Spellbound

Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing the story. I appreciate ya'll so much. I hope that ya'll enjoy this chapter.

The characters belong to Charlaine Harris but the story idea is mine.

Eric,

I'm going to be away for awhile to think things over. So much has happened and I need time to think some things through. There's no need for you to worry about me because I'm with Claudette. She'll make sure that I'm okay. I'll talk to you soon.

Sookie

Sookie had written him the note a week ago and Eric had read it every day since she'd left. They hadn't spoken to each other since the night before she left. He tried calling her but she'd left her cell phone behind. He'd heard it ringing in her office. He didn't mind that she'd gone on a vacation with Claudette. Maybe it would help her in her decision on whether or not they had a chance. He'd also hoped that the getaway would improve her health. She couldn't have been feeling very well when she left because of what Marco told him.

As soon as he'd risen for the night, Marco went to Eric and told him that he'd found Sookie on the floor of her bedroom and that she didn't look the same. He said that there was something different about her.

"She looked drawn and her spirit wasn't the same. She wasn't her regular self," Marco said. He told Eric that Sookie didn't want him to know that he'd found her on the floor but he felt that it was in her best interest. "She also fired me again."

Eric laughed. Obviously, she was the same. Sookie fired anyone that didn't go along with what she deemed important. As a matter of fact, Marco has been fired several times by Sookie. "Thank you, Marco. You may go."

As soon as Marco left, Eric called Claudette. Sookie may have left her phone behind but he knew that Claudette had hers. She never went anywhere without her phone.

"Thank you for calling Fun in the Sun. This is Claudette speaking. How can I help you today?"

Eric laughed. "It's nighttime, Claudette."

"Where you are it is nighttime but we're having fun in the sun."

Eric was no longer laughing. He'd assumed that they were close by. He never figured that they were in another time zone. Sookie didn't need to be that far away from him; especially since he didn't know where she was. The possessive vampire in him made an appearance. The warm and playful voice from earlier had turned into ice.

"Where is my wife and where have you taken her?"

"Cool down, Eric" Claudette said. Soon she was laughing. "Did you get my joke? I told a vampire to cool down. You can't cool down. You're already cold." She cackled even louder.

Obviously, he didn't get the joke. He didn't smile and he didn't laugh. His only concern was for Sookie. If Claudette had taken Sookie back to Faery, whatever plans Fintan had for them, could possibly be put into action. If Fintan gets his hands on Sookie, Eric knew deep down that he'd never get her back. The very thought frightened him.

"Tell me where my wife is."

"She's with me."

"I hope that you didn't take her to Faery."

Claudette was no longer laughing. She was offended. Eric knew how Claudette felt about Fintan. Everyone in the supe world knew. If Gran didn't call her home to Faery, she didn't go. The happiness that was once in her voice had dissipated. "I would never do that. If Sookie ever returns to Faery, it will be of her own volition. As I said before, vampire, she is with me."

When she called him vampire, Eric knew that he'd crossed the line. Claudette was a faery of honor and dignity. "If I have offended you, know that it was unintentional. My only concern is for my wife. I want to know if Sookie is well. She has been ill for a few days and I am worried for her. I want to be sure that …"

Cutting him off, Claudette said, "She's fine. She just needs a little time to herself to think things through. If anything happens, I will call you. You have my word."

Eric knew that he could trust Claudette. When he helped the faery with the plan to kill her would be assassin, who just so happened to have been her husband, trust has to be a part of their relationship.

"I just wanted to be sure that she's okay. Is she around?"

"She is."

Eric waited. When she didn't give Sookie the phone, he asked, "Well, may I speak with her, please?"

Claudette shook her head. "No. You will speak to her when she gets home. She needs to relax and not have to worry about you worrying about her. I'll tell her that you asked about her and if she wants to call you, she will."

The click of the phone was the last sound he'd heard. That was exactly a week ago. Claudette never called to say that there was anything wrong with Sookie and Sookie must not have wanted to talk to him because he didn't get a call from her either. The best part of not receiving a call was that he didn't get a message saying that she wasn't coming back. He thought that to be a real possibility after the way he'd been treating her but as the week passed, he began to feel better; at ease almost. The feeling of ease soon turned into pure relaxation. Pure relaxation soon turned into excitement and nervousness. Sookie called to say that she was coming home.

"Hi, Eric," she said. "I'll be home tomorrow."

"I'll be waiting for you."

Before Eric went to bed that morning, he asked Marco if everything had been prepared for Sookie's return. "I want the night to be perfect. Nothing can go wrong."

"Nothing will go wrong," Marco confirmed.

"Have you made the calls?"

"Every day since you told me to get everything in order," he replied.

A quick smile appeared on Eric's face. Without saying another word to Marco, he died for the day. Sookie came home a few of hours later.

She popped herself into her room to put away her things. She never thought that she would be happy to return home. She and Claudette had a great time at the spa. The scenery and the fresh air worked wonders for them both. Even though neither of them believed it possible, Claudette and Sookie were closer than they've ever been before.

She learned things about Claudette's life that she never knew. They talked about everything from their extremely privileged childhood to the most pivotal moments in their lives. They talked about their marriages and about Sookie's suitors and how the male fae were boring and pretentious. Her cousin agreed. Claudette talked about her many boyfriends and how she missed being in love and being loved. She even told Sookie that she had a new mate; a new lover.

"Who is it?" Sookie asked surprised.

"In time," Claudette said.

"Maybe you'll get the love that you're missing."

"I hope so," she said. "I really hope so."

They giggled and they laughed. They had the most fun. Not until their last day at the spa did they mention Eric and what Sookie should do. The plan was reasonable and it was doable. It was her cousin's idea.

"You two can start over," Claudette said as she and Sookie walked along the beach holding hands. "There's no reason why you two can't start over."

Sookie released Claudette's hand and flopped down on the beach and faced the ocean. She stared out at the bright orange horizon as she thought about her cousin's suggestion. She wondered if they could start over. She didn't know if she could forget the way that he treated her. She wanted to tell him to go to hell but she knew that it wasn't entirely his fault. Eric shouldn't have to carry the full blame for his actions.

"How do we do that?"

"Slowly, my friend," she said. Claudette was laying on her back and looking up at the sky. "You do it slowly. Love is patient and forgiving. Love is the greatest gift afforded to us all. If you have the chance to experience it, don't throw it away." Rolling her head to the side and looking at her cousin, she asked, "You do realize that you two dated for three months before you got married."

Sookie shrugged her shoulders. "So? What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying that he had every right to believe Fintan?"

Claudette folded hear arms behind her head and closed her eyes. "Not exactly but you have to see why it would be easy for Eric to believe what he'd been told."

With her arms crossed over her chest, Sookie pouted. "I believed what he told me."

"You're so naïve, Sookie. He was your first boyfriend; if you can call him that. Supes aren't supposed court when a marriage is prearranged but you two did. You and Eric walked the palace grounds and held hands. You talked about this and that but you never really got to know each other. You didn't have time. What? Within a few months of meeting each other you were married? Come on, Sookie. Take this time to get to know each other. Start over."

Sookie raised her knees to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. Everything that Claudette said made perfect sense. The worst part for her is that she never doubted his feelings for her. She believed in Eric and he should've believed in her. The big question was if she wanted their marriage to work. Was her marriage worth saving? Would they make it despite the things that have happened?

Lying down on the sand beside her cousin, Sookie asked, "Do you really think that it'll work? Getting to know each other, I mean. After all that's been said and done, do you think that we can do it?"

Taking one of her arms from underneath her head, Claudette reached for Sookie's hand. When Sookie took the hand that reached for hers, Claudette settled deeper into the sand. "I do but it won't work if you don't give it a chance. Give a try and if it doesn't work, you can always come to live with me. Just remember, don't lose who you are."

"I won't," Sookie promised.

"If you've decided to work on things with Eric, you need to really talk to him ... about everything."

Sookie tried playing dumb. "We'll talk."

Claudette gave her the look. "I mean everything, Sookie. Not just what you think he should know either. Everything," Claudette reiterated.

"We will." She rested her free arm underneath her head and looked up at the dusk sky. "You're my best friend."

"I thought that Lafayette was your best friend," she said in a mocking tone.

"He's my best human friend. You're my best, best friend."

"You know that we can never tell Claudine. Can you imagine her reaction?"

They started laughing as they pictured a very pregnant Claudine ripping them a new one. "She'd try to kill us both; slowly and painfully."

"We could get away. All we'll have to do is drop a few Oreos and Snickers bars behind us as we run from her." They laughed even harder at their cousin and sister's expense. Claudette turned to face Sookie and smiled. "I love you."

"Not as much as I love you."

"I love you more than you love me."

"It's not possible. I love you more than I love truffle brownies"

Claudette laughed. "I love you more than I love lying in the sand."

The girls played the 'I love you' game until the sky went black and it was time to go home.

After her things were put away, Sookie went down the hall to Eric's room. She had this urge to see him; to be close to him. When she went into his bedroom, she walked slowly to his bed. She looked down at him as he died the day away. She'd come to the conclusion that it was going to be a task to forgive him but she did want to give their marriage a fair shot. She wasn't going to let Fintan take what he had no right to.

She was glad that he'd sent her back. She never would've learned that truth about him or what he'd done. Sookie wanted to go back to Faery and confront him but she knew that would have been too risky. If he'd found out that she knew about his plan, he would have kept her there; regardless of the contract. If that happened, she would never know what her life would be like without Fintan's interference. She would never know if she and Eric would have a fair chance at being together. She wouldn't know if they would have a lifetime of happiness or if it would have been only a fleeting moment. Before she knew the truth about Fintan's plans, she would never have known the possibilities that lay before her and Eric. She was willing to throw it all away. She couldn't do that now. She had to know.

Whispering, Sookie said, "I have to see."

Leaning down, careful not to touch him, Sookie looked at Eric's closed eyes. "Let me see." She wanted to use her magic on him and she could have but she vowed to never do that to him. Instead, she chose to open the bond; just a little.

His eyes opened and they were blazing. "Welcome home," he said with a smile.

Their lips were almost touching. She didn't say anything. She stared into his eyes until she found what she was looking for. She'd found it. She stood tall and smiled down at him. He reached up for her but she stepped away. She wanted to feel his touch but it was too soon. Deep down, she knew that wasn't the reason for her stepping away from his touch. She was afraid. She didn't want him to feel manipulated or deceived. If they were going to start over, she couldn't take any chances.

"Yes, Eric. I'm home. I'll see you when you rise." She smiled at him one last time. He died with a smile on his face.

After making a cup of Claudette's special hazelnut and brown sugar coffee, Sookie went into her office to do some work. She checked her voicemails and emails and found that she had a lot of calls and emails to answer. Sam and Alcide needed her to come to the grand opening of their new center. Calvin Norris needed her help in getting the county to help pay for the renovations in their small town. They've turned down every proposal that he'd brought before them. His people were dying and no one wanted to help him.

"They won't give me a good reason why." His voice was full of frustration. "Please call me back and let me know what we can do about this. Winter is coming and we need the help. We can't lose anymore of our cubs."

That was the first call that Sookie returned. She and Calvin agreed to meet the next morning with the town council members. She promised him that he would get what he wanted. His people would suffer no more. "I give you my word."

Every supe in the world knew that when Sookie Northman gave her word, she kept it.

Her next call was to Sam and Alcide. She spoke with their secretary, Maria Starr. She let her know that she and Eric would be there. Maria told Sookie that the request was mailed out today and that she could ignore it. "I'll let the guys know that you've called and you and Mr. Northman will be coming."

For the next few hours Sookie answered emails and made phone calls. Hours later, the emails were answered and the phone calls returned. Her next job was the contracts. She hated doing the contracts but she couldn't put them off any longer. Sookie grabbed the contracts folder and sprawled out on the couch. She approved and denied contract after contract. She had no idea how long she'd been working until Eric came into her office.

She nearly jumped out of her skin and dropped the contract that she was reading when he kneeled down in front of her and captured her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He gently tilted her face up until she was gazing into to his deep sapphire blue eyes. He let go of her chin to stroke her cheek with the back of his hand. She tried not to flinch but she couldn't help it. She couldn't let her feelings interfere with his. He noticed and hastily dropped his hand as he stood.

"I've overstepped my boundaries," he said.

Sookie sat up quickly. She reached for him but pulled her hand back. Her touch caused their problems to begin with. If they are going to start over, she didn't want him to have any doubts about what he was feeling. "It's not that, Eric. It's not that at all. There's something that you need to know. The day that Claudette and I left, I learned a lot about our relationship. There are things between us that can't be ignored if we are going to make it; if we are going to work on us. We need to talk," she said as she picked the contract up from the floor.

Those four words scared every male in existence; dead or alive, vampire or human. Very rarely was anything accomplished when those four words were spoken. He didn't want to hear it tonight. They didn't need to hear it tonight. He had something planned for her and he didn't want those plans ruined because of the four most dreaded words in history.

"We can talk later," he replied.

Sookie didn't want to talk later. She wanted to talk now, about Fintan. She wanted to tell him that she knew that it was going to take some time to get over what has happened between them but she was willing to give them a chance. They weren't going to let Fintan decide what was going to happen in their marriage. She also wanted to talk about the other woman; the woman that she never mentioned to Claudette. She wanted to know who Freyda is and what she is to him. They needed to talk about everything that has hindered their relationship. She wanted to tell him that there was no guarantee that things were going to work out but she was more than willing to give it a try. They just needed to talk.

"There's so much that needs to be said." She was speaking to him in her summit voice. It was clear and concise. "We can't avoid what stands between us. There are things that can keep us from being together that we must confront. We can't ignore them if we are to succeed. Don't you agree?"

"I do but time is running out."

Sookie put the contract on the coffee table. "No it's not. We have to make time for this if we are going to make our marriage work." She pointed from herself to Eric. "We can't turn a blind eye to what has happened."

Eric started laughing. "That's not what I meant. We have to be somewhere in a couple of hours."

"Oh," Sookie said. "Oh. Where are we going?"

"You'll see. You go upstairs and get ready. Be sure to wear something casual. I'll meet you in the living room and I promise you, Sookie. We will talk about everything. I will tell you everything because I want you. I don't want to lose you."

She remained neutral though her heart melted at his words; just as it did the first time they'd met. Things were going to be different this time. She was going to be cautious and smart. She was going to go slow with him.

She got up from the couch and said, "Okay."

Eric unnecessarily sighed. "Okay?"

"Okay," she repeated.

As they left Sookie's office, she turned off the light and closed the door. She stared up at him with a smile and said, "You realize that you didn't answer my question. Where are we going?"

Eric winked at her and said, "I did answer your question. I said that you'll see." Eric placed is hand on the small of her back as they walked down the hall. "If you want to go, I think it's best that you go and get dressed. Time is running out."

"We don't want time to run out, now do we?" she asked as she stepped out of his touch. She was a giddy as she's ever been but she kept her feelings under wraps. She decided that Eric was right. They could talk when they got back. There was no need in them having such a deep discussion before going out. It was night of new beginnings. They could start fresh and save the talk for later. Tomorrow night was just as good as any night.

As they made their way upstairs, Eric said, "Thank you."

Sookie looked up at him and asked, "What are you thanking me for? I've done nothing."

"I'm thanking you for tonight," he replied. "And for coming home; thank you."

She smiled before she could stop herself. A small chuckle escaped her as she shook her head and continued to walk upstairs. Sookie could feel Eric's eyes on her as she walked away. Without meaning to, she put a little more sway in her step. She couldn't wait to call Claudette and tell her that she's taken her advice. Sookie was so excited that she was suddenly filled with fear.

She felt like this the last time with Eric. His touch made her insides hot. The very sound of his voice was the sexiest song she'd ever heard. He was her sunshine. The very thought of him made her forget who she was. She loved that feeling; especially when she knew that he felt the same way. What if the new beginning takes them back to where they were a few short years ago? She glanced over her shoulder and looked at him.

Eric was standing on the stair and was watching the sway of her hips. He watched as her hair fell beautifully down her back. When she looked at him, he took another step in her direction but stopped. He wanted to run to her. He wanted to take her into his arms and never let her go. He looked just as he looked when they first met. His eyes were burning for her. She could see it. She could almost feel it. This was going to work.

When she turned away and walked to her bedroom, the brushed the fears aside. "A new beginning," she said. "We can fix this."

With a smile on her face, she closed her bedroom door and prepared herself for their night.