Authors Note! :)

THIS STORY TAKES PLACE PRETTY MUCH 1 WEEK AFTER THE ENDING EVENTS OF DEAD RECKONING (SOOKIE STACKHOUSE NOVEL 11).

Hey so I'm pretty new to the world of Sookie Stackhouse and the Southern Vampire Mystery novels but I've read them all now and I'm officially in love. I'm into the TV series True Blood too but one of the most dissapointing things about the show is that we haven't got Pam and Sookie's friendship thingo going on (yet). I love the way Pam calls Sookie 'my telepathic friend' and whatnot.

My love of Pam and Sookie's friendships and the pairing of Eric/Sookie has prompted me to write this story. I just wanted to see those girls bond more and I love me a good Eric/Sookie lemon (there will be those, you are forwarned).

I hope you enjoy. :)

DISCLAIMER: Charlaine Harris owns and created Sookie Stackhouse and her world and I am in her debt for that. I own nothing except for the things you don't recognise from the books.

Chapter 1: Of Blondes and Bonds

I wasn't going to admit to anyone that I was feeling terrible mixed up at the moment. And since I broke the blood bond if Eric inquired about how I was feeling I could very well lie... if I ever saw him again. It'd been only a week since we'd disposed of Victor and six days since Jannalyn and I had killed Sandra Pelt in a joint effort. I'd fully expected to have nightmares, feel guilt but all I could muster was an overwhelming sense of relief… when my thoughts could be wrenched away from Eric's current predicament. He'd called me twice but all I knew is that the Queen of Oklahoma had made contact with him intending to see out Appius's contract and he'd been desperately trying get out of it. I wondered if Mr Cataliades was the one helping Eric not only for Eric's sake but because that meant he would have escaped the creatures chasing him. Things were getting stranger and I know wore the Cluviel dor on me at all times. You never knew when one would need a wish.

I threw my hair up in a ponytail and slipped my Merlotte's tee over my head as I watched the sun set. The dinner shift would be quite tonight and to be honest I'm surprised Sam had bounced back from the Sandra Pelt experience so quickly. I wondered how he and Jannalyn were doing at the moment; surely it would have been a shock to see your girlfriend kill someone as swiftly as Jannalyn had. My thoughts dwelled on my two natured friends as I walked out to my car. I'd almost reached the door when a swish of wind announced the arrival of a vampire. I turned around to see Pam in a black fangtasia tee, cream three quarter pants and red pumps. Her blonde hair fell in waves around her face and the rims of her eyes were red with tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks at any second.

"Pam?"

"Sookie," she said, walking forward and pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back, stunned at her state.

"What's wrong Pam?" I grew nervous as Pam pulled away and placed both hands on my shoulders, staring intently into my eyes.

"Eric's done everything possible to get out of the arrangement but I'm afraid that so far we've been unable to find any loopholes in the contract."

"So… Eric has to go through with it?"

"Unless he can figure out something soon, he'll have no choice," Pam shook her head and I gave her a minute to gather herself, "The Queen wants him to bring me as well, he's trying to convince her to leave me out of it. Apparently her child's taken an interest in me," She spat harshly; I beckoned her to follow me inside, sending a quick text to Sam that I would be maybe ten minutes late this evening. Pam settled herself at the kitchen table, burying her face in her hands as she let out an exasperated sigh. I chucked a bottle of blood in the microwave and when it was heated, handed it to her. She mumbled thanks before taking a sip.

"Eric's gone insane with stress trying to sort this out and though he keeps working I get the feeling through our bond that he's beginning to give up hope about getting out of this," Pam grabbed the packet of Kleenex from the bench top and began drying her eyes. It was unnerving to see Pam so emotional.

"So Mr Cataliades is having no luck with the contract?"

Pam's head shot up.

"Mr Cataliades isn't the lawyer helping us. We can't contact him otherwise he would be. No one's seen him for at least a week."

I swallowed, worry weighing in my chest.

Pam peered at me questioningly.

"Mr Cataliades is in serious trouble I think, If not already dead."

Pam perfectly sculpted eyebrows shot up. In a move as fast as lightning she was on her feet right next to me. I held back a yelp of surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Well about six days ago I saw Mr Cataliades running through my woods. Two creatures were chasing him but they were running so fast I couldn't make out what they were," I paused, "Pam what do you think they could be?"

"I don't know," She said truthfully, a grimace lining her pale face, "I need to tell Eric."

In another move of vampiric speed she was on her phone speaking in what I could only assume was Swedish.

"Eric du behöver för att komma till Sookies hus nu. Hon har något intressant nyheter om herr Cataliades."

She closed her phone and sat back down at the table.

"He'll be here soon," She said and I couldn't help but brighten at the news. I was going to see Eric... even if the situation wasn't a pleasant one. I now struggled to think that I'd once pinned all these feelings on our bond, without it they were still the same. I wondered how strong it would be if we were to recreate it.

I shook my head to clear it and went to pour a cup of tea while we waited for Eric. Pam sipped away at her drink and watched me with a strange expression.

"He will find a way Sookie, even if it's after the marriage. He won't stop until he finds a way to get back to you."

I nodded, not trusting my voice at the moment... not knowing how to respond.

"He loves you so much."

"I know," I replied quietly, "I love him too and now I'm one hundred percent sure of it."

Pam peered at curiously, "Is that why you got Amelia to break the bond?"

I nodded, "I needed to know whether it was real and now I do. I don't expect you to understand-"

"I do understand, oddly enough. But do you think that now that you're sure you'll re-establish the bond?"

I shrugged. I hadn't thought about it. I didn't want to think about that.

"It's better if you do," Pam continued, "He'll be able to keep contact with you better."

"If he's going to be that far away, belonging to someone else, I don't know whether I want-"

"Sookie!" Pam cut across, "Dear, don't kid yourself."

"What-"

"You want that blood bond. I know you do. A blood bond is security and a blood bond makes everything so much more intimate. Sharing your feelings with each other is a very important part of a relationship, is it not?"

I nodded. Damn it she was absolutely right! I wanted all that though if my feelings for Eric were to grow any stronger than I reckon I would explode.

A swish of wind announced Eric's arrival and enclosed me in a hug. I breathed deeply into his chest and looked up to meet his eyes. He was distant still, just as he had been the last time we'd met. I didn't like it but I understand why he was like that. It was Eric's way of dealing with stress, unfortunately.

"What news do you have Sookie?"

We were seated at the kitchen table. Eric now had a bottle of True Blood in front of him but was completely ignoring it as he waited for my reply. I relayed what I'd seen after Mr Cataliades visit to me on the day of the baby shower. Eric face only showed the slightest hint of a frown.

"Not a Were animal?"

"Possibly," I allowed, "But I don't think so. Their minds were like nothing else I'd picked up on before. All I read was a feeling of a colour in their minds. Certain colours mean certain emotions, I think." I thought of the drug I'd taken at the pack court when Alcide had requested my help with a hearing. It was almost the same except I didn't see the colours, I... felt them.

What the hell were these animals?

A/n:

Thanks for reading this. Please review and tell me whether you like it or not and whether you think I should continue. I really love to hear from my readers. It makes me happy and keeps me writing :)

Love, and Cluviel dors,

Ava

xoxo