SPOV:

"I'm making cupcakes." I announced as I walked through the door. It was six thirty and I was dead on my feet, but I'd spent the day beaming, thinking that maybe we'd be okay after all. I mean, we weren't totally screwing her up - she wasn't mute! This was a good thing.

I found Eric and Jessica in the garden with a kid I thought I knew, but I wasn't too sure… they also had a trampoline. What the heck happened while I was at work?

"Oh hey." Eric said with a smile standing on the trampoline in his swimming shorts and white tank.

"What's going on?"

"Oh, well, that..." he pointed to the little boy. "Is Hoyt. He's Maxine's kid and she had to go to the store and had no one to watch him—he hates the store… So, anyway, she left him with us."

"Uh-huh, and the thing you're standing on?"

"OH!" His smile got bigger, much like a kid at Christmas. "This we picked up today. Pam came over and well, she likes to shop so… while I lost them in some weird shoe place, I went to the sports store—you know like a normal guy—and I found this! I always wanted one of these, they're awesome. Anyway, I set it up and these two have been having a ball all afternoon. It's great, want to try?"

"No."

"Oh come on! It's fun." He bounced once for effect.

"Maybe later. I'm in heels and a pencil skirt, Eric—not exactly bounce friendly."

"I could think of a few ways to bounce you…"

I blushed.

"There are kids present."

"Who have no idea what I'm talking about." He winked. "Okay Hoyt, once more buddy and I need a break."

"Okaay." Came his little voice. He was a few months older than Jessica and was already walking and taking apparently. Shit, maybe we weren't as good as we thought.

I picked up a rolling Jessica and gave her quick kiss and a cuddle, and I got my 'Hi.' Pleased with myself I went to get changed.

I was never as glad to see my black yoga pants and my pink crop tee than I was in that moment. Sophie had me on my feet all day—that is when I wasn't on and off the phone to the "new" suppliers she'd lined up. My feet hurt and my back ached, but I had come home armed with the goodies to make my favorite cupcakes, and that's what I was going to do.

I'd just finished getting my mix right in the bowl when in came Eric with a kid in each arm. It was a funny sight.

"Okay, they never get tired. It's not fair."

"Hi, Hoyt. Are you hungry?"

"No, ma'am. I has before." His little brown eyes looked up at me. He was just too adorable in his little white t-shirt and baby jeans. Jessica seemed quite attached to him, too. That was good; we'd need her to socialize well with other kids, and soon.

"Oh, okay. How about you, Miss Jessica?" I picked her up and got a smile. "You like cupcakes?"

"Hey, Hoyt. Does your mamma let you have sugar?"

"I has one."

"One? One... what does that mean?" I looked at Eric, he just shrugged.

"Oh, well I guess a few cupcakes won't kill you. Why don't we set something up for you two in the den, huh? We'll give Eric some quiet time and I'll be in the kitchen, okay?"

Little Hoyt nodded as I led him and Jessica into the den. I'd set up Toy Story on DVD as well as an array of toys on the floor. I left the baby monitor in there just in case.

"You know…" I said as I walked into the kitchen to find Eric with his fingers in my cake mix. "HEY!"

"Busted… What? It's too good."

"It's not cooked yet!" I slapped his hand away.

"So?" He said dipping his fingers into his mouth. "It's almost better uncooked."

"You have better had washed your hands." I scolded, to which he just rolled his eyes.

"Yes mom."

"Shut up."

"Mom."

"Shut up!"

"I will if I can have the spoon?" he pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

"You are just a giant man child, aren't you?

"Mmmhmm." He nodded sticking his finger through the big mixing spoon and then licking it off his finger. God, he had big hands, didn't he?

"Sookie?"

"What?"

"Didn't you hear what I said?"

"Uh…"

"How was work after we left?"

"Oh, total nightmare. She's switched suppliers to some random guys from New Orleans for cryin' out loud and I spent most of the day on hold with them trying to get a shipping order corrected. Honestly, I don't know how much longer I can stay working there."

"Shit, really?"

"Yeah. I mean, there is only so much I can do before I strangle her with her Hermes belt."

He just giggled at me, he was a giant man child and he giggled. Who the hell was this Eric?

"Ohh." He said as I started beating my buttercream icing mix together.

"Hands off."

"But..."

I raised my brow at him and he mumbled something about really being a mom with that look.

I ignored him as he hopped up onto the island to watch me. It was a little intimidating knowing that his eyes were on me in such a focused way, but I led myself to believe he was just a magpie for sugary things and it was really the mix he was aiming at.

And not my ass.

Of course, I was proved wrong when I turned around to find his eyes trained on my ass, and not my mix. I just ignored it.

"Can I taste it?"

"Excuse me?"

"The topping?"

"Oh!"

"What did you think I was talking about?" He raised a brow with that evil smirk of his ever present.

"Nothing… Nothing."

He hopped off the island and came up behind me. I just continued to mix—minding my business—not at all distracted by how nice he smelled.

"I think this mix needs something a little Nordic."

"Nordi-"

Before I could finish, he lifted the bowl from my hands and stuck his finger in it again.

"Yeah, me."

"Eric. Gimme the bowl."

"No."

"Eric..."

"Sookie..." He mocked my tone, holding the bowl up higher than I could reach. Bastard.

"Eric!" I stamped my foot.

"Aww... you're so adorable when you're having a bitch fit, Sookie." He teased in a baby voice.

"Gimme the mix or I'll kick you in the balls." I threatened. He took no notice, instead he dipped his fingers in and tapped me on the nose covering me with cupcake mix.

"Oops." He said with a smile.

I'll oops him!

"Oh, so that's how it is, is it? I see…"

I grabbed the smaller bowl of buttercream and my spoon, flicking it at him, with a big dollop landing on his chest.

Score for me.

Instead of being mad, he just laughed and stuck his finger in it.

"Nice."

"Now the kids will have no cupcakes. How cruel, Eric." I pouted falsely causing him to whack me with more mix. This time it ran down my cheek into my neck and down my arm.

I went to lift the spoon from my buttercream again, only this time he was too fast for me. He went to grab it out of my hands but I backed away finally having to stop when the kitchen sink got in my way.

"Sookie, you don't want to do that."

"Oh, but Jedi I do." I laughed as he tried to take it away from me, but my smaller hands had the better grip this time around.

"Sookie… Give me the bowl."

"What? You can dish it out but you can't take it? Where is your sense of fairness, Northman!"

He planted his big stupid giant legs on either side of me, locking me in place while he attempted to wrestle the bowl from my hands. Instead of letting go, I tipped it up and it landed all down his front.

I didn't even feel a little bit bad. I ran my finger from his neck to his arm and licked away what my finger had collected. I had used the right amount of sugar after all.

"Yum." I laughed but when I made my move to get out of his grasp, he didn't budge. I looked up to find his eyes trained on me, in that expert way that always made my toes tingle. There was no sound except that of the kids playing through the monitor sitting on the table. There was pure silence. Not even a breath could be heard—but that might have been because I was holding mine in.

"Since you got to taste, it's only fair I do to." He said, all trace of teasing gone from his voice.

I smiled and held up the side of my hand.

"Knock yourself out."

Instead of taking my hand he shook his head 'no.' And without saying a word, he grabbed my face with both his cream covered hands and I swore he was about to kiss me… Honestly, I think I would have let him just by the way he was looking at me. The intensity was just too much. Instead, he tilted my head to the side—exposing my neck and I think my body may have melted against the sink—before he casually leaned in... and licked me. From the base of my neck to the tip of my earlobe, he licked the cream off my body and all I could do was grip the sides of the sink for dear life.

He leaned back again so I could see his eyes—hooded and unfocused. His lips were fighting a grin as he wiped them with one hand, the other still holding onto my face.

He looked at me again—this time pointedly—and said in a voice I'd heard no other time than late mornings, "You taste good, Sookie."

Now, before you start hearing 'Let's Get It On' humming in the background, remember that I was covered in cake batter and pinned to the kitchen sink by this mountain of man. And no matter how good he smelled, there were two kids in the other room.

"Yoouwhoo. Anyone home?" Came the shrill voice from outside.

Maxine.

She knocked politely on the back door before walking in.

"Hi y'all… oh my. Did the kids make this mess?"

"No." I answered. "Just the giant kid." I pointed to Eric and he laughed. Both of us moved a discreet distance from each other.

"Oh, well. Messes are meant to be made I suppose. How was Hoyt?" She asked with a smile towards Eric.

"He was perfect, really. He and Jessica get along so well, and he's a fun little man. They had a blast on the trampoline."

"You sure he was no trouble? Thanks so much for looking after him. Usually my sister calls around and sees to him, but she's working today of all days and well it was this, or he scream his lungs out for an hour. So thank you."

"I'll go get him for you; they're watching a DVD in the den." She nodded and smiled as I took my first deep breath in what seemed like hours while making my way to the den. I found them both stretched out on the floor glued to Woody and Buzz, but the toys that I'd laid out neatly where now all over the place. Well, at least they got along.

"Hey, Hoyt... your mamma is here to take you home. Okay, baby? You can come visit again soon, okay?"

He didn't look one bit impressed, but he agreed. I scooped Jessica up in my arms, and led him by his little hand to the kitchen.

She thanked us again profusely before she left, grinning rather suspiciously at Eric and I, as well as our mess. But she did offer to reciprocate again anytime, since she reminded us that she used to do it for Hadley and Alcide every week when they had a date.

It tugged at my heart to know she'd never have another date. We thanked her and told her we'd call if we needed anything and for her to do the same.

When she was finally gone Eric, Jessica and I were left looking at the mess we'd made in the kitchen.

"I better clean this up. Can you take her?"

"No, I'll clean it up. Shit, I made most of the mess."

That you licked up. LICKED. I got those cursed tingles again just thinking of how his warm tongue felt on my skin.

"It's fine, really I—"

"Sook, go get cleaned up. I'll do this, it's fine." he shrugged. It seemed that neither of us were going to talk about the licking. I could deal with that. The less awkward, the better.

"What about you? You're …" I laughed out loud then. We really did look ridiculous completely covered in yellow cake mix and buttercream topping.

"I'll shower after you."

Oh sure, just make me envision you in the shower now why don't you…

"Okay, sure." I set Jessica in her highchair with a few toys and her pacifier, and she seemed content enough. Thankfully.

He licked me. Who does that—in a kitchen of all places—to someone they aren't having sex with? I mean, really… it's not that it was gross or anything. In fact, he was very neat and efficient about ridding my neck of any unwanted cream, but still. He was brave, I'll give him that. So... maybe I thought about him a little bit more—maybe a lot more while I showered; and maybe I thought about what it would be like if he were maybe in there with me, but … it's not like I wanted him really, so it was totally and completely innocent.

Yes, I do bullshit myself quite regularly. Thanks for noticing.

I sighed as I washed my hair and ignored the ache between my legs. Sure I was sexually frustrated, but I hadn't gotten to the point when settling things myself was the last option available to me. That, was a last resort.

I got out of the shower and proceeded to indulge in my nightly moisturizing routine before I gave my hair a quick blast and checked my cell. Two missed calls from Amelia; one from voicemail from Tara reminding me I was twenty-nine in a matter of days, while she cackled in the background; as well as a text from Sam.

Sam. Wasn't he the one I should have been thinking about, whilst not letting other men lick me? God, I was an idiot at times.

EPOV:

"Pam this is ridiculous! She's one, she doesn't need to be measured for freakin' designer wear! She crawls everywhere. Do you want her doing that in … what is this?"

"Dolce." she shrugged.

"Pam."

"Eric, how about this? How about you leave Jessica with me and maybe your Amex if you want—but that I won't push—and you just go… find a guy store to kill some time in. We'll find you when we're done. Hmmkay?" She flicked her hand at me, shooing me away.

"But she…"

"She's fine! She likes me, don't you Jessica?"

"Hi?"

She'd been saying it all morning. And somehow it was still cute as hell to me.

"Okay... fine. Jessica, be a good girl for Auntie Pam, and please for the love of GOD cry before she spends too much, okay?" She just looked at me. I figured soon enough she'd be able to understand me so I just shrugged it off and handed her over to Pam. "Meet me at Starbucks in an hour."

"One hour?"

"Pam…"

"Fine, one hour."

I expected her in two. I made my way through various sections of menswear in different stores. I managed to get a few new shirts—not picked out by Pam, some new jeans and socks. For some reason, I was always losing my socks.

I knew July 1st was less than a week away, and I knew that was Sookie's birthday. I noticed when we were signing the forms to take Jessica that Sookie's birthday was two months after hers, so it stuck in my mind. I didn't know if we were the type of 'friends' that did birthday things? Or did she maybe hate her birthdays? I had no idea. But I knew Pam loved birthdays, even ones that had nothing to do with her—she viewed it as an excuse to shop. That, and she said that every woman loves a good gift, no matter who she is or what she says.

So, maybe I'd get her something?

But what says co-parent-girl-I-share-a-house-with- and-raise-a-baby-with-and-maybe-secretly-want-really-badly? You know, without being obvious?

I'd wandered in and out of stores, nothing catching my eye. Then in one rather upscale store a little something pulled me towards it. Somehow it was just her—elegant, but with a strong design and a little hint of the blue in her eyes. The sales girl was flirty of course, but she was also sighing saying that she wished her boyfriend was as thoughtful. I hated to burst her bubble and tell her that I wasn't Sookie's boyfriend but her housemate who happened to have a love-hate relationship with the girl, when really I had a secret crush on her. Pam had been right and I kind of hated that she knew me so well. Sookie had been the one that got away, in so many ways, but I'd spent a good two years forgetting about her only to have her thrust into my life in the most permanent of ways.

Passing the other stores, I decided that I'd un-pussy myself as much as possible instead of moping around jewelery stores like a wimp. I walked into the sports store, found some new weights to add to my collection, and then I saw it. On sale and everything—a giant trampoline and net. It looked awesome, and honestly what backyard was complete without one? Jessica would love it! Sookie would… look awesome bouncing on it… not that I cared what she thought. And I, I wanted it. So, weights and possible baby sickness machine was paid for and on it's way home as I found Pam and Jessica. Jess looked a little tired, and all things considered, so was I.

"How'd it go?" I asked.

"Oh, great. We got new shoes for Auntie Pam, new lingerie for Auntie Pam, new stockings…"

"And the baby?"

"Oh. So many cute dresses, some little baby jeans and some shirts too! Oh and look at this!"

I zoned out after she produced the third bag full of things. I'd asked if we could skip the coffee and go home. Pam reluctantly agreed, though she dropped us off without a complaint.

"Hey, Eric?" She said pulling into the driveway.

"Hmm?"

"What did you buy in Tiffany?" She said, her eyes sparkling.

"What?"

"That little blue bag you're hiding inside the bigger manly bags you have? Please, I have like a taste-dar and I could smell it… So, who is she?"

I tried to hide the fact that I was blushing under my sunglasses. Seriously, what was I twelve? I just shrugged her off.

"No one you know, Pammy." I kissed her on the cheek and told her I'd see her at work. I was treated to her nine millionth eye-roll before she backed out of the driveway.

"Okay sweetness, I think we both need a nap, don't you?"

By the time Jessica and I woke up from our rather comfy nap in the den, there was a clattering at the back door, like someone was knocking on the glass with a key.

Maxine and her boy. She was in a total tizzy and in need of a babysitter. I thought, sure, why not? He seemed like a sane enough kid. She was sweet about it and promised to be an hour, tops.

Jessica didn't make strange with the kid so that helped. The delivery men from the sports store had arrived and set up the trampoline, per my request. Sure, I had to pay them extra for same-day deliver, never mind the set up… but, usually when I wanted something, I got it. Which is what made not getting my way the few and far times between it happened, so annoying. I ordered a pizza and some dips for lunch; it kept the kids quiet and was limited on mess since everything was disposable.

Hoyt was an interesting little man. He wasn't that much older than Jessica, maybe five months at most, but the difference in their development was obvious. He was strong on his feet, talking a lot more. He knew his mom was shopping for 'goodies' and that I was E-wic and I lived here with Sookie and that Jess was our baby now. Our baby, and not Hadley and Alcide's baby.

Shit, the kid didn't know how hard that was to hear.

We'd spent a good hour on the trampoline. Jessica was not at all impressed at first, but like most kids, once she saw Hoyt do it she wanted to do it too. It dawned on me that one-upping was a way of life. Whatever you can I do, I can do better. I felt a little guilty that the one-year olds had a better sense of companionship than I did at almost mid-thirties.

When Sookie stuck her head out the back door and then joined us in the yard, she was working that whole office fashion vibe. Her ass, in a pencil skirt as she called it, was almost too much. I'd offered to bounce her, thoroughly enjoying the blush that ran down her neck. She ignored me of course, but the next time I saw her it was hard to ignore her. She was baking. Like, actually baking, and not just buying things from a store. That had never happened growing up. My mom wasn't big on domestic goddess impersonations.

I don't know if it was the smell of vanilla, the idea that she was trying to teach me something, or the fact that it all looked so appealing but when I covered her in the cake mix, the look on her face egged me on even more.

She was pissed—but not so pissed that she wouldn't fight back—and honestly, Stackhouse seemed like she gave as good as she got. Before I knew it, I was having trouble holding in my laughter. She was covered, her clothes where covered—as were mine—yet, somehow I forgot all about that when I accidentally backed her up against the sink. I'd done it to gain leverage to get the damn bowl away from her. But once I did, and she ran that finger of hers up my shirt and over my neck only to lick it—rather suggestively off her finger might I add—all rational thought went out the window. When I told her I wanted a taste, I wasn't necessarily talking about the cake. She held up the side of her hand, but that's not what I wanted. What I wanted, and was inches away from actually doing, was to kiss her senseless, then maybe fuck her over the kitchen table… But, what I did was possibly weirder. I licked her neck. From collarbone to the tip of her earlobe, I licked the mix off her skin! She was holding her breath, and I noticed the tiny shudder that ran through her. Before I could do any damn thing about either of those things, Maxine showed up to cockblock.

Awkward—that's what I'd call the air when she left. Totally awkward. Neither of us were going to talk about it; I was going to pretend that I wasn't half hard standing in the kitchen; and I was going to clean up our mess. Jessica was just as confused looking as I felt. But I'd be a man and just ignore it until it went away. Best option for all right now I thought. Of course, it wouldn't be a buried issue forever… not even a whole week. Because in less than a week, everything would be different, and I don't just mean Sookie being a year older.

A/N: So, a little fun was needed right? What did we think of their little ahem... 'mess' in the kitchen? Next chapter is Sookie's birthday, just who'll be the one giving her, her birthday kiss? ;)
Reviews are loved, so keep up the awesome work guys! :D