A/N: Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed or added my story as an alert or favorite. The support is fantastic and I hope I'm meeting your expectations.

I apologize for not replying to your reviews, but I thought another chapter would be as good a thank you as a personal message. You're all wonderful.

Credit to Charlaine Harris for creating our characters... no infringement intended.

Chapter 23 – SPOV

The look on Eric's face when he opened his first private gift was classic. I loved that I had been able to surprise him with the body paint… I would have plenty of fun licking it off at some point… chocolate coated Eric… yum.

I almost cried again as he clasped the locket around my neck. I had always wanted one when I was younger to keep pictures of my loved ones close to my heart, and now I had one, with the person I loved most in the world hidden inside. It was a beautiful silver oval with a tiny heart and filigree swirls embossed onto the front, the picture he included was one of the ones we had taken together under the tree.

I passed him his other private gift, I was nervous about this one. I hoped he liked it and didn't feel pressured by it at all. However he flipped my wrist over and showed me the engraving on the star. I did cry this time as I read the words on the pendant, it was exactly the right thing for him to say and it meant so much that he was associating something he loved outside of our relationship so closely with me.

I hugged him tightly as I got myself under control. He was just too sweet for words and he didn't lose anything by being so. I loved him more now than I had before; although he was always sweet he hadn't had any opportunity to show it. Now that he did he didn't back down and had given me a gift that would last forever. I made a mental note to get him to show me my star as soon as he could and pulled away to let him open his gift.

He looked at his ring with a shocked happiness, a big goofy grin spread across his face and I think his eyes might have even teared up a little as he read the inscription on the inside. I meant every word, forever would never be long enough to show this man how much he means to me.

I pulled the ring from its box and slipped it onto his right hand, explaining the reason I was putting it on that hand. I wanted to be his wife, but more than that, I wanted him to know that he had changed me and he would always be a part of me no matter what might or might not happen in the future.

"I love it angel" he whispered, pulling me in for another hug "Thank you" he whispered into my mouth, kissing me and flooding me with so much emotion that my heart hurt and I never wanted to let him stop. "I have something else for you too" he said softly as he pulled away, sweat had broken out on his brow and he looked a little worried.

"You're spoiling me Eric" I laughed "I'm not used to all these presents! Someone told me once I was bad at receiving gifts… how do you think I've done so far?" I asked as he moved off the bed to his suitcase, digging around for something.

"I'll let you know after I give you this last one" he chuckled "but so far, B plus Sookie, very nice gift acceptance, even if your smile was a tiny bit forced I was probably the only one that noticed you felt guilty"

"Only a B plus! Oh that's not good… can I do some extra credit?" I asked with a laugh, all sorts of naughty things running through my head.

"As I said…" he smiled as he came back to the bed, another small box in his hand "We will discuss your final grade after you open your last gift" he murmured against my ear as he pressed the small box into my hand and kissed my neck, making me shiver all over.

I opened the little box and gasped in delight "Awww Eric it's so cute!" I cooed, pulling out a silver heart shaped pill box that was decorated with flowers and a tiny little butterfly "It's beautiful, I love it" I said smiling up into his eyes "thank you"

He gently pulled the box way and looked down at it "The real gift is inside" he said softly, turning the tiny heart over and over in his hands, his long sensitive fingers brushing against the engraving and tracing the heart shape slowly as he raised his eyes again to meet mine.

"I found this before I met you in person. I knew it was yours from the moment it caught my eye and I bought it then and there" he smiled "You captivate me Sookie… you're my first thought in the morning and my last thought before I go to sleep… you make everything beautiful and I love that about you."

I could feel my face heating up and turning red. I was embarrassed, but flattered, he was being so serious and sweet and I could see in his eyes that he meant every single word… what was he doing? What was in the box?

"You are so strong, but so fragile at the same time that I want to wrap you up in my arms and never let you go, but I know you'd kick me in the shins, so I won't do that" he laughed softly as I confirmed his theory with a firm nod of my head.

"I became a better person when I met you, you make me crazy and you make me laugh," he said with a smile "you know what I want sometimes before I even do and you're never afraid to look like a fool to make someone happy… I would be honored if you would let me spend the rest of my life making you happy and showing you just how much I love you" He said, staring into my eyes and taking my hand in one of his.

He flipped open the little box with the thumb of his other hand and turned it to face me. Nestled inside on a bed of blue silk was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. I gasped in shock as I took it in and tears sprang to my eyes when I returned my gaze to his beloved face… was this really happening?

"Sookie Elizabeth Stackhouse, I promise to love you for the rest of forever… Will you please marry me?" he asked, placing the box on the bed, removing the ring and placing it on the tip of my ring finger.

I gasped again, tears flooding my eyes and I couldn't see anything, I blinked them away and felt them roll down my face as I watched him looking at me with hope and love in his eyes as he waited for me to answer.

"Yes, Eric." I cried throwing my arms around his neck "Of course yes". I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him as hard and as passionately as I could, I loved this man to distraction and he had just made my favorite holiday better than it had ever been. "I love you so much" I whispered "thank you"

"Oh Sookie…" he sighed against my hair, still holding me tightly "Thank you." He kissed me again then pulled back and slipped the beautiful ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, the opals flaring with hidden fire, the little diamonds twinkling with light and the pearls glowing with a radiance I could relate to. If he had asked me what I wanted for an engagement ring I wouldn't have been able to think of anything more perfect.

"You have no idea how nervous I was!" he said with a grin and a sigh of relief. He picked up the little heart shaped box and put it on his bedside table. He stretched out on his side of the bed and pulled me down against him "You have made me so happy Sookie" he said, kissing my hair as I twisted my hand from side to side watching the light glint off my ring.

"Ditto" I sighed "I can't believe you picked this out for me… it's perfect… just like you" I laughed kissing his chest as I moved up his body to look at his face and maybe get in some more kissing.

"Like I said… I saw it and I knew it was yours" he smiled, running a hand through my hair. "Do you remember when you first spoke to Pam? We were out at the antique stores and she stole my phone…"

"Uh huh" I said nodding, Pam had scared me shitless at the time, now I loved her like a sister, she was so funny! I needed help making sure Jason didn't get a swelled head and I knew she was just the girl for the job.

"I was buying it then" he said "She stole the phone out of my hand as I was trying to organize payment"

"Really?" I asked in surprise "You've had it that long? But… but that was ages ago!" I laughed "How long had you been in love with me?" I asked, remembering that it was the day after we had said I love you for the first time.

"I think it was when I realized that you had become the best part of my day," he said as he thought about it "a few weeks before we spoke on the phone for the first time, I realized that if I didn't talk to you I felt like something was missing or wrong. Fairygirl called me a snob and stole my heart when I wasn't paying attention" he laughed again kissing my nose.

"Fairies are tricky little suckers" I laughed "that's when it started for me too, before we spoke on the phone, but hearing your voice cemented it." I admitted "Your voice is like silk and it made me break out in goosebumps"

"Ditto" he said huskily "I lied back then when I said I was falling for you" he growled, running his hands up and down my body, his voice driving me mad and making me want to jump him "I was already done for."

"Eric" I moaned and kissed him hard, climbing on top of him and wrapping my hands into his hair.

I felt his hands moving under my shirt and his fingers caressed my skin, making me shiver and squirm against the hardness that was apparent beneath me. He sat us up so I was resting back on his thighs as he lifted my shirt up, making me release his lips with a pained groan.

"Oh God, Sookie." he moaned as he slipped my shirt off and claimed my lips again, crushing me to his chest, clawing his fingers against my back, trying to press us closer together even though it was impossible.

I pulled and scratched at his shirt working it up his back; I needed to feel more of him against me. He was my everything and I needed him more than air. "Eric, jag vill ha dig så mycket, älska med mig? (I want you so much, make love to me?)" I gasped as his lips found my neck and his hand palmed my breast.

"Fuck, Sookie" he groaned, his breath hot against my skin, his lips grazing my jaw "I'd love to, but what if someone hears us?" he asked as he sucked and nibbled on my earlobe

"I don't care" I panted, fumbling with the waistband of his pants "I need you"

"I don't have any protection" he said hotly, pulling away and muttering in Swedish under his breath, I knew he was swearing even if I couldn't hear the words.

"I do" I whispered, pushing him back against the bed and leaping across to my bedside drawers "I bought them after the last time you stayed over"

"I knew you were smart" he growled, taking the foil packet out of my hand and kissing me again, pushing his body hard against my own and moaning as my hands found his hardness and caressed it as my feet pushed his pants down his legs.

"Let me" I gasped as he brushed my hands away replacing them with his own as he rolled the condom down onto himself.

"Ahh Sookie" he moaned softly, guiding my hands back to his velvety shaft and grasped at my hips as he quickly removed my pants and underwear.

"You're toast" I growled as I smoothed the condom down over his hard pulsing heat.

"Bring it on" he whispered, pressing his body flush with mine and groaning as he dipped a finger inside my slit and brushed against my clit.

"You can bet on it" I whispered back, raking my nails down his back and grasping at the firm muscles of his ass as he ground himself against my heat.

My lips never left his and my hands roamed frantically as he worked me toward a release, my body thrilled in bliss with each flick of his thumb against my clit and I could barely contain a groan as he slipped one then another inside me.

"So hot for me love" he moaned, lowering his mouth to my breast and sucked a hardened nipple between his lips and flicked it rapidly with his tongue.

"Eric" I gasped arching into his mouth and grabbing at his hand "I can't take any more, I need you" I panted, shoving against his chest "Please…"

Eric groaned and let me push him onto his back, his hands going to my hips as I rose to straddle him. "Ride me" he growled, gripping my hips and pulling my heat against his hardness and grinding into me.

"Yesss" I hissed as I collapsed against his chest and claimed his mouth again, our tongues twisting together as we devoured each other, it was hot and messy and fantastic. I reached between us and wrapped my hand around his cock, groaning as I felt him pulse in my hand, his back arching off the bed as I placed the head at the entrance at my core.

I eased back against my hand and the head of his cock, groaning in ecstasy as I felt myself stretching around him, sliding over him, taking him in "My God, Eric" I sighed

"You feel so good Sookie" he moaned, his voice thick with lust and want "so fucking good" he growled as I pushed myself up from his chest, taking him deeper inside of me and throwing my head back at the feeling of completion I had as I finally sat up straight, our pelvises meeting, Eric sheathed inside me, his hips twitching up against me as I stilled for a second.

"Eric, Jag älskar dig" I sighed, reaching a hand up to caress his face, my thumb brushing over his lips, my eyes locking with his, my other hand bracing against his chest as I started to move against him.

"Jag älskar dig, min vackra gudinna…" he whispered, his hand moving to cup my cheek. I turned my face into his palm, kissing and licking it, my eyes closing in bliss as I started moving in earnest.

"I want you so much" I panted, writhing in my need for release and rocking my hips to get more friction as I moved up and down his shaft.

"Please Sookie" he gasped "I need more of you, can we change places?"

"Fuck yeah" I growled "which way do you want me?"

"On your back" he panted "I want to see your face when you come"

"Mmmm" I groaned, unable to stop myself from sliding up and thrusting myself down hard a few times before I managed to talk myself into moving off him and collapsing onto the bed. "Hurry" I sighed, my hands reaching for him as he rose up and settled between my legs.

"Yes love" he murmured kissing me again as he slid back into me, both of us gasping at being joined again, it had only been seconds, but I missed him filling me.

He started moving slowly, kissing me, touching me, whispering in my ear, pulling me down harder against him as he thrust deeply into me. I moved my legs up, my knees against his ribs, taking him deeper. My hands gripped at his ass pulling him harder against me, I couldn't get enough of him.

"I'm not going to last much longer love" he panted "I've wanted this for so long, and you're so fucking beautiful"

"I'm close baby" I gasped "Fuck me…. Hard"

"Fuck Sookie" he growled, pounding into me, panting, grinding and writhing against each other we worked together toward our release. He felt so good; I never wanted it to end. His hand moved to my leg, pulling it up and propping it up against his shoulder.

"Ohhh God… Eric." I groaned "Yes… that feels so fucking good" I whimpered as he thrust faster and harder into me

"Ohhh Sookie" he moaned, pulling my other leg up, bending over to kiss me again "Come with me lover"

"Are you ready?" I panted, begging, holding his face in my hands and staring into his eyes.

He reached between us and rubbed at my clit as he moved faster and faster "I'm close baby" he moaned "come with me?"

"Yes" I whispered, feeling the golden glow of my orgasm starting to pool in my centre "Now Eric…now….Oh Eric… Eric…Eric!" I gasped as the gates broke open and filled me with a flood of pure ecstasy, my body arching into his, spasming in pleasure, my eyes locking on his and widening, tearing up in awe at the rapture and love on his face as he came hard, shuddering into me and whispering my name like a prayer.

"I love you" I sighed as he moved my legs back down and collapsed against me. I loved the weight of his body on mine and ran my fingers through his tousled hair and down over his back as he nuzzled into my neck.

"I love you" he replied, panting a little, propping himself up on an elbow and caressing my face while kissing me softly "You were amazing." He whispered, rolling onto his back and pulling me against his side.

"You were pretty awesome yourself" I chuckled as I snuggled into his body, throwing one leg over his thighs and brushing my fingers over his chest.

"Thank you Sookie" he said softly, lovingly. "For loving me, for saying yes… for everything."

"Anything for you Eric" I sighed, kissing him again before grabbing the tissues and gently cleaning him up. He tenderly returned the favor, taking his time in doing something so personal for me after the most intimate of acts. I took all the tissues and hid them in the scraps of wrapping paper when we were both clean. I reminded myself to empty it in the morning before Gran had a chance to do it.

"You've made me so happy" he said softly as I came back to bed. He slowly kissed and caressed me again, seemingly unable to get his fill of me. His fingers brushing over my ribs made me giggle, which in turn made him smile. He held me tight and kissed me tenderly as we just relaxed the contented glow of each other.

"So… What's my grade now?" I asked after a while, poking him in the chest and grinning at him.

He laughed, rolling off the bed and moved quickly around the room to grab our clothes. It was starting to get chilly so I pulled on my pants and top quickly and we fixed the covers before sliding back into bed.

"You said you would marry me…" he whispered sounding a little awed "I still can't believe you said yes… how in heavens name did I manage to get so lucky?" he asked kissing me softly and spooning against my side.

"I don't know, but we must have the same guardian angel I think" I said smiling "Now… what's my grade?"

"A plus to the power of infinity" he chuckled "Demanding little fairy"

"Snobby Viking" I teased, making him laugh again as I turned onto my side and shuffled back against his chest so we could spoon properly.

He wrapped me in his arms and curled his body around mine. I felt so tiny and safe in his arms, it was my own personal heaven… "Thank you for loving me" I whispered

"Always" he promised kissing my hair "thank you for loving me back"

"Always" I replied, moving his hand to my mouth and kissing it softly.

"Get your own lines" he teased with a smile, huffing out a breath as I elbowed him in the ribs.

We fell asleep soon afterward; our legs tangled together, a smile on my face and a beautiful ring on my finger.

P.S: I was going to be evil and have Sookie fall asleep before he found the ring, or have him find that he had left it back in Cali, but they didn't want to hear of it. It seems Sookie and Eric are just as eager to get married as we are to have them that way! I wonder if anyone actually heard anything... and what's going to happen in the morning! ZOMG!