Not The Next Ex

by cembria

Sookie and Pam are best friends and Pam has to go home to Minnesota. She decides to bring Sookie with her so she can get a fresh start. Pam soon realizes her Brother Eric and Sookie have chemistry, and does everything she can to keep them apart so Sookie doesn't become Erics next Ex girlfriend. AH/AU oneshot

"What are you thinking about?" Pam asked her roommate Sookie who looked like she was being asked to control the nuclear codes from the stressed look on her face.

"Just how much I'll miss you. I'm so happy your brother has this opportunity for you, but at the same time I'll miss you. You got me through the worst three years of my life between Bill getting one of his students pregnant, Gran dying, and Jason going to jail. I couldn't have done it without you." Sookie said sincerely, giving her best friend a soft smile.

"I almost don't want to go just to stay here with you." Pam said and plopped down on the couch next to Sookie and pulled her into a hug.

"You can't, you have to go. You and your brother have had these plans since before we met. You agreed as soon as he had the money, he would call you back and you guys would open your bar together. That was your dream even before we met. Minnesota is where your whole family lives. You can hardly tolerate summers here because of your 1000 year old viking blood. It's time for you to go home. You stayed 3 years past graduation as it is." Sookie reminded her.

"I don't know why my parents had Eric and I go to different colleges." Pam complained.

"Your Mom said it's because of your weird codependency." Sookie snickered.

"I don't think twins can really be codependent. It's a different kind of situation. If you meet Eric some day, you'll understand. He's really responsible, and put together. I'm just….." Pam trailed off.

"Creative, but has a hard time executing?" Sookie supplied.

"You get it, it's why I have needed you as much as you needed me." Pam said and then was hit with a sudden stroke of genius. "Come with me." Pam said, turning and grabbing Sookie shoulders.

"What?" Sookie asked.

"Come with me, move to Minnesota. What do you have holding you here?" Pam asked.

"My Grans house." Sookie said waving her arm around indicating the old farmhouse they were currently sitting in.

"Rent it out, close it up. You don't have to get rid of it. Gran, rest her soul, is gone. Jason isn't getting out for 25 years minimum, and frankly…. Sookie he killed a man. Bill is married to a 16 year old because I guess thats how this town handles….. that. Come with me, start fresh. You can work at the bar!" Pam said excitedly.

"Yeah…. Selahs parents signing off on him marrying her instead of having him arrested is just, so not right." Sookie sighed and really thought for a second before she said. "You know what, yeah! I need a fresh start. Tara and J.B. are having twins, they need the space. I can have them live here and maintain the property and just pay enough rent to pay the taxes. Everyone wins there." Sookie said finally getting a smile on her face.

"Oh my God… we're doing this!"Pam screamed.

"We really are! Oh my God!" Sookie squealed, and they shot up and jumped around excitedly.

"Okay, well I still have to fly out tomorrow. How long do you need to tie up loose ends?" Pam asked after they calmed down.

"Probably two weeks." Sookie said after thinking it over.

"Then I will pick you up at the airport in two weeks and we are going to start our new adventure together." Pam grinned and made wide, almost crazy eyes.

"I can't believe I'm doing this. I never imagined leaving bon temps." Sookie whispered now nervous.

"I think you'll see its just what the doctor ordered." Pam said, rubbing her shoulders standing in front of her.

Two weeks later Sookies plane landed and she took out her phone to text Pam.

S: I just landed. We're taxing to the gate.

P: I'm almost there…. Stan is with me.

S: Stan, as in your brothers best friend who you have had the hots for since you were 14!?

P: yes, oh my God act cool when we get there! I was hanging out at Eric's waiting to come get you and when I got up to leave he was like 'I'll drive you.' AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

S: well, that makes you guys basically married now, are you pregnant? Lol

P: be serious Sookie! It an hour drive to the airport and he just out of the blue offered. What does it mean?

S: I don't know! I'll see you in a few and I'll feel it out. We can discuss it tonight.

The plane taxied and Sookie walked to baggage claim. She immediately spotted Pam, she was 6' and stood over most of the people around them.

"Pam!" Sookie screamed and ran to her, jumping into Pams arms who swung her around.

"How was your flight?" Pam asked after she set Sookie down.

"It's a flight. Why are you wearing heels? I'm having to talk to your belly button." Sookie complained after lightly kicking Pam's pump like she was checking tires.

"Because they make me look good, how about you learn to grow tinkerbell." Pam teased.

"Ah hem…." Stan said clearing his throat behind Pam. Sookie looked over at him and her eyes went up and up and up… he was taller than Pam even in her heels and had tanned skin, dark hair and eyes. Tall dark and handsome he was just Pam's type. Sookie just realized all the guys she had dated over the years had been Stan stand in's and she resolved to be the best wing woman she could be.

"Oh, where are my manners. Sookie, this is Stan, Eric's best friend and roommate ." Pam introduced him to Sookie, and he shook Sookies hand.

"Is that all I am to you, Darling? Just Eric's friend?" He said to Pam and winked. Sookie gave pam a hell yeah look and went to pull her bags off the carousel.

They got everything, which was only 4 bags because Sookie decided if she was starting over, she was really starting over. She didn't need much because she was living in the apartment in the basement of Pam's parents house where she had moved back to. There were two boxes of heirlooms and keepsakes that Sookie had shipped out already that Pam had already gotten. Other than that, this was it. Everything else was either donated, or put up in the attic of the farm house that Tara and J.B. were moving into probably as they spoke.

They walked out to Stan's truck and put everything in the bed and Sookie insisted on riding in the back seat because her legs were the shortest and Pam needed the space. They had been on the road and pam was telling her about the apartment and what they were doing with the remodel of the bar when Stan said.

"Don't take anything Eric says too personal right now. His panties are in a twist because he's jealous." Stan said with a laugh.

"Jealous of what?" Sookie asked confused.

"Jealous of you, he wasn't excited I brought you with me, or brought you into the bar. You're an accountant and you have already done books and taxes for bars before. You are literally what we need. He just wanted it to be a Pam and Eric thing. He'll get over it." Pam said dismissively.

"Pam, I don't want to cause tension. I can get a job somewhere else." Sookie said uncomfortable.

"I think he'll be fine after he sees you." Stan snickered and Pam shot him a look.

"What does that mean?" Sookie asked, looking between them.

"Ummmm…" Pam stuttered and looked nervous.

"Looks wise, you're Eric's type." Stan said laughing again.

"Oh, well… I wouldn't mess around with Pam's brother. If it went tits up It could cost me my relationship with her and frankly, I'm not risking that." Sookie said, making Pam look at her relieved.

"Well, thats just going to spur him on. No one really says 'no' to Eric." Stand said with a smile.

"Theres a first time for everything." Sookie shrugged and Stan looked over at Pam and made some face Sookie couldn't see, but it made Pam laugh.

They chatted for the rest of the drive. Sookie was sure Stan was into Pam by the time they pulled up to Pam's parents house. They went in the side entrance that went to the stairs that went into the basement apartment without having to go through the main house. It was a nice little place. Two bedrooms with a shared bathroom between them, a living room space, a kitchen just off the entry that was small, but usable with a rolling island, and a small dining area off to the far wall. Everything was pink, yellow and floral so you could really tell Pam had decorated.

"Come see your room." Pam said, dragging the suitcase she had with her. Sookie dragged hers and Stan was behind them with the last two. They walked to the room that was next to the stairway that leads up into the main house and walked in the room.

"Oh my God, Pam!" Sookie exclaimed. The walls were hunter green and all of the furniture was a dark wood. There was a framed map of Louisiana on the wall, along with several of the framed pictures that Sookie had shipped. The bedding was green and gold. There was even a beautiful flower arrangement on the dresser that was in a burnt orange vase that had a fleur de lis on it.

"Do you like it?" Pam asked. She knew Sookies decorative tastes differed from her, and she wanted her room to scream SOOKIE.

"I love it, it's prefect. Thank you so much for doing this for me." Sookie said and hugged Pam.

"I'll let you two settle in, I'm going to go upstairs and see what your Mom is making." Stan said and laid the bags he was carrying on the bed.

"We'll be up soon." Pam said smiling at him, and he winked making her giggle. Neither of them moved or spoke until they heard the door to the main house open, then shut again.

"Oh my…. Pam he is digging on you!" Sookie said excitedly.

"Like, I don't even know how to act! He's acting so different around me." Pam squealed.

"He probably missed you. You haven't lived here for 7 years. You said he went to school in state?" Sookie asked as she opened the suit cases and started putting things away.

"Yeah, he stayed in state, I went to LSU, and Eric went to UCLA. I only occasionally saw Stan when I came home for holidays, but he was at the airport with Eric when he came to pick me up. Now I have seen him almost every day since I got back. His construction company is doing the remodel on the bar. He just sticks around and chats with me after he and Eric do the like business stuff. We were talking about sushi day before yesterday, then he insisted we go out and get some. So we went out for Sushi." Pam said also pulling things out and starting to hang them in the closet.

"Who paid? Did you split the check?" Sookie asked with great interest.

"He paid! I tried to pay, but he took my purse and held it until we were out of the restaurant." Pam said, almost whispering like she was telling the juiciest gossip known to man.

"Oh…. He's into you. He's way way into you. Will your brother care that you're scamming on his best friend?" Sookie asked.

"I don't really give a shit." Pam said with a shrug. "You can't date Eric though. Not because I like…. You know… care like THAT. You can't date him because he burns through a girlfriend every 6 month to a year. He's not like a whore, or a cheater…. He just, like….. ummmm…." Pam struggled to be both honest, but nice to her brother because he isn't that bad of a guy.

"He does't commit." Sookie said.

"I mean, he commits, but then he breaks up with them. He is NEVER single for long. I think he just likes having a girlfriend in general. He just broke up with his last girlfriend Sophie last month. I'm sure he will be introducing a new girlfriend any day now. He has had 10 girlfriends in the last 7 years that have heard of. I just don't want you to be on the receiving end of an Eric Northman breakup talk. I'm sure once he settles down about thinking I'm going to give you all of my attention and never want to hang out with him you guys will get along well. You actually have similar really organized styles." Pam finished and Sookie stood next to her moving the clothes pam put in the closet haphazardly into order by type, cut and then color.

"Maybe he just doesn't see the point in staying in the relationship if he knows it's never going to go anywhere?" Sookie said diplomatically.

"Maybe he only likes the honeymoon phase and once thats over he breaks up and starts over." Pam said back and Sookie nodded.

"Either way, it's not a me problem. I'm not going to date your brother, especially not your twin brother. You wouldn't date my brother." Sookie snickered.

"So we're at the point we're joking about your murderer brother?" Pam looked at her with mirth in her eyes.

"Pam, he killed a man, it was on tape. If I don't laugh ,I'll cry. I warned him 1000 times his temper was going to ruin his life." Sookie said shaking her head.

"Seriously, and over Maudette Pickens too. Hardly a specimen worth fighting over, let alone killing for and losing your freedom over." Pam said shaking her head.

"Right? Like they guy flirted with her, and she flirted back. Let them have each other." Sookie said sliding the empty suit cases under the bed.

"I'll never get over that. What a waste." Pams said shaking her head.

"At least Gran was already gone and didn't have to witness it." Sookie said.

"God rest her soul." They said in unison.

"Sookie, we're going to have to buy you a winter wardrobe. You have 16 bikinis, but only one jacket which is thin, and two hoodies." Pam said taking stock of Sookies room.

"I feel like winter is going to be a shock to my system." Sookie said.

"Someone will have to teach you to drive in snow and ice. It's different." Pam said.

"I thought we agreed to go halvesies on a car and share it for the next year?" Sookie asked.

"Yeah, but you may need to drive it in the winter, you'll need to know how." Pam said as they walked out of Sookies room.

"Yeah, I guess…. We should go upstairs. I need to meet your parents. Is Eric coming tonight?" Sookie asked following Pam up into the main house.

"Who knows, he's in such a freaking mood." Pam rolled her eyes.

"Sookie! It's so nice to meet you!" Pams mother Aude said cheerfully as they entered the large kitchen that had three casseroles on the counter, one of which Stan had already gotten into and was sitting on a stool at the island eating some.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too. Thank you so much for letting me live with Pam while I find my footing up here." Sookie said, accepting the warm hug from her. She really just looked like and older, slightly shorter version of Pam.

"Oh don't you think of it, dear. You stay here as long as you want. I'd rather have family in that apartment than strangers. You have been like family to Pam all these years." Aude smiled warmly. Before she looked over at Pam. "Is your brother still downstairs?"

"He didn't come with us to get Sookie." Pam said looking at the casseroles and Scooping some out of two of them.

"Ughhhh, that boy. I told him to go with you!" Aude said exasperatedly.

"I went." Stan said with a mouthful of food.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, you little brown nose." Aude said to him with a smile that made him grin.

"Sookie, come here. My Mom made hot dish." Pam said.

"What's hot dish?" Sookie asked.

"It's a Minnesota treasure." Pam said with a smile and made Sookie a plate with a little from each dish.

"No, you will come here right now." Aude said into her phone.

"Uh oh, Eric's in trouble." Stan chuckled looking at Pam who made an oooooooooo noise like she was in the third grade.

"You come here now, or I call your father and have him go get you." Aude said sternly. "Thats what I thought. I will see you in 15 minutes." Aude said and hung up.

"Where is Dad?" Pam asked.

"He's watching the Vikings game at Bud's." Aude said and made herself a plate, while watching the cake she had in the oven.

"Oh yeah, if he had to go collect Eric during football he'd kill him." Pam laughed.

They all ate and cleaned up. They were standing around the kitchen with Aude showing Sookie pictures of Pam, Eric and Stan as kids. Apparently, Stan had been an unofficial Northman most of his life because he was raised by a single father who worked in oil and just wasnt around like he should have been, leaving Stan with the Northman's for months on end while he went and worked in Texas.

"I'm here!" Eric called out when he walked in the front door not sounding enthusiastic.

"We're in the kitchen!" Aude yelled and left to go to the laundry room. Sookie had gone to the bathroom and was just washing her hands when Eric went into the kitchen.

"Alright, where is she. I'll meet her then I have to go I have a thing later." Eric said gruffly, but he made a happy face at the food at the counter and started making himself a plate.

"A thing? You have a thing? God you're lame." Pam said to him.

"Just let me meet Sookie so I can go." Eric sassed.

"Hi!" Sookie said quietly with a wave as she came around the corner from the bathroom.

Eric's eyes went wide as he looked up and took her in. She was very much his type. Short, curvy, with a big rack, blonde, with blue eyes. His mouth fell open and closed a few times as he appreciated the little sundress she was wearing that had little red flowers on it that hit at her knees, but was mostly white that let her tan pop.

"Well, God damn." Eric said changing his whole demeanor, making Pam roll her eyes and flop her head down on the counter as Stan suppressed a laugh. Eric put on the charm and walked up to her after he set his plate down and went to take her hand.

"Hey, I'm Eric." Sookie just smiled, he was taller than even pam who is 6 foot, probably and inch or two taller than Stan. He was wearing fitted jeans and a black t-shirt that hugged his muscles. He had shorter, but still long enough to grab blonde hair and where as he looked related to Pam, he definitely had his own very attractive masculine face.

"I'm Sookie, nice to meet you." He kissed the back of the hand that he had taken and said.

"Well, aren't you sweet." With another panty melting smile.

"Not especially." She said with a shrug and a smile.

"You should eat so you can leave." Pam said, breaking the eye contact between Sookie and Eric. Which Sookie was grateful for, but Eric was not.

"I have time." Eric said, watching Sookie the whole way as she walked back to her seat on the other side of Stan.

"I thought you had a thing?" Stan asked with a shit eating grin.

"I can move it." Eric said with a shrug, and took his plate and moved to stand on the side of the corner Sookie was sitting on since she was at the end of the island and the only open seat was next to pam 3 down from Sookie.

"It sounded so important." Pam said sarcastically, giving him a look and scowling.

"It's not, So Sookie… Pam says you're an accountant." Eric said going into full flirt mode.

"I am, I specialize in bookkeeping." Sookie said, taking another bite of her cream of tater tot whatever. Hot dish was good, but it was new to her.

"Thats good. The bar will need someone to do the accounting. You'll have to come see the progress on the remodel tomorrow. Pam has to meet with the liquor distributer, I can come pick you up." Eric offered, never taking his eyes off her.

"Oh…. Ummm." Sookie sputtered.

"Eric, check your phone." Pam said as she set her's down..

"No, it's rude when you are talking to someone." He said, giving her a look.

"Eric, check your phone." Pam ground out scowling at him. He gave her an odd look and then looked back at Sookie and said.

"One second." And pulled out his phone and looked at his text from Pam.

P: Stop trying to hit on Sookie. She's not available to be your next ex girlfriend.

Eric looked up and narrowed his eyes at her texted back.

E: ummm, she's available if she wants to be. You don't get to tell me who I can or can't date. Maybe she'll be my wife and not a future ex. You don't know, you jealous bitch.

Pam's eyes flamed with anger and she texted back while turning red.

P: knock it off! It's not funny. She's my best friend, and you burn through women faster than Uncle Terry burns through joints.

He was still staring at Pam grinding his teeth and texted back.

E: Stan, case closed.

Pam made a little growling noise and then registered that Stan and Sookie were talking.

"Thats a great idea, we'll do that." Sookie said.

"Do what?" Eric asked, having missed everything too during his silent text argument with Pam.

"I was telling Sookie, she should probably go with Pam to the liquor meeting so she can do the costs and help ask the right questions about numbers, then they can swing by the bar and do a walkthrough with me in the afternoon." Stan said, turning to Pam and winking at her, making her smile and Eric just looked at them like he was the victim of an ultimate betrayal. He had no argument for that, it was a good idea.

"Okay, Brutus. Sounds good." Eric said with an edge.

"Anytime, Caesar." Stan said still looking cool as a cucumber and running his hand softly on Pam's leg under the counter where Eric couldn't see from where he was standing, but Pam was positively giddy and trying not to freakout .

"Pam, it's only 6, do you think we can go to like a store or the mall. Unpacking really shined a light on needing clothes other than shorts and tank tops. It's the end of September and definitely not still summer up here. I think 50 degrees is cold." Sookie asked.

"Yeah, we can go to the mall, but you don't want to just order stuff?" Pam asked.

"You know it's hard to find clothes that fit my body right." Sookie said.

"I bet it is." Eric muttered under his breath and checked her out again, leaning back a smidge to take in her butt.

"What?" Sookie asked looking up at him and he just snapped to her eyes and said.

"Nothing, sorry." He sweetly smiled at her.

"Yeah, let's go. They close at 9, but we'll have at least two hours to get you a coat not made of tissue paper." Pam said, still suspiciously eyeing her brother.

"Sweet, See you later Stan, bye Eric." Sookie said and hopped off the stool to follow Pam back down to their apartment. Eric leaned over the counter and craned his neck to watch her walk away.

"Oh my God, dude she is so hot! Why did I not know she was hot?" Eric asked turning to Stan.

"Probably, because you were too busy complaining that she existed, and being jealous Pam had any friends other than you to bother asking to see a picture." Stan suggested.

"You shut the fuck up. You're the one trying to sleep with my sister. How would you like it if I slept with your sister?" Eric said flopping in Sookies now vacant chair.

"Well, seeing as I only have a half brother. I don't know. I think you sleeping with Andre would raise a few questions though." Stan said with a smirk.

"Ass hole." Eric said and smacked him playfully. "Seriously though, what are you doing with Pam? At first I thought you were messing with me, but I'm getting scared."

"I will be putting the moves on your sister. Thats what I intend on doing." Stan said seriously and Eric gasped.

"You are not…. You are not!"

"I am, and I will. She lives here now so it won't be some long distance nightmare now. I have liked her since we were kids, but now feels like an actual right time to try something, you know… if she wants." Stan said, taking in Eric's sort of horrified appearance.

"Thats going to be so weird, like I knew, but now it's happening. Pam is just so gross." Eric said making a face.

"I'm not suggesting you have sex with her." Stan said with a laugh and Eric gagged and said.

"Never even imply that again. Ughhh, disgusting." Eric said making a gagging sound again.

"You used to share bathwater with her." Stan smirked.

"I was three!" Eric yelled. "Seriously though, be careful with her heart. She's my sister." Eric said getting serious.

"I wouldn't be making a move if I wasn't serious." Stan said plainly.

"Pam says I cant seduce Sookie." Eric said grabbing more of the food.

"Yeah, I can see why. You plow through girlfriends. They chew weird, her hair wasn't as soft as you like, she wore too much makeup, she didn't look nice without makeup, she breathed too loud, they ran late, they were always too early, they drove a ford, she got a small dog, she lost weight and you didn't like her shape anymore, she wore socks to bed, you didn't like her eyelashes….. did I miss any reasons why you have broken up with girls lately?" Stan asked.

"Listen, If Sophie blinked too fast she was going to get lift off with those lashes. When she blinked you could tell she was struggling under the weight of them, her eyelids could bench more than me." Eric said defensively. "They just weren't going to be the one. Maybe there were a few petty reasons to break up, but it's better I let them move on than waste their time knowing I'm not going to stay with them long term, or just using them as a place holder until I find someone better."

"Fair, but maybe spend enough time with Sookie NOT coming onto her and see if you can see something with her first." Stan suggested.

"I'd like to cum on her." Eric snickered and Stan laughed.

"I'm serious!" Stan said still laughing. "Maybe don't immediately kick up with her. Get to know her before you cum on her, so you know if you even want to be with her. As of now, all you know is that you find her attractive."

"I just saw her eat, she chews normal, and she's pretty without makeup, and she didn't breath like she was dying. So that is already working in her favor." Eric said looking pleased as he ate.

"And thats all well and good, but Pam will die if you ruin this friendship for her because Sookie becomes your next ex girlfriend. You always meet a girl you think is hot, start dating them, then 6 months or so later realize you don't really like them and break up. How about this time you just spend the next 6 months to a year actually getting to know Sookie before you make any moves." Stan suggested, as he took his plate to the sink and rinsed it.

"I can do that, but she's so hot! I bet if her hair is up she looks like tinkerbell." Eric said making a wistful face like he was imagining her dressed as a fairy.

"Great, and if you still find her attractive in 6 months you can make your move and ask her to dress up as a fairy for sex. For now, don't fuck this up. Pam is all she really has up here. They were talking about this being a fresh start for her. I didn't hear all the details, but it sounds like she had a pretty rough last 3 years." Stan said.

"Alright, you convinced me. I will just be her friend for a while." Eric finally agreed.

"Perfect, so I want to go snoop through your sisters apartment to figure out the best way to ask her out." Stan said standing up.

"What do you want me to do?" Eric asked following him.

"Be my look out." Stan said, looking around to see if Aude was lurking around. She had slipped away as soon as she saw Eric walk in.

"Fine." Eric sighed and followed him down into Pam and Sookies apartment.

Stan was walking around looking at everything, opening the fridge and cabinets. Eric moved his attention along. The whole place was a pepto palace like all of Pams living spaces have always been. Pink makes him want to puke. He saw Stan walk into a bedroom and Eric assumed that one must be Pam's so he slid in the other knowing it was Sookies.

He looked around and saw it was a deep green, his favorite color. The furniture was dark wood… it was really nice and the total opposite of Pams taste. He looked at the pictures on the wall and smiled. He opened the little jewelry box on her dresser and picked through it. She had modest taste and preferred yellow gold. He closed it and opened her closet and his face lit up when he saw how organized it was. Her drawers were just as organized. Now this he liked about her. Pam was a stuff it in or make a pile person. They briefly shared a room as kids, and her being a wild pig was a huge issue until they got their own rooms again. She had a few perfumes on her vanity. He smelled them all and thought they all smelled good. He took pictures of them all so he could look up what they were. He took one more look around her room and thought this was another mark in the yes column for Sookie.

He walked out of Sookies room before Stan walked out of Pam's so he never knew he was in there.

"Find what you need?" Eric asked.

"I think so." Stan said looking excited.

"Alright, let's go before they catch us and figure out we're creeps." Eric said and they walked back up stairs.

It had been two weeks since Sookie had arrived and things with the bar were going well. Eric was actually impressed with how helpful Sookie had become. She had actually gotten them not just back on budget, but a little under it.

Stan had been pretty relentlessly flirting with Pam in this time period. It was making Sookie absolutely giddy, and Eric frankly a little bit sick. He was still adjusting to the concept of his best friend and his sister being a thing. He wanted Sookie, so he was being an absolute hypocrite, but as Sookie had taught him over the last few weeks, like Scarlett O'Hera, he would just think about that tomorrow. Sookie had made him watch gone with the wind the week before and wow…. Was that a long ass movie.

Today however, the four of them were at the bar after the crew had left. The bar top had been installed, and it was really coming together and starting to look like a bar.

"So you're 100% not doing the theme bar?" Sookie asked Eric as he ran his hands over the bar like he was groping it.

"No, we aren't doing Pam's stupid vampire bar." Eric chuckled.

"But Eric, you could have sat on a throne and brooded over your domain!" Sookie teased, making Eric reach out and tickle her side making her squeal.

"Say that shit again, and I will drain you." He threatened with a smile on his face.

"See, she was right! You'd have made a great vampire. We could have slathered you in glitter!" Sookie laughed.

"I would NEVER be a sparkly vampire. I'm a powerful, sexy, violent vampire, if I have to be a vampire." Eric said flirtatiously.

"I don't know if I'd be a vampire." Sookie said with a nervous laugh.

"Of course you aren't a vampire, you're a fairy." Eric said plainly, with a wink that made Sookies breath catch. She thought Eric was damn sexy, but there was nothing she could do about it. It was Pam's brother and he apparently has broken up with a woman over how she breathes. Hot as he is, she didn't think she could stand worrying bout how she was breathing.

All the sexy Ones are taken or neurotic, Sookie lamented internally as she walked to the hallway that led to where the back room would be. As she turned the corner she saw Stan with Pam pinned against the wall kissing her. Sookie gasped and was so pumped. Eric slammed right into Sookie and made a disapproving noise. Sookie turned and started pushing Eric back into the bar. He was weakly fighting her, and finally picked her up to move her. Sookie latched onto him and they rough housed a little, Eric nearly forgetting he just witness his best friend making out with his sister. He grabbed Sookies arm and held it, but she leaned down and bit his shoulder.

She fucking bit him!

And he liked it.

He turned them around and walked back to the bar. He pulled her off of him and laid her flat on the new bar top, holding both of her wrists in one hand above her head, and placing his hand on her stomach to hold her down firmly. He got an inch from her face and asked.

"Did you just bite me?" In a low whisper that made her shiver.

"Yes." Sookie said in a shocked whisper.

"Don't do that again unless you mean it ,because I like biting." He growled and her next to her ear before he lightly ran his teeth down the shell of her ear. He let her go and turned and stomped out the front door leaving her laying on the bar, eyes wide, practically panting.

Sookie sat up and hopped off the bar still reeling when Pam skipped over to her with a very smug Stan behind her.

"Sookie! Stan got me Taylor Swift tickets and he's taking meeeeeeeeee!" Pam squealed, which thrilled sookie to no end because she really didn't want to go with Pam.

"As a date?" Sookie asked excitedly.

"As a date, but our first date is right now I'm taking Pam to dinner. Where is Eric?" Stan asked, looking around.

"Oh umm, he went out front for something, or whatever." Sookie said, with a blush which made Pam give her a weird look, but Stan just walked out the front door completely unconcerned with Sookies weird behavior.

"Susannah, did something happen I should know about?" Pam asked crossing her arms.

"No, PAMELA. Nothing happened. Eric and I were joking around and I think I went too far. I got myself turned on." Sookie sighed and leaned against the bar.

"Gross! Don't let Eric turn you on. Eric is gross, Eric is Yucky." Pam said concerned.

"It was an accident! He's not gross and yucky, thats the problem! He's so freaking clean and organized. His work bag is organized with color coded tabs! Color coded!" Sookie hissed at her friend who was no making an especially grossed out face.

"His organized paperwork is getting you wet? My God, Sookie… you need help. Organization is not a turn on." Pam said disgusted.

"Maybe not to you, Miss Piggy, but I like it." Sookie sighed.

"We need to find you a man who is not Eric." Pam said with finality.

"We really do. Maybe I'm just hot for him because he's the only guy I really see right now on the regular other than Stan?" Sookie said hopefully.

"You know what, I bet thats it. Horny by proximity. You don't actually like Eric's nit picky ass, he's just the nearest available ass to you." Pam said optimistically.

"Exactly! Thats it! He is just proximity ass, and it's been a while since I have had… umm… attention." Sookie said the last word at a whisper.

"You ready to go, baby?" Stan asked interrupting them, leaning in the front door with a smile. Pam grinned and turned to Sookie.

"I have to go get some… attention." She winked and turned back to Stan. "Yeah, I'm ready." Pam grabbed her purse and walked towards Stan.

"Sook, can you turn everything off and lock up? Eric left after I talked to him. He said something about a bad bug bite or whatever." Stan said with a shrug, and Sookie blushed again. Knowing she was the bad bug who bit him.

"Yup, no problem." She said plastering on a crazy grin.

"I'll see you later, Sookie." Pam said with an excited wave and walked out with Stan.

Sookie blew out a breath and started walking around turning off all the lights. She really needed to pull it together.

On Halloween, after a full week of Eric avoiding ever being alone in a room with Sookie, and her doing as much work as he did to keep from being alone again. Frankly at this point neither trusted themselves alone.

Eric's whole holding her down, dominant, liking biting thing was all new to her, and frankly it really got her going. She was used to having to do most of the work when it came to…. Sex… so this was a whole new experience and she found she really liked it. Unfortunately for her, Eric was now dominating all of her fantasies and dreams. She couldn't even really talk to Pam about it, because that would mean having to admit just how into Eric she really is.

Eric on the other hand also couldn't stop thinking about her. He had been kicking himself for just leaving after throwing her down on the bar, and he was rethinking his just getting to know her plan, because 6 months is a long time, and he wanted her so bad. It had been several weeks and he was still yet to find anything that was a deal breaker about her. Not for a lack of trying either. He had been looking specifically to get annoyed by her or icked out. Unfortunately, the more time he spent with her, and the more he observed her, the more he liked her.

Pam and Sookie were getting ready to go out, Stan and Eric were coming to pick them up. They were going to a warehouse Halloween party.

"Pam, help me with my wings." Sookie said, as she walked into Pams room.

"You look so cute!" Pam beamed as she looked at Sookie. She was dressed as a fairy. She had on a billowy green skirt that had a slit that went all the way up her thigh to the waistband. Her top was basically just a bra with long sleeves. Sookie had flowers and vines tattooed on her side that only looked better with the costume. He hair was down, and she was wearing a flower crown. She also was wearing little pointed ear prosthetics.

"Thanks, you guys keep saying I look like a fairy, so it felt fitting." Sookie said with a smile, as Pam snapped her wings to the back of her top.

"Can I smear some glitter on you? I want to put glitter on you." Pam said reaching to her vanity and holding up a bottle.

"Yeah, it's Halloween, glitter me." Sookie said cheerfully and pam made several strategic swipes with the glitter gel on her body and cheeks.

"I am so pumped about tonight!" Pam squealed as she started to put on her costume.

"I know, it's going to be fun to just let loose. Are you like… a wood nymph?" Sookie asked, watching Pam get dressed.

"No, I'm a happy tree. Stan is being Bob Ross. HE suggested a couples costume." Pam said excitedly.

"He is so into you! I love this for you!" Sookie yelled and clapped.

"I have had a crush on him since I was 14… I'm in love. I love him so much. I don't even care we have only been official for a week. I fucking love him." Pam said seriously.

"When you know you know." Sookie said with a smile.

"The sex is amazing. I have never made love before, and let me tell you it is freaking electric." Pam said kneeling down so Sookie could help her pin her headpiece on.

"I bet it is, I've never really like made love… but I imagine the emotions make it so good." Sookie said happy for her friend.

"Don't tell him I'm in love, it's too soon to actually say it to him. I don't want to drive him off with my crazy." Pam said.

"Oh for sure, you have to let the crazy out in small spurts, not all at once so he doesn't notice just how crazy you are until he's so entrenched he's stuck with you." Sookie said with a chuckle.

"See, you get it." Pam said, pointing at Sookie in the mirror. The doorbell rang and Sookie went to go let the boys in and Stan laughed and shook his head when he saw Sookie, but bit his tongue, and walked in with Eric behind him who looked at Sookie and she thought he groaned a little. She couldn't tell what Eric was. He was just in black jeans, a black tank top, a leather jacket and boots.

"What are you?" Sookie asked Eric after Stan walked into Pam's room. Eric smiled and showed a rather professional looking set of fangs.

"I'm a Vampire." He said, and Sookie giggled.

"Finally, you get to enthrall the vermin." She said and Eric just stared at her. Of all the costumes she could have worn, she HAD to be his number 1 sex fantasy.

"I didn't know you had tattoos." Eric said running his hand over her side.

"Oh yeah…." She stuttered a little at the intimacy of his touch. "I have the flowers and vines on my side, then I have the butterfly that takes up most of my back that sort of looks like I have wings, and I have a bouquet of daisy's on my thigh." Sookie said, turning around and showing him her back, and lifting her skirt to show him her thigh.

As if he couldn't find her hotter, he now knew she had the sexiest tattoos he had ever seen on a woman. They were all very large on her body, but also seemed to be cohesive and classy. Now he really just wanted to see her naked and trace the lines of her tattoos he just found out were hiding under all of her clothes.

"You have Norse runes on your arms." Sookie stated feeling dumb after saying it,

"Yeah." He chuckled. "I have a viking ship on my side, and more runes on my back. I also have a broad sword on my calf." He said shrugging his jacket off and taking his shirt off to Show Sookie like it wasn't a thing. Sookie gasped and her mouth fell open. He looked good with a shirt on, but he looked amazing with it off. She had to put all her effort into not telling him to take off the pants next. Eric smirked and did an internal happy dance that she liked what she saw.

"Eww, Eric. Put your shirt on." Pam said as she walked out of her room with Stan.

"I was just showing Sookie my tattoos." Eric said defensively, grabbing his shirt and coat and putting it back on.

"You two would bond over your cohesive, massive tattoos." Pam rolled her eyes.

"We cant all have 14 tiny, chaotic, mismatched tattoos." Eric snarked.

"Pam has my name on her." Sookie snickered.

"What?" Eric said amused.

"Yeah, when I was having my last session getting my back done I was teasing her about her lack of tattoo flow since I like mine to look like they all go together in the same style, like they just grew on me naturally…." Eric cut her off and smiled at her.

"Thats how I like my tattoos too." He said and she blushed.

"Yeah, anyway. She has my name tattooed….." Stan cut her off.

"Its on her chest between her boobs." He laughed.

"Oh God, pam! What put it there?" Eric asked with horrified laughter.

"I don't know. Thats where the mood struck. NO REGURTS!" Pam declared.

"I guess it's not like you guys can break up." Stan laughed.

"Jessica tried to get Eric to tattoo her name on him." Stan said.

"Jessica Hamby?" Pam asked.

"Yup, she has Eric Northman tattooed on her left ring finger lengthwise. It's still there, I see her every now and again." Stan said laughing.

"Who is Jessica Hammy?" Sookie asked.

"Eric's first serious girlfriend after he came back from college. They also dated through high school." Pam said, and shook her head "everyone was sure they were going to get married."

Eric just looked nervous when She looked over at him.

"So she was like, your serious serious girlfriend." Sookie stated.

"Umm, yeah. We dated all 4 years of high school. Broke up when we went to college and got back together for a little over a year after college." He said sheepishly.

"Why are you acting squirrely?" Sookie asked.

Eric mumbled something sookie couldn't understand.

"What?" She asked getting closer.

"He said he broke up with her on her Birthday when he saw the tattoo on her finger after buying a ring and planning to propose that night." Stan said loudly making Eric glare at him.

"Oh my God…. Did she know you had planned to propose?" Sookie asked wide eyes.

"We had picked the ring together and I had hinted that it was coming. She wanted the proposal really bad and was putting a lot of pressure on me to do it. I was comfortable with her because we had history and I was in a weird place when I came back, and found out Pam wasn't. I sort of clung to her because I was in a weird transition phase of life. School was over and it was time to get a job and start being an adult. Pam changed the plan and I needed comfort and she was there. When I saw my name on her finger that night at dinner it hit me like a ton of bricks that I didn't want to be married to her, I was just scared of my next phase of life. I sat at the table looking at her and I wasn't seeing our life like wedding, house, kids and happiness. I saw us fighting, getting divorced because she constantly pressured and shoved me along in ways I wasn't ready for or didn't want. Us fighting over custody of our kids we had as bandaids for our flawed from the start relationship, and having to be a weekend and 2 weeks in the summer Dad. It made me physically sick, so I broke up with her right then and there. It uhhhh, it wasn't pretty after that. She was really hurt, and me starting to date again pretty soon after pissed her off too." Eric admitted.

"Wow, well… hurt or not you made the right choice. My Gran married my Papa after the guy she really wanted had to marry someone different, more on his level in society. Then she cheated on him with the guy she really wanted and both my Daddy and aunt weren't his. They found out he was sterile and always had been later in life and it really blew things up. They never divorced, but it was tense until the day Papa died. Then my parents only got married because they got pregnant with Jason. I was a bandaid baby. They died in a single car accident on the way home from marriage counseling. The police think they were fighting and thats what caused the accident. They were still bickering as they were dying when the firefighters were trying to cut them out of the car. Marriage is forever, don't marry people you don't see yourself with forever." Sookie said supportively.

"Wow…. That is a lot of information." Eric said blinking.

"Yup, and my last boyfriend was a teacher at the high school and got a 16 year old pregnant while we were together. Then he MARRIED HER with her parents permission." Sookie said nodding her head.

"Holy shit! And you still believe in love?" Eric asked.

"I think my time will come. I have hope." Sookie said and shrugged.

"Listen, I love this little spill fest as much as the next person, but we need to get to the party. I need to be seen." Pam said putting her hands on her hips.

"Yup, okay." Eric said shaking thoughts that maybe HE could be Sookies love, and led the way out to his car. Pam and Sookie sitting in the back. Stan and Eric up front.

They pulled up the the warehouse where the party was and got out and stood in the line outside. It wasn't too long or unreasonable, but Sookie had not planned her outfit for the cold. Eric noticed and unsnapped her wings and put his jacket onto her, that was massive on her. He laughed at her suffering in what he didn't ever really consider cold yet and hugged her to him while they waited and laughed.

"How are you still warm?" Sookie asked with her cheek laid on the warm skin of his chest.

"I run hot." He shrugged.

"I'm gonna die this winter." Sookie said sounding scared.

"You won't die. You just need to layer." Pam said as she was cuddled into Stans side. Pam thought they looked like two sets of happy couples, and quickly chastised herself for even the fleeting thought her brother and best friend could ever be a couple. She could see the nightmare ending with that, the same way Eric saw the nightmare ending with Jessica coming. Some things were just a no.

They got through the line and got inside. Sookie gave Eric his jacket back and he snapped her wings back on. They all went to the bar and got drinks, Eric was driving so this was his only drink of the night. They clanked glasses and Eric smiled at Sookie who did a shot with Pam.

Unfortunately for him, the night went downhill from there.

Pam met some guy named Quinn and pushed him at Sookie so she spent her night dancing with him. For some reason it pissed Eric off and he tried chatting with other girls, but none of them were sookie.

Finally, the party was shutting down at 3am and they all left. Pam was being carried by Stan because she couldn't wear her shoes any longer. Much to Eric's surprise, Sookie threaded her arm with his and leaned into him as they walked to the car.

Pam passed out as soon as Stan put her in the back seat and they hadn't been driving 10 minutes before Stan was out too. Eric looked in the rear view mirror and said to Sookie.

"So you looked like you enjoyed that Quinn guy, when are you seeing him next?"

"Never." She snorted. "He was nice, and I liked the attention. He kept calling me Babe though. I gave him a fake number." She said meeting his eyes for a moment in the mirror.

"So you don't like being called 'babe'.?" Eric asked with a smile.

"Nope, it's an ick for me. It's my version of fake eyelashes." She said and Eric laughed.

"Good to know."

"Did you meet anyone?" She asked Eric trying to seem casual.

"I mean, I met people, but I didn't get any numbers. No one worth extra effort later." He said.

"Mmmm, mmmm hmmmm. Well, it was still fun." She said.

"Yeah, and you look amazing too." Eric said

"Thank you." Sookie said with a blush.

Eric got Sookie and Pam home, he carried Pam in because Stan was out out.

"Thanks for helping get her in, Eric." Sookie said.

"No problem." He said with a smile as they stood by the door.

"Can you take my wings off and unclasp my top? Pam is dead to the world and I cant do it myself. I'd rather not sleep in this." She asked nervously.

"Yeah sure." He said reaching behind her and removing the wings and tossing them to the side. He reached up and undid the clasp on her top and she used her arms to keep it held up in the front. Eric ran his hand down her spine gently, along the body of the butterfly on her back making her get goosebumps. He licked his lips, but pulled back and softly said.

"Goodnight, Sookie."

"Night, Eric." She said back still holding her top to her and staring into his eyes. He scanned her body with one more longing look and left with a small wave. She shut the door and let out a huge breath, and went to bed.

"Oh my God, Eric… they delayed our next permit because we haven't had the city inspection yet!" Pam yelled as she was reading her email.

"How how! Why? The inspector isn't scheduled until January and we open in February! We cant delay construction by two and half months." Eric yelled pissed off.

"We can't make the inspector move any faster, and I can't work without the permit. I'll lose my contractors license." Stan said.

"Well, let's go down to the city offices and see if we can talk to someone." Sookie said.

"I have to stay here, Eric… we have the meeting with he sound system people." Pam said.

"A sound system we cant install without permits." Eric sighed and rubbed his face.

"Eric, you take Sookie. I'll stay here with Pam and do the sound system meeting." Stan suggested.

"Yes, let's go. It's only 10 and time is of the essence." Sookie said waving Eric along as she grabbed her coat and walked out the door to go wait by his car. He sauntered out behind her. She thought he looked particularly delicious that day in the red v-neck he was wearing with a black shirt under it. Somehow, he made layering look damn fine.

When they arrived at the city offices Eric said.

"I'll go in first, see what I can learn. I don't want to go in together incase we need a second chance."

"Perfect." Sookie said giving him a thumbs up. She waited about 30 minutes until he came back and he got back in the car in a huff.

"The ass hole wouldn't even talk to me. He was too busy eye fucking the ditsy brunette behind me." Eric growled.

"Give me your sweater." Sookie said reaching over and trying to peel the red sweater off of him.

"What? Why?" He smirked.

"Because I have big tit's Eric. My outfit is a literal turtle neck though. Give me your sweater." She demanded, and he pulled it off. Lifting his back shirt a little in the process letting Sookie oogle the goods a little bit. He handed it over to her and she took off her shirt leaving her in just he bra and leggings which he stared at shamelessly. She slipped on his sweater and reached in and took off her bra.

"Wow." Eric said completely out of his control. Her body was a wow from him.

"Yeah yeah, big boobs. I know." Sookie chuckled.

"Here." He said trying hand her her jacket.

"Nope, I need to get cold on the way in there. Give me the papers." Eric handed her the manila file and she got out and he watched her the whole way as she went into the building. She wasn't gone 15 minutes before she came literally bouncing out with the sweaty balding man who ignored him. She knocked on his window and Eric rolled it down.

"Eric, This is Mr. Bobby Burnham… I get to call him Bobby." She giggled and jiggled in the inspectors direction. Her southern accent was the thickest he had ever heard it. "Bobby here is gonna follow us and do the inspection right now, a'int that sweet of him?" She said.

"Yup, super sweet." Eric said bewildered and frankly a little jealous of the show she was putting on for Bobby the pervert. She turned and leaned on his car arching her back out and said.

"Just follow us, Bobby." In a sultry tone. Bobby just nodded and walked to his little silver sedan. Sookie sauntered to the passenger side and got in letting out a sigh.

"And that Eric, is how you get a pervert to work for you." With a satisfied tone.

"Sookie, put your jacket on, your high beams are on and I cant look away." Eric said pushing her coat at her.

"Oh, sorry." She blushed and put her jacket back on. They drove back to the bar in silence, that was filled with sexual tension. When They arrived Sookie bounced out and cheerfully said.

"Right this way Bobby." And tugged him in.

"Well, I'll just get right to it, Baby Doll." Bobby said with a wink and dragged his hand down her arm.

"Sookie…. Did you boobie trap the inspector?" Pam asked in a whisper.

"We need the inspection and I got us the inspection. Desperate times call for desperate measures." Sookie hissed back.

"You have to be dying with her looking like that in your sweater." Stan whispered in Erics ear with mirth.

"She ruined that sweater. I'll never be able to look at it again without getting hard." Eric whispered back, and Stan laughed.

An hour later Bobby came back and handed them the paperwork to submit to the permit office to show they passed the inspection. He started leering at Sookie, but she grabbed Erics waist and rubbed herself on him. He played along and put his arm around her too.

"Thank you so much, Bobby. My fiancé and I really appreciate it. We have so much money in this bar I haven't even gotten a proper ring yet. We really need it to open on time." She said in her exaggerated souther drawl.

"We're back on track now, Lover." Eric said leaning down a nuzzling her.

"Well, if thats all." Bobby said with disappointment.

"I think it is for now, thank you." Sookie said and held Erics head down to her and kept nuzzling. Bobby walked past them to the door and Erics lips touched hers. He pulled back quickly before he threw her on the damn bar and fucked her in front of his sister, Stan and his construction crew.

"Well… ummm…. I need to get my clothes out of your car." Sookie said. Eric silently handed her his keys and just walked to the furthest point in the bar from her.

"I have to find Sookie a guy to date, other than Eric." Pam said to Stan.

"Why not just let nature take it course with them? They obviously have chemistry." Stan said.

"Eric has chemistry with everyone. He also breaks up with them when he loses interest. Sookie wants to be in love. It would never work, then everything would be weird for all of us." Pam said running through all the guys she knows in town in her head.

"It's not weird watching them fight miles thick sexual tension and eye fuck each other constantly?" Stan laughed.

"You know Eric will be over it soon, and Sookie is just attracted to him because he's the only single guy her age she really hangs out with now. It's a passion of opportunity, not that she's actually into him. Do you know any hot single guys?" Pam asked Stan.

"Ummmm….. yeah, but I don't know that I want to help hook the girl my best friend has a thing for up with a guy that isn't him." Stan said uncomfortably to Pam, who just looked at him weird.

"Oh! That burly electrician, whats his name?" Pam asked.

"Alcide?" Stan said warily.

"Yes, Alcide. He's perfect. I'll invite him to thanksgiving. Boom, you don't have to do anything." Pam said satisfied, walking off to find the phone number for Alcide from the contractors list of who worked on the bar. Stan just sort of stood there horrified wondering if he should give Eric a heads up, or if that would piss off Pam. He felt caught between his best friend and his girlfriend and honestly it was making his stomach hurt.

On thanksgiving Pam was trying to talk Sookie into dressing up more.

"Pam, it's an eating holiday. I'm planning on eating." Sookie said with frustration.

"Just let her wear her stretchy pants!" Eric yelled at Pam and snapped Sookies waistband, with a smirk making her playfully swat his hand. Stan knew a storm was coming and was sitting on the love seat in Pam and Sookies apartment feeling guilty and sick to his stomach. Watching Eric flirt with Sookie was making it worse for him.

"Sookie, there will be several guests, don't you won't to look hot?" Pam asked.

"I mean, how hot do I really need to look for your parents friends?" Sookie asked.

"I think you look great." Eric complimented smiling at her from the couch, which made the knot in Stans stomach get tighter.

"See, Eric says I look great." Sookie said defensively.

"Eric is also wearing sweatpants." Pam scoffed.

"Because it's an eating holiday, and I'm going to eat the shit out of it." Eric defended.

"See, you get it. Eating holiday."Sookie agreed.

"Lets at least put a dress on you. You can still have stomach space, but look presentable." Pam tried to negotiate.

"What if I decide to get drunk then I fall over? Everyone will see my ass." Sookie argued.

"I changed my mind, go put on the dress and let me make you a drink." Eric said with a smirk, making her playfully swat him again.

"Please, Sookie." Pam whined.

"Fiiiiiiiiiiiine." Sookie said finally relenting and walking to her room with Pam. Eric smiled and twisted in his seat to watch her walk away. He kept his goofy smile on until he looked over at Stan who looked sick.

"Hey man, you alright?" Eric asked with concern.

"No… yes…no…. I don't know." Stan huffed out and rubbed his face.

"Are you sick?" Eric asked sitting up straighter.

"No… I… I feel guilty." Stan said.

"Did you cheat on my sister?" Eric growled menacingly.

"What? No! I love her…. No umm…"

"You're in love with my sister?" Eric asked shocked, but not exactly mad. He almost felt relieved it was more than just dating for Stan.

"Yeah, but thats not the point… ahhhhhh" Stan groaned.

"Just spit it out, whats wrong?" Eric asked.

"Pam invited the Electrician from the bar, Alcide to thanksgiving to hook him up with Sookie so she would redirect her interest away from you." Stan said fast almost like one run on sentence.

"What?" Eric said in horror, he wasn't blind he had seen Alcide. He was a decent looking guy and seemed nice enough. He was also from Louisiana, so he would have that connection to Sookie.

"Yeah, I'm caught in the middle between my girlfriend and best friend. I didn't know what to do!" Stan whisper yelled.

"You tell me BRUTUS! You tell me when there is a guy coming to move in on my woman. Shit! Stupid fucking Pam. What a cunt." Eric hissed.

"Don't talk about Pam that way." Stan said sternly and Eric made a face. " I don't like being stuck between you two. I can't betray either of you. Its been making me sick! My stomach is all messed up." Stan said defending himself.

"Okay okay okay..." Eric said calming down. "You are on Pam's side first. I get that, and you love her. Don't fuck it up with her over me. That said, I would have loved more of a heads up. I could have done something, now I just have to hope she doesn't pick him. Shit." Eric stood up and yelled when he heard the doorbell ring and his mom yell down that Pam's guest was there.

Sookie came out in a green wrap dress that made her body look amazing and it really stressed Eric out. Now he and Stan could have a stomach ache together. They all walked up stairs. Eric and Pam's Dad was in his den watching Football. Sookie felt like she had only ever seen the back of his head facing the tv. Aude was flitting around the kitchen with some the other guests that were there. Pam walked up to Alcide and walked him over to Sookie.

"Alcide, you've met Sookie before. She made pecan pie for dessert so there would be a little taste of the south on the table." Pam said pulling Sookie over with her.

"Oh I'll be looking forward to that." Alcide said to Sookie, reaching out and gently shaking her hand. "It's great to see you again."

"It is! We southerners have to stick together." Sookie laughed and Eric ground his teeth.

"We really do, I had to learn to cook just to get a proper meal up here." Alcide joked, Eric went to the bar and poured himself a scotch.

"I'll have to cook for you sometime! I make the best Étouffée." Sookie bragged.

"Where in Louisiana are you from again?" Alcide asked as they moved to the couch to sit down and talk. Pam looked very proud of herself, Eric threw back his first drink and poured another, Stan looked positively green like he was about to vomit.

"I'm from Bon Temps." She said happily.

"I'm from Shreveport! What a small world." Alcide said, Eric mocked under his breath. 'What a small world' in a condescending tone.

"What brought you all the way up here?" Sookie asked, and Alcides face fell a little.

"I moved here with my ex girlfriend. I had started my company and was making good money, so when we broke up I just stayed. What about you?" Alcide said.

"I needed a fresh start after my Gran died, a bad break up, and my brother went to jail for murder." She said honestly.

"Wow, you really did need a fresh start." Alcide chuckled.

For the rest of the Day Sookie and Alcide were getting along like two peas in a pod. Pam was floating on air, Stan threw up twice, and Eric got really drunk and passed out in the den with his Dad before the meal was served. Stan watched as Sookie and Alcide exchanged numbers and set up to go on a proper date the next day. He walked into the den where Eric had finally woken up but was still pretty drunk.

"What happened?" Eric slurred to Stan.

"They hung out all day, exchanged numbers, and are going on a date tomorrow." Stan said quickly just ripping off the bandaid.

"Ughhhhhhhh…. FUCK! Right through my fingers." Eric groaned drunkenly.

"Maybe she'll spend time with him and hate him." Stan suggested.

"Maybe they will get married and their little southern babies will mock me forever." Eric groaned and buried his face in a pillow.

"I'm really sorry, I regret not telling you." Stan said honestly.

"No, you did the right thing. This is Pam's fault. You couldn't sabotage her plans behind her back. She needs to trust you completely. I know I rank below her now. I'm not mad at you." Eric said sadly into the pillow below him.

"I'm still sorry. I know what Sookie means to you. She's the first girl you have bothered to take it slow with and you seem to be more into her with each passing day. If it makes a difference, I'm rooting for him to fuck it up." Stan said.

"As long as you hate him too, we're good. I'm going to be bitching about him A LOT." Eric warned him.

"Alcide is such a dick, I hate that guy. Fuck him." Stan said with gusto.

"There you go, thats the spirit." Eric said still face down in the pillow, but he held up a thumbs up.

Sookie and Alcide became inseparable pretty fast. By the second week of their relationship pam was starting to feel a little bit bad about what she had done to Eric. He was clearly hurting from losing access to Sookie. He was also pretty clearly overtly pissed off at her. If it wasn't directly work related he wasn't speaking to her at all. He also wasn't hanging around much if at all. He was just doing his work and just going straight back to his and Stans apartment. He didn't want to see Sookie with Alcide and he was so angry at Pam he could hardly look at her.

By Christmas, things weren't much better, and Pam and Stan had had their first fight which was over the whole Eric and Sookie thing, because Stan was on Eric's side. By the end of it Pam admitted she should have stayed out of it and Stan let her into their apartment to apologize to Eric. He didn't really forgive her, but at least the open hostilities ended and Eric and Pam could be in a room together without her trying to kill her with dirty looks, and they could have a semi civil conversation. Thing were still tense, but at least Eric knew he could forgive her some day since she at least realized she was wrong to meddle.

On Christmas Eve everyone was at Pam and Eric parents. Eric arrived last and late, wanting to spend as little time there as possible, but he had gifts to give.

He walked in and Everyone was sitting around. Sookie jumped up and ran to him to hug him, which cut through him like a knife.

"I was worried you weren't coming! Are you okay? You've been so distant lately." Sookie said with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We're just…. You know that bar and everything." He said with a fake smile. She looked at him as if she was studying his face, but finally let him go.

"Where is Alcide?" Eric asked as he sat down. He had dropped off his gifts earlier and Sookies gift was hidden in his Dads den.

"He went home for the holiday." Sookie said.

"He gave her cajun seasoning for Christmas." Stan snickered, and Sookie shot him a look.

"I like to cook. It was a nice gift." She scolded. Pam just rolled her eyes and said.

"Yes, nothing more thoughtful than giving you a seasoning you already have in your kitchen." Pam was no longer as keen on Alcide. Something about him had rubbed her the wrong way one night when She and Stan were out with them on a double date. He was late to meet them, and his excuse just felt flimsy, and now she kept getting the feeling he was lying every so often. She wasn't suddenly team Eric, but she wasn't team Alcide anymore, but she didn't know how to tell Sookie she thinks Alcide is blowing smoke up her ass all the time. Pam doesn't even think he really went to Louisiana for Christmas, but she couldn't prove that he didn't.

"Pam…." Sookie scolded.

"It's a nice gift, he knows what you like to use." Eric said with a sigh. Sookie gave him a smile and said.

"See, as always, Eric gets it."

"So…." Eric said taking in a deep breath. "I'm super tired lets do gifts." Pam just looked at her brother with a sad look and agreed.

Stan got Pam a literal tiara, She was ecstatic. She got him a cowboy hat and boots, which was something he had secretly wanted since he was a kid, but had never gotten for himself. He put it all right on and started saying howdy to everyone and faking a Texas accent. Eric got Pam shoes that she had wanted and a sweater. Eric and Stan got each other new phones, which was basically just buying themselves a new phone. Pam got Sookie Snow boots and electric hand warmers for her pockets. Sookie Got Stan a giant jar of beef jerky, which he was crazy excited about. Sookie got Eric some V-neck sweaters, in case of an emergency and he smiled and thanked her. The last gift was to Sookie from Eric. There was a large box for her to unwrap, but he made her close her eyes to get the first part.

He went to his fathers den and carried her gift out and set it in her lap and she popped her eyes open and excitedly squealed.

"You got me a kitty!" She said and started kissing it.

"You were so sad, and missing your cat Tina that you had to leave with your house in Louisiana because she wouldn't travel well at her age, so I got you him so you could get those sweet cat lovins again." Eric said and she started crying.

"Oh Eric…. Thank you so much. I love him."

"Please stop crying." Eric begged.

"I'm just so happy! Whats his name?" She sniffled.

"Look at the tag." Eric smiled.

"Two-na….. like Tina number two, but also tuna….. I love it it's so cute!" Sookie cried hugging her kitten and Eric came and put his arm around her and she leaned into him.

"The box has everything He needs. I was told not to get you and orange cat, because they are crazy… so he's an orange cat." Eric said happily, smiling for the first time in a month.

"Naturally." Sookie said with a giggle.

"Come with me and get his new home set up!" Sookie said grabbing Erics hand and pointing to the box full of Two-na stuff for Eric to carry. He happily carried it and helped her get her new kitten situated. He ended up hanging out with her until almost 5am, playing with the new kitten with her. The little break from the sad reality that his whole relationship with Sookie had fallen apart for a night was the best Christmas gift he could have ever gotten.

"Where is Sookie?" Stan asked, Eric was brooding on the couch. Debating if he was even going with them tonight, New Years or not he wasn't interested in watching Sookie and Alcide hang all over one another.

"She's sick, Alcide came to pick her up after not answering her calls or texts, saw she was sick, declared he can't get sick right now and left. She insisted I go out, I tried to stay." Pam said.

"She's sick? How sick? What kind of sick?" Eric asked standing quickly.

"She started coughing on Wednesday when we left the bar, now she has no voice and is full on bark coughing, but it's also somehow wet." Pam said.

"Why don't you guys go ahead and I'll check on Sookie. I'll bring her some soup and gatorade or something. Just to be sure sure." Eric said, already grabbing his jacket, wallet and keys.

"If you want to." Pam said with a shrug. "Text me if I need to come home." Pam said and Eric just waved to her as he ran out the door.

He stopped at the store first to get a thermometer, cold and flu medicine, chicken soup, sports drinks, ginger ale, Kleenex, and a cute little cat stuffed toy thing that had huge blue adorable eyes, which reminded him of Sookies big blue eyes.

He got to his parents and went in the side door to the apartment and let himself in with his key. He immediately heard Sookie and her dinosaur call like cough, which concerned him. He walked to her bedroom door which was cracked open and softly knocked to announce himself.

"Knock knock, bring out your dead." He said playfully.

"I'm not quite dead yet." She rasped back, enjoying his monty python joke.

He stepped in and Sookie looked rough. Her hair was a ratted mess on top of her head, her nose was red and swollen, her eyes also bloodshot and a little swollen. She coughed again and Eric set the bags down and walked right to her.

"Are you okay?" He asked concerned. If this had been any past girlfriend he wouldn't be risking the germs, but for Sookie he wanted to care for her.

"Im fine, I just have a cold." She said and started coughing again. Eric got out the thermometer he bought after touching her clammy forehead and feeling how warm she was. He put batteries in it and fiddled with it for a second before looking at the instructions and finally held it to her temple and took her temperature. 103.1…. That seemed really high and not right. He took his own temperature… 98.8… hmmmm, he took hers again on the other side 103.2 now she was hotter on that side. She had one hell of a fever.

"You have a really high fever Sookie, I don't think you're fine. Have you taken medicine?" He asked and she held up a bottle of elderberry syrup, and he frowned. "Sookie, this isn't medicine. It's basically a pancake topping." She tried to argue, but started coughing hard again, and wheezing struggling to breathe. Eric sat her up and held her up and to him.

"Shit, Sookie… I think you might need to go to the emergency room. You're gasping to breathe." He said concerned.

"I'm okay." She said tiredly and leaned against his chest. But quickly started coughing again.

"No you aren't, let's go. I'm taking you to the ER, you are not okay." He said and got up. Sookie tried to stand up but got light headed and started to fall back, until Eric caught her and gently laid her back.

"You are not fine!" He complained Gruffly and went and got her some fluffy pajama pants and helped her put them on. He pulled off her nightgown, completely ignoring that she was now topless in front of him and pulled a fleece sweater on over her. He put some fluffy socks on her feet and put her slippers on. He sat her up and put her jacket on her and put his own coat and shoes back on and carried her out to his car, turning on the seat warmers and heat before he went back to put Two-na in the bathroom so he wouldn't ransack the apartment while unsupervised. His food and litter was in there anyway, and to lock up her door.

"You're okay." He said almost to himself when he got back in the car and saw her laying with her eyes closed coughing harshly. He drove them to the nearest Emergency room. He got out and helped her out of the car, holding her up, shut and locked the door putting his keys in his pocket and picked her up again and carried her in. He got her checked in and held her to him while they waited to be called back. After about an hour they called her to do her triage and found out her oxygen was a little low and took her right back.

"Ma'am, do you want your boyfriend to come back with you?" The nurse asked as they fit an oxygen mask over her face.

"Yeah." She mumbled under the mask, and the nurse motioned for Eric to follow her. They started running tests and got her on an IV. Sookie was sleeping and Eric was lightly rubbing her back when the doctor came back in.

"Miss. Stackhouse, I'm Dr. Brignant. It looks like you have pneumonia, I think it started as bronchitis and escalated from there. We're starting you on antibiotics and some steroids. A nurse will be in here soon to give you a breathing treatment. I am going to admit you because your oxygen levels are still dipping. I think you will make a full recovery though."

Sookie just nodded and asked a few questions. She was texting Alcide, but he wasn't answering… Shocker. Eric was still quietly rubbing her back after her breathing treatment she felt a little better and said.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

"Sookie, you don't have to thank me." He said, honestly still trying not to seethe from seeing her unanswered texts going to Alcide reading over her shoulder. He had texted Pam and Stan who responded in less than a minute and were already on their way.

"You're good to me." She said sleepily.

"Because you deserve it. Pam and Stan are on their way. I asked Pam to stop for your charger. I forgot it." Eric said changing the subject.

"Thank you." She said as she drifted off again with Eric rubbing her back.

"Eric, thank God you took her to the hospital. I didn't think she was really this sick." Pam said when she walked into the room that Sookie had been transferred to.

"I wouldn't have known she was this sick either if I didn't take her temperature." He said hugging his sister and looking over to make sure Sookie was still sleeping before he whispered to Pam. "Does Alcide ignore her texts and calls all the time?" He asked trying to figure out if this was just a one off.

"Yeah, and I feel like I catch him lying all the time, but I can't prove it. Like he shows up late, or doesn't answer her. I don't really believe he went to Louisiana for Christmas. I cant even say why I think he's lying either, he has perfectly plausible excuses…. It just…." She trailed off.

"It just hit's your ears wrong, no I get it." He finished for her and looked over at Sookie.

"Visiting hours are over for the evening, only one of you can stay the night with her." A nurse politely said when she came in to put a medication in Sookies IV.

"Of course." Pam said smiling at the nurse. "I'll stay with her, you guys go home. I'll text you if anything changes." Eric couldn't think of a good reason why he should be the one to stay, but he didn't want to leave either.

"Yeah umm, Eric how about I leave my keys with Pam and you drive me home so she has a way to get Sookie home when she gets out." Stan suggested and gave him a sympathetic smile. Eric just nodded and ran his hand over her hair one more time looking down at her before he turned and hesitantly followed Stan out.

"I think Alcide is cheating on her." Stan said once they were in the elevators.

"God I hope not, that will break her heart." Eric said, he wanted them to break up. He didn't want her crushed.

Sookie was in the hospital for two days and then spent another solid week in bed recovering. Eric came to see her every day and joked she could pay him back later by playing doctor with him, which made her giggle and blush, which he hadn't made her do in a while so he appreciated it. Alcide didn't swing by until the tail end of her sick week after only sparsely answering her texts. Sookie had told Pam she didn't want to start a fight about it because they hadn't been together that long yet, and maybe Alcide wasn't the sick nurse type. Pam tried to be supportive and polite, but she was in np way buying it, and was entirely unimpressed with Alcide, and his cagey behavior.

It was finally the grand opening of the bar. They had a few days of soft opening while they worked out the kinks. Eric and Pam had both trained Sookie and Stan to tend the bar, because they had hired enough waitresses, but they only had one bartender who was working out. They had hired another guy named Longshadow, but he ended up getting popped for a warrant on his way to work the second night of the soft opening. Pam and Eric had never been more glad they had trained Sookie and Stan to tend bar in the weeks before as a back up backup plan, because now they only had 1 of the 4 bartenders they needed on opening night. They were sort of shocked at how hard it was to find decent bar tenders.

Sookie was behind the bar serving Eric's parents drinks. His Mom ordered a Cosmo and His father was just having the cheapest beer on tap, his words. He was watching a hockey game on his phone. Sookie still didn't think she had ever seen him when he wasn't watching sports. Eric slid up to her and asked.

"Is Alcide coming? It's getting crowded, we're going to have to stop entry soon, we're at capacity."

"I don't know if he's coming. He said he had to work, then he stopped answering my texts. I don't have time to beg him to come to the opening night of our bar." Sookie said, hotly while she poured some shots and made a jack and coke.

"Why do you put up with that?" Eric asked, slipping behind the bar next to her and making some of the drinks for the waitress tickets.

"We have only been dating since thanksgiving, it not even quite valentines day. It's just not that serious yet I guess." She said getting irritated. A couple of guys came and ordered blow job shots from her thinking they were hilarious, Eric scooted her over and made their shots, much to their disappointment, before he spoke again.

"This isn't some random thing. This is a business you started with us that you put your blood sweat and tears into for months. Hell, he did the electric for the place so he knows what a big deal it is. he's your boyfriend, you shouldn't have to beg him for scraps of attention. He didn't even bother with you while you were in the hospital." Eric said angrily, but slapped a smile on to take an order from a tall brunette who asked him if he was single, to which he said no and just made her drink like it didn't even phase him.

"Why do you even care, Eric?" Sookie asked throwing her hands up and turning to him, with her hands on her hip.

"Because you deserve better than some ass hole who we are all sure is cheating on you." He practically yelled at her. Pam was walking by with a tray to pick up a ticket and her mouth fell open, Stan stopped mid ice scoop and stared.

"Go to the other end of the bar, Eric." Sookie said with fire in her eyes.

"Fine." Eric said, and threw his hands up and went to the far end of the bar and had Clancy switch spots with him.

For the rest of the night Sookie and Eric ignored each other. He tried to apologize after they closed, but she avoided him during all the closing tasks, then ran out before he could get her alone. He sighed and sat on a stool looking at the door she just ran out of and looked around the bar. They had a really good first night. Hopefully they could maintain the hype.

"You didn't do anything wrong. She just didn't like hearing the truth." Pam said.

"Whatever, Pam. Even if they break up you'll throw a hissy fit and make Sookie choose if I tell her how I feel." Eric said looking at her coldly. They had taken to just not discussing the sookie elephant in their relationship.

"Eric, you just want what you cant have. You'll get board and move on once the trill of the chase wears off." Pam said and rolled her eyes.

"I know we shared a womb, but you were away for 7 years. You don't know me anymore and you definitely don't get to tell me how I feel about or would treat Sookie. All you have done is paint me as some philandering ass hole because I get into established monogamous relationships, then choose to not waste women's time if I know the relationship isn't going somewhere. You don't want me to be with Sookie, fine. You win! I'm a man whore who's not good enough for your friend. I'm fucking trash, fuck me. HAPPY!" Eric yelled at her really just having enough of her.

"Why do you have to pick my best friend? couldnt you pick any other woman on the planet that wouldn't risk my only female friendship?" Pam yelled back.

"Oh yes, I'm sorry. The world revolves around you. Don't worry, Sookie is all yours. I've pissed her off anyway. Happy opening night everyone! Lock up." Eric spat and stormed out of the bar, leaving pam bursting into tears. Stan came and wrapped her in a hug and said.

"I'm Switzerland in this, but I will hug you."

"I'm sorry you're stuck in the middle." Pam said softly crying into his chest.

"It'll all pass. I still love you." He said pulling her back to look at him.

"I love you too." She said with a smile. At least there was this milestone to take the stink out of her fight with Eric and Sookies fight with Eric.

"Oh no…. Are you the only one not fighting with Eric?" Pam asked him.

"As of right now, seems like it." Stan nodded.

"You should go home and be on his side for the night." Pam said stepping back.

"I'm Switzerland, Baby." He reminded her.

"Yeah, well… I'm ummmm Norway and I say go be on Eric's side. He's in a fight with everyone and needs you. As pissed as I am, I still love him." Pam said and Stan smiled.

"This is why I love you. I'll text you when I wake up." Stan said and kissed her one more time before he went home to go shit talk people with Eric so he could have support too.

"Ughh, Thank God it's Monday." Pam said as she came out of her room. The bar had been open for 3 weeks and this was the first Monday it was closed where none of them had to go in for anything. It was a genuine day off.

"What are we doing today?" Sookie asked, plating Pam up some of the biscuits and gravy she had made.

"Oh God, nothing I hope. Stan is coming over to rot in bed with me soon." Pam said.

"I have to go to the pet store for things for Two-na. He needs food, and litter." Sookie said.

"And 500 new toys and a cat tree for that exposed corner over there." Pam said pointing and snickering.

"He's a good boy and deserves nice things!" Sookie said sounding mock offended.

Stan and Eric walked in just then. Sookie and Eric had made up, Sookie was admittedly getting tired of Alcides behavior too, she was just taking it out on the messenger. Pam and Eric… they were still on the outs, Sookie didn't actually know the reason why they weren't talking, but they definitely weren't talking. Stan just kept saying he was Switzerland and Sookie tried to ignore their weird twin sibling feud. It didn't affect their work at the bar, so she let it go as much as she could.

"What are you doing here, Eric?" Pam asked, crossing her arms.

"I need my laptop." He said. Pam just nodded and went to her room to get it.

"What are you doing today, Eric?" Sookie asked.

"I need to go to target. Im out of soap." He said with a smile.

"I have to go to the pet store. Do you want to go together?" She asked.

"Sounds good to me, Stan and Pam are apparently bed rotting for the day." Eric said with a smile.

"I don't mind sleeping in, but a whole day in bed just isn't me." Sookie said.

"I agree, unless the whole day is spent having passionate, primal sex in bed… even then I'm sure I would want to at least mix up locations." Eric said with a smirk and Sookie blushed.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeric…" Sookie said with a giggle that made him smile. Pam came out and handed him his laptop bag.

"Thank you." Eric said to her.

"You're welcome, bye now." Pam said crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.

"I'm ready to go, I just need my purse." Sookie said to Eric who nodded and headed up the stairs. Sookie slipped on her boot, and jacket and followed him up the stairs and out to his car.

"Are you and Pam ever going to make up?" Sookie asked das Eric opened her door for her.

"Maybe, maybe not. Who knows." He said with a shrug, before going to the drivers side. "Target or the pert store first?" Eric asked.

"Target, I want to peruse." She said happily.

"Me too." Eric said and thought for a moment before saying. "Let's go to the one across town, the pet store is right next door."

"Good idea, that and it's not our normal Target so it will feel special."

"It is our first real day off in 3 weeks, this does call for a foreign Target." He snickered.

They pulled into target and walked in. Sookie got a cart and they both took off their coats and tossed them in the basket so they could shop more comfortably. They were walking past the baby section when Sookies Eyes went wide and she tapped Eric and pointed.

There was Alcide holding a baby with his arm around a slender brunette who was just a few inches taller than Sookie.

"That son of a bitch." Eric growled.

"Maybe it's his sister?" Sookie said hopefully, but then Alcide leaned over and kissed the woman.

"God I hope not." Eric muttered and Sookie moved the cart over, stood up straight and walked right up to them with her head held high.

"Alcide." She said and when he saw her his eyes went wide and his face paled.

"Oh hi….." He said shakily.

"Hello, I'm Debbie. Who are you?" The woman asked looking between Alcide and Sookie.

"I'm Sookie, I have been Alcides girlfriend since Thanksgiving." She said and Debbie gasped.

"Deb, she's crazy." Alcide tried to say.

"Was he with you on thanksgiving?" Debbie asked.

"He was, he left at around 7." Sookie said.

"I was in labor on thanksgiving. Our Son was born at 10pm that night. He told me he was on an emergency work call." Debbie ground out.

"What time was your valentines date? Mine was at 11am." Sookie said.

"7pm… he said he had to work all day. I am his wife by the way." Debbie said angrily her eyes never leaving Sookies.

"Here is my phone take a peek." Sookie said unlocking her phone and handing it to her. Debbie scrolled through it and started crying, but not sobbing sad tears, furious angry tears.

"Again, Alcide! Again!" Debbie screeched. "WHILE I WAS IN LABOR!" She shoved Sookies phone back at her. Sookie didn't take it too personally.

"Deb, I can explain!" Alcide almost whined.

"Alcide, I know it's obvious but we are through. I can't believe you made me be the other woman. Debbie, I am so sorry. I had no idea. He said you two had broken up. He never said you were married or had a baby." Sookie apologized sincerely.

"No, I know you didn't. I'm so stupid. Umm we're going to go." Debbie said and snatched her son back from Alcide.

Sookie and Eric walked away and could hear Debbie and Alcide screaming at each other for a while even from the other side of the store.

"Oh my God, Eric… I'm a home wrecker!" Sookie said and started crying.

"No you aren't, you had no idea and you didn't try to carry on after you found out. He was cheating on you too. He's the bad guy here, not you." Eric assured her.

"I slept with another man's wife. I can never undo that! I will always be his mistress no matter what I knew." She said distressed.

"You didn't know, he lied to you and carried on the lie for months. It's not on you, you aren't wearing a scarlet letter for this." Eric said pulling her to him.

"You pointed out you thought he was cheating and I was so mean to you." She cried.

"Yeah, well we are already over that so it doesn't matter now." He said rubbing up and down her back.

"I should have listened to you." She said pulling back and wiping her face.

"Yes, you should have. I am a very wise man." He said with a cocky smirk that made her giggle.

"What do I do now?" Sookie said.

"First, we finish our shopping here, then we go the the pet store, then we're going to go to the movies and out to eat and not think about Alcide ever again because you don't need that shit. C'mon, We're going to go make the rest of our day a good day and Alcide is just going to be a blip. It's our first day off in weeks, he doesn't get to ruin it." Eric said taking her hand and holding it while he pushed the cart with the other.

"Okay, yeah…. Fuck him." Sookie said with finality. "He was a shitty boyfriend anyway."

"He was spread pretty thin." Eric snickered and Sookie swatted him, but laughed also.

They spent the rest of the day having the best time together they could. When Eric dropped her off at home he walked her to the door and they both just sort of stood there. Sookie couldn't help but feel like it was the end of their first date.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Sookie said and leaned over and hugged him. Eric let out a breath as the tension broke and said.

"Okay, see you later." He leaned and kissed her cheek before running back to his car. She placed her hand on her cheek where he had kissed and smiled.

A few months later, spring had sprung. The bar was busier than ever, and they had finally hired enough good people for it to run smoothly and they didn't all have to be there all the time, all at once. Something they were all relieved about. Eric and Pam had come to a stalemate agreement and we no longer overtly fighting and were talking to one another again.

One Sunday night Sookie and Eric were closing the bar and Eric noticed her lingering in the office.

"Are you leaving soon?" He asked, he looked at the clock and it was after three. All the other staff had already left.

"I might sleep here." She said sheepishly.

"Eww, why?" He said flopping next to her on the leather couch in the office.

"Stan has sort of… soft moved into our apartment. They are, umm… horny sleepers. I'm exhausted, I'd probably sleep better here." Sookie admitted.

"Yeah, Stan hasn't been home in like two weeks…." Eric said trying to think of the last time he saw Stan at their apartment. "Just come home with me and you can get some rest." He offered.

"Stan is a pig like Pam, I don't want to sleep in his room and I saw him fucking Pam on your couch once, you don't even sit on that." Sookie said.

"I need to put that couch on the curb." Eric said with a shudder. "You can sleep in my non pig sty bed. It is also un sexed, I haven't had a girlfriend since I got my new bed."

"That won't be weird?" Sookie asked, a little nervous, because her crush on Eric was really back with maximum force.

"Of course not, I trust you not to take advantage of me…. If you can resist." Eric said and he seductively ran his hands down the front of his black button down shirt and flung his head back like he was flipping his hair making Sookie laugh.

"Okay, fine." She said and he held out his hands to her and she took them and let him pull her up off the couch.

Sookie followed Eric back to his apartment complex and parked in Stans spot. It's not like he was planning on using it. They walked up to the apartment and Eric unlocked the door and they walked in.

"Oh, I'll need to borrow something to sleep in." Sookie said.

"No problem." Eric said as she followed him to his room.

"So what are you and Pam doing for your 26th birthday?" Sookie asked when he opened a drawer and pulled out the infamous red v-neck sweater making Sookie laugh, but she took it, and walked into his bathroom to change.

"I'm not sure, dinner with our parents, then probably work at the bar." Eric called to her into the bathroom. He stripped down to his boxers and tossed his clothes into the hamper. Sookie walked out of the bathroom in nothing but the red sweater, making Erics eyes bug out a little. If it was possible, she looked even better in it this time. Sookie wasn't mad at her view either.

"I can handle the bar on your birthday if you guys want to go out." Sookie said sliding into bed next to Eric who had flipped the lights off and walked back to bed.

"I'd rather spend my birthday at the bar with you. I want to spend it with you." He said honestly, and sookie took a deep breath and decided it was now or never.

"Eric?"

"Yes, Sookie?"

"Are you interested in me or are you just a flirt?" She asked, knowing if he's just a flirt she just dropped a nuke on their whole relationship, but she couldn't take it anymore. The flirting, the innuendo, the small touches and hugs… she wanted him, and hoped he wanted her too.

"Sookie…" Eric said rolling to look at her. He took in her face softly illuminated by the street lights outside the window. He saw Sookie cast her eyes down when he was hesitating and he decided to just go for it. He ran his hand gently on her face and just dipped to kiss her.

The kiss was soft and hesitant at first, but quickly because hungry. Eric ran his hand under the sweater Sookie was wearing and growled when he felt that she had no underwear on.

"You aren't wearing panties."

"I was being optimistic." She said flirtatiously, and kissed him again, climbing on him, straddling him. Erics hands were all over her, as she ground against him.

"Sookie, I want you." He hissed out as he lifted his sweater off of her.

"Well…." She said and leaned down and kissed his neck, then moved to his shoulder and bit him. His whole face lit up and he said.

"I told you not to do that unless you were ready for the consequences, because I like biting." He purred.

"Well, I want the consequences." She said, then yelped when he lipped them over so he was over her.

"This isn't a one time thing, Sookie if we do this we need to be in. Watching you with Alcide killed me." Eric said truthfully.

"No, we're in it Eric. I wanted you for months. I tried to use Alcide to get my mind off of you because Pam was freaking out." Sookie said. And Eric kissed her again.

"Oh, we can't tell Pam. Our whole fight has been about her not wanting me to be with you." Eric admitted.

"Oh sorry." She said with a yikes face.

"Don't be sorry, she'll eventually get over it. We just have to be covert lovers until she does." Eric said.

"Secret sex spy's." Sookie giggled.

"You get it." Eric said and kissed her again as she reached and slipped his boxers off. This was finally happening and they were both completely ready.

Sookie and Eric had been sneaking around for 4 months, flying under the radar. Pam and Stan had no idea. They didn't even notice Sookie was hardly home, or that she slept over with Eric three or four times a week. They covered it up by saying Sookie met a guy at the bar and was casually dating him. No one really questioned it after Sookie said she didn't want to introduce him to the group after the Alcide stuff. Stan just gave Eric a sympathetic look every time Pam would mention her casual sex friend.

Sookie and Eric were anything but casual. Eric had in fact gotten her a Cartier love bracelet for her birthday. He of course didn't give it to her in front of Pam, but Sookie was speechless and had a hard time accepting it, but in the end she accepted it and loved his token of love to her.

"Pam, I need to stop at my place." Stan said as they were driving home from running errands one Monday when the bar was closed.

"What do you need?" Pam asked.

"I want my brown belt to go with me kakis." Stan said. He pulled into the parking lot, but saw Sookies car in his spot and had to park in a guest spot.

"Why is Sookies car in your spot?" Pam asked and Stan shrugged as they walked up to the apartment. Stan unlocked the door, and both he and Pam were sort of stunned by the trail of clothes leading to Erics bedroom.

"Those are Sookies shoes." Pam said as realization crossed her face.

"That's Sookies dress….." She whispered. Two-na walked across the apartment and she gasped.

"Thats' Sookies cat!" She stomped across the apartment and Stan tried to stop her yelling

"Hey hey hey, Pam wait."

She threw the door to Erics room open and saw Eric laying draped over Sookie, his smile faded and Sookies whole face dropped.

"Pam why are you here?" Eric asked as he scrambled off of Sookie. They weren't actively having sex, but they just had.

"Eric…. Anyone but her." Pam said seething, then pointed at Sookie. "You promised! You are supposed to be my best friend!" She yelled.

"You're fucking my best friend." Eric said pulling his boxers on and tossing Sookie a shirt and pushing Pam out of the room. He passed Stan who just smiled and gave Eric two thumbs up.

"Thats different Eric! Stan doesn't blow through women and waited to make a move until we could actually be together and not long distance." Pam cried.

"You're ruining everything." Pam sobbed.

"Pam, Sookie and I have been together for months and you had no idea. The only person ruining anything is you." Eric said sternly to her, as Sookie came out of the room in Erics shirt.

"You lied to me for months… you made up a fake boyfriend." Pam said looking at Sookie in shock.

"Because we knew you would react like this. We were waiting to tell you until you chilled on the idea." Sookie defended.

"Well, in a few months when you stop being a shiny new toy and he moves on don't come crying to me…. You ….. you liar!" Pam yelled crying and stormed out. Sookie was quietly crying and Stan just followed Pam, but stopped and said.

"Hey, I'm Switzerland, but I'm glad the seal on this finally broke. Good for you."

"Thanks man." Eric said sort of dazed. And Sookie just sort of waved as he grabbed his belt before he scurried out behind Pam.

"Eric, is pam not friends with me anymore?" Sookie asked.

"No, she's just not talking to us. Give it time. She'll figure out she's a massive hypocrite. She can sleep with my best friend, but I can't sleep with hers? It's such a double standard! I haven't dated or slept with anyone except you since I met you. I got to know you for months before I made my move. You are perfect in my eyes. That or we will be together so long she just starts looking stupid. Either way, this will blow over." Eric tried to assure her.

"It feels like a breakup but worse." Sookie cried and Eric walked over and held her to him.

"I'm sorry, Lover. She's just an idiot." Eric said and held her while she cried. Eric was just getting more and more pissed at his sister the harder Sookie cried.

Over the next six weeks Eric and Sookie worked or Pam was working with Clancy. They didn't interact unless they absolutely had to for the sake of the bar. Stan was Switzerland, and hung out with everyone. Sookie was staying with Eric and Stan was staying with Pam. It was tense, especially when Eric went public dating Sookie with his parents, and Pam had to basically explain herself to their parents… who also didn't see it her way.

Pam had figured out around when her father actually peeled himself away from the baseball game he was watching and dressed her down about being a hypocrite about Eric and Sookie being together she knew she was wrong. She was just embarrassed at this point by her behavior. She didn't even know how to start fixing what she had broken.

Right now she needed Sookie though. She was having an emergency and she needed her best friend. She knew Eric was at the bar with a vendor and Sookie would be at home. She drove to her brothers apartment and was relieved to see Sookies car. She walked up and knocked on the door. Sookie answered with a shocked look on her face.

"Hey." Sookie said.

"Hey, can I come in?" Pam asked.

"Eric isn't here." Sookie said, but moved out of the way so Pam could walk in.

"I know, I came when I knew he wouldn't be." Pam said and looked at the apartment. A lot of the furniture had changed.

"Sooooo….." Sookie asked.

"I'm a hypocrite. I treated you like shit and I'm sorry." Pam said flopping on the couch.

"And Eric?" Sookie asked.

"He will get his own apology later, I needed to apologize to you first." Pam said and Sookie nodded.

"You broke my heart." Sookie said, crossing her arms and sitting down next to Pam.

"I'm so sorry. I had no right, especially when I am with Stan. It's literally the exact same thing. I'm probably worse since Stans has been Eric's best friend for 20 years. All Eric did was be happy for us. A little grossed out, but happy. I tried to ruin his happiness. It was freaking hellacious how I acted." Pam said taking full accountability.

"I'm still peeved, but I forgive you." Sookie said and uncrossed her arms leaning in and hugged Pam who started crying.

"Sookie…." Pam cried.

"It's okay Pam, I'll cool down I forgive you." Sookie said with concern.

"No, Sookie…. I think I'm pregnant. I'm freaking out." Pam said clutching her shoulders.

"Have you taken a test?" Sookie asked, but also did some mental math to her last period… no no she was good.

"No, not yet… I'm too scared. We haven't even talked about kids yet. We have only discussed marriage in abstract." Pam said.

"Really? Haven't you guys been together a little over a year now?" Sookie asked.

"Its not that long. Do you and Eric talk about kids and marriage?" Pam asked exasperated.

"Yeah, we want three kids and to be married in the next two or three years. I have a love bracelet from Eric to symbolize his intentions." Sookie said holding up her arm to show Pam her bracelet.

"Oh my God…. He's really going to marry you isn't he?" Pam said shocked.

"Probably, pam. We love each other." Sookie said plainly.

"Wow… I really shit the bed on that whole situation. I really couldn't have been more wrong if I dedicated my whole life to my wrongness." Pam said shaking her head, but sookie just shrugged.

"Let me get my shoes, we'll go get a test and find out for sure." Sookie said and went and got her shoes on and she and Pam walked out to Sookies car and headed to the store that was across the street.

"Which test is the best?" Pam asked as they looked at the shelf of pregnancy tests.

"I have no idea, this is my first pregnancy scare." Sookie said.

"Lets get a bunch." Pam said and started chucking tests into the basket sookie was holding.

"We need something that will make you pee, cranberry juice." Sookie said. Pam nodded, they got three bottles and went to check out. $200 later they were back at Sookies and pam was peeing in a paper cup so she could just dip all the tests, and she had 11. They got 12, but one was for Sookie to take in solidarity. When pam was done and doing the dip and cap, sookie peed on hers.

"I think I'll just hold mine so they don't get mixed up." Sookie said protectively holding her test. You could see pluses, and lines already showing up on numerous tests. Pam started breathing heavy.

"They are coming out positive really fast…. Should it be that fast?" Pam screamed full on freaking out.

"I don't know!" Sookie said the only ones not positive were the digital tests that would take the full three minutes.

"Oh my God! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Pam screamed at the first digital test stoped blinking and said pregnant on it.

"Sookie, are you okay?" Eric asked as he ran in thinking Sookie was the one screaming. Sookie quickly looked at the test clutched in her hand 'not pregnant' she sighed relieved and Erics eyes were wide as saucers looking at all the positive tests.

"No no… Eric this one is mine." Sookie said handing him her negative test. He let out a relieved breath.

"Oh my God… like it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but thats a relief." Eric said. And Sookie nodded.

"Okay, great! You guys aren't pregnant but I am! Can we fucking focus!?" Pam screamed at them.

"Does Stan know?" Eric asked.

"Does it look like he knows, Eric?" Pam snapped.

"Should, I call him?" Eric offered.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Pam cried, and ran out of the bathroom and flopped on Eric and Sookies bed.

"Eric, did you change the sheets after we fucked this morning?" Sookie whispered, and Eric shook his head and cringed, but she sort of deserved to be face down in sex sheets.

"I'm going to call Stan." Eric said and walked out of the room.

"Pam, it's okay. Stan isn't some random guy, it's Stan. You're going to be a mommy." Sookie said with a smile. Sookie rubbed pam's back and talked her down to settle her while they waited for Stan. He finally walked in and knelt next to Pam on the bed and asked.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"I'm pregnant." Pam whispered to him and his eyes went wide and he looked to Sookie and Eric. He took a moment and sat back on his heels and just sort of stared off into space. Then he stood up and walked out of the room silently. Pam started crying again and Eric chased after him calling his name. Stan came right back with a grinning Eric. He had a ring box in his hand and said.

"I bought this the week after you told me to go be a friend to Eric on Norways orders." He opened the box to show a princess cut 2 carat solitaire set in platinum. Eric and Sookie looked at each other confused, but decided they probably know what it means. "I love you, I want to marry you and we can handle a baby. Will you marry me?" Stan asked.

"Yes." Pam said smiling through her tears and holding her shaking hand out for him to put the ring on.

"I love you, Pam. We're going to be okay." Stan assured her and pulled her up to hug her. He pulled the sheets and noticed stains on the sheet and pointed behind Pams back looking grossed out and Eric just shook with laughter and shrugged. Sookie turned red. Stan just pulled Pam off their bed and kicked the sheets back over so she wouldn't see and walked out of their room with her.

"Just so Switzerland is up to speed, is anyone fighting anymore?" Stan asked everyone.

"Nope, we have all made up." Pam said and everyone nodded.

"Thank God." Stan sighed

10 years later

"How can it be twins again!" Pam said at dinner with Sookie, Eric and Stan.

"This is why Mom stopped with us. Twins run on her side." Eric said.

"Why didn't you two have any twins then?" Pam asked.

"Because Sookie is only dropping 1 egg, we're fraternal, your first two sets are fraternal. its the double egg drops. Thats on you as a woman." Eric said smugly.

"I'm going to have six kids, Eric SIX." Pam said and Eric looked over at Stan who just shrugged. I mean at this point what really could they do.

"At least have one more, you always said you wanted three." Pam said like she was trying to entice them with candy.

"My last pregnancy was really hard, and that would be a 7 or 8 year age gap between Trey and a new baby and a 5 or 6 year gap between Amelia and a baby. Those are big gaps." Sookie said.

"Yeah, but those are extra helping hands this time around." Stan said not averse to selling Sookie and Eric on another kid to try to at least settle the score a little bit.

"You're not getting any younger Sookie, you're 36. If you want that third baby it's now or never." Pam said and Sookie looked thoughtful.

"I wouldn't hate having one more baby." Eric finally conceded.

"I mean…. Who doesn't love a baby." Sookie finally smiled. "Then you and Stan can get matching vasectomies!" Sookie said with a laugh making Stan cringe and Eric snicker, but honestly…. Yeah one more is his limit. Amelia is WILD.

"Start trying right now." Pam said excitedly.

"Pamela… we're in a restaurant." Eric said sounding scandalized, but laughing. "But if you insist." He bent down and kissed Sookie who yelped and laughed when he pulled back and hugged her . Her fresh start couldn't have gone better.