Set at the end of Season 3. Sookie has disappeared to Faerie after getting away from the King of Mississippi. Bill has gone to the Queen knowing that she will not release her claim for Sookie. Eric must still make peace with his Queen if he wishes to stay in Louisiana as Sheriff of Area 5.

Chapter 1

"I know I have to go back, but I really am going to miss it here. Everything is so peaceful and there is no noise and no violence. I can just be. I won't have that when I go back but I know I must return." Sookie sighs as she says her farewells to her cousins Claudine and Claude. The past few weeks in Fae had been a much needed vacation but she knew it was time to go back to her life. This was not really her home but it was a nice place to visit and she hoped she could return again soon.

"We will see you real soon Sookie. Take care of yourself and try to stay out of trouble for a change" Claudine purred and smiled the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. Claude smiled and nodded to her as if to second that thought.

Sookie took one last look around the beautiful gardens and took a deep breath as both Claudine and Claude leaned in on either side of her to place a gentle kiss on both her cheeks at the same time. Sookie closed her eyes and slowly released her breath and then opened her eyes. She stood in the middle of her bedroom in Bon Temps.

Well I guess my vacation is over, time to get back to the real world, sighed Sookie. Guess I better call Sam and see if I still have a job and then I better check the mail and probably pay some bills before I am standing in the dark tonight with no power.

Sam answered after about 6 rings and Sookie was about to hang up. "Merlot's" Sam barked into the receiver. Sookie hesitated for a few seconds wondering if maybe she should have just went down there in person. "Is anyone there, because I don't have time for nonsense?" Sam barked back into the receiver.

"Sam?" Sookie asked softly, not really sure how to begin.

"SOOKIE!" Sam shouted back into the phone.

"Yes, it's me. Sorry I haven't called but there was no phone service where I was actually. It's kind of a long story. I am sorry that I left you high and dry but it couldn't be helped."

"Are you okay? Where have you been? I have been so worried. No one knew where you had gone. Even the vamps have been asking about you. I knew you were with them last so I didn't have any idea what had happened to you. Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?..." Sam replied with hardly a breath between comments.

"Sam, Sam… I am fine. It's okay. I just had to get away from it all for a bit. I don't know if you know what happened but things got pretty intense for a while and I really didn't know if I was going to be okay. I am so sorry I worried you, but truly I am okay." Sookie replied trying to ease Sam's worry.

"That is all that really matters Cher. Where are you? Are you in Bon Temps?" he asked.

"Yes, I am at home. I just returned a little bit ago. I thought I should call you to see if I still had a job…" Sookie dropped off softly. She did not know what she was going to do if Sam had replaced her.

"Of course you have a job. You always have a job with me if you want it. As a matter of fact I am short handed all this week because Arlene has been out with morning sickness so bad most of the day shifts and with you gone I was stretched pretty thin."

"I am so sorry Sam. If you need me to come in now, I can. I am so sorry I left you in such a pinch" Sookie pleaded in forgiveness. She felt so bad for leaving everyone like she did, that was not right. Gran would have been ashamed of her skirting her responsibilities like that even with all that happened.

"Could you come to work in about an hour? That would help me a lot. I am working the bar right now, but I need to do some paperwork and ordering or we will not be having much food to sell this weekend." Sam replied.

"Not a problem Sam. I will see you in an hour." Sookie replied. "Thanks again Sam. You are really terrific, you know that right?"

"Shucks Cher. You know I would do anything for you. You would do the same for me." He replied bashfully. "See you in a few and you can tell me all about your vacation."

Sookie hung up and rushed to see if she had a clean uniform. She dreaded to see the rest of the house. So much of the house had been destroyed by MaryAnn when she threw her wild orgy/wedding party at her house. There has been mud smeared on nearly every surface of wall, floor or ceiling. Most of the furniture was smashed up or so beyond filthy it was not even salvageable. Sookie was fortunate that her bedroom and private bath had only suffered a few broken knickknacks and pictures and was still inhabitable. Sookie had started the cleanup before Bill's disappearance but then everything happened and she had not been back here till now. Sookie opened her bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway.

"Jesus Christ Sheppard of Judea!"

The entire house had been cleaned, repaired, and repainted. There was no evidence that it had ever been in such a state except for the lack of furniture and decorations. As Sookie walked through the rest of the house she was shocked to find that everything had been repaired to look as close to how it did as before the destruction. Of course some of the wallpaper in the house had been over 10 or 20 years old and that style was not made anymore but someone had carefully chosen something to be as close to the pre-existing paper as possible. Tears began to gather in Sookie's eyes as she realized someone had done everything they could to put Gran's house back the way it was before the damage. Sure if Sookie had went to choose paint and paper she may have updated the house and made some changes but considering she would have had to do it to the entire house at once she would have felt like she lost Gran all over again. At least this way it was so close to the same she could still feel like she should be able to look over in the kitchen and see her Gran standing there cooking something for the next meal. She was going to have to get new furniture and that would be a major change but at least this way it would still feel like Gran's presence was still here.

As Sookie pondered who could have done this she stepped back into her room and glanced at the bedside clock. Time had flown and she realized she hardly had time to get ready for work. She hurried to the bathroom to shower and get changed dropping her thoughts for the moment.