BACKSTORY: This story takes up where 'True Tara' left off, only it is a month later. Tara Thornton is now married to Bill Compton, an alliance that's goal is different for each participant. Tara wants a life for the twins that are growing inside of her that she never received. And all Eric seemed to be promising, was a life where Sookie Stackhouse and her, shared him!
Bill wants custody of twin babies borne of a mother that is 'half vampire' and a father who in another reality, is indeed human. Word has spread among vampires and humans about the pregnancy and gifts have been pouring in.
Gifts and threats. Security has been tightened, as plans to kidnap these unique, unborn babies have been squashed. Not to mention that those in the Were world are still pissed off about the murders of a few of their own, one at the hands of the former Ms. Thornton herself.
And poor Alcide! He ran off, unable to take doing strip shows for Eric at Fangtasia, and Sookie has left town to find him. She left the house in her brother Jason's care, but Eric glamoured him into never coming over, and Eric moved in, since he was still the rightful owner of the Stackhouse home...and it's close to the Compton estate. He has no plans whatsoever to be out of the picture when the twins are born, and he has already begun a distasteful plot to make Tara Compton return to being Tara Thornton again...
EVENING-Compton Estate
Tara leaned forward and peered at the video on the laptop. She was watching a Youtube video on how to knit baby socks. Hopefully it would help her failing project. She had a pile of fluff in her lap, that was supposed to be baby booties, but looked more like baby booties for some hoofed animal!
Still, she was learning, and had made a small sweater successfully. But Tara found that if she could actually see the process being done, she could pick it up quickly.
Jessica sauntered in, walking by a Security Guard as she entered the sitting room and plopped down on a couch in front of Tara.
"So...still knitting, hey? I would've never taken you for the type."
Tara stopped the video and eyed Jessica.
"Why? Because I'm Black and Black people don't knit?"
"God! Why are you so defensive? Correction, why are you even more defensive than usual?" Jessica complained.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay? But you're like the third person to ask me that shit! Maybe I just wanted to learn knitting, okay? Plus a knitting kit came as a gift from some vamp couple. I mean I might as well try it. Plus you saw that sweater I made, right?"
Jessica blinked.
"Was it like powder blue?"
"Yep!" Tara said proudly. She began putting away her knitting for the evening. Now that she was half human, she slept at night now. So she barely ever saw Bill or Jessica, if the truth be told.
"Oh. Yeah, I was in your bathroom using some of your Lancome face cream and I thought it was a wash rag. Like a microfiber rag..."
Tara slowly stood up.
"Bitch, what are you saying?!"
Jessica slowly stood as well.
"I'm saying It really worked well on my skin!"
"Tell me you didn't use my baby's sweater to wash your ass! Tell me!" Tara snapped.
"Look, that didn't look like a sweater, okay? If it had had sleeves..."
"It did have fucking sleeves! BILL! BILL!" Tara screamed. Bill, who had been in conference with someone in his office, hurried out and over into the sitting room.
"Tara. Jessica. There is no need to shout. Now is this something you need me for or can you ask security or a servant..."
"Bill," Tara began to sob, "Jessica wiped her ass...she used it...she fucked up our babies sweater...BILL!"
Bill walked over and put his arms around Tara, he then nodded to a female security staff member to help Tara upstairs. Once they left the room, Bill faced Jessica.
"Jessica, what happened? I couldn't understand one word Tara was saying."
"God, Bill! Why did you have to marry her? I like Tara well enough but everyone knows good and well that you married her to stick it to Sookie!"
"That is not true!"
"Oh really? Tell me those babies aren't Eric Northman's? Tell me!"
"They are MINE. You are going to have twin baby brothers, sisters or maybe one of each. Now what did you do to Tara's knitting?"
"I thought it was a washcloth and I used it in my bath."
"Oh Lord no!" Bill sighed, throwing up his hands.
"Sorry. Listen can I have a little extra money? There's a purse I want and the tips at Merlotte's really suck these days."
"I'll give you money for the purse, as long as you understand that you need to stay out of Tara's things! Knitting calms her and that is no easy feat."
"Errr, yeah. So...is this a REAL marriage? I mean do you two spend any time together..."
"Do you want the money or not?" Bill interrupted. Jessica smiled at him and and held out her hand.
But Tara had slipped out the back, telling the security guard she passed on her way to the garage, that Mr. Compton said it was alright. She then jumped in her car and drove to Merlotte's to see Sam.
Things were slow and Tara knew Sam had to be secretly worried. Plus she knew Sam was still sad over Pam's staking.
Tara sat at the bar with Sam and LaFayette, as she told them what Jessica had done.
"Now I'm sure it was just an accident." Sam said, trying to be reassuring.
"If she wasn't sure of what it was, then why even touch it, Sam?" Tara countered. LaFayette just shook his head.
"The girl doesn't mean any harm. She's just...well...in her own little world and shit." LaFayette offered. "What you really need to be worried about, is what the REAL father of those babies your carrying is planning! You know Eric Northman is up to no damned good, moving into Sookie's house like that."
Sam gave LaFayette a warning look, but Tara spoke.
"No, Sam. He's right. Though I think he's not really up to anything. He's hurting over Pam too. Maybe he just needs time."
"Time to remember to be evil?" LaFayette asked sarcastically.
"LaFayette, isn't there something you could be doing in the kitchen?" Sam asked.
LaFayette rolled his eyes and left the two of them alone. Sam covered Tara's hand with his.
"You know I think this marriage to Compton is bullshit."
"And I think single motherhood is bullshit," Tara replied, "this is what I want."
"Bill Compton is who you want., Tara? Since when?"
"I'm not thinking of him, okay? I'm thinking of the fact that once upon a time, he was a father. And he could be a good one again. I don't even barely see him. He will be able to lead his life at night and I can be there for my kids during the day. This is going to work, Sam."
"And what about your happiness? You're fine living like that?" Sam asked skeptically. "This marriage IS in name only, right?"
"Bill and I are not like that. Yes, it is in name only." Tara insisted.
"Good!" a voice called out. Tara and Sam turned to find Eric standing near the door. He walked over to the bar and sat down next to Tara.
"Tara has had a rough night, Northman, she doesn't need any of your shit." Sam warned. LaFayette peeked out of the kitchen.
"I'm not here to give her any, Sam. How have you been? I haven't seen you since Pam's funeral."
Sam turned and walked off. Tara gave Eric a filthy, dirty look.
"What the fuck kind of thing was that to say?"
"It's true. I have not seen Merlotte since Pam's funeral. What would you have me say? That he did not protect Pam properly from that whore shifter he was involved with?"
Tara could hear a lot of hurt and anger in Eric's voice-still. She did not respond to his comment. She decided maybe it was time for her to head back home.
"How are things at the Compton Plantation?" Eric asked casually. Tara frowned.
"It's not a plantation."
"Really?"
"Yes, really!" Tara snapped. "It used to be one..."
"Yes," Eric said casually, "it did. And Bill Compton used to own slaves. Do you know what I found out?"
Sam, meanwhile, could hear some of what was being said. Oh shit! Tara was really defensive when it came to slavery! What the fuck was Northman up to now?
Tara didn't reply. Clearly, Eric was here to tell her some kind of fucked up news. So she might as well stand still and listen to whatever it was.
"Okay, Eric. What is this shit? What is it you want to say?"
"I have proof that the Compton's actually owned the Thornton's at one time. I'm sorry. I thought you'd want to know."
Tara slapped Eric, then skulked out of Merlotte's. Eric sat still for a moment, then walked out after her.
"Tara! Tara, listen to me!" Eric called after her, but when Tara didn't stop, he used his vampire speed to get in front of her, just as she was reaching for her car door.
"Tara, do you really want to stay married to a slave owner? And one that specifically owned your family?"
"Oh shut up! You don't know any of that!"
"Tara, I was around then!"
"In Bon Temps?"
"No," Eric said patiently, "but I know people that were. That was how I was able to get the file."
"What file?" Tara asked suspiciously.
"One that traces your family roots back to Bill Compton's slave plantation! The one you're living on right now!" Eric snapped. "And I'm not thrilled about my children being born under that roof!"
Suddenly, a limo pulled up and Bill got out, along with two men from his security team. Bill walked over to them.
"Tara? Why did you leave the estate? We could've talked about what Jessica did to your sweater. But as Queen of Louisiana you shouldn't be running around at night. And in your condition."
"Don't you mean Queen of the Compton Plantation?" Eric challenged Bill. Bill tore his eyes off of Tara and glared at Eric.
"Pardon me? You will address me as 'Your Majesty'! And in case you have forgotten, you can easily be detained again under Authority laws. Tara, come along." Bill said curtly.
Tara gave Eric a look he couldn't read, then allowed Bill to take her arm and lead her back to the limo. She got in without looking back but Bill did. He closed the door and returned to where Eric was standing.
"I'm not even going to ask what that last comment was all about. All I do know is that if it causes me any trouble with regards to my wife..."
"You'll try and bury me in another hole, 'Your Majesty'? Like you did when you tried to keep me from telling Sookie how you deceived her?"
"I don't know what you think you know here, but it won't work. Not again." Bill said, giving him a warning look, before returning to the limo. It soon pulled out of Merlotte's parking lot. Eric glanced at Tara's car. She had left it behind. He would take it home to Sookie's. That would force Tara and him to meet again.
