(Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris owns all rights to the Sookie Stackhouse series and its characters)

My Grandparents


It was the first day of the New Year - 2004. Wow! Who would have ever imagined? Gran always said that the first day of the year is very important, because it sets the tone for the rest of the year. If that were true, I'm not sure what kind of tone discovering a dead body would set. What do you think?

January 1st started out like every other day. I woke up to the wonderful aroma of coffee and Gran's cooking. Jason and I always made sure no matter where we were that we were at Gran and Gram-pa's for our traditional brunch of the year. It was our family tradition. Gran would make a big breakfast, sausage, biscuits and gravy, you name it. So like every day, I crawled out of bed and slowly made my way down stairs.

Most people raise an eye brow when they hear that I still live with my grandparents, but I don't care. And anyway my Gram-pa says that Fae children stay with their parents until they're 50. Thats about the time they reach full maturity. And I'm only 24, so I'm doing good as far as I'm concerned.

I pressed my hands against the kitchen door, and it swung open nice and smoothly.

"Good Morn'n," I chimed prancing over to where my Gram-pa was sit'in. I leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Happy new year," I said as I squeezed him tightly, inhaling his wonderful sweet scent.

"Good morning Dear One," smiled my Gram-pa, patting my back before I stood up.

"Happy new year Gran," I smiled making sure to plant a nice kiss on her cheek as well. Gran had the kitchen table all set up and ready. She handed me the orange juice to place on the table. As soon as I settled in my chair next to Gram-pa, Jason loudly entered the kitchen.

"Happy new year!" bellowed my brother.

"Happy new year Jason," chimed my Gran. Jason pulled her into a big hug lifting her off the ground a few inches. Gran had a soft spot for Jason, or should I say a blind spot? After their enthusiastic greeting Jason came over and shook Gram-pa's hand.

"Good morn'n Sir," said Jason.

"Good morning son," said my Gram-pa. Jason sat down in the chair next to me. Jason and my Gram-pa had a strained relationship.

Once Jason became a teenager, he and Gram-pa never saw eye-to-eye. The day Jason turned 18, he moved out and into our dad's house. I know that Gram-pa spent many nights worrying about Jason. You see, Jason is selfish, and generally an idiot. And there's a lot about Jason that my Gram-pa doesn't approve of. Heck, there was a lot about Jason that a lot people didn't approve of. Jason was….well how can I put this? There are three things that are most important to Jason in the whole world: Jason, women, and Jason.

When our dad died, Jason came to live with me and my grandparents. He was 11 and I was 8. Our family history is rather colored. You see, it was 1979 when my dad and his wife Michele were separated, which was a regular state for them. Let me just say that they had a passionate relationship. They were young and my dad's "otherness" had an unknown negative effect on my stepmother who was human. You see, my dad Corbett, wasn't entirely human. He was part Fae. This part of his nature, caused my stepmom to be abnormally obsessive and jealous.

Needless to say, it was during one of the many times they were separated that my dad met my mother, Lalyn (lay-inn). He was on a Canadian adventure with some of his buddies for three months. It was during that trip that he met my mother. This time around, it was my mother's "otherness" that attracted my father to her like a moth to a flame. Like dad, mom was part Fae. They both were ignorant of the other's true nature. My dad and my mother had a four month long romance in which I was conceived. Needless to say, dad returned to Michele none the wiser to me being conceived.

I was born June 1, 1980 in the small rural town of Sooke. Thats where I lived with my mother until the fall of 1983. My mother died in an explosion that killed a lot of other people, but that's another story. The point is that I came to Bon Temps when I was three (3). My dad's last known address was my grandparent's home. Luckily for me, it so happened that when I came to Bon Temps, my dad and my stepmother and Jason were staying with my grandparents while he was building their house.

When I arrived in the arms of my mother's attorney, my Gram-pa immediately sensed that I had the essential spark. You see, the essential spark is a special mage in the blood and DNA that make up the Fae race. My essential spark is strong - so I've been told. When my dad and his family moved into their new house, I stayed with my grandparents. This was a good thing. You see my Gram-pa also has the essential spark, so as far as I was concerned, I rightfully stayed with him and Gran; I was the happier for it. I've lived with my grandparents ever since. One day I'm sure I'll move out, but for now I was happily content to stay.

Sometime after our breakfast tradition, Jason left to meet up with his buddies at Merlotte's. He invited me, but as much as I liked Sam, it wasn't tempting. I stayed at home and nested a bit. I'd gotten myself a new drafting table, so I needed to rearrange things in my study to make room for it. Since college I'd taken over Jason's room upstairs, and soon enough I spilled over into the 2nd bedroom, which became my study. The entire second floor was mine, and there wasn't one corner that I hadn't touched.

"Do you need help with your old desk?" asked my Gram-pa.

"No, I'm gonna pop it to the back of your truck," I said casually. Gram-pa leaned against the door frame into my room looking at me skeptically. He didn't think I could do it.

I studied the desk real hard try'n to figure out the logistics of popping with such a large and awkward piece of furniture. After several minutes my Gram-pa broke the silence, and added his two cents. He was the one that popped the desk up here several years ago.

"I can do this," I insisted raising my brows.

"I didn't say you couldn't," smiled Gram-pa. I looked at him wryly, and he let out a short laugh.

"Gram-pa," I said stressing each syllable.

"Yes dear one," he smiled and resumed watching me quietly. I was glad he didn't offer to pop it out for me. That's something I really loved about my Gram-pa. He would always give me time to try to figure things out on my own. After going over a few different options in my head, I telepathically pushed the desk onto one of its sides. "Impressive," proudly stated my Gram-pa. I couldn't help but smile.

"Ok, here goes nothing," I said standing close to the desk. I took a deep breath.

"Be careful," I heard my Gram-pa call out as I popped out with the desk. A few seconds later, the air around me crackled and then the familiar pop. Me and the desk were safely in the back of my Gram-pa's truck bed.

"I did it!" I exclaimed wide eyed. Gram-pa was outside standing next to the truck. I turned to face him. "I did it! I did it!" I exclaimed with the palms of my hands open and cutting through the air. I jumped off the truck bed. "Did you see?" I asked him. He was smiling proudly at me and laughing at my happy dance. "Ok," I snickered. "You gotta admit that was pretty cool."

"Yes," nodded Gram-pa. I silently admitted to myself that it was truly amazing, but I wouldn't try it again. "Where are you planning on taking the desk?" he asked.

"There's a thrift store in Monroe that said they'd take it," I told him.

"Why not pop it to Monroe then?" he said, and one corner of his mouth twitched upward.

"Yeah," I huffed sarcastically. "I don't think so." Gram-pa enjoyed my reaction, letting out a soft laugh. No matter the method of move'n furniture, it wasn't a fun chore, and I felt a bruise starting to form. By the feel of it, it was going to stay around for at least a day. We walked arm-in-arm back into the house, and I finished rearranging my room.

After dinner, since the evening was surprisingly mild for January, we all decided to bundle up and sit around the fire pit outside. My Gram-pa built it a few years ago, and we got good use out of it. I brought over some logs from the back porch and placed a small log in the fire. I couldn't resist poking at it for a while. I watched the flames jump around. It always amazed me how hypnotizing it was.

Gran had made us some hot apple cider, so when I stopped poking at the fire, I took my seat and nursed my cup. I slipped off my shoes and socks. Gran hated when I did this, she always felt I would catch a cold, which by the way I never have. She was about to fuss, but stopped when my Gram-pa laid his hand on hers. I couldn't help but smile. I dug my toes into the half cold, half warm grass between the fire pit and my chair. I leaned my head back and relaxed. My Gram-pa shielded my Gran's mind making it completely silent to me.

Did I forget to mention that me and my Gram-pa are special? My Gram-pa is a half Fairy Changeling. A Changeling is a Faery term used to refer to the offspring of men and Faery unions. My Gram-pa's mother, my Great Grandmother, was human. She died almost 600 years ago. And his father, my Great Grandfather, is a Pureblood Fairy. He's still alive. I see him regularly. He's actually really excited about the changes I'm going through right now. Apparently, my grandfathers are picking up that I'm nearing my full maturity. What this means in our Fairy culture is that I'll soon be reaching a marriage-able age. Though neither has said a word, my Great Grandfather's hopeful that I'll settle down with a Pureblood like my Gram-pa's sister, my Aunt Lailah.

Yep, my family is special. My Gram-pa is actually about 700 years old now. Without his Fae aging mage, he could pass for his 30's. His face has the beginnings of some very fine and delicate wrinkles here and there. I think he resembles Brad Pitt; need I say Gram-pa is a beautiful man. His green eyes have a depth and clarity that are breathtaking. Even with his aging mage giving him the appearance of a 60ish year old man, he still looks exceptionally dashing. I can see how my Gran fell in love with my Gram-pa. Not only was he beautiful, but he's rather charming. Gran was 17 when they first met. She says it was love at first sight. She lived with her parents in southern Louisiana. She was hanging the wash out when he was passing by. He asked her for a drink, and the rest as they say is history.

My Gram-pa might be a looker hands down, but my Gran holds her own. She's been called a classic beauty. She's a tall silver blonde and lean woman with piercing blue eyes. She's surprisingly spry and lively for her age. My Gran's the one who put graceful in aging gracefully. She's the epitome of a Southern Belle. She never steps out the front door with a hair out of place. Her manners and charm are impeccable.

Besides their mutal beauty, my grandparents share a passion for gardening. I wasn't too keen on it, though I enjoyed reaping the benefits. As far as I can remember, since my childhood, they have always seemed to have a lot of fun together. I really loved hearing my Gran giggling and watching my Gram-pa twirl her. I was happy with my grandparents. They really loved each other. My Gran knew everything about my Gram-pa, she even knew that he was part Fairy and it didn't bother her.

From the start, they had a special relationship. My Gram-pa had never told his other wives what he was, but with my Gran he did. I'm not sure why, but I think he was tired of lying or something close to that. I do have to say that always having to hide what you are can be a lonely existence sometimes. So having a place and people you don't have to hide from, is liberating. That's what my Gran offered my Gram-pa, and that's what they offered me.

"How's Mr. Compton?" asked Gran. Her voice pulled me out of my reverie.