Nuclear Winter
Chapter 2
Misery Loves Company
**
The week I’d been promised came and went…
Sookie called at the last minute, just after sunset to speak to me in person, to ‘apologize’ for the delay. She claimed Allecks wanted to spend a few days with the children before they left for their holiday…
I didn’t believe it.
Dinh and Saskia had already been preparing the house for Human guests for a few days before Sookie called…
She was stalling.
She was having second thoughts.
I was sure of it.
I’d rearranged my schedule to allow for spending a few nights in Eijsden…
I was struggling to digest the wealth of connections from one version to the next…
Every task on my schedule for the last seven nights had to be completed with iron will because I found myself constantly tempted to rewatch the video ‘testimonials’ by Pam. Yes, I was getting used to her name change.
It was infuriating to have the added distraction of sending someone to follow Sookie looking for information.
It never failed either… Every time one of them called to give a report, one of Pam’s videos was interrupted.
Allecks had come to stay at the townhouse in Bern, taking over the house while Sookie left to stay with a friend who lived at the other end of the street. While his activities with the children were painfully ordinary to the man watching the house, Sookie’s sudden freedom was far from stagnant.
Allecks assumed the responsibility of their schooling, prepared meals with them, read bedtime stories to them, played football with them in the garden, went riding with them… Shopping, dining out, movies… The least mundane moment during the four days they were followed was the formal museum benefit he attended with them. Even then, it was only remarkable because the children had been well behaved in spite of their limitless energy.
Sookie, on the other hand, had gone to stay close by in Allecks’s flat. Did she think I wouldn’t find her there? She enjoyed luncheons, trips to the salon, shopping, and a dinner party… She went to two appointments with a physician and spent the better part of a day at a large book shop during a book signing by the author of a mystery series for young adults. She spent the bulk of her late evenings with her laptop and when the ISP was used to track Sookie’s internet use, most of the web sites she’d been accessing were pornography and social networking sites.
In general, Sookie didn’t seem to be doing anything other than enjoying her free time away from her children.
More specifically, there wasn’t a single hint to the fact that she had any fucking intention of coming to Eijsden as promised.
**
I rose running through my plans for the evening.
As I had done every night since I’d been given the journal, I reached for my laptop and turned it on so I could spend my hour before sunset watching the videos of Pam again.
I wasn’t interested in spoiling the little bit of enjoyment they brought me by thinking of the argument waiting for me once I drove to Bern to confront the little cunt who was about to discover the repercussions of breaking a promise to me.
Of anything, I walked away from our meeting with the impression that she was clever enough to know I wouldn’t just forget.
Women and children weren’t ‘off limits’ as much as a last resort.
If I had to use her children as leverage, I would.
I started the first video to see Pam sit down, sighing and rolling her eyes. She toyed with her nails for a moment before chuckling with a sinister look on her face. Even her facial expressions and her cheeky behavior had been missed…
“I’m going on record right now. This is me laughing my ass off at the Vampire who never did more than feed from and fuck Humans because they were ‘too much trouble’… This is me laughing at the Vampire who always thought ten steps ahead to ‘eliminate variables’… This is me laughing at the fact that you’ve gone completely free agent, you’ve managed to sever all ties with politics, just to enjoy your retirement… And now you’re surrounded with Humans and you have forged a bond with a Human, only to shit in your own lap. Thank you. Thank you, Eric… this… as my Maker, you’ve finally taught me the ultimate lesson. I probably never would have had absolute comprehension of irony. The sacrifice you’ve made to give me this knowledge warms me to my core…”
I chuckled as I carried the laptop to the bathroom. She’d always been a brat, constantly pointing out any proof she found that I wasn’t infallible. I needed it… more now than when she was alive.
I set the computer on the counter to have a shower while I listened to her recording. Even the sound of her voice made a difference.
I showered while listening to Pam’s commentary on the path I wish I’d taken.
When I decided to leave Amsterdam, we had plenty of options… I’d given the ultimate decision to Liz and she spent more than a month searching headlines for news and business opportunities. After presenting the options to me, we decided the best of them were Paris and Hollywood. Buying a hotel as an excuse for Liz to shop or investing in the rapidly growing film industry as an excuse for Liz to shop.
Our destination was decided by a coin toss. Heads- Paris. Tails- Hollywood.
My coin put us in Paris where Liz and I lived quietly for decades before Halfdan contacted me. The other Me had been lucky enough to find himself in California until He was accused of being a Communist in 1947 thanks to being listed as a producer of ‘Un-American’ films. That Eric and Liz laughed while they packed their belongings and moved to New Orleans because of His investments in Cuba (which were partly responsible for the communism accusations).
That coin toss led to a Me being offered a quiet job in Louisiana’s Area 5 as Sheriff. The presence of a former Knight in her Kingdom made Sophie-Anne anxious. Since the Area was only home to a few dozen Vampires at the time, that Me accepted the offer to remain closer to his business interests.
Lucky.
As Pam prattled the synopsis with an air of boredom, I rued that coin toss. I hadn’t enjoyed Paris when I was there before. The air was miserably thick with political posturing, Human, Vampire and Were alike. As soon as the coin was in the air, I knew I preferred the idea of moving to California, even if base curiosity about America was to blame.
I lost Liz because of a coin toss.
It didn’t matter that the other versions had found the most infinitesimal of pebbles had sparked a tsunami of differences. As many times as I’d read it, hoping I wasn’t the only one to have lost Liz, I was it. I was the only one known to have suffered that loss. Even the Eric who was forced to turn Sookie when Pam was ended had been distracted from the pain with new responsibility. He hadn’t had time to mourn yet.
A fucking coin toss.
The next video was beginning, Pam with a pair of little boys on her lap, when I stepped out of the shower. Sad that I even missed how she used to lean on the counter (occasionally flushing the toilet) while I showered.
I knew, from experience, I would have time to watch the video three times before sunset…
Then I would have five hours en route to Bern to formulate my plan… Since I already had eyes on Sookie, finding her wouldn’t be a problem… but given that Sookie had been eating at restaurants every night and lingering at the bar afterwards, I was going to need a plan for getting my point across…
Pinning her and forcing my blood down her throat… publically… in another Kingdom… when Clovis and I already had a strained relationship…
I was going to have to put on the appearance of being passive until we were in a secluded location for that.
**
I used Pam’s video as company while I read and sent emails until the sun had fully set… Enjoying the sound of her voice while I worked more than I used to because I used to take it for granted.
The only things missing were the scent of Chanel No. 5 and a joke about how dull work was.
Before I left, I itemized the contents of my trunk… hoping Sookie could be convinced with less drastic measures, but completely prepared to abduct her while her children were with the ex-husband. I’d thought to pad the trunk with a featherbed and include a pillow, so she couldn’t complain about comfort.
I had just put the key in the ignition when Dinh trotted out of the house waving his arms as though he was landing a plane.
I growled at the delay as I stepped out of my car. “What do you want?”
His eyes widened. “Mrs. Auers is insisting they go out for dinner, but Saskia and I don’t want to take our leave until you dismiss us. Mrs. Auers refuses to let Saskia know what she’s looking for to stock the pantry…”
“She’s here?” Unfuckingbelievable. Sookie actually showed up.
He nodded, “Yes sir. They arrived just a few hours ago. She… She told me she informed you…” Yes, but she’d also told me she’d be arriving four days ago too.
“I hadn’t received confirmation.” If I’d been expecting her to actually follow through, I might have sampled the air before I left the house. It usually reeked of my guards, so I hadn’t bothered.
“Oh… They’ve been here for a while. They unpacked their things and Atja gave her a tour of the town. They ate lunch at a café, she called to inquire about a house for sale, and she brought some groceries back with her. They retired to their rooms to get some rest.” As I turned to greet my guests, Dinh cleared his throat. “Sir, should I have Saskia prepare dinner?”
I shook my head without turning back. “No. If Sookie has dinner plans, there isn’t a point in that. You and your sister are free to go, but I could call or email you later with notes.”
**
I arrived at the door to the room Saskia happily prepared for Sookie, only to hear, “Come in,” before I could knock.
When I opened the door, Sookie was sitting on the bed with her laptop on her legs… She held her finger up and finished typing before closing the computer and leaving the bed to walk towards me.
She stopped just inches away and folded her arms. “I’m going to assume that you sent someone to follow us because you aren’t used to being able to trust anyone and you were worried I was having second thoughts after I called about the kids spending a few days with Allecks before we made the trip.”
“As opposed to what?”
“As opposed to gathering information about me to use it coerce me to follow through with my promise to bond with you… And no, it didn’t escape me you didn’t deny having us followed. At least that’s a step in the right direction.”
“How did you know I had you followed?”
“I’m a mind reader, Eric. Pieter was following me and Albert was following the girls. I’m glad it wasn’t the other way around since Pieter’s a disgusting pervert. By the way, the neighbor’s teenage boy is the one who spends all of his time in chat rooms and surfing for porn. He uses Allecks’s router once his parents are in bed. I only really use the internet for research so anytime the ISP registered a hit for a baby naming website or Wikipedia, that was me… Were you really that worried I’d back out?”
“Yes.”
“I’m here now, so you’ll chill out a little bit, right?” Probably not.
“I don’t know. Why is it so important to you that I ‘chill out’?”
“Because of the notes Sookie left for me. You need to get your shit together. You’re so fucked up that you let a breathing being with a heartbeat sneak up on you in the shower. Your head could’ve been lobbed off before you knew you had company. She was very worried about you…”
“No. She was confusing herself. She would have been worried about her Eric if…”
“Don’t pull that deflecting bullshit with me… Someone waltzed into your house, pushed your guards back until they were within a few feet of the door to your room… your reaction to that was having the incompetent guards take the possible assassin to local Human officials. I might be new here, but I would’ve tied a bitch to a chair and gotten answers before I declared it rubber ducky time, buddy.”
“I had every intention of questioning her once she was secure.”
“You gave the fools who were struggling to hold her another chance to let her get to you, which actually happened… If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’re suicidal…”
I opened my mouth to tell her to save her theories, but she didn’t give me the chance. I was close to breaking her fucking jaw just so she’d stop talking.
“I know you don’t give a shit about us or our wellbeing any further than knowing as long as I’m alive, you’ll get occasional vacations to see Pam, but I’m allowed to have my own agenda. That includes living long enough to tell my grandchildren embarrassing stories about their mothers… Is seeing Pam again going to help you get your head back in the game at all?”
“I’m not sure you know enough about me to assume I haven’t always had my head in the game.”
“I’m not sure you know me well enough to excuse that you think I’m too stupid to notice someone is watching every move I make. I’d like to mention that you didn’t notice I had a spy of my own.”
“You had me followed?”
She raised her eyebrow and tilted her head. “Checkmate. Eleven days later, and I had to tell you. Are you prepared to think about it yet?”
“When was I followed?”
“From the night we met.”
I growled, “Proof.”
“You came back here that night and read your guards the riot act about how lax they were. The next night you flew to Antwerp, fed from a redhead Lord Johan offered you, then flew to Brussels to meet with Lord Francoise. The next night you went to Rotterdam. You didn’t have to be so rough with the blonde donor Lord Cornelius offered you, but I guess, better her than me… Should I keep going or would you like for me to skip ahead to the part where I suggest we take a look in your trunk?” For a split second, I thought she read someone’s mind, but no one Human knew all of that information.
“I’m not amused. Who did you hire?”
“How does that matter? I can rationalize my reasons for having you watched just as much as you can.”
“I’d love to hear you try to justify having me followed.”
“I’ve already told you… You aren’t the same Eric I met. There’s nearly a century of different experiences, including that you were devastated by a loss He didn’t suffer. You let a little of your temper shine through when you grabbed me as I rescinded your invitation to my house. While I’ve read the journals enough to know you have the potential to be a good man, I’m not willing to take any chances where my children are concerned. You wouldn’t ever have advertised Pam’s resting place either so I’m sure you can understand why I’m protective.”
“Is this the negotiation I was expecting?”
“No. This is me asking if there’s any fucking point to bonding. Is there any point to inviting the chaos theory to have its way with my life? I want to help you, but I don’t want to subject myself to your attitude if you’re a lost cause.”
I shook my head. “You think you know me because of the journal.”
“Did you read it?”
“Of course I did.”
“Did you skim through everything and concentrate on all things Pam?” Yes.
“Perhaps.”
She sighed, “That was rhetorical, Eric… If you paid any attention to the rest of the journal, you would’ve known better than to assign a Human to follow me. Any other Eric, because they aren’t basket cases, would’ve sent Dae or Vampire spies because I can hear Human and Were minds too clearly. Shit Eric, at least one who doesn’t think in English or German.”
“It didn’t occur to me you’d be able to hear Pieter’s thoughts. How close did he get to you?”
“He stayed a ways away from me, about fifty meters or so, for a couple of days. I knew he was following me before he mingled at the book store…” Lesson learned. I wouldn’t underestimate her range again. “Eric, please… at least admit to yourself that you need to get it together.”
“Stop talking to me as though you know me. The journal…”
She sighed, and her eyes became glassy. “Fine. What did you come up here to talk about then?”
“I don’t want to talk.”
“Then you came to my room to give me your blood and then go about your business.” She made that sound like a bad thing.
“And to encourage you to take advantage of Dinh and Saskia’s services.”
She shook her head as though she was disappointed in a child. “Fine… Let’s get on with it.”
“Did you speak to your physician about the effects of Vampire blood on your pregnancy?”
Her throat clenched and she shook her head. “No.”
“Did you research it on your own?”
“No. Stop asking as though you care…” I didn’t care per se. I was simply curious. “We know from the journal the blood exchanges don’t have any effects on a pregnancy. Well, I know that because I didn’t skip the meat of the journal to get to the Pam-gravy like an obsessed fan-girl. I wouldn’t have agreed to a bond if there was any question. I would’ve told you to wait six months.”
“You’re behaving defensively.”
“You’ve made it clear that I’m a means to an end for you. I’d rather be friends since we’re going to have to work together from time to time, but I can handle that… I do expect you to display a modicum of consideration for my kids. It’s not their fault the preview was better than the movie… Let’s go. Get on with it. I’m not feeding you though. You have plenty of donors at your disposal. You only need to feed from me once to complete the bond.”
“And occasionally to maintain it.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. If bonding doesn’t help, there’s no point in maintaining the bond and suffering one another.”
“You think you’re suffering me?” How quaint.
“If you aren’t going to give me your blood now, I should get ready to go. We have plans.”
“Do you see the irony there? You think my etiquette is lacking, yet you’re in my house as a guest and you make dinner plans on your first night here.”
She rolled her eyes. “The girls and I are in the mood for corned beef and cabbage. Since I read the journal I know you aren’t fond of the smell of cabbage, so I offered to buy Atja dinner in exchange for showing me how to get to the restaurant instead of having Saskia stink up your house.” When she wasn’t behaving like a cunt, she could actually be considerate. Who knew?
“My estate is crawling with Weres. I’m not in the practice of smelling my surroundings when I’m here…”
“You’re welcome. Are we done? Not that it makes a difference to you, but since I’ve never had Vampire blood before, I want to get it over with.”
I studied her for a moment… second guessing myself. If her cousin could be glamoured, she’d be a more agreeable pet. As a minimum, there would be a way to shut her the fuck up. But… Sookie was here. I’d already waited too long… and the sooner I completed a bond with her, the sooner I could be rid of her.
I lowered my fangs and bit into my wrist… I almost laughed at the way Sookie looked disgusted as she put her mouth to the wound.
Her mouth was close enough that I felt her breath when I thought to brace myself… I read enough of the journal to remember the warnings about the reaction it caused…
As she pulled from the wound, I was surprised to not feel much more than I would have anticipated from giving my blood to anyone.
Granted, her emotions came to me more quickly than I expected, none of which were surprising given what a bitch she was being. Other than that, the only sensation worth mentioning was a bizarre feeling in the pit of my stomach, which seemed to be waning by the second as she swallowed my blood.
**
When my wound closed, I was tempted to reopen it to rush things along (there was only so much of her I was willing to tolerate), but I left instead.
With my luck, I’d give her enough to find out she could be turned accidentally and I really would be stuck with her forever.
She was already in her bathroom when I closed her bedroom door behind me…
But there were three faces waiting for me in the hallway. The children had their arms folded and were lined up along the railing of the landing. Unlike the last time we met, they all had very serious expressions on their faces.
“Good evening.”
Jenny gave a nod while the others remained stoic. “Are you bonded now?”
“I’m not sure your mother would want you to know…”
“We know about bonding because of the journal. Are you bonded?”
“If you read the journal, you should know a bond takes more than one exchange.”
“Can you feel her?” As insistent and serious as she was, I couldn’t help but think something was… off.
“If you’re annoyed that I had you followed, it was…”
Misty interrupted, “This isn’t about you. God, you’re an egomaniac… Can you feel Sookie?” Part of me wanted to congratulate Sookie for Misty’s vocabulary.
“You shouldn’t speak to adults that way…” When I walked towards the staircase, my path was blocked by the insolent little twit. My eyes actually rolled. “What are you doing?”
“Still trying to get you to answer the question. Can you feel Sookie?”
I answered, “Yes,” hoping I’d be ‘allowed’ to take my leave once she had her answer.
“Is she okay?”
“You’re the telepath. You tell me.”
“She’s been blocking us and even had Onkel come stay with us. She says she’s fine when we ask, but she’s still blocking us.”
“Yes, she feels fine. Why wouldn’t she be?”
Misty opened her mouth to answer, but Lindy beat her to it by snapping, “Because she lost the baby after some giant jerk shook her!”
EricIzMine FanFiction 
How am I supposed to wait for more? Please dont leave us hanging too long wonderful lady!
You. Are. Amazing.
I’ve rarely seen an author, professional or otherwise, who can so effectively deliver a bomb the way you just did. I stand by my statement that this chapter is like a fine painting.
I’ll skip what everyone else will likely react to and just say that one of my favorite lines is “It’s not their fault the preview was better than the movie.”
You continue to rock my world!
Really disliking this Eric. My pity only goes so far. Right now, he’s deserving of nothing, imho.
Sorry Angela, but I have to agree. I’m not liking this Eric very much so far. Everything is about him. I just know things will improve (at least I hope so) but he’d better feel some remorse over Sookie losing the baby….or so help me, I’ll stake him myself. Ok vent over. Still can’t wait for more. PLEASE don’t make us wait too long. Not after that cliffie…
Oh, poor Sookie! You were right, this one is much more serious, but I love it just the same!
OMG!! That is horrible. I do not know how to react to this verse or chapter at all.
In Europass, Sookie described Eric as ‘feral’. I’d say NW’s Eric is feral and depressed. I hope that Sookie, her girls, and maybe some ‘Gran-time’ (via a skip) will help this poor Eric. He’s kind of like that lion with the thorn in hs paw.
So sad that Sookie lost the baby. I wonder if this will awaken Eric’s conscience?
Thanks for the update, and I owe you a ton of reviews. I hope to post them when I revisit your wonderful works.
Holy COW!!! I am sitting here with my mouth open….your twists and turns stir me up.
You are an amazing author.
Holy Shit!!! I think this is the first time I’ve been speechless. That was just… WOW!
yep thats what i said, “wOw” and “holy shit!”
Holy…mother…what the…wow! What a mind fuck for both of them…not to mention the kids! This is very intense but in such a great way. I can’t wait to see Eric’s reaction and all that follows. Fantastic universe!
Interesting development and a little different from your usual style but I am glad to see a more gritty and dark version of a skip. EP is my favourite skip, I have enjoyed seeing the difference in Sookie after a few days with Eric and watching their burgeoning relationship. This skip I think will also become a favourite. It is good to see a version of a skip in which Eric is the ‘broken’ one, so far his personality in most of the skips has remained more or less constant. This version of Eric, I am sure will, through the skips give the other Erics pause for thought and make them be grateful to still have their Pam with them. (I know you have alluded to a skip in which Sookie was turned and Pam was killed but I think that that version of Sookie and, assuming Gran is still with them, will help that Eric come to terms with the loss of Pam). In this version I hope that it is a skip Pam who will be instrumental in giving Eric his ‘come to Jesus’ in much the same way BTD Gran handled Meanwhile Sookie about skipping solely to see her. I also think that the children could be very instrumental in bringing Eric out of his darkness.
As to him causing Sookie to miscarry, this Sookie needs to meet another Eric preferably EP Eric who would a) help restore her faith in ‘her’ Eric and b) knock seven bells out of her Eric for hurting her.
I am sure when I am feeling more settled I will leave you a nice review but right now I just want to cry. This Eric breaks my heart, he is so lost and behaving like such and absolute ass.
I’m hoping that Eric gets his come to Jesus sooner than later. Hopefully Pam will be the one to deliver it too. And it’s so sad about the baby!
There has to be some of the old Eric buried deep for him to be still mourning his child and to give up so completely. When whatever it is that happens to breaches the walls he’s built, there just may be a HUGE emotional melt down.
Maybe Eric can skip to help save the Pam from ‘In The Dark’. I can just imaging the healing that may bring.
Well I’m not going to try to second guess the maestro. Love it and I can’t wait to read more.
Oh my good lord, wasn’t expecting that. This Eric really needs an attitude change.
OMG! Poor Sookie! I feel horrible for her but hopefully this will make Eric get his head out of his ass and be the man we all know he is deep down….
Another fantastic chapter. Not liking this Eric at the moment hopefully he’ll pull his head out of his ass soon. Didn’t see that ending coming at all. Can’t wait for more.
I don’t know how to react to this. I get mourning and obsession but he has no sympathy from me right now. He’s a fucking wreck and no amount of seeing Pam in skips is going to help him. The cherry on top is he caused her to miscarry. I want to know her reasons for still going through with it. Will he even care? Compelling ‘verse. Definitely my least favorite Eric.
Holy Mother of Mercy…… This is going to be a rough ride. Poor Sookie and those poor kids.
I can now understand Sookies’s attitude and upset. Now I want to see how Eric reacts.
OMG up until this point I have felt so sorry for Eric but I don’t know if I can feel that way anymore 😦
I do not know if i should feel sorry for Eric because he may be a lost cause due to Pam’s death…. Poor Sookie , who shook her , i betcha it was Pieter…. i dont remember Eric shaking her, i will have to go re-read chapter 1…. damn what a twist… plus the girls not putting up with Eric’s shit either interesting…… i betcha Eric breaks in the bathroom door to get to her…..oh man i think Alleck watched the girls once she lost the baby and she was trying to get herself in the right mind…. ohhh shit so many questions… damn ….. until the next post Kristie
Oh no…poor Sookie. Eric needs hard freaking slap. And a kick to boot. I hope this brings him to his senses. Fabulous as usual. More please!
Man how screwed up is this version that they don’t have a response to sharing blood. Not to mention that he thought putting a pillow and a blanket in a trunk would remove her reason for complaint. Sookie is a better woman for most for following through on her word so that he can see Pam again, especially considering her miscarriage. Given his attitude and his lack of concern over safety I would have taken my kids and run. Really can’t wait for his come to Jesus moment because he’s begging for one.
Have to agree. I was surprised at the lack of reaction to the blood too. That made me pause to think.
While I can feel compassion for this Eric, I’m also annoyed as hell with him. I’m like you….this Eric needs a serious “come to Jesus”. I hope Pam’s the one to give it too. I think she’s the only one he’d take seriously.
I agree with the Pam version of CTJ hopefully it will be a pam that is close to a gran and do it properly
I was a little surprised about the no reaction too. My theory is Eric is so closed off and walled away it couldn’t happen.
I was totally not expecting that at all wow…… I really hope Eric gets he shit together, hes lucky he hasn’t been ended yet…. totally can’t wait for another update I’m completely addicted to your stories….
Poor Sookie!
Holy Shit, didn’t see that one coming. Can I say, I am not liking this Eric very much….I am sure that will change, but damn. He has a lot to make up for. Poor Sookie! 😦 Please update soon, I am dying (Almost literally) to know what happens next!!!
Oh shit. I like this Eric and Sookie – they’re quite different from the others, especially Eric. He’s so blind, and such a giant asshole, thinking of nothing but himself and Liz/Pam… completely oblivious to the fact that while Sookie is being stubborn and outspoken, she’s also being considering and accommodating as hell to his situation. Add in that little bombshell in the last line and I think for the first time ever there might be a line of people waiting to kick your Eric right in the nutsack. Of course most of us would offer to kiss it better afterwards though.
I hope this storyline makes it high up in your update queue because with a bombshell like this it would be cruel to leave us hanging.
You are without dispute the Queen of the cliffhanger.
JESUS thats so horrible poor Sookie!!!!!!!! More please, I need to know what he has to say about that….
The giant douche probably couldn’t care less, one less human he has to put up with. He was threatening to turn her while pregnant for goodness sakes. TOTAL DOUCHE! Can you tell I have a big hate on for the Viking and his self-absorbed ways? Yes, yes he’s a vampire and all that but the man has to get over himself, Sookie’s right he is going to get himself killed.
Pretty pretty please! don’t make us wait long for the next chapter!
Man, I love this story, and I can’t wait for more. Poor Sookie, I really feel for her. 😦
Ok, I’m going to need the next chapter STAT!! Please tell me there is some OTHER big giant jerk we don’t know about yet. I need some redeeming qualities in Nuclear Eric.
Oh No!! So not what I expected!! But it should knock Eric off his high horse. We can hope anyway.
OMG I did not see that coming. I really don’t like this Eric and I am not sure that Sookie should help him..I only hope that if they skip, Pam knocks some sense into him but I really think he is a lost cause. Please update soon!!
okay…..i read in the Brat Pack that the Beta’s were all OMG but I was NOT expecting that at all!!!!! Really can’t wait for the next fix………
I have faith…. No seriously. I know you will pull it together in to an epic story. This gives us the ying to that yang. Appreciate the good Eric to the uhhh. Not so good.??! Yeah. That’s it. I really hope you keep this ball rolling in the direction it’s going. I love the juxtaposition of this story. Yeah yeah I know juxtaposition and no so good all in the same paragraph — Ham no burger.
OMG you seriously left it like that. Please tell me you have chapter 3 almost done.
While I feel horrible for this Eric, my sympathy was definitely waning with his attitude toward Sookie, who was doing him a favor. Whether or not he has any redeeming strains of humanity may come down to his reaction to the miscarriage. Seeing him in comparison to so many of the other Erics is painful.
I may have no idea where this is going but, as ever, I follow where you lead… or, you know, trail along like a devoted pet
Even better than the proof read. Still a epic shock. Can’t wait to see were this is headed. Is it possible the girls misunderstood? O gosh I am on edge.
*jaw dropped* OMG! That’s just….just….so freakin’ sad. And will Eric even give a shit? I certainly hope he gets his head out of his ass after THAT bomb!
OMG! I can’t believe she lost the baby. i hope Eric gets a come to Jesus from the first skip Sookie they skip to. Maybe he’ll get his crap together now. Please don’t leave us hanging long.
OMG! I had to go back & read chapter 1 & re-read chapter 2 before I could comment on this chapter. The girls are implying that a big man shook Sookie causing her to lose the baby. Eric did not shake her in chapter 1. However, he did grab her when she recinded his invitation. So I am really hoping her confrontation with Eric did not cause this. My $$ is on the ex-boyfriend she stopped seeing before she got pregnant. Maybe he wanted her back. I am liking this verse. Yes this Eric is very dark, but it is a believable character study of what Eric would be like alone without love. Eric is not fuzzy heart filled Carebear. Even in the books, he cares about Pam & Sookie & everyone else is a means to an end or expendable. Waiting on pins & needles for the next installment.
You continue to amaze with your creativity, character development and flexibility. Within 24 hrs you posted the chapter of Rubbernecking, which is basically a snarky romcom, then you post chapter 2 of Nuclear Winter, total drama. And both are incarnations of the same characters. Awesome! I love all your verses, enjoying each and every one.
What a mindfuck for everyone. Sookie’s dealing remarkably well for having just lost a baby. I hope Eric grovels extensively, on his knees, while Sookie flays him with silver. She’s right in that he’s distracted and nearing suicidal through negligence. Hope you don’t make us wait too long for the next chapter.
Cheers, Balti K
I think there might be a lot of stakes being whittled at this moment with NW Eric’s name on it.
A very shocking chapter that has apparently left the followers of the MV (and the Brat Pack) somewhere in the first four stages of grief. Very shocking chapter, but also very informative … I think. Also left a lot of unanswered questions. Pam’s video testimonial made me think of something Sophie Anne mentioned in BTD (I think) about Pam and Deja vu… Sookie had a damn good spy keeping an eye on Eric. Who was the friend she visited? She had mentioned a friend in the first chapter … Their bond didn’t really seem to be quite as potent as other bonds in the MV … also, made me start thinking about a whole lot of new theories on the ‘verse.
Look forward to the next chapter…. probably with a new batch of questions that will be answered at a later date.
Thank you.
This was just so WOW. I have to agree with some of the reviews this is my new favorite among the skips. It is very interesting to see Eric so torn up over losing Liz. Everyone always sees the devastation that the lose of Sookie would be to him but to see how the absence of his child would be is very fascinating. I think that you have done a great job showing an Eric who really has nothing to live for. I hope we don’t have to wait to long to see his reaction to the kids revelation.
wow…ok, didn’t see that coming at all.
poor sookie…poor eric…poor kids. i just feel sorry for them all right now.
i can’t wait for the next chapter!
My heart is in a million little pieces right now. I’m a huge angst whore, and while I can easily see this becoming one of my favs. I don’t think I can survive long with how much my heart is hemorrhaging ATM, I need you to fixed it, like right meow. I was happy to see that Sookie was going to get a break and not be the one to have to be the damsel and found it refreshing that Eric was the one needing his heart to be mended but then you had to go and throw a sucker punch in unexpectedly and catch me completely unawares. I still LOVE it, but now I know I need some lighthearted reading for a chaser.
What a pleasure to see an Eric with dimension. This Eric is not the all-knowing knight in shining armor that woos/calms/indulges a frequently irrational/spoiled/hyper-kinetic Sookie and one who charms gentle Gran, gathers/saves other telepaths/empaths/automatic writers while rocking small children and being King/Sheriff midst a prank war with Pam. I am also thrilled that this Eric didn’t fall immediately into lust with Sookie as most of the others have. Unless I’ve forgotten, that is a first for the M-V Erics and that is another refreshing change.
NW Eric who is so lost that his and Sookie’s journey should be very angst-filled, but ultimately very interesting and satisfying. I like this thoughtful, very deliberate Sookie that hasn’t been weakened by the ‘big bad’ of Bill Compton/Sam Merlotte/Sophie Ann/Lorena/Gwen. Not falling back on them as antagonists will be a challenge, but it is one that I know you can meet. You are not taking the easy way out in this episode of the M-V and I applaud you for that.
You are a talented writer, Angela. I am glad to see you stretching your legs. Take care.
As much as I hate to see Eric like this, I love it all the same. It’s a new place to take Eric and by extension, Sookie. All the other skips have them instantly connecting, and they can’t here because of where Eric is psychologically. I like the firm hand you’re giving Sookie, but can’t wait till she softens at bit. Something tells me it can’t be until Eric lessens up on his douche-ness.
omg i think there’s an Eric i actually might hate. he breaks my heart in the fact he’s lost without Pam (Liz) and would do anything just to see her every once in awhile. but it ends there. ugh! i’m just all kinds of pissed off right now!!!
Poor poor Sookie, having to deal with her loss without being able to really talk to someone about what’s happening. I think it’s Eric that caused her to loose the baby (anything else would have been reported back by Pieter I’d think). If this doesn’t shake Eric from his self obsessed funk I hope he’ll just go outside and meets the sun. Please let there be some more feelings between thm when they next do a blood exchange..
Right now I’m seriously hoping that someone points out to AssholeEric that Sookie losing the baby was the equivalent to him losing Pam. Only Sookie won’t have the chance to see this baby again. A Child is a Child and loved. Man I’m not explaining this right tonight but I think you get the gist.
Wow. That was a twist I didn’t see coming, not that I ever see yours coming.
I really hope you have the next bit on tap because I’m already anxiously awaiting more.
Poor Sookie I can’t wait to read more.
Wow…just…that shocked the living daylights out of me. I wonder if this might wake Eric up a little bit. While I am seriously not liking Eric right now, it is nice to see him as the one needing the healing for a change. I agree with what others have been saying about him needing a “come to Jesus”. I also agree it needs to come from Pam. It will definitely be different to see what evolves between the two of them.
I’m glad that Sookie’s baby is dead and I’m glad Eric is so different in this. (Although I’m still sad it was because of the loss of Pam). No offense but your stories are getting… familiar is the nice word to use. Sookie is always a certain way, yes I understand that you make it a goal to keep Sookie in her specific personality but at least to me reading about the same person doing variations of the same thing is… not as thrilling anymore. I honestly am happy to see such a curve ball come from you, I’d even like to see a world where Eric and Sookie never really get along. It’s something that is new to you. You are a great writer so please keep up this diversity in your work. Please don’t have all paths lead to a common end.
I’ll ignore that nuance, subtlety & creativity seem to escape you entirely if you believe any of that, and just ask you to READ THAT FIRST PART AGAIN… You ACTUALLY said that. In writing. Seriously?!
tact (noun)
1. a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.
2. a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination.
YOU DON”T HAVE IT!!!!
I read your review and while it brought up some interesting points it also was un-necessarily cruel so I thought I’d give you the benefit of the doubt and re-write it as you hopefully intended to write it.
……………………………………………………………………………..
‘I’m sorry that Sookie had to lose the baby but I can see that it is necessary to drive the plot forward and I’m glad Eric is so different in this. (Although I’m still sad it was because of the loss of Pam). I’m glad to see such a different style of writing from you as *I feel* that your recent stories have become a little repetitive. I’d even like to see a world where Eric and Sookie never really get along. It’s something that is new to you. You are a great writer so please keep up this diversity in your work. Please don’t have all paths lead to a common end.’
………………………………………………………………………………..
Please also see the review by Tabby above for a well written review that provides constructive criticism.
Kudos for having the balls to say you don’t like something in a story. One of my biggest fanfic pet peeves is readers only blowing sunshine up authors’ asses even if the story is utter dreck. While I haven’t read a bad story yet from EricIzMine there are plenty of horrible authors out there that readers continue to rave about. Only about 5% of fanfic is great, another 5% is good the last 90% is usually at best mediocre to total crap. It seems readers are so desperate to read anything from the genre they like whether it be a book/movie/tv show they’ll encourage crap rather than get nothing. I’ve been reading fanfic for about 12 years now and it only seems to be getting worse.
Oh! Oh! Not gonna kill yah… but I just want to wrap my arms around Sookie and tell her its okay. Jerk!Eric needs that stick taken out of his behind. And maybe a good smack upside the head from Gran when he gets to meet her.
oh man!!! this eric is an a**hole!!! i hope he gets his head out of his butt soon.
I am sorry that Sookie lost the baby…..But I can tell you it take a lot more that a big jerk shaking her to make her lose the baby. There may have been a problem with the pregnancy and she may have lost the baby any way. Her husband grabbed her also. I like how different this Eric is.
there is a lot more conflict for the two of them to work thru to get to the point where they will skip. I think they will have to become friends at least for it to happen. Eric is so closed off since the death of Liz that Sookie has valid reasons for concern. You did not tell if he had her blood or not. How can they bond if it is not mutual? I hope to read more soon. Thank you for a new and different view of the verse.
*gapes* Wow. I was not expecting that. I really hope that this is the moment needed to shake Eric out of his obsessive focus on Pam and will begin his understanding and fascination of Sookie. You always take these characters in interesting directions and I am always astounded at how things develop. I cannot wait to see where this goes ❤
Oh this is so sad. Eric is so damaged and seems so careless with his safety, I am surprised he is able to survive as king. He is also very callous and I don’t think it can all be due to losing Pam. Other Eric’s have faced adversity and come out of it stronger, this Eric has really lost his way. I wonder if he and Sookie can ever be close after what has happened so far, but perhaps over time they can develop a working friendship to make things easier on everyone. We have heard of a couple of Verses where things haven’t worked out well, like when Sookie and Bill eloped, but this one, with a hostile and broken Eric is heartbreaking. His reaction to Sookie losing the baby may well set the tone for how their relationship goes from now on, I hope there is a seed of compassion left.
Will seeing Pam make him grateful that she is happy in another Verse or remind him what he doesn’t have and drive his depression – a depressed vampire, esp Eric seems odd, but I’m sure he is. Might Eric even meet the sun ? Unthinkable – almost, but who knows. This could be the karmic balance to all the happy Eric’s out there.
So, was Eric the big jerk that shook her or was it someone else. Sad that Sookie lost her baby; she has to be grieving over that regardless of the accidental conception. Still, shaking, unless it was severe, shouldn’t unseat a secure embryo. Anyway, it’s sad. Eric’s grief is raw, it’s obvious he hasn’t healed from Pam’s death at all. It also seems that he has a lot of self-blame. I think part of his problem is guilt. Nothing like analyzing a fictional character is there? I like what you’re doing with these characters. They are less perfect and more human.
I also occurs to me the damage could have been done when Sookie fought with Eric’s Were guards. Unless Sookie fought with someone else we don’t know about yet.
Damn, wrong Sookie. I’m confusing myself.
I’m still gut punched and speechless. Hope you have chapter 3 open and working already *hopeful puppy face* Lemme know where I can send a case of red bull 🙂
I can’t see how there would ever could be something between E & S now…. my goodness i had a lump the size of a planet in my throat for most of that chapter…. i love how the roles are almost reversed in this one Sookie pragmatic and Eric clue-less…
Keep up up fab work… i’ll be waiting on tender hooks for the next instalment….
JoXx
Okay. I listen to the warnings and read that chapter while drinking a nice sized glass of wine. Still didn’t help! I was shocked to say least. So upsetting how devoid of feelings NW Eric is. He is lost in his grief. I am losing any sympathy I had for him though. The more he mistreats Sookie. I can only hope he will react with some feeling to what Misty and Lindy just told him. I think it will tell us a lot about his state and if he is redeemable . I hope he is. I usually will beg for another chapter but I think I really need 12 chapters. Just a estimate! I really want to see Eric come back. This one is hard to take. Poor Sookie she is a saint for not staking him. Was it Eric did he shake her? I have to go back and reread.
Speachless… I’m hoping that Sookie losing her baby lights a spark in NW Eric and that helps start his healing. Still, a come-to-jesus moment by another Eric would be a great scene to read. Great job
Oh my, I wasn’t expecting that. Poor Sookie, Eric deserves a stake up the ass for his behaviour. I know he’s missing Liz/Pam but that is no excuse. If he caused, or played a factor in Sookie losing the baby he deserves the mother of all smackdowns. I hope his first skip is with the BTD crew, if I remember correctly that Sookie was pregnant, so maybe that Eric can kick his ass, Pam too, she should get a few shots in.
I hope this is the wake-up call Eric needs, I hope he finally realises it’s not all about him. Can’t wait to read more.
I love your multiverse and how we get to see Sookie and Eric in such a variety of situations and personalities. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this “skip” but I like the fact that Eric is the one that needs to be put back together again. I was so not expecting that shocker at the end but that’s what you do, throw us curveballs to keep us on her toes. I’m anxious for the whole story. I fully admit to automatically assuming Eric caused the miscarriage but after thinking about it for a while now I’m not sure. Good job and anxiously awaiting the next update.
Oh my goodness oh my goodness! What a mess! Poor Sookie. I feel really bad for her right now. Eric is really is a bad place. I can not wait to learn more! Who was Sookie’s spy? Will they skip? Why was their exchange so different? Who shook Sookie so badly? Was it from Eric grabbing her???? What a cliffhanger!
OH MY GOD! I felt sorry for Eric, but damn do I want to bitch slap him now.
Love your work, will probably end up stalking my email for another update. Thank you, a million times for all your hard work.
Oh, also hoping a skip Pam kicks his fucking ass if he has anything to do with Sookie loosing the baby.
Second re-read. Still speechless. The first time through my jaw literally dropped and I gasped outloud. I was not expecting that at all. More things made sense after the miscarriage was revealed.
I am VERY interested in the fact that neither Eric nor Sookie had a reaction to Sookie drinking Eric’s blood. Is this because there was no ‘exchange,’ because there is no real attraction between them, or something else? This whole ‘verse feels so off to me. Is there any hope for these two?
I do agree with some of the other readers. I initially said this was an Eric I wanted to root for, much like EP Sookie, beaten down by his circumstances but not unredeemable. Now I am not so sure. I understand that he has lost a lot, but he is literally chasing a ghost. It’s a shame that he did not read ALL of the jounral entries in detail. He might realize he could have something awesome with his Sookie just like all the other Erics.
I am willing to give this Eric the benefit of the doubt. I am interested to see how he reacts to the news of the miscarriage and if he changes his tune. Can he be sympathetic to someone elses loss after his own?
I am of course always excited for your updates, but I find myself anxious instead this time. Please don’t keep us hanging on too long!
Thanks again for writing!
Agree with so many of the comments. This Eric is chasing a ghost in Pam. But what he’s overlooking is what he could gain if he wants it –love, acceptance, a family. My guess is he’s callous because he’s hurting. Could he be redeemed by Sookie, the girls and the whole Mult-Verse “family” –probably, if he gets his Viking head out of his ass. She’s right about him having somewhat of a “death wish” if he allowed her to get so close to him initially.
Sigh…let’s see where this sad revelation leads…..
Pat
holy crap, what an asshole. but eh, they can’t all be awsome-sauce, right? yay for diversity!
i have to say though, these 2 may just deserve eachother, for all his doucheness, she’s being incredibly stupid. there really is NO good reason for her to be nice to him and do this, she keeps going on the fact that she met anawesome Eric and blindly believing the potential for him HAS to be in her eric. I dunno honey, sometimes damaged is just damaged, are you really willing to put yourself through the degradation and servitude in hopes that he cracks? hmmm
This universe is so sad : mourning for years makes you so depressed, so out of it. so I imagine feeling it for decades will result in this detached and feral persona.
I like how your characters are always so in harmony with their cores and circumstances.
I’ll be waiting for next chapter but I don’t know what to ask for… maybe that you’ll explore this sad trait for some time to create a different atmosphere from the other universes.
I just re-read chapter one and realize there was no direct reference to Eric shaking Sookie but she did put up a fight after she rescinded his invitation. If she went limp as they passed the threshold due to a pain instead of giving up and Eric did shake her enough to hurt the baby then I respectfully request that multiple Erics and Sookies descend upon new Eric’s home and beat him handily enough to keep him out of circulation for weeks. I care not that Sookie was trying to get out of his hold as he should not have been grabbing her in the first place! Egomaniac indeed, he definitely needs to be Bitch slapped in the worst way. How long has Pam been gone?! Adapt or die is the vampire motto he has always lived by and while I know you never get over the loss of a child one has to eventually move on and deal with the pain.
I re read the chapter for the same reason and just couldnt see a direct reference to a shaking or even anything more than him grabbing her arm when he was being pulled out.
i’m just wondering how the kids know this? are they just getting it fro her head?
totally crazy case scenario, she terminated this pregnancy and the kids dont know it. she’s been so focused on what happened at their last encounter, that its all she thinks about in rationalizing, they keep getting the image of it…
hmmm
Holy.. moly… donut shop! I ‘ve been reading this at work and was totally being discrete till the end when i voiced a couple explicit words… totally worth it. Cant wait for the next chapter…. please hurry!! 🙂 hopefully lindy will give the viking hell!!
Definitely a new twist. So far, I’m not a fan of this Eric in the least. So sad that Sookie lost her baby, and I’m hoping that that will help jerk Eric out of of his self-centered obsession with Pam. I really like you usual portrayal of Eric, and I’m interested to see how this one turns out.
eric’s loss has made him dark, but no dark enough to act out his thoughts(kudos) sookie is trying to push past eric’s @$$holeness and eric refuses to let her get close enough to be his friend. her took her a few days to show up but she did to hear and deal with eric’s crap. i hope he finds an inkling of compassion after finding out she lost her baby and she’s still there(eric’s probably the ‘big jerk’)
Arrrrggggghhhh!!! I hope he feels bloody guilty!!!!! Grrrrr!!!
My respect and admiration for taking this to a whole nuther level. I know that there’s only so many what if’s that can be written.
Along with several others, I too am just not feeling the love for this Eric. However, I’m banking on a separate theory. Previous chapter doesn’t state how far along Sookie was nor does it mention anything about how she was progressing in this one. Perhaps there were already complications we’re not aware of. I’m not looking for ways to excuse Eric; but I can’t come up with a reason why Sookie would have gone to him if he had caused the miscarriage. Her girls mean entirely too much to her.
I think it will take a Pam skip where she shares her disgust in his behavior for him to snap the fuck out of it!
K, need a drink now. Great job.
Wow. What a surprise ending. Great chapter. This Eric may have some potential but he really needs an attitude adjustment!
*gasp*!!! OOOOO that has got to be the saddest ever!!! plz! more very soon!! I love that the kids are the ones to make him stop and take notice all the time 🙂 i agree with the others Mr. Northman needs an attitude ajustment and soon!! xoxo
It is very rare for a story to surprise me. You do it constantly. I was totally not expecting that cliffhanger. I absolutely love all your stories. I will be patiently waiting for the next chapter to this story. Although any update from you is like Christmas.
Wow, Eric’s so numb he doesn’t even have a reaction to Sookie taking his blood? I can’t believe she lost the baby, hopefully that knowledge helps to pull Eric’s head out of his ass