Chapter 1

Thanks for the reviews and the alerts. I hope that you all enjoy the way that this story is going to be set up. I'm not going to give any hints on anything. As you can tell, the story is OOC and AU so you can surely expect anything. Keep reading and I hope that you like it.


After returning home from her nightly run, Sookie slowed down as she reached her house and walked onto her mud porch. Instantly, she knew that someone was in her house and she knew who that someone was. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him until she was ready to. So, she walked through the kitchen and to her bedroom and kicked off her shoes, stripped off her clothes and took her shower; but not before making sure that he was not in spying distance. Once she was clean and fresh, she quickly slipped on her robe and slippies and headed for the kitchen. Putting her dinner in the microwave, she leaned against the countertop and listened. Idiot was the only word that came to her mind.

As soon as the microwave dinged, Sookie headed for the living room and plopped down in front of the TV. While she gulped down her dinner, she flipped through the stations. She was getting tired of waiting for him to make his presence known so she called out to him. "If you want something say it. If not, leave. I'm not one for playing games as you very well know."

Though he tried to be silent, she heard the footsteps as they approached her from behind. She didn't bother to turn around and acknowledge him. "Hello, Sookie. It's been a long while."

"Obviously, it hasn't been long enough."

"You're looking beautiful this evening. I've always thought that you were sexier when you were wet." As he walked around the couch, he asked, "Would you mind if I joined you?"

"You came into my home without asking me, why would you bother asking if you can sit down? What do you want William?"

"You're still calling me William, I see. Okay. That's fine. I'm here on business anyway. I've been waiting for you."

"I can see that," she replied. "You are in my home."

"You're still as sarcastic as ever."

Though they haven't been lovers for quite some time, she couldn't deny the fact that she had fallen for him. Back when they were dating, he had sex appeal. After they'd broken up, she couldn't see what she saw in him. She could only assume that loneliness had gotten the better of her. He was not the vampire of her dreams but he was enough while she bided her time. Since she couldn't have the one that she wanted, he was good enough. But just as the time faded, so did her need for him and his companionship.

"That's part of my charm." She still wouldn't turn to look at him. "Blood's in the fridge if you're hungry."

"Since you're not offering any of your vintage Sookie stock, I think I'll pass. I've already fed."

"Suit yourself," she responded.

Bill was soon sitting beside her. "I've been in this quaint little town for only a few hours and I must say it is quite boring. You seem to enjoy it here, though. You've always been the type that enjoyed the peace and tranquility of small towns and small people but after twenty long years, I would think that you would tire of the same scenery and the same people. Do they not bore you?"

"Compared to tonight's company?" she asked. "Not in the least. Now, what do you want William?"

Bill began to get fed up with Sookie's short and smart responses to him. He knew that he shouldn't have done what he did but he knew that she was tiring of him anyway. Why would she be upset about what happened? He did her a favor. Plus they hadn't been together in over twenty years. "I've apologized to you over a million times. When are you going to forgive me? You were going to break things off with me anyway. I made a mistake but I had no choice in the matter. You understand the call of your maker. When your maker calls to you, you have to go to them whether you want to or not. What was I supposed to do?"

"When your maker calls you, that doesn't mean that you run off and fuck them. You don't make plans to stay with them when you are already in a relationship. And do you really want to know what I expected from you William? I expected you to be honorable. You were supposed to be what they call in these parts a southern gentleman. I would think that you would know that since you are from these parts." Sookie still wouldn't look at Bill. She continued to flip through the channels. "You were supposed to tell me instead of sending Chester to do your dirty work for you but you were a coward. You could have told me that you were going back to Lorena. It was over between us anyway but you tucked your tail between your legs and ran. But don't get me wrong, William. I'm over you. I've been over you. I just hate the fact that you didn't let me dump you the way that I wanted to dump your no good, trifling ass. Now, state your reason for coming into my home or leave."

Bill stiffened. He'd always known that Sookie was going to end things with him but he didn't know that she felt as strongly as she did about breaking up with him …or dumping his no good, trifling ass as she so eloquently put it.

"You're needed."

"When?" she asked; still refusing to look at him.

"First off, don't get mad with me. Things have happened that you've not been made aware of." He could feel her body tense so he decided to make something clear to her. "It was never my decision to keep you out of it. I wanted to tell you days ago but I had no say so in the matter. I was ordered to come for you because you're the only one that can help us and because we have a relationship. You will be informed once I've taken you to the planned destination."

"Go on," she said. She finally placed the remote on the table and listened intently to what Bill had to say to her. Unbeknownst to him, she'd already heard the grumblings in the supernatural world and she knew that she was needed but she never heard why she was needed. No one but the inner circle knew what was going on. She used to be a part of that inner circle until ...

"We need your fighting skills. As you very well know, you are a the most tremendous and the most controlled fighter that we have and we need you. If you decide to come with us, which I believe that you'll do, I'll take you to the place where we'll be staying the night. While we're there, you're going to meet with several new members of the inner circle."

"Which I am not a part of anymore. I can't be. You fucking vampires have a lot of nerve. I have absolutely no idea of what's going on and now you all need my help. You ban me because of my personal choices and now you come to me with your hands out; begging for my help?"

"Look Sookie. I was ordered to keep quiet. You need to come with me. It's beneficial to us all. I'll keep you safe."

Sookie finally looked at Bill as if to ask if he really just said that.

He ignored her completely. "Anyway, you will stay the night with me until we get to where we are to go."

Sookie continued to look at Bill and give him the stink eye. "I'm not staying anywhere with you. I don't like you."

"Complete and utter bullshit but that's for another day. Nothing will happen between us. I want flash my devastating smile your way and I promise to keep my shirt on. I won't tempt you in anyway."

"I don't need confirmation of that."

Bill made a very human sigh and continued on. "We'll be staying in the same place. We'll be sharing the same room but not the same bed. Now, if you'll stop being a bitch and go get dressed we can leave. Oh, and you won't need to pack anything. Your wardrobe has already been taken care of."

"If anyone's a bitch, Lorena's a bitch."

"Stop being childish, Sookie. It's so unbecoming."

"Fuck you, William Compton," she hissed at him.

Straightening his shirt, Bill smiled and said, "After we are out of this hick town, we can do the horizontal tango but you have to promise not to fall in love."

"That is never going to happen and anyway, asshole, what makes you think I'm going to go anywhere with you? I hate you." She had a smirk on her face when said it. She's never hated Bill. As a matter of fact, he was one of her favorite vampires.

"Bullshit and you know it." Suddenly, Bill's total demeanor changed. For the first time since showing up uninvited, he looked serious. "I know hat you'll come with me because without you, we'll never find her. Sophie Ann's missing, Sookie. Someone has kidnapped your maker."


Ta-da!