Note: This is set after book 8, but before this shifters have revealed themselves.

Summary: Other than a reoccurring nightmare that Sookie can't seem to shake, things are calm... you know that won't last. Trouble is coming to Bon Temps and its heading straight for our favorite telepathic barmaid. Look out for a new friend and some old enemies.

==========================Chapter One=============================================

My Gran always said that when life gave you lemons, you made lemonade... well at this point in my life I'd be able to fill every swimming pool in Bon Temps. Come on Sook, don't whine, your life is just fine. I have my health, right? I have my brother no matter how selfish he may be, he's still my brother. I'm sure I'll be able to forgive him for putting me through such a gut wrenching Were ceremony, but I'm just not there yet. Let's see, I have Sam, he just might be the worlds greatest boss and he is definitely one of my best friends. I have Amelia, who is the best roommate a girl can ask for. She's honest and boy can she clean, especially when she's worried about something. That's a trait we share, so between the two of us, this old farm house is immaculate. Pam is another, can I call her a girlfriend? Well, let's just say she's as close to a "girlfriend" as a vampire can get. I do love her wit. Okay, I feel better after that. I'm just going to stop while I'm ahead. No need to talk about any more vamps. Every once in a while you just need to take your emotional stock.

Wow, has the floor ever been that clean, I thought to myself. As I was giving myself that little pep talk I had been working my way across the living room with hardwood floor cleaner that Amelia had picked up on her last grocery store run. It really does look good, I can't wait to show my roomie how well it worked.

No sooner did I think that, I heard a car pull up and then around to the back. Hmmm, speak of the devil, er witch. I couldn't help but giggle at myself. She came into the living room with her arms full of shopping bags and before I could warn her about the slick floor... there she went. Her feet started to come out from under her and it was a mad scramble to keep her footing. Her bags went flying and I just stared, wide eyed deer in the headlights. Before I could even get out a gasp, it was all over. There she was moaning in a little crumpled mess in the floor.

"Oh, Amelia! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" I felt horrible. It was all my fault.

"Good God Sook, you could have warned me! Owwwww, my butt!"

"Really, I'm so sorry, I was using this stuff you bought to polish the floor and I had just cleaned my way from the front door back to the kitchen and oh gosh, it was still wet. I just couldn't spit the words out quick enough. It just happened so fast!"

Between moans as she was trying to get up I heard, "Wow, it really does work though, the floor looks brand new!"

Leave it to Amelia to appreciate a clean floor in the wake of that fall. I knew it was just a brave face though because as soon as the words came out of her mouth, all I could hear was a steady stream of "owwws" and "ohhhs" from her mind as she tried to get up. I ran over as quick as I could to help.

"Darn, this really hurts", she squeaked out.

"Come on, let's get you over to the couch."

As gently as I could I helped over to the couch and helped her ease down into it. I grabbed a couple throw pillows and stuffed them behind her and she slid her feet to the other end ever so slowly. I was feeling pretty guilty about now.

"You stay right there, don't move a muscle, I'm getting the heating pad!"

"Don't worry, I'll be right here", she said with a half smile.

I ran down the hall to the closet, grabbed the heating pad and was back in a flash. I plugged it in and helped her sit up so I could get it into place. Then I went to the kitchen to get her a glass of water and a couple Tylenol.

I waited a second to make sure she was comfy and then I went to go pick up all of her shopping bags that went flying across the room when she fell. Most of the contents were still in tact but a pretty pink bag with matching tissue paper had been emptied. I felt a little odd picking up someone else's undies, so I just scooped them up quick as I could and stuffed them back into the bag.

"You want me to put them up your room?", I asked softly.

"Aw, do you mind? I don't feel like moving at all."

"No, not at all. I feel horrible."

"Oh, it's okay, I'm sure I'll be fine by morning. Do you mind hanging that garment bag in my closet for me though, I don't want it to get wrinkled."

"Sure thing." I said as I headed up the stairs, arms full with all of the bags. I put the bags in the floor beside her bed and as she asked I hung the garment bag in her closet. Hmm, I wonder what's in it. I'm not one to snoop, so I just turned out the light and got back down stairs to make sure Amelia didn't need anything else.

She was flipping through the channels when I came back in, so I decided to sit on the floor in front of the couch. I know I could have sat in comfy old chair in the corner that my Gran loved so much, but I just didn't feel right. Amelia was clearly in pain, so this was my little sacrifice. I'd sit on the hard floor (clean hard floor) and watch t.v.

It was Friday night and here we were watching America's Funniest Home Videos. We chuckled at a little boy hitting his Dad with a ball bat, yep right in the jewels! Then we watched a lady trying to slide down a child's slide only to get stuck halfway down. We both let out another slight laugh on that one. Then there was another lady who was walking on a sidewalk and slipped on an icy patch. I didn't dare laugh first, but Amelia belted out a fierce laugh and I couldn't help but join in!

"I wish you had taped me! We probably could have made the season finale!" Amelia said in between giggles.

Of course she would see the humor in her accident, and thank goodness because I felt like it let me off the hook just a little.

"By the way, where's Octavia? Shouldn't she be home by now?" I asked, thinking it odd that she wasn't there.

"Oh, I completely forgot to tell you that she went to visit her family for a couple of weeks. She got a call this morning and left before you woke up. One of her neice's children has the chicken pox and so Octavia is helping since her neice had used all her vacation time for the year already."

"Well that's too bad. I remember getting chicken pox when I was little, it's no fun at all."

By 11:30 Amelia was asleep on the couch and I debated on waking her for about 10 minutes. I know she'd be more comfortable in her own bed, but heck she was asleep and therefore not in any pain. Finally I decided to leave her there. I pulled a small throw blanket over her and took myself to bed.

While I was washing my face and going through all the motions of my nightly routine I was thinking about the rest of my weekend and the upcoming week. Tomorrow I'd have to be at work by 4:30, then I'd work the lunch shift on Sunday. Since I had Friday off, my next day off would be Wednesday. Not too bad, at least I would get to watch American Idol.

I jumped into bed and thankfully didn't toss and turn. I fell into a deep sleep right away.

Fear is such a strong emotion, but to actually feel someone else's fear is indescribable. I felt his fear and it was so strong I turned my car around and raced to save him. Again, I made it just in time. Again, I thrust my car on top of the ancient vampire who would have destroyed him. Again, I'd put myself in harms way and again I wouldn't change a thing. This is where I wake up, flushed, breathing slightly deeper and wondering why I can't seem to shake this dream.

Saturday morning was bright and sunny, but it was getting colder. The leaves had changed already and all but fallen. I slugged into the bathroom to take care of the necessities and then put on my slippers to check on Amelia. I found her in the kitchen standing beside the coffee maker looking pretty ragged.

"How are you feeling this morning?" I asked as I was reaching for a clean mug to start my day.

"Not so swift, actually. I think I might run over to the Quick Care later. My Doctor isn't open on the weekends and I really think I may have hurt something last night."

"Don't you even think about driving yourself!" I barked. "I'm taking you. I don't have to work until later, so no biggie."

"Thanks, roomie!"

After we both had our coffee fix, we got dressed ans set out to get some X-rays. We didn't have to wait long, thank goodness. You never know with this place. Sometimes you can walk right in and sometimes you wait half the day. I thought about staying in the waiting room while Amelia went back, but then she gave me that "I need you" look and then obviously the Please, please come with me thought. After an hour, I was on my way to the drugstore to get prescription for pain killers filled for my friend with the hair line fracture on her tail bone.

"I can't believe I broke my ASS!" She said entirely too loud as we walked out with the little white bag. She insisted on coming in to pick out some new finger nail polish. I couldn't help but giggle at the looks she got.

I just smiled and told her she wasn't supposed to be enjoying this.

I helped Amelia up to her room when we got home and went back down stairs to fix some lunch. I heard the shower turn off 20 minutes later and went ahead up with a tray of sandwiches, chips and my special peach tea.

She accepted gratefully and we ate together and watched a little tv upstairs in her room. She looked a little groggy, probably due to the pain medicine, so I went downstairs and picked up a book to pass the time.

I checked on her before I left for work that afternoon and she assured me she would be fine.

The night went by fast since we were so busy. Sam had actually agreed to hire a band. A good one at that. They played Southern Rock which was a big hit here in our small little corner of Louisiana. As usual I had my shields up, but it was so much easier to block with the loud noise of the band.

The band was ending their second set as I headed out the back door for a quick breather. The sky was clear so I could see all the stars. I loved just looking up and those little dots that seem a lifetime away. I was leaning up against the back door sort of daydreaming when I felt someone coming out behind me. The door tends to stick so when the person on the other side pushed it knocked me a few steps forward. I turned around to see the lead singer of the band. Wow, he was actually kind of cute up close. He had kind of shaggy dark hair that was a little longer in the front than it was in the back. His bangs were swept to the side and he had the brightest green eyes I'd ever seen. I'm guessing he was about 30, but who knows these days. I could tell he was some sort of shifter, because of the cloudy thoughts.

"Oh, I didn't know anyone was standing there, didn't meet to hit you with the door!" he said.

What a beautiful voice I thought. So soft and even, but at the same time a tad bit raspy. Oh my, this did incredible things for me... Geez girl, get a grip.

"No biggie, I'm fine."

He stuck out his right hand and said, "Well my name's Luke."

I immediately grabbed his hand shaking vigorously I said, "I'm Sookie, it's nice to meet you." I was actually kind of giddy, most people I met these days didn't shake hands and I'd actually missed the practice.

I found myself staring into those green eyes and sort of fumbled over telling him how much I liked listening to his band.

"Well, we don't get down this way much, but with a crowd like this we may have to start."

"Yeah, that'd be great", I said with just a hint of excitement. I realized that more than 10 minutes must have passed since I came out and decided I better get back before Sam came looking for me, like he tended to do. "I better get back to work." I said as I opend the back door with a smile.

"Good to meet you Sookie." said Luke. I really liked his voice and hearing him talk.

I snuck back in without anyone noticing my absence. Sheeeww. I ran around filling glasses and cleaning tables while the band started to play again. This was such a good night. Sam should bring in a band more often.

The night was winding down as the band started their last song. It was Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. I loved this song. All the couples were swaying with the music and it was then that my stellar night took a little dip. It was times like this that I missed him. He would put all of these guys to shame spinning me around like a pro on the dance floor. Suck it up, Sookie! You haven't heard from him in weeks!

I started to turn back to the bar and was startled to see those perfect green eyes looking in my direction. As he sang those words, he was looking at me. Okay, so that made me feel better. He winked and then began to scan the rest of the room as he finished the song.

I left as the band was packing their equipment. Luke looked tired and pretty busy, not that I knew what to say thank goodness, so I just slipped out the back door and went home.

Amelia wasn't much better Sunday morning as I left to run a few errands and get to work for the lunch shift. She protested when I tried to bring her breakfast but I did anyway. Goodness, I felt responsible for her state, so I wasn't taking no for an answer.

My shift was slow but steady. I mentioned to Sam my thought on hiring a band more often and he agreed. He even threw out ideas about charging a cover but quickly thought no, since the increased revenues were enough. He was anything but greedy.

By Monday, my poor roommate was still on her back, since it hurt to sit on her broken ass, as she like to put it. I felt so bad but I think all of my waiting on her was bugging her so I tried to tone it down. Not much though.

As the nights passed I still couldn't shake that reoccurring dream. The fear I felt in the dream, his fear, was so real so strong. I even thought about calling him when I woke up panting early Tuesday morning. I quickly nixed that idea. It was just a dream and besides, he hasn't called in weeks and what would I say?

When I made it up to check on Amelia that morning, she had that look of plase don't say NO. Without hesitation, I said, "Name it, I'll do it!"

Guilt was a hard driving factor but dag-nab-it, I should have just read her mind before I spit that out. Oh well, I was stuck now.

"Okay, so I'm supposed to go with Trey to some Chamber of Commerce Dinner tomorrow night and I feel so bad because they're giving him some plaque for being a local business for so many years or something and he wanted me to look nice so I bought that new dress but how can I go and sit in a chair for that long or dance..." She was talking retty fast and starting to trail off at this point.

"So, you want me to go in your place." It wasn't a question because I knew the answer.

"Oh would you Sookie, please? I don't want him to go alone and I just want him to have someone sitting there at the reserved table with him. You'll have to get rid of my place tag... do you believe how formal..." Again, she was rambling.

"Of course I'll go with Trey, it's my night off anyway." Well crud, looks like I'm going to the mall. Good thing my tips were good from last Saturday's packed house. I almost told her about Luke and our little moment, but decided against it.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'll call him right now!" She said as she went to reach for the phone on her night stand. She moaned slightly in the process so I quickly grabbed it and handed it to her.

Well at least I wouldn't have to fight the weekend crowd at the mall. Going to a Chamber of Commerce dinner with Trey wouldn't be too bad. I'm sure the food would be good and Trey has helped me a time or two. It would be fine...maybe even fun.

TBC