AN: This has been in my head, tickling at my consciousness all day, as a warning there are DAG spoilers. It's my first story here, but not my first story; reviews of all kinds are heartily welcomed. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters; they are the property of Charlaine Harris, an amazing writer whose work I enjoy playing with once in a while.

Chapter 1

Eric leans back, looking over his ledgers yet again. He is willing to do any meaningless task to keep the damned human off of his mind. It seemed that it should have been so simple, explaining what he felt, what he wanted, who he was, and she was receptive… to a point. How can he explain where he was when she was kidnapped? How can he explain why he wasn't the one to find her? He wanted to have been. He would have torn the damn faeries apart. When she asked, when he heard the pleading, and the pain, in her voice, he had to turn away. He couldn't tell her, now, when she was falling apart, when she was abused and broken, where he was when she was lost. She would never believe.

So, he did what he thought was the best compromise, he conveyed as little as possible, promising more later, and healed her, as best he could before the Fae continued their assault. He risked his life, and those of his subordinates, to protect her. She must understand that he would have been there could he have… except that she doesn't. She's insecure in his love. She pushes him away. She's insecure in herself, but strong enough to project that elsewhere. Does she not realize he can see through that?

As he struggles away from his musings to refocus himself at the task at hand, he hears a knock on the door that he recognizes as Pam's. Eager for any distraction, he welcomes his child in.

"What do you require, Pam?" He intones, keeping with the façade that he was actually working.

"Your wife is here to see you," Pam laughs, she loves teasing Eric, and Sookie is ripe breeding ground for mockery.

"Well? Let her in." And with that, Pam shrugs to the side, making room for Sookie to sidle past her. As Sookie's head is turned, Pam smiles, displaying her attraction to the young blonde with a little fang. Eric, of course, notices this and, with a formidable glare, sends Pam off to her post in the bar.

"What can I do for you, lover?" Even to him, Eric's voice sounds strained, tired and not at all the silk he usually supplies her with. Sookie takes note of this but decides not to comment just yet. Eric can see her analyzing, processing and then deciding on the best action.

"Where were you? Where were you when I was taken? I mean, I assume you weren't just figuring through your already completely neat and organized ledgers, really you have some OCD going with those, but what was it? What was so important that you left my life for Bill to save?"

"Niall was there too." He quickly defended.

"Niall's my grandfather. He was there for me. Bill may have been there because he loves me, but he is also your minion. You could have gone with him. I tried to call to you. I begged you to come save me, trying to call upon the blood bond. Where were you?"

"I heard you," Eric said quietly. "I heard every cry, every sobbing request. It tore me apart. Do you think that if I could have been there I wouldn't have? Do you think that I wouldn't have loved to be the one to save you? I heard you cry out. I… It killed me to have to stay. It killed me to have to send someone else after you in my stead. I… I care about you, Sookie. Hearing you tortured and being able to do nothing about it nearly ruined me." Eric's volume and his accent grew as he spoke, but softened as he stuttered.

"Then where were you?"

"Until what I was doing is secure, I really can't tell you. Just know that it was for our safety, and that if I could have saved you, I would have been there in a second."

"This time, I don't think that's good enough. I'm sorry Eric, but I think you should stay away until you have a more specific answer."

"Sookie, I… I am being as honest with you as I can. Would you prefer that I made something up, so that you had a specific answer? For your safety, and for the sake of the plot, I really cannot say anything until I am assured that everything is okay. Move in with me, lover. Let me take care of you, and prove that I am sincere in all that I say. You would know the moment that my tactics have worked, and I would keep you safe and satisfied, day and night."

"Eric… I can't. I am not going to just let you handle all of my problems; I'm not going to have you fight my battles… or most of them. We may be pledged, but I am going to stay in Bon Temps, I am going to heal, and when I am better we are going to talk on the exact parameters of our relationship. I still don't find it plausible that we can marry by the mere exchange of a knife."

"Do you mock vampires, our rituals, or me in particular, Sookie? A few years ago, did you find it plausible that people could come back from the dead, or change into animals?" Eric's anger rose as he continued on, his thoughts racing, by denying their vow, she was denying everything he felt for her – regardless of whether she knew it or not.

"Eric, I'm going. Call me when you can tell me the whole truth." As Sookie left, Eric could feel her turmoil, her pain, and her frustration through the blood bond. He was quickly able to reign in his own turmoil, and sent his heart through the bond. She started, and turned to look at him in astonishment.

"Please, Eric, this is not the time for that. I don't think I could handle it." However, Eric continued, sending her his feelings. She felt what might be love, if it could be named, an emotion so strong that she needed to grab the doorjamb to guarantee her balance. She felt a good helping of lust, one that made her knees weak, but that didn't surprise her. She felt his strong need to protect her. As terrifying as the love, it was also as strong. She could feel his sense of failure, in not being the one to have saved her, and the concentrated resolve that she will never be harmed again. She felt safe, and that, she knew, was her own emotion, for after sending his heart, Eric radiated unease, and an unsettling fear of rejection.

Sookie walked back to the desk and kissed him, settling his fears, and hers.

"I'm sorry I doubted you."

"Just don't let it happen again, lover. I don't know much about the future, but I can assure you that I will protect you. Always. You are my pledged. You are mine."

"Gee, thanks for asking first."

"Would you deny it?" Eric's mouth covered hers, cutting off any verbal response, and quickly settling her to the task of working on the desire that dictated their urgency.