A/N: I don't own any of the characters, only the story. Though i wouldn't mind getting my hands onto Eric and Godric.

Chapter five:

Eric's truck swings around the corner in a few minutes. He pulls into a space next to his mother's "car".

"Bye Sook, this is my cue to leave. Have fun. See you tomorrow." She hugs me and pulls out. 'So that's what having a daughter feels like. I enjoyed that more than she will ever know. I hope that they will stay together, she fits right in with our family.'

Eric jumps out of the cab and walks up to me. "Hi baby, did you have fun with my mother?" When I nod, he picks me up and runs his nose up my neck. 'Oh God, just the smell of you sets me off.' "Good. I'm glad, but it's my turn to spend time with you. Let's get this over with, so we can get some dinner and catch a movie."

"I thought we were having dinner at your house."

"Not tonight darling, you and I are having a proper date. I want to spend the rest of the day and night with you, alone." He hugs me to him. "I'm sorry but I'm greedy. Let's go and shop 'til you drop." Eric holds out his hand for me to take and we walk into the Mall. We walk the perimeter once and then I motion to go into Spencer's. This is the place to find gifts for Alcide. I buy him a couple of joke tees, a large bust of Michael Myers and a poster.

In Macy's, I buy Freyda a gorgeous cashmere sweater set and a Baccarat vase. I get Eric's father a new sheepskin lined barn coat. Eric excuses himself, when we go into a jewelry store. I end up finding a nice chocolate pearl set for Freyda's third gift. He comes back, looking satisfied with himself, bag in hand.

Earlier this morning, I called a place Freyda suggested and got Eric a new saddle. It will be dropped off on the 24th. Now, I need to find something else for him and his dad. I have an idea for Godric, a gift certificate to Tractor Supply.

We head into a movie store. Movies are one of my great pleasures; I can tell Eric is watching me closely. Every time I look at something and put it down, he picks it up. Like lighting it hits me, I'll get him some cds, and "Cowboy Way". I walk over to the comedies and pick up a copy. I then walk over to the music store next door and buy some Alabama, Chris Ledoux and Sawyer Brown cds.

Eric comes out of the movie store with a bag swinging from his wrist, as well as the ones in his hands. 'There she is. For a minute I thought she was a dream. How did I live this long without her?'

"Give me those. 'You shouldn't have to lug anything. As long as I am around you won't need to.' "We'll take these out to the truck and see about getting something to eat. There is a great place on the other end of the Mall." He shifts the bags and holds out his hand.

We are walking back from the truck when a couple of girls walk up to us. 'Oh God! Just what I need, that little brat coming onto me when I am out with Sookie.' "You're about to see that I have problems here too." He whispers in my ear.

A walking stick saunters up to us and lays on some supposed charm, mostly battling her lashes and flipping her long blonde hair. She should have put on more layers, who in their right mind decides to go to the mall in a micro mini and sleeveless shirt a few days before Christmas in Tennessee.

'What! Eric never has a girl. I have had my sights on him for four months now. I know that Sophie wants him, but she wants anyone that is attractive or has money. Her standards are lower than mine. No one is going to horn in on my future boyfriend.'

"Hey Ric, who is this, your cousin." The girl tries to physically wedge herself between us. When I don't let go of his hand she glares at me.

"Please, you don't have a chance with him, not when he could have me." I'm starting to feel like one of Godric's bulls.

"I don't know how many times I have told you this Debbie, MY NAME IS ERIC! This is my girlfriend. We've been together since this summer." He pulls on my hand. "Come on honey. We're going to be late for dinner." 'The nerve of that girl.' He thinks.

We walk away. When we are seated, he explains about "Debbie". "She is two years behind us. Ever since we started school, she's been after me. First, she starts calling me Ric, which I hate. Then she tells everyone that we are dating, as if just by saying it will make it true. She disgusts me. There is only one girl for me." 'Sookie told me that she has trust issues. This is not good. I just hope that she will see that I am telling the truth. If she leaves because of this or another of these skeletons, I will not be so kind to anyone anymore. I hope Sophie doesn't walk in right now. That would probably send Sookie home.' He thinks glumly.

He motions for me to get out. He slides to the inside of the booth, bringing his place setting with him. "Let's eat and get past this. I will not let that girl ruin our date." He drapes his arm around my shoulder while we look at our menus. We order and talk while we wait for our food. He can feel the stress in my shoulders, the way he is rubbing them tells me.

I'm starting to relax again, when Debbie finds us and sits down on the other side of the booth. Eric groans into my neck.

"What do you want this time, Debbie? We are trying to have dinner." He asks, rudely.

"You can stop now. I don't know nor do I care who she is. You don't need to try to make me jealous. Yes Eric, I'll go out with you." She tells us as she tries to reach for his hand. I can feel him tense up. Before he can speak again, I place my hand on his thigh.

"Debbie, is it? I think you should leave while you still have some dignity. I am Eric's girlfriend, I'm sorry. I know, I still can't believe it either, but he seems to really want to be with me. He is the best thing to happen to me, so I am not planning on letting this one go. Go find someone that wants to treat you like a queen. Now if you will excuse us, we are waiting for our food." Debbie leaves with her head hanging.

"You were too nice, darling, but thank you." Eric murmurs in my ear, and then drags his lips down my neck, causing me to shiver. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for not making her leave me.'

Our food arrives, before we get too carried away. I ordered the petite fillet of steak, with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Eric ordered the fisherman's platter, with cole slaw and onion rings. We both have milkshakes to go with our feasts. I actually finish it.

"That is one of the things I love about you. You eat normally. I think girls who eat only salads and leave half of their meals because they don't want to look hungry are gross." He beams at me. 'She is perfect. I am lucky that she wants to be with me.'

"I like food too much." I shrug. Eric pays. He would not let me even leave a tip. He wraps his arm around me.

"Do you want to see a movie or do something else? It's up to you. Your wish is my command, Baby." He stops me and pulls me into his embrace. "This is the best Christmas ever. I am so glad you are here with me. I love you so much." He lightly brushes my lips with his and hugs me. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Loving me. I can be difficult to be around sometimes, but you bring out this whole new side of me."

"Do you know if there is a Tractor Supply around here?"

"Yes, of course. Is that what you want to do?" I nod. "I want to get your dad a gift certificate for Christmas."

"Well then, your chariot awaits, my dear." He helps me in and we drive to the farm store. He again helps me out and we stroll inside. He drifts off to look at some farm supplies. This is my chance. I walk up to the associate and ask to by a gift certificate.

"How much?"

"I need three $150 ones, and can I get gift boxes, thank you. Also, can I please get one of those hand tooled belts? I need a size 30." She rings me up. I go in search of my boyfriend and I find him in the livestock section.

"Did you find anything?" I ask him, looping my arms around his waist and hugging him from behind.

"Hey, I missed you, baby." He turns around and hugs me back. "Did you get what you needed?"

"Here, now I need to find a dollar store and a grocery store."

In no time we are walking around the dollar store. Eric pushes the cart, while I throw wrapping paper, tags, tape and wired ribbon in. In another aisle, I find some Body wash, and some shampoo. 'Hey, that's my soap.' I hear from an aisle away.

"Sook, I can't believe that I have never been in here. I always thought that it would just be junk. They actually have some stuff I pay a lot more for in the other stores." I chuckle. I walk up to him and whisper in his ear.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pop your cherry, babe."

'You can do that anytime you want my dear. I am ready when you are.'

He grabs me and growls into my neck. "No, I don't mind. As long as I get to return the favor someday." I smile up at him.

"Let's go pay and do some grocery shopping. The sooner we get done, the sooner we can go back to bed." I nip at his earlobe, and turn to pay for my loot. Eric piles the bags into the bed and we head to the Kroger.

Again, he pushes as I toss the ingredients for supper, baking supplies, and the makings for mulled cider, into the cart. This time, when I go to dig out my debit card, Eric swipes his through and punches in his PIN.

"Hey!" I cry out.

"If you are serious about making dinner for us. Then I cannot in good conscious, let you pay for it also. Sorry, but that is the way it is." He loads the bags into the truck and we are on the way home.

"I know you don't believe this given how much I have done today, but I don't really like shopping that much, well aside from the grocery shopping." I lean my head back against the plushy headrest and close my eyes.

"I didn't mind shopping with you. It felt right, you know?" He unleashes his gleaming smile when I nod. 'So right that I want to do it all of our life.'

When we get back to his house, he helps me out and shoos me into the house. After two trips, he finally closes the door and sags against it, panting.

"Did Sook tire you out shopping Bro?" Alcide chuckles at the sight of the bags and a beat Eric.

"That girl can shop, and she says that she doesn't like it that much." When I look at him, he grins. "Aside from grocery shopping that is." He adds.

I begin taking care of the groceries. Freyda shakes her head at me. "You didn't need to do this. Look at all this, it's too much." 'She is seriously going to cook. Well, I hope that she can. It would be a load off my mind if she is a good cook.'

"Mom, I didn't let her pay for the food, even though I got in a load of trouble for it." That calmed her down for the moment, and then she spied my wrapping supplies.

"What cute ribbon, and look at this paper. Where did you find this? It is great." She had the same crazy look in her eyes that she had earlier while we were shopping. I told her, I only paid twenty dollars on that stuff.

"You what?" I hand her my receipt, laughing.

"I cannot believe it. Sookie, dear will you go with me tomorrow. I need to see this place for myself."

'Timber, there goes Mom.' Both boys think, sometimes they do act like twins.

"I will go with you, but I plan to be in the kitchen most of the day tomorrow. Where do you store your already wrapped presents? So when I get this loot wrapped, I can stow it all away." She tells me and they wish us a good night.

They are going out for a late night dinner and movie with some friends in town. Alcide tells us he has a date too.

"Good night kids, don't do anything I wouldn't." He calls out as he closes the door. "That doesn't cover much." Eric mutters under his breath.