A/N: I'm so glad you're liking it so far. I did forget to mention in the summary that this is an AH story. I also forgot to mention that the only characters I own are Sookie's kids! Everyone else belongs to CH!

Chapter 2:

I couldn't wait to see Amelia. We've had a long standing tradition of getting together most every Saturday. We would miss one every now and then, but rarely. And we hadn't missed one since Sam died. She always brings Frannie with her and the kids play while we talk. Sometimes we go out on outings, but today we were staying at my house and Quinn was coming over for supper when he got off work. I really needed her insight on all this dream stuff that was happening in my house last night!

The minute she walked in the door, she knew something was up…sometimes I would swear she's a witch or something! Frannie, Bo, and Riley ran outside as I gathered up Emily. I handed her to Amelia so I could set up her little enclosed play yard and got the chairs for us out and set up so we could watch the older kids.

"Ok Sookie, what's up?"

I took a deep breath before I started. "I had a dream about Sam last night."

Amelia looked concerned. "Sook, I know how hard this has been on you. Are you sure you're ok?"

I knew what she was getting at. She and Quinn were the ones that had to deal with me the night it happened, and afterwards. I shut down…completely. I wouldn't talk, I wouldn't eat, it was bad. My brother and his wife, Tara, had to take care of the kids. Then, after a few days, I finally started functioning again. I was able to take care of the kids and they thought I was over the hump so to speak, but then I started telling them about my dreams…of Sam coming back to us and everything being ok again. I never told them about the nightmares. I just couldn't. I got to the point that I wouldn't tell them I was still having any of them because of the reactions I would get. Then it hit me that I really hadn't had one in the last month or so…until last night.

"This one was different Ames. He told me everything was going to be alright, but that I had to make that choice and move on."

Amelia was stunned. It took her a minute to say anything. "Sookie…that is wonderful! I've been hoping for so long that you would realize you have to move forward with your life. Did he say anything else in the dream?"

"I know. Yeah, he did actually. He told me that Gran didn't have much longer and that he had been looking for my 'other half'. He said that what we had was great but I'm suppose to be with someone else. He said everything happens for a reason. He told me that he loves me and that he wants me to be happy."

"Wow. Well, sounds like you're ready. Too bad he couldn't tell you who your 'other half' is huh?" She was trying to lighten the mood.

"He said he would enter my life soon but he couldn't tell me any details. He said that other men would also be interested in me but it was my choice to make as to who I would be with. Basically, I know he is sending someone to me who is wonderful, but I ultimately have to choose to be with him myself. He also said that he has had a rough time of it lately too and would be just as stubborn as me for a while to protect himself."

I'd stunned Amelia again. "Anything else?"

"Yes, there is. When I woke up, I was trying to decide if this dream was real or not when I saw Bo come in my room in tears. He had a dream about Sam too. Sam told him that he loved him and that he would be getting a new Daddy soon who would take care of all of us because the job was too big for Bo to handle on his own. We talked about it and he thinks it's time for us to move forward too. I'd be willing to bet that Riley and Emily had dreams about Sam as well. Do I sound crazy?"

I could tell Amelia was trying to process everything before she spoke, so I watched the kids playing. Riley was in the sand box - that confirmed for me that I was right about him dreaming about Sam too. He hadn't played in the sand box since Sam died. That was something they always did together. I felt tears in my eyes as I watched him play with a sweet little smile on his face. He looked so content. Bo and Frannie were in the little 'clubhouse' at the top of the swing set. I was willing to bet that he was talking to her about his dream. Emily was 'singing' to herself as she likes to do and I couldn't hold the tears back when I recognized what she was singing…it was the song that Sam always sang to get her to go to sleep. I grabbed Amelia's hand and I saw tears in her eyes when she recognized the song too. I pointed over at Riley and the tears started falling down her face, just like mine.

"Y'all are all going to be fine Sookie. This is most definitely a sign that it's time. I've never heard of anything like this, but there is no other explanation. I am so happy for all of you!" She pulled me into a hug as I smiled through my tears and agreed with her. A few minutes later, her cell started ringing and we both knew it was Quinn by the "Eye of the Tiger" ringtone. (He LOVES that song!) It makes me laugh every time I hear it.

"Hey honey!" Amelia sniffed. Pause. "Oh nothing, I'll fill you in later, but we're all fine… more than fine actually." Pause. "Ok, hang on." Amelia put her phone on speaker so I could hear both sides of the conversation.

"Ok baby, we're both here."

"Hey Sookie, is Ames telling the truth…is everything ok?" I could hear the concern in his voice.

"Hey Quinn, yes, she's telling the truth. Everything is fine."

"Ok, I'll just have to get the details later. Listen, I want to take you two out tonight. It's been a long time since we did that."

"Oh Quinn, I can't…I'll never get anyone to watch the kids on such short notice." I was looking for an excuse and he knew it.

"Already done babe. I called Pam and she is coming to your house to watch all the kids." Pam's the baby sister of Quinn's college roommate. I'd never met him, but Quinn and he were like brothers. She is the only person we trust with our kids other than Gran or Jason and Tara. She's graduating high school this year, so I don't know what we will do once she leaves for college.

"Are you sure she didn't have any plans tonight Quinn?"

"Yes, I made sure. Besides, you know she's saving money for school."

He had taken away all my arguments. He knows me too well. Amelia knows him though.

"Quinn, what's up? I can tell you are very excited about this evening for some reason."

"I can't slip anything past you can I, Ames?" He chuckled. "Fine. Eric is in town and we're meeting him at a bar he's thinking about buying. He's moved home Ames!"

"Oh Quinn, that's terrific! I can't wait to see him!"

"Sookie, I just thought you would enjoy a night out. It's been way too long babe."

I took a deep breath and looked at Amelia. She was smiling and nodding her head at me. "Ok, you're right Quinn, it has been a long time. I think it'll be fun!"

"Great! You two need to be ready by 6:30 ok?"

We agreed. "Ok, I gotta call Eric back and let him know the plan. Bye Sookie! Love you babe."

"Bye Quinn."

"Love you too baby!" Amelia was so excited as she hung up the phone. "Ok Sookie, we need to load the kids up and go shopping – you need a new dress for tonight."

"Amelia, I can make do with something I already have."

"Absolutely not Sookie! I know how hard this is going to be on you and I don't want you wearing something that is just going to keep reminding you of Sam. You can wear those later on. You need something brand new as you get started with your new life."

She really did have a good point. How am I suppose to move forward if I keep everything the same and think about Sam the whole time? With a tear in my eye, I nodded at Amelia. She pulled me into a hug and whispered that I was doing the right thing. After a minute or so, we went to gather up our kids. She ran over to Riley and he squealed as she chased after him before throwing him up on her shoulders, getting sand everywhere! I picked Emily up as I called for Bo and Frannie. Emily looked at me with a very sweet smile as we went inside. We were out the door about 20 minutes later and on our way to the mall.

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We decided to just have lunch at the food court to make life easier on us. It's a lot easier to deal with 3 kids wanting something different that way when you're eating out! Then it was time to find me something for tonight. I was actually starting to get excited about it. I hadn't been 'out' in a little over a year now. I devoted my life to my kids and didn't even think about it. Now, I realized this really would be good for me. I figured going out with Quinn and Amelia rather than a 'date' would be better for a while. This 'moving forward' thing was really going to require baby steps for me. I was also glad to finally be meeting Eric. I'd heard all about him over the years from Quinn, Amelia, and even Pam. He sounded like a great guy. Sam got to meet him once when he was in town visiting, but I'd been too sick. He said he was 'pretty cool'.

About an hour (and 4 cranky kids) later, I'd found the perfect dress! I was really getting excited now. I had a pair of strappy sandals I could wear with it so I all I needed was the dress itself. Amelia found a new dress for her as well, so we were both going to be looking great tonight!

Since we had found our dresses, we decided to do a little window shopping before we headed home. We also let the kids ride the little mechanical rides so they were very happy. Suddenly, I heard my name being called out.

"Sookie? Is that you?"

I turned and saw a man I hadn't seen since Sam's funeral. Tears came to my eyes, but thankfully didn't spill. "Alcide…" Before I could say anymore I was engulfed in his huge arms. Alcide had been Sam's best friend and he took his death very hard. I think we had been avoiding each other to be honest, so we wouldn't have to deal with the pain.

I heard his chest rumble, "It's been too long Sookie." I squeezed him harder as I agreed with him. Then I heard Bo behind us. "Alcide! Is that you?" He released me with a smile and turned as Bo launched himself at him. He caught my son in a bear hug and Bo had the biggest grin on his face.

"I've missed you Alcide! Where have you been?" Bo, all the kids actually, had been close to Alcide. Before he could answer, Riley and Frannie were attacking him too. Amelia and I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of a mountain of a man being attacked by 3 children.

"Oh my gosh…I can't believe how big all of you have gotten! What are y'all feeding these kids?!" Amelia and I continued to laugh. "Sorry I haven't been around guys. I've been pretty busy, but that's no excuse…I should've been to see you." He was looking at me as he said it.

After they kids felt they had been paid enough attention by Alcide, they went back to the rides with Amelia, once Alcide got in a hug from her and asked how Quinn was doing that is. Then he turned back to me and I was holding Emily up for him. His eyes got huge.

"Oh boy, she has really grown a lot!" He took her in his arms and kissed her forehead. When he looked up at me, I saw his eyes glistening, "She's beautiful Sookie, just like her Mama."

"Thanks Alcide." I put her back in the stroller and turned back to Alcide.

"I'm really sorry Sookie. I should've come around to help you. I just couldn't do it. I miss him so much." I took his hand in mine.

"It's ok Alcide. We're ok and believe me, I understand. You had enough going on in your life. How are you? Did the divorce go through ok?"

Alcide's wife, Debbie, had just left him about a month before Sam died. It turned out she was cheating on Alcide. He'd come home early from a business trip and found them in his bedroom! She told Alcide that she didn't love him anymore and was going to be with the other guy. Alcide was heartbroken. This all happened on their anniversary too. Then losing Sam on top of that….

"Yeah, everything went fine. Since we'd only been married a couple of years and her cheating and all, I don't have to pay alimony or anything. It was final about 4 months ago. But it feels like it's been over for much longer. I'm ready to move forward."

I nodded as I said "I know exactly what you mean."

"Sookie, can I ask you something?"

"Sure Alcide, you can ask me anything, you know that."

He took a deep breath, as if working up his nerve…weird.

"Would you go out with me one night…like on a date?"

I know I had to look shocked at first, but then I figured why not. I'd known Alcide a long time but we hadn't seen each other in a year or so. He was great with the kids and they loved him. Maybe Alcide was who Sam had meant.

"Yes, I think that would be nice Alcide."

A huge grin spread across his face. "Ok…uh…yeah." I couldn't help but giggle at him. That seemed to ease him a little bit. "Sorry…why don't I call you and we can decide what we want to do."

"That sounds great Alcide. The number's still the same. But we really should be going. I'm so glad we ran into you." Amelia and the kids had returned.

"Me too Sookie. Well guys, I gotta go. I promise I'll see y'all soon ok?" He hugged Bo, Frannie, and Riley. He bent down and kissed Emily on the head again, then he hugged Amelia and me.

We barely got the kids loaded and on the road before Amelia was on me. "Ok girl, I know that look…what's up?"

"Alcide asked me to go out with him one night."

"And…."

"I said I would. It's just a date. We'll see what happens."

"That's great Sookie. I think the first time you go out with a man is going to be extremely hard…maybe since it'll be Alcide, it'll be a little bit easier." I just nodded.