Great Love

by cembria

Eric is a single father who just got out of a messy divorce. Sookie is his nanny who he fought to get in the divorce. this is the story of finding and keeping your great love in life AH/AU one shot

"Can I have ice cream?" Jessica asked her nanny Sookie.

"Not from me, your Dad will be home soon. You can run that past him. I'm betting hes going to want you to eat dinner first." Sookie said as she finished wiping the baby's face that was in the high chair.

"Okay, or…. You could give it to me and then we dont tell Dad." Jessica said like it was the best idea ever.

"Hard pass, I'm on your Dads side. Whatever he says goes." Sookie said ushering her 5 year old charge out of the kitchen so she can go change the baby and watch her at the same time.

"Jake is only 9 months old, he'll never tell." Jessica a whined.

"Thats a negative, Ghost Rider." Sookie said quoting Top gun to a pre schooler. She finished changing Jake and they walked back down stairs. Just as they walked in Eric came in through the garage. He was on his phone so Sookie motioned to Jessica to stay quiet and he looked at her with an appreciative smile.

"Yes, I know."…. "well, the money has to be somewhere. 60k doesn't just get up and walk away."….."it's not the amount, its the principal."….. "Okay, well we will address it on Monday. I'll look everything over this weekend. I want it kept hush hush. No one needs to know we know."….. "yeah, okay. Bye." He hung up his phone and immediately picked up Jessica.

"Well I missed you!" He beamed, giving her kissed all over her face while she giggled. When she calmed she asked.

"Can I have Ice cream?"

"Maybe after dinner if I like your Sookie report." He said putting her down.

"I told you, I knew it!" Sookie said with a smile. "I always know what your Dad is going to say. Like I said, I'm on HIS side whatever he says goes."

Eric smiled at her. Sookie had been Jessicas nanny since she was 18 months old and Jakes Nanny his whole life. Shes been with them through thick and thin. Eric even got her in the divorce. Literally, Sophie Ann can't use her services via divorce decree. Sookie is HIS and he made sure he got it in writing that Sophie can't screw with her. Sookie was also always more of a mother to the kids anyway. Honestly, more of a wife to him than Sophie ever was. Settling down and having children wasn't kind to his marriage. Sophie wanted to act like she was 22 forever, that wasn't what he wanted and sadly the end of their marriage was really really messy.

"Thats right Jess, Sookie and Daddy are a team." He said as he reached out and took his son from her.

"You two are AWFUL!" She scowled as she stomped out of the entry way to the playroom. Sookie looked at him with a shrug and they walked into the kitchen where she took his bag and papers and started organizing them on the counter for him.

"So dinner is in the oven, it's baked spaghetti. Garlic bread is in the warmer. Both kids were great. Jess needs you to sign her progress report and Jake is getting his next round of shots next Tuesday. I got the call to remind me of the appointment today. Groceries are bought and in the fridge. Jake has been fed and I'm going to get him a bath before I leave. This envelope needed a signature, so its probably important. Here is the mail thats important. I emailed you a link with halloween costumes for the kids, just approve them and ill order them. Jessicas class is doing a party, I signed up as room parent for it. That will meet your 3 required room parent visits for the year. I cleaned out your SUV so you can take the kids to your parents, thats on Sunday Eric. You promised to drive the kids down to see them. Do not forget. Also, Voldemort called me today and shes pissed." Sookie rattled off while she pulled things out of Erics brief case and sorted them out. He had a habit of stuffing things in at random like he was still in high school.

"What did she want?" He asked.

"To yell at me and accuse me of sleeping with you again. Shes also not going to make her visitation next week shes going to Greece." Sookie said bobbling her head and rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry." He said moving Jake to the other side and reaching out for her hand.

"It's okay, shes been accusing me of sleeping with you for 3 and a half years. At this point I might as well hump you with as many people as she has told that I'm sleeping with you." Sookie sighed as she looked closer at some of the account print outs he brought home.

"It's not okay, and I know shes caused you to have a reputation and I hate that for you." Eric said sincerely.

"One more thing….." Sookie took a deep breath. "So legally, I have to let her talk to the kids if she calls." Eric nodded. "Well, she told Jessica she wasn't coming next week because She didn't want to watch me suck your dick under the table during dinner."

Eric threw his head back and growled. "She said what?"

"Yeah, I had explain what a dick was and assure her I am not sucking yours and definitely not under the table."

"You could have left that conversation to me." He said softly.

"Oh, you wanted to explain what a dick is and dance around what a blow job is AND help her understand I am not blowing you? Wow if I had known you were eager for that conversation…" Sookie said teasingly.

"No no, thank you. You're right." Eric said squeezing and releasing her hand. He squeezed Jake one more time and strapped him into the bouncer seat that was on the ground in the kitchen.

"Give me a pen." Sookie said still looking at the accounts. Eric reached in the drawer next to him and handed it to her and watched her mark all of the account print outs from the accounts where the money was missing from.

"Here, it's not 60k its 120k. The other half is moved, but hasn't been moved out. This is who it looks like moved the money. They are making it look like some low level pion is doing it. To move this much you'd need managerial approval. Your CFO or his assistant is robbing you. Freeze those accounts before they get the other half." She slid the papers to him pointing everything out as she spoke. He looked at her dumbfounded and pulled out his phone and called Pam to get the accounts frozen immediately.

Sookie went to get her stuff together and grabbed her purse and coat. She went to walk out, but Eric grabbed her arm with a scary almost unrecognizable look on his face while he was on the phone and said.

"Pam hold on, you go in my office and sit and wait."

"I…. I… did I…." She stammered.

"Now." He gave her as a firm order as he took her purse and started talking to his assistant Pam again. He walked away from her and put her purse and coat in the cabinets above the fridge that she can't reach. Her stomach did flip flips and she walked to his office and sat down. About 15 minuets later Eric came in with Jake in his bouncer that he put in the corner before he sat at his desk and just stared at her before he started talking.

"Explain to me why my Nanny caught what a forensic accountant couldn't see all day, after looking at 1/8 the data he had access to in less than 30 minuets, while carrying on an unrelated conversation." He just stared at her hands clasped.

"My degree is in accounting, you know that. I was a CPA before I worked for you. Being your nanny pays better and my Gran is in assisted living. That costs a lot of money. I can't afford the pay cut that would come from going back to my industry. I saw the issue, so I showed you how to fix it." She said tightly not understanding why his panties were in a twist. He hired her, he saw her resume.

"Your Grandmother is in assisted living?" He asked.

"Yup, Alzheimers." She said not really feeling like its his business at all.

"I didn't know." He said more softly.

"Well, it's not your business. You hired me, you saw my resume, you know what my degree is in, you knew this was my first Nanny job." She snapped.

"I'm sorry, I just forgot I guess, you've been with us a long time. I guess I forgot you existed before us and exist after you leave night." He said in a daze.

"Yup, I'm a whole human being, Eric." She said with a sigh. She wasn't surprised that he sort of sees her like an appliance in his home.

"I'm sorry." He said again softly.

"Dont be, I'm just your Nanny. It's my job to work within your life. It's not your job to know about my life when I leave at night." She said trying to soothe him.

"What do your parents do?" He asked.

"They have been dead for 23 years." She said.

"Wow… I'm sorry. Siblings?"

"I have a brother and a sister."

"Names?"

"Jason hes 5 years older than me and Amelia is 3 years older." She said, Eric just nodded.

"Do they live around here?"

"No, Jason lives in Florida with his wife and kids. I dont hear from him much. He has his own thing going on. My Sister Amelia lives in Austin with her husband. It's closer to his family."

"How often do you see them?" He asked now just trying to get to know his damn Nanny thats apparently a stranger to him.

"My brother, I saw him 5 years ago when I had to put Gran in a home. We argued about money. We haven't spoken since except Christmas cards his wife sends. Amelia I used to see once or twice a year, but they have been trying for a baby and thats sucking all their money up with fertility treatments so I haven't seen her in about 3 years. We talk a few times a week though."

"Why dont you go visit her?" Eric asked. "I would find a way to give you time off. I dont think you've ever taken an unscheduled day off since you started."

"Grans care costs $6,600 a month. She had nothing to retire on and my student loan payments are $765 and $280 a month."

"Do you need a raise?" He asked concerned. Doing the math in his head that put her living on about $2k a month.

"No, my bills are always paid I'm fine." She said.

"I know what you take home after taxes. How do you save, or invest?" He asked.

"I dont think thats your Bee's wax, Eric." She said sharply.

"Well, you found the money and caught the thief so I'm going to give you a bonus for that." He reached in his drawer for his check book.

"Knock it off." Sookie said leaning forward pointing at him. "I dont need your charity, the problem was obvious a monkey could have found it. It's not my fault your accountant is either incompetent or in on it. My bills are paid, I take care of my business and thats it. You didn't give a shit before your round of invasive 20 questions so just go back to the way it was. I need to leave." Sookie got up and stormed out. Eric hot on her heels.

"Sookie, wait… please." Eric called after her, but his raised voices made Jake start crying back in his office and Jessica ran and grabbed his pants and whined.

"I'm hungry, please!"

Before he knew it he heard the door slam and his children erupted into chaos that couldn't wait. After he got Jake settled and Jessica seated with her dinner he checked the cabinet he put Sookies things and saw they were still there. He looked out the front window and saw her car. He either pissed her off so bad she walked home in January without a jacket or shes still kicking around outside. He went and looked around outside and she wasn't there, so he called her phone. It rang on his counter, well shit. She left without her car, purse or phone. He made a call he didn't want to make.

"This is Alcide."

"I need you to come watch my kids for a while I'm having sort of an emergency." Eric said getting all of Sookies things together and opening her wallet to get her address.

"Are you okay?" Alcide asked, Eric already able to hear him getting in his truck.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I pissed off my nanny and she walked out without her purse, phone or keys. Just walked away."

"Did you make a move on her? God knows I can't blame you. Shes a smoke show. I dont know how you dont."

"Shit, no! God….. no. I didn't.I dont allow myself to think about her like that. Shes basically the kids mother." Eric stammered. It was only half a lie, he did occasionally think of her like that, but never to her face or in the light of day, and usually not unless he's drinking, usually….. mostly not every day at least.

"No one with eyes isn't thinking about her like that. I want you to invite me over more often just to look at her." Alcide replied.

"Please dont be weird with her, I'm causing enough problems all on my own. That and Sophie told Jessica shes sucking my dick. She also told Jessicas teacher, dance instructor and brownie troop leader our divorce was because Sookie was sleeping with me. Other parents won't even stand near her right now because they think shes a home wrecker. Now she had to explain what a dick is to Jessica today and assure her shes not sucking mine." Eric said with a sigh.

"As your lawyer, I advise you to put a gag order on Sophie that she can't talk about you like that. She needs to be civil. That crap is bad for the kids. I'll send you a filing to look at on Monday. She may be naming Sookie as the bad guy, but shes making you look like a cheater when the reason you guys divorced was she did cocain on your kitchen counter with a bunch of randoms 6 weeks after she had Jake, after being missing for 3 days then tried to breast feed him her coked up breastmilk, while Sookie fist fought her while keeping the kids locked upstairs until the police came."

"Okay." Was all Eric said. Another reminder why he needed Sookie. She literally put her body between the kids and danger and fought off his coked up ex wife and her friends getting injured in the process while he was at work.

"I'm pulling up." Alcide said as he hung up. He walked in the front door without knocking. Eric handed Jake to him and said.

"He's fed, just change his diaper and give him the bottle I left on the counter. He should go right down. Just set Jessica up with a movie. She isn't usually allowed tv so that should keep her locked in."

"Got it, get Jake his first stripper and let Jessica watch porn."

"Alcide…" Eric gritted out.

"Sorry, sorry. We'll be fine." He said putting Jake under his arm like a football. Eric grabbed Sookies stuff and walked out before he had second thoughts about leaving his kids with his idiot best friend. He pulled out of the garage and headed to the address on Sookies license. It's close to his house, but still slum adjacent. he pulled around until he saw the building that would have her unit. He parked and got out. As he walked up he saw Sookie curled up at the Bottom of the stairs that would lead up to her unit.

"What now?" She snapped at him as she saw him walk up.

"You left without your coat, purse, keys and phone." He said holding her things out to her. She slowly stood up and tried to snatch it from him, but her hands were so cold she couldn't really feel her fingers to grab things only making her more frustrated.

"You're freezing, let me help you get inside and warmed up." He put her coat over her shoulders and shoved her up the stairs.

"I dont want your damn help, Eric." She growled out.

"We'll you're getting it so suck it up, buttercup." He replied putting her key in the door and opening it. She lived in a small studio apartment. It was neat and organized, despite being very small.

"Where are the kids?" She asked as she went to run her hands under warm water.

"Alcide is watching them." He said as he sat down and sat on the foot of her bed because the chair by her desk was Sookie sized and he didn't trust sitting on it.

"Ewwww yuck, Eric!" She turned and yelled at him.

"It was an emergency!" He threw his arms up.

"There is no such thing as an Alcide watches the kids level of emergency." Sookie said as she dried her now warmed hands and slid into a hoodie that was on her dresser.

"Well, you walking out the door without keys, a phone, coat or purse in JANUARY at 7 at night is kind of an emergency. What was your plan?" He asked with a look that said 'fight me'.

"I didn't have a plan, I just didn't want to be around you anymore." She said flinging her arms then crossing them. He could admit, her words stung him. She was his favorite person to be around.

"I'm sorry I got in your business. I just realized you know me inside and out, my friends, my family, my likes and dislikes, my best and worst and I dont know much about you at all, and I never thought to ask."

"I'm just a private person, Eric. I have a lot of stuff going on and I just dont want my problems to be your problems. Also, frankly I never wanted Sophie knowing too much about me then weaponizing it. Keeping to myself isn't something I regret given the current circumstances. You guys are divorced, but I still have to deal with her all the time." Sookie said softening her tone and sitting next to Eric on her bed, but pulling her legs under herself.

"I can make it so she has to go through me for the kids." He said.

"Eric, I only tell you about her contacting me when it concerns the kids. Sometimes she just calls to yell at me for stealing you and being a whore. She tracked my Gran down and went to tell her what a hoe I am, but my Gran is so out of it she might as well have told her I was going to mars."

"She what? What didn't you tell me?" He asked staring at her in disbelief.

"I took care of it, shes banned from the facility now and my Gran doesn't know who I am anymore anyway. The Staff is giving me the hairy eye ball, but at this point im immune to it. Sookie the Slut who sleeps with the father of the kids she nannys right under the wife's nose, thats just who I am now. I'm not abandoning the kids unless you want me gone so, whatever." She said finishing and flopping back.

"Sookie, you aren't a slut. I've never even heard you say you were going on a date." He reached over and took her hand.

"Because I dont date and its just because of all my circumstances. In high school it was my brother driving guys off, in college I had no time because I had to work full time and take a full class load, after graduation I was building my career, then my Gran started slipping and needed a lot more care, and now I just dont have the time because Jessica is at a really pivotal age and with all the Sophie drama I need to be available. Not to mention all of my aforementioned baggage. It just never happened for me. It's what makes her crafting me this slutty persona and reputation almost funny to me." She scoffed.

"Wooooooooooooooow….. so no guys ever? Not even a random one nighter?" He asked looking at her.

"Nope, and now I've gotten so old it throws up red flags when I tell prospects I've never dated. That or I only find guys with virgin fetishes, which is gross."

"The only whore who's pure as driven snow." Eric said amused.

"You know way too much about me now." She said shaking her head.

"Or not enough." He grumbled. "Where were you on Christmas?" He asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, on Christmas Eve and Christas you didn't work. You haven't seen your siblings, no parents. Did you see your Gran?"

"No, she doesn't know me anymore. Seeing me upsets her routine."

"So where were you?"

"Here, in my apartment." She shrugged.

"You were all alone on Christmas?" He said as a question, but he knew the answer.

"It's not that big a deal. I haven't celebrated Christmas much as an adult."

"It is a big deal. You are family to us. You are everything to the kids. Sophie cancels on them and they dont care. If you canceled or left it would devastate them. I should have been treating you better."

"I'm just your Nanny, Eric." She said sitting up and putting her hand on his shoulder.

"You aren't just a Nanny, you do everything for me that Pam doesn't. I'm basically useless without you guys professionally and personally." He put his head in his hands.

"You aren't useless, without you Pam and I would be unemployed, and where as I like my job, I do need the money. You are keeping the economy going."

"Let me pay you for what you did tonight. I also would like to use your skills occasionally in other complicated accounting manners." He said changing the subject.

"Eriiiiiiiiiiiic…" She said annoyed.

"Hear me out, you have skills I need. Those skills were used, I owe you money for that. I'll pay you as a contractor through Northman industries not my pocket. Next time I need your services I'll give you a contract and everything. Think of it like a second job." His tone was hopeful.

"Fine, but dont insult me with some huge check. I know what the market rate is for stuff like this." She said firmly.

"Great, thank you. Also, Alcide is going to see what he can do through the courts to get Sophie to stop shit talking us and spreading lies."

"That would be nice, but the damage is already sort of done." She said with a shrug and a 'what can you do about it' face.

"At least this way its on record that its false and slander. Then when the kids are older they can at least know the truth."

"Yeah, thats important. As it is Jessica recommends I suck your dick because I told her it was something married people did and she felt like if I suck your dick it makes us married. Like I said, It was a complicated conversation." She said with a chuckle.

"Oh nooooo." Eric laughed with her.

"Yeah, I had to explain Girls have a vagina and she said you can suck my vagina too. Trust me, it was a wild ride home."

Eric just stared at her as she lounged next to him. Going down on her is absolutely something he secretly thinks about and ever since he was sitting at the dinner table and she was kneeling looking up at him as she was getting Jake out of his bouncer basically between his legs, Sookie blowing him became a top 5 after dark fantasy of his because he know what she'd look like looking up at him from between his legs now. It was getting hard, literally not to think of it right in that moment. Not to mention his brain felt like this was the best time to circle back to summer Sookie in a bikini swimming in his pool.

"What's wrong?" She asked after he spent way too long just staring at her.

"Nothing, I guess my brain just popped a fuse and reset."he said looking away.

"What?" She looked at him confused.

"Its not like you aren't a pretty girl, Sookie. You just aren't a pretty girl I'm allowed to think about going down on or having you blow me. My brain attempted to dive into the gutter, but I have it now." He smiled and shook his head.

"Ohhhh." She giggled, only making his issue worse. Her and her damn giggles. "Jokes on Sophie, you never would have thought about it if she didn't start it." Sookie said laughing still.

"Yeah sure." He said shaking his head because that was a total lie. He thinks about it all the time. His private thoughts after dark are the work of a pervert since he and Sophie separated when she was 4 months pregnant with Jake, and unfortunately Sookie is the main star in them. Now knowing she's literally innocent he definitely needs to scale back on thinking about her like that. It just feel disrespectful now.

"You should go rescue the kids from Alcide. I'm sick of him just seeing him when he comes over on nights you guys go out and hang out." She said sitting up out of her lounging position.

"We should get my mom to watch the kids one night and you can come out with us." Eric said after a moment of thought.

"I wouldn't even know how to act. I can't remember ever 'going out'. Plus, I dont like Alcide. Hes a leacher." She giggled again. "He once said my name was perfect because my tits are Stacked and Sookie sounds like a word for a thick ass which he says I apparently have."

"I'm sorry about him. He was dropped on his head as a child." Eric said shaking his head. "But you should still come, at least once. Just to see what its like and I promise I won't let Alcide lick you or something. I'll act as a human buffer."

"But then he'll lick you." Sookie said with false concern.

"Probably, but I'm used to it after 33 years. He's been licking me since pre school." Eric said with a chuckle.

"I'll think about it."

"Thats all I ask. You should take some time to have fun while you're still in your 20's."

"Im 28, Eric. I think that ship has sailed." She laughed.

"I thought you were 25."

"I haven't been 25 since you hired me."

"I owe you some birthday presents." He shook his head and felt terrible again, because she always makes a big deal about his birthday. Two years ago she even arranged a big party for his 35th.

"Please dont buy me presents." She pleaded.

"Too late, you set the bar by getting me birthday presents, that I now know you could not afford. You knock it off." He said back sternly.

"You aren't my supervisor." She said back with a smile.

"I literally am."

"Bullshit, I work for Jake and Jessica." She shot back

"True, regardless. I want our dynamic to change. Sophie is out and I want to be friends with you and I want you to see us like family the way we see you. I can't go back to not knowing anything about you and just being okay with you filling my every off the clock need." Other than sex, he silently added in his head at the end.

"Okay." She said and she leaned over and hugged him. He eagerly returned her hug

"I have to go get my kids back from Alcide." Eric said standing.

"Good idea." Sookie was watching as he put his coat back on and just before he got to the door she said. "My favorite color is green, My favorite food is Mexican, my first time on a plane was when I went to watch the kids for you when you went to Hawaii, I prefer cats to Dogs and the only soda I drink is Diet Pepsi."

"Thank you." He said smiling brightly before he walked out.

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Three months later Eric was practically skipping home because his company wanted to acquire another company, but their financials looked off. He needed Sookie to look at them. He walked in the house and the fire alarm was going off, both kids were crying. Jake in her arms while she fanned the smoke away from the stove and Jessica was on the ground kicking and screaming, throwing art supplies all over the living room and kitchen. He tossed his stuff down and held up a finger to sookie and went right over to Jessica picking her up off the floor and turning her to face him. She stopped screaming and is looking at him terrified.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He barked at her.

"You're home, its only 5:30." Was her reply.

"And that means you can act like a wild animal and throw a tantrum for Sookie?" He asked still holding her eye level with him.

"Sookie wouldn't let me paint." She whined.

"And? Sookie looked a little busy with dinner to supervise you painting. She said no, that should have been the end of it." He set her down and said. "You will pick all of this up and put it away correctly and silently. First, you will go and apologize to Sookie. You will not act like this again and after you eat, you will go straight to bed. You can try to start fresh tomorrow."

Jessica started quietly weeping and she walked over to sookie, giving her a hug and apologizing before she went to go pick up all the art supplies strewn all over the first floor of the house. Eric walked over to Sookie and took Jake. Sookie looks disheveled, shes a little sweaty, her hair is messed up and there is a huge stain on the front of her shirt.

"Hey, take a breath. I'm home now. I'm sorry about that." He said as he walked her to a chair at the table.

"She had a hard day. Sophie called to talk to her."

"Oh." Eric said plopping down next to her, bouncing Jake on his lap."

"Yeah, Sophie was being Sophie and Jessica asked why she can't be nice like me and Sophie blew her lid. She started cussing out Jessica and she got out that she wished she hadn't had kids before I took the phone and hung up. Also, shes been calling non stop since I hung up on her." The house phone started ringing. "Speak of the devil" Eric seethed looking at the phone. When it stopped ringing Sookies cell phone started ringing. Eric handed her Jake, picked up her phone and took his own out to record the conversation at Alcides recommendation that they start recording interactions with her. He walked outside to have the call.

"Sophie." He said through gritted teeth answering Sookies phone

"What are you doing answering that little whores phone?"

"You're harassing her in my house."

"Your house where my children are. They act like that tart is their mother. I'm sick of this. You either fire her or I'm going to court for more custody." She seethed.

"You barely see them for your current scheduled visitation. You haven't seen them in 6 weeks. Did you tell Jessica you wish you hadn't have had kids?" He asked trying to stay calm.

"She is acting like a bitch! She said I wasn't being nice like sookie."

"You just called out 5 year old a bitch, after you told her you wished you hadn't had kids." He was barely holding it together.

"If I had known you were going to become such an asshole and never want to do anything but stay home after we had kids, no I wouldn't have had them." She said plainly like she was making a good point.

"So wanting to grow ups and take care of my kids made me an asshole? Not wanting to party anymore and be more responsible was the wrong choice in your opinion?" He was starting to yell.

"Our wedding was the best party ever. You were fun, we were on the same page. The second I got pregnant you got lame. You went to work for your Dad, you stopped drinking, you quit smoking, all you cared about was the baby." She whined.

"Jessica, the babies name was Jessica."he ground out.

"Whatever! Then I found out I was pregnant again and you insisted on keeping it, and I thought you'd stay with me if I had it, because you had one foot out of the door ever since Mary fucking Poppins was hired and you got all hard for her stupid domestic maternal shit. I had no other way to keep you but have him. Then you still filed to separate while I was pregnant. You acted like I didn't exist. The only thing you wanted to talk about was them."

"By them, you mean our children? I'm sorry I didn't want to fuck around partying and ignore our children. Also, Sookie is not why I left you. I left you when you left a loaded gun in your purse on the front table and I realized Jessica wasn't safe around you." He said flopping on a chair by the pool. These conversations with Sophie were always the same. She just doesn't get it.

"We've been over this! Why would a baby get in my purse?" Sophie said in a condescending tone.

"SHE WAS 4! SHE WASNT A BABY!"

"Whatever! Its not like she was going to shoot you, Eric. It was in my puuuuuuuuuuuurse."

"You should have been home taking care of your kids, not doing whatever that made you think you needed to carry a gun."

"House parties in NOLA are unpredictable." She said dryly.

"You were pregnant! Why were you going to sketchy house parties?" He yelled again.

"I wasn't even showing much yet!" She yelled back.

"Okay, enough of this. You dont call Sookie anymore and do not call the house phone. If you want to speak to the kids you go through me and I will decide if you can talk to them." He said calmly.

"You can't tell me what to do. Ill use your alimony and fight you in court and take them if you piss me off. I'll say you beat and raped me, I'll say you're a drunk. I'll dig up every picture of us from our twenties and make you look like a drugged out goon. You give me my way and fire that bitch who is trying to be my kids mother or I will make it my life mission to ruin you, and I'll do it on your fucking dime you, cunt!" She shrieked at him. He made sure his phone was still recording, yup prefect.

"I guess we'll see Sophie. Please leave Sookie alone. Goodbye." With that he hung up and called Alcide.

"What do you want you old bastard." Alcide said in a Sing song voice.

"I'm emailing you a call I just had with Sophie. I need you to listen to it the use it to keep her away from me, the kids and Sookie. Forever. I want Sole legal and physical custody, no visitation for her." He said eerily calm.

"Are you sure, what changed your mind? You have always been so against cutting her out."

"Listen to the call." Is all Eric said before he hung up. He walked in and sookie put the pot she was chipping the charred remains of dinner out of down and walked right up to him and hugged him tightly. They just stood holding each other tightly for a few minuets. He stroked her hair that was hanging in a loose bun, still amiss from the hard afternoon. The hug was intimate, possibly inappropriate, but he needed it. When he pulled back. He walked to the sink, picked up the burned pot and threw it away and said to Sookie.

"Lets order pizza."

"I can do that before I go." She whispered, not sure how to react. He was clearly angry. Not with her obviously, but it was still rolling off of him.

"Stay." Was all he said.

"Okay." She said and picked up her phone to order pizza. Eric walked into Jessicas room where she was now sitting since she cleaned up her mess, still gasping from crying. He picked her up and laid him on top of him and stroked her hair and back.

"I love you and you are the best thing to happen to me ever. Sookie loves you, nana and pop pop. You are loved and wanted. Ignore Sophie. Unless you want to talk to her you dont have to again." He said when she finally calmed down.

"I love you too. Please dont fire Sookie." Her tiny voice cracking.

"Never, I promise."

"I'm hungry."

"Sookie ordered pizza. I asked her to stay. Maybe we can do your fresh start now and we can watch a movie?" Eric said.

"Sookie is staying? Just for fun?" She sat up excited.

"Thats what I asked her to do."

"Yay!" She got up and ran out of the room. "Sookie! Dad said you are staying just for fun and we can all watch a movie together with pizza!" He heard her yell as she ran across the house. He got up and walked out to follow her. Sookie was standing with her in front of the tv while she flipped through Netflix. Eric put and arm around her waist and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

"Thank you for staying, we need you tonight."

She looked at him and he looked less angry, but more just resigned. He kept his hand around her waist until Jessica settled on a movie. It wasn't lost on Sookie that he said 'we' and not 'Jessica'. It had been a really long hard day for all of them. Maybe she needed it too and not to just go back to her apartment alone. They went to sit on the couch, Jessica sat in her special princess chair in front of them, and Jake just wandered around. He just mastered walking and since the living room was partially gated off his favorite thing to do was freely wander in there.

The movie started and Sookie stood up real quick making Eric ask.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just fixing my hair. Its pulling." She released the bun that was hanging and her long hair tumbled out down past he butt to mid thigh.

"Wow your hair is long." Eric said reaching out and touching it.

"Yeah, I haven't cut it, I dont really remember. It's been a long time." She said rubbing her scalp a little.

"I've never seen your hair down. Its like I'm seeing your underwear." He whispered to her. She giggled.

"I dont wear it down anywhere but at home. Its so long it gets in the way." She started to twist it to put it back up. Eric reached out and stopped her.

"Leave it down, feel at home."

She hesitated, but just swept it to the side and sat back down. Putting her scruncci on her wrist. The pizza arrived, Eric got the door and she used scissors to just up jakes and fed him one piece at a time while he walked around. Eric took him to bed before the movie was over because he was pooped. Jessica fell asleep before the credits and Sookie carried her to bed. Then the movie was over Eric just turned off the tv and they sat in the quiet dim room alone together while Eric just ran his fingers through her hair with his head against the back of the couch with his eyes closed. The next thing Sookie knew she woke up with the sun streaming in, laying on top of Eric who had one arm around her and one hanging off the couch. She tried to get up, but he flung his other arm over her and held her tighter.

"Not yet." He grumbled into her.

"I have to go before Jessica sees us." She whispered back to him. He reluctantly let her go and she got up. She quickly wound her hair back up, securing it with a scruncci and quickly getting her things and slipping out the front door. Eric silently watching her the whole time. When the door shut he let his head fall back and he covered his face with his hands.

With all that anarchy last night he completely forgot to tell her he needed her to come look at some financials. That lead him to the idea that he can have her come to the office next Friday and he can get her to go out with him after. He pulled out his phone as saw it was 6am. His Mom had probably already been up for two hours so he went ahead and called her to see if she would come watch the kids for the weekend next week. It was probably a terrible idea to keep getting more and more personal with her, but after last night, feeling like a complete family for once, he was drunk on that feeling and was desperate to facilitate another fix of off the clock Sookie time.

On Thursday he came home and Jessica was at the table with play dough, Jake was in his high chair with a bunch of puff things. Eric walked up behind Sookie who was at the stove and he leaved into her looking at what she was doing, he frowned.

"Why are you making fettticini Alfredo? Thats your 'I'm about to disappoint Eric.' Meal." He said stepping back.

"Because I dont think I can go out with you after I look at the financials tomorrow. I'm so nervous and I dont even have the first idea what to wear. I dont go out and let loose. The closest thing to letting loose was literally letting my hair down while I was here the other night." She said turning to face him.

"If you hate it, we will leave right away. I can have Pam get you something to wear. Its just dancing, just come dancing with me." He grabbed her waist and started swaying with her. "Please?" He asked close to her ear."

"Okay, but tell Pam I want to be covered."

"Done, I promise." He smiled brightly at her. His hands lingered on her waist a few minuets more before he went to take his suit off.

Jessica was watching them from the table. Her Daddy didn't usually touch Sookie, but all week he's been finding reasons to. After her Dad said Sophie would leave her alone he was light and happy and very touchy with Sookie. She liked it. She didn't want Sophie to be her Mom. She didn't even want to call her Mom. He even told her is she saw Sophie at school tell and adult because she wasn't allowed to see or talk to them anymore. She was relieved and even more excited to see her Daddy act like Sookie was a mommy.

Friday morning Erics Mom was picking up the kids. Sookie was getting all of their stuff together and had just called Jessica out of school. His Mom showed up at 11. Sookie opened the door with a bright smile.

"Sandy!" She threw a hug around her.

"How are you Sookie? You look so good." She was wearing a black pencil skirt and white button down blouse.

"I'm good, are you ready for 3 days with these two?" Jessica came running in.

"NANA! I MISSED YOU!."

"I missed you too. We are going to have the best time. We're in a little hurry we're meeting your pop pop at a hotel with a water slide!"

"Oh my God, Sookie hurry go get Jake."

Sookie laughed and went and got Jake and the bags. She took the car seat and the booster out of her car and put it in Sandys.

"My phone will be on if you need anything. I love you guys, see you later." Sookie said as she shut the back seat.

"You're like a nervous mama." Sandy said.

"This is the longest I'll go without seeing Jake. He started walking and he's not a tiny baby anymore."

"I remember that feeling with Eric." Sandy said hugging her.

"I know I'm not their mom….." Sandy cut her off.

"Yeah, but you do all the work."

"Its not like that."

"Yes it is, now you go be the brains for Eric and then enjoy a kid free weekend. I'll see you Monday." Sandy said pulling her into another hug. Sookie waved as they drove away then got in her car to drive to Northman Industries.

She parked in the garage and walked out of it and across the street into the large building. Eric told her just to go to the top floor because his office and support staff are the only ones up there and security will know who she is. She still feels weird being waved through the doors and through to the elevator like she knows what shes doing. Shes the last person on the elevator, because she was the only one getting off at the top floor. When she steps out she immediately sees Pam look up and stride over to her.

"Sookie, you look great. Are you ready to use those magic eyes for us?"

"Umm, yeah just let me take a peak and I'll say what I see."

Pam walks her to a conference room that has several stacks of papers on the table.

"So, this is everything they gave us. If you need anything or want to request a specific document just come find me. I'm always out on the floor walking around. Dont be shy, okay?" Pam said patting her back.

"Okay, I'll just get right to it." She smiles, but still feels a little nervous. She wonders where Eric is, but she doesn't ask. She's here to do this specific task, because its something he can't do. He's probably off being a titan of industry somewhere.

She spends the next 5 hours looking at the documents. She comes to the conclusion they shouldn't buy. She makes detailed notes and brings all the pages she marked specific concerns over and walks out onto what Pam called the floor. Its after 5 on a Friday by this point and a lot of the people have left. She looks around and sees Pam all the way at the other end of the room so she starts walking to her. Shes closing the distance when she feels someone run up behind her and grab her waist.

"I knew you were here, but I didn't want to make you nervous." Eric said leaning down to her. She spun around in his arms and said.

"Dont buy this place, they are weighted with debt. Even if you sold it off for parts, you'd lose money. Who ever Bill Compton is he snookered the numbers to look like new lines of credit were profits. The only valuable thing was their point of sale software, if you can just buy the rights to that, by all means. otherwise run away. Those books are so messy and dirty I had to wash my hands after looking at them."

Eric stood back and looked at the things she was holding and smiled brightly.

"You are brilliant. That would have taken our team 3 days." He waved Pam over and said "look what Sookie did."

Pam looked at the handful of papers and her notes and said.

"Hire her Eric, She's much better Than Bobby."

"I can't, I have a more important job. You can borrow me though. I had a hard enough time sending the kids off with sandy this morning." Sookie said smiling and checking her phone. "Look, she sent pictures." She said as she gave her phone to Eric to look.

"You just hand him your phone like he can do anything with it?" Pam asked.

"I dont have nudes on there or anything."

"No, it's just. Once Eric asked Sophie if he could use her phone because his was dead and she freaked out. She also had two different pass codes on it." Pam said astonished.

"Eric can use my phone, I dont care. I guess I dont understand what you're saying." Sookie was confused. Sophie was weird, nothing new.

"Let it go, Pam." Eric said, but also he has always secretly loved how normal Sookie is with her phone. She just leaves it laying around and he has recently just picked through her phone while she was busy. All he learned was he needs to no be the guy going through her phone. he learned was shes kind, supportive and loves his kids. He felt like a dirt bag for doing something like that because Sophie was so weird about her phone.

"I have her dress." Pam said changing the subject.

"Great, help her get ready and then we can go to dinner before we go dancing." He smile at Sookie and finished. "I'll just be in my office when you're ready. Alcide is on his way up. Pam are you coming still?"

"I would not be missing this evening for all the shoes in the world." Pam said as she walked a few desks down and picked up a garment bag and a makeup bag. They were walking back to the executives bathroom as Alcide walked out of the elevators.

"Sexy Teacher Sookie, I like it." He said as they passed him. Pam stuck out her leg and tripped him. "Bitch," he muttered as they giggled. A not amused Eric was watching him and turned and went into his office. Alcide close behind.

"Do you always have to do stuff like that to Sookie?" Eric asked annoyed.

"It's funny to watch her squirm." Alcide shrugged.

"Please stop, at least for tonight. I want her to have a really good time."

"A good time in general, or a good time with you specifically?" Alcide asked sitting on his couch with a flop.

"I'm not sure yet. It's like I'm addicted to her. I can't get enough. I keep touching her and I can't stop myself. She's under my skin, but shes not even trying." Eric blurted out.

"You have the hots for the Nanny." Alcide grinned teasingly.

"It's so fucked up, and I just keep digging deeper and deeper into it too. She fell asleep at my house watching a movie and I laid down on the couch with her and held her until I fell asleep too. Then I didn't even think about Jessica waking up and seeing us cuddling like that. All I was thinking about was that I wanted to hold her and how good she felt close to me."

"So, are you going to make a move?"

"I shouldn't, my brain is made of mashed potatoes around her so I dont know if I'll stop." Eric flopped behind his desk.

"You already tricked her into this date tonight. You're using Pam and I as cover to get her out without the kids. I mean, you're single, shes single. She already gets along with your kids. Sophie is history, with 4 restraining orders and no visitation for the next year until she takes those parenting classes, if she takes them. Why not move on with the hot Nanny? Everyone already assumes you're fucking her."

"It still feels like I'm doing something wrong."

"Is it because shes puuuuuuuuuure?" Alcide asks again teasing.

"So help me if you ever let her hear you say that I will kill you. I never should have told you, but it blew my mind!" Eric said exasperated.

"Look at it this way, you'll be the best shes ever had." Alcide snickered.

"I hate you." Eric muttered.

"No you dont, and dont worry . I'm not going to blow this for you with her. I will be on pretty good behavior."

A few minuets later the girls walked back in. Sookie is wearing a red spaghetti strap Sating dress with a sweet heart neckline and a full skirt that hits mid thigh. Her hair is in an elegant French twist with pieces forming her face. Shes wearing a pair of gold strapy sandals with about a 3' heel. Pam looks like a vampire in a leather tube dress and excessively dark makeup. It fits her though. Eric stood up and took Sookies hand twirling her around.

"You look amazing."

"Thank you, I think this is the fanciest I've ever gotten." She said smoothing out her dress.

"Did you know her hair is almost to her knees?" Pam asked.

"I did, I love it." Eric said still looking at her.

"I didn't know what to do with it all. Dont touch those pins or it will come tumbling out. That style is at capacity." Pam said warningly.

"Alright." Alcide claps and stands up. "Lets go to dinner, I'm hungry."

He walked out first, Pam behind him. Eric took Sookies hand and walked holding hands out to the car they had waiting for them outside.

Dinner was perfect. Sookie was witty and fun. She even Got Pam to loosen up. In fact, how well they got along started to scare Eric a little, because before they only interacted in small bursts when his professional and personal lives would over lap. Now they are planning to go out for girl time next week. They got to the club next and Pam and Alcide decided to go straight to the dance floor. Eric and Sookie took a moment to get some drinks and let her take it in.

"This has been fun so far." She said sipping her gin and tonic.

"It has been, I love spending time with you off the clock" she blushed when he said that.

They were still chatting when a big muscly, and not in a good way guy came up to Sookie.

"Hey, babe. Want to dance?" He asked, sweat beads rolling down his gross shiny shaved head.

"No, not with you." She said flatly.

"C'mon babe, let me show you a good time." He pleaded.

"I was already having a good time before you came over here to sweat on me. Eric, lets go dance." She grabbed his hand and lead him onto the dance floor. Sweaty Mr. Clean just scowled before he moved onto the next girl.

They swayed and moved to the music. Eric held her close and ran his hands all over her. She lifted her arms to put them around his neck. Maybe it was the song change, or her outfit, or just the night in general. He couldn't blame being drunk he'd only had two drinks over several hours, but he leaned down and kissed her. She kissed him back and he took that as permission to deepen the kiss. They were making out on the dance floor. Swaying and kissing, hands all over each other. He pulled back and looked down at her swollen lips and said.

"Want to get out of here?"

"Yeah." She said still sort of breathless, but pulled him down for one more kiss before they headed out.

Eric texted Alcide to call and uber because he and Sookie were leaving in the town car.

They got in the car and as soon as it started driving Sookie got up and straddled his lap and started kissing him again, which Eric was not upset about. Not in the least. He started moving his hands under her skirt and up her thighs. He brushed the sides of her panties and a moment of clarity hit him and he pulled back and asked.

"Are you sure you want this? We can stop?"

"Stop asking tonight Sookie questions that are only meant for morning Sookie." She said breathlessly as she shoved his hands over her butt and went back to kissing him. That answer worked for him. They pulled up to his house and he tossed cash at the driver and carried her in while she kissed and nibbled on his neck. He practically ran upstairs to his room and opened the door tossing her in the middle of the bed before he started unbuttoning his shirt.

"Wow, your room is nice. I've never been in here." She said looking around.

"Really, not even some light snooping when the kids are asleep?" He asked with a smile.

"Nope, never. Also, Sophie used to be sleeping up here most of the day until you guys separated and divorced. After that I just didn't want to invade your space because I'm always in so much of the rest of the house."

"Well, from now on please invade my space anytime you want. I'm about to invade the shit out of your space." He said as he undid his pants and Sookie unzipped and slid off her dress, both of them smiling wide.

"I'd suck your dick, but I'm not sure in you're ready to be married again." She giggled and looked at his boxers that weren't hiding much of anything by that point. "Holy shit, that might not fit." She said making a bit of a face.

"We dont have to if you dont want to. I know your spaces haven't been invaded previously." He said now just gently sliding next to her and holding her while he kissed her collar bone.

"I have a vibrator, Eric. I'm 28, I obviously get horny. You aren't the first thing in my space, just the first person." She smiled at him looking at his face that was shocked, amused and also horny.

"Well, thanks for telling me that, because when you go home at night now all I'll be able to think about is if you are doing THAT."

"Honestly, at some point in the evening I probably am." She said as she threw her head back laughing.

"You're so sexy its stupid." He said running his hands over her body and kissing her again.

They spent all of Friday and Saturday having sex, making love and generally acting like horny teenagers all over his house. On Sunday afternoon Eric called an uber so they could go get their cars from his office and Sookie could go get some clothes. She had agreed to spend one more night with him since his mom was dropping Jessica off at school on Monday and bringing Sookie Jake sometime mid morning.

They got out at the parking garage and Erics car was right in front because he has a designated spot. Sookie had never ridden in his red corvette before, they always take the SUV if she ever goes anywhere with him because of the kids. She was walking away to go take the stairs when Eric grabbed her and kissed her again before he said.

"I'll drive you to your apartment, then we'll bring your car back on the way home."

"If you want, I can just go get my stuff and meet you back at your house."

"Or, we can do it my way, then have sex at your apartment, then come back home and have sex again." He made a face like he was doing serious negotiations with her.

"Your way sounds fine." She said smiling walking to the passengers side where Eric batted her hand away so he could open her door for her.

"Damn Sookie, let me be a gentleman to you." He laughed.

"Sorry, no one has ever opened a door for me before." She giggled.

"It's fine, I've never opened a door for anyone before. This is my first time trying to be a gentleman." Eric said with a wink.

"But you were married for 8 years and you had been with Sophie for 13."

"Yeah, and I wasn't a good guy when I was with Sophie." He said with a shrug.

"Yeah, she showed me the pictures and a few videos." Sookie said looking at the smooth interior of the car.

"She did what?" He asked, his anger bubbling up. It's not like Sookie was unaware he spent his 20's being a dirt bag party boy. She was around for when he rebuilt his relationship with his parents after he separated from Sophie. She knew his Dad was irritated waiting for him to come work for him. He knew she knew about the scandal he caused for his parents and the business when he was 26 and got photographed snorting coke off Sophies tits in Ibiza. Knowing and seeing are two different things.

"Yeah, a few weeks after you separated she came to my door and showed me a bunch of pictures of you guys partying together. You were cute with long hair, by the way. She also showed me the video of you doing coke off of her on a boat. I didn't particularly give a shit about minimum 5 year old news. Your actions no longer reflected that and she was a scorned ex at that point. None of what she showed my was current from when you started working at Northman industries and that was before even Jessica was born. We all have a past. When I was 16 I drank a bunch of Boons and passed out in my living room and puked face down in my sleep. My Gran found me the next morning and I was still drunk when she kicked me awake, then I projectile vomited again on her while she was yelling at me."

"Why didn't you tell me she did that?" He asked, shocked at how mature she is. he really needed to stop expecting her to act like a child at the slightest inconvenience or offense.

"You didn't need the stress, and again it didn't involve the kids. It was just Sophie being Sophie. She wanted to make me disgusted by you so I'd stop wanting to be around you. It didn't work. I wasn't sleeping with you though, and she also wasn't giving me any new information. I googled you before I took the job. You had already done your redemption arch, and again I was there for Jessica not you. Until Friday anything unprofessional in regards to you was between me and my vibrator under the cover of my sheets."

"You think about me when you're doing that?" He asked in a sultry voice.

"Hell yeah, Eric. You own mirrors. You know what you look like. It really started after Jake was born. You all sexy, holding a baby and being a good Dad. Mmmmmmmm, hot hot hot."

"Me being a good Dad turns you on?"

"Being a good Dad, having your shirt off, telling me im pretty, saying I'm the best cook… it all really gets me going. Amelia says I'm an idiot. I told her about how hot it made me when you came in and the kids were screaming and the food was burning and you just took control and fixed it all so calmly. She says I'm easily pleased."

"Well, now that I know im going to do all that at double efforts so you want to keep sleeping with me." He said as he pulled into her complex.

"Do you want to keep sleeping together, you know after today?" She asked hesitantly.

"Ummmmm yeah, I'd like to never stop." He said looking at her like she was crazy.

"Oh, okay. I wasn't sure."

"Do you want to keep doing this?" He asked a little nervous now. He just assumed she was in the bag and his now, which he now sees is a bit arrogant.

"Yes, but I dont want to do anything different around the kids. If we dont work out I dont want anything to change for them. You and I could technically never see one another for more than 5 minuets if we didn't want to and I could still take care of the kids. Jessica is already dealing with so much, feeling abandoned by Sophie. She refuses to call her Mom anymore, and shes scared shes going to ruin her birthday party by showing up."

"Thats probably the best plan." Eric said, he hadn't thought that far ahead. As usual she was giving him mashed potato brains. Her saying they could break up and not see each other hardly at all made his ass hole pucker. He went days or weeks without seeing Sophie, even after they got married and he didn't give a shit. More often than not he needed a break from her or they needed to cool down from a fight. Sookie was no Sophie. He always missed her on the weekends where she didn't work a half day so he could take the kids somewhere together. Especially, the last few months when he has made her feeling like family his top priority. He has cooked shit up to do on the weekends on more than one occasion just to see her because he missed her so badly.

They walked in and Sookie went straight to her dresser and started pulling things out.

"This place is so small." Eric said taking off his shoes and laying on her bed.

"We can't all have been LITERALLY born on a private plane, Eric." She laughed out.

"How's your Gran?" He asked changing the subject. He knew the vast difference in their upbringings was always something that made her uneasy. He had bought her a necklace for one of her late birthday gifts and she refused to bring it home because it was too much and she only wears it when he puts it on her when he gets home and she always takes it off before she leaves. He just thought It was pretty and she would look nice wearing it. He didn't even know how much it cost because he didn't look. It was him saying that that made her dig in and refuse to take it. He'd wear her down though, he was sure of it.

"Okay I guess, she's a one on one now because she gets so physical. It's crazy, its like shes already gone, because this person now is not my Gran. I want to go see her, but she doesn't know me anymore she thinks im her as a young woman, but then she get agitated, because she is actually Adel and she knows that inside, but she can't place it so it gets confusing." She sighed as she tossed the bag by the door and went to lay next to Eric.

"We can go together. I'll take a long lunch and Jake can hang out at the daycare in the office for a couple of hours, or we can leave him with Pam."

"Pam would quit on the spot if you handed her Jake." Sookie giggled.

"I know, she's wild. She really likes you though." He said starting to run his hands on her, softly kissing along her chest.

"I know, I like her too. We have a common interest."

"Pam isn't into dudes." He said tickling her a little and smiling.

"Not having sex with you, you dumb ass." She swatted him. "Just, supporting you in general. Our jobs meet right at a line and shes very easy to pass things back and forth over that line too when there is overlap."

"I can't live without either of you, thats a fact. My job is to support the economy while you and Pam do the work." He chuckled a bit. Sookie laughed, but reached down and grabbed him through his pants and said.

"Lets christen my apartment." And Boy did they.

Monday morning came and Sookie got ready and gathered all of her things in her bag and ran it out to her car so the kids wouldn't see it. When She came back in Eric was ready for work in his suit, eating the breakfast She had made for him while he was showering. He rinsed his plate and put it in the dishwasher before he walked over and wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss her.

"Want me to have Pam schedule me a long lunch so we can go see your Gran this week?" He asked.

"Thursday would be ideal. Jake has a doctors appointment and I have to make cupcakes for Jessicas end of the year party at school. Wednesday she has dance and I have to go be called a home wrecker there so dont want to go into the with raw emotions."

"Then Thursday it is. I'm sorry those bitches treat you that way." He said kissing her again softly.

"Well, now I am fucking you. So at least its not just a lie anymore." She said with a smile that didn't look as genuine as normal.

"I'm still sorry. You deserve better."

"It's fine, just have Pam tell me what time on Thursday to be there." She said pulling back and getting his bag and tie off the counter for him.

"No, I'll text you. I can call and text you anytime now without feeling like I need a good reason to do it so I dont look like a pervert." He took the things from her and smiled broadly.

"Thats true, you know I know you're a pervert now and that I dont care." She said with a sassy head bob.

"HA!" He barked. "Ain't that the truth. I'll see you tonight. Have a good day." He leaned and kissed her one more time.

"You too, have fun at work. Play nice with your friends!" She waved at him as he walked out to the garage. He couldn't stop smiling. For once he woke up feeling like he had all the pieces in place in his life, like he wasn't at least partially playing pretend.

He was still smiling when he walked out of the elevator and headed to his office. Pam walked up to him and followed him in, shutting the door behind her before she spoke.

"Well you look happy."

"Because I am. Clear my day after 12 on Thursday and make sure there will be staff for Jake to be downstairs in the daycare for a few hours in the afternoon." He said as he turned on his computer.

"Consider it done. Now tell me, Did anything happen with Sweet Sookie after you dragged her out of the club when you stopped humping her long enough to remember you were in public?" She asked with a smirk.

"Thats not your business." Eric said still grinning.

"It's fine, Sookie already told me you two were fucking like bunnies when I texted her to check on her on Saturday."

"Oh my God, Pam!" He looked up shocked at her.

"Okay, she didn't say that specifically. She said 'you spent the night together and were still together.' Thats Sookie speak for fucking like bunnies." She took a seat in one of the chairs across from his desk.

"Yeah, fair enough." He said with a shrug. "So she's Sookie now, not 'the hot Nanny'?"

"I prefer her to you now. She's smarter than you and funnier. She is now Sookie and you're just 'my boss'." She said the last part like it tasted like poo.

"Well, if someone had to move me down the hierarchy, I'm okay with losing to her." He said skimming his emails. "Bill Compton is pissed and wants to explain what Sookie wrote in her report." He frowned looking at his computer.

"We aren't buying. It's that simple. Forward him to me and I'll handle it." He forwarded Pam the email and she got up to leave. Before she did she turned and said.

"Eric, you bend over backwards to make her happy. She is no Sophie."

"I know Pam, trust me. We had a moment on Sunday when I was ready to fight, expecting her to do something immature, but all she did was tell me she didn't care about my past and she only judges me based on my current actions. I almost didn't know how to act. I need to make sure I deserve to keep her with me, I know that." He said looking at Pam just as a friend in that moment.

"Good, I figured you knew, but I wanted to be sure." She turned around and went to her desk and Eric pulled out his phone to scroll through the pictures he had taken with Sookie over the weekend. None showed any of her goodies, but you could tell she was naked next to him in most.

Thursday rolled around and Sookie was walking to his office around 11:30. Pam waved to her from across the room and made a waving motion to tell her to just walk in. Eric was on the phone, but hung up mid sentence to get up and walk over to kiss her. She had dropped off Jake when she came in. When he pulled back he said.

"I missed you."

"Was that an important call?" She pointed to the phone.

"For them, I'm important. For me I don't give a shit and they can call back tomorrow." He said as he held her close to him and kissed her again.

"You are so soooooooo humble." Sookie said with fake sincerity.

"I know, right. One of my many wonderful qualities." He said with a chuckle as he went to turn off his computer and get his phone, wallet and keys off his desk. He took her hand and walked out with her. Pam was just outside the door when they walked out.

"Dang, I was trying to eaves drop on some sex noises."

"You would have been disappointed. Eric's the screamer." Sookie said looking her dead in the eye.

"Yuck, man moans." Pam said with a gag.

"Dont knock it until you try it." Sookie said as they started walking out of the building.

"I will never try a penis, Sookie. I dont know how you do it, boys are so gross."

"Not all of them, I like this one." She said pointing her thumb at Eric who was just entertained by this whole exchange.

"Wrong, he's the grossest of them all. I will see you Saturday."

"Yup, text me when you settle on where we're having brunch." Sookie waved as the elevator closed.

"So, you're busy Saturday?" Eric asked.

"Not the whole day,Pam and I are going to brunch, then shopping. Well, not for me. Pam wants to shop."

"You should treat yourself." Eric said cringing as soon as it came out, this was money talk and that was an off limits subject with Sookie.

"Stop girding your loins, I know you didn't mean anything by it. Settle down." She said patting his chest. He let out a breath.

"I love how understanding you are about my mashed potato brains." He said as he opened the corvette door for her.

"Well, the Good Lord saw fit to bless you with looks to make up for it." She said brightly making him laugh

"Thank God I'm pretty." He snickered and he pulled out after he put the address to Grans assisted living center into his GPS.

They drove in silence the rest of the way. Eric held her hand over the shifter which she found precious. When they arrived he came around to get her door and help her out.

"I'm going to have to teach you how to drive stick."

"So I can ruin your 150 thousand dollar car? No thanks." She scoffed. He shrugged and made a non committal noise. He could always just get a new transmission or car, but he wasn't going to say that out Loud to her. She would look sexy as hell driving the corvette though.

They walked in side and checked in. Sookie made sure Eric was on Grans visitors list so if they ever came back he could just walk back with her. They went to her room and she talked with the nurses a little bit about Gran first. She was apparently having a pretty good day today. They walked in hand in hand and Gran looked at them both quizzically for a second then said.

"Fintan… you came back for Adel." Her tone was almost wistful.

"Always." Eric said just going along with it, which made Sookie squeeze his hand and adore him just a little more.

"When did you get back, Fintan?" Gran asked.

"Not too long ago." He said not being too specific.

"Your letters to Adel stopped…. I was…. She was scared. Lots of men were dying in Korea." She said.

"Well, I came back." He said looking over at Sookie who was fighting tears. She knew exactly who Fintan was. He was Grans high school sweetheart who had been killed in the Korean War. Gran had loved her Grandfather in a way, but after he passed she had talked to Sookie and Amelia about Fintan and how much she loved him and how she had never loved another man as much as him as long as she lived, and they should look for that great love, even if they are destined to lose it, because its better to have had it and lost it, than never feel true love.

"Good. When are you and Adel getting married?" she asked.

"As soon as her Father agrees." Eric said, just going with the flow. This was the calmest Gran had been in probably a year.

"I wouldn't wait on his approval. Just go do it, she waited long enough. You promised her 12 babies in your letter." Eric looked at Sookie chuckling.

"I did?"

"You did, and you described how you were going to make them. I'll have to show you the letters to refresh your memory." Sookie said giggling. She did in fact have the letters, and they were pornographic. One even had an illustration.

"I'm looking forward to it, and to making those 12 babies." He said still laughing.

"Where is her ring?" Gran asked.

"Right here." Sookie got up and opened a small box pulled out a yellow gold ring that had a nearly 2 carat Dimond in the middle, surrounded by small diamonds that made it almost look like a flower.

"Put it on." Gran said.

"Oh well, ummm." Sookie said stammering, she wasn't Adel, he wasn't Fintan.

"Put, it, on." Gran gritted out. Eric stood up and took the ring, he got down on one knee and slid it on Sookies hand, he smiled when. Gran clapped and stood back up.

"See, it still fits." Sookie looked up at him silently, but smiled back.

"It does."

"You two kids have wasted enough time here. I'm sure you want to celebrate Fintans homecoming. Thank you for visiting me. Fintan, I'm so glad you came back for Adel." Gran said still staring at him with moony eyes.

They gave their goodbyes and left. Sookie left the ring on because she figured Gran would freak out if she took it off in front of her. She would sneak it back another time. When they got back to the car they were quiet for a few minuets and Sookie slipped the ring off and held it just to look at it.

"Who was Fintan?" Eric finally asked.

"He was Grans great love before she married my Grandfather. He died in the Korean War."

"Wow, that is tragic. He gave her that ring?"

"Yup, he was old money, but he was drafted and died a few months after he deployed. His parents hated my Gran because she wasn't high society and didn't even tell her he was killed. The letters just stopped. She was heart broken. She didn't know he died until about a year after that when she saw his cousin in town. She married my grandfather 6 months after that, but she never stopped loving Fintan. I actually do have those letters. You have to read them they are FILTHY, and one has a drawing."

"You bring me those letters, now I have to read them." Eric said taking the ring from her and holding it. He made a mental note to keep track of where this ring is so he can use it to propose to Sookie with. The thought itself shocked him a little and he frowned, and handed the ring back to her, and watched her tuck it in the zipped pouch of her purse. He never planned to get married again, not after everything that happened with Sophie. He was silent and thoughtful as he drove back to his office with her. He came and opened her door when they got there and he kissed her in the lobby before she went to go get Jake from the day care.

"I'll see you soon. I only have a few things to do. I'll be home early." He said.

"Okay, I still dont know what's for dinner yet so its going to be a surprise for everyone." Sookie smiled at him.

"I'll bring home dinner. You just get comfortable with the kids." He said touching the bun on the top of her head. She knew that meant have her hair down. She has learned he really liked her long hair. He liked when she let her hair out at his house because he wanted her to feel at home.

"Okay. I'll see you soon." She said giving him one last kiss then walking into the nursery. He watched her as she walked away and just stood there. He didn't even see Alcide approach him before he literally had to shake his shoulder to get his attention.

"Damn dude, I said make a move on the Hot Nanny, not fall in love with her."

"I'm not in love with her." Eric said as he shook his head like it would shake the thoughts out of his brain and turned around to go up stairs. Alcide followed him.

"Tell that to your longing gaze and goofy ass lovers kisses that made the whole lobby stop and stare at you."

"No one was staring, no one cares." Eric said dismissively. When he got off the elevator everyone on the floor was staring at him and it was eerily silent.

"News travels fast." Alcide said as he stayed in the elevator to go down to his own office in the legal department. Eric just stared around and decided to shelve the conversation going on around him and in his head for later. When he got back in his office his phone chimed with a text. It was Sookie saying she stopped at her apartment with Jake and grabbed the letters for him to read. He smiled and flipped through the pictures of them from the last weekend together again and smiled.

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They made it 6 months before Jessica caught them kissing.

They were all at his parents house and he was showing Sookie his childhood bedroom, that was more of a shrine to Eric at this point and not really how he kept it.

"You have lots of trophies." She said looking at everything on the shelves.

"Yup, I'm good at everything."

"Except, cooking, cleaning, singing, home repairs, hanging pictures…." He cut her off.

"Thats why I have you. I continue to be fabulous by proximity to you."

"So humble." She said shaking her head.

He wrapped his arms around her and walked her back until she was against the bed. Then he pushed her back onto the bed with a little shove and pulled her up it as he climbed on her, kissing her.

"Now im in the club of girls who were in your bed in here."

He snorted. "I never had girls in my room. My governess was really strict about that."

"Your governess, damn you really are rich as fuck." She giggled and mockingly said 'my governess' bobbing her head.

"Shut up." He said smiling kissing her again, his hand snaking up her shirt. Just as he was getting a really good grope on his door flew open and it was his mother, who was holding Jessica. Both of their mouths flew open. Sookie shoved him off of her and he hit the floor with a thud. She sprung up and fixed her clothes, her entire body bright red. Sandy spoke first as Eric peaked up from the floor on the other side of the bed.

"My goodness Eric, we can't leave you unsupervised for even a moment." She was smiling and fighting a giggle.

"Sookie! Did you suck my dad's dick?" Jessica all but screamed excitedly.

"Jesus, christ." Sookie muttered. Eric just fell back on the floor. Sandy gasped.

"Jessica, go find out when dinner will be ready from Pop Pop." Sandy said setting her down.

"Okay, I'm happy you're kissing Sookie now." Jessica called. Eric just held up a thumbs up from behind the bed on the floor to acknowledge her, but stayed on the floor, hidden by the bed.

"I told you not to leave them alone with Alcide!" His mother hissed.

"That one is actually from Sophie and a little bit me. Sophie said I was sucking his dick to her, but it was long long before I was in fact sucking his dick." Eric groaned from the floor hearing Sookie explain the situation and casually admit she sucks his dick to his mother. "I had to explain what a dick was and I told her thats an act that is between a husband and wife. I assured her I was not sucking her Dads dick. She sort of walked away from that thinking if you suck a dick it makes you married. I'm working on it." Sookie said, still bright red.

Sandy just burst out laughing and said "well at least the cat is out of the bag now and you two can stop sneaking in the shadows, corners, closets, the garage. We have cameras all over the property, we've known since Jessicas birthday."

She walked around and slapped Erics leg and said. "Get up, you're almost 40, we know your girlfriend and you aren't just holding hands. You've made two children for god's sake. A little dick sucking is tame."

"I WANT TO DIIIIIIIIIE!" He yelled from the floor covering his face.

"Not today, Eric." Sandy said like she was scolding a toddler. Before she walked out.

"Are you okay?" Sookie asked as she walked around to look at him.

"No? Maybe? Im never living this down. At least my mom likes you. Sophie wasn't allowed inside their house. For you my mom is casually joking about you sucking my dick." He said sitting up.

"Well see, glass half full." She extended her hand to him to help pull him up from the floor, it only served for him to pull her down on top of him and he whispered.

"Do you think we have time for a blow job? Now its all I can think about." He asked making her laugh.

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Two weeks later Gran passed away.

It was a Tuesday afternoon when she got the call. She had just walked in from picking Jessica up from school and her phone was ringing. She set Jake down and tossed Jessicas backpack on the counter, before answering the call. The center she lived at called all the time, so she didn't think much of it. Plus, she had been there with Eric the day before and she was actually lucid. She got to actually introduce Eric to her actual Gran. It seemed like she was almost doing better, thats why the call was such a shock and so unexpected.

"Hello, I'm looking for Sookie Stackhouse?"

"This is she."

"Hello, Ma'am. I regret to inform you that your Grandmother Adel Stackhouse Passed away this afternoon at 1:42pm. She took a nap and didn't wake up. Would you like to have her body moved to the funeral home you have listed on file?" Her breath hitched and her stomach dropped. She felt the world spinning and she just sat down on the floor and took in a deep breath.

"Yes, yes thats fine. Thank you."

"Okay, her room will need to be cleaned out by the 21st." He said nonchalantly, like her grandmother hadn't just died.

"Yes, of course." She said the air in her lungs still feeling like it wasn't bringing and oxygen in.

"Okay, again our condolences. Have a good day." The man said and hung up.

She just sat on the floor staring. She didn't realize she was crying until Jessica came back and asked what was wrong. She said they would talk about it in a bit, but she had to go call her daddy. She walked into the garage and dialed Eric, letting out a sob as it was ringing. Unsurprisingly, Pam answered.

"Sookie my love, how can I service you today?" She purred.

"Ummmm, my Gran died. I know Eric is busy, but can you tell him Im calling sandy to watch the kids? I have to make some calls and I'm just…." She started sobbing.

"I will be there in 15 minuets, Sandy is almost 2 hours away. I will call her, you just hold tight. I'm on. My way." Pam hung up and Sookie tried to take a few deep breaths before she walked in, but she was still shaking. It was less than 15 minuets before Pam was squealing into the driveway and running into the house. She went right up to Sookie and gave her a big hug before she said.

"Eric will be told as soon as he is out of his meeting, Sandy is on her way. I will watch the children until one of them get here. You go upstairs and do whatever you need to do. I am so sorry, I will do anything you need. I mean anything."

"I….. ummm" she gasped "I need her room boxed up and everything put somewhere safe. I only have 4 days to do it."

"Done, it's done. Dont worry about it. Thats off your plate." Pam said holding her shoulders and walking her up to Erics room.

"Thank you." She breathed out as she walked in and closed the door behind her. She sat on the bed and called her sister. It only rang twice before she picked up.

"Hey sis." Amelia chirped.

"Hey, ummm there is no right way to say this, but Gran passed." Amelia burst into tears and that set sookie off too.

"But you said she was lucid the other day."

"She was, I thought we had more time." Sookie cried.

"It's okay, it's going to be okay. I'll be on the next flight. Can you pick me up?" Amelia asked.

"Of course, just text me your flight info. Do you want me to call Jason." Sookie asked.

"No, you're going to have to deal with enough because you're the one that lives there. I'll call him, if he calls you tell me, but dont answer." She said sternly.

"Ames, I can handle him." Sookie breathed out.

"I know you can, but I dont want you to right now. Save your energy. Trey will drive out behind me. We can't afford a bunch of flights." She said, they had just spent another 10k on a round of IVF.

"Will flying affect the IVF?" Sookie asked.

"It was implanted a few weeks ago, we can take a test any time now im sure its fine. I'm just not ready to know if it failed yet." Amelia said.

"Im sure this is the one. I just feel like it this time." Sookie said.

"Me too, but its the third time. I dont want to get my hopes up."

"Well, I'll do it for you. I'll see you soon." Sookie said.

They hung up and she walked into Erics bathroom stripped and got in his shower. She let the warm water wash over her and she just cried. She sat on the floor in the shower and just sobbed and sobbed until she had no more tears left and then she still just stayed crouched on the ground holding her knees. Even when the water ran cold she didn't get up. Shes not sure how long she was there until she heard the shower door slide open and Eric said.

"Sookie, you're shivering. How long have you been in there?"

She just looked up at him and shrugged. He turned off the water and picked her up. He toweled her off and put one of his hoodies on her and carried her to his bed. He tucked her in and heard her phone ringing. He answered it for her, which she was grateful for.

"Hello?"

"No this is Sookies phone, I'm her boyfriend Eric, shes not available."

"What?"

"Who even are you?"

"No, I'm not putting her on and brother or not you need to chill your shit. I'll let you know funeral details IF Sookie tells me to. I'm not letting you talk to her like that."

"Then go tattle to Amelia, in fact have her call me. She has my number." Eric barked and hung up. Sookie could only hear Eric Side of the conversation, but she knew it was Jason.

"Jason?" She asked.

"Yeah, he's under the impression Gran had money for an inheritance for him."

"Pffffffft, sure." Sookie snorted.

"Maybe I'll just write him a check to make him be nice." Eric said.

"Won't work, then he'll keep coming back. In fact, dont tell him you have money at all. I have a small savings. I'll tell him it was his cut. That way its a one time thing."

"Sookie…." Eric said sadly.

"Not now Eric, just let it lie." She sighed.

"Fine, but I dont like it."

"I know, but I dont want your money."

"I'm aware, and where as thats a very appealing trait of yours, it's also very infuriating at times when I want to give you money and nice things." He smiled and kissed her.

"Poor little rich boy, cant spoil his girlfriend." Sookie said mocking him, but smiling.

"I love you." He said looking at her, but his face instantly fell realizing what he said.

"What?"

"Hmmm?"

"What did you say?"

"I said 'what?'."

"No before that."

"I can't recall." He said staring at her nervously.

"You said you love me." Sookie smiled widely at him.

"Maybe, I can't recall." He said trying to stay neutral, but internally freaking out, because if she doesn't love him back he's going to crack.

"I love you too." She said before kissing him.

"That is a relief, because I was going to go crawl in a hole and die if you didn't." He said kissing her back.

"Wow, dramatic." She said, kissing him again.

"One of us has to be. Gotta keep it interesting ." He smiled. "I talked to Amelia and got their flight stuff on the way home. Alcide is picking them up." He said moving to kiss her again, but she pulled back.

"Their? She said she and Trey couldn't afford to both fly out both ways. They just spent 10 grand on a round of IVF. Did you pay for their flights?" She asked, her tone getting progressively more testy as she went.

"Yes, and I'm not apologizing. Your Gran just died, the soonest flight she could afford was two days away. She just had a round of IVF she doesn't need to be sitting in a car for hours upset and God forbid your brother beats her here. Not sorry, would do it again." He tried to sound firm, but he was totally shitting his pants. He didn't realize they had already discussed her flight stuff, Amelia has agreed to keep it between them, but Sookie is smarter than him.

"I'm mad." She said.

"I know."

"Thank you, I appreciate it." She said hugging him.

"What?" He was stunned.

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

"I wasn't expecting that reaction. I thought I was going to be chasing you back to your apartment and groveling."

"No, I appreciate it. I'll pay you back by sneaking cash in your wallet in small increments because you never know how much cash you have." She said smugly. He gripped her tight so she couldn't get away and said.

"Good luck, because I chartered the company jet for them." He said with a smile in his voice.

"God dammit, Eric!" She yelled and started trying to fight against him, but he had prepared his grip, she wasn't going anywhere.

"Sookie, it was the only way to get them here tonight. Please, just right now let me help you. You let Pam help you." He said pleading.

"Pam is different, I know she's going to bill me for whatever it cost to pack up Grans room and to store it. You like to hide hundreds in my pockets and pretend like it wasn't you and I just forgot about money." She said.

"Thats not me, those aren't my pockets." He said feigning innocence.

"I never even have $100 bills, Eric let alone forget about them in my hoodie and jeans pockets." She snarked.

"The whole you not wanting me for my money stuff is getting really annoying." He said, and that was a gods honest truth. The shine of her not being a gold digger had really worn off at this point.

"Poor little rich boy." She said again in her mocking voice.

"At least I won't need a prenup with you." He grumbled.

"The fuck I dont, I will be making you sign one. I need to protect my assets." She said hotly.

"What assets?" He chuckled.

"My Star Trek memorabilia is worth hundreds, Eric. Hundreds." She said giggling. He dropped his head down and shook with laughter. He was glad she just glazed over him mentioning getting married, even just as a joke. He had decided to pull Amelia aside when she gets here and ask if he can hold on to the Fintan ring incase he wants to propose eventually. Even if its just keeping it in a safety deposit box and she holds the key, if he does want to marry Sookie, thats the ring he wants to do it with.

"Amelia will be here around 9." He said changing the subject.

"What time is it now?" She asked and he looked at his phone.

"6:20, you need to eat. My Mom is staying until after the funeral to watch the kids. My Dad is out of retirement for two weeks so I can be here for you."

"Eric, thats too much. I feel like such a burden."She said pushing into his chest.

"You aren't a burden, I personally love you. You deserve my support. Thats just baseline boyfriend stuff. You need some time off work, so my Mom is filling in. My father is terrible at being retired and he's always nosing around anyway, or pissing my Mom off being up her ass. He's freaking pumped about his contribution. He made it to the office faster than my Mom made it to the house and she left before him."

"Because he drives like you." She snickered into his chest.

"No, I drive like him. He taught me how to drive."

"What was your first car?" She asked.

"I'm not going to tell you because you'll do your mr. monopoly voice and make fun of me." He said with mock outrage.

"I'll just ask your Mom and mock you later." She giggled.

"You're the worst." He laughed. "You need to eat, Skys the limit. Anything you want."

"Shrimp tacos, use the cash in my purse." She said trying not to laugh.

"Oh my God, just let me pay for something." He laughed more holding onto her.

"No, if I do it sets precedent and then its a slippery slope. You'll use tacos to justify a new car or something."

"Wait, can we talk about what a piece of shit your car is, did you just open that conversation?" He asked hopefully.

"No, I absolutely did not." She laughed again.

"I'll get your tacos, but I'm paying for them. What will Amelia and trey want, so they have something to eat when they get here?" He asked.

"Chicken tacos for her, and an Eric sized portion of random tacos for Trey. Alcide will want food too. Is Pam still here?"

"Yeah, She even explained your Grandma died to the kids, told them she was in heaven and had them pray for her and you. You broke Pam. She had them coloring pictures to give to you to cheer you up so they could feel like they could do something about the situation." He said texting on his phone, she assumed telling Pam to order the food.

"Wow….. are you texting her right now to have her order the food." He gave her a guilty smile and said.

"It's good for the economy when I delegate, Sookie."

"You're such a patriot."

They laid in bed quietly snuggling until Pam got back with the food. Eric went downstairs to get his and Sookies and brought it up to her so she could eat in bed. When they were done Eric took the trash down and laid with her again. His phone chimed and he looked at it.

"Alcide just texted that he has Amelia and Trey. They'll be here in 40ish minuets. The kids are probably in bed by now."

She got up and started walking around sort of in a circle and she just looked up at him and said.

"I dont have any clothes here." She honestly didn't know what to do.

"Just wear my hoodie, it goes to your knees." He said shrugging. "You should bring some stuff here and leave it."

"What?" She said again confused.

"You should bring some stuff here and leave it." Eric said slower and more loudly.

"No, I heard and understand you, I'm just confused."

"Confused how, leave some clothes here so you can stay the night or something. It already bugs me you almost never stay the night. You should have some stuff here, be more comfortable." He got up and opened a drawer and took his stuff out and shoved it in the drawer next to it. Then he walked over to the closet and pushed a bunch of his stuff over to make a space. "There, thats Sookies space now."

"Sookies space." She said still staring at him.

"Yup, right there and there." He said pointing. "I'm willing to negotiate to give you more, do you want a bigger space? here." He said going and trying to move more stuff to make more space, but she grabbed him to stop him.

"No no, thank you. This is plenty. Thank you." She smiled and kissed him.

"Are you sure?" He reached out and shoved the clothes behind her over.

"Yes, Eric stop! I dont even have enough clothes to fill the original space. Calm down!" She was trying to hold his arms down.

"Then I'll just buy you more clothes." He said with an impish grin.

"Oh my God, stop it! No…. No." She playfully swatted him and tried to use her serious voice. He reached down and kissed her, thinking how easy it would be to just move her in because she really doesn't have that much stuff at all. He could probably do it while she was running errands one day. There was a soft knock at the door. Eric went and opened it. It was Pam.

"Amelia is here. I had them put their bags in the guest house. Her husband is built ford tough." She said making a large gesture with her hands and mouthing 'huge' at Eric.

"Yeah, he's a big guy. Probably just a hair shorter than you, but hes thiccums." Sookie said walking past Eric to go down stairs, still wearing the hoodie so he guessed she accepted thats the best she can do right now. Eric leaned to Pam and said.

"Go to her apartment and get a bunch of her clothes and all of her bathroom stuff. Anything you think she will need to stay here for a few weeks. Bring it all up here, there's empty spaces, but just move my stuff if you need to make space. Don't buy her anything new, she'll know and get pissed. I just got her to agree to keep some things here. Her keys should be downstairs, be discrete."

Pam nodded and was already Gone by the time he had changed into a shirt and some sweat pants and got downstairs. He saw Amelia first. She was just a dark haired, taller version of Sookie. Trey was accurately described. He was built like a brick shithouse. Sookie and Amelia were crying and holding each other so Eric went to Trey and shook his hand first.

"Nice to finally meet you." Eric said.

"Likewise, nice to see Sookie with a nice guy, or any guy really." He laughed.

"How was the fight?"

"Fancy as fuck!" Amelia said walking over and shocking him a little giving him a big hug. He awkwardly patted her not really knowing how to respond.

"I'm glad you liked it. Are you hungry? We got some tacos for you." Eric said getting the food back out and heating it up for them they all sat around the table and Trey asked.

"So what's the plan?"

"We need to go to the funeral home tomorrow and make arrangements." Sookie said. Like a vampire skulking in the shadows Pam came out of nowhere and said.

"Thats a Pam task if I've ever seen one" She said making Sookie jump a little because she didn't know she was there.

"Jesus Pam…. I thought you left." Sookie said.

"Only temporarily." Pam said pulling folders out of her purse. "Your grandmothers will included requests for her funeral. This will all be simple to arrange. She wants to be buried in Bon Temps, but as you had to sell your ancestral home to fund her care we will have to have the wake somewhere there since we cannot have it in her home as you no longer own it."

"Merlotts." Sookie and Amelia said at the same time. "Jinx." They pointed at each other and laughed. It made Eric smile and he wanted to make sure Sookie saw her sister more under better conditions.

"Okay." Pam said taking notes.

"Pam where did you get her will?" Sookie asked.

"Out of my bag." Pam said like that was what Sookie meant.

"No, like where did you get it from. It was in my apartment."

"Do you want to ask 20 questions or do you want to fulfill your grandmothers last wishes?" Pam snarked at her.

"I'm sorry, continue." Sookie said, Eric just looked at her confused. How come she just lets Pam do whatever she wants and he has to plot and plan to buy her tacos. Annoying, he thought.

They continued to talk about the funeral for the next hour. They agreed to meet Pam in bon temps at 1 tomorrow to arrange everything. They even discussed having to cut a check to Jason for his 'inheritance' just to get rid of him. They are allowing Eric to front the cost of the funeral, much to Sookies distaste, but Amelia made her see reason. Now with Sookie not paying for Grans care each month she could 'pay him back' in just a few months. He wasn't taking her money, he planned on opening an account in her name and depositing all the money she ever gives him into it. Sookie went up stairs to go to sleep. Amelia stayed and was looking through all the papers on the table Pam left. Eric took the opportunity with her alone to talk to her about the Fintan ring.

"Can I talk to you in private for a moment?" He asked.

"Sure." She said. He led her into the garage and shut the door.

"If someday I ask Sookie to marry me, would you be okay if I used the Fintan ring?" He asked.

"Are you planning to propose?" She asked.

"Not anytime soon, but if or when I do, thats the ring I want to use. I could buy her something expensive, but thats not Sookie. She would want a meaningful ring. Gran thought I was Fintan every time I went to see her. The first time she thought Sookie was her and Fintan had come back to her. Gran loved the hell out of that guy. I used to go see her on my lunch a couple of times a week just because seeing who she thought was Fintan made her so happy."

"You visited Gran on your own, just because it made her happy? Does Sookie know?" Amelia asked.

"No, it wasn't a big deal. Important to Sookie, means important to me." He said.

"I'll get you the ring. I'll say I want it because I'm the oldest girl. No offense, but I want something in writing that says I get it back if you break up before you propose." She said.

"Done and done." He said smiling.

"You're cute. I'm happy for my sister." She said patting his back and going back into the house. She walked out the back door and to the guest house. Eric went upstairs to see Sookie, who was now in one of her nightgowns brushing her hair.

"Did you teleport my stuff here?" She asked.

"No, I had it Pam'ed."

"That makes more sense. I had no idea how you did it. Plus, it's like all my stuff. Pam moving me in without asking also tracks. I'll take some back later."

"Just stay here the next couple of weeks, with all the stuff going on and you'll need company. You can take stuff back after if you want. For now its good to have choices." He said hoping she just wouldn't leave and he'd just get his way organically. He was also giving Pam a bonus for reading his mind about the just moving her all stuff.

The funeral came and went. Trey had to go back to work so he left right after the funeral. Amelia decided to stay for another week to be with Sookie. Jason left before the funeral as soon as he had his check. No one was really upset by that . Sookie and Amelia were walking around Target one night talking and shopping for the kids. Amelia had absolutely fallen in love with Jessica and Jake.

"So are you ever going to take a pregnancy test?" Sookie asked.

"Yeah, I'm just so scared to get another negative test." She said.

"Well, how about we do it together. If it's negative then you won't be alone, we'll both have negatives." Sookie said holding two pregnancy tests.

"Sure, lets do it. I can't make Trey watch me not be pregnant again." Amelia said sadly.

"You dont know that. You very well could be growing his giant baby right now and not know it."

"We'll see I guess." She said.

They got back to the house and put everything away. Eric and Sandy were outside playing with the kids. Sookie and Amelia went upstairs to Erics room to go take their pregnancy tests. They took turns peeing and capping.

"Put yours on the far end of the sink." Sookie said.

"Yeah, dont want to mix them up." Amelia giggled.

"Okay, lets think pregnant thoughts while we wait. Your uterus is full, theres a big ass baby in there. He's going to come out 15 pounds and sporting a beard." Sookie giggled putting her hands on Amelias stomach.

"Did you know Eric visited Gran two or three times a week on his lunch because she thought he was Fintan and it made her happy?" Amelia asked making Sookie stand up.

"I didn't, he didn't tell me." She said.

"He did it just because it made Gran Happy."

"Wow…" sookie said with a wide smile.

"I know, he's a keeper." Amelia said. "You need to loosen up on him. He's just trying to love you."

"He can love me without throwing money at me." Sookie said.

"It wouldn't hurt to just wear the damn necklace he gave you. Its one necklace." She said.

"I'll think about it. It's been 3 minuets. Lets go look."

They both walked over to Amelias test and just stared at where it was laying face down.

"Do you want to flip it?" Sookie asked.

"No, you do it. I'm too nervous." Amelia replied. Sookie took a deep breath and flipped it. pregnant, it said pregnant.

"Pregnant." Amelia whispered.

"You're pregnant!" Sookie yelled.

"I'M PREGNANT! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Amelia screamed. They were jumping up and down and screaming when Eric ran in.

"What's wrong?" He looked at the screaming crying sisters in his bathroom.

"Amelia is pregnant!" Sookie shrieked. Eric reached over and picked up the test next to him and flipped it over and said.

"I love digital tests, no wondering. Just says pregnant."

Sookie ran over and snatched the test from him and stared at him…. It said pregnant. She looked up at him wide eyed then over to Amelia who's mouth was hanging open.

"What?" He asked confused by the mood shift.

"That one isn't mine." Amelia said pointing to the test.

"Yes it is, it says pregnant."

"No, this is mine." She said holding hers up.

"I took a test too so if it was negative then she wouldn't be alone." Sookie whispered. Eric looked at the test and shook it like it would change something and asked.

"So you're both pregnant? Wait…. If Sookies pregnant then thats my baby!" He pointed at her stomach and smiled.

"Well, I didn't climb on top of myself and get myself pregnant." Sookie said now also shaking the test.

"Holy shit…. You're pregnant." Eric whispered.

"Are you upset?" Sookie asked looking like she was going to cry.

"No not at all, I was just moving along my plans to move you in. I was going to do it little by little until you decided it was stupid to keep your apartment, but this just gave me a trump card to play. Yay meeeeeee!" He shook his fists around in a happy dance.

"Are you happy?" He asked

"Surprised, shocked…. But yeah, happy. I am pregnant." She turned to Amelia and screamed. "I'M PREGNANT AHHHHHHHHHHHHH." They started jumping around again and screaming. Eric leaned out of the window that over looked the back yard and yelled.

"MOM! COME UP HERE!."

A few minuets later Sandy walked in and asked.

"What's all the screaming about?"

"They're pregnant. Not by each other, because thats not possible, but both independently pregnant. I am the culprit for that one." He said pointing at Sookie.

"Oh," Sandys hands shot to her mouth. She looked between both of them and smiled. "She was doing more than just sucking your dick, Eric." She was wagging her finger at Eric and he just hung his head and Sookie threw her head back and cackled.

"I have to go call Trey." Amelia said and ran to go get her phone.

"I'm going to call your father, he will be excited to get to be back in action for your paternity leave." Sandy said as she walked out of the room.

"I got you pregnant." Eric sang to her. "Super pregnant, you're gonna have my baby." He kept singing as he walked over to hug her.

"You're not freaking out at all?" She asked?

"Not really, I already have two kids, I wanted more, but obviously not with Sophie. You are perfect and are already basically raising the aforementioned two children as their mother and have been for as long as they can remember. We are in a stable and committed relationship, I know you hate to hear it, but money isn't a problem. The only thing to make the situation better would be if you were willing to marry me, but I haven't started wearing you down on that. I haven't even officially won moving you in yet, but I can wait. I have nothing to freak out about unless you are secretly carrying a loaded gun loose in your purse and snorting coke on random Tuesday afternoons." He said looking at the pregnancy test and smiling again.

"I'm not." She laughed. "You can't wear me down into marrying you." She giggled.

"I have a plan." He said smugly.

"Its a yes or no question, you can't have a plan other than asking."

"Wait here." He ran to the small safe on the other side of the room and ran back. He kneeled on the floor of the bathroom, holding up the Fintan ring and said.

"Will you marry me?"

"Amelia said she wanted that." Sookie gasped.

"Yeah, I asked her if I could have it to propose to you with because any ring I could buy would disgust you no matter the price because you hate money."

"I dont hate money, I hate feeling like I'm using you." She said still staring at the ring.

"Well, you aren't. Will you marry me? You dont have to say yes. I'll keep asking until you eventually concede and say yes." He said calmly.

"Yes." She said and held out his hand.

"Hot damn, that was easier than I thought it was going to be. I am having a very good day." He said with pride as he stood up.

"You went to see my gran without me just because she was happy to see you because she thought you were Fintan."

"Yeah, you weren't supposed to know. I wasn't earning points with you. I just wanted to make her happy." He said,

"I know, thats why I said yes."

"Lets go tell the kids," Eric said with wild eyed excitement.

"Yeah, getting married and a baby."

They walked downstairs and found Jessica and Jake playing in the playhouse together. Jake was feeding sandy plastic food.

"We have some news." Eric said getting the kids attention. "I'm going to Marry Sookie and she is going to have a baby. You'll get another brother or sister." He smiled.

"Yay! You finally sucked Daddys dick!" Jessica screamed and ran over to hug Sookie.

Eric just sighed and shook his head. Sookie laughed and started explaining AGAIN that is not how people get married. He took in how much his life changed, and how much better it is now. He beamed when Jessica asked if she could start calling Sookie Mommy and told Jake to call her that now too. He's still a bit young to understand and hes honestly only known Sookie as a mother figure. Everything was right and perfect. Sookie was his great love.