PART THREE

Getting Stood Up

That evening while Eric went through the usual motions of Victor's monthly inspection, Sookie was in Baton Rouge oblivious to the intricacies of the politics the vampires were playing at.

Instead, her attention was keenly aware of her surroundings in Preston's workshop. She admired his creations with awe. His workshop was, like he said, the lower half of the building that he lived in. It made the Bon Temps High School wood shop look childish, like a toddler's toy room. As he gave her a tour and explained the purpose of each machine, Sookie smiled at the contradiction she saw around her.

Preston, an earth fairy, a builder, had moved to her world to stretch his wings and do something different, but even after a hundred years or so, he ended up being a builder. Maybe there was more to fairies being hardwired with a specific purpose than what she initially thought. Especially when she saw the love and pride in Preston's eyes for the beautiful objects he had made. From the credenza he'd been working so hard on, to the top-secret enchanted chest.

They were all breathtaking. The quality of the workmanship was undeniable. And to see the excitement he had for what he did, Sookie loved all of the pieces. How could she not?

She lovingly ran her hand along the surface of the credenza. Its long surface was smooth. The detailed pattern of the grain was breathtaking. The scent of beeswax that Preston used to polish the finish reminded Sookie of her Grampa Mitchell.

"Preston," her breath rushed out. "It's amazing." He breathed deeply, satisfied at the pleasure he saw on Sookie's face. She turned and met his gaze. "You're so…so…gifted. I love it. My Gran would have loved this. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"I hope the client feels the same way," he smiled.

"They would have to be blind not to." Looking around her, Sookie saw a whole new side of Preston. She liked that he was a builder. Standing in his workshop, watching him in the space, she saw him more clearly. She had seen and experienced how gentle, sincere, and patient he was, but in that moment, it was crystal clear. In that moment, it said so much, so loudly, about the kind of man he was. There was no doubt in her mind that Gran would have approved of her choice in Preston.

"So how does the enchanted chest thing work?" Sookie followed Preston across the workshop that was located on the first level of the building where he lived. There was a freight elevator located on the far end of the shop.

"Well," he said taking her hand and helping her into the elevator that would take them up to the top level where his apartment was located. "A standard order is either for a spell that will make the piece unnoticed by anyone except for the owner of the furniture," he pulled down the elevator door and pressed the big green button to go up. "Or for a spell to include a ward that will only allow the owner to open a certain compartment. If the order is for only one spell, I do that on my own. But if an order comes for a few wards, then I have another earth fairy come in and place the second ward. And so on."

"Why a ward or even two?"

"Well," Preston grinned, enjoying Sookie's interest in his work. "Did you ever have a diary with a lock on it? Or a jewelry box with a lock?" Sookie nodded her head. "When you're dealing with the supernatural, a lock is typically not enough to keep someone out. So if you want to keep something, a book of secrets, or some valuables, away from other supernaturals, you ward the object. The more wards, the better. It gives the object added security. If someone is able to break my ward, it would be too easy for them to break the next, so if a client is willing to pay for a second ward, I have another earth fairy perform the second, another a third and so on."

"Couldn't they just do the same thing with something they already have, instead of paying you to do it?" The elevator stopped on the top level of the two story building.

"Yeah," Preston grunted as he pulled up the gate so they could step out of the elevator. "I guess any good Witch or wizard could do that. But if someone can afford it, an earth fairy warded piece is best."

"Why? Is this like cars?" she grinned. Preston chuckled.

"No," he smiled holding out his hand for Sookie. "Fairy magic is stronger."

"Is there any other magic stronger than fairies?"

"Nope."

"I see," said Sookie. "I guess something like that would cost a lot." Preston nodded his head.

"What I do is enchant the raw wood, before I cut it," explained Preston. "This embeds the magic, and makes the spell and the piece stronger."

"Unbreakable?"

"Essentially. Any other way would be like paying to have a sheet thrown over a piece of furniture."

As Preston continued to answer Sookie's myriad of questions about Faery, they set about cooking spaghetti and garlic bread. Sookie knew that there weren't many ways to mess up spaghetti, but she couldn't help think that they out did themselves.

The domestic bliss she was enjoying with Preston made it too easy to push out the world. She continued to postpone telling Preston about her visit with the twins.

"I'll tell him later," she told herself.

After dinner, the dishes tucked away in the dishwasher, Sookie returned Sam's call she had missed while her and Preston had enjoyed their dinner. Sam had called to get a status on the bar; to see how things were going. Once the obligatory call with her boss was done, Sookie and Preston sprawled out on his sofa.

On the sofa, in Preston's arms, she read out loud a book she'd tossed in her bag. Though it was a romance novel, Preston had her in tears with laughter a few times. However, she did find that reading out loud the lemony parts was great foreplay for what turned out to be awesome mind blowing sex with her boyfriend.

A bit of maneuvering and Sookie laid sprawled length wise across Preston's nudity. His hand and fingers absently traced the contours of her bare back. They both were still floating in a haze of euphoria.

"That was amazing," Sookie smiled. "Mmm," she moaned softly. Preston's hand tenderly caressed her bottom eliciting a delicious twitch of muscle memory from the erotic things Preston had done to her.

"Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"

"Positive," she tilted her head and kissed his chin. "You know," she whispered, leaning forward to trail kisses along his jaw line toward his ear. "I've never let anyone do that to me before." Reaching his pointed ear, she ran her tongue over the tip.

A smile spread across her face as Preston's manhood twitch against her leg from what she was doing to his sensitive ear. The feeling of the tip against her tongue was pleasurable not just for her, but for Preston as well.

"You shouldn't do that," his voice jagged, as his hands braced Sookie's lower body.

"You shouldn't rub against a girl like that," she teased. "It might give her the wrong idea."

"This is dangerous," he was breathless.

"Why?" her tongue twirled around the delicate peak. She felt Preston's hips pumping against her legs. Seductively, she pulled the tip between her lips and took it in to her mouth. A low growl rumbled from deep inside Preston's chest. He sensed a silent heat racing through his body.

Quickly Preston pulled her away from his ear.

"What's wrong?" asked Sookie with a devilish smirk on her face. She loved the way his chest quivered.

"I won't be able to stop myself from marking you again," he confessed. A thrill instantly filled her, making her ache. Something primal inside her wanted to be marked by him again.

"I see." The next instance the lust in her eyes faded. Despite how her body had reacted to his words, she remembered her visit with the twins. She moved down and rested her head on his chest. "How does this marking work exactly?"

"Its…" he searched for the word, "biological. I have some control over it by keeping my feelings in check. But when we're like this," he rubbed himself against her. "It's difficult to control my feelings."

"Oh," Sookie tilted her chin to look up at him. "So if you get…too excited it happens?" Preston's hands swiftly moved them, adjusting their positions so that Sookie was laying beneath him.

"Only when I'm with you," he combed the golden caramel curls away from her face. "You've no idea the effect you have on me."

"Tell me," she blinked, gazing up at him. There was a layer of sheen on his face from their lovemaking.

"It's like all the pleasure and happiness in the world spills into me when I think of you, see you, and when I'm with you," he explained. Sookie's eyes studied the moist strands of hair laying against Preston's neck. She automatically brought her fingers to his neck, moving the wet strands back, and tucking his hair behind his ear. Preston kissed the inside of her wrist.

"I have to keep my feelings for you under control; my love, my happiness, my passion," he gazed into Sookie's eyes. "If I loose all control over myself, I'll mark you again and again." He leaned forward and tenderly kissed her.

"So are we like married now according to Faery?" asked Sookie.

"Not exactly," Preston smiled gazing into the ocean of her blue eyes. "Once you would have agreed, tradition is that I would come to your home with a procession of our family. Your father, or the head of your clan would present you to me, and I would take you to my home where we would make love and mark one another."

"A shot gun wedding?" thought Sookie. "Or at least something close to it." That's what she envisioned what her and Preston had done in Sam's office.

"The marking from today," explained Preston. "It will fade with time if it is not renewed each time we lay together. One day," he said wistfully, "When you're ready, and when it's safe, everyone will know the woman Preston loves is coming long before you even arrive."

"They know," she hesitated. Warm tears streamed down each side of Sookie's temples. "The twins came by Merlotte's today. They know about us." Preston's expression was one of surprise and then one that read oh shit. "They said they'll keep our secret for as long as they can."

Preston sat up, leaning against his heels as he ran his hands through his hair.

"Have you heard from Niall?" he asked moving his legs to sit on the edge of the sofa.

"No," Sookie sat up drawing her knees to her chest. "Why didn't you tell me you could loose your life?" Preston's gaze snapped over toward her.

"I would rather die than face a life without you."

"You shouldn't say things like that," her brow wrinkled with worry. "I am going to die one day Preston."

"It's not the same," he dropped his face into the palms of his hands. "I may die before you, we don't know that," he mumbled. "And what I meant," he turned to face her, "is that I would rather die than to live knowing you're here without me."

"I don't like us having to hide," her eyes glossed with tears. "I don't want to be afraid of Niall killing you."

"We just have to be more careful," he stated clearly.

"There's magic, your magic, at Merlotte's. You've marked me. Claude said that there have been rumors that I've taken a new lover and that Niall is going to hear about it and he's going to want to know who it is."

Preston's shoulders sagged as he exhaled heavily, rubbing his face with his hands.

"They think I should go to Niall," her voice quivered. Tears moistened her cheeks. Preston turned and pulled her to his lap, wrapping his arms around her. "What are we going to do?" she whimpered.

"I'll think of something," Preston assured her. "I promise."

"Maybe we should stop seeing each other—."

"No," he interrupted her.

"Just for awhile Preston." He shook his head adamantly.

"No, I'll think of something," he kissed the side of her head. "Look at me," he gently took her chin and tilted her face toward his. "You trust me?" Sookie shook her head. "It'll be ok, I promise. I'll figure something out."

"Ok," she said. Preston leaned forward and comforted her with his kiss. With Sookie in his arms, he stood up and headed toward the steps that would take them to the bedroom.

"Preston," Sookie's voice was just above a whisper.

"Yes."

"Breandan's fairies are here, on this side." Preston stopped halfway up the staircase.

"I see," he said calmly. "Its good that you told me," he resumed his steps.

"They're looking for me and the twins."

"I'm not surprised," Preston kept his voice quiet and composed. He didn't want to worry Sookie by letting her see the alarm he felt.

"What are we going to do?"

"We're going to be smart," he said reaching the platform. His tone was firm and confident. "We're going to keep our eyes open, and we're going to be safe."

"Ok," breathed Sookie. She wanted, needed to believe that they would all be ok.

Several hours later, while Sookie, Preston, and most of Louisiana slept, back at Fangtasia the vampires and a minority of humans were awake and walking the night.

Since receiving Pam's reports, Eric had been busy managing all of his responsibilities and planning for Victor's routine visit, which had been tonight. It had seemed as if everything had fallen into place, but when he rose and had received Sookie's message, he had never felt so infuriated.

Through his bond with Sookie, he had reached out and pushed his will on her for her to yield, but moments later her side of the bond had went silent. His instincts had yanked at him to fly out to Bon Temps or to at least call her. But he couldn't without raising Victor's suspicions.

So as the night progressed with Victor sitting across from him, Eric continued to try reach through his bond with Sookie, perhaps to manipulate her, but definitely to find where she had gone to. He had the inclination to tear his office apart, but like the master politician that he was, he gave at least with his countenance, no reason for Victor Madden to doubt his claim on Sookie.

"The Tiger says Ms. Stackhouse is his woman," pointed out Victor. Quinn had requested permission to enter Area Five three weeks ago. The Tiger desired to see Sookie, and if his claim that Sookie was his woman was true, it would place her directly in Felipe's retinue and control.

Like the rest of Quinn's assets, she would also belong to the King. Had Quinn been any ordinary shifter, someone outside the vampire world, it wouldn't have made a difference what any of them wanted. Luckily for Felipe, Quinn belonged to him.

"His claim over her is no longer valid," explained Eric, "She dismissed the Tiger shortly after Louisiana came under the Kings protection. She is my human."

"What proof can you give to support your claim?" asked Victor. "If you speak the truth, why have you not summoned her?" Victor was growing impatient with the situation. Until Eric's claim could be proven false, no other vampire could approach her, which complicated matters.

"You will have proof enough," stated Eric. Underneath his calm façade, he was boiling with fury. "Sookie is running the bar the Shifter owns, and her time is pressed. This is why I'm requesting more time; forty-eight hours."

"Very well," said Victor. Privately, he seriously doubted Eric's assertion. As far as Victor saw it, if Eric spoke the truth, then why had he not summoned her? Victor suspected Eric had tried, but she had not heeded his summons. Regardless, Sookie was MIA.

If Eric failed to provide proof in 48 hours, despite denying the Tiger permission to enter Area Five, Victor would deliver the King's personal invitation to Sookie to be his guest.

Once Sookie was in Nevada, they would be able to determine the Tiger's claim. Even then, if Quinn's claim, like Eric's, was false, at least Sookie would be within their grasp. Felipe would no doubt act swiftly to secure Sookie to him.

The night was getting late, and Victor still had other business to attend to before dawn. So he completed his visit, as he referred to his inspections. After the obligatory farewells, he made his exit.

Even if Pam hadn't seen Victor leave, there was no doubt in her mind by the noise coming from Eric's office, that he was gone. Calmly, she made a beeline from the hostess' booth to Eric's office. The commotion he was making was upsetting the clientele.

"Master," she coolly said. "You're frightening the humans."

"Who does she think she is?" he growled.

"She doesn't understand the gravity of the situation," she explained.

"Where is her sense of self preservation?" he roared.

"She is human," Pam pointed out as if it answered everything perplexing about Sookie.

"What time is it?" he demanded.

"It's thirty minutes before one," she answered. Since Merlotte's closed at midnight, there was a chance that he might still catch her.

"I'll be back," said Eric brushing past Pam. "Have this mess cleaned up before I get back," he barked. Pam nodded her head in disbelief. She didn't understand Eric's fascination with Sookie. Perhaps this would be the thing that would break the camel's back, and he would finally turn her.

With Victor breathing down his neck, Pam didn't feel Eric could afford to be distracted. None of them could afford it. ~