When I had finally awoke from my deep sleep the sun was already up and at full shine. The happenings of the night that had passed felt like a dream, but when my head started to throb, I knew all too well that it wasn't. I sat up slowly and noticed I was still in Eric's shirt that was covered in his scent. I couldn't stop the smile that grew across my face. Maybe Sookie was wrong about him. Although there was the obvious danger of being a vampire....he didn't seem as bad as Sookie has been making him out to be. Yes he did slightly threaten my life but he also saved it. He cared enough to clean me of the mud and blood, bandage me up and take me home himself. He couldn't be all bad...could he? I heard Sookie coming towards the bedroom.

"Good morning." I smiled once I saw her in the doorway.

"More like good afternoon..well almost evening..how are ya feeling?" she studied my forehead.

"Fine, have a bit of a headache but fine.....What time is it?"

"It's three thirty." she walked in and sat at the edge of the bed.

"Really? I think that's the longest I've ever slept....maybe I should hit my head more often." I smiled and she lightly laughed.

"Can I?" She asked as she reached over to the bandage that still covered my forehead. I nodded. She gently removed it from my skin and I got to see the blood that had stained the cloth through. "Wow.."

"What?"

"Well.. there's not even a scratch left. I don't get it..."

"Get what?"

"If you can heal like this without a trace of a mark left behind, then how did ya get all these scars? I mean I know ya said they were caused by experiments, but wouldn't ya been able to heal?" I dreaded thinking back to the torture I endured on Sirus for their own educational purposes.

"Mere scratches or gashes are in no comparison to the cause behind these scars....it's hard to describe the kind of instruments they used because nothing in this world resembles them....well, as far as I know. But it was not only special instruments they used, they used several different chemicals as well. I guess you could say I was like their own personal lab rat. They did a lot of different tests on my body, most of which I did heal from. The marks left that you see are the few that I don't think will ever go away."

"What exactly did they do?" I hesitated for a moment but then felt that it'd be a lot easier to just shower her briefly.

"I can show you." I told her as I grabbed hold of her hand. I projected out images to her of a few experiment processes. I tried to leave the more graphic ones out. I showed her how they would remove sections of my flesh, muscle, and bone to examine. Then I showed her the least of the chemical tests. It was a dark purple liquid they held in a glass vial. They placed several drops on each of my appendages and watched as it would rapidly disintegrate my flesh down to the bone. Sookie flinched her hand away from my grasp and gaped at me.

" Oh...my...gawd!" her mouth hung open "Did ya feel it at all?"

"I've felt it all. I was not sedated because they did not want it to interfere with the results."

"That's just....awful...I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry...you didn't do any of it" I smiled.

"I'm almost afraid to ask what happened last night."

" Can I tell you later? I really need to use the bathroom and I wanted to take a shower. "

"Oh of course. Okay well I'll leave ya to that." She got up from the bad and made her way out to the door. " I'm really glad you're okay and home safe." She smiled.

"So am I."

Once she was out of the room I got my self up out of bed and went to the bathroom. I pulled Eric's shirt off and looked down to my sides that were still covered with blood stained bandages. I removed them and looked for marks but there was none. I tossed the bandages in the waste basket and got myself in the hot shower. I knew of no better feeling than the feeling of hot water rushing over my body, but then I thought back to last night. Being in his arms....being carried back to safety.....back to my bed.......

"Daniella! I'm making something to eat before I leave for work! Would ya like a sandwich?" Sookie yelled through the door and I jumped out of my deep thought.

"O...Okay."

I finished up with my grooming process before sitting with Sookie at the kitchen table. She had a sandwich out on a plate made and waiting for me along with a glass of milk. I observed it before picking it up.

"Peanut butter and jelly." She stated.

"Thank you." I smiled. She watched me as I took the first bite. I knew she wanted to talk about last night badly. The question was written all over her face. I put the sandwich down and took a quick sip of the milk before speaking.

"You want to know what happened?"

"Yes...well..ya don't have to tell me right now if ya don't want to. It can wait." I didn't want to make her wait, besides I wasn't that hungry so I could wait to finish the sandwich.

" I was kidnapped..."

"Wait! What!? By who? Eric?" She cut me off before I could finish my sentence.

"No, Eric had no idea about it. It was..." I tried my best to remember his name...it took me a minute. "Bubba I think that was his name."

"Bubba? Bubba kidnapped you? But he only does what he's ordered to...Eric had to of...." I cut her off

"No he didn't have me kidnapped. From what I understand Bubba had overheard Eric speaking to Pam...he was angry about his summons being ignored. Bubba took it upon himself to retrieve me, thinking it would make Eric happy....at least that's what I got from it."

"And I bet he was."

"No... actually he sounded quite angry about it. Sent Bubba out and had Pam untie me then give me some of her clothes to wear."

"Untie you?"

"Yes. I was bagged, gagged and tied."

"Gosh, that must have been scary for ya..."

"Not as scary as the werewolves."

"They were in Fangtasia?"

"No, I was walking back home and got lost....two of them came out from no where.."

"Why were ya walking? Eric made you walk home?" She sounded irritated. She wanted to blame him and I couldn't understand why.

"He's not to blame for me walking. I guess that would be my own fault. He had ordered Pam to drive me but I hesitated to get in the car with her. She seemed angry about the dress of hers that Eric had told me to keep and well I felt uneasy about getting into a car alone with an agitated vampire. So when I didn't get in right away she got even more mad and left me to walk...so I did. I don't think Pam likes me very much."

"She'll warm up to ya....so what happened with the weres?"

"Well they chased me deep into the woods, like it was some sort of hunting game to them. I remember being picked up and thrown, then my head landing on a rock. Then I was being dragged along, but everything else after that seems faded. I can remember waking up in Eric's office...I was cleaned from all the mud and blood. And my wounds were aided to. Then he drove me back here."

"So Eric saved ya?..." I nodded. "But how did he know where to look?" She seemed to be asking herself rather than me but I answered anyway.

"I don't know..a lucky guess?"

"He didn't have ya take any of his blood did he?"

"No." She looked confused.

"Well you're okay and safe now so that's all that matters. I can't even begin to explain how worried sick I was...I should have known Eric would be involved in it...he was so determined to get you alone.......none of this would of happened if he wasn't so self centered..." She was ranting again...but I wasn't sure if she was directing it towards me anymore.

"He's not that bad of a man." She looked at me like I had just knocked her over the head with a hammer. " I mean he did save my life..." He also threatened it, but I chose to leave that part out. Besides doesn't the saving part cancel that out?

"Well...lets just hope he didn't have his own agenda and holds the fact that he did save ya over your head...I have to get ready for work." She snapped at me before she got up and left to her room. I finished my sandwich then washed the dishes that were left in the sink.

I decided that I had better get back to reading all that paper work I got from Sid Matt Lancaster. So I picked up the stack of paper from the kitchen table and carried them back to my room. I sat down on the bed and tried to read some but it was hard for me to focus. All the passages about vampires had my mind thinking back to Eric. I wondered when I would see him again. Sookie walked to the doorway of the room. She was dressed in her Merlotte's uniform and was ready to leave.

"Daniella, I'm sorry for my attitude before, it wasn't directed towards you."

"It's okay." I smiled.

"Well I have to go now, make sure the doors are locked. I left my cell number and the number to Merlotte's by the phone. Call if you need me for anything...I'm going to be working late again tonight. You'll be fine though right?"

"I'll be fine...thank you Sookie." She waved before walking away. I heard her car take off.

I gave up on reading after an hour. The sun had already set so it was dark throughout the house as I made my way to the living room. I felt anxious. I knew all the doors and windows were shut and locked but I still couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was going to be lurking through the house. I flipped on the lights once I got to the living room. I had almost expected something to be there waiting for me but there was nothing. I sighed then laughed to myself on how paranoid I was becoming. I shook off the anxious feeling and went over to the TV. I didn't get to finish watching Romeo and Juliet last night so I put it back on and curled myself on the sofa with a blanket. I didn't know how to bring it to the part I last saw so I just started it over again from the beginning. The story was making more sense the second time around. I got to the party scene when there was a knock at the door. It made my heart freeze in its place along with my body. Then the door bell rang a few times. I pressed the pause button on the controller and hesitated to get up. I battled within myself to answer but it didn't seem like whoever was on the other side was going to go away. I slowly got up and with my heart now racing I forced myself to the door and cracked it open letting the frigid air seep in. Then I sighed with relief when I saw a face I knew waiting.

"Hey Daniella!" He had a huge smile across his face.

"Hello Hoyt. What brings you here?"

" Well..uh.. Sookie told me that ya been left here alone and that I should uh come by to keep ya company. If that's alright with you of course.....I brought food." he nervously smiled and held up a white plastic bag that had to white foam containers in it. I smiled back. It'd be nice to have someone else around, maybe I wouldn't be so paranoid if I wasn't alone.

"Well only since you were nice enough to bring food, I'll let you in." I joked. I surprised on how human I was starting to feel. Hoyt looked as if he wasn't sure if I was being serious or not. "It was a joke Hoyt...come in."

"Oh...right..." he let out a nervous laugh and walked in. I closed the door. Hoyt was already making his way to the kitchen and pulled out two plates. He knew his way around. "I hope ya don't mind, there's not much of a choice at Merlotte's but burgers and fries...If ya'd like somethin else..there's this italian restaurant the next town over I could take ya to. "

"This is perfect Hoyt...thank you. You're very sweet." I watched as his face grew flushed. As he transferred the food from the containers onto the plates I grabbed us cups and sweet tea.

"So what were ya watchin before I interrupted?"

"Romeo and Juliet."

"Really? Wait is it the one with Leonardo Dicaprio in it?"

"Yes."

"Wow I haven't see that since high school I think."

"Well do you want to go and watch it while we eat?"

"Sure.." Hoyt picked up both the plates and I grabbed our cups of sweet tea and walked into the living room.

"It's already thirty minutes into the movie, if you want we could start it from the beginning."

"No, it's alright I've seen it before I think I could pick up from where ya left off."

We sat down next to each other on the sofa and he placed my plate of food on my lap after I put our cups safely down on the floor beside us. I pressed play on the controller. We ate as we watched the movie, occasionally I would catch him looking at me and he would quickly focus back onto the movie. When we were finished eating I went to take his cleaned off plate to bring to the kitchen but he stopped me.

"It's okay, I'll do it." He smiled as he got up and took my plate from my lap. When he got back from the kitchen he sat back down on the sofa but this time he sat closer. He seemed to be nervously fidgeting with his hands as the movie went on. I noticed he wasn't paying as much attention to the movie as he was paying attention to me. I tried not to notice but it felt like his eyes were going to burn holes into the side of my face. I then felt him, after much hesitation, wrap his one arm around my shoulder and lean in closer. I saw him envisioning my lips pressed against his. I quickly shut his mind out and leaned myself away while trying to focus on the movie which had taken an even tragic turn. Romeo didn't get the message that Juliet wasn't really dead.

Without a word Hoyt pulled his arm back to his side. I felt the tears inching closer as I screamed inside for Romeo not to drink the poison. My inner self yelled for Juliet to wake up in time, but she didn't and the lump in my throat released the flood gates and the tears came running down my face. I then felt Hoyt take my hand in his. I saw a memory of his, the last time he watched this movie was with a red headed girl, she looked young. They were teenagers. He had pulled the same moves with her, but she had allowed him to go a lot further than I would ever. I turned my head and he was a lot closer now, practically on top of my. I pulled myself away just before he could connect his lips with mine. He looked at me confused....embarrassed.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to...I mean you're just so....." He was stumbling again. Just then the door bell rang. I went to get up to get it without hesitation but Hoyt beat me to it. "I'll get it, just to be safe." He walked away and I let out a breath. I felt awkward.

"Can I help you?" I heard Hoyt question whoever was at the door.

"You can, I'm here to speak with Daniella." The voice sent chills throughout my body.

"Well she's......hey! Wait!" I got up to see what was going on and turned to see the very large blond vampire suddenly appear in the room. Hoyt came marching in. "HEY pal! Ya just can't storm in here like that." He sounded agitated. I looked up and the second his blazing blue eyes met mine, I was speechless.

"I just did." Eric smiled showing his fangs. Hoyt took a half step back. Eric then looked around the room before meeting his eyes with mine again. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?"

"Actually ya did...Maybe you should leave."

"Hoyt it's okay......." I glance back at Eric who then gave me a smirk before retracting his fangs.

"Maybe it is you that should leave....Hoyt."

"Yea I don't think so."

"Hoyt, maybe you should go." If Eric could kill two werewolves in a split second, I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be much of a fight for Hoyt.

"Fuck that! I'm not about to leave ya here alone with some hungry vampire." Hoyt quickly walked over to stand in front of me as if to guard me from Eric.

"I just ate actually." he smiled.

"Hoyt really....it's okay." I put my hand on his shoulder to calm him. He was thinking about driving a stake through the beautiful vampire standing in front of us. " You really should go." He turned to look at me.

"You're serious.."

"Yes, Hoyt I am. Thank you for the dinner and for coming here to keep me company. But I think it'd be a good idea if we continued this another night...maybe tomorrow?"

"But.."

"I'll be fine." I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Fine...if that's what ya want." He leaned in and kissed my cheek. " Goodnight Daniella." He then turned and headed for the door.

"Good night Hoyt." Eric's cold tone should of froze me over but instead it caused my blood to boil. Hoyt slammed the door behind him and I could hear him starting his car. Eric gave me a victorious smile. He was dressed in fine clothing. A black suit jacket over a tight deep blue button down shirt that was tucked into black slacks. The shirt wasn't buttoned up all the way and I found myself staring at the part of his chest that was exposed.

"Daniella.." He nodded.

"Eric." He studied my face as he walked slowly closer. He stopped inches in front of me.

"You were crying.."

"I was watching a movie.." I went to wipe my still wet cheeks but he stopped me and grazed the back of his cool hand over the wetness from my tears. My heart was racing. I saw the image of myself laid out on the ground. My head was covered in blood. He then dropped his hand.

"Your head has healed quite nicely. Not even a mark left."

"It has.." I tried to swallow back my nervousness. "I wanted to thank you."

"For what exactly?"

"For everything....I'd be dead if it wasn't for you."

"Yes, well I'm sure there's a way you could repay me later...." He took a few steps back and then sat himself down on the sofa.

Of course I would have to owe him something in return...Maybe Sookie was right...maybe he was going to use this to hold over my head to get what he wanted out of me. I was naive to think he saved me out kindness.

"I hope I didn't ruin your little date with the human." He picked up the controller for the TV and turned the power off.

"No...It wasn't...I mean we're not...." I was stumbling. "Why are you here?" he let out a light laugh.

"I wanted to check on the status of your recovery and to give you this.." he reached inside of his jacket and pulled out something wrapped in a thick grey fabric. I walked over and sat next to him on the sofa. He handed it to me and I unwrapped it. It was my bracelet. "I told you that you'd get it back."

"But I thought you said you had it taken to be analyzed by some specialist?"

"And I did."

"And?"

"And what?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Did your specialist have anything to say about it?" I felt my nerves kick up a notch.

"Well I'm still waiting on his theories......you seem nervous... afraid of what I might find out?"

"What? No...no I'm not nervous..." He smiled widely it was different from the other smiles I had witnessed from his lips. This one felt...warm.

"You're incredibly bad at lying." He lifted his hand and softly glided his finger along the length of my neck. He was curious with the thought of what I might taste like. If I hadn't of been sitting my knees would of gave out. I quickly threw my walls up and regretted not having them up in the first place. I felt the shivers run up my spine. I don't even think I was breathing anymore. He moved himself in closer, uncomfortably closer..."Tell me...." He whispered. "What are you so afraid of?" and without thinking my voice choked out one simple answer.

"You." He dropped his hand and slid himself back, away from me.

"Of course..." He stood up. "Well Daniella...I am glad to see that you are fully recovered. I have to go take care of business now. Do tell Sookie that I said Hi." I watched him as he walked over to the front door. A big part of me didn't want to see him leave so soon. But then the other part of me couldn't wait to let out the breath I've been holding in. " Goodnight Daniella..."

"Wait.." I got up from the sofa. "I have your shirt.." I was about to run to my room to get it.

"Keep it." He smiled. Then opened the door to leave. But he hesitated. then turned his head slightly . "There's still a full moon out tonight....so stay inside and no late night walks please....be safe." and then he was gone before I could even comment.