(Sookie POV)
I lay back down when the pain in my chest became unbearable, but didn't regret my actions.
I'd always suspected that if I chose Eric, then he would want to take care of me, but I hadn't understood the extent of his caring. All my life I had had to fight for what I wanted to have, and I had always worked hard to get where I was. It was difficult for me to wrap my mind around not having money problems, and if I tried to come up with something expensive I wanted to buy, I couldn't. I still planned to pay for and buy my own car, and I hoped to put some improvements into the land around Gran's house. The old Willow tree on the edge of the woods by the driveway needed trimmed, and I wanted to replant her garden.
But all of that could wait, and was just a side thought as my mind had suddenly focused on what Eric had said. He'd lied to the hospital about being my fiancé, but strangely, it didn't bother me. I almost wished it were true.
In my head, I could already see it. I could envision a wedding just after dusk in the backyard. All of my friends and family would be there, and I would be walking down the aisle with Eric waiting for me. Pam would be amongst my bride's maids, and I would like to see Jason standing with whoever Eric would pick for his best man. I could find a minister to marry us, who knows Swedish, and it would surprise Eric to be married in his own language.
Those thoughts faded away as his other words replayed in my ears. I had never believed that someone as completely non-special as myself would get Eric, but now I wasn't so sure. He made me feel like the most important person in the world, and maybe for him, that was true.
But I couldn't believe it.
I wouldn't let myself.
If something happened now to take him away from me, it would destroy my life. I wasn't going to build myself up like I had with Bill, only to have everything come crashing down around me. Of course I knew that Eric wouldn't betray me like Bill had, but I couldn't help the doubts from creeping in to darken my view of the world around me.
Pam had left during our moment, and returned then, interrupting my thoughts. "Sookie, is there anything you would like for me to get? Some new clothes?" Her eyes lit up at the prospect, but I shook my head, and looked at Eric.
"When can I go home?" I was eager to be home, where I could really relax without medical staff constantly watching.
"I'll go see." He exited the room quickly, and Pam looked at me, unsure of what to say.
"Pam…Eric said that he told the hospital he was my fiancé. Do you really think he would want to marry me?" I asked her in a quiet voice, hoping that Eric wouldn't hear.
She hesitated, unsure of what to say, and glanced toward the door nervously for a second. Finally she sighed, and looked me in the eye, "I have been with Eric for a long time, and I don't think I've ever seen him as devoted to one person as he is to you. For the year that you were missing, he didn't feed from anyone, or have sex with anyone, or even care about anyone. All he could focus on was finding you, and trying to get to wherever you were. I'm almost certain that he would be delighted to marry you." The look on her face said that there was more, but Eric came back in with the doctor behind him.
"Miss Stackhouse, your fiancé here says that you would like to go home before it gets too late. Is that true?" He asked, with a stack of papers in his hand.
"Yes please." The stack was handed to me, and I started to look through them.
"Those are all of the information you need about recovery time, and what you should and shouldn't do until you heal up. I'm certain that you will make a nearly full recovery, and if you have any problems, then you should see your regular doctor. Could you please sign these discharge papers?" He handed me a clipboard, and I signed on the dotted line.
"I don't actually have a regular doctor, since I've never been one to get sick." I told him, and could see Eric looking slightly surprised.
"Would you like a copy of everything from your stay here? This way you can give it to any doctor you visit?" I nodded, and Eric gave him a card with a fax number on it for the paper work to be sent to.
Pam left the room with the doctor, and Eric helped me get into a pair of comfortable sweat pants and a t-shirt. I insisted on walking myself out, but Eric was persistent, and I ended up letting him carry me in the elevator, and through the parking garage. He opened the side door of the van, while Pam took the driver's seat, and it looked like a small living room on the inside. There was a narrow walkway going from the center of the back all the way up to the front, and on either side was the same kind of bed that Eric had put in the cubby at my house. He set us down, and held me in his lap for the drive back to Bon Temps.
The whole way I couldn't help but keep thinking about my future with him, and how much I wanted to stay with him. He'd become such a pivotal part of my life that I couldn't picture myself without him around. We were only an hour away from Bon Temps, when I finally got the courage to ask him.
"Eric, would you want to marry me?" I asked in a small voice, and I thought I felt the van swerve slightly. His eyes betrayed his shock, and when he didn't immediately answer, I thought I had made a mistake. I looked away from him, towards the floor, and the tears began. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." My voice cracked, and his hand came up to cup my cheek. He turned my face to look at him, and I could see the bloody tears welling up in his eyes.
"Sookie, nothing would make me happier than to marry you. Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, as though I would rethink it.
"Yes. Always yes." I said, and he kissed me.
"When?" He asked, pulling back.
I thought for a moment, before chuckling and admitting, "I don't know."
The rest of the drive flew by, and finally we pulled up into my driveway.
"Eric can you go turn some lights on, while I talk to Pam for a second?" He seemed confused, but I sent him and wave of reassurance, and he went inside.
"What do you want Sookie?" Pam asked, and she seemed almost sad.
"I know you lover Eric, and you wouldn't do anything to hurt him. So I want you to be my maid of honor, and if you would like, then you could help me plan the wedding." I knew Tara would be disappointed, but it would mean the world to Eric.
Pam looked like she'd just been punched in the gut, and surprising us both, she hugged me. "Of course. It'll be the best wedding that my makers ever attended."
"I do have one request that I insist on though. Could you find a minister willing to marry us who knows Swedish? I want to surprise Eric by marrying him in his own language." I hoped that it wouldn't be too difficult of a thing for her to do.
"Sookie, I'm sure if you wanted to, then Eric would take you to Sweden to get married. But since I know that's too much for you, I'll do my best to find what you want." I swayed suddenly as a strong wave of fatigue hit me, but refused the help she offered, and turned away from the van. She shadowed me up to the house, and Eric met us at the door. I yawned when he picked me up, and suddenly I was in my bed.
"Darling, you need sleep. Will you do that for me?" I nodded, and he smiled. There wasn't enough energy in me to argue. Looking at the clock, I realized it wasn't very long until dawn. "I'm going to go to Fangtasia for the rest of the night, and do some paperwork. Pam is going to stay here with you. I'll be back tomorrow as fast as I can, alright?"
"Hurry back." I told him, and he smiled.
"I love you." He said, and suddenly he was gone. I assumed that he and Pam bother were leaving as I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, the sun was shining through the window, and I could feel its warmth beating through the walls of the old farmhouse.
My chest felt extremely sore, and I found a bottle of pills and a note on the kitchen table from Eric. Ludwig recommended these for your pain. –E.
I smiled, and took the recommended dose that was written on the bottle. The soreness immediately ebbed away to only a slight ache, which was nothing I couldn't handle.
Looking outside, it seemed like a gorgeous summer day, and I went upstairs to change into my favorite swimsuit. Lying outside in the sun, I felt completely relaxed, and started to read a book to pass the time. It was just after one when a truck with Herveaux construction written on the side pulled up the driveway, and Alcide stepped out. But I could see that someone had stayed in the vehicle.
His eyes roamed over my body, but I ignored his suggestive stares, and smiled as he got closer. "What can I help you with Alcide?"
"Well, Eric asked me to stop by and introduce you to someone. Nick!" He yelled back to the truck, and a man stepped out.
Whoa, I knew Eric had a girlfriend, but I didn't think she'd be this good looking. I dipped into his head, and blushed slightly. Alcide noticed my change in appearance, and rolled his eyes as he assumed what I had done. "Hi, I'm Nick. Mr. Northman hired me to watch over you during the days when he's not available. My brother Nathan was also hired, but he won't start until tomorrow. We're gonna split the days in half." He was just an inch shorter than Eric, with light brown hair, a chiseled chin and bright green eyes.
I frowned, but didn't protest. I should have known that Eric would do something like this after I got hurt, and I'm surprised that he didn't do it sooner. "Alright, well, here I am. You can call me Sookie, and my house is open to you."
"I'm just gonna go get the layout of the property and house." He said, jogging off.
Alcide continued to leer down at me, and I looked right back up at him. "Are you alright?" He finally asked.
"Yea, vampire blood works wonders for someone who gets shot with an arrow." I chuckled, and he just nodded, obviously unhappy by my admission to taking Eric's blood. "How have you been? How's Debbie?"
He shifted uncomfortably, and a deep sadness emanated from him. "Me and Debbie are done. I abjured her, then I found out she was plotting to come kill you. I stopped her, but she wouldn't stop blaming you for our separation. She tried to cross Bill's lands about a week ago with a shotgun in her hands, headed here. His guards stopped her, but when she tried to charge past them to get to your house, they put her down." He looked off towards the woods for a second, before returning his attention to me. "I'm surprised Bill didn't tell you."
"Well, Bill hasn't exactly been my friend lately. He tried to have me killed because I chose Eric instead of him." Alcide looked shocked, and glanced towards Bill's property murderously. I decided not to tell him about the blood vial.
"So what's the deal with Nick?" I asked, and Alcide smirked.
"He's a nice guy, he and his brother both. They're were-lions, and they make a deadly team. I've never seen them in a fight, but from what I hear they can handle almost anything. His brother can be a bit of a womanizer, so don't be surprised if he tries to make a move on you. Nick handles all the jobs they get on the business end, so Nathan never knows who he's been hired to protect until he arrives on the job. He'll be here in a bit to change shifts with Nick. We would have been here earlier this morning, but they were doing construction on the highways and I couldn't get around it."
"Does Eric know what they are?" I asked, wondering if it had been Pam who had set it all up.
"Yeah, he called me just before dawn to get my recommendations for daytime guards." Nick came back then, and smiled.
"I smelled two vampires in and around the house, and a third one out in the woods that's a fresh as this morning." I fumed at the thought of Bill being on my property trying to spy on me, but also felt a twinge of fear at the thought that he had been there while I slept.
Alcide spoke up before I could. "Bill Compton is not allowed on her property. He's the main threat to her right now, and Eric doesn't want him anywhere near her." Nick looked at me, and I nodded, confirming what Alcide said.
"Alright, well I'll call Nathan before he gets and tell him that. Are you ready to go?" He asked Alcide, and they walked back to the truck.
"I'll see you around." Alcide said out the window as they drove away, and I smiled.
I hadn't had the heart to tell him that Eric and I were engaged, but I knew I would invite him to the wedding. It was less than half an hour later when a shiny dark blue Mustang pulled up the driveway and a man looking almost identical to Nick stepped out, except he had black hair. Oh damn, this chick is smoking hot. I wonder who hired us to protect her. His head revealed the womanizing tendencies that Alcide had mentioned, but I could tell he had a good heart, just like Jason. I smiled up at him as he got closer. "Can I help you?" I asked, forgetting to put up my shields up before talking.
Yeah, you on a silver platter would be a big help. I cringed at the vulgar thoughts that spilled from his open mind, and quickly blocked him out. "Yeah, my name's Nathan. I'm Nick's brother. I guess someone hired us to look after you during the day."
"Yep, that would be my fiancé, and as I told your brother, my home is open to you. Do whatever it is you do, and I'll just go about my business, okay?" I hoped that he wouldn't hit on me while Eric was around, or else there would probably be a fight.
"Sure, that's fine. I'm just going to look around. Is there anything I should know about you?" He asked, and there was a slightly suggestive tone to his voice.
"Yeah, Bill Compton is not allowed anywhere near me. Eric would throw a fit if he got his hands on me." I said, hoping to drop the hint as to who my fiancé was.
He didn't miss what I said, and gave me a curious stare for a second. Then finally he pressed for more information, "Eric?"
"Eric Northman, the vampire sheriff of Area 5. He's my fiancé." I said matter-of-factly, and he took a step back. He eyed me apprehensively for a second, before turning around and walking away to look at my property. Shit, why didn't Nick mention who this girl was? Eric Northman could rip my head off and no one would be able to stop him. I smiled at his thoughts, and stood up to walk into the house.
I called Jason when I got into the kitchen, and he said he'd come right over.
His truck pulled up a few minutes later, and he practically ran up to the house before Nathan stopped him on the porch. I could hear him growling from inside.
"Who are you?" Nathan demanded, not letting Jason inside.
Before Jason could say anything stupid, I walked onto the porch and hugged him. "This is my brother, Jason. He's allowed here anytime." Nathan nodded and stalked off the porch to walk around the house.
We went inside, and I started to make him a late lunch out of habit. He asked me about what had happened to me to get hurt, and I explained everything to him. "So who was that guy outside?" He asked a second later, not protesting when I set two sandwiches in front of him.
"Eric hired him and his brother to keep me safe during the day. Bill hasn't been very nice lately, and Eric wants to keep someone here to watch over me." I neglected to mention anything that Bill had done on purpose, not wanting to insight my brothers often misguided attempts to keep me safe. He loved me and I knew that, but he didn't always think before acting.
Jason nodded and started to eat while I put together three more sandwiches and went outside. "Nathan?" I called, and he came jogging around the house a minute later. "I made you a late lunch."
He smiled, accepting the food happily, and I dipped into his thoughts for a moment. Wow, I've never had one of our clients make me food before, this is great. Thank you Miss Stackhouse. I could hear him think it, but he didn't say it.
"You're welcome." I said, without considering what I was doing first.
The plate almost hit the ground as he stared at me, mouth hanging open.
"Sorry." I hurried to say, "I try to keep myself out of other people's heads, but it doesn't always happen, and sometimes I answer questions by accident. It's why most of the people around here call me crazy Sookie." I explained, and he nodded slowly.
"Miss Stackhouse, can you read my mind?" He asked, stunned. In his job as a bodyguard he had met lots of different Supes, but he'd never met a telepath.
"Yeah, sorry again. I try not to most of the time, and call me Sookie." I said, making sure not to emphasizing the 'most of the time' part.
"Ok, well, thanks for the food Sookie." He started to eat, and I went back inside with Jason, who was almost done with his food. I cleaned up his plate, and we continued to talk, until finally I was ready to tell him.
"Jason, I need to tell you something." It was obvious from the way I said it that this was important, and I instantly had his full attention. "I'm getting married…to Eric." His face blanked for a moment, and he blinked several times, before finally pulling himself together.
"Are you sure?" I could tell that he was wondering why.
"Yes. Eric loves me, and I love him. I'm not sure just yet when the date is, but I hope you'll come." It would hurt my feelings if he refused to take part in my future, and I hoped he could accept Eric without any problems.
"Of course, Sook. I'm your brother, what else would I be good for. Besides, who else would walk with you down the aisle?" I jumped up, hugging him around the neck, and he hugged me back. "I hope your happy with him Sook."
"I will be." I promised, and started to ask him about dates and details and who I should invite. We worked together on a list of people, until he got a call on his phone, and had to leave. Nathan watched him go, and as soon as he was out of sight, I heard a knock on my front door.
"Come in!" I said, and Nathan walked into the kitchen a second later. "You don't have to knock, just come in whenever you want to." I told him, and he nodded.
"I thought you should know that your brother is covered in the scent of a vampire. I recognize it as Bill Compton's progeny, Jessica." He looked away from me nervously, not sure how I would react.
"That's alright. Him and Jessica have probably been together, and Jason just doesn't want to tell me yet. Jessica's allowed to be here, but only if she's not with Bill or any of his men." I wondered when the witch that Eric knew, Kristen, would be making an appearance. Eric had told me that she could help Jessica, and I wondered how.
"Also, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with your brother, about the wedding. I just wanted to say that if you needed a caterer, then I know someone who's really good. Her name is Mary, and she's a shifter." He sounded hopeful, and I picked up from his thoughts that even though she was an excellent caterer, she was having trouble finding work because no one knew who she was.
I got her information before he went back outside, and put it at the top of my list of potential guests. Grabbing a notebook, I started to write out my ideas for what I wanted, and soon I couldn't stop as more and more things popped into my head. When I felt it was time for a shower, I stopped. Finding an old folder in one of the closets, I wrote Wedding on the outside, and put all my papers in one of the pockets. Hopefully I would be able to give it to Pam, and she could start planning based on my ideas and wants.
The sun had just set when I went upstairs, and got into the shower.
I was just rinsing my hair, when I felt someone grab my shoulder from behind. My throat clenched as I started to scream, and a hand clamped over my mouth. "Shh, darling, it's just me." Eric whispered, and I sighed when he released me. Turning around, I found him completely naked in the shower with me, and I smacked him playfully on the chest.
"Don't do that! I could have had a heart attack." I said, exasperated.
He chuckled, "Your heart sounds fine…if not a little excited." One of his eyebrows shot up as he smirked, and his intent was instantly clear as he moved to capture my mouth with his.
When we finally got downstairs, fully clothed and dried off, Pam was standing by my kitchen table. She had my wedding folder in her hands, and she was leafing through the pages. "Thank you, Sookie. This will be a good starting point for the wedding plans."
"There's a number for the caterer that I want in there, and you already know what I want that isn't in there." I smiled at Eric's confusion, and he looked between Pam and I. "Don't you dare command her to tell you anything, or I'll make you be abstinent until we're married." I threated, and he chuckled at my orders.
"Alright, whatever you want my dear." He pulled something small out from his pocket, and suddenly he was down on one knee in front of me. Pam was just as shocked as me, and didn't move as Eric opened his mouth to speak.