Wow I am getting a lot of different thoughts about the talk! But it isn't over yet! Eric has yet to scold Sookie for running. And to punish Pam, which I have to agree with the reviewers who said that she needs to be punished. But first we need to get through this summit!

So let's slow the drama train down and focus on the plot a little more! Agree?

Chapter 46: Honey Bee

Sookie

Sookie woke up as she felt someone sit next to her on the bed, but then she remembered that she had slept on a sofa in the dressing room. Eric was stroking her hair softly and Sookie felt in the bond his hurt feelings.

She pushed the feelings away, but found that she couldn't. They filled her no matter how hard she tried. Sookie rolled onto her back and her eyes batted open slowly. Eric was looking at her with an unreadable expression.

"Sookie, I have to talk to you."

Sookie nodded and sat up, grateful for the fainting sofa's support. She knew their talk last night had been brief, but for her own peace of mind, she needed to get the hardest part over with, which learning what the truth was about the banger in the apartment. She wanted to know if Pam's story had any validity in it. If it didn't she knew she could stay with him, if not, she knew she need to make the hardest decision.

She now breathed out in relief that she had averted such a decision.

She knew there was more to be covered and that tonight they needed to cover it. She was surprised she had slept the entire day. Sookie rubbed her eyes and focused on Eric, drawing her knees to her chest. She rested her chin on them and said, "Yes, I know there are still things we need to talk about."

He nodded and began, "Sookie, last night, you said that you needed to trust me. I need you to trust me too. I need you to trust that I love you, that I will protect you, and most importantly I will never betray you."

Sookie felt in for him in the bond, and sensing this, he flung it open and let her feel his sincerity. The bond didn't lie. Sookie nodded and she said, "I do trust that. I do trust you." Saying them to him now, she knew it to be true. She nodded as the words sank into her soul.

"Good. I also need to trust you. Do you know how hard it was for me to have you disappear like that? I thought you were dead. When I discovered you had run, I thought only about what harm could befall you and I wouldn't be there in time. For every problem we face, I hope you don't run from me because I won't be running from you ever. I want our issues and problems to be dealt with like this, by talking to each other. I know you may need space from me, and I am willing to give it to you, but not at personal risk to yourself. Also remember that every time you put yourself in danger like that, you are putting Jason, Lafayette, Pam, and me in danger because you know we are coming after you."

His words hit Sookie and her eyes welled. She had never thought about that. That was a risk she would never take, the consequences too severe. She felt guilt wash over her and disappointment in herself. She had been as wrong as Eric, but in a different way. She couldn't help the tears that began to slide down her cheeks.

She bit her tongue to stop the sobs, but they came anyway and she rested her forehead against her knees as they began. Sookie felt Eric wrap his arms around her and she couldn't help throwing hers around his neck. "I am sorry, you are right. Annabelle told me that I run, and that I need to stop. I will stop Eric. I won't run from you ever again."

Eric chuckled and nodded. "I would never let you get very far, my love. It just worries me what trouble you can find yourself in in so little time."

Sookie knew he was trying to make her feel better and she pulled back a bit and gave him a small smile. He had called her out on her selfish and reckless behavior. She had the floor last night, and he had it tonight. He had taken the hard things she had to say and now she had to listen to what he had to say.

"I also need you to know that when you said your conversation with Pam was between the two of you, it more than upset me. She is my child, and you are my bonded. Of course it will be my business. Pam has yet to face punishment for this situation, but I assure you she will. She has pushed me too far this time."

"It ain't any of your business, except the fact that we settled it," Sookie protested.

Eric shook his head and said, "What if the situation was reversed? What if I had confided something in confidence about you to Jason or Lafayette and it was known by you. Would you let it rest, saying it was our business and not interfere?"

Eric waited for her response and though Sookie wanted to dispute him, she snapped her mouth closed and slit her eyes at him, seeing his point.

"No, you wouldn't, because in your mind all business pertaining to you or even me is your business. And you are so stubborn you would get that information one way or another. I am just happening to agree with you lover."

Sookie had to admit he was right. In the past if she needed information on one of the vampires and they weren't speaking, she typically hung around their humans so she could lift the information right from their thoughts. She had done it with Jason plenty, although he was getting good at spotting her technique a mile away now.

"Fine. You are right. But the door does swing both ways?" she asked, making sure. He nodded and lifted his eyebrows saying he was waiting.

"I told Pam I wasn't goin' nowhere, especially because of her tricks. So she could bring all the crazy she could, but that wasn' gonna scare me off. I told her I wanted to be her friend, but would accept respect if that was all I could get from her."

Eric raised his eyebrows into his hairline and then suddenly he burst out laughing.

"What? She seemed pissed at first, but she accepted it! I think I handled it well," Sookie said, now embarrassed.

"No, Sookie, you did, but Pam has probably never been spoken to like that by a human. I would have loved to see it, my little hellcat," he said tenderly, grabbing her hand and kissing it..

Sookie blushed again and he leaned in and kissed her reddened cheeks.

"Is that it?" he asked.

"Well…I went to see Bill before I saw Pam."

Eric was no longer calm, but on his feet, fuming, his fangs elongated.

"What do you mean?" he spat out.

Sookie stood and wrapped her arms around the furious Eric, but it did nothing to calm him. He pushed her away. "What happened?"

"I told him I was sorry I wasn't at the summit and that I was willin' to renegotiate the contract since I technically broke it by not showin' up last night. That is all."

Eric was so tense Sookie was surprised his bones didn't shatter into a million pieces. "That's it?"

She tilted her head to the side, "I made a crack about his penis and how he never got me off."

Eric was still fuming, but she did notice the corner of his mouth turn slightly at her words.

"Okay, Sookie that is what I mean by putting yourself in danger. That was a prime opportunity for Bill to seize you. You think those guards are going to stop him? Or anyone for that matter? Nobody wants to rumble with a king or queen."

"I knew you would."

"You are my bonded. Of course I would," he said.

They sat there absently touching and caressing each other in odd places. Her hair, her cheeks, her back, her upper arm, her shin. She smoothed his hair, his eyebrows, his collarbone, his ribs. Both would frequently brush their fingers across the others pendants.

"When I woke you were hurt?" she asked.

He shrugged and continued to run his fingers through her hair. "What?" she asked.

"You slept in here, and not with me."

Sookie thought about the reverse situation and she immediately felt like an idiot. She was going to use this role reversal technique more often. If Eric hadn't slept with her in the bed after the fight, she would feel hopeless and desperate and sad.

"I am sorry. That was the space thing I needed to sort my thoughts. Bein' snuggled next to your body would have made me biased in my decision," she said, her hand trailing down his lower back.

Eric smiled and replied, "I see."

She laughed and leaned away from him stretching her back and her arms out above her head. Eric noticed the prominent view her breasts offered in this position and seemed mesmerized by them. "Sookie, have I ever told you that I once read an article regarding humans not stretching enough?"

Sookie followed his gaze and laughed loudly. She got up on her knees and straddled him. He looked up at her, but he rubbed his chin along her collarbone, causing her to shiver. She then saw the clock on the far vanity desk and gasped.

"Eric! I need to be downstairs in a half hour!" she said, pulling his arms from behind her back and scooting backwards off the sofa.

"No makeup sex?" he asked with a fake pout.

She smirked over her shoulder and ran to the bathroom, turning on the hot water. She pinned her hair up, deciding she would have to brushed it out and then wrap it up in a bun. She quickly jumped out and brushed her teeth.

When she running in the closet she saw Eric had laid an outfit out for her and she thanked him profusely. Once again, they were matching slightly. She was in a navy blue dress with a matching jacket. It was very professional and flattering. Sookie slid on some strappy navy heels and then Eric handed her jewelry as she walked to the vanity.

She quickly brushed her hair out and applied mascara, eyeliner, and slight concealer and foundation.

She then ran out the door of the closet to the living room. Eric was waiting by the door for her and handed her the notepad and purse she carried holding her phone, some lip gloss, wallet and pens for notes.

Sookie turned to Eric and asked, "Do I look like I woke up less than a half hour ago?" Her tone was filled with worry as she straightened her jacket and inspected her hair and makeup in the mirror.

"You look amazing."

"You are such a liar."

"Haven't we talked at length about this? Do you think I wish to remain in the doghouse?" he asked, in an offended tone.

"In the doghouse means not sleepin' with me or havin' makeup sex?" she asked.

"No, you're right, that's the fucking pound."

Sookie chuckled at him in the reflection, but turned and reached for his hand as the door slid open. He pulled her through the lobby towards Bill who was waiting to see if she was coming down this evening. She eyed him as Eric pulled her into conference room and sat her down.

Sookie lowered her shields and got to work, scribbling anything of interest down. Sookie could understand why she was placed in this meeting, which was designed for humans and their vampires on facing the discrimination to be romantically involved. Eric and Sookie eyed on another, but Sookie continued to scan the room for interesting thoughts.

She caught a young woman's thoughts who thought her relationship with a vampire was what was causing so much pressure on her vampire and her relationship. Sookie looked for the woman and saw it was the same woman that was thinking about the vampire named Jake.

Sookie wrote his name down. This was the second time something stood out and she wrote the man's name and was able to lift the human's from her thoughts. Sookie continually scanned and the one or two times she glanced Eric's way she found him deep in thought as he listened to the speaker and followed the PowerPoint presentation.

Sookie looked up every once and awhile to see what the humans and vampires would find interesting, but typically it was a statistic about this or that or the likelihood of a vampire-human couple falling into a certain scenario.

Sookie had a few things of interest in this meeting and prodded Eric as the crowd clapped. She waited until all the vampires were out of range and then pointed out Jake to Eric.

She said, "He is interestin' to me. He is very depressed accordin' to his human, but she doesn't know why. She persuaded him to go to this seminar because she thought it might be beneficial for them to get to the bottom or it all, but she didn't think it worked as she left."

Eric didn't seem to make of the situation, but he could tell he was interested. Sookie then told him about two vampires who were in danger because they were dating humans with anti-vampire sentiments, one of the being a drainer.

Eric swiftly made note of this and decided they needed to rendezvous with Bill so he could report the couples to the proper regents. When Sookie told Bill about Jake and his human, who was called Abby, he scoffed. "I have asked you to find pertinent information about the state, the authority, other kingdoms, or illegal activity. Not to create soap operas in your head."

Sookie flushed angry. She would put Jake and Abby on the back burner and see what else she could dig up to appease Bill. For the rest of the night, Eric and Sookie were dragged with Bill to meetings that humans and vampires were welcome too.

At one of these, she heard a human who was upset about the merger her vampire girlfriend, who was also a regent, and a regent from another state getting pledged so that their kingdoms would be expanded. She wrote it on the pad and presented it first to Eric, then Bill who nodded in approval of Sookie's findings.

Sookie was getting tired and hungry. She had missed breakfast and wondered when there was a break in these meetings so she could grab something from the restaurant. Even just a piece of fruit would do.

She opened her side of the bond back up and Eric practically cried out in joy feeling it, but he managed to compose himself quickly. It also felt amazing to her. Like she was being healed and something that was missing was back. She showed him what she was feeling the most which was hunger. He looked to her out of the corner of her eye and nodded.

He pushed the same feeling back to her. She nodded and when the meeting was over five minutes later, Eric told Bill Sookie needed a dinner break and practically pushed her to the restaurant.

So, we are getting back on track, but how do you all think the Eric part of the talk went?