I DON'T OWN SOUTHERN VAMPIRE MYSTERIES OR ANY RESEMBLANCE THEREOF.
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO MS. HOPE-SPEEDY-GONZALES-STREET FOR BETA-ING THIS CHAPTER IN SUPER SONIC SPEED!
OK, SO TIME FOR SOME FLUFF.
Chapter 24, Fitting
(Sookie POV)
I felt like I was 13. I hadn't been to school in years, and there I was with three outfit choices lined up on the bed like I used to do. I was a nervous wreck! It took me a good half hour to get my clothing options together. It took yet another half hour to get my hair just right, pack my bag with paper and pencils. Hell, I even packed myself an apple and some juice. Not that I was going to be able to curb my nerves long enough to drink anything.
"Sookie, I can feel your nerves from the other room lover," Eric projected.
I couldn't do this. What the hell was I thinking? I was a mess! I pulled at my perfectly coiffed hair in frustration and yanked hard.
"OUCH!" Shit, now my hair was ruined too! I sunk down to the floor, leaning against the bed, a naked, scared, scruffy mess. I put my head between my knees and let my frustration out with tears.
"Sookie?"
"She's not here."
"Sookie, come on. What's with the drama queen act?"
Oh no, he didn't just call me a drama queen!
"Did you just call me a drama queen?"
"Yes. You're acting like a baby."
"Eric Northman, you insensitive, no good…" He was standing in the door frame, smirking. SMIRKING!
"Oh you… you… you ass!" I shot up to my feet.
"How dare you stand there smirking at me, like some self-righteous…" I was cut off. He flew at me, grabbed me around the waist, and as we floated above the bed, slowly spinning in place, I couldn't do anything but hold on to him.
"Better?"
I took a deep sigh, "Yes."
"Now, I'm not going to let you back down until you get a hold of those nerves and take a deep breath."
"So we're just going to stay here spinning over the bed, hovering in space all night?"
"If that's what it takes, yes."
"Fine. You win." I took a breath and let it out.
"Pathetic."
"Oh, you son of a…"
"Deep breaths, Sookie. I mean it."
"Could you at least stop spinning? I'm getting nauseous."
He stopped. Now we were floating above the bed, holding on to each other. Taking in the stillness and the quiet, I took a big deep breath and let it fill my body like steam from a shower I hated to admit that I felt better, but I did. Between the floating and Eric's strong arms around me, nothing was wrong with the world.
"Do you feel better now?"
"Yes, thank you," I mumbled.
"Ok, can I set us down now?"
"Yes."
We passed over the bed and fell slowly back to earth. He kissed my forehead before he let me go.
"I still don't know what to wear."
"I request outfit number three."
Outfit number three was a pair of dark jeans, a white shirt, and a long wool ivory cardigan.
"Why that one?" I asked, scrunching up my nose. I was leaning toward outfit number two.
"I don't want your sinful, curvy legs to be a distraction to the men in outfit number one," (an above the knee jean skirt and a pink button down blouse), "and it would be a shame to threaten your fellow sisters-in-learning with your perfect breasts in outfit number two," (a pair of maroon cords with a brown knit wrap shirt.)
"So," I started somewhat amused, "for the sake of my 'fellow students,' you want me as covered as possible?"
He smiled, knowing I saw right through his cool façade, "In a nut-shell, ya."
"Well, if it's for the good of my fellow students, outfit number three it is."
"Good. Now go fix that hair woman, you look like a banshee!" he said and then bolted out the door.
"You better run, Northman!"
Two hours later I was sitting in a classroom with 19 other students of various ages in a circle about to state my name, why I decided to take the class, and my hope for the future in regards to my writing. Hmmm, hadn't really thought about the last part. I just liked writing my dreams and memories down. What did I want?
"Susannah, is it?" I was cut short from pondering by Matthew, our professor.
"Sookie, actually. I prefer Sookie."
"Ok then Sookie, why don't you tell us about yourself."
"Well, I'm from a small town in Louisiana, I moved here about two years ago after my Grandmother died. I live with my boyfriend, and he encouraged me to take this class because I'm always writing in my journals."
"Wonderful, and any hopes for the future of your writing?"
"I guess… I guess, I don't rightfully know yet."
"Fair enough, thanks. Ok next, Jennifer?" We continued around the room. Most people had such clear hopes and dreams. I felt so lost. Not only that, but everyone had a spiffy laptop with them. By the end of my first class, I felt about two inches tall. I needed waffles!
A half hour later, I was at Merlotte's with a plate of waffles in front of me, pouring on entirely too much syrup.
"So, you gonna tell me about it or drown your sorrows in syrup?"
"First day of classes, Sam. It didn't go so hot."
"I see. And syrup is the answer?"
I smiled at that.
"That's the smile I love. Now, start from the beginning."
I told Sam everything. My nerves, my clueless-ness… my lack of equipment. When I was done, I let out a long dragged sigh and said, "What am I doing, Sam?"
"I think you're trying to figure shit out. You got the love part down, but you need to find something you love doing, kid."
"What do you love doing?"
"Waffles, of course."
"Come on! Be serious."
"Seriously? My father was a short order cook. As soon as I could hold a knife, I was in a kitchen. I worked my fingers off until I had enough money to get this little hole in the wall. That was my dream, and I still love it."
"That's wonderful."
"So, why now? Why writing classes?"
"I started having these really vivid dreams," that was the understatement of the century, "and they wouldn't stop running through my head until I wrote them down. Now I just sort of write everything down. I can't stop. I've been through something like five journals in a couple of months."
"See, now that's wonderful."
"It is? What the hell am I going to do with journals full of dreams and memories?"
"Write a book?"
"Come on, I can't write a book?" Could I?
"What? Why the hell not?"
"You know how long books are? I've never written anything longer than a couple of pages. Plus I'd need a computer or something, and I'm flat broke with paying for these classes."
"First, that's the stupidest thing you've said all day. Of course you could write a book if you wanted to, and second, you can work for me."
Could I really write a book? Was it as easy as just putting my mind to it? Somehow, I didn't think so. "Sam, thanks so much but… wait? Did you just offer me a job?"
"If it means I get to see your pretty face a couple times a week, then hell yes."
"Oh, Sam! Really?"
"Really."
"Thank you so so much!"
"Was that a 'yes'?"
"YES!" I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a good squeeze.
"Alright then. Finish those waffles and then take your dishes to Jose in the back," he winked and walked back to the kitchen. "And Sookie?"
"Ya?"
"I'll see you Monday morning with a smile, right?"
"Yes, boss."
When I returned home, Eric had already left for the club but had left me a note on top of a very familiar black box with a pink bow:
Sookie,
Sorry I'm not there,
I wanted to hear all about your first class.
Here's a little something.
I'm thinking of you, in lots of different ways…
Love,
Eric
Inside was another set of Agent Provocateur lingerie. It wasn't even a color; it was nude, completely nude. Cute little high waisted panties that looked like cut off jeans, and a bustier that barely covered a damn thing. "Lots of different ways, hmmm," I said to myself and smirked. I went to the closet and tried it on… it was seriously cute, and Eric would be on his knees when he saw me in it.
I heard my phone ringing from the other room and ran to get it.
"Hello?" I asked somewhat out of breath when I reached it.
"Did I catch you at a bad time?" Eric purred.
"In fact you did. You interrupted my dress-up time."
"Dress-up?"
"I wanted to try on my new lingerie."
"Sookie," he took a breath, "are you wearing it right now?"
"Mhmm, I certainly am!"
He moaned. "Shit, I wish you hadn't said that! Now all I'll be able to think about is you in next to nothing!"
"Don't forget how lonely I'll be in our big bed all alone," I teased.
"Sookie…" he warned.
"Yes? Did I say something wrong?"
"I'm going to change the topic now before I run over there and ruin a perfect lovely set of panties," he took a deep breath. "How was class?"
"It was… ok, I guess."
"Just ok? What happened?" he asked concerned.
"Nothing bad really, just, I don't think I was ready for it all. Everyone knew what they wanted, and everyone had their cool laptops and were taking notes. I kind of felt like the poor hick in the back."
"That's absurd! You know that, right?"
"Kinda. Anyway, I was feeling so rotten I went to Merlotte's for some waffles. You know, Sam's a really good guy."
"I know it."
"He talked to me through my reservations, told me I was insane, and then offered me a job."
"Did you accept?"
"Of course, I did! I need to get myself a laptop, don't I?"
"Sookie, you didn't have to…" But I cut him off.
"Before you tell me I didn't have to and you would have bought me one, I know, and you know I want to do this for myself."
"You're right. When do you start?"
"Monday morning."
"So that gives me 48 hours to keep you locked up for myself?"
"Eric Northman, just what are your intentions?"
"Oh, I intend to have you begging for me on your hands and knees, Ms. Stackhouse."
A warm tingle swept my body.
"Begging for what?" I asked desperately.
"I'm going to have you so desperate for my cock that you'll be whimpering and clawing at me for it."
Shit!
"Tell me more," I asked, as my hand found its way to my breast.
"Are you touching yourself, my precious little slut?"
"Yes," I said as I pinched my nipple.
"Where, lover? Where are you touching yourself, tell me."
"I'm pinching my nipple for you."
"Mmmm, for me, I like that. Now, lover, take that pretty finger of yours, slip it under those panties, and touch your…"
"Eric!" I heard Pam yell in the background.
We both growled in united frustration.
"Eric! Jesus! There you are! Listen, there's been some kind of mix-up with the DJs… whoever it is, tell them you'll call back."
"I guess, I'll call you back."
"Ok… Love you."
"Love you."
"Oh lord…" I could hear Pam say before Eric hung up.
I put the phone down and made my way to the bedroom. I was seriously worked up and needed some release. I settled myself on the bed and pulled my panties down when the phone rang. I chuckled to myself. I knew Eric couldn't resist finishing our previous 'conversation.'
I ran to the living room and picked up the phone "Hmmm? I knew you couldn't resist, want to know where my hand is now, Mr. Northman?"
"Sookie?" came a surprised and confused voice on the phone, a voice that most certainly was NOT Eric's.
"JB?" I asked completely mortified.
"I'm going to forget everything that just happened, ok?"
"YES!" I practically yelled. "Now that that's out of the way, what's up?"
"How quickly can you get here?"
"Umm, 45 minutes, I guess – why? Is everything ok? Is something wrong with Tara?"
"She's a mess, Sook. I don't even know what to do about it anymore." He was getting worked up, and it worried me, JB was the most laid back guy I knew.
"Just take a breath and tell me what's going on, ok?"
"Ok, well, for the past couple of days…" suddenly in the background I heard Tara wail − like actually wail. She sounded like a wounded dog.
"Shit! JB, what the hell is going on! Doesn't matter; I'll be there as soon as I can." I hung up the phone, ran to the closet, pulled off my new lingerie, and put on some cotton panties and a bra. I grabbed some random jeans and a shirt, slipped on my sneakers and ran out the door, barely remembering my bag.
As I got to the lobby, Barry asked if I was ok. I told him I needed a cab immediately. He ran into the street, whistled, and flagged one down for me. I thanked him earnestly and barked the address at the cab driver. He gave me a hard time. Cabbies hated going into Brooklyn, or Queens, or the Bronx… but the $50 bill (that I was damn lucky to have in my purse) that I threw at him helped change his tune. I made it to their place sooner than I thought possible and ran to the buzzer. I was let in and jumped into the elevator. JB was standing in the hallway, pacing.
"JB! What the hell is going on!"
"Sook, I didn't mean to scare you! Its just…"
"Enough, let me in!"
He let me in, and I called out Tara's name. I heard a wail from the back room and ran to her. When I opened the door, I was shocked. There was Tara sitting on the floor in nothing but a strapless white satin bra and matching panties, hugging a wedding dress that had been attacked with a pair of scissors. Bits of silk and satin were everywhere!
"Tara, honey?" I approached slowly. I had no idea what the hell was going on. "Tara, talk to me, girl. You're scaring me."
"It… it…" she was trying to talk between sobs.
"Come on," I said sitting next to her on the floor, "deep breaths."
She took a shaky breath, then another and another, until the sobs were just a few tears, and she was almost back to normal.
"Now try again. What's wrong?"
"It won't fit anymore."
"What won't? The wedding dress?" She burst into tears again. Oh boy. "Sorry, I won't say it again, ok? Come on, deep breaths again."
She calmed down and gulped down air.
I was getting anxious. I didn't want to, but I had to dip into her head. I was worried. She was having some kind of breakdown. I zeroed in on her thoughts, but she was upset, and all I could catch were random words coursing through her head.
"Baby. Won't fit. So happy! So sad..." Oh my god!
"Tara, honey, I want you to look at me, ok?"
She did. Her blotchy, puffy face was a mess. Her hair was stuck to her face, and she was a slumped mass of best friend.
"I love you. You're my sister. You can tell me anything, alright? Now why did the…" careful not to say 'wedding dress' again, "garment, deserve such a violent death?"
"I found my perfect dress two years ago," she started. "It was at a consignment shop in Chelsea. I fell in love. I bought it. I had to. It was perfect. There was no tag, not anymore. All I knew was that it was small and vintage. The lady behind the counter said it was too tight for most girls, and that if it fit me, she would just be thrilled. So… so…" she was getting upset again.
"There, there," I said, rubbing her back.
"So I tried it on, and Sookie, it was like it was made for me. It was perfect! I bought it right then and there, knowing one day JB would watch me walk down the aisle with it."
"Keep going," I said, already knowing what was coming next.
"I just tried it on this afternoon, and it… it… it DOESN'T FUCKING FIT ANYMORE!" she screamed.
I had to stifle my laugh. "Tara, tell me why it doesn't fit." She looked at me, eye's wide and shocked. She knew I knew. She just didn't know how I knew.
"I'm so happy, really, but dammit, this was my dream, my fantasy, and if I couldn't wear it, then, shit, no one else ever would either!"
This time I did laugh. I couldn't hold it in. The whole situation was so ridiculous! I looked over to Tara, tears coming down my face, I was laughing so hard. Slowly but surely, Tara started to laugh hysterically with me.
JB ran into the room, looking so very scared. We looked up to him, stopped laughing for just a second, and then burst out into side-splitting laugher once more. We hugged each other as we fell to our backs, laughing and rolling around in bits of cut up wedding dress. JB shook his head and walked away. We laughed forever. One wave of laughter became another until finally, hiccupping and covered in bits of white satin, we sat up, wiping away our tears and catching our breaths.
"What am I going to do now?"
"Does JB know?" She shook her head her head no. "Well, first things first, you tell that boy he's going to be a daddy! I bet he's gonna be thrilled! I'll stay here and start cleaning up. Ok?"
She nodded, and slowly we got up and brushed off as much wedding dress debris that we could. She slipped on a robe and walked out of the room. I surveyed the mess in front of me and noticed that the waistband of her poor shredded dress was still intact, so were the beautifully fashioned satin roses. I picked up the waistband, along with the roses, and placed them on the chair in the corner. Just then I heard JB whooping from the other room, and I smiled broadly. JB might not have been the sharpest tack in the box, but he would be a devoted daddy and hearing his reaction did a heart good.
I could hear foot steps and then JB came rushing into the room, Tara in his arms. He put her down before he picked me up and spun me around too.
"I'm gonna be a Daddy, Sookie! A Daddy!"
"I know! I know!" I got out desspite the fact that he was crushing my lungs. "AIR!" I gasped, and he put me down immediately. He looked at both of us all goofy and happy and pulled us in for a hug.
"Doctor!" was all he said when he pulled away. "We need a doctor, right? And like a crib and stuff, and… Oh man! I gotta call my mom!" He ran out of the room like a man on fire, and Tara and I were left to giggle and stare at each other. We could hear him talking to his mom, more animated than either of us had ever heard him. When he came back into the room, he held the phone out to Tara and watched her talk to his mom as he bounced on his toes.
"Hi, Lucy," Tara said. From the high pitched sound on the other side, I was guessing she was just as happy as JB. While she talked to Lucy, JB thanked me.
"Seriously Sook, if I had any idea, I wouldn't have been so worried, but you saw her, right? I thought she was having a psychotic episode or something!" I looked at him surprised. That was a big word for dear, sweet JB. He seemed to understand the look, shrugged, and said "Dr. House, he's one awesome dude."
I smiled, "Yes, he is, JB."
Tara hung up with her soon to be mother-in-law, and we all let out a collective sigh.
Tara interrupted our moment of peace when her tummy growled… loudly.
"I think we need to feed the pregnant lady," I said.
"Thai! Oh, I would kill for some spring rolls!"
No sooner had the words come out of her mouth than JB was out the door.
"That went well!" I said.
"Thanks to you, Sookie, thanks so much."
"Welcome! Now what are we going to do about this dress?"
Tara sighed. "I don't know, Sookie. The wedding is only a few months away," it was the end of January to be exact, "and I don't even know how big I'm going to be then."
Big. She was going to get big! I was a little overwhelmed then. "Oh Tara, honey, you're gonna be a mommy!"
"Sookie, you're gonna be an Auntie!"
We let the tears roll down, gently this time, and hugged each other. Girly moment aside, I showed her the satin roses that had been spared the scissor attack, and Tara's eyes lit up.
"I'm gonna make it."
"Make what?" I asked.
"I'm going to make my dress, Sookie."
'Atta girl, I thought. "What can I do?"
"Come shopping with me tomorrow?"
"Anything you want. You are carrying my nephew."
"Or niece."
"Right, or niece."
JB came back with pounds of spring rolls and noodles, and we all dug in. Just as we were diving into the Pad Thai, my phone rang. It was Eric. I was so wrapped up in all the hoopla that I didn't even text or leave him a note.
"Sookie! Thank god. Where are you?"
"Sorry, Eric! I ran out and completely forgot to let you know where I was. JB called and Tara was crying and…"
He cut me off, "Wait, what? Is Tara ok?"
"Ya, she's more than alright. I'll explain later. Hey wait, why are you home?"
"I worked things out with the DJ mess, and then I decided I couldn't stand not seeing you in those panties tonight, so I made an executive decision and came home."
"Oh Eric… I'm so sorry. We're just starting dinner; then I'll come right home, ok?"
"Give me the phone, Sookie," said Tara.
"Tara wants to talk to you. Hold on."
"Hey, Eric! Listen, we're having an impromptu celebration over here with masses of spring rolls. Want to come over?"
A pause… "We're celebrating the fact that you and Sookie are going to be aunt and uncle."
Hearing her tell Eric that he was going to be an uncle made me gush. It was one thing that he and I knew we were a done deal, but to hear Tara say it… made my heart pound. She hung up the phone and told me Eric was coming over.
Forty minutes later Eric was at the table, spring roll in hand. We had a wonderful night of laughs, talks of the future, and fabulously greasy food.
The following day as Tara and I had agreed, we went shopping. Tara had worked all night on the sketches for her dress, and she needed to buy some more material. We also needed to get a dress for me. The wedding was going to be a simple casual affair at JB's parent's house in Connecticut. They had a big, old rambling farmhouse with a barn out back that they were going to deck out with twinkling lights. They were renting tables and chairs and lots of standing heat lamps. I had no doubt that it would be perfect.
Tara and I shopped for fabric and her shoes, and instead of a full veil, she decided to make the satin roses from the other dress into an elaborate head piece since her dress was going to be so simple. We found a pretty gray dress and matching shoes for me, and we were set. During our little spree, I picked up a couple of items for my impending trip to Paris over New Years. I also picked up a new casserole dish shaped like a pumpkin. I couldn't help myself, Thanksgiving was around the corner, and it wouldn't be turkey day without my pumpkin soufflé!
A/N
Pics of Tara's dress, Sookie's dress and shoes, and the lingerie are on my profile.
Up next: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Paris… and of course, Da Vinci really soon.
So question: What would you serve Eric for Thanksgiving? The "tastiest" answer gets posted in the next A/N. If it's really good, I might just have to incorporate it into the chapter…
The rev button wants to know your yummy little Thanksgiving desires
