Remember - some parts will be directly from the show, others are comepletely new pieces. Enjoy!
Note - this picks up from the ending of Sookie and Sam's coffee date. Also, do not assume that what happens in between the epsiodes I've not written about, happen here. As you'll see, Tara and Jason's relationship doesn't hit certain bumps that it did in the show - so basically, if you're confused either PM me or wait for things to get more explained as the story goes. :D
"You go ahead..." Sookie strutted to the restaurant door. "I'll call a cab."
"Oh for cryin' out loud, don't be stupid Sookie. Get in!" Sam had never been more furious. Concern and jealousy flooded him as he fought to be sensible. It was too late. The door had closed and Sookie hadn't even bothered to look back once. "Sookie!" He knew his attempt was for naught. He slammed the passenger door and made his way to the driver side, looking back into the store. He felt defeated and didn't think pushing her would award him anything so he got into his car and left.
When Sookie arrived home, she was startled to see her gran on the porch speaking to someone. As she stepped closer, she instantly recognized the visitor - it was Eric.
"Gran..." She stood at the bottom of the steps as she looked at Eric; he had cut his hair, which made him look even more attractive.
"Good evening, Miss Stackhouse." Eric flashed her a charming smile.
"Sookie, this is Eric Northman. He just bought that ol' broken down house 10 miles west of here." Sookie cocked an eyebrow.
"Miss Stackhouse and I have had the pleasure of already meeting previously." Sookie nodded.
"Yes, very briefly." Adele wasn't stupid and could instantly see her granddaughter's pull to the new gentleman. Eric smiled at Adele before returning his gaze to Sookie, who was looking at her gran.
"Well, I should get inside. It was a pleasure to meet you." Eric once again smiled at Adele and took her extending hand, kissing it.
"The pleasure was mine. I do hope to visit with you, again." Adele slightly blushed. She could see why Sookie would be so attracted to him. Seemed there was a certain charm to vampires.
"Well, G'night." Sookie leaned up the steps and kissed Adele on the cheek before she disappeared into the house. Sookie took a defensive stance almost instantly.
"You have no reason to be afraid of me." Sookie wasn't so sure she was willing to believe that, especially after seeing Bill's glamouring trick the night before.
"Why are you here?" Eric decided to step down so he was on her level. He stood silently as he looked her over.
"You look lovely, this evening." Sookie fought her best to hide the faint flush of her cheeks.
"Thank you but you didn't answer my question." He grinned.
"Do you know that it is untolerated for a human to speak to a vampire so forwardly - especially one as old as me." Sookie swallowed as she realized that Bill wasn't there to protect her if need be. Truthfully - she wasn't that scared, though.
"How old are you?" He stood silent a moment.
"Over a thousand years old." Sookie's eyes instantly widen. He made Bill seem as though he were still only a toddler of a vampire. "Does that surprise you?" He knew the answer; it was written all over her face.
"Yes. No. Well...kinda. I guess I'm not completely surprised that you're… old but I guess I wasn't expecting it to be that old." He laughed for a moment before silence held them a few seconds. "So, you bought the ol' house on Amber Road?" Eric nodded. "Why?" His grin widened a bit but he remained silent. After a minute, Sookie realized that he wasn't going to answer her.
"Where's Mr. Compton?"
"How should I know?"
"I thought you were his and as such, you should be with your vampire." Sookie narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, trying to decide what she wanted to say or tell him. Hell, she didn't know why she was even still out here or why he had purposely sought her out. "Did something happen between you two?"
"I don't think that's any of your business." Eric's fangs clicked into place and Sookie swallowed, fear suddenly coursing through her. After a second, Eric's fangy grin shifted into a snarl as his gaze moved out to the woods. Another second and the swishing sound grew and stopped beside Sookie - it was Bill.
"I see he still is protective of you." Bill's fangs were bared as well but his body showed his hesitance to be so aggressive.
"What are you doing here, Eric?" Finally, he grinned.
"The same could be said to you. For what I gathered from Mrs. Stackhouse; Sookie was out on a date with a gentleman by the name of Sam Merlotte - Not you, Compton." Eric was pleased by the obvious hurt the truth brought Bill.
"That does not answer the question. Why are you here?" Eric moved in a blur, bringing himself face to face with the shorter, younger vampire. His voice was low but it held all of Eric's sternness.
"I will remind you that you are apart of my area. I am your Sheriff and you will not question me, ever again." Sookie remained silent - she didn't know what to do. She watched as Eric's words soaked into Bill and he retracted his fangs, lowering his gaze. "Now, leave." Bill hesitated, looking past Eric at Sookie. She swallowed and shifted her gaze to the ground. Truthfully, she was still torn. Bill had shown such a humane side tonight but at the same time, she had remember that he was also as cold as Eric seemed to be. Bill finally nodded and zipped out of sight - back into the forest. Eric waited till he could no longer pick up on Bill around them. Content that he was once again alone with Sookie, he turned back toward her. He smiled and remembered his fangs were still out so he clicked them back. "I apologize for that." He walked back toward her.
"Why are you here, Mr. Northman?"
"Eric."
"Eric." His smile widened. He liked hearing her say his name - infact, he wondered what it would sound like being moaned from her lips. "Well?" He pulled from his thoughts.
"I wanted to thank you for last night."
"You're welcome."
"I also wanted to speak with you, without the presence of your vampire."
"He's not my vampire." Eric cocked an eyebrow. "and I'm not his. Not anymore." Eric didn't bother to hide his grin. "That does not mean that it's open season."
"Of course." He licked his lips as his eyes fell to her neck. "Forgive me...I've not fed yet and you are very...enticing." Sookie blushed as she took a step up onto the porch.
"Well, what did you want to speak to me about?" He fought his primal instinct to take her and devour her as he cleared his throat.
"Last night, you clearly obtained that information about the raid from one of two ways - either you're a cop or you're telepathic." He picked up on her eyes widening as he offered the 2nd possibility. "And judging from both your reaction now and what I heard from your table last night, I know it's the second one." He watched she she shifted nervously, avoiding eye contact. "Are you a telepath?" It took several minutes before Sookie nodded, still silent. "I can tell that it is not something you're proud of, although I do not understand why."
"How can I be proud of it? I'm a freak." He felt a tug in him, he wasn't sure what it was.
"You are unique and that is nothing to be ashamed of. Either way, I am in need of the services of such a unique individual." She looked at him, puzzled. "I am willing to pay and can ensure your safety. I would need but a few hours of your time." He allowed her a few minutes to soak in the offer before she nodded. "Tomorrow evening - I'll come for you so that I may bring you to Fangtasia."
"Why Fangtasia?" He could hear the fear hinting in her voice.
"It is where I require your services. It will be before the bar opens; only the staff will be there. For this, I will pay you $5000. Is this acceptable?" Her eyes widened and she couldn't help but laugh.
"$5000? To poke around in people's heads?" He grinned.
"Is that not enough?" She laughed again.
"No, it-it's plenty. I just never thought I'd be paid for doing what comes natural."
"Then it is settled. Tomorrow evening I'll come for you at 6pm." Sookie nodded and watched as Eric took her hand and kissed it. "Til then, Miss Stackhouse." And with that, he was gone in a blur. Sookie's fear had been replaced with a jumble of other emotions - excitement, comfort and a hint of lust. She felt her cheeks warm at the idea of the last emotion that Eric had invoked in her. She was beginning to think it was an effect all vampires had on humans. Regardless, she couldn't deny that part of her was scolding herself for agreeing to help a vampire, especially after she thought she had decided that it would be best to not involve herself with any at all. Yet, there was another part of her that welcomed everything that could happen while being around a vampire. Afterall, she spent her entire life being boring - except for her telepathy. She looked toward Bill's house and wondered about him for a moment; after all he had gotten scolded in front of her and she imagined his ego didn't care for it. She shrugged the thought off as she slipped her shoes off her feet and headed into the house. It was a long enough day and she knew that tomorrow would only be longer.
"Good morning, Sookie!" Gran welcomed the sleepy eyed Sookie as she entered the kitchen. Sookie's sleepy haze quickly broke as she saw Jason and Tara sitting at the table, their mouths full of food.
"Mornin'...Wha' y'all doing here so early?" Adele finished putting food on the plate and set it down in front of Sookie as she slipped into the chair beside Tara.
"Jason and Tara came over to talk to you." Sookie's eyebrows further raised. Jason swallowed his mouthful of coffee.
"Me and Tara is dating." Sookie smiled and slightly laughed.
"Seriously?" She looked at Tara who shot her a glare.
"Is that a problem?" Sookie laughed again as she threw her arms around Tara and squeezed.
"No! Gosh, no. I just thought that you only said that to be his alibi."
"I did but then -"
"Then I realized that it had been Tara all this time." Tara smiled as she rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, I still think he might've hit his head on somethin' and ain't tellin' us." Everyone laughed as Sookie began to eat her breakfast. Gran had taken the last empty seat at the table and was holding a cup of coffee, sipping it.
"So Sookie, did you and that Mr. Northman fellow have a nice visit?" Sookie shot her gran a look. She hadn't mentioned Eric to anyone after she came back from Fangtasia - truthfully, she didn't see a reason to. She had never suspected she'd see him again.
"Yes, we spoke for a little while and then he went home." Adele nodded.
"I get the feeling he isn't like Mr. Compton." Sookie smiled, finally Jason and Tara were intrigued enough.
"Who's Mr. Northman?" Jason looked at his gran.
"Oh, just a friend of Sookie's. Said he just moved up from Shreveport."
"How come I ain't ever heard of him?" Jason swore he knew everyone; Sookie rolled her eyes.
"He ain't another vampire is he, Sook?" Sookie silently gave her best friend a look that answered that question. "Shit, Sookie." She slammed the fork down.
"Watch your language." Tara sheepishly looked down and nodded.
"Sorry, Mrs. Stackhouse." Adele smiled.
"That's quite alright. I am just extremely surprised you would be so judgemental to someone because of what they are." Tara instantly knew that Adele was referring to her dislike for racism and here she was, being prejudice against someone because of what they are. Part of her knew Adele was right but vampires weren't just another color - they were vampires. "Oh Sookie, I was wondering if you'd be a dear and run something over to Mr. Compton's house for me this afternoon?" Sookie raised an eyebrow and watched as Adele got up from the table and moved into the living room. After a few seconds she returned with a 6 pack of True Blood with a red ribbon on it and a sealed card attached. "I just wanted to thank him again for being our guest of honor last night." Sookie smiled and nodded. She knew Bill would be asleep till nightfall so she wouldn't be running into him as long as she did it during the day.
"Sure thing, Gran. I'll run it over at lunch before I go to work." Adele smiled as she set the 6 pack on the counter. "Oh and I'll be going out tonight."
"Oh? With?" Sookie felt her cheeks warm as she smiled slightly.
"Eric. He asked if I could help him with something in Shreveport. I won't be long, I promise." Adele nodded but Tara and Jason exchanged glances - both suspected that she would be going back to that vampire bar and neither liked the idea.
"Alright, well you just be careful now, ya hear?" Adele honestly didn't feel as though she would need to be concerned. Afterall, if Sookie trusted this vampire enough to go with him, Adele trusted her decisions. Sookie smiled as she continued to finish her breakfast.
"So, when's the wedding?" Tara and Jason both looked at Sookie who was smiling in her teasing manner.
Wanted to get something out before my surgery tomorrow. Ahh.. I'll be spending some days knitting (when i cant bare to think) and other days writing. So you guys are part of my recovery process! Anyhow, reviews please! :) I always love hearing what ppl got to say.