Disclaimer: All characters depicted herein are the sole property of Charlaine Harris and HBO. I am simply writing this fanfic to help pass the time while I wait for book 9 in May.

Chapter 5

Eric didn't feel the need to say anything to me as we disembarked from the plane and walked to the terminal. The pilot had indicated that an attendant would take our luggage and store it in the cab which was waiting; Eric had contacted a specialized luxury taxi service which catered to the unusual and sometimes complicated wishes of the vampires. As soon as we left the airport, our driver was waiting at the front doors and recognized us as his passengers without having to say a word. Strange. After a simple gesture which indicated that he already had our luggage, he opened the doors to his limo and ushered us inside. The interior was pitch-dark, making it difficult for me to see, and again I registered the opaque glass which I've now come to expect as the norm for accommodating vamps. I wondered how the driver could see the road. Looking at my watch, I realized that it was 5:30am. At best, we had an hour and a half to sunrise. Eric had really taken his chances by organizing such a late flight; I instantly felt a pang of guilt at having set him back by over two hours while I served at the bar. I felt another pang of guilt for having seduced him to the point of actually upsetting him, when all he was trying to do was sort out our complicated relationship and respect our boundaries until then. Eric had taken me to Hawaii, for God's sake, and he couldn't even enjoy the sun. He did it all for me, knowing I had never been to the tropics and always wanted to go.

Imagining the ocean and sand that awaited me during his daytime rest, I had never felt so ashamed.

* * * * *

"Sookie, wake up. We've arrived at the hotel and I need you conscious while we check-in. We don't have time to waste right now, it's very nearly sunrise." Eric said, giving my shoulder a gentle tug.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Eric! I must have dozed off." I stammered, pulling myself together and following Eric into the hotel.

"Our luggage is on its way to our room, but I wanted you awake to get your key and to figure out your bearings. You will undoubtedly rise before me, and I didn't want you confused about where we were." Eric said, leading me through the lobby to the front desk.

"We are in a vampire-exclusive hotel that belongs to an old business associate of mine and Pam's. You might even call him a friend. He opened this resort shortly after we went public, and I haven't had a chance to visit him until now. Pam wanted to come along, but someone needed to look after the bar" said Eric, regarding me with a fatigued kind of excitement "and I told her that this was meant for pleasure, not business." He finished, making sure I knew he could have profited in some way from this trip but elected not to.

For Eric, or any vampire for that matter, he had basically just delivered a monologue. Clearly we were in the establishment of someone important to Eric, and that was making him giddy. As happy as I was to be in Hawaii, something told me that my 'be prepared' motto would probably come in handy. Eric's intentions seemed pure enough, but I hadn't managed to survive these last two years without being a little suspicious. I looked around me dazedly. We were in the lobby of a five-star vampire hotel called The Nighthouse and it wasn't just a clever name. To walk around this place literally felt like 'experiencing the night' as Pam had eloquently said to me some time ago. From the beautifully enchanted fountain which sprung navy-colored water filled with tiny stars, to the tinted windows which were inlaid to represent the constellations, this hotel had been built for those who are infatuated with moonlight. It was the most incredible thing I had ever seen, and I was only half awake. I could tell that Eric sympathized with my exhaustion; his sluggishness permeated the bond. I suspected that he would topple over the bed in our room without even removing his clothes.

After receiving our keys from a clerk at the front desk, a shifter of some sort I thought, Eric and I made our way through to the elevator. Our room was on the 13th floor, the top level. Most hotels nowadays didn't even have a 13th floor for superstitious reasons, but vampires didn't hold to human convention. We were staying in a suite at a luxury hotel and I didn't feel the least bit unlucky.

As we approached the door to our room, I sent all remnants of my energy to Eric through the bond. I wanted a kiss goodnight but right now he was more like a zombie than a vampire and I couldn't say that I blamed him. I slid my key through the reader and opened the door. Eric had booked us a palace for the vacation, not a room. Grabbing his arm and pulling him inside, I walked to the window to check out the view. The entire back wall of our suite, which was quite an impressive expanse, was made of a strange glass which left the room in total darkness but allowed crystal clear visibility of the beach and ocean below. Before I could explore the room any further I felt Eric reach for my hand and pull me to the bed, while shucking his clothes into a heap on the floor. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

* * * * *

I awoke, for the second time in a row, totally disoriented. I knew it must be late in the day, considering the ungodly hour at which I went to bed, but the room's brightness hadn't changed in the slightest. Obviously that was a good thing for Eric, but for us human folk it was confusing as hell. Adapting myself to the idea that I would be keeping vampire hours for the better part of a week, I rolled over and looked at the clock. 4:45pm and I had a debilitating headache. I'm never drinking again, I thought darkly. I guess the sun will have to wait until tomorrow. Eric would be awake in approximately one hour, which gave me some time to make a pot of coffee, take a shower and order breakfast. Or was it lunch? I stretched and looked over at Eric sleeping peacefully. How could I have doubted my feelings? I wasn't necessarily ready to talk about them with Eric, but deep down I knew that I would never have agreed to the trip if I didn't love him. Seeing him lying there, vulnerable and serene, I felt like an idiot for ever letting him go. Okay Sookie, time to pull yourself out of bed and get ready for the day. Or evening, depending on how you looked at it.

In my fully conscious state, I got to appreciate the magnificence of the room for the first time. It was around the size of the ground floor of my house, and as I noticed last night, the back wall was made entirely of some kind of miracle glass. We had slept in a king sized sleigh bed with oversized feather pillows and a down feather comforter. The floor was hardwood, which I thought strange for a hotel, but it was almost exotic in appearance. On a raised area to the far left of the room was a large hot tub. To the right were a series of high end couches and chairs; and to the far right was the bathroom. Before checking that out, I needed to order some lunch. I was absolutely starving and I hoped they served decent food. Eric had said that the hotel was vampire exclusive, but surely that included their human guests? Walking over to the nightstand I found a small and artfully designed menu. The selection was relatively limited, but everything looked delicious. Since I couldn't figure out what mealtime this actually was, I decided on brunch and ordered the whole shebang; eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit, coffee and juice. I was definitely on vacation. I dialed the front desk and asked for room service. As I was placing my order I got an idea. Eric had said that he wouldn't bite me, or feed from me, until after our conversation and he was going to wake up hungry. Since he was paying for everything and we were staying in a five-star hotel, the least I could do was provide him with some kind of treat. I decided to order him the best blood the hotel offered and pay for it separately. I was told everything would arrive in an hour, which gave me just enough time to get cleaned up. Hanging up the phone, I got a huge rush of excitement.

The bathroom, though not comparing to Eric's, was no less spectacular than the rest of the suite. It had an antique tub and a large shower with a tiled bench inside to sit on. Grabbing my toiletries from the cosmetic bag in my suitcase, I hopped in the shower to get ready to see Eric. I couldn't wait for him to wake up and I was getting dressed as quickly as I could manage so that everything was set up when he awoke. I styled my hair in big, sensuous curls and chose a simple white cotton dress with a fitted top which highlighted my tan and my breasts nicely. Pleased with myself for packing everything I owned, I chose a pair of straw thong sandals for my feet and a small white gold anklet I had had for years. Satisfied with my evening beach wear, I checked my watch. Five minutes and the food should be arriving; five minutes until Eric woke up. Then there was a gentle knock at the door, room service was here.

"Miss Stackhouse?" The server asked.

"Yes." I replied excitedly, walking out into the hallway with my key in hand. I was definitely not about to let a stranger in the room while Eric slept, no matter how fancy the hotel.

"Your order" said the young man, gesturing to the food and a curious looking crystal decanter filled with blood. "I was told that you wished to pay for this meal separately. Would you like to do so now Miss, or upon checkout?" The server asked with a sneer.

"Now, please. I would like to pay with cash."

The server looked at me disapprovingly and raised an eyebrow. I fought the urge to read his mind. I had decided some time ago that I would absolutely not intrude on people's thoughts unless I really needed to. He wasn't broadcasting, so it wasn't difficult to suppress the images.

"That will be two hundred and sixty three dollars, fifty seven cents." He said with a holier-than-thou grin. "We couldn't get anything from the Royal line on such short notice of course" he continued "but we would be glad to place some on order in hopes of procuring it in a few days time. What you see before you is our house blend of AB negative donor blood, and second generation fae. It comes highly recommended I assure you."

It took every ounce of dignity I had not to tell him to take his house blend and stick it where the sun didn't shine. Instead, I pulled out the necessary amount of cash from my purse and paid him. So much for souvenirs.

"Don't bother with the Royal just yet." I said as he walked away. "I'll have to discuss it with Mr. Northman and see if he'd prefer the real thing." I added pompously. If he could be a snob, so could I. Forget manners, this guy was a jerk.

Collecting myself and slipping the key in the lock, I went back into the room with pride. I had done something lavish for Eric, for once, and I was dying to see his reaction.

* * * * *

Eric was awake and sitting up on the bed when I stepped in with the room service cart. He instantly looked totally ecstatic to see me and downright thrilled to be alive. Well, thrilled to be dead. Ha-ha. An inquiring expression came over him as he scanned the cart and noticed the crystal decanter and matching snifter.

"What is this dear one?" Eric asked, running a finger over the rim of the decanter and smelling the air appreciatively.

"Well, it's your breakfast, Eric. I never get the opportunity to do anything like this for you." I said anxiously. "I hope you like it?" I hadn't been this nervous about a gift, well, ever.

"Pray tell me you charged this to the room?" He said, as though the alternative would be too foolish to consider.

"Actually, I paid for it up front. I meant it as a thank-you for taking me on this vacation." I said, noticeably stung.

"Lover, I meant for you to incur no costs on this trip" he said quietly "though I am incredibly touched." He finished, while lifting my face to look me in the eyes. I felt his happiness and wonderment through the bond. He kissed me and it warmed me all over.

"I will drink but a little" he said, pouring some gently into the snifter "while you eat your breakfast. Blood of this quality must be thoroughly appreciated, not gorged on." Eric swirled the blood around the glass like a fine wine. He was trying to show me that he realized the expense and appreciated it as a gift, without insulting me by further questioning how I could afford it. I knew it must have been hard for him, and I was thrilled that he accepted my present in the spirit it was offered.

Starving, I pushed the cart over to the table and sat down to eat my breakfast. Eric sat with me and quietly enjoyed the blood while I dug in ravenously. Grinning at the wild abandon with which I ate, Eric looked at me and said "I'm glad to see you are well today, Sookie. After last night, I was worried you might be feeling a little sick." He smirked, pleased with himself.

"If memory serves, Eric, you're the one who wanted me to drink the champagne and dance for you in the first place." I replied, embarrassed.

"You're right, and I'm sure I will think about your little display often. Though I didn't realize you could be so cruel." He was enjoying every minute of this.

"Eric, I feel bad enough already. I'm sorry, okay?" I looked up at him to see the smirk fade and change into a look of disappointment because I wasn't playing along.

"It is not important, lover. We have bigger issues to discuss and only a short period of time to enjoy ourselves. I will need to visit with my colleague at some point this evening, as he undoubtedly knows that I checked in to his hotel before dawn. I will tell you all about him, this establishment, and some plans I have made for us after we have addressed the more pressing topics." He looked at me pointedly and I nodded for him to continue. I was still eating, and he clearly had an agenda to which I might as well submit. He paused from his spiel to take a sip of blood from the snifter, and an expression of total bliss swept over his face. "I must say Sookie; you've very nearly thrown me for a loop by getting me this blood." He lowered his head for a moment, closing his eyes, and when he looked back up his fangs were halfway down.

"Honestly Eric I didn't do it to tease you or seduce..." I started to say and he cut me off.

"Shhh, Sookie. Drinking this simply reminds me of your taste. Now to be sitting with you in our hotel room, having you so close to me, imagining last night. My constitution isn't exactly iron clad when it comes to you and you are making it very difficult for me" he said gravely "though unintentionally in this instance" he finished, thoughtful.

"Perhaps we should leave the room then? We could go somewhere less tempting, more public." I offered lamely.

"No need" Eric said, snapping out of it and walking towards the window "we can't delay our conversation any further. I have been going over this in my mind for many months and I still don't know where to start…" he said, purposely avoiding my gaze by looking out the window "but I think you'd probably like to get a better understanding of our blood bond. Is that correct?" Eric asked, turning around to look at me.

I nodded again and he continued.

"By now you surely know the fundamentals of how it works, and that it doesn't wear out with time. What you and I have is permanent. Whenever I feel an emotion strongly, you will feel it and vice versa. As we saw the night Filipe and I were attacked, the bond can be very useful in alerting one another of danger. On the other hand, it will put you in unnecessary harm." At this, he paused and walked over to me to hold my hand. "While I may never be able to fully demonstrate my gratitude to you for risking your life to save mine, more than once, you must understand that it tortures me to think of you running to my aid whenever I'm in some kind of trouble. I don't want anything bad to ever happen to you again, Sookie."

I had been looking at the floor during his speech, unable to bring myself to look him in the eye. He suddenly dropped my hand, and that simple action made me look up. He was brushing a single blood red tear from his face with one hand while clenching and unclenching his other hand into a fist. He appeared to be on the verge of exploding with emotion and it was so frightening it rendered me speechless. I quickly looked back down at the floor so he wouldn't know I had seen the tear. He started pacing, and I could tell he was struggling to continue. His guilt and anxiety were so heavy through the bond that I physically felt myself sinking into the chair.

"Eric, it wasn't the bond that made me come to you that night at Merlotte's. The bond let me know you were in danger, yes, but I chose to come back and help you. Not because of this stupid blood bond, because I cared about you. I still care" he raised a hand to stop me and I instantly fell silent.

"Please let me finish, dear one. Our feelings for one another have only helped to strengthen the bond, and it has gotten to the point where I can scarcely think of anything other than you. It is not only because of the new regime that I didn't call you this past month, it is because every step I take in your direction is one which weakens my position as sheriff, and ultimately, my ability to protect you. I cannot act, think, or even feel things logically when you are involved. It has become" he paused "difficult to conduct business in this manner."

So now we're getting to the good stuff. At least now I knew why he brought me here, he wanted to get some things off his chest, have a little fling, and then cut me out of his life so he could get back to business as usual. His pragmatism never ceased to amaze me.

"Well then I'll make things a lot easier for you Eric. You never have to see me again, call me, leave me notes or worry about my well being. After this trip is over, it'll be like we never met. I wouldn't want to come between you and your business." Cold fury was starting to run through my veins and suddenly a wave of nausea hit me. I ran to the bathroom, and lost every single bit of brunch and more. In a flash, Eric was standing beside me with a look of fear on his face.

"Lover, are you alright? Do you need a doctor?" He was genuinely concerned.

I shook my head and got up the wash my face in the sink and rinse my mouth. I could feel him relax a little.

"I'm fine Eric; I just think your last few words may have literally turned my stomach." I gave him a measured look. He seemed completely taken aback.

"Sookie, my darling you misunderstand me completely. What I was trying to say was that the closer we get to each other, the more I put you in danger, which is the last thing in this world I want to do. If it means sacrificing my own happiness to ensure your safety, then there is no question as to what needs to happen. There are many people, and vampires, who would seek to destroy us at every turn." Eric looked at me pleadingly and held my face up so that I was looking directly into his eyes.

With that, his cell started vibrating. Shocked back into reality, Eric looked down at his phone with such terrible anger that I thought he would throw it across the room. Instead, he flipped it open and scrolled down as though reading a message. I could sense confusion in the bond, followed swiftly by outright fear.

"Filipe de Castro has been alerted of my presence in Honolulu. He has construed my vacation here as an attempt to secure alliances with the King of Hawaii, Preston Mandrel. Preston is the acquaintance I mentioned earlier, the owner of this hotel." He looked positively alarmed and more than a little aggrieved.

"Pam and Bill are boarding a plane to Honolulu." Eric said quietly.

I looked up at him and didn't need to ask why.

TBC – Please review, comments and critiques welcomed!! Thanks to everyone who has shown interest in the fic.