AN: Ahh! Guys, I'm so super excited about this one! I so hope you all enjoy this story, seriously! And, as always, don't be afraid to give feedback and tell me what you think!

Enjoy! Happy Reading! :)

Chapter 1

Godric's POV

"You're late," I hear Sam growl out behind me as I slip in the back door of Merlotte's, admittedly nearly an hour late for my shift. Fuck. I know he's taking a risk on me, with me being only eighteen and fresh out of high school. The only reason he even hired me was because my good friend and current roommate, Lafayette, vouched for me as a favor. I really need this job, hell I need any money I can get at this point and here I am fucking it all up. Shit.

"Sorry, Sam," I mumble out, swiping up my apron to earn a disapproving frown from my obviously peeved boss.

"Don't apologize, just get to work; Laff is swamped in there," he sighs out, pointing his thumb over his shoulder towards the nearby, bustling kitchen. I send him a curt nod, noting the heavy bags under his eyes and guiltily realize my being late has only managed to add to his stress before rushing towards the kitchen.

"You's late," Lafayette remarks, quirking a brow towards me as he expertly flips steaming burger patties over the large grill.

"Yeah… I know," I sigh out, rushing over to join him before dropping a basket of fries into the bubbling oil. I let out a tired sigh, rubbing my weary eyes as I can't help but wish I could have slept for just a couple more hours.

"You's alright there, Goddy?" Lafayette questions softly, stepping closer as I see his dark, chocolate eyes shining with apparent concern. "You get any shut eye at all between shifts?" he questions, his voice suddenly falling a bit terse as he arches a perfectly manicured, expecting brow at me.

"A bit, yeah," I answer, hearing my friend cluck his tongue at me as he shakes his tunic wrapped head at me. "Alright, so not much, but I'm fine, really. I got this, Laff," I insist, seeing him purse his perfectly lipsticked lips at me.

"Hey! Still waitin' on that BLT for Table Two!" an annoyingly familiar voice screeches out then, bringing matching frowns to both mine and Lafayette's faces.

"Damn, Woman! What I tell ya? This my kitchen! Ya get ya food when I's good and ready!" Lafayette yells back, earning a disgruntled pout from Arlene, the obnoxious redheaded waitress who never fails to end up on everyone's nerves.

"Rude!" Arlene snipes back before hitting me with a hardened glare. "Maybe if your little boyfriend could show up on time once in a while, we wouldn't be so far behind," she challenges, earning an eye roll from me as Lafayette marches towards the window, his face etched in anger.

"One more word, Bitch, just one more," Lafayette warns, making Arlene's green eyes go wide.

"Laff, it's alright, really, she has a point," I chime in, stepping closer as I really don't want to see things get out of hand.

"No, I don't think she does," Lafayette argues, sending Arlene hard eyes. "You's don't talk about my boy, Goddy…ever…got it?" he snaps, my friend always having been a bit overprotective of me; not to say I can't handle myself necessarily, I'm just not one for fighting…or confrontation in general in all honesty.

"Fine! I got it…so touchy," Arlene snaps back, her green eyes still shining with obvious anxiety as no one, and I mean no one wants to be on my friend's bad side. Lafayette may wear makeup and have a killer fashion sense, but you'd be an idiot to let that fool you into thinking he's at all delicate as he's more than capable at holding his own, especially when it comes to defending his friends.

"Here's your BLT, Arlene, sorry for the wait," I remark then, just putting the finishing touches on the sandwich before sliding it through the window.

"Thank you…and I'm sorry for snappin' at ya'll," Arlene answers back, sending Lafayette another wary gaze before abruptly marching away with her plate.

"Bitch," Lafayette sighs under his breath before sending me a small smirk. "Aight, Baby Boy, nows yous gots to help me get this kitchen caught up," he informs me, earning a firm nod in return as I send my friend a warm smile.

"Sure thing," I answer back, proceeding to jump into the swing of things, soon breaking a sweat as we're left catching up with the busy dinner rush. It's with a weary sigh that I finally push the last burger across the window, my shoulders drooping in exhaustion. Damn, I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up, burning the candle at both ends as it were.

"Come on, you's better take a seat cuz I ain't pickin' yo ass up off the floor tonight," Lafayette teases, placing a hand upon my shoulder before leading me towards the back exit of the kitchen. I breathe in deeply of the cool, Louisiana night air before my friend and I drop down to the wooden bench together with matching sighs.

"Damn, Laff, how do you do it?" I question, watching said man slip a pack of cigarettes from his pocket with a cocked brow. "I feel like I'm about to drop and this is only my second week of working both the road crew and kitchen," I admit, seeing a small smirk come to his face before he inhales deeply of his cigarette.

"I's gots my ways," he answers back with a wink, earning a soft sigh from me. "Yeah, yeah, I knows, you's want nothin' to do with the hard stuff," he remarks, earning a wrinkled nose from me as he's not wrong about my stance on drugs, not in the slightest. "You's a good kid," he adds, patting my shoulder before hitting me with a solemn gaze. "How's yo mama, Baby Boy?"

"Oh, um, she's doing okay," I answer back somewhat anxiously, having to shift in on the bench as Mom's face comes into view at the forefront of my mind…again. "I went to see her today," I admit. "That's why I was late, actually."

"I figured as much," he answers with a knowing nod. "Ma talks about her a lot, ya know, the twos of thems been hittin' it off real well," he informs me, earning a genuine grin from me.

"Yeah, I know. Mom can't stop talking about her new best friend that supposedly cheats at Rummy. Thanks again for telling me about that place. As much as I wish I could take care of Mom on my own, I just can't do it alone," I sigh out, seeing my friend's eyes shine with knowing compassion.

When it got way past the point where Mom couldn't seem not only to recall what day of the week it was, but the correct decade either, I was well and beyond my limit as far as caregiving duties were concerned. Luckily for me, Lafayette was there, having dealt with similar issues with his own mother. He told me about the assisted living facility he'd placed his own mother in, which truly is ungodly expensive and therefore currently putting a huge strain on me financially, but it's also a well-managed and quality place that I can trust will see Mom cared for properly; you just can't put a price on that.

"I'm right there wit' ya, Baby Boy, right there wit' ya," he answers back lowly, a flash of sadness shining behind his dark eyes.

"Hey, Laff, can I get a word?" Sam's voice sounds out beside us then, breaking the melancholy of the moment. Lafayette sends him a firm nod before stamping out his cig and patting me on the shoulder, soon leaving me sitting alone in the cool, night air, absently wondering if I can't catch just a minute of much needed shut-eye.

"Mmm, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" a familiar and completely unwelcomed voice sounds out to instantly put me on edge before I find myself staring up into dark, malicious eyes. The worst part about being desperate for money is you end up indebted to pieces of shit like Victor Madden; loan shark extraordinaire and royal pain in my ass.

"Victor," I answer back, gulping audibly as I see dark eyes scanning hungrily over literally every inch of my person as a greasy smile stretches across the cruel man's face. "I paid you all I have, but I'm working two jobs now. I'll have more soon, I swear," I insist, seeing a malevolent glint flash behind dark eyes.

"Hmm, but you know it's more than your money I'm interested in," he answers back lowly, stepping closer to send an icy chill along my spine. "If you'd only stop fighting me, your debts could be paid in no time at all, Pup," he insists, reaching up to trace a slimy finger across my cheek.

Shit, as if my night wasn't bad enough. I fucking hate this guy! Goddamn it, Laff, where are you?

Eric's POV

"Fucking hell, Eric!" Pam bellows, sending me an icy stare from across the bar, our bar to be more specific as we own and run it together as best friends. Though, currently, said friend looks ready to jump over the bar and strangle me, not that that's so much out of the norm for the two of us. "You fired another one!? How the fuck are we supposed to run this fucking place if you can't keep a personal assistant around for more than a goddamn week at a time!?"

"He was rude," I sigh out, nonchalantly flipping a page of my magazine before it's roughly ripped from my hands by my incensed business partner.

"I don't fucking care! We needed him! He was supposed to pick up three cases of beer for tonight! Now what the fuck are we supposed to do? You can't just go firing employees all willy-nilly, Eric, we're in this together, remember? As in we make decisions like this as a team," she spats out, earning a bored eye roll from me as she's really making way too big a deal out of this, I mean, really.

"Don't get your damn panties in a wad; I'll get the cases, alright? Just chill," I answer back, seeing clear shock fall over Pam's face.

"You. You're gonna pick up cases of beer?" she questions, earning another eye roll from me as I rise from the bar, knowing I'd better get a move on if I'm to get back in time for opening.

"Yes, me; like it's really so fucking hard, picking up damn cases of beer. I do co-own this place, you know; I am capable of performing simple tasks," I insist, hearing Pam's snort of derision that instantly manages to ruffle my feathers. I love Pam, she's my best friend, but damn if she doesn't know how to push my buttons and to make matters worse, she truly enjoys pushing them…often.

"And just where are you gonna pick up three cases of beer? Do you even know?" Pam challenges, giving me pause as no, I really don't know; I honestly have no fucking clue. I mean, it's always just here when we need it, I have nothing at all to do with its delivery or otherwise. But I'll be damned if I'm about to give her this one, oh fuck no; she doesn't need any more ammunition to use against me.

"Of course I do," I outright lie, earning a snort from my obnoxiously annoying business partner who proceeds to flourish her arms towards the back door, her cornflower blue eyes sparkling with humor.

"Then please, wow me, oh great co-owner," she mocks, earning an annoyed growl from me as I fish my keys out of my pocket, taking a moment to flip a now cackling Pam the bird before slipping out the backdoor. Fucking Pam, I swear if she wasn't such a loyal friend, I would have killed her years ago.

Soon, I'm cruising through the quickly darkening, Shreveport streets in my flashy, red convertible, desperate to hunt down the much needed cases of beer. Fuck. Where the fuck does one pick up cases of beer? I don't even buy my own fucking groceries; why the fuck did I think I could manage this again? Oh, right, I let my pride speak for me…again. I swear, sometimes I'm one of the most stubborn bastards I know.

"Fuck," I grit out, reaching the city limits, still clueless as to how to go about procuring these illustrious beer cases. A weed covered sign catches my eye then and a sly grin comes to my face as I punch the gas, finally knowing exactly how to complete my task. Oh, I can't wait to see the fucking look on Pam's face when I stroll in with that damned beer.

I soon pull into a dirt lot, grimacing at the collection of dilapidated cars and trucks, half of which must be running on dreams and prayers alone as they look well past their last legs. I slide into an open space, feeling rather proud of my ingenuity as I slip from my car with a rather cocky grin. It's then that I hear it. Is that someone…crying? What the fuck?

I stare at the front door for a prolonged moment, seriously debating just ignoring whatever it is going on just on the other side of the bar as I really don't feel like getting involved. The sound of a soft whimper has me slumping my shoulders in defeat, knowing I can't just ignore it, even as a small part of me wants to do just that. Fuck. I let out a long sigh before making my way towards the sound of obvious struggle, soon stumbling upon two men, one of which I just so happen to have serious beef with. God-fucking-damn it; I so don't feel like dealing with this slimy asshole tonight.

But it's the sight of wide, tear-filled, emerald eyes that finds me marching closer to take rough hold of Victor Madden's shoulder. A low growl sounds from said man as he whips an irate face towards me, his dark eyes instantly flashing with rage.

"Back the fuck off, Northman, this has nothing to do with you," Victor spits out as the target of his obviously unwanted advances takes advantage of his attacker's diversion to slip from his grasp before stepping fearfully behind me.

"It would seem you're the one who needs to back the fuck off, Madden, clearly the kid isn't interested in what you're selling," I remark, earning a hateful sneer in turn before Victor's gaze slips past me towards the boy I can now feel trembling against my side.

"He's mine. Now give him back or things will get real ugly, real quick," Victor threatens, earning only a low chuckle from me as I shake my head at the overly-confident asshole before me.

"Seriously?" I mock, cracking my knuckles just in time to hear an audible gulp escape the so-called tough guy. "Don't make me pummel your sorry ass, Madden; I'd enjoy that way too much and you know it," I warn, seeing dark eyes settle anxiously upon my raised fists.

"You don't even know the kid, why are you sticking up for him?" Victor questions then, quickly switching gears on me to leave me tilting my head in question. Why the hell am I defending a total stranger? Since when am I the fucking Good Samaritan?

I glance over to catch sight of wide, watery, emerald eyes then before letting out a defeated sigh. Damn, I must be getting soft in my old age; that must be it, because I just can't seem to be able to walk away and leave the poor kid in this slimy asshole's hands, even knowing that would be the smart move to make on my part, the uncomplicated move. Fuck me.

"Just back off, Madden," I sigh out, pinching the bridge of my nose in annoyance, inwardly cursing myself for trying to act like a goddamn hero. I'm a fucking idiot.

"This isn't over," Victor finally answers, starting to back away as a truly evil smile stretches across his smarmy face. "Hear me, Pup? We'll continue this later, when your big, blond hero isn't here to protect you," he threatens to make the terrified kid instantly stiffen in fear against me.

"Fuck off, Madden, isn't there a bar you should be running right now?" I throw out, quirking a brow towards my business rival before seeing a triumphant grin form over his face.

"I do, actually, a bar that'll soon be running your little rink-a-dink operation out of business, Northman," he taunts to make my jaw tick in annoyance. God, I really hate this fucker. "Night, boys!" he calls then, practically skipping his way across the lot before disappearing from sight.

"Th-thank you, really, you didn't have to do that," a soft voice sounds to leave me glancing down to the emerald eyed, dark haired boy at my side. Wow…he's so…cute, but that's not right, not really, he's…delicate…beautiful even. No wonder Madden seemed so intent on having him for himself. Fuck; just what would have happened if I hadn't shown up when I did? I really, really don't wanna fucking think about that, but then, who's to say it won't happen again? Perhaps when I'm not around; shit.

"Yeah, I did," I finally answer back with a sigh, knowing I'd never wish that fucking asshole Madden on anyone, especially not someone so…young…and well, innocent looking. The boy tilts his head at me, seeming to be studying me closely as I find myself doing the same, my mind spinning with the implications of this evening's events.

"Uh, so I guess I'd, uh, better get back to work then," he states, sending me another probing gaze before turning to walk away. I can't explain it, but a sudden panic wells within me upon seeing him retreating and before I realize what it is I'm doing, I find myself stretching out my hand to catch hold of his arm.

"Wait, I just…um, I don't even know your name," I stumble out, seeing the slightest of smirks come to the beautifully handsome boy's face as he turns his head back to look at me once more.

"Godric," he says, sending a small wave before disappearing inside the bar once more. It takes me a minute to realize I'm just standing alone in the abandoned lot with a goofy grin etched over my face before I find myself slowly shaking my head. Wow, just what the fuck is going on with me tonight? Beer. That's what I came for, right, I need beer.

I make my way towards the front entrance of the backwoods bar once more, my mind whirling with every step as a plan slowly begins to develop. By the time I step inside, another cocky grin has managed to find its way across my face as I'm hit with yet another stroke of genius. Perhaps, just perhaps, I've managed to find more than just the beer I needed tonight, perhaps I've managed to find something much, much more appealing. What a night this is turning out to be.

AN: In loving memory of Nelsan Ellis...our very favorite short order cook who will forever be in our hearts...I truly hope I can do his character, Lafayette, the justice he truly deserves in this story...