Hello, dear readers! It is my first True Blood fic ever and I hope the story you've just opened makes a worthy addition to the fanfiction world. To readers of the fandom for which I've written so far – I'm sorry if you're disappointed. But if you also enjoy True Blood, I encourage you to give my newest baby a chance.

Wayfaring Stranger is an AU story centered around Sookie and Eric. I'm primarily inspired by the TV show but I will also draw from the Southern Vampire Mysteries series occasionally. There's going to be romance, drama, mystery and hopefully a healthy dose of humor.

I hope you enjoy the first chapter. If you do, please give me a shout out with your opinions or suggestions on how to improve the story. I'm always open to constructive criticism.

Kudos to my fantastic proofreader Jenny, who is a source of constant encouragement. :)

Without further ado…

Chapter 1: Gifted With A Curse

The sky over New York was leaden while the air was annoyingly still and filled with minuscule droplets of watery chill. The dreadful weather perfectly mirrored the moods of a short line of customers crammed in the small space of a grocery store. No one was chatting or even exchanging any trivial remarks as they more or less waited patiently. Regular beeping of the cash register and perfunctory requests of the cashier set the monotonous rhythm of the world. A grainy old-fashioned TV played a talk show; a caption at the bottom of the screen constantly reminded of the day's topic - today it was "Smother me with love". A feminine voice screeched tearfully into the microphone, "In the end, I couldn't find myself in that relationship. I was drowning with him next to me not realizing a thing. He thought that love would be enough to solve all the problems. But his reassurances only made me more restless-"

"Oh, get over yourself, you spoiled bimbo!" Another voice, which clearly didn't come from the TV startled the customers out of their temporary stupor. "If you and your likes used your brains for something more than just being a jelly, my head wouldn't hurt so much!"

Every pair of eyes in the store stared at a young curvaceous blonde at the end of the queue. She instantly regretted her pitiful outburst but not because of the awkward looks she was currently receiving. She was pretty much used to being regarded as a freak, her disability guaranteed her that from early childhood. She was irked that her frustrations got the better of her, especially in front of other people. The last thing she wanted from anyone was sympathy; if there was a talk show she could appear in, it would be called "Smother me with pity".

"10 dollars, please," the cashier asked her, eyeing her warily.

She threw a wad of banknotes, grabbed her precooked Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean and sauntered out. In less than ten minutes she was up in her small apartment, heating up the meal in the microwave. She sighed with resignation as she looked around. It was high time that she snapped out of her doleful laziness. The trashcan started to smell, every surface except the bed and the sink was covered in dust and her modest metric area seemed even smaller, cluttered with objects that had been used and never returned to their rightful places.

Her late and much lamented grandmother was probably rolling in her grave. She had been an exemplary mother and housewife all her life and she passed down a lot of these qualities to her granddaughter, Sookie. Sookie could still clearly remember the old better version of herself, trying to be as happy as she could and live like her beloved grandma taught her to, until she got disenchanted with life just a little bit too much.

Her parents died in a flashflood when both she and her brother Jason were still young kids. However, their grandmother Adele took them both under her wing and short of actually having parents, there wasn't anything wanting in their lives, or in Jason's life at least. Sookie was always… different, from the day she was born. Her parents had tried to cure her out of it, out of something her teachers described as concentration problems, dyslexia, learning difficulties and whatnot. None of the adults around Sookie was willing to accept the obvious truth – that she was a telepath. Mature reasonable people just didn't believe in such things. Adele Stackhouse was much more open-minded and always supported her granddaughter but there was only so much she could help her with.

None of Sookie's peers over the years was particularly friendly with her, either because she was regarded as odd or slow. There was always something weird about that Stackhouse girl. Indeed, school environment wasn't advantageous to Sookie, but not for those reasons. Belatedly answered questions, stunning intuition and "crazy" cover-up smiles were results of numerous streams of consciousness pouring into her brain from all around, non-stop. It certainly didn't favour nurturing interpersonal relationships or academic performance.

It became easier to control with age and practice. As a teenager, Sookie learnt to "drop shields" over her mind, closing it to unwanted stimuli. Nonetheless, it wasn't perfect and tended to slip, particularly in emotional circumstances, such as romantic situations. Turned off by what her dates had on their mind, she rarely made it half an hour into a date.

Adele's sudden death caused by a stroke came as a real blow. Sookie suddenly found herself quite alone and without a confidante. She was fresh out of high school and working at a fast food restaurant nearby. But what next? She saw no enticing and feasible prospects for her future. Jason, a few years her senior and living on his own for some time now, tried to help but he never really "got her", nor was he the brightest bulb out there anyway.

Then a prospect came to her before she even started looking and for the first time, Sookie was willing to believe her curse might actually be a blessing in disguise. She was approached by the FBI, who had somehow got ahold of her interesting school records, and offered her a job. It seemed like a dream come true. It was hard work and required a lot of strenuous preparation even before she started but it meant nothing. She was hard-working and persistent; Sookie felt useful and finally in her element, nothing could deter her. She was doing something she had never even dreamed of doing for living – helping good people, taking bad guy off the streets.

But it's a sad truth that all good things come to an end. During six years she spent with the bureau, she discovered that more often than not the line between right and wrong was blurry or even non-existent. Her gift was used by her superiors for less than honorable reasons while innocent people were hurt in side-blasts. With a heart heavy with disillusion and sadness at leaving the first true friends she had made on the team, she called it quits.

That was two months ago and since then she was in the state of constant "in between". In between what? She did not know exactly. She was again at a point where she didn't see a purpose in her life. It was frighteningly empty.

A few years ago, to the great shock of human population all around the world, vampires revealed their immortal existence. It wasn't such ground breaking news for Sookie. She had often wondered what could be out there if telepaths like her walked the earth. Now she knew that also other mythical creatures existed, like demons or werewolves; she had even dated a were during her time at the FBI, which was her first and so far the last serious romantic relationship. The public was still unaware of supes other than vampires, although the government wasn't. Perhaps she should come out? Announce to all and sundry that she could read minds like open books? Write an actual book, get her own TV show, become a celebrity… Sookie laughed at her own silly thoughts as the ding ding ding of the microwave signaled that her food was ready.

She took the steaming plate to the main and only room and replayed the voicemail, not really expecting any message to be left for her. Her ex-teammates didn't have a habit of calling to ask about her health. She had no family other than Jason and their relations were rather cold since she joined the FBI. She had no other friends. Nonetheless, her voicemail was not empty. Sookie dropped her fork, making the sauce splash down her front, when she heard the vaguely familiar voice of a woman.

She would be ashamed to admit it, but she wouldn't have been able to name the owner of that voice without heavy brain wrestling hadn't the caller introduced herself.

"Sookie…?" The woman began hesitantly. "I… I know I have really no right calling you, I… It's Hadley, your cousin Hadley, if you didn't recognize me. I guess you may not, it's been a few years…" There was a slight pause filled with palpable tension.

"But… I've done a terrible thing and I have no one else to turn to. I talked to Jason a few weeks ago and… I know you've been working with… What I'm trying to say you might be able to help me thanks to your job… and also because… Sookie, I know that after running away and not giving a sign of life I don't deserve a second chance but it's not really about me, I promise it's not. I've made a lot of mistakes, lord knows, but… I beg you. If you get this message and decide to meet me, please come tomorrow noon to the public library. Don't look for me, don't ask around for me. Go to the romance section and wait for me. If you're not there tomorrow, I'll call again. If you still choose not to meet me, I'll understand. I'll give it a rest… take matters into my own hands. Thank you for listening, Sookie, hope to see you tomorrow."

Sookie continued to sit motionlessly, her dinner forgotten. That she certainly did not expect. Hadley's mother was the only sister of Corbett Stackhouse, Sookie's father. She died of cancer a few years ago, thinking that Hadley, who had escaped rehab, perished somewhere on the streets of New York having taken an overdose of anti-depressants, heroine, or whatever else she was doing at the time. They kept trying to find her for years but she disappeared without a trace, and now… after all these years, a phone call.

There wasn't a doubt in Sookie's mind about what she should do. They might not have been particularly close in the past, and Hadley's disappearance affected her aunt and grandmother greatly, but she was still family. Sure, the message sounded alarmingly cryptic but hell, she had ducked bullets in the past. Whatever trouble Hadley got herself in, she would be able to face it.

The following day, midday on the dot, Sookie found herself down the romance section, anxiously anticipating the meeting with Hadley but closely following her cloak-and-dagger instructions. Her eyes lingered on the shelf with historical romance, the books seemed shamefully enticing. Her life was lacking and contained no romantic entanglements whatsoever, perhaps she should pursue them in print?

"Sook… Sookie?"

She turned to her left to see a young woman standing at the end of the row, her emotions betrayed by the slightly glassy eyes and her hand clamped over her lips. Despite the passage of years, Sookie recognized her cousin. It was always implicitly agreed that Hadley was the prettier girl in the family and now Sookie had to admit that it was still very much the case. They were more or less of the same height but Hadley had softer features. She looked well-nourished too, bordering on pampered. Her skin was flawless, her golden hair luscious.

It came as a relief. Sookie was afraid that her cousin was still mixed up in drug related troubles but she was obviously doing well.

"Hadley." She could not help smiling at her long-lost relative and strode down the length of the aisle to envelop her into a hug.

"Oh, Sookie, thank you!" Hadley almost sobbed with gratitude as she reciprocated the bone-crushing embrace. "You can't even begin to imagine how much you being here means to me!"

"Hadley, you look great. Where have you been? You just… vanished. Why have you never contacted us before? Why now?"

"I'll explain everything, I promise," she assured Sookie and led her deeper into the confines of the library. "Let's just go over there. I'm sure I'm not being followed but can never be too cautious. It's better not to draw unnecessary attention."

"Hadley, what is this all about? Are you in some kind of trouble?" she asked as they both sat down in a secluded corner, lowering their voices almost to a whisper. "Silly me, how can you not be? We assumed you were no longer amongst the living…"

"And I haven't been really, not for quite some time," Hadley gave out a nervous laugh.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sookie frowned.

"I don't have that much time but I'll try to explain everything as well as I can. When we last saw each other, was it seven… eight years ago? I was in a very dark place. My own fault, no one else's. All I cared about was getting another fix, and then another…"

"But you were doing so great?"

"I wasn't, Sook. I lied. I was a full blown addict and addicts on withdrawal would do everything and anything to feed their hunger. So I ran at the first chance I got."

"Where did you go?"

"I stayed with… some friends I'd met on my earlier sprees. I did some things I'm not proud of… in fact I'll never be able to forgive myself for some of them. But," a brief smile passed through her face, "there is one good thing that came out of it. Sookie, I got pregnant. When I first found out I thought my world was ending, I didn't even know who the father was. But when my little baby boy was born… It was the best thing that happened to me in a long time, the best thing that happened to me, period."

"You have a son?" Sookie asked gently. "I'm an aunt?"

"His name's Hunter, he just turned six. He's such a bright boy," Hadley said, her voice thick with pride for a change before turning gravely serious again. "But he's paying for my many mistakes. He was put into the system, Sook. I didn't have a job, I was a junkie. I tried to fight for him but no sane person could judge me fit to be a mother. Hunter was placed in a home."

"Hadley, why didn't you turn to us? We would have done everything-"

"I don't know." Tears started to run freely from her eyes. "I was… so ashamed. I had run… taken gran's money…"

"None of that would have mattered!"

"What's done is done, Sook," Hadley shook her head. "And that's not really why I called."

Sookie looked at her expectantly. Could this story get even worse?

"Do you know any vampires, Sookie?" Hadley asked unexpectedly.

"Vampires? What have vampires got to do with anything?"

"Everything, Sookie. I am… I am working for a vampire." She looked down at her lap, suddenly unwilling to meet her cousin's eye.

"Really?" Sookie didn't notice Hadley's discomfort as she was hit with how appealing working for a vampire might actually be. She met a few of them in her line of work and their minds were mysteriously and blissfully silent to her. She didn't even have to put up shields around them, it was very relaxing. Surely, there was this pesky glamour thing that they had going but thanks to her telepathy, she was immune. Thank god for small favours. "Maybe I should look for a vampire boss," she chuckled.

Hadley gripped her arm with an almost bruising force. "You don't know what you're talking about, Sook. They're monsters, they're dangerous… especially for you," she added weakly.

"What do you mean by especially for me? And wait a sec, why you are working for one of them if you hate them?"

"If you get in too deep, there's only one exit and I'm already in over my head." The exhausted quality of her voice made chills run down Sookie's spine. "It was a fabulous world to live in at the beginning, I admit. I was overwhelmed with it. Sophie-Anne, she picked me up from the street, gave me a roof over my head, really listened to what I had to say… I thought she cared for me but now I know that vampires don't care about anything if it's not for their personal gain. Sookie… I told her some things, I told her too many things about Hunter before I realized what a great mistake I made."

"What do you mean?"

"Sophie-Anne is the vampire queen of New York. Every state has a monarch, you see-"

"I know." She had a general knowledge of supernatural politics, it was a part of her training.

"Sophie-Anne is a collector. She collects houses, jewellery… humans…"

"I'm sorry? Humans?"

"Don't let that smooth-tongued vampire bitch on TV fool you, Sook. They're not people with fangs, on a strict diet. They're selfish, arrogant and vicious monsters, trust me, I know."

"Okay," Sookie nodded to appease her cousin. She didn't believe that all vampires were baddies though, despite what Hadley was trying to convince her of. It wasn't like all people were good either. She had taken part in investigations of crimes committed by humans that were more monstrous than any vampire she had encountered. "Let's go back to Hunter?"

"Right, Hunter is different… No, that came out wrong. Hunter is special, Sookie. He's like you," she confessed in a barely audible whisper.

"He's… like me?" Sookie repeated slowly.

"He has your ability, Sookie."

"Are you sure?" She asked a little breathlessly; she had met vampires, weres, witches even, but never anyone quite like herself. And to think there was another telepath in such close quarters, within her own family!

"I'm positive. Which is why Sophie-Anne wants him."

"For his… gift?" Sookie asked even if the question sounded lame in her own ears. She simply wasn't comfortable discussing that particular disability with other people.

"Of course! Do you know how valuable it is for vampires, especially those greedy for power? It would give her an enormous advantage over her enemies in her power struggles, in her business dealings… telepaths are rare!"

For the first time, Sookie began to feel slightly uneasy; like her eyes were being opened to a completely new and unexpected threat.

"But he is just a child, he surely can't control it with success."

"Doesn't matter, she's thinking ahead. She thinks the sooner she turns him into her slave, the better."

"Hadley… Is that what you are? A slave?"

"Again, Sookie, it doesn't matter. I made my bed, now I have to sleep in it. But my son… I want better for him, I want him to be happy. He can't pay for my mistakes."

"Hadley," Sookie began with a suddenly thundering heart. "Have you told the queen anything about me?"

"No! I swear I didn't say a word. When I met her I told her I had no family, I was trying to convince myself more than her. She might have done her own research, I wouldn't put it past her but even if she did, she didn't find anything. I would know, she talks about Hunter all the time but has never mentioned you. You're safe."

"Good, that's good." Sookie breathed out with relief. "What are her plans towards Hunter? And how do you think I can help? Do you want me to make sure the FBI gets involved?"

"Going to the authorities is useless. Even if they took all of this seriously, they wouldn't find anything suspicious. It's a very simple but effective plan Sophie has come up with. She just needs a couple of people glamoured and I will have the custody over Hunter, but make no mistake, this is just a smokescreen. She would have all the control over his life. As long as he's within her reach, he's in danger."

"Within her reach meaning inside the state, right? I could use my contacts, we could get you both moved out of New York and put into a safe place, like a witness protection program."

"You think the FBI would just roll with it?" Hadley laughed bitterly. "Without the glamour I have no chance of ever gaining custody of him, and the time and paperwork it would take to try… The queen would have me punished and Hunter taken to the court within an hour after she got wind of it."

"Fine, then," Sookie frantically sought another solution. "I will get the two of you fake papers. Screw the law if it's against you."

"Thank you, hon," Hadley smiled and squeezed her hand gratefully, "but that's impossible as well. Hunter needs to leave the state as soon as he can, that's for sure but… but I can't. I had the queen's blood, she'd be able to track me."

Sookie nodded, it was all a lot of information to take in but it was crucial she kept up. Then another alarming thought crossed her mind. "Won't she know you were here and be suspicious?"

"Oh, I told her about my planned outing. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing… at least in this instance." She let out a faint somber giggle before turning serious. " I've had it all planned out for weeks. I've been going to the library for the last two months trying to establish a safe and inconspicuous place to meet. I always borrow a handful of Harlequins." She shrugged. "The queen even came to like them when- Anyway," she cleared her throat, "what I really hoped was that you might know someone… somebody you trusted, who could take Hunter from here and keep him safe. Somebody that would be fine to be around him… and his abilities."

Sookie contemplated her answer in silence, even though a storm of emotions was raging inside her. She felt an inexplicable urge to throw herself into the middle of this mess. The situation was alarmingly similar to when she got the offer from the bureau. She dived headfirst into it then as well, landing painfully on her ass. Was it selfish or presumptuous to feel that only she could understand and help Hunter? The decision would have serious implications and having defied both human and vampire authorities, there would be no way back.

"Will I do?" She grinned at Hadley who looked as though she couldn't believe her ears.

"Sookie… I'm not asking you to do that…"

"I'm offering," she replied lightly. "I know the risks I'm taking, or at least I think I do. I know how he must feel, Hadley, and I can help him deal with it. I wish I'd had someone who knew what it was to be like me when I was growing up."

"You… you would do that for him? What about your life?"

"I'm completely unattached to anything, job or boyfriend. Jason doesn't need me. I want to do this," Sookie assured with deep conviction.

"Thank you!" Hadley momentarily forgot all about staying cautious and threw her arms around her cousin, streams of hot tears flowing down her cheeks.

"It's okay, hon. Everything's going to be okay. Now, you need to tell me everything you know about the queen and her intentions, anything at all you can think of."

When they parted an hour and a half later, Sookie had all the basic facts she needed and a plan was already shaping up in her head.

Sookie checked another item on her 'to do' list. She had just bought a special gun and a supply of wooden bullets from Steve Newlin's self-defense collection. She was mentally repulsed with herself, Newlin's Fellowship of the Sun always smelled of fanatics. But there was no other way, she was going to defy a very important vampire. In just a few days' time, a little boy's life would depend on her survival skills. She needed to defend Hunter and herself.

Another step that she had to do consisted in calling a certain person who she hadn't spoken to in months. She wasn't particularly ecstatic about it, there was so much history between them. However, regardless of their issues, he was the one she could trust with her situation, or at least a part of it. She wasn't going to drag him into this whole affair. She chose the number and was greeted by the answering machine.

"Tiger Tiger, burning bright, in the forests of the night. What immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?"

Sookie rolled her eyes; if egos could be measured in weight, her ex's would sink the entire continent.

"Really, Quinn? Did you think that was witty? Cause anyone not in on the secret would just think you lost your marbles."

There was a click and she heard his real voice this time. "But the joke would still be on them, wouldn't it? Sookie, what a surprise… If I remember correctly-"

"Is this line secure?" she interrupted him.

"It is," he answered in a much more sober tone. He sensed something was off.

"I need a favour." He would probably think she was crazy but she didn't have hours to prepare him for what she'd got to say, she wouldn't beat around the bush.

"Babe, I'm at your service…" His voice was once again dripping with subtext. He had never fully accepted her decision to break up. It wasn't easy on her too, but there were just so many reasons that relationship wouldn't work in the long-term.

"This isn't a social call, Quinn. This… favour involves pulling some strings at the bureau."

"Are you in some kind of trouble? Is someone you know in trouble?" Sookie smiled softly, he knew her character only too well.

"I need a new ID."

"For whom?"

"For me."

"What the hell-"

"Let me finish, please. Actually, I need a whole new identity, everything, history, background, all that paperwork for me and a six-year-old boy."

"What the fuck is going on?" he asked, his temper flaring.

"It's better that you don't know. I don't want you involved."

"Shit, I'm already involved!"

"Okay, then. I'm sorry I took your time for no reason, I'll-"

"Damn, Sook, I'm involved because I lo-"

"John! Please, don't! Let's not go back there. Listen, I'd appreciate if you helped me. But if you can't, it's fine."

"Stop, I never said I wouldn't help. I'm simply worried. You don't call for months, and now you're requesting a new identity. Can you blame me for trying to get to the bottom of this?"

"No, no, I can't," she admitted gently. "I would do the same for you. And you're right, you deserve an explanation. I'm trying to help someone get out of a vampires' radar."

"That kid?"

"Yeah, my nephew."

"I didn't know you had a nephew."

"It's a long story, trust me. The important thing is that he's in danger and I'm taking him out of the state."

"Fucking bloodsuckers," he cursed in obvious frustration. Weres and vampires didn't really mix.

"Can I count on you?"

"Where will you be heading?"

"Lousiana, the Pelican State vamps aren't particularly friendly to the residents of New York." Sookie was well aware that she was leaving out a lot of backstory but Quinn didn't have to know she was royally screwed, literally, or that she was first going to virtually kidnap her future protégé. "It would be best if I didn't stand out as an outsider."

"Can you pull off a southern drawl?" he almost chuckled.

"You know I'm good with languages. It will require a bit of self-discipline not to slip but I'll be just fine." She had been surprised to discover that she was actually talented linguistically when she was sent on a language course for the job. Maybe it had something to do with listening to people talking constantly, whether out loud or in their heads.

"When do you need it?"

"By the end of the week?" Time was of the essence. Hadley managed to convince Sophie-Anne to wait until the school year was over so as not to raise suspicions. Sookie didn't have that luxury; she would draw more attention when it would be noticed Hunter was missing from school but there was no other way.

"I'll see what I can do," promised Quinn. There was no doubt in Sookie's mind that he would have the papers ready much sooner than she asked for.

"Are you sure there's no way I can talk you out of it or at least do something else?"

"I'm a big girl, Quinn, you know that. I can take care of myself."

She had to if she intended to cope with what laid in store for her. Yesterday she didn't have a purpose in life, today she was planning to commit a crime; and the ride was just beginning…

Note to readers: Sookie is by no means going to be a vampire slayer of any sorts. She is still very open-minded but on the side of caution.

In chapter 2 we meet Eric while Sookie executes her plan of rescuing Hunter. :)

Anxiously awaiting your opinions,

Em