Here is part one of the summit! Enjoy! I can't wait to hear what you all think. So please review!

Chapter 58: Sunshine

Sookie

Sookie walked to the shimmering gown and linked her hands behind her back, as if she were in a museum and not allowed to touch the art.

"This is the most gorgeous dress I have ever seen," Sookie said.

It was a golden gown that shimmered beautifully. It was concentrated in sparkles at the top and then faded as the reached the bottom of the gown into golden tulle. It was absolutely gorgeous. Almost too gorgeous for her to wear.

"Are you sure this is right for me?" she asked nervously.

Pam nodded, "Yes, it was practically made for you. Here, let me help you into it."

Sookie nodded and took off her robe. Pam held the dress low for her to step into and slipped it up her body, growling in appreciation. Sookie blushed and turned so she could zip up the gown. It fitted to her body perfectly and then flared out at the tulle portion.

Sookie turned and looked at Pam, "So? Do I look like a waitress playing dress up?"

"No, you look like a woman in love. A woman who deserves, Eric," she said as she leveled Sookie with a serious look. "You look amazing. Eric will love it."

Sookie smiled softly and only then did she look in the mirror. She was luminous. She was literally glowing. She had never looked more amazing. Her mouth was catching flies, as her Gran would say, and she couldn't stop looking at herself. She felt magical. She finally turned to Pam and said, "Thank you, Pam."

She only nodded and said, "I need to go get into my dress, then I will bring you down to meet Eric in the lobby."

Sookie nodded and walked closer to the mirror. The light caught on her dress the closer she stood to the mirror and it looked as if Sookie was sparkling.

Pam walked in a fabulous fuchsia gown and went to the accessories table and waved her over.

Pam gingerly lifted her 'E' necklace from around her neck and said, "Right after the formal."

Sookie didn't like it, but she nodded as Pam set it on the table and grabbed a pair of simple glimmering golden studs. "This dress does the talking for you. You just need a little something."

Sookie nodded and Pam said, "I think you are ready."

Sookie replied, "We are ready."

Eric

Eric waited in the lobby. Pam was running late, but he could tell from the bond that Sookie was shocked, but also happy. He smiled as he waited by the elevators for his two women.

The elevators then dinged and opened revealing a stunning Sookie. She was literally lit up and glowing. She was radiant and resplendent. His heart was thudding, attempting to come back to life. That is what Sookie did to him. His mouth hung open as he stared at her next to Pam, who looked elegant in a fuchsia gown that had to have been specifically cut for her body.

Pam grabbed Sookie's hand and pulled her out of the elevator towards Eric.

The closer she got the harder his heart beat. "Sookie you…"

"Look amazing, gorgeous, he wants to fuck you, yahdah, yahdah, yahdah. Can we skip this and go in already?" Pam asked in a bored, sarcastic voice.

Sookie laughed, but her eyes were flicking up and down him in his tuxedo. He felt her appreciation and lust in the bond and smirked.

He held out his arm for her to take and she tucked it in the crook of his elbow. "You do look gorgeous."

She blushed and said, "Thank you, you too."

Eric chuckled and they followed Pam into the great hall. He led them to their table, which was full of the other Louisiana vampires. As they approached several fangs dropped at the sight of Sookie, and Eric smiled as he helped get her seated in her chair. Bill was mesmerized by his golden beauty and watched her like a snake watching its prey.

Sookie sat back in her chair, relaxed and looked around the room at everyone's evening wear appreciatively. "None of them even endeavor to rival your beauty tonight," Eric whisper as he leaned in and kissed her temple. She blushed and shook her head while she rolled her eyes.

"You are just looking to get laid, Northman," she teased. He chuckled and said, "Well that is partly true, but I have always been honest with you. Have I not?"

She glared at Bill who was eavesdropping and still staring at her and she said, "You have."

Eric grabbed her hand in his own and watched as the speaker approached the stage and podium.

"Thank you all for coming. Everyone looks quite lovely from up here. Despite the minor hiccup earlier today, this summit has been very successful and the collaboration from the many kingdoms has been beneficial for building stronger ties between each kingdom. We also would like to thank the Authority for its presence with us here this past week."

The silence in the room was palpable. The Authority was like the all-seeing eye for the vampire community. Many didn't fully agree with its decisions for vampires.

Eric was finding himself growing more and more wary of them. Sookie squeezed his hand under the table and she smiled when he looked to her, reminding him of how lucky he was. Fuck everything else. Sookie was the only thing in his life that mattered.

They focused back on the speaker who was going on and on about vampire and human cooperation and merging the two worlds. But Eric knew this would never happen. Humans would never know the true nature of vampires or their politics. It was a sham to make them think that they were walking amongst former humans. Part of Eric resented the lie, but another part of him was grateful that humans didn't live in the fear that they should.

The only human that didn't need to fear vampires was Sookie. She would always be protected.

"Now, as the Summit's guest of honor, I would like to introduce The Ancient Pythoness, who has requested a chance to address the participants of this Summit."

Eric nervously watched as Py was escorted by her hand maidens to the podium. He knew what was coming and even though Sookie had reassured him, he hoped she wouldn't mind what was about to take place.

"I am honored to be the guest of honor," Py joked. Many of the humans laughed, while the vampires merely chuckled or smirked. "I am glad to hear that this Summit is attempting to embrace and nourish the relationship between vampire and humans. It is imperative to our future. Not many know that I had a child named Godric. I kept that information quiet to keep my beloved child safe," she continued.

Eric felt grief at the mention of his maker, but he knew that Py wouldn't bring Godric up lightly.

"At the time of his final death, Godric was convinced that vampires couldn't change and embrace humanity, not even their own humanity. But my child would be quite proud of the steps his own child has made in this area. Eric Northman and his bonded have asked to be pledged, and in the spirit of this evening, I have decided to use the pledging as an example to your all tonight. May their union be symbolic of the path we endeavor to take as we mesh our two worlds. Sookie? Eric?" she called out to them.

Eric squeezed Sookie's hand and looked into her shocked and confused eyes, "Shall we?"

Sookie composed herself and smiled at him. "We shall," she whispered softly.

He stood and held his hand out for hers, helping her to her feet. As they walked to the stage, he stopped Sookie and reached out for Pam. Her eyes rimmed red tears and she gave him a smile before following him and Sookie to the stage. He needed her there as his 'official' witness, even though there were too many witnesses to count tonight. He wanted her to be the witness. He wanted Pam having some part in his pledging. Having his own child next to him and Godric's maker pledging them, it was like his family was surrounding him.

Sookie literally seemed to glide next to him and he couldn't take his eyes off of her as he escorted her to the stage. In front of all these royal vampires and the Authority, he was pledging to Sookie Stackhouse. She seemed regal and confident and he knew she truly had accepted him body and soul. He had her heart and she had his.

The stood on stage and the humans clapped excitedly at the romantic display taking place. But the vampires were quiet and shocked what was taking place in front of them. Eric Northman pledging to a human. Unthinkable, but it was happening.

"As I pledge these two, I will remind all here that those who are here to witness this union are bound by our laws to protect this couple and this sacred pledge they are taking. If they in any way avoid this duty, the punishment is punishable by the true death," Py said in a severe tone.

Eric's eyes flicked to Bill who was literally seething and squirming in his seat, as if he wanted to physically come between Eric and Sookie to prevent this from happening. He smirked knowing that nothing would ever come between Sookie and Eric.

"With that clear, Sookie dear, please take this knife. If you are willing to bind yourself to Eric permanently, until you meet the true death, then offer it to your bonded as a sign of your pledge to him."

Sookie grabbed the ceremonial knife used to pledge a vampire to his significant other. To his or her bonded. Sookie held it and handed it to Eric. Eric took the knife and kissed it, saying "I bond myself to you wholeheartedly, until I meet the true death Sookie Stackhouse."

Sookie's eyes watered and Eric reached out and stroked her cheek, before pulling her into a kiss. A kiss so passionate, sweet, gentle, and full of love. It was the most perfect kiss Eric had ever had.

He pulled away and found Sookie cupping his cheeks, wiping away blood tears that he hadn't even realized that had fallen. He was so happy in this moment as he looked at his shining and luminous Sookie. She was his. And he was hers.

The humans and even some of the vampires clapped for Sookie and Eric. Sookie was blushing furiously and trying to hide behind Eric, but he held her by his side, showing off his bonded and now his pledged. His wife.

Yay they are pledged! Love that sneaky Py!