Chapter 12 – I am Woman

I just stood there.

"You are Sookie, aren't you?" She asks me.

"Um, yes," I shake my head. "I'm sorry, yes, I'm Sookie." I say to her.

She smiles and comes to hug me. "Oh, I've so looked forward to meeting you," she says to me. "Pam and Amelia go on and on about you." She hugs me and pulls back. "Oh, I'm so sorry; you probably think I'm a nut or something."

Well a little.

"I'm Abigail Northman," she says with a smile. "Bobby told me and my husband that you were up here. Ed needs to speak to Eric," she says and rolls her eyes. "But I wanted to meet the woman who has stolen my son's heart." She says and claps her hands.

I look at her again. The woman is really beautiful. Well of course she's beautiful. She's Eric and Pam's mother for goodness sakes. Her hair in darker than I would have suspected and cut short but very stylish and frames her face beautifully. Her cream colored dress looks like it just came off a runway and fits her perfectly.

I take this all in as she stands in the doorway smiling at me. I'm making Eric's mother stand in the doorway.

"Oh, where are my manners?" I step aside. "Please, come in." I say to her.

She nods and comes through the door, I quickly close it and walk behind her to the couches. "I'm so sorry," I say to her. "I wasn't expecting anyone and my mind was well," I shrug, "in its own little place. Can I get you something to drink, Coffee, tea?"

"Either would be fine," she says and looks over to see my laptop open on the dining table. "Oh, I caught you in the middle of writing." She says. "I'm so sorry."

I wave it off. "It's okay," I say. "I was having trouble concentrating this morning. I'm ahead of schedule too." I walk over to the Keurig machine and set it up for a cup of tea. I remember once Pam telling me that her mother enjoyed tea more than coffee. She thought it was because she spent so much time in England as a girl. I can hear a little bit of her accent, but it's very faint.

"I understand from Pamela that there are several people interested in making your book into a movie?" She asks.

I nod. "Yes, but Amelia and the publishing company are still sorting through them. I won't know anything until they weed through the offers." I grab both the mugs and head over to the couch. Placing them down, I run back for the milk and sugar and place it between us.

She smiles and takes hold of the cup closest to her. "Thank you, my dear," she says. "I hope you don't mind me barging in on you. It's just, when Eric and Ed get going, I would rather stay out of the line of fire." She shrugs.

I sigh. "Well, I hope it isn't anything too serious." I say.

"Mostly, the same," she says. "I'm sure Eric and spoken about us to you." She takes a sip of her tea.

"Honestly, he hasn't said much," I say to her. I had heard a thing or two from Amelia over the years. But Eric has been surprisingly secretive on the subject of Edwin and Abigail Northman.

"Well," she sighs, "I'm really not that surprised. Edwin and Eric have not gotten along very well in years." She says.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I say. For a moment I think about my own parents and what I wouldn't give to have them here. I don't think I would ever not get along with them. Even so, having them here to fight with is better than the alternative.

"They are very much alike, those two," she motions with her hand to the door. "They are both stubborn and willful. They both think they are right in all things. I keep trying to make them see that a little compromise goes a long way. But will they listen?" She shrugs.

I think it's sad. Maybe I should talk to Eric? Our relationship is new, in the grand scheme of things. But I would love to have his family around. It's only me, Jason and Crystal, really. I think it would be nice to have someone like Abigail around.

"Would you like anything else, Mrs. Northman?" I ask her.

"Oh, no dear," she says. "And please, call me Abbie.

I smile at her. She really is a pleasant woman.

***0***

EPOV

I hate it when I'm away from Sookie for even a minute. Now I've got to spend most of the morning in the office. Granted, when we started working together, I would take up residence in the dining room at the farmhouse and she would go to her study. That quickly changed when I realized how distracted I was, knowing she was so close. We then started sharing her study at the farmhouse and the dining room table at the loft.

The last week has caused us to slip into a beautiful routine. We have been together non-stop and it's been perfect.

This morning couldn't be helped. I had to tear someone a new one regarding the plans they submitted for a renovation on the Shreveport Library. It was an absolute disaster that needed me to be in person to fix. That meant I would need to leave Sookie. Not putting me in a good mood that's for sure.

Ass ripping complete, I'm about to finish up my meetings with speaking to my lead architect on the new plans for the Stackhouse Foundation when there is a knock on the door.

"Yes?" I ask.

The door opens and I see Robert. "Sir," he says. "Your father is here to see you."

I look at the other man in the room. He nods and heads for the door. Once he's through it, Robert steps aside and lets my father in."

"Thank you, Robert," he says with a huff and looks at me. "Eric." He nods.

"Will you need anything?" Robert asks.

"Would you let the rest of the staff know that I will look at their projects tomorrow?" I ask him.

He nods. "Of course Sir." He says and closes the door.

"You still have him with you?" Edwin asks. "Don't you think it's time to cut the apron strings," he laughs a little.

I stand. "Robert is an excellent assistant and I'm lucky to have him. I've always been lucky to have him. He has been a great wealth of knowledge to me over the years."

He mumbles something under his breath. I didn't quite catch it and I really didn't care for him to repeat himself. If it was a dig against Bobby, I didn't want one part of it. That man has supported me in everything I've done. I'll be damned if I'm going to listen to my father debase him.

"I thought you and mother weren't coming in until next week." I say as he makes his way around the table to a chair.

"Yes, well," he says. "We saw a few things on the news that interested us and thought it best to forgo our stop in New York and come home." I sit and he looks at me for a moment. "I understand you have a new woman in your life."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Father, you make it sound like I've had a new one every week. I've not dated seriously since Felicia."

"Ah, yes," he says. "Your dance partner that slept with your costume designer. Isn't that right?" He asks with a smirk. "This little hobby of yours makes for good soap opera drama."

I refuse to get into another argument with my father about my dancing. "So you came home to meet my Sookie?" I ask him. "That was very thoughtful of you. I'm assuming it is mother's idea?" I ask with a smirk of my own.

"Yes, she does wish to meet your Sookie. I, on the other hand wanted to get a handle on what seems to be brewing around you and this girl. Tell me, are the rumors true that she was the victim of some sort of crime?"

I shake my head. "I'm really not at liberty to say," I say to him. "It is in the hands of the DA and Sookie has been asked not to speak about the charges."

"Yes, but you aren't Sookie, now are you?" He asks. "You are the heir to a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company that could be affected by this little affair."

I stand and slam my hand on the table. "This isn't an affair, father. I love Sookie and she loves me." I turn from him.

"Oh come now," he says. "You have only known each other a handful of weeks."

I turn back to him. "Do you know what Sookie's first worry was when she saw pictures of us on the internet?" I ask him. He shakes his head. "She wanted to know what my parents were going to say and how this was going to affect your company. Never mind that she had an idiot stealing from not only her but the Foundation. Or the fact that she had that religious group on her back. She was worried about you and she didn't even know you."

"Well, she is smarter than I thought," he says. "She's that author, isn't she? The one that Amelia represents?"

I nod. "Exactly," I say. "And for the record, I'm not the heir to your company. I've got my own company, my own career and my own path." I say to him.

"Regardless, when your mother and I are no longer here, the company will belong to you and Pamela. I had hoped that you would follow me into the business. I thought once you got all of this out of your system that you would see the light. But you aren't getting any younger and neither am I. I must come to terms with the fact that I failed in you."

I look at him. "Failed in me. What do you mean by that? Because I chose to be an architect instead of a doctor or a scientist? Because my heart was in building structures instead of building drugs?" I ask him.

He nods. "Yes, I could understand that. I went my own way too. My father wanted me to be a lawyer. He thought win or lose, the lawyer always wins." He sighs. "But then you throw away your career and play Peter Pan."

"What are you talking about?" I ask him. "My career is fine. Did you see that room?" I point to the door. "I've got twenty-five architects working for me. I've got dozens of staff here to help. I choose what I want to work on and when I want to work on it." I walk over to him. "Pamela danced her whole life. You never once questioned if she would be part of the company. Why am I such a disappointment?"

He looks up at me. "Because you're my son. You have always been the strongest, and smartest. Now you want to, I don't know, never grow up and take responsibility for yourself."

I shake my head. "I dance because I love it and I'm good at it. If you came to a competition you would know this. I have one of the most successful firms in the country. I moved here to be with Pamela and to help her. I'm sorry if my choices have disappointed you. But I'm thirty years old; this is my life and my decisions. You may not like them but I do ask that you respect them." I say and stand. "If you don't mind, I would like to get on with my day." I say and go to the door.

I open it and my father stands. "One of these days, you are going to need me," he says. "You are going to fail and you're going to need me."

I huff and shake my head. "I never thought it was a father's job to expect their children to fail. Funny, I thought it was the opposite."

I walk out infront of my father and make my way back to my office. I look around expecting to see my mother. She usually removes herself from one of mine and my father's sparing matches. I didn't expect anything different this time.

"Robert, where is my mother?" I ask him.

"She went up to the loft to meet Miss Sookie, Sir." He says.

My eyes go wide. "You dropped her on Sookie without any warning?" I ask.

Before Robert can say anything, I'm heading for the elevator. My father is right behind me and follows me in and up we go. I say nothing to him the whole ride up. What's there to say? I mean I've always known he didn't approve of my choices. Now I learn that he's been waiting for me to fail; to come running back to him on hands and knees. Well, there will be a cold day in hell before I ask this man for anything.

The doors open and I rush to the only other door on the landing. I'm just about to open the door when I hear laughter. It isn't polite laughter but full on giggles.

I open the door to see both women on the couch with their heads together. They are indeed giggling. I can't tell you the last time I heard my mother giggle.

"Hello." I say to them.

"OH Eric," my mother says and looks at me. "I've been having such a marvelous time getting to know your Sookie," she says with her ten watt smile. I come around the couch and kiss her then I turn to Sookie. I want to gauge her emotions but all she's doing is smiling at me. I kiss her softly and suddenly everything seems right in the world.

That is until I look up and see my father standing close to the door.

"Oh, Ed," my mother says. "Stop giving everything the third degree and come over and meet this lovely young lady." She says.

"Ed, this is Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie, this is my husband and Eric's father, Edwin Northman."

Sookie turns to my father and puts out her hand. "Hello Mr. Northman," she says to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

My father comes and takes Sookie's hand.

"Nice to meet you. We've heard a lot about you from Pam," he says looking past Sookie to me, "not much from my son, though."

Sookie releases her grip on his hand and allows her arm to fall. I come up behind her and put my hand on her lower back. "I see you two are having tea," I say to her. "Would you like some more?"

"Oh, no," my mother says. "We have to get to the house," she says. "So much to do," she goes to stand. "You two are coming to the dinner party tomorrow night?" I start to say something. "I won't take no for an answer," she says. "There are a great many people that would like to see you, Eric. The Governor is coming and that lovely young lady Jennifer Carter is coming as well. Oh I do like her. Tell me Sookie, have you ever met the Governor?"

Sookie laughs. "Quite a few times, actually." She says.

"Mother, the Governor was friends with Sookie's father." I say and pull my girl closer to me.

"Oh, that's right." My mother huffs. "They say the mind is the first thing to go," she says with a wave. "You are Corbett Stackhouse's daughter. Now I remember. Ed you remember Corbett, don't you."

My father nods. "He was a fine man, Miss Stackhouse. His ideas and vision were unique and are surely missed in our field."

She smiles but I can see the unshed tears in her eyes. "That's very kind of you to say, thank you."

My father nods. "Well, we need to be off." He says and holds his hand out to his mother. "Eric, I hope you don't intend on disappointing your mother," he says. "She's looking forward to having all her family around her."

My mother picks up her purse and first embraces Sookie and then me. "Well, I look forward to seeing you both tomorrow." She says and heads for the door.

My father nods to me and then looks at Sookie. "It was a pleasure to meet you." He says and walks out.

I turn to Sookie and pull her into a hug. "I'm sorry about that." I say to her.

"Don't be, Eric," I say to him. "Your mother is very funny. She was entertaining me with stories about you and Pam when you were little. Tell me, did you really think if you built a spaceship out of a refrigerator box you could go to the moon?" She asks me.

"Hey, it would have worked if it wasn't raining and the box got soaked." I say to her.

"Did you really try to jump off the garage to get there?" She asks.

I nod. "Broke my arm in two places," I say. "I really sucked. I couldn't play football that season."

She shakes her head. "Is this how our children are going to behave?"

The word 'children' hangs in the room like a cloud. We both just look at one another. I watch as her eyes go from laughter to concern in one second.

"Eric I," she starts but I put my finger over her mouth.

"Don't," I say to her. "Don't say you didn't mean it." She nods and I lower my hand. "Sookie, I never thought I wanted children. I figured I would be as bad at it as my father is." I shrug.

"Th..that's okay Eric," she says softly.

"No, you don't understand. I never thought about children until I thought of little blond, blue eyed babies running around with your smile." I say and touch the side of my face. "I think..no, I know that with you, I could be a halfway decent father."

She raises her hand and touches the side of my face. "Eric, you are going to be a wonderful father." She says.

I lean in and kiss her.

***0***

SPOV

The ride to Bon Temps was quiet. Almost too quiet. I know that Eric was milling things over in his head. I so wanted him to let me in and help.

"Did you have a nice visit with your father?" I ask him.

He lets out a laugh. "Sookie, any interaction with my father is never a good time."

"Eric, what happen? You are so upset and I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head." I place my hand on top of his.

"Nothing other than the usual," He says. "He wants me to do what he thinks is right."

"Okay, what is right?" I ask.

He sighs. "He thinks my place is at the company with him. He wants me learning the business so I can take it over some day."

I laugh a little. "Eric, every father wants that of his son."

He shakes his head. "You don't understand Sookie. He wants me to fail. He said that he's waiting for me to fail. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"Eric, I'm sure he didn't mean it. You have a very successful firm. You are doing very well for yourself. Perhaps…"

"Sookie!" He yells my name. "Look, how could you possibly understand? You never had that kind of pressure from your father."

I am sure he didn't mean it the way it sounded but it still hurt.

"Eric," I say softly. "Pull the car over there." I point to the park. It's one I'd come too often.

He goes to say something but I put my hand up to stop him. "Just pull over."

He does as I ask. We set there for a moment while I try to calm down. It isn't working.

"When I was a little girl," I say softly, "my Daddy brought me here to learn how to ride my bike. He spent all day running around after me, holding the back of the seat. He kept saying I could do it all by myself, but I was scared. So he said he would hold on until I was sure. Hours had passed before I let him let go of me. I went all the way around the bike path once. Then there was another bike coming toward me and I got scared. I fell over in the grass. Just as I was about to start crying my Daddy was there to pick me up. He said, 'Sook, falling is a part of life. The question is, do you sit in the mud or get up, brush yourself off and try again.'

In my little girl mind, all I could think of was falling the next time. But not hitting the soft grass but the hard bike path and I told him so. He brushed my hair back and said: "Baby girl, if someone loves you, they will always be there to help you when you fall."

Tears are falling down my face now. "That is the last clear memory I have of my father. So before you decide that loving your father is too hard, you better think about it, because I would give anything to have mine here. I would give anything to have them love me, support me or even be disappointed in me; because at least they would be here!" I scream at him.

I am out of the car and running into the park before I have a minute to figure out what I'm doing. Before I hit the bike path, Eric's arms are around me.

"Sookie, I'm so sorry," He says and pulls me close. I can hear from the tenor in his voice that he's crying too. "I'm so stupid. I…."

I shake my head. "Eric, I…"

"No, listen to me," he says. "You're right. I don't know why his approval means so much to me. But to even think about what you and Jason have gone through…." He shakes his head.

"Eric, you are thirty years old. You have a thriving business, a great life and people in it that care about you."

He pulls me closer. "You forgot smoking hot girlfriend." He says.

I laugh. "Well there's that too. But seriously, you don't need his approval. All you need is his love."

He pulls me closer. We stay that way for a long time.

"I'm sorry I made you cry." He says. "I never want to make you cry."

I lean back to look at him. "I know," I say to him. "Come on, we're going to be late."

We get back in the car and are quiet all the way to Tara's shop. This time, however, it isn't as painful.

***0***

Bill's POV

I haven't been out of the room for a week now. I've gotten three meals a day. However, it has been Victor or one of the goons that have delivered it instead of Lorena. In fact, I've not seen her since Victor returned. I don't think I've even heard her in the cabin.

Victor wouldn't have killed her. He needs her to get the money from the bank. She was safe until then. Me, on the other hand, wasn't needed at all. Except if you believe that Victor would keep me alive to use me for money. How did he know I wouldn't go to the police? Yeah, what am I supposed to say? That these two conned me out of the money I stole from one of my clients. Not only one of my clients but one I had designs to marry? Yeah that wouldn't go over well.

And what am I supposed to do when we go back? Victor said that he and Lorena were going to leave. How am I going to explain her departure? What was I going to do about money? All the money I got from Sookie would be gone. Granted, I still would have my trust fund. But that wasn't nearly close to what Sookie inherited. I know she still has money from the books. She couldn't have spent it all yet. Maybe if I move forward with the marriage, I will at least have that. Not that she would be writing any more. Or at least not those horrid Vampire novels. Perhaps I'll permit her to write something else. But she will have very little time between our duties in DC and taking care of our family.

With Lorena gone, there is no reason I would have to hold back on my little blonde belle any longer. I'm sure she won't give me half the pleasure that Lorena gave me. But it will be there when I need it. The very thought of bedding her makes my body ache. Yes, this may work, indeed.

Just then the door to my bedroom opens. Victor comes in with the goons. "We need to go meet my friend," he says. "After that, we will be heading back to New Orleans."

I nod, not knowing what else to do.

"Now, are you going to be good?" Goon one asks. "Or do we need to knock you out?"

"Oh, Billy will be good. Won't you boy?" He laughs again.

The other goon walks behind me and slaps a set of handcuffs on me. The other one comes up and puts a blind fold on me.

"Is this really necessary?" I ask.

"Well, if you want to stay alive, it is." Victor says. "I would leave you here. But that would mean I would need to come back and get you. Since that will be totally out of my way," he says. "You are going to come half way with us. Then Bruno here will stay with you while Rena and I go get the papers. Once we're back in New Orleans and have the money, you will be free to go."

"So, I'm not going back to New Orleans with you?" I ask.

"Well," he laughs. "You can't very well drive down Bourbon Street with us now can you?" He laughs again. "You and Bruno are going to wait at my place in Lafayette. When he gets the all clear from me, then you will be released. Call it, insurance."

They walk me out of the room and we stop in what I assume is the living room.

"You ready?" Victor asks.

"Yeah," I hear Lorena's voice,

"You look good back as a blonde," he says to her.

"Whatever, can we finish this?" She asks.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Bill?" He asks her.

She is silent for a minute. "Well, aren't you?" He asks her again.

"Let's just go," she says. "You said it's going to be two days to make our way to him."

"Right," he says. "We will be in New Orleans on Tuesday," Victor says. "Then all that beautiful money will be ours."

We start moving again. I hear something open and then I'm shoved into what I assume is a trunk and the door is slammed on top of me. I can hear a few muffled voices but nothing I can make out.

We're driving for almost an hour. I knew the cabin was out of the way, but I honestly have no idea which way we were going. Hell, does it really matter? This Bruno guy is most likely going to kill me. Victor may let me go. But whoever this thug is working for isn't gonna let me live after seeing their faces. I have no idea who they work for. But I get a very strong feeling that I probably don't want to find out.

The car stops and I hear lots of noise around us. We are there a good ten or fifteen minutes before the car starts up again. We don't go too far when the car stops again. A minute later, the trunk pops open.

"Let's go." He says to me.

"What?" I ask.

He huffs. "Let's go. Or do you want to ride all the way to Louisiana in a trunk?"

I start to sit up. But with handcuffs on, it's a little hard. Bruno helps me and soon, I'm on my feet and being walked. The sound is weird. I can tell that we aren't outside but other than that I've no clue where we are.

"Step up." He says.

Reaching my foot out, I find the step and climb it.

"Step." he says again.

I obey and after a few steps I find myself in the back of what I assume is a cargo van.

"I put a blanket in the corner." He says to me. "Get comfortable, it's a long drive."

I hear the door slam behind me as I move farther into the van.

I find the blanket and sit down as I hear a door opening and the ignition starting.

I take a deep breath. Well at least he's taking me home to die. Morbid as it is, I find it slightly comforting.

I sit and lean back against the hull of the van wondering what I'm going to do next.

***0***

SPOV

When we got to Tara's she was all a flutter.

I excused myself for a minute to go check on my face. When I came out, she was busy showing Eric the dresses she finished.

He smiles when he sees me coming. "Sookie you are going to love them." He says.

She shows me the dress for the Tango, the Quickstep and the Bolero.

"I'm almost done with the Waltz dresses," she says. "Oh, and I'm going to make you one more for the marathon dance."

I nod but internally, I'm cringing. We haven't even started working on that one yet. Not that we would know until the day of the tournament what the marathon dance is.

She makes me try on the dresses and pins them for alterations. She then sends Eric in to check his outfits.

She then shows us what she has in mind for the waltz.

"You are going to look like a glistening star," she says with a smile.

I nod. "I can't wait to see it."

All told, we were there for two hours. Which gives us plenty of time to get to the farmhouse, change and get to Merlotte's on time for the start of the party.

I know the party is at the bar, but I want to look nice so I pull out a red halter dress that I bought some time back but really didn't have anywhere to wear it. It isn't exactly Elizabeth approved, so I wasn't permitted to bring it along with me to New Orleans.

I lay it out on the bed and head into the bathroom to start the shower. Before I can get out of all my clothes, Eric is right behind me.

"I wondered where you ran off too." I say to him.

"Mmm, I had to make a call," he says and begins to assist me with the rest of my clothes. Kissing my neck, shoulders and anything else he can get his hands on. Once all my clothes are gone, I can feel that Eric is already undressed. Yummy, Eric in the shower.

"Sookie," he says and begins roaming my body with his very eager hands. "I need you," he growls. "It's been hours since I've had you."

I nod because I can't seem to get the words out.

Quicker than I think is humanly possible, I am spun around and Eric is lifting me as he walks us into the shower stall. As the water begins to spray us both, he lifts me a little higher and impales me on his rather attentive soldier in one motion.

"Ah," I cry out and throw my head back against the tile wall.

"God, Sookie," he growls. "You are so fucking perfect. You are so… so tight." He says and thrusts harder into me. "I…I can't get enough."

"Me neither," I say. "More…Eric…Harder…Harder…please."

"Any…anything for you." He says and picks up his ministration.

I can feel him in every cell of my body. Everything is heightened and aware of his every touch, his every thrust and every connection. God, it's like he's my sun and I'm the moon.

He reaches between us and before I can ask him what he's doing, he pinches my nub which sends me right over the edge screaming his name. I feel my walls constricting on him and not soon after, he is falling over too.

We stay connected for a few more minutes before he releases me and lowers me to the stall floor.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

I lean into him and hum. "I feel wonderful."

"Are you sure? That was…" I look up at him.

"What, you didn't…" He stops me with a kiss.

"I loved it," he says. "It was just a bit more, well, aggressive than we usually are."

I smile at him. "I liked it," I say and reach up to kiss him again, "a lot."

He pulls me closer. "When you jumped out of the car, I thought I lost you," he says softly. "I never want to feel that way again."

"You can't lose me Eric," I say to him. "You are half of my soul. I'd be nothing without you."

Our kisses intensify but we know that we are due at Merlotte's soon, so we hold off on doing anything else until later.

Eric is out of the bathroom first and says he will meet me in the family room.

I nod and get to work on my hair and makeup. Twenty minutes later, I exit the bedroom with pulling on my shoes.

Once I meet Eric, he makes me spin around twice to show off my dress.

"Do we really need to go?" He asks. The evidence of what the dress is doing to him in visible in his pants.

I laugh and nod. "Eric, Tara is one of my oldest friends. She's like a sister. We've got to go."

With a pout and a nod, we exit the house and are at Merlotte's before anyone could send out the search party on us.

We enter and quickly find the birthday girl who is hard at work on the dance floor with her husband.

"Girl, you are smoking!" She says to me.

"Well, you made the dress." I shrug.

"Honey, there is something to be said for the right body in the right garment." She pulls me in for a hug. "You ready to tell me what had you all teary eyed before?" She whispers in my ear.

"Nothing important," I say. "We worked it out."

She pulls back a little and looks me right in the eyes. "You know, we are all here for you, right?" She asks. "No more getting lost?"

I shake my head. "No, actually it was me calling him out on shit."

She smiles. "Well then, good for you, babe."

We spend the next hour moving around the bar saying hi to everyone one and introducing Eric to just about half the town. Bon Temps isn't big. Everyone knows everyone else. Tara knows just about everyone and she wanted them all here for her big day.

Crystal and Jason are sitting over in a booth. Contrary to doctor's orders, Jason couldn't keep Crystal home. Personally, I don't blame her. I think I would be going a little nuts if I had to stare at the same four walls all day. Oh wait a minute, that's what I did at Bill's house. Yeah, it almost drove me crazy. I smile at myself knowing that scared little girl has left the building.

We spend a lot of time with Crystal when Alcide stops by with a new girl on his arm.

"Hey," I say to him, hopping up to hug him. He returns it and then gives Eric one of his man hugs. Then he turns to Crystal and Jason and greets them in the same manner.

"How ya doing?" He asks me.

I nod. "I'm doing really good," I say and smile to the girl.

"Sookie, Eric, this is Debbie Pelt. Debbie, this is Sookie Stackhouse, her brother Jason and his wife Crystal. This here is my college roommate, Eric Northman."

She says hello to everyone then she turns back to me. "I'm sorry, but aren't you the Sookie that writes the Savannah Blue books?" She says.

Alcide laughs. "You know more than one Sookie?"

Jason laughs as well as Crystal.

"Well, I didn't want to just presume." She says.

"That's okay," I say to her. "Yes, I'm that Sookie."

"Well, it's really great to meet you," she says. "I really love your books."

I smile at her. "Thank you Debbie. I say. What is it you do?"

"Oh, I'm a freelance photographer," she says with a smile. "I was actually working last week so I couldn't go to the club party. I heard it was a banging bash."

We make small talk with Alcide's new lady, trying to get to know her. It seems to me that she's evading a lot of questions but I leave it be. I want Alcide to be happy. If she makes him that, then so be it.

We are soon joined by Pam and Amelia who are introduced to Debbie.

Pam turns to Eric. "I heard you will be at the dinner tomorrow."

He starts to say something when I put my hand on his chest. He looks down at me and covers it with his own. I smile at him and move a little closer. He wraps his arm around me and nods.

"Looks like it." He says to his sister.

"Excellent. I'll work on Daddy. Maybe we can get him to tone down the attitude for the night." She says.

"Well, if you can do that," Eric says. "Then maybe you can start work on world peace."

"Will be second on my list." She says with a laugh.

"Excuse me," We hear from the DJ booth. We all look up to see Tara standing there. She smiles brightly. "I'm so excited that you could all make it here tonight to celebrate with me." She pauses and everyone applauds. "Now, most of you know, Sookie and I have been best friends since we were five years old." She finds me with her eyes and smiles. "We have been through a lot together but there is one thing that I always knew. It was I could count on my Sookie. Honey, I'm so glad you've come home to us. Life just isn't the same without you here."

She blows me a kiss and I send one back to her.

She clears her throat. "Okay, it's my party, but I ain't gonna cry. I am going to ask Amelia, Pam and Sookie to come up here." She pauses for a moment. "Crystal, I'd ask you but honey, we don't want those babies to come out on the dance floor."

We all laugh and the three of us make our way to Tara. Once there, she hands us all a microphone.

"Okay, I am going to sing this song with my sisters." She says.

"Um, Tara," I say. "What if we don't know the song?" I ask her.

She smiles at me. "Oh you know it alright."

She nods to the DJ and the song begins.

I hear the first bar and have to laugh.

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Tara grabs my hand and we lift them over our heads.

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

I look out and see Jason, Alcide and Eric standing with the biggest smiles on their faces.

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

FADE
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

I look at the three women around me. Never have I been in the company of such beautiful women. And as God is my witness, I'll never leave them again.

***0***

EPOV

I watch as Sookie sings with the others and I can't help but laugh and cheer them on.

"She's back." Alcide says.

I look at him and then at Jason. I swear the boy is about to cry. He nods and looks at me.

"You keep her here, now." He says.

I nod. "You can count on it."

Everyone cheers them on to do another one. Amelia leans over the DJ booth and soon they are singing Superwoman by Alicia Keys. They wrap it up with Ring on it by Beyonce; complete with the dance. God this woman is going to be the death of me. I watch as others around the room keep their eyes peeled to my girl.

I feel a slap on my shoulder and turn to see who it is.

"Dude, if you want to keep that girl, I suggest you take the song to heart," Alcide says.

I laugh at him. "What about you, man?" I ask him. "First girl I've seen you with in what, ten years?"

He shrugs. "We'll see. I know one thing. I don't look at her anywhere near how you look at Sook."

I look back and watch them finish. He has it right though. I'm going to need to put a ring on it sooner rather than later.

***0***

Bill's POV

I can feel the van moving, but honestly, I've given up trying to figure out where we were. Bruno could stop the car anywhere and get rid of me.

"OH SHIT!" I hear him scream. Then several things happen at once. Tires screech, horns blow and metal crunches. Before I know it, I am being thrown around the inside of the van and hitting just about every side. The van comes to a halt and I can tell that we aren't ride side up. I try to move, but I can't; then I can't hear anything.

***0***

SPOV

We had so much fun at the party. I didn't expect us to stay late. But after our little impromptu concert, Eric took me to the dance floor where we spent another few hours.

As we pulled into the drive, I had him stop for the mail so I didn't have to run back out for it in the morning. We make our way into the house; Eric directly behind me and making every effort to undress me in the hallway. I laugh at him as I go to put the mail on the hall table. I miss the table completely and bend down to pick it up. It's then I see another letter behind the table. Well it must have fallen one of the other times Eric and I entered the house in a similar fashion. I lean forward to get it while Eric growls behind me.

"I'm trying to get an envelope," I say when I feel his hands on my bottom.

"You can offer me such a treat and then say you don't mean it." He moans at me.

I laugh as I pull it out. I see the addressee and I freeze. "Eric," I say. "I..this letter is from a bank in New Orleans."

He immediately stops his ministration and looks over my shoulder. I turn it over and open it. I finish reading it and look over my shoulder at Eric.

Shaking my head I look back at the letter. "It can't be…."

Before I can say anything else, Eric has his phone out and is dialing.

"Laf," he says when it answers.

"No, she's fine. But you'll never guess what she has in her hand." He pauses again. "Tell me man, what do you know about the First Civil Trust Bank, in New Orleans?" He asks with a smile

***0***

Bill's POV

"Sir, can you hear us?" I hear from above me. There is a light and I can see it through my eyelids. The blindfold must have come off.

I try to open my eyes and blink at the bright lights.

"He's awake." I hear someone say.

"Sir, do you know where you are?" He asks.

I shake my head but the pain it creates shoots through my body.

"Do you know who you are?" He asks.

I try to nod but I can't.

"Can you tell us your name?" He asks once more.

"My..my name…my name is Bill Compton. Pl..please, ca…call my family. I've…I've been kidnapped."

I don't know if they heard me or not. Because just then a wave rolls over me and everything goes silent again.

***0***