The next morning, I woke up well before my already early alarm. I showered quickly and dressed quickly in a comfy pair of jeans and my old softball t-shirt, dabbing on only a little make-up and pulled my hair into a manageable ponytail. I grabbed my purse and keys and headed out to do the groceries, noting Eric had left me a note on the table the night before. I decided to read it when I got back from my errands.
I ran to Wal-Mart and bought a bunch of supplies for the weekend, including a couple toys and movies that Hunter would enjoy before heading back to Bon Temps to do the groceries. I reminded myself to grab a couple cases of True Blood, as my nightly vampire visitors were seriously draining my supplies. (Har-dee-har)! When I was sure I had enough food to last until at least Monday, I hurried back home to put everything away. Then I quickly changed into my work uniform and headed for work. The lunch crowd was a little quiet today and I got a good chance to chat with Sam properly for the first time since Tuesday. I updated him on everything. I told him how Eric and I were (to an extent), told him that Amelia was coming for an open-ended visit, that Hunter was spending the weekend, and how Tara was. He'd heard from someone else that she'd had the babies, but that was all he knew and he was really curious. I gave him her room number and he said he'd try and drop by for a visit after the lunch crowd, before the dinner crowd started.
Soon, I was noticing Holly waving at me for the shift switch. I finished up with the order I was taking and refilled Sheriff Bud Dearborn's iced tea before pulling my apron off. I said my goodbyes to Holly and Antoine the cook and went to retrieve my purse from Sam's office. He was busy placing an order of flowers for Tara so I waved goodbye to him and headed home. I had timed it well enough that I should have had just enough time to get home, change and have a quick dinner of my own before Remy was scheduled to drop Hunter off. Just on time, Remy rang the front doorbell just was I was putting my last dish on the drying rack. I opened the door, a huge grin on my face, to have Hunter attach himself to my legs almost instantly.
"Hi Remy! Hi Hunter!" I said with a laugh. I struggled to stay standing as I held the door open for Remy.
"Hi Sookie! Hunter, let go of Aunt Sookie's legs. you're going to hurt her if you keep holding on," Remy instructed. Hunter let go and jumped up and down, mimicking he wanted to give me a kiss. I stooped down and scooped him up, giving him a raspberry kiss on the cheek. Hunter giggled uncontrollably. He gripped my neck as I took his backpack from Remy and got any special instructions. I gave Remy a rough rundown of what I had planned for the weekend, just to be sure he wouldn't disapprove of anything. I figured he wouldn't, but it only seemed polite. We made sure we had each others numbers, Remy promising he'd be at home all weekend but he'd have his cell on and me promising my cell phone would never leave my side. After Remy left, I settled Hunter on the couch with some apple slices while I put his bag in my room. I had just realized I wasn't sure where would be sleeping for the night. I'd have to wait until Amelia got in to discuss where she'd prefer to sleep for the night. About an hour after Hunter got in, my back door crashed open and I heard my name scream through the house. Hunter looked terrified, but I had the biggest smile on my face. I jumped up and ran for the kitchen.
"AMELIA!" I shouted as she dropped her bags and opened her arms. I stepped forward and we hugged each other tightly.
"Aunt Sookie?" I heard Hunter behind me. I let go of Amelia and turned to see Hunter, peeking around the kitchen doorframe. I beckoned him over.
"Hunter, this is my friend Amelia," I told him, allowing Amelia to step around me and wave a little hello at the boy.
"Amelia," I said, turning to her, "this is Hunter, my cousin Hadley's son." Realization was written all over Amelia's face.
"He's like me," I whispered to her before she could think anything incriminating about Hadley. Her eyes widened just a little before she nodded and returned to her old self.
"Well, aren't we the luckiest girls in town, Sookie? Imagine, us being lucky enough to get to hang out with this fine young man," she said, making Hunter's cheeks turn scarlet. I stifled a chuckle. I sent Hunter back into the living room to finish the movie he'd been watching.
"So, my cousin Claude and great-uncle Dermot are moving out tomorrow morning, so for tonight you'll be sleeping in the guest room or the couch. Which would you prefer?" I asked.
"I think I'll take the couch. It'll be easier on Hunter to have the guest room. Besides, it's only one night," she said with a little laugh. Just then Claude and Dermot walked through the back door. I introduced Amelia to Dermot and then the boys headed upstairs to do the little packing they had. I heard Claude greet Hunter as they passed through the living room. I helped Amelia grab her things from the car and we loaded most of the stuff into the guest bedroom downstairs for the night, then we headed back to the living room.
"So," I began, "who wants to go see some babies?" Amelia's face lit up and Hunter looked intrigued. Without asking, Hunter turned off the TV and brought his plate that had contained his apples to the kitchen. He dropped it carefully into the sink and grabbed his sweater off the back of 'his' chair in the kitchen and returned to the living room.
"Are you coming or not?" he asked. Amelia and I giggled and grabbed our purses and sweaters and hopped into my car. Amelia begged me to stop at a store so she could pick out something to give as a gift so I took her to Wal-Mart. She picked out a few little items, and when Hunter begged, I allowed him to pick out a small toy for each of the babies. He picked sensible stuffed animals that would be good for any child at any age. We had to make the visit quick as it was approaching Hunter's bedtime and he seemed to be rubbing his eyes a little more as the night wore on.
I knocked softly on the door and peeked in. Tara was sitting up in bed and the babies were both asleep in a basinet. JB was nowhere to be seen. I snuck over to the basinet with Hunter while Amelia went to say hello to Tara. Hunter peered in the babies faces before tucking his toys next to them. After a small conversation, Amelia peeked in on the babies while Tara told me JB had gone home to shower, change and have a nap. We stuck around only a few more minutes because Hunter's eyes were slowly closing on their own. I gave Tara a big hug and told her to call me if she needed anything.
We drove home and hustled Hunter into the house. I helped him into his pyjamas while Amelia set up his bed in the guest room. After he was tucked in, Amelia and I grabbed a drink each and went to sit on the front porch. The first thing I noticed was a small green box on the porch swing. I sighed a little angrily.
"What?" Amelia asked.
"Eric," was all I said and I knew she understood. I grabbed the box and took a seat on the swing, Amelia sitting next to me. I updated her on Eric and I since she and I had spoken on the phone. She hadn't known about the gifts and while she was impressed, she also took that as a bad sign.
"He's trying to buy your love," she said. I agreed, though I didn't want to believe it. I finally opened the box and saw a pair of tiny tear drop pearl earrings. They looked delicate and expensive. Frustrated, I snapped the box shut.
"Sookie?" I heard from the dark shadows next to the porch. I wasn't startled, I could sense him, but Amelia jumped.
"Yes, Eric?"
"Are you angry with me?" he asked. I could actually feel the pain and fear in his voice.
"Well, yes. These gifts are getting to be a but much. Three in a week Eric? I love them but I don't need them. And I can't be bought. I think I'm going to have to refuse all your gifts Eric," I explained.
"No, please don't. I'll stop, and I'll stay away if that's what you wish. I'm not really needed here anyways." I had barely heard his last sentence because he's muttered it almost under his breath, but the blood bond had amplified my hearing some and I caught what he'd said.
"What?" I shouted. "What do you mean you're not really needed here anyways?" He stepped out from the shadows, not looking directly at me. He inclined his head towards Amelia in a silent greeting before continuing.
"You were never really in danger, my love. I wanted to be near you so I used your protection as a reason. It was stupid of me, but I love you so much, I couldn't bear you to be angry with me and I couldn't stand us not being together," he explained. I fumed and I knew he knew I was pissed.
"Eric, I rescind your invitation into my house. I don't want to see you again until I contact you. I will decline any further gifts from you. If you feel my safety is at risk, send Bubba, Bill, Pam or Maxwell. And stop asking people to spend time with me to have them keep an eye on me. It's uncalled for. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going into the house. Good night!" I said, my voice firm and even, even though I could feel the tears welling in my eyes, threatening to spill over and I could feel my strength wavering quickly. I forced myself not to break in front of him right now. I could feel, through the bond, how hurt and confused he was but I didn't care. I marched towards the house, tapping Amelia on the shoulder as I went.
"Good night, Eric," she said politely before following me into the house. Once the door was closed I collapsed against the door and cried and cried. Amelia sat down beside me and held my hand as long as I needed her. Eventually, the tears slowed and I was able to get up and find Amelia some blankets and pillows for the night. I bid her good night and shut myself into my room. I heard Amelia and Claude talking as I dressed for bed and slid in under the blankets. I curled up into a ball, my face buried in what would have been Eric's pillow, his smell still faintly on it, and cried myself to sleep.