A/N: Told ya this one wouldn't take as long!

I was bowled over by all your amazingly kind reviews for the last chapter. Thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed and generally supported this story over the last few months.

A few of you were asking about a sequel to Lifting the Veil. Although I'd never say never, one of the things that I enjoyed doing with this story was taking the bits out of the books that I loved the best and using them for my own nefarious means. I'm not sure it will be easy for me to come up with a quality sequel with what remains and let's face it, there's very few bad guys left for me to stake!

That said, I definitely plan to write some more SVM stories and have a few ideas knocking around already. So if you're interested to read more, please add me to your author alerts.

Anyway without further ado (or should that be "I do"?) Here it is.

Charlaine Harris owns the rights to these characters.

"Eric?" I asked, suddenly feeling a little light-headed. "Did you just ask me to marry you?"

He looked at me, seemingly paler than usual, wave upon wave of nervous energy coursing through the bond. He ran his fingers through his hair, looking a little flustered and more human than I'd ever seen him.

"I think I did," he said with a big smile. "As you can see I planned this proposal to the last detail, everything down to the highly romantic setting..." He gestured to the rubble and smoke that used to be the Incubus and I let out a snort.

"And I knew you were planning it," I said, playing along. "So I made sure to look my best for the occasion..."

"Sookie, you do know that when I said that I like my women dirty, that's not what I meant?" he teased. I laughed and we shared a smile.

Eric went quiet for a second and anxiousness crept through the bond once more. He frowned. "You didn't answer me," he murmured.

"Oh God, Eric," I said hurriedly. "I didn't mean to keep you hanging. Of course I'll marry you. Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife."

A huge grin crept across his face and it made my heart flutter in a whole new way. He scooped me up, kissing me with reverence and every cell in my body knew I'd do anything to bind myself closer to this man. I loved him and I knew I would love him forever.

"Mrs Northman," he mused, setting me back down on the grass after another kiss that had curled my toes and melted my panties. "That has a certain ring to it, don't you think?"

"Hey buddy, who said I'm changing my name?" I teased.

Eric looked at me, crestfallen. I rolled my eyes. Trust that to be the thing he cared about.

"Okay, okay," I said with a giggle, holding my hands up in defeat. "Sookie Northman it is. God Eric, I swear sometimes you act like you're from the Middle Ages..."

0-0-0-0-0

Devon and I went back to help the emergency services the next day but they were still pulling starving vampires out of the rubble of the Incubus three days later. The number of humans confirmed dead was a catastrophic 137, with another 5 in hospital in critical condition. Ironically, a number of those killed had been the anti-vamp protesters camped out in the front entrance of the hotel. It was impossible to tell how many vampires had died. I knew of at least one but I certainly wasn't going to be confirming the details of his death with the authorities. The FBI were still investigating the bombing and there was a huge public outcry, encouraged by the American Vampire League, to hunt down those who were to blame.

We heard that Felipe de Castro had survived the attack, being found in one of the piles of rubble that I had identified as containing voids. Eric's friend Lexi had also survived although apparently she had lost both her legs in one of the explosions. Eric assured me that vampire limbs did grow back but that it was a long and painful process. Neither of us thought to enquire after Giselle.

Despite Eric's suggestions to the contrary I refused to marry him when he woke the night after the attack. There was no way I was getting married without Gran and Jason there and I knew Pam would be crushed if she didn't get to arrange that bridal shower. So we decided to stay at the Bellagio for a week and Eric arranged to fly our nearest and dearest out for a Vegas wedding.

Getting married in a chapel in Las Vegas certainly wasn't what I'd dreamed about when I was a little girl but I honestly couldn't have been happier. Once we'd made the decision to get married, we both just wanted to do it as quickly as possible and, let's face it, Eric and I weren't exactly a conventional couple, so normal rules just didn't apply to us.

Eric and I drove out to meet the jet at midnight, two nights after the bombing. I let out a scream of delight as Gran alighted the steps, holding on to Jason's arm. They were followed down to the tarmac by Amelia, Pam, Tara and JB. My eyes welled up when I saw Alcide emerge at the top of the stairs. He had come, despite everything, and, ignoring Eric's growls, I saved my biggest hug for him.

The next night I went shopping for a dress with Pam, Amelia and Tara. They were a terrifying force to be reckoned with, dragging me to boutique after designer boutique, pulling and primping me in every direction. I finally settled on a vintage oyster silk strapless gown. It hugged my curves beautifully, draping across the bodice and flowing out into an elaborately embellished train. Gran cried when I showed her and I knew then that I had found the dress.

That same night we went out for my bachelorette party. Much to Eric's chagrin, Amelia insisted that we all dress up as sexy cowgirls and hit some of the Vegas night life. Gran came out just for the meal, sporting a pink cowboy hat (but thankfully foregoing the requisite miniskirt and boobtube). Despite protests from Amelia and Tara, I had refused to go to a strip club, deeming it way too tacky, but when I fell into our suite at 3am fuelled by pink champagne and too many gin and tonics, I found a certain vampire there waiting for me in a Stetson and chaps ready to give me a show of his own. I was more than thrilled to spend the rest of the night playing rodeo, keeping my cowboy boots on at Eric's request...

0-0-0-0-0

Three nights before the wedding Eric and I were sat in Cartier as one of the assistants brought out trays and trays of wedding bands for us to choose from.

"What do you think?" I sighed, dazed and confused by the overwhelming choice. "I just can't decide what to go for."

"I'm sure I will love whatever you choose for us, Lover," Eric said with a smile, ignoring the assistant who was drooling at him from across the table. "Although may I recommend against going for something in silver," he joked.

My smile went flat as something twigged at the back of my mind. Silver wedding rings. I tried to concentrate on that thought, as Eric looked at me perplexed.

"I know that humans who run with vamps are just as bad as the vamps themselves but what about the people who work here? ... they're gonna die too. Doesn't seem right whatever Steve says."

Steve.

My thoughts flashed to Carl in the warehouse after the attack at Fangtasia, so many weeks ago. Texas. The leader of the Fellowship of the Sun was in Texas.

Silver rings. Steve. Texas. Bombings at the Incubus. Steve. Loathing fangbangers. Shootings at Fangtasia. Steve.

The connection was tenuous but my instincts told me I was right. Steve Newlin. He was the link.

"Eric," I whispered, trying not to attract the attention of the store assistant. "I think I know who was responsible for bombing the Incubus..."

0-0-0-0-0

Eric followed protocol and phoned Felipe de Castro with the information. We hadn't told him that I was telepathic but after my actions to find the survivors, we knew it wasn't going to be a secret from the wider vampire community for much longer. At least Patrick's contacts on the police force had agreed to conceal my identity from the human authorities. De Castro was extremely grateful for the intelligence and, asked Eric and I to meet him at his hotel suite at the Venetian, which he also apparently owned.

We went to the hotel a few hours later. Eric had made sure that we had a full vampire contingent with us, including Pam, just in case Felipe had somehow found out that Patrick and I were complicit in Victor's death.

"Meez Stackhouse. Eric," he drawled, accent heavy, as we were shown into the suite by his guards. "Thank you for coming."

"It's my pleasure your majesty but please do call me Sookie," I replied with a slight curtsey.

"Sookie," he continued, as if testing the name out, rolling it over with his tongue. "I have heard about the part you played in evacuating my hotel and all your exploits to rescue your bonded and to help find me and the other survivors. I invited you here because I wanted to thank you personally."

"It was the least I could do, your majesty," I replied, honestly.

He smiled, artlessly, at us both and continued. "I also called you here to tell you that, with the permission of your King of course," he nodded at Eric, "the State of Nevada would like to extend its formal protection to you..." I was somewhat bewildered and De Castro smiled at my confusion. "As such, any attack on your person would be answered not just by the Kingdom of Louisiana but also by Nevada."

I opened my eyes in amazement. Did Felipe just say he'd go to war if anyone hurt me? I looked to Eric for guidance. He beamed at me and nodded and I could feel oceans of pride flowing through the bond.

"Thank you your majesty," I replied, still slightly staggered. "I am incredibly honoured."

"Good, good," Felipe agreed with a genuine smile. "Now onto less formal matters, I have heard about your plans to get married this week in Las Vegas..."

Oh shit. I immediately panicked. Did he want an invitation? We were getting married in his town after all. I started stuttering something about invitations not having been sent out yet but thankfully Eric stepped in.

"That is correct Felipe. However we have chosen to have a small intimate reception for the wedding itself; less than a dozen close friends, family and members of my retinue," he explained calmly. "We expect to have a more formal vampire reception at some point later in the year."

Felipe laughed. "Eric," he replied with a smile, "you mistake my reason for raising the issue. I was not, how do we say, angling for an invite. On the contrary, I would like to offer you the use of my estate in the Nevada mountains as an alternative location to hold the wedding."

He turned to me to explain. "There is a beautiful old chapel in the middle of the grounds, covered in roses and night-blooming jasmine. It really is idyllic."

"It sounds wonderful," I replied trying to keep my voice neutral but secretly screaming inside to Eric as to how much I wanted to accept Felipe's offer. I looked at Pam who seemed to be doing the same. She'd never been too hot on the Vegas chapel idea in the first place, no matter how classy the reception was going to be.

I squealed with delight when Eric smiled indicating that we could accept and ran up and gave Felipe a hug. "Thank you," I said breathlessly as Eric nodded his thanks in a more kingly fashion, although I noted that the corners of his mouth were turned up into a faint smirk.

"No thank you, Sookie," Felipe rejoined with a knowing smile. "Nevada will forever be in your debt..."

The suggestive tone of his voice made me think he might be referring to more than just the bombing but I shook my suspicions off as Eric and I said our goodbyes and made our way back to the hotel.

0-0-0-0-0

Gran and I walked along the winding path from Felipe's mansion to the chapel, intermittent torches and candles lighting our way. The chapel was as beautiful as Felipe had described, quaint and charming, overladen with heavily-scented flowers.

We approached the door and I stopped for a second to compose myself as Gran smoothed out the train of my dress. This was right. I knew it with my heart, my soul and every cell of my body. Sure Eric and I would have our ups and downs but we would face any trials that life threw at us, together. I knew without doubt that I loved him unreservedly and he me. I'd never been more sure of anything in my life.

I looked at Gran whose eyes were sparkling with unshed tears, mirroring my own. "Thank you," I whispered. She nodded with a warm smile, kissing me gently on the cheek, knowing exactly what I meant.

"Let's get you to your handsome man," she whispered and I nodded my assent. I could feel ripples of anticipation ghosting through the bond and I knew it was time.

0-0-0-0-0

I lay in bed with my head on my husband's chest, sated and blissfully content, running light circles over his torso with my fingers.

"I meant what I said today, you know," he murmured, kissing the top of my head, "about till death do us part."

"I know," I said softly, matter-of-factly. "So did I."

He was quiet for a second. "I meant it until my death though," he sighed, turning his head away from me, voice low, frustrated and full of unspoken feeling. "Otherwise it's just not enough for me."

I placed my hand gently on his cheek, turning his face back towards me. "I know," I repeated, steadily. A pause. "So did I."

I felt Eric still and then he shifted in the bed, pulling himself out from under me so that he was looking me in the eyes. "Sookie, are you saying...?"

"Yes," I nodded with a smile, eyes glistening with emotion. "I've been thinking about it for a while now, certainly since you lost your memory. What type of person would I be if I just left you alone, knowing it was within my power to stay with you for eternity. I love you. I told you before Eric, I'm in this for the long haul."

He looked at me for a second, shock and amazement evident on his gorgeous face, and then his lips crashed into mine with a kiss that took my breath away. I felt such intense love, such incredible happiness coasting through the bond, that I gasped at the overwhelming feeling of it all. I broke the kiss, looking into Eric's eyes.

"Not until Gran is gone," I said firmly. I knew I only had a limited amount of time with her and I wanted days as well as nights. "But after that, I'm yours for infinity..."

"It's a good thing I like your grandmother as much as I do," he joked, raising an eyebrow. I laughed, playfully slapping his arm.

"But then we'll have forever," I added, serious now, voice heavy with the promise of eternity.

A tender kiss to my forehead turned into a soft smile as he agreed. "But then we'll have forever."

A/N: So I hope you enjoyed it. I'm not sure if the decision to turn Sookie is controversial or not? By all means let me know your thoughts. I, for one, have always thought that that's the only way Sookie and Eric can ultimately work (which scares me a little in relation to the books). Eternity with Eric and Pam sounds just fabulous to me!

I'm dangerously close to 500 reviews, so if you enjoyed the epilogue and the story as a whole, please make my day and leave me a review.

Finally if you want see the inspiration for Sookie's wedding dress, check out the beautiful Rachel Weisz here: www . soundoffcolumn . com/images/rachel-w-2-07 . jpg

Thanks again for reading my little story! X x