***Disclaimer*** No copyright infringement intended. These characters are exclusive property of Charlaine Harris, Alan Ball and HBO.

Sleep came surprisingly easy for Sookie once she made it back upstairs. Her embarrassment when Bill had turned down her offer to stay inside was something else that she figured would keep her mind busy along with all that Niall had said. Bill had been a gentleman about it, saying that it was something they could discuss more tomorrow along with the other information from Niall tonight. She wasn't sure what had made her say it in the first place, maybe because she felt safer when Bill was close... another thing she didn't really want to think about too much. Heading upstairs, those thoughts had her expecting she would be stuck awake and staring at the ceiling all night, but she fell asleep almost as soon as she laid down. It felt like only minutes had gone by when she found herself awake with the early morning sun shining through her windows.

She woke much earlier than she would have liked, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. The baby was awake, too, fluttering inside Sookie's belly. The last few weeks she had begun to feel the baby moving more and more, it filled her with excitement as she thought about this tiny new life. A girl, if she believed Niall. She liked the idea of having another girl and the thought that all of this danger would be over once she came into the world. She stayed in bed a few extra minutes while the baby kicked, not wanting the real world to intrude on her joy at being pregnant. She would have much preferred to go through this again with her husband, but she had always enjoyed the magic of pregnancy... well, mostly. Resigning herself to a much more complicated pregnancy than before, she quietly made her way to the kitchen to fix a cup of tea. Now was her chance to think through everything that Niall had said last night. How was she going to stay safe until this baby was born?

She had come up with a few ideas and traveled down a few dangerous paths of thought by the time the children woke for the day. She tried not to let it interfere with her plans for a normal day, and mostly it didn't. Sookie kept her fear at bay by staying busy. She was thankful to not have work today, hoping that her boss would continue to be okay with her part time schedule for quite awhile yet.

They had just arrived home from an early dinner at Merlotte's after a day out to the park and the grocery story and doing any errand Sookie could think of to keep them out of the house. Niall said it would be unlikely for the fae to come during the day, but Sookie didn't want to take any chances until she had more ways to protect herself. The sun would be setting soon, with Bill arriving just moments after like he did every night. They would need to talk more tonight, to come up with a plan. It made Sookie nervous. Of course they had been speaking every night for a few minutes, but it was always awkward and rushed, both of them trying to avoid anything more than simple conversation. It wasn't working. If Bill was going to protect her, if she was going to stay safe and keep her children safe, they had to do it together. Bill couldn't just stand guard outside every night and hope it was enough.

She settled in to play a game with Adele, keeping Charlie busy with a new book and extra cards to the game, since he kept trying to play, too. It was so normal, she couldn't help but smile at her beautiful children, at the life she had built. She could feel the tears burning her eyes at the thought of losing all of this. She couldn't do it again. Sookie pushed the thought away, pressing her eyes to wipe away the tears before they could fall. It had been such a good day, Sookie didn't want to ruin it by crying and upsetting the kids.

"Okay, one more turn and I think you might win. Then it's time for bed."

"I don't wanna go to bed, we should play just one more time... two more times."

"We'll see." Sookie said, knowing it wouldn't take much for her to give in to her daughters pleadings to keep playing. "Pick a card."

"It's two orange squares! I love orange, it's my favorite."

"Okay, let's count, one... two, look where you landed."

A knock at the door interrupted Sookie's announcement that Adele had won the game.

"Who's that?" Adele asked, looking to the door.

"I think it's my friend Bill. He's going to visit with mommy for awhile after you go to bed."

"He can play with us, he can be this one." Adele excitedly held up one of the unused game pieces.

"I think it's time for bed, but maybe Bill can play another time." Sookie said as she reached the front door. It wasn't quite as shocking to see Bill standing there, hands in pockets with a neutral expression on his handsome face, but it did still make Sookie's breath catch just a little. He was casual in jeans and a dark long sleeve shirt.

"Hi." She stepped back so he could come inside. "I was going to put the kids to bed shortly, but then we should probably talk."

"Sure." He hesitated, not stepping into the house. "I can make another check around the outside and then we can work on a plan."

"I don't want to go to bed. My game isn't done." Adele said from behind Sookie, her voice warning of the tantrum Sookie knew was about to come.

"Honey, you just won, remember? And we can play more of your game tomorrow. It's time for jammies and a story."

"I want Bill to read my story." She said, her little arms crossed in front of her defiantly.

"Mommy will read your story, Bill has other things he needs to do right now." She shot Bill an apologetic look.

"I don't want you to read my story. Bill." She whined, tears threatening.

At just that moment, Charlie decided he needed to join in as well. He began to cry for no particular reason, pulling at Sookie's legs. Sookie should have known this was how their nice day would end. Not that she was surprised, both kids had been through so much, this tiny blip of acting out was nothing. It did embarrass her a little bit though, to have Bill witness the melt downs. She reached down to pick up Charlie.

"Sookie," She turned back to Bill when his voice cut through the wails of the kids. "I can help, if you'd like. If it's okay. I think I can manage a story, unless..." He sort of trailed off and Sookie knew exactly what he was thinking. He didn't want to overstep or get too involved, but Bill being Bill, he couldn't not offer to help.

"Adele, would you like Bill to read you a story after we brush teeth?" Like magic, the little girls tears were gone and excitement instead lit her face.

"Yes, I want Bill."

With Adele's crisis averted, Charlie stopped crying as well. After all this time, Sookie still didn't understand how the kids coordinated this all so well. She backed up, directing Adele towards the stairs as Bill stepped into the house. "Okay, upstairs. We need to go potty, brush teeth and put on you jammies. Then Bill will come and read you a story."

Sookie took both children upstairs, not sure what she had just gotten herself and Bill into.

Later, after Charlie had settled into sleep, Sookie stood in the doorway of Adele's room and her heart swelled. Bill sat on the bed with Adele curled up next to him a Curious George story playing out in the book in front of them. He looked so natural there, so human... and Adele so content. Bill was meant to be a father, Sookie had thought so before; seeing him around children when they'd been together, but she knew now one hundred percent that Bill would have been an amazing father had his life not been stolen from him. It had her yearning for things she shouldn't, thinking about a past that could have been. Guilt had her backing away before they noticed her, giving her time to put it and the other feelings this sight had stirred aside while they finished the story.

Her husband was gone, nothing could bring him back. Still, guilt overwhelmed her that seeing Bill with Adele had her thinking what ifs instead of thinking about her husband. She didn't know what would happen with Bill when this was all over, if he would leave again or remain closer to be near Jessica. She didn't want Adele to grow too attached to Bill if he was going to leave, but she also knew that she couldn't deny Adele a new friend. A friend who may need to be around frequently for the next several months, which was something that added even more complication to this mess. She rubbed at her temples figuring out how put all of these pieces together. She needed to stay safe, Bill was going to help with that. She needed to keep the kids safe, Bill was helping there, too. She needed to protect the emotional well being of her kids and keep her own emotions under control. Maybe letting this happen tonight was a mistake, but Sookie was at a loss for what else to do. Bill had offered to help and Sookie was having a hard time saying no to Adele after all she'd been through. As long as Sookie didn't get too used to Bill being around, he could be a small part of their lives, a friendly neighbor that wouldn't break the kids hearts if he left when this was over. Sookie didn't even want to contemplate what was going to happen to her heart after this was all over.

She groaned softly, wishing she didn't have to think about any of this. She pushed it all out of her mind as she heard Bill tell Adele goodnight. She needed to focus on one thing at a time, it's all she could manage. Once she had a few minutes of goodnight snuggles with Adele, they were going to figure out a way to stay safe. The rest would come later.

xx

xx

Bill was getting himself into trouble, but it seemed he couldn't help it. The sad little pout on Adele's face was irresistible and Sookie surrounded by crying children left him no choice but to offer his help. His presence seemed to have set off the tantrum, it was only fair that he helped calm things down. What he hadn't expected was how easy it was to fall in love with Adele. In ways, she reminded him of his Sarah when she was this age, but she had an innocent joy that Bill hadn't seen in a very long time. He was having a difficult enough time keeping his feelings for Sookie in check, wishing to be part of her children's lives wasn't going to make this any easier.

He waited in Sookie's kitchen, watching out the window while she finished putting Adele to sleep. After all Niall had said yesterday and what they needed to discuss tonight, Bill knew this wasn't going to get any easier. He wanted to keep his distance, to guard Sookie mostly unseen, avoiding entanglements with her or her children. But given the new information Niall had shared, Bill didn't think that was going to work any more. It wasn't going to be enough to keep Sookie safe.

"Thank you for your help, I'm sorry you had to see that." She interrupted his thoughts, stepping into the kitchen.

"It's fine. Children being children. You helped me more than once when Jessica was new."

"But still, you didn't sign on for babysitting and bedtime stories."

"Don't worry about it. It's actually better if they are familiar with me, if they know I am a friend. It will help me keep you all safe."

"How exactly are we going to do that? Niall said we failed his test... and with how scared I was feeling last night, I'd have to agree."

Sookie went to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of what Bill guessed was sweet tea. She poured herself a glass. "I'm sorry, I'd offer you something, but the Nu:Blood I had expired."

"That's okay, I had something at Jessica's."

She set her glass on the kitchen table, before turning to put the pitcher away. Bill sat down across from where she had put her glass so they could talk.

"I'm sorry what we've been doing hasn't been enough. I did do some thinking before I went to rest this morning, I think there are a few things we can do to make you safer."

"I've been thinking about it, too." She said as she sat down. Her finger traced up and down the glass in front of her. She would look at him for a moment and then back at her glass.

"I do think surveying the woods and around your home each night is helpful, that way I can tell if anyone has been lurking around."

"But it's not enough for you to just be out there." Sookie interrupted, apparently thinking about what Bill had been thinking about.

"Yes. Niall was able to detect my presence easily, though I wasn't exactly hiding. But if they are watching the house, if they send a scout the way Niall said they would. It would be easy for them to figure out I was here to protect you and that I am vampire."

"If you're in the house it wouldn't be as obvious, right? Do you think they know about my husband? Would they expect there to be a man around the house?"

"I don't know, Sookie. It's possible they know about his death, but they may also be unaware. Either way, I don't think they would find it strange for you to have another adult in your home." Bill wasn't thrilled with this idea, that he'd be not just guarding Sookie, but spending essentially every night in her home with her. It already had him thinking things he shouldn't, wishing for things that he knew could not happen.

"How closely will they be watching do you think?"

"They won't know much until they come to plan their attack, but I'm sure they will try to get as much information as they can by watching your house. The good news is, when they do come to observe, I'll know it. It should give us some warning."

"But who knows when that will happen." Sookie dropped her hands on the table, the frustration clear in her voice and her body language.

"Niall didn't think it would be much longer, not with how your light has grown."

"Okay. So you will still make your checks outside, but then stay in the house overnight watching for anything suspicious. What else can we do? I've found some things that I think are iron around the house."

"Anything that can slow them down would be good. I do have some calls out to find some cast iron knobs for your front and back doors, if you don't mind the minor remodel."

"Oh, I didn't think of that. It would definitely slow them down if the door handle burns. I could probably have Jason come over during the day and install them. Would it be okay if I told Jason? I mean, about you, that you're back?"

"I think that would be fine, it would probably also be good for him to know about the danger you're in and that you have a plan to stay safe."

"I told Sam about you, after that first night. I had to, I needed to talk to somebody."

"It's okay, Sookie. Of course you would need someone to talk to. I'm not so worried about the humans in Bon Temps. I just don't want it to get around to many vampires that I'm alive, at least not until I can spread a story around to hide the fact that I don't stay dead when I meet the true death. That information could be quite dangerous in the wrong hands."

"What, you don't want a bunch of vampires after you because you're something different?" She had a teasing tone, this whole conversation growing more and more relaxed.

"I know you can't possibly understand the danger." He teased back, actually smiling a real smile and receiving one in return. He could have sat there all night just watching Sookie. The smiles had been few and far between since he'd returned, it was a very welcome sight. It was also a dangerous one, which had him shifting back to the important topic they were discussing. "Anyway, you can tell whoever you think needs to know, especially if it is going to keep you safe. And the more iron weapons we can find, the better. When it comes to fighting, I will have some advantages. They will still be fast and strong."

"I wish Niall were here to tell me more about my new light. I know it can hurt vampires, but would it do anything to a fairy?"

"Sookie, I don't want you involved in any fighting. It's too dangerous."

That earned him a very familiar look and Bill knew he shouldn't have said it. It was the truth though, it would be dangerous and not just for her but for her baby.

"I'm not going to let you fight my battles for me. This doesn't even have anything to do with you and you expect to fight them off all by yourself?"

"The only reason I'm here is to protect you. You heard Niall, I cannot let them hurt you."

"You won't, but that doesn't mean we don't still have to work together. They need me alive and unharmed, I'd be the best person to help you fight them."

He mentally debated arguing further and thought better of it, for tonight anyway. He knew that Sookie didn't like that he was here to protect her in the first place, so the fact that she'd agreed to let him was already a big step.

"Okay. If we see Niall again, you can be sure to ask him what your new light would do to a fairy. In the mean time, we will use what we know works- iron."

"I'll show you what I've got and you can bring over anything more you find. Regular weapons would work too, I suppose. Niall said something about a sword. How are your sword skills?" She said with a sly grin on her face.

"It has been awhile since I've wielded a sword, but it's not completely foreign."

"Really?" Sookie asked with a raised eyebrow, amusement clear on her face.

"It was many, many years ago, decades before I returned to Bon Temps the first time."

"Well then, I guess we should find you a sword." She laughed as she pulled some items from the back porch and brought them back to the kitchen.

"That may not be necessary." He lifted the cast iron frying pan she had set on the table. There was also a gardening trowel that he had seen Sookie carrying around before and an old horseshoe that looked like iron to him.

"Sword versus frying pan? I suppose it could work."

"A frying pan is a surprisingly useful weapon." He said, testing it's weight in his hand. It was hefty and surely could do some damage.

"Do you have much experience dueling with frying pans?" She asked, her expression so serious it caught Bill by surprise. He wasn't sure how to answer until she laughed again, shaking her head and picking up the iron trowel and her glass of tea. She didn't appear to be expecting an answer, because she kept walking towards the living room.

Bill set down the pan and left the other items on the table to follow Sookie. She stopped in front of the living room picture window, looking out into the darkness.

"Anything out there tonight?"

"Nothing amiss that I could tell when I arrived. Can you hear anyone out there? You should be able to pick up something from them, right?"

"I think so. The other fairies I've been around before, I couldn't always hear their thoughts, but I could feel their minds out there, like a hum. I don't hear anything tonight."

"That could be helpful while we play this waiting game, if we know they are coming, we can be much better prepared to keep you and the children safe."

"I hope we don't have to wait too long. Is that bad?" She made a face and then sat on the couch, one leg tucked under her. She was wearing jean shorts and a loose fitting gray t-shirt. Clothes that certainly were perfect for keeping up with her children on these warm days. "I mean, I'd prefer if they didn't come at all, but just sitting around waiting to be attacked is going to get old fast."

"I agree waiting is going to be a test of patience, but unless we can come up with a way to draw them out, it may be our only choice."

"I wish it'd just happen so we can get it over with." She finished on a yawn and Bill couldn't continue to ignore the dark circles under her eyes.

"Sookie, you are exhausted. Why don't you go to sleep and I will keep an eye on things down here. If the lights are off, they won't know I'm watching, and if anything happens they will have to get through me first."

"I'd like to, but I've been having an awful time sleeping... since..." She hesitated, closing her eyes and Bill was very curious. "For the last few months."

It didn't take much thought for him to figure out what she hadn't said. He could certainly understand sleep being difficult since the death of her husband. He had spent countless nights feeling guilty for what his wife must have gone through after he hadn't returned from the war.

"I'm sorry. I can only imagine how difficult things have been for you."

"Yeah, that's apparently my life. Are you happy Sookie? Great, something's going to kill the people you love, best of luck." Her laugh was bitter, the amusement from their earlier conversation fading fast.

He didn't have much to say to that, what could he say? Nothing would bring back her husband or her grandmother... or her parents or any of the other people she had lost. He hated that he was another person on that list of people she loved that had died, he truly thought it had been for the best. He couldn't say anything to make her feel better, but he could make sure she didn't lose anyone else.

"Were you happy, Sookie?" He asked, the question slipping out. He had been able to get some updates while he was gone, to know that she'd married, that she'd had children. He had hoped it came with all of the happiness she deserved, but you could never be too sure about what went on behind closed doors.

"I was, for the first time in a long time, things were good. And they stayed good for so long. I thought it was all finally over and I was going to be able to live my life and grow old with someone."

"I am glad you found someone that made you happy, that you could build a family with."

"Me, too." She sniffled and Bill regretted asking her about her life with her husband. He hadn't intended to upset her. "But anyway, can't change the past, can we?"

"Sookie..."

She waived a hand, as if she was pushing the memories away, stopping him from saying more. "Since I won't be able to fall asleep yet, why don't you tell me about when you learned to sword fight, or frying pan fight if you'd prefer." As she finished her question, there was just a hint of a smile on her tired face. Bill had no choice but to do as she asked.