Bill's Valentine's Day

For all of those who love.

And to all of those who are dog owners, especially one very special person out there right now who is going through the grief of loosing their special friend.

This is just a two part short little piece to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Set six months after Sookie has gone missing from Bon Temps with no one knowing where she is or if she is even alive.

As usual AB, HBO and Charlaine Harris are the rightful guardians of all True Blood characters.

All other characters are of my own warped invention.

Chapter 1

'Max…. Max!' a women's voice was calling urgently. It was after dusk of course and Bill was out walking. He didn't get that much time to be on his own any more and he was enjoying the solitude, it gave him time to think and to grieve. It was six months since Sookie had been gone and it weighed heavily on him. To all outward appearances he was getting on with things, his new role as King of Louisiana kept him busy, something that he was grateful for but it didn't fill the emptiness of his heart. That place belonged to Sookie and could never be filled. Only Jessica knew about the silent tears that he shed on lonely nights of retrospection.

Jessica had grown up a lot in the last six months and their relationship had grown too. She was the one who was there for him in those first dreadful weeks that had followed Sookie's disappearance when Bill was taken in for questioning. Well actually, that wasn't quite true, Bill had volunteered to be questioned knowing full well that suspicion would fall on him and he wanted to make it clear to all in Bon Temps that he was just as mystified about what had happened as they were.

Things would have been a lot worse for him had it not been for Jason of all people. He had shown up at Bill's three days after Sookie went missing ready to stake him, assuming that Bill or vampires in general had something to do with her disappearance but after Bill had calmed him down, and with Jessica's reassurance, Jason had sat with Bill for hours listening to him tell Jason everything. Jason had realised that if Bill was willing to tell him all the circumstances of their personal details then he knew that Bill was hurting and hurting badly. And he was sure that Bill did not harm her, he loved her too much for that.

Time had past and Bon Temps had returned to normal, or as normal as it would ever be likely to be. People's lives move on, people adjust. There is always something new to talk about in a small town and the disappearance of 'crazy Sookie' was relegated to one of those occurrences that happened but was not thought of any longer, well not by the general inhabitants, but for Bill it was raw and ugly and painful.

So here he was tonight doing what he did whenever he had the time, he was walking and thinking and hurting when he heard a woman's voice calling. Rounding a bend in the pathway through the scrub that bordered his home and the cemetery, a woman walked straight into him, nearly falling as she did so. Bill reached out to steady her and held her arm while she regained her footing.

'Oh I am sorry. I didn't see you. I wasn't looking where I where I was going' she said a little breathlessly as though she had been hurrying. 'You haven't seen a German Shepherd anywhere around here have you?' she asked almost in tears. 'He saw a rabbit and took off with me on the end of his lead and I slipped and fell letting go of his lead so now I can't find him,' she went on looking ruefully at the grass stains and a tear to her jeans that was stained with blood where her leg was grazed.

'You are hurt' Bill said seeing her torn stained jeans, 'can I help you? At least let me look at you leg then I can help you look for Max is it? My home is only over there through the trees, we can get you patched up then have a thorough look for him. My name is Bill, Bill Compton' he said. She held out her hand 'Thanks so much Bill I'm Elly, Elly Waterford. This is so kind of you' she said as Bill led the way back to the house.

Jessica was at Hoyt's and he had the place to himself. His security was around but they were so well trained that even though they had seen him emerging from the path through the trees with a stranger, they also saw the small hand gesture he had made in their direction indicating not to bother him and that all was well. Elly had not even noticed as she was too busy taking in the house, her eyebrows rising in surprise before hurriedly taking a sideways glance at him.

'If you care to take off your jeans while I get a first aid kit' Bill said showing her into his office, placing her over in one of the more comfortable leather chairs as he shone the desk lamp over to give some light. 'Heh, I hope you don't think that I …' she started to say before Bill cut her short. 'Please I didn't mean that to sound the way you may have thought, I will get you a pair of jeans from my prog… my daughter, she is taller than you and bigger but they will at least be all right to get you around in for a while' he said embarrassed by the way it may have sounded to her and her assumption.

Bill retreated to Jessica's room, hurriedly finding an old pair of jeans she had left amongst the clothes that she kept in her bedroom for those times that she would visit Bill and stay the day. He was back in the office as Elly was gingerly easing her torn jeans down over her grazed calf, Bill stopping short as he caught a substantial glimpse of long tanned legs and black panties before she pulled her shirt down over her thighs.

Discretely coughing, she turned and smiled at the sight of Bill standing there looking a little sheepish. 'I am hoping that it just looks a little worse than it is' she was saying. Bill didn't take in what she was referring to immediately, his mind had wondered a little at the sight of her when he had walked in so it took a moment for what she had said to register. 'Oh thanks' she said holding out her hands to take the faded jeans from him before sitting down under the lamp light to inspect the damage.

'Here allow me' Bill said gallantly, gently taking her outstretched leg in his hands as he closely inspected the graze. 'There doesn't appear to be anything serious, I'll just get some antiseptic and we will have you cleaned up in no time' he smiled 'then we can go and have a look for Max'. 'Oh god, I sure hope I can find him, he means everything to me and he won't know his way around. I don't know my way around here either, I am only here on a break and haven't really got my bearings yet.'

'Is he micro chipped? Does he have a collar and tags?' Bill asked seeing Elly's distress 'I'm sure that he will be all right, we will find him' he said reassuringly as he bathed her leg and started to apply the antiseptic cream as gently as he could. 'I'm sorry if it stings, I will be as gentle as I can be,' he pulled a sympathetic face as she let out an 'ouch' at the first touch. 'Sorry to be such a wimp' her eyes tearing up 'but that really does sting.'

He finished applying the ointment then added a light dressing for protection. 'There' he smiled, 'at least you shouldn't have any likelihood of infection' and he reached over handing her Jessica's jeans before turning his back to allow her some privacy. 'Bill, it's all right you don't have to do that, I know that you saw me when you came in, I caught you in the mirror over there but you looked so embarrassed that I didn't say anything. You know you really are very kind,' she was smiling as she pulled the jeans on.

'You are the first Vampire that I have met' she said casually, as if an after thought. Bill spun around catching yet another glimpse of her legs and hips as she hoisted the jeans up. 'How did you know?' he asked a little shaken. 'Your hands, apart from the fact that they are the softest I have ever felt, they are not as warm as well….' 'As most mens' he finished. 'Yes they're not but also, you have something else about you, something different. Please don't get me wrong, I don't mean different in a bad way, I mean different in a good way. Hell, most men that told me to take off my jeans I would slap in the face. I have severe trust issues but with you I don't.'

'You know that you probably should' he said looking at her thoughtfully 'I am what you call mainstreaming so you don't have anything to fear from me but Elly you shouldn't be so trusting, not all vampires are the same as me you know.' 'Oh I know, I was watching TV the night Russell Edgington had his little melt down and trust me, that was a shocker but I don't judge an entire race on the actions of one. If I did that then I would be running for the nearest cave and getting the hell out of the human race, we don't exactly have a great track record when it comes down to it do we?' she said more of a statement than a question.

Bill was looking at her really thoughtfully now. 'You don't seem to have high opinion of your fellow humans?' he questioned. 'I guess I have seen a small sample of their actions and their prejudices and don't like what I see. Why should we put ourselves above everything, what makes us 'normal' people so right and the minority wrong, every single person on this planet is different so how can we be arrogant enough to think that all vampires are the same as Russell, it doesn't make sense to me? I'm sorry, I am on my soap box but I get angry when I see injustice and that's what I think has happened, not just to vampires but to a lot of others.'

'You won't get an argument from me and I have seen both sides of the argument. You are passionate about your beliefs and I can understand that too, it's a pity more people didn't stand up for what they believe in but that is something that we can only hope will change. Now, we have a missing dog to find so if you are feeling up to it, shall we?' Bill escorted her out of the house and led the way back down the path.

'Max, MAX!' Elly called but Bill held his hand up to signal her to stop. He stood still and looked around as though trying to work out a direction then, before Elly knew what was happening he was gone in a blink, speeding off at vampire speed. Within a few minutes Bill was back with a very happy but ashamed looking beautiful German Shepherd in his arms, no mean feat seeing the dog was very large and awkward to carry, his tail wagging so much at the sight of Elly that Bill had difficulty keeping him in his arms.

'Oh Bill' Elly let out a squeal, 'Max, Max where have you been, you scared me half to death' she scolded as Bill put him down and he ran straight to her, jumping up and licking her. 'Where was he, where did you find him?' she asked. Bill smiled at the scene, it reminded him of Rex the dog he had given little Thomas as a puppy. The last time Bill had seen him when he was leaving to go back to the war after a Christmas leave furlough, Rex had tried to follow him and Caroline had been forced to tie him up, so devoted to Bill as he was. Bill sighed at the memory, he had not thought of that for all these years nor remembered what it was like to have the unquestioning love of a dog.

'His collar had been caught on a fallen tree branch near the entrance to a rabbit hole so he was stuck and whining pitifully when I found him' Bill said. 'But how did you know where to look for him?' Elly asked curiously. 'I could hear him' Bill said 'he was about half a mile over in the trees towards the Stackhouse place.' Bill flinched a little when he said this. 'The Stackhouse place' she queried before going on 'isn't that where there was some kind of disappearance, something happened to a girl that went missing?'

Bill's face became a mask of indifference, hearing a total stranger mentioning Sookie was almost too much for him. It may have been six months but the pain that he felt had not abated and it hurt just thinking about it now. 'Oh Bill, I am so sorry. You must have known her, being a neighbour and all.' Elly could see that there was something very wrong, the expression on Bill's face was one of pure despair no matter how hard he tried to conceal it.

'You loved her didn't you' she said suddenly, her intuition taking a hold and blurting it out before she could stop herself. Bill gave a start as though he'd had an electric shock. 'Yes, how did you know, am I that bad at concealing things?' he asked. 'No you're not but maybe it's because I know what it's like to lose someone that you love, someone precious to you. I lost my parents to a drunk driver, both of them here one minute and gone the next. No goodbyes, no last "I love you," nothing. That's why Max is so precious to me now, he's all I have and he's there for me when I get the blues, he listens to me and loves me unconditionally' she shared.

'I recognised the pain in you, maybe that's why I trusted you so much. It's a first for me to trust anyone again. You tend not to when the person that took your parents away gets out of jail before you have even stopped grieving'. 'I'm sorry for your loss, I too lost all my family when I was … when I became vampire' he said softly. Elly looked at him with tears in her eyes. 'It sucks doesn't it? I mean, oh god Bill I didn't mean anything by that' she started to giggle 'oh please don't take that the wrong way' she was laughing now, her face still wet with the tears that she had shed for her parents.

He was smiling now too, the sombre tone of their conversation gone for the moment. 'No offence taken and yes, it does suck' he said holding out his hand to help her up as she had been kneeling down picking off bits of twigs and leaves that Max had been covered in from his scrape through the undergrowth. 'Thank you, Bill not just for finding Max and taking care of my leg for me but thanks for sharing, I had been having a not so great day today. It's my parents wedding anniversary coming up soon, they got married on Valentine's day they were so in love, and well I am sure you understand how hard anniversaries of anything are. They had been out to dinner celebrating when the accident happened.'

They were standing facing each other only a foot apart and could see each others faces clearly in the moonlight. Elly's face had been a picture of sadness as she talked about her parent's anniversary and it touched Bill. 'I do know how hard it is' he said 'it's six months today that Sookie Stackhouse disappeared' he said sadly. 'Oh Bill, I am so sorry' she said putting her hand on his arm in a gesture of sympathy. 'And here I have intruded in your solitude when I am sure that you were out here to grieve on your own. I do a lot of that too, walking with Max on my own just to have some privacy and to,' she swallowed hard 'to do my crying when it gets to me too much.'

'Bill thank you for helping me, I will leave you in peace. I am so sorry to have intruded. I walk most nights so I will be sure to have a better grip and a tighter leash from now on. Thanks again. Goodnight' she said as she turned to go. 'Elly wait' Bill called as she stopped and turned to look at him, 'perhaps we could walk together some nights? I am free tomorrow night if you have nothing else planned, that's if you want to and would like some company' he suggested. 'Thanks Bill, okay I'll see you tomorrow night then' she said smiling. 'Good night' and she turned and walked back along the path towards the road.

Bill and Elly met nightly for the next three weeks, often walking for hours. She explained to Bill she was a freelance photographer and her time was her own. She had a little money put aside from her father's life insurance policy as she was sole beneficiary and that was enough to enable her to take off and go around the country looking for interesting places to photograph when ever things got her down too much. She was in her early thirties and unattached, which Bill found hard to believe as she was attractive, vivacious and a conundrum. She loved life and living but still had those times for quiet reflection.

They talked of anything and everything or they talked of nothing and walked on in a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They found comfort in each others presence, a comfort that Bill had not had in the last six months, they found understanding too and quickly grew to know what kind of mood the other was in the minute they met each night. Bill found himself opening up to Elly about Sookie in a way that he had never done with anyone else.

She understood and was sympathetic to his feelings. It didn't matter to her that he was Vampire, the thought did not cross her mind, she just saw him as someone hurting and in need as much as she was and she could look at things objectively when Bill talked of his guilt and how Sookie would still be around living her life as before had he not come into it. Elly pointed out that Bill had given her love, had been her first lover and had opened up a new world to her and that was the most precious gift that someone could give you. Quite simply, Elly made Bill feel alive again after months of feeling nothing.

They shared Max too. She had not been surprised that Max seemed crazy about Bill, he was a great judge of character and in Elly's books it was very much a case of love me love my dog, not that she thought that Bill loved her but she knew that they both did care and have feelings for each other. And Max had quickly become devoted to him, walking at his side, coming when he called, sitting and shaking hands. Elly had been amazed at the slightest command that Bill would give, Max would obey. It was like the two of them were having a love affair she told him one night. 'If I was the jealous type I would be so extremely jealous of your relationship' she had said laughing as she playfully poked Bill in the ribs.

Bill had stopped walking and quickly held her arm, pulling her into him and gently brushed her lips. 'There is no need to be jealous, Max and I are just good friends' he said softly. It had been unexpected and took Elly's breath away. He was not normally given to spur of the moment decisions but it was something that he had wanted to do since the night they met. She looked up at him as he held her, she was a little shaky just being in his arms. She had been fighting with the attraction that she had been feeling from the start but did not think it appropriate to make the first move, she knew that he had not been with anyone else since Sookie, he had told her that and she believed him, so this was something that she took as a serious step for Bill.

'Are you sure, is this what you want? Are you ready for this Bill?' she said a little timidly least her voice betray her emotions. 'Elly I am so ready for this, I can't stop living and you are so full of life' he said as he bent his head down and crushed his mouth to her lips as though to prove his point, their kiss becoming more passionate and intense as they explored each others mouths, sending thrills through them both, waves of desire coursing through their veins.

Elly was panting when Bill broke away and she heard a sudden snick, his fangs clicking into place with his arousal. She had never seen them and was hit with a fresh wave of desire rippling through her. 'Oh Bill' was all she could say as he pulled her back into him, holding her tightly and pressing her into him so that she felt his substantial arousal against her while she explored his fangs with her tongue. She had no idea how arousing this was to him, how he had to fight to really control him self now. He had told her he had not been with any one since Sookie and he hadn't but he needed to be and he needed to be with her desperately. He was aching to be with her but he would not force her, it had to be in her own time and not his.

Elly's arms flew around Bills neck as he arched her backwards, holding her hips for support. She shivered as she felt just how much he did really mean it when he had said that he was so ready for this. She was turning to liquid with his kisses and both of them were raging with desire, only one thought going through them. 'Your place or mine?' Bill managed to rasp. 'Yours, it's closer' she whispered, gripping him tighter and kissing him deeply again, not wanting to let go even in her desperation for the other things to follow.

At this moment they were both bought back to earth by Max who was bored with all of this and had decided to jump up and break up the moment, letting out a whine as much as to say 'get a room you two'. They broke away from each other panting and laughing. 'Come on' Bill smirked, 'he's right you know, we should finish this in more private surroundings' and putting his arm around her waist they started walking back to his place, stopping several times to renew their kisses only to have Max whine loudly again as if he too was impatient to get home.

Bill's security was now used to seeing him with Elly and Max and knew to keep a discreet distance so it was unusual as they came out of the trees and walked towards the house to find them being rapidly approached by Hank one of the guards. 'Majesty' the guard bowed to Bill, 'I am sorry to intrude but you have a visitor that cannot wait. She insisted in waiting in your office for you' he said and bowing again, departed back to the edge of the trees to resume his patrol of the grounds.

Of course Bill had told Elly of his role within the vampire hierarchy but until tonight she had not really given it any thought other than to assume it was just some type of ceremonial honour rather than a working title of significance. Bill looked at her apologetically. 'I am sorry, if you could wait in the parlour while I deal with this I will try not to be too long but I understand if you prefer to go home. I will get Hank to accompany you, just to make sure you get home safely' he said glancing hurriedly towards the windows before kissing her quickly.

Bill quietly ushered Elly inside and closing the doors walked swiftly into his office to find Nan Flannigan sitting behind his desk drumming her fingers with impatience. She was full of woes and venom, complaints about anything and everything and Bill knew at once that she was not going anywhere in a hurry. He excused himself after listening to a five minute tirade from Nan and explained a little of the situation to Elly, begging her forgiveness and promising to make it up to her tomorrow night if she was free.

'Oh I will be free Bill Compton, we have some unfinished business of our own' she said so seductively that Bill's fangs nearly popped again and it was only his rigid control over his emotions that stopped him from taking her in his arms and having her right there and then and to hell with Nan Flannigan. Elly left with a reluctant Max trailing behind, thoroughly disappointed that he was not staying longer to be fussed over by Bill, his tail and ears down and looking very dejected.

To be continued ….