Disclaimer: I'll settle for owning human Eric! Pwease?

Author's Notes: Before I begin, I really have to tell you all what I don't intend to do…I don't intend to go into minutia about Eric and Sookie's lives in this universe indefinitely. The motif from the oneshot…how fleeting and temporal everything is lends itself to the snapshot feel. I'll be giving you guys probably a series of oneshots/chapters dealing with their lives and that's what I'm really intending with this story. A whole bunch of stand alones. I really do think where I ended my last one shot, with Sookie encountering her parents, is really the end of the story. I feel like I want to make each oneshot episodic...serialized, but episodic with a beginning, middle and an end in and of itself.

This next segment is probably going to be more serialized, in dealing with the aftermath of their romance, but after they sort of settle, I have a really awesome oneshot planned which will really sort of conclude things.

I felt kinda bad writing this fic…because I was distracted by the opening of SkarsgardNews! Hehehe. And activating the Overnight Grammar Fairy for Lil…there was an uploading oopsie…Bad grammar, especially from people I know, gives me the urge to correct, even when I don't have time! Oh and I got me a domain name for Blood Bonds. You can now find us at bloodbondsblog(dot)com! Look for news on Friday!

Aside from that, I'm super busy...but exams are around the corner and time should be coming into my hands soon!

I've been holding onto this since Friday because of US Turkey Day lol, but I resolve to get a fic out a month...so...

AFTER THE FALL

Dear Corbett and Genevieve Stackhouse,

God, I can't even bare to call you two 'father' and 'mother'. That's what you are to me, what you're supposed to be to me. Only, the two of you have been nothing more than business managers, waiting to sell my life to the highest bidder like I was some commodity, an animal, a cow, not a daughter or a human being.

All my life I've done what was expected of me. I've played your games, did those tricks that pleased you. I'm done, I'm through now. I want a life that is mine and mine alone. I've been offered a chance and I'm taking it. I'm going to be who I want to be.

By the time you get this letter, I'll be long gone. I'm not coming back. I won't miss you two. You won't really miss me either. You'll miss having an expensive object and some of your reputation, I'm sure, but not me. Never Sookie. Don't bother looking for me.

Goodbye. May your future endeavours bring you joy,

Sookie

July 7th, 1969

One week from my nineteenth birthday and my life could not be more changed. Instead of some ridiculous church appropriate clothing, strangling my throat, I was free. Free from all clothes, in fact. At the moment anyway.

We'd driven as long as we could bear the darkened hours, hurtling me further away from my former cage. The darkness had hid us from view. We were two thieves in the night, making off with the Crown Jewels. Sultry Blues tunes had been cranked out from the radio as the miles sped by beneath us, miles of roads I had never traversed before. He had left all the windows open and the wind tussled our hair as he made me laugh. With freedom echoing all through my soul, I laughed until my stomach hurt and smiled until my cheeks were sore.

At dawn, Eric decided it was time for one of his excursions. When he stopped at an abandoned road, hidden from view, we kicked out our travelling companion. I think the dog was sleeping when we made love in his Camaro, right until the sun finally arched across the sky in a pink, red and gold celebration. It's selfish, but I thought it might be just for us, our sunrise. In the heat of the day, we somehow slept.

Only sunlight never hides, it reveals and it was no longer dark.

When I woke up, it was midday and I was still tangled up on top of him, naked. He had parked in the shade, so it wasn't unbearable. Still, a sheen of sweat clung to our bodies.

"Good afternoon," I said, watching the fluttering of his eyelashes as he stirred, listening to the tinkling of his dog tags.

At last those storming blue eyes of his were opened. He looked at me as if he had seen a dream, one that could not possibly be real.

"Lover," he greeted softly, as he traced his fingertips lightly over my face, pressing reverent kisses to my face.

"What time is it?" he wondered after a spell.

"Just after one in the afternoon," I answered, peering at the clock in the dash.

"Shit!" he cursed, and pain flared in eyes, "I've got to go home."

I should've known better than to think that the world wouldn't touch us.

All my life I've been waiting for something.

I waited to use the potty. I waited for my siblings to come into the world. I waited to understand life's mysteries. I waited in the locker room with the crowd thundering just outside while the coach yelled his rhetoric to us like a priest. I waited with fear of the unknown. I waited for the next moment, the next play, the next pass, the next run, the next rush. I waited for an answer to come as I sat in my cap and gown, finding none. I waited until it was too late.

I waited with the night all around me in the impossible heat. I waited in a death trap. I waited with nothing but fear as my constant. I waited for the next attack. I waited for the next enemy, the next battle, the next Reaper with no relief. I waited like it was a game. I waited like it didn't matter. I waited like I could believe in something. I waited because I was ordered to. I waited because it was all I could do. I waited and watched as the earth was painted carelessly with blood, with life, so needless, so destructive. I waited for my turn. I waited for sweet relief. I waited for death.

I waited in pain. I waited in agony. I waited in drugged up indifference. I waited with impatience. I waited as an invalid in a hospital, feeling like a failure. I waited when all I really wanted to do was go back to the killing fields because there was someone's kid there. I waited, thinking I was an idiot. I waited and I was selfish. I waited and I wanted to go home.

I was waiting, I was searching every year, always wanting, always needing, never coming to fruition. I'm waiting to be fulfilled.

And now I'm waiting again and I'm hoping for something that might never come. I'm waiting in this damn car, on another damn road trip, wanting this one to be different, needing this one to be different. I have nothing but a stray and the radio for company, nothing but the wind that's taunting on another too hot night and every minute feels like forever, every moment feels a little more like defeat.

I'm waiting to be crushed. I'm waiting to be ruined.

I'm waiting for hope. I'm waiting for something to matter.

I'm waiting to try. Just to try.

Silence is a funny thing.

It's dead quiet, but it's louder than even the most explosive of spring thunderstorms.

Peace, I could not find it. Instead, Doubt was Prometheus' liver. The eagle came back every morning and there was that regrown liver, ready to be pecked and eaten, yet again. My doubt could not be swayed for a thousand thoughts passed through his eyes, but still the silence remained, refusing to give voice to his troubles. I could not know what lay behind those depths without him revealing them to me.

I wish I could pull the thoughts from his mind, but I knew him so little. What was this I felt? Was it a lie, an infatuation?

No, the miles poured on in silence. The afternoon sun lingered far too long, her unkind rays were exposing too much, more than I would have liked. I had to have left for something, something better, but it was a dangerous gamble and I was low on faith.

The liberated dog was my only comfort in those moments, his face resting on my shoulder from where he sat in the backseat.

"You know, he needs a name," I said as the highway stretched onwards unrelentingly. Anything to kill this silence.

"He doesn't have one already?" he asked at last.

"Dog or Mutt is hardly appropriate," I argued, a frown creasing my mouth.

Eric's lip quirked, "Names are pointless, you know that." Relief rose through me for a little while as the tension slacked.

"For defining things, sure, but this guy," I rubbed the dog's head, "needs a proper name."

Looking into the beast's face, I frowned as Eric chuckled slightly. "Bentley?" I suggested.

"A stuffy old rich person's car? Really?" His eyebrow quirked.

"It's ironic," I argued.

"Hi, Rex, you feel like some Blues?" Eric asked as he turned the dial on the radio, giving me a wink.

"Creative, you're a step up from Pooch!" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm brilliant, you know it," he replied cheekily.

"You're arrogant, I know it," I mocked.

"You love me," he whispered softly.

My breath hitched a little and I paused, not knowing what was on his mind. It was quiet, "I love you." Don't break me.

Was it luck or a curse that brought me to Bon Temps? Maybe it was Fate. I don't know.

What I do know is that my car, which had never failed me, failed in front of a church. Irony? Hell yeah. Thank you, God. Your sense of humour is hilarious towards unbelievers and sinners. No, I'm not going to start praying and going to Mass, thank you very much. For God doesn't exist in jungles, in death, in pain, in despair, in war. No, He exists to a bunch of perfect people from perfect families, who could never want or hurt. He exists to assuage their guilt and allow them to fuck everyone else over, make us go to war and kill us all for their whims.

I was going to say 'Fuck you,' and start that car without an ounce of His 'help'.

The only problem? I was apparently up shit creek without a paddle. That Camaro was smoking more than a joint, angry and hot as a blacksmith shop and would not be tamed any time soon.

Turning my head to the heavens, I laid another curse to a non-existent god.

…Only for my eyes to meet a brilliant creature standing completely out of place in His house of worship. A creature begging to be corrupted and set free. A creature I could not resist. She was innocence and rebellion all rolled into one, with the sweet air of the pure and the body of unadulterated sin. The angel among a flock of false believers and hypocritical sinners, she called to me. Something about the look in her eyes called to me.

'Thanks for the gift, God,' I thought, sarcastically.

I wanted and I would take…in a very unchristian way.

Dear Amelia,

I've come to a decision and since you're finding this in your mailbox, you already know what it means. I've left with him. It feels strange yet wonderful to say it. Exciting. I'm going to follow that road wherever it may take us. It's a fearful thing, embarking on this journey. Everything that lies beyond is unknown. It's dangerous, but it's worth a chance. You're right. I would regret it forever if I didn't go with him. This is one chance that must be taken.

I'm in love and I'll let Fate take her course and see what happens. I'm done with being unfulfilled and unhappy and I'm taking this into my own hands, because being with him is where I need to be. I've never been more certain of anything in my life.

You've always been my closest friend, my confidante and no matter what distance lies between us, I'll always find a way into your life and I'm sure, you into mine.

You'll be haring from me soon. Much love,

Sookie

"Amelia, it's Sookie," I said into the plastic receiver of the phone. It was warm from the heat of the day.

"I figured as much," she returned saucily, "I thought you'd call me earlier! Honey, it's 3pm!"

"Sorry," I rolled my eyes. Knowing Amelia, she wanted all the juicy details. "We've just stopped to eat. It's the first I've seen a pay phone."

"Late morning?" she teased.

"Amelia!" I admonished.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed, delighted.

"Look, just tell me what's going on," I said, trying to focus her.

"Would it make you feel better if I asked you if you're still alright?" she snarked.

"Amelia," I sighed.

"Fine, spoil sport," she accused, "I went over at 11. Your folks were freaking! The cops were all over your house, which was absolutely wonderful. I gave them your letter. Oh my God, Sookie! Their faces! It was so perfect. They thought you'd been abducted, that Sweet, Pure Susannah would NEVER do such a thing! I let them cling to that idea for awhile until I showed them my letter-"

"I can't believe you did that!" I couldn't believe that girl sometimes.

"They've hated me all my life! Revenge is sweet," she explained proudly, "Anyway, the police had no other choice but to call off the search until more evidence could be provided. Of course, the story spread like wildfire. It's the biggest scandal since Hoyt Fortenberry ran off with Jessica Hamby, only better! Mrs. Compton was all, 'My son is not marrying a whore!' Arlene Fowler totally thinks you've been abducted for random money! The town is torn in two over the whole thing."

"Oh God…"

"Well, it was until Andy Bellefleur came forward and explained that you had most definitely run off from your own volition because he saw the two of you in front of the church during Mass. He made very suggestive and rude hand gestures, I must say. Oh, and apparently you wanted it…and badly."

"Dammit, they believed the town drunk!?" I squeaked, completely humiliated.

"Isn't that the point that they did? All the cops are off your back. Your parents' cash cow is damaged goods. The engagement is officially broken. By the way, Father Clancy refuses to return the ring...And you're over 18, so your parents can't do anything. Besides, you ran off with the hippie vagabond, what were they supposed to think?"

I groaned. The speeding trucks whipping down the highway did nothing to cool my flaming cheeks. Amelia snickered at my response.

"I always tell you to do what I would, but damn girl!" she squealed, "The church during Mass!?"

"…It's not like we were inside it…" I muttered.

Amelia just cackled at my expense.

Suddenly, a realization hit me with the force of an atomic bomb, "I can't go home…I can't go home. They know, Amelia! They know." I felt the hysteria of sheer panic bubble up in my throat, my body shaking.

What had I done? What could I do?

I had nothing else to turn to, only Eric. He was my egg in my one basket. Where was my faith now?

"Sweetie, breathe, breathe!" Amelia shouted over the line.

I slid to the bottom of the telephone booth, shaking. It was another cage constricting me.

Tears began to stream down my eyes as I clutched that phone desperately.

"Are you okay?" Amelia's voice crackled.

"Yeah…fine," I replied, my voice pathetically breathy.

"Sookie, what happened?" Amelia asked over the line, "Did Eric do something to you?"

"No…" I hated how I was sobbing. Sobbing for that piece of shit that was my life.

"Sookie…"

"He's distant, Amelia. He won't talk to me. This is the first day! The first goddamned day! Is this what it's supposed to be like for the rest of them? Is he just going to keep ignoring me? Am I just one big mistake to him? Some stray he picked up that he's gonna toss aside when he's done? 'Cause if he is…I can't even go back. I gambled that away," I babbled hysterically.

"Oh, sweetie," Amelia sighed.

"I'm so stupid. I'm an idiot, thinking that I'd be happy, that we'd be happy, that we'd always be. I got one night out of the deal. We were happy for one night. That counts, right? I thought everything was gonna be okay…but then, now…" Fear was eating me up alive and my voice was cracking. I hated being so weak.

"Sookie, you're not stupid," Amelia assured, "I saw the way he looked at you that night in the bar, how you glanced back at him…I never would have left you there if I didn't think he had feelings for you or if I didn't think he was a good person."

"You left me there on purpose!" I exclaimed, shocked that her purpose had been to hook us up.

"It paid off, didn't it?" Amelia giggled.

I felt a tirade coming on. The good thing about rage is that it doesn't make you feel helpless and the frailty melts away.

"Look, sweetie," Amelia started, attempting to belay my wrath, she knew me well, "the way Eric's eyes changed when he saw you in that sundress on your first date, that look on his face, it's rare. They only look at you like that when they're falling in love with you. You got it, Sookie. He loves you. I know he does."

"Oh, Ames, how can you be so sure?" I questioned desperately.

"It's a little faith and a lot of trust," she replied, "And I don't think his distance is about you."

"Really?" I doubted.

"Yes, he feels guilty. You told me he had to leave in a hurry because his sister, who he is very close to, was in a bad car accident and is now fighting for her life and in a coma. He feels guilty because he's happy while his sister is suffering," she explained.

"I'm such an idiot," I repeated, running my hand over my face and hair, "I can't believe I didn't think of this. I'm a selfish, spoiled brat."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, honey," Amelia soothed.

"How can we ever work, Amelia?" I cried in frustration, "I'm tainted. I don't belong there with his family! It's going to be this horrible thing, showing up with some random runaway you're in an illicit affair with, practically at your sister's death bed. Who does that? I'm going to be nothing more than a big scandal, disrespecting their grief!"

"Sookie, it was never gonna be easy, but it's about what you wanted. You chose this life, this path. You've gotta fight for it. What matters is that he loves you and you love him. You'll work it out, but it's gonna take work," Amelia said.

"How do I know it's worth it?" I demanded forlornly.

"Would you rather be without him?" she asked bluntly.

"No," I replied immediately. The thought killed me.

"Then what are you doing, talking to me on the phone? Get your ass in there and talk to him," Amelia ordered.

I sighed, "I don't know."

So God does have a sense of humour and he got the last laugh. The fucker.

I can't get her off my mind. Every waking moment is haunted by her face, her laugh, her smile.

She makes me yearn and I haven't felt that in a long time.

The girl intrigued me from the moment I saw her perched up against the stone steps of that sacrilegious monstrosity of a church. Something was lurking beneath the surface drew me to her. In that first moment, I felt the need to mock, to tease…Okay, be an asshole and I didn't quite know why. I can walk away from those Bible thumping churchgoers, no problem, but she made me stop with the insatiable need to make my presence known to her.

Her fire, her passion, I loved it, so when her fight was extinguished in that bar, I found myself making a peace offering. I don't do truces. I don't give a fuck if people hate me. What the fuck? I found myself wanting to make her feel better and I don't do that, ever. The last time I felt the urge to do that was for Alcide Herveaux when he got his Dear John Letter from his bitch of a girlfriend, Debbie Pelt. That man was definitely better off without her. Of course, the only exception is for Pam.

So why did I want to see her spark?

And then I got a real spark from that kiss.

I can't lie and say I didn't want her. I did. I wanted her a lot. She was stunning, the face of an angel on a sinfully irresistible body, all ripe curves screaming to be harvested. But it was her damned feistiness that hooked me, that lured me in, the venom in her tongue, the wrath in her eyes and the rebellion in her stance against me. She was Mother Nature, a force to be reckoned with, a storm. Elemental, violent, beautiful. Oh, I desired her even more then.

She sparked me like a live wire. She sparked me alive. She was a defibrillator and I had been walking dead until she breathed life into me in that kiss. Her electricity flowed through my circuit and we became something new, something connected and complex, lighting that stupid bulb from Physics class. The shock pierced my heart like adrenalin and there it beat again. I was a junkie, I was addicted.

Dammit, I felt something. For the first time in forever, I felt something. I felt something I wanted to keep.

And God was rolling on the floor, laughing hysterically, his breathes coming up short. He was laughing at me.

He was laughing because I wanted to feel that again, I needed to.

I was in deep shit.

I was amazed, completely taken aback and made desperately aware of all that as I saw her just kissed face.

Is she what I've been searching for all these years? Is she it?

I needed that answer. I was going to catch it.

She was a dove in a cage and I was taking her out. I wanted her to fly. I wanted her to taste the freedom of the wind beneath her wings. She wasn't meant for a cage, she was meant to be wild. She was Mother Nature, after all.

I begged, I grovelled. Well, as much as I could. I don't beg and I don't grovel, but I did it for her. I needed to take her out. I needed her with me.

And there she is in front of me, finally being marched out by her friend Amelia like it's her damned wedding in a sinfully delicious dress that defined everything she was to me, my angelic little demon in white and red. Delectable, untainted, she was a vision. She's even blushing at me. The colour lights up her cheeks, flushes against her chest, setting off her breasts. Those breasts! Her eyes are shy, coy, she's a little scared. I want to protect her. Innocent, but not at the same time, I love her impossibilities.

I wanted something for the first time in a long time. I wanted her to be mine. I wanted to claim her. I wanted her to desire me like the aching in my soul. I wanted her to need me the way I needed her to animate my dead life, breathe me into existence. I didn't want to be in the dark anymore and she was the light.

Shut the fuck up and stop laughing at me, God.

By the time I stepped back into that diner, the food was out and my eyes were red. There was nothing I could do about it. I walked up to our table and he was waiting for me.

I heard an old Elvis tune crooning from the jukebox in the corner, mocking me, "Wise men say only fools rush in. But I can't help falling in love with you..."

He was sitting there, watching me intently, completely stoic, solitary and sedate.

I ducked my face towards my shoulder, not wanting anyone to see a break in my armour. It's unacceptable. They didn't notice, but I knew that Eric did immediately. Everyone else was distracted by my leg exposing purple shift dress. It was always the same. Distracting attention from prying eyes was easy when all they saw was beauty, not what was underneath. It was either that, or they were all caught in their own lives and their own world, cooling off on a hot day, coming down for a snack or just enjoying the ambience and company around them. I wished I could be like that.

But I wasn't.

Eric penetrated me without having to make an effort, even from across the room. He just knew. The question was asked from his eyes and held back from his tongue. I wanted him to be behind my defences, the one on the inside, to be able to trust him with my weaknesses, but it seemed more difficult to do than the day before.

"Shall I stay? Would it be a sin, if I can't help falling in love with you..."

"What's the extra burger for?" I deflected. I had sent Eric in to order and get a seat while I talked to Amelia on the phone beside the highway.

"Him," he humoured me, knowing when to leave things alone, by gesturing with his head towards the Camaro where the dog was looking back at us pitifully from the rear window, "He won't stop staring at me."

I couldn't help but snicker.

Now Eric may have known when to humour me, but that's not to say he wasn't persistent. As I slid into the red vinyl booth across from him, he said with concern in his eyes, "You okay?"

His large hand crossed the distance between us and his fingers stroked my cheek before coming to my chin, wanting me to look him in the eye. His touch was fire, blazing through my body. For the moment, it was like his despondency towards me wasn't there and I wanted the feeling to last, but knowing it wouldn't. Whatever had kept him from me still lurked beneath the surface.

"Like a river flows surely to the sea, Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be..."

Right now though, he saw the tear tracks and the redness on my face, worrying.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I whispered.

"The evidence of tears is all over your face, lover. You're not okay," he said softly.

I closed my eyes. Why did he make this so hard? I couldn't talk about this right now.

He'd given me the opening to grasp, to take, but I didn't. We could talk, we could mend the gap, but I was a coward.

His touch infiltrated me, so I took my hands and clasped them in his, taking those tempting hands of his away from my face. They were still warm, soft but worked, allowing the action, even tightening against my touch.

"Not right now, sweetie," I begged, "I don't think I can handle it. I just want to get some food in me right now."

A protest rose in his eyes that wouldn't be ignored, threatening to spill into his voice.

"I'll tell you later, I promise," I swore.

His eyebrow rose, but the moment passed. He passed me my plate of food, a cheeseburger with bacon and barbeque sauce, fries and some onion rings.

While he leaned over the table to kiss my forehead, I cringed, scowling at the sight of his matching plate. Eric merely grinned over his plate as he settled into his booth.

His hamburger monstrosity distracted me from a rather disappointed red haired waitress he waved over.

"What is it that you need?" she asked, slightly pitifully.

"An ice cream float for my girl. Coke and chocolate, please," he ordered.

I frowned, confused at Eric's actions as the girl walked away. She'd probably spit in it out of spite. I had noticed Eric's appearance, after all. I ascertained she did as well.

He patted my cheek with a smirk, "You need an ice cream float."

I merely shook my head and watched, disgusted, as he began to scarf down about a pound of beef stuffed onto his fully loaded double-decker cheeseburger with a side of chilli cheese fries and onion rings. Eric took great pleasure in my disdain watching him eat.

Seeing him put away that much food could have put me off eating, but I was hungry, so after he encouraged me to eat for a few moments, I practically inhaled my food.

By the time our waitress set down that float, I realized something.

Eric called me his girl.

And as I sipped down the drink, I thought that maybe things will be okay. Maybe I meant as much to him as he did to me.

"Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you."

"Grey."

"What?" I asked puzzled, through a bite of French fry.

Eric once again tilted his head to the dog.

"No," I replied resolutely, "It's sickeningly unimaginative."

"Grayson," Eric said proudly.

"Congratulations, you can modify a word!"

"Stray."

I simply glared at him.

"What would you suggest, then?" he asked, annoyed.

"Ripper?"

Eric scoffed, "He's about as vicious as a lop-eared bunny."

"Hitch-hiker."

"Doesn't particularly roll off the tongue…"

"That's reserved for chilli, apparently," I observed as a bit of chilli tumbled from his mouth.

"Those crumbs on your mouth are especially lovely," he teased, causing me to frantically wipe my lips.

Eric chuckled. "He needs something distinguished."

"Freeman," I suggest.

"You can combine words and make puns! Now who's uncreative," Eric accused.

"Eat your food."

"Your ice cream is melting."

As I tasted the chocolate grudgingly, I had to admit that it was the perfect compliment to the salty and smoky flavours of the food.

"Loki," Eric proposed after a pause.

"Oh, I get it."

"What?" Eric asked.

"You shun anything Christian," I realized.

Eric shrugged, unapologetic.

I looked into the earnest face of the dog, watching us eat with noted interest, trying to fit the name, "That dog is not a trickster."

"You got a better suggestion?"

"Odin?"

"I don't look at that dog and see kingly," Eric replied.

"Fine. Your turn."

"Thor," Eric said at last, "He's strong, a survivor, proud."

"Thor," I said, tasting it.

"You just want something Nordic," I teased.

"It's not like I picked Ingmar!"

"Thank God for that!"

"There is something exotic about Ingmar…"

"Don't you even start!" I warned.

That roadside dinner was a nice respite. Only respites never last very wrong.

She ignores me again and I can't ignore her.

I can still feel her, feel her writing body under mine, feel all those voluptuous curves, her limbs clinging to me, feel her surrounding me as I'm buried inside her, so hot and wet. I can still taste her, taste her sweetness, her innocence, the salt in her sweat. I can still hear her, hear her pleasure, her gasps and cries as she begs and needs me too. I can still smell her, smell her scent, her flavour, our sex, our bodies.

I can still see her eyes on me and how much I need her to look at me like that.

It's primal and spiritual, the closest to heaven that I'll ever be. I've given more of myself to her.

She's mine and I claim her.

I'm not good. I never claimed to be.

I want, I need. She consumes me like a flame and my entire being is on fire, burning for her. She burns through me brighter than the ghostly vestiges of the stars in the sky and she sees me. She sees me. She ignites my soul and suddenly I spark and burst, exploding. She smoulders through my mind, always alive, eternal.

And I fear.

I fear the time the fire is snuffed.

Thor took well to his new name.

We didn't take well to the distances.

We couldn't decide over a goddamned radio station. It was a stupid fucking fight, but it left me shaken and more doubtful than ever with the pounding silence now the only thing between us.

We were dancing like we were afraid to step on each other's toes. Together, but not. Embracing, but apart. His lead was a little too fast. I moved a little too slow…And the music, oh the music, it wasn't helping at all. Everything was out of synch.

The sun was being swallowed whole in the sky, a rapid chase it had been giving fleeing from the predatory night. The sun lost.

For as long as the sun was being stalked, Eric had been speeding down the highway like a madman. Other cars flicked by in blurs, passed around in an intricate series of dodges and near accidents. I could barely feel my hands anymore from gripping the seat so tightly.

"Eric!" I shrieked at last, once he finished swerving around an Impala in the fading light.

He was a man possessed. Here, but not. I could practically see the hellhounds on his trail and the flames licking his heels. His eyes were wild.

"You need to slow down!" I shouted.

Nothing, he kept breaking the speed limit. His dog tags clanked against each other from the rear view mirror like a death knoll.

In the back, Thor had begun to whimper. He might be a bit carsick. Great. I get to deal with a speeding psychopath and the possibility of dog puke.

Grabbing his shoulder, I squeezed as hard as I could to get his attention, watching his white knuckles gripping the steering wheel.

"Eric!" I yelled. "Slow down!"

His body shook violently for a moment as my words finally sunk into him, snapping out of whatever state of mind he had been in. Breaths came out from his lungs in ragged puffs. His eyes were slightly disorientated.

I stroked his arm, "Breathe. Calm down. You're here. You're here," I soothed.

When his eyes snapped to find mine briefly, they were tormented with old pains and old fears, the look of paranoia clouded them. His eyes were painful to look into, to know the horror he had seen reflected back into me. But the car slowed.

I had seen it before. Claude had been a basket case for awhile after coming home. It still happened to him sometimes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered so quietly I strained to hear him, "I'm sorry."

His eyes were a tempest of regret, self-loathing, shame and guilt.

Taking one of his hands in mine for comfort, I replied, "I understand."

His face turned back to me, words about to erupt, but I pressed my fingers to his lips, silencing him.

"Eyes to the road." He did what I said and I kissed his cheek.

"It's okay," I said as I stroked his hand with my thumb, knowing he needed the root to reality.

We had travelled for a mile or so before his voice broke the silence, "There was a guy in my platoon, Charles Twinning. Everybody liked Charlie. He just had that quality about him where you couldn't help but like him. We were ambushed and a firefight broke out. Somewhere in the retreat, we lost Charlie. It was only when we rendezvoused that we realized he was missing. None of us wanted to leave him behind, so we raced back into the jungle. All the while the enemy tracked us. We weren't supposed to go back, but we did anyway, because it was Charlie and command wasn't around to stop us. It was too close to dark and the light was running out. By the time we found Charlie, he was bleeding out, but still alive. Only the enemy trapped us and killed him before we could get to him. There wasn't much of him left."

Suddenly, I understood his desperation to get back to Pam and the horrible flashbacks he must be having. His face was unmoved, his jaw set as he watched the road, but I could sense the torment underneath. I could see the anguish in his eyes. I clasped his hand tighter.

I could feel my throat close and a few stray tears fall from my eyes that could not fall from his.

"You're a good man. You tried. That's all you could do," I said softly. No matter his attitude or his demeanour, I knew deep down, where it counted, his heart was true, a little battered, war worn and beaten, but true. Someone like him with his loyalty and commitment, it was rare.

A sardonic laugh escaped his mouth, "He still died. It didn't amount to anything."

"How many others would have left him? He died knowing he wasn't abandoned," I reminded.

"I can't be late, Sookie," he said softly.

"I know, but you'll be no good to Pam like this, Eric, if you're hurt, or worse," I told him, tucking my head into his shoulder.

"We could use some more gas," he suggested.

"That sounds good."

Eric kissed the top of my head from beside his shoulder, "Thank you. I needed you."

"Thank you for telling me. I know it wasn't easy," I replied.

"No, but I thought you'd understand. I feel like I can trust you," he confessed.

His lip quirked slightly, "That hasn't happened in awhile." I knew that to be a severe understatement.

She's engaged to another man, there's a ring big enough to buy a country on her finger and it's breaking my heart.

You're supposed to be with me. You belong with me. You belong to be free. Don't you get it?

She tastes like sunshine, feels like spring, smells like Heaven, sounds like music and looks like home. That's supposed to be mine, right?

This time, I'm truly begging and grovelling.

I love you. Dammit, I love you.

Come back to me.

If you don't, all the wounds you healed will break open and bleed out. You'll kill me.

Everything's so fucked up. First Pam, now this…

Responsibility calls to me and I was always the responsible one. It's the duty of being the oldest brother.

My baby sister, dammit. She's my baby sister. There it goes again, all the shit in my life. No, it was never fair for Eric Northman. My heart is being pulled and stretched until it breaks.

God hates me, but I can't bring myself to care about that or do anything about it. You won't catch me at your house, Sweetheart.

God, just this one thing?

I'm still not going to church and shit, I'm still sinning and I'm still unrepentant.

Just, let me have this one thing.

I don't know if I can live again without her. There's no colour in the world without her in it. There's no point. For once in my life, I need something and I'm clutching tight. I don't want to let go.

Night is a perilous thing, the time of the seamy, cruel and wicked.

I thought that daylight had exposed our problems and that night was our time of revelry, but it was not so. Night could be just as harmful.

Every seedy eye was on me the second we stepped into the seedy truck stop. Oh, I'd had many eyes on me, but never this. Never a lecherous leer coupled with the hostile sense of destroying the outsider. I was in a world I could not hope to belong and they all knew it.

Ironically, "Stand By Me" was playing over a scratchy radio.

"When the night has come and the land is dark...and the moon is the only light we'll see. No, I won't be afraid, no, I won't shed a tear just as long as you stand, stand by me."

What the hell was I doing here?

I was a nineteen year old runaway in a dive with a man I wasn't married to. Places like these were not places for properly brought up girls. Their innocence is bait for people here, bait to destroy and make horrible. I was frightfully aware of how conspicuous I was, especially stepping in here with Eric. Sure, I was just another victim of the sordid underworld to them, another sleazy story, another small town scandal, but that didn't make my appearance any less suspicious.

"So darling, darling, stand by me, oh, stand by me. Stand by me, Stand by me."

Even though my dress was fairly modest, I felt horribly exposed. Instinctively, I reached for Eric's hand. He took it firmly, staring down every man in that joint with the threat of violence. His gait was slow and deliberate and his actions were translated easily, he'd unleash a world of hurt if I was touched.

I didn't belong in that world, their world. I didn't belong to Eric's world.

I felt an unholy judgment in their eyes, what everyone must see when they look upon me now. I felt pity. I was the sweet girl from the good family who'd trapped herself with a tramp who she'd run away with. I'd be another sacrifice to the underworld. Another warming to gamblers, you lose, you don't win.

My life would be nothing more than a series of judgments. These were but the first in the jury. Could I bear to feel this for the rest of my life? This was what being with Eric meant.

Grease hung in the stale beer scented air. The night had fallen full force and the darkness was only fought off with the sickly glow of fluorescent lights. Thanks to them, I could spot all the unsavoury stains in the truck stop. Her patrons were a gnarly bunch, itching for something to ignite a fight. The workers weren't much better.

Eric settled me into a table close to the doors as he went up to order, keeping himself between the other men in the makeshift rest stop. Once he was done, he sat next to me, glaring at everyone else like a pit bull.

When the food arrived, it looked barely suitable for consumption, but we were hungry, so we forced it down. The occasional glances from the others were unnerving. I realized that I had not uttered a word since I entered the establishment and that did nothing to belay my doubt or the fear in my heart at what could happen, the situation in the truck stop being the most immediate.

After I downed my last bite, Eric slapped some cash on the grimy table and began leading me out of the establishment, grabbing my hand. Only a voice stopped our exit.

"What is this? A dine and dash? Why won't a pretty little thing like you stay and play? Ditch the hippie for a real man." It was the pot bellied man with the dirty beard and beady eyes who had been ogling me all night. He made me feel disgusted.

I could sense the eyes of the rest of the truckers and patrons on me intently, gauging my reaction, excited for a fight. Before I could utter a word of protest, Eric had slipped his car keys into my hand and pushed me out the door. I was tossed into the cold night, my feet scraping along the gravel.

Terror gripped my heart as I watched Eric turn on his feet and stomp towards the man who'd spoken. His long blond hair whipped behind him as his hands slammed on the man's table. I longed to go to him, to stop him, but I'd been cast outside. His message was clear and I did not want to exacerbate things by going back inside. I had no wish, in fact, to re-enter it.

Even through the wind, the zipping cars and the door, I could hear Eric's voice, low and growling, threaten him. He was deadly.

"Listen," his eyes quickly flashed to the man's chest, "Felipe, while you were off sucking down beers and living off your mother's tits, I was in Vietnam. I did a lot in Vietnam. You know what I did there?"

Eric's short laugh was spine chilling and cold.

"Well, all you have to know is that I can and will fuck you up," he began, "I can make you feel more pain than you can imagine. And I can kill you just as easy. No hesitation. What's more is that I'll be just another vet who went crazy, I'll get off scot free for anything that happens between us here. But you, you touch her and I'll fuck you up so bad that you'll never touch another woman. Not only that, I'll make sure you get sent to prison. I wonder what'd happen to a no dick shit like you there."

Eric made of show of standing to his full, intimidating 6'5" height and catching the eyes of everyone else in the truck stop. The message was clear. His threat stood to everyone else as well.

With that, Eric stalked out the doors, the bells chiming violently. I was relieved that he had come out unscathed, but I was numb. He shuffled me off into the car quickly, barley allowing me to keep up on my shorter legs or get a word out. Extracting the keys from me, he peeled out of the parking lot in record time. Thor whined from the back seat as he was tossed to the side of the door.

His dog tags clattered against the glass, a storm had settled between us.

I was too wired after that confrontation with Felipe to stay in the motel room. That's how I found myself out by the highway, huddled against a pay phone. Sookie was in the shower and neither the radio nor the TV would clear my head. The night air and some walking should do the trick.

Besides, Thor needed some water and I needed to make a phone call.

Once the quarters clattered against their brethren, I dialled the number I'd known all my life. I knew my mom would be awake. She liked staying up with a book. It'd lead me into getting into trouble in my illustrious teenage years. What's more, it was summer and then there was Pam…

This whole situation was something I'd rather handle through my mom then through my dad.

The phone picked up on the third ring and I could just imagine my mom trudging from her reading chair in living room to the phone on the side table.

"Hello?" my mother's voice rang out more worn than usual.

"Hi, mom, it's Eric. How's Pam?"

She sighed heavily, "There's no change, honey. She's still in a coma, but she's stabilized since going into surgery."

"So the surgery worked?" I asked hopefully.

"We won't know for a few days. That's what the doctors are saying," she said, sounding frustrated, "Kris and Mikael are at the hospital and said they'd call if they heard any changes. Your dad has to work in the morning, so he's asleep. You know how he is. He's got to keep busy when he's distraught. He built a new shelf last night."

"So nothing's changed?" I was incredibly disappointed. I had hoped…I had wished…for something, anything.

"Yes. Are you alright, honey? Where are you?" she asked immediately concerned and I couldn't help but smile. Alva Northman knew the four of us very well. It was near impossible to pull one over her eyes. The last time that worked, it had been a mass joint cover up effort by the four of us over a broken vase from one of our sibling arguments. We suspected that she knew about it to this day. The silent pact between us was to never draw attention to that particular vase.

"We're an hour or so outside Des Moines, Iowa at a motel," I answered first, "I'm fine."

"We're?" my mom asked, her attention piqued.

"Dammit," I swore softly.

"Eric…" my mother warned.

I groaned, not knowing how to say this, "I met someone when I was in Bon Temps…and um…well…I…"

"A girl…" And suddenly I knew where Pam got her nosiness from.

"Yes," I admitted. Brevity was always appreciated by my mother. She was an English teacher after all and had read her fair share of less than…concise essays.

"What's this girl's name?"

"Sookie. Sookie Stackhouse," I said quietly.

"What's Sookie like?" she asked, and I could still hear the teasing in her voice. Maybe a hint of giddiness too. Something about her firstborn with a member of the opposite sex, I'm sure.

"She's got blue eyes, long blonde hair and an amazing smile. She's funny, smart. Sweet, but sassy and she's got a mouth, doesn't take my crap. Stubborn as hell. She kinda drives me crazy, but I feel like I can tell her things I can't say to anyone else," I explained.

"Sounds like the perfect girl for you," she said earnestly.

"Yeah…about that…" I began, "Her family's crazy uptight and was pawning her off into marriage with a wet blanket for her parents' prestige. They made her get engaged…"

"Eric…" she said and I knew I was stalling.

I sighed, putting it out there, "I asked her to come with me. She's got nothing there, mom."

I heard a sharp intake of breath over the line and a hesitation from her.

"Mom…?"

"How old is she?"

"Nineteen…"

"Is she pregnant?"

"NO! I just met her last week!"

"Soo…you plucked a girl from a restrictive Southern family and turned her into a runaway with no chance of being accepted back home, if the two of you should go down the tubes? Sound about right?" she paraphrased.

"I suppose…"

There was a long pause from my mom. I worried. I was suddenly aware of how improbable and how crazy this all was. The weight of reality was crushing down on me. Had I been thinking? Had I been selfish? I knew I was an asshole, but Sookie didn't deserve that. She was too good. Did I even deserve her? Had I completely ruined her? Had I been a complete bastard?

I only knew that I couldn't lose her, that I had grown to need her in a very short span of time. I'd never thought that possible. Yet, here I was, a culmination of my own selfish whims and desires?

"She must be something, Eric. I have never known you to be this…impulsive."

"She is," I admitted.

"You didn't marry her already, did you?" she asked.

"No!"

"Oh good, I want to meet her first," she said sarcastically.

My mom then sighed, "I suppose she can stay in the guest bedroom. You're staying in yours. I'll work on your father."

"Thanks mom. I love you." I said relieved. She had accepted a lot from us growing up. She had to have been a saint dealing with me after I was discharged from the military and all that damage. I thanked my lucky stars that I'd have one less battle to fight. I knew my dad would sway to my mom's side if it was important to her. He could be stubborn, ranging into bull headedness, but my mom knew how to work him.

"That's very sweet," she replied unimpressed, seeing right through me. I knew I'd be doing chores with no complaints the second I got home.

"I should go. We'll probably go straight to the hospital and arrive in the afternoon," I explained.

"Alright, honey, I'll see you then," she replied.

"Bye-" I started, but my mom cut me off.

"Do you love her, Eric?"

"…Yes," I said at last, "I think she's the one for me."

"I can't wait to meet her, then. Be careful, honey."

As I washed away the day from my body, I agonized, more tormented than ever. The water poured down my back and soothed my body, but not my mind. I couldn't help the tears that came, hoping the water would mask my sobs. Was this all a mistake?

We'd passed the truck stop and Des Moines in complete, awkward silence. I didn't know how to talk to him after what had happened. I didn't know what to do or say.

The events after pulling into the motel confused me even more.

Upon parking the car in front of a dim lamp, he reached over to pop the glove compartment, pulling out a small satchel. I heard objects clink against each other inside it. Eric pulled them out and pressed one into my hand, a ring. A wedding band, to be exact.

"Put it on," he instructed, as he slid on its mate on his own finger.

I balked, staring at the rose gold band, "What?"

Eric sighed, "The lobby window faces the turnoff and the parking lot. Whoever's in there can see who enters or exits the motel. They'll know I came in with a woman. I don't check in with you and he'll think I brought a prostitute. I don't have time for questioning from the police if the guy behind that desk is honest. I don't think you want that attention either. Secondly, you can't check in unless you're married."

I closed my eyes, damning the utilitarianism of it all. It was just practical business, nothing more. I slipped the ring on, wishing it wasn't all just a farce. It was hard being a woman sometimes.

"When'd you get them?" I asked.

"Yesterday afternoon, pawnshop in Bon Temps," Eric replied

I groaned as Eric opened the door, ushering us out. Amelia's entertainment just kept getting better and better. No doubt the pawnshop owner had spilled Eric's little escapade.

The wiry man behind the worn desk eyed us suspiciously as we entered holding hands, but seemed friendly enough, given his occupation. I sensed the suspicion was for his safety from the occupational hazard of the undoubtedly unsavoury guests who'd stayed here. The room was run down and in need of a new coat of paint and a few repairs, but it was thankfully clean.

"We'd like a room for the night, please," Eric announced.

"Sure," replied the man behind the desk. His nametag indicated his name to be Barry. "We've only got rooms with one bed remaining. Is that alright?"

"Of course," Eric replied.

Barry reached behind the desk and pulled out a form, along with a large bound book. "I'll need you two to fill these out."

Eric filled out the guest book before passing a pen to me. The moment of truth. I tried to get my hand to stop shaking. Eric squeezed my hand, giving me strength, beforeI set my hands on the table and filled out the line as 'Sookie Northman' and signed it like I had done it a million times and not for the first. I could see Barry's eyes inconspicuously glancing at our hands while we were filling things out.

"Thanks," Barry said once Eric had completed filling the form, "I'll just need your wife to sign the form as well. Plus some identification, please. Then you'll be on your way."

SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!

On the inside I was panicking, but outwardly, I smiled warmly at Barry, something my mother made me practice growing up, "Of course."

I signed the form, as well, where Barry indicated, hoping it matched the guest book. The only thing I could do was dig into my purse, retrieve my wallet and hand him my driver's licence.

"Umm…ma'am, the names don't match…" I could see the wheels turning behind Barry's eyes, taking in the names, the different states of the licences, my accent, his lack of accent…

Thinking quickly, I smiled and grabbed Eric's hand, "We only just got married a month ago and my name change petition hasn't come through."

I looked into Eric's eyes hopefully, "He's hoping there'll be a new licence for me by the time we get home to Chicago."

Eric smiled warmly at me and the look in his eyes melted my heart. I wished he wasn't just playing a part for Barry. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it, "I am."

"Knowing you, we'll be lucky to get it by the time school starts at UIC," he teased.

Then looking at Barry, he said, "She's been there two years and still hasn't gotten her licence changed."

"Well, I didn't have a reason to," I replied saucily, causing Eric to smirk.

"Mmm…you're going back from visiting your folks?" Barry asked

"Yeah, we thought we'd have our honeymoon in New Orleans and then see my family before heading back. My grandma wasn't able to make it up for the wedding and I couldn't do without her meeting my husband, now could I?" I revealed. Never mind that Grandma LaFleur was just as horrible as her daughter and Adele Stackhouse had died a year and a half ago.

"No," Barry replied with a smile. He seemed to buy our story, thank God!

"Here's your room key, it's for room 218. Just go exit the lobby and head left, you'll see the stairs at the end of the building. 218 is the third door on the left once you go up the stairs," Barry explained.

We said our thanks and escaped into the cold air of the night, making our way to the room in bitter silence.

Eric had offered to bring our things up, so I announced I was going to be taking a shower. Taking off the ring and placing the thing on the bedside table, I ended the farce. I think we both needed space.

So this left me alone in the shower, trying to wash away my fears to no avail and I had to get out some time.

Deciding I could hold it off no longer, I turned off the water and wrapped myself in the slightly rough towel. Grabbing my clothes, I closed my eyes and opened the door. There was no sense in hiding all night in a tiny bathroom.

She emerged from the bathroom with a trail of steam billowing behind her like some sort of goddess. Her wet hair clung tightly to her most, damp shoulders. The towel did little to disguise her ripe, curvaceous form and revealed her long shapely legs. She captured my attention immediately from where I lay on top of the sheets of the bed. The radio I had on was nothing more than an idle distraction for my barrelling thoughts.

"You've lost that lovin' feeling, whoa, that lovin' feeling. You've lost that lovin' feeling. Now it's gone...gone...gone..."

I was instantly aroused by her, but the slouch of her shoulders and her uneasy demeanour, the sadness emanating from her body deflated that quickly. It seemed like she was trying too hard to hold it together as she placed her dress on a chair to prevent wrinkles.

As she walked by me, I reached my long arm for her hand and clasped it in mine, drawing her attention and pulling her to sit on the bed. Sitting up, I automatically pulled her into my arms, resting my back against the headboard. Her body slumped against mine and her arms clung to my chest.

I kissed her temple and inhaled her sweet, clean scent. She smelled like heaven, too good for the likes of me. God, she was addicting, my drug. "Are you okay?" I asked looking into her eyes.

"Yes," she whispered, but couldn't look me in the eye.

"Lover?"

Her shoulders shook, her breath caught and then she broke, sobbing. "No," she cried and it broke my heart.

I stroked her head and let her cry on my shoulder, "It's gonna be okay."

Sookie pushed off from my embrace, her eyes wild, "Eric, what are we doing? This is crazy! This is insane!"

"Sookie…"

"I can't go home, Eric! I can't go back! They all know what happened. I'll never be welcome there again!" she exclaimed, brokenly.

"What?"

"Amelia told me this afternoon. Andy Bellefleur caught us at the church and it's only a matter of time before they find out about your stunt with the rings! Everyone knows I'm the town slut! I'm nothing more than a disgraced floozy, a whore," she exclaimed.

"I don't even know what we are! I don't even know what this is! But here I am without a clue! I don't know what I'm doing. Is this real? Do you really care? Because I don't know anymore. I don't even know if this is worth it! I'm totally screwed now, Eric. I've got nothing and you're…I don't even know what you want from me. It's like I'm the biggest loser and everyone knows. I've gambled away everything. What did I do it for? I'm a joke, a scandal. What the hell am I doing? Going to your family when your sister's in a coma?" Her shoulders began to shake and tears began to flow freely from her face. I tried to brush them off, but she wouldn't let me. I was a failure.

"Are you faking this? Because you look at me like you do in that in the lobby and then you're cold…If you're just gonna break my heart, just tell me now. Please. I love you, I really do, but if this is all just a charade and a game to you…I need to know now," she whispered, begging. Those blue eyes I had fallen for looked back at me with indescribable pain that I knew I had put there myself. Regret hit me instantly. What had I done?

"What I feel for you is more real than anything I've had for a long time. You're the one thing I can't let go of. There's nothing selfless or giving about it," I admitted.

My head fell in shame, I couldn't look at her. "I'm sorry, I'm a selfish bastard, I know that. I'm an asshole and I never deserved you in the first place. You're too good for me. I'm not a good person and I've fucked you over with my shit too. You don't deserve my damaged goods. You deserve someone who can give you everything I can't, someone who's not broken and messed in the head, someone who's not a horrible killer, someone who doesn't hurt you. I'm not that person. I never will be. I destroy everything. It's all I'm good at. I can't even function normally anymore and now I've hurt you…I'm ruining you and I love you. How fucked up is that?"

She took my face in her hands and pulled it up to face hers, "No, Eric. You're the best person I've ever met and you have more compassion and heart than anyone from that horrible town. You're not the one who doesn't deserve me. I don't deserve you," she said with fierce resoluteness.

"I don't deserve someone who would have the courage to go against everything that Godforsaken place stands for, someone who saved me from it. I needed you and you were there," she whispered.

"Hate to disappoint you, but that's because I couldn't leave without you."

She sighed and pressed her forehead to mine, "Good thing I don't care what you think, then. You are beautiful to me and that's what matters. All the cracks are part of you and I don't care about that. I see those cracks, but I don't see a bad person. I see someone who tries to be who they want to be, who tries to be good. That's all that matters. I know it's not easy for you to care after all you've done, all you've been through, everything you've seen, but you still do. I know it. You saved Thor. And you'll drop everything for your sister and your family. That's not a bad person, Eric. It's just the opposite. I think it's miraculous that you're still intact morally."

"I just need to know that this crazy thing between us is real, because it scares the shit out of me," she confessed.

"See, I don't deserve you," I whispered against her lips. When I kissed her and tasted her full, pouty lips, I groaned. I could feel her burn all the way down. This was what I had been missing all day, the connection, the closeness.

"I can't promise that it won't be hard, that it'll be easy, but I meant what I said, that I'll try my hardest to do everything in my power to make you happy. I love you," I told her.

She smiled at me, like a weight had been lifted of her shoulders, "That's all I need."

"We're in this together, okay?" she said, "And I need you to talk to me, because when we're not on the same page, it scares me, like I'm on a runaway train and can't get off. I don't know what's inside your head and if we want this to work, I need to know what's there."

"And you don't scare me and I'm not going to run just because it's hard, okay?" Sookie continued, running her hand down my cheek.

"That I can do," I said, "You're not gonna ask for a ten karat diamond are you?"

She smiled, "No, that's for the five year anniversary. You should probably start saving up now."

"Think I could negotiate a better price?"

"Oh, I don't know, what do you have in mind?" she asked naughtily.

"This."

And then my mouth found hers again. All I felt was my burning desire for her, a desire that would never be quenched or satisfied. Her lips were the sweetest drug, her body a dragon I could not resist chasing. She tasted like honey and her mouth was so warm, so hot. I wanted nothing more than to taste more of her.

I traced a path to her jaw, down her neck. She was soft and still damp from her shower and it was delicious. Her neck was exposed to me willingly and I could not resist placing the open mouthed kisses there, licking her pulse point. I sucked her neck hard, knowing full well it would probably leave a mark. I felt the need to claim her. It was going to match the one fading on the other side of her neck from the church. The aching moans and her startled gasps did nothing but spur me onwards in my exploration, her clavicles her chest. My hands smoothed along her luscious shapely legs, her graceful arms and those wickedly tempting hips.

I felt her fingers tangle in my hair, grabbing, pulling, anything to keep feeling the sensations, as addicted to me as I was to her. Her free hand traipsed my back mindlessly, too lost to her pleasure to think. Everything about her drove me crazy, setting a fire inside that incited frenzy in me and I wanted more.

Without preamble, I swiftly pulled the towel off her body revealing her devilish nude form to me. Those gorgeous, full breasts, large and perfect, God I was obsessed with them. Her amazing breasts gave way to her small waist which flared into those sensual hips, fulfilling her erotic hourglass figure. I could do nothing but growl, thinking of her shapely thighs wrapped around my hips as my eyes travelled down and then back up to her flat stomach that lead me to her sacred mound of golden curls and her promised land.

She was absolutely beautiful. I needed to possess. She was mine.

Sookie caught my eyes full of mischievousness and shot me a smile ripe with promise, beckoning to me.

My hand made to touch her breast, but she swatted me away.

"You're not being very fair," she pouted.

"Why's that?"

"You're still clothed, I'm not," she explained wryly.

I took her hand and guided it to my painful arousal tenting my jeans, stroking her tiny hand along the bulge, relishing the friction, "That fair enough for you?" I hissed.

Her whimpering reply only made me moan.

With her body still naked and wet, she climbed onto mine, straddling my cock, grinding her hot pussy on my jean covered member. I was so over clothing, I wanted a different kind of friction. Luckily, Sookie was on the same wavelength. Her hands slipped under the hem of my t-shirt, slipping over my muscles, making me squirm, while I busied myself with grabbing her round ass to help her in the process of grinding me. Needless to say, I was thoroughly aroused by the irresistible blonde rubbing up against me.

"Eric?"

"Yeah," I asked from somewhere along her neck.

She giggled, "You're gonna need to lift your arms up, sweetie."

I just smiled and did as I was told as she pulled my shirt off and began to attack my chest with her mouth. She made me feel like I was sixteen years old, inexperienced, but unconcerned and free. Like nothing could touch me. She held all the storms that warred within my soul at bay. Her hands explored my back and sides as her wet kisses danced along my chest and pectorals. That sassy mouth of hers encased a nipple and sucked.

My hands cupped her soft breasts and squeezed, causing her to gasp, "Bite a little," I requested. She was more than happy to comply, rigorously as I lavished attention to her breasts, teasing her peaked nipples with my fingers.

I groaned as her hand found my bulge again and stroked teasingly. Two can play that game.

I slipped a hand from her breast, trailing down her stomach, brushing against her golden hairs. Distracting her from opening my pants, my fingers traced her lips before inserting into her hot, wet sheath. Fuck, she was wet.

Sookie squirmed against my hand, bucking and moaning.

I caught her open mouth with mine and pulled her closer, so that our naked bodies brushed against each other tantalizingly. Her breasts were pressed against my chest as we continued to tease each other's lower bodies.

At last, she was able to pull open my belt, pop the button and slip the zipper down, making sure to cop a feel, relieving some pressure on my throbbing erection. I groaned in relief.

She just smiled at me.

The thing with Sookie is that each sexual experience she had liberated her even more, emboldening her every single time. This time was no exception. It was quite possibly the hottest thing I'd ever seen. She pulled my fingers out from where they were inserted into her core and sucked her own juices off them. Her sweet mouth enclosed on each digit and her velvet tongue caught every last drop with precision. I could feel my dick twitch.

I pulled her head to mine and kissed her passionately, wanting to taste her flavours, her tongue slipping against mine.

She broke away from me long enough to grab the waist of my boxers and jeans and pull them off my legs, leaving me as naked as she was, trailing wet kisses down my body in her wake. I thought it was rather cute she took the time to grope at my ass. The girl was a bit obsessed with it, but I can't say I minded in the slightest bit.

A moment's hesitation stopped her briefly as she considered my considerable length. She caught my eyes questioningly, so I smiled my reassurance and was met with her mouth enveloping the head of my penis. Her tongue traced my slit, finding the precum. I watched her head bob back and force as she sucked my dick hard. She wrapped her hand along the excess length and pumped. Taking her free hand, I brought it to my balls and helped her massage them.

I swore I saw that little vixen wink at me as my eyes rolled into my head in ecstasy. It wasn't long before my muscles were tensing and sweet release took me. I yelled out her name, blowing out my load all over her breasts and her body, breathing hard.

She was sticky, coated in me, my cum, completely marked and I was turned on again. Her body glistened of sweat, water and cum. My beautiful mess. I wanted nothing more than to fuck her.

I took her body and flipped her onto her back, my mouth assaulting her breasts, sucking her nipples hard, tasting myself all over her. She was screaming in pleasure and grabbing my shoulders hard, digging her fingernails. I sweetened the pot by inserting my fingers into her folds again, rubbing against her sweet spot, using my thumb to flick her clit.

Kissing a trail from her heaving breasts to her glistening pussy, I brought her off with my fingers and tongue, watching her body shudder and shake with pleasure.

As her orgasm took over her body, I repositioned myself and wrapped her legs around my waist before I roughly sheathed myself inside her. Her head was thrown back and a cry of absolute joy sounded from her throat in surprise.

I could feel my body weep with the joy of completion, oneness. She stilled against me and her eyes popped open. It was then I knew she must have felt it too. Our connection, it was real. In that moment, I knew that we were both open books, revealing everything to each other and that all was right and perfect with us. I was desperate to have her, to cling to this feeling, the sex of the body, heart and mind. I longed for the synergy that existed between us, where we were on the same page. After everything that I had lost, she was the one pure thing in my existence.

She kissed me hard and I returned the favour, plunging into her tight folds. Her nails were scratching my back, undoubtedly drawing angry red marks that I didn't care about as I pounded into her, setting a frenetic pace. Our bodies pressed tightly against each other. I felt like I was on fire, as if flames were very well licking up my veins. My hands squeezed her hips and toyed with her breast as our tongues fought a winless battle. She met me thrust for thrust, our cries muffled against our mouths. Her body moved against mine like liquid flame.

Needing more, I hooked one of her legs around my shoulder. This particular new angle caused her to scream in the most delightful way and I could feel myself bury even deeper inside her. It caused her walls to constrict on my cock.

Just as I started to be unable to take the tightening of her folds, my thrusts becoming erratic, her hand cupped my ass and kneaded, setting off my orgasm, releasing my load inside her. Her body tensed against mine and she suddenly became limp as the golden waves ripped through her body.

I pulled her tightly against my body as we kissed, stroking her back. Her leg was still wrapped against my hips and I was still buried inside her. I placed kisses around her face and she cuddled into my arm, her hands exploring my chest and abs.

We were all sweaty, dirty and primal, panting and spent. She looked completely pillaged. I loved it.

Her finger traced my bottom lip for a moment before she sucked it in her mouth.

"We need to get cleaned up," she said after a moment.

I smirked, "What if I like you all dirty?" I asked, trailing a finger along her sticky breast, "It's really sexy."

"Well, I don't want to sleep dirty and we need to get the sheets changed. Looks like I'll have to take another shower," she complained, not very disappointed.

After we hopped in the shower and got even dirtier before getting clean, I called Barry to bring up some clean sheets. Just before he hung up the phone, I could hear him mumbling something about newlyweds. While Sookie was brushing her hair out in the bathroom, a knock sounded at our door. Barry couldn't look at me when he dropped off the sheets. I suppose it might have been my receiving him in just my jeans. Nevertheless, he was entertaining, to say the least.

At long last, after we changed the sheets, Sookie and I fell asleep together like the day began, naked, whole and complete.

I watched the afternoon sun burning down on St. Paul, Minnesota. We were loitering in the parking lot of United Hospital, still entombed in our little world in the car. It was a beautiful cocoon. The wind tickled our hair through the open windows and Thor was panting slightly in the heat. I knew achingly that going outside meant all the trials and tribulations of yesterday. The world was not so kind or generous. It wasn't a charmed existence. No, it was brutal and nasty, mostly hurtful.

We had been parked for a whole minute, but I hadn't moved from my seat, fearing what lay beyond. This time it wasn't just strangers, it was Eric's entire family, his entire family wrapped up in their grief and the uncertain survival of their youngest child. How could I breach their realm at a time like that? I did not belong here.

I did not belong here with my Southern roots, Louisiana accent and lack of winter clothes. They dressed differently here. It made me nervous. Hell, it was a good ten or twenty degrees cooler. I was a marked outsider. My nerves rolled and stirred in my stomach causing knots.

I could feel Eric's concerned gaze on me. He took my hand out of its death grip with its partner and rubbed the circulation back into the white fingers.

"They'll love you, I promise."

"I'll wait in the car or take Thor out…It's not right to intrude on you guys. I'd hate to do that," I rambled.

"For me? Please," he requested.

His eyes were worn and tired, he sighed, "I need you there with me."

And I realized I could not say 'no' to those eyes. Especially when I realized that he did indeed need me in some small insignificant way, because it was going to hurt when he saw Pam.

I took a deep cleansing breath. It did nothing to calm me down.

"Okay," I said and before I ran out of courage, I pulled open the car door and stepped out of the car.

My love is all I have to give...without you I don't think I could live...

Just thought I'd throw that out there...it's what this chapter totally reminded me of. And there was a time when I loved the Backstreet Boys to pieces. Yes, something happened to me between the BSB and Guns N' Roses that seriously corrupted me lol. ;) We should also throw in a little "Stand By My Woman" by Lenny Kravitz lol.

I just realized towards the end that I wanted to include some songs...and I'm a sucker for Motown stuff. I grew up with it from my babysitter who put it on in the car. I also realized it was a thread I wanted to continue from the last chapter...It's kinda difficult though, finding songs in that era that I could use and know of...last chapter I really restricted myself...but this one, I just went...Go for it! Lol.

I need to thank EBCM for her VERY helpful suggestions since I've never been to St. Paul. She's been my idea pinger for the better part of writing this story.

The first three paragraphs I wrote were when Eric and Sookie wake up in the car and I went…*Barf* Too fluffy. I have an aversion to fluffy...it's hard for me to write fluffy. I added the bit about things taking a turn and went…ahh…much better lol. I added the letters later. There's loooooots of religious and sexual imagery and the whole motif of fire and a storm…And uh…LaFluer…it's Cajun. Hehehe. This chapter had a funny way of actually ending up longer than I expected it would be. I didn't think it'd be this long. When I was half way through, I thought it would just be a little shorter...but I had to add things and flesh things out a bit more and the scenes needed more variety and this thing ended up being LOOOONGER. About 2 to 4000 words longer than I expected. The last ten pages made me go...wow.

As usual, I'd love to hear your feedback!

Now it's time for me to Cowboy up! After that, I'm going to take an excursion into a fic that I've been wanting to write since September but haven't gotten to...It's not my Jessica oneshot...but it is a TBverse fic. I'll probably get back to Every Sunset around late December/mid January.

~simba_317