A/N – Thanks to peppermintyrose and to Northwoman for taking the time to review. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback (and by helping me navigate my commas and my 'that' addiction).

Disclaimer – Charlaine Harris owns the SVM.

Doing the Right Thing

Chapter 5

His smile grew and he looked at me thoughtfully. It was hard not to smile back when he was looking at me like that.

"Sookie, I…" Eric didn't get to finish his thought because Tray came walking up behind him and gave him a big slap on the back.

"Uncle Eric. There you are!"

"Uh, hey Tray. Everything okay?"

"Oh sure, but Amelia and your mom are finally getting a chance to eat and they asked me to take care of the little man for a few minutes. But I've really gotta hit the head. Do you mind taking him for a few?"

"Sure, Tray." Eric's arms stretched out to Tray to take little Calvin. He smiled as he looked down at his nephew and started making little faces at him. I got a little closer so I could see Calvin.

"Hi, sweet boy." I brushed his cheek. He was a happy little guy. He wasn't fussing at all. I couldn't help but smile at him.

For the second time tonight, I found myself thinking of my parents. Calvin was so lucky to have grandparents who would fawn over him, and Amelia was so lucky to have her mother and father to share these moments with. I also thought of my Gran, and how terribly I missed her. Since she took Jason and me in after our parents died; she was my grandmother, my mother and my best friend. She'd always talked about wanting a house full of great-grandbabies. We both always joked that Jason, tomcat that he is, would be the first to give her some. It made me a little wistful thinking that when the time came, I wouldn't have her to share these moments with either.

"Hey, Sookie. Are you okay?"

I didn't realize it, but I must have zoned out there for a minute too long.

"I'm fine, Eric. I was just remembering something. Here, let me hold him for a minute?"

Eric nodded his head and I got my arms ready to hold the little man. I couldn't help but kiss his cheeks once I had him and take in his yummy little baby smell. He smelled of talc and Johnson's baby shampoo and well, just baby. I loved that smell. Who didn't?

As I looked up from my little snuggle with Calvin, I saw Eric was watching me. I hadn't a clue what he was thinking and couldn't help but feel a little self conscious under his intense stare.

Thankfully I was soon distracted as the sweet smelling baby I had been enjoying just a moment before, wasn't so sweet smelling anymore.

"Ew."

"Excuse me?" Eric got a wrinkle in his brow.

"I'm sorry, not you. I think the little guy needs a diaper change."

"Oh. Huh. I don't think I can really help you there."

"Tell me you're not scared of a tiny baby with a tiny diaper." Eric smirked. Men. "We'll be fine. I'll just go find Amelia."

Eric placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me in Amelia's direction. She was still sitting down with her parents enjoying dinner.

"Now I left him with Tray. How come you've got him, Sookie?"

"It's no problem, Amelia. He had to go to the bathroom and asked Eric to hold him for a minute. I just couldn't resist. It's been weeks since I got a chance to do this."

"So long as you don't mind."

"I certainly don't. However, someone needs a diaper change. Can I have your diaper bag?"

Amelia started to get up from the table.

"Listen, take advantage while you can Amelia. I don't mind changing him. I'll just take your bag and I'll be right back. You stay here and finish your dinner. There'll be plenty of other diapers for you to change I'm sure."

"If you're sure."

"Honey, don't give her time to change her mind." Amelia's mother stood and picked up the diaper bag. "Here, Sookie. I'll go with you."

I was going to protest when I realized she had the diaper bag in hand and was steering me towards the bathroom.

"You're such a dear to do this for her. Peter and I have been after her to eat and let people help her while they can. She doesn't know how much she'll miss it when it's just her and Calvin." As I was gently laying Calvin down to change him, she cooed at him.

"You must be sad to leave them."

"Yes, but Tray's home now. It's time that they get to bond as a family without the grandparents poking around. He'll grow really quickly and I'll miss him, but it will certainly be good to get back to our own home."

By this time, Sophie had a clean diaper in hand and was still making little funny faces to entertain Calvin as I got him cleaned.

"Amelia told me you live inFlorida?"

"Yes, we moved down a number of years ago. Peter got tired of the winter as did I. I like to golf and we live on a beautiful course. Do you play?"

"Occasionally for work."

I had finished getting Calvin all cleaned and I asked Sophie to hold him for a moment so I could wash my hands.

I took Calvin back into my arms and walked with him back to the table. Amelia and Eric were sitting side by side laughing with their father. Tray had joined them at the table as well.

"Tray, you dodged it this time. But be warned, you're going to have to learn to change your son's diapers very soon."

"Sophie, I had no idea. Honest!" I could swear that at that moment she rolled her eyes before she asked her husband to go with her to the bar to get a drink. Peter, being a gentleman, stood up and held the chair out for me while I sat down with Calvin.

"Eric, Tray, let's go get these ladies something to drink shall we?" Peter suggested. The guys got up and walked over to the bar.

I fussed over Calvin for a few more minutes while Amelia finished the last of her dinner. When she was done she stood up to get Calvin. He had fallen asleep while I held him.

"Sookie, have you eaten yet?"

"I'm fine, Amelia, thanks. I had an early work dinner before I came here."

"Sookie, tell me, what is it that you do?"

"Well, I'm afraid that it's nothing too exciting, Sophie. I am a Vice President of a marketing and communications firm downtown. We do a little bit of everything from help with M&A's to ad campaigns to web design and everything in between."

"That sounds interesting, Sookie. And do you like what you do?"

"Truthfully it depends on the day. Today, I'm not as enthusiastic as I normally would be. It's been a long couple of days." Which had me start thinking about how much I'd like to go home right now and get reacquainted with my pillows.

"Really?"

"We had some hard and fast deadlines we were up against for a deliverable and it led to a very late night last night."

"Oh, does that happen often?"

"It depends on the project or the client. When you're dealing with clients, you can plan well, but you never know what you'll be asked to do."

I was surprised Sophie was taking an interest in what I did. Perhaps she was just trying to be polite.

The men had come back from the bar bearing drinks. Eric handed me a ginger ale. How thoughtful that he noticed what I had been drinking. I took a few sips and started to tune out as the group talked around me. I listened in as Tray was telling stories about his experiences inAfghanistan, but I felt myself getting tired again. One of Tray's friends had come up to the table for a moment and I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to say my goodbyes.

Eric was seated next to me and he leaned over to speak in my ear.

"You look like you're getting tired."

The feeling of his warm breath on my neck made me shiver.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm not hiding it as well as I thought. It's not the company. It's been a long few days at work."

"Come on, let's go for a walk."

He stood up and extended his hand to help me up.

I took his hand and got up from the table. I noticed as I did how gently he took my hand. Everyone was engrossed in conversation, so I made my way over to Amelia to say a quiet goodbye.

"I just wanted to say a quick goodbye Amelia." I leaned over and gave her a quick hug.

"Thanks so much for stopping by. It was so good to see you. I'm glad you got a chance to meet Tray. Maybe we can meet up soon?"

"I'd like that too." I genuinely liked Amelia.

I also said goodbye to Tray, who told me 'he owed me one' and a after I said a quick farewell to Amelia's folks as well, I felt Eric's hand on the small of my back once again.

"Come on, this way." He steered me toward the river. I loved coming to the Boat Basin. It was a marble structure that was underneath the 79th Street roundabout. It was open on two sides; one being open to the river which was just a few steps away. For the first couple of years the Boat Basin was a hidden oasis for Upper West-siders like me. Over the past few years though, word spread and now it was a very crowded destination most summer days. Even though it was getting late, the park was still bustling with runners, people walking their dogs, rollerbladers and couples strolling through the park. I walked towards the railing and leaned over to look out at the houseboats that dotted the river in front of us.

"I've always wondered what it would be like to live on one of these houseboats." Eric confided.

The houseboats varied in their appearance. Some were small and boxy, others resembled actual boats while others were a bit more grand in size and appearance. None of them, though, rivaled the ones I had seen in San Francisco when I was there last year with Felipe for work.

"I have, too. I've actually wondered what type of person would chose to live on a houseboat. In a city with millions of apartments, why would someone chose to live on a little houseboat instead? Although, come to think of it, none of them appear to be smaller than a studio apartment."

"Thankfully, I've never had to live in one."

"I haven't either. When I first moved to the city, the real estate broker I was working with showed me a couple. But I couldn't do it. I'd feel as if I couldn't escape myself. It's amazing what a change of scenery can do, even if it's just moving from one room to another."

"Where did you live before coming here?"

"I grew up on Cape Cod."

"I've been there before."

"Who hasn't?" So much of the local economy was dependant on the summer crowds, but as a local, we could be intolerant of them too. "Where about?"

"Chatham. We'd go up occasionally during the summer."

"That's not too far from where I grew up."

"It must have been a great place to grow up. There were times Amelia and I didn't want to leave."

"It was." Tonight was full of reflection as I thought of Gran's old house on the lake. I really hoped that Jason was keeping up with it. "We lived on a lake. It was great fun in the summer and in the winter too. I've got a lot of good memories there."

"Do you have brothers and sisters?"

"Just one. I have an older brother, Jason. He still lives up there."

"Are you close?"

"We're somewhere in-between right now. We were closer when we were younger. He couldn't figure out why I needed to leave home. He couldn't imagine why I'd move to the City of all places and he has a hard time with me being a Yankees fan."

That made Eric laugh.

"So he thinks you're a traitor?"

"That about sums it up."

"Don't tell anyone, but I actually used to be a Mets fan."

"Eric… shhhh. People might hear you."

We walked in companionable silence for a little while. I was tired, but it was nice to have someone to walk with and talk to. I realized with Eric walking next to me, I usually spent a lot of time by myself.

"So where are we walking to?"

"Oh. I just started walking. But I do live up this way. I think perhaps I'll just head home."

"Would you mind if I walked you home?"

"No. I appreciate the company."

"So do I." He smiled at me with the big grin he had earlier this evening. It was just what I needed to make me smile too.

We made our way out of the park and back onto the busy streets of the city. Although at this hour, Riverside Drive was one of the less busy streets in the city. It was one of the reasons I liked living here so much. Not only was it the proximity to the park and the river, but it was also the fact that since it was so far west, it wasn't as traveled as some of the other avenues were.

I turned down 85th Street and Eric followed.

"This is a nice block."

"It's relatively quiet. I like it because it's so close to the park. My building's about half way down the block."

"Sookie?"

"Yes?"

"Since you're not seeing anyone, I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime."

"With you?" Crap. That came out wrong. I didn't mean it like that. I was just taken aback. I assumed that someone like him would be already dating someone. I could feel a blush start to creep up my cheeks. He wanted to go out with me?

"That was the general idea, yes."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that the way it must have sounded." Now I was blushing full-on for sure. Eric laughed a little. "Sure. I'd love to."

"Good."

"Well, this is it." We had stopped outside of my building. Eric handed me his phone so I could put in my numbers. I gave him mine so he could do the same.

"Are you free on Saturday?" This Saturday? Two nights from now? Crap. I had set some tentative plans with Pam. If Indira was still in town though, perhaps she wouldn't be pissed at me if I cancelled.

"I was supposed to be going to a show with my friend, Pam, but she hasn't confirmed yet."

"Then why don't I give you a call tomorrow so we can set something up?"

"That would be nice, Eric."

He reached over and took my hand in his and then he leaned in to dust my cheek with a kiss. It was quick and chaste, but a kiss none-the-less. I found myself wanting more.

"Good night, Sookie."

"Good night, Eric."

He watched me walk up the steps to the door and I gave him a small wave before I went inside the building. As I made my way to the elevator, I couldn't believe how my night turned out. This morning, I was dreading going out tonight because of how rough work had been. Then Lafayette tried to talk me out of going and into just going home to rest instead. Thankfully, I decided to do the right thing and go to the party as I said I would. Look where it got me, a date with one very handsome man.

I don't really remember the elevator ride, or getting into my apartment. I was too busy replaying the walk home with Eric in my head. But somehow, I got myself washed up and ready for bed, finally getting reacquainted with my pillows. I turned on the alarm and rolled over to go to sleep. I slept soundly.