A/N: Sometimes things have to go wrong in order to go right; sometimes the only way forward is to take a step back to the beginning but always when you love someone you have to be willing to set them free. If they return to you, then they're yours forever.

Eric

Epilogue

Very few people in this world knew firsthand what it was like to feel so tainted that you felt damned, to be so broken you felt ruined. Forgiveness was something she never had to ask of me. It was given before she committed the offense. Yet, I couldn't make Sookie forgive herself; had I the power I would make her see this, but she had to see it on her own. I helped her pack. If she came back it had to be on her time and it had to be her choice.

I kissed her forehead and rested my chin on her head. "I will love you," I said, holding her to me. "When you are broken and empty I will love you still. Long after all you know all you hold dear has fallen into darkness and despair; my love will be all that remains. When the fires of Hell rise to torment you and the clouds of Heaven fall to shun you; when you have nothing and are nothing, not even then will my love cease to be."

Her tears soaked my shirt but I didn't let go or try to soothe her. Some aches had to be cured from the inside out. "I love you too," she murmured, burying her face in my chest. "I want to come back," she said.

"I know, Lover," I told her. "I know, and I want you to come back too. When you do, I'll be right here."

The option to remain my wife was the one thing I'd never offered her. A part of me had to admit I'd been afraid of what her choice would be. I wasn't anymore. With a heavy heart but a clear conscience, I watched Sookie drive away and with every mile that separated us I ached more. The pain wasn't because I would miss her though I very much would; it was for what she suffered. She was loyal, kind, caring, loving, and forgiving, but she wasn't as quick to turn those attributes inward. Until she learned to, even a little, she couldn't accept my love.

~ooooo~

Announcer:

"We are outside the Ritz Carlton in downtown Manhattan and it is absolute pandemonium as the first Vampire-Human power couple, Alexander Marinos and Rebecca Hastings, take their vows! Sources say the entire hotel has been rented; from the city sidewalks to the airspace above and every room in between! Security is airtight as the guests are ushered in for this momentous occasion. This comes months after a rumored split between renowned vampire and business mogul, Eric Northman, and longtime girlfriend, Sookie Stackhouse! His presence is confirmed as is that of the Princess of Darkness herself, Pamela Ravenscroft Northman! No word on Ms. Stackhouse…"

I took the remote and muted the television. "How can you watch this drivel?" I asked Pam earnestly.

"They were talking about me," she said, pulling back the remote from my hand with her mind.

Her new ability was nothing but yet another inventive way for her to be a pain in my ass! I never knew transferring telekinesis was possible but my sister had found a way before she died, and Pam would do nothing but irritate me with it for the rest of time.

"They're always talking about you," I mused. "Not that you don't give them cause."

Pam was my date for Alexander's wedding. While she was dressed beautifully, I hadn't any idea what had happened to her hair.

"A hundred and eighty years Pam," I muttered resigned. "And this is what you call a braid?"

I'd spent every day from the time she was ten until she was twenty trying to teach her. It didn't take. To this day she still couldn't braid for shit! I went over to her. It was time I accept that she was never going to care about it as much as I did.

"What? You don't like it?" she said. I had to laugh because she had the audacity to appear affronted.

She sat and a look of immense concentration fell over her pretty features as she focused her ability. No, her telekinesis didn't help. Her hair unraveled and wound itself back into the same loose uneven loaf of bread. Pulling my own elastic band from my hair I made her sit with her back to me. Then I attended that travesty.

"Some things never change," she said shrugging her dainty shoulders.

"No, they don't," I concluded, pulling her bun into a neat twist. I look toward the television and amended my statement. "Then again nothing ever really quite stays the same."

On the television screen images of me and my wife photographed at different events were displayed, as the reporter continued to speculate on a breakup. I missed her, every minute of every night of the four months she'd been gone. I didn't know where she was. I took comfort in knowing her Shadow Wraiths were with her and that she wanted to come back to me. For now, it was all I had and it had to be enough.

The wedding ceremony was very low key. The vampires Alexander commanded were in attendance as was the Vampire King of New York-Manhattan, and various humans whom Rebecca had invited. I stood with him, and Rebecca's sister stood at her side. They exchanged their vows, leaving out "till death do us part."

"Pam!" Andy called, once she spotted my child. "Hi, Way-Bin!"

Pam grinned. "You speak English...sort of," she replied.

"I speak Gweek too!" the little one chortled.

"Ah…I don't think 'Gweek' is a real thing," Pam said, taking her from her daemon guard. "So English is fine."

The pair walked off and I watched them go to the dance floor with a smile on my face. It was eerie. I could see myself in Pam's place and Pam in Andy's. She had been so small, but somehow fate had crossed her path with mine and trusted me to keep her safe. Somehow, despite all my doubts and fears of tainting her, I had managed. I was proud of the person I'd raised her to be. As she blew a kiss to Rebecca in full view of Alexander, I smiled and modified my assessment. Okay, I hadn't done such a bad job, all things considered.

"Hi."

I stilled as the full significance of that voice registered to all my senses. Her scent, the heat of her warmth in the air, the steady drumming of her heart, it was all there. My heart soared! My body yearned. Slowly, I turned to face her and it was as if she never left. Sookie stood behind me with a smile on her face.

We stared at each other, each drinking in the other after so much time apart. For four months I'd wondered if she was happy. I'd wanted so badly to charge in and soothe her if she wasn't, but I'd let her find herself. I'd waited patiently, trusting that she would find all that she needed to begin healing, for her to realize where she wanted to be and why.

The dress she wore was the one she wore on the day we wed, back when our union had meant nothing and she was nothing to me, nor I to her. While some things never changed, this had. I never realized how beautiful she'd been that day. I hadn't even known that the color of her dress matched her eyes and complimented her skin.

Back then, I couldn't see the swell of her breasts or the flare of her hips. I noticed she wore a necklace that was a favorite of mine. It was all diamonds, from end to end, even the clasps that fastened it. She rarely wore it because of its grandiose appearance, but today was worthy of it. She had included the matching bracelet and earrings as well.

"Hello," I replied, because I was too floored for anything more sophisticated.

She seemed to be struggling with her words and I simply waited patiently. "I don't know that I'll get it right," she began, looking up at me. "I don't know where to go from here but I'm ready for us to find out together."

Sookie was admitting that she didn't have all the answers but neither did I. That wasn't what was important. She had accepted the fundamentals of who she was, even the things she couldn't change. Old as I was, mistakes weren't something I lingered on. They were inevitable. All you could do was learn from them and move on. Sookie had finally forgiven herself. There was no more guilt and shame. She loved all the things about herself that had hurt her because made her who she now was, someone that she could be proud of. It made her see she was worth loving and so she was able to accept my love for her. It was all we needed to have a chance at building a new life together.

Sookie had been right when she told me we couldn't move past all that had happened between us. There was really no way. Pretending it hadn't happened would be covering the wound all over again. She hadn't been the only one that had to wrestle with her guilt and her demons. I did as well. The only thing I wanted more than to be with her was to never hurt her again.

No one could make such a promise no matter how cautious they were. She wasn't my child. She had to be my partner, my equal, and I had to tell her the truth be it good, bad, or ugly. I'd had to make my peace with the fact that it was impossible to shield her from any and everything unpleasant because it had cost us both too dearly.

My wife took a step out of the path of her Shadow Wraiths. They materialized and stood tight to her back as she walked to me. She waited for me to meet her halfway. That was all I needed to close the distance between us, not only physically but emotionally.

"I am Eric," I greeted holding my hand out. "I am a vampire. I'm partial to the color red, and I've been told that I have a man crush on Dracula and Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Her eyes filled with tears but she was laughing. We were getting what so few got…a fresh start. I was going to give it a very literal meaning.

"Nice to meet you, Eric. My name is Sookie Stackhouse. I'm part-human, part-Fae. My favorite color is blue. My favorite guy is a Viking vampire and I think Gone with the Wind is the best movie ever."

"The pleasure is mine," I murmured, sweeping her off her feet into my arms. She held onto me as tightly as she could.

This was how we should have met. When we danced and kissed, it should have been our first. It didn't matter how we got here, only that we'd found our way back into each other's arms. We had a past and it was ugly. We had a present that was being rebuilt so we could enjoy our future together. All I could do was love and support her as we faced the world together.

Closing A/N: I was tempted to write, 'And they lived happily ever after.' It was a development and learning experience for our favorite couple. Sure, they fell and scraped their knees but they got up and back into the fight. I for one feel lighter at the end of all this. They are together but taking it slow. I'm happy with this end…it leaves me room to do a sequel…who knows.

Muuuuuuuuaaaaaahhhhh!

ElfChef signing off...Until next time ladies and gentlemen!