Howdy. Here is another chapter. A little sexyness but not much.
Enjoy!
Adelaide threw her arm out and grabbed her phone as her alarm went off. It was 6 in the morning. She snuggled back into Eric for a few more moments before she had to get up. Today was Adele's funeral. They were having it in the morning to avoid the sweltering heat, and everyone would be meeting up at Merlotte's afterwards.
She showered and dressed and met Sookie in the kitchen. They both drank as much coffee as they could and headed out. They arrived at the graveyard early, and Sookie immediately got out of the car. She joined Adelaide in front of the car and took her hand. They walked to her grandmother's grave together, and Adelaide pushed as much comfort and support through their joined hands as she could.
Adele's casket was suspended above her grave. Flowers covered the top and surrounded the area. There were seats set up for all the guests, and her tombstone was in place. They heard a car pull up, and turned to see Jason getting out of his truck. He looked sad and walked over to them slowly.
"I'm so, so sorry Sook. I don't know why I got so mad at you. You deserve everything gran left you. Adelaide was right, to hit me like she did. She shoulda hit me more. I love you Sook."
Sookie stared at her brother and delved into his mind. She could tell that he was sincere, but that's what always happened with Jason. He would run his mouth and say hurtful, stupid things, then apologize. Sookie was getting real tired of it.
"I love you too Jason." She sighed.
He nodded and smiled. Adelaide gave him a blank look, and continued to hold Sookie's hand and stand beside her as more cars pulled up.
"Sookie? Do you want me to try and put a shield around your mind, so you don't have to worry about blocking people out today?"
"Adelaide, that would be a blessing. Please. If you can."
Adelaide stayed in Sookie's mind, and pictured a wall going up around her the area of her gift, so that no thoughts could get through. When she felt Sookie relax next to her, she knew she had succeeded.
The funeral was beautiful. Almost everyone made a speech, detailing all the good things that Adele had done for the community, and what a wonderful woman she was. Sookie let her tears fall, and Adelaide kept a firm grip on her hand. When Adele was finally laid to rest, everyone made their way to Merlottes.
Food was laid out all along the bar, and people mingled. Adelaide stayed close to Sookie and made small talk with the nosey people courageous enough to ask her direct questions. As things started to wind down, Adelaide noticed Jason, Lafayette, and Tara approaching. She took her spot next to Sookie and waited.
"I'm so sorry Sookie, you know I loved your gran like she was my own." Tara said, going in for a hug but Sookie denied her.
"Thanks Tara."
"Haven't seen yous around at all, Sook. And yous knows LaLa needs his Sook time."
"You know where I've been and you had a number to reach me at."
Everyone looked down guiltily.
"We's tryin to give yous some space."
"Yeah, we know how hard this is for you."
Sookie just stared at them.
"We wanted to know when you're coming home. We can set up a room for you at LaLa's, or Jason's. Whatever you want."
"I want to stay with Adelaide and Eric."
"Come on Sook. You don't even know this woman. And vampires are evil, blood sucking demons. You need to be around your own kind."
"My own kind? My own kind that didn't even call me after my grandmother passed?"
"We said we were sorry, now, I know that you miss her, and it's going to be hard, but it's time to come back to the real world."
"I believe that Sookie has made her decision very clear." Adelaide interrupted.
"Listen bitch, I don't know who you are, but mind your own business."
"I'm the one letting Sookie make her own decisions, like the adult that she is."
"Fuck you. You've known her for like two seconds, we've known her most of her life."
"And yet you still can not see that she does not want to be around any of you."
"I'm gonna knock your teeth in, bitch." Tara took a step forward. Jason, remembering the slap her received just a few days ago, tried to pull her back.
"That's enough. Yes, you have known me most of my life, and Adelaide has known me for a couple days, but she has already shown more compassion to me than you have. She is allowing me to grieve and think for myself, never trying to influence me. So, I will continue to live with her and Eric."
"So you're just going to quit your job? Leave your family? They've got you brainwashed!"
"No Tara, they don't. If you can't accept my choices, then I'll see you when I see you."
Sookie grabbed Adelaide's hand and marched out of Merlottes and into the car. As Adelaide started it up and headed back home, she gave Sookie a smile.
"I'm so proud of you Sookie."
"Thanks. She's right though, what am I going to do for a job?"
"Eric and I wanted to talk to you about that tonight actually."
"Oh?"
"When we get home, lets nap. Then, when Eric wakes up, we can all sit and chat."
"Okay."
Adelaide stripped off her clothing and crawled into bed with Eric. She wished, for the first time, that he could be awake during the daylight hours. She shoved that thought aside and closed her eyes. She was asleep in seconds.
She smiled when the feeling of Eric softly playing with her breasts, woke her up.
"Having fun?" She asked sleepily.
"Mmmm." He answered as he closed his mouth around her nipple.
She ran her hand through his hair as he alternated between her breasts. His hands squeezed and caressed them, as his mouth nibbled away at her hardened nubs.
"You know we need to talk about Sookie, right?"
"I must not be doing a very good job if you can mention someone else while I pleasure you." Eric mumbled out before biting her nipple a little harder.
She gasped at the surprise pleasure/pain, and pulled his head up.
"You are doing an amazing job, but I promised her we would speak to her once you woke."
Eric let out an unnecessary sigh and relented with a kiss.
"Then let's hurry along drill sergeant."
Adelaide giggled.
"Sookie, I would like to offer you permanent residence in my home. That will come with certain rules of course, but the offer stands. I would also like to offer you a place at Fangtasia. I mean no offence when I say that waitressing is beneath you, so I would like you to take over the selling and production of Fangtasia merchandise. Adelaide is taking on more and more responsibilities and we both think that you would be a valuable asset. Here is the contract detailing your duties and pay. We will also be buying you a starter wardrobe, until you can purchase your own."
Sookie pulled the contract to her and began to read over it. Her eyes widened when she saw her salary.
"I can't accept this. This is too much. And I won't allow you to buy me new clothes. My gran left me some money, I can use that."
"That is the standard pay for someone with your position, plus a little extra, since the hours are considered unconventional. You will accept the wardrobe I provide. I will not have any of my employees looking anything less than perfect."
"No. I'm not some charity case. I'll pay you back for everything and chip in for rent."
Eric laughed.
"This house is paid for, there is no mortgage. You will accept the terms of this contract and begin working on Monday."
Sookie stood up with a huff, her cheeks flushed with anger.
"You can't tell me what to do. I appreciate everything you've done for me, but that does not give you the right to treat me like this."
With the contract still in hand, she stomped off to her room and slammed the door.
"She is acting like a child."
"She was raised to be independent and to work for what she has. She will take longer to crack than I did."
"Hmmm, are you sure you want to keep her around."
Adelaide chuckled. "Yes."
"Is your gut playing a part in this decision?"
"Maybe."
"Then I will trust you. Lets get dressed for Fangtasia. She can cool off while we work.
When they returned home from the club, Sookie was waiting for them in the kitchen.
"Eric, I apologize for my behavior earlier. You have been nothing but kind to me, and here I go, acting ungrateful and childish. My gran would be ashamed. I read over the contract more carefully, talked with Elijah, and googled a couple things, and while it still makes me uncomfortable, I accept all the terms."
Adelaide smiled and Eric nodded.
"I am glad."
"Sunday is our rest day, Monday, we will all go shopping."
Sookie nodded and handed over the signed contract.
"I'll see you tomorrow." She said, before heading to her room.
Eric and Adelaide headed down to their room, and while Eric finished up with an email that he received, Adelaide took out the book that had helped her save Sookie, and glanced through the spells again. She wanted to try some of the simpler spells, but was nervous. She found one that would levitate heavy objects, and decided to try it on the armoire across from her. She memorized the spell and followed her instincts. She held out her hands and softly chanted the spell. The armoire lifted a few inches off the ground, the higher she raised her hands, the higher it went, until it touched the ceiling. She smiled.
"Adelaide?"
Her head snapped to Eric's shocked face, and with her concentration broken, the armoire came crashing down.