Chapter Forty Five:

I barely slept a wink.

After the exhausting night we had, I should have been able to sleep like a baby. But I just had too much on my mind. How could I possibly sleep after everything that's happened? I knew I needed the rest. My body felt sluggish physically, and emotionally, I was just a mess. I needed to sleep. But I just couldn't. Every time my eyes closed, the events of the last few days would play like a movie on a repeat. It was like one long nightmare that just wouldn't go away. I just wanted a few moments of peace, a few minutes of our entire world not falling apart at the seam.

But that just didn't seem possible anymore.

Last night with Godric didn't help of course. I understood his reasoning for stopping our little escapades. He didn't want to risk it. He didn't want the consequences of him feeding me his blood to heal my wounds end up with one of us hurt, or worse, dead. I understood that. But it didn't mean it didn't frustrate me to no end. Especially when it had been so damn long since we had last been intimate. All I wanted was to lay in his arms, stark naked, and to feel happy again. And I wanted Eric there, to be with us, not Sookie, and for everything go back to how they used to be.

And it really didn't help that not even an hour after I had settled as comfortable as I could in Eric's bed, my stomach turned into knots and wouldn't leave me alone. I couldn't pin point what was wrong, but I just knew that something wasn't entirely right. I pushed at the blood bonds, finding Godric was peacefully dead to the world in the next room. I searched for Eric, and was relieved to be able to feel him again. Not being able to feel him, to simply know he was there, somewhere, despite the fact that he really wasn't my Eric anymore, it was torture. Godric must have been right; my blood must have helped break part of Marnie's curse.

It was in the bond I shared with Eric that I found what was nagging at me. I still couldn't pick out why I was feeling like this, why I had this feeling that everything wasn't as it was supposed to be. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He wasn't in danger. He wasn't scared, he wasn't hurt. He was just there.

So then what was wrong?

I spent twenty minutes just lying in bed before throwing the covers off of me. I couldn't just lie there anymore. I tried walking around the dark room, stumbling over everything and anything before finding a light switch. I barely paid attention to the large, elegantly designed room. My lips were formed into a thin line as I paced the room, my eyebrows furrowed together as I tried to understand my own damn feelings. I pushed harder and harder at our bonds, hoping our blood would tell me something. But nothing. I just couldn't figure it out.

And I didn't like that.

I didn't like not knowing what was wrong. I knew myself well enough to know that I needed to follow my instincts. I wouldn't be feeling this way if something wasn't wrong. They say parents always knew when their children were hurt because of some paternal instinct, because of some feeling. Maybe this triumvirate was the same. Maybe I shouldn't try and explain why I was feeling this way and just accept it. It just was.

Which meant I couldn't just sit back and let whatever was happening to continue.

Because something wasn't right.

"Oh Godric is so going to get pissed at me for this." I muttered under my breath before making up my mind. I hurried into the bathroom where I had left my clothes from last night and threw them on before dashing out of the room, through Eric's bedroom, and out into the hallway. I gazed down the hallway to where Godric's bedroom was located and whispered a quick apology before trying to remember the quick tour Godric had given me last night.

Somehow I managed to find my way to the garage where I was halted to a stop in awe. There sat Eric's beloved red corvette, the car that if you even looked at wrong he would snap at you. Beside it was a sparkling, brand new black mustang just asking to be driven. I almost felt bad for grabbing the keys from its holder and unlocking the car, watching as the headlights lit up. Almost that is. Though I knew if I even got a single scratch on that car, Eric would likely murder me the moment his memories returned.

Of course, by that point, Godric would have likely murdered already.

"This probably isn't a good idea." I shook my head as I moved around the corvette to reach the mustang, lightly gliding my fingers over the pristine car. But at least I would be driving in style before I met with Godric's fury.

If I even made it to tonight.

"Yeah this is definitely not one of my better ideas." I muttered to myself as I hiked through the woods to Sookie's house. I knew parking away from the telepath's house would be the safest for us all, but I never predicted how treacherous walking through the woods for a good mile or two was going to be. I was from Shreveport. I had lived in the city my entire life, only to fly off to an Ivy League school for four years. I was planning on living my life on the bustling streets of New York, not ducking and tripping through the backwoods of Louisiana.

But I was doing this for Eric. I just couldn't get that nagging feeling out of the pit of my stomach. I knew once I was able to see him, to know for certain that he was safe and sound, that I would feel better. And the only way to do that was to come here, the last place on earth I wanted to venture. Seeing Sookie when I didn't need to wasn't going to be pleasant. It would take all the strength in the world that I could muster to not attack her for just looking at me the wrong way. But this was for Eric, this was for my peace of mind. I needed to keep myself in check. One wrong move and Sookie could go running to Bill, and that was the last thing we needed.

"Mother of hell..." I cursed under my breath as I nearly walked into a protruding tree branch, just barely ducking in time and keeping my head intact. I grumbled, glaring at the tree as I passed, only to find relief when I spotted light at the end of the tunnel – er, woods. "Oh thank god!"

I quickened my pace, careful not to trip over any roots or my own two feet, and was more than happy to reach the edge of the woods. I stood just at the tree line, taking in the house for the first time in daylight. It was a cute little thing, I couldn't deny that. I lived in a tiny little townhouse my entire childhood, only to move into an even smaller apartment while attending Yale. It wasn't until Eric and Godric entered my life that I slept in luxury. This darling little country house was beautiful, even I could admit that. It was a place you always imagined growing up, running around in the back, sipping sweet tea on the porch. It was a house right out of fantasies.

It was just another reason why I despised Sookie with a passion.

"Eric is mine." I had to whisper to myself in reminder. Eric was mine before he lost his memory, and he would be mine after those memories returned. Or at least, I hoped that would be true.

Shaking those thoughts away, I hurried across the manicured front lawn and right up the porch steps. I paused before the front door, pushing at those metaphysical walls that stubbornly sat between Eric and I. Thankfully, after last night's charades, I was easily able to break through those walls and latch onto that bond that we shared. Unfortunately, however, I didn't find anything that lessened my worries.

Because while I could feel Eric, while I could feel the sudden surge of happiness and free spirit that was flowing through his blood, quickly spreading through me like a wildfire, it was the fact that I couldn't feel him here that sent a wave of fear right down my spine.

"Oh fuck." My heart was racing as I started pounding on the door. I couldn't distinguish where exactly Eric was, but I knew for certain that he wasn't inside of this house. I tried to push at our bond harder, I tried to break through that last tiny little barrier, but I could feel my focus beginning to diminish, an exhaustion washing over me. "Crap crap crap. Sookie!"

I tried calling for the blonde, hoping she would pop up out of nowhere and explain where Eric was. Had she had a change of heart? Had she run to Bill to hand the amnesiac vampire over? But no, that couldn't be the case. Because if Eric was in danger, or worse, dead, I wouldn't be feeling his happiness, his joy. I wouldn't be feeling him at all.

So then, where the hell was he?

"Sookie! Sookie open up!" I was sure I was going to end up breaking the door down with my continuous pounding. "Where the fuck are you!"

"Savannah?" a voice sounded behind me.

I twisted around on my heel, my eyes as wide as saucers, my face as pale as a vampire. "Where's Eric?"

Sookie looked almost panicked. No, scratch that, she did look panicked.

"Where is he, Sookie?" I stormed off the porch and came to a stop before the blonde who was...holding a red blanket? "Where the hell is Eric?"

"How do you know he's not here?" She wouldn't look me in the eye.

"Because I can feel him, but I can't feel him here. Where the hell is he?" I demanded, my anger beginning to peak. I seemed to have been in the right for coming here despite the fact that I knew Godric was going to be furious with me once he found out I left the house. But I just knew something wasn't right. That nagging feeling had bothered me from the moment the sun rose. And apparently, it wasn't just my imagination toying with my already fragile emotions. "I swear to god, if you've gone to Bill..."

"I haven't." she replied hurriedly, looking appalled even at the suggestion.

"So then where is he?" I crossed my arms over my chest, searching her face as if I could find all the answers. Besides the sheer panic, however, I couldn't find a hint as to where Eric could possibly be. "Well?"

"Well you see..." Sookie trailed off, chewing on her bottom lip nervously. "I'm not exactly sure."

"What do you mean you're not exactly sure?" My eyes bugged out. "It's day time, Sookie! The sun's out! If Eric's outside right now he'll..."

"But you can feel him, so he's not." she pointed out, looking relieved herself. "He's alive, I just...I'm not sure where he ran off to."

"Why the hell would he run off? Godric ordered him back here last night after..."

"After what?" Sookie interrupted with a tilt of her head. "Where was he last night? He wasn't here when I first came home. And then..."

"And then what?" my eyes narrowed in suspicion. She knew something that she wasn't telling me. "And then what Sookie? Why would Eric just run off? He might not exactly be Eric, but he's got to know that being out in the sun isn't exactly a good thing."

"Well he's really not in the right frame of mind right now." Sookie gazed across the gravel driveway, looking like she was anywhere but in that moment.

"Sookie!" I reached over and shook her shoulder. "What do you know? You have to tell me. Eric might for some reason be alright now, but if he's out there alone for too long..."

"I know, I know, I know." Sookie sighed, pushing back the stray strands of hair that had fallen out of her braid. "It's fine, I have it all under control."

I raised an eyebrow at the telepath. Was she just fucking with me? How in the world did she have any of this under control? Eric was missing and we had no idea where he could be or how to find him. I tried once again to search through our bond, to try and locate exactly where he could be, but I couldn't latch onto that link. Like maybe a few more drops of my blood last night would have strengthened this bond just enough that I would have been able to find him. The only relief I had at the moment was knowing that I could still feel him at all. That meant he was alive. At least for now.

"How the hell do you have this under..." I was cut off, however, by a new arrival.

"Sookie?" a low, gruff voice called out.

The blonde immediately twisted around, a sigh of relief sounding from her lips. "Oh thank god, Alcide."

I eyed the newcomer, feeling on the edge at his sudden appearance. I had no idea who could be working for Bill during the day. For all I knew, this plaid wearing, muscled man could have been one of the King's lackeys. That as the last thing I needed. I didn't have Godric here to protect me. And I couldn't exactly use my necromancy in my defence against a living being.

"Thank you for coming, I didn't know who else to call."

"It's no problem, Sook." The man, Alcide I assumed, nodded, though his gaze had settled on me instead of the telepath. "Who's she?"

"Oh," Sookie glanced over her shoulder at me as if she had forgotten I was there at all. I just sent her a not so amused glare, my arms still tensely crossed over my chest as I started to tap my foot impatiently. We didn't have time for this. Every single minute that passed that Eric was missing, was another minute that could lead to danger for the vampire so unlike himself at the moment. "Oh she's a...just a friend."

Alcide seemed just as wary of me as I was of him. And for some reason, I began to let my guard down. He didn't seem to know who I was, unless he was just that damn good of an actor. If he was working for Bill, he probably would have snatched me right up on orders from the King. But he was still standing there, looking unsure of my presence just as I was unsure of his.

"Who are you?" I demanded to know nonetheless.

"Savannah, this is Alcide." Sookie finally formally introduced. "Alcide, this is Savannah. He's going to help me – us – find Eric."

"Mhmm, and how exactly is he going to do that?" I shot her a look as if she had two heads. "I can't even find him and I'm bonded to him."

Alcide seemed surprised by this statement. "Is she Northman's or something? I thought he..."

"It's a long story." Sookie hurriedly cut him off. "Look, we just really need to find Eric."

"How is he running around in the daylight anyways?" Alcide wondered as he began unbuttoned his plaid shirt.

My eyes just about bugged right out of my head again. Why was he undressing? Why was he undressing in front of us? And why did Sookie seem completely calm and collected about this man undressing in her front yard?

"He's a werewolf." Sookie explained, almost as if she could read my confused thoughts, though I knew for a fact that she couldn't. "And it's an even longer, stranger story. I'll tell you on the way."

Alcide just nodded, as if he was used to the obscure happenings of Louisiana, and simply tossed his shirt to the side and began on his pants. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he was a werewolf, not to mention the fact that he was taking his clothes off. I had to blink a few times to realize that I was staring at the extremely toned abdomen of the half naked man, and had to mentally slap myself for even enjoying the view.

Just because I was in a triumvirate and in love with two vampires, it didn't mean I wasn't blind. The man was drop dead gorgeous. His hair was dark chocolate brown and brushed back with the softest waves. There was stubble on his chin, but in that rustic handsome sort of way. Don't even get me started on his body. I could barely look away. There was no doubt that he was one of the best looking men I've ever laid my eyes on.

"Sookie."

I didn't seem to be the only one appreciating the werewolf's body, and Sookie began blushing and quickly turned her body around.

"Sorry. I wasn't thinking." She apologized.

I eyed the werewolf out the corner of my eye as he smirked, obviously pleased that she found him attractive enough to not want to look away. He must have caught my staring however, as he turned his gaze in my direction. I merely shrugged, closing my eyes and putting my hand over my orbs for good measure. I thought about peaking, but Godric and Eric's faces immediately popped into my head and I silently scolded myself. I was here to search for Eric, not to ogle another man's body. Even if that body did belong to a werewolf and was drop dead gorgeous.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate you doing this for me." Sookie thanked him once again while the werewolf shifted into his wolf form.

"You'd help me if I needed it."

"Sure would." Sookie agreed before an odd change was felt in the air.

It was like everything just shifted, like the world moved ever so slightly on its axis. I could practically taste the magic lingering in the air. I wondered for a moment if I was the only one who could notice the change, who could feel the slight chill blowing in the wind, but as I opened my eyes, I noticed Sookie shuddering across from me and I knew I wasn't just special like that. For once, anyways.

"Can you get his scent?" Sookie turned to gaze down at the beautiful white wolf with flecks of grey and brown in its shiny coat.

I could have sworn the wolf actually nodded at the telepath before suddenly taking off around the house. Sookie and I just stood there for a moment, staring at one another before suddenly a howl snapped us out of our trance.

"Let's go." Sookie immediately took off in the direction Alcide had gone.

I was left standing in the front yard, almost in disbelief at what just happened. Did I really just come here in search of Eric, jut to discover that he wasn't here, only for a god damn werewolf to shift in front of me and take off in search of said vampire?

"Well it isn't the strangest thing that's happened to me." I muttered under my breath before shrugging and jogging around the house in hopes I hadn't lost the two completely.

It felt like hours the three of us were searching for Eric, two of us as humans and one as a werewolf. It still amazed me that I was in the presence of a werewolf. I mean, I knew other supernatural beings existed, they had to if vampires were real, if I was a necromancer. But to see it with my own eyes, that was just a whole other ball game. And this werewolf was helping us find a vampire. I may not know a whole lot about werewolves or even vampires, but I did like to think that all the movies and books got at least one thing right over the years and that they were mortal enemies. So then why was Alcide helping us?

I snorted as I realized the obvious reason.

Sookie.

Sookie friggin Stackhouse.

I saw the look he gave her just before I closed my eyes, before he shifted in a wolf. He looked at her in the way Godric looked at me last night, like he wanted to ravage her body. What was it with these guys? What was it about Sookie that just drew them all in. Alright, so she was beautiful and was some rare mystical creature. So what? Everyone was acting as if she was the greatest thing since sliced bread. And I just didn't see it.

Godric would have told me that was just my jealousy talking. And he probably would have been right.

"...So Eric accidentally attacked my faerie godmother and the faerie blood can let him day walk some..." Sookie was trying to explain as the three of us hurried through the woods, Sookie and I trying to keep up to Alcide's quick form.

"Wait wait wait." I pulled to a stop, panting as I bent over to catch my breath. "Did you just say Eric attacked your faerie godmother? Who are you, fucking Cinderella?"

Sookie sent me the dirtiest look. Well wasn't she just a darling southern belle? "He killed my faerie godmother actually."

I tried desperately not to burst out laughing. This just seemed absolutely ridiculous. Everything seemed ridiculous these days sadly.

"Anyways..." Sookie turned to focus her attention on Alcide, who had come to a sudden stop by a small lake not too far away. "There's no time to rest, Alcide, we've got to keep moving."

I frowned as I noticed Alcide sniffing the ground, as if searching for Eric's scent. The wolf suddenly just stopped, his nose pointed in the air. I wasn't exactly knowledgeable about wolves, but I had a sneaky feeling that was supposed to mean something.

"Ah, Sookie, I think he's found something." I pointed out as I hurried over to where Alcide stood, still in is wolf form. "Alcide? Is Eric close?"

I had my question answered not exactly in the way I was expecting.

A splash came from the middle of the lake, jolting all of our attentions to the Viking that suddenly burst right out of the water, a wide grin on his face.

"Hey Sookie!" Eric's tone was so light, so much happier than I've ever heard him before. "Savannah! Where have you been?"

I was gobsmacked. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Eric Northman was naked in the middle of a lake in the middle of the day looking as if he always belonged there. And he wasn't burnt to a crisp. There wasn't even a single wisp of smoke rising from his body. It was absolutely impossible.

"What the..." Sookie's eyes were just as wide as mine were.

"...hell." I finished for her, having to blink a few times to make sure I wasn't seeing things. "What the mother of hell."

"Come, come play with me. It's wonderful here." Eric motioned them into the water before splashing playfully. He looked like a fully grown child. A human child at that. He looked happy. Happy in a way I never thought Eric Northman ever could be. It was just so unreal. I felt like I was watching a different person entirely. And in a way, I suppose he was. "Come Savannah!"

"Is this for real?" I sent Sookie a look of complete and utter shock. "What the hell is wrong with him?"

"It's the faerie blood." Sookie explained, though she appeared to be just as mystified as I felt. "He's as drunk as a skunk."

"You can say that again." I shook my head. "I've never seen him this way."

"Well he's not exactly the Eric we know, now is he."

For once, I think we both agreed on something.

"I am Aegir, god of the sea, and you Savannah, are Ran, my sea goddess." Eric proclaimed, and a small tiny part of me, a part of me that knew I shouldn't be enjoying any of this, was pleased that I was the one Eric saw as his sea goddess and not Sookie. Whatever tasting my blood had done, it had brought a small bit of Eric back to me. Was it selfish of me for wanting to offer him more, just so he would be completely mine again?

"There's big gators in there, you crazy Viking!" Sookie called out to Eric, who only splashed around in the water in response. "Get on out and let's go home before one of them chomps off your you-know-what."

I stifled a laugh as Eric spat out water as if he was a fountain. "Leave the sun to the water? Nope, I'll just kill all the sea monsters."

I never thought I would see the day Eric would be swimming around in some small, smelly Louisiana backwater lake threatening the monsters of the sea. It was almost so amusing that I didn't want to stop him. This was a side of Eric I never thought I would ever see. I've seen the angry, temperamental side of Eric far too many times. It was sort of nice to see this other side of him. Even if it was all due to that horrible witch, Marnie.

"We need to get him out of there." Sookie looked at me for help. "You have to do something."

"What? Why me?"

"Because you're his...whatever." Sookie waved at the tall Viking playing in the water. "Either a gator is going to eat him or the sun is going to fry him. Do something."

I cursed under my breath but knew she was right. We had to do something. And as Eric didn't seem to want to listen to reason, enjoying the water and sun far too much for a vampire, I knew I would have to do something.

"I can't believe I'm going to do this." I groaned before slipping off my shoes and taking tentative steps into the lake. I was just thankful the water was already warm from the hot sun and it wasn't too uncomfortable besides the mud beneath my feet. "Please don't let there be actual gators in here. Please don't let a gator eat me."

"I shall protect you!" Eric was at my side in a flash, grasping onto my waist with his arm and twirling me around in the water. I yelped in surprise at his surprising act, and I was afraid to admit it, but there was a small smile threatening to form at how playful he was being. "Gators! Krokodillers! Away beasts! Away from my sea goddess."

I couldn't help but laugh this time, my hands gripping his bare shoulders tightly as he held me so my feet weren't anywhere near the bottom of the lake. "Eric! We need to get out of the water."

"Never!" Eric shook his head, gazing at me like the happiest man in the world. "We shall rule the sea, my queen!"

"As nice as that sounds, I'm just afraid that you'll..."

"We shall swim, and fuck and...Where's Godric? Godric shall be our king."

"Godric is asleep, like you should be Eric." I tried my best not to just enjoy this to the point that it got dangerous for us all. As Sookie warned, eventually the effects of the blood were going to wear off, leaving Eric in risk to the affects of the burning sun. "We need to go back to Sookie's. Please. For me?"

"But I want to stay. You must stay. Godric must come. And Sookie. And...who is that dirty mutt?" Eric suddenly growled, nearly dropping me completely into the lake as his gaze fell on a now human Alcide. "Get away from her you mangy mutt!"

"Fuck you!" Alcide growled right back. "She wants me here."

"Eric, this is Alcide, our friend. He's going to help you." Sookie tried to calm the situation. "You don't want to fight him."

"Yes I do." Eric's eyes narrowed.

"No you don't, Eric." I shook my head, trying to reason with him. "Eric come on; let's just get out of the water and..."

"Prepare to die, you stinking dog." Eric threatened.

"Take a shot, you dumb shit fanger." Alcide took a step forward, making both Sookie and I blushed as we realized he was stark naked.

"Oh grow up you giant babies!" Sookie rolled her eyes, sending both pointed looks. "Alcide, stop making that noise. Eric, put up those fangs and do what I say!"

"No! I don't have to! Isn't that right my goddess?" Eric gave me the sweetest puppy dog smile and I just wanted to squeeze him and give him anything he wanted. But I knew that right now, in the middle of the day, it wasn't exactly the best time to be indulging the amnesiac vampire.

"No, Eric, you need to listen to us. Please, just come with us." I pleaded.

"But I don't wanna." he pouted, breaking my heart. "I want to play. I want to..."

I was completely stricken in horror as I began to feel burning beneath my hands. Smoke started to rise from his shoulders and my greatest fear finally came to light. Eric was burning.

"Oh god." My face paled completely. "Oh mother of god.

"I-I don't feel so good." Eric staggered, his grip beginning to loosen around me.

"Eric out of the water, now." I tried to urge him.

"But...but..." Eric shook his head, only to wince a moment later. "Savannah I hurt."

"I know." I slipped out of his arm and motioned Sookie into the water with the red blanket in her hands. "Let's just get you out of here, okay?"

"But I don't want to go back to the darkness." He sounded so sad, so broken that I didn't know what to say.

Sookie threw the blanket around Eric's form as I began to help him towards shore. Alcide, forgetting the threats thrown at him only seconds ago, moved to help the Viking onto solid ground.

"Just keep that blanket on and the sun at your back." He advised as Sookie and I pulled the burning vampire out of the water.

"Savannah...Sookie..." Eric cried out.

"Go." Sookie and I urged in unison.

"Run. We'll be right behind you Eric." I promised.

And that's exactly what Eric did. In only a blink of an eye, the vampire had sped out of sight, with Alcide quick on his heels in wolf form. I took a moment to inhale sharply before Sookie and I were back running after the wolf.

A/N: I've been waiting forever to write that scene! Hopefully you all enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Another chapter on the way!