16 - Sheriff Sookie's Conspiracy

Disclaimer: The Southern Vampire Series, and all characters from it, is owned by Charlaine Harris. The original characters and plot from my fan fiction are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

*TIGHT NAKED ERIC HUGS* To: Maria Terese for her awesome help in the mouthwatering Swedish translations! Thanks, girl!

June 2013 - Updated

This story was originally published on 3/19/09. Any mistakes left are my own.

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"All right," Eric said. "What do you have in mind?"

"Come here, I want to show you." Sookie took Eric by the hand and led him out to the main floor of the club, stopping in front of his throne.

Eric immediately thought he knew what Sookie had in mind.

"Eric, promise me if I tell you . . . promise you won't make fun of me."

Eric flashed his trademark smirk. "I will not laugh. I promise you, Lover," he stated, tracing his fingers on her shoulders. He liked how Sookie was opening herself up to him and how eager she was to start marking her territory.

Sookie was still a little hesitant to confide her secret, so she thought of something she had done when she was a child. "Eric, do you pinkie swear you won't laugh?" she asked, holding out her pinkie finger.

"What?" Eric furrowed his brow, bemused by her question.

"Do you pinkie swear?" She paused at seeing Eric's confused expression. "How can I explain?" She tapped her chin. "See, pinkie swearing is a solemn oath you make, like an unbreakable vow, where you agree to do something and not go back on your word. It's a human girl thing. Well if you agree not to laugh, then you give me your pinkie, I give you mine, we cross them, and then we say 'pinkie swear'. Well, what do you say?"

Eric used his thousand years of acquired restraint to hold back from laughing, since he gathered Sookie wanted to have sex with him on his throne, and that was just one of many fantasies he wanted fulfilled as well. "All right, Lover. I will comply with your request." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "You truly are my undoing," Eric related, holding out his pinkie finger and interlacing it with hers.

"Well, you have to say it," Sookie prodded innocently.

Eric murmured, "I pinkie swear."

"Eric, I'm not a Supe, I can barely hear you," Sookie insisted. "Please, for me?" She snaked one of her arms around his waist and squeezed him to her, kissing his nipple and sucking its tip.

"I pinkie swear," he said louder, his aching dick taking control of his vocal cords.

Sookie got on the tips of her toes, and stretched herself to kiss him on the lips, making a loud smacking sound. "Okay." She whispered into his ear her most intimate fantasy.

Eric belted out a loud, boisterous laugh. "Your fantasy is to do what?" he asked, still laughing loudly.

Sookie quickly pushed him away, turning around and covering her face. "You pinkie swore you wouldn't laugh, Eric!" she yelled, walking away from him, visibly hurt and distressed.

In his vampire speed, Eric got in front of her, trying to regain his composure. He never expected Sookie to have such an extremely amusing fantasy.

"Forgive me, Lover. Your request caught me off guard. I was not expecting that at all," he said, still smiling.

"That's all right. I know it's stupid. Let's just go shower and put on our clothes so we can go to your house. I'm tired anyways." Sookie kept her gaze downward, and tried to move past him, embarrassed at her confession.

Eric's smile disappeared as he felt through the bond how hurt Sookie was, and how his laughter had affected her. "No, Lover. I will grant your request," he said, in a serious and emotionless tone.

"No, it's okay, Eric. You don't have to. Besides, I'm not in the mood anymore. I just thought since you like to dress up as different people . . . just forget it. I don't know why I brought it up," she said, tears already welling in her eyes.

Eric cupped her face in his hands. "Lover, look at me," he said, while Sookie avoided his gaze. "It was not my intention to offend you, though it seems I have regrettably done so."

Sookie slightly nodded, her eyes still not meeting his gaze. "It's all right."

Eric bent his knees to meet her line of sight. "Lover, look at me. What is this about me being different people?"

Sookie looked into his eyes while he ran his thumbs over her cheekbones. "Well, I meant the way you always have costumes on. Like the glasses you wore when we went to Club Dead, and when you pretended to be Leif in Dallas. But, just forget it. C'mon, let's just go to your house."

"No, I do not wish to go to our home, just yet. Sookie," he whispered her name and the word echoed into her ears, like a caress. He straightened his body up, locking eyes with her. He held her close and mouthed, "I am sorry," into her warm, moist mouth. He traced his cool tongue on her sensual lips and then kissed them tenderly as he stroked her back. "Come, Lover," he said, pulling back from her. "This is your fantasy, darling. I will see it through." He led her to his throne and sat her down.

"Eric . . . "

Eric ignored her protest and walked a few steps away. He began to talk as if he was reciting lines from a script. "Mistress, I am Leif. I hail from the State of California, but I have recently relocated to Louisiana for personal reasons. I stand before you to introduce myself, and I hereby respectfully ask to be allowed to remain in your area."

Sookie still looked uncomfortable in Eric's throne, but said in a low voice, "That's not how it's supposed to be."

Eric raised an eyebrow at her, then relaxed, when he realized she lacked the knowledge of how he ran his area. He dismissed her statement and instead took in the sight of his beloved sitting naked on his throne.

"Did I do something wrong, Mistress?" he asked, placing his arms behind his waist.

"Well . . ." Sookie paused, unsure if Eric would laugh at her again.

"Yes, my Mistress?" Eric asked, straightening his body and taking a serious stance as if he was her most loyal subject.

Seeing him so sincere, Sookie summoned her courage and spoke. "Well, aren't you supposed to wait until I summon you? I'm the Sheriff, remember? You can't come up to me and speak unless I summon you first.

Eric flashed her one of his smiles. "Of course, how could I be so forgetful? Your beauty has clouded my thoughts. I implore you to show mercy at my offense, Mistress," he pleaded, bringing his right hand to his chest in supplication.

"Viking, I'll show you mercy, just this once," Sookie said, fully integrated into her role. She paused and whispered to him. "Well, go stand over there and then casually glance my way. I'll be sitting here all sexy serious, just like somebody I know, and then I'll summon you, okay?"

Eric tried not to laugh as he walked to where she pointed to, and found their role-playing a welcome change of pace from the earlier events of the evening. Just as she asked, he turned around and looked at the ceiling. Slowly, he turned around to face the throne and almost jumped back at the sight before him.

Sookie sat at his throne with her right foot laying over the armrest, her body shifted to the left—shamelessly exposing her wet sex to him.

Eric never recalled sitting in his throne in that manner, but he was not about to correct the telepath, especially since he found such pleasure in her present position. He couldn't stop a mischievous smile from creeping on his lips when Sookie beckoned him to her by crooking her finger invitingly. He paused, unsure if he should move closer or remain where he was.

Sookie whispered over to him, "Psst, Eric, I'm summoning you now. Come closer."

Eric found her voice and playful eyes so endearing, he had to clear his throat so he could begin his speech once more. "Mistress, I am Leif. I hail from the State of California, but have recently relocated to Louisiana for personal reasons. I stand before you to introduce myself and I hereby respectfully ask to be allowed to remain in your area."

"I see," Sookie said, very solemnly. "And what are these personal reasons? Are you by any chance a troublemaker, Leif? Because I'll have you know—I don't take kindly to troublemakers in my area."

"No, Mistress. I am not a troublemaker. I relocated to Louisiana because I grew tired of the California weather."

"I see. Hmm . . . likely story. Well, Leif, tell me a little bit about yourself," Sookie said. "I find the dossier you provided to my office very lacking. It only mentions your age and that you were a Viking. However, it mentions nothing about your special abilities or qualities. Please . . . enlighten me." Sookie raised her eyebrow disdainfully.

Dossier? Eric smiled at his lover's cleverness and last minute addition. She will make an excellent vampire Sheriff one day. "Yes, Mistress, it seems my paperwork was damaged in my travels. My main abilities include glamouring and flying, and my main quality is loyalty. I can assure you, if you allow me to remain by your side, I will be your most faithful and loyal subject, my Mistress."

"Hmm, is that right?" Sookie asked. "I expect complete loyalty, Leif, anything less and you shall meet the sun. Is this understood?"

Eric nodded.

"So glamouring and flying? Those abilities are kinda run of the mill stuff. Is there anything else you can do to impress me, and convince me to let you stay here?" Sookie stroked her thighs invitingly.

Eric ran his fangs down, and knelt down in front of the throne in the blink of an eye, eyeing her lasciviously, unsure where to begin his sweet assault. "Mistress, I humbly ask for permission to touch you."

She gave no answer, and limited her response to widening her legs and licking her lips playfully.

Eric bent down, tracing his cool tongue on her slick folds, then thrust his tongue in and out of her sex, eliciting moans of sweet pleasure from his bonded. In no time, she felt her orgasm quickly build under his expert touch.

"Oh, Eric—I mean Leif, this needs to be added to your dossier!" Sookie exclaimed, succumbing to the Viking's skills.

He took hold of her thighs, widened her legs, and plunged into her with his tongue, expertly tapping on her hardened clit.

"Oh . . . " Sookie didn't last long, especially after his hands roamed over her body, and she quickly climaxed. Since they were alone, she no longer felt embarrassed and fisted Eric's hair, pulling him into her throbbing sex while she screamed in pleasure and bucked her hips wildly. When her last orgasm wave subsided, she finally let go of the tight grip she had on Eric's head and relaxed her body back, slumping down in the chair, her legs trembling for the second time that night.

Eric ran his mouth down her thighs, smearing her juices on her, as her legs tingled from how sensitive she still was. My sweet, sweet Sookie. Eric drowned her legs in soft, fluttering kisses. So insatiable for me. So fucking good. He stood up. "Mistress, do I have your permission to sit on your throne?"

"Yes, you do," Sookie answered breathlessly. She didn't know if she could move anymore. Her body felt spent, but the look in Eric's eyes told her she should definitely try.

Thinking he was going to sit down, she was surprised when he swished by her and came back holding what looked to be a torn appliance cord. She didn't have to wait long to find out what he intended with it as he swiftly pulled her out of the throne, and tied her hands behind her back. He sat down on the throne and placed her on his thighs, his erection pressed on her back. Briefly breaking out of character, he whispered in her ear, "I am not done with you, yet."

His raspy voice sent her into a frenzy, and though part of her felt what she was doing was dirty, she quickly shut the thoughts out of her mind. She wanted to make Eric happy and no little voice in her head was going to stop her from giving her Viking what he had fantasized for so long.

Her skin erupted in goose bumps as he moved her hair to the side and planted small kisses on her back, slowly moving up to kiss her shoulders and then her neck. She moaned. Each touch shot straight to her center, and she yearned to have more of him. She gasped when he lifted her up with ease, his hands under her breasts, and slowly set her down on his erection. She groaned as he moved his hands upwards, cupping her breasts.

"Kvinna," he said, slowly lifting and sliding her up and down his length, hitting her clit with every upward thrust. He leaned back on the throne, reveling in their lovemaking. "I have waited so long to do this," he whispered, before quickening his pace and bouncing her body on his. He slid his hands underneath her breasts once more and felt them bounce as he bucked his hips forward and fucked her like he had always wanted to.

Sookie was in complete ecstasy and shouted, "Oh, Leif, this . . . this should definitely be added to your dossier!" Her walls began to close in on him, and he stopped his movements, tightly holding her down to him. She moaned loudly, having his length touch her cervix, stretching her like she had never been stretched.

Eric smiled at hearing her vocalize how he made her feel, and loosened his grip on her. He turned her sideways. He slowly latched onto one of her breasts and sucked on it gently. He lapped his tongue on her hardened nipple, while continuing to move her up and down his shaft once more. Sookie's walls gripped him again, and she moved her head back, climaxing once more. While the orgasm ripped through her body, Eric pumped her a few more times, and sank his fangs into her breast. She instantly came again and her whole body shuddered in pleasure while she exclaimed, "Ahhh, I love you, Eric. I love you!"

Eric tensed his body and released inside her, holding her down while his body was lost in a sea of ecstasy. "Jag älskar din fitta! Jag älskar att knulla din jävla fitta!" he shouted, while she milked him dry of everything he had.

Eric held her tightly, while they both rode their aftershocks, and came down from their heightened state. He reluctantly pulled out of her, and began leaving small, fluttering kisses on her back while he asked teasingly, "So, may I stay in your area, Sheriff?" He untied her hands and pulled his fangs in, eagerly awaiting her reply.

"That's Sheriff Sookie to you, Leif," Sookie replied, turning her body around and wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling exhilarated from what they had just done.

"A million pardons, Mistress. Sheriff Sookie, may I have the pleasure of staying in your area?" Eric asked her again, playfully.

"Yes, you may, Leif. You can definitely stay, but I think I'll keep my eyes on you. You have TROUBLE written all over your face." She kissed him on the lips, and then they both let out a hearty laugh.

"Jag älskar . . . jag älskar . . . " he mumbled, tracing his fingertips on her perfect jaw line. For the rest of the night, Eric found he couldn't stop smiling.

•Oo•Oo•Oo•Oo•Oo•

There wasn't much she could see of their new house at night, but what Sookie could make out took her breath away. Eric had bought a house in the ritzier part of Shreveport, and explained it was a two story, six bedroom, three bathroom home with a two car garage built on a two acre fenced property with access to a private lake out back.

"Baby, it sounds and looks wonderful," Sookie said, trying not to gasp at everything he mentioned and come across as a poor country cousin.

Eric furrowed his brow at her term of endearment, but held her hand and stated, "I bought this home for you."

"For me?" she asked as her I-am-not-a-kept-woman inner voice surged within her, begging to be let out. "I don't know, Eric—"

"Yes, Lover, for you," he quickly interrupted. "I wanted you to be comfortable."

Sookie recalled Amelia's words earlier that night on how she was her own worst enemy and decided to bite her lip. Something told her Eric didn't have to buy her this house, and she was pretty sure he already had one, which better suited his needs, yet he had bought this house thinking about her comfort. She then remembered Sam's words, "Let yourself be happy. You deserve it." Her friends were both right, she should just let herself be loved by Eric. Sookie squeezed Eric's hand and gave him a big smile. "Thank you, baby. I don't know what to say. I love it! Can I . . . can I invite my friends over here, too?" Sookie asked.

"This is your home, darling. You can do as you please." Eric kissed her hand.

"Thank you, Eric. Thank you so much." She kissed his cool cheek, while the house's black security gates opened and they drove in.

When Eric was about to drive inside the garage, Sookie asked him, "Can we go in through the front door—just this once?"

"Of course, Lover." He took her to the front door after he parked Pam's car. He opened the door gingerly, motioning her to step inside.

Sookie took a step, but paused at the doorway.

"Is there something wrong, Lover?"

"Eric, aren't you going to . . . you know? Carry me over the threshold?" Sookie looked up at him expectantly.

Eric quickly grasped the full meaning of her request. "Of course, my Lover," he replied, collecting her in his arms and entering the house. Once inside, he set her down gently, kissing her forehead as he embraced her, and closed the door behind him.

She yawned as they held each other, and Eric knew she wouldn't last awake much longer. He gave her a general run of the house and a notepad full of all the security codes, so she and a guest could come and go as they pleased, along with her very own set of house keys.

"Eric, are you sure you should have written this down? I mean what if someone found this paper?"

"Do not worry, Lover. I always take precautions. It can only be read by someone I've exchanged blood with, within the last twenty-four hours. To any other person, it would appear as a blank sheet of paper. I happen to know some very resourceful witches."

"O-okay, then," Sookie replied, glad he had taken the precautions to ensure his safety.

Sookie continued to yawn and close her eyes while he gave her all the information, and Eric knew her body had reached its limits. He was glad they had showered at Fangtasia already, so all they had to do was just climb in bed and rest. He collected her in his arms and took her straight up the stairs, to their bedroom.

Sookie gasped from the sudden movement and once upstairs, asked Eric to let her down so she could take a better look at the room. He complied, and the first thing she noticed was how plainly decorated it was, since the only two furnishings in the large bedroom were a king-sized bed and two nightstands on either side of it. The window treatments—as she had heard a woman call curtains nowadays—were an eggshell white, and she wondered how the flimsy fabric kept out the sun. She lifted them and discovered they were merely there for decoration, as there were no windows behind them. "Baby . . . "

Eric cringed at this new term of endearment Sookie had adopted for him and hoped she wouldn't call him that around Pam. He'd be doomed for all eternity if she did.

"This room has no windows. How am I supposed to get you out if there is a fire or an emergency?" she asked, thinking of the incident at Rhodes, and how she had thrown his coffin out the window.

"There's an emergency exit in the closet, Lover. Here let me show you." Eric showed her the emergency exit and also told her there was a panic room set up in the basement of the house where they could wait out almost any kind of emergency.

"But how will you wake up? It took me forever to wake you up last time."

"You have more of my blood in you, darling, and you can easily awaken me with that. Our bond is strong, Lover, never forget that."

Sookie nodded and Eric continued to explain all of the precautions he had installed in the house, then led her into their closet. The large room made her squeal in joy while she hugged him tightly.

"I love it, Eric! It's all so beautiful. Thank you so much for everything tonight."

"I can assure you, it has been my pleasure, Lover, or should I say, Sheriff Sookie?"

She nudged him a bit with her elbow and yawned again as they chuckled. "Baby, is there something more comfortable I could wear to sleep?"

"Of course, Lover. I bought these for you. Picked them out myself." Eric showed her some lingerie.

"Is that so? I can just imagine the shopping trip." Sookie smiled. "I didn't bring any clothes from back home. Did you by any chance buy any clothes to go with them?"

"No," Eric said. "Just these."

"Well, someone sure has a one-track mind."

Eric laughed.

She took off her clothes in front of him and chose to put on a black negligee with thin spaghetti straps and some black lace underwear. Eric reveled in the fact she was getting so comfortable around him and disrobed as well.

They made their way into the bed and Eric handed Sookie a remote.

"What does this control?" she asked.

He showed her which buttons controlled the lights in the room, the temperature, and the TV.

"There's a TV in here?"

Eric pressed a button on the remote and it raised a large flat screen TV from the floor right in front of the bed.

"Wow! That's so neat! Do you have all the premium movie channels or just the basic ones?" Sookie asked, yawning again.

"I am not sure. I am not one to channel surf, Lover. I just watch the financial news or watch the stock market. Unfortunately, I lack the time to watch TV."

"Oh, how sad. Can I see what channels you have, or does it bother you to have the TV on?"

"No, Lover. I am a deep sleeper. In fact, I sleep like the dead." Eric chuckled at his joke.

Sookie smiled weakly, her eyes closing, already drifting to sleep.

Eric turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels.

Sookie snuggled up to him. "Goodnight, baby. I love you," she whispered, drifting off into her dreams.

Eric lay down beside her and embraced her in his powerful arms, inhaling her sweet scent. Finally, after such a long wait, the only scent he could smell on Sookie was his—and his only. It was his plan to keep it that way. "You are mine, Sookie," Eric said softly into her ear. "You are finally all mine."

•Oo•Oo•Oo•Oo•Oo•

The next day, in the early afternoon when she finally awoke, Sookie found herself tightly wrapped around a large Viking. Eric had his arm around her and it took her awhile to figure out a way to slide out of his embrace. The only light in the room came from the TV, which was still on, giving her the latest stock quotes. She left it the way it was, since she was not sure if Eric liked the TV left on as he slept.

As she stepped off the bed, Sookie couldn't help but stare at Eric lying there in his resting state. He looked so peaceful and it even seemed like he was smiling. She bent down and softly kissed his lips, leaving a trail of kisses from his neck to his belly button. She kissed him back up to his face and kissed his forehead, whispering in his ear, "You're mine, Eric. Finally, you're all mine."

She couldn't help the giggle which escaped her lips as she climbed off the large bed, and set out to look for a bathroom. Even though Eric had told her there was a bathroom attached to the master bedroom, she decided to go downstairs to look for another one. She didn't feel comfortable taking care of her human needs so close to Eric, because of his super sensitive nose, and was glad she found another bathroom at the bottom of the stairs where she could undergo her morning routine.

She searched for some towels and found them in a nearby closet, and as she looked around the house, she couldn't help but wonder why it looked so impersonal and sparsely decorated. She half expected there to be a Viking boat in the middle of the living room full of Eric's memorabilia from his long life, and surmised that maybe Eric wasn't the type of guy to care for knickknacks. She set her questions aside and set off to the shower.

After showering, she wrapped a towel around her body, and took out the hairdryer. She took some time drying her hair. Apparently Claudine's spell had expired as her hair hung down normally. Just as she wondered what she was going to wear since she had no clothes, Sookie heard her cell phone ring.

She ran out to the hallway, looking for her cell. "Hello! Oh, Great-Grandfather! How are you? Well, all right. Give me five minutes. I'll be right out." Sookie quickly went upstairs and threw on a lacy bra and panty set, with one of Eric's shirts on top. Following the instructions Eric had left her, she made her way outside the house's gates, locking the front door behind her.

"Good afternoon, child. I trust all is well?" Niall asked from the other side of the front gate.

"Just perfect, Great-Grandfather."

"Reach your hand out to me, child," he softly commanded, and Sookie complied, putting her hand out through the barred gate. Once her hand was clear of the gate, he quickly took hold of it and a loud popping noise filled the air.

•Oo•Oo•Oo•
BON TEMPS
•Oo•Oo•Oo•

"Surprise!" Claude, Claudine, Amelia, Tara, and Niall yelled out to her as she materialized in her living room in Bon Temps, which had a big CONGRATULATIONS banner attached to the ceiling. She also noticed different kinds of foods and drinks set up on her kitchen table.

"Oh, wow! Y'all threw me a party? Thank you so much, you guys! I'm so glad y'all are here," Sookie said, looking at the people she cherished the most in the world.

"Woah! Looks like someone had a late night last night," Amelia commented, hugging her friend. "Let's give her a moment to get dressed, folks."

Everyone agreed and after they gave her a moment, Sookie rejoined her friends.

"Thanks again for this, you guys. I'm overwhelmed," Sookie said.

Amelia gave her a glass of champagne.

"Champagne, Amelia? I think it's a little too early in the day for that."

"It's a quarter to four in the afternoon, girlfriend."

"Oh, really? Well, I just got up, and—"

"Oh, come on, you know what they say," Amelia began to say.

Sookie felt faint as Amelia broadcasted loudly, Fine liquor is just like sex. It's never too early or too late to have it! Sookie shifted uneasily. Oh, please. Please don't say that out loud, Amelia!

"Fine liquor is just like se—" Amelia stopped as Niall gave her a harsh stare. "Well, never mind what they say." Amelia coughed nervously. "Everyone, gather around! A toast is in order, and I want to make the first one of many. To my friend, Sookie Stackhouse, former barmaid, telepath extraordinaire, who accomplished the impossible—well besides being able to walk today after last night."

"Amelia!" the guests yelled out to her and rolled their eyes.

"Sorry, sorry. Yes, where was I? Yes, a toast for my friend Sookie, for accomplishing the impossible: ending the bachelor days of Eric Northman! Hear! Hear!"

The guests clinked their glasses together and took a sip of their drink.

"Child."

Everyone turned to look at Niall.

"When I asked you if there was anything I could do for you, I expected you to ask me for wealth, knowledge, or things of this nature. Never did I imagine you would ask me to find a way for you to have the exclusive love of a vampire, especially that vampire being the infamous Eric Northman, whose bachelor reputation is widely known throughout all the realms."

Amelia mumbled under her breath, "Yea, he's known for his bachelor reputation and for the size of his huge d—"

"Amelia!" the guests yelled out to her again.

"Sorry, sorry! Continue Prince," Amelia bowed.

"As I was saying," Niall said, giving Amelia another stare down. "I, like everyone else in this room, immediately thought the task impossible because everyone knows how difficult it is to make a vampire remain faithful to one partner, or as it more commonly referred to in my realm: Wake The Blood of the Dead. However, we are gathered here to celebrate, that in fact, we did accomplish our goal and Eric Northman has pledged his fealty to my great-granddaughter and to none other. I would also like to toast to King Felipe De Castro, without whose interference last night, none of this would have occurred. Let us toast to that! Hear! Hear!"

"I'll definitely toast to that hot piece of ass-as-astounding king," Amelia corrected herself, coughing loudly to hide her faux pas in front of the Prince. "Hear! Hear!" she added as everyone clinked their glasses once more.

Tara, Claudine, and Claude all made toasts to Sookie as well, and while Sookie tried to listen to what they said, she couldn't keep Niall's words out of her head.

Is Niall right? If Felipe hadn't tried to take me last night, would Eric ever have sworn fealty to me? Sookie felt a knot in her stomach and wondered if it was due to having liquor first thing in the morning or because of the unpleasant revelation her Great-grandfather had just said. Oh, don't you start, Sookie! she told herself. I will not let you be my worst enemy any longer. Eric is not Bill or Quinn. He's with me and I'm going to trust him, and love him. I know he loves me; I know he does.

"Sooks?" Tara asked.

Sookie smiled. "Thank you so much, you guys!" Sookie said, shaking the doubts from her head. "I want to thank you all for coming and sharing with me the happiest day of my life so far. I couldn't have done it without all of your help and support."

All her friends and family nodded.

"Tara, thanks for all your great advice. I really needed that. Amelia, thanks for all your humor and great advice and never being afraid to tell it to me straight. Great-grandfather, thank you letting me use the truth serum so Eric and I could finally talk to each other without—excuse my language—the B.S. It really made the difference. Claudine, thanks for always showing up at the right moment and for styling my hair so irresistibly perfect. Claude, thanks so much for . . . wait. What exactly did you do Claude?" Sookie asked.

Everyone turned to stare at Claude.

"Not a damn thing. Claudine said to come over for a free drink and here I am."

The group all laughed and raised their glasses to drink.

"Child." Niall placed his glass down and held both of Sookie's hands in his. "Are you truly happy, dear?"

"Yes, Great-Grandfather. I truly am. Thank you for all your help."

"Then I am glad for you as well, dear one. If you should ever have need of me again, please remember I am always here for you, child," Niall said.

"Thank you, Great-Grandfather."

Niall embraced Sookie and was preparing to say farewell when Amelia interrupted.

"Wait, Prince. Before you go, we have to begin our plan of attack to make Eric marry Sookie in a human ceremony! We have to sell a wedding to a thousand-year-old former bachelor. That is no easy task. We're going to need all the help we can get."

"Amelia, I'm sure my great-grandfather is very busy. Thank you, sir, but I think we'll do all right. I'll call you if we need anything. Thank you again," Sookie stated, winking at Amelia.

"Farewell, child," Niall said.

Niall popped away and Amelia, Tara, and Claudine all gathered around Sookie.

Amelia quickly grabbed Sookie's arm. "What do you mean you don't need help in getting Eric to marry you? Wait! Holy shit! Why, you little tramp! You got Eric to play Sheriff didn't you? Is that why you're so sure of yourself?"

Sookie giggled and nodded while the three girls roared with laughter.

Amelia embraced Sookie. "Sookie, you're my hero! Holy shit, I can't believe you got Eric to do that."

Claude was confused. "Just what is this playing Sheriff thing about?"

The four girls all said, "Nothing!" They all started to laugh again.

"Boy, I'm glad I ain't straight. Y'all are crazy," Claude said, and the girls laughed even harder.

"Oh, and one more thing! One more thing," Sookie said to quiet down the girls. "We are watching Ghost as soon as he wakes up," Sookie announced.

"Oh, really?" Amelia sighed. "I bet I know what the first song at the wedding's going to be."

The four girls starting singing, "Whoaaaa my love . . ." from the song, "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers.

As the girls continued to sing, Claudine raised her glass again. "To Sookie!"

Amelia added, "To the future Mrs. Eric Northman!"

"To my friends," Sookie finished, and everyone drowned their drink.

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TRANSLATIONS: (Thanks again, Maria Terese! *hugs*)

Jag älskar – I love

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A/N: OMG! It was a conspiracy! Poor Eric, everyone against him! Next chapter is the surprise ending!

THANKS TO ALL who have left a review. You're awesome! Thanks so much for supporting me, and letting me in on your thoughts.

Please leave a review and tell me what you think Eric loves. He's such a naughty Viking—whatever could it be?