Melanie:

There was a moment when Sookie’s face washed blank with confusion. Like her brain couldn’t turn fast enough to take in the information she had just been given. Her mouth hung with lips slightly parted and her eyes were as wide as they could stretch. I could just imagine the sparks in her mind, desperately trying to connect the dots and instead just short circuiting.

This was exactly why I hadn’t told her yet. I wasn’t even going to tell her about the house seeing as it was now legally half mine again, but Jason had to open his fucking mouth. I looked back at Eric who was getting pleasure from her reaction. I knew how much he hated Sookie, blamed her for all the shit that passed through this town and landed on our laps. He hadn’t been too wrong either. There were no incidences after her disappearance. No wolves, no vampires looking for vengeance, no serial killers. We had been able to enjoy ourselves for what we were instead of watching our backs at all hours.

“I’m sorry, did he just call you his wife?” She finally spoke.

“We got married. It was a small wedding. Only like 5 people were there. We even had a place held for you -” I began to ramble.

“You married Eric Northman? The man who chained Lafayette like a dog? The man who left you to get tortured while he played Russell Edgington’s pet? The man who basically delivered me to him, himself?” Sookie screamed, her face turning a bright shade of red.

“No!” I stopped her. “I married Eric Northman. The one who has saved both of our lives countless times from shit you and Bill dragged us into. The man who warned you about him all along and you wouldn’t believe him. The man who continues to selflessly love me and treat me like a princess every day of my life. Sook – when you were gone, I had nobody. Tara left town. Lafayette was busy with his new man. Jason couldn’t look at me without thinking about you. The bank was threatening to foreclose on the house – Eric stepped in. He moved in to be with me. To keep me safe and sane while I was losing my mind trying to find you and making sure I never lost hope. When he asked me to marry him, it was the happiest moment of my entire life.  I didn’t have to wait to think about it like you did with Bill.”

Her face softened listening to my words, though she looked at him skeptically, I prayed she’d keep the peace. Eric had done nothing but prove his love to me. Her relationship with Bill had been based on lies and betrayal from the beginning. I didn’t expect her to understand, but I expected her to respect it.

“I -” She let out a deep breath. “I can’t do this right now. I don’t know what kind of spell he has you under but I can’t accept this. I won’t.”

Sookie looked at Eric then at me. Her face echoed her doubt and disappointment as she walked past us to go back up the stairs. She had guilted me my whole life with that look, but not this time. Marrying Eric was the only decision in my life I was most certain of.

Eric moved to stand behind me, his body pressing against my back. His hands, cold to the touch, as they ran up my arms to my shoulders. I loved his touch, more than just in sexual ways. In times of high tension, his touch would bring me at ease, comforting me without ever opening his mouth. I leaned my head against his muscled chest. The dampness of it, seeping into his shirt but he didn’t move, just slide his arms around me, to hold me close.

“That went almost exactly how I expected.” I sighed, stepping away out from under his arms.

“Well it’s better she found out sooner than later.” He said, following me up the stairs and into our room. “Like ripping off a bandaid.”

OOO

 

With today being my day off, I figured I’d grab groceries and cook dinner for Sookie and Jason. I knew we weren’t in a good place, but she was still my sister. One who we’d previously thought of as dead. I wanted to spend as much time as humanly possible with her. And if Jason was there, he could help change her mind about my marriage.

I pulled the car into the driveway and grabbed my groceries from the trunk. Footsteps shuffling in the grass caught my attention and I quickly turned, only to find Tara running towards me. It had been nearly a year since I’d seen her too, what the hell was going on?

“Melanie!” She yelled, a wide smile spread across her lips.

“Tara!” I screamed excitedly. Placing my bags down, I ran into her open arms, pulling her into a long familiar hug. “What are you doing here?!”

“Lafayette.” She pulled away, holding onto my hands tightly. “He texted me last night about Sookie coming home. I parked out back because I wanted to surprise you!”

“You did! Where have you been?! You feel off the face of the earth just like she did.”

“I guess I did, huh?” Her face fell apologetically. “I’ve been in New Orleans. I thought Sookie was dead – you had your own thing going on, and after what I went through – this place wasn’t for me anymore.”

“Hey.” I placed a hand on her cheek, brushing off a stray tear. “Everyone thought she was dead, but she’s fine. And you’re stunning! New Orleans looks good on you, but don’t you think for one second you don’t have a home here.”

Tara smiled, leaned in to give me another hug. “What about you? You’re practically glowing! I heard you got married!”

“I did.” I smiled, showing her the ring. “It was small – intimate. I wish you had been there.”

“It’s beautiful, Mel. Regardless of how I feel about vamps – I couldn’t be happier for you.” She admired the ring before holding my hand.

“Help me bring these in? You can tell me all about your cross country adventure.”

OOO

 

“Mel?” Sookie’s voice rang throughout the house. “Melanie!”

“What?” I asked running down the stairs, stopping to see Eric, shirtless and shoeless standing at the front door. “Oh my god! What happened to him?”

I ran over to examine him. He looked clueless as all hell. His face lit up in an innocent smile as I touched his cheeks.

“Wow, are you here Snookie’s friend? You are so beautiful!”

My jaw dropped as I took a few steps away from him. He had no idea who I was. Who we were.  Did he just call her Snookie? I turned momentarily to look at Sookie and he rushed to my side, sniffing my neck.

“You smell like her too. Only sweeter. Like sugar and sunshine and candy.”

“Jesus Christ, what happened?” I pulled away from him, looking at Sookie for answers.

“I don’t know. I found him on the side of the road. He has no idea who he is. The last thing he can remember was from when he was human.”

“Call Pam. She has to know something.” I ordered as I took his hand, leading him to the living room. His feet were still muddy, dirtying the carpet as I lead him to sit on the couch. “Sit right here babe, I’ll grab you a blanket and a bucket of hot water for your feet okay?”

“Okay.” He smiled again.

My heart ached seeing him looking so lost. My husband was never lost. Everything he did had meaning and purpose. Someone had done this to him. Someone had wiped away over a thousand years of memories, but who could do such a thing? I know Eric had a lot of enemies but he was strong – smart. Nobody could get the better of him.

I wrapped the blanket around his shoulders, placing the bucket by his feet as I knelt down. Carefully rolling up his muddy jeans, I placed his feet in the water, using the hand towel to wipe them down. His eyes followed me the whole time. Watching every movement intently.

“You are the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.” He leaned forward, his eyes meeting mine.

I smiled, biting my lower lip as I wiped the bottom of his feet. His eyes focused on the ring on my finger and his expression changed to one of disappointment.

“Your husband is one very lucky guy..”

My eyes began to fill with tears hearing him speak. Even as clueless as he was, he was still drawn to me. “Well consider yourself a lucky man because you are my husband.”

His face lit up like a kid on christmas morning hearing me say those words. “You – you’re my wife?”

“Sure am.” I laughed, letting a tear slip down my cheek.

The doors flung open and Eric stood quickly, becoming aggressively protective. “Who the fuck is she?”

“FUCK!” Pam yelled, noticing the state he was in.

“Sorry.” He softened, looking down at me. “Sorry. That was rude. I’m sorry.”

I looked at Pam concerned as Sookie came into the living room.

“What do you know about what happened to you?” She asked him. Eric looked at me, unable to answer her question so she continued. “You have to hide him!”

“No way!” Sookie protested again.

“He’s in danger!”

I stood straighter, stepping forward towards her. “What danger?”

“And I’m sure you’ll be able to protect him much better than us!” Sookie continued.

“Sookie, I’ll be the first place they’ll look!”

“They who?” I yelled over them.

“The witches who did this.” Pam looked at me.

“Witches? Oh great! Now we have to deal with witches? No. Not my problem!” Sookie crossed her arms over her chest.

“Actually you’re living in our house, so it is your problem!” I crossed my arms looking at her.

“Our house?” Eric looked looked down at me again.

“Yeah baby. “ I smiled comfortingly at him.

“I’ll just go to Bill.”

Pam flew over to Sookie, staring her down. “Tell Bill, and I will rip you to pieces.”

In the blink of an eye, Eric pushed her into the hallway and away from us. “Be nice to her.” He demanded, looking sternly at Pam.

Sookie smirked, thinking of ways to use him to her advantage. Pam stood up again, adjusting her dress as she put a smile on her face to keep Eric calm.

I believe Bill set Eric up, and sent him into that coven in Shreveport knowing it was a trap. It wouldn’t be the first time he tried to get rid of Eric.”

My blood ran cold as I listened to her speak. “That motherfucker!”

“Bill would never do that.” Sookie defended.

“You don’t know shit about Bill.” I lashed out at her. “He wasn’t the man you thought he was then and he still ain’t.”

“Promise me you won’t go to Bill. I”m sure he would use this as an excuse to get the AVL to sign off on assassinating Eric. I know he wants too.” Pam looked at me.

Eric grabbed my hand, his fingers finding their places between mine before squeezing it. He was scared. I could feel it. His eyes were wide as he listened to what Pam was saying.

“Eric has to stay here with you and no one can know.”

“Okay.” Sookie nodded. “ But you are going to have to pay us for babysittin’ him. If ya’ll are going to keep messing with our lives, we outta at least get something out of it, God damn it.”

I yelled, causing her to jump. “He’s my husband, for fucks sake. His money is my money and I’m not paying my own sister to help me take care of him. If you won’t do it for him then do it for me or you can find someplace else to live!”

Pam smirked crossing her arms as Sookie let out an irritated huff.

“We are going to take turns being here and working our shifts, like nothing ever happened. If anyone asks, we haven’t seen Eric at all and I’m worried sick. Okay?”

“I like her.” Eric smiled again. “She’s bossy.”

“You come with me.”

He followed me up the stairs where I had him shower and put on a fresh pair of clothes before leading him downstairs into his cubby. We hadn’t gotten around to installing blackout blinds yet so for now this would have to do. Fortunately, with the situation we were in, it would come in handy.

“Are you really my wife?” He asked, stepping down with me.

“I am.” I nodded, leaning against the ladder as he took seat on the bed.

“Are you happy with me?”

I lowered my eyes to stare at my lap, nodding as I fought back tears. “ The happiest I’ve ever been.”

“Don’t cry.” He stood again. He reached his hand out to touch me but when he stepped closer his fangs immediately dropped. I jumped at the sight and he immediately covered his mouth with his hand. “I’m sorry – I’m so sorry. You just smell so good. What – what are you?”

I knew I couldn’t tell him. My Eric may have had control but this Eric didn’t know a goddamn thing. I couldn’t trust him to drink from me if I was human, much less as a fairy. I sighed, looking up at him. The desperate need to shake him out of it hit me but I couldn’t, I could not hold or hug, or even kiss this man.

“Get some rest babe.” I smiled softly.

“Sweetdreams, Melanie.” He smiled, dumbly.

I walked back upstairs to find Sookie and Pam bickering again. Nodding my head outside, the three of us walked out the back door to sit in the yard.

“What do you know about Bill’s plans?” I asked Pam, crossing my arms over my chest.

She sighed, looking at Sookie who was ready to jump to his defense. “Eric knows things that could get Bill kicked out of that precious throne.  Bill’s been sending him on all these bullshit investigations. Just places where he’s bound to get hurt or in trouble. Eric knows things that could get Bill kicked out of that precious throne.”

“Go find out more about these witches. We need to find a way to reverse this immediately. Leaving him like this makes him a sitting duck.”

“So – does this make Melanie like your step-mom?” Sookie asked with a devious smirk.

“No!” Pam retorted.

“Yes.” I said matter of factly. “ Now go, Pam. We can’t be wasting time.”

She lefted in a rush before Sookie turned to me. “How are we supposed to keep him hidden from Bill? He’s bound to come looking here after he searches Fangtasia.”

“We have to adjust that cubby to look like a wardrobe. It’s the only way. That why if he comes searching, he won’t find anything out of place.”

“Sookie, I’ve come for you.” An unfamiliar voice sounded behind us.

We both turned in a hurry to see a magical looking woman, smiling at Sookie.

“Who the fuck are you?” I stepped in front of my sister.

“I’m Claudine. I’m Sookie’s godmother. Pleasure to finally meet you Melanie.”

“I’m not going back there.” Sookie took a step back.

“I understand it must have been frightening what you saw in Faerie, but please…”

“You’re the woman who took her? She’s not going anywhere with you.”

“We are your true family. You belong with us. Both of you.”

“No, thanks!” Sookie turned to walk inside.

“This is not a request!”

Eric came in out of nowhere, tackling the woman to the ground before he started draining her. Sookie yelled for him to stop but neither of us could go near him. Not when he was like this. We watched as she crumbled beneath him before turning into glowing dust that scattered into the breeze.

“You just killed my Fairy Godmother!” Sookie shreiked.

Eric looked at us, wide eyed. “Sorry.”

“We’re sitting ducks out here if any of Claudine’s friends show up.” Sookie looked at me.

“Hurry. In the house, Eric. We gotta get you back into the cubby.”

He groaned a moment before collapsing on the ground. Sook and I looked between each other as fear ran through my body. She stepped closer, pushing his arm gently.

“Eric? Get up, we have to go inside.”

He stood, almost zombie like before smiling drunkenly at us with his fangs dropped. Sookie backed up towards me, unsure of how he would be.

“Hey.” He stumbled hazily as he approached us. “More.”

“Quit it.” Sookie slapped his hand away as he reached for me.

“I want more!” He shoved her lightly before looking back at me.

“You can’t have more.” I stepped  backwards as he stepped closer to me. “You can’t have any more. There isn’t any more. You drank the whole faerie, and you’re going to your room.”

“Drink you up.” He mumbled as he moved my hair out of the way, leaning in to bite my neck.

“Eric, you’ll kill me! No!” I yelled causing him to freeze.

His face turned serious as he looked down into my eyes, hurt that I would even imply such a thing. “I would never harm you.”

I could see in his eye that he meant it. “Come on, I’ll tuck you in.”

He giggled, following as Sookie and I walked back towards the house before I felt a hand pinch me.

“Hey!” I gasped, turning to face him as he walked circles around us. “Did you just pinch my ass?”

“Beautiful butt.” He laughed as he did it again.

“Oh my god. He’s drunk!” Sookie laughed.

“Catch me!” He laughed as he disappeared into the woods.