Annabelle
Marie shooed everyone out. By the time we had the house to ourselves again, it was nearly 2 a.m. Marie had stolen the shower so conceded to washing my face and brushing me teeth, changing and crawling into bed. I laid there thinking I was so exhausted, I'd pass out. I was wrong. After an hour of tossing, I got out of bed and went to crawl in bed with Natalie only to find she'd snuck into bed with Marie. I smiled, covered Emma and crawled in Nat's princess bed, surrounded by pillows and stuffed animals. It smelled of Johnson & Johnson's lavender shampoo and strawberries, due to the Strawberry Shortcake I found under my shoulder. I was laughing to myself and the next thing I knew, I'd dozed off. I woke the next morning wrapped in a My Little Pony blanket with a pillow pet on my face. I stumbled to the coffee pot to start a pot. I grabbed my glasses off the kitchen table and squinted at the clock on the stove. 10:30! The girls were still asleep! Could it be true? Could I sleep in and get to shower in peace? I trotted to the bathroom, turned on the shower and had just rinsed the conditioner out of my hair when Natalie came in to potty, Emma at her heels wanting breakfast.
Marie, being the godsend she sometimes is, begrudgingly steered both girls into the kitchen. I let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank God for her,' I thought. I was wrapping myself in a towel when I heard my phone ring. I heard Marie answer it.
"Hello? Oh hi, Alcide!"
I almost slipped trying to scramble to the kitchen to get the phone from her. She laughed and took mercy on my sopping hair and breathlessness and handed me the phone.
"Hi Alcide." I breathed.
"Howdy Anna. I just wanted to check in on y'all." he said in that wonderful drawl.
"We're good. I think I'm more shaken up than them."
"Good to hear. Listen, I'd like to see you again-"
"Oh Alcide, I couldn't leave them again so soon-"
"Well, I was actually going to suggest staying in. We could grill and watch movies?", he waited for a response.
I hesitated. "...sure."
He chuckled at me. "Well, I get off at five, I'll swing by the grocery store and head your way."
We agree on details and hung up. Marie was standing behind me, grinning ear to ear. "Soooo?"
"So what?" I could feel my face flush hot.
"My ass. You're blushing. Spit it out.", she pushed.
"It was Alcide. He wants to come over tonight.", I admitted.
"Get it girl!", she exclaimed.
"It's no big deal."
"Are you kidding? Have you seen the size of that man? Everything about him is a big deal." she said as she poked me.
"Whatever, Marie." I shooed her hands away and blew it off like it was nothing, but I knew as well as Marie; I hoped it was something more.
I was still wrapped up in the possibilities of the night when I heard a knock at the door.
"Marie? Who is it?" I called from the kitchen where I was washing breakfast dishes.
"Just that dick I clocked last night." she called back.
"Marie! Language." I rushed into the living room. "Yes, mom." Marie rolled her eyes. I was shaking my head at Marie when I invited the boys in. "Y'all come on in. What can I do you for?" I asked, wiping my hands on a dish towel.
"We just wanted to see if there was anything you remembered from last night and to check on your well being." the taller agent said gently. I hestitated but said, "No, we're peachy." The boys looked at each other, an unspoken understanding seemed to pass between them. "Had anything odd happened before the attack? Odd feelings, cold spots, weird noises?" Marie cut in. "I know what you're getting at. We had the house blessed when we moved in." The agents looked shocked that Marie was on to their implications. "Nothing out of the ordinary?" he pressed. Marie held strong but I was uncomfortable.
"Mrs. Laing? Is there something?" I shook my head, afraid to speak.
"You seem particularly spooked." the shorter officer questioned.
Marie jumped to her defense. "They're her kids!"
"That's not it, though." Sam said.
"Tell us." Dean said.
"You'd never believe me. You'll think I'm nuts."
"Try us."
I knew I'd sound crazy but eventually told them about my recurring nightmare and why I recognized the attacker's description.
Alcide
I didn't know what to do with this. I grew more and more frustrated the closer it came to quitting time. I really liked her. I hated feeling this way. Worrying about what to wear, what to say, all while hiding the wolf. I wanted to think that she realized what I was last night but I can't get my hopes up. I finally sucked it up by 4:45 and started packing up to leave. I made it to the house by five, changed clothes and was on my way to the grocery store when my phone rang. I could tell by the contact specific ringtone I didn't want to answer it. I picked it up, annoyed. "What, Dad?"
"Hello to you too, son."
"What do you want?" I snapped.
"Why do I have to want something?" the older Herveaux asked innocently.
"Because you don't make social calls, Dad." I sighed.
"Fair enough," he conceded. "I need you to come to the site and oversee it for the night."
"No can do, old man. I've got plans."
"Oh yeah? With who?" he inquired.
"A girl."
"It's not Sookie, is it? That girl is trouble, Alcide." he warned.
"I know, Dad. And no, It's not Sookie."
"Oh ho ho! Is she cute? Is she Were? Nevermind. Get to it, boy!"
I laughed to myself. "Okay." He hung up without responding. I pulled into Annabelle's driveway a few moments later. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage and got out of the truck. I walked up to the porch, raised my hand to knock, only to have the door swing open and to be met with a head full of dark hair.
"Heyyyy, good lookin'." she said and then pushed passed me. Just behind her stood a little redhead peeking around a door frame. "Hey there. Is your mom here?" She giggled in response and ran out of the room. A minute later, Annabelle materialized from the hallway but didn't see me until I knocked on the door frame. I didn't mind though. There was something beautiful about the way she interacted with those girls. She looked up and smiled at me. "Alcide! Come on in!" I ducked into the house and followed her to the back yard. She gestured to her grill and told me to get to it.
"Yes ma'am."
She grinned back at me and disappeared into the house. I just turned around and got to work. We worked peacefully and fluidly together and ate and laughed and talked. I could get used to this, I thought to myself. She stood to clear the table. The ids and I talked a little then it was time for bed for the little ones. We got them inside and settled to bed by 8. She came back from their room and was suddenly coy and shy. "What?" I laughed. "Nothing," she said, "it's just been awhile." I had to chuckle at that. "Well, why don't we start by watching the movie?" She agreed and I followed her into the living room. She turned on some horror flick but I couldn't focus on what it was about from being distracted by her smell, her closeness, her presence. When she buried her face in my chest a third time, I wrapped my arm around her. She looked at my arm and then at me. She studied my face for a moment and before I knew what I was doing, I kissed her. To my surprise, she kissed me back. Fiercely.
I let a growl escape my throat, but she only pulled herself closer, tangling her fingers in my hair. Then she started unbuttoning my shirt, I had a moment's hesitation but then I just went with it. I couldn't pull myself from her. Before we'd stopped and thought, I was carrying her to her bedroom. Through a pile of flannel and denim and lace, we fell to her bed. I started planting kisses down her throat and all the way up her thighs. She bucked her hips at me and I couldn't hold back any longer. A moment later and I was pushing into her. A long, low moan came from from her and I had to pace myself. We tossed and thrashed and by the time she'd moved on top of me, she rode my cock and within moments we were both shaking in ecstasy. We said nothing but she kissed me and fell next to me, laid her head on my chest and fell right to sleep. I sighed a breath of blissful exhaustion. For the first time in forever, I could sleep contented with hopes of a future.
Sam
We woke early that morning. Well, when I say we I mean me. I had to yank open curtains and offer coffee and bacon to Dean to rouse him out of bed. He rolled out of bed, stumbled to the bathroom then to the little table where his coffee and bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich sat. After a couple of bites, he spoke. "What?" Ever the morning person, I thought. "Well, I've got our day kind of sorted."
"Sammy! The man with the plan!", Dean said, mouth so full, food fell from it as he spoke.
"Classy, Dean."
"Always." he grinned, mouth still full.
"Obviously. Your jaw seems awfully sore, Dean-"
"Shut up, Sam."
"Anyway. I figure we go talk to the mom first, then do some research-" Dean threw his free hand up in mock excitement at the mention of research. "-then we can go to Merlotte's and sniff around there." This earned a fist-to-chest 'yes' motion from Dean. "Work first, Dean."
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." He stood, shoved the last bit of sandwich in his mouth, dusted the crumbs from his pants and swallowed. " Let's get to work." He pulled the demon blade from under his pillow and the gun from the bedside table, tucked one in his boot and the other in the back of his pants. We got in the Impala and drove to the little duplex from last night. The cat known as Idjit sat on the top porch step, just staring. "Heh. It's like a guard dog." Dean chuckled. We got out of the car and made our way to the porch. The cat watched us but never moved. We knocked and waited. The cat still didn't move. The girl that punched Dean last night answered. "Oh. You two again. What d'you want?" she asked, annoyed. Dean turned on the charm. "We just wanted to check on you ladies. See that all was well." He smirked at her. She was having none of it. "We can handle our own. How's that jaw, by the way?" she smirked back. Dean's hand instinctively shot up to sore jaw and then he cleared her throat, suddenly all business. I stifled a laugh.
"Marie? Who is it?" We heard Annabelle call from another part of the house. "Just that dick I clocked last night." she called back, smiling at Dean. Dean was fuming.
"We just wanted to see if there was anything you remembered from last night and to check on your well being." I said gently.
She hesitated but eventually told us her nightmare matching the attacker's description. It took some time but we gathered the repetitive warning there. We left about three hours later after Marie kicked us out again. Evidently, she had a shift at the bar and Anna had company coming. Dean look at her sideways for having company so soon but Marie threatened that if he said anything, it wouldn't be his jaw this time.
We got out the door and Dean sighed, "Great. Now for the research."
"Actually, I think I know what we're dealing may get a pass on the research."
"Yes! Straight to the bar, then?"
"Let's change but yes."
"Awesome."
We went back to the hotel and changed quickly, Dean eager at the chance for fun. I grabbed my laptop. I figured I'd research while Dean played.
We pulled into Merlotte's parking lot, crowded but not overly so. Dean hopped out as soon as we were parked towards the back of the bar. I begrudgingly followed, the night life had never been for me.
Dean was already at the door when someone let out a wolf whistle. I turned and saw Dean's flamboyant admirer from our previous visit to Merlotte's.
Dean must've also realized the source of the sound because he rushed inside. I jogged to catch up only to almost run into my brother, stopped dead just inside the door. When I looked around him, I saw what had stopped him in his tracks.
Marie was behind the bar, as she should be, flirting with a towering blonde in a leather jacket.