Disclaimer: While the plot is my own, the places and characters in the Southern Vampire series belong to Charlaine Harris and not to me.

Dead in the City

Bill pulled back the curtains and glanced down the street for the upteenth time. He had made her repeat the directions twice and was going for a third time when she laughed and said "Hanging up now. See you in a bit." That was an hour ago. It shouldn't have taken this long.

He paced the large living room for a few moments, then impatiently parted the drapes again. He watched as a dark blue mini van slowly made its way down the narrow shaded street. It came to a stop, pulling into the parking space marked 'Private 467' in front of the townhouse.

The shadowy light of the late afternoon sun obscured his view as she got out and walked around to the passenger side. He could tell the blond hair was shorter, pulled back off her face in a familiar ponytail. She was thin. The jeans she wore hung as if the weight loss had been recent and sudden. Well, of course it had been.

She slid open the back door and leaned in. When she emerged, she held the hand of a small curly-haired girl in a sundress. Kneeling, she smoothed the dress and hugged the child. She returned to the van, this time she came out carrying a baby, obviously asleep, the head lolling on her shoulder. She pushed a button and the door magically shut behind her. Taking the little girl's hand again she mounted the steps to the door.

Bill opened the door before she could ring the bell. "Sookie!"

"Hello, Bill," Her smile was as sweet and warm as he remembered and her face showed no sign of the ten years that had passed since they had seen each other. Her eyes were sad though, and dark circles underneath testified to the ordeal she'd been through.

"Come in, come in," He moved aside, allowing her to enter. The little girl looked up at him, blue eyes wide in a freckled face.

"This is Isabelle," Sookie said. "Isabelle, this is Bill. He's a good friend of Mommy's, and Daddy's, too."

"Hello," Isabelle said quietly. "My daddy died."

Bill swallowed a surprising lump in his throat. "I know, Sweetheart. I'm very sorry."

"She tells everyone," Sookie shrugged. "I suppose I did, too, when my parents died."

Isabelle walked slowly around the room. Keeping one eye on her, Sookie shifted the baby to her other hip. "And this," She kissed the baby's head. "This is Will."

"Will?" He could not keep the question out of his voice.

"Yes," Sookie smiled, and this time her eyes smiled as well. "William Samuel Merlotte. Sam insisted."

"Sam? Sam named his son after me?" Bill couldn't imagine he was hearing her correctly.

"He considered you a friend, after what happened. A good friend." Sookie moved past him into the living room. "Izzy, don't touch anything, okay? Like in a store."

"No, she's fine," Bill said. "There's nothing here that important."

He let his eyes take her in as she glanced around the room. She was thin, too thin, and pale. Her arms were still well-muscled, though he imagined now from lifting the children instead of heavy platters at Merlotte's.

"I'm a terrible host," He said, breaking the silence. "Please, sit," he gestured to the couch.

"That's okay. It feels good to stretch my legs," Sookie said. "Why not give me the grand tour?"

"Of course," Bill turned to Izzy. "Do you want to see the rest of my house? We might see the cat if we look hard enough."

"You have a kitty?" Izzy looked up with interest.

"Yes. Her name is Mona. She's silvery gray and likes to hide under things. Will you help me look for her?"

Izzy looked questioningly at her mother. Sookie nodded and took her hand.

Bill led them down a short hallway. "This is the kitchen," he pointed to the left. "It's a bit larger than I need, but it wasn't practical to remodel. There's a dining alcove in the back that I use as my office."

"Are you still working with the Coalition?"

"Yes. I'm a liaison for the AVC. I do most of my work from home, but I travel some. Washington, D.C. and London, mostly. This is the library."

A small room to the right held shelf after shelf of books, and several filing cabinets, leaving room for only one overstuffed chair. Curled up in the corner of the chair was a large, gray cat.

Izzy squealed with delight. "You said she hided under things. But she's right there in the chair!" She started toward the cat then stopped. "Can I pet her?"

"If she'll let you."

Izzy scooted into the chair beside the cat and gently stroked its fur. "She's soft. Can we get a kitty?" She asked her mother.

"We'll see," Sookie said.

"My rooms are across the hall," Bill continued walking and Sookie followed, the baby still sleeping on her shoulder.

"Come on, Izzy."

"Can I stay here with the kitty? I won't touch anything. Promise."

Sookie looked at Bill. "It's fine," he said.

"All right. But you stay there, okay?'

"Okay." Izzy happily went back to stroking the now purring cat.

"She looks like Sam," Bill observed.

"Yes," Sookie nodded. "This guy here though, looks like he's going to be a Stackhouse." As if on cue, the baby blinked and yawned, his blue-green eyes searching and finally focusing on Bill's strange, pale face. His chubby hand reached out.

"Hey there little guy," Sookie said, grabbing Will's hand. "It's about time you woke up." To Bill she added. " He won't sleep tonight at this rate, but I didn't have the heart to wake him in the car. Do you have a place I could change him?"

"Right in here." Bill led her through the bedroom to a large bathroom. "Will the counter work?"

"He wiggles a lot. If you have a towel, I'll just do it on the floor. Oh, nuts! I left the diaper bag in the van. Can you watch him a sec while I run and get it?" Before Bill could protest, Sookie handed him the baby and left.

Bill stared at the child. Will had Sookie's eyes, and what little hair he had was blond, without the reddish cast of his sister's. Will stared back at him, evidently not the least bit uncomfortable with being held by a stranger. Bill wondered who had watched him while...

"Thanks," Returning, Sookie took the baby and knelt, spreading the towel Bill handed her out on the floor. "Phew...you stink..." She made a face at her son as she removed the soiled diaper.

Bill leaned against the counter and watched the tableau play out in front of him. Sookie was a mother. He shook his head. He had known, but to see it in action was something entirely different. This was what she had wanted. What he couldn't give her. A family of her own. But now...now that family had been shattered by Sam's death.