Sookie stared at Eric. "You don't get it," she whispered, the feeling of despair growing in her stomach as she realized he really didn't understand her.

He took a step closer. "Then help me."

She dropped his hand and walked over to the kitchen table, her heart filled with the same hopelessness that seemed to have saturated her whole existence lately. Her back turned to him, she took a seat. In the stillness of the night she could still feel his gaze scrutinizing her with concern and impatience, aching for answers but afraid to push her too hard for them.

"I feel like I'm sinking," she confessed softly, her eyes glued to the table. "I think for a long time now… but there were always distractions and bigger problems to worry about and I didn't have to dwell on it, let myself feel any of it…"

Before she even took her next breath Eric was pulling out the seat next to her and sitting down; she didn't look at him.

"But now the weight is too heavy," she continued, "and as hard as I want to fight it, I can't. I used to think if I could just hold on to someone – anyone – it wouldn't get me, I wouldn't sink, but instead it's the people I love who are being pulled down…

He took her hands in his. "Hold on to me."

She finally met his gaze, and the intensity and concern in his face made her stomach tremble. "I can't, Eric. Everyone around me keeps getting hurt. The people I love… they're the ones paying the price for me."

He gave her an affectionate smile before reaching closer to run his fingers through her hair. "I'm over a thousand years old, Sookie. You don't need to protect me."

"Really?" she questioned. "Then why did you agree to true death when Marnie demanded it? How come you didn't even try and negotiate with her? You, Eric, you're supposed to be smarter than that, you're not supposed to react emotionally like Bill did… but you agreed so easily-"

"It was your life, Sookie. I wasn't going to let her hurt you," he growled.

Her eyes welled up and she leaned back in her chair, pulling her hands away from his grip. "I know. I make you vulnerable."

"Did you expect me to do nothing?"

"I didn't think you would just give up without a fight, without a plan… you're a survivor, Eric, you're not supposed to concede. When Russell came after you, you did what you had to protect yourself and me even if it meant letting me think the worst of you… you did what you had to. With Marnie, you didn't even try and that's what scares me."

"Do you want me to say I regret it? I don't," he bit out.

She shrugged her shoulders, and tears slowly streaked down her face. "Then you know why we can't be together."

Eric stood up suddenly, and threw his chair behind him. She could see the anger vibrating off of him, felt his explosive rage inside her as he confronted her. "Those were extreme circumstances. There was no time to think, to plan-"

"Stop it, Eric. Stop making excuses. I'm a danger to you and you know it."

"Do you think I'm so weak I can't protect you and myself?"

"No!" she said, frustrated. "I think it's only a matter of time before others realize you would willingly sacrifice yourself for my life. That I'm your weakness, Eric." She leapt up while he still towered over her, and cradled his face in her hands. "I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, if I lost you."

"I know what you want, Sookie, but the answer is no. I'm not going to stay away from you."

Furious with him, Sookie shoved him hard, and despite it having no effect on him, it did make her feel better to physically vent out her frustrations. "Haven't you heard a single thing I've said?"

"What I heard is that you're grieving, scared, but playing the martyr and punishing yourself is not going to go make you feel better - no matter how much you may think you deserve it."

"You condescending jackass-"

"There she is," he interjected, infuriating her even more when he beamed proudly at her. "There's the Sookie I know. She doesn't run and hide when things get tough; she fights back with everything she has."

"Whatever." Sitting back down, she glared up at him. "I don't even know why I bothered to tell you anything. It's not like you really understand."

Eric's jaw clenched, and a dark shadow flickered over his face.

He didn't have to say anything; she knew instinctively he was thinking about Godric. She still remembered exactly how torn up Eric had been over losing his maker; how much pain and anguish it had caused him to let Godric go. Those events were permanently etched into her brain because it was the first time she had truly realized Eric was more than just the cold-hearted, smug rascal he always pretended to be – he was someone who was also capable of deep love.

Regret washed over her as she realized how foolish she must have just sounded to him. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have said that."

Eric remained silent for several minutes, as if carefully choosing his next words. When he finally spoke again, she was unprepared for the vulnerability that laced his tone. "I know what it's like to be filled with guilt, Sookie," he said, looking down at her as he slid his hands into this pocket. "Russell Edgington slaughtered my family when I was still human. I should have done something to save them but I was foolish and helpless and I did nothing. I thought avenging them would help ease the guilt but it's still inside me, as it has been for over a thousand years."

She grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him down until he was kneeling in front of her, their gazes locked. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Godric saved me from myself. Over and over again. If it wasn't for him, I would have destroyed myself a long time ago."

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she tucked her finger under his chin and rested her forehead against his. "Eric, what you and Godric shared was truly amazing… but you know it's not your responsibility to save me, don't you?"

He studied her intently, and the strange glint in his eyes suddenly left her feeling wary.

"It could be," he answered. "If you let me turn you."