A/N: Sorry for the wait. This chapter is extra-long (at least by my standards). So I hope you guys enjoy and please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood or any of the dialogue I may have used.
I walked into Merlotte's looking for Sam. Tara was being especially irritating and I couldn't hang around her anymore. Being back in Bon Temps was a surreal experience. Not just because of the craziness happening with Maryann. I was still trying to wrap my head around the idea of what Eric and I had done.
Sleeping with Eric may have been one of my more stupid ideas. Don't get me wrong, Eric was great in bed, obviously. I was just worried about what it might do to my heart. I had never slept with someone outside of a relationship. I have slept with a total of two guys, minus Eric, in my entire life. I was in a relationship with both of them.
It's always been my golden rule: Do not have one-night stands. Was that what this was? Just one night, well morning, of comforting sex? I was sure that's how Eric saw it. After all, he did just lose his maker. I knew that if I was completely honest with myself, I would want it to be more than a one-night stand. Which is why I will continue to lie to myself and everyone around me.
As I walked through the front door of Merlotte's I noticed two things. One, the bar was completely trashed. And two, Sam and Andy listening to Jason talk about zombies. The first, I understood. Maryann had been messing with the minds of the people in town and I couldn't really be surprised that the bar had taken some abuse. The second confused the hell out of me.
"Then we have got to be the law. Guys I read a book about this. This is Armageddon. This is the oral history of the zombie war. We need weapons. Lots of 'em" I leaned against the door frame and smile, holding back the laugh that was begging to come out.
"Listen, I hate to break it to you, but guns aren't gonna do jack shit to Maryann. And you can't shoot anybody else. Alright, these are our friends. This is our town."
"Sometimes you need to destroy somethin' to save it." Wow. I could only look at Jason in confusion, my own expression mirroring Sam. "That's in the Bible. Or the Constitution."
"Yea, I think I read that somewhere." I said with a smirk on my lips.
They all wiped around to face me and Jason was the first to break the silence.
"What're you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be helpin' Sookie out with Tara?"
"Yea, but Tara's better now and she's back to driving me crazy. I figured I'd come see if ya'll needed any help."
Before anyone could respond, I heard the sounds of whispering coming from the window. I spun around seconds after Sam and saw two kids run away. Before I could even blink, Sam was running out the door and into the woods.
Jason grabbed my arm before I could follow Sam. "Let Sam handle it."
I frowned and reluctantly agreed. Somehow within the span of 30 seconds, Jason got restless and decided that he and Andy were going to the Sherriff's office to get weapons. I rolled my eyes, but didn't bother trying to stop them. I grabbed the broom and started sweeping up the mess Maryann's minions had created.
I heard the door open behind me and gasped as I turned around. Coby and Lisa were holding Sam's hands and looked like they hadn't been taken care of in a week. I dropped the broom and walked towards them. Lisa ran to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I hugged her to me and wrapped an arm around Coby when he came to my side.
I had been a fairly regular babysitter for the two of them. Arlene and I had pretty different schedules, so whenever I could, I'd watch the kids for her.
"I'm gonna make them some food." Sam said. I just nodded my head and listened as the kids told me all about the adventures, their words, they had these past few days.
They sat at the bar as Sam came out with their food.
"Whats's wrong with our momma?" Lisa asked, looking at Sam.
"I'm not sure, but I think she's sick." Sam was trying to sugar coat it, but Lisa always was a smart kid.
"Is she blind?"
"Well, she might be sometimes, but not always." Sam said.
"Is she gonna die?" Poor Lisa looked genuinely worried.
"No. Not anytime soon." Well that was good reassurance Sam.
"Lisa, Coby has your momma been sick? In front of you? A lot?" I asked.
"She doesn't seem sick."
"She seems crazy." Ah, Coby. A boy of little subtlety.
"Is she crazy?" Lisa looked to Sam for an answer.
"Everybody gets a little crazy every now and then."
"She's always kissing Terry and doin' other gross stuff. And her eyes get weird." She said.
"Can we get her a doctor?" Coby asked.
"Or someone to make her like she used to be?" Lisa looked toward me and I honestly didn't know what to say. Of course we couldn't take her to a doctor. She was possessed by something they had never seen. But how do you tell a little kid that?
"Well…" I tried stalling, looking toward Sam for some help.
"Like a vampire! I bet a vampire would know what to do!" Of course, Coby would suggest a vampire. He had been obsessed with them since Bill came to town.
"Where's vampire Bill?" Lisa asked.
"I don't know. I, uh, I think he's still in Dallas." I almost shook my head at Sam, but decided that it wouldn't matter. Bill was gone and we wouldn't be able to contact him.
"Don't you know any other vampires?" Coby asked Sam who immediately turned and gave me a pointed look.
Well, shit.
I had been hoping to avoid Eric like the plague. At least until I could get my head together. However, I knew I couldn't deny these kids anything and they wanted to ask a vampire. So that is how I found myself outside Fangtasia, sitting in Sam's truck, waiting for the sun to set.
I watched as a blonde woman, wearing barely-there-clothes and bite marks, got out of her car and walked toward the door. Sam jumped out of the truck and walked toward her. I watched as she screamed a little, or a lot considering I could hear it from the truck, and looked at Sam in fear.
She relaxed as they talked and then looked toward the truck. I gave a small wave and she turned back to Sam. She seemed reluctant to let us in, but Sam is very persuasive. She nodded and I knew she had caved.
"Come on guys. We can wait inside." I opened my door and helped Lisa, then Coby, out of the truck. I took a deep breath before following after them. I could tell this was going to be a long day.
Eric didn't grace us with his presence until well after opening time. I knew he could sense we were here. He was just being his usual arrogant self. Even when he finally came out of his office, he took his time.
I wanted to tell myself that nothing had changed in him. I didn't want to notice the sorrow in his eyes. But, of course I did. I noticed all of this before he had time to put his walls back up.
I sat next to Coby and tried to pay attention to Sam's words. I really did. But, Eric demanded my attention, even when he didn't realize it. I couldn't help but remember that we had been together just yesterday. I remembered the way we moved together. The way our bodies became one. I remembered the look in his eyes as we connected on a whole new level. His eyes that seemed so full of pain and joy at the same time.
He didn't look in my direction once. He stayed focused on Sam's words and I vaguely recall hearing him call Sam a shifter, something I would later contemplate. I watched as Eric showed his fangs to Coby and Lisa. He glanced at my arm when Lisa grabbed it, but quickly turned away.
What the hell? Why was he ignoring me? What an ass!
I quickly tuned back in when Sam and the kids stood. Sam said we would be leaving and I didn't even spare Eric a glance as I moved to leave.
Before I could take more than two steps, I felt a cold hand grab my arm. I stopped and looked up at Eric in confusion.
"Before I leave, we will talk in my office." God what an ass! That was the only thing running through my head. I gave Sam a reassuring look and watched as Pam ushered him and the kids out.
I pulled my hand from his grasp and walked toward his office. I could feel him staring at my ass, but couldn't bring myself to care. What could he possibly have to say to me?
A/N: Well I hope you guys enjoyed. I have to say I'm losing inspiration for this story. I think the lack of reviews is getting me down. If you guys could review that would be awesome! It's a huge motivator when I have a lot of reviews! Please and thank you!