We'll Meet Again in Death

Chapter One: Subtractions and Additions

I knew my relationship with Amelia would change forever after the fairy war but I didn't want to accept it. Although I won't admit it she has changed my world forever. Thinking about being alone again makes me shiver. Amelia had already warned me she would be packing up her stuff in the next few weeks and moving back in with her father until her house was rebuilt. She assures me it isn't me but the grief she feels over Trey. I can't blame her; I had a hard time staying in my house after my gran had passed away.

I hadn't spoken to Eric or Bill in weeks. I knew my heart and soul had not decided between the two and it would only hurt myself and them to pretend there was nothing between us.

Things at work had been changing as well. Sam seemed to shy away from me more and more everyday but I could not pinpoint why. I hadn't heard from Jason in a coon's age but couldn't really blame him. I hadn't even heard from Remy about Hunter after I had left him a message last week. It was starting to worry me that Hunter was about to be of school age and would be entering the hardest part in his life and I couldn't be there for him.

On the worst note I was actually feeling sorry for myself. I was about to be completely alone for the first time and I felt abandoned by my family and friends. Maybe it was for the best. Maybe if I stayed out of the vampire world bad things would stop happening around me and I wouldn't cause anymore bloodshed.

I missed Claudine every day. I can still remember her cheerful and carefree ways. Her tendency to show up when I needed her the most. I knew Claude when never want to see me again and I'd be lucky to even get a phone call.

The day came for Amelia to go back to New Orleans and it came all too soon. We spent the day re-strengthing the protection spells she had cast over the house and promised she would come back and make sure I was safe.

"I don't know what I'll do without you. Who will wake me up with hot coffee in the mornings and keep my life interesting?" Amelia sighed and gave me the biggest hug she could muster. "Come visit me in New Orleans sometime."

"Don't be a stranger here either. I know I won't be the only one to miss you. I think everyone at Merlotte's was starting to really attach to you." I watched her carry her last bags out of the door and wave goodbye as she drove down the drive. It just reminded me of how it felt every time she left to go shopping expect this time she won't be coming back.

I distracted myself with cleaning the house until there wasn't a dust bunny left. I got ready for work and was heading out the door when my phone rang.

"Hello?" I could hear a lot of voices in the background but could not recognize any of them.

"Is this Sookie Stackhouse?" A male voice replied.

"Speaking. How can I help you?"

"I'm calling in regards to your nephew Hunter. His father was murdered about a week ago and in his will he has named you as the guardian for his son. We were hoping you could come down to the station and fill out some paperwork. He also left you a sum of money." I could feel my heart jump into my throat and couldn't seem to find my voice. "Mam are you alright." At that point I was sobbing into the phone and couldn't seem to control it.

"Yes...sir I am still here. I will be down there right away. Is Hunter okay? What happened to Remy? Who did this and why?" I felt so bad for Hunter losing his parents at such an early age. I knew how hard it was to grow up without your parents. I don't think I will ever recover from losing mine in the flood especially now that I knew it hadn't been an accident.

"We haven't found the culprit yet mam but we have a few suspects in the case. He was shot multiple times in the chest. It looks like it was a mugging gone bad. The boy is unharmed physically but he witnessed the whole thing. He has been staying in an orphanage until we found his father's will this mornin'. We will have the paperwork ready when you get here just ask for Phil." I heard a click as the office hung up but couldn't let the phone leave my ear.

I knew I had to step up and take care of Hunter and be there for him like gran had been for me but I didn't know if I was ready to take on that responsibility. Sure I had planned on helping Remy raise him but definitely not on my own. I knew how hard it had been on gran raising me and Jason on her own. It had been a burden on her even though she wouldn't have admitted it.

I called Sam and let him know what had happened. He told me to take the week off and help get Hunter settled and to call him if I needed anything. He had been nicer to me than he had in months.

As I pulled up to the station I could feel the sobs creeping up on me but tried to fight them back the best I could. I had never been much of a crier but I knew what Hunter was going through and how hard this all would be for him. I didn't want him to go through what I did as a child.

Hunter had been waiting for me when I got there. He jumped up to greet me and flew right into my arms. To my surprise he seemed extremely happy considering the circumstances.

"Aunt Sookie I knew you would come to rescue me. I waited and waited but I knew you would be here soon. These nice men have been taking care of me and they are real nice, aunt Sookie." He hugged my neck with all his strength and beamed at the officers standing in front of me.

"Miss Stackhouse if you could just leave autograph a few forms for me you and the boy will be free to go. We will let you know if we find anything more out about the case. The boy has been a huge help and was very cooperative. He might just make a good cop himself one day." The officer smiled down at the boy who was beaming about the compliment he had just received.

"I want to be just like my aunt Sookie when I grow up. I don't need to be a cop to be the good guy." He grinned back at the officer who patted him on the head and handed me a stack of papers.

After I had filled them out we gathered up Hunter's things and headed back to Bon Temps.

"Do I get to stay the night with you?" Hunter beamed as if he had never lost his father and he was going to be back home the next day.

"You'll get to do more than that. You are going to get to move in with your aunt Sookie! We'll be just like one big family!" I grinned as wide as I could but Hunter could sense my nervousness.

"Do you want me to stay with you?" He frowned at me and started toying with the bottom of his shorts.

"Of course I want you to stay with me, Hunter. We will be there for each other. I will ALWAYS be here for you. I will help you through any problems you have. I know you are strong and when you don't want to be I'll be strong for you." Hunter smiled up at me and laid his head on my leg.

Hunter slept the rest of the ride home so I carefully carried him into his new room. I would have to buy him some new comforters so he didn't have to sleep in my gran's old quilt. I walked back out to the car only to find the last person I expected standing at the door waiting for me.

"Eric? When did you get here?" I hadn't even sensed him being near. I scanned the line of the trees but saw that he was alone.

"I hadn't heard from you since the war. I had to come see if you were okay. I was worried when I saw you carry in a little boy I had never seen. Who is your new friend?" Eric leaned on the door frame with his arms crossed a curious expression on his face.

"He is my nephew I'm going to be watching him from now on. His father was murdered about a week ago so he needs me to be there for him. If you want me to go somewhere I can't I have to stay here and take care of him. I'm all he's got." I attempted to walk out the door to the car but was caught in Eric's arms.

"I can smell your blood in him. He is definitely your relative. I did come here to take you away but not for what you are thinking. I've….Sookie I think I miss you." He looked away out towards the trees and waited for my response.

"I really don't have time for this right now Eric. I can't worry about your feelings for me when I have bigger fish to fry." I knew deep down he was all I wanted at the moment but for Hunter's sake I just wanted him to leave and never come back. I didn't want to get mixed up with him when I had Hunter to worry about. My sole concern now is the boy that can only rely on me.

"Sookie." He put his hands on either side of my face and forced me to look into his eyes. "I don't understand these feelings I have for you but I don't want to let them go. I don't want to let you go. I will not stop trying and I know you feel the same. Why do you fight it? You are my lover. My wife. I will do whatever it takes to keep it that way." I tried to look away but he wouldn't let me.

"Please Eric I just need time to get things together. I need to make Hunter comfortable and let him learn to trust me. When he is ready I will come to you." He released me but not because he wanted to. He slowly backed away but came back only to plant a small kiss on my cheek and disappeared.

A/N: This is my first Southern Vampire fanfic so forgive me if I haven't gotten the writing down to a science just yet. Constructive critism is welcome. Hope you enjoyed!