Authors Notes:
First, I want to thank my lovely beta for this story. Seastar08, thank you for helping me with the tons of errors that I know were here before you graced it with your presence. Thanks for putting up with my questions and listening to me when I was frustrated. Tons of love girl.
Second, I want to thank all of you who reviewed this story and are encouraging me to continue. I appreciate all of your kind words and look forward to hearing what you think in the future.
Third, a fan addressed some issues they had with the what if's of this story. She was very positive and I appreciated her questions and did my best to answer all of them. The what if's being, how did things go down if Eric wasn't around to save Sookie's butt. Well, in this chapter a lot of these things are discussed. I also leave a lot to your own imagination; draw your own conclusions about things that weren't discussed here. If it is really important I will discuss it at some point in the story. But, only if it is directly related to the plot.
That's all for now, enjoy the chapter. Have fun reading and much love from the West Coast.
Lilli
Chapter 2
Forty-five minutes later, Amelia and I were on our way to Hot Shot both dressed to the nines and looking smoking. She convinced me to wear this little ice blue cocktail dress that I had just gotten, personally, I thought it was too dressy but hell how often does a girl get to slip on a gorgeous dress and know she's lookin' smokin' hot. It was a cute little thing with just the right amount of dip in the front and no back to speak of; the spaghetti straps were a pain in the ass to get into considering there was like twelve of them that criss-crossed back and forth across my back. I was wearing the highest pair of heels I had ever dared to wear, four inch icy blue stilettos, not normally my style, but I just felt like I had to wear them. Amelia threw my hair up in a little French twist with tiny little ringlets scattered here and there to frame my face and we were ready to go. That is how we found ourselves cruising in my car going a little faster than I probably should blaring "I'm walking on Sunshine" on the radio and singing at the top of our lungs right along with the catchy tune.
We got there just in time, there were cars for miles in every direction but fortunately Jason had spotted me pulling through the town and had me park next to his Hot Shot home so I wouldn't have to walk as far.
I got out of the car positively beaming at Jason, I don't know what struck me but I threw myself at my brother and hugged him tight. "Yeah, yeah Sook I missed you too." He gently released me and took in what I was wearing for the first time. "Damn Sook, I am going to have to beat off people all night with you dressed like that."
I slapped his arm playfully. "Stop, I think I can manage a couple of uppity Supes thanks, besides knowing you, you'll have your hands full half way through the reception and I am not talking about with a plate of food."
"Yeah, you're probably right you know me, I'm Mr. irresistible."
I had nothing to say to that, since it was way closer to the truth than any smart-aleck remark I could come up with. Jason kind of has a way with the ladies. We went to the wedding and it was beautiful. Calvin looked truly happy and it made my heart swell with joy at the thought that he had finally found someone who could really, truly, love him.
After the wedding, the reception was jumpin' everyone was having a good time, eating, laughing, and talking. All of the Shreveport were pack was there, and they all came and chatted with me off and on throughout the night. A few different shifters, that I had met here and there over my travels in the community, were there as well, there was even the occasional Vampire, although most of them I wasn't familiar with, since most of my friends were killed during the takeover. Even so, there were a few faces I recognized here and there, including Bubba who they had somehow convinced to sing for everyone. I always love seeing Bubba, and even though he's a little off, he still makes me smile from ear to ear. I looked around and saw that everyone was getting along, there was none of that tension that usually occurs when various members of the Supe community came together, they were all well and truly happy to be sharing each other's company and simply enjoying the occasion.
Half way through the night and I finally got the chance to talk with Calvin and Tanya. "Wow ya'll I am so happy for you. Your weddin' was simply amazing."
"Thanks Sook, I am so glad you could come." Calvin said a large smile plastered across his face.
"Please, it's no big deal. I am just happy I could be here. The turnout is amazing and everything is just perfect."
"Yeah, Sook now if only we could find you a good man to settle down with." Tonya joked.
"Yeah, that would be nice, tall, blonde and dead preferably, got to love those vampire men Preferably someone who is strong, loyal and drop dead gorgeous, loves his mama, and is of course, a great kisser." I winked at her jokingly.
"Ask and thee shall receive." Amelia said in my ear.
I looked at her confused and I noticed that just about everyone at the wedding was all staring at some point behind me. A smile still plastered on my face I turned to see what everyone was staring at, just on the edge of the dance floor, the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life stood. He was tall at least 6'4", very wide in the shoulders, but slender at the waist and his every pore exuded confidence and sex appeal.
One look, and I knew I was dealing with a man who knew he was beautiful and could have any woman he wanted. I felt something low in my body tense and then blushed red at my obvious reaction. As he slowly strode towards me, it felt like he was walking in slow motion to help emphasize every move and twitch of his gorgeous body. Smoke curled around his legs and clung to him grasping at his body like the fingers of lovers desperate for one more kiss. I shook my head, thinking to myself, wait where did the fog and smoke come from? He smiled at me and I thought I was going to swoon, I felt my knees grow week bowled over by the electricity of that smile.
This specimen of supreme manhood stopped just in front of my little group of people. He nodded at us all, but never took his eyes off of me. My heart started to suddenly ache from its frantic racing and I took a deep breath to steady myself. I curtseyed slightly, just a quick little bob my eyes never leaving his. I mentally slapped myself, what the hell, I never ever did that to any vampire before not even the king. That beautiful smile spread across his full luscious lips, and I just wanted throw myself at him and cover every inch of those lips with my tongue and teeth. I bet those lips would be so much better at just kissing. I closed my eyes as I pictured those luscious lips kissing their way down my body. I snapped my eyes open and blushed as I realized I was having a fantasy, about this man I had never even met before and if that wasn't bad enough, he was standing right in front of me. I looked down at the floor in embarrassment and I felt cool fingers gently touch my chin and lift it gently, electricity rushed through me with that small touch I thought I was going to faint.
I looked up into the deep pools of endless blue that were staring down at me, and just looking into those eyes, I felt for the first time, in so long, true happiness. I could stare at his face forever, and I smiled the biggest smile I had in far too long, much longer then I could really remember. I saw him imitate the movement and that made me just feel even happier. I felt like my pores were radiating joy and he was matching it inch for inch and pound for pound. I had never seen a vampire who was so expressive with his emotions before and it stunned me. "Well aren't you sweet." He said his rich voice, which had just the hint of an accent, trembled along my body and made me shiver.
"Not really, I am just a proper southern belle." I said, his smile spreading even further across his face and I couldn't help but to laugh. He had a wicked little twinkle in his eyes, and I knew he was thinking very naughty thoughts, which only caused me to laugh again.
He released my chin and gently took my hand and brushed his lips across the top of my hand never taking his eyes off of me. "Well lady, then let me introduce myself properly, Northman, Eric Northman."
"Is that like Bond, James Bond?" I asked laughing and he responded with a laugh that took my breath away. Oh my god this man was a gift from God. "So, Mr. Northman what brings you here this evening?"
"I have come to bring congratulations from the King to the happy couple, of course."
"Oh, then you must be the new Sheriff."
He raised one eye at me questioningly. "Yes, I am indeed."
"Well hopefully you do a better job than the last guy." Friggin' Bill. I felt a momentary flash of anger go through me and then I buried it down deep inside there was no way I was going to let anything ruin this night, especially not Bill friggin' Compton. It felt like everything was just clicking perfectly into place for me and I was not going to ruin it but succumbing to the doubts and fears that being with Bill and Quinn had instilled in me. This guy was different, I don't know how I knew it but I did.
Eric was watching my face intently and finally said. "Indeed, I have heard that he was not loved by many in this area. I am assuming he has wronged you in some way?"
"Yeah, you could say that but I don't really want to talk about Bill."
He took a step closer to me and I could feel my heart racing again and my breath stopped as he ran a cool finger down the side of my face. "What do you want to talk about my sweet southern belle?"
"Anything but that loser of an ex-sheriff Bill Compton." Although my words are harsh they came out breathy and sweet.
He smirked at me slightly and ran his thumb across my lips lightly I closed my eyes and was thoroughly enjoying his touch. "Such hard words to come from such delicate lips, maybe your right maybe your aren't as sweet as you look. What is your name, my southern belle?"
I couldn't find my voice his words and touch were washing away all of my inhibitions and I was fighting every impulse to keep myself from throwing him down right there in the middle of everything and fucking his brains out in front of God and every Supe in the surrounding area. The fact that I remembered I was in front of about two hundred people shook me back to reality a little I was definitely not behaving very proper if I was not only ready to throw this man whom I had only just met down and fuck him but I had gone and forgotten to introduce myself. I opened my eyes and was lost again in those duel pools of blue. "Stackhouse, Sookie Stackhouse."
He had a look of shock on his face and he raised an eyebrow at me clearly he had heard of me. "Surly you cannot be serious. I have heard many tales of you Miss. Stackhouse of how brave and courageous you are and even that you are a fierce fighter but you are defiantly not what I would have pictured. Yes, I heard that you were very beautiful but …" he let his thoughts trail off.
"Disappointed?" I laughed.
"Oh, no definitely not, I don't think there is anything you could do that would ever disappoint. You are just not …"
"What you expected, I get that a lot especially when I am around the vampires. It always amuses me when I meet someone for the first time and they realize who I am. So tell me Mr. Northman what did you expect?"
"To be honest, Lynda Carter."
I roared with laughter wow, is this like a reoccurring theme for me or what? He looked confused and said. "You know Lynda Carter, wonder woman? The way people talk about you is like you are some kind of super hero always rushing in and saving the day."
I laughed again. "Yeah I know who she is; I just think it's funny. This is not the first time today that someone has told me that. I guess it should be a compliment, I just have a hard time thinking that I am some kind of super hero. I have never really put a lot of thought into the things that I have done for the Supe community, I just do them because it is the right thing to do at the time. Not thinking before I act, has not actually panned out very well," I shrugged my shoulders. "I follow my instincts and do what needs to be done. Sure, it has landed me in the hospital more times than I care to really think about but I have always done my best to save of fix whatever crazy situation that I find myself in."
He shook his head shocked and amazed. "You are very brave." He said softly.
I snorted and he looks amused at my reaction. "More like stupid and gullible but thanks for the compliment.
"Sookie, you should not talk about yourself like that." He said seriously. I was opening my mouth to come up with some kind of witty retort when he leaned in and kissed me. It was soft, sweet, chaste, passionate, and a religious experience all at the same time. It was lighter then the brush of a butterfly's wings, but as powerful as an ocean wave crashing against the side of a cliff. Just as quickly as it started, it ended, and he looked just as breathless as I felt. "Miss. Stackhouse can I have the honor of having a dance with you?"
"Of course." I blushed and looked down at the floor, embarrassed and shy all of the sudden. I was almost intimidated by this man and his beauty, I felt small and insignificant next to him.
He touched my chin again, forcing me to look up into his eyes and said softly. "Don't look down; never look down, if anything I should be kneeling at your feet. You are truly magnificent; I am honored that you will dance with me and grace me with your presence."
Never in all my life has anyone ever spoken to me this way before. I was completely flabbergasted and flattered all at the same time. "Thank you, that was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, but really I think that I should be saying the same to you, although I probably wouldn't have put it so eloquently. I am not worthy of such praise coming from such a beautiful man."
He laughed a small little laugh. "You are worth much more than pretty words." He leaned over and gently brushed his lips across my cheek. "Come, dance with me Sookie." He slid he hand to the small of my back and led me away from the small group we had been standing in.
-Amelia
I laughed slightly as I watched my friend get led away by the absolutely beautiful Eric Northman. He wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I thought of what Sookie needs in a soul mate, but I guess it isn't about me, it's about Sookie. Obviously, this powerful and sexy guy was exactly what she would need. Something was telling me Sookie's life was about to be much easier than it had been with this warrior at her side.
"Ummm… what just happened? Did the rest of you feel that magic? Should we be concerned for Sook?" Calvin said his voice was showing that was extremely worried about Sookie.
"No Calvin, you don't have to worry." I didn't really want to explain it to him.
"But Amelia didn't you feel that, what if Sookie is in trouble?" He asked, in a very rushed and worried tone. I know that Calvin cared a great deal for Sookie, and at one point had tried to get her to marry him. He really was just worried about her and wasn't trying to be rude or obtrusive.
I sighed and turned towards him, looking him square in the eyes, so that I would get my point across. "Calvin what you just witnessed was the joining of two souls who have earned the right to have someone love them unconditionally. Their lot in their lives has been so bad that the Gods intervened and gave them exactly what the other needed. You have just witnessed the joining of soul mates. It is a beautiful thing and no matter what you try to do, you will never be able to rip them apart. Heck I don't even know that they could rip themselves away from the each other; since they are both wide open to the prospect of the other. Just look at them Calvin, have you ever seen Sookie so happy and content to be cherished, or have you ever seen a vampire who was so open and honest and openly emotional with a human? They are the exact balance that the other needs in all situations. It's amazing and you should feel blessed that you were able to witness this on your wedding day, of all days. You will probably never see such an obvious work of the Gods first hand as you have here today."
"This is crazy Amelia are you sure, I mean really hasn't Sookie been hurt enough in the vampire world, she has to go and take up with another one?"
"Calvin, you and I booth know Sookie isn't ever going to have that normal life with the picket fence and the 2.5 children. She can barely be around shifters and weres, let alone humans. Just look at her for a moment and tell me what is different about her. Something is missing and if you look real close you can see it and you will have your answer."
Calvin looked at Sookie for a long time, we all did, and we watched her spin around the floor looking up lovingly into Eric's face. After what felt like an eternity Calvin gasped. "She … she…"
"She has no more pain." I said. "It's like that weight that she has been carrying around for the last few years has just been lifted away. Even though it is still there and she knows it, she doesn't feel burdened by it anymore, because she has someone there to truly help her. She doesn't have to be the soul person to bare all of that responsibility anymore because Eric is always going to be there to hold her hand, and be there for her not only in her hours of greatest need, but also every other small moment. She will never be alone again. The most important thing though, if you look closely, all of the pain, sorrow, cynicism, and trauma from the last two years is gone, wiped away. She has a clean slate. This time though, because she has Eric no matter what, she will never have that look, the one we have all seen on her face these past few months, ever again. If she hadn't found him we would have lost her soon."
Calvin looked at me, shocked. "Wait, what do you mean we would have lost her soon?"
"We would have lost her Calvin within the year. She would have stopped caring and she would have died in the line of duty or she would have just stopped doing what she does and moved away so no one could find her, and our world, the world of the Supes, would have fallen without her. Or worse of all she could have ended up not caring so much that she would end up hating us all and being the force to be reckoned with on the wrong side of the war, and with all that she knows it would have been very bad if that happened."
-Sookie
Eric placed his hand on the small of my back and led me out to the dance floor, now at times I know, I get down on myself because I feel like I have no redeeming qualities, and I always have this feeling, that I am really not good at much of anything. But the one thing I know I can do is dance; I have always known just how to move my body to the desired effect. I was one of the few fortunate people who actually are born with natural rhythm. Even if I have a weak partner to dance with I can usually pull off a fairly good show. I peaked over at Eric and wondered if this six foot four man could actually move gracefully.
He lead me right to the middle of the floor just as a song was ending, he slipped his hand into mine and swung me around so that I was facing him. The movement was very fluid and graceful but still that wasn't dancing. I laughed to myself. I was going to give him a run for his money and he was going to have to work to keep up with me. The first beats of Natasha Bedingfields Pocketful of Sunshine came over the speakers and I immediately started moving my hips to the beat. A small smirk curls up the right side of his full lips as I start to spin and twirl around him, I dart in and out to touch his chest, his hips, his face and the whole time his smile just widens and his eyes sparkle like twin suns as he watches me move and bounce the beat. He lets me pull and push and lead him around the floor, as I spin and twirl just for him. When the song ends I curtsy a quick little bob at him and find myself almost disappointed that he didn't participate more, I would have figured him for a take charge kind of guy.
I turned to walk off the floor just as the first notes of Livin la vida Loca came over the speakers he grabs my hand and spins me to him. I look up at him and he strokes the side of my cheek gently, "Now where do you think you're going? You had your fun now I am going to have mine." He laughs a deep toe tingling laugh and starts pushing me around the floor. I wouldn't have thought that he would be one for salsa dancing but the man could move. We flowed around the floor like a stick caught up in the rapids of a river twisting and dipping and twirling in perfect harmony.
I was almost surprised that we moved so well together considering he had almost a foot of height on me but somehow he made it work. It was like we were always meant to dance together we just fit perfectly. I didn't even have to try that hard he was the perfect leader with the slightest pressure of a fingertips I knew exactly where he wanted me to move and what he wanted me to do. Just as the last notes ended he dipped me low and I threw my head back and laughed, if you know anything about dancing having a man who can actually dip you properly is a big deal most of the time they do it wrong and they end up hurting you or themselves. As the last notes faded away into the night a loud thunder of applause broke out all around us. I instantly turned bright red with embarrassment but Eric God bless him looked anything but embarrassed he pulled me up and spun me out and around so that I could face the crowd of party goers and he bowed low while I curtsied to them.
I tried to pull my hand from his so that I can rush off the dance floor to escape the embarrassment that was consuming me, but just as before he spun me into him and the sultry tones of Faith Hill drifted thru the night. I looked up into his eyes, as she starts one of my all time favorite songs but until this moment I really had never truly related to the words of this song. Looking up into the eyes of this gorgeous example of a man I softly sang along to the words as Eric gently pushed me around the floor. "From this moment life has begun." I sang.
"From this moment you are the one," Eric sang back to me.
"Right beside you." I sang
"Is where I belong, from this moment on." We sang in unison.
"From this moment I have been blessed." He sang.
"I live only for your happiness" I sang
"And for you love" He sang.
"I'd give my last breath, from this moment on." We sang in unison again"
I give my hand to you with all my heart.
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start.
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you.
From this moment,
As long as I live
I will love you I promise you this.
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on.
You're the reason I believe in love.
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above.
All we need is just the two of us,
My dreams came true because of you.
From this moment as long as I live
I will love you I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment
I will love you
I will love you
As long as I live
From this moment on.
As the last notes drifted into the silent night, Eric leaned forward and placed the most reverent of kisses upon my lips. Every kiss I have ever had had always been dripping with sex or the promise of sex, but Eric's kiss was like a soft prayer offered up to me on a golden tray of love and promise. There was no forcefulness or expectations behind it, just a simple, I have to kiss you to seal in this feeling of complete joy I have, and thank God for you right in this moment for delivering you to me. Warmth spread through me from my head to my toes. I could feel the burdens of my life slowly lifting off of my shoulders and sliding onto his to help me through them. I knew that no matter what he would be there with me to guide me and even carry me whenever I needed.
We pulled back from each other gently neither wanting the kiss to end but both of us knowing that it had to, and yet even though they were no longer touching, I could still feel the gentle and firm press of his lips tingling against mine. I placed my fingertips to my lips and he mirrored my movements it was truly amazing. We just smiled at each other and slowly slipped our hands into the others and lead the other off the dance floor towards a small grove of trees that was just a little ways off in the distance. It was perfect just far enough away that the music and the people were not overwhelming but close enough that the quiet melodies could add to moment.
I stopped and looked up silently at the stars that were peaking through the canopy of trees. "Beautiful." He whispered against my ear as he slid his arms around my waist from behind.
I leaned into his chest and said. "I always love looking up at the stars, there is an infinite number of possibilities. Think of all the wisdom that they have looking down on the millions of worlds that stretch out into infinity. It is awe inspiring."
He kissed my cheek lightly. "I wasn't actually talking about the stars. But those are beautiful as well." I giggled softly and turned in his arms to face him. I looked up into his eyes and I felt just as overwhelmed by them as I did by the stars. An endless amount of possibilities hidden behind those twin pools, all the wisdom of the world trapped behind two shimmering sapphires. Suddenly he swept my legs out from under me and had me in his arms, bridal style. I threw my head back and laughed, what was it about this man, I felt so at ease with him. If anyone else would have swept me into their arms like I was Scarlett I would have been irate, but with Eric it just felt perfect. As if he was reading my mind he said softly. "Perfect." And placed another reverent kiss on my lips, when he pulled away I noticed that he was sitting at the base of the huge oak that we had been standing under. He positioned me in front of him and wrapped his arms gently around my belly. I leaned back into his chest and just enjoyed the silence and contentment of the moment.
"Sookie?" he said gently pulling me out of my quite contentment.
"Hmm?"
"Tell me about yourself, how did you get pulled into this world of battles and monsters?"
I laughed quietly. "Just over two years ago a vampire came into my bar and changed my life. Although to give him a tiny bit of credit, I think that even if the events of that night wouldn't have unfolded like they did, I would have ended up in the supernatural world eventually. As a telepath I was never welcomed in the 'normal world,' regular humans are scared of me and they often think I am insane." I shrugged.
"Why would they think you're insane? I do not understand why would they not accept your gift? You are special they should worship that difference, not condemn it."
"I agree with you in theory, but unfortunately things just don't work that way. Humans are scared of the things that they cannot explain or control. There is no way that they can control the fact that I can see into their heads. I mean most of what I hear is just mundane things, what people need from the grocery store, or what bills they need to get paid before their various utilities get shut off. But I also hear the things most people would never say aloud, sexual fantasies, their various indiscretions, the fact that they're gay or that they sneak away on the weekends and dress in drag at some club, when they are supposed to be on a business trip.
"People are rarely what they appear to be and those that are actually genuinely good for the most part still have skeletons in their closets that they would never share with the world. But, because I can do what I do I know what those skeleton's are regardless of wither someone willing shares them with me or not."
Eric and I sat silent for a moment as he processed what I said. "All right, I see all your points but you still didn't answer my question Sookie. How did you get dragged into the Supe world?"
I gritted my teeth a little just the thought of how it all started irritated me. "Bill Compton." I annunciated each syllable for emphasis. I felt the muscles in my jaw tighten and all the muscles in my body flex and release, that man just got under my skin, even now, being held in the arms of the most beautiful man I have ever seen, he could still invoke such hate in me.
Eric ran his hands gently up and down my arms slowly pushing the stress right out of me, he kissed the top of my head and I took a long steady breath to calm down. "Bill walked into my bar just over two years ago and, to my amazement, not only was he the first Vampire I ever met but his mind was a complete and utter blank. You can imagine that after all of my years being bombarded by everyone's thoughts having someone who was completely silent to me was like a breath of fresh air." I sat quietly reminiscing over that first meeting with the handsome southern gentleman.
I sighed and continued. "I was so flattered by his little crumbs of attention. I had never really met anyone who was genuinely interested in me before that I actually ate up every last bit of it without a second thought about the fact that he might not be genuine. I don't know if it was naiveté, or just the fact that I am so used to being in everyone's head that I automatically know their true intentions, but whatever the reason, I took his words at face value. Regardless, that night I saved Bill from two drainers and I guess the rest as they say is history. After that day my world was always associated with the Supes. Savior to innocent and victim to the rest, on days I am feeling particularly bitter I imagine that I let the stupid Rats drain Bill and that somehow I would have saved myself a lot of heart-ache, not to mention perhaps keeping me out of the Supe world. But I am not so stupid to think that if I had let that happen, that I wouldn't have gotten drawn in anyways, the queen would have just devised another plan. Besides, it just isn't in my nature to let any harm come to someone that is innocent. I don't think I really ever had a choice, there was no way I would have let them drain Bill. Even if I had known everything I knew now, I wouldn't have let them drain him. Hell I saved him from his maker and staked the bitch, even though I knew he had betrayed me by cheating on me with her."
Eric laughed. "So you really did stake Lorena? Did you really get staked in Club Dead as well? Did you really take the stake for a vampire that you had never met before?"
"Yep to both. I killed that bitch Lorena and I took the stake for Betty Joe when the Fellowship tried to kill her. What choice did I have? I knew that they were going to kill her and I knew that even if they succeeded they would have died anyways. Betty Joe hadn't done anything other than be a vampire how could I just sit by and let them kill her? Again no choice there, it's not really in my nature to let someone get slaughtered just because they are what they are. Betty Joe most likely didn't have any choice in the matter of becoming a vampire anymore than anyone else has at least before the great reveal. She's a victim of circumstance just like many others. Bill was a victim because he was a vampire and some greedy human got it in their head that they could make a quick buck off of him. It was easy for the drainers to kill him because in their heads because he isn't a real person as far as they were concerned. But ya'll are just as real as anyone else why should ya'll be singled out just because your different? It isn't any different then slaughtering Jew's simply because they are Jewish or blacks because they are black."
"You amaze me little one." Eric said and kissed my head again.
I shrugged. "If the attitude I have is so amazing it is a sad sentiment on the status of our world. I think that the way I feel is how everyone should feel."
"To true, but not many would literally throw themselves in the line of fire to prevent someone from getting hurt regardless of how they feel about the state of things. So, you saved Bill from drainers, and then later after he betrayed you by cheating on you with his maker, again you rescued him after getting staked for Betty Joe. How did you manage this?"
"Not a stinking clue, I got lucky I guess. The king, Russell, took pity on me and brought me back to his nest and healed me. Bubba helped me scout the grounds while I was laid up waiting to heal once he located Bill I just acted on instinct I got him out but before I could leave Lorena came in and ambushed me and I staked her. That was luck as well I think she rushed me and wasn't paying attention to the fact that I was armed, I got her before she got me. I drove him back to my friends place and that was that." I tensed slightly thinking of what happened after I got him back to Alcide's. I shivered slightly with the memory about how close I had come to dying again.
"I think there is more to this story little one." Eric said rubbing his hands up and down my arms trying to sooth me.
I bit my lip anxiously. I hadn't told anyone about what had happened that day but for some reason I felt like this man deserved to hear all my secrets. "Well, after we got to Alcide's I checked on Bill, we were down in an underground parking structure so I knew that if I opened the trunk that he was hidden and the sun wouldn't harm him. Well," I took a ragged breath and forced myself through the next part as quickly as I could. "Alcide's ex, Debbie Pelt was totally jealous of the imaginary relationship that Alcide and I had made up, so that I could have access into Club Dead to find out where Bill was. Anyways, she shoved me into the trunk and slammed it shut. When Bill woke he…" I felt Eric's arms tighten around me it was like he was trying to protect me from the terrible thing that happened to me. "he was a vampire who had been almost completely drained, starved, and tortured for over a week. He woke ravenous, he almost drained me completely, and then his other hungers woke as well. There isn't anything that could have changed the situation, it happened, as soon as he realized what he had done, he broke us out of the trunk and transfused me. It doesn't really change what happened, but at least he kept me from dying."
"So for the second time in as many days you almost died for someone who betrayed you. Why, I just don't understand?"
"I can't explain it Eric, I felt like I had to, Bill was my first in every way, my first love, my first boyfriend, my first well, just my first. Regardless of his betrayal, he didn't deserve to be tortured just because he had invented the vampire data base, let alone be tortured by someone he had love for. It wasn't right, so I did what I had to. That and the queen asked me to, well more like she threatened me, but I would have done it anyways, without the threat."
"What about all the other things I hear about you, all the wars you fought in to help us, the shifters, and the weres, did you really do those things? What about Rhodes? Did you really rescue not only humans but Vampires in Rhodes after you had already gotten yourself out? Did you really save the King, even though he had come in and wiped out almost every vampire in the state? It all seems kind of fantastical to me?"
I laughed. "At times it seems fantastical to me as well, I mean I am just a simple waitress from a small town in Louisiana. But somehow, I always end up in these crazy situations where I am fighting tooth and nail to save the people I love and even those I hate, simply because I can't let them be victims for simply existing."
"So you really did do all of those things?"
"Yes. I fought the witches of Shreveport when they threatened to drive out all the vampires, fortunately I wasn't actually injured in that war although I was shot but not during the skirmish. Debbie Pelt showed up and tried to kill me again. I was lucky there. She shot me, but her aim was off just enough that she just clipped my shoulder. I managed to get my shotgun and I dealt with her. I also saved the shifters and weres from this crazy psycho who had been bitten and was taking out her hate for what she had been done on the community. Again, I was shot but I managed to lure her out into the open and she got what she deserved in the end. The were war, well that wasn't on purpose, I was just trying to settle the issues the pack was having by attending a peace meeting. I was offering my services as a lie detector and all hell broke loose. So yeah I was there. I actually managed to escape that one relatively unscathed. Oh, and my house was almost burnt down by Charles Twining for getting Longshadow killed, shortly after I met Bill, but it was really Longshadow's own fault for embezzling and his maker just decided that it was all my fault and tried to have me 'dealt' with didn't really work. What else, oh Rhodes, yeah I was working for the Queen and dating Quinn when the fellowship decided to blow up the building with everyone in it. I didn't really think about it, I just did what had to be done. I can find humans and vamps with my gift, vamps because they leave a big empty spot and humans because I can hear them even when they aren't awake. I did what had to be done that's all. Again relatively unscathed there as well fortunately, oh yeah I saved the Queen from her traitorous husband when he tried to take her out as well. That was before Rhodes though."
"What about saving the king? He had just come in and taken over your state killed your Queen, killed Vampires you considered your friends and yet you saved him from Sigebert."
"Right time right place I guess, I wasn't really mad at him for doing what he did, I understand the political aspect of it Even if I was pissed that he did what he did, he didn't deserve to die the way that Sigebert would have killed him. Besides he would never have known how bad things where here if it wouldn't have been for Quinn. Once again the man I 'loved' betrayed me and my friends for his own purposes. His indiscretions where not nearly as bad as Bills in some ways but in other's it was way worse, at least Bill's betrayal didn't get almost everyone I know killed. Quinn tried to apologize but I just couldn't forgive him. I may understand why he did what he did but that doesn't mean I have to continue to associate myself with someone who doesn't really love me. If he did, he would have just agreed to work in the pits again instead of betraying me by telling the king all about me and giving away state secrets. Hell, he could have just given away all of the state secrets without ever mentioning me. Betrayal is betrayal I consider myself to be fairly forgiving but I almost died myself that night. I had to agree to work for the king for the next five years with no pay. The only stipulation that I got him to agree to and only because I saved his ass, was that I get to stay here in Louisiana. Otherwise I would probably be locked away in some gilded cell in Vegas."
"What happened to Bill and Quinn?"
"I don't have the slightest clue, they both disappeared that night. Hell, Bill wasn't any better than Quinn, when they showed up at my house he ran into the night leaving me on my own to face fourteen angry Vampires all on my own and I set up a meeting to negotiate a deal with the king for my services."
"Hmm," Eric kissed my head again and nuzzled me lightly with his nose. "You really are amazing."
"So I have heard." I laughed, he started to lightly kiss me again he placed soft kisses on my head, he moved my hair off the back of my neck and swept it to the side and gently started to kiss at the base of my hair line. I shivered against him. If this kept up I was going to throw him down on the ground right here in front of God and everyone and have my way with him. "Sam, he's my shifter boss keeps asking me if I am trying to be a martyr or something for the Supernatural world, I always tell him that I am just trying to do the right thing. I am by no means trying to get myself killed I have been fairly lucky so far. So is the inquisition over? You don't have any more questions for me?"
"None that I can think of at the moment." He kissed me on what I like to think of as the sweet spot at the nape of my neck.
I shuddered against him again and he laughed into my skin. The vibrations reverberated across my skin, pulling a small moan from my lips. He lifted me up of the ground and spun me around so that I was straddling his waist. I always forget how strong vampires actually are, and to actually see him handle me like I was no more than a rag doll caused me to gasp. I had the perfect mixture of fear and excitement rushing through me. I loved that he was willing to man handle me in a way, he could dominate me so easily.
I ran my fingers through his golden hair, it was so soft and smooth and, amazingly, the exact same color as my own. I moved my hand down further and just as I reached the base of his skull I felt two hard somethings hidden beneath his hair. I pulled back slightly and said. "Eric, is that what I think it is?"
"What is that little one?"
"Are you wearing swords?"
"Of course little one, I never go anywhere unarmed, ever. I haven't survived as long as I have to be so foolish to think that I might find myself in a situation where just my brute strength will not do the trick. So I take precautions, I also have two very long knifes on the outside of each of my boots."
I turned my upper body slightly and saw hidden amongst his dark boots was indeed the handle of a knife. If I hadn't been looking for it I would have missed it though the black of the handle blended in perfectly with his black jeans and black boots. I leaned back a little and ran my fingers just over the edge of the handles. This however put my cleavage right in Eric's face. He leaned forward and slowly started to kiss me across the tops of my breasts.
"It is terrible all the things that happened to you. Maybe, you can have a new chance at happiness with me?"
Oh good God, I love, love, love this man. So sweet and kind and yet powerful and manly, how did I get so lucky? I didn't feel one bit of apprehension about trusting him, although I knew that I should probably be wary, there was just no way that I could be. It was like he was the other half of my soul. He brought his knees up and kind of laid me back against them as a back rest and gently rubbed his hands up and down my sides. I closed my eyes thoroughly enjoying the moment. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met Sookie." I smiled at that, how was it he knew just what to say. I slowly let myself relax completely; I had never felt so safe before, as I did, here in Eric's arms. I let my shields drop accidently but it was a good thing that I did. My eyes snapped open, I reached back grabbed both of Eric's knifes, somersaulted backwards, as I sprang to my feet, and ran towards the edge of the woods.