TW: Briefly mentions Ocella and how horribly he treated Eric. We get to see what Eric is up to, too!

I wake up, take a deep breath, and snuggle back into my blankets. After a few moments, I reach my hand around on the bed and search for Eric. That's when my eyes open wide, I sit up straight, fully awake now and I remember everything that happened last night. Fuck. Now I'm not one to use dirty language but fuck pretty much covers it. I'm still not 100% sure I didn't go crazy sometime in the last 15 hours and this is just some sort of fever dream. Then again, who am I kidding? I'm a telepath living in a world with vampires, fairies, shifters, and more, oh my. What's a little dimension travel? Okay, yeah, I must be crazy, that's the only logical explanation.

After a long sigh, I get out of bed. What else can I do other than start my day? As I'm walking to the bathroom I stop in my tracks, "I co-own Merlotte's? And I'm dating Sam?" It's so shocking I can't help but say it out loud.

Well, I'm going to have to end it with him, heck even before other Sookie got the intervention from Pam and Karin she knew she and Sam weren't going anywhere and I just don't think about him that way. I'm still not sure what's going to happen when we save Eric but I know at the very least I want to be single so I can figure it out with him. It's very strange living a life that I wasn't actually a part of for the last few years. It's like I have all these feelings, emotions, and memories wrapped up in Eric but I wasn't actually there. It doesn't make those emotions any less real though and I know I have to talk to Eric, I think… I think I love him? I know for a fact the Lucky Sookie, that's what I'm going to call her from now on, the other Sookie. She definitely loved him even though she was living deeply in denial. I also know I was falling for my Eric, more than just the amnesiac one if I'm being honest with myself.

It's just all so confusing, I'm angry and jealous of Lucky Sookie, she took my Eric and made a great life for herself after she already messed up this one. Now I'm stepping into her shoes and am forced to try to fix this clusterfuck. It's like she got a redo, she got to go backward a few years with the knowledge of the future to do it right while I on the other hand, I lost years. Like what, I must be 27-28 now but last night I was only 25. I'm just saying her nickname Lucky Sookie is spot on while I got the short end of the stick.

I shake my head, that's not fair, at least I'm not living check to check anymore, and even if I was, I surely don't have it worse than Eric does right now. I can't believe he's basically a slave right now, I can't believe he had a maker so vile that he'd do that to him. It wasn't enough that he spent Eric's formative years raping him and selling him off to the highest bidder for a night, but he's doing it again from beyond the grave and all because Eric had the audacity to let himself feel a little bit of peace with me. I'm surprised when something wet lands on my hand I look and realize it's a tear, I started crying and didn't even notice I was too lost in my thoughts.

I clear my throat and start walking to the bathroom again, he won't be in that situation for too much longer, I won't let him. Gramps said I should spend the day living like Lucky Sookie would have. It's my life now, I might as well get used to it. I groan because I know that means I'm in for an awkward conversation with my business partner/boyfriend. Oh well, best to get it over with, I don't want to lead him on.

I shower, dress, do my hair, and makeup quickly then go downstairs for a quick breakfast. Just simple toast and eggs. As I'm eating I can't help but to go through the memories of Lucky Sookie. I don't know why she fought her feelings so much and why she never talked to Eric. She knew even as she was using the cluviel dor that Eric would think the worst because he knew that love had to be involved to be able to use it. She knew she only loved Sam as a friend but she was too stubborn to just open her mouth and tell Eric that. The worst part is she could have used that to free Eric from the marriage, her love for him outshined her love for Sam by miles.

And why didn't she just talk to him? Tell him about her problems? God, they would have been great together if either of them would have trusted the other a little more. Lucky Sookie couldn't believe that Eric really loved her and somehow she managed to convince herself that all her problems were because he was in her life. I sigh again, I just can't believe he's still waiting, hoping for her… for me to come to him. And it was like she had all these realizations about him and took all her newly realized love and gave it to my Eric. I think I might kind of hate her. Which is messed up and probably means I need therapy because she's me, or a version of me at least.

I realize I was too lost in my thoughts again because I barely remember eating and my food is gone. Whatever, it's probably for the best there's no point in living in the past, things are going to be different now. I'm going to save him and… well, I'm not sure, I guess we'll have to go from there but one thing I do know is that I'm not going to be the cause of his pain anymore.

I quickly drive to work the whole ride being kinda angry at Niall because he only said that he'd update me 'soon'. He must know I'm not the patient type and he must be damn sure I'm not the kinda girl that sits around and lets others do the planning and the work. I don't like that I'm just supposed to sit and wait until he says otherwise. He might have a decent relationship with Lucky Sookie but he's going to have a rude awakening when he realizes I don't feel quite the same way. What should he expect? He admitted his plan was to bring me here and let me die just so that Lucky Sookie could live my life. Yup, Gramps got another thing coming to him if he thinks I'm going to be all polite and nice to him.

I park my car and walk in through the back door. I'm not surprised when Sam is sitting behind his desk in his—our office. He looks up when he hears me and gives me a bright smile, I cringe internally because I see the love in it. I do my best to smile back but I have a feeling it's more like a grimace. He gets up, walks over to me, and wraps me into his arms. I hug him back a little awkwardly. "Morning, Sook. How are you? Thought you were gonna call me last night, I missed you."

I feel terrible but when he pulls back from the hug just enough so that he'll be able to kiss me I jump back out of his arms, but in the process of trying to get away I use my hands to push off of him and I push him hard by mistake into the desk. He looks at me confused. "Morning Sam. I'm sorry, I was dead on my feet last night, I fell asleep before I could call."

He looks at me weighingly and somehow, even though my shields are up I know he's caught me in a lie before he opens his mouth. "Huh, that's strange. When you didn't call I got worried so I came by and saw you inside with the vamps and Jason." I can't quite characterize his voice as accusing but it's damn close.

"You know they all care about me and check up on me since I'm living alone out there, it just so happened that they all checked up on me at the same time. They didn't stay long and I fell asleep right after."

"Huh, I didn't know you and Pam talked, I thought you guys weren't that close anymore, seeing as the only thing you had in common is gone now."

My breath hitches at his words before I can stop myself. It hurts that Eric isn't here, I don't know if it's remembered pain from Lucky Sookie or if it's all mine. "We're still friends, Sam, always have been." Which is a stark difference between my Pam and this one. I gotta admit, I like my friendship much better with this Pam than the mutual dislike bordering on hatred I had with the other.

"I thought you were trying to keep yourself away from vampires and all their bullshit." I'm so tired of this conversation already, from either Sam.

I can't help but sigh and roll my eyes in annoyance and exasperation, I can't believe he's talking about this again. "I'm not going to Fangtasia and meeting new vampires, and I'm not working for them either, Eric sold an extra hundred years of his life to make sure of that, but I have friends, friends of all different kinds, humans, witches, shifter, and yes, vampires. I'm not going to judge them or avoid them because of their species, that'd make me a racist and a bigot and that's not me. You know me better than that, or at least I thought you did."

He looks at me for a long while before he sighs and his stance, which I didn't even notice has become aggressive, loosens up and he takes the step that's separating us and hugs me again. I'm very stiff this time, not returning the hug. "I'm sorry Cher, you know I worry about you. I thought you finally agreed that vampires bring nothing but trouble. I know you're right though, you're not one to give up on a friend and I respect that."

My stiff posture loosens too but I still don't hug him back, I have to stop procrastinating and just do it, there's no point in putting it off when I have no intention of staying with him. So I sigh yet again and take a step back away from him so I can comfortably look him in the eyes, "Sam, look…"

"Jesus Christ, Cher, you've got to be kidding me."

Okay, I'm lost now, "What?"

"You're still not over him, he's gone and married to someone else, he's clearly moved on but you're still mooning after him. So much so that you're ending our relationship. Fuck Sookie, you can't be serious, I love you, you could love me if you let yourself. We could be happy, have a good life, get married, have kids, and grow this place together so we have something to give them. But no, you want to throw it away over a man that left you."

"Sam, I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you but that life you're describing? That life would have been exactly what I wanted a few years ago, I might have jumped on that chance, in fact, I spent many an hour wishin' you'd ask me out so we could do just that, but that was years ago. It's not who I am anymore, not what I want, and I… I'm already married, I have a husband, separated as we may be, he's still my husband and always will be." Wow, I had no idea I felt that way until the words came out of my mouth but they're true, and I do. Shit, I'm married, to Eric Northman. Or at least I was, he had to break it when he left but I still feel that connection to him., and like I told Sam, I think I always will.

"Jesus Fuck Cher, are you even listening to yourself? HE LEFT YOU! He left your ass as soon as he got a better offer and didn't look back. He doesn't love you and he never did. He used you, he fucked you till he was bored and used you for your telepathy."

I slap him across the face before I even realize I'm doing it. The sound of the slap is loud, especially because of how silent the rest of the room is now. Neither of us says anything. I stare at him, hard and he's looking back at me with some regret. I wait to see what he has to say next but when he stays quiet I sigh again. "Sam, you have no idea what you're talking about, you don't know what he's given up for me, he signed himself up to be a…." No, I won't say such things, he wouldn't want anyone to know what he's going through, especially Sam. "You know what's crazy? He's the only reason I even went out on one date with you. He's always a few steps ahead of everyone else, and he knows me better than anyone else does. He knew what I'd do if I heard that he told you to stay away from me. He knew that my stubborn independence would force me to go to you. He wanted me with you because he knew even with all the contingencies he set up to make sure 'vampire bullshit' stays away from me, he still wanted to make sure I'd have a chance at being safe if something happened. He thought I was in love with you and he wanted me to be happy. Which… was my fault, I let him think that I loved you, I could have set him straight but Sookie's stubbornness and pride struck again. You… you know what? Why am I even talking about this with you? It's not like it matters anymore, he's gone." I stop talking and take a deep breath, "The only thing I really want you to take from all that is that I wasn't in love with you, I love you as a friend, but I never have, nor will I ever be in love with you. That part of me is saved for him. So this," I point back and forth between us, "Isn't going to work, I can't pretend anymore and… and I'm sorry that I hurt you, it wasn't my intention, I thought I could do it. I thought I could live this life and just pretend all I felt for him was anger but I can't… I'm sorry." Damn, I realize I'm tearing up again, at least I'm able to keep them from falling this time. It's all true, everything I said to him, I just didn't know it until now.

Sam stares at me for a long time, I feel terrible because I see sadness and heartbreak in his eyes and I'm about to apologize again but then all those feelings are wiped away by anger, strong and fierce anger. "You're an idiot. No Sookie, really, I knew you weren't book smart, that was clear as day, but I didn't know you were this fucking stupid," He lets out a loud scornful laugh, "What do you think is going to happen? Do you think you're going to run over to Oklahoma and get your sweetie pie? Even if he did want to come back with you, you wouldn't survive the fight it'd be getting him. And say somehow the tiny human is able to fight and kill the hundreds of vampires the queen has at her disposal and you get him, what do you think happens now, huh? You'd have broken many vampire and supernatural laws. Do you think they'll just shrug it off and let you live your boring little life? No, you'll have to live, you'll have to be on the run for the rest of your life. Say somehow you're okay with that and you and your hubby survive and live under the radar. What then? You made it clear you don't want to be a vampire, so what? You grow old and die? Do you think he's going to stay with you? And let's say somehow beyond all means he does love you and he stays, are you going to force him to watch the woman he loves grow old and die? Then you die and where does that leave him? Alone, alone and a fugitive. Yeah, it sounds like a great life for you, go ahead, have fun. See if I care enough to try to stop you."

I laugh too, and if I thought that Sam's was dark and angry, well it held nothing to what is coming out of my mouth now. "It's good to finally know what you really think about me, thanks for clearing that up. I could take the time to explain to you the many ways you're wrong, but honestly, I don't care enough to bother. So, this is what's going to happen, I'm going to get to work because this place is as much mine as it is yours but in a few days I'm going to have to take a leave, I'm not sure for how long. In that time you can decide whether you want to work with me or if you want to buy me out. Either is fine for me."

I don't wait for him to reply, I walk over to the mirror to make sure I don't look upset or messy, and then go out to the floor. I still serve some nights but today I'm in more of a managerial position, when Sam comes out of the office I'll go in and do the accounting. I don't let myself stop and think about the fight, I make sure all my brain power stays focused on work because if I stop and think about it I'll break down and cry. Even though I'm not in love with Sam, he's one of my best friends, he's the only one who gave me a shot when I needed a job and it's been almost a decade that we've been there for each other, I can't believe it's over in a ten-minute conversation.

The rest of the day flies by, thank the lord, and I feel myself relax when I get into my car at night. I can't wait to get home, get in my pajamas, grab whatever book Lucky Sookie was reading, and relax the rest of the night. Although, if I'm very lucky when I get home there will be some sort of communication from Gramps. Even though I'm tired as all get out I bet a solid plan and time frame to get Eric back would perk me right up.

Unfortunately, there is no Niall waiting at my door and no missed calls or voicemails waiting on my phone. Ugh, 'I'll be in touch soon' from Niall could mean a few hours or a few weeks, he doesn't care much about other's people time, like at all. He's been important his whole life, he's a prince, he's never had to care about the fact that other people have lives and stuff to do, he's so used to people bending over backward for him, the idea that I might be waiting probably hasn't even crossed his mind. Okay, so that might not be completely fair, he knows how important this is to me, and I believe he cares about me, even though I'm not his Sookie, he probably realizes, just as I do, that I'm the only Sookie now, at least the only one he's able to be in contact with. I believe he'll get back to me as soon as he can, especially because apparently, the fate of the planet depends on it.

I shake my head, no more thinking about Gramps or Eric, there's nothing I can do right now so I might as well distract myself with something else. I let out a little giggle because I love Pam, she has the best timing. I walk over to the door and open it with a smile on my face, "Pam!"

"Sookie, my little human friend, or a little human friend? I'm not sure, I'm still figuring out the different dimensions of it all."

I laugh, "You and me both, sister."

"So, do tell, how is it now that you have both dimension's memories running through your head, is it confusing?"

"You know, it's not as bad as you would think. It's a lot at once and it's really confusing during those first few minutes, trying to slot memories and emotions with people you never met but yeah, I'm fine. It's funny, you and I were not friends in the other timeline. You hated me, thought all I brought Eric was trouble. I must say, I like this version better." I smile at her but it isn't long until my smile fades, "Listen, I get Lucky Sookie has a connection and relationship with Niall but I don't, and from what I remember, he's on his own timeline. I'm all for following his plan once he has one but I think we need to come up with our own in case his takes too long."

"Hmm, I like your style, I agree, I'll call Karin in and we'll get to work. We're already working on something." She stands up and takes a step towards the door before she stops and turns back to me, "Lucky Sookie?"

I feel a blush come over my face because I didn't mean to say that out loud. "Yeah, well, think about it, she just got to go back and redo four years of her life where I lost four of mine. I'm human, those years count."

Pam looks at me for a long time and I have to stop myself from cringing when I see pity enter her eyes. "What are you waiting for? Go get Karin." I say, shorter than I should have. I feel bad but I don't need anyone's pity.

Pam stares at me for a few more seconds before taking an unnecessary inhalation of breath and turning back toward the door. Actually, now that I think about it, she was probably like smelling my emotions or something. I giggle, as if vampires can actually smell people's emotions… wait, can they? I shake off that unsettling thought when the vampiresses walk back in the door. Karin isn't one to use small talk so she gets right to business.

"I've got some ideas of my own that we won't need Niall for."

EPOV

It's been happening since this whole retched situation started. Every night I rise, I have about ten seconds of peace before I remember where I am. I wish Ocella was still alive just so that I could end him again for putting me in this situation. Though, it's just as much my fault as is it his, I shouldn't have been short-sighted enough to think he'd leave me alone just because I hadn't heard from him in a few centuries. I figured as long as I kept his bank account full with my monthly tidings and he had a new progeny to focus on, I'd be fine to do as I please. It worked for a while until I became lax and he started to feel my moments of contentment, few and far between as they were.

I stifle the very human urge to sigh, it is not too bad, I suppose. I'll make it through these two hundred years and then I'll be free forever. And that's only if my plans don't come together before then, I hate Freyda and although I never had the want to become king, I'd happily take up the title just to have the pleasure of killing her myself. She doesn't understand why I have such loathing feelings for her, it is not as if she treats me terribly, she feels as though I should be thanking her for making me her consort. She is idiotic. She cannot understand that just because this is the life she wants, not everyone else feels the same. She avoids the fact that I could have had my own kingdom a long time ago if that's what I had wanted.

I sit up, I'm grateful that she is paranoid and doesn't trust anyone. Otherwise, I'm sure she'd have us share a room just so that she could have me on hand to pleasure her as she rose. She is much younger than I so she'd have to be dead for the day and vulnerable every night and morning if we shared quarters. I take my time showering and getting ready for the night. It's another night full of pomp and circumstance, another with a group of monarchies coming so that she might have the chance to show off her new consort. Another night where I must stay quiet and be nothing more than her trained monkey.

"Enter," I say when there's a knock on my door. It's the nightly donor my queen has graciously set up for me. I have to stop myself from smirking when I imagine Pam's eye roll at the thought. I'm old enough that all I have to do is inhale and know that she's type AB negative, which used to be my favorite, before…No, I don't let myself think about her often anymore, it just hurts, it's not as if I'll ever see her alive again.

I turn to look at the donor and freeze for half a second, I'm sure the human didn't notice but I'm glad Freyda isn't here with her vampire eyesight to see. I'm sure she'd be pleased with herself. It's a game I think she's playing with herself, she tries to give me donors that look like Soo… that look like her. I'm not sure what his goal is, is she trying to make me happy? Does she think if I fuck enough of them, I'll get her out of my system and be able to focus on her like she wants? Either way, she's failing.

The woman is mostly naked, only red lace lingerie barely covering her tits with a chain attached to a leash around her neck. She sways her hips while she walks over to me trying to look tempting. I smell the arousal and four, no five other vampires on her. "Good evening, master. The queen ordered me for you last night. She told me to please you any way I can."

She reaches for my belt buckle as she starts to get on her knees before I grab her by the shoulders and stand her up straight again. It makes no sense to me, I already know I won't be free in her lifetime but still, it feels as if I'd be cheating on her were I to use this fang banger. Instead of speaking, I spin her around so that her back is to my front and push her head to the side and bite. It isn't long before she's moaning and rubbing up against me like a bitch in heat. I don't stop her but neither do I join in. Once I've had my fill I step away from her. "You can go."

"But we haven't even gotten to the good part yet," She says with a sultry smile as she's making a play for my cock again. I growl menacingly and she stops. I don't have to say anything else, she takes the hint and leaves as fast as her 10-inch stilettos will take her.

Fuck, what is wrong with me? Why am I torturing myself? Sookie is fine, she's living the life she always wanted and last I heard she was well on her way to making a litter with her shifter. She doesn't care about me. The first few months I had fantasies that she'd come in here like the Valkyrie she is with all the self-righteousness she has and demand my freedom like she's done many times before for the people she cares about, the people she loves. But that's not me. If she were going to come it would have happened already.

No, I promised myself I wouldn't think about her, wouldn't pine for something that clearly meant more to me than it did her. No, I'll make sure I get out of here, one way or another but I won't be going back to Louisiana. I'll probably go to Sweden for a few decades and maybe make it back to the States in a century or two. Pam can handle all my holdings here.

Now I just have to finish planning. I've already gotten a few people around the compound on my side, it wasn't easy, Freyda isn't necessarily a bad queen, she doesn't rule by fear, and she wants her people to be happy, but she's young. Young and inexperienced and that makes it so people don't have a lot of faith in her. She's smart though, that's the whole reason she wanted me. And it worked, or at least it would have if it wasn't so clear that I want nothing to do with her. I'm an honorable man so if there's an attack on her, I'll protect her and if she asks for advice, I'll give it but I won't do anything more than that. If I hear of a plan against her, I'll stay out of it unless I'm there if it comes to blows.

With one last look in the mirror, I leave my suites and make my way to the throne room. Yes, she has an actual throne room. Though I suppose I'm not one to talk, I do have a throne at my bar… did, it's Pam's bar now.

"Eric! My gracious husband, how I missed you. Tell me, did you enjoy the present I sent up to you?" She asks, looking at me calculativly.

"Yes, my queen."

I see her eyes darken in anger though I'm not sure if it's because she was expecting more thanks or she had hoped that I'd send the donor away because I was tired of Soo… my ex-wife's look a likes. Either way, she didn't get her desired reaction. I'm surprised when she stands up as I get close to her throne. Normally it is curtacy for me to bow and then to stand behind her to the left while the visitors are welcomed. She takes a few steps towards me and puckers her lips for a kiss. She's up to something, I just don't know what. I have no choice but to oblige her, it's in the contract, after all, I must welcome any intimacy she initiates. Thankfully this is the most public she's been with anything, nothing like Appius who used to make me get fucked by whoever he wanted. Those weren't good times but because of them, I'm much more able to ignore physical or mental pain as it's happening.

She pulls away from the kiss and is still looking at me strangely, she's definitely planning something, I need to figure out what, and soon. "Come, husband. We must get into our spots, our guests are due at any moment."

"Of course, my queen." Again I'm surprised when instead of my spot standing behind her, I notice there's another throne, albeit smaller, next to her. I have no choice but to sit when she pats it invitingly.

The meetings with the monarchies and the dignitaries are just as boring as always. I only have to put about ten percent of my attention on them while I spend the rest trying to figure out what Freyda is up to. She keeps grabbing my hand and doing things like kissing me on the cheek or making flirtatious comments towards me and I don't understand why. I know when we first met and when I was first moved here she thought that we'd enter into a real relationship and even a bonding, she was angered when she realized I had no intentions of that. I thought she understood this was a contract only. Maybe she feels that I've been upset long enough and now she thinks she can make a move on me? I'm not sure but I'm damn sure going to find out. It's no surprise that she leads me back to her chambers at the end of the night or that she strips down before I even close the door.

"It's time, Eric."

Gods, what the fuck is she talking about now? I sigh as I take off my belt and start stripping down as I make my way over to her. "Time for what?"

"I've given you time enough to grieve for your previous marriage. It's done now, you're mine, for at least the next few centuries. It's time for you to commit."

I'm not sure how else to commit to her, I signed off on her owning my fucking life. She tisks after she gets on her knees and takes my cock out of my pants to find me not hard. "And how would you like me to do that, my queen?"

Right before she takes me in her mouth she says, "We're going to make our blood bond permanent, we'll do the second exchange tonight."

A/N: Wow, I really didn't mean for the convo with Sam to go like that, before i started writing I had it planned out that he was going to be sympathetic ad understanding but I guess Sam didn't agree with me.