AN- All characters are the property of Charlaine Harris.
Sookie stared at herself in the mirror. Her makeup was a complete loss. She still couldn't believe how many emotions had been called forth as soon as Eric had called her Aude. She was far from remembering everything just yet but she remembered holding their children. Eric had given her two strong boys and an impossibly beautiful girl. She fought to control the tears from flowing once again. It was so much to take in and she was having a hard time processing all of the emotions and memories.
With great effort she pulled herself together and washed her face off. She opted for just a little makeup, she wasn't sure if she would be crying again tonight or not. As she came out of the bathroom she noticed that Gran was blushing something fierce. She couldn't help but take a peak at what her grandmother was thinking. Instantly she was red as well. Her heart started beating a mile a minute.
Eric turned at the sound of Sookie's heart racing. He wondered if she knew how enticing she was when her blood was pumping so erratically. He struggled to control his fangs, it would not be appropriate to scare Adele in such a manner.
"Are you ready now love?," he asks as he grabs her about the waist.
"Where are we going?" Sookie looked at him innocently. She is so nervous she's shaking.
"I thought I would take you dancing," he grins down at her.
"Oh, I love to dance!" She kisses him lightly on the cheek. Her anxiety instantly melts away.
"I know," he whispers into her ear.
"Well you two have fun. This old girl needs to get some sleep." Adele shoos them out of the house before they start making out in front of her. She's not ready to see that just yet. She watches as they get into his expensive car. Secretly she is gladdened by the fact that Sookie will clearly not have to worry about money around Eric. She knew that was terrible of her, but she worried about her granddaughter. Adele was old and she knew she wouldn't be around to take care of Sookie forever. It wasn't right for Sookie to not even have a boyfriend at her age. Maybe she had been waiting for Eric this whole time.
Adele turned around to tidy up the house a bit before getting ready for bed. She hadn't gotten very far when she heard a knock at the door. She stared at the door a moment debating whether she should even answer it. She was sure she knew who it would be. Manners got the better of her.
"Good evening Ms. Stackhouse. I wonder if I might have a word with you." Bill dipped his head slightly.
"Of course Bill. Give me just a moment please." Adele was not about to invite Bill in after Eric's warning. But she did not want to be rude either, so she went to fetch her shawl. When she came back to the door, Bill was sitting patiently on the steps. She made her way to the porch swing and sat down with a grunt. She had been feeling her age much more lately.
"I assume that you have spoken with Eric," he began. He sounded so sad that Adele found herself feeling sorry for him.
"Yes, I met Eric tonight. I must say, I'm sorry how this all turned out for you. You seem to have gotten the rough end of the stick." She watches as he lowers his head into his hands.
"I feel that I did not even get a chance to prove myself to Sookie. I would have been good to her. I only hope that Eric treats her well." Bill sighs deeply and looks up into the night sky.
"Don't you worry about Sookie no more. She is a big girl, she will be fine." Adele had a suspicion that it would not be wise to tell Bill everything about Sookie and Eric. But she didn't want to see him in pain either.
After a long pause Bill gets up and turns to Adele. "If you still wish me to address the Descendants of the Glorious Dead I would be honored."
Adele's eyes widen, "Oh that would be terrific Bill! I thought for sure you wouldn't want to anymore."
"I told you that I would do it and so I shall. I do not wish for us to be estranged merely because I am no longer calling on Sookie. We are neighbors after all," he added with a sad smile.
"Well yes, I suppose we are at that. Thank you Mr. Compton that is very generous. I scheduled the meeting for the the night after next at the Community Building. I believe that seven-thirty was the time if that is alright with you." She got up out of the swing.
"That is perfectly acceptable, I will be there." He nods to Adele, "Good night Ms. Stackhouse."
"Take care Bill. And thank you again." She stifles a yawn as she heads back into the house.
As he walks back home Bill curses himself inwardly. He had failed to get an invitation into the house. Eric must have warned them. He knew he needed to stay on Adele's good side however. So he would have to speak at her stupid meeting. Perhaps he could still win his way into Sookie's good graces. If not as a lover than maybe a friend. Eric would be a problem though. His hand went to his neck involuntarily as he thought of the viking. Despite improved healing, his neck still retained the memory. He growled fiercely at the memory of being beaten so handily. He wished this was over with so he could leave this wrecked state all together.
Eric drove them to a place in downtown Shreveport that seemed to be popular. He tipped the valet handsomely and warned him against damaging his car. There was a line outside, but he didn't pay it any attention. He escorted Sookie right up to the entrance and merely nodded at the large man watching the door. He was a closeted fang-banger and Eric had seen him come to Fangtasia many times. He could hear Sookie giggle as they went inside.
"Something you care to share?," his eyebrow arched.
"That guy out there," she points her thumb at the door. "He has the craziest fantasies about you and I am not his favorite person right now."
"Well I am certain that I am irritating a number of men, and probably a few women, who would wish to have sex with you as well," he smiles broadly.
"We are just making everyone mad aren't we?" She stretched up and kissed Eric, halting the flow of traffic into the club. Which really did make everyone angry. She pulled away from him reluctantly and grabbed his hand dragging him toward the music. She noticed that they seemed to be playing whatever was popular, which was fine with her.
The dance floor was packed but Sookie managed to find them a spot where they could at least sway to the beat. Sookie wondered if this setting would make Eric uncomfortable but she quickly found that he had his own moves. She concentrated mostly on rubbing up against him and he seemed to enjoy it. He positioned his long leg between hers and pulled her close. As their bodies moved with the rhythm he would bend his knee and she would feel it dip between her legs. It was erotic and she couldn't get enough. His hands grasp her butt firmly as he moved her up and down his leg to the music.
As the song ended, she knew they needed a breather or they would be having sex on the dance floor. Eric sensed what she wanted and put his hand around her waist as they found their way to an empty booth. He slid in smoothly and settled his back against the wall. Sookie leaned her head on his chest and he put his arm around her. He could feel her happiness and it was infectious to him.
"That was some dirty dancing there Mr. Northman," she smirked.
He laughed, "You did not seem to mind it at the time Miss Stackhouse."
"I don't think I'm the only one," she replied mischievously as her hand rubbed him through his pants.
"You keep doing that lover and you will not be able to stop me taking you right here in front of all these people," he growled.
She giggled and quickly fled back out on the dance floor leaving him sitting in the booth with a massive hard on. "Tease," he called after her.
He slipped through the crowd following after her. Humans tended to stay away from him so it was not difficult to catch up to her. He moved up behind her and placed his arms around her waist. She leaned into him. Raising her hands over her head, she reached back and twined them around his neck. She tipped her head back into his chest and he got a glorious view of her neck all the way down to her breasts. Which from his vantage point where nearly bare. He nibbled on her ear as she swayed her hips. Her beautiful backside rubbing back and forth on his crotch.
"Let's leave this place," he whispered in her ear.
"We just got here," she pouted.
He spun her around to face him and kissed her deeply. Their tongues battled with one another as Sookie's fingers twined around his hair. When she came up for air they were already outside.
"You sneak! You tricked me," she swatted him playfully.
"I want to take you home with me Aude," he said seductively. "And I want to spend the rest of this night making love to my wife. Without fear of being heard when we scream in pleasure."
Sookie might not know much about being with a man, but Aude knew exactly what this man could do and she let out a wicked growl and leaped into his arms. They kissed passionately while a very baffled valet went to get the car he had just parked. They quickly entered the car and raced away.
Sookie eyed Eric hungrily as he sped down the road. She reached over and undid the button to his slacks. "Oh dear you seem to have a problem here," she laughed playfully. She pulled the zipper down and pushed open his silk boxers. "Eyes on the road dear." She brought her left hand up and licked it making sure to cover it in saliva. Before it could dry she grasp him firmly. Eric almost jumped out of his seat and the car swerved.
"Now, now, Eric. I expected better driving from a vampire," she chided. She started moving her hand up and down. He moaned and she could feel the car accelerate. She pulled her hand away and heard him growl.
"I can't have you breaking the speed limit mister. What would it look like if you got pulled over with your junk out like that?" She shakes her head barely disguising a laugh.
Eric brought the car back down to a reasonable speed, "There is that better?"
"I knew you would see it my way," she smiled sinfully. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she licked her hand again. A sigh escaped him as she resumed where she had left off but with greater intensity. He heard her unlock her seat belt as he neared completion. The next thing he knew her lips had replaced her hand and he let out a primal shout as she pushed him over the edge. Of course this would be the exact moment that he was at a stop light and a bus full of senior citizens pulled up beside them to watch the show. He gave them a fangy grin and waved as he pulled away. The shocked looks he got were priceless.
Eric made his way into upper middle class suburbia much to Sookie's surprise. He pulled into a gated community she understood why he chose the area. At the gate he leaned out to talk to the guard, "Sookie is to be allowed in." The guard nodded and opened the gate, making a note on a clipboard.
Eric's house was perfectly manicured and Sookie guessed that someone handled it all for him. He hit the button for the garage door and eased the car in. "I do not bring anyone here Sookie. Only my child, Pam, knows where I live." He leans over staring into her eyes, "Do you understand what I am saying to you?"
"Of course Eric, I won't tell anyone. I don't want you staked." She is hurt he would even think it, but she understood why he did.
He hit the button for the garage again and gracefully slid around the car to open the door for Sookie. They entered into his huge, unused, kitchen. She chuckled, thinking how much her Gran would love to cook here. Their kitchen never seemed big enough. Here it was just a fancy place to put a fridge and a microwave. She noticed that he took his shoes off as soon as he got in the door and she dutifully followed his example.
"Go ahead and have a look around," he motions. "I need to check in with Pam, I will be right back." He heads down the hall pausing momentarily to put on some music. She doesn't recognize it, but it sounds beautiful.
Everything is so sterile, she's almost afraid to touch anything. Then she sees the living room. It was almost like peering into Eric's soul. Colors assaulted her eyes. Every piece of furniture, even the walls, contained rich and deep colors. He seemed to favor blue but many other colors made and appearance. The furniture was large and sturdy with many throw pillows.
She paused in her inspection of the room at a large square coffee table. The table itself was interesting with its intricately carved legs but that was not what drew her attention. In a silver bowl on the table was a broach. She picked up the broach to inspect it closer. Somehow she recognized it but she couldn't remember where she had seen it before.
"It was yours," he solemnly states.
She hadn't even heard him enter the room. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. He has discarded his suit coat somewhere. The look on his face is sad.
"Tell me," she prompts.
"I gave it too you after our first child was born." He pauses and looks into her eyes, "And I buried it with you and our last child."
"Oh," she found herself falling into a nearby red couch.
He was beside her instantly, holding her close.
"Many years after I was turned, I went back to your tomb and took the broach. I wanted something to remember you by." He kisses the top of her head lightly.
"What happened to our children?," she asks softly.
His arms fall limply to his side and he turns his face so Sookie can not see him. She sees that he is hiding from her and she gently grabs his chin turning his face back to hers. His face is twisted in pain.
"I am sorry Aude," he says softly. "I do not know what happened to our children." He closes his eyes and drops his head into his hand. "I failed you my love, I failed our family."
"Tell me what happened." She rubbed her hand on his back.
"After you died, I was a mess," he begins slowly. "I needed to find a new wife to raise the children and make sure the slaves where tending the fields. I went to visit a family that was a mile or two away. They had a daughter that seemed...agreeable. Her father and brothers were glad to greet me. I had too much to drink and on my way home that night I saw a man on the side of the road. If I had not been so drunk, I would have been more cautious. I went to help him and that is when I lost my life. He took me from our children and I was never able to find out what happened to them. I am sure that my father cared for them but I never saw them again.
"It took me over one hundred years to make it back to our homeland. By then there was no way of knowing what happened to our children. That is when I took the broach back. Even knowing where your tomb was, it was hard to find."
"You did not fail me Eric." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "And you did not fail our children. Your father was the chief, I am sure they were well cared for."
He turned to face her, "Your are recovering more of your memory. I did not tell you about my father."
"You also didn't tell me that our daughter had you wrapped around her little pinky." She kissed him tenderly. He stood up, pulling her with him. He lifted her up as if she weighed nothing and carried her down the hall.
Their lips did not part as he took her into his basement. He laid her down on the biggest bed she had ever seen. "I am going to have to buy you new clothes," he announces with a growl. He grabbed the front of her dress and in one smooth motion ripped it in two. She let out a yelp only to find that her underwear followed her dress. She didn't see him take his clothes off, but they were thrown about the room. As she looked up at him she is once again taken back to their wedding night.
She drank in the sight of him and she can see that he is doing the same with her. She wove her fingers around his neck and pulled him into her. His fingers traveled between her thighs fueling the fire inside her. His lips wandered down her neck and found a nipple. Her body rose to meet him eagerly.
"I want you inside me," she whispered urgently.
"It will hurt."
"I don't care," she reached down and positioned him.
Slowly, he pushed into her. He watched intently as her back arched and she screamed his name. It was glorious, more than he could ever have hoped for. He patiently waited for her to relax a little.
"Don't stop," she begged.
"I could not even if you wanted me to."
Her legs wrapped around him and her nails dug into his shoulder. She had felt the pain when he entered her but it was all but forgotten as he began moving in earnest. He found her pleasure center with his thumb and she bucked her hips appreciatively.
"Sookie, look at me," he commanded.
Her eyes flew open as she met his gaze. They moved together in perfect harmony. He could feel her tightening around him, and he knew her moment was soon. His eyes flared and he latched onto her neck. She felt his fangs puncture her skin and she left her body. " Eiríkr!," she screams.
"Aude!," he followed right after.
He collapsed on top of her laughing lightly.
"What's so funny?" She wondered if she had done something wrong.
"I knew when I first saw you that you would be screaming my name once again. I could not have hoped that it would be so intoxicating."
He feels her shift below him and he rolls to his side, freeing her. "Did I hurt you?"
"I'm pretty sore but I think I will be alright in a day or two." She curls up next to him.
"That is unacceptable," he growls. She looks up at him inquiringly. "I think I can make you scream my name all night long, and I fully intend to." He holds up his arm and bites down on his wrist. "Drink Sookie." Eric presses the wound to her mouth.
She doesn't want to at first, but as she tastes his blood on her lips she can not control herself. Her mouth opens hungrily and she draws on him with everything she has. She drinks until his wound heals over and finds herself wanting more. She can feel her pain melt away and before she can even ponder this he is in her again.
He did make her scream all night. They collapsed in each others arms as the sun greeted the day.