A/N: Here it is finally. I was so surprised that nobody guessed right.

The answer to the trivia question: The average American uses 600 of these in their lifetime—bars of soap. Thanks to everyone who made an attempt.

Thanks as always for your wonderful reviews; they are all so special to me.

Big thanks to my beta shutterbugmom, who is back in action, kicking my bad punctuation and grammar's booty.

Be sure to check out my entry for the Eric and his Great Pumpkin contest, it's called Sookie's Secret. Full of lemons.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they belong to Charlaine Harris.

SPOV

"What the heck are you doing here?" I squealed, as I wrapped my arms around Gran's neck and pulled her through the door.

"I had Jason drop me here. He was on his way to see that new girl of his in town, and I wanted to see my favorite granddaughter." Gran said as she gave my apartment the once over. Once she was satisfied nothing was out of place, she grabbed my hand. "Oh, Sookie. It is just adorable." She nodded around the room.

I was so happy to see her. I hadn't realized how much I had missed her sweet smile and the texture of her voice was just so soothing. I urged her to sit and I snuggled in next to her, taking her hand in mine.

"Gran, I am so happy you came by. I've missed you horribly. I had almost forgotten how beautiful you are." I said as I kissed her wrinkled cheek.

"Oh, you just hush that nonsense, honey. Now, tell me about this new job. How is everything going?"

"I am just tickled pink with it Gran. Everyone I work with is great. I have made some wonderful new friends." I said trying to hide the blush that rose in my cheeks as I thought of one new friend in particular.

"That's right. So tell me about this man of yours. When do I get to meet him?" She said giving me a wink and a wiggle of her brows.

"Well he is not my man, exactly." I started. We just have unbelievable make-out sessions on his couch. I added in my head. "Truth is Gran, I really like…" A knock on the door interrupted me.

Crap!

I had momentarily forgotten about my company, and scrambled to the door. It was him, of course.

"Oh,my!" I heard Gran gasp as she took in the towering man coming through my door.

I smiled brightly between the two of them, only slightly embarrassed at this point. "Gran, this is Eric. Eric this is my Gran, Adele Stackhouse." I did remember my manners at least.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Stackhouse." Eric said in a cool, smooth voice.

What? Was he trying to seduce my Gran? Or did he just sound like that to me?

"Honey, the pleasure is all mine." Gran said before she turned to me. "Sweetie, when you told me he was handsome, I didn't know you meant he was a hunk!"

I felt the blush rise in my cheeks and spoke quickly. "Gran!" She just winked knowingly at me.

There was another knock at the door, signaling my other guests, and my apartment suddenly felt even smaller than what it was.

Amelia and Trey came in and the noise level had gotten near disturbing. Everyone went around the room with introductions and hand shakes and a few hugs in there too. Eric had found his way next to me and squeezed my hand encouragingly. I excused myself, after my pleasantries, to tend to my gumbo. The quiet was peaceful.

I felt exhausted from the day already, and it was only half-way over. I heard someone come in behind me as I turned the burner off, and felt a warm arm wrap securely around my waist. My head fell back against the broad chest reflexively. What it was about that simple gesture that was so relaxing, I didn't know. But I felt all the tension leave my body and relished in the warmth of his.

"I am in love with your Gran." He whispered low in my ear.

"Oh, so you like older women?" I snickered, and turned within his arms.

He smiled brightly down at me. Apparently we were both over the awkwardness from this mornings… well, whatever it was. I smiled right back, locked in his beautiful blues. Eric lowered his mouth to mine in a delicate kiss and I heard someone clear their throat from the doorway.

"Get a room, you two." I heard Gran say and I hurried out of his arms. Her fluttering laugh filled the room and Eric joined in just as his hand placed itself securely on the small of my back.

"It's ready everyone." I hollered in an unsteady voice.

Having Gran in the same room alone with Eric and me, knowing what happened this morning, made me a tad uncomfortable.

Everyone came in and I served heaping bowls of gumbo all around. I took the seat in between Eric and Amelia. Gran had secured her seat in the one next to Eric. She continued to shoot approving glances between us throughout the meal, which made me feel a bit more comfortable knowing that she approved of him.

The conversation between everyone moved fluidly and the room filling rumbles of 'mmms' and 'aahs' let me know that they were all in approval of my cooking. Trey shot me glances and mumbled incoherent noises of his approval. I was pretty sure that anytime I made gumbo I would have to fix some special for Trey. Only one thing could make the room silent and that was Gran.

"Tell me Eric, are you a good man?" She said and the room fell silent. My head fell into my palms as I tried to escape what was happening.

Aren't they normally supposed to wait for me to leave the room, to start giving him the third degree?

"Well," I heard Eric start as his hand placed itself gently on top of my knee, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I'd like to think I am." He said calmly. "But," He continued, and I looked up to him then as he caught my eyes. "I would, however, be lying if I said I have always been so." He finished.

I felt his eyes piercing mine and the warning he was giving me was clear in his expression.

"That you are able to admit that, honey," Gran started and gave me a loving look. "Speaks miles." She finished simply.

Both Gran and Eric were telling me something, all I had to do was listen. Whether I could or not was a whole other issue.

Eric was telling me he had about as much clue as I did how to handle whatever it was between us. Gran was telling me to let go of my prejudices and give him a shot.

I wanted to. Boy, did I want to. But I didn't know how. I hadn't the slightest clue how to trust him, or where to even start. I figured there was only one way to find out how.

I slipped my hand down and wrapped it around his, which was still resting on my knee, and turned my head slightly to give him a gentle smile. Eric's fingers gently squeezed mine in return. I took this as a promise that we were both agreeing to try to give this . . . whatever we had, a shot. The agreement was silent, but I could feel the emotions coming off of him in waves. They seemed to correspond to my own. Anxiety, excitement, happiness. A bundle of conflicting emotions, but mostly, I found it comforting.

Everyone finished the meal in joyful, easy conversation. I cleared the bowls off the table and pulled out the homemade banana pudding I had made for dessert. After scooping a bowl (well two bowls for Trey) for everyone but myself, I loaded up the dishwasher and cranked it to start. The dinner was winding down and Amelia and Trey were getting ready to head out.

"You will call me soon?" Amelia asked although it was more of a demand, I knew she wanted details. I just wasn't ready to divulge all that information yet. I gave her a simple nod and wrapped my arms around her neck, thanking them both for coming. Trey confirmed my theory by making me promise to give him a call next time I made gumbo, or pudding for that matter.

I closed the door behind them, but that left me alone with Gran and Eric, which was not at all relaxing. I just wanted to hide in my room and take a nap from the tiring day. I pushed my way off the door that I had slumped against and made my way to the seat on the couch that Eric was patting.

I sat a little harder than I intended to and Eric's weight shifted against my own. He quickly righted himself and settled his arm on the couch behind me. Without even realizing it, I had nestled the back of my head into the crook of his shoulder.

"You two look cozy." Gran said with a wink. "Do you want me to give you some privacy?"

Why she insisted on teasing me, was beyond me. My eyes narrowed defiantly at her and I put a little more distance between Eric and myself.

"Eric?" Gran said making sure she had his full attention. "Are your intentions for my granddaughter admirable?" She finished.

Why, oh why, my Gran insisted on doing this in front of me, was not something I knew the answer to. One thing for sure, I was really uncomfortable now. That is, until Eric spoke.

"Well Ms. Stackhouse, knowing your granddaughter here, like I am getting to, I don't think that she would let me around her if she didn't think they were." He winked in my direction before speaking again. "If she doubted it, even for a second, I believe she would rip me a new one."

I laughed hysterically, with Gran and Eric joined me quickly. I had forgotten to tell Gran about my kung-fu session on Eric's ass, so I had to retell that story. Gran tried real hard to hide her fit of giggles, but she was very unsuccessful. I read the embarrassment on Eric's face and held his hand tightly to mine.

When Jason knocked on the door, I nearly jumped out of my skin. That boy couldn't do anything quietly.

"Hey Sook." He said as he stepped passed me. Making himself at home, as always. He stopped mid-stride and I turned to see why.

Eric stood towering, at least a head over him, with a menacing look on his face. I realized that I had not made an introduction.

"Jason, this is Eric my…friend." Well hell I didn't know what to call him. "Eric, this is Jason my brother." Eric's face relaxed and they shook. Though I swear they were having some sort of silent 'Who is manlier?' battle. I just shook my head between the two of them and looked at Gran.

"Men." I mouthed quietly.

"Gran, you ready?" Jason said once the macho BS was finished.

Gran started to get up, but Eric leapt to her side, assisting her. I had one of those moments, where you're just speechless. It was just so sweet. I had a mental 'Awe' moment. That is until Gran changed it to something else entirely.

I saw Eric jump, startled, and Gran's fingers removed themselves from his right butt cheek.

"GRAN!" I squealed. She just winked and gave me a thumbs up, before pulling me into a hug.

I wrapped her up as tight as I could, not really wanting to let her go. "Give him a fair chance, Sookie. He is a good man." She whispered in my ear. I nodded my assent against her wavy, silver hair pressed against my cheek.

After a round of 'Goodbye's' and 'I love you's' my apartment was quiet again. Only Eric and I remained.

He sat on the couch, with his back against the arm and one leg propped on the cushions, and held a hand to me for me to come. I took it and he sat me gently between his legs and pulled me into him with my back against his chest.

"Long day, huh?" he whispered in my ear as his fingers gently played through my hair. I nodded and relaxed against him completely. "Your family is nice, Sookie. You are very lucky." His voice sounded solemn.

"Where is your family, Eric?" I asked quietly as my fingers rubbed gentle circles around his knee. I felt his take a deep breath, but his fingers kept playing delicately with my loose hair.

"Pam is all the family I have left and I am all of hers." He stated matter-of-factly.

I couldn't help but to be saddened. I spun to face him, leaning on my elbows across his chest. "I'm so sorry, Eric." I said and attached myself to his neck in a tight hug.

"It is ok, Sookie. Our family was not close, as yours is. I loved them and I miss them, but I am ok with everything." He finished as his fingers continued running down the back of my scalp and through the length of my hair. It felt like he was consoling me.

My less than lady-like position, lying atop Eric on my couch, finally dawned on me and I lifted me head. I placed a gentle kiss on his jaw and returned to my original position with my back to him.

The silence between us was peaceful and his gently fingers on my scalp caused my eyes to close at the sensation.

Although, I wouldn't have thought it possible, I fell asleep, in between Eric's legs on my tiny couch.

A/N: Don't forget to push the little green button and let me know your thoughts. I promise lemons to come, soon.

I'll have my FYI's back next chapter. I wanted to get this one up for you guys since it has been a few days since my last update.

MUAW!