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Happy Reading! Enjoy!

Chapter 2

SPOV

I pull into work and have to take a deep, calming breath before putting up my mental shields to protect my mind from the impending bombardment of overwhelming thoughts streaming from Merlotte's lunch crowd. I never did manage to get back to sleep last night. I was too busy trying to figure out how the hell I ended up making out with my best friend's girlfriend in my kitchen. I mean, I've never even been into girls, so what gives?

A knock on my window brings me from my thoughts and I look up to see Sam's smiling face through the glass. I roll down my window and his expression changes to one of concern.

"You alright, cher?" he asks as I plaster what I know is my Crazy Sookie smile across my face.

"I'm fine. How's the crowd today?" I ask maybe a bit too enthusiastically as he helps me push open my rusty car door. He looks be over once more before giving a slight nod.

"Same ol', same ol'," he answers absently with a shrug as we make our way to the back doors together. "You sure you're okay?" he asks once more as we enter his back office.

"I'm just a bit tired, Sam," I answer. Not exactly a lie, although it's only the tip of the iceberg. He shrugs slightly, standing over me as I slide my purse into his desk drawer. "Really, I'm fine," I reiterate as I see him giving me a questioning look.

"Alright, let's get to it then," he says before leading me out to the floor. The restaurant is packed and already I can feel the swarm of thoughts pushing harshly against my mental shields. Dammit. I knew this would happen. This is why I really need to get my sleep. I take in a deep breath before slapping on my customary Crazy Sookie smile and hit the floor.

Two hours later, after the lunch rush has finally thinned out, I find myself slumped atop one of the bar stools, head in hand, with a hammering headache. I just can't seem to be able to shield worth shit today, and worse, almost every thought today has been explicitly sexual. This isn't necessarily uncommon, but normally don't find myself the star of so many of the sexual fantasies of the small, Bon Temps community. A cringe runs through me as I remember one of the more explicit thoughts I saw earlier. Creepy.

My nose scrunches then as my nose is assaulted with a wave of smelly grease from the kitchen. Ugh, this is so not helping me right now. Speaking of kitchen, when was the last time I ate? I honestly can't remember; strange, since I don't feel hungry in the slightest. Guess I have to add that to the growing list of strangeness that is suddenly becoming my life. I really need to figure out what's going on with me, like soon.

"Hey, you doin' alright?" Sam asks softly. I look up to see his concerned face and nod slightly.

"Just a headache," I explain vaguely as he nods in understanding.

"Come with me," he says, nodding towards the back. "I've got some aspirin in my office." I stand and follow, grateful to have such a caring boss. Once we enter, I plop down to the small sofa, letting out a loud sigh. I watch as Sam pulls out a bottle from his desk, shaking a couple pills into his hand before he approaches and kneels down next to the loveseat with a soft smile.

"Thanks, Sam," I tell him earnestly before swallowing the pills.

"You sure everything's okay? You seem kind of out of it lately," he says thoughtfully as I lean back, closing my eyes while I wait for the drugs to take effect.

"Just having a hard time blocking," I tell him, peeking over at him and pointing to my head. He nods in comprehension. He knows about my little quirk and this isn't the first time it's given me issues, although it's been a long time since it's been anywhere near this bad. I normally have much better control.

My eyes slip shut once more and soon I feel a warm hand gently stroking my hair. A low hum of contentment escapes my throat as I let the gentle touch soothe me. Sam's thoughts may not be the peaceful emptiness of vampires, but they're mostly blurry and rather peaceful, a welcome change from the usual bombarding thoughts and images I'm normally plagued with.

I let the tender touch of Sam's hand lull me into a state of contentment before my head is suddenly bombarded with images that can only be described as hardcore porn starring Sam and myself. Oh. My. God. I tense under his touch before sitting up and scooting quickly to the opposite end of the sofa. I pull my knees to my chest before peering up to see Sam's yearning stare. Ugh, I really try to stay out of my friends and families thoughts, and this is precisely why.

"Um, I think maybe I should head back to the floor," I say softly as Sam scoots closer. He reaches up to touch me once more and I jump up, leaping from the couch and dashing towards the door, intent on making an escape. This is just too weird.

"Sookie," he says softly, causing me to stop and turn back towards him. The raw need on his face is enough to make me waiver if only for a moment before I actually feel his overwhelming need pressing in all around me. It's so thick in the air I'm practically choking on it. God, it's stifling.

"I'm sorry, Sam," I manage to choke out; although I'm not sure exactly what it is I'm apologizing for. I turn away and exit the office, slamming the door shut behind me as I gulp down a large lungful of clear, lust free air. I hear Sam cursing softly to himself before I rush away towards the kitchen, doing my best to put up the feeble walls around my mind whilst trying to shake off the images of Sam's fantasies.

Somehow I make it through the rest of my shift, all the while carefully avoiding the lustful gazes of my boss. By the time I scoop up my purse and rush to the back lot, I want nothing more than to forget the events of both today and last night ever happened. I make the short drive to the house and groan at the sight of Pam's hot pink minivan sitting in the driveway. Girl's night. Shit.

I park my car next to the neon monstrosity, stepping out into the cool, night air only to be greeted with the smirking face of said van's undead owner.

"Lovely evening, isn't it, sweetness?" Pam purrs as I feel a warm blush crawl up my cheeks. Pam's smile widens as she notices my rather blatant embarrassment.

"Um, are we okay?" I ask nervously as she chuckles merrily.

"Of course, cupcake, it was only a matter of time before my charms won you over," she teases with a wink. I have to smirk at her flagrant cockiness, but at least I'm feeling a bit better about the embarrassing ordeal.

"You gonna help me pick out a dress for tonight?" I ask as a sort of truce. The words barely leave my lips before I find myself being dragged through the house by a rather overzealous vampiress. I give a small wave to an amused Amelia before being towed into my room. I have to stifle a giggle at Pam's eagerness as she begins riffling through my closet with seemingly boundless enthusiasm. A small smile curls my lips knowing our friendship is still very much intact.

EPOV

I sit upon the ornate throne on the dais set at the back of my bar with my maker at my side. I take in the swarm of humans meandering across the floor before us, letting out a loud sigh before leaning back to see Godric's bored, glazed over look as he too scans the gathered masses with scarcely concealed vexation.

"Take your pick, Master," I tell him in Gallic, earning me an annoyed visage from the one that made me. "I can feel your hunger," I explain, taking in his overly pale appearance as my concern for him rises yet again. He shakes his head slightly and I have to push down my anger at his stubbornness. At least I know where I inherited that particular trait.

I shake my head, turning back to glance over the crowd once more. I know he's convinced this 'fated female' will soon be walking into his life, but I can't say I put much credence into such outlandish tales. For the first time I find myself hoping such fantastical theories are indeed true as I now believe said female will be the only one capable of bringing the solace to my master that he so desperately needs.

I feel my child drawing closer then and her exuberance is flooding the bond. It brings a small smile to my face; I do so love to see my Pam's delight lighting up her blue eyes. Godric looks over to me with a small smirk, I'm sure curious to see what has brought his grandsire such palpable joy.

It's then that one word echoes loudly in my mind.

MINE.

My brows rise in surprise and I look over to see sheer exuberance plain upon my maker's face. Did he sense that as well? As I see his bright, green eyes sparkle in anticipation, I have my answer. There's only one thing that could bring him such elation; his fated female. Only now it's apparent it's not just his, but our fated female that is currently making her way through the crowd, drawing ever nearer.

My innate instincts are screaming at me as I've never felt before. Protect. Claim. Yours. I've never felt a pull such as this and as my child steps before me, I can barely spare her a side glance as I take in the golden goddess beside her.

"Master, Grandsire, this is my human friend, Sookie Stackhouse, the woman I've told you so much about," Pam informs us as a light pink hue runs up the tanned cheeks of the rather bashful blonde. She's yet to look up as she's been staring down at her fidgeting fingers that are currently playing with the hem of her floral, white dress. Pam gives her a small nudge then and the nervous beauty finally raises her face, meeting our anxious gazes with wide, blue eyes.

If I had a working heart, it would skip a beat. Beautiful. Perfect. I can hear these same words echoing from my maker as he gazes longingly at the slight, fair-haired woman standing before us. Her wide, innocent eyes widen as she looks over the both of us with intense inquisitiveness matching our own. Can she feel the pull as well? Her scent tells me she's mortal, but it's evident she's definitely picked up on something. Curious.

"Sookie, this is my Grandsire, Godric," Pam introduces as it seems Godric and I have both been rendered speechless at the moment.

Godric lifts his hand toward her and I look on in awe as she hesitantly reaches up to meet his greeting with her own slender hand. As skin meets skin, I feel a rush run through the joined bond with my maker that would most certainly take a mortal's breath away. Incredible. With that thought in mind, Sookie gasps softly, staring down at their joined hands in amazement.

"Sookie," he says almost reverently as her eyes lift to meet his once more. After a lingering moment, Sookie pulls her hand away and a small frown forms on her angelic face at the sudden loss of contact. It's then that I hold out my own hand toward her, earning me a small, shy smile. She places her delicate fingers over my hand, inciting that same rush as before, causing Sookie's breath to hitch as she stares down to our joined hands in wonderment.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sookie. I'm Eric, Pamela's maker," I tell her before leaning down to press a chaste kiss to her fingertips. I can hear her heart begin to race and the sound is sweet music to my ears. I reluctantly let go of her small hand after a protracted minute, relishing the warmth left behind with a small, contented smile.

"What the fuck is wrong with this place tonight?" Pam growls then. I somehow manage to tear my attention away from Sookie long enough to look over the gathered crowd. When did we gain such an apt audience? And why are they staring at Sookie as if she's their mates instead of ours? Sookie brings her hands up then, covering her ears as her sweet face pinches in pain. Before I can comprehend what is happening, she falls to her knees before us and my instincts are screaming at me to save her. Protect. Yours.

Godric and I both rush to her, taking her up between us just as she loses consciousness. "What's wrong with her?" I ask no one in particular as a wave of icy panic runs through me. Pam's current pet, the boisterous witch, steps forward then with concern etched across her face.

"It's too loud in here," she tells me as I lift a curious brow at her. She sighs, shaking her head in slight exasperation. "Just get her someplace quiet," she instructs us. Godric and I stand with our female's unmoving form draped over our arms.

"Pamela," I call my child over, seeing her own concern for the fallen beauty. "We're taking her home," I inform her as she looks to me in shock. "You're in charge."

"I'm coming with you," the witch informs us. I nod, hoping her knowledge of our mate will prove beneficial to her recovery. With that, we proceed to carry Sookie through the bar, exiting quickly through the back as I pull out my phone to place a call to the goblin doctor in my retinue.

AN: Any guesses as to what's going on with Sookie? We will find out more next chapter! :)