A/N: I apologize for the long hiatus. Graduation for my high schooler took up a long bit of time. Please enjoy!

Chapter 2 Tuesday During the Day

"Maybe you should make sure you invite him too. I want to talk to you about Hunter a little, so I want to meet anyone in your life that you might introduce him too, just so I know what I am going to ask is a good thing for all parties concerned."

My heart did a little flip-flop when I realized it was the check and Mr. Cataliades had dropped off. I hadn't seen so many zeroes on anything in my life. I secretly wondered if I was richer than Eric!

So here I was, in my little car with Cousin Claude riding shotgun and Uncle Dermot with his head sticking out the window like a St. Bernard. I looked back to see if his tongue was hanging out in the breeze. It wasn't—thank God! I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"You know Dermot, it isn't really a good idea to stick your head out of the window with the car moving so fast. You might lose your head," I said in all earnestness.

He pulled his head back in quickly and said, "I was just enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine. I haven't had a chance to do that in a long time."

I smiled at him. How could I scold him? He was free and felt like a kid again! I miss those days and was looking forward to perhaps being a little footloose and fancy free myself I thought as I patted my pocket that contained my whopper of a check. "Well gentlemen," I said, "I am going to run to the bank first and take care of a few concerns. Do you want me to drop you two at the men's store to try on some clothes? Dermot, I'll get you a couple outfits, if you would like—my treat. Sound good?"

They both looked at each other and smiled and said that sounded like a good idea. I'd give anything to figure out why they were both so smiley all of the sudden, especially Claude, who I thought up until a couple months ago hated me, was now acting like my sun-shiniest best friend. I wondered what gave. I just rolled my eyes and smiled back, driving the car over to Bon Temps only men's clothing store.

After dropping the two Cheshire Cats off at the Men's Emporium, I sauntered into the bank armed with my ID and one bad-ass check. I asked to speak to the bank manager. That many zeroes deserved a manager, not just any old teller.

I was told to sit down and a few minutes later, Mr. Jones came out to greet me. "Won't you come this way Miss…" he left off.

"Stackhouse, Sookie Stackhouse?" I responded, thinking internally, "You numb-nut! I've only banked here my whole life and we've met several times at the annual picnic, not to mention at various church functions and retreats since I was little!" I smiled at him with my fake smile.

"Ah yes, Miss Stackhouse. I thought I recognized your name and your face. You are Adele's granddaughter, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Well, Miss Stackhouse, what can I do for you today." Doubt we can get you a loan when you are only a waitress. Hope the property isn't heading toward foreclosure.

I smiled again at Mr. Jones and took the check out of my pocket and said simply, "Well, I'd like to make a deposit of this into my account and then I'd like to have you help me make some simple investments and set up a couple trust funds for a few of my family members…" and I would have gone on, but both his face and mind had gone blank. "Mr. Jones, are you okay?"

He snapped back at the mention of his name and actually shook his head and stared from me to the check a few times. "This is a certified check," he stated very simply and very obviously.

"Yes," I said point blank, the corner of my mouth going up in pride just a little at having befuddled poor Mr. Jones in such a way.

"And it's made out for…"

"Yes," I said firmly, "and it's made out to me. Now that we've established that, can you help me or should I look at moving my account to another larger bank." God! Money made me into such a savvy-sounding vixen.

"No!" he said with fear in his eyes. "No. We can help you with whatever you need, but please don't move your account away from this bank. You've been a valued customer for so long." And if you move your account away, and the board finds out, they'll fire me!

"I wouldn't dream of it, Mr. Jones. Now about those trust funds…" and an hour later I was on my way out the door with several pieces of paper in my hand and the knowledge that I had set up the people of my life very well and the next generation too if properly managed and cared for, for the foreseeable future. That was a good feeling. I had a great feeling about today.

I left my car at the bank parking lot and walked down the street a ways to the Men's Emporium to find my Faery kinfolk. They were about ready to leave and had found several nice outfits. Claude was just finishing with the cashier.

"I thought I was treating to the outfits," I told Caulde.

"Sorry Cousin," he said with his newly adopted grin, "but I'll pay for the outfits today."

"Umm, okay," I said, "I guess I just wanted to flash my new found wealth around a little. Claude, I am feeling so generous! You can't imagine not having anything for your whole life and scrimping and saving and working from paycheck to paycheck, and then suddenly coming into such a nice amount of money. You don't know how many nice things I can do with this money! I feel like I can finally take care of the people I care about the most."

"You have a good soul, Sookie Stackhouse," said Claude, kissing my forehead and cupping my face with his hand. "So many people would want to spend all the money and buy many toys, but you want to make the lives of everyone around you better. You are a rare breed." I smiled up at him. I could get lost in those looks…but too bad he's gay…and he's my cousin…eww! I made a mental note to not think of my male relative like that anymore. After all, I have Eric, right?

Thinking of Eric reminded me that I should probably give his voice mail another call, so I left the store ahead of the boys and dialed and got his voice mail right away. "Hello Eric," I began speaking rather quickly so I didn't get cut off again, "could you and Pam please be at my place tonight for a party as quickly as you can after sunset…I figure about eight forty-five or so? Don't bring anything, just yourselves. I'm having an impromptu party just for family. I want everyone to meet everyone else. The Faery cousins will be there too, so I hope you can behave yourselves," little pause, "Can't you?" BEEP! Well, at least I got to leave a sentient message this time.

Just as I finished my call, the boys came out of the shop. "Where to now, Cousin?" asked Claude.

"We'll go to the grocery store to get some hamburgers and buns, some corn on the cob, butter, potatoes, sweet tea and blood," I began, "and some charcoal and then we need to go to the hardware store and buy us a grill and fairy lights."

So we shopped and shopped and shopped until we had everything that we needed to make the evening special. I was on an emotional high all afternoon—shopping, even for a grill and some groceries can do that to a girl!

When we finally made it back home I threw on my bikini top and some skimpy shorts and made some sweet tea for my cousin and uncle and asked them if they would come and help with the lights outside. We had a really great time chit chatting about their lives in Faery and other relatives that I'd never known about. I in turn, told them more about Gran and Hadley as well as Jason. Dermot seemed to be very excited to see Jason again. Everyone was in such a great mood. The sun had gone behind a couple clouds, so I suggested that we try out the lights to make sure they worked.

I wasn't so sure about all my electrical capabilities at the house, and I didn't think that a few lights would draw too much energy, but I guess I was wrong. I blew a fuse and had to call on Jason to come early to fix it for me. He and Michele arrived around six o'clock with a couple of the old fashion screw-in-type fuses. I made a mental note to get the house rewired with brand new wiring throughout and a real circuit breaker, but that would have to wait for another day.

"Michele, it is so good to see you again," I said to her with genuine enthusiasm. I liked Michele for her no-nonsense-self and even better, I liked her for my possible future sister-in-law.

"Is there anything I can do to help with the food?" she asked, politely.

I beamed at her and gathered her up with me and left the boys to talk man-talk together, "Sure honey," I said, "come in the kitchen and help me put the spread together. Jason!" I yelled over my shoulder to my brother, "can you please get the charcoal started and show Claude and Dermot how to work a grill?"

"Sure thing, Sis!" he grinned back. Everyone was so smiley today. It's like they all had a big happy pill or something. It was almost unnerving, like I'd stepped into the Stepford-version of my life. I wondered if Eric and Pam would be so sappy happy when they got here…

"Michele," I said when we got to the kitchen, "I haven't had such a big dinner party since I don't know when!"

"How many people are coming over, Sookie?"

"Well, let's see. Dermot, Claude, me-that's three-you and Jason-that's five-Remy and Hunter Savoy, our cousin Hadley's ex and their son-that's seven-and later on, Eric and Pam will be arriving when they wake up for the day, so nine all together, but obviously only seven are eating."

"That's all? It looks like there's enough food to feed an army!"

"Excuse me, but have you seen my brother eat? There's barely enough here for the rest of us with him around!" This sent Michele into a gale of laughter, which I joined in. When I calmed down a bit I said to her, "You know what makes me so happy about today?"

"No; what?" she replied picking up on my serious tone.

"Family," I said simply. "For a while there, I thought the only family I had left in the world was Jason. Then I met Claudine, that's Claud's sister, but she's gone now and I met my great-grandfather Niall, but he's gone to another place now too, but I'm not sad. I have Claude, and now Dermot, and I've discovered Remy and Hunter. You'll like him, he's so cute! And there's Eric and Pam. Michele, I am truly happy right now."

She put down the hamburger that she was patting and walked around the table to give me a big hug, being careful not to touch my back with her patty-hands. "Honey," she said with tears in her eyes, "Jason said the same thing about today too. You know he's been just as lonely as can be too and I couldn't be happier for the both of you!"

As we wiped our eyes, there was a knock at the door. "Coming!" I sang as I went to the door. It opened just before I got to it and I was immediately attacked by a three foot munchkin who planted a big kiss on my cheek. I missed you Aunt Sookie! Daddy and I have been looking forward to coming since this morning.

Well, I'm glad to hear it! I thought back to him. Now let's make sure that we use our voices this evening. Have you been practicing your blocking and talking, like I showed you?

He nodded and dismissed himself to go and look through a box of books that I had in my old room, which he had come to think of as his in the short time he'd been here a week ago. That gave me a moment to be alone with Remy.

"Thanks for having us over tonight Sookie. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I've been wondering if…" he began, but Jason ran in to ask where the patties were so he could put them on the barbeque to cook, which meant that I had to get my butt in gear and get the corn boiling and the rest of the food out.

"Hold that thought for a little while, Remy, and why don't you let me get you something to drink and take you out back and introduce you. We can talk about Hunter in a little while, privately, okay?"

"Okay," he said sounding a little dejected, but a little relieved at being able to put off what he needed to talk about.

I introduced Remy and Hunter, who had come out of the bedroom to show his dad a book, to all the guests and told him how Hunter was related to each of them. We ate dinner and sat around conversing as the sun began to set in the sky. It was about 8:15 p.m. and I could feel Eric stirring at his home in Shreveport. I knew he'd be here in record time and I hoped he'd get me message and bring Pam too. As 8:45 p.m. approached, I could feel him drawing closer and closer. He was flying. He always had a certain sense of freedom when he flew. I looked around the sky for him. Remy saw me looking up and asked if I was looking for a falling star to make a wish on.

"No," I mused, "just a falling vampire." And no sooner did I speak than Eric was gently floating out of the sky to stop right in front of me. He was freshly showered and dressed in blue jeans and a t-shirt with a Fangtasia logo on it. Hotter than a volcano! He kissed me gently on the forehead in greeting.

"Hello wife!" he tried, wiggling his eyebrows and looking a little suspiciously at Remy. He held his hand out to Remy (a very unvampirelike gesture) and said, "Hello, I'm Eric, Sookie's husband."

With all his southern gentleman good graces, Remy took Eric's hand and introduced himself as my cousin. I looked away, amused at the exchange, but annoyed at Eric for putting the first damper on my nice party. Remy wasn't going to let me off the hook that easily and said with a grin, "Sookie, I didn't realize that you were married."

"Well, it's complicated. One of us tricked the other into maybe making a gesture that made the other think we were hitched, but we are not legally married in the eyes of the State of Louisiana…I think. I don't know," I answered lamely.

"We were wed according to my traditions and we are bonded to one another for a hundred years. We are married," Eric piped in response to Remy, but aimed at me. Poor Remy, was caught in the middle of a polite tennis match of an argument.

"Where's Pam?" I lobbed in an effort to steer the conversation to a subject more to my liking.

Eric responded, "She took the car here so that the wind didn't mess her hair up. She'll be here in a half hour or so."

"Who is Pam?" Remy asked Eric directly, trying to grasp the relationships at the party.

"Pam is my child." Now, since I am so used to the vampire world, I know that a child is someone who was turned by a particular vampire, but I don't think Remy was that savvy. Besides, he'd had a few to drink tonight.

"So Sookie?" Remy asked. "Does that make Pam your step-daughter?"

Eric guffawed and clapped Remy on the shoulder, and I blushed. "Yes," Eric replied before I could say anything, "Sookie is Pam's step-mother." He and Remy were certainly hitting it off well, I thought to myself as I stormed off to find more stimulating conversation. I found Michele and struck up a dialogue with her. I was watching Eric from across the lawn. He was doing a great job of trying to fit in with my relatives, and even was holding Hunter up in his arms, and my heart gave a little leap in his direction. It wouldn't be so bad to married to him—really truly married to him—if he'd only just ask. I think that was my biggest hang up about saying I was his wife…he never asked, and I never got to choose him.

Suddenly, I felt a little ping in my head. Something wasn't quite right. I looked over at Eric again, and saw Hunter whispering in his ear. What are to telling Uncle Eric, Hunter! Hunter leaned around Eric and just smiled at me and thought to me. I've been practicing blocking Aunt Sookie, and I've been practicing fishing too. I'm getting good at this! Uncle Eric's going to buy me a toy!

You didn't tell him what I just was thinking, did you? I thought to him and blushed. Hunter just grinned in response and Michele asked me if I was okay since I looked a little flushed. "I'm fine," I assured her and excused myself to go and clear some dishes from the picnic table. When I got to the kitchen, there was a knock at the front door. I went to answer it, thinking that Pam was being eccentric as usual. I pasted a grin on my face and said, as I was opening the door, "Hello sex-kitten! You're late!" since I knew that would amuse her.

"Good evening ma'am," said Agent Lattesta, next to him was Victor Madden.