Hey everybody, I know I missed a day, but here you are!

I am having trouble keeping up releasing a chapter a day, with Christmas coming around so soon and last minute shopping getting done. So thanks for being so patient and hanging in there with me. It might be longer between entries, but after Christmas, everything should be back to normal.

I am thinking about getting another one out to you by tonight, but it depends on how fast I edit and get it out to ya! Thanks so much. I live for the reviews so keep it up.

Chapter 16: I Found You -Luluc

Eric

Eric landed on Sookie's porch with a thud and he inhaled deeply, scenting for anything amiss. When he found nothing but Lafayette's scent here with old scents of Sookie and Quinn, he relaxed slightly but not completely. Not until he was sure that Sookie was safe and truly unharmed.

Eric attempted to look down into Sookie's face, but it was nuzzled into his chest. She was still clinging to his shirt and he noticed that although she had ceased crying, she was shaking and trembling. Eric kissed the crown of her head and said softly, "Sookie, I cannot enter."

"Please come in Eric," she in a voiced that was cracked. Before he could enter though, the door was flung open and Lafayette began ranting hysterically.

"Mothafucka, what you done? I swears on the deity of yo coice that I will kill you fo hurtin' this chil'," he said reaching for Sookie. Eric held her to him and he was surprised to feel her cling to him despite her friend's attempts.

She finally turned towards him and said, "Laf, he is welcome into my home. Let us in."

Finally, Eric stepped over the threshold and he walked past Lafayette and into the living room. Eric tried walked to the sofa and tried placing her on the couch so he could light a fire, but she whimpered when he tried to set her down and pull away from her.

He picked her back and sat on the couch with her on his lap. He grabbed the afghan and draped it over both of them. His heart would have been beating in contentment if it could, but he was so concerned for her. She had made progress with everything she had already been through. What if this set her back? If it did, king or no king, Bill would pay. And Quinn was already in deep with Eric.

Sookie nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck and he rubbed his cheek against her forehead and the top of her head. He inhaled her scent deeply, and aside from Quinn's scent on her, she smelled incredible.

He squeezed his eyes shut and continued to rub her back with one hand and her cheek with the other. If he could have only this for the rest of his life, he would be happy for eternity.

Sookie's warm breath blew against the side of his neck and he shivered in pleasure. She began to pull back and look at him and his heart ached at the loss of contact.

"I am sorry, you don't have to hold me if you don't want to," she offered, her muscles preparing to take her away from him. Now he was the one clinging. He held onto her, almost pleading, "Sookie, please, I want to."

She stared him in the eyes and clearly saw his sincerity, and snuggled back into him. "What happened?"

Suddenly both of them were aware that Lafayette was here and clearly confused. He glanced between them, not understanding how Eric had come into this evening's picture. And it was about to get even more confusing as Pam and Ludwig knocked.

Lafayette gave Sookie a look, and she nodded, letting him know she was fine for less than a minute without him.

"Sookie?" Eric asked. She looked up at him, her mouth open as if she had something to say, but didn't know how to say it.

But then, they were surrounded. Pam, Lafayette, and Ludwig were surrounding them and Eric almost growled for them to get out as Sookie's eyes began to dart around and get anxious again.

Pam began answering Lafayette and Ludwig's questions, but she wasn't able to fully fill in all the parts of the story.

"Vampire, you asked me to come and examine her. Now, I need to look her over without you attached to her. So move," she commanded, but in a softer tone than was typical of her.

Eric rubbed Sookie's back soothingly and she nodded her head in understanding. He slowly eased himself up and laid her on the couch.

Immediately the doctor moved to her and Eric remained by her side as she looked over Sookie's minor injuries. Eric noticed she gave Sookie a light pat on the cheek and a small smile of encouragement.

Eric smiled himself. This doctor never took a liking to anybody, but even she couldn't keep Sookie out of her tiny, Grinch-like heart.

Sookie said, "I am fine. Aside from the cut and the fat lip, I am fine."

"Yes dear, you are," Ludwig said in a way that alluded she was talking about more than her injuries.

There was another knock on the door and everyone but Ludwig looked at it. Eric unconsciously stepped in front of Sookie and the little doctor. Whoever was coming for Sookie was coming through him first.

Lafayette went to the door and peeked through. Eric heard Lafayette sigh in relief and Eric relaxed fractionally. A vampire entered that Eric didn't know, immediately causing him to tense up again.

The other vampire sensing his age and power tensed up as well, but she made for Sookie anyway. Eric growled menacingly and he slightly bent his limbs in attack mode.

Who the hell was she?

"She is a friend of mine and an associate of Dr. Ludwig's," Sookie said softly to the room.

"Annabelle Brighton is my supernatural psychological specialist, and has been instrumental in Sookie's progress, so stand down," Ludwig barked out.

Eric relaxed, but positioned himself at the end of the couch where Sookie's head rested. Pam stood at the other end of the couch near her feet, ready to assist in any way she could.

Eric smiled at her softly, and sent through their maker-child bond appreciation and gratitude.

Pam looked to him and her full lips hitched up on one side, giving him a crooked smile. Then she returned her watchful gaze back to the other individuals in the room. Sookie tried to sit up, but the doctor put her hand on her shoulder, encouraging her to lie down.

"I don't think you should move," she said sternly.

Sookie looked exasperated and said, "Well then y'all better sit. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to be the only one lying down while everyone hovers around you standing?"

Pam and Lafayette chuckled and Lafayette crossed the room to the couch maneuvering between Annabelle and Ludwig. He lifted Sookie's legs and sat where they had been, placing them on his lap.

Annabelle sat in a chair across from the couch and Eric and Pam perched on the arms of the sofa. Eric watched Sookie's face as she took in all the awkward faces around her. She blushed when she found all sets of eyes were trained on her.

"Well, ummm, can I get anybody a True Blood, or a drink?" she asked, attempting to get up, but being gently pushed back down by Ludwig.

Eric smirked, but then turned serious once again and asked, "She is uninjured Ludwig? You are sure?"

"Hmmm, let me make sure my extensive medical knowledge is fully engaged here" she said in exasperation and frustration, "Yes, she is fine. The cut and the "fat lip", as she adorably calls it, will heal and shouldn't leave any scarring."

"Alright, you all hear her, I'm fine. Now let me up."

Sookie sat up slowly, waiting to see if anybody was going to restrain her. She then went to the kitchen and Annabelle said, "I'll help you."

Eric made to follow the two, but Ludwig held her hand to stop him. She shook her head, and once Sookie was out of earshot, she said, "Annabelle needs to see how Sookie is handling this mentally. Let her alone with her a moment."

Eric hated to admit it, but she was right. He watched as she disappeared in the other room with the vampire.

Sookie

Aside from being tricked and manipulated again by Bill, Sookie was doing surprisingly well. She was upset. Hell, she had almost been raped by that fucker, Quinn, as Bill jerked off in the bushes watching. And if she had grasped what had gone done tonight correctly, Bill had set the whole thing up and essentially re-hired Quinn to assault Sookie.

As she warmed up the True Blood, she felt shame and anger wash over her. How could she be so stupid? Annabelle came up behind her.

"I can tell you are blaming yourself, Sookie," she said gently. Sookie turned and she said, "Why do I keep doing this to myself?"

"Oh, so you are the one manipulating and assaulting yourself? You did all that? Because if you did, we have a lot more to cover in sessions," Annabelle asked with a slight edge to her voice.

"Sookie, please listen to me. There was no way you could have known what was in store for you tonight. How could you? You do have a trusting heart, but that does not mean you should assume the blame for their behavior."

Sookie nodded, "I am just so tired of strugglin' and worryin' about what's next. And to be honest Annabelle, I can't handle somethin' like this happenin' to me one more time. I am serious."

Annabelle nodded. "I can understand. You are scared. You need protection Sookie. We have already discussed what would be the best move for you."

Sookie nodded. "I know if there was one vampire I would choose to claim me, it would be Eric. When he came for me tonight…Annabelle, the relief to see him was undeniably powerful. But then again, I wasn' shocked to find him there. He had come for me even without the tie to me. And he cared for me so tenderly when he did find me. After all of my rejection and pushin' him away, some part of him does care."

Annabelle said, "Sookie, there is no part of Eric Northman that doesn't love you. From everything we have discussed to what I witnessed tonight, I see it so clearly. I just wish you would."

Sookie shook her head sadly, "I don't think I am enough for Eric. He had a gorgeous woman all over him just a couple of weeks ago. And not the pretty from a certain angle, but a pretty in a way that practically smacks you hard in the face when you see them."

Annabelle smiled softly, "Oh I have no doubt that he could get the most attractive woman in the world, but what he wants is the most beautiful woman to him and the one he loves, which is you."

"Yeah, bu-," Sookie began, "But nothing! If Eric chooses to be with you, it's his choice. Like in any couple, it will be a leap you are both just going to have to make," Annabelle said.

Sookie looked at her then turned to the microwave that finally pinged, telling her the drinks were finished. Sookie shook the bottles, and then handed them to Annabelle.

"Will you take those out? I am gonna grab something for the humans and Ludwig."

Annabelle nodded, turning to leave when Sookie said, "Annabelle? I like that you talked to me like a friend just now. It's nice knowin' what you think."

Annabelle smirked, "Well this isn't one of our sessions, so I gave you my honest opinion."

When Annabelle left the room, Sookie smiled and turned back to the refrigerator to grab the iced tea out. Did she think Eric really loved her? This Eric?

Sookie's heart fluttered at the idea and she gasped as a thought occurred to her.

Her heart had fluttered, and it wasn't because of the blood or for any other reason. It was because she felt genuine affection and love towards Eric. When she had caught him with the fangbanger, she had felt genuine hurt and pain. And jealousy. When she saw Eric tonight, a sense of safety and security also flooded her system.

She had loved Eric all along. Sookie's eyes welled and she smiled as she arranged the drinks on the tray. But she immediately felt panic. So she now knew what she felt, but how do you deal with those emotions? How did you admit them to the person?

What if after all the rejection he had suffered, she would now be rejected by him? Sookie's stomach churned and she gasped again at the real feelings finally coming off of her. She had just been too stubborn to recognize and acknowledge them.

Eric suddenly stormed in, worry and panic on his features, "What's wrong?" he demanded. Annabelle and Pam followed him in shortly afterwards, curiosity on their faces. "What did you hear Eric?" Pam asked. "I didn't hear anything."

"Sookie gasped twice," he replied plainly while looking at Sookie, crinkling his brow to show her his confusion.

She reddened in the face and said, "Nothing is wrong, I am fine."

Annabelle was looking at her with an amused expression, while Pam and Eric's were simply mystified. She walked past them to the living room and set the tray on the coffee table. She handed Dr. Ludwig the first glass and then one to Lafayette, who said, "Thanks, hookuh."

Eric, who had followed Sookie in growled at the name, but Pam chuckled and smacked his arm. "He calls everyone that."

He still looked ruffled by the name, but quickly controlled his expression to one of apathy.

Sookie sat next to him on the couch and began asking Dr. Ludwig about her prize winning bougainvillea plant. Aside from healing, she fostered a nursery full of beautiful plants and said Sookie could come by and see it sometime. She talked for a while as the others listened to them and held small side conversations and then checked her watch and said, "Must dash, if you can believe it, I have to go see another vampire about a girl."

Sookie chuckled and she ushered her to the front door, thanking the doctor profusely for coming by on such short notice for such minor injuries. "No problem at all, my dear. You happen to be one of my favorite patients," she admitted.

Sookie smiled and the doctor waved goodbye before popping off to see a vampire about a girl.

So how do you think she is going to tell him? Or do you think she has the chutzpah?