Don't You Wanna Stay?

Author's Note: I know some of you are probably upset that I'm starting another FanFic when Skydancer isn't finished yet but I just can't help myself. This song has gotten thoroughly stuck in my head and it goes perfectly with my major problem with the True Blood series. This will be a massive AU fanfic for True Blood picking up right before the meeting between Sookie, Eric, Bill, Isabel, and Stan regarding how to find Godric at the FotS compound. You may notice similarities between Seren (pronounced Say-ren) and Dara/Skydancer…because there are…big ones since she's my favorite character I've ever created and I use variations of her over and over.

Disclaimer: As always True Blood and its characters belong to Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball. All OC's are from my own imagination. "Don't You Wanna Stay" featuring Kelly Clarkson belongs to Jason Aldean.

Translations are in parentheses following the foreign language. Seren speaks Irish or Gaelic.

*x*x*x*x*

"Don't You Wanna Stay"lyrics:

I really hate to let this moment go

Touching your skin, and your hair falling slow

When a goodbye kiss, feels like this

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

Don't you wanna hold each other tight?

Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight?

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

We can make forever feel this way

Don't you wanna stay?

Let's take it slow, I don't wanna move too fast

I don't wanna just make love, I wanna make love last

When you're up this high, it's a sad goodbye

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

Don't you wanna hold each other tight?

Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight?

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

We can make forever feel this way

Don't you wanna stay?

Oh yeeah

Oh, you feel so perfect, baby

Yeah, you feel so perfect, baby

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

Don't you wanna hold each other tight?

Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight?

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

We can make forever feel this way

Don't you wanna stay?

*x*x*x*x*

One

Waiting for Bill to succumb to his need to die for the day is killing Sookie. All she needs is for him to pass out so she can finally make a phone call. All things considered it's a call she should've made the day he walked into Merlotte's if not after he forced her to take his blood to save her butt. Thank god she never slept with him although she came mighty close after her Gran's funeral.

She's not so stupid as to ignore the effects his blood has had on her. She's managed to circumvent some of the pull…but not all. And right now that's a mighty dangerous status quo.

At last he felt his end of the bond grow silent with this day rest. Relieved that there's no chance he can eavesdrop on her call from his room across their shared suite she picks up the phone from the nightstand and dials the number from memory.

There's some things so important you don't ever forget them.

Who will cover your behind in a pinch is one of those things.

The ringing of the phone seemed to last forever before that voice tinged with great age and flavored with its native Ireland came across the line.

"Dia duit?" (Hello? Good day?)

"Hello, Seren."

"Ah, Sookie." She could hear the smile on Seren's face. "Cad is féidir liom a dhéanamh duit?" (What can I do for you?)

"Bill's asleep, Seren." Sookie laughs at her. "You can speak English."

"Maybe I don't want to, just in case." Seren laughs along with her. Her dislike of the vampire has never been secret even though she's never met the creature. Something about how he just happened to wander into Merlotte's seemed awfully convenient especially with the events that followed. As far as she knows Sookie has kept their friendship a secret from everyone including her late Gran, as she'd requested years ago when they first met.

Sobering Sookie cut to the chase.

"I'm helping Eric the Sheriff of Area Five locate the Sheriff of Area Nine in Dallas. The fanatics at the Fellowship of the Sun have already made one attempt to grab me. But…"

"They don't know who you are and you want to do something stupid." Seren sighs. More courage than brains some days. But it's to be expected from such a youngling.

"I wouldn't call it stupid….per se." Sookie laughs, well aware of Seren's feelings after she nearly died at Rene's hands and her involvement with vampires.

"What's the plan?" Falling silent she listened as Sookie explained her idea. It could work…and it could also become a colossal fuck up with an unknown traitor running around. "You're going to need backup."

"I was hoping…"

Seren shook her head sighing.

"I'll be there an hour before sunset but I'll wait for you to tell the vampires your idea before I crash their party. I'll have to take precautions…" She trailed off. It wouldn't be the first time she's associated with vampires but never before has she run such a high risk of exposure. Sookie's just lucky that they aren't sure she's Fae. The last thing either of their peoples need is for untrustworthy vampires to figure out they still exist in the world.

"See you then." With that sorted they say goodbye and Sookie lays down to rest. It's going to be a long night.

*x*x*x*x*

The constant arguing is driving Sookie insane. Not as much as it is Eric but still…moan, complain, insult, repeat. Trying to distract herself she studies Godric's nest. The fireplace is quite nice. Finally she hears what she's been waiting for. Seren's mind appeared on the edge of her radar.

"…I'll infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun." She said at last.

"No!"

"Explain."

Ignoring Bill's dismissal of a perfectly viable plan she explained that they don't know who she is so she should be in and out in no time. For once Eric is looking at her with something other than lust or curiosity on his beautiful face. Something that looked like…respect.

"You can't go alone during the day. We'd be helpless to assist you." At last Bill comes up with a semi-solid argument. Not that it'll do him a lick of good.

"Who said anything about Sookie going alone?" Voice carefully masked to sound like an average Southern woman Seren moved from the shadows ignoring the shocked looks on the vampires faces.

Smiling brightly Sookie ran over to give her old friend a hug. "I've missed you."

"You too, milseán amháin" (Sweet one) she whispered low enough to avoid Bill's ears. Though not Eric's according to the raised brow he sent in their direction.

"Sookie, who is this?" Bill demanded.

"I made a call this morning." Sookie said brightly. "I knew you wouldn't let me go alone, and a cult in the South would be suspicious of a lone woman anyway. Seren agreed to come help me out. We're old friends."

"How can we know she can be trusted?" Eric asked. Something about this mystery woman tickled the back of his mind, much like Sookie's scent there was something not human about her.

Moving further into the room Seren allowed the others to get a good look at her. Long chocolate brown hair was pulled back into an intricate braid while her eyes were concealed behind thick, mirrored sunglasses. Her skin was bright, pale, and nearly shimmered in the firelight. But what caught their attention wasn't her hair or skin or her beautiful classic features. It was her body. Draped from throat to toe in shimmering, gleaming, silver woven cloth as impenetrable to vampires as armor, the dress was lovely with a single cut-out from the tops of her shoulder to the bottom points of her shoulder blades in back. The one weakness in the armor covering her petite, well-rounded form.

"Did you really think I would come unprepared to a meeting with strange vampires?" She asked archly.

Now Eric is certain of it, this creature whoever she is, is more than human. He hasn't seen a dress like that in centuries.

Sookie barely held back a giggle at the looks on the vampires' faces. She really should've done this sooner. Like a Fangtasia or somewhere equally filled with vampires who would be forced to look but not touch.

"It's simple. We'll be the Stackhouse sisters from New Orleans. We'll say that I was attacked by vampires and was rendered blind. As a result we moved to Dallas and are seeking a new church with like-minded individuals. Since I never remove my sunglasses in mixed company it should work." She shrugged her shoulders in the heavy silver dress. Although that is only partially the truth of what she plans to tell them. But there's some things vampires don't need to know. And Jason's whereabouts is definitely at the top of the list.

"And when were you planning to tell us that you called in an outsider, Sookie?" Bill asked harshly. He could feel his control of the young telepath slipping through his fingers and his undead life along with it. Sophie Anne will never let him live if he fails to deliver the girl.

She shrugs at his question. "When she got here."

Bill snarls at the lack of respect being shown him while the other vampires struggle not to laugh. He really isn't well liked in the vampire world.

The two woman share a look. They have plans to make and things to do without having vampires looming over them.

"What's the big one's name?" Seren mock-whispers to Sookie. Eric raised a brow at them.

"That's Eric."

"You didn't tell me he was a Viking Sex-God-On-A-Stick." Seren nearly burst into laughter at Bill's outraged expression and Eric's smirk.

"You never asked." Sookie giggled. Seren is such a troublemaker. It comes with the territory of being what she is.

"Eric, then. I'll need you to accompany us back to my apartment so Sookie and I can get ready for our little assignment in the morning."

Eric shakes his head in bemusement but agrees. He'd love to spend some time with the luscious Sookie away from her overbearing guard-vamp.

"Absolutely not. Sookie is mine. I'll accompany her anywhere she needs to go." Bill burst out, furious.

Seren arches a brow, a haughty look upon her face.

"Sookie is not property or a pet, vampire. You would do well to remember that. And she will come with me and Eric will join us." Everyone in the room could hear the threat in her voice.

"Or?" Bill sneers at her.

Quicker than the vampires could see, Seren was in front of Bill holding a finely carved stake to his heart.

"Or I'll finish you where you stand and she'll come with us anyway." She grits out infuriated at his behavior.

Shocked, Bill raises his hands in the air not about to tangle with…whatever she is.

"Good boy." Seren says patronizingly.

Nodding to Isabel and Stan the three of them move swiftly out to Seren's car at the sight of which Eric gave a low whistle. Grinning at his appreciation Seren smoothed one hand across the front end of her baby as she moved to the drivers seat. A midnight-blue '69 Yenko Camero it was in mint condition with a cool 25,000 miles on it.

"Sorry, Sook." She said. "You'll have to sit in back, there's no way Eric could fit his long legs in here."

Sookie waved her off and climbed in, ignoring Eric's low growl at the sight of her legs in the short red dress she wore to the meeting.

Once everyone was settled in Eric looked over at the ladies and asked about their agenda. While he always has time to appreciate the loveliness that is Sookie, worry has been his constant companion since he got the call from Isabel about his Maker.

"Let's get to my place." Seren said firmly. "I don't need any eavesdroppers."

Nodding, Eric sat back and enjoyed the silent ride to Seren's apartment…which turned out to be the penthouse suite at one of Dallas's finest vampire-friendly hotels, complete with a light-safe room for him to rest in. Looking around he studied his hostess carefully. While he wondered what she was before, this place has only solidified his suspicion regarding her not-human status. Few humans outside of the Top 100 richest people in the U.S. could afford a place like this on a whim let alone keeping it as a permanent residence.

Eric and Sookie settled into the living room at Seren's behest as she disappeared into her bedroom to change. Wearing all silver really isn't comfortable.

Coming back out after changing into a pair of yoga pants and a soft cotton backless halter top, she removed her sunglasses, ignoring the gasp from the Viking as she took in her friend without the hindrance the necessary precaution poses.

Seren's eyes look like a black opal, inky black swirling with bright flecks of every color under the rainbow.

"Should I?" She asks Sookie with an arched brow.

"I think he can take it." Sookie answers with a laugh at Eric's shock.

Cracking her neck Seren flexes her shoulders and allows her secret to emerge. Twin wings of glorious inky black flare out from the hidden folds in her skin between her shoulder blades and spine. Akin to an angel's wings she stretches them from their cramped position before allowing them to rest comfortably against her back.

"Questions?" She asked Eric indulgently.

Shaking off his surprise Eric blinks. "What…?" He knows she not an angel. Those winged pompous fuckers would never make friends with a human let alone agree to help a vampire.

"I'm a seraph. The product of a Fallen angel and a human. Although in my case I'm barely human, the affair in question happened pretty far back in the family tree." Seren relaxed her voice, allowing her age and accent to shine through.

Eric shakes his head. Seraphs were supposed to be true myths. But then the Fae are supposed to be extinct and a Halfling is sitting across from him.

"Onto our work. Sookie…" Seren trails off meaningfully.

Nodding firmly she answered the unasked question.

"I want to do it, Seren." She whispers. "I want him out of me. I can't tell anymore what's me and what's his influence. I want him gone."

"Alright," Seren moves over to one cabinet and removes a stoppered glass vial. "This potion will expunge your system of the vampire blood and free you. But I have to warn you…it's gonna hurt like hell."

"Don't care. I want him outta me." Sookie nearly teared up at the prospect of being free to make her own decisions again.

"Hold on." Eric interjects. "With you going to the FotS shouldn't you have someone who's bonded to you…an emergency warning system?"

Seren just grins at him. "Why do you think you're here, Viking? For your good looks?"

Eric smirks. Finally he's going to get his blood into little Ms. Sookie.

"Only a drop." Seren is quick to burst his bubble. "Just enough so that if she's feeling something extreme, like pain or fear, that you can feel it. Not enough to sense all her emotions or influence her. She may not even get any dreams."

He almost grumbles at that. Almost. He's not stupid after all.

Ignoring their byplay Sookie takes a deep breath and downs the contents of the bottle.