A/N: Thanks to all who have left a review. I truly appreciate your kind words and support. I was craving something out the ordinary when I started this story. So I thought, who would be the most unlikely characters to hook up on TB. Mmmm...Tara and Bill. It appears I'm not the only one who's a little bored with the Eric/Sookie/Bill dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Eric Northman and Sookie's my favorite telepath, and I like Bill's cool exterior, but c'mon people, let's mix it up a bit! Try something different once in while, you just might like it.

FORGET ME NOT – Part II

The next night…

Someone was standing outside Bill's door. He could sense the human's presence as he lounged on his sofa, staring at the churning fireplace. He was alone in the old plantation house. His young progeny, Jessica, was out on a date tonight; she and Hoyt had finally reconciled. Bill suspected that soon the two lovers would find a place of their own to cohabitate and then he would go back to living out his existence alone. His thoughts returned to Sookie, as they always did, remembering the first time they made love. It was right here, in front of the crackling fire. It dawned on him that he may never feel that close to humanity again or taste the sweetness of innocence and true love as he once had with Sookie.

Footsteps drew closer, creeping along the old floorboards of his porch. He slowly got up and went to the door, but didn't open it. Instead, he sniffed the air, trying to recognize the human's scent. Had another one of those anti-vampire radicals come to finish the job? A part of him looked forward to meeting his second, final death. Without Sookie, what reason did he have to continue his lonely, meaningless existence?

The knock on the door was faint, but grew louder and more persistent. Bill opened the door and was shocked to see Tara standing there, tears running down her sharp cheeks. Her braids were disheveled and she was wearing what appeared to be Jason Stackhouse's wrinkled plaid shirt. Yet, he could smell Sam's scent heavily on her skin.

She stared back at him with a haunted look in her big brown eyes. He cautiously glanced over her shoulder into the darkness to see if anyone else was with her.

"Tara? What are you doing here? Is there something wrong?"

His stomach knotted. Was Sookie in trouble? The blood bond would have told him if she was in danger.

Her dark gaze bore into him. "You said if you could, you'd take it all back. Make it so none of this shit ever happened."

He nodded slowly. "Yes, I would... If that was possible."

She took a step closer to the threshold separating them. "I want you to do it."

"Do what?"

"Erase it all. Everything."

Bill stared at her, bewildered. "I do not understand."

She reached out and grabbed his shirt, bunching the black fabric in her small hands.

"I want you to make me forget. I want it all to go away. My mama, Maryann, Eggs, Franklin, Sam and Jason. All of it!"

"Jason? What does he have to do-?"

"He killed him!" she cried. "All this time it was him. He killed my Eggs!"

She burrowed her head against his chest. "I just…want it all…to disappear." she sobbed.

Bill was at a loss. He placed a hesitant arm around her shoulders as she gave in to her anger and grief, forcing out racking, strangled cries that shook her slender frame. He waited patiently until they subsided and she was only sniffling.

A crisp breeze whipped around them and she shivered in his arms. "Come inside." he said. "Sit by the fire."

He felt her resistance at first as he tried to lead her from the porch.

She sat down, perched on the edge of her seat like a fragile bird ready to take flight at the first sign of danger. He pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and handed it to her. She lowered her head and wiped her tear stained cheeks and blew her nose.

He stared down at her, wondering what he should do next. He'd never seen her this way and didn't want to upset her more. "Tara," he began cautiously, "I know you have suffered a great deal, but I do not believe erasing your memories is the right thing to do."

Her head snapped up. "I don't give a shit if it's right. I want the nightmares to stop. I'm sick of all this fucked up shit in my life. I didn't ask for it and I don't wanna know about it! All I want is to go back to being normal and the people around me to be normal too. No more of this supernatural shit."

He went to sit beside her on the sofa, placing his hand over hers. "Tara, I understand why you would want this, but if I were to rid you of all the bad things that have happened in your life, I would be erasing everything that makes you the person you are. Humans cannot grow or feel compassion without experiencing a certain degree of suffering."

The only sound came from the crackling fire. He hoped his words were getting through. He didn't want to be the one responsible for changing her. He'd already done enough to change the lives of the people around him, and he didn't want to create more damage.

She snatched her hands away. "What the hell do you know about being human? You haven't been one in like a thousand years."

"A hundred and forty-two to be exact," he corrected, ignoring the accusation in her voice.

"You think because you're around us, fuck us, and drink our blood you got a right to lecture me on being human." She stood, glaring down at him. "Well fuck you… You… You cold, presumptuous bastard! I don't even know what the hell Sookie ever saw in you. Oh, I forgot, you let her get beat half to death so you could feed her your blood. So I guess it wasn't Sookie, it was you all along. So much for your fuckin' high-handed morals."

He felt his fangs extending as a growl rumbled up his throat. He stood to face her. "What Sookie and I had was real. I made a mistake that I will regret for the rest of my existence, but despite whatever you think of me, I do love her. I will always love her. "

Her lips curved into a taunting smile. She scoffed. "Sookie's never gonna forgive you. You know that, don't you? "

He turned away from her to calm himself, afraid of what he might do. "That is her decision. It does not change how I feel. Perhaps, one day I can make amends…"

Her laugh was short. Humorless. "Keep dreamin'. If you really wanna so-call 'make amends' you're gonna have to do it through me. I know I'm not the one you want, but I'm giving you a chance for a little redemption. Take it 'cause it's all you ever gonna get from either of us. All you have to do is let me reboot and start new."

Bill hung his head. She was right. He had been deluding himself to think Sookie would ever trust or forgive him. Tara was now his only hope at redeeming himself. At least with her, he had the power to change the past.

He turned to face her. "Are you sure this is really what you want?"

Tears glistened in her eyes, but there was a determined set to her jaw. "I never wanted nothin' more in my whole fucked up life."

He gave a sigh of resignation. "Then sit." he commanded, gesturing towards the sofa.

Obediently, she sat down and waited for him to approach.

Bill sat beside her, his eyes leveled with hers. "Tara, I want you to concentrate on my voice."

She nodded.

"Now clear your mind. I want you to open yourself to me. Allow me to take total control."

Her pupils dilated. The glamour was working.

He began the retelling of her life, starting with a happy childhood filled with love, a doting mother who was sober and never abusive, and her two best friends, Sookie and Jason Stackhouse. He then went on to tell about the first time she fell in love. It was with a traveling musician, named Eggs Benedict Talley. There was no Maryann in this tale. The evil maenad never existed.

"Eggs loved you very much," he told her, "but he was in a horrible car accident that unfortunately took his life."

A sad look slid over her face. "My poor Eggs…" she said.

Bill caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Your time together was short but filled with more love than most couples have experienced in a lifetime. The last night you were together, you made love until dawn. He told you how much he cherished you and you told him the same."

A tear slid from the corner of her eye. Bill wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "You did mourn him for quite some time, but eventually your family and Sookie helped you to get over your heartbreak and grief."

She smiled at him, but it quickly wavered. "Then Franklin showed up."

"Yes," he said, feeling her fear through their connection. "But he was just another customer in the bar. You served him a bottle of TruBlood. He flirted a bit, gave you a nice tip, then left. You never saw him again."

"I never saw him again," she repeated.

"What about Sam?" she asked.

What did she want to forget about Sam? Had he hurt her in some way?

"What did Sam do?" he asked.

"We fucked a few times, but this morning he told me he was a shape shifter."

Bill's eyes widened, surprised that Sam would make such a confession. Though vampires were now out in the open, the two-natured kept their existence closely guarded. Perhaps Sam had deeper feelings for Tara than she realized.

"Sam must really trust you to confide such a secret."

"But it's too much. I can't handle it. I don't wanna think of Sam as a non-human, a Supernatural."

"Not all Supes are bad, Tara. There is good and bad among us, just like humans. Sam is one the good ones."

"What about you? Are you good?"

"I like to think that I am, though I am not without flaws. I have made mistakes that have cost me a great deal."

"Like what?"

His voice caught in his throat and he almost broke the glamour. He took second to compose himself. "Like with your friend, Sookie. She and I were in love once, but I made an error in judgment. I did something that was unforgiveable. Now, she has chosen to shut me out of her life completely."

She gave him incredulous look. "Sookie's the most forgiving person I know. Maybe if I talk to her for you and let her know it was all a big mistake-."

"No." He cut her off abruptly. Tara had practically declared herself his sworn enemy. If she suddenly became his champion in getting them back together, it would raise too many questions. "That part of our relationship is over." he said, feeling the hole in his gut deepening. "I only desire Sookie to be happy and to find someone she can have a normal life with. She at least deserves that much. And if you were to bring this up to her, it would only cause her more pain. Do you understand, Tara?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good."

He started to end their mental connection, but her warm hand on his cheek stopped him.

"What about us. Are we close?"

He stared at her for a long time. Should I tell her the truth? Let her know that just moments ago she despised me.

Selfishly, he was enjoying this gentle side of Tara and didn't want see that look of hate return to her eyes. He placed a hand over the one touching his face. "You and I are very good friends. We… We care for one another. And I would never let any harm come to you." Ever again.

She smiled and leaned closer. "Then that explains it."

"Explains what?"

"Why I feel safe with you."

Guilt prodded at him. The false sense of security was just a side effect of the glamour.

She turned slightly resting her head on his shoulder. He swallowed and licked his lips that had suddenly gone dry.

"Tell me about us." she said.

"We've been acquainted for some time now, about three years. You know that my name is Bill Compton. I am a vampire and your closest neighbor. And if you or Sookie ever need my help I will not hesitate to come to your aid."

Tara lifted her head. Her smile widened. "I'm glad we're close, Bill."

Bill swallowed. "As am I."

She let out such a giddy, girly laugh that it took him by surprise. He had always thought Tara was attractive, but seeing her this way, happy and almost childlike, made his stomach flutter. There was such a time when Sookie looked at him the same way with that twinkle of sweetness and wonder in her eyes. But that was before danger and mayhem had taken hold, snatching away her innocence. Sookie had learned all too soon that life with a real vampire was nothing like those dreadful romance novels. It was pain and death, and never-ending darkness. She deserved to be in the light with someone who could bring that twinkle back into her eyes, maybe someone like that were, Alcide. He frowned in disgust, the thought leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Why do you look so sad?" Tara's question pulled him from his thoughts.

"You reminded me of something I never thought I see again."

She tilted her head, giving him an appraising look. "Bill, can I ask you a personal question?"

He nodded.

"Are you lonely?"

Yes, he was lonely. There was no question, but what was the point of sharing his true feelings with her? His loneliness could only be eased by one person and that woman would sooner spit at him than speak to him.

"Yes. Very." The confession slipped out before he realized he said it aloud. He let out a tortured sigh.

She stared at him with eyes filled with compassion. "Well, I'm here. I don't mind being your shoulder to lean on. If that's what you need."

It felt good to hear those words, even if they were not real.

"Thank you, Tara, but that is not necessary."

She placed her free hand on his other cheek. "I think it is, Bill. It's obvious that you need a friend right now."

She ruffled his hair with her slender fingers. "Someone who can bring the light back into your eyes. They look dead." she joked.

He remembered when Sookie used to ruffle his hair that way. He moaned inwardly. This wasn't right. Why had he allowed Tara to talk him into this in the first place? She only thought they were friends because of the lies he put in her head. What he was doing to her was no better than what he'd done to Sookie by feeding her his blood that first night.

"Tara. Stop." He said, grabbing hold of her wrists and placing them in her lap.

"What's wrong? Don't you want me to cheer you up?"

His nostrils flared. Beneath Sam's lingering scent, he could smell her fragrance, a mixture of vanilla and honeydew, and the delicious spice of her blood. He even smelled a faint trace of his former lover. It was only natural with Tara living in her house that she would pick up some of Sookie's scent. If only he could bottle it up and keep it close to him during his lonely days and nights.

"You said you wanted Sookie to be happy. Don't you want to be happy too?"

"Tara-."

She inched closer, her body heat surrounding him, awakening parts of his anatomy that had been dormant since the last time he and Sookie were intimate. He closed his eyes, trying to assuage the desire growing inside him. Why couldn't he allow himself a few moments of solace? He could create a fantasy for himself, the way he did for Tara.

No, it would be another betrayal to Sookie.

She doesn't love you anymore.

It would not be fair to Tara.

Then make her forget. She wants to forget…

No!

"Tara, there is something I should tell you…"

She placed a finger over his mouth to hush him. "Bill, I already know everything I need to know."

"But I have to-."

She kissed him before he could make any further protest. The sudden contact sent his head spinning for a moment. It took all his vampire strength to gently push her away.

"Tara, this is wrong. You are not yourself. I-I changed you."

She shrugged. "For the better, I hope."

"I am not sure if that is true."

"I have no regrets, Bill. I'm happier than most folks. I got friends and family that care about me… And I have you."

"Tara, you are still under my influence. What you feel is…"

"Is real." she finished. "And what I feel right now is that you need me." She was so close that her sweet minted breath feathered across his face. She licked her full lips and his gaze followed the movement of her tongue. When he looked into her eyes again, a flicker of desire burned within their depths. Now another scent permeated his senses, the tantalizing musk of her arousal. He felt the throbbing ache in his gums as his fangs extended. He watched her gaze shift to his mouth, staring at the sharp points hanging over his bottom lip. Bill closed his eyes, embarrassed by his lack of control. He was behaving like fledgling vampire.

"You want me." She said, a small smile emerging on her lips.

How could he not? He realized that Tara was more beautiful than he had ever allowed himself to see. There were so many layers to the woman sitting in front of him. He understood now why Eggs was so taken by the sweet tender side she kept locked away; how Sam couldn't help being seduced by her potent sexuality, despite his not-so-secret feelings for Sookie; why Franklin had been so obsessed with claiming the broken Tara whose rage and despair had mirrored his own. It was the same reason why Jason was pulled in by her vulnerability and had appointed himself her protector. She was many things to many men. Even Bill found himself being drawn to her spirit, like a moth to a flame. She was so full of life. He leaned towards her, wanting to taste the richness of her essence and feel it sliding down his throat.

Then reality came rushing back. He looked away, ashamed by his thoughts. "Tara, you should go home now."

Influenced by the glamour, she immediately stood up. "Alright, if that's what you want."

He squeezed his eyes shut. A tremor went through his body.

Let her go, Bill. You must stop this now. Break the glamour.

He grabbed her arm. "No. Wait." What the hell was he doing? Why couldn't he just let her walk out the door?

"Please… I do not wish for you to leave. Stay with me… Tonight." It came out sounding like a desperate plea, but he no longer cared. He didn't want to be alone. He was tired of fighting against his nature, trying to do what was right when all he really wanted was to feel alive again.

"I'm not going anywhere." She smiled and sat back down beside him. "I'll stay however long you want me to." Her words touched him to his core. She looked so sweet and innocent. There was no hint of fear, anger, or resentment in her face. She was the total opposite of the woman that had showed up on his doorstep just a few hours ago. Without thought, he took her into his arms and kissed her softly on the lips.

I hope you enjoyed this Thanksgiving treat. I only ask that you leave a review as payment.