"Are we there yet?"

This had to be the fourth time I had heard this question in the space of ten minutes. My reply was the same, "No Hunter. You'll know we are there when we get there."

He groaned, "How much longer?"

I didn't need to glance at the clock on the cars dashboard. "Twenty minutes," just like it was two minutes ago.

Seriously, road trips were proving to be a nightmare and we still had the journey home. Hopefully we won't have to return to Red Ditch after this. I'd been Hunter's legal guardian for all of a week but this was a job we had to get out of the way and I wanted it done before he started up at school next week. When Remy passed away he left everything in his possession to Hunter and Hunter alone. His mother, Allison Savoy, had not been impressed. The old hag was under the impression I'd run off with it all or something. I actually planned on taking everything and putting it in storage for Hunter to deal with when he was old enough to make decisions. I had also set up a bank account for him which he wouldn't be able to touch until he was eighteen. It had a pretty good interest rate so he should have a nice amount to kick start his adult life with. But Allison, in simple terms, loathed Hunter. Yes, a grandmother hating her grandson because he was different. See, my calling her an old hag wasn't unprecedented. I couldn't imagine my Gran thinking about anyone, let alone her family, like that. Sure, Hunter was different, he was a telepath, but hey, I was too so I wasn't one to point the finger. I'd bumbled my way through for twenty seven years without help and it had had its mishaps. Even now I occasionally slipped. No one wants to know someone can hear their deepest darkest secrets. I just hoped to make living with telepathy easier for Hunter. Whereas my telepathy was fairly well known about by the supernatural community, only Eric, Claude, Pam and I knew about Hunter's ability and I planned on keeping it relatively secret as long as possible. No one who knew was going to spill so unless Hunter slipped up so I was confident it would remain reasonably quiet. Humans weren't too worrying- yes they may say some mean things but if the supernatural community found out they were bound to exploit him. Best to be on the safe side and just tell nobody.

Between the 'how much longer' questions, we played games like eye spy to pass the time and finally I was pulling up at the Libra Falls hotel. It was located about twenty minutes outside of Red Ditch and was vampire friendly. We'd booked one of the light-tight rooms for three nights. Eric was in Shreveport but he said he'd fly over if he could. Just a week ago we, well I, had ended Victor Madden and everyone within area five, wolves and vampires alike, were feigning ignorance. King of Nevada, Louisiana and Arkansas, Felipe De Castro, had started searching for him and area five was the last known whereabouts so Eric, as area sheriff, was stuck working. I felt guilty because Eric wouldn't be feeling so much pressure if I hadn't killed Victor but frankly, he deserved it and if I hadn't done it, Eric would have. Maybe guilt was a stupid emotion.

Having stayed here before, I knew where to park but it was under the building so I had to gain security clearance. I drove up to the boom gate anyway and wound my window down.

"Sorry ma'am, you're not authorised to go beyond this point," the security guard said. He was dressed in uniform navy blue and had thick straggly black hair that was beginning to grey at the temples. I pegged him to be late thirties. I'd been parked in front of the gate for only a few second before he approached me. I liked that, it told me the security was good quality. I dipped into his mind to discover he was a shifter of some sort. Vigilant and strong. Ever since Victor used Hunter to get to me I had been a bit of a security Nazi. I told Claude that he wasn't allowed to lower the wards around my house for another month, just in case of any stray wolves that were in Victor's employment and unaware that their master was finally dead. Also with De Castro's cronies searching for someone who is now dirt in a park in industrial Shreveport maybe security was a good thing.

I smiled, and it was genuine, "I'm actually checking in today. My fiancé has arranged for Brian Keller to bring down my swipe key down." The instant I said it I could see Brian approaching. Brian was the hotel's half-fae, half-demon bellboy. "I appreciate you doing your job though, not that I'm in any danger or anything but one can never take there safety too lightly and it's good to see someone doing their job, especially at a hotel that caters for vampires." I was crossing over into a ramble. The Pyramid of Giza in Rhodes could have done with better security- the whole building literally exploded in the middle of the day. Many vampires perished and Louisiana, already weak from Katrina, was vulnrable to a take over. I had liked Sophie Ann. My life seemed to be a danger magnet but Felipe's ruling was making it marginally worse.

The guard seemed a bit lost for words I think but Brian saved him, "Hey Sookie! When Mr. Northman called it was a bit of a surprise but when he explained everything I was so excited. I know we only met once and it was rather brief but I was really hoping I would get see you again." I had felt the same way. I really wanted to learn more about him and get to know him. "Okay here's your key for the boom gate and the key for your room. Same room as last time and you've already been checked in so you're ready to go."

"Thanks Brian, really. Eric would have come if he could but he's a bit tied up at the moment so thanks for doing me a favour when you didn't have to. Why don't you come up in half an hour or so and we can talk properly?"

"Eric Northman? The vamper?" The guard said. Our conversation had gone completely over his head. He looked a bit stunned.

"He's going to marry my Aunt Sookie," Hunter chimed in from the backseat.

Every vampire-related business in area five knew who Eric was- they all had to report to him at some time or another on business dealings. Every Supe in area five knew who he was and a majority of Supes in e rest of Louisiana did to. He had a big reputation. A womaniser used to be a part of that but after a thousand years a woman had finally been able to settle him down. I probably needed a trophy- it was a huge feat.

The guard stared at me like he was only just seeing me for the first time but I drove into the parking lot before anymore words could be exchanged.

Exams start tomorrow so I didn't think I'd get anything out but late last night before bed I just felt like writing. So here is the product.

This is only going to be a few chapters long- just a short story. I can't imagine it being any more that 5 chapters. That will probably be the maximum.

I won't get around to updating this for a week or so- yeah, I'm a bit of a teaser considering my last story I updated daily. Don't mistake this for the sequel though - it's just an in-between. I've thought of some ideas for the sequel so I have an idea where I'm going to be heading with it.

I know I said I'd do another short story set between Dead in the Family and Dead Man's Shoes but I really don't know about that one anymore. I summarised the events of Victor's attempt to claim Sookie as his in Dead Man's Shoes and yes I could expand on it but I don't really have much to write on it because I've explained what happened anyway and I don't really see the need to repeat myself. I probably won't do it but what do you guys think?

So anyway, happy reading :)