After a restless night, the last thing Tara wanted to do was meet Sookie for lunch. To say she was physically and emotionally exhausted, was an understatement. Normally the day after consuming so much of Eric's blood, she'd be wired but today, she felt wrong. She felt sluggish and heavy, she was pretty sure it wasn't depression, she knew what that felt like. Dragging her feet, she walked into the diner and sat at her usual booth. She wasn't sure what she would tell Sookie, she was caught between telling her the truth or lessening the blow and only giving her tidbits. The latter would be tough, she'd have to keep her mind totally clear and today she wasn't sure if she could.
Sookie parked her car in front of the diner, she could see Tara through the window. Something about the way her friend had her head bent, make her stomach churn. Something must have happened, yesterday Tara was happy. She wondered how she'd bring up Eric, if Tara didn't. She didn't want her to feel ganged up on and she didn't want her getting angry at Sam. The only thing she could hope for, is for her thoughts to be running wild. Plastering a smile on her face, she got out of her car to join Tara.
"Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today," Tara's head snapped up at Sookies voice. Her angsty feelings started to evaporate and she smiled at Sookie. This is what she needed, someone who truly loved her. She stood up gave Sookie and quick hug and sat back down.
"So how was the honeymoon?" Tara spit out, before Sookie could get to questioning her. She needed a few moments of normal conversation before bringing up her messy love life.
"It was amazing. Granted I didn't sleep much, Bill and I did everything at night and I still got up to see the sights during the day. I had a wonderful time though, we both did."
There was time to bring up Eric, right now she needed to reconnect with her friend.
"That's great, I wish I had time to travel. It would be nice to get out of town, even for just a week," Tara said wistfully. Running away from things wasn't an option but some disconnect would be nice.
"Well, I'm sure we can work something out with Sam and take a vacation. Where would you like to go?" Tara thought about it for a moment.
"I'm not sure, California, New York, Colorado; anywhere really." Sookie gave her a strange look.
"Colorado, is a big difference from New York or California." She nodded her head at Sookie. The craziness of a city would help her disconnect but the peacefulness of the mountains and nature, away from home would calm her.
"I know but they each have different appeals." The waitress took that moment to approach them and take their orders.
"That's true, I've never been to any of those places. It would be nice, getting away, just us girls." Tara agreed, it would be nice but would Eric follow her?
"I guess we could talk to Sam, I have some extra money now since my rent is cheaper." She said, not even realizing what she just gave away.
"Why is your rent cheaper?" Sookie wondered. Tara wanted to kick herself, this was not how she wanted to tell Sookie about Eric. What choice did she have now?
"I ah... I moved," she muttered.
"You moved somewhere cheaper? Tara, where the hell are you staying, it can't be safe. That sleazy apartment complex was bad enough." She said genuinely worried.
"It's safe. It's a house, not to far from Bills... it's actually behind the woods of his house."
Sookie tried to picture where that was, Bill lived across the cemetery. Which had a set of woods on both sides, separating Bill and Grans house. The only other home in the vicinity that she knew of, Bill told her was bought by a vampire.
"Tara, whose your landlord?" Tara tried to keep her thoughts under wraps, she knew Sookie would make the connection.
"Eric Northman, he offered me the house very cheaply." Sookie knew this was her moment, this would be the only time Tara would willingly let her in.
"Tara, what else is this cheap rent costing you? Cause if I know one thing about Eric Northman, it's that he doesn't do anything unless it benefits him." Tara cringed at how right her assessment was.
"Sook, remember I said there were things I needed to tell you? Well, this was just one of them. Eric and I have been seeing each other, no, wait, I take that back. We've been having sex, since the night of your wedding."
"What? Tara, I won't lie, I know you've been seeing Eric. Don't get angry at him but Sam told me, he was worried about you. I had no idea you were seeing him for that long." Tara knew Sam meant well but she was still pissed.
"What fucking business did he have telling you? I'm a grown woman, I do as I want." Sookie wasn't about to let Tara's misplaced anger distract her.
"Tara-Mae, Sam is just looking out for you, it's what friends do. You would do the same it if were me or him. Now don't change the subject, tell me everything. Eric is very dangerous and I want to be sure you're not stuck in an unpleasant situation with him." Tara let out a breath, she was right. She needed to talk to someone and no one would understand quite like Sookie.
"I ended things with him last night but he refuses to let things go." She spent a half hour telling her everything, she didn't bother leaving anything out. Last night Eric told her he wouldn't be kind much longer, she wasn't sure what that mean but it scared her. Funny enough she wasn't worried about him doing her any physical harm, but she didn't want to let him emotionally crush her.
"I don't know what to say, I need to talk to Bill about this. As far as I know Eric has never kept a human, according to Bill he uses them a few times and moves on. From what you tell me, he seems hesitant to let you go. I don't know what that means but I think you should stay with me for a while." Tara instantly refused, she wouldn't bother Sookie and Bill they were just married.
"No, Sook, I can stay alone. It's okay, he can't get into the house, I never invited him in." Sookie was confused, wasn't Tara staying in Eric's house?
"But he owns the home, he can get in whenever he wants." she said.
"No I signed a lease, he said since the house is technically mine, I'd have to invite him in." Something about that didn't sound right but she'd double check with Bill.
"So tell me more about this Franklin character, it's kinda odd how he showed up outta no where." Sookie said. After last night Tara agreed with her, at first it seemed innocent but when she saw his reaction to Eric, she wasn't so sure.
–
Eric hated when Franklin went off hunting alone. He had no care for anything Godric taught them. Why had Godric picked him, he wasn't a companion, he was a liability. They always had to run from town to town, Franklin always went on a killing spree just when they were getting settled. He looked everywhere, he knew there was a woman Franklin wanted but she had refused all his advances. As much as he denied it, he knew he glamored her to feed. Once again, his killing spree had led to the town folk, to believe there were witches in their mist. Once they started hunting for the witches, they'd get too close to them. They had to leave and they had to do it tonight. It was time they went their separate ways, he couldn't keep cleaning up after Franklins messes. Walking through the woods, he felt him, he was close. He saw a small house, there was a dead man laying in front of the door. Great more dead bodies, he couldn't even bother himself to dispose of them properly. He walked along the side of the house to look through the window. Not much bothered Eric, he'd done it all. He had fed off children, mothers, grandmothers, priest, even royalty but he always left them alive. What those people couldn't remember, wouldn't hurt anyone. However, unlike Franklin, he never terrorized anyone, never needed to. What he saw through that window sickened him. Franklin was draining an infant, while his mother watched, gagged crying. Franklin just fed as he stared at her, with a smile in his eyes. This must be her, the woman he's been obsessing over. He couldn't help himself, he just watched. Godric had chosen wrong, Franklin was damaged, he was psychotic. He watch Franklin, throw the dead baby against the wall, like a piece of rubbish.
Eric knew what that was like, watching your family die and not being able to help them. He watched his parents and younger brother get massacred, he tried to help, tried to protect them but he failed. Franklin was so consumed in his insanity, he didn't realize he was being watched. Franklin walked towards the woman and placed his bloody hands on her shoulders.
"I was going to turn you, my dear but you broke my heart. I declare my love for you and you insist on keeping your worthless family. Now they are all gone and I don't want you anymore. Don't worry, I won't kill you yet, you taste too good. I can feed off you for at least a few days before you die." The woman just continued to cry, she was giving up. He could see it in her face, she had nothing to live for but he could help her. He could give her another chance, he could make her forget and give her a new life. He walked into the house, Franklin turned when her heard him.
"Can I help you?" Franklin asked.
"Leave. Now." Franklin looked humored.
"Really and I'll listen to you because?" Eric walked towards him.
"Leave or I will find Godric and he will put an end to you. You do remember what he said." Franklin's high was diminishing, he remembered Godrics promise. If he didn't behave, he'd be put away. Wrapped in silver in a silver coffin for a hundred years or until he learned his lesson. He wasn't done living, he wouldn't be imprisoned. It was time to go away on his own, to find someone who shared his passions. Turning to the woman, "I'm sorry Love. It's seems our time has been cut short. You will always be in my heart." he said, kissing her forehead. He gave Eric a scathing look, "Till we meet again, brother." He flew out before Eric could say anything. Eric turned to the woman and took of her gag. She continued to sob, he wasn't sure what to do, would he make things better or worse. He wondered if letting her die would be the more merciful option. He bent down, so that he was eye-level to her.
"I can help you, I can make you forget but it has to be your choice. I was given the same choice centuries ago and I've never regretted it but you must decide." She met his eyes, his words did nothing to sooth her, she was still terrified.
"Who are you? Are you the same thing he is?" she asked, he voice quivering in a slight whisper.
"I am but we're not all evil. We were all human before we became vampires, we're not all the same." Godric said it was time for Eric to have a child, maybe he was right.
"How can I forget this? How can you make me forget? He killed the only reason to live for, how can I go on?" Eric didn't have an answer for her.
"Do you want to forget?" She nodded her head.
"What is you're name?" he asked.
"Pam," she replied quietly.
"I am Eric, if you want to forget, just look into my eyes." Hesitantly, she looked up into his eyes.
Eric laid in his coffin at the club, beside his was Pams. He'd never forget how she came to be his child and she'd never remember. Franklin wanted Tara, that much was obvious but he wouldn't have her. Eric would forcible turn her before Franklin ever had the chance to get close to her.
A/N: Thank you for the great reviews, so glad you're enjoying this fic. So from here forward you'll be getting a few flashbacks. Enjoy.