Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me

And how long I've waited for your touch

And if you knew how happy you are making me

I never thought that I'd love anyone so much

14 months later

SPOV

I take a deep breath before I look up at Eric and start to say, "I don't think you have any idea just how happy you can make me. It can be a simple smile that I know is saved for only me. It can be a simple touch to my back or arm that shows you care. It can be so many things and I'm thankful every night that I am the one you choose to make happy. I am thankful everyday that you are here, that we are together again. We were apart for far too long, and I don't plan on letting that happening ever again.

"Love is something that I have always felt. Love for my family. Love for my friends. All that was familiar to me. Loving you wasn't exactly. In fact, I denied what you meant to me for a good, long time. But you wouldn't exactly let me go and that is another thing I am grateful for. You made me face my feelings.

"I love you so much it sometimes scared me because a love this powerful, this strong wasn't something I was used to feeling. But now, I find myself unwilling to live without it. You have become the constant in my life, who I turn to when I have a bad day; who I turn to for comfort. Eric, my heart is yours and I love you with all of it."

If you knew how lonely my life has been

And how long I've been so alone

And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along

And change my life the way you've done

EPOV

"My Lover," I say which earns me a bit of a glare. I cannot help but smirk but she is right. Now is not the time for that. "Sookie," I amend. "I have walked this earth, for more than a thousand years. After the first five hundred or so, life tends to get quite repetitive. Even with my fabulous child who has been a wonderful companion through the years. She means a great deal to me and had brought me great joy. For the longest time, it was she and I, and I never even imagined there was something more out there.

"Living this long makes it easy to think you have nothing left to learn in life and you become complacent in life. That changed the night you walked into this bar. Since then I have been doing nothing but learning. I have learned how to see the world through fresh eyes and to have an appreciation for it. I have learned how to enjoy life and not simply exist in it.

"Most importantly, you have taught me how to love and how to be open to being loved. I am honored everyday that you choose to accept my love. Sookie, I love you more than I ever thought was possible."

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

SPOV

I'm not even sure if Niall has finished saying, "Eric, you may now kiss your bride," before Eric's lips are pressed firmly against mine. It may not be a marriage recognized by the state yet, but it will be recognized but everyone who counts to me. Eric was willing to fly to a state to marry me legally and I am sure we will do that eventually, but that wasn't what was important to me today.

We had a renewal of sorts by the knife, and the bond was restored, so vampires acknowledged our marriage. We had a ceremony so the Fae would also acknowledge it. Today was something our human friends could recognize. I didn't need some stuffy government official to accept it.

As everyone was wishing their congratulations, Niall came over and took my hand and brought it to his lips saying, "I am pleased that you are so happy Sookie."

I pulled on his arm to bring him into a hug and whispered in his ear, "I am so happy you are here, Niall." I couldn't help but think he almost wasn't.

Niall had contacted Dermot about two days after I found out he may still be alive. As he was fighting Marcus, some vampires had come to Marcus' aid. Niall managed to send them to their final death, but not before he, himself was greatly injured. That was how Marcus was able to get to me.

The local Oklahoma Fae had seen how badly hurt Niall was. They had also seen him fighting on our side and due to Freyda's history with them and the verdict Eric was backed into giving, they had no trust for us and felt Niall needed to be protected from us. They took him and kept him hidden from us as he was healing.

Niall had been unconscious for days conserving his magic and healing from the inside. As he got stronger, the Fae tried to convince him that we were the enemy. They really couldn't be blamed as Freyda had been persecuting them for years. I had been curious to why Niall didn't just leave once he was strong enough. Instead, he stayed for close to an extra week.

According to Niall, he used this time to explain that Oklahoma would have new management since Freyda was dead. That didn't seem to appease most of them since Eric had made the verdict that was an insult to them. They were ready to declare war with the Oklahoma vampires, which would also include Nevada, Arkansas, and Louisiana, regardless of Niall's support or ruling against it.

It took Niall almost a week and a promise that if the Fae continued to be persecuted he, himself, would step in and fight for them for the Oklahoma Fae to back down. There were also a few well-placed calls to Fae residing in the other three states to explain how they were treated.

As the last of our friends and family offer their congratulations, Eric pulls me to the dance floor and pulls me close to him. I lay my head on his chest as we move slowly, just the two of us.

"Thanks for doing this, Eric." We had waited a bit until everything with Sam was finalized and done with.

He pulls up my chin so I am looking at him and says, "There is no need for thanks. This just ties us together in another way. A way that is important to you. I wanted to do it." He paused and pulls me to him for a slow, lingering kiss, which gets some cheers from the onlookers.

I am sure I am blushing as I finally pull away to lay my head back on Eric's chest. "Are you sure you do not want rings? I believe this is a human tradition at a wedding."

I nod into his chest and say, "It is but I want to wait until we can get married legally in Louisiana." I feel him press a kiss to my hair and he says quietly, "Whatever it is you desire, Lover."

As the song finishes, Jason walks up and taps Eric on the shoulder. I swear he will never understand vampire rules of conduct. "Do you mind if I dance with my sister?" In answer, Eric places a kiss to my hand, which the then gives to Jason.

"Sorry to interrupt, Sook," Jason says. "I have to leave soon. I can't leave Michelle this long."

It's true. Jason and Michelle have a three-year-old son and Michelle was due with number two any day now. They had gotten married about two years ago.

"It's fine, Jason. Thanks for giving me away today."

At that he smiles and says, "I was happy to do it," before kissing my cheek. "He makes you happy right Sook?"

I smile and look over to Eric. "Yeah Jase. He makes me really happy."

EPOV

I make my way over to the bar to try some blood drink that Pam had created for tonight. I sense as someone comes up behind me and he says, "Rumor has it, congratulations are customary for this human tradition."

"That rumor would be correct, Felipe," I tell him.

"Well then, congratulations."

There weren't too many vampires here. In fact, it was a small service all around. Many vampires would not understand Sookie is more than a pet to me. They would not see the need in the ceremony. The vampires that were here were the ones that I could trust. To be honest, for the longest time I was not sure how I felt about Felipe falling into that category. Now I am grateful for the ally.

Felipe had held up his end of the bargain. Granted it was only a bit over a year, but it was working out better than I thought it would. He left me pretty much alone to run the state. It was mine in everything accept paper but since Felipe was the technical ruler, my paperwork was cut in half. It was still a great deal of work between that and Area 5 so I had offered Pam the position of Sheriff. She accepted.

"I am glad you two found your way back to each other," Felipe continues. "It was clear that the distance was painful for the both of you. I wish you many, many years together," he says starting to walk away.

I nod as Felipe leaves. It seems Sookie and I will have a great deal of time together. Ludwig has been testing Sookie's blood once a month and her aging was still slowing down. Ludwig isn't sure the cause whether it is the Fae spark, my blood, the bond, or some combination. Whatever it was I was thankful for additional time. Sookie was becoming more accepting at having a longer lifespan. There would be pain and tragedy as she lost those she cared for but I would be there to comfort and help her though it.

SPOV

We are at the end of our little reception and Amelia, my maid of honor, is not letting me out of throwing the bouquet even though the number of available women was slim. She also wasn't allowing Pam to get out of trying to catch it either though. Pam had stood up for Eric as his best man, woman, or vampire; I forget what she called herself. Amelia and Pam had been off and on whatever they were for the past few months.

With my back turned and a smirk I'm sure Eric would be proud of, I throw the bouquet in the direction I know Pam is in. I turn around quickly and am just in time to see Pam grab it instinctually so it doesn't hit her face.

The look on Pam's face could kill but I can't help but laugh hysterically at it. Amelia doesn't miss a beat as she pulls Pam into a kiss. I don't think either of them is looking for anything too serious but I'm glad the two can have some fun.

As Pam leads them back to the offices, the others who had come take that as their cue to leave.

Finished with our goodbyes, Eric pulls me to him and kisses my head. "Ready to go home?" I ask him. We usually spent Sunday through Wednesday at my house in Bon Temps and Thursday to Saturday in Shreveport. It allowed Eric to get his work done but also have some down time. This weekend though, we would be in Bon Temps hopefully uninterrupted.

I am surprised when he says, "I am home."

I open my mouth but before I can say anything he presses his mouth to mine and kisses me. He pulls away slowly but still holding me close says, "You are my home, Sookie. Where I am is not important as long as I am with you. Whenever I am with you, I am home."

I can't help the tears that fill my eyes or the one that falls upon hearing his words. Eric, reaches to catch it, and brings his finger to his mouth. Letting out a small moan, he wiggles his eyebrows at me and before I know it, he is kissing my neck. Torn, I hold him to me with one hand while pushing him away with the other.

"Eric, we can't. Amelia and Pam," I start.

"Left five minutes ago," he says as he continues kissing down my neck. He growls a bit when he gets to the top of my dress, which is keeping him from continuing his explorations. As he prepares to make a move I am all too familiar with I stop him saying, "Eric Northman, if you rip my wedding dress you will not be having a good night."

He stops and looks at me and it takes all I have not to laugh at the expression on his face. I wrap my hands around his neck and pull him down to me. "However, if you can be patient and wait till we're home," I say between kisses to his neck. "I will make it worth your while," I whisper as I get to his ear.

I am in his arms and we are flying through the air quicker than I can blink. "Eric, can't we drive there?" I ask.

"With what you promised me, I am getting there as quick as possible," he says.

He does get us there in record time. As he goes to put me down at the door, I keep my hands around his neck and explain, "It's tradition for the groom to carry the bride across the threshold."

He nods and smiles as he manages to unlock the door while holding me in one arm. Once inside, he sets me down but doesn't let me go. I lean into him resting my head on his chest. "This is my home," I tell him.

"Really?" he asks. "I was under the assumption it was now our home."

"No," I said without moving. "This I where I feel at home. In your arms," I tell him. Leaving my head on his chest but looking up at him I continue, "I don't know what the future will bring, Eric. But when I'm here like this with you, this is when I feel safe and secure."

"We're home, Sookie. As long as we have each other, we have a home," he tells me. And I was beginning to really love the idea that we would have a home for a very long time.

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

I certainly hope you enjoyed the ending. I did use the verses of the song out of order if you were curious. Thank you to everyone who has been reading this story. I never imagined that what I thought would be a simple one-shot would turn into this. Thanks for coming along for my first ride in writing. Thanks to all those who have added this to an alert and who has reviewed throughout the story. I appreciate you taking the time. I did get three reviews for last chapter I couldn't respond to because they weren't logged in. Please know I appreciate them. I do have a few more ideas for stories but will take some time to iron out the plot and get further ahead with some chapters. Thanks again!