Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood!

Here is chapter eleven! ~

Godric's nest had a nice, quiet atmosphere to it. It was relaxing – people and vampires alike were grouped together, chatting easily. Some humans were being fed off though, and I avoided them with haste. When I had been bundled into a car, squished in between Godric and Eric, I had been a little afraid of going to the nest. I had almost expected it to have a tense, violent atmosphere – I know I was being slightly stereotypical, because not all vampires were violent – but I had still been scared.

Of course, Godric had calmed me down, promising that nothing bad would ever happen in his home. And Eric the blondie – who was still slightly moody from being chained down by silver – grunted that he would rip the heart out of anyone who tried to harm me. I had forced myself not to glomp the tall vampire right then and there. Eric was usually an egotistical, self-centred jerk, yet he said the sweetest things sometimes – sure, he said it in his own sadistic, morbid way, but at least he made an effort.

When we'd arrived there late at night, I had marvelled at how beautiful the house was. It wasn't overly massive, just a perfect size – for my tastes, at least. But even from the outside, you could tell it was an expensively-done place. And even if the pricey cars parked outside didn't clue you enough, the inside gave its "poshness" all away.

There were wide windows, and sliding-glass doors, some which led out onto cute little patios. The floor was shiny and clean, and different patterned rugs were placed around the home. Even though the designs were different, they still seemed to fit in perfectly. Godric and his vampires certainly knew fashion when they saw it.

There was a gentle fire, flickering in the middle of the room inside a brick fireplace. Cream couches were situated comfortably around it, and some vampires sat with their humans in them. The lights in the nest weren't bright, but they weren't too dark either – it suited both races.

I was talking to one of the humans – a woman, whose vampire was somewhere in the room. She had dark blonde hair, which reached to her hips, and was as thin as a stick. Her eyes were a bright blue, and her eyelashes were practically coated in black mascara. She had some silver-sprinkle stuff dusted on her lids, which matched with her tight, silver dress. At first glance, I had thought she was a slut or something – her dress was almost showing off her ass, and she was wearing ridiculously big high heels. She had a fake-spray tan, which made her glow an orangey-yellow.

As it turned out, I had been right about her being a slut. I mean, she didn't actually admit it, but when I'd asked her if she truly loved her vampire, she'd giggled and said "no". So, naturally, I assumed she was just in it for the sex. The numerous, rather deep, red bite marks on her gangly neck gave that away, too.

I know, I know. You're thinking that I "shouldn't judge a book by its cover", so to speak – but if you'd seen her in the flesh, you'd probably agree with me. I hadn't even asked for her name, just subtly walked away, to find someone who didn't smell of sex to converse with.

I walked past the huddled groups, looking for maybe Jason or Sookie. I hadn't seen them come in – as I'd arrived with Eric and Godric – but surely they'd be here by now? I was about to stride past another group of chatting vamps, but my arm was suddenly yanked backwards, into the middle of a group.

I was in the middle of a circle of grinning vampires, and to say I was terrified was an understatement. One vampire dude with spiked up hair and crazy tattoos smirked devilishly at me, before saying, "You smell strongly of the sheriff."

I wasn't really sure how to go about this. I mean, Godric had said to me before that I had a scent, and it was of his, but I hadn't really realised it was so strong. "What do you mean?" I opted on a string of words that couldn't possibly provoke or offend them.

A vampire woman with auburn hair rolled her eyes. "Come on, girl. Don't lie to us. When did you do the naughty-thing with him?" She asked, grinning. My mouth hit the floor in shock.

"Excuse me?" I choked out. "I've done no such thing with Godric!"

The vampires "ahhed" and "oohed". "She calls the sheriff by his name!" Another vampire woman squealed. She bent down to pinch my cheeks, cooing. "Ah, she's soo cute! She must be one of Godric's favourite girls."

My eyelid twitched. "One of his favourite girls?" I asked warningly. The group nodded, and smiled. "I'm his only girl," I hissed out. Okay – this was not me. I wasn't a jealous, envying girl who fawned over guys. No way.

"Aww, she's so naive!" The tattooed vampire sighed. "Every vampire has a group of girls, why shouldn't the sheriff?"

I frowned. "I'm his mate," I said, wondering if that word would shock them like it had done with everyone else in the church.

And, I was right. Their eyes had widened to the size of dinner plates, and their mouths hung open like they were unhinged. "H-his mate?" The vampire with auburn hair stuttered. "No way. The sheriff….oh my god…"

The tattooed guy looked apologetic. "Erm, we're sorry. We didn't know you were his mate," He said quietly, then added, "We thought you were a… pet of his."

I scowled. "A pet? I'm no slut," I protested.

Another vampire held up his hands. "Look, we're sorry, okay? When we smelled his scent on you, we just thought you'd done it with him, you know?" He squeaked. "But you smell like him because you are his mate, so please, forgive us, little human!" He bowed apologetically.

I raised an eyebrow. So, vampires and humans were just as judgemental as each other. But still, it irked me a little that they thought I was some kind of toy for Godric. I was a Stackhouse – and Stackhouses didn't do filthy things like that.

"Don't tell the sheriff," The tattooed vampire pleaded. The vampires in a circle around me nodded in agreement.

However, a deep voice outside the huddled circle made them all freeze. "Do not tell me what?" Somebody asked.

Tattooed-vampire gulped. "S-sheriff!" He squealed. "We were just…uh, uhm –"

"Why does it smell like my Rose in there?" Godric asked demandingly. "Let her out. She'll suffocate."

The vampires nodded, and the auburn-vampire smiled sheepishly. "Oh yeah, I forgot that humans need to breathe." They parted away from each other, and I stepped out my temporal imprisonment. I had only just stepped outside, when I felt my face smoosh into an iron wall.

"The hell?" I barked into the comfy wall. "Who put a wall here?"

I heard the wall rumble with laughter, and I realised, a second or two later, that it was not in fact a wall. It was Godric's chest. He put his cool hand on my head, and smoothed out my tangled midnight-mess. I shifted my head upwards to purse my lips at him. "Ehehe, sorry. Thought you were a wall there," I said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Godric looked down at me, his bluish-grey eyes sparkling in hidden amusement. God, just a look like that made my knees feel like jelly. "Do not worry, little one," He smiled, then asked, "Why were you in that group of vampires? I would prefer it if you stuck with me."

I rolled my eyes. "I can't stay by your side all night, Godric," I protested. "All you've been doing is sitting in that chair, talking to people." Godric grinned, and stroked my hair.

It was then that I realised Godric had changed clothes. How had I not noticed it? His usual white jumper and pants had been swapped for a grey V-neck – which revealed a bit of his blue chest tattoo – and grey pants. The grey V-neck showed off his chiselled abs perfectly. I looked down at myself, and sighed. I was still in my blue tank top and denim capris. My old tennis shoes looked scuffed and worn – I must have looked a sight. Yet, nobody seemed to care. Still, I wished I could have had nicer clothes.

"I have been gone for quite a while, my Rose," Godric continued, "People tend to have many questions when you are away for so long," He said, and bent down to kiss me softly on the lips. I blushed a tomato red, and tried turn away, but Godric wouldn't allow it. He picked me up suddenly, and in a flash, he was sitting on the chair he'd been on all night. I was in his lap, my back facing his chest, and his strong arms woven around my slim waist. My feet dangled cutely over his legs.

Godric leaned in to inhale my scent, and stuffed his face into my hair. His left hand lifted up to tangle itself in my wild mass of midnight locks, and he sighed in contentment. "Have I ever told you, that you are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes upon?" He asked, his voice slightly muffled by my hair.

I laughed slightly. "There are plenty girls prettier than me, Godric," I pointed out. Godric grunted in disapproval.

"Hardly. They are nothing compared to your beauty," He argued, and I blushed again. Damn, why was I blushing so much? Why couldn't I keep myself together around him? I watched the muscles in his wrist wriggle as he twisted pieces of my hair in his fingers. He always seemed to find that enjoyable – playing with my hair, or twiddling with my hands and fingers.

I heard Godric let out another contented sigh, whispering, "I love you so very much, my beautiful Rose," He said brushing his pale lips across my cheek. "Do you love me as much as I love you?"

My heart fluttered at this, and Godric grinned. He bent his head down, and feathered his lips along my shoulder. His arm was still locked around my waist, and his hand still sifting along in my hair. "You do love me, don't you? I love how I can hear your heart beat faster when I say such simple things. It's so magnificent…you are magnificent."

I swallowed nervously. "Godric? There are people lining up to talk to you," I said, pointing out to the long line of vampires and humans patiently waiting. Godric almost growled into my shoulder in annoyance.

"They can wait. I have not had enough time with you," He whispered into my ear, and I shuddered as his lips found my neck.

"Sheriff? A vampire guarding behind his chair called. I swivelled round a little in Godric's lap to see a guy with a shaved head. He was wearing black silk pants, with black braces holding the pants up. He wasn't wearing a shirt – yes, he was bloody-bare chested! Plus, he had all these different tattoos on his chest. Cool, but definitely not my type.

Godric saw me gawking at this guy's bare chest, and he hissed, tightening his arms around me possessively. "Look away," He commanded to me, and I rolled my eyes, but looked away. "Underling. What is it you need? I am busy with my mate."

The bare-chested vampire looked a little sheepish. "It's just, sir, um, there are still people wanting to see you," He pointed at the line of mixed raced people like I had done.

Godric sighed, but nodded reluctantly. "I will see them," He said, and bare-chested guy nodded, beckoning over the first in line. I cleared my throat, and attempted to scramble off Godric's lap.

"Well, I'll let you get on with your talking. I'm just gonna –" Godric cut me off by yanking me down in his lap again.

"I said I wanted more time with you. Just because I am talking to people in my nest does not change that," He said, and I sighed, laying my head on his shoulder. Godric's hand stroked my head as he talked with different people. Eventually, my eyes fluttered closed, and I drifted off to sleep. The last things I heard were the gentle murmurings of voices and the slight shuffle of feet.

My eyes slid open to darkness. Where was I? I certainly wasn't in Godric's lap anymore – I couldn't feel the hardness of his chest against my back anymore. Instead, my back lay against snugly softness. So much so, I felt like falling back asleep. But, being the curious person I was, forced my lids to stay open. I wanted to know where I was, after all.

It didn't take a genius to know that I was lying on a bed – a very, very, comfortable one, may I add. I could hear the low tones of chatting people outside, so I must have been in a separate room of the nest, probably a bedroom. Had Godric put me here? I must have been more tired than I thought.

I sat up on my butt, yawning. It seemed that everyone was still here. I couldn't have slept for too long, then…

Suddenly, the causal chatting and quiet murmurs outside stopped, and I heard a slapping sound, followed by a familiar voice hissing, "Do not touch him."

I frowned. It sounded like Sookie. What was going on out there? I let my feet slide onto the carpeted floor, and I tiptoed my way across the darkened bedroom. When I got to the small, oak door, I planted my ear on it, straining to hear what was going on.

"My, we're feisty too," I heard a woman with a southern-twang to her voice say. I heard her laugh. "You're no more than a blood bag," She said, and I scowled, knowing this lady was talking to my sister. "You cannot win this."

"I've already won," I heard Sookie hiss, furious. "Bill chose me. And yet, you still won't give up," Sookie said. I was a little surprised, actually. I'd never heard Sook sound so…territorial? Nah, she sounded more jealous, really. This woman must have been trying a go at Bill. I forced back an amused snort – anyone who took something away from my bigger sister was in for a bloody hell of a time. Nobody got in her way, ever. And if you did, you'd better count your stars that you'd survive through her torturous menace.

I heard Sookie whisper, almost in disappointment, "Don't you have any shame?"

"Sookie, stop," I heard Bill warn her. But for what? What would this woman do to my big sister if she pushed her too far? Something told me it wasn't good. I could practically feel the tense atmosphere, and I wasn't even in the room.

"I'd listen to him," The woman said in her smooth, southern voice. "Run away, little girl," The woman said, and I heard the clicking of heels as this woman attempted to walk somewhere. The heels kept tapping, as I heard her say, "William and I love each other."

My blood froze at this. So, this woman must have been some kind of past-lover of Bill's. But something told me she wasn't your ordinary or average ex-girlfriend. The way she spoke…it almost sounded menacing, as if she were a tigress ready to pounce on anybody who crossed her.

"You've gone mad," Bill yelled, and there were more hurried footsteps. I guessed that Bill must have been pushing her backwards somehow. "Get out, now."

"Maybe you do love him, who am I to guess?" Sookie said, "But he doesn't love you. He never has, and that we both know," She finished mockingly.

I heard the clicking sound of a pair of fangs being drawn, and that was when I realised the danger. This woman…she was a vampire. A very dangerous one, at that, and Sookie had just provoked her. Not good.

"Take those words back, or they shall be your last," The woman demanded, her voice breaking a little.

"We're leaving!" Bill cried, probably not wanting to witness this embarrassing scene unfurl anymore. I mean, I know I wouldn't. Well, if the person fighting hadn't been my sister, I would have left. But it was my big sister out there, and I couldn't just stand here like a helpless little doll. I had to do something.

"Go find someone else, you fucking bitch!" Sookie barked, and my mouth dropped open in shock. "You've lost this one!"

There was the sound of glass crashing to the floor, and a loud thump. My heart raced inside of my chest – Sookie was in trouble! It looked like she'd provoked this vampire too far!

I yanked open the bedroom door, and the bright light almost blinded my eyes. But I didn't care – I needed to get to Sook. My bare feet skidded across wooden floorboards as I sprinted down a hallway, and emerged into the familiar living area. There were a crowd of humans and vampires standing at the top of the room, and I raced over.

I pushed through the crowd – being horribly reminded of the Fellowship as I did so – and popped out to see Bill, who was lying on the floor. He'd probably just been pushed over, and I would have laughed at the epic fail of it all, if I hadn't seen Sook. She was lying on a bar countertop, and a tall, skinny woman in a blood red dress had her in a chokehold, fangs drawn .

My face twisted in horror. This must have been the woman Sook was fighting with. She certainly didn't look like a nice woman, which was for sure. Well – of course she didn't! The woman was about to sink her fangs into Sook – how could I possibly think she was nice?

I raced over to this woman before she could chow down and make a meal out of my big sister. With a hard shove to the woman's side, I sent her reeling into the shelves of wine bottles. Sook jumped off the table, and looked in mild surprise at me. "Rosalie?" She gasped, probably wondering how on earth I'd knocked a strong vampire over. In case you'd forgotten, I had ingested some of Godric's blood earlier, so I seemed to find myself with awesome superhuman strength. Kinda like Superman.

The vampire in the blood-red dress flashed over to me, snarling. "Oh, what do we have here?" She hissed, wiping blood from her mouth. "A little brat who was able to knock me over. Interesting." Her manicured hand shot out to wrap around my neck, but I caught it, surprising myself at my speed. My reaction was mirrored on the vampire's.

"Listen," I said calmly to her. By now, everyone in the room was watching this scene unfold. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but if you touch my big sister like that again, I will kill you."

The vampire laughed shrilly. "Oh, that is funny!" She giggled. "You think you can beat me!" Before I could say or do anything else, the woman had me pinned to the brick wall in a flash, her fangs bared.

"Rose!" Sookie screamed. "Get away from her!"

I had the urge to roll my eyes and retort back, would love to Sook, but I'm kinda being pinned to the wall here, you know? By a murderous vampire-woman who wants to kill me.

The vampire hissed, and reared her head back to sink her fangs into my neck. However, before she could, I whipped my hand out, and slammed it onto the middle of her chest. She was stunned for a moment, and I used that time to put all five of my fingertips on her pale forehead. I wasn't sure why I was doing this exactly, I just felt like I had two. Before I could stop myself, and wonder just what on earth I was doing, a word left my lips. "Push."

Something shimmered in the air around my fingers, and the vampire-woman went flying backwards. She hit the wall on the other side of the room with a thump, followed by a crash.

Honestly, I had no idea what I'd just done. I definitely hadn't used the vampire blood still in my system – no, it was something else. Something more powerful. It was almost as if I'd pushed her away with my fingers…but, I hadn't even moved them. They'd stayed motionless as she flew backwards. However, when I'd uttered the word "push" – that was when it happened. Had I somehow pushed her back with my mind, telepathically? It seemed almost identical to Sook's telepath abilities.

I looked up, and saw that the vampire-woman was steadily getting back up, and I watched as she dragged her arm across her chin, which was bleeding, as well as her mouth.

She snarled at me. "Well, you seem stronger than you look," She spat out. "But your lucky streak ends here. You'll die standing in that spot, little human." Then she zoomed forward, too fast for me to track. Suddenly, I was thrown to the hard floor with a crashing thump, and the vampire-lady was crouching above me. This time, though, she had my arms pinned, so I couldn't blow her away with my newly-discovered abilities.

I couldn't use my arms or struggle, I could only watch as she was about to bite and suck me dry. Her fangs almost seemed to sparkle as they reared downwards. I shut my eyes quickly, and waited for my demise.

However, it never came. I opened my eyes a second later, to see a pale hand wrapped strongly around the vampire-woman's neck, stopping her from sinking her fangs into me. It was Godric, to my relief. He pushed on her neck, so her face wasn't near mine anymore. He eyed the woman angrily.

"Retract. Your. Fangs," I heard Godric order darkly. "Now."

The sound of retracting fangs could be heard. I looked up to see Bill embrace Sookie, and Sook was staring at me in worry, tears leaking out her blue eyes.

"I neither know, nor care who you are," Godric hissed, "But in this area, and certainly in this nest, I am the authority," Godric paused to stare calmly at her for a few tense seconds. "Do you understand?" He asked lowly.

"Yes…sheriff," The vampire-woman choked out. Godric unlatched his hand from her neck.

"You have attacked my mate," Godric said calmly. "In other circumstances, with other people, I would not care so much. But you have deliberately tried to harm what is mine, and that I do not tolerate."

"She provoked me," The vampire-woman protested, and I rolled my eyes. Grow up, bitch, I thought bitterly.

"And you provoke me, by harming my mate," Godric growled. "You disrupted the peace in my own home. I could snap you like a twig. Yet, I haven't. Now, why is that?" He asked.

"It's….your choice," The vampire-woman replied quietly.

"Indeed it is," Godric agreed. "You're an old vampire, I can tell. You've had hundreds of years to better yourself; yet you haven't. You're still a savage, and I fear for all of us. Humans…and vampires, if this behaviour persists."

Godric lifted me up off my feet, and rested me against his side. He turned to look at Bill. "You," He commanded. "You seem to know her?"

Bill looked ashamed. "Yes sheriff," He replied, looking down.

"Escort her from the nest," Godric ordered. Sookie glanced at me, and smiled, before speaking to Bill.

"Go ahead," She said to him, "Rose is fine. I'm fine, too."

"I wish you out of my area before dawn," Godric said, staring hard at the vampire-woman. She reluctantly got up, probably feeling a little silly now, and swaggered off with Bill by her side.

When she left, I let out a relieved sigh. That had been close – if I hadn't used that weird power, she might have killed me. And if Godric hadn't stopped her the second time, I know I would've been dead.

Eventually, everyone went back to their light conversations, and idle chattering. Sookie came over to me and Godric, a worried look on her tanned face. "Are you alright, Rose?" She asked worriedly.

I smiled. "I'm fine, Sook," I reassured her. "Just a little shaken, but –"

"I never would have let my Rose in any danger," Godric said firmly to Sookie, cutting me off. Sook relaxed instantly. "My mate will always be protected, I can assure you that, Miss Stackhouse."

I grinned, my heart fluttering at his spoken words. Godric, feeling the change of pace in my heart, wrapped an arm around my shoulders. His bluish-grey eyes sparkled as they met my dark, mysterious ones. "Are you alright, little one?" He asked gently, squeezing my arm. I was about to open my mouth to answer, but somebody cleared their throat.

I looked over in mild surprise at Jason, who was eyeing the arm around my bare shoulders warily. Godric raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem, Mr Stackhouse?" He asked in his awesome mixed accent.

Jason gritted his teeth. "Yes, actually. I'd like it if you removed your arm off my little sister," He ordered, and I watched, cringing as Godric's face darkened, and his arm tightened around me. Suddenly, there was a whoosh of air, and my face met black material.

Eric the blondie. "In case you've forgotten, boy, that is my maker you are ordering around," He hissed. "And Rose is my maker's mate. She will stay with him, and you will stop with your ridiculousness."

Jason opened his mouth to retort back angrily, but Sookie caught his arm. She started to drag him away. "Come on, Jase!" She laughed nervously. "Let's go chat with some humans!"

The tense atmosphere drifted away as Jason left. I let out another relieved sigh. We didn't need any more fights today. The church and the crazy woman-vampire was enough.

Eric turned around to ruffle my hair. I grunted in annoyance, slapping his hands away. "My hair is already a danger zone," I deadpanned, "Please do not make it worse."

Eric and Godric let out thunderous laughs, and Eric held up his hands in surrender. "You win, my little Viking," He chuckled deeply. "I will leave your hair alone. However, I can still do this…"

I raised a questioning eyebrow. "Do what –" I was cut off as Eric dived towards me, and started tickling my sides viciously. "Nooo! E-Eric! Stop right now!" I giggled, trying to sound serious. But I just couldn't. He knew my weak spot now! I tried to slap his muscular arms away, but he just grinned and continued to torture me.

"A-alright, alright! I surrender," I breathed out in between laughs. Eric stopped his relentless tickling, and smirked at me.

"I win," He declared, and I rolled my eyes.

"You're a thousand-years old, yet you act like a kid," I retorted back, indignant. Godric was watching this in amusement, probably finding his child and mate interacting like this hilarious.

"Be careful, little one," Eric warned, his grin becoming feral. "Or I will tickle you again – and this time there will be no mercy."

I smirked. "You'll have to catch me first, blondie," I challenged him, and immediately sprinted off. I heard a whoosh of air, and I knew that Eric was trying to catch me.

This continued for the rest of the evening, and eventually, I was caught. Eric grabbed me by my shoulders and lifted me over his strong back. "Got you," He said in his deep voice. I drooped in defeat.

"You win," I said, exhausted. "Damn…" Eric let out a hearty laugh.

"Are you two quite done?" A familiar voice asked from behind us, and we both jumped. I angled my head a little, to see that it was Godric, looking highly amused. His arms were crossed, his eyebrow raised. "I believe you've had my mate for too long, my child. I would like her back."

Eric pouted. Jeez, he was like a little kid! "..Fine," He sighed, reluctantly passing me over to Godric. Hey, I was no parcel that could just be passed around! "That was more fun than I've had in centuries," Eric admitted, grinning, only proving more to my Eric-is a-child-theory.

I rolled my eyes, and shifted a little in Godric's arms. "Can you put me down?" I asked, and he let me on my feet. However, he wrapped a strong arm around my waist. I chuckled quietly – Godric couldn't stand to be away from me for long – it was kind of funny, actually.

Eric was about to say something else, but a loud voice stopped him. The room went deadly silent, as a familiar voice said, "Excuse me, everyone."

I looked over, and my eyes nearly bugged out my head. It was…Luke! What the hell was he doing here? Was he asking for a death wish? As it turned out, I couldn't have been more right.

"If I could have your attention," He asked. By now, everyone had come to see what all the fuss was about. "My name is Luke Mcdonald. I'm a member of the Fellowship of the Sun."

At this, the room's air thickened with a tense atmosphere. "…And I've a message for you all," He continued. "From Reverend Steve Newlin."

He unzipped his large jacket, and I gulped when I saw what was strapped to his chest. A silver bomb. My eyes widened. That bomb…it would surely kill every human in this room, including the vampires!

Luke's emerald green eyes locked with mine, as he uttered the words, "I'm sorry," To me, before he whipped out a red button.

He pressed it.