A Disclaimer: I don't own any True Blood characters, just the Ocs.

True Blood

Delicate Truths of Lilies

Prologue

Pam took in the foul sewage smelling air as she walked along the cobblestone streets, of San Francisco. Her swollen stomach caught the disgusted glances of bystanders. She moved around the peddlers selling their wares as women sneered at her, whispering amongst themselves as they passed by. In response, she held her head a little higher, stood a little straighter, and even smiled at them. What right did they have to act superior to her? Unlike these women, which basically were the property of their husbands? She was independent, she owned her own property and ran her own business. Granted, it was still against polite society for women to own their own property, be unmarried, and enjoy sex. It didn't help that she was also a whore, whores might have been on the richer side, but were also one of the lowest forms of status. Whores and children of whores were instantly labeled as the plight of society. They would never really be able to rise above their stations, even if they worked hard to achieve their fortunes. Their parentage would always be looming over them like a never dissipating dark cloud.

"Miss De Boufort!"

Pam turned to see a woman slightly older then herself jogging towards her. The woman was in a deep green long sleeved, high collared gown. Her black lace boots thumped lightly on the cobblestone. Her graying dark hair was pulled back into a semi tight bun, few tendrils hung around her face. This woman was exactly what society expected a lady to be. Everything Pam was not.

"Mrs. Tailor." Pam said, smiling at the woman.

Mrs. Tailor smiled at Pam, "I told you, call me, Ruth."

"Very, well, Mrs. Tailor." Pam said as she began walking again. The other woman walked along beside her; unafraid of the snickers coming from the disgusted passersby, "But only if you call me Pam."

"Very well," Ruth said linking her arm around Pam's, "You look amazing, as usual, Miss. Pam."

Pam laughed, "Why Mrs. Ruth, I feel far from amazing."

She felt quite huge, really, she hated the way pregnancy had changed her body. It made her very self-conscious, even when she did her best to hide it behind a corset.

As she walked all the men who visited her would pretend not to see her as the wives on their arms turned up their noses. The men would always briefly catch her eye, before they turned away. She couldn't help but wonder, for a brief moment, which of these "gentlemen" fathered her illegitimate child. Even if she knew who the father was, she knew that they would deny her child until the day they died. That thought made Pam's heart sink.

"Miss. Pam?" Ruth lightly pulled on her arm, tugging Pam's from her thoughts. "Are you alright?"

Pam bit her lip and smiled at Ruth, "Of course. Did you say something about tea?"

Ruth laughed, "Come on."

With that Ruth guided Pam through a door and found them a table instantly. When Pam tries to find some place to sit in a place like this, they tend to give her a run round. Pam hated the looks people gave Ruth every time they saw Pam with her. It made Pam feel like she had a disease that she could pass on at any moment of contact. Ruth was such a respectable sweet girl, who never seemed to notice the disapproving glances.

She was married to Mathew Tailor, his last name gave away his chosen profession because that's what his father did, and his father before him. It was a monotonous cycle. As Pam sipped tea with her friend, her gaze drifted out the window. She could see the children, barefoot, covered in filth, ill-fitting clothes as they begged for food, change or selling small items from baskets. It made her cringe, would this become her child's fate when she grew too old? Her profession and money were fleeting, they could be jerked out from beneath her at any moment. Pam was so preoccupied with her thoughts she barely noticed Ruth leave the table.

She saw Thomas, a little boy, that was the son of one of the women who worked for Pam at the brothel. He waved at her through the window, she smiled and waved back at him. He looked so cute in his little gentlemen's outfit, that his mother had made just for him on his birthday. She jumped a little when something thudded against the glass. Shouts were heard as Thomas jerked around and burst into a full blown run. Three of the "upper class" boys dashed passed the window in the direction little Thomas ran.

Pam was on her feet in seconds and was out the door as quick as her feet would carry her. "Thomas! Thomas!" she cried as she briefly stopped and looked around for the little dark haired boy. When shouts floated from around the corner, she followed them as fast as she could. When the boys finally came into view, horror crossed her face. "THOMAS! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

The the three boys continued to kick little Tomas with everything they had, Thomas covered his face and cried. As Pam drew closer the boys scattered, leaving Thomas bleeding in a heap on the filthy street. While other adults only watched as they passed. No one was going to help the son of a whore who dressed above his station. It was just not acceptable. Boys would just be boys.

"FILTHY WHORE!" One of the boys shouted as he rounded the corner. Pam helped the boy sit up, the moment he latched his arms around her neck, she heaved him up into her arms. His clothes were torn, bloody and covered with filth. He had a pretty good sized cut on his forehead, but from what she could tell nothing was broken.

"Good Heavens!" Ruth cried as she saw Pam moving towards her, "What happened?"

"Some little bastards…" Pam began as an old woman scoffed at her language. Pam glared at her as the old woman frowned at the sight of little Thomas.

"You people!" The old woman spat, pointing an old wrinkled boney finger at Pam, "Should be ashamed, condemning your children to the likes of that. People like you don't deserve them! You disgust me! The child that grows within you will suffer the same fate as that little boy!"

Ruth stepped between Pam and the old woman, "Don't you need to finish your shopping, Mrs. Williams?"

The old woman sneered at Ruth, "Hanging out with the likes of her will ruin you, Mrs. Tailor."

"She's better company then with the so called, "ladies" like you!" Ruth said, biting back her anger. Ladies after all were meant to be genteel and delicate.

The old woman scoffed, and walked away, and whispers erupted from the street's spectators. Truthfully, that's why Ruth admired Pam so much! Unlike Ruth, Pam was bold, confident and frankly spoke her mind without fear. Ruth loved how strong and independent Pam was; she was not going to allow her existence to be validated by a man. Which is exactly what Ruth did, she married Mathew because that's what ladies did, it wasn't because she married him for love. Mathew had just enough money to pay her father off, their marriage was merely a transaction between men.

Ruth followed Pam to the brothel, and without hesitation crossed into a domain that a lady was never meant to enter.

There you go everyone! I tried to keep as accurate to the time period as possible, sorry if I fudged it some. The title is subject to change! What do you think? Please Review and have a great day!