Okay, shorter chapter than normal, but it felt quite self-contained.

Very annoyed that you lucky Americans get to read DITF when its not out in the UK until June!

And thanks for all the reviews - great response to the last chapter, and i know you want to know what Bill did, but you'll have to keep reading!


I awoke the next morning feeling very disoriented. I was in my old bed for the first time in over six months, but my world was so completely different. I didn't have Eric any more and I was seven months pregnant and felt completely alone. I looked around my room which was exactly the same as I had left all those months ago. I wondered if Gran had come in here at all since I left. It was 5am when I woke, so I went to the bathroom to pee before hopping into the shower. I couldn't help but think back to some of the excellent showers I had shared with Eric in this bathroom, and before I could stop myself I was sobbing hard and curled up (as best I could at seven months pregnant) in the bottom of the shower. When I managed to regain my composure I pulled myself out of the tub, pulled on my old dressing gown and headed to the kitchen.

Amelia and I had brought supplies with us as we were not sure what to expect when we arrived, so I made myself a cup of mint tea while sitting at the kitchen table thinking of the many times I had sat here with Gran. It upset me that she would never get to meet her grandson, and I hadn't even told her that I was having a boy.

I was sat thinking at the table when I was interrupted by a noise behind me and Jason noisily walked into the kitchen from the back door. He looked me up and down, noticing my huge swollen belly, before heading to the fridge, pulling out the carton of milk and swilling it down.

"So you came then?" he asked not looking at me.

"Obviously." I responded in an equally cold tone. "Could you not have told me yourself?"

He turned to me. "No, I was busy making funeral arrangements since you weren't here. Eric had your number so I asked him to call you."

"Right." He took a seat at the table but neither of us spoke.

"I couldn't exactly have blamed him if he hadn't called you. I certainly wouldn't have in his situation."

"Gee, thanks Jason," I hissed bitterly at him. I didn't know why he had to be such an ass on today of all days. "Everything is sorted, I take it?"

"Yes, no thanks to you."

"What's that meant to mean? I could hardly arrange a funeral when I was hundreds of miles away, particularly as Eric gave me no details other than the date and time and then hung up on me."

"That's not what I meant." His voice was quiet.

"And what did you mean?"

"It's your fault." I didn't respond, but continued to stare at him until he continued. "It's your fault she died."

I could not believe my ears that he would say that. "How the hell is it my fault?"

"You should have been here to look after her, she got so frail after your left. This is your fault."

I shut my eyes and put my head in my hands. Not only had I lost Eric, Jason was now pinning Gran's death on me? "I will say this one last time and then you'd better get the hell out of my sight. I did NOT sleep with Bill. I don't quite know what he has done to poison your minds against me, but this is not my fault. That you have chosen to believe Bill over me, is not my fault. Trust me, Jason, when you realise – and you will eventually realise – that I did nothing wrong you are going to regret all of this and I'm not entirely sure that I will be willing to forgive you. And anyway, shouldn't you have been the one to look after her since you were here?"

"I tried to look after her, Sook, but she was so devastated that you left without a word. You destroyed her when you went wherever the hell it is that you went."

I really wanted to smack Jason around his head for talking to me in that way, but I was determined to get through the funeral without incident I thought it better to keep quiet. I had never been overly close with Jason, but it was the Quinn incident that finally did bond us together. Jason found out about Eric and I about 3 months after we started seeing each other. Eric and I had become increasingly comfortable with each other, and we were finding it difficult to keep away from each other. Jason had noticed the change in Eric and guessed that he had a woman on the go, but had no idea that it was me. It was a Sunday afternoon that Eric and I called Jason and Gran to talk to them, us all sat around the kitchen table in much the same manner as when Eric had accused me of cheating on him. Gran was instantly pleased for us, but Jason was not sure about us. I understood his concern, but all we could do was convince Jason that we truly did care for each other and wanted to make it work.

My thoughts were interrupted my Amelia coming into the kitchen. "Who the hell are you?"

My brother looked very shocked to see someone else walk in and was certainly taken aback by her tone. "Jason. Who the hell are you?"

"Amelia Broadway, I'm Sookie's housemate. You'd better not be upsetting her, she is seven months pregnant and prone to violent outbursts. And if she doesn't get you, I can assure you that I will personally kill you if you upset her."

I loved Amelia so much at times. Jason looked at her dumbfounded and started to protest but she shushed him and stood her ground, her arms crossed across her chest as she stared up at him.

Jason turned to me in defeat. "Sook, the funeral starts at two, but if you could be at the cemetery for one-thirty the reverend wants to run through some things with us. The will is being read at three-thirty this afternoon, and the solicitor is coming here so you don't need to go anywhere. After that we're all heading to Merlottes if you want to come."

"Thank you, Jason." I said in a cold and final tone. He gave us both a half smile and then left.

I sank down into the kitchen chair, my arms wrapped protectively around my bump as Amelia spoke to me. "You can get through this. You're stronger then you think you are." She held my hand as I cried a few more tears. After ten minutes or so she got up to make a pot of coffee, handing me a small cup while she drank a huge cup. Not being able to drink copious amounts of coffee was one of the things I was hating most about being pregnant.

I showed Amelia around the house as I considered whether there was anything that I wanted to take back to New York with me. I was unsure what would happen to Gran's house, it was not anything that we'd ever discussed. Gran had never been one to talk about morbid things such as death with Jason or I, particularly considering the untimely death of our parents. At least she evidently written a will so all those issues should be addressed.

I just couldn't believe that she was gone, that I would never hear her voice. Sure, over the last six months our relationship had been very strained, but I had missed her all that time I was gone, and I would miss her even more now. But had my absence really factored into her death? I had noticed when I called that she didn't sound her usual self, but maybe she had been unwell. She had never been one to go to see a doctor, and there were quite a few times that I had to force her to see one. But Jason new this as well, and he easily could have taken her.

For some reason I actually found thinking about Gran much easier then the thoughts of seeing Eric. I had no idea what his reaction would be towards me. He'd always been very fond of Gran, as she had him, so he would want to be there to pay his respects. But how would he react to me? I was trying to put myself in his shoes with the whole situation, but I just struggled to comprehend why he would chose to believe someone he'd known for a year over someone he'd known for many, many years.

At twelve-thirty I started getting ready for the funeral, pulling on my long sleeve black jersey dress over black tights. I wore some simple gold jewellery and pinned my hair up. I kept the make-up light and applied some waterproof mascara knowing that I would no doubt be in tears later on that afternoon. I pulled on my boots and met Amelia in the kitchen who was equally kitted out in black. As it was early December I pulled on a light-weight black coat, though it was no where near as cold as it had been in New York when we left. I took a deep breath, took Amelia's hand and we left the house in the direction of the cemetery.

When we arrived Jason and his latest girlfriend were already talking to the reverend, and he filled me in on what would happen, asking me if I wanted to do a talk, which I agreed to. I was sad to think that Gran was going to be buried shortly, her death becoming more and more real to me, but I was even more petrified about seeing Eric. Everyone seemed reasonably polite to me as more and more people arrived for the funeral. Gran had always been very popular in the community of Bon Temps and surrounding areas, so I was not surprised by the large turnout. It was getting towards the time the funeral was due to start when I could not help but notice that a hush had descended on the gathering. I first assumed that the reverend was starting proceedings, but I followed Maxine Fortenberry's eyes over my shoulders to see Eric flanked my his parents, his sister and my brother. Jason was making it very clear whose side he was on in standing with him.

He looked as incredible as ever in a black tailored suit with dark shirt and a black tie. His hair was tightly tied back, although a few strands were tucked behind his ears. But his eyes were cold as he regarded me, looking down to my rather large belly with a strange look on his face. In that instant I wished I could read minds. I didn't know whether I should approach him, but as it was only a few minutes before the funeral was due to start I simply turned and took my seat, Amelia stood behind me with her hand on my shoulder supporting me. I was trying my absolute best not to cry throughout the funeral so I could remain composed when I had to get up and speak. Jason spoke first, and when he was done the reverend indicated for me to move up to the stand.

I cleared my throat nervously before I began. "I firstly want to thank everyone for coming, I know she would have been proud to see such a large turnout." I was scanning the crowd as I spoke but as my eyes met with Eric's I almost found myself crumple under his gaze. I somehow managed to move past him to Amelia who was being much more supportive. "Adele Stackhouse has always been there for me, she has been like a mother since I was seven years old and more than that she was my friend. She will truly be missed by all, especially Jason and I, and I know that she is safe in a much better place. I miss you, Gran."

I'd decided to keep it brief and skip over any recent problems we may have had, but I meant every word. I really would miss her as I'd missed her over the last six months. I sat back in my seat and the reverend completed the proceedings with a prayer as the floodgates opened. I sat and sobbed as most people filed away, remaining in my position with Amelia behind me. When we were mostly alone Amelia came and sat next to me and I told her all about the fantastic memories I had of Gran. I was shivering from the cold when Amelia suggested that we go back to the farm house to await the arrival of the lawyer to read Gran's will. There were several people milling around the driveway, and then I spotted him. Bill Compton had been at the funeral, although I hadn't seen him. Amelia noticed that I'd tensed up and I indicated to her who Bill was. She was just about to go and give him a piece of her mind when Eric came over.

"Sookie," his voice was strained and emotional. "You are well?" It was more a statement then a question but I simply nodded my response unable to find my voice as I gazed up at his incredibly blue eyes. "I was sorry to learn of her passing. She was a great woman." I smiled weakly as he turned to leave and I could not stop the tear that fell from my eyes. It was Amelia that spoke up.

"So what, you're just going to ignore the elephant in the room then?" I wasn't quite sure if Amelia was calling me an elephant by Eric span on his heels and turned to glare at Amelia. I decided it best if I introduced her.

"Eric, this is my housemate Amelia Broadway. Amelia, Eric Northman." I didn't really know what to introduce him as, my ex? My child's father? Yet Amelia knew precisely who he was so he needed no other introduction. She was still glaring at him awaiting a response.

"I am not ignoring anything," he said resolutely.

"Right, so you're not going to ask how your son is then?"

Eric looked visibly shocked. I had not told anyone back in Bon Temps whether I was having a boy or a girl, but I'd imagined that Eric would prefer a boy. He was very much a man's man. He took a deep breath, looked down at my bump and then up into my eyes, his own eyes softer then they were. "Your son is doing well?"

He's said 'your son', not 'my son'. I simply nodded again and he walked away as Amelia uttered expletives at him under her breath which I tried to ignore. As much as I did think he was being a complete ass I had never stopped loving him, and was not sure that I ever completely would. I watched Eric rejoin Jason, Tara and JB - neither of whom had said more than a few words to me. I again noticed that Bill was stood a few yards away from Eric and tried to work out what we was doing on my driveway. However as the solicitor had arrived we all filed back into my farmhouse and Amelia and I organised drinks for everyone. As the solicitor sat down with us I again noticed that Bill was present, and Eric was also with Jason and I.

As he started reading I realised why Bill was present as Gran had left him some of her civil war memorabilia. I was strangely warmed at Gran's thoughtfulness but Bill's expression did not change. She'd split her savings equally between Jason and I, though leaving a small amount to some charities she was particularity keen on. When it came to the issue of our house I was shocked to hear that she had left it jointly to Eric and I. I heard a few gasps of surprise, but I could not help but be surprised at the one from Bill. His face had momentarily lost its calm and was replaced by a look of sheer anger. But as quickly as that look arrived it had disappeared again. I looked to Amelia who had seen it as well but it did not seem that anyone else had noticed. Jason was also very shocked. After the solicitor had finished and we thanked him, giving us his number as he left, Jason turned to me.

"Why the hell would she leave the house to you?"

"I don't know, Jason, maybe because you already have a house." I'd signed our parents' house over to Jason years before and he'd lived there ever since, so really I wasn't surprised that Gran had left me her house, at least I wouldn't have been surprised before the resent turn of events. But why leave it to Eric and I? I couldn't quite see why she did that – had it been a recent alteration? I made a mental note to ask the solicitor when Gran last updated her will. Surely if Eric and I had still been together, leaving me the house would have meant leaving it to him as well. Was she doing something else to tie us together? I looked over to him and he also had a puzzled expression on his face.

"I'll happily sign it over to you, Sookie. She was your grandmother." He seemed a little sad as he spoke.

"No. That was not what she wanted. This house is now as much yours as it is mine. And at least you live in Bon Temps. You can move in here if you wish, I know you were always desperate to move out of your flat into something bigger."

He looked at me for a moment before shutting his eyes and breathing heavily. "I couldn't live here, Sookie. Not without you, and that is not an option. There are too many memories in this house."

I felt an almighty jolt through my chest as he spoke and I felt like my heart may well shrivel up and die within my chest. But it wasn't just my chest that hurt as I felt a surge of pain in my abdomen and I bent over in agony, Amelia instantly by my side.

"Sookie! Are you okay?" She helped me walk over to the sofa and knelt beside me as I clayed down on the sofa. "Can I get you anything? A glass of water?" I nodded and she quickly ran into the kitchen to get me a drink. I looked up to see Eric staring down at me, concern in his eyes but also disappointment. I let out a loud sob as Amelia came back and I guzzled down the drink. "Hun, you need to drink more, keep hydrated. It's probably just Braxton Hicks but you are a little early for that. We'll get you to a doctor when we get you home."

I nodded and tried to relax yet felt so on edge. I needed to speak to Eric, I needed to know exactly where we stood with each other. I looked back up to him as he watched me, not moving a muscle despite my obvious discomfort. "Eric, can I talk to you?"

He was quiet for a moment but then pulled a chair closer to me and sat down. Amelia gave me a squeeze on my shoulder, telling me that if I needed anything I should just give her a shout. She herded the remaining people out of the family room to leave Eric and I alone.

He kept his distance from me and sat very upright in his chair. "Eric, what are we going to do about all this. The mess that we have found ourselves in. We were in such a good place, but now everything has crashed down around us. How do we fix this? Fix us."

"I don't know if we can fix this, Sookie. I don't think I can trust you. We can sort out the house and come to some kind of arrangement, but I think things between us are over." His eyes were hard but I could hardly see from the tears streaming down my face. I gulped for air between my sobs as I tried to calm myself down, but with no support whatsoever from Eric. Was this truly the end for us?

"Why won't you believe … that I didn't cheat on you. I didn't … Eric, … believe me that I didn't." It was such a struggle to get my words out as I cried hard, yet his face remained impassive. "Why would you believe what Bill said over me?"

"Sookie, it's not just a matter of what Bill said. I saw you with my own eyes. I saw that he would turn up at your door when you didn't have your supposed lessons, when your Gran wasn't at home. Sook, I had my suspicions about you and him as soon as he showed up. You used to talk about him, making out that you didn't like him, but I knew something was up. Bill too had some kind of fascination with you, and after a while I realised the two of you had something going on. You have to be honest, Sookie, stop lying, stop saying it didn't happen."

I was stunned into silence, he truly did believe that I had cheated on him. Did he not get that my distrust and dislike of Bill were genuine? And for good reason considering what he had done. I wrapped my arm around my belly a tried to shrink into the sofa. I wanted to disappear, I wanted to get away from this shit-awful situation. Eric had obviously noticed my gesture concerning my unborn child.

"When he's born, get a paternity test done and we will talk again. If you're carrying my child then we'll sort something out – child maintenance and visiting and all that stuff. But Sookie, there is nothing to work out between us. You cheated on me, and I cannot forgive that." With that he got up and left, my heart trampled on as he left.

Amelia came back into the room as soon as he was gone and drew me into her arms. She had evidently heard what was said between us as she luckily didn't ask me to repeat any of it. We decided against going to Merlottes and I phoned the bar telling Jason that I didn't feel up to going and we would be leaving first thing in the morning. But Amelia and I decided to leave earlier than that, leaving that evening and driving as far as Memphis before we stopped for the night.

I couldn't believe the words that had come out of his mouth. I had no idea what Bill had done to convince Eric in such a way, but how did Eric think that he'd seen Bill and I together? I had generally tried to keep as far away from him as possible, and when I was giving him the French lessons I always made sure there was a table between us. What evidence did he have? As I went to sleep that night I contemplated the fact that it truly was over. I'd always carried some glimmer of hope that Eric would regain his senses, somehow realise that he had been mistaken and we could sort it out. Now I knew that was not an option.

As we travelled closer and closer towards New York City Amelia tried to convince me that maybe when Eric found out that my son was his we would be forced to have some kind of relationship, and that things may evolve from there. But I was increasingly feeling that I didn't want to have anything to do with him. I didn't want to get a paternity test, and I didn't want his money or input into the child.

Over the six months since arriving in New York, work had actually gone very well for me. I was able to get quite a few articles published, and one magazine agreed to publish my pregnancy blog each week. I'd also previously invested some money from the down payment I received for my travel journal in shares, and after selling them was astonished to find that they had increased five-fold.

I was trying my best to get over Eric. Trying to find good looking men on the TV or in films who could play the role that Eric always played in my dreams, yet I struggled. I knew that I probably did have to speak to him again, if only to finalise things between us, but the thought of seeing him that one last time filled me with dread. Underneath it all I still loved him, but I was not sure I could be with him.