Thank you so much for your support on this story! I love your reviews ;)

This chapter is dedicated to Angela Vaughn aka EricIzMine. She passed away almost a year ago and with her, we lost one of the most talented writers in and outside the SVM/TB community.

Also the lovely Breathesgirl will not only be my BETA but my CO-WRITER as well from now on.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Chapter 10:

The three days after Gran died were probably the most difficult of my life. It was hard to leave the hospital after Gran's death. I didn't know if it was because I didn't want to leave her body behind or if I didn't want to go back home to the mess in the kitchen and all the reminders that led to that point in time, including Bill.

The latter was easily solved: after Eric suggested that I shouldn't be alone for the next few days I temporarily moved in with my brother.

Our parents' house was left to us when they died and he moved in the moment he turned 18. Not only would I feel better having somebody else around but I had a mild concussion amongst all my injuries and shouldn't have been left alone anyway. So this was more to make sure I had somebody with me who would conceivably help me than anything else. Although the idea of Jason helping me do anything more than clear the leftovers out of the fridge was laughable.

It was strange to sleep in my old room again. Not much had changed over the years and memories – good and bad – of old times started to surface when I laid down on my old bed. The familiar feel of the mattress made me remember a sleepover I'd had with Tara, my childhood friend. We had built a cave with blankets and pillows and crawled under it with a flashlight and our favorite picture books. I also remembered the tea parties I had with her and our dolls and other good things. But there were bad memories as well.

Memories of my mother who had never liked me. She thought I was not right in the head and had wondered, aloud and silently, why god had punished her with a daughter like me. She had pretty much ignored me since the day I started to talk and she realized that I was different somehow. With that thought my mind jumped to the next nightmare: Uncle Bartlett. His thoughts had been beyond nasty. Even as a young child, I was really young, maybe 4 or 5 when he started, I had recognized that something wasn't quite right when an adult would picture your naked body and how he wanted to touch you.

I had told my mother once not too long after it started but she didn't believe me; she even slapped me and banned me from the library for a full week because she thought I was reading age inappropriate books.

Surprisingly she even gave the librarian an earful for allowing such a young child anywhere near the adult books.

I never spoke of it again – with her – but after my parents died and we went to live with my gran I confided in her. The next time that bastard visited she got out her shotgun and threatened to riddle him with it if he ever came back. With that fond memory of Gran defending me that day the water works started and I cried myself to sleep.

Eric – surprisingly - was my rock in the days leading up to the funeral even though I didn't see him even once. Even though he couldn't be there during the daylight hours he made it abundantly clear that he cared and was still thinking of me: He had apparently called a funeral home in Shreveport so when the morning of the day after Gran's death rolled around and a black haired beauty named Claudine knocked on my brother's front door we were astonished that Eric had hired someone to assist me in organizing the funeral.

I was so grateful at that moment that I hugged her as hard as I could and probably thanked her a thousand times over. I also heard from her thoughts that even though Jason was supposed to be family her employer didn't trust him to stay with me until I was better so he was paying her extra to sort of act as a nurse along with her usual duties.

I would need to do something for Eric when I saw him but that was a thought for another time; I'd probably give him the world's longest hug or something.

With Claudine's help it was thankfully easy to organize Gran's funeral and I had much more time to mourn her that way. And mourn her I did. Even when I was not in my own home there were reminders everywhere that had me tearing up: The lack of the smell of breakfast when waking up in the morning, Gran calling me for lunch or dinner or the lack of fresh flowers on the table.

Again the latter was rectified by Eric: Every day there was a small bouquet of daisies delivered and the cards, each one handwritten and signed by him, were probably the sweetest thing anybody had ever done for me.

I think his thoughtfulness during a time when I most needed my friends and family was the straw that broke the camel's back.

In those moments when I needed something else to think about, something to lighten my mood even a little bit, I would ponder Eric, my feelings and thoughts towards him, his actions towards me and I realized that I was falling in love with him; hook, line and sinker! The time seemed so wrong for such feelings but you couldn't do anything about it when it hit you.

After the funeral Jason and I grew further apart. He didn't say it but he thought that if I hadn't been 'seen with them damn fangers' Gran would still be alive and he wouldn't have had to give up some of his precious freedom to let his sister stay with him for a few days. It didn't matter that family helps family if and when they can; it only mattered that he couldn't bring a girl home for those few days I was there.

I didn't have the energy to argue with him anymore because we'd had that conversation twice already – or was it three times? I couldn't remember – and I had the feeling I was talking in circles anyway, so I let him be. If he wanted to blame me for everything that had happened then so be it. Besides, hadn't I promised Gran that I would let him make his own mistakes and take care of his own self instead of offering him a ladder to climb out of the hole he'd dug for himself? So I decided I didn't care anymore, not right then anyway. Maybe later when the dust had settled, so to speak, I would try to talk to him again.

It also didn't seem to matter that I cleaned his house, top to bottom, as a way of saying thank you since I didn't really have the money to put towards anything else and, at that point, it was still half my house anyway!

Cleaning did help me though. It allowed me to feel useful and my brain was able to shut off for a little bit; I could just go on autopilot and let my hands do their work while my brain took a little vacation.

Sam, Tara and Lafayette were good friends during that black period of my life. When tragedy struck it seemed to bring to light the people you could rely on and those you couldn't.

One of them would stop by each day, sometime after lunch, bring me some little something to eat so they could make sure I was at least eating something, and they would share a little bit of gossip, let me cry on their shoulder or they would listen while I remembered little things about Gran. Then they would give me a hug, a pat on the back and they would leave me to my grieving.

The day of the funeral matched my mood when I woke up; it was grey and overcast and just not a very pretty day.

As the time to put my Gran in her final resting place grew nearer the weather lightened up a little and the sun shone lazily through the hazy rain clouds. When the Reverend started speaking a lark started singing and continued to sing until the last words were spoken then, when the first shovelful of dirt was dropped on her coffin, a rainbow broke through the mist and ended right on her grave.

I was finally able to smile then. Gran had always believed in the myths everybody else poo-pooed at and the myth of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was one of her favorites: Maybe now she's found her pot of gold.

I didn't know it at the time, and I'm glad I didn't for I would surely have made a huge scene, but Jason had invited Gran's brother, Bartlett, to the funeral. His reasoning was sound: He figured her brother should know and attend her funeral.

Jason just didn't know why Gran had banished him from our lives, only that she had so he invited the bastard.

His thoughts then were just as vile as they had been when I was just a little girl; only now I was able to understand just how wrong those thoughts had been back then.

I made sure to sit on the opposite side of Jason just so I would have a little bit of space from him. I was able to ignore him for the most part and enjoy the service, at least as much as one can enjoy such a thing when it is one of your loved ones being buried.

After the funeral we assembled in the community building for the Reception. I didn't want them in the house because there were just too many people and I hadn't been home since I returned from the hospital. And more importantly, I didn't want them in the house because even though they may have respected and liked my grandmother that didn't mean that I liked and respected them.

While it's true that most people will respect the dead and generally not say anything nasty and they will respect their belongings, that doesn't mean everyone is kind and respectful. Most of them would most likely make a showing so it would look like they were being respectful, devour the free food then disappear again, only to show up at the next funeral; and so the cycle goes.

I didn't remember hiring a caterer to supply all that food and when I tracked down Claudine, who had shown to make sure everything was as I wanted it, she said she hadn't hired them either.

I finally managed to corner one of the catering staff and they said that an Eric Northman had hired them. That brought tears to my eyes for about the millionth time that week but they were actually happy tears.

That was probably the most grateful I had been for anything Eric had done since Claudine appeared at the front door; hiring a caterer meant more to me than just about anything. Not only did it mean I didn't have to find a place to put all the leftovers, it also meant no Jell-O molds, no greasy fried chicken and no cleaning and returning dishes. It also meant none of Caroline Bellfleur's special chocolate cake which was a shame since it always made such an occasion a little brighter.

I didn't know how Eric knew what I needed but when I finally got home I was going to bring out my prettiest paper and write him a long letter of thanks for everything he had done for me.

When I finally got tired of the reception line and Jason's and everybody else's thoughts I slipped out of the hall, got in my car and drove home to Gran's.

I sat there for what seemed like a very long time and just stared at the place that had been home for two thirds of my life and cried there in the silence and privacy of my car.

When the tears finally stopped I got out and turned toward the cemetery; all the equipment was gone so they must have finished filling in the grave so I locked my car and walked slowly forward.

I didn't know exactly what I expected to find in that cemetery but peace and tranquility was certainly not it. I stepped through the archway and the most wonderful peace settled on my shoulders like a mantle. I felt loved and cared for; something I hadn't expected to ever feel again after I finally realized Gran was no longer in the earthly realm.

I slowly worked my way over to the family plot and Gran's freshly filled grave and knelt by the headstone which she had had placed there when she buried Granddaddy. One side had Granddaddy's name, Mitchell Stackhouse, and his dates of birth and death and the other had Gran's information, except for her date of death since they hadn't had a chance yet to carve it into the stone.

I ran my fingers lovingly over the letters and let the thoughts of her fill my head and I smiled, a real smile, only the second since that horrible night and remembered, simply remembered, my time with such a wonderful woman.

My Gran, Adele Hale Stackhouse, loving wife, mother and grandmother may be gone but she would never be forgotten.

A slight breeze had picked up and had blown the ribbons of the wreaths into disorder so I arranged them again and read over the words. One of them got my attention immediately, it said: 'Gone but not forgotten'. I was surprised to see that one of the ribbons had Eric's name on it. I didn't even know they could do that. My eyes became moist again and I sighed. How could this man be so perfect? If I hadn't realized over the last few days that I was in love with him, I would have been at that moment! I ran my fingers over the gold letters on the banner, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

When I felt the chill of evening starting to settle in I got up off my stiff knees and worked my way back home.

My two best friends, Tara and Lafayette, were sitting on the back steps waiting for me when I got home. They didn't say anything, they didn't have to, they just held their arms open for me. They both cleaned up nicely from the day to day jeans and tee, or in Lala's case eye-shadow and colourful blouses and nail polish, and looked quite nice.

Tara, being the fashionista in my life, was wearing a dove gray sheath dress and Lafayette had toned it down quite a lot. He was wearing the standard black suit but he still had to have his bit of colour in a purple shirt with matching tie.

We didn't say anything since words weren't really necessary; we had known each other since we were wee little. I just sat on the top step between the two of them, an arm around each of them, and enjoyed their company and the sounds of dusk coming to life as night slowly settled over our little slice of Louisiana.

Naturally the peace was short lived. Why would that night have been different from any other in the last couple of weeks?

I had wondered why my neighbor and thorn in my side hadn't made an appearance over the last few nights. I had hoped he had given up and gone away but those hopes were dashed as soon as full night had settled over us since he was suddenly standing in front of us.

Sigh. How could he not know that it was totally inappropriate to show up when I had just buried my beloved grandmother? He was supposed to be a gentleman, which I had doubted from the moment I met him, so he should know that, shouldn't he?

You would think that since he had been human much more recently than Eric that he would better understand the customs of a burial and having a relative stranger suddenly appear in front of you, unbidden, was not one of those customs.

You would also think that having his sheriff, the vampire sheriff, tell you to 'shoo' would have gotten the point across. Apparently not since there he was, standing right in front of us and looking quite the worse for wear in what appeared to be tattered Docker's pants and an equally tattered Polo shirt.

I looked at him expectantly but said nothing. My friends were silent as well, surprisingly. They just huddled closer to my sides and looked from me to Bill and back again, like they were watching a tennis match. Clearly, they were waiting to see how the scene would unfold.

"Sookeh," he said as a greeting. Urgh! Couldn't he get my name right? Just once? "My deepest condolences on your grandmother's passing. I would have come sooner but I was … indisposed," And why would I care, I thought.

Hmm, indisposed; did Eric have something to do with that? He had said he would take care of it.

"Thank you, Mr. Compton." By being so formal I was trying to make him understand that there was a big barrier - even bigger than the Great Wall of China - between us and I was not pleased with his presence, "As you can see I'm not really in the mood to receive company, so if you would just…"

He decided that not only was he going to interrupt my evening but he was going to interrupt my words as well, "But Sookeh, this is the first time I have been able see you in days. You must be devastated over such a tragedy; especially as it came on so suddenly. I know your family does not have a lot of money," I narrowed my eyes, outraged, and we three sucked in our breaths simultaneously, but he didn't seem to care or he didn't notice, as usual, "and the burial must have cost a fortune so I would like to humbly offer my financial assistance."

I stood up slowly because I was ready to erupt like a volcano on a hot spot and I wanted to act like a grown woman on that day. My eyes were fixed on his in a steely gaze and I stood tall and strong on the second step. With the height advantage offered by the steps I towered above him slightly and said in an eerily calm tone as I glared at him, "Mr. Compton, let me set your straight on some things.

"First, my name is Sookie. It rhymes with cookie. It is not Sookeh which rhymes with…," I tried to think of something it rhymed with but couldn't think of anything right quick, "Well, I guess it doesn't rhyme with anything.

"Second, it is none of your business how much money we do or do not possess. Thank you for your oh so generous offer, and any other offer you may propose in the future, but I am going to decline those offers." He actually looked pleased about my supposedly recognizing the generousness of his offer. I figured I was going to have to pull a Sheldon Cooper and break out the Sarcasm Cue Cards!

"The third and final reminder: I have told you to get off my property several times already and you've ignored me each and every time. Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you ignored my request?" He actually looked slightly constipated at the mention of what happened the night Gran died. "No? I didn't think so. I think you remember it quite clearly. So I will say this one last time: Get. Off. My. Property. Mr. Compton! You are not welcome at any time! The next time I have to 'remind' you I will report you to your Sheriff; I'm sure he would like to know that you are not following his orders."

I expected him to make a scene and he even opened his mouth like he was going to argue his expulsion but surprisingly he just gave us a tight 'Have a good evening then,' with a sneer at the end, then he disappeared with vampire speed.

I huffed and put my hands on my hips while looking in the direction he'd gone. I could only shake my head. His appearances had become quite the nuisance. I needed to get to the bottom of why he was so persistent. But not right then. I just didn't have the energy for it.

"You okay, Sooks?" Tara asked, then added, "That guy's creepy."

I snorted. Creepy was the understatement of the century, "Yeah, I am and yes, he is creepy. I was hoping he had gone away but apparently not."

Before I could suggest to my friends that we go inside I heard chuckling to my left. I turned around quickly and saw Eric casually leaning against the railing of the porch. My heart started to beat erratically in my chest at the sight. Damn, that man looked delectable in his washed out jeans, black t-shirt and brown leather jacket. And how he had shoved his hands in his pockets had Cookie standing at attention in a split second. I gulped and tried to shove her back into her cage; I was so not in the mood for her flirty behaviour.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Tara and Lafayette gaping at him like fish out of water. Hmm, they either hadn't seen a giant before or they hadn't seen a man as beautiful as Eric.

Well, I couldn't blame them!

I ignored them for the moment though. His appearance had brought all the things he had done for me and Gran in the last few days to the surface. A lump formed in my throat as I marched up to him. I then stopped right in front of him and looked him square in the eye. His gaze was soft yet curious with a hint of a smile, like he was waiting for what I would do or say next.

I don't think he quite anticipated my next move though.

I hugged him.

Hard!

Then I rubbed my face on his hard chest and inhaled his wonderful scent. The fresh and salty air of the ocean let my body relax immediately and all the grief and worry disappeared for a moment. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed him the last few days until that very moment. That vampire had gotten under my skin faster than anything or anyone in my entire life.

Eric had stiffened at my touch at first. I don't think anyone had ever hugged the big, bad vampire Sheriff; ha, they probably would have lost their heads if they'd tried. But he soon wrapped his arms around me and imitated my gesture.

"Thank you," I said and squeezed him harder. "Thank you for all the things you've done. Only Gran has ever thought of doing something so thoughtful and selfless for me or tried to anticipate my needs before. So thank you, especially because I know my gran would have loved all of it."

"You're welcome, Sookie," he answered and patted me awkwardly on the back. I wanted to snicker but I didn't, figuring he might have taken offense after everything he had done for me.

Instead I sighed and then - very reluctantly - removed myself from him but didn't step back. Curiosity got the better of me and I cocked my head to the side and regarded him with a mischievous gaze, "How did you know what to do and what I needed?"

Oh, was he getting embarrassed? Yes, he actually scratched the stubble on his cheek and gave me a lopsided smile. That gesture made my heart flutter even more. "I uh … asked Pam for advice." I looked at him quizzically. How would Pam have been able to help?

"She has this strange fascination with Dear Abby and once I asked I had to listen to endless columns on how to deal with death." I actually did laugh then; the thought of Pam, or any vampire really, following Dear Abby was hilarious! "I had to threaten her with burning her favorite Jimmy Choo collection if she didn't stop talking. And what did that brat do then? She just forwarded me a folder with every Dear Abby column ever written about the subject of Bereavement and Mourning and she had taped herself reading each of those columns so no matter whether she was in front of me or not I still had to listen to my progeny drone on and on! But seeing your reaction just now made every word I had to listen to worth it."

My laughter had quieted by the time he was finished speaking although the giggles did erupt from time to time throughout the night.

"Well, then it's Pam I actually need to thank."

He smirked, "That can be arranged, she should arrive in a few minutes."

Someone cleared their throat and my cheeks started to burn as I remembered that we were not alone.

Oops!

"Sorry guys! Eric, these are my childhood friends Tara Thornton and Lafayette Reynolds, they're cousins. Guys, this is Eric Northman."

They offered a 'Hi, nice to meet you,' and Eric gave them a nod back before he turned to me again.

"I just wanted to pay my respects quickly and be on my way again. I didn't want to interrupt your quiet evening like Bill so obviously did."

"You saw that?" I asked, slightly embarrassed.

He nodded and chuckled, "I did. That was a nice speech you gave him. Apparently he wasn't punished enough over the last few days for disobeying my orders since he so blatantly disregarded them the moment he was returned home."

So that's where Bill had been for last few days after all. I restrained myself from asking Eric what he had done with or to Bill because honestly that would have been far too much information for any of us humans. Instead of asking him to enlighten me or to clarify what he had done I willingly turned a blind eye to what Eric did when he was in Sheriff mode.

So I ignored the last part and said, "You're not interrupting and I'm glad you're here. Before I forget; thank you for keeping him out of my hair for a few days … er nights. It was much appreciated." The wind picked up and a chilly breeze made me shudder, "Let's go inside; I don't have a jacket on."

I had no sooner opened the back door than there was a knock at the front so I hurried through the house and looked through the window at the side of the door; it was Pam!

I threw open the door and threw myself at my new hero's sidekick, engulfing her in a hug, "Thank you! With your help, Eric knew just what to do to help me; so thank you Pam!"

She just stood there with her new Sookie ornament, her arms hanging awkwardly at her sides and stiff as a board until she finally raised one arm, gave me a quick yet awkward pat on the back and pried me off her just as there was a flash from behind us.

She looked different from the last time I saw her and it took me a minute to put a finger on what was so different; she wasn't dressed in a tight corset and skirt and it wasn't all black and red!

Instead she was wearing a Robin's egg blue pastel pant suit with white pumps and she looked like she had swallowed a bunch of thorns her face was so scrunched up. I bit my lip to stop the grin that wanted to form.

"You are important to Eric and he is important to me therefore you are important to me as well." Her voice sounded strangely robotic, like she had rehearsed it in front of a mirror.

Gee, awkward much? "Come on in Pam, come in. We can't have you standing out here while the rest of us are inside! Come in." I grabbed her arm and pulled her inside to the stunned silence of my best friends.

"Since we're speaking of Eric," Pam said and glared at him, "Just what do you plan on doing with that picture you just took?"

Surprised I turned around. Eric was standing there holding his cell phone and looked like he was trying really hard not to laugh; you could see the amusement in his eyes and his lips were twitching with the effort.

Tara and Lafayette simply looked stunned, "Uhh, Sook?"

I smiled at Tara, "Yeah Tara?"

"Are you sure molesting a vampire is such a good idea?" Both she and Lafayette looked horror stricken at the idea of hugging a vampire and they were trying to stand at a discreet distance from Eric.

I guess it's to be expected that they would be wary of vampires since it is the generally smart move to make, "You heard her guys: I'm important to Eric which makes me important to her. Lighten up!"

I kept hold of Pam's arm and grabbed Eric's free hand as I led everybody into the living room, "I'm sorry I don't have any refreshments prepared everybody but this is the first time I've been home since…" I started tearing up again. Dammit! I hate crying! Especially in front of others! My face gets all splotchy and red, I get all stuffed up and it's just not a pretty sight.

Eric gathered me into his arms again which calmed me right down. When I looked up at him to thank him he looked uncomfortable.

I pushed myself away from him, "I'm so sorry Eric! I didn't mean to get you all wet." I grabbed a handful of tissues from the box on the end table and started dabbing at the wet spots on his shirt when it struck me: there had never been a box of tissues there before.

I turned around and looked around me more carefully; everything was spotless. Even the ceiling fan didn't have dust on it and I'm sure the windows were sparkling, I just couldn't tell since it was so dark outside.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Sookie?"

I looked back at him over my shoulder and he still looked uncomfortable. I grabbed his hand and towed him to the kitchen and stopped dead in the doorway; there wasn't a speck of blood anywhere! There wasn't any food on the floor, no iced tea sticking to things; it was spotless!

"This is one of the things I wanted to talk to you about Sookie; I hired a maid service to come in and clean everything so you wouldn't have to face your demons from that night again in order to clean it up."

I was speechless, truly speechless for possibly the first time in my life. I turned and threw myself into his arms and kept mumbling 'thank you' over and over into his chest as I held onto him for dear life. I finally found my voice again after a couple of minutes, "Thank you Eric! If you had done nothing else over the last few days this would have been all I needed!

"Not wanting to see and clean up the mess was the main reason I haven't been home before now so thank you!

"Was Pam behind this as well? If so she's got another hug coming her way as well." Gee, was I turning into a hugger now? I'd never been that touchy feely in my entire life.

Eric smiled indulgently down at me, "No, this one I did on my own. If there's one thing being a vampire teaches you it's that cleanliness is next to godliness. You clean up any mess you create so someone else doesn't have to and if someone else does have to you get the best in the business to do it for you."

I sighed. This man, this vampire, really was perfect for me! If Gran had had a chance to know him better she would have agreed with me too since the one thing she always insisted on after manners was cleanliness.

Judging by the comment she made at the hospital she may have already known. That still baffled me.

My little serene bubble burst when I heard gagging noises behind me. We both turned around and saw Pam sticking her index finger into her throat.

Childish much?

"When you two lovebirds are done…" she said drolly.

Eric looked at Pam like he was ready to stake her, "Pamela, go check to make sure Compton went home. I have something else to discuss with Sookie and he doesn't need to hear."

She glared at Eric but eventually sped out the kitchen door and into the night.

I turned around and looked at Eric expectantly, "You have something else to talk to me about?"

He nodded, "I do. I would like you to take more of my blood. I can feel your … discomfort even after three days have passed and I can't stand to see you so damaged.

"I understand why you didn't take me up on my offer the last time but the worst is over now. Don't you think you have punished yourself enough? Your grandmother's death was not your fault!"

I just stood there and looked at him while I thought about how he could have known that. Deep inside me there was a voice telling me the exact same thing as Eric did but that voice wasn't loud enough for me to acknowledge it. Maybe I should start.

I sighed and thought things over. The itching was starting up already from the smaller cuts, my back still hurt and I was about fifteen shades of blue and purple from all the bruises, especially around my neck; not to mention the nasty headache I still had from the concussion, so there really wasn't much to consider about his offer since it was a simple yes or no request.

I nodded my agreement but before his fangs could even descend I added a condition, "Only if you take mine again as well."

I don't know why I said it but as soon as the words were out of my mouth I knew it was the right thing to say.

Some otherworldly force was pushing us together. At the same time the presence inside me - which had been surprisingly silent the last few days - seemed to nudge me in his direction as well. It was just minor things; I would say things without thinking about them - just like a few seconds before - or a little gesture I wouldn't normally do. The other me seemed to have a connection to him as well and deep down I knew that it was somehow meant to be. And again that feeling was something I didn't think I would normally feel. I could resist it and put up a fight or I could accept it and see where the road led; I decided to go down the unknown road to adventure.

Eric looked just as stunned at my words as I felt at saying them but he agreed. I stopped him once more and added, "But we so need to talk about all this soon. I know there is something between us and I know that you feel it as well. And I have a suspicion you know more about it already. I need to know what is going on," my voice was stern so he knew I was very serious about it.

He nodded somberly, "I know, Sookie. I promise, we'll talk about this very soon." With that he pierced one of his fingertips with his fang.

Before he could even bring his hand to my mouth I picked it up and put his finger in my mouth myself as I brought my own finger to his mouth. Something was nearly pushing me to do it. Again it was something I wouldn't do otherwise. I could feel something inside me and I knew it was the same presence that had wanted to come to the surface as I fought Renée.

I didn't even feel the prick of his fang! Instead I felt euphoric! And again the presence rose and stretched and sighed with satisfaction. I could feel her growing and becoming stronger than before with each drop of blood I sucked into my mouth.

What the hell was going on? For some reason I was not afraid of what was happening though. It felt right to me; like it was meant to be in the first place. That separateness I had felt when I first discovered it was what felt wrong. And right then, as I sucked Eric's blood into my mouth, whatever it was felt one step closer to being complete.

I closed my eyes as the happy feeling overwhelmed me and I saw a kaleidoscope of colours and images against my closed lids. The images went by too fast for me to see more than a couple but the most stunning of them, the one that knocked me for a loop, was a lightning bolt in a stormy sky over a turbulent sea which reminded so much of what I had seen in Eric's eyes a couple of times already that I gasped as I dropped his hand.

Before I could say anything out loud and get to the bottom of things, many things happened at the same time: I jumped about ten feet in the air as the kitchen door banged open and Pam stormed back inside. Almost at the same time I could hear a retching noise behind me.

Heart galloping in my chest and overwhelmed with what had just happened, I turned and looked back toward the living room and saw Lala standing there with a strange look on his face and he was bent over slightly, clutching at his chest. But almost as soon as I saw him he straightened up and had a strangely creepy smile on his face.

He grabbed a newspaper from the coffee table and rolled it up then took several steps forward and whacked Pam with the paper on the back of the head, "You, young lady," his voice was a little higher pitched, almost like he was trying to imitate a woman's voice, "need to learn some manners. You do not just barge into a person's home, even if you have been invited, because you feel you have the right!

"You knock and wait for that person to answer the door!

"As for your mocking them just a few minutes ago: Leave them alone! Every person has the right to be happy and a funeral is meant to be a celebration of a person's life, not a gloom fest!"

Pam swung around, immediately in defence mode, ready to attack my best friend.

My eyes had become as wide as saucers while I observed the spectacle. I may be blonde but I'm not dumb so I looked up at Eric, begging him with my eyes to do something before Pam actually hurt Lala.

But Eric didn't even look at me. He had his head turned to the side with such a fascinated and curious look on his face; like he couldn't wait to see how the scene would unfold.

"Eric," I hissed and elbowed him in the ribs.

Before anyone could even react Lala froze us all into place with what he said next, "I expect you are the one I spoke to on the phone the other night when I called the bar asking for Sookie." WHACK! Another smack on the head, "You were just plain rude! You could have asked for confirmation of who I was asking for since I did ask for the owner the first time."

WHACK! WHACK!

"You could have said 'I'm sorry but which owner', you could have been more polite especially once Sookie gave you back the phone. You could have called back and given me an apology," WHACK! "you could have sent an apology back with Sookie or you could have come out yourself but nooooooo, you decided to be rude and obnoxious and that is simply not acceptable!" Another whack landed on Pam's head.

"What is your name young lady?"

Tara and I were looking back and forth between each other and Lafayette and she looked as confused as I had ever seen her!

I know I was confused. What the hell was going on?

Pam just stood there, apparently as stunned as the rest of us. She straightened up and put her clawed hands down at her sides, "Pam Ravenscroft, Ma'am."

Ma'am? Now I was really confused! Pam knew how to be polite? Who knew?

It took me until then to realize that Lala was speaking like my Gran! "Gran?" I asked.

Lala turned to me, "Yes baby girl, it's me."

Confusion, they name is Sookie Stackhouse! "But how…"

Lala/Gran smiled again, "It seems our dear Lafayette is a medium, he can channel spirits so I chose to come to you like this to make sure you remember your promise to me at the hospital.

"Once I heard Ms. Ravenscroft's voice I knew she was the one I spoke to on the phone so I thought I'd have a little fun and give her the come to Jesus I promised her for her lack of manners that night."

For some reason I lowered my shields and focused my mind on Lala's thoughts. And what I actually saw in there made me gasp out loud. I could see my gran's ghost or spirit smiling back at me. Lafayette was standing next to her with his arms crossed over his chest and a stunned but amused expression on his face; He winked at me.

My lower lip wobbled and I could feel the water works starting again, "Oh Gran," I ran forward and into her arms - well Lala's arms but who cares - and hung onto her for dear life. "I miss you so much."

"I know sweetheart," she said as she hugged me back, "I miss you too but I'm finally home now. I'm right where I want to be and I hope that thought will comfort you. I will always watch over you like I have the last couple of days. By the way, I saw how your brother behaved and who he brought to the funeral."

I flinched as she said that, "Jason didn't know what had happened with Bartlett." Why the hell was I defending him? He had given me nothing but more grief the last couple of days.

"He may not have known but I announced, within earshot of just about the whole town, that that man was not a part of the family anymore and would never be again." She sighed, "but on the other hand your brother was never that bright. He always had more good looks than brains."

"He blames me for your death," I whispered. I didn't want to say it but it came out anyway. I needed to get it off my chest, "He didn't say it out loud but I could hear it."

"I know baby girl. It seems the lecture I gave him at the hospital was for naught. That's why I need to remind you of the promise you gave me. I think it's time to let him go. You need to find your own way and if Jason doesn't choose to be in your life then that is his loss, not yours. Either he will come around or he won't."

The words were hard to hear from her. How could I let loose the only family member I had left? Without him in it I was left alone in the world. Wasn't I?

As if sensing my turmoil Eric stepped up behind me and laid a hand on my shoulder. Our bond had become much stronger even with just the few drops of blood we'd just exchanged and right then it was dancing with comfort. I looked up to him and then to Gran - or Lala, damn that's confusing - and could see something pass between them.

But the moment was gone as quickly as it came. "One last thing, I'm glad you interpreted my little light show correctly," she said mysteriously and winked at me.

I blinked, confused and it took me a few moments to understand what she meant. Then I grinned, "The pot of gold." Wonder in my eyes I asked, "That was really you?"

She nodded, "Yes, I wanted you to know that I'm happy where I am. I wanted to you to smile. Though I had a little help from an angel."

I sucked in my breath in astonishment. Angels really exist? "An angel?"

Gran/Lala nodded, "Her name is Angela. We had a wonderful conversation and she told me that when she died almost a year ago, the angels came to her and honoured her in becoming an angel. The angels had read the wonderful stories she'd written during her lifetime and had seen how many people she had touched with her words so they granted her ascension directly to angelkind. And she wanted me to give you a message, 'Two halves make a whole and it will bind them together so completely, no-one will be able to separate them; when you always stay true to your heart, it will guide you through the obstacles thrown your way'; She wishes you good luck on your journey."

I didn't know what to make of that but I was touched nonetheless. I sniffled and nodded, "Tell her I thank her and will remember her words."

Gran/Lala nodded and looked at me shrewdly before turning mischievous. With a glint in her eyes she gently moved me out of the way, "Now let me hug this fine young man at least once for all the nice things he's done for you."

"Yes, let's," came a much deeper voice - Lala's and I could see just how much he wanted that hug looking back at me.

"Hush Lafayette, if you want to feel these hard muscles you need to join the back of the line," she said dryly and pulled Eric against her hard body.

I couldn't hold back the snort before my hand covered my mouth.

Eric took all this with amusement judging by the smirk on his lips and even gave Gran/Lala a smooch on the cheek before he pulled back again.

Eric and Gran/Lala both smiled, "Sookie my dear, I told Ms. Ravenscroft that a funeral is a celebration of life so, dig through the cupboards and the freezer, bring out your dancing shoes and party!

"I never was one for the morose wake and you know it! Now, call your brother and tell him to get his behind over here because you are about to celebrate your Gran's life. If he shows, he shows, if he don't, he don't but you are going to cheer up."

And that's just what we did, too. Eric sent Pam back to the bar to get some True Bloods, alcohol and mixes; he found the old stereo left over from Jason's high school days along with the records and 8-tracks and cranked up the volume. We danced and partied until he and Pam had to leave and the three of us humans fell into bed absolutely exhausted but happy.

Surprisingly Lala did get that hug in, as well as a dance. I was taking a much needed breather when he came up to Eric, bowed and asked if he could have a dance.

Lafayette's sexuality was no secret, even though it was never really spoken about openly, but Eric agreeing to a dance surprised me.

Pam and I both got out our phones and took a picture of them dancing and she showed me how to save it as the background on my phone.

Pam also tried, unsuccessfully, to delete the picture Eric had taken of her. When she couldn't get Eric's phone to unlock she just scowled at him and pulled me and Tara out onto the floor to dance.

Jason finally showed about noon the next day, waking me up out of a dead sleep but ya know, I just gave him a hug, handed off the unused alcohol, told him I loved him and sent him on his way.

Gran was right, it was time to shit or get off the pot. If he couldn't see his way clear to actually being a brother to the only sister, only surviving family he had - well, except for Hadley but in my opinion she didn't count -, then he had no right to be in my life any way.

No, I do not count Bartlett as family either and haven't since Gran turned him out so by that standard Jason was my only family but if my hunch was right my life was about to turn around and start looking up and I couldn't wait!