Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to "True Blood."

Chapter Two: Get Off My Sunshine

Layla stared at the door. She looked down at the hammer in her right hand. She took a deep breath, and swung at the handle. It didn't budge. After five more swings, she gave up on the handle and started at the wood on the door. This proved more gratifying because it was actually working. The wood steadily chipped away. Soon she was able to reach her hand through and unlock the door from the other side.

"Finally." She muttered and threw the door open in triumph.

She cautiously looked around. There was no one in sight. Of course all the vampires wouldn't be up for another five or six hours. It discouraged Layla that Batista couldn't just wait until Eric escorted her the next day. Or maybe he'd took Eric as well. Just in case, she called his cell from a phone in the hallway and left a message telling him where she was, or where she thought she was.

The house was incredibly impressive. But giving herself a tour of Batista's house didn't seem to interest her at the moment. Her throat was incredibly dry and she was terribly hungry.

She made her way to what she thought was the kitchen. There was a small fridge in the corner of the room. To her dismay, all that was inside was a half empty bottle of TruBlood.

Layla continued to explore the enormous house, but her thirst and hunger would not subside. She turned down her left to a small hall with a closed door. As she opened it, a blast of warmer air flowed towards her. This was the garage.

The garage was impressively lit with a clean white light. Layla smiled longingly at the sight. There sat a row of six beautiful cars.

There were two Lamborghini Murcielago Roadsters, two Avalanche trucks and a brand new Escalade. Layla titled her head in admiration at the last car, which no doubt belonged to Batista. A 2007 Aston Martin V-12 Vanquish. Though it looked as if it was never driven. Layla ran her hand tenderly along the side of it. She'd always been a car enthusiast, but had never seen such a car up close. She looked up on the wall. There were six sets of keys hanging on golden hooks. She bit her lip.

What will the consequences be for borrowing Cabeza de Vaca's car?

Her car lust soon outweighed her conscience. After all, He did somehow render her unconscious and lock her in a room…. She grabbed the keys and opened the garage. It was a shame to let such a beautiful vehicle sit.

"What are you doing?" Eric appeared at the driver's side of the car.

"Eric."

"Layla. What are you doing?"

"You're here. Did Batista and his men kidnap you too?"

Eric rubbed his head. "I woke up here in a coffin. So, I suppose that's the case."

"Cocky bastard." Layla spoke in disapproval. "So I'm guessing you can still get up during the day?"

"I sensed your…." Eric looked around somewhat puzzled.

"I knew you were close. I sensed your excitement…I figured you were thinking of me."

Layla laughed. "Actually, I was thinking of Aston Martin."

"Who is this you speak of?" He spoke in disbelief, and mild jealously.

"You're looking at him." Layla held out her arms to display the car.

"Want to go for a ride?"

"This is Batista's car?"

"I'm willing to bet…"

"And you were just going to take his car somewhere?"

"Basically…"

Eric grinned and raised and eyebrow.

"Then allow me…last time we were here in Austin, I didn't get to show you what I wanted to show you…"

Layla shrugged and swung herself to the passenger's side.

Eric slipped his long body into the car and adjusted the seat.

"So where did you plan on going?" He asked as he pressed the button to put the top down.

"I'm really hungry…"

"So am I." He mused as he leaned over and kissed her neck.

Layla closed her eyes and shook her head. "Anyways…"

Eric breathed a small laugh as he sped off. He drove with significantly less regard than he did with his car.

….

Layla sighed in satisfaction as she took a bite of her chicken wrap.

"This is so good." She spoke as she got back in the car.

"It's hot out." She wiped the perspiration off of her face from waiting in line at the food stand. She reached to turn on the air conditioner.

Eric looked over at her with his fangs extended.

"It was hot you said?"

Layla glanced over at him. Time for a distraction.

"You said you had something to show me."

"You're trying to distract me from your warm, glowing skin?" He placed his hand on her wrist as he tilted his head and slid his hand up her arm.

"Maybe. But I'm also curious as to what you wanted to show me."

"Fine." He grinned playfully as he pulled back out onto the road.

They soon were headed Northwest from the city limits. Eric breezed pass the traffic with a smooth confidence that only someone entirely immortal or entirely stupid would possess.

Eric looked over to Layla, who had a puzzled look on her face.

"What are you thinking?"

"No idea." She shrugged as she smiled and bared her teeth.

"Good."

They soon arrived in a town called Kingsland. Kingsland was the home of a popular and wealthy lake called LBJ.

"Are you familiar with this area?" Eric asked while still keeping his eyes on the road.

"A little bit. I think I might have came here when I was a kid."

Eric nodded. He took a right turn off the road towards the lake.

They drove for about twelve miles until the road ended. They took one left turn and suddenly there was no real road, only dirt.

"Not my car." Eric announced as he continued on. The road went for about two more miles until it abruptly stopped on a plateau. On the tip of the plateau was a beautiful old ranch style house. It was in no condition to live in. Layla thought it must have been exquisite in it's time.

Eric stopped the car and got out. Layla followed suit.

"So, you're into real estate?" She teased.

"This is my house."

Layla raised her brow in genuine surprise. "Your house? Well…what.."

"Our conversation that night after we discussed you tattoo…you asked me what I wanted out of my undead life, and why I even bothered to deal with any sort of politics…Do you remember this?"

"Yes."

There was an almost nervous expression on his face. Layla recognized it as a timid attempt at being truly intimate. Which made Eric much more nervous than any physical manifestation of intimacy.

"I bought this house about, one hundred and twelve years ago." Eric counted back in his head.

"I figured if someday, if I do tire of the nightly grind, I promised myself I'd come here. And disappear. Pam would be welcome, but I don't think I'd want her living with me…" He lightly shook his head at the idea. "There is plenty of commerce, I wouldn't starve and plenty of land…" He spoke as if he was trying to sell his house to himself.

"But I'll never leave my position."

Layla shook her head. "Then, why did you buy the house at all?"

He looked over towards her. "Same reason you left Dameon. You wanted to be something other than what you were. You were trying to run away."

He looked back towards the house now. "You wanted to be something you're not."

Layla felt saddened by this. Eric was right. No matter how hard she tried and how far she ran, her true self always seemed to catch up with her. She didn't realize that Eric possibly felt the same way. He didn't always like being a vampire. He didn't always enjoy being so entangled in deals and politics.

And damn it now he left her practically speechless. He shared a part of himself with her. She couldn't help herself, she pulled him close and kissed him overpoweringly.

The weight of his body pressed even a little too heavily into her, he had to shift himself back a little to prevent her from falling. Eric didn't recognize this kind of arousal. Sure his fangs were extended and so was he, but he felt a sort of desperation; A overwhelming desire to cling to Layla as tightly as he could. He swept her up and placed them in the shade under a large mulberry tree beside the house. He lowered her quickly on the ground. Layla pulled her shirt from over her head and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed his cheek then stared at him intently in the eyes. Eric pulled off his shirt then met his lips with hers. He moved down his to her chest tugging at her left bra strap, but decided to work on her pants instead. Layla closed her eyes and swallowed. She enjoyed it before, but she was on fire with anticipation. Eric kicked down his and her pants and before she knew it, thrust inside her. Layla gasped and hugged his back to where her chin was resting on his shoulder.

"Layla." he whispered.

"What?"

"Layla."

"What?" She mentally told Eric to stop interrupting Eric.

"You like me better now." He suggested. His self satisfied charm returning.

"No I don't. In fact I think I'm spent."

Layla laughed as she dug her nails into his back and left a pair of long scratches. Eric moaned but only challenged her with an even deeper thrust.

"Too bad they'll heal in mere seconds."

"Too bad." She pulled him in closer as she closed her eyes. Their rhythm was accelerating.

Eric grabbed her left hand and laced it with his right and pressed it into the ground as he kissed her. Layla bit his bottom lip which made Eric grin from ear to ear. He licked his fangs.

"Creepy." She laughed.

"I can survive without….I must feed soon afterwards."

As much as she was relieved to hear it, Eric wasn't looking to hot. But she figured he knew what he was talking about. And he didn't seem to be out of energy.

Layla wrapped her entire arm around his neck. She'd sat herself up slightly and leaned herself against the tree. The bark was slightly uncomfortable. But the scratches drew no were nothing. Pleasure far outweighed the pain.

"Eric." She whispered. Surprising even herself. Eric looked at her with immense approval she said his name. Soon after that she came. Eric came seconds after.

Layla and Eric slid down. She was a little exhausted. She felt the dirt soaking into the cuts from the bark on her back. Eric laid on her chest and stomach. He clung to her tightly. His body felt almost lifeless. She reminded herself that probably was because he didn't have a heartbeat. And he didn't breath.

"Are you okay?" She asked softly.

Eric mumbled something in a foreign language in a low hushed tone. Whatever it was, he was fine.

Layla lifted her arm from his back and looked at her watch.

"We better get back." Eric started. "We don't want Batista knowing I can be out during the day. Nor do we want him knowing just how that is possible." He kissed her chest as he slowly lifted off her and pulled up his jeans.

….

As they re-clothed, Eric noticed the cuts on Layla's back.

"Did I hurt you?"

"Your tree did." Layla pointed.

"Are you…."

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Thanks?" Eric grinned.

"You are starting to warm up to me…" He started walking towards the car but quickly halted at the line of the tree.

Layla looked up and took notice of this.

"Eric?" She ran to his side. Eric quickly threw his head from the direction from the sun. His weight quickly collapsed over to her.

"Oh Jesus." Layla hurried as she grabbed him from under her arms and dragged Eric into the car. She quickly turned the key and put the top up.

Batista's window tint was extremely dark, but not nearly dark enough to block out all the rays.

Layla cringed as she watched Eric's skin rapidly disintegrating in the sun.

"Here…"

Before she could even finish, Eric sunk his fangs into Layla's arm. From his first swallow, she felt she'd lost a pint of blood. The initial bite stung like hell, Layla bit her lip until she drew blood from there, in attempt to alleviate the pain.

She began to feel a headache. She relaxed her head on the back driver side window. Eric stopped a few seconds after. He looked up at her and licked the remaining blood on her lip. Only planting more on her from his lips. He licked this off as well.

"You saved me." He announced as he pulled his face a few inches away. Of course he was pale as always, but he seemed to have much more energy.

"Again." He added.

"Yeah I know…you vampires are so fragile. Can't take you anywhere."

"You are weak now." Eric concluded as he brought his hand up to her face.

"Lie down back here. I will drive us back."

Layla nodded. Damn vampires. He was back to his nearly invincible self and she felt completely drained. She then reflected how true that statement might be.

Eric drove more cautiously now. Layla drifted in and out of sleep in the brief hour and fifteen minute drive. When they turned to Batista's garage, she insisted on walking into the house. Eric guided her back to her room.

"What happened?" He inquired about the door.

"He had me locked in here." She mumbled angrily.

"So you hammered your way out."

"Exactly." She spoke, fighting to keep her eyelids open.

Eric moved next to her on the bed.

"You must drink some of my blood."

"Hmm, no. No Eric I just need…."

"Batista will expect you to work tonight. And he will be angry that we drove his car."

"I drove his car…You can't be out during the day."

"That's right…but my scent…" He looked at his watch. "I have time to cover it."

"Good."

Eric bit his wrist.

Layla rolled her eyes.

"Drink Layla. You need your strength, at least to argue with him as to why you broke his door."

She begrudgingly complied.

Eric moaned and slightly smiled as he closed his eyes. His free hand ran atop of her head. It felt almost as if he was petting her. Layla couldn't help but laugh.

"Now sleep. Batista should rise in about two hours. Stay here and let him or me come for you."

"He'll see I've already been out of the room."

"All the same…" He laid her back on the bed.

"Sleep."

….

Layla felt someone nudge her side. It wasn't Eric. She frowned before she slowly opened her eyes.

"You look well." Batista complimented. "Though your clothes are a bit filthy." He gave her a quick once over. His man Andres was standing next to him.

"Lovely just the same." He winked…but quickly gestured back towards the door.

"17th Century Mahogany doors not to your liking?"

"Being locked up in a room all day was not part of our agreement." Layla sat up fully. Feeling almost completely rejuvenated.

"You're a woman of merit, surely you understand…I do not want people lurking in my house during the day."

"Well I'm a 'woman of merit' so there should have been no problem with it."

"Still."

"I didn't lurk."

"Yes…instead you just took my car for a joyride."

"I was hungry. And there wasn't any food in the fridge."

Batista grinned as he glared at her. Layla got off the bed and stood up now to face him.

His hand moved the hair from her neck. "No bite marks…but how can you be the Sherriff Northman's if he does not bite you?"

Layla lifted her arm up to smack his hands away but Batista caught it. He looked over at it.

"A bite on the arm…how odd."

"Let go."

"You are very formidable, Layla Oxley." He commented.

"Well, perhaps you miss living in Texas? Or the Viking will tire of you and hand you to me…" He wrapped a strand of her hair in his fingers. "But I doubt it."

"So do I…" Eric spoke as he entered the door.

"Good evening your Majesty."

"Sherriff. What an appropriate entrance." He maintained his gaze at Layla.

"This will be a busy night. You will listen to three candidates with me. I will feed then we will depart." he lowered his hand from her hair.

"Andres will bring you some clothes to change into."

Camden brought in a short young woman with short bleach blonde hair. She giggled nervously as she nodded towards Batista.

"No brunettes?" He inquired toward Camden, who shook his head.

Batista let out what sounded like an attempted sigh. He gestured for Camden and the girl to follow him.

"I would ask you to join us Northman but it seems you've fed very recently. Just before dawn last night…it must have been."

"Thank you for your consideration."

Batista was already down the hall. The sound of their footsteps slowly faded.

Andres quickly reentered with a bag of clothes.

"Half an hour." He spoke militantly as he shut the door behind him.

…..

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She took the bag of clothes to the bathroom and slightly pulled the door to. Eric sat down on the bed. "Do you know where we're going?"

"I assume Batista's club. It serves as a Mecca for several different purposes."

Layla sighed at the attire that was provided for her. She had a strapless white dress with floral cut out on the bottom. There was a short sleeved red cardigan to go over it. She rolled her eyes. Vampires just loved to dress up humans as untouched and chaste as possible…while never forgetting to allure to blood and blood lust. The pumps were red as well, but at least they weren't patent leather.

Layla emerged from the bathroom. Eric stared eagerly. Memorizing every inch of her.

"You certainly look the part of his innocent companion." His fangs were a little extended.

Layla shook her head. "I look ridiculous."

"You look beautiful." In a flash, Eric was right beside her.

"Here…" he stood behind her and pulled part of her hair back.

"There was a clip in the bag." he pulled top strands of her hair out of her face and pulled it back loosely.

"That will do nicely." he slowly lowered his hands and studied his work.

"You'll just have to stay close to my side."

"That won't be necessary…" Batista voiced. He quickly pushed the broken door open.

"Sorry Sherriff. I'm afraid it will only be me and Layla this evening. My men aren't even coming."

"That was not our agreement." Eric stated. His anger rising in his voice.

Batista smirked. "You and Layla keep speaking of this agreement. It was made in a such a hurried fashion. We have no guidelines."

Eric looked towards Layla.

"I'll be fine." She concluded.

"See Sherriff. She'll be fine. Plus, I'll protect her as if she were mine."

That's what Eric was afraid of.

Batista gestured for Layla to leave the room first. "I assume you already know the way to the garage."