EPOV

Though I do not feel like we have anything to worry about when it comes to this upcoming vote with the council it is always good to be prepared. It's better to have an abundance of what we need (in this case, votes) than a lack of. So it's best to get to work. Sookie has informed me that we have Russel Edgington's vote locked down as well as Niall's and the Ancient Pythoness'. That only leaves us needing one more to win, knowing what I do of Phoebe Golden, she is most definitely voting for Freyda. In fact, it was not a month ago that she visited the compound and Freyda called me to her bed where all three of us spent the rest of the night together. To say they're in bed together would be literal in this case.

I've worked with Resemend Uberlley before, and he and I are on good terms, unfortunately, that won't be taken into account when it comes to voting. He does not take prior relationships, treaties, or partnerships into the council's quarters. He is a by-the-books man and takes his position on the council very seriously. We've decided to give Sookie the job of speaking to him and pleading her case. She's always had a way with Were's and though I hate that they always seem to fawn to her, in this case, it can be used to our benefit.

Patricia Sibley on the other hand, she and I have been… acquainted for quite some time. She is a strong witch and I'm fond of powerful women, so when I hired her about three decades ago and saw her work, well it wasn't surprising that we spent the next two weeks in bed together. She could be quite inventive with her magic when she wanted to be, especially in bed. Thankfully, we parted ways on good terms, there were no emotions involved on either side and have worked together again in the years since. She's since married and had many little witches and warlocks with her magical husband, who is also quite powerful.

So I've taken the task of calling her and trying to get her on our side. Hopefully, though she holds no loyalty to me, she'll be willing to vote in my favor. The last being on the council is a demon, Shermon Costaliate, him I know nothing about. Though I do know his kind's thoughts on crossbreeding. It is not likely that he would vote for us, in fact, as of now I'm counting him as the second definite vote for Freyda. However, that will not stop us from trying anyway, I've set Pam on the task of learning as much about him as possible, including any dirt she might dig up. For something as important as the next few centuries of my life, I am not above using blackmail to get my desired outcome.

I sit down in front of the desk in our suite, open my laptop, and find Patricia's information. Once I have her phone number I open my cell phone and call her. It rings three times before she answers the phone in her jovial voice and it brings a small smile of remembrance to my face.

"Hello, Patricia Sibley speaking, who may I ask is it that I should be cursing for calling during dinner time?"

I chuckle, "Trish, it's been a long time."

"Is that Eric Northman I hear? You're damn right it's been a long time. Though I must admit I've been expecting this phone call for a few days now."

"Ahh, that wouldn't happened to be because my name came across your desk during the last council meeting, would it?"

Sookie walks into the room and sits on the other side of the desk, I give her a nod of acknowledgment but other than that focus on the phone call.

"You know damn well that's why I was expecting your call. I've heard of your distaste of magic over recent years."

"Yes well, that would be putting it lightly. I'm sure if you heard of my aversion to magic, you've heard why I have such an aversion."

"Yes, yes, though I must admit, I thought it was all rumors and you know I pay no attention to those."

"Other than when my name is involved, apparently," I say light-heartedly.

"Well, as I said, I don't hear from you nearly as often anymore, I have to keep up with your life some way."

"Yes, though a phone call would have worked just as well. Anyway, you're correct, unfortunately, I did not call just to catch up. I assume you know what's at stake during this vote."

"All I know is that this is a council meeting about who you get to fuck for the next few decades. A waste of council time and resources if you ask me."

I laugh, "If only it were so simple, no. I too have wed, if you haven't heard. However, it wasn't able to last long due to the machinations of people with more power than even I. I was forced to divorce her and marry another with no choice in the matter for the next two centuries, which is much longer than my wife's lifespan, I'm afraid. However she isn't one to give up so easily, and they could only force us to divorce in the vampire's way so she was able to fight for me. The vote is deciding if I'm able to stay with my wife or forced to live with the woman who bought me into slavery."

She stays quiet for a long time, I assume thinking over my words and how unjust it was to be put in that situation. That's why I'm surprised when she laughs and lets out a whistle, "Whoa, I never thought I'd see the day that Eric Northman settled down, with a human no less. You have to tell me, what did this woman have that the rest of us didn't?"

I chuckle, surprised. "Really, Trish? That is what you took out of everything I just told you?"

"Well, can you blame me? People have been trying to lock you down since before I was born. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they were fighting over you before you were even born."

I chuckle again because she doesn't know how correct she is. Though I was considered 'the spare to the heir' I was still a highly sought-after husband being second son to the chieftain, even before my birth.

I feel Sookie's interest in the bond and even a little bit of jealousy, she can't hear the other side of my phone call but I suppose it's clear that I'm fond of this person. Without thinking too much about my actions or the reasons for doing it, I reach over and rest my hand atop hers that is resting on the desk. "Yes, well, I'm not sure I'm able to put that into words, I'm afraid. Sometimes someone just calls to you."

I hear a smile in her voice and imagine she's looking at her husband when she replies, "Yes, I know what you mean."

"So, can I count on your vote? Will you vote to let me stay with Sookie?"

It really angers me that I have to petition people to allow me to stay where I want to be. I'm over a thousand years old, I shouldn't have to ask permission to be with who I want to be with—to be where I want to be. It makes me loath Appius all the more, though when he was still alive I was commanded to care for him, to keep him safe, and to be connected to him, now that he's truly dead those commands died with him and all that's left is a feeling of burning hot hatred and rage.

"Of course you can, Eric. I wouldn't want you to be stuck somewhere you don't want to be for the next few hundred years. Plus, I hope to see you a few more times before my time comes."

"Come now, we both know with your magic you have a chance of living much longer than I," I chide.

"Perhaps, but you're alive until someone ends you, I'm alive until I stop using my magic." I'm not sure what she means by that, in fact, I'm almost positive I don't like the sound of her words but I'm not sure why.

"Thankfully, neither will have to happen for a long time."

"Yes."

"Okay, I shall see you at the vote. Thank you, Trish, your help means a lot. Say hello to your husband and tiny humans for me."

"They're not tiny anymore, Eric. In fact, Charles is engaged. Though I'll be sure to tell them for you."

I nod my head though she can't see it and hang up the phone. I look at Sookie when she scoffs and rolls her eyes, "What?"

"I'll never get used to you supes with your terrible phone etiquette."

I shrug, "Now, now, dear Sookie, are you forgetting that you are a part of those supes you speak of?"

She laughs, "No I didn't forget but I also won't forget the manners my Gran raised me with. It sounds like the phone call went well…" She says leadingly.

"It did," I agree, "We have our fourth vote."

"Good, then I don't even have to go to this lunch Alcede set up, right?"

"No, you should still attend. Though we have the majority vote as of now it would be best to get more. We never know if someone would change their mind." Though Russel Edgington and I have been on the same side of many battles I wouldn't put it past him to 'throw a wrench' in our plans, so to speak. He is old and he is bored, he enjoys drama. And though I won't say this to Sookie, I do not trust Niall as far as she could throw him. He is working for his own interests and even though they match up with ours right now, there's no saying when that might change. I trust Trish to do as she's promised, I can't ignore the fact that something might happen to change her mind.

"Okay, I'll go. I'm just not looking forward to seeing Alcede."

I growl before I can stop myself. To be honest, I'm not fond of the fact that she'll have to interact with him either, though it seems to be the cost of getting the meeting. I've never liked her friendship with him, though it seems like this Sookie is not too fond of the mutt either, I wonder what has happened to change her mind. I growl again thinking of the possibilities. "What has he done to make you have such a different opinion of him than Sookie used to?"

Her eyes open wide when she hears the anger in my words. It's almost as if she can envision what I'd do to the wolf if he hurt her. She holds her hands out in a stopping gesture, "No Eric, it's nothing like that, he didn't do anything to me. It's just that I see things clearer now. I don't know, maybe it's because I got all the memories at once so it was all thrown at me at the same time, I saw all the crappy things he's done over the years. Lucky Sookie had it happen to her over time so it was easier for her to forget or make excuses for his actions and mistakes and every time he left her high and dry. She used to defend him and praise him for protecting her, it didn't hurt that he'd scream to anyone who would listen that you were the devil and that he'd do everything he could to help her. To me, now all I see is a guy who owed a debt, he repaid that debt by being my guard, and almost every single time you called on him to protect me he'd leave me and I'd get injured. He'd call you the devil when the truth is his dad owed you a lot of money and when he couldn't pay, instead of taking his business, you offered him other options and as much time as he needed to repay, and still he never actually did his job because I constantly got hurt."

Huh. Of course, I've always seen it that way. I see things for how they are, and I make sure to think logically but Sookie, well she's a different story, she thinks with her emotions, and sees everything through that lens, especially if she cares about the person. So it's surprising to hear that she sees it this way now. "Interesting."

She huffs, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, just that it's interesting to see how your view on things has changed over time, I appreciate the change."

"Oh, well yeah. So I really don't think he's a great friend and I'm not looking forward to when he again tries to come on to me. I'm not sure how many times I have to tell him I don't see him that way."

I'm growling again before I realize it and when I do, I don't care to stop. "The wolf is still after your attentions?"

She smiles as if she's happy about my possessiveness, which is another change in her. "Don't worry, I've made it clear to him I'm not interested, even before I was able to get you away from Freyda. He knows it's not going to happen. I'm not even sure he actually wants me in that way, I think it's more because I keep telling him no."

"Yes well, maybe we should change the meeting to dinner so that I may join you."

She laughs as if my idea is ridiculous, "Come on Eric, it's no big deal. We're going to lunch to discuss my marriage to you, it'd be insane if he tried to hit on me in that situation."

"Yes well, no one ever called dogs smart."

She scoffs, gets up, walks around the desk, and boldly pushes my chair back to sit on my lap. After a few moments, I decide I'm okay with that and wrap my arms around her waist. She turns so that she's sitting on me sideways so that she may look at me while she speaks. "You know, according to the other Eric, once we do this 'giving off the light' or whatever they call it, you'll be able to join us at afternoon meetings."

My body tenses but only for a moment, I've known since the beginning that this was going to have to happen and have had time to wrap my head around it. That doesn't mean I'm fond of the circumstances that are forcing us to do this but I've accepted it. I've agreed to tie myself to her in this way so that I may be free but I promised myself that I'd never put myself in a situation like that again, a situation where I'm forced to tie myself to someone who does not want it, so that I am able to keep them safe. Unfortunately, even though the circumstances are a bit different, I was not able to keep that promise to myself. I do know I will tie myself to her no closer unless it is something we both want and for no other reason. I don't see myself wanting that connection with her or anyone again for a long time, possibly ever. I ignore the small voice in the back of my head that's telling me I'm already there, I already want that and more with Sookie.

"That is true, it seems our time of pushing it off has come to an end, the meeting is next week and we need to make sure you know how to perform it, so it'd be best to get started as soon as possible." I try to sound as clinical and unemotional as possible, this isn't our choice, this isn't a romantic gesture between two lovers, this is just like that night long ago when I exchanged with her for the third time and tied myself to her what I thought was permanently to keep her safe and away from Andre.

I feel her disappointment and sadness at my tone but choose to ignore it, it is how I have to act in order to go through with this at all. I'm brought out of my thoughts when in a small voice she says, "Hey, Eric…"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember what I told you about what happened to me in the other dimension when I was taken to the Faery?"

"Yes," She was stolen from her world and spent ten minutes there where they tried to force her to eat fruit that would keep her there forever, when she made it home she had lost a year of her life.

"Okay, so you get that when Niall told me I had to go back there in this dimension and drink from their weird fancy fountain to get you safely I was scared and a little preoccupied."

"What do you mean?" I've not heard of this before, I belatedly look her over to make sure she is well.

"Yeah, it was supposed to help with my powers and I wanted to be able to help should we need it when we came to get you."

"Okay…" It makes sense, I'm just surprised that she'd put herself through that after what she went through the last time she was in that land. And she did that all for me, it's a lot to take in.

"Yeah so I asked him a bunch of questions before drinking it to make sure I'd be able to leave and that I'd be safe, I didn't want to be stuck there and I didn't want to make you stuck in the queens grasps for another six months just because I took a five-minute detour to drink some water."

"It was smart of you. You know as well as I do that Niall is not one to offer information if it does not benefit him."

"Right, so since I was preoccupied with all those questions, it wasn't until after I drank it that I thought of a bunch more, like what exactly this drink would do to me and if it was turning me into a full fairy or something."

I hold back a laugh, it is just like my Sookie to get fixated on one part of the problem and remember the rest after. I'm not upset because she's calm while talking to me and if something bad were to have happened she'd have told me already. "All good questions. What were the answers?"

"Drinking it once would make me stronger for a short time but Niall said the more I drink of it the stronger I become and eventually it would become permanent…"

"Is that something you want?" My first instinct was to tell her to continue drinking it, especially if it had other benefits, I'd feel much better about her being out alone if she'd be able to keep herself safe but I've learned long ago demanding things of Sookie doesn't work.

"Yes, I want better control and I want to be an actual help when things go wrong, I don't just want to be a burden for you to take care of. But there's more than that."

"Hmm?" I ask, getting an inkling that I know what she will say but I refuse to get my hopes up as she's wanted nothing of a longer lifespan any of the other times I've brought it up.

"Eric, the more I drink, the more permanent my power becomes, the more powers I could gain, and the longer my lifespan would be." She says almost tentatively as if she's worried that's something I wouldn't want.

"Sookie, I thought you didn't want to live longer than a human life, that you didn't want to outlive your friends and family," I say, making sure to remind her of the negatives, I won't allow myself to get excited about this just for her to change her mind once she thinks it through.

"That was Lucky Sookie, Eric. And yes, I admit, I used to feel the same way but that's changed. It changed when I came here and got all these memories, when I saw who was really there for me, who really… loved me. My friends and family care but I'm not their priority, they have people in their lives who would always come before me, and that's okay but it's time I stop living my life to please them. Heck, I haven't spoken to Jason once since I got here, I have nieces that I've never met before. Don't get me wrong, I love them all and would die for them but it's time I stop living for them and instead, live for myself and do what I want, do what will make me happy."

I smile, I'm proud of her for saying that and it makes me believe she's serious about what she's saying. I use my hand to slowly rub up and down her back comfortingly, I can tell she's working herself up. "And you think living longer than human life is a part of that?"

She looks down at her lap and I see a sweet blush covering her cheeks. "Yes, well that is, if you want me to. I know this isn't what you signed up for. I get I'm just the lesser of two evils for you. You're only with me because I'm better than being stuck with Freyda. But for all I know, in your eyes, the only reason I'm the better option is because you'll only have to be with me for a few decades until you're free. I don't want to ruin your life or your plans with my selfishness to want to be with you longer."

I'm glad she's still looking at her knees because I'm sure I've never looked so shocked in my life, my eyes are wide and my jaw is dropped, leaving my mouth hanging wide open. She wants to live longer just to stay with me? She thinks the only reason I chose to be with her is because she's better than Freyda? While yes, I admit the only reason I originally agreed to leave with her after I found out about the dimension switches was just because I wanted a chance to be close to my progeny again and avoid a permanent blood bond but things have changed since then, I was still reeling from what I considered the loss of Sookie, I was hurt. That feels like a lifetime ago now. Though we are taking things slow I thought she understood that I enjoyed being with her, that she wasn't a chore, and that I want to have her stay close to me as long as possible. I suppose I understand why she might not know that, I haven't been very vocal. I suppose I better fix that, I hold in a sigh, as much as I dislike having emotions, that dislike is nothing compared to the loathing I feel when I have to speak about them.

"Sookie…" I say and she doesn't respond. I reach the hand that isn't rubbing her back to her chin and turn her head so that she's facing me, although her eyes are still looking downward, now she's looking at my cock through my jeans which makes it twitch in anticipation and arousal. I hush my overactive libido, it's not the time for that right now. I lift her head but watch my strength, I don't want to hurt her, and I try again, "Sookie, look at me."

She shakes her head negatively and this time I let the sigh escape me. "Sookie, dear one, why won't you look at me?"

Slowly, she turns her eyes upward and I'm not sure I can accurately describe what I see in them when she finally meets my eyes. She's scared, definitely, but it's more than that. "Eric, I'm sorry, I know this wasn't what you signed up for, that you didn't ask for me to come for you at all, let alone tie myself to you for what could be centuries, maybe longer, I don't know. I'm sorry I put you in this situation."

Without thinking about my actions, I lean in and kiss her. I don't like seeing Sookie upset, I never have, much less so when I'm the cause of it. The kiss is slow, soft, and meant to comfort, which is something I do not have much experience in. I feel her soften against me and in the fledgling bond, I feel her emotions even out. Once she's calmer I pull back, I make sure we have eye contact before I speak. "Sookie, I want you to keep drinking from that fountain if it will keep you here with m—us longer. I've tried to put your lifespan out of my mind for a long time now since in the past you've made it clear that you wanted nothing to do with making it longer in any way. Try as I might, it still worries me at least a few times a night. If this is what you want, then I want you to do it."

She smiles softly, almost unsurely. "Yeah?"

"Yes," I say definitively, leaving no room for question.

Her smile brightens and she jumps forward wrapping her arms around me while letting out a squeal of happiness so loud that I'm sure will be ringing in my ears for days to come. I feel her lips and my neck, kissing, moving up to my ear while she wiggles around so that she's straddling me. Her lips move inward to my jawline, my cheek, then finally my lips where I make sure to kiss her back with just as much fervor as she's giving me. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her as close as possible, sure that she could feel my hard-on against her, thrusting my hips forward once, twice, to give us both a little friction.

Sookie moves her lips down my face to my neck before biting me with her teeth, not enough to break the skin but hard enough for me to let out a lustful groan. Though I know she'll be upset about it later I rip her dress down the middle so that I can get to her breasts faster, I stand up holding her with one arm and her legs wrapped around me. With my other hand, I wipe everything off of the desk so that I may lay her down on it. I stand back for a moment and watch her, it's a very enchanting sight. Her golden hair layout across the desk, her panting heavily, causing her breasts to almost fall out of her lace bra, her light pink lace panties already soaked through, her beautiful face, her eyes darker than normal filled with lust, her lips puckered, bigger than normal from being kissed so thoroughly. It's a sight I'll never forget for as long as I live, even if I were to somehow get amnesia again, I'm sure.

I lean down over her, my head at her breasts, I lick across them, her bra still in the way. Take one into my mouth and pay the other one proper attention with my hand, reaching up to her shoulder to pull her bra strap down to finally release her perfect breasts. I take my mouth away just long enough to free the other one before diving back in. There are not many women who can cum with just breast play, I'm happy that Sookie is one of those women, I've been with her enough times to know just what needs to be done and it isn't long before one last tweak on her nipple along with my fangs on the other one cause her to scream in pleasure.

I don't wait for her to come down from her high before I take her panties off, put her legs on my shoulders, and lick her from the bottom of her slit to the top and around her clit. It's not long before her moans grow in sound and I feel her tighten around my fingers that are thrusting inside her. I know she's on the edge but decide to be a bastard and pull away because she's facing the ceiling and her eyes are closed. Her moan turns into a groan of frustration.

"Eric!"

"You're not watching me, lover."

She huffs but acquiesces and looks down so that she's making eye contact with me. Slowly, so slowly, just to tease her, I move forward tongue out, her breathing quickens the closer I get to her, and when I finally taste her on my tongue she cries out my name in pleasure and it's like music to my ears. As I feel her squeeze my fingers once again I don't pull back and watch as she falls over the edge, at the peak of her high I move over to her thigh and use my fangs to bite down causing her to scream in pleasure, and for me to moan at the taste of her blood. I take one last long draw of her blood before making my way back up her body at vamp speed and entering her before she's even come down from her orgasm. I thrust into her long hard strokes, again and again, moving my fingers lightly down her body, trailing them down, noticing goosebumps in my wake. I keep moving until I make it to her clit and play with it the way I know she likes, bending down and kissing her, taking her moans into my mouth. Feeling her tighten around me, squeezing me rhythmically, causing me to growl out my pleasure.

She always knows just how to move to drive me insane, I have the idle thought that no one else has ever fit me so perfectly and brought me this type of pleasure more than her. I feel myself coming close to my end and it seems Sookie knows this because she sits forward and pushes me, signaling she wants to take control. I enjoy when Sookie decides to be dominant so I roll over taking her with me, it's only a second later that she's sitting upright, riding me, swirling her hips in a way that makes me curse in my native tongue. The smirk she makes when she hears me is devilish, she rests her hands on my chest, gaining a better balance.

I move my hands to her hips, guiding her on how to move to best pleasure each of us before trailing my hands up her body, cupping her breasts, over to her shoulders, and down her arms. I finish with my hands over hers which are still resting on my chest. "Do it Sookie, give me your light."

"Hmm?" She asks, only half paying attention to my words.

"Give me your light, Sookie, I know you can do it."

She seems to comprehend me this time because she looks at me in the eyes unsure. I nod at her confirming that I want her to do it and a few seconds later I feel her hands heat up on my chest and see her eyes close in concentration. Her thrusts become harder and faster as she moves, and her hands have a glow to them I notice when I move my hands back to her hips, and when they grow really bright I feel something enter me through my chest. I don't know what it is, I think it's a part of Sookie, it feels like pure daylight but daylight that doesn't want to harm me. No, it wants to protect me, Sookie wants to protect me. I feel connected to her in a way I've never felt with another as if I'm a part of her like she's a part of me. The feeling is indescribable.

All of a sudden I don't know what I've been so scared of, why I've been keeping my distance from her, all of the reasons I've had just seem so insignificant now. Even though I've just had one of the best orgasms of my life, I know I need more, need to be closer to her, need to please her. So I sit forward, wrap my arm around her, flip us over, and get to work making sure to give and take as much pleasure as possible before the sun rises.