A/N : So this is an alternative universe that incorporates a little True Blood, and a little of the SVM into it. Sookie has dated Bill, but the murders never happened - so there was never a trip to Fangtasia. Sookie has never met Eric, but Lafayette has. Jesus is in the picture. It's also my first attempt at FanFic. Comments and constructive criticism are welcome.

Chapter 1

"Hookah, you have got to stop moping around here." Lafayette called to Sookie as she came to pick up an order from the kitchen. "I've got something to take care of in Shreveport tonight, and then Jesus and I were going to hit a club. You and my bitch of a cousin Tara are comin."

"I don't want to intrude on your date Lafayette, and I just don't know if I'm up for a club. I was planning on going home and just having some dinner and watching a movie." Sookie sighed.

"Girl, heatin' up a tv dinner and putting on Gone with the Wind for the 200th time can wait for another night. You've been walkin around here for days either mad as hell or mopin ever since Bill left town. Enough's enough!" To drive his point home, Lafayette slaps a dishrag down on the counter. "I ain't takin no for an answer. Besides… I need my best girls to get to know Jesus a little betta."

Well, Lafayette was right. I've been really out of sorts since Bill got called away. He said it would only be a week, but that was two weeks ago, and I haven't heard a thing from him in the last two days. I don't really want to know more vamp business than I need to, but I wish I knew why he was acting so darn mysterious.

"Okay Lafayette. You win, now let me get back to work and we can talk out the details later. I'm sure that we'll love Jesus if you do." I said with a genuine smile spreading across my face. It was the first real smile I think I've had in a week. Sam was walking out from behind the bar, and noticed.

"Cher, it's good to see you smile again. Is Bill back in town?" Now, I don't think that Sam has ever really liked the fact that I had started dating Bill, but he has always cared about me and I think he just wants me to be happy. "No Sam, he's not. And I haven't heard from him in a few days but I can't wait on him forever to be smiling again." I replied, wishing that I hadn't added that last bit. I didn't want Sam thinking that I was implying that I'd be looking for him to help. Sam had a crush on me for a while I guess, but only decided to act on it once Bill was in the picture. Thankfully, he said nothing and I went about the rest of my shift without incident.

It was 5 o'clock, and Arlene was just hustling into Merlotte's. Right away she was going into something about her latest man (Arlene thought whoever she was with was the greatest, until the next man who paid her attention walked in.) and I started to fill her in on the tables she was taking over for me. I went back to find Lafayette to plan out our night. He was just getting ready to leave too.

"Baby girl, I talked to Tara and she'll be at your place around 7. Now, make sure you put on somethin f.i.n.e. cause we are goin to have some fun tonight!" He said with a little strut in his step. I did love Lafayette. He was such a good guy, he always managed to make me laugh. He seemed really happy these last couple of weeks that he's been seeing this new man. As we walked to his car though, I did stop to wonder what he'd gotten himself into. He's been driving around in a shiny red sports car, which certainly he wore just fine. But no one here in Bon Temps really had any money to speak of, least of all Lafayette. We all knew that he had some interesting "boyfriends" in the past, so when he said it was from one of them, we all just accepted it. But there was something in my gut that just made me wonder if that was really the story.

"Sure thing Lafayette, f.i.n.e. I just hope that your definition and mine are the same." I playfully slapped him as I replied. I'm sure that there was something that I could find in my closet that I could wear. Now that I thought about it, I had some really nice jeans that Bill just hated me to wear. They were snug and hugged my curves in all the right ways. Vamps are possessive and jealous by nature. He didn't want anyone else to see me in those. Well, he wasn't here to complain now was he?

I got in the car and headed back home. Home. It wasn't the same since Gran died a few months back. I missed her so. Thank goodness Bill was here to help me through it. He had sensed my anguish when I found her lying in the kitchen and came running. He was there every sundown thereafter to help me through it. Holding me as I cried, and finally when I gave myself to him for the first time (yes I had been up to that point a 26 year old virgin) he told me everything would be okay. And I believed him. And it has been, until he up and left without much warning. Well, tonight was going to help get me back on track.

After hurriedly eating my dinner, I hopped into the shower to wash away the stress of the day. Not that working at Merlotte's proved to be very stressful mind you, but trying to keep my shields up so I didn't hear everyone while trying to keep my "crazy Sookie" smile pasted to my face could be draining. Since we were headed out tonight, I took an extra long shower to make sure that I was perfectly groomed.

At 6:30 I found myself wrapped in my towel standing in front of my closet trying to figure out what to put on. I took out those dark wash jeans from the back of my closet, and now just had to find the right top to put with them. My idea of f.i.n.e was a cute sundress that would show off my tan, but somehow I didn't think that would be right for a club. I couldn't wait for Tara to get here. As the owner of Bon Temps only "clothing boutique" Tara's Togs, I knew she'd have some input. I called her, because I just couldn't wait. She told me to wear the turquoise wrap top that I bought at her store a few months back. She said it would show off some of my best assets, my blue eyes and my chest. I laughed. Turquoise wrap top it is. Tara said she had the perfect boots for me to wear once I told her the jeans I was putting on. Luckily Tara and I were the same size. We've been the same size since we were kids, which worked out well since she practically lived here growing up and wore most of my things. For not having a good home herself, Tara spent most of her days with us. Gran had just taken her in. I was so proud of Tara, although sometimes her temper had gotten the best of her, she had really made a great life for herself.

I got dressed, left my hair down in waves and went downstairs to meet Tara as it was getting close to 7. The phone rang, and I ran to answer it hoping it would be Bill. When I heard Jason's voice at the other end, I was disappointed. "Hey sis. How's it goin?"

"Fine Jason, though I am just getting ready to go out with Tara and Lafayette. What can I do for you?" I loved my older brother, although ever since Gran died, he only seemed to call lately when he needed something.

"Well sis, I was hoping that I could come over and bring my laundry to you. My machine's broke and I thought you could help." He didn't mean help. He meant do it for him. Ugh. Such a typical man!

"Jase, I can't do it for you, but you are welcome to come over and use the machines. I've got plenty of soap." Not the answer he was expecting, but hey, I'm not his wife. I'm his sister. He can do his own dang laundry.

"I suppose. Do you have any dinner there?" Always looking to be fed my brother. "No Jason, but you are welcome to make your own with whatever you find here." I was getting impatient as Tara pulled up the drive. "Look, I gotta run. Tara's just pulled up. I'll leave the door open for ya." I said as I hung up without waiting for his reply.

"Hey girl!" Tara said happily as she walked through the door. Like I said, she practically grew up here, so she never really knocked. That proved embarrassing for us once when she walked in on me and Bill, but since she knew Bill wasn't here, I guess she figured it was safe to do so. "Man, you clean up real nice! Here are the boots I told you about. Put 'em on."

Man did she look great. Her purple blouse looked as if it was made just for her. And her skirt, it was so mini, but somehow she managed to wear it without looking trashy. I felt a little self-conscious for a moment once I saw the boots. "Tara, Good Lord! Wearing these boots, what's the need for pants?" They were black with a 3 inch heel and came up almost to my knee.

"Don't argue Sook. Just put them on. Lafayette told you to look f.i.n.e didn't he?" she said with a smirk. So I put them on. And I have to say, looking at myself in the mirror I felt good.

We hopped into Tara's car, and sped off into the night towards Shreveport. We were meeting Lafayette and Jesus at a club called Potion. Supposedly, it was the new hot downtown club. On the way, Lafayette called and let us know that he was running a little late. He had to stop in another place before he met us. Tara said that we'd go and meet her there, but it didn't sound like he wanted us to. Tara managed to hear someone in the background say something about Fangtasia, and before we knew it, we were headed there. I started to get nervous, because I knew from Bill that it was a vampire bar. Not only that, but it was owned by one of Bill's superiors. I don't know if that was his boss or not, I really didn't want to get involved, so I didn't ask. But I knew that if Lafayette was there, it couldn't be good.