Sookie

I woke the next day feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I had had the most relaxing little private concert and a most fulfilling passion session with my very talented and sexy husband. But most importantly, my marriage was still intact. Wondering how Eric and I could ever repair the pain he had caused me with his infidelity had been eating away at me. It was like a rock in my stomach that would never go away. Only, now it was gone. Just like that. It was a beautiful day.

I got dressed and made my daily drive to Bon Temps. I called Tara and asked what she'd like for lunch and stopped on my way. We spread out at the bridal consulting table and enjoyed our sandwiches. Tara noticed a definite lift in my mood and asked what was going on. I gave her the cliff notes, not feeling comfortable discussing my marriage issues with a new widow, but she really seemed interested in hearing about what was going on with me. Finally, she said, "Look, I know you feel awkward talking about Eric with me. I am obviously still a wreck over the loss of JB, but seeing you so happy in your marriage makes me feel better. It gives me hope that there might be happiness out there waiting for me again someday. I love you like a sister, Sookie, and I want you to be happy. You've been such a good friend to me. And you've been through so much lately. You certainly deserve happiness. You and Eric need to get back to the business of being happy newlyweds." Then her face lit up like she had a brilliant idea and she proceeded to tell me what she wanted me to do.

Eric

I was extremely displeased that Sookie took it upon herself to try and rescue Bubba alone and before dusk. Thank gods I was able to get to her in time. She is so brave, but it scares me how close she has come to being killed through her bravery. I can't help but think that Sookie would be safer at our beach house than she is here in Louisiana. I long for our return there, but I know that she still feels an obligation to her friend, Tara.

I was pleased to be able to finally get my hands on some of the bastards from the barn. Unfortunately, only one remained conscious by the time I got them into the closet and out of Sookie's sight. I enjoyed his torture and excruciatingly painful death immensely although it was a bit brief. But I didn't want to keep Sookie waiting. She'd been through enough.

After we got home she gave me a more detailed account of being bitten by Compton on the ship, and while it was difficult to hear it, I was relieved that it was much less upsetting than the fantasy I had concocted in my own jealous imagination. She thought that she was saving a person who had saved her, and her heart was in the right place. I also hadn't even thought of how traumatized she must have been at that point, thinking that I had met the sun. My poor Sookie. She had been through so much and then her husband yelled at her for her kind act towards a friend. I know, I know…I'm working on it.

Then I felt even worse when I realized that she thought that I had cheated on her. When I think of her reading my note asking for forgiveness that next morning…well, it was just an awful misunderstanding. I can't even imagine how devastating it must have been for her trying to come to terms with it when I seemed to be so nonchalant. I even said that I couldn't promise it would never happen again. My gods. That must have felt like a punch in the stomach to her.

That painful misunderstanding also made me realize how alone she must feel in trying to deal with the double bond. It is so bizarre that a human is bonded to two different vampires. I don't think I have ever even heard of it happening before. But then my Sookie is certainly an individual, isn't she? She has most likely avoided discussing it with me, and who could blame her? But her vampire husband is the one person she should be able to go to for advice and support. She should not have to bear this burden alone.

I watched Sookie sleeping peacefully beside me before dawn and vowed to be a better husband. She makes me want to be a better man.

I woke the following night to the sounds of Sookie running around in my room, busy with some sort of project. I opened my eyes and saw her rummaging through my closet, giving me a perfect view of that beautiful ass in a pair of jeans that fit her just right. I snuck up behind her and grabbed her, burying my face into her neck. "Oh good! You're awake! You can help me."

I simply growled in response and pressed myself suggestively into her soft warm behind. "Um, yes, that's great, honey. Really." She turned around and ran her hands quickly over my chest and arms. "You're beautiful and wonderful and I love you and want you." Her hands kept going down my body and then she bent and gave a quick peck of a kiss to the tip of my very ready erection. "Mmm. Beautiful. But we've really got to hurry." And then she walked into the bathroom.

I shook my head and started to follow her, but then she emerged with some toiletries and walked to the chair across from the bed that I now noticed had my open suitcase in it. "You're packing."

"Yep. Get dressed, baby. We need to be at the airport in thirty minutes." She started back to the closet.

"Wait. Where are we going?" I grabbed her hand and pulled her to me.

She planted a quick warm wet kiss on my lips and said, "We're going home."

"Well, why didn't you just say so?"

Sometimes that vampire speed comes in really handy. We made our flight and I carried her into the beach house with hours to spare before dawn.

I set her down and we ran like kids out the back door and down to the beach. Hand in hand, we ran along the water laughing and smiling at the joy of our return to our favorite place. This is where we made love in the rain, kissed by the moonlight, exchanged our wedding vows. This is our special place that feels like home to us more than any other. We slowed our walk and finally stopped and held each other. I inhaled the sea air and her scent. She ran her fingers through my hair, and just before our lips met, we both whispered together, "Welcome home."

XXX

A/N: Please check my profile for more Sookie and Eric stories. (A very naughty one-shot companion piece to this series called Dear Diary will be next followed by a new all human story, Love Isn't Easy.) Thanks so much for reading!