Hey guys! Still with me so far? Thank you so much for all the adds, and messages and reviews, I was flu ridden for a few days there, and they were awful so all the thoughts on the story cheered me right up so *Big smooches* to all of you! :D Enjoy! X

SPOV:

Sam and I had kept in contact, usually by text but sometimes by calling. a few times after our appointment at his clinic. Since I didn't really know many people in Hadley's part of town, it was nice to have a friendly face in the crowd. The neighbours had dropped by, some to say hello, some to flirt with Eric, some to flirt with me - much to the dismay of their wives of course. But the majority of them came to nosy. I was getting used to the neighbors dropping by, for one reason or the other. It was the thing to do; people had died tragically and they wanted to know who we were and what we were doing in their home. Most of them had attended the wake and funeral, but considering neither Eric nor I really took the time to introduce ourselves they took it upon themselves to do it for us.

There was Mrs Fortenberry; she was in her early forties with a little boy, a few months older than Jessica. His name was Hoyt. I heard he was a 'surprise'; so much so, that her husband of almost eighteen years up and left her when she found out she was pregnant. But she was seeing the mail man now and his name was Mike.

Then there was Dawn Green. She was one of the 'flirt with Eric' contingent of the neighborhood. Essentially, she was a trophy wife for Aston Green, an ex-football player that was never at home. A few of the older residents would stop and say hello every now and then when either I or Eric would take the baby out for a walk - or in Eric's case, when he ran. How he managed to run and keep her occupied was beyond me, but it worked. Usually if he left it for later, he'd take her and tell me she'd be out like a light in less than ten minutes. I wasn't going to test or question his theory.

Eric and I sort of fell into this little routine of meals together, naps apart, and workout when she slept. It seemed to work, kind of. But when I went back to work—dealing with Sophie on a near daily basis was enough to test anyone's patience—if I was honest, it was coming back home that was causing me the most grief. Jessica made it very clear which co-parent she preferred. Nap time she was great with me; bedtime, so completely another story.

She cried, she sobbed, she gave me those big blue eyes that were rimmed red and said 'well you're not the big cuddly Swedish man, and I don't like this one bit.' And there wasn't a thing I could do, because Eric had started going into the bar bit by bit so the nights where mine with her, till he finished at four a.m.

It seemed that Eric didn't require a lot of sleep to function—maybe five, six hours and he was up. I knew this because the maniac that he was, fell out of bed every morning and did one hundred sit-ups. How do I know this you ask? The walls were thin, and he counted out loud. It was kind of annoying.

Sam and I were another story. Our conversations were innocent at first, and then it quickly turned to flirting. I can't say I didn't enjoy it. It had been a good long while since I'd really put effort into flirting with a guy and doing it via text somehow seemed easier. He'd hinted at asking me out, and I'd hinted at saying yes.

I'd wanted to put Bill and that whole disaster of a relationship behind me. Sam was his opposite—he was sweet and attentive, and not afraid of using the number keys to type—whereas Bill was a complete technophobe. I knew Eric didn't like him. His 'guy thing' excuse didn't wash with me, but I didn't want his opinion of Sam to color my opinion. So, when Sam asked me out, I got excited. When Eric finally relented and agreed to mind the baby, I was guilt free and confirming our date as soon as I dialled his number. We agreed on something simple—a movie, some dinner, and good conversation.

Lord knows I was in need of some of that. Between Sophie and her demand, Jessica and her baby talk, and Eric with his sarcasm and innuendo, I was looking forward to a good old-fashioned, civilized conversation.

Having gone to my apartment the day before with Amelia and Tara in tow, we managed to pack up my life there in just under four hours. If you don't count the two hours spent drinking wine and eating pizza, that is.

"How long have you lived here?" Tara asked wrapping my photo frames in newspaper to box.

"Six years next march. So like, five years?"

"Damn."

"Quinn hated this place." I mused.

"I hated Quinn." Tara scoffed.

"I know. You told me often enough."

"Girl, he was a twat and once a twat..."

"Always a twat. Yes, Tara, you have me schooled."

"What about Bill?" Amelia asked bursting the bubble wrap instead of actually using it.

"He… didn't spend that much time here. I would always have to go to his place."

"Have you seen him since the funeral?"

"No. He's called a couple of times and left annoying voicemails, but I've ignored them."

"He wants to get back together?"

"Pretty much. He kept telling me that he'd overlook my little 'problem' if it meant us being together again, and he was sorry for my loss, and Jessica really wasn't my responsibility."

"Asshole!" They said in unison.

"Yep." I sealed one box and laid it by the door.

"What about the other not-so-asshole?" Ames asked smiling.

"Eric?"

"Well you two have made it almost a month now, no one's been injured or killed, that's a good sign, right?"

I shrugged. "He's alright."

"Just alright?"

"Okay, so he's not the devil I once saw him to be. He's amazing with Jessica. I mean, it's unfair how good he is with her. She just adores him, and he makes it all look so easy. I hate that about him." I laughed. "No, I mean, he's been really solid with her. I can't fault him there."

"And with you?" Tara quirked her brow.

"What's with the brow action? He's been his usual charming self with me, I don't know?"

"Seriously? Nothing?" She looked at Amelia.

"Nothing what?"

They looked at me.

"Girl, you've seen him, right?"

"Ugh... not this again."

"Look, I don't get what's not epic here. He's single, you're single, you live in the same house … he has lick-able abs, you need to get laid… Really, need I paint the full picture here?" Tara preached.

"Uh, forgetting one thing."

"What's that?"

"We hate each other? There is absolutely no attraction there whatsoever. And besides, even if there was—WHICH there ISN'T—but even if there was, it would be a horrible, horrible idea. We're co-parents, and that's it. We both have our lives and just … Jessica is our only common interest."

Well that and old Hollywood movies, strawberry ice-cream, and chilli. But that was it.

"Seriously, you're not attracted to him, at all? Even when he's all like ovary exploding cuteness with Jess?" Amelia asked.

"Look, giant semi-attractive men being all sweet with cute babies is … well, it's genetically ingrained in us to find that shit cute. That doesn't mean I want to jump his bones."

"You should jump his bones, it might calm you both down."

"Tara!""

"What! You know I'm right. Either way, you need to get laid. You're too hot to be this … Celibate."

"Well, for your information, I have a date. Friday. With a doctor."

They both stared at me. I just smugly carried on packing.

"Excuse me?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Details! Now, bitch."

I rolled my eyes. "He's Jessica's doctor; we met last month and we kind of hit it off. I mean, he's great, I think? I don't really know all that much about him. Well, other than Eric hates him."

"Why does Eric hate him?" Tara demanded to know, hand on hip as usual.

"Because Eric is judgemental and prissy." I shrugged, I still didn't get the hate. He didn't even know the guy!

"So, the date?" Amelia asked changing the subject ever so slightly for me.

"Dinner and a movie, maybe. Who knows? I'm excited though. It's been awhile since I've had a first date."

"First dates are fun." Tara mused.

"Is Eric seeing anyone?" Amelia asked, finally using the bubble wrap to actually wrap.

"You're both awfully concerned about Eric."

"No, I'm just nosy." She smiled.

"He doesn't 'date' … I mean, I don't think. I'm sure he's getting laid on the regular though. He's not too picky, I don't think."

"Did he tell you that?"

"Well, no … But I mean, I just… it's… Can we just stop talking about Eric please?"

"Touchy."

"Do you guys talk at all? I mean do you know anything about the guy?"

Tara always did like to push a topic.

"I know enough."

"Like?"

"Tara what is this the Eric hour?"

"You've been living with the guy for a month and you can't tell us anything personal about him. Are his parents alive? Does he have siblings? Has he ever been in a long term relationship…?"

Huh, weirdly I knew none of these things.

"You know I ran into him the other day." Amelia said.

"Where?"

"At Whole Foods. He was there with Jessica, looking confused in the baby food section. It was too cute. He totally talks to her like an adult."

"Yeah, Eric doesn't do 'baby talk'."

"Did... I mean, did you guys talk?"

"Briefly. We made small chit-chat. He asked me how I was, I coo'd over Jessica for a bit—she was covered in yogurt that he'd let her open while sitting in the cart—she'd ruined her dress… He asked if I'd seen you at work and how you were really coping with the boss being back."

That piqued my interest. "And what did you say?"

"I was honest. I said it was stressing you out, but you were dealing. No biggie."

Great, now he probably thought I was incompetent.

"Hmph." Tara huffed.

"Yes?"

"Just, seems to me that the asshole cares more about your well-being that you do his. That's not very friendly, Sookie."

"What? Tara, I care."

She rolled her eyes.

"I do! It's just we're not like that. There are no big, stupid, deep conversations. I mean, we talk but it mostly involves Jessica or the house or work or it evolves into sarcasm and one of us stomps off."

Usually me, and I think they knew that.

"You fail, Stackhouse." Tara sassed.

"Shut up and pack, whore." I smiled.

Rooting through the three racks I'd just finished lining up, I yanked yet another dress.

"This one?" I held up the dress from the walk-in closet, to which Eric said "eh."

"Eh bad, right?"

"Eh, is eh, Sookie. It's green and kind of fluffy. That is not a date dress."

I rolled my eyes.

"This?"

"No."

"But, it's new!"

"But, it's horrible. No." He imitated me.

It was the third dress I'd shown him and he'd vetoed it on me. Really, he disliked Sam so you'd think he'd approve the f-ugly clothes to spite him, but no. I asked Eric for a 'guys' opinion, and he was shockingly, giving it willingly, with Jessica bouncing around on my bed. He sat on the end shouting his opinions at me.

"What about this?" I said coming out with my black, backless dress on.

He looked, then told me to turn. Of course he was checking out my ass, but since I was nervous and needed an opinion I'd just have to deal with it.

"Well?"

"It's hot, but … I don't know."

"Dude... Jesus, hurry up. He'll be here in like ten minutes!"

"Any other options?"

After an hour of this, I was convinced he was just fucking with me and enjoying the pain of making me change clothes, and drag the crap that I'd just unpacked out of the wardrobe again.

I tried on the first of my last two options. It was red, fitted and short, though it was a shift dress. It was silk and I thought it was sexy. For good measure, I slipped on my towering black heels.

The look on his face was priceless. It was almost like he didn't know where to look first, but he did and he started with my legs, and very slowly worked his way up. I swear I didn't get a shiver when his eyes reached mine. I really, really didn't.

"Well?"

He closed his mouth and coughed a little. "It uh…It's …"

"Good... bad?"

He stood up suddenly and walked over to me, making my bedroom seem so much smaller suddenly. He walked around me in a slow circle. I could feel his eyes on me.

"Hmm, he doesn't deserve this dress." He said quietly in a voice that could make a girls toes curl.

I still didn't look him in the eye though. "Why's that?"

"This dress says things that Doctor Douche just isn't ready for."

He circled me again.

"Like what?"

He smirked. "Like, I'm wearing this to make myself feel hot, to look hot, to make you as the guy, feel hot… and to imagine what it would be like to slide this dress up to your hips, while kissing your neck and finding out for sure if you can conceal underwear in a dress that fitted."

It was my turn to clear my throat a little. "Really, you get all that from a dress?"

His eyes finally met mine, and I swear what I saw in them made me want to cross my legs tight for fear of what I might do.

"I get all that from you, in that dress."

Just as he leaned away from me, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." He said scooping Jessica up and throwing her over his shoulder, earning a giggle from her.

"Eric!"

"Yes?"

"Be nice!"

He smiled at me from the door. "Aren't I always?"

I was so screwed.

EPOV:

"You're selling the apartment?" Pam slammed the paper down on my desk.

"Well, yes trying to. The market is in the shits though. If I don't get a bite then I'll rent it out or something."

"So, this is the real deal then. You and Sookie and the kid?"

"Well… Yeah. Pam did you think I was just playing?"

She flopped down on the chair in front of my desk. "No, I just… Shit honestly, I never expected you to last more than a week."

"Thanks, Pam. Your vote of confidence is just awesome."

"Oh please, you went out of your way to make sure none of the bitches you were fucking got knocked up. Excuse me for not thinking that father of the year was on the agenda for you."

I guess she did have a point.

I just shrugged. There was no point getting into a verbal slinging match with her; it was late and I was tired.

"So, I've packed up my stuff and I'm having it shipped over to the house tomorrow. Sookie, she got her stuff the other day. For a chick who lived alone, she had a LOT of boxes."

Pam smiled.

"Welcome to the world of women. Domestically we are a whole other breed."

Oh, awesome.

"How is little country bumpkin? She still think I'm a hooker?" She chuckled.

"No, she was pretty mortified about that. She's … you know…Sookie."

"You know that I don't know her, right?"

"Yeah, but …It…Well, what do you want to know?"

"Is she single?" She asked hopefully.

"She's straight."

"I get that, asshole. I'm just asking."

"Yes, I believe she is."

"And you and she—" She wriggled her brows at me.

"Pam, we've been over this."

"That was like a month ago, let's go over it again."

"Pam, I have work to do, I'm dead tired. Can you go annoy someone else?"

"Nope, I enjoy annoying you too much. Do you like her?"

"What are you, twelve?"

"Well do you?"

"She's… opinionated, bossy, and high strung." I thought for a second. "But she's not as icy as I once thought. She has her moments where the fun chick buried under all her twitchy angst gets out, and she, I like."

"And the twitchy angst ridden Sookie?"

"Needs to chill, but she's fine. She's trusting my judgement a little more. But she's a stickler for the 'schedule'—there are colored post-it notes on the refrigerator, Pam."

She scoffed.

"Sounds to me like she could use a little distracting."

"Such as…?"

She looked at me as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, which meant sex.

"Come on."

"I thought you said you liked a challenge?"

"I do, usually. But she's … it's different. If we hooked up, it would just complicate things even more, and things are pretty damn complicated already."

"So you don't want her?"

"I never said that."

"The Eric Northman I know, usually never lets anything get in his way."

"Pam."

"What? She's hot, and if she played for my team I'd be all over those amazing boobs of hers. Don't tell me you haven't noticed?"

"I have eyes don't I?"

"So?"

"So what?"

"So, accept the challenge and go for it."

I just gave her my best look of dismissal—she finally took the hint and turned on her high heels and left my office.

Truth was, yes, I was attracted to Sookie. What straight guy with a good set of working eyes wouldn't be? She was beautiful. And yes, I had many times thought of what sex with her would be like. She was, after all, the one the game hadn't worked on. Well, besides Pam but that was through no fault of mine. I mean, it wasn't my fault I wasn't born with the necessary equipment to entice her.

But Sookie was different.

I wasn't exactly sure how different, or even why, but she was. So, when she asked with those big pleading blue eyes if I'd give her a guys opinion on her date attire, I wanted to say no. I mean shit, if this was for Sam? What the hell did I care what she wore? She could wear a sack and he'd still be salivating, the little creep.

But I indulged her because she was nervous. I knew she was nervous because she kept tucking and un-tucking her hair behind her ears. She'd done that the day we picked up Jessica, and during the funeral as she read the words she'd written for her cousin and Alcide, and she was doing it again at warp speed.

"Fine." I huffed, grabbing Jessica out of her playpen before Sookie sang a chorus of "thank you's" at me while doing what I'd discovered was her 'Happy Dance'—yes, she had an actual happy dance. Though to be honest, she just looked kind of special hopping up and down, clapping her hands like an idiot. But she was smiling, so that was a plus.

She rooted through some boxes, some bags, and of course her wardrobe while I changed Jessica into her sleep suit. It had feet and it was made of fleece; it was kind of awesomely comfortable looking.

"La. Lala Bah." she sang to herself as she crawled around. She was always mumbling something that couldn't be described as real words to herself.

"Do you think maybe she should be talking by now?" I shouted to Sookie who was ass deep in clothes inside her walk-in closet.

"I don't know, maybe? I don't really know when kids start fully talking. Maybe we should be practicing with her more?" Came her muffled reply.

"Maybe." I grabbed her off the pillows on the very neatly made bed. I noticed how the whole room smelled like Sookie, sweet and fresh.

"Hey Jessica, can you say ERIC? Er-rick?" she just stuck her fist in her mouth.

I tried again.

Nothing.

"Guess not."

Sookie came out with one option after another, and I have to admit that it was a little fun to watch her get all flustered.

She came out in a green thing that was just scary, a blue thing with ruffles, a pink number that made her look like Barbie gone wrong, and then a black number. The black I liked—it was fit for her body and showed off her legs. But I enjoyed screwing with her too much to approve it right away, and that's when the red dress appeared.

And my God did it have an impact. It was then her turn to screw with me. That dress was sex. It was the only way to describe it. She'd pulled on these sky scraping heels that made her legs look unbelievable, and of course made me wonder how they'd feel wrapped around me while I worked on finding out just what was under that sex dress.

I saw that my words had an effect on her—since I could have sworn I saw her fight back a shiver—and to be honest, I was fighting a few urges myself.

Just as I was about to say 'screw the rules, screw the awkward afterwards' and taste her neck, Doctor Cock-block rang the doorbell.

I took the baby and made my way to the door, to find him standing there like a chump, in a suit, with flowers.

He really was a walking cliché, it was embarrassing.

"Eric."

"Sam."

"Jessica." He smiled, while she just clung to my neck again. She'd be getting an extra cookie.

"So, is Sookie ready?"

"No, she's being a girl and fussing about her outfit. You can wait in the living room."

I pointed him in the right direction.

He shuffled in awkwardly behind me, and just as I put Jessica back in her playpen he sat down.

Neither of us said a word, and he struck me as the kind of guy that didn't like awkward silences, or any silence, as he looked around while tapping his foot on the floor.

"So, what's the plans for tonight?" I asked if only to get him to stop the damn tapping.

"Uh, dinner I guess, then maybe a movie, or movie then dinner. I'll let Sookie decide what she wants to do. The place is pretty flexible with their reservations."

"Oh, where?"

"Andre's?"

"Oooh..." I hissed "Don't order the fish, or the chicken…OR the steak."

"God, why?"

"I heard through my manager that his manager was uh, cutting some corners? And the food suppliers weren't calling as often as they should have been, if you get me."

"Ew."

"Yeah. Shame to. Mostly everywhere else is fully booked at this time of night." I tried to sound like I cared, but any tool that books Andre's for a date with a woman needs to be slapped. Not only was their décor warped and trapped in the eighties, but their food too.

"So you and Sookie finding your feet with Jessica then?"

"Yep."

"Oh." He tapped on the arm of the chair, obviously struggling on what to say next.

Thankfully Sookie put him out of his misery by appearing in the doorway.

"Hi."

"Oh. Hi." He stood up and grabbed his … rather cheap looking boutique of flowers, and made his way over to her.

God, it was all so awkward. This is why I hated dating.

Sookie and Doctor Love made awkward small talk before she said that she'd be ready in just a second and if he wanted to go to the car, she'd be right out.

He smiled, she smiled. It was all very nauseating. And like a good little bitch, he did as she asked.

"Okay. Do I look okay?" She asked me, losing her cool demeanour instantly. She was back to panic mode. Shit, did all women do this?

"I see you went with the black dress. I guess he's not getting the sex dress tonight then?"

She rolled her eyes.

"You might be used to shagging up a storm on the first date, but I am a lady, and ladies do not do that."

"Some do."

"Trust me, they don't."

"You're right. Real ladies stiff a guy for nearly a thousand dollars worth of plonk."

She giggled.

"You really need to get over that, Northman."

She was walking to the door to leave, when I realised I hadn't answered her question.

"Sook?"

"Yeah?"

"You look beautiful."

I saw the pink tint her cheeks, and it was intoxicating. I wanted to make her blush again; I wanted to see her smile like that again.

"Thanks, Eric. Have a good night, and if there are any problems, call me okay?"

I just nodded as she joined Doctor Douche for their 'date'. Did I mention that I hated that guy?

Jessica and I parked on the couch, while I texted Ginger back, finally. I gave her some lame excuse about being busy and wondered if she'd want to meet up for a drink the next night I was working.

She agreed, of course. Ginger was a lot of things, none of them smart, and she wasn't actually 'ginger' either. She was blonde, which always made me question her name. Either way, she was excellent at distracting me from my boredom for a time, and I needed that. If Sookie was dating, then why the hell shouldn't I?

I was explaining the rules of basketball to a very bored and sleepy Jessica who was dozing off on my chest, when the door bell rang. It was just after nine-thirty.

I laid her down in her playpen on her blanket, freeing me to open the door.

"Megan?"

"Hi, I hope this isn't a bad time?"

She smiled.

Oh shit, I guess this was surprise visit time.

A/n 2 : Dun dun dunn. The social worker is baaack! I'm a very visual person, so before I can write a scene in a place I have to 'see' it first. And if you guys have any interest in this nonsense I can put the links in the profile if you're interested? Yay, nay? Let me know! x