Author's Note!

Thank you all so much for your kind reviews and adding me to your lists! My phone has been constantly going off with e-mail alerts from this site, it's a wonderful thing! Now, concerning the story, if I get anything wrong timing wise, and you happen to notice it, please let me know! I'm trying to stay within the confines of the events that have happened in the book, but sometimes I forget about stuff. This chapter will have some long awaited EPOV, but it won't be much, so I'll be uploading chapter 5 in a few hours, hopefully. Next chapter will have Sookie's reaction, and of course their "private conversation"! Now, on with the show!

Read and review, send me your love!

Characters aren't mine, I just like to play with them.

Previously...

I towel dried my hair, put on some comfortable pajamas, and wished I had just a little piece of Eric with me as I slept. A shirt, some of his cologne, I'd even settle for a sock. But, I had to spend some more nights alone, but it was all worth it. He'd come back to me, in the end.

Chapter Four

I had been very antsy the past couple of days. More than once I was tempted just to throw it all to hell and go to Fangtasia by myself. But, that wouldn't do any good, especially since the police hadn't even arrested Jason yet, which was the whole springboard for my visit to Fangtasia. But, finally, this morning, I got the call that Jason had been put in jail. Of course I was upset, what sister wouldn't be when your brother gets arrested for murder? But, I knew he was innocent, and I knew he would get cleared. I waited for the sun to set and immediately ran over to Bill's place, telling him about my brother's arrest, and my need to help him. I casually suggested checking out Fangtasia, since it was the only vampire club I knew about, and maybe if we knew what vampires these girls associated with, we'd have a better idea about the killer.

Reluctantly, he agreed to take me there, but wanted to wait until the next night. I begged him to take me tonight, and eventually he agreed. That will be the last time I beg Bill Compton for anything! So, here we are, standing in line to get into Fangtasia. I could see Pam checking ages, just a few people ahead of us. It felt like this line was moving slower and slower by the second. Finally, we were the next ones in line. I tried not to cringe when Bill put his hand around my waist.

It's all for show, I told myself, just a few more minutes and you won't have to put up with his bullshit ever again.

Keeping a smile plastered on my face, we approached Pam.

"Driver's license." she asked with her hand out towards me.

I fumbled around in my pure for my wallet and handed it to her. "Kind of funny, getting carded in a vampire bar." I said, trying to play as stupid as possible.

Pam did not look amused and replied, "I cannot tell human ages, and we must not serve minors."

She took a thoughtful look at my face and said, "Sookie Stackhouse, age 25. How nice."

With that she walked away and Bill led me to the bar, asking me if I wanted anything to drink. I took my usual gin and tonic, and decided to skip on asking Longshadow anything. I already knew what I needed to, I just needed to get to Eric, and I was getting desperate.

Bill led me to a table and I sat down in the chair, trying not to look at Eric quite yet. I was trying to prepare myself for the onslaught of emotions that I knew would be coming as soon as we locked eyes. I could feel a heavy weight on my shoulders now, and I knew he was staring at me. Gathering all the bravery I could, I looked up at stared straight back at him.

EPOV

It was a dull night. More of the same tourist bullshit I see night after night. After a thousand years, humanity was still as boring as shit. However, I was good at making money, and that's exactly what Fangtasia did. I had barely noticed the pathetic human who crawled up to me and was pulling on my pant leg, and having no time for his desperate attempt for attention, I kicked him and sent him flying across the room.

My child, Pam, approached me from behind and bent down to tell me something.

"Bill Compton is here." she said, slightly bored.

"And why the fuck should I care?" I replied.

"You might be interested in what he brought with him." she offered, nodding in his direction.

I scanned the crowd and spotted Compton, as well as the girl he had brought with him.

I froze. It was her. The girl I had been having visions of since before I was a vampire. Every single one of them came back to me in a flash. Tasting this woman's blood, having sex with her, laughing with her, comforting her, seeing her belly, heavy with my children, two infants asleep at her breast, things that were not possible. All of a sudden, every human emotion I had kept locked inside of me sprung forth. I was shocked, confused, angry, and suspicious. Never in my wildest fantasy had I imagined that she actually existed, I always played off those visions as being dreams, not of a specific person, but of a life I could never have. Those visions had haunted me throughout my existence, but they also kept a little piece of humanity alive, locked deep inside of me. But, here she was, this human who I've seen impossible things with, sitting in my bar, chatting with that shit excuse of a vampire, Bill Compton.

I had to know what she was, if she could anyway be responsible for the visions I'd had. It was a long shot, but I didn't live this long by ignoring my instincts. Keeping my inner turmoil in check, I beckoned them over to me. Bill was holding her hand, and they stepped up to the platform where I was seated.

"Bill Compton. Long time no see." I said, sounding as bored as can be, while on the inside, I felt like a livewire.

Bill nodded and gestured to the girl standing by his side saying, "Eric, this is-"

"Sookie Stackhouse. I know." I interrupt.

"How do you know my name?" Sookie asks.

Hearing her speak, in the here and now, calmed all my emotions, leaving me only with the overwhelming desire to protect her. And fuck her, but I was surprised to find that this was beside the point.

Pam, being able to sense my shifting emotions, answered, "I never forget a pretty face. You're in my vault, now."

Sookie just smiled and said, "Oh, that's great."

I could tell that Bill was not comfortable with this whole situation. He knew that I was interested, considering the way I've been staring at her this entire time.

Attempting to draw my focus away from his human, Bill turned to Sookie and said, "Sookie, this is Eric Northman."

"Nice to meet you!" she offered, enthusiastically.

"How sweet." I replied, she was trying to be polite. To a vampire. I chalked it up to southern hospitality.

"Not really." she shot back. I couldn't help but laugh. What a contradiction! Feisty and polite, all wrapped up into one sweet little package. How intriguing.

"Miss Stackhouse, you are not one of our regular customers, may I ask what brings you to my establishment tonight?"

"Oh!" she exclaimed, as if her attention had been distracted, which is not unusual. "I was wondering if I could show you a couple pictures? See if you recognize either of them? They were murdered in Bon Temps, and they both had vampire bites. I'm trying to find the connection."

I paused, distracted by the scent of her, as she bent her head down toward her purse to retrieve the pictures. She smelled human, perhaps the best smelling human I'd ever come across, but human nonetheless. Perhaps she had nothing to do with my visions after all. She was brave, I had to give her that. Coming into a vampire bar, asking around about two murdered fangbangers? Not quite the safest tactic.

She extended her hand, holding two pictures, towards me, and I couldn't resist but to provoke Bill.

I stood and said, "Miss Stackhouse, perhaps we should discuss this in private. In my office."

Of course, Bill took the bait, like he always did. He was young, compared to me, but still, he was too impulsive for his age.

"She is mine!" he hissed.

I had assumed this, of course, but quite to my surprise, the girl didn't seem to agree. Judging by the expression on her face, Bill had most definitely crossed a line. Then, just for a fleeting second, I could see a change in her eyes.

Intelligence, confidence, and cleverness flashed in her eyes, then she seemingly regained her composure and announced, "Bill, I do not remember giving you any indication of being owned by you! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some questions for Mr. Northman!"

She turned and looked up at me, then nodded her head. As she followed me to my office, I reflected on how interesting this night had become, and I had a feeling that this was only the first of many.

A/N: I know the beginning seemed a little rushed, but I didn't see the harm in skipping over some stuff to get to the part we've all been waiting for!