All characters are owned by HBO and Charlaine Harris. They're just letting me play with them for a little bit - I promise I'll gave them back later. But now - to business...

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It was a slow night at Merlotte's. Andy had left a little while ago, a little unsteady on his feet but determined not to be driven home by his sister. I guess he thinks because he's the law, he's above it – not that the Sherriff really minds anyway. Tara and Eggs were sitting at a booth in the corner, giggling away, wrapped up in their own little world. It was really cute, actually. She had been so unhappy for such a long time, and now she had really found someone she could relate to. Arlene and Terry were flirting in another corner, and Daphne and I were wiping down tables and taking final orders from the last few stragglers who actually bothered staying out for our cheap beer at 1:30. Sam was shut up in his office, doing God-knows-what, as per usual these days, since Maryanne started dropping in every so often. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but every time someone mentioned her, he would get this look on his face like he just really didn't want to talk about it. I wanted nothing more than to go home – I knew Bill would be waiting for me, and after our fight last night, I just wanted to see him so that I'd know everything would be ok.

Jessica hadn't come home last night until 5:30 am – Bill was worried sick that she wouldn't make it back before first light. She'd bounced through the door with a very drunk Hoyt Fortenberry and Bill had nearly killed them both. I told him not to be so uptight and things kinda snowballed from there. Of course, as soon as the sun threatened to breach the horizon, he was gone, dragging Jessica by the arm to their sleeping quarters, leaving me to deal with Hoyt. I set him up on the couch and told him to drive himself home when he woke up – which was at precisely 5:30 pm when I left for work and kicked him out. Hoyt isn't so bad, though. I know he's a good guy and would never do wrong by Jess – even though he's several years older than her. At least I no longer worry about Bill and Jessica sharing their sleeping space.

I wiped my hands and began untying my apron.

"Daphne, I think I'm gonna call it a night, if that's ok with you."

"Ok, just make sure you tell Sam first – he got really mad the other night when it slipped my mind. I don't know what's got into him lately!"

I called out goodnight to my friends in the various corners, and was about to go out back when I heard the bell over the door tinkle and Jessica's unmistakeable laugh floated through the door, followed, naturally, by Jess and Hoyt, holding hands and looking very much like a couple in love. Hoyt wasn't drunk, surprisingly, but I wasn't left wondering why for long.

She bounced over to me, dragging Hoyt in her wake.

"Hang on, I'm starvin'!" she said, and reached down and grabbed a bottle of O-negative Tru Blood from under the bar. This, as she often told me, was the blood type that tasted 'less like ass than all the others'. There was no use in asking her to pay. For her, drinks were always on the house.

"Hoyt's mama Fortenberry invited me over for dinner Sookie, wasn' that nice?" Jess was practically bursting with excitement. I knew that even though she said she like being vampire much better than being human, she still craved all the normal human experiences – like meeting her boyfriend's parents.

"That's real nice, Jess, now just make sure you don't get home as late as you did last night. Bill's patience is already non existent – if you push him any further he might just ground you. But I'll be sure to put in a good word when I get home." If Hoyt and Jess had only just got here, then they wouldn't be home for at least 2 hours, if you add up the time Merlotte's would still be open and how long they would spend back at Hoyt's place. I wanted to leave as soon as I could.

"Actually, I was goin' to spend the day at Fangtasia, if it's alright with you. Bill already said yes, but he wanted me to ask you – he says that as my mother figure you have a say in where I spend my days as well." She grimaced as she sipped her room temperature blood.

A mix of emotions bubbled up inside me. I was first of all excited that I would have the entire night with Bill to myself. I was also flattered that, whether in Bill's words or Jessica's, I was considered to be Jess's mother figure. I really was quite attached to her already, despite her initial dislike of me. Then I processed what she had actually said and nearly choked on my own tongue.

"Fangtasia?! Jessica, you know that place ain't safe! Why do you wanna go there?"

"Oh calm down Sookie. It's not unsafe while it's light out – Pam and Eric mostly just play cards for a bit, 'cause they're the only two there durin' the day. Besides, like you said, I've been drivin' Bill up the wall lately. He needs a break. And I haven't seen Eric in ages! Despite what you might think, he's actually real nice – well to me anyway." She looked at me pleadingly, her bottom lip sticking out a little as she pouted. I sighed.

"Well alright then. I guess it's ok of it's just you and Pam and Eric. Don't do anything stupid though, or Bill really will lose it. And make sure you take Hoyt home first. He don't need to have anythin' to do with Fangtasia, you hear? And besides, I doubt he'd want to." Hoyt did look a little nervous.
"I'm goin' home. Make sure you come back first thing tomorrow night, ok? I know sometimes we say that we wish you'd find your own place, but truth is we'd be worried sick if you didn't come home. I'll see you then. 'Night, Hoyt."

Jessica gave me a quick hug as I came around the side of the bar.

"You've got nothin' to worry about, Sookie. I promise I'll be good."

I waved at Hoyt as I went through the door that led around back. As I passed the kitchen door, I paused and glanced around. I had stopped doing this a while ago, but a part of me was feeling excessively hopeful tonight and I could almost imagine Lafayette strutting around with his apron on, telling Terry that people should eat his food 'the way I fucking make it!' We all missed Lafayette, Tara especially, and though he had been gone almost two months now, Sam kept 'forgetting' to put an ad in the local paper for his position. None of us could really accept the fact that he was gone.

I grabbed a bag of trash on my way out the door and banged the dumpster lid loudly as I disposed of it. This had become habit now – I used to do it in case there was something hiding in the trees just beyond the parking lot, but now people took it to mean 'Sookie's gone home now – and there's no way we can weasel free drinks out of Tara'. But tonight, I felt a prickling on the back of my neck that told me someone was watching. I reached out with my mind, more to determine the species of the being than anything else. There was nothing. Not human, then. I decided I'd better find out who or what it was before making my fight-or-flight decision, so I whipped my head around, preparing to quickly search the trees for the source of the watchfulness. I nearly fell over backwards when I turned around and found none other than Bill standing no more than a foot behind me.

"Goddamnit Bill! How many times do I have to tell you not to fuckin' do that?!"

My hopefulness at the possibility of making up with Bill had vanished. My patience stretched to breaking point and snapped, all in the space of a couple of milliseconds.

"Sookie, I --" But I cut him off.

"What the hell, Bill?! I just don't get it! I don't even know what to say. I'm just... I've had enough."

My anger faded, but I was left with a bitter aftertaste of disappointment and frustration. I began to walk off to my car, and I knew Bill wouldn't follow me. He never did. It was always, 'She'll come back when she's calmed down.' I couldn't help it if I had a short temper. And things had been tough lately anyway. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn't hear Bill whisper my name; didn't see the single blood red tear that trailed down his cheek, only to be wiped away as he disappeared into the night.