Hello my lovely readers! I hope you all are having a wonderful Tuesday! Let's see what Sookie and Eric have going on after their bouts of sunshine lovemaking.

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Chapter 67: Stand By Me

Eric

Eric rose without Sookie in his arms, starting his day night off badly. He then felt a shove, and turned to find a confused Pam in his room. She had her hand on her hip and her cell phone raised in question.

"Are you feeling okay? Why are you still in rest?" she asked.

"I didn't go to sleep until late."

"Late?" she asked.

"I stayed up all day with Sookie. I am a day walker now," he said.

"Shut the fuck up," she said in disbelief.

He simply nodded as he sat up in bed.

"Oh my God, I will fuck and bond her if I can do that!" she said.

He chuckled and said, "Where is my bonded?"

"There is bad news."

He immediately began to stand, forgetting that he went to bed naked. He paused as he remembered and covered himself back up under the sheets.

Pam didn't react, but he did when he remembered his promise to Sookie.

"Turn around Pamela," he said.

She raised her eyebrow, a smirk playing on her now amused and curious face.

"If you see me I will be forced to allow Sookie to punish you for seeing what is hers," he explained.

"Oh please," she said with a laugh.

"He is serious, Pam. And so am I," Sookie said from the door, her arms crossed.

Pam rolled her eyes, but turned around.

Sookie walked up to Eric and said, "Put some pants on and come downstairs. You need to see somethin'."

Pam followed Sookie out as he climbed out of bed the rest of the way and ran to grab some pants.

He zipped downstairs just as Sookie and the others were sitting down in the Media Room, eyes trained to footage of the bombing. He studied the footage and saw something that made his heart drop.

There was a photo still on the right of the screen of Sookie, her face sooty, but the determined and fiery expression that he loathed and adored. The rest of the screen was showing her sitting on a fire truck that drove slowly around the wreckage pointing to places.

It was only then did he realize what he was witnessing. Sookie had used her telepathy to save people from the wreckage.

She was being portrayed as a mystery woman. A guardian angel that saved hundreds from the ruined building and then vanished. He stared as they shot on her actually helping them extract someone from a pile of rubble.

"Shit Sookie," he said.

A caption on the bottom flashed reading, "If anyone has any information or recognizes the woman in the footage, please contact the authorities" listing an 800 number.

"Do you think I should call and tell them it was me?" Sookie asked.

"You are kidding right?" Pam asked.

"Well it will come out from someone. I was introduced as Eric's bonded and pledged in front of all the people at the summit and most the hotel staff. It probably would come out, but when it does, it would sound better if I don't seem like I was hidin'."

Eric understood her point and she was actually right. All anyone would have to say is Sookie's name and that she was from Louisiana to track her down. It was inevitable.

Eric picked up the phone and called the number listed.

"Hello, my name is Eric Northman and I am calling regarding you search for the woman on television. She is my wife."

The woman on the other end of the phone immediately transferred Eric and a surly sounding voice answered. "I understand you are married to the woman we are searching for."

"I am. Would you mind telling me what you need her for?" he asked.

"Questioning regarding her efforts in the rescue of hundreds of people from the bombing of the hotel. There are also quite a few newspapers, magazines, and television stations that would like to interview and do stories on your wife, Mr. Northman."

"She isn't interested. You may send the officials to speak with Sookie to our business located in Shreveport tomorrow evening. I will be present."

The man could tell Eric wasn't in the mood for negotiations and took the address for Fangtasia and confirmed a time.

After he hung up, he realized all eyes were trained on him. "I think Sookie is right. It is better to come forward, as if there isn't anything odd going on. It will also be a benefit to know what they want from Sookie."

Pam nodded and Jason and Lafayette were glancing between the television where Sookie's face was now covering the entire screen and Sookie.

Sookie bit her lip nervously, but Eric walked to her and said, "It will be fine. I won't let anything happen to you, my love. But I do have something to ask you."

She looked up at him and he said, "I know we just got back, but I would like to fly to Vermont this evening."

She crinkled her eyebrows in confusion and asked, "If they try anything, I would like to have rights. As your husband. They probably won't recognize the pledging."

She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I will go get dressed," she said as she walked out.

Pam began to follow her and said, "This is my area of expertise. She is not fucking this up."

Eric chuckled and began calling the airport to arrange for a personal plane. He motioned for Jason and Lafayette to go and get dressed and they nodded and left.

Once their flight was arranged, Eric called the clerk's office where he and Sookie would be wed and asked to speak to someone who could arrange a justice of the peace, throwing in a handsome bribe to anyone who could perform the wedding at such short notice and after hours.

Once that was settled, he went to the basement and walked to a vault. He opened it and looked for what he was looking for. He found it and pulled out two jewelry boxes.

One was an engagement ring from Harry Winston that Sookie would have problems holding up on her dainty hand. In the second box was a wedding band. An old wedding band. Eric had carried few things from his human life. His father's crown was now in his possession, kept safe among his other prized possessions in the vault.

He opened the case holding his mother's wedding band. He had kept it for reasons unknown even to him. But now he knew why. He was waiting for Sookie even then. He had his father's crown, his mother's wedding band, and his baby sister's blanket in an air tight bag.

Even though his family was considered royalty then, gold and silver were not easy to come by for his people. So his father's crown and mother's ring were easily the most valuable items in the village. He had kept his mother's ring, but his father's crown had been stolen by Edgington.

Having it back with his mother's ring and sister's baby blanket seemed to complete the set.

He closed the box and the vault and walked slowly up the stairs towards their bedroom.

He knocked on the closet, entered and said, "I've decided that no customs or traditions will prevent us from the bad luck, so may I see my bride?"

Sookie didn't answer, but Pam grumbled, but relented.

Eric opened his eyes and saw Sookie standing in a beautiful white dress. It went mid-thigh and her shoes were strappy and sparkly with crystal.

Her hair was loose and curly around her face and placed gently on top of her head was a leafy diamond encrusted tiara of Pam's. Her makeup was simple. "You look stunning."

Sookie blushed and teased, "Are you wearin' just those tracksuit pants?"

"I was thinking about it."

"Puh-fucking-lease," Pam exclaimed. "You think I would let him out for something like this looking like that?" She zipped to his side of the closet and held out a suit.

"You can choose not to wear a tie if you don't want to. It will work for this type of ceremony and go with her slightly less formal dress," she said in a bored tone.

He nodded and she sauntered out to get ready herself.

Eric turned to Sookie and grabbed her hand. "You are okay with this? Not having a big wedding? We can once it calms down a bit," he said.

"I am not a big weddin' kind of gal," she said. "As long as you, Pam, Jason and Lafayette are there, I am happy. I don't need all the pomp and circumstance."

As she spoke he slipped her engagement ring on.

"Oh my stars, Eric! This is…simply breathtakin'. I love it."

On her ring was a stunning emerald cut diamond . It was massive and almost inappropriately big, but it had been so gorgeous he had to have it for his Sookie.

Inscribed on the band was an inscription that read S&E Eternally Yours. Sookie was tearing up and Eric kissed her lips softly as he raised her hand to his lips. "I have had that for a while now, you know. I bought it shortly after you returned from Faery."

"Cocky much?" she said as she sniffled and tried to hold back her tears.

He chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Even then I knew you were meant to be mine. I just like being prepared."

She gave a small laugh and looked up into his eyes, "You make me happier every day."

"As do you. Shall we go get hitched, as your people would say?" he asked.

"My people would not say that! But yes, let's go before I change my mind," she teased.

So they are going to Vermont! When will it quiet down for these two? Now click review and show me some love.