So sorry I have been AWOL lately, lovely readers. I have been really sick and had to take a few days just to sleep and heal. So, now that I am on the mend, the first thing I am doing is posting for you! This weekend I should start getting back on track! I appreciate the patience and all your support!

Okay here comes the bride!

Chapter 68: Goin' to the Chapel

Sookie

Sookie was married. After a quick flight, meeting a judge in front of one of the town's quaint little chapels, Sookie and Eric married with Pam, Jason, and Lafayette to witness it.

It was a lovely summer night and there were lightening bugs acting as their lighting. They stood under a street lamp and Sookie held a bouquet of store bought flowers that Pam had stopped to buy. Sookie held Eric's hand and squeezed it as the sleepy judge said his spiel. When asked if either Sookie or Eric would like to say any vows, Eric turned to her.

"Sookie, in my culture there are many traditions and customs we would follow in order for you to become my wife. But I believe that in every way that is important that we are already married. I am eternally yours as you are mine. I will love you until we cease to exist and beyond that if there is a beyond. Thank you for being my wife. I love you."

Sookie had tears in her eyes and she squeezed his hands, knowing she had to say something in return to him. "In my English class we read a Midsummer's Night's Dream. I remember somethin' Shakespeare wrote about true loves course never running smooth. At the time I thought that was ridiculous and that true love would be effortless. But now I know exactly how much I love you to get past everything we have gone through and still be so happy together. I never thought I could be so full of happiness, Eric. I love you. And I will remain loyal to you all the days of my life."

Eric's eyes rimmed red and Sookie reached up and stroked his cheek. He took her hand and kissed her palm softly as the judge said to exchange rings. Eric slipped a golden band that complimented her band nicely. This ring was old and Sookie could feel its memories. She wondered where he had gotten it.

Sookie's ring for Eric was a simple gold band that Pam had given her. Inside Sookie saw an inscription that was the same as her diamond ring, S&E Eternally Yours.

The judge pronounced them husband and wife, signing the papers, and then went and climbed back into his car as Sookie and Eric kissed softly in the Vermont summer night.

Lafayette and Jason whooped and hollered and even Pam was smiling as she looked on at the loving couple.

Sookie Stackhouse was no longer Sookie Stackhouse, but Sookie Northman.

They left the park, and went straight back to the airport. "I ain't leavin' Louisiana again for at least a year," Jason complained as he settled in the seat and leaned against the window of the plane.

Sookie and Lafayette laughed. Eric held Sookie's hand the entire ride home, occasionally bringing it to his lips and kissing it softly or rubbing the back of her hand against his cheek.

As they touched down in Louisiana, Sookie had made up her mind about something. Eric could feel her anxiety and nervousness, but she shook her head and said, "It's not important now."

He only nodded and kissed her lightly, before stepping off the plane with her.

She needed to focus on whatever tomorrow would bring. Sookie couldn't imagine her being in trouble with the police, but if she was, what were the charges and what were the consequences. She knew Eric would never let her go, so she wasn't too scared.

But as they drove home she turned to him and asked, "Can they do anythin' to me for doing what I did?"

"What? Sookie what do you think you did exactly? You saved hundreds from the wreckage at your own personal risk. What I am worried about is your exposure. They will be asking how you managed it. How you knew where to find people. It terrifies me to think about what they will think you are capable of and how they can use you. It is just another group of people who want to take you away from me. Which they won't, but it does make my job slightly more difficult."

All the dots clicked in her head. Her Gran had warned her that if Sookie was honest and open about her 'gift' to the public that people would want to use her. Of course Sookie had experienced it for herself. Women dragging their husbands suspected of cheating on them, girls asking her to see if boys had crushes on them, parents coming to her asking if their kids were on drugs. Sookie had been asked it all and she had usually removed herself unscathed.

She was something of a town mystic. Only certain people knew and believed what she could do. Others just thought she was creepy. The whole of the Bon Temps community were uncomfortable when she was around. Even Jason and Lafayette struggled to be around her all the time.

"I'm not goin' with them. I ain't just some little fairy to be pushed around," she said adamantly.

He nodded and whispered, "Of course not."

He pulled her closer to him as they pulled in the drive and as they walked to the front door Eric once again swung Sookie up into his arms.

"Oh jeez, what happened to the not believin' in bad luck?" she exclaimed in exasperation.

"Oh this isn't about luck. It is about lust. You move to slow for my liking. It would be well after sunrise if we go your pace."

Pam, Lafayette, and Jason chuckled, but Sookie blushed and smacked his arm.

"Forty-five minutes we been married and you are already tryin' for a divorce, Northman," she joked back.

He chuckled and kissed her forehead as he clicked the locks open, shifting Sookie in his arms for the finger scanner and keypad. Sookie played with the hairs on the nape of his neck, wondering if Godric and Gran had been looking on tonight as they wed.

She had hoped her Gran had, because her Gran had always wanted Sookie to be happy. And right now Sookie couldn't imagine her Gran seeing her more happy.

Eric finally managed to get the door open and carried her through the threshold. He began up the stairs, but she stopped him and said, "I need food and so do Jason and Lafayette."

He nodded and set her down and she looked to Lafayette and Jason and said, "We should actually change out of our nice clothes."

They nodded and walked up to their rooms, leaving Pam and Eric downstairs.

Sookie walked to her closet and looked through about seven drawers before she found some non-suggestive loungewear. She pulled out the first set and laughed as they unfolded. They looked exactly like one of the track suits that Eric would wear.

She chuckled at Pam's sense of humor and slipped into the outfit with a tank top and carefully took all the pins out of her hair. She walked to the bathroom and sat at a vanity, using makeup remover to get rid of the small amount of makeup she had on. She then walked to the sink, washing her face.

She walked down the stairs and froze as she smelled deeply. Someone was already cooking, so she assumed Lafayette, but it smelled like whatever he was cooking was burning.

She skipped to the kitchen to find Eric and Pam cooking, while Lafayette and Jason watched nervously.

"What is goin' on in here?" she asked.

Pam was holding a smoking pan in one hand, with her hand on her hip a frustrated and disgusted look on her beautiful face.

"We are trying to cook something for humans. I take it this means it's not going well," she said as she dropped the pan she was holding and showed Sookie her burned hand that was already healing.

"You guys are doin' great, but typically there isn't smoke when cookin'...or look like that," she said in a false cheery voice while looking at the iffy contents of the pan.

She walked up to Eric, who was holding another pan which ingredients looked like ashes and water mixed together and took it from him. She wouldn't wish it on her worst enemy.

"It's fine. For your first time cookin' for your human, you did well. Just wait for me next time, because you are highly flammable."

She stood on her tiptoes to peck his lips before moving to the sink and start running the water to let both pans soak as she cooked them something edible. Lafayette was already at the fridge pulling things out and Sookie saw he had pulled out stuff for grilled cheese and some tomato soup.

Not the fanciest stuff they could make, but it was simple and would be fast. They were all tired and needed something in their stomachs before they went to bed.

Lafayette and Sookie laughed and talked while they made the grilled cheese and stirred the soup.

Jason was trying to flirt with Pam, who was smirking at his attempts and Eric watched as Sookie moved around the kitchen, trying to memorize everything she did.

They finished quickly and soon there were steaming bowls and sandwiches in front of them as they began to devour their food. Pam sipped blood out of a champagne flute as they ate.

Eric was watching her eat and asked, "So will those fulfill your calcium, caloric, and vegetable requirements for the day?"

Sookie looked down at her plate, chuckled and shrugged, "I don't know, probably. Stop worrying'."

"Never. You are my wife."

She smirked and shook her head in exasperation and raised the bowl to her lips and slurped out the rest of the tomato soup. She began to wipe her mouth, but Eric reached over to her and said, "Ah that reminds me of where we left off before your hunger interrupted us," as he gently wiped the remaining tomato fluid from her lips.

He held his finger out to her and she licked it off the juice. His eyelids fluttered and she grabbed his hand and was out stalking out of the kitchen quickly, dragging Eric behind her.

"Night y'all," she said hollered over her shoulder as she began racing up the stairs with Eric close behind her. She heard them laughing, but she just didn't give a shit. This was her wedding night, and she was going to enjoy every minute she had of it left.

This was just the marriage and to give you an idea about what the law might want from Sookie and Eric. I will definitely be posting again tomorrow, so stay near your computers!