I must have drifted off to sleep for a minute, because by the time I realized the ringing sound was the phone it had already stopped. Maybe two minutes later it started again as I finally regained full consciousness. It took several seconds to get my bearings. As I worked to wake up enough to stand I realized the episode of House I had been watching had ended and some show I didn't recognize was now on TV. I guess I had been asleep longer than I thought. I was leaning on something very warm and soft. Make that someone. Quinn. Last I remembered there was at least a foot of space between us, but somehow I had ended up much closer with my head on his shoulder, leaning against his side, as his head rested on top of mine. From his slow, deep breathing I gathered the phone hadn't woken him yet.

I had tried calling Tray and Amelia's cell phones earlier in the night, but neither answered. I suspected they were 'busy.' I had also tried calling Sam, Alcide, and even Eric though I didn't wait for his phone to go to voicemail. Although I did agree to try and work things out with Quinn, he staying in my home made it difficult for me to ignore the physical attraction between us so we could actually work out our issues. I told him so when he looked offended that I would try and find someone else to stay. In the end though, I gave up, assuring Quinn I would try again in the morning, though he seemed all too happy to stay. Since then we had been watching TV in the living room.

The phone stopped ringing before I could stand. I relaxed again, waiting to hear if whoever it was left a message, though I didn't think it rang long enough for the answering machine to get it. They didn't call back so I decided it was too late and I was too tired to return a call.

I grabbed the remote and found some vampire reality show I found mildly interesting. I watched ten minutes or so that was left of the show then decided I was ready for bed. I as trying to rearrange Quinn slowly so I didn't wake him when I got up, leaning his head against the back of the couch so he didn't fall sideways when I stood. A loud knock pounded on the door.

I stood up, moving to get past Quinn's long legs but he stopped me, putting his large body directly in my path. He had gone from dead asleep to wide awake in less than a second.

Let me get it he thought at me. I rolled my eyes at him knowing no one that wished me ill will would knock, but he moved immediately to the door. He was much faster than me, so by the time I made it to the door behind him he had the door unlocked and opened. I remembered all over again that this was a man who took his role as protector very seriously.

"Eric" he said with some irritation, though his still voice sounded heavy with sleep.

"Quinn," Eric growled. They stood there staring at each other for a minute (at least that's what I think they were doing, Quinn was blocking the entire doorway, so I couldn't be sure) before Eric broke the silence. "I came to speak with Sookie."

"Hi, Eric," I called from behind Quinn. Quinn moved to the side so I could see Eric, but would not move away from the door completely.

"Lover, may we speak in private?" Eric asked giving Quinn an angry look.

I nodded and moved to walk out the door but Quinn grabbed my arm in warning.

"It's fine, Quinn" I said looking him in the eye. "I'm not leaving the porch and Eric won't let anything happen to me." I could tell he didn't like the idea, but rather than argue, gave me a stiff nod and removed his hand. I stepped out of the front door and the cold of the January air hit me immediately. I had been so warm next to Quinn that the shock of the night air had me shivering almost immediately. I closed the door behind me, giving Quinn what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

"I noticed I missed your call and tried calling you back" Eric started without preamble. "You did not answer so I flew here to check on you. Did you call just to rub it in that you and the tiger are back together, or was there something you actually needed" he said bitterly, but his eyes showed just a shadow of hurt.

"No Eric," I sighed. "It seems I have some fairy troubles. Claudine is insistent that I have a bodyguard until things calm down. I think she is still a little unhappy about the Were war, and doesn't want me getting into any more trouble; especially now that I killed one of the enemy in my yard today. Quinn got here just before she did and volunteered, but I was calling to see if you could send someone instead."

Eric moved to speak several times, and several reactions showed on his face, but he stopped himself each time until he finally asked "You do not want Quinn back?"

I thought of how to answer that for several seconds.

"I don't know yet" I finally said. It was the most honest answer I could come up with. He nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment. I yawned, still tired from the nap I just had.

"I cannot send a vampire from my area if you and the tiger are trying to reconcile" he explained. "Victor is watching me and will not allow anything he believes is an attempt to interfere. Sending someone to guard your home will certainly be perceived as interfering." I nodded my understanding, but then a question occurred to me.

"So what will happen if he finds out you came here?"

"I will be punished" he said simply. "You should call Alcide, he owes you for bringing you into his war. And you are a friend of the pack."

"I did. He didn't answer." Eric nodded thoughtfully.

"Quinn will protect you until you find someone." Even if they had their differences, the certainty in Eric's voice reflected his complete confidence in Quinn's loyalty to me.

"I know."

"I must go before someone notices I'm missing" Eric said. I nodded to him. "Call me if you are in danger" he said walking down the steps. "I will get to you, no matter Victor's commands." He turned and stared at me for a moment, as if he wanted to say something else, but then he was gone.

I walked back in the house locking the door behind me. Quinn was still standing in the entry, waiting for me.

When I turned away from the door he asked "What did Eric mean 'he owes you for bringing you into his war?' I knew Alcide took over as packmaster, did you help him?" Of course he had heard the whole conversation. I walked back into the living room to turn off the TV.

"I helped him solve Maria-Star's murder. I tried to help negotiations between him and Furnan. Claudine, Sam and I were there for the fight."

"Why would you involve yourself in their fight?"

"A Were tried to kill me around the same time that Maria-Star died. Then another one tried to kill me again. I thought the same person must have arranged all the attacks. And they did. It just wasn't Furnan." He nodded thoughtfully.

"If I had been here you might have been safe." I could see the sadness in his eyes. It was true; they might not have attacked me if he were here. I had wished he were here with me so many times in the weeks between Rhodes and the takeover. I was too tired to think of anything to say, so I just nodded.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized, embracing me. "I thought I was keeping you out of danger. But danger seems to find you. And the vampires found you anyway" he sighed. "If I had just called you we might have been together at least." He was holding me tightly, as if he were worried I would get away if he loosened his grip.

"Quinn" I said resting my chin on his chest so I could look at his face. "I never blamed you for not keeping me out of danger, I was just sad you weren't here. I just couldn't- can't" I corrected myself "be with someone who can't make me a priority."

"I had planned on surprising you, you know" he said looking me in the eye. "That's why I didn't call as soon as I left the hospital. I was going to spend a couple days taking care of Frannie and recuperating, then come here to be with you. But she escaped the day after we got to Memphis" he said referring to his mother. "I should have called you on my way to find her."

"Hindsight is always 20/20. Maybe I should have tried to find you. And I shouldn't have been so rash about breaking things off with you. You should have given me some indication that you weren't rejecting me when I didn't hear from you for so long. Maybe you should have had Frannie's friend that got her car to also leave a note" I said pointing out the most logical way to get a message to me without the vampires' knowledge.

"I'm still sorry" he said. We stood like that, him pinning me, immobile against him, my chin against his chest, and his head tucked down to look at me for several seconds. His embrace brought the feelings I had for him months before rushing back to the surface. His body heat warming me, quickly dissipating the shivers I had from being out in the cold.

Slowly he loosened his grip, his hands sliding down to rest on my hips and he began to move in for a kiss. He stopped inches from my face, looking for any sign that I might object. At that moment I couldn't find any reason to stop him. Finally, his lips touched mine, so lightly I couldn't be sure they had actually made contact; then again, a little more firmly. After several tentative pecks he began to move more confidently, opening our mouths and brushing his rough tongue against mine. I lifted my arms, wrapping them around his neck as I changed angles to kiss him more deeply. His kisses were sweet, passionate, but not insistent; he had no expectations that this would go any further. When we finally came up for air we rested our foreheads against each other.

"I need to go to bed" I said. He nodded and let go of me.

"You can stay in that bedroom" I told him pointing to the hall bedroom that had been Octavia's. "Octavia just moved out, and I haven't changed the sheets yet," I apologized "but it's better than the couch." He thanked me, telling me he was going to get his bag.

I went to my bathroom and brushed my teeth and washed my face. I walked back to the door of my bedroom when I heard him come back in through the kitchen, locking the door behind him.

When he walked around the corner, bag in hand, I told him 'goodnight.'

"Goodnight, Sookie" he said in return.

I drifted off to sleep quickly, smiling into my pillow for the first time in months.