Time frame: Years after "From Dead to Worse"

This is a companion piece following "Family", "Bowling for Vampires" and "Leather Underwear" Please read the end of Family or you will be extremely confused.

Disclaimer: I don't have any claim on any characters in the Sookie Universe. Please don't sue me. The other characters are my own creation and just wanted to play with them for a while.

A/N: Okay, I just realized about the cliffy in the last chapter. It's just how I write. I don't even know that I'm doing it. I wonder if there is a help group for something like that…

Anyway, I want to preface that I am not out to break our Bill's heart. Ally has been nothing but devoted to him. I just want him to fight for her. Things were getting too neat and tidy for me. I want the grand gestures and even the not so grand. Something along the lines of Bill holding up a boom box over his head, playing "their song" full blast outside her window. For you youngsters, watch "Say Anything". Cheesy and sappy but a must see in my book.

Now back to our little threesome- oh, I didn't just write that did I?

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Chapter 4

Niall released me from his embrace but not before he gave me a soft kiss on my forehead. An action that did not go unnoticed.

"Sookie, my child. It is good to see you." he said smoothly as turned towards her.

"It's good to see you too. It's been a while." she said smiling at him. I kind of gave him a nudge forward while I walked to the sink to rinse my face. He stepped up to Sookie and gave her a hug.

"Sookie, I see that you have questions. Let us go to a more appropriate place to engage in conversation. Perhaps we can help Ally in the process as well." he said taking my hand in his. "Come Ally. All will be well- you will see..." he reassured pulling me behind him as we exited the bathroom.

Eric was talking to Pam by the bar. Bill and Cole were still in the same spot where I had left them. They were glaring at each other.

Suddenly, everyone was silent as all eyes fell on Niall. No one was looking at the disheveled creature trailing behind him.

Fine by me.

I found the closest chair and plopped down. Niall made a motion to sit next to me, but I gave him a shooing glance. Nodding slightly, he moved to where Sookie was sitting and sat with aplomb on an adjacent chair.

"So, what seems to be the problem?" said the faery prince.

"Before we get into that, great grandfather, how do you know Ally?" asked Sookie. Both Eric and Pam looked at me with renewed interest at that question. Niall looked at me.

"Go ahead. I have no idea what to say anyway. I might make matters worse." I replied.

"As you wish." He sat thoughtful for a moment trying to come up with an appropriate answer.

"The simple fact is, Ally and I are old friends. I have a personal interest in her well being. Let's leave it at that for the moment. Now, why did I find her so upset a moment ago?"

"Well it all started when I bumped into Cole today and then it spiraled from there." I began. Niall's eyes widened and then narrowed as he recognized my ex lover.

"Has he harmed you?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Harmed her? What are you talking about? I would never harm Ally. She is my life." Cole said walking towards me. Niall stood quickly, blocking him.

"You have harmed her before, demon. Do you think I will let you harm her again?" he hissed. Now our little merry band of vampires were on alert mode from the fangs that I was seeing.

"Demon? What the hell are you talking about?

I jumped out of my chair and stood between them. "Please, Niall sit down. He's not that man. He's good. This Cole has never harmed me." I pleaded.

"This Cole? There is more than one of me?"

"Please Cole, let me explain."

"Yes, Cole. Let Ally speak." Bill finally chimed in. Niall put his hand on my shoulder and shook his head.

"Ally, perhaps I should tell it. There are parts that might be too...delicate for you to speak of to your friends." he offered.

I nodded in agreement and sat back down with Cole and Bill on either side of me placing me back in their lover's sandwich. Eric and Sookie sat close to Niall and Pam resumed her spot in front of me. I rolled my eyes.

Then Niall told everyone of what had occurred between Cole and me in the alternate timeline. He told them of our ambush by our parents at the rest stop and how he used his Fae glamour to subdue Cole. He left out the part on how I managed to escape capture and then he proceeded to tell everyone what Cole had inflicted upon me for the 7 years that followed. Cole turned to look at me, holding my hand with his face twisted in pain and sorrow. I placed my hand on top of his to comfort him, stray tears running down my face with the memory.

"This is all of the story I will tell. The rest Ally can tell you on her own if she chooses." said Niall. He got up then and leaned over to give me another kiss on my brow. "I am sorry for your pain, dearest." I smiled gratefully at him and extended my hand to him. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it and then vanished with his signature "pop!"

Eric was staring at me in his steely blue gaze. I could almost see the thoughts zipping around in his head.

"So I've lost you then." said Cole sadly. "How could you ever be with me, after all that?"

I turned back to him. "No, Cole it's not that. I care for you, I truly do. It's just my life is here now- with Bill."

He stood up shaking, his eyes filled with tears. "I scare you, Ally! Now that I see what I could become, I scare myself. I won't hurt you like that. Never." He said and walked out the door.

I got up and ran after him. When I looked around I was relieved to see he hadn't driven off. He was leaning on the door of his car, looking at the ground.

"Cole..."

He looked up at me his face moist with tears. I reached out to wipe them from his cheek. He held my hand to his face.

"I am sorry Cole. Please don't be so sad."

"Do you hate me Ally?"

"No." I replied with all the sincerety I could muster. "I could never hate you. Even after..." I sighed. "Well, that's another time and we are in this one. You are a good person, Cole. You loved me when no one else would. You know things about me that no one will ever know. I will always love you for that."

He bent to kiss me and then paused. I smiled at him and he smiled back as his lips touched mine. I had forgotten how I loved his kisses. Before I knew it, my mouth had opened slightly allowing our kiss to deepen. He let out a small moan and wrapped his arms around me lifting me slightly to him. When we broke, I was panting and so was he. He gave me a small smile and I stepped back allowing him to get into his car. I gestured for him to roll down the window. When he did I leaned in.

"Are you going to be okay?" I asked.

He nodded slowly and then smiled at me again. "I pledged my heart to you, Ally. You will always have it."

I stood up and waved him good bye as he pulled out of the parking lot.

When I turned around, Bill was standing there at the doorway, his mouth a thin line.

TBC