AN: Thank you all SO much for your reviews! I am so glad that you are enjoying my twist. I've added my attempt at an avatar (anyone NOT enjoying the size of that thing?!).
Some citrus is ahead :).

Here we go!

SPOV

I slowly followed Godric out of the small bedroom, and realized I was in what seemed to be a basement suite in a kind of underground bunker. The door lead out to an open concept space, with a very rustic feel. Most of the furniture was a distressed wood, seeming to have been made my hand centuries ago. We walked into the open living room space, complete with a large grey sectional, coffee table, and "nest" chair. The space was divided by the long side of the couch, which faced the large expanse of a kitchen. It had a very country-home feel to it, surprisingly. The back wall had wood panelling, the kitchen table was a warm caramel, and the chairs were a cream wood. The kitchen table was bar height, facing a kitchen bar and impressive cooking area (pic below). I realized as Godric walked ahead of me, and grabbed at a handle I hadn't noticed, that the wall of wood panelling was actually the fridge! I was shocked. Definitely not what I would expect a bunker of any sort to look like, but the kitchen itself looked like something out of my dreams. Gran's too.

Godric pulled out a blood and went about warming it, and then sat down at the table, cupping it like it was warm tea. He looked at me expectantly and asked "would you care for something? Tea perhaps?"

I snickered, not telepathic my butt mister! I shook my head, still trying to get my bearings. "I'm quite alright, but some kind of snack would be great, if possible?" I figured it was a farfetched request, but Godric simply nodded to the fridge and encouraged me to help myself.

I walked over slowly, and opened it to find an abundance of pre-cut fruit, veggies, salads, sandwiches, and even a wrapped dish that looked something like lasagna. I grabbed a few of the pre-packaged healthy snacks, and a bottle of water, and sat down across from Godric. I found myself sighing, hanging my head briefly, and digging in. I went back for a sandwich as we sat in comfortable silence.

"Should you like to explore, you will find the suite is rather large" my eyebrows raised "Eric repurposed this space underneath what used to be a library. They were fond of their underground storage, but unfortunately lost it in escrow. Naturally my protégé capitalized" I muttered an "of course" under my breath, and Godric's eyes sung with mirth. "That being said, there is a large library down the hall, the last door on the left. You'll find the first two are our day chambers. There is also a sauna, movie theatre, and small gym that you are welcome to explore."

I nodded and my mind drifted to the library. My brain had enough information to be going through, I didn't think trashy romance would help. But perhaps I'd relax in the movie theatre, or sauna… wait.

"You sure sound like you're planning to stay here a while" I met his eyes, my question implied.

He smirked again in response and looked like he held back a sigh. "Little One, you have been asleep for almost 30 hours. When you are ready, we should discuss your next steps. I believe that you and Eric should speak first though." My jaw dropped hearing I had been asleep for so long, but I suppose that would have to do with the energy it took for me to get back, additional stress had truly tapped me right out. As if on cue, Eric appeared from the door to the left of the table, where Godric said lead to the rest of the suite. He was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed casually, with something indescribable in his eyes. He walked casually over to the fridge, threw a bag in the microwave, and then poured it into a wine glass. As he walked towards the door again, he turned towards me.

"I would greatly appreciate an audience with you, if you would allow it Sookie"

I nodded, and after putting away the garbage from my food, I followed him down the hall. There were four doors on each side, and Eric mentioned that the last two Godric hadn't mentioned were a bathroom (thank goodness) and his office. I excused myself to use the facilities, and Eric went into his office to wait.

I relieved myself, and took a look in the mirror. My reflection shocked me. Matted hair, tired eyes, and a baggy Fangtasia t-shirt that hung to my knees. I looked like something out of a horror film, the one who decides to split from the group. I washed my face, and opened the storage under the sink to find a neatly organized bin with all kinds of human things. I borrowed the brush, and one of the new toothbrushes, and finally returned to the door across the hall that was Eric's office. I paused with my hand on the handle, took a deep breath, and pushed my way in.

Another shock in terms of the décor, but it was so suiting to my tastes I was impressed. It was if the interior designer had made the underground suite feel like a cabin instead of a dungeon. His office had a large desk in the back of the room, with a high winged chair seated behind, the left wall had the same solid wood as the rest of the interior, with a large painting of a sunset mounted. I walked into the room to the small sitting area that faced a gas fireplace, where Eric had sat down with his elbows on his knees.

I sat down on the same couch as him, and turned my body to face him. He seemed to snap out of the down time he had fallen into, and he met my gaze. His eyes were full of emotion that I could not pinpoint … hope? Happiness? No this is the Viking we're talking about.

"It is so good to see you" he began, leaning back on the couch, and throwing his arm over the back in a very casual pose. His fingers landed just inches away from my shoulder, and he brushed it with a small caress.

"I can't believe I've been gone for that long. It seemed like just a few months" I replied, unconsciously leaning further into his fingers. His hand opened and came to cup the side of my neck just under my ear. I felt my eyes close and a content sigh release.

"It has been nine hundred and eighty four days since I last saw you" he said on a hushed whisper. I half heard him, my body seemed to be humming with the small physical connection we currently had. I opened my eyes, a part of me believing it was only his vampire-ness that allowed him to track those days so accurately. What I found in his gaze looked akin to pain. I scouted closer to him, so that my knee that was resting folded on the couch was now almost on top of his own, as we leaned towards each other. Our arms were both laying on top of the back of the couch, and my left arm came across to ghost over his furrowed brows, his gaze drifted down and his eyes closed.

"Is that your way of saying you missed me? What no other blood bags around to keep you occupied?" I half-heartedly threw the joke out, not expecting the flinch I saw. I felt my own brows scrunch together. "Eric? What aren't you telling me?"

He raised his eyes to mine, and began "Ever since I have had your blood I have had a stronger connection to you than what is expected. I should only be able to feel that you are alive, and your location" I nodded, vaguely remembering the conversation Niall had when I had first arrived in Faery. "But ever since that night … that kiss" his eyes show the heat he feels at the mention of that memory "I have had what is similar to a blood bond with you. Actually, stranger than that. A blood bond would allow me to feel your emotions, push them to you, and even influence them." I kept his gaze, waiting for him to continue. His hands reach out to cup my face as he stares at me intently.

"I don't understand how, but we have something else entirely… When you were attacked, and kidnapped, I felt every pain you endured as if it were my own" he brushes the stray hair that had fallen into my face, and I gasp. I pull back, as his hands fall into his lap. My heart rate increases as I begin to recall the hell my body endured in those said 984 days. I pull my leg off the couch, and find myself fiddling with my hands in my lap, staring straight ahead as I ask "and when I was in Faery?"

I'm afraid to know the answer. If he felt the torture Nevil put me through, he'll know how broken I am. He'll know that I will never be the same. He won't want me anymore.

He reaches out to turn my chin towards him, concern laced in his touch and gaze. "I felt as if I had been stretched past the means of my body. I could tell you were alive, but you seemed to be so far away, it was like I was being slowly torn in two."

"EVERY day?" I asked, and he nods. "Did …. D-did you feel anything else during that time?" my eyes drop to the floor, as his hand is still under my chin. I brace myself for the answer.

"No. The discomfort was so extreme Godric considered calling a witch. Pam thought I had truly gone insane. But the moment you came back into this realm, I felt it. It woke me from my day rest. It took everything in me not to come to you right that second"

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Sookie. What else happened in Faery? Who is Nevil?" My eyes shot out to his as he says the name and my veins fill with terror.

"H-H-how do you know that name" I ask, my body starts trembling.

"You mentioned it last night during your panic attack. You were afraid Doctor Ludwig was going to take you back to him" his hands have dropped again. One rests on my knee, the other on the couch just behind where I am seated. My eyes glaze over. I can't relive that. I can't. I realize that Eric won't drop it though, so I know I have to give him something. I steel myself and I reply,

"That is the name of my great-grandfather's henchmen…..he gives out the harsher punishments to those who disobey" I answer robotically. Eric growls.

"Did he touch you? Did he HURT you?" His voice has started rising. I'm still trembling, and I have begun shaking. I can feel the tears coming, and I try to hold them back. But as one falls, the rest follow, and I find the waterfall cascading down my face. I throw my face in my hands, not wanting to let this sexy Viking see the mess that I really am. Before I can register the movement, Eric has grabbed me, and settled me across his lap. My face still tucked in my hands, now rests against his shoulder, my legs across his lap. He holds me close to him, rubbing my back, as I let out some of the pain. After a few minutes, I come back to myself, and register the embarrassment running through my veins. Some time during my brief episode Eric started humming softly, and doesn't seem the least bit uncomfortable. Not wanting to analyze it any more than I have to, I simply take my head out of my hands, and wrap my arms around his neck.

"They will never hurt you again, minn ljos, I promise" he whispers into my hear, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. I pull back slightly, and meet his gaze. His hands come back to my face again, as he wipes the remains of my tears. I rest my forehead against his, the physical contact we've maintained makes me feel so safe. I briefly remember feeling that way when I went to his office all those years ago. He has always made me feel safe. Maybe he really can protect me. A part of me bristles at the fact that I need ANYONE to protect me, I am a strong southern woman, thank you. But the rational part of me realizes, I have been through hell, I have lived to tell it, but coming back to myself is going to take help. Between Eric and Godric I feel that they may be just the help I need. With resolve in my mind, I whisper my thanks to Eric. His stormy gaze now holds the same emotion I thought I saw when he entered the kitchen: hope.

I find my hand brushing his hair back from his forehead, as I softly lower my lips to his. I didn't rush it. I didn't add anything more to it. It was almost a further expression of my thanks. But as our lips met, I felt this emotion explode inside of me. Warmth. Joy. Happiness. Our lips melded together as we both just enjoyed the moment, learning each other's mouths, our tastes, our likes. It was like what my first kiss should have been like. No rush. No hurry. A heap load of lust, but no pressure to do anything but make out like teenagers. I grasped his bottom lip between mine, and softly ran my tongue across it and I hear him let out a small strangled moan. I then switched to grasp his top lip and gave it the same loving treatment. Some time in our make out I realize that Eric had dipped me over his arm, and I was now in a very romantic-like pose. Similar to the famous statue of the sailor coming home, only seated. Upon my second daring move of licking his top lip I finally heard the sound of his fangs, and he pulled back fractionally. His nose grazes mine, and he actually sighed. My eyes open lazily, as one of my hands is still tangled in his hair, the other is spanned out across his shoulder and sexy back. We both seem to come back to ourselves in that moment, and we exchange small smiles.

Neither of us seem to need to talk further. There is still much to be said, but we seem to come to some kind of unspoken agreement. We'll talk further. Just not now.

Eric straightens my body again, and then stands, setting me on my feet. I straighten my make-shift dress (t-shirt) and blush. He drops another soft kiss on my lips "let's go speak with Godric" it didn't sound like a question, but his eyes implied it was. Who is this vampire?! I nod, and we walk out of his office, hand in hand. A part of me is still confused, and feeling like I shouldn't be trusting another after what I've been through. But as we walk back out into the kitchen, where Godric is still seated, I realize that these two vampires are the best people to help me get back to myself.

Then, all hell will break lose.

Hell hath no fury, like a faery scorned.