16: Compass

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It had been a couple of weeks since Eric and Sookie officially, but unofficially got their shit straight and got back together. They hadn’t told Immy yet, but they were planning to soon. As of now they were enjoying the schedule they had going and had been sneaking into each other’s places for sex when the other one had Immy. At least now it wasn’t about just getting off.

Eric felt great about where they were. He’d opened up to her like he had when he was a teenager. She knew how he felt, and he was sure he knew how she felt too. Even though he felt like a fucking idiot for wasting so much time on booze and random girls, he realized that it made him appreciate what he had with Sookie and Immy even more.

He still had a night out occasionally, but he made sure Sookie knew where he was, and he forced Stan to go to Merlotte’s instead of their pick up bar. Stan was a good guy, he just enabled the wrong parts of Eric when Eric was vulnerable to having them enabled. So they still hung out and saw each other, but there wasn’t anymore partying.

Trey had thought it was pretty hilarious that Immy named her bunny after him, and he’d been taking it easier on Eric when it came to his schedule now that he had Immy part of the time. Today was his Saturday to work, but he was only supposed to be there until two so he could take Sookie and Immy to the park.

She hadn’t been feeling all that great the day before though, so mostly he was anxious to get out of there and check on her. It was almost two when a car pulled up for a routine oil change.

“Eric, I hate to ask…” Trey said.

“It’s fine, it’ll only take fifteen,” Eric sighed.

The guy was kind of pushy so he got right to it and hadn’t had a chance to call Sookie to let her know he’d be late. He was just pulling the new oil filter out of the box when his phone rang. Since it was Sookie he answered.

“Hey, sorry. I meant to call. Got a last minute oil change,” he said before giving her a chance to ask why he was late.

“It’s fine. Immy’s running a fever anyway so the park is a no go. She’s asleep on the couch right now,” Sookie told him.

“Aww, poor thing,” he frowned. “Want me to stop on the way and get her anything?”

“Maybe some ginger ale? I got her medicine yesterday, but she’ll like the ginger ale. Her voice is all raspy and she’s been coughing up a storm since last night.”

“Is she clingy?” he asked. Usually when she was sick all she wanted was to be attached to her mom like a leech.

“Yeah, she’s had me cuddling her most of the day.”

“Alright. I’ll just finish this up and be there within the hour.”

“We’ll be here.”

“Okay. Love you,” he said.

“See you soon.”

Eric hung up and finished up the oil change quickly, and after getting the approval from Trey he headed to the store. He found Immy some ginger ale, and then stopped and got a bouquet of daisies, and one of sunflowers for his girls.

He let himself in like he normally did when he got to Sookie’s house and found them in the living room. Sookie was sitting next to a sleeping Immy.

“Hey,” Eric whispered and kissed her cheek from behind. “She looks miserable even when she’s sleeping.”

“Yeah. My poor Peanut is burning up and coughing like crazy,” she said as she stroked Immy’s tangled hair.

“I got the ginger ale, and bought you both some flowers,” he said.

“Thanks,” Sookie smiled.

“No problem,” he smiled and kissed her lips.

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to?” he asked. “We can all be miserable together.”

“I’m just sayin’. Immy’s a beast when she’s sick.”

“I’m not just here for the good,” he said, and stood back up. “I’ll go put the ginger ale in the fridge.”

“Okay.”

Eric put away the drinks and pulled down vases to put the flowers in. He was just filling them with water when Sookie joined him. If Immy was’t sick he would have suggested that they try to have a quickie. The once every few nights thing wasn’t enough for him.

“How was work?” Sookie rubbed his shoulders.

“Not bad,” he said as he put the sunflowers in a purple vase and set them next to the daisies. He turned and picked up Sookie, setting her on the counter with a smile. “How was your day? And how can I make it better?”

“It’s been a long day and I would settle for a kiss,” she said.

Eric smiled as he leaned in and gave her a kiss that was probably more than what she was expecting, but he didn’t care. He kissed her deeply until she pulled him close. Her legs wrapped around his hips and her arms around his neck.

“Much better,” she whispered against his lips.

“I wish we had time for more,” he said.

“Me too, but Immy’s been up and down all day.”

“I know,” he said, and kissed her chin. “We’ll have time for it when she’s better.”

“Hopefully she won’t end up in the emergency room this time.”

“She what now?”

This was the first he remembered hearing about the emergency room for a cold.

“When she first started daycare she got sick. I had to take her in because she couldn’t keep anything down. She was there overnight for dehydration.”

“Why didn’t I know about it?”

He knew why.

“I called you like six times and your voicemail was full,” she explained.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He felt the guilt coming on strong. His baby could have died, and he wouldn’t have known because his voicemail was full of probably phone numbers from girls he’d slept with.

“It’s in the past,” she shrugged.

“I was a real shithead.”

“Yeah,” she smiled.

Both of them turned their heads when they heard a raspy voice from the doorway say, “Daddy, you said shit.”

Sookie let go of Eric and slid off the counter to go get Immy. “That’s not a nice word,” Sookie said and kissed Immy’s head. “Daddy brought you ginger ale. Do you want some?”

Instead of answering Sookie, Immy started to cry.

“Crap,” Eric said.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Sookie rubbed her back.

“S… Santa’s not gonna bring me nothin’ for Chrismiss,” she sobbed. “I didn’t mean to!”

“Sook, it’s my fault,” Eric said.

“Immy, sweetie, of course Santa is gonna bring you something for Christmas,” Sookie said. “Why wouldn’t he bring you something? You’re a good girl. Good girls get presents.”

“Daddy said Santa won’t bring presents if I cuss!”

“Oh… Well then if that’s true Daddy’s never gettin’ a present ever again,” Sookie smiled. “I promise to call Santa and tell him that you’re a very good little girl and it was an accident. Or we can make him a card when you feel better and we can mail it to the North Pole.”

Immy’s crying slowed a bit and she said, “Daddy lied?”

“Daddy?” Sookie looked Eric’s way.

Eric looked guilty and said, “Daddy told a really small lie, and he’s really sorry.”

“See? It’s okay, but you still shouldn’t say that word.” Sookie opened the fridge and got the ginger ale out. With Immy still attached to her, she got the bottle open and poured a little into one of Immy’s sippy cups. “Here you go, Peanut. Are you hungry?”

“A little,” she said, but she was glaring at Eric.

“Do you want some applesauce or maybe a yogurt?” Sookie suggested.

“Applesauce,” she said.

“Can Daddy take you while Mommy gets your food?” Eric asked her.

“No,” Immy replied.

“Okay, I’ll get the applesauce then,” he said, but she didn’t like that either.

“No, I want Mommy to do it,” Immy insisted and started coughing hard.

Sookie rubbed her back and grabbed a tissue for Immy to blow her nose when she was done coughing.

“I’m sorry you feel so icky, Peanut,” Sookie kissed Immy’s head. “Can I put you on the couch so I can wash my hands?”

“I guess,” she said and put her head on Sookie’s shoulder.

“I’ll be quick. I’ll wash my hands and get your snack and then we can snuggle on the couch, okay? Is your throat still hurting?”

“Uh huh. I want a Popsicle.”

“If you eat your applesauce up I’ll get you one,” Sookie said as she took Immy back to the living room.

Eric started getting the applesauce out, and was looking for one of Immy’s spoons when Sookie came back.

“I’m so sorry about that Santa thing,” he said.

“Why in the world did you tell her that?” Sookie didn’t look mad, just confused.

“She repeated two cuss words that were my fault, so I told her not to say them and she asked why and I panicked.”

“Next time try the truth,” she said and patted his arm. “It’ll be fine. If she makes a card it’ll be a funny keepsake.”

“I can’t believe you’re not yelling at me for this,” he said.

“Why would I? It’s not like you told her she’d burn in hell for it. Someday she’ll hear this story and laugh. It’s fine. She’s fine. By Christmas she won’t even remember this.”

He let out a breath and said, “How long am I in her doghouse then?”

“Who knows,” Sookie shrugged. “But she’ll forgive you.”

“Yeah, I know. I just want her to feel better right now and I made her cry.”

“Well how about you try giving her the applesauce and see what happens?”

“I’ll do that,” he said, and picked up the little bowl of applesauce. He put Immy’s spoon in it and then headed for the living room. “Daddy brought you your applesauce.”

His daughter gave him the same annoyed look Sookie did when she was pissed at him, but she at least accepted the applesauce.

“Can I sit with you?”

Immy nodded as she took a bite of her applesauce.

Eric sat down next to her and put his arm up over the back of the couch. He’d never been so afraid of such a tiny person before.

“Is it good?” he asked.

“Mmhmm.” She took another bite.

“Would you mind if Daddy stayed here tonight?”

“With Mommy?”

“Would that be alright?” he asked. “If it was with Mommy.”

“Mmhmm,” Immy nodded.

“Hey Sook!” Eric called out.

Sookie stuck her head out of the kitchen. “Yeah?”

“Can you come in here please?”

She stepped into the living room.

“Do I need to protect you?” she joked.

“Nope,” he smiled. “Someone just told me she’s okay with me staying overnight with Mommy.”

“Better be Immy or you’re going to need protection from me.”

“It was Immy,” he said. “I think this means it’s time we do that thing in front of her.”

Sookie arched an eyebrow.

In response Eric puckered up.

“Oh that thing,” Sookie smiled and leaned forward to kiss him.

Eric grabbed her head and held her there for a couple seconds before releasing her, and then he looked at Immy to see her reaction. She was staring at her parents with wide eyes.

“Think that’ll be okay?” Eric asked her.

Immy nodded.

He smiled and reached over to ruffle her hair a little, then pulled Sookie onto his lap. At the moment, Eric couldn’t really recall being happier.

♥ ♥ ♥

By the time Immy went down for the night Sookie was exhausted. The cough medicine she had given Immy would probably keep her asleep for a few hours and Sookie intended to take advantage of it. Like when Immy was a newborn and Sookie slept when the baby did for the first two weeks. Thankfully, Immy didn’t get sick often like some of the other kids Immy’s age.

Sookie took a quick shower and found Eric stretched out on her bed.

“Hey,” he smiled. “I have exclusive rights to your bed now.”

“I think Immy might fight you for that,” Sookie chuckled and opened a dresser drawer to get a nightgown.

“Probably, but I’m bigger than her.”

“But she’s tougher.”

“This is true,” he smiled.

“Unless you tell her Santa won’t bring her anything…”

“I won’t do that again,” he said as he sat up and took off his shirt.

Sookie yawned and pulled on her nightgown before letting her hair down. She crossed the room and laid down next to Eric. It was nice to have him back.

“Will you be here in the morning?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I might have to leave a little early to get back to my place to feed Dawson.”

“That’s fine.” Sookie rolled onto her side. “What would you have done if Immy wasn’t okay with you staying over?”

“I would have gone home and kept my fingers crossed that we could get her to come around on the idea soon,” he said. “I’m not giving up.”

“She’s easy to please.”

“Sometimes. I’m learning what her things are.”

Eric wrapped an arm around Sookie and pulled her closer to he could breathe her in.

“She can usually be tickled into submission,” Sookie chuckled.

“Not while she’s sick, unfortunately.”

“No, now’s when you bribe her with popsicles.”

“Smart,” he said. “I’m glad I’m here for this. I skipped too many illnesses.”

“Trust me, all you missed was snot in your hair, projectile vomit, explosive diarrhea and a whole lot of whining,” she said.

“But I should have been there for all of it. To help you.”

“You’re here now.”

“Because of you.”

“You’re here because you want to be,” Sookie said.

“I could want to be forever, but I wouldn’t be if you didn’t give me another chance.”

“Like I told you before, you earned it.”

“I gotta admit, until Immy broke her arm it was more about pissing you off than anything,” he said.

“Spending time with your daughter was supposed to piss me off?” That made no sense whatsoever. That was what Sookie wanted all along.

“It wasn’t about that, it was about proving you wrong. You were so convinced I wouldn’t or couldn’t do it and at that time I thought being a good dad meant I paid my child support and saw her once in a while,” he explained. “So I wanted to stick it to you by proving I could do the things you thought I should be. It wasn’t until Immy scared the shit out of me when she started screaming that it hit me what fatherhood really was.”

“I’m not sure I follow your logic there, but I’m glad you got your head on straight,” she said.

“I was an idiot back then,” he shrugged. “I guess the good thing is that I get it now. I know fatherhood is sometimes pissing your kid off and being there for the tantrums and the snotty noses as much as you’re there for the happy times.”

“Yes it is. Sometimes it’s kinda fun to say no, even when I know she’s not gonna like it,” Sookie admitted.

“As long as you never say no to anything I ask for, we’re good,” he grinned.

“Oh but that’s even more fun,” she laughed.

“Don’t make me tickle attack you,” he warned.

“I’m just sayin’.”

“When you tell me no I just have to find creative ways to convince you to do it anyway.”

“And someday your daughter will find a guy just like you.”

Eric stiffened and said, “Like hell she will. She’s going to find a guy like I am now. Without the convincing stuff.”

“Huh?” Sookie laughed.

“Nothing. I’m just going to buy a shotgun and do that shit your dad did.”

She laughed harder. “And I can tell her the pee pee story.”

“If it’ll keep her from bringing home a sucker like me, tell her all you want,” he chuckled. “Or maybe we can make her a little brother and he can defend her honor.”

“Maybe someday.”

“Yeah?”

“Not anytime soon, but someday.” It would be nice for Immy to have a sibling, but it wasn’t even time to discuss it, let alone start planning on it.

“It’s in the someday pile for me too,” he said, and shifted further down in the bed to get comfortable. “I think maybe we should be living together and married before that happens.”

“It would be good to do it right next time,” Sookie agreed.

Eric let out a yawn and said, “Only the best for my girls from here on out.”

Sookie rested her head on Eric’s chest and closed her eyes. She didn’t plan on falling asleep so quickly, but the next time she opened her eyes it was because Immy was climbing up onto the bed.

“Hey, Peanut. You okay?” Sookie asked quietly. It was just after three in the morning.

“No,” she shook her little head and situated herself next to Sookie.

“Need a cuddle?” Sookie stroked Immy’s damp, tangled hair.

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Okay. Close your eyes,” Sookie whispered and kept stroking Immy’s hair. She was pretty good about staying in her own bed most of the time, but when she was sick, all bets were off.

Immy sniffled and closed her eyes for Sookie. She was wheezing a little when she breathed.

“Do you want to rock in your chair with me? You might breathe better,” Sookie offered. The glider she’d gotten before Immy was born was still in her daughter’s room. It was a really comfortable chair.

“Carry me,” Immy said.

Sookie sat up and climbed off the bed. She scooped Immy up to take her down the hall to her room. Sookie grabbed Immy’s blanket off her bed and draped it over her daughter after sitting down. Immy curled up, resting her head on Sookie’s chest as she started to rock. Sookie hummed and rubbed Immy’s back, trying to give her poor baby as much comfort as she could.

It took a while, but Immy eventually dozed off again. Sookie relaxed and kept rocking to make sure her daughter was asleep. It was like when Immy was a baby and she was afraid to try to stand in case it woke Immy up. It was better just to stay put.

Plus the wheezing was less. So Sookie stayed there and rocked Immy until she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore.

♥ ♥ ♥

Eric woke up around six in the morning to an empty bed. He felt disoriented at first and then he remembered that Immy was sick, so he went to her room to see if that’s where Sookie was. Sure enough, Sookie was sitting in the glider with Immy passed out on top of her. They were both exhausted, but he knew Sookie wouldn’t get any rest if she didn’t sleep in her own bed.

Carefully, he peeled Immy off of Sookie and put her back in bed. She was breathing deeply, but he didn’t hear any wheezing. Still, he rubbed a tiny dab of vapor rub under her nose to help her a little. Then he went over to where Sookie was still passed out and picked her up, only she stirred in the process.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’m putting you back in bed.”

“Mmmwhere’sImmy?” Sookie mumbled.

“In bed. She’s alright.”

“Okay.”

He carried her back to bed and tucked her in, then crawled in next to her. Sookie went back to sleep pretty quickly, but Eric laid there and stared at her for a few minutes. He was thinking about a lot of things. The past, the future he’d like to have, regrets, guilt, the happiness he currently felt. Mostly he thought about how much he’d lucked out to end up where he was.

It was with those thoughts that he drifted back to sleep.

When he woke up again it was to a three year old climbing onto him and laying her head on his chest. This was a first. Usually she was attached to Sookie when she didn’t feel good.

“Hey, munchkin,” he said. “You okay?”

“I have too many boogers,” she answered.

“We should go blow your nose then,” he said. “That sound good?”

“Then can I have a yogurt?”

“Absolutely,” he said, and carefully rolled out of bed with her attached to his neck.

He took her to the bathroom across the hall and used the baby wipes to blow her nose until she said she was booger-free. While he was there he took her temperature and found that it was finally down to low grade status.

“Let’s go get you some yogurt and then I’ll check on Mommy,” he said, and Immy was more than happy to cling to him all the way to the kitchen. He wondered if this was what Sookie felt like all the time.

He got Immy set up with some yogurt at the table before heading back upstairs to check on a still sleeping Sookie. He wondered if she was getting sick too.

“Sweetheart,” he said as he touched her shoulder gently. “Wake up.”

“Mmm… I’ll get her,” Sookie mumbled as she rubbed her eyes.

“It’s okay. I got her. She’s eating some yogurt and she’s booger-free,” he said and felt her forehead. “And I think she gave you her cold.”

“No, I’m just warm from the blankets,” Sookie said… And promptly sneezed.

“Uh huh…”

“Really, I’m fine.” She sat up and groaned. “Sleeping in the glider was a bad call though.”

“I think you should go back to sleep.”

“Eric, I’m really okay,” she insisted.

“Sook, I’m here,” he said. “Let me help.”

“You are helping, but one sneeze doesn’t mean I’m sick.”

“Okay, get up then,” he sighed. “But don’t think you’re allowed to kiss me.”

Sookie gave him her annoyed look and shuffled out of bed to use the bathroom. Eric headed back down to the kitchen to find Immy just finishing up her yogurt.

“How are you feeling now?” he asked her.

“Still scratchy,” Immy rubbed her throat.

“How about a bath? You’ll feel less icky and then we can get you a popsicle for your throat.”

“Okay,” she agreed. “Can I see Dawson today?”

“Yeah, I’ll go get him once Mommy’s up and going,” he promised.

“Okay.”

He picked Immy up and carried her up to her bathroom to get her bath started. Sookie joined them just after he got her in, and she still looked annoyed.

“Would you mind sitting with her while I go get Dawson?” Eric asked her.

“That’s fine. How ya feelin’, Peanut?”

“Scratchy, but Daddy got rid of my boogers.”

“I’m the booger destroyer,” Eric smiled as he stood up, and he leaned down to kiss Sookie’s forehead. “I’ll be back soon. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Sookie replied.

“And me,” Immy grinned.

Eric grinned at Sookie and said, “You do, huh?”

“Since I was sixteen,” she smiled up at him.

Eric pulled her to him and laid a deep kiss on her, sick or not. It was only broken when Immy screeched, “And me! I love you, too Daddy!”

Eric laughed and said, “And I love you, munchkin. I’ll be back with Dawson in a bit.”

“Don’t get used to him being here, Imogen. Dawson’s going back to Daddy’s house.”

“Mommy’s right. I’m only bringing him because you don’t feel good and Daddy wants to be here to take care of you,” Eric said.

“Daddy should live here and then Dawson would have to live here too,” Immy said.

“Not so fast, kiddo,” Eric said. “I just did your room up all pretty. Don’t you want to enjoy it?”

“But I like it when I get to have you and Mommy at the same time.”

“You’ll get more of that, I promise,” Eric said. “You try to convince Mommy of it while I get Dawson.”

“I can do it,” Immy said confidently.

Eric winked at Sookie and left the room with a smile on his face. He was pretty sure they were all going to end up sick together, but at least they’d be together.

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