Heeeellllllllooooooo?! Anybody still there? Okay, so after my last dry spell I chained my Muse down and locked her in a room with no windows to make sure she couldn't get away and leave me again. She's still there happily munching her chocolate (and gaining a ton). Unfortunately, I forgot about my mojo. It ran out and I've had a good long break to restore some of it. I'm sorry that I left y'all hanging. I hope this chapter helps lessen the sting. This chapter and the next serve as a transition between the last chapter and the Summit. I try to cover a few loose ends that I felt Chapter 17 left dangling. Enjoy and I'll see you below.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or anything else here. I'm writing purely for shits and giggle purposes. Please don't sue.

One last thing, big shout out too my totally awesome Beta, slcurwin, for putting up with me. She laughs and all the right places and makes me feel so smart. Thanks! I have recruited a reader to help me with the translations because Google translate is crap and I didn't want to sound stupid in two languages. So everybody Thank 94larkla for her awesome help! Between her and my Beta, I sound literate and comprehend-able, hopefully.

Chapter 18

Sookie sat bundled in a warm blanket, on the porch swing of her grandmother's home and stared out into the morning mist. It was a cool February dawn and the forecast called for cloudy skies and a high probability of thunderstorms throughout the rest of the week. The skies were dark and foreboding, perfectly reflecting Sookie's current mood. The air had the pungent scent of rain to it that even one with the dullest of senses could recognize. She sipped her tea and held the warm cup close to her face, allowing the steam to heat her cool skin. One lonely tear slipped down her cheek completely unnoticed by its barer. Her thoughts were lost to the events of the previous day.

Bon Temp was still recovering from the shock of the violent events earlier in the week, at the bar formally known as Merlotte's. Bear and Sookie had spent a good deal of time brain storming for the new name to the bar. When 'Billabong' was suggested, she knew that in a small backwoods town like this the name was sure to get butchered down to 'the Bong' by some illiterate red-neck hick, so prevalent in the area, but Bear was cleaver by greeting everyone to the 'Watering Hole' on the day they reopened. Besides detailed and frequent discussions of the name, a history of the meaning of the word was added to all the menus and subtle 'Outback' décor changes were made that made the clientele feel like they were experiencing something unique without overtly rubbing the change in the noses of the locals. Over time the locals accepted the change and made it their own as most small towns eventually do. Its destruction and the subsequent deaths and injuries from the shooting had left everyone feeling shell-shocked and traumatized.

Funerals for the three that died had been held the day before and Adele commented about how proud she was of the people in town, coming together to support the families during their time of loss. Even Maxine Fortenberry, all around busy body and town gossip, was hard at work 'easing the burdens of the families for those poor souls'. Despite her tendencies for participating in rumor mongering, she had a giving heart and made it her business (and therefore everyone else's) to help in any way possible. She, Gran and the other senior members of the community, mostly widows, organized a food and clothing drive at the church to help the injured and other victims of the shooting. She rallied all the able bodied men to help clear out the damaged property at Billabong in order to facilitate a quicker rebuild. She was a force to be reckoned with and even Eric had mentioned he'd seen generals on battlefields that were less effective than she.

Another lone tear made its way slowly down the opposite cheek but this time was brushed away by Sookie. She remembered going to the hospital the day after to check on Lafayette who had been injured on the onset of the fray. He'd taken two bullets, both of which had appeared minor until she got to his room to find he'd had a stroke due to a blood clot from the injury in his leg breaking off and making its way to his brain. He was hooked up to all manner of machines and monitors beeping and whirling away. What hit Sookie the hardest though had been his mind pleading for help. He was trapped in his head unable to communicate with anyone until Sookie arrived. Being a telepath was finally useful to her for once, she thought, as she hunted down nurses to silence the annoying instruments and doctors to explain what was going on. Thankfully, it was just Tray that had gone with her to the hospital while the children stayed at home with Gran and Bull, making pies and other baked goods and gathering donations for the church. She wasn't sure she could have taken the added pain of their thoughts as well.

She stayed with Lala the entire day, keeping him company and easing his fears, until Eric arrived at dark to find her. Eric had felt her anguish the moment he rose. By the time he arrived to claim her, he'd already received details from Dawson and called Ludwig. After a few key glamour's, they arranged to have Laf moved for a little supernatural TLC at Ludwig's clinic. Because of the extra 'donations' the doctor had on hand for her study, Lafayette was given blood on arrival and within just a few hours he'd recovered enough to be taken off the machines and could finally communicate on his own. He couldn't speak yet, but he was able to write short notes and Amy told Sookie he'd be fine after a few more 'donations' much to her relief.

Sookie had to be ordered to get some rest for herself, after such a mentally exhausting day. Eric had been extra caring and careful with her since their reuniting and they'd spent the past few nights talking and reconnecting before she fell to sleep in his arms. But with the exception of exchanging blood they'd not resumed their physical relationship. During the few moments of downtime Sookie was able to get recently, she began reviewing all the pain she'd endured since the New Year. She was currently wallowing in self pity again, as she sipped her tea and made a face at it because it wasn't the coffee she craved so much, when a throat cleared and she looked up to discover she was no longer alone.

"Mind if I join you?" The tall black woman before her asked.

"Hey Charlie, sure pull up some swing, I don't mind."

"Where is everybody this morning? It's pretty quiet. The kids go into town with Gran?"

"Yeah, she took 'em to the church to help pass out stuff. Keep 'em busy. Then she and Bull will take them to see Laffy. Sarah's been asking when he's coming home and Gran thinks it'll help if she can see him and hear from him herself that he's mending. Apparently I'm still the enemy."

Charlie chuckled, "Oh hon, you can't blame her for being mad, any more than you should blame yourself. She doesn't understand what's been happening between you and Eric. I did tell you to explain things better. I'm not blaming, just saying. She's confused. Give her time. She'll get over it. Now, are you moping again? I thought things were better now that Eric's back and the air's clear. Poppa Bear mentioned the cat's out of the bag. Isn't that a good thing?"

Sookie sighed heavily and leaned her head on Charlie's broad shoulder. Charlotte or 'Charlie' as everyone called her was Bear's oldest daughter. Her twin brother, Chester, had continued with the security business when she quit too work in the bar. She and Sookie had gotten much closer over the past few weeks because of shared tragedy. Interestingly enough it was the same reason she and Pam were closer now too.

"Yeah it is. I'm just….uuugh! I hate all these stupid hormones making me crazy. I can't get my moods to settle. I was fine when I woke up earlier. Eric's been a Saint with me these past few days. I'm still upset with myself for letting such a stupid misunderstanding drive us apart…."

"Stop. You both did that and it's time to stop beating yourself up over it. You do have other things to think about now." She playfully rubbed the small bulge of Sookie's belly.

Sookie swatted her hand, "Hey! Knock it off! You're not going to be one of those annoying people that go up to pregnant women and invade their personal space by rubbing their belly's are you? 'Cause if you are I'll hit you now to save me the bother later." They playfully swatted at each other for a few moments which surprisingly brought Sookie's mood back up. "Mind if I ask you a question? It's ummm…. kinda personal."

Charlie smiled warmly, "Sure, I don't mind questions as long as you feed me first. Got any coffee? I refuse to drink whatever that is." She pointed at Sookie's cooled mug.

Sookie blew her a raspberry, and got up off the swing to head inside, grumbling "Fine! I swear you shifters eat more that growing children! I'm constantly shopping for groceries, c'mon in."

Once they were settled in the kitchen with breakfast in front of them, Sookie asked, " How long did it take you to be comfortable with umm…you know after your rape, how long was it before you had uh, relations again?" She cringed at how hard it was to get out that simple question.

Charlie raised one, lone, perfectly sculpted eyebrow, "That's your question? Sweetie, you and Eric have been bumpin' uglies every night, hell sometimes several times a night, for as long as I've known you and you're still too embarrassed to say the word sex?" She snickered,"I am so telling Pam!"

Sookie gasped, "Don't you dare! I'm being serious! Eric and I haven't had sex again since we've been back together and I don't know why, okay! He's usually very…aggressive with expressing his wants and desires to me but these last few nights…." Sookie trailed off slightly embarrassed at getting so flustered with Charlie's good natured ribbing.

Charlie's expression slowly became more serious as she munched on her biscuits and gravy. "Do you want to have sex again Sookie?"

"Yes! Umm…..I mean yeah, but not with just anyone. I want Eric. God! Sometimes I get so worked up just looking at him, thinking about his wonderfully strong arms wrapped around me, how nimble those hands of his can be, or his amazing ass. Damn these hormones!" She realized she was breathing heavy and slightly drooling. "But when we've been alone together it's either so late that I'm exhausted and fall asleep before we can get started or we just talk. I feel like he's avoiding the subject. I can feel how much he still wants to, I mean when I woke up this morning he was curled behind me, snuggling against my backside and hard as a rock! I know he wants sex but he's not making any moves. What gives?"

"Maybe he's waiting for you to make the 'moves' this time. He probably doesn't want you to feel pressured. I can't tell you how jealous I am! The man is a walking, talking, SEX GOD! He most likely hasn't gone more than an hour without sex in the past few hundred years unless he's wanted to and here he is respectfully giving you the space he thinks you need for you to recover. Isn't miscommunication what got you two in this mess to begin with? TALK. TO. HIM. Sook, you either need to tell him you're ready or…"

"Or what?!"

Charlie snickered, "Or make the first move yourself. Now, how does that work? He dies hard and what…. stays that way…all day?!"

"Well, yeah pretty much, their bodies stay in whatever position they die in. I can't believe I just told you that! Please don't repeat it."

"Pssh, of course not, you know I got your back girl! But again, let me just say JEALOUS!" Charlie sang the last word. "Completely having major envy issues right here! You could have some wicked fun with that during the day! Not that I expect you would."

"I have actually. Not without his permission, mind you! But, yeah, never having to worry about running out of steam does have its perks." She gave a sly smile with a wicked glint in her eye.

"Girl! You gotta get over this initial embarrassment thing you got going on. You're much more fun once you get started. Now can I have seconds while you explain, in detail, what kind of wicked fun you've had? Then we can plan what kind of evil fun you're going to get!" She swatted Sookie on the rump as she passed to refill her plate from the still warm containers on the stove.

As the rain began to fall in large drops on the roof, Sookie and Charlie spent the rest of the morning swapping crude tails and cackling in hilarity at whomever turned red first. Sookie lost…a lot, but she was able to get Charlie once. And once was all it took.

As the rain swept through the trees and pounded the hard winter earth outside, Sookie began feeling better and more at ease with herself and the events that had recently changed so much. Charlie left once the storm broke in the early afternoon, and Sookie stood on the porch of her grandmother's home, her childhood home, and came to an important conclusion. She had run there after her attack because it had been home for so long and had been a place of love and safety for her to escape to. But it had not felt the same this time. Her place of love and safety had shifted without her realization. It was no longer a place, it was a person. A vampire….. her vampire… Eric. The gods of irony must have been smiling just then for the clouds picked that moment to part. Several golden rays of sunlight streamed through making the most vibrant rainbow Sookie had ever seen. Even as rain continued to fall, albeit much slower and lighter now, Sookie could make out each color with distinction. She wasn't sure if this was due to all the blood she'd had recently or just one of nature's rare gifts of beauty, either way she wasn't going to squander it. She admired the show and her new found revelation until the rain became mist and the sun began to warm her still sensitive skin. She retreated inside to wait for her home, her safe haven in life's storms, to rise for the night. They had some unfinished business to attend to.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

As usual, Eric's awareness came back to him slowly in stages. First his hearing, then his sense of smell and sensations from touch came next, and finally muscular control and with that his sight. The entire process began as soon as the sun dipped low enough in the sky to cause long shadows on the ground. Depending on where in the world you lived and what time of year it was, this could start very early in the afternoon or not until very late in the evening. Any vampire that had the good fortune (or survival instinct) to live past the half century mark learned the older you got the earlier in the day you could rise. Eric could raise a full hour and a half before dusk and he was aware for almost thirty minute prior to that. This was not common knowledge, in fact most vamps his age or older guarded their secrets so well they wouldn't even inform their progenies of the occurrence until they experienced it for themselves. This was why many older vampires were solitary creatures and left nests for the younger generations. Pam was unaware of this information. At barely two hundred, she wouldn't experience early rising herself for at least another few centuries. She would just pout about missing on-line shoe sales anyway, so Eric kept quite.

Sookie however, was very aware of this phenomenon and they'd had the pleasure of taking advantage of it many times in the past two years. No one else in their small family unit knew which was just how Eric liked it. This night however, when Eric's hearing kicked in he was inundated with wailing and crying from Sarah that sounded like she was being tortured. It was coming from just outside his door.

'Sookie?'

'Oh good your awake!' The relief was evident in her mind.

'What has happened? Why is Sarah howling like a Banshee?' He'd met a Banshee once during a trip across Ireland. They were not pleasant creatures and their cry could be heard for miles.

'She's been sleeping in the bed with us, or I should say you, since before I woke up today. Gran was able to pry her away this morning to go help out at the church and with promises of seeing Laf. They just got back a few minutes ago and I had just shut the bedroom door and locked it before then to keep you safe. She's been distraught ever since she realized she couldn't get back inside. I've tried to explain to her…..'

'Let her in, Sookie,' Eric interrupted her thoughts. 'We can't hide this from her anymore nor should we try. Let her in.'

As soon as he heard the door lock click and the door open, he heard Sarah running for the bed. She scrambled up next to Eric and glared at Sookie. "This is MY Pappa! You can't take him away again! I won't wet you! I don't wike you! You mean! Go AWAY!" Sarah was terrified Eric would disappear from her life again and she was NOT going to let that happen.

'Sarah, you will not speak to Sookie like that ever again! She was protecting me and you. Apologize, now.'

Sarah's eyes got as big as saucers when she heard Eric's strong no nonsense voice in her head. "Ewic? You awake? But it's stiw wite outside. How you awake? You not movin'."

Eric began to feel her poking him, 'Sarah, I'm waiting…Apologize or you will stay in your room until I fully rise.'

"No! Pappa I don't wanna go ta my woom." There was a very pregnant pause, "I sowwy I said you was mean, Sookie." Sincerity thy name is Sarah Stackhouse, Not!

Eric was at a disadvantage in his current state. He wanted the time alone with Sookie but he could not leave Sarah in the pain she was obviously in. He was still unable to move, but he could feel Sarah's warmth on his bare skin as she clung to his neck. 'Sarah, min lilla krigare, du ska veta att det inte bara var Sookies fel att jag var borta så länge. Skulden ligger även på mina axlar. Jag borde ha kommit tillbaka till er alla tidigare, men jag var envis. Jag lät min stolthet ta över mitt sinne. Så om du måste vara arg på någon, var arg på mig. Sookie mådde inte helt bra och kan inte hållas ansvarig för sina handlingar, men jag var envis och dåraktig med mina. Snälla, förlåt henne.' ('Sarah, my little warrior, you should know that it was not all Sookie's fault that I was away for so long. I too am to blame. I could have and should have come back to you all sooner. But I am stubborn. I allowed my pride to guide me. If you need to be angry at somebody, let it be me. Sookie was in pain and could not help her actions, whereas I was obstinate and foolish with mine. Please, forgive her.')

Eric had made it a point to teach everyone in the family modern Swedish over the past two years. Surprisingly, it was Adele and Hunter who picked it up the best until Eric took the family to his human roots for an early Christmas vacation just this past December. Once Sookie and Sarah were able to hear it in the minds of everyone around them, nonstop, it went a long way to helping them learn the language. After only three weeks, Sarah was nearly fluent. Sookie was still working on it but Sarah was faster. He had also begun teaching the children a few key words in Old Norse, for emergencies. Teaching and entire dead language was pointless, but certain words could be very useful.

As Sarah absorbed his words he could feel her tears on his neck. "You…didn't come home…on pupose? Why? Don't you wuv us? Aun' Sookie said it was her faut, you say its youwa faut, Gwan says you bof bein' subbon turds. I don't unersand."

Eric could hear Sookie coming closer, and felt the bed move slightly as she moved up the opposite side of Eric than Sarah. "Sarah, I need you to look at me, sit up. Do you remember when you and Hunter went to play hide and seek without telling us or anybody else where you were going when we went on vacation at Christmas time? When we finally found you both you said you did tell us because you left the note, but it got lost. Then we decided it was a just a mistake?" Sarah was nodding thoughtfully as she waited for the rest of her explanation. "Well, your Pappa and I made a mistake. I got hurt and did not talk to him the way he needed me too and he got mad. I thought he was mad at me, but he was mad at the person who hurt me. I came here to Gran's with you and Hunter because this was where I've always felt safest but it's not my safe place anymore."

"Where zit at now?" Eric could feel his muscle control come back enough to open his eyes. Sarah was perched on his chest but she was looking at Sookie as she ran her fingers through Sarah's hair.

"You're sitting on him."

"Ewic's youa safe pace?"

"Yes ma'am. But I didn't know that before we left, I do now though. I made a mistake taking us away and Pappa made a mistake by staying away. That does not mean we don't both love you very much."

Eric finally gained full muscle control. He wrapped his arms around Sarah as he sat up slowly, not wanting to startle her too much. "We need you to understand that even if we slip-up we are always trying to do what is best for you and Hunter. I love all of you enough to sacrifice being with you if it means your safety and well being. You need to know that if I ever leave again…..it will not be because I want to." Eric paused briefly before finishing his sentence. All he could think of was his maker getting word of his new family. He would have to leave to keep them safe.

Sookie kissed both of them on their foreheads in a comforting and affectionate gesture and said, "Well, I guess we're going to just make sure that never happens." Eric wasn't sure if she was speaking to their collected fear of separation or answering his unspoken thoughts. "But Sarah we do need to talk about Eric's business meeting in New Orleans tomorrow night. You and Hunter will stay here with Gran and Bull and Trey. Bear and Charlie have agreed to keep me company while we're gone and it's only for a few nights. Eric can't put it off any longer. If it wasn't for Mr. Compton corroborating the events of the shooting we would have left two nights ago."

Sarah blew a raspberry, "Mr. Tattle-tale needs to mine his own beez-wax."

Eric chuckled but quickly stifled his amusement at Sookie's stern look. "Sookie is right. His 'snitching' to the queen, as well as the media's coverage of the shooting has given us some time to prepare. However, when we will need to leave tomorrow, I expect you to be on your best behavior. No attempts to hide and stow away, no tantrums, and no back talking to Sookie EVER again. It is important that you know the behavior you have been demonstrating recently can no longer occur, especially in front of other vampires. Not only is it disrespectful but it is dangerous. If Compton was old enough to rise this early he would have heard your screaming being as close as he is. Even in front of Bubba this is unacceptable. Image is everything with vampires. As the leader of the area, I must appear in control at all times or else others could view me as weak and try to overtake me or take what is mine. As Mine, Sookie must always appear to be in my command in front of others, and as Hers you must always appear to be in her control. If not, your behavior will reflect badly on me. If my pet cannot control her wards, it will appear to other vampires that if I cannot control my interests so close to me, I cannot control any of my interests. Do you understand?"

Sarah searched Eric's features. He gave nothing away. No anger, no emotion, just a straight poker face. Finally, after a few minutes, in which the two adults would swear they could see the actual wheels turn in Sarah's mind, she gave an answer. "I gotta be good fo' Sookie an no back tok, 'cause if I do you wook weak wike a baby. An den da vampire's wont wissen to you anymoa." She looked so proud of herself for getting all of that, that it was hard for Eric to deliver a very vital truth. He didn't want to scare her but she needed to know there was no room in the supernatural world for disobedience or weakness.

"No. They would end me. They would see me as unfit to lead. It is known, though not widely yet, that Sookie is a telepath. They would kill me to get her. If you, Hunter, and Adele were to survive your abilities would have to be revealed and even then it is not a guarantee that you would stay with Sookie. It would be nearly impossible for any single vampire to keep you all together. One if not more of you, would be sold to the highest bidder, and there isn't a single supernatural out there that wouldn't do or pay anything for their own telepath. When I say dangerous, I mean it!"

Sarah's eyes got huge and nearly bugged right out of her head. She stared at Eric then at Sookie for confirmation. When Sookie nodded her agreement, instead of being scared, or crying in fear, Sarah surprised them both. "No."

She said it so calmly Eric asked, "No?"

"No. You won't wet anybody do dat." She enunciated each syllable (as best she could) to make her point. "You are stwonga an bedda an smaata dan anybody else. You can keep us safe. You teached me an Hunner how ta hide an fight. An Sookie an Gwan is smaat too. If anybody twy to huwt you, we kiw dem!"

Sookie grinned, "I told you the scare tactic wouldn't work. Sarah's to brave, instead of hiding in fear she digs in her heels and fights back, just like her Pappa."

"Min lilla slagskämpe," Eric said softly, as he caressed Sarah's cheek. (My little fighter.)

"But don't wowwy Pappa. I stiw be good." She hugged Sookie and Eric and the three sat there for a few minutes in silence until finally Sarah kissed them both on the cheek and said, "I'm hungy. I see ya waiter, kay?"

"Okay baby. Pappa and I will be down soon."

"Nope." She popped the 'P' as she hopped down from the bed and walked toward the door. She made a show of locking the door and just before she shut it, she grinned wickedly and said, "Lala said to weave you awone so you an Pappa can bond. I not surwa what dat means but he said you usta bond evey night. An you was LOUD!" She slammed the door and said in a sing-song voice as she skipped downstairs, "Have FUN!"

After they both laughed until tears came to their eyes, Sookie swore. "Damn it, that ass is totally taking advantage of his handicap status. He knows I won't hurt him while he's recovering but when he gets back I'm putting pudding in his shoes! I can't believe he told Sarah that!"

They continued to chuckle at Sarah and Lafayette's antics, as Eric laid back down and held Sookie snugly in his arms. She hummed in complete contentment for a while as they enjoyed the sounds of the house and its occupants. As dark fully fell and Bubba emerge from his resting place, they heard Sarah suggest they go out to eat and surprisingly Gran agreed. She wasn't normally a fan of eating 'junk', as she called it, for dinner. Within ten minutes of the sun setting Sookie and Eric were left alone in the house.

"Boy are they subtle," Sookie chuckled as she adjusted her position to rest her chin on Eric's massive chest.

Eric simply smiled. He was busy basking in the content and happy mood emanating from their bond. In comparison to all the hurt, sorrow, and misery he'd risen to since the New Year began, this was a welcome and almost blissful change. He finally broke the silence with, "Not that I am complaining but you are in a wonderful mood tonight. Any particular reason why?"

"Charlie visited me today. We had a long talk and she helped me come to a few realizations. The first and most important being I need to talk to you more or more specifically question you more. These pregnancy hormones of mine are already playing havoc with my emotions and the last thing we need is another rift based on a misunderstanding."

"Are you referencing something specific, Solsken?"

Sookie teared up a bit at the use of his pet name for her. He'd not used it in a long time. "Well, yeah. I was concerned that you were not initiating sex with me because you were uninterested or thought I was broken now after….."

"Never! No, Sookie, if it's even possible I desire you now more than I have in the past…."

She silenced his protests with a warm soft kiss. "I know that, now. Charlie mentioned you were probably just giving me my space to heal." As Eric nodded his confirmation of her statement, she continued with, "But what I need now is you. All of you, surrounding me in your love…., affection…, kisses…., arms…, filling me… with your….. heart…., blood…., and other things." She grinned wickedly as she palmed his hardening cock and began to stroke. His eyes had begun to roll up into his skull when she began feathering kisses, in between each word, over his bare chest, up his neck, and around his sensitive ear. He nearly came when she grabbed him and began her almost painful caresses.

"Sookie, I….aaaahhhh," Eric groaned as Sookie removed the sheet covering his lower half, then moved to straddle him. It was a testament to how distracted her ministration were making him, that he didn't notice her lack of panties until she began sinking her moist, warmth around him, sheathing him fully inside her. He also didn't realize he'd closed his eyes until he opened them to see her pulling at the fabric of her own dress in a desperate attempt to remove it.

He was very close to bloodlust, but in a supreme effort of self control, he stilled Sookie's hands and trapped them in the long sleeves of her dress just as she managed to pull it up and over her head. He sat up for better control of the situation but it did nothing more than to cause them both to moan at the sensations the movement produced. His pupils were dilated and he was unnecessarily panting with the effort to resist. "Stop, please min Älskling. I do not wish to harm you. Are you sure you're ready?"

Sookie was panting as well, and her bare breasts were heaving at her attempts to calm down as she said, "Am I being too subtle for you Viking? This is my attempt at making the first move, I'm more than ready. I told you these hormones were making me crazy and I've been wet for hours waiting for you to rise." She ground her hips into his to get his attention again, he'd become distracted by her pert pink nipples that seemed to hypnotize him.

Eric was torn. His fangs had run down and his cock throbbed in pain at not being used. He was losing his will power to resist when she leaned forward, her arms still trapped inside her dress, pushing her right nipple against his lips and whispered, "I am stronger than you realize, Lover. Take it, take me, feed, make love to me, or fuck me senseless. I won't break."

Finally, he stopped resisting.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

A loud high pitched cry followed closely by what could only be described as a battle cry, echoed through the air as Bill took his nightly 'walk' through the cemetery next to his old, antebellum home. The house had reverted back to his ownership when Jessie died a few months before. He had wanted to come back not just for the peace and quiet of this small town but to thank the woman he felt indebted to for freeing him from his maker's hold. When Judith had informed him that it was Sookie who had ended Lorena, he arranged it so that he would have an indisputable reason to come back to the area. Now that the queen was no longer interested in obtaining Sookie, he felt free to try for her himself. He only had one obstacle as far as he could see. He honestly didn't see Eric as that big of a threat, he'd been back for three months and in that time he only saw Sookie a handful of times and never in the company of the Sheriff. He knew they had been gone when he'd first arrived but shortly after the holidays, Sookie was back at her home and he never saw the Viking there.

However, now as he wondered through the night enjoying the peace, his reverie was broken by the noise. He followed the sounds to the edge of the Stackhouse property. The racket now sounded like a pair of animals mating but it was emanating from the upper floor of the house. Believing that it was in fact one of the Sheriff's pet wolves taking advantage of the obviously empty home he turned to leave when he heard, "Fuck! Yes! More Eric! Ahhhh!" Which was then followed by more grunting.

Bill frowned as he turned back to his home. Apparently he'd been wrong to assume there was conflict between Sookie and Eric. He wasn't going to give up so easily though. In the few brief encounters he'd had with her he knew she was interested. Perhaps he just needed to show her he could provide for her as well as the Viking could. It was time to get back to work on his database for the queen. If he could finish it in time for the summit, he was sure he could draw her attention away from the Sheriff then.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Eric stepped into the shower behind Sookie and wrapped his arms around her soapy, slippery body. He hummed into her neck, "Hmmm, you were insatiable tonight Lover."

She giggled, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I think you might have scared a few small animals with all that roaring you did."

"I couldn't help myself. My wicked minx of a mate drove me toward bloodlust several times. Not that I'm complaining but how are you still moving. I've never experienced this type of stamina from a human before. In fact not even many vampires have been able to keep pace with me."

"She turned effortlessly in his arms and slithered down and then back up his body in a teasing manner as she soaped him up with the poof she held in her hands. "Have you ever been with a pregnant fairy before? I think it's these damn hormones. I'm barely sore, of course that could also be because of all that blood of yours."

Eric growled under his breath, "Lover, if you keep this up we won't make it to the queen's tomorrow." He began nibbling her ear and down her neck as he kept his hands busy exploring her body.

"Me?! Look who's talking Mr. Libido! I'm just trying to take a shower to get all this sex sweat off me, but instead I have this giant voracious vampire who can't keep his fangs off me. So you see I'm completely innocent."

Eric's sudden laugh came out more as a snort, "Innocent? HA! I've seen executioners more innocent than you my little imp."

She turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower as she grabbed a towel, "No, no, no, you must have me confused with one of your other conquests. I am a fairy sir, not an imp."

Eric stepped out of the shower while shaking the water from his hair then he dropped his fangs and crouched as if a lion about to spring on its prey. "Hmmmmm, silly girl, don't you know? Fairies never last long around vampires." She squeaked as he pounced on his naughty Fae princess and just as he laid her down on the bed for round three of the evening, there was a knock on the front door. "Somebody better be dead," Eric growled.

"Fuck! Eric it's a daemon. It feels like Mr. C and there are two others also, vampires.

He didn't realize how unaware of his surroundings he'd been he didn't even hear the car drive up. He checked the time, barely past ten. 'Where are the children?'

'Still with Gran. They came by about an hour ago but since we were being a little loud she took them to visit with Pam.'

'Call her. Tell them to say in Shreveport until we call.'

"Northman, I do not like to be kept waiting."

Eric gave Sookie a look that she couldn't decipher, "Yes, your Majesty, I will be down momentarily."

A/N: Okay! How was that? As you can see I've decided to begin putting the English translations (my original text) just after the Swedish. I think it's easier than having to go all the way to the bottom of the text to figure out what's being said and those that know how to read the Swedish can see if I flubbed it up between getting it back from my Translator to posting it here.

Again, I'm sorry for the long delay but I've decided to try to stick with a week between chapters. I might post an Outtake of their Christmas adventure to Sweden soon but I have no clue if I'll get it done before Christmas. So, in case I don't, I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful Holiday season! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Yule...whatever you celebrate...enjoy it.