PART TWO

The Longest Miles

Before long, they were in the car and on the highway heading back to Bon Temps. For the first time, sitting next to him in the car, Sookie began to wonder what a life with him would be like; if it was even possible.

"You know," remembered Sookie. "The hostess and Jonathan weren't human. Do you know what they are?" she asked.

"You noticed?"

"Yeah," said Sookie. "His register was a bright pink and a thick smooth pattern. It was much thicker than yours. The hostess, hers wasn't as pink or as thick."

"I'm impressed," he smiled quickly glancing over at her. "Violet is a half pixie. Her father, Jonathan is a pureblood pixie. And her mother Abigail is human."

"Tinker Bells?" Sookie gave him a disbelieving smile.

"Not Tinker Bells," he grinned, amused. "They are petite, but not that small."

"He didn't look small," said Sookie.

"Well," he said. "Jonathan is smaller than he appears. He makes himself taller though I'm sure he's sore every morning."

"Does Abigail know about him? I mean, what he is?" Preston's expression went blank. He shouldn't have mentioned Abigail. He wasn't sure how Sookie would react to the truth.

"No," he almost whispered the word.

"Why?" shrieked Sookie. "It doesn't seem right," her mind was reeling with one thought after another. "Doesn't she suspect? She has to know her daughter is different."

"I don't think she suspects," replied Preston.

His answer made Sookie's chest tighten. It bothered her that a man would lie to his wife about something so important. Bill had lied to her…and Quinn had withheld the truth about his life. Both times she felt a betrayal that cut her deeply.

"Would you have lied to me if you could've?" Sookie's tone was bitter.

"No I wouldn't have," said Preston. At least he didn't think he would have, not if he didn't have to. He wanted her to know him. "I'm not Jonathan. And as to why he does what he does, you'll have to ask him."

"What kind of answer is that?"

"I don't know why he hasn't told her," said Preston. "Maybe he's afraid of losing her." It really troubled Sookie that a man would lie about who he was to his own family, his own wife. She had thought Jonathan was a nice man, now she was rethinking her first impression.

"It seems wrong."

"So you have never withheld the truth about what you are to those you know?"

"N…" Sookie stopped the word from coming out fully. "It's not the same."

"Seems like two sides of the same coin to me."

"I've never been romantically involved with those that don't know what I am," Sookie argued. "And for that matter, I've never had a child with any of them," she quickly added.

"Sometimes the human mind is too fragile," he said keeping his eyes on the road. "Maybe he tried, I don't know….maybe her mind couldn't reconcile her world with his. That happens sometimes. And if, and I mean if that is what happened, what should he have done? Abandoned her?" There was a tangible silence between them. Sookie stared out the window. She hated that he made sense. "Still," how could someone lie to the very woman they loved and who bore their child? If you didn't tell someone who or what you really were, how could they ever truly love you back?

"They're in love," Preston's voice was just above a whisper. "Sometimes that has to be enough."

"Perhaps for some people," Sookie kept her voice soft, staring out the window into the dark shadows zooming past them. "A lie is a lie no matter how you paint it," her voice had an edge to it. Preston's expression tensed. Tears threatened to break her expression. The tightness in her chest was back, bitterness, at yet one more thing that she was to be denied.

A long silence resumed for several miles. He regretted mentioning Abigail. He didn't know exactly why Sookie had reacted so strongly. It took Preston another mile before he came up with an answer to his question.

"Sookie," his voice was pleading. "I won't lie about myself to you. That's the kind of person I am." She straightened in her seat next to him, but didn't turn around. "I never wanted to settle for anything less than you loving me for all that I am." He had wished this truth more than anything, but if she hadn't been what and who she was, and if she couldn't have reconciled what he was with her reality, he would have spared her the truth of what he was. And he would have loved her every day until she didn't want him anymore.

Sookie sat quietly staring into the darkness passing by. She kept her face turned away, hiding the tears she wasn't able to keep stuffed down. Preston was so open. She didn't want him to see her crying. There was a beautiful pain in what he had said. Could it be that simple? A man simply giving you what you wanted – what you needed. Maybe it was a small thing and she was being silly, yet she couldn't help to feel what she felt.

"Sookie?" His voice was strained.

"I'm ok—really," she whispered. "I need a minute."

"Ok," Preston fell silent respecting her need for some solitude.

Resting her head against the headrest, it took only a few minutes before she lost the battle to fatigue and slipped off to sleep. Preston could hear her slow respiration and he knew she had dosed off.

The last several miles were the longest he had ever traveled.

He considered her comment about "a lie is a lie no matter how you paint it". She was right about that. He just wasn't sure why it upset her. A fairy never lied for the sake of lying. You lied to protect yourself, those that belong to you, and you lied to protect Faery. Lying was a necessary part of belonging to a world that only existed in children's stories. He wasn't sure how to make things right again or if there was any righting that had to be done.

Before he realized it, he was pulling up Sookie's gravel driveway. He brought her car gently to a stop where she usually parked it.

"Sookie," she heard her name being called. "Sookie," Preston gently woke her. Through half drawn eye lids, Preston's handsome face began to come into focus. "We're here," he said. Sookie drew in a deep breath and stretched her legs.

"Okay," she yawned. Preston smiled as he turned to exit the car. Sookie gathered herself so that when Preston opened her door, she was ready. They slowly walked up to her back porch and to the door.

Secretly, they hoped to stretch their time together a little longer, lingering at the backdoor. The floodlights led the backyard, which cloaked them in the shadows under the porch.

"I had a wonderful time," she said fiddling with her house keys. She didn't want to leave any awkwardness between them. She wasn't mad at him. Over the last few years all she wanted was honesty in a relationship. And for a fraction when Preston said what he did, she was upset to think that it wasn't something she could ever have. Bill had lied to her. Quinn had lied to her. It hurt to think that yet again this was something she would have to give up in order to be with someone. And for the billionth time in her life, she had hated what she was – she hated her telepathy. Then unexpectedly Preston gave her what she'd always wanted, what she hoped to have one day – openness and the honesty that flowed from it.

"The next few days I have to work," he explained, leaning closer so that he could feel the warmth radiating from her. "I have a deadline to make, but I'll call you." Sookie nodded her head. They had exchanged numbers over dinner.

"Well," she sighed looking down at her hands. "I guess this is good night." She raised her eyes, meeting his gaze. Her heart instantly raced with anticipation. Preston studied her, allowing himself for a moment to languish in the depths of her eyes.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you." His voice was gentle.

"You didn't," breathed Sookie. "It's just that too many people have lied to me…I can't take another lie." Despite herself, her eyes glossed with tears.

"I won't lie to you, never intentionally." Preston's voice was tender. He drew his hand up and caressed the side of her face. "I may not always say things right, but you only have to ask."

"I know," she nodded her head. Preston stepped closer, until he could feel her breath on his mouth.

The next instance, they kissed.

Preston tenderly cupped her beautiful face between his hands; holding; caressing; drinking and offering her the same pleasure and comfort her sweet mouth gave his.

Sookie dropped the keys. They landed with a soft clang next to her foot.

With her hands free, she curled her fingers against his chest, fisting the fabric of his shirt. Kissing a fairy was unlike any experience Sookie had ever had. It was like swimming in a pool of colors. His mouth and the sinful things he did with it, made her head spin. She was certain it had to be sinful; it felt too damn good. It was like sex. Her entire body was involved in this kiss.

Preston's hands lingered down her body and rested on her back; bracing her as he deepened the contact with her.

In the secrecy of the shadows, their tongues engaged in an elaborate dance. After several minutes of no movement in the backyard, the flood lights turned off. The stars and moon were hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds. The blinds and curtains at the back of the house were closed. They were insulated in the pure and unfiltered darkness of the country. The blindness the night had created, heightened Sookie's other senses. Gentle sounds of their mutual pleasure filled the air around them.

Slowly, one measured inch at a time, Preston's hand glided farther down, until he was caressing her bare thigh, eliciting a seductive groan from Sookie.

Abruptly the porch light flicked on. They were instantly washed in the muddy yellow light of a 40 watt light bulb.

The spell of their kiss ended.

"Good night," he whispered, his arms still wrapped around her.

"Good night," she breathed. Preston chanced the spell of another kiss. He drew her closer and kissed her a few more long moments.

"I really should go now," he said breathless. Sookie nodded her head.

"That's probably a good idea," she agreed. A few more minutes and she knew her resolve to 'take things slow' would be thrown out the window.

Wistfully, she watched Preston step off her porch. He stepped out onto the backyard triggering the sensor for the flood lights. Her gaze followed him until he disappeared through an invisible door.

She hauled in a deep breath. Picking up her keys, she turned her attention to the door knob. Her telepathy had informed her that Octavia had flicked the porch light on.

"Did you have a nice evening?" asked Octavia. She was sitting at the kitchen table.

Octavia had answered the door when Preston picked Sookie up for their evening together. Though he had been in his human form, Octavia was able to pick up on his otherworldly vibrations. She knew instantly that he was a fairy. Those like her, true Witches, could sense their presence. Octavia also knew that the magic Sookie's new man possessed was special.

"Yes," said Sookie, feeling uneasy at the way Octavia studied her. Sookie wasn't sure what the old Witch was thinking. Unlike Amelia who couldn't keep her thoughts from Sookie's telepathy, Octavia was blocking her. The old woman's magic reinforced shields protecting her thoughts were no match for Sookie's gift. If Sookie really wanted to know what Octavia was thinking, Sookie could easily listen in. But she wasn't really interested.

"His secret is safe," said Octavia stirring her tea. Okay. Sookie's brow wrinkled. Earlier that evening she'd told her roommates that Preston was a shifter. She wasn't sure if Octavia somehow found out the truth about Preston. The old Witch had a tendency to speak in riddles and half sentences. I'll wait and see. Sookie decided to keep an eye out for anything suspicious in Octavia's behavior. And only then, if she gave Sookie cause would she intrude on her thoughts.

"Good night Octavia," said Sookie, turning to leave. When she reached the door that led into the hallway, which would lead her to her room, Octavia's voice stopped her.

"Be careful Sookie," she warned. "As powerful as they are, their heart is easily broken." Sookie looked over her shoulder and watched Octavia stirring her tea. "Remain loyal to them," she continued in her slow manner, "and you will never want for anything. Betray them," Octavia said pausing to test the temperature of her tea. "Well, forgiveness is not a virtue they possess."

For true Witches, the fairies were sacred beings. Octavia knew many things about their kind, every real Witch did. The knowledge of fairies was part of a Witches' training. Fairies were creatures of pure magic. Any respectable Witch would know this and more. Privately, many of them hoped to find favor from a fairy, but they were secretive and reclusive. It was a rarity for fairies to highly esteem a human, but it was possible. Octavia peacefully drank her hot tea. She could sense Sookie looking at her. She hoped she hadn't scared the young woman. She simply wanted her to know the capacity with which these magical creatures could love, be hurt, and hate.

Sookie's calm expression didn't betray her cynicism at getting love advice from a double divorcée. Respectfully, or at least the façade of something a little less than respect, Sookie waited where she stood to see if Octavia was done. When Octavia, who never once looked up at her, remained quiet, Sookie figured the Witch was done. "Good night," Sookie said.

"Good night Sookie," said Octavia.

Moments later Sookie found herself in bed. For a few treasured moments, her thoughts lingered on her evening with Preston. But exhaustion over took her. Her lids heavy, she closed her eyes and sleep pulled her under. ~

A/N: I hope to hear from you. I always appreciate feedback. Its amazing how they can give you fuel to keep going.