in my underwear again, feeling more confident that no one could see me after surveying the area so thoroughly. Flipping through my contacts, I dialed Alcide Herveaux, the contractor I was supposed to meet today, to start working on the new design of Fangtasia. I assumed that plan was still on, that they had found someone else to meet him there today. That seemed like lifetimes ago that we discussed all that. I missed Pam, I laughed, right as he answered. I explained who I was and he filled me in. Pam had made Ginger meet them up there, which made me cringe a little, since she didn't seem like she could find her way out of a wet paper bag. I asked if he had a floorplan and he said Eric had left them one and very detailed instructions. The bulk of it would be done tonight but he had a few questions for me, Pam or Eric regarding part of the design. I had him make me a list of questions and email those and some photos of what they had done by quitting time today, just in case we weren't able to go in tonight. I promised I would get him answers so they could finish by tomorrow afternoon because we opened on Tuesday and it had to be done by then, case closed. He seemed annoyed, but I poured the charm on fairly thick and that seemed to appease his male ego, vomit.

I had no idea what our plans were the next few days, other than to meet Alberik. And maybe Dr. Ludwig, if she had time. I didn't like standing around, doing nothing, so we were going to have to do something. Okay, sex could take up a fair amount of time...I lay back and enjoyed the feeling of my skin soaking up the sun's warmth. Speaking of the sexy Viking, what the hell happened last night? Both of us lit up the same way at almost the same time. Did that potion forge some kind of bond between us? Or as Eric called it, a fairy bond? But if it did, wouldn't that mean Alberik was involved, too, since it was drawing his essence out of Eric's blood? Argh-more questions without answers.

Okay, my feelings for Eric could be answered, but did I want to answer? I definitely felt something. I cared for him, but why so soon and to what capacity? Did we have anything resembling a future or was this just a hot and heavy fleeting romance. I doubted the latter but at the same time, couldn't visualize us in fifty years, either. I certainly wasn't against that, however. How would he feel about that? It seemed he would get bored with me after a time. I chided myself-that wasn't a fair assumption. In fact, he had said he would be honored if we ended up bonded. And that he would go to his final death still wanting me. So, yeah, that was pretty deep. He didn't seem the type to say anything he didn't mean.

I thought of Claudine's words-love didn't always read the book or follow the rules. My nanny Myra told me that Supe relationships and love were different-they happened very hard and fast. They weren't constrained by human ideals of propriety or religious influence. I always burned with questions when I came back from visiting my Gran in the human realm and I was particularly fascinated by human dating and coupling rituals, as a teen, anyway. Hard and fast described us pretty well. And what else did Caludine say, something about us being fated? Or possibly so. What the hell did that mean? I had never heard of it, other than silly romance novels about star-crossed lovers. And even if it were so, why would Fate be so concerned with the two of us, who were we to have grabbed Fate's attentions? I didn't even know how to refer to It/Her/Him-was it an entity or a deity or an element? Not that I was one to poo-poo the unknown with out seeing all the facts, but it seemed more likely that "Fate" was actually The Council, that had an ulterior motive for Eric and I to be brought together.

Regardless of whether it was someone's plan for us or a huge powerful entity that hand-picked us, I cared for Eric in huge, surprising and powerful ways. I was riding this thing out to the end, whatever that entails. I felt good, like I had at least accomplished one thing by answering my own questions and being honest with myself. If he asked me how I felt I would tell him, but that didn't really seem to be a question in his mind. He was content with whatever was going on between us and if he was okay, then I was too.

The sun was dipping a little lower in the sky, so I went inside content with my tan and my new resolve. I grabbed the laptop and took it upstairs. I took my undies off and was going to rinse off in the shower, but thought better of it, since he seemed to like the sun smell on my skin. Instead, I grabbed one of his tank tops from the chair he had draped it on last night. It went just barely over my bum, but I figured he would like that, too. It smelled like him. Yum. I looked at my delicious Viking, the sheets draped across his bottom, though I could still see the outline of his yummy butt. I ran my hand over it and over the smooth muscles of his back, cool to the touch. It didn't put me off at all, in fact, it was sexy. We were opposites. Duality in life was a constant, so the fact we embodied that seemed...right.

Before I got myself too worked up, I sat up in bed next to him and opened up my email. Herveaux had done as I'd asked and sent me pictures and his list of questions. The work they had done was amazing, though they may not have finished, I was impressed with how far they got in eight hours. My eyes got a little droopy and tired while I stared at the screen, so I shut it and snuggled up to my vampire, planning on resting my eyes for a bit.

I woke to the feeling of being rolled onto my back. I felt kisses being placed on my neck and lips. I tried not to respond in any way, feigning sleep. When the kisses trailed down to my chest, the lips paused and I felt the weight of his body ease from mine. Suddenly there was a tongue in my belly button and I screeched. "Eww, ew, ew-ticklish! Off limits!"

My golden-haired torturer was sitting back, looking pleased with himself. "Don't fake being asleep." He shrugged as if fully justified and lay back against the headboard. I wasn't sure if he planned it or not, but he looked ridiculously and completely fuckable. He was half propped, his hair all tousled from sleep, one arm tucked behind his head, flexing the muscles there and in his chest, his abdominal muscles flexed lightly from his position, one leg slightly cocked out and fully, beautifully nude and "awake" in every way. I'm not sure how long I ogled him, but as I ran my eyes back up his body, stopping at his groin, I felt my lady bits clench a little at the sight and get very warm. Inwardly, I sighed, damn lady bits gave me away every time. Regretfully, I made my way up his stomach, his chest, to his eyes. I took a sharp breath in at his expression.

I had expected that cocky, "you know you want it" look he often got at times like this. But that wasn't there. Instead it was a primal and lusty, smoldering stare that belied his relaxed pose. If I had made a move back right then, he would have pounced. I could see his muscles tensed in their lazy looking position, poised to strike. I wasn't sure if it was the eyefuck or maybe the smell of my arousal that instigated it, but I really didn't were both a little on edge lately, to say the least, it might be fun to play. I hoped. So, I poked the bear.

I cocked an eyebrow at him in challenge and slowly worked my way backwards off the bed. He watched me intently, then his eyes widened at my provocation. He licked his lips and smiled in acceptance of the challenge. He unfolded himself from his position, putting his legs under his body, in case he needed to pounce. I stood at the foot of the bed and stretched ridiculously, then turned my back to him, pretending to look at myself in the mirror. "I borrowed a tank top, I hope you don't mind." I ran a hand over my boobs, then my hips. "I was just sooo warm from being in the sun today, but didn't want to have anything too tight against my skin, so I thought this would be comfy. Though it does seem a little small-look it barely covers my bottom and my breasts are popping out the sides." I turned back to him and he was right on the edge of the bed, now sitting with his feet off, touching the floor. He was staring at me so hotly I could feel a thrill, once again, in my center, so I opened my legs, a tiny bit. "Eric? What's the matter? Is it too small? Do you want me to take it off?" His nostrils flared. Bingo. "I'll take it off." I would have made a production of getting it off me, but I wasn't sure how much time I had. I whipped it up and off, letting my hair fall down around my shoulders and breasts. I stared down at him and enjoyed every second of the eyefuck he gave me and the deep cock twitch my nakedness caused him.

"Sookie. Come here." I was just out of arms reach of him. I took a step back and couldn't stop the small smile that worked it's way across my lips. "Sookie. Just to be sure, you are aware you're playing with fire? And that I will catch you."

"So confident? You'll catch me if I allow it."

His fists clenched at his sides. Heheh. Then his fangs slid. Very. Slowly. Down. Gulp. I felt a thrill at the same time my heart rate sped up obnoxiously. He heard it, of course because his pupils immediately expanded and he got a very sexy and dangerous smile. I took another step back. This was going to be fun. He stood and launched himself at me, but all he caught was air. I popped myself to the kitchen and perched on top of the counter. It wasn't immediately visible when coming down the stairs into the living room. I heard him growl when he realized he'd missed. I made a noise to let him know I was only downstairs and followed his blip. Hey, he had super speed and senses, I had to even the field out somehow.

In a fraction of a second, he was down the stairs. He froze at the base of the stairs and spoke to the air. "You realize, when I catch you, you will be my fairy, to do with as I please. Do you accept this wager?" I snorted and suddenly he was on top of me, pressing my back hard into the counter top and himself into my thigh. He gnashed at my neck, but didn't break the skin. Damn! I knew better than to fall for that! Your enemy uses words to goad you in to reaction or inattentiveness. He palmed my breast while assaulting my neck and I fought the desire winding it's way up through my core. "Do you?" He thrust against me.

I whispered into his ear, "I do. Such easy terms to accept, vampire, when I know you won't win." I bit his ear, then poofed outside. As soon as my feet solidified onto the ground, I started running. I had maybe a minute, if I was lucky. At first, I took the trail toward the bunker and made sure I rubbed myself against the brush along the way, so he would scent me. Not that he needed my help, but hopefully to make him a little nuts with want. Then, I took to the thick woods off the trail's path, the way I had practiced in the daytime. I sensed him behind me, where I had been only seconds ago. Shit, he was faster than I thought.

I stealthily moved along, steadying my breathing so he couldn't hear it and trying to place my feet silently. I had done this type of training with Kvelin, though not while I was naked and hoping to get caught by a lusty vampire. I sensed him now, flying above the area looking for any sign of me. He was very close and I wasn't sure if he was tracking my scent or some noise I was making. He must have spotted me because he was swooping in, so I crouched down in a defensive posture. But he never attacked. And he was still right above me, I felt him. Was he in a tree?

I felt the whoosh and displacement of air just before he dropped himself on top of me, or tried to. I had an elbow ready for him, right to his gut and tried to sweep his legs out, but he was ready for me and dodged by rolling to his side. While I was still on the follow-through spin from my attempted leg sweep, he grabbed my foot and flipped me on my back. I hit the ground hard and my breath left me with one huge "Oof!" He pounced and pinned all my limbs while I squirmed, trying to gain use of my arms.

"Oooh, that feels good." He sneered at me and ground his hips into mine. It just so happened that his extremely hard hard-on rubbed right up against my nub and I gasped and shuddered a little. He looked at me victoriously, "Ah, is that all it takes to render my fairy helpless?" He did it again and my eyes rolled back. His tone switched from arrogant to husky and wanting. "If I had known, I might have started off with this, then." He thrust against me again, but by this time I was dripping wet for him so he slid his length against my clit. I cried out and looked up at him and he looked like he was barely hanging on to his control. He brought his face a little closer, his eyes burning into me. "Is it, Sookie? Is that all it takes to tame my fairy?" My head cleared instantly from the lust filled spell he had put on me. 'Tame his fairy?' Mother fucker! Oh, this was not over. I head butted him, then bucked him off me enough to slip from under him.

I popped out of there and went ahead a few dozen feet. I heard him curse, then I followed his blip up to the sky again. This time he went really high, so high I almost lost him. He probably needed to clear his head. Serves him right. I snickered to myself but kept moving. Truthfully, I needed the cool down, too. I almost lost it there for a minute. He thought he could swing that glorious cock and I'd fall at my knees, begging for him. "Tame my fairy-psht!" Hopefully he was up high enough, he didn't hear me, muttering. I put my feelers out for him. Now he was way off, not up high-he was definitely on the ground, but he was no where nearby. He was probably several hundred feet in the opposite direction, maybe where we first started. What the hell? I trekked forward, unsure what his plan was, but positive he had one.

I made it to the clearing where the underground hidey-hole entrance was located, but stayed in the brush. I had been paying such attention to my stealth tactics, that I lost him. I felt all around, scanning and found nothing. Uh-oh. What was going on? I started to feel a knot in my stomach. Breathe, Sookie. I felt again. He was there, somewhere, actually not too far. I felt his presence via the bond we now had. I just couldn't feel his mental signature that I was so used to relying on. Whew. I climbed from my hiding spot and paced. Well, damn, should I just wait for him to get here or what? I wanted to show him I could pop in and out of the shelter. This kind of ruined my plan of cat and m-

All the wind was knocked out of me as I was face down on the ground with a huge weight pinning me so I couldn't move an inch. "Aha! What have we here? A naughty fairy! Alas, I have captured ye and now ye must yield to me!" He shouted out in an accent somewhere between King Arthur, a pirate and Monty Python.

"Eric! Air." I gasped. He was sitting right on my back, with his full weight, so I could barely breathe, let alone summon a bit of magic to poof out from under him.

He grabbed my hair and pulled my head back so he could now whisper in my ear. "Nay, tricky fairy, ye forfeited any right to leniency when ye hurt my skull and my ego" though he did let his weight off my chest. I took a deep breath in and he flipped me so I was on my back. I was glad I took a breath because I needed it to howl in laughter.

He was wearing a genuine Viking helmet! "Eric, what-" I couldn't finish. I was laughing so hard tears were rolling down the sides of my face. He sat back, still pinning me at my waist and watched me with a smug look. He let me tire myself with laughter.

When I was done, "Yes, Sookie, your eyes do not deceive you. I am wearing my Viking helmet. I went back to the house to get it."

"For god's sake, why?!" More laughter. "And where's the horns?" I was kidding, but wanted to tease him.

"I don't have that one here at this property." He said it so seriously and I wasn't ready for that response, so I cackled some more, despite the cramp in my stomach.

"Did it work?" He stared me down with his still smug expression while I looked at him clueless.

"What?"

"The iron in my helmet. You could not track me. I took you by surprise, clearly."

My eyes got big as saucers and he puffed up even more with gloat. "Cheater."

"Whaaaat?! How dare you call me a cheater, when every time I catch you, you pop away!"

"Hey, you have the advantage of super sonic senses! I have to be able to level the playing field."

"Bullshit. You being able to track me, mentally, levels the playing field quite evenly, I think."

"Foof!"

"Is that what you say when you lose and don't get your way, your Royal Brattiness?" He wove his hands through my hair and leaned into me. I couldn't head butt him this time, unless I wanted a concussion.

"Oooohh!" He knew just how to piss me right off. I tried to pop out from under him but couldn't, I could feel the magic try to spark, then fizzle out. He was staring at me with a huge shit-eating grin, which was pissing me off even more. I was flailing under him, trying to get something to happen, then it dawned on me; the iron. The close proximity was making me incapable of magic and it was draining some of my strength.

I stopped struggling and sighed. "Done? Ready to admit defeat?"

"Never!"

He threw his head back in laughter and rolled us over, me now on top of him and he tossed his helmet several feet away. "Just what I like-a warrior spirit. Never give up." He pulled me into him but I resisted, still peeved and being prideful."Sookie, I captured you fairly. Will you dishonor our bet?" He looked up at me, very serious.

"No." I mumbled.

"What's that? I didn't quite hear you."

"No!" I shouted at him, like a child, but I couldn't stop myself. I hated losing. He laughed at my impetuousness until I caved and laughed too. His humor was too infectious. He could be so serious, so scary sometimes, so when his light side came through there was no resisting it. He hugged me to him and we lay like that on the ground.

After a time, "Can we get up, I think I got bit by something." He scooped me up in a flash and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

"Of course, my fairy conquest." I growled at him. "Lover, that only arouses me when you do that." He thrust himself against me and my eyelids fluttered, fucking traitors. He gave me a knowing look and picked his helmet up, "Back to the cabin or is there a reason you lured me out here?"

"Yes, actually. I wanted to show you that I could pop in and out of the shelter. I can also find it via several different routes, off the obvious trail, but you already saw that" I smirked. He may have won but I could still rub it in that it wasn't as easy as he might have thought. I wiggled, trying to stand on my own feet and trying to get away from the damn helmet. He resisted at first, till he realized my distaste for his metal gear, then let me slip down and step a small distance away. "I can also get in and out, manually, fairly quickly. I timed myself at 45 seconds today.

"Very nice." He crossed his arms and inwardly drooled at what that did to his shoulders, chest and arms. "So, are you going to show me or shall we talk about it all night? I have a payout to collect."

"Testy." I took a few more steps from the stupid helmet and popped myself down there. I ran to the bedroom and grabbed a blanket and poofed back up. When he saw the blanket, his eyebrows shot up. "What's this?"

"Picnic?" I arched my neck and winked at him.