I watched the witches setting the room up. Circles were drawn on the floor with chalk, and a chair for me was placed in one. Bob was bound to his chair in the other. Candles were lit, the lights were dimmed. A very old black man stood between us and began to speak in Latin. I watched his mouth move and wondered what all the words meant. I had forgotten so much of my Latin because I never spoke it. Within a few minutes, my stomach began to flutter as though I were flying or dropping from a great height. I closed my eyes and heard a chorus of witches chanting all around me. My head became very heavy and dropped back involuntarily. The head witch's voice grew louder and my mouth opened. Suddenly I couldn't hear anything but the sound of air rushing by my ears. I felt like I was falling. I tried to hang on to something but my limbs wouldn't work. I was cold and afraid and so alone. I wanted to stop the fall but had no control whatsoever. Suddenly I stopped falling and hit a cool hard surface. My stomach felt normal again and I felt calm and unafraid. I opened my eyes and saw a high ceiling above me. I thought it was moving but then realized that I was simply seeing candlelight dancing on it. I thought of the candlelight on Sookie's face the night before and felt even calmer as though my limbs were loose and free.

But they weren't. I tried to raise my arms but they were held tightly to my sides. I lowered my chin and focused my eyes and saw Bob sitting in front of me with a look of fear on his face. The witch to my side was humming with closed eyes and abruptly stopped, looking from me to Bob and back. Then he turned to Victor and nodded.

Victor spoke. "Miss Stackhouse. Will you join me?"

I turned to see Sookie rise from her seat and approach the front of the room. She stood between Bob and me, first looking at Bob and then to me. The candlelight played on her face and hair and I thought of how I had held her to me the night before. I loved her so much. She smiled and began to unwrap the chains that bound me to my chair. The room erupted in gasps of shock. Sookie unwound the chain on my wrists and watched the flesh mend itself. Then she bent to kiss each wrist. She removed the chain from my ankles and I stood and took her hand in mine. We faced the room and every face was watching us with wide eyes.

"Ladies and gentleman, I believe we have a success." Victor sounded so pleased with himself. "I thank you for your patience. Witches, you have our thanks. And of course, you know where to send the bill." I turned and bowed to Victor and then to the witch who had performed the ritual. Still holding Sookie's hand, I walked down the center aisle towards the exit. Just before we left, I heard Victor casually remark, "Oh, and by the way, this human is no longer protected."

Rasul had our things moved to a vamp-friendly room. I took a quick shower and then Sookie and I silently held each other as we soaked in the bath. I washed every beautiful inch of her and she shyly washed me in return. I could see that it was an adjustment for her and so I let her explore and take her time.

She curled up in bed with me and I felt her warm tears on my chest. I stroked her hair and held her until she was through and then I finally spoke. "Do you feel sad that our human marriage has ended?"

"I guess, a little. It's just been so emotional, this whole thing. But I'm glad you're back in your own body and that it went okay. I was so scared for you." She paused and sat up a little, searching my eyes. "I meant it when I said I'd accept you as you were."

"I know you did." I kissed her fingers one by one. "And I meant every word to you as well. I'm glad he changed his mind and cooperated, but I was ready to accept the consequences had he not."

"I'm glad you didn't have to, sweetie."

"I didn't think of it at the time, but I should have asked you if you wanted me to wait to perform the ritual. We could have held him in custody. You should have had a say in the decision to go ahead with the ceremony. I'm just so used to only thinking of myself. But this obviously affects you as well. Are you sorry that I didn't wait and ask you?"

"No, honey. It was completely your decision. Your body. Your life."

There was a long silence before I continued. "We could have tried to have a child. I could have bought us some more time."

"No, you heard him. He has powerful magic. He wasn't even a little bit afraid and so I know he had a plan to escape. You had to take the opportunity. It would have been too big a risk to wait. That might have given him time to come up with another spell—one that could have left you without a body." She sat up completely and looked into my eyes. "You did the right thing, Eric. I have no regrets."

"Thank you for my three days of sunshine, Sookie. I will never forget them."

"I'm honored that you chose to spend them with me."

"Where else would I be?" She settled back against me and I hugged her to me.

"Bob was very interested in you. I should have picked up on it. I could have warned you. He kept asking me questions and I just didn't put two and two together."

"You had no way of knowing what his plan was."

"I'm a telepath, Eric. I should have known."

"It's okay, lover. Please don't blame yourself."

"I know you're big on revenge, but…is it crazy for me to be upset at the thought of harm coming to him now? "

"No, it's a lot to contemplate. You became attached to his body and feel compelled to protect it now. I can understand that. Plus, you're such a gentle person."

"So, you won't kill him?"

"Lover, I don't need to. Victor just rescinded his order of protection in a room full of vampires who know both his powers and his motives. I seriously doubt if he'll survive past this night."

"Oh."

"Try not to dwell on the sordid parts of our story, my love. Let's just remember how we shared the sun and made love and created joy together from a horrible event."

She squeezed me tighter. "I do love you, Eric."

"And I you."