So shopping went well! I am glad that you all were happy with how that went. They may not be friends, but they are on their way. The actress that plays Pam on True Blood said that there is some development in her relationship to Sookie in season 5 because of her tie to Eric, so I am heading in that direction with these characters too.

So in the next chapter we are going to Rhodes.

Chapter 32: Slow Motion –Little Red

Eric

Eric wondered how the shopping trip had gone. He wanted to be there when Sookie returned, but after the sheriff's meeting at Bill's, the king had sprung 4 residency requests that were to be completed at Fangtasia by the time they left for Rhodes. The only time would be tonight and Bill knew that.

Eric barely paid any attention to what was being discussed. Bill had appointed two new sheriffs to areas one and four. Eric wasn't exactly thrilled by their appointment. Bill had appointed them simply because they were native Louisiana residents like him. One was around the same age as Bill, name Cynthia. The other's was Patrick, who had to have been turned at a very young age.

He was not even one hundred. Pamela was his age and Eric was sure she could outwit this idiot any day.

Eric's main focus during the meeting had been monitoring Sookie's mood. It was changing so quickly it was alarming to him. Up until that moment there had been awe and wonder, but now it was

He tried to text and call her, but she was unresponsive so he dialed Pam's phone. She picked up and said, "Master?"

She handed the phone after Eric asked if Sookie was okay. Pam said, "I think she is going into shock."

"Give the phone to her," he said.

He heard her breathing into the phone so he knew she was on the line. He begged her to calm down. She was worried about what they were spending, of all things. He implored her to stay calm and changed the subject to the lingerie.

He smiled as he felt her shyness and reluctance in their bond as she denied looking at lingerie. He told her he looked forward to seeing it, and he felt her stubbornness and even better her excitement.

You are such a contradiction in terms, Sookie Stackhouse, he thought to himself as he hung up with her.

"Eric, will you handle the residency requests or not?" Bill asked in a stiff voice.

Eric nodded, but he was furious. Bill was trying to show his power over Eric. Eric told himself to remain calm. For himself, for Pam, and for Sookie he needed to remain calm.

"I will complete them tonight. If the prospective residents do not show by the time the bar closes at 2:00 or they will need to wait until we return from the Summit."

Bill shook his head, "Two of them said they would be arriving for the interview after 4:00."

Eric resisted growling in frustration as Bill has a satisfied, smug little smirk. Smirk all you want. You may be able to keep me from Sookie for a few hours, but I have at the least sixty years with her, Eric thought to himself.

Eric got up and left the meeting. After being dismissed by Bill, he flew to Fangtasia. He went through the paperwork he had, which wasn't bad considering he had been here the night before and finished most of it.

He responded to emails and reviewed the residency requests. One was a vampire from Nebraska. His reason for moving was for his human, who was offered a job nearby. Another vampire was curious to him. It was a woman with stick straight hair brown hair, and brown eyes. She was from Seattle and she said she knew vampires in the area, but didn't list which ones.

The other two were moving within state and their reasons were because Area 5 was more lucrative at the moment than the other four areas. Eric reviewed them, looking for anything suspicious but found nothing.

The vampire from Nebraska and the two moving within state he could tell he would approve, but the woman, Judith was her name, just didn't sit right with Eric for some reason. He would interview her and see how he felt before making the decision.

Eric decided to monitor the bar since Pam wasn't here to do it. It would also appease Pam to sit on his throne for the customers. Eric made his way out and signaled to the bartender to send over a bottled blood. Even if he hadn't promised Sookie he would only drink from her, he wouldn't touch his fangs into anyone else.

It was like everyone else's blood had tasted of sour, battery acid. His stomach churned at the thought. Sookie was still bouncing around in her emotions. At one point he felt that she had been hurt. Emotionally hurt. He almost called, but he felt her rise above and summon some calm and understanding.

He was proud of his bonded. She was a miracle to him. She usually flew off the handle and let loose with her feelings, but he could feel her attempting to control herself. She had learned in less than a year what it had taken Godric a couple lifetimes to teach Eric.

Soon Sookie was feeling relieved and even proud of herself. He hoped that these residency requests would let him out earlier than Bill had alluded to. He had gotten to know what it was like to sleep with Sookie now and he didn't want to sleep without her.

There was also the small fact that whenever he wasn't around was when Sookie tended to get into trouble. So he felt panicky and even scared of being away from her.

When he felt Sookie's relief and happiness, he decided he would call her. He needed to hear her voice.

Her phone rang twice before she answered it with a seductive voice, "Hi baby, I just got home and I believe I was promised quite a welcome, but nobody is here."

He growled, imagining her coming home wanting him and he wasn't there to give her exactly what she needed.

He explained the situation and as he looked at the clock, he realized he probably wasn't going to make it to her in time before the sun rose for the day. He offered, almost desperately, for Pam to come get her, but she said she had things to accomplish before they left.

He knew he had distracted her for the past few days, but he was disappointed. He wanted to offer to have some professionals come and do whatever she needed. She didn't need to pack because he had already seen to that. Was she saying she needed time from him?

Eric shook his head before he remembered he was in the bar on his throne having a fit because his bonded wouldn't come to him. She had just told him he disappointed that he wasn't there to meet her. She needed some time to get herself comfortable before leaving for a week.

He could feel her set her mind to something and he decided she must have started cleaning since she was using a lot of her energy. He sent love to her and gasped when she sent it back. Sookie was slowly learning how to use the bond and to take advantage of all it had to offer.

He smiled as he realized it, but then he remembered once again that he was on display in the bar and now had attracted a woman who thought he had been smiling at her. He scowled at her and she looked at him in confusion. He stood and left the bar area and decided he had been on display long enough.

He didn't want anyone even coming close to him. He belonged to Sookie and wouldn't go back on his promise that only she would touch him.

He could feel her still working and decided he could get some work done as well until his interviewers arrive. Suddenly there was a rap on the door and before he could say come in, Pam entered.

"She will look the best she has ever looked in her life."

"You have probably gotten her some wonderful clothes, but the best she has ever looked is when she is writhing in pleasure under me, calling out my name," he stated coolly.

Pam smirked. "We talked. She really does love you. And she told me she feels in the bond that you love her too. For more than her blood."

Eric looked up, "You suggested that I only love her for the blood? You know I have loved her long before I even tasted her."

"I thought you merely infatuated with her, but I guess now I know better. I still believe you are making a huge mistake. And I will never understand your reasoning for bonding with her. She will kill us all, I am sure of it."

He shook his head, "I would rather die a thousand painful true deaths with her than live without her. That is what it means to bond. You care for nothing but the other person for the rest of your life."

Pam looked horrified, but he could sense she had at least accepted this as his decision. He was happy and he opened up their bond so she could feel it fully. He was happy. Pam nodded as tears pooled in her ice cold eyes. She wiped at them.

"I don't understand, but at the same time I do. I accept Sookie as my mistress," she said.

Eric then smiled, a true genuine smile at his child. She smiled back and said, "Oh and by the way, there is a vampire from Nebraska here to see you."

Eric nodded and told Pam to send the vampire in. Before she left, he said, "Pam," she turned as she was walking out and raised her eyebrow. "Thank you, Pam."

She smiled and nodded, sending in the first vampire.

So pack your reading glasses because in the next chapter we are going to Rhodes.