Hello!
This is my first go at a (published) True Blood fanfic. It takes off in S4/Ep12 ("And When I die") when Sookie chooses Eric - because she ought to have done so and we all know it - thus altering the plot/timelines slightly from there on. Set in TB-verse rather than the Bookverse.

The characters do not belong to me sadly, neither does True Blood (all property of HBO, Alan Ball and Charlaine Harris). I only own the plot-bunnies that divert from the original storyline.


"You saved my life. Both our lives," Bill stated, his Southern drawl more prominent than ever.

I smiled faintly and shrugged, "It was my turn."

Bill's intense gaze lingered on my face as he held onto my hand and I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. I''d seen that puppy-dog look before. Hell, I could hardly count the times he'd looked at me like that.

"Thank you," Eric's deep, husky voice demanded my attention and I turned to face him.

His gaze was every bit as intense, though for some reason, it didn't bother me. His bright blue eyes spoke volumes, where his mind stayed silent to me and I felt a genuine smile sneak onto my lips. I might not be able to read his thoughts, but yet he was no mystery to me. His thumb stroked my palm absentmindedly.

"You don't have to thank me. I can't imagine a world without you in it," I said and his face lit up like a little boy's on Christmas day, "Both of you."

It was true. They both belonged in my world, to what extent however, was a different matter all together.

I looked back and forth between the both of them and gently withdrew my hands.

The situation was bizarre in it's duality; a faerie seated between the vampire King of Louisiana and a millenarian Viking vampire , both of them dressed in identical dressing gowns, both of them confident that I was be theirs.

Bill had been my first love, my first time and inevitably my first heartbreak. I had been intrigued by him the first moment we met, the silence of his mind a comfortable respite from the ever-rambling thoughts of the villagers. His possessive ways made me feel desirable, wanted.

He had been every bit the Southern gentleman and mourned his human days, despising his vampire self. He had been convinced that he was a monster and yearned to feel the warmth of the sun again. It had been as endearing as it was sad and my sympathy for his pain had made me all the more susceptible to his advances.

I had genuinely loved him and he had kept me alive, protecting me from everything but himself.

In the end, he'd turned out to be the most grave danger that I'd ever been exposed to. In his eagerness to follow his orders as procurer for the late Queen Sophie-Ann, he had tricked me into accepting his blood to save my life which he had endangered on purpose by allowing me to be beaten within an inch of my life.

As deeply as I loved him once, I was left wondering if he had ever been honest with me. I often felt that he saw me as a way to keep holding on to his humanity – something he had lost when he became king.

I looked at Eric and I could tell by the melancholic look on his face, that he was scared. If someone had told me two months ago, that Eric Northman would be scared of losing me, I would have declared them insane.

When we first met, I was as enthralled by his physique and captivated by his air as I was disgusted with his arrogance.

It had taken quite some time for me to finally realize that he had every reason to be proud. He was ancient and powerful and his confidence was rooted in his experience. After over one thousand years of walking this earth, he had gained knowledge and abilities that were beyond my understanding.

He was as complex in character as he was handsome and he embraced his nature, he was at peace with himself. He had no delusions of humanity or what he was and ironically, it made him so much more humane than Bill could ever hope to be.

I was acutely aware that he wasn't as angelic as his golden hair and blue eyes would have the world believe. He'd lied to me so often that I could hardly count, he was vicious, fierce and he was capable of extreme violence. Oddly, it only made me want him more.

His cruelty, however was never without reason. He did what he deemed necessary in order to protect his bloodline and he had put his existence on the line to protect me on numerous occasions.

While I was attracted to the forbidden fruit that Eric had been when I first met him, ever the sassy and sexy master-manipulator, I had been allowed a glimpse of what lay underneath. When he had lost his memory, the charade was gone and I could see the gentle heart and loyal soul that lay underneath.

And it was then that I had given myself to him completely and he had done the same in return, exchanging blood and becoming one. I had never had the urge to do so with Bill.

Suddenly, I remembered how Eric had been willing to sacrifice thousand years worth of memories just to be with me in complete bliss and the decision I thought I had to make was changing.

I sighed and rose to my feet.

"I can't stand this anymore."

Suddenly it was so painfully obvious to me, that the actual decision was not between both vampires, but how to explain to Bill that he held a place in my heart and that he belonged in my life – as a memory.

Bill's questioning look and Eric's enigmatic face made it all the worse.

"Eric," I began, a soft smile on my lips, "would you mind giving me a minute alone with Bill?"

I could sense the worry and the reluctance through our bond but he didn't argue.

"I'll be right outside," he murmured as he passed me, squeezing my hand tenderly before he exited the double doors and closed them silently behind him.

"Sookie," Bill breathed and I felt my heart sink as he stood and approached me, smiling in surprise, "I knew you would come back to me. We are just meant to be, my Sookie. My Queen."
He reached for my hand but I shook my head faintly.

"I can't."

His smile was immediately replaced with a frown. He had obviously anticipated my return to him. How wrong he was.

"Why? Eric won't be a problem, I'll make sure of it."

I scowled back at him. What did he mean he'd make sure of it?

"This is good-bye Bill. Like I said, I can't imagine a world without you. I genuinely loved you but from this day forward all that will ever exist between us, is a memory."

I had no illusions that Eric was following our conversation from outside the door, yet I didn't care. In fact it saved me the trouble of explaining it to him as well.

"Surely you're not choosing to be with Eric? He lied to you Sookie and he manipulated you to take his blood. I wouldn't be surprised if he lured you into his bed as well! Eric Northman does not love!"
Bill roared like a wounded animal, however I remained calm, a sarcastic smile crawling unto my lips.

"Oh and you didn't force your blood on me? I'm well aware of his faults but don't you dare accuse me of incapable of seeing through an act with the sole purpose of fucking me! Do not insult my intelligence Bill Compton. If you taught me anything, it's not to trust a word out of your mouth."

I felt positively livid. I'd been so adamant in trying to let him down gently, for his and my own good but if he insisted on insulting me, he had another thing coming.

True, Eric had been quite free with his interpretation of the truth but that was another matter entirely. After all, he didn't come crawling like a puppy dog begging for forgiveness. He stood by his actions and never risked losing my trust if it wasn't necessary to keep us both safe.

"This, is the exact reason why I'm leaving you behind to become no more than a memory."

I strode towards the doors and placed my hand on the doorknob, intent not to cry a single tear, before I turned my head to look at my former lover one last time.

"Goodbye Bill."

Without giving him a chance to respond, I quickly left through the doors and found Eric leaning against the wall, just outside, much like I had anticipated.

He smiled at me tenderly, before raising a hand to my face and gently stroking my cheek.

"Do you still want to leave with me?"

His blue eyes twinkled with amusement at my question and he lowered his head to my lips into a chaste kiss.

"I always want to leave with you Ms. Stackhouse," he purred, his eyes never leaving mine.

I smiled back at him and before I could reply, he scooped me up and zipped through the front door, not minding his current state of undress.

In a matter of seconds we were on my – technically his - porch, my hands still around his neck as he lowered me onto the ground. I unlocked the front door and stepped through, holding the door open for him.

He was through the door in the blink of an eye and kicked the door shut before wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me against his chiseled torso.

His face buried in my hair, he inhaled deeply while his hands caressed the small of my back absentmindedly.

I cherished the moment and melted against his cool skin, allowing myself to relax against his steady frame. He murmured something that I couldn't quite decipher.

For years now, Eric had been a constant in my ever-changing life. However much I may have hated it in the beginning, he was always there. Whether he was beside me or watching over me from a distance.

"Eric," I whispered, desperate to let him know how I felt.

"Yes?"

He remained perfectly immobile, just holding me, inhaling my scent.

I took a step backwards, and grabbed his hand and led him towards the couch. I patted the space next to me and he took a seat, a curious look on his face.

"I just wanted you to know...that it wasn't just goofy, innocent Eric that I fell for. As vicious as you can be, there's a goodness in you that just breaks my heart. There's a part of me that's always wanted you – I just wasn't willing to accept that."

The curiosity faded from his face and was replaced by a genuine, yet smug smile as he raised a hand and stroked a rogue strand of hair behind my ear.

"I know," he said, "I told you so from the very beginning."

I gave his ribs a nudge, "Arrogant ass."

He raised an eyebrow in amusement, "That was sassy."

I smiled a cheeky smile and positioned myself in his lap and placed my hands on either side of his face.

"I'm yours."


That was it for the beginning, hope you liked it. Reviews are appreciated.