It was black, darkness you would not associate with crossing over, changing, dying.

My eyes were heavy, pushed closed with the soil surrounding us and I know opening my mouth would be impossible. I flinched against him as hard as I could. It took only a second to feel his body move the earth with a force unlike any other. I felt bits of soft soil fell past my face as he pulled me from the shallow grave and to the surface.

Moments later I found myself lying with my head propped against the trunk of a tree. He stared at me intently as I drew in ragged and unnecessary breaths. With fist filled with grass I able to stop, we were silent even though the world around us wasn't; it was alive. We were not. My chest still, I sat up a bit more and pulled the elastic tie from my hair, shaking dirt free. Everything hit me, all at once; the Castro, the trunk, the hard ground and the sound of silver chains. I mostly remember the hollow laughter and how I had never felt so alone in my entire life. But then, there he was. Eric. The heartbreak I felt when I saw his chained body thrown next to mine. How anyone was able to weaken him in such a way was surreal in itself. I remember his eyes burning into mine and I felt everything so vividly; it was as if I truly became a part of him.

Vampire politics are a funny thing to me. It isn't funny at all, it's sad really. The ones with the most power, the ones you think have the most wisdom and the decency to be fair are most often the ones who are the least of those qualities.

Two nights ago I woke to a very strange feeling. I had not seen Eric for almost 3 months; I think we were avoiding any conversation that might have to do with some new memories he had acquired. So when I woke in the middle of the night feeling weak and nervous I couldn't shake the idea that it had to do with Eric. Our bond wasn't strong enough for me to feel him all the way in Shreveport but I figured I should bite the bullet and see him the next night. So the next night, I got dressed and headed to Fangtasia.

I felt a chill like no other when I pulled into Fangtasia parking lot and it lacked two things, a bond from Eric and an open sign. There was a knock on my window from a man who looked like a cop, I didn't even hear him come up. The next thing I knew I was in the trunk of a car. I was bound and my mouth was duck taped. My mind could form thoughts. By the time my mind sobered enough to make anything of my situation the trunk was flung open and a large vampire grabbed me. He threw my on the hard dirt. I turned on my back and saw that I was surrounded by men, all vampire men. One I recognized but my mind was still drunk and I couldn't put a name with the face. The familiar face looked down with a sadistic smirk.

Then I felt him, such pain. I gasped against my tape. As the sound the chains got closer, Eric was thrown into my line of vision. His large body landed hard next to mine. As the dust settled, I turned to my side and there his beautiful face lay. He looked weak, like he had been kept up all day. He was too far for me to touch him even though I fought desperately in my restraints. He was only wearing cut off shorts and the rest of his skin was wrapping in silver or covered with cuts and burns.

"Keep your hands off of her!"

Eric fought to sound strong and threatening but it was more of a pathetic plea.

I heard feet behind me and the man I recognized spoke.

"Not so much this time, I want her to be awake."

My head was pressed into the ground a man injected me with something. I was dizzy again and could barely make out a word. I knew people we talking. I tried to focus on Eric but even that was hard. Keeping my eyes open was a battle I was losing at a rapid rate.

I don't know how long I was on the ground but I began to make out some of what Eric was saying. He was on his knees now and his hands were still chained behind him but he was less chained now. He was negotiating with Felipe De Castro. Castro was the man I recognized. My mind was still a little drunk and it was hard for me to understand why Eric and I were here. Castro wanted to protect me.

"Listen to me fool, there are only two options here and I don't make me repeat them. I will choose if you are unable to and if I turn her she will be mine."

"Never!"

"Then it is done. Honestly Eric, the only reason why you were ever even given a choice in the matter was because you are bonded. Turning some one else's blood bonded goes beyond forgivable, in any light. But I would be willing to live with the hardships such an act would cause for a girl who will progress as one of us in a speed unlike any other. Her gift will have new power and she would belong to me, forever."

Felipe smirked as Eric winced at my possible future.

"So you see, I really am offering you a gift. It really is a pity we had to go through all this trouble to convince you of something you should have done long ago."

Felipe knew Eric's choice before I did and he motioned for two vampires to remove the chains. They were wearing gloves and as they pulled the chains from his skin it made the most horrible noise. I could feel Eric's pain and anguish through our bond and everything was sinking in. As I had listened to everything, my mind sobered up a little. I was still dizzy but well aware of my fate.

I flinched against a man with a knife that was cutting the ropes from my arms and legs. Once I was free I scramble over to Eric. I did my best to be careful about his tender skin but I was so scared. I didn't want to die but I didn't have a choice. Eric groaned as his did his best to ignore the pain, he me so close; I felt like I could breathe. Was it wrong to hold the man that was about to kill you and change you existence forever. I didn't care.

"Well we haven't got all night…"

Eric gingerly pulled the take from my mouth. Tears were streaming down my face and I could see Eric's eyes were rimmed with red.

"I am so sorry, my dear one…I"

I cut him off with my lips. It had been a long time since we had an "earth shaking" kiss but now seeming like an appropriate time. Never breaking from my mouth he sat back on the ground and pulled me to his lap. Eric broke from the kiss and ran his cool cheek across my face, his nose went to my hair and he inhaled. He brought his lips back to mine and dipped his tongue into my hot mouth. It was all too calming and all so sad. I knew what he was doing. He was doing his best to create a memory of what I will never be again.

"Eric, Now!"

Eric pulled from my mouth with a growl. His hand went to the nape of my neck and he gently took a handful of hair. I moved my eyes to his and it seemed like everything stopped. This was it. His eyes were soft as he delivered the sweetest kiss he had ever given me. As he pulled away I glanced at his fangs. He tilted my head to the side and planted one last kiss before he bit.

***

Eric slid next to me; he pulled me into his arms. Everything was so unreal, had last night really happen? I looked down at me dirty hands and watched a drop of blood fall from my face and land as a small dot on my new, pale, palm. My eyes shot to Eric when he brought my palm to his lips, never minding the dirt. He closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the scent and taste.

"My child, Sookie, my lover, even as vampire you are still a taste I don't think I will never grow old of."

I could feel the cool stream trailing down my cheeks Eric cupped my face and met my eyes as he pulled me so close to him we would have been breathing the same air. Eric's cool tongue tailed across each cheek and cleaned every crimson line from my face. He pulled away and slid his fingers into my soiled hair before licking his lips.

"I know you didn't want to die, I didn't want to die. If I had not done what I did, you would be with him and I would be dead. He does not care. If I was to do the selfless thing and die for you, he would have killed me and still turned you."

I didn't know what to say. I just laid my head against his chest.

"Come, we must bath and feed you."

He spoke to me like a father would to a child then tightened his grip and brought us both to our feet. Moments later we were flying through the trees. I closed my eyes and held on.

"We have much to speak of and you have much to learn but first you must feed. As new born you cannot live off of True Blood and I'm sorry but this won't be open for any discussion Sookie, you are mine now."

Our bond calmed me and brought along a new sense of willingness. As the wind slowed I opened my eyes, we were at Fangtasia. We landed in the back parking lock and Pam greeted us at the service entrance. She shot me a smile, and then was all business as she turned to Eric.

"Eric, I see that everything has gone as it should. All that you requested is ready for you in your office."

Eric took my hand and Pam followed as we walked into his office. There was a pile of clothes, shampoo and a towel. I didn't sit down; I didn't want anything to get dirty. Eric wrote down a few things for and handed the paper to Pam. Once she was out of the office Eric was standing in front of me. I was holding the pile ready to wash everything away. He took my face in his hands and kissed me, I felt more lust from him this time. Our tongues fought for dominance and for once he didn't hold back his strength. Now that I was more than human, I could handle more Eric. He nipped my lower lip and drew a small amount of blood before pulling away. I looked up in to the deep sapphires of my maker.

"It may have been our preexisting bond but I have to say you are not like any other newborn. You haven't changed all that much."

I took a step back, I knew vampires were a bit wilder when they were young but had he expected me to be like that too? A monster?

He pulled me back to him.

"We all gain and lose pieces when we turn but it's different for you Sookie, in a good way."

Something deep down made me feel like he was only saying to so try and comfort me. It did, I felt calm through our bond and I knew Eric would never lie to me. I still was absorbing everything. I did not want to be some heartless creature of the night.

"Do not look sad, please. Come now, some clean clothes and a warm drink will set you right."

I turned as Pam walked back in the room. Eric's figure brought my eyes back to his.

"I will be with you in a minute; I have to make a call. You won't be alone, Pam will be with you."

He kissed my forehead and turned pulling out his cell phone.

Pam was now grinning as she looked over my soiled and bloody clothes. She grabbed my wrist and hauled me out of Eric's office to a storage closet. The last time I had been in here was after my maenad attack. I set everything down as Pam closed the door. She just stood here in her black slacks and light blue sweater. I began disrobing without any care that Pam was right there, it should have been strange but I felt a mild sense of comfort around her now; not like my bond but nice. I wanted me old things off. I didn't even think, I just tugged and in seconds I was standing in a pile of shreds. I looked up as her as I turned the water on. She still had the same grin on her face. As I turned to step under the water she broke our silence.

"You are lucky it was Eric, you must be grateful for that."

The suds traveled down my body as I began to wash and I could hear her footstep traveling close.

"I know, I am I lucky."

There was truth to what I was saying, my fait could have been worse. Eric's fait, oh god it hurt to even think about that. My hand gripped at the wall as I did my best to reign in my composure. Pam was standing next to me now just out of reach for the water touch her smooth face and pristine cardigan. Her eyes were wide in a curious way.

"He was right, you are different."

"What?"

She didn't answer, just smiled and took the bar of Zest out of my hand. I automatically turned my back to her. She lathered up her hands and washed my back all the way down to my butt. Her fingers lingered on my hips for a moment until I turned to her. Having another woman wash my naked backside didn't arouse me but her touch was comforting, I also trusted Pam she wasn't a stranger and it was nice not being alone in my new situation.

The look on Pam's face would have seemed blank to any human but I saw the message she was sending. She mirrors my previous though, I wasn't alone.

I broke from her eyes after giving her a small thank you smile. Pam dried her hands with the towel before rolling down the sleeves of her light blue sweater. She tossed me the bottle of shampoo and walked out the door as Eric walked in; he had a jean and a shirt with him. He smiled and set his clothes next to mine. He spoke as he swiftly removed his shorts.

"My lover, I do believe we have experienced this scenario before."

He was gorgeous, even covered in dirt and old blood. Eric stepped under the stream next to me. The space barely fit both of us.

"That memory was one of my favorites."

He whispered in my ear as he took the shampoo bottle from me hand. He drew a small amount and worked it into his hair. I just stared at him for a moment all of the cuts and burns were gone but some marks were still present. My eyes focused on his chest and I traced my fingers over the chain patterns as softly as I could. He took a step as he rinsed his hair, and then drew out some more shampoo for me.

"Sookie, turn for me."

I turned my back to him as his large hands worked the floral scented shampoo into my dirty hair. His hands felt amazing –as they always did- and I leaned back into his chest a little. Another part of him made contact with my back first. I stiffened and he let out a chuckle.

"Yes, this is bringing back that memory."

His hands fell to cup my breasts and I turned to let to hot streams rinse the soap from my hair. I felt his lust as he pull me close, his stiff manhood was throbbing against my stomach. His hands slid to my waist and were massaging their way to my butt. I wanted him, I needed him. But then I opened my eyes to a fading scar left from a silver chain. All feeling of lust soon diminished from my body when my eyes focused on his skin. The scars were fading but I couldn't keep myself calm. In instant, everything from the last 24 hours came crashing in on me. My silent heart ached to think how close everything came to ending and how Eric could have been dead; gone, forever. I was a vampire and my life would never, ever be the same. It was all too hard to swallow and accept.

I'm not sure what he picked up first, my sadness through our bond or the scent of my bloody tears. His hands stopped and one traveled up to my chins and lifted my face to his. There was no smirk; Eric looked at me as if he were looking into me soul. He kept my face in his hand and the only noise was the water crashing against our skin. His eyes grew soft and he leaned down to catch my tears with his tongue just as he had done earlier. As he pulled back I picked up his scent and now he was the one ready to spill. I placed my hands on his chest and shook my head. No human ears would have been able to hear the next few words.

"Eric, please don't"

He placed his fingers over my lips.

"Hush, you are different so I will speak to you as I always have. Last night… I failed you."

"No!"

I shook my head.

"Yes, you were, you are my bonded and I should have been able to protect you. I didn't and now…"

He fought for composure; it was so odd to me. I had never seen Eric this emotional, ever. He had lost power and had obviously done more that rattle him. I could feel everything he felt and as horrible as everything was, as alone as we both had felt I opened up. I had to, I had no choice. He was opened to me and so I followed.

A single tear spilled from his eye and left a crimson trail down his left cheek. My hands rose to his face and I pulled him to me. My tongue traveled the path of the tear. He tasted amazing. I looked back at him as I liked me lips clean.

What I said next came out so fast; I didn't even have time to think.

"Erik, I forgive you. You didn't fail me. I am here. I am with you. I could never hate you. I love you!"