Sookie felt his presence as soon as she stepped out of Merlottes. She had just worked the night shift and it was around midnight by now. Like always, she could sense him whenever he was near. She started towards her car, knowing that he would soon step out in a wonderfully graceful way. It was just the way Eric was. Eric. She thought. She kept referring to Eric as he, or him. Didn't want to think his name. It brought back too many painful memories. She had constructed a wall. Poorly made definitely, but still a wall of some sort, to put in her mind. To block out all the pain. All the pain caused from him. From Eric. Not that he had done it purposely. Not at all. It wasn't his fault, that the witch, Hallow, had cast a spell on him. One that took away all he knew. Made him vulnerable, loving, full of emotion. The complete opposite of what she thought him to be. Except, she thought wrong. He had been cold, self-centered, and a manipulative ass. Yet, there had been compassion there as well. Compassion for her. He did whatever he could to save her. Her. Sookie Stackhouse. A bar waitress.

"Lover," She hadn't even noticed his grand entrance. She had been too caught up in her thoughts. As soon as she saw him, her heart skipped a beat. Or two.

He was dressed in his usual fashion. Black jeans, black boots, a black tank top (that one she loved so much), and a black leather jacket overtop of that. All black. He had often referred to her as "his light". So different, yet alike, they were. Black, and white. Night, and day. Darkness, and light.

"Eric," she finally spoke. Her voice was just above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

She was genuinely curious for his answer. What was he doing here? It had been months since they spoke. The last conversation they had was Eric trying to figure out what had happened during the days he spent in her home. She hadn't told him of course.

"I…" he paused, kept his eyes on hers. How did he do that? Make her body heat up, her knees go weak, just from looking at her that way? His piercing blue eyes continued to search her face. Sookie held his gaze, refusing to look away. At least that's what she told herself. The truth was, she couldn't look away. He opened his mouth to speak again.

"I decided it's time we have a little chat, my lover." he purred the words, my lover. Proceeded to take a step towards her. They were about 5 feet away. She didn't move back.

"What would this chat be involving?" she asked him. He cocked his head a fraction, searching her face still. Always searching her. As if she were some foreign object he just couldn't figure out. Weird. She felt the same way about him.

"I think we both know," he started. A smirk taking place on his face. Damn that smirk. "I still have yet to remember what happened those days, lover." he continued, taking another step closer. She felt like she should move. Anywhere. Just away from him. Being in such close proximity did strange things to her. Why did he have to be right in the way of her car? All she wanted to do was get in and drive. Get away. Away from this conversation.

"Yes, and that's because nothing happened." she wished her voice would steady itself. She didn't sound at all convincing, even to her own ears. Eric's smirk grew.

"Please, my lover. Don't bullshit me," he said, taking, yet again, another step towards her.

"Takes one to know one," she muttered, her head now facing the ground. His smirk was even bigger now.

"That may be so.. However, it still doesn't change the fact Sookie," she raised her head. It was a rare thing when he used her name. She liked the way it sounded coming out in his wonderful Swedish voice.

"I'm tired, Eric," she decided that might make him leave. But he was stubborn, a likeness that they shared.

"It will only occupy a few minutes. I'm sure you can spare that for me, my lover?" He said, turning it into a question. A question he believed she would indeed agree upon.

"Please," she started. "Not tonight. I just want to go home, have a shower, and roll into bed. Is that too much to ask?" She tried not to acknowledge how Eric's eyes shined when she mentioned herself taking a shower.

"A shower? I faintly remember something… with a shower," he said, eyes boring even more into hers. Could he really remember something? That would not be good for her. Not now. Maybe not even ever. "Maybe I could join you." he purred, licking his lips. She shivered at the thought. Showers sure were better with a beautiful, Viking vampire there with you. Hands all over you. She forced the memory back behind the poorly constructed wall.

"Hmm.." she started, ignoring his comment. "Well I don't recall such a thing. Maybe you had one with one of your fangbangers," she suggested. His lips curled back in disgust. Sookie automatically realized that fangbangers and vampires never did such a thing. Showering together, that's too intimate. All they do is have sex. Sex and blood. The good life for them I'm sure.

Sookie stared at Eric, wide-eyed. He slowly calmed down, lips going back over his fangs that had shown themselves. She was surprised that he hadn't roared something hateful about the possible idea of him showering with a fangbanger.

"Never," he spoke, his voice a tad unsteady.

"Well then," Sookie broke their gaze. "I unfortunately can't tell you what you want to know." He knew she was lying. She was sure. However, he didn't reply a sarcastic comment. He didn't say anything at all. Just stood there in all his glory, looking at her. Searching her, yet again. She felt nervous under his stare. He looked as though he felt completely at ease. As if he were to wait forever until she said something. Sookie bet that he could wait forever too. If the sun wouldn't burn him to the ground at sunrise. His gaze was too much to handle. She was going to break from it. That's what Eric did to her. He broke her. Physically. Emotionally. Who cares, it happened. So, if he had hurt her so badly, then why did her pulse race whenever he was around. Why did his stare make her knees buckle, make it hard to breathe in even breaths. So many effects he had on her.. Why did he keep doing this? Couldn't he just leave her alone to mend. She needed to break the silence. Get away from him. Into the safe comfort of her own home. Take a nice long shower, jump into her soft bed and forget everything. She also needed to create a new wall to put up in her head. That or repair the one she already had.

"Well, if we're finished here, I'm just going to be on my way." Sookie told him. He still hadn't said anything. Just staring. She took a step towards her car, which was directly behind Eric's wonderfully sculpted body. He reached out and grabbed her hand. His was cool on hers. He raised his other hand and ran it down along her cheekbone. That touch. She remembered it. From all those nights together. She dreamed about it still. That light, feather touch. It seemed much too gentle for someone who looked like Eric. Someone who acted the way he did. He backed her up so she was up against the car, his right hand stroking her face, his left still clutching her hand. He swiftly moved his head towards her, as if for a kiss. Changing course his mouth ended up by her ear.

"I'm not nearly finished, my lover," he murmured. Kissing her lobe. Tingles ran all down her spine. Damn him. This was not helping her leave. He released her hand so he could run his up her side. More tingles. Wherever he touched. He roared up a flame inside her. One she couldn't control. She felt herself wanting to respond. To lift her arms, wrap them around his body and pull him to her, anything just to have him close. It had been so long since they'd kissed that she felt herself trying to remember what it felt like. There had been many different kisses however. Tender and loving that soothed her, hard and passionate which made her pant for air, and her toes curl. She wanted to feel his lips on hers again. With the mere self-control she had left, she gave a gentle shove. Sookie knew he would respond. Sure enough, he slowly moved away, nuzzling her neck a bit on his way back. Shivers.

"You can't just show up one day, and think everything is fine, Eric." she took an unsteady step back. It was about as unsteady as her voice. Surprisingly, Eric looked shocked. Sookie guessed it was because she rejected him when he was so confident that she would cooperate. Or maybe it was because of her words. Whatever the cause, for a split second he was speechless. However, he recovered quick, replacing his shocked look, with a cocky smirk.

"I have had much business to attend to, my lover," he said, and she was disappointed to hear his voice was as steady as can be.

"Otherwise I would have come much sooner. I think of you often.." he broke eye contact for a moment, quickly returning his eyes to hers. Eric's words startled her. He was never that outright. He reminded her of the old Eric in that moment. Vulnerable. Since when did Eric, this one anyways, ever think of anyone?

"Much too often.." he continued, his smirk long gone. A thin line had taken it's place. Sookie was shocked yet again. So vulnerable..

"It's not good for my business, my lover. Thinking of you. It makes me…" he paused, calculating his next words. "Uneasy." he finished. He focused his eyes on Sookie, waiting for her to speak. She was shocked beyond words now. Nothing made Eric like this. Not a woman at least. What had happened to him? He surely must be joking. However, deep down, Sookie knew that he meant every word. Maybe it was in his eyes that stared intently into her, forcing her to believe. She believed it to be what she felt with her heart.

Eric hadn't stepped back when she had shoved him, so Sookie was still pushed up against the car. They were so close. Their faces a mere few inches. All Sookie wanted to do was close the distance and solve this whole chatting thing with her lips on his. She couldn't though. If that happened, he would have even more power over her. Blue eyes on brown, they stared at each other. As if to have a conversation just with their eyes. His hand was still absently running up and down her side, his other gently cupping her one cheek.

"You make me uneasy also.." she spoke before even thinking. Her voice but a whisper. So now Eric knew the truth, part of it anyways. Surprisingly, the smirk she thought would return was nowhere to be seen. His lips were still in a straight line, slightly parted.

"I don't wish for that…" he spoke. That comment surprised her also. Why wouldn't a predator like Eric not want her to be uneasy around him? Unless he truly cared for her. She was becoming more accustomed to that idea.

"I can't help it," she replied. If only she could go home, this close proximity between them was not good whatsoever. Get in the car, that was her goal. "Eric, I have to go," she continued. Sookie thought she saw a flash of sorrow in his eyes. As soon as it was there, it had disappeared.

"Let me join you," he said, his mouth attempting to hid his oncoming smirk. "We could finish this talk in your home. Although, I won't complain at how things went…" the smirk was growing. "For the most part anyways." he finished.

With all the force she could manage she was able to get out the words.

"No, Eric. Just me. We can do this another time, in public. With a set date, so you don't scare me half to death jumping out of the bushes like that," Sookie knew she was lying. Eric could never sneak up on her, for she always knew when he was near. She could thank the damn blood bond for that. He knew she was lying as well.

"My dear Sookie. We both know that our blood bond is too strong for such childish acts like sneaking. I can always sense when you're near, as I know you can." Damn him. He always knew. it's as though he could read her just from her voice, or body movement.