Still don't own, otherwise there would not be a 9 month break between seasons.

For anyone who was confused in the last chapter the woman in Sookie's dream was Claudine.

Sorry for all those who were hoping Andre would make an appearance in this fic. I'm kinda rolling with the idea that Sophie-Anne is an incompetent, lazy, spoiled brat and having her make an Andre in this world would actually be smart and give her way too much firepower.

According to True Blood Wiki, which has been an invaluable resource as I work on this fic the other Sheriffs of Louisiana we met in Season 4 are as followed: Blackburn, the young looking guy. Kirsch, the only female Sheriff. Duprez, the big African-American vampire. And Luis Patino, who we all love for shooting Bill right? None of them will have an arc or anything but I thought I would save time by saying who was who instead of explaining in the fic.

This chapter's title comes from Lissie's Little Lovin'.

"Sookie, you are going to have to change out of that nightshirt," Pam said. "In fact burn it. I cannot possible concentrate on a movie knowing that thing still exists."

Sookie rolled her eyes. Pam's favorite past time it seemed, aside from making unwanted advances to Tara, was criticizing peoples' clothes.

"What about Tara? She's the one wearing plaid flannel pajamas."

"I refuse to even acknowledge that. You've ruined a fantasy for me, Tara. I only wish to think of you sleeping in the nude or in something sheer."

"I told you to cut that shit out," Tara growled at the vampire, who just smiled seductively at her.

"Besides you're wearing fucking sweats."

"Yes but they're Armani." And very pink.

Sookie had come into the house earlier in the evening greeted by the smell of meat cooking and the sight of Tara, Lafayette and surprisingly her brother sitting around the living room entertaining the undead house guest. Well, Jason seemed to be the only one entertaining. Tara and Lafayette just seemed to be watching.

Jason spared a hello for his sister before turning back to the pale and lovely Miss De Beaufort. It seemed that Pam wasn't so much a lesbian as a connoisseur of all things attractive. She was very receptive to Jason's attentions. She even made a joke about the two of them convincing Tara into a threesome. Tara scowled at the vampire, but Sookie noticed she was blushing a bit. Jason's pupils became the size of pin heads. Even though this would never happen he no doubt was saving the images this idea gave him in his spank bank for later.

Sookie was surprised at Jason's complete turn around. She'd believed he would be on better behavior since what happened last time, but the way he was flirting with Pam was just weird. After listening to their conversation for about five minutes though Sookie realized what was going on. Jason had no idea that Pam was a vampire. It wasn't until dinner was served in the dining room that Jason was clued in to what everybody else already knew. He went pale when he saw Gran hand Pam a True Blood instead of serving her a hunk of lamb. He stuttered an excuse as he skipped out before dessert. Pam and Lafayette found this hilarious.

Tara decided to ignore Pam's words about appropriate sleepwear and went to dig through the trunk that was laying open on the floor. Aside from a few Tupperware containers full of jewelry the trunk was filled with DVDS and T.V. boxsets. It had also contained one of Pam's DVD players, which Lafayette was currently hooking up to the small-screened T.V.

"You don't have cable and I refuse to watch commercials," Pam had explained. The invention of the DVR had spoiled her.

"Why is every other movie in here starring Kiera Knightly?" Tara asked aloud, though she was sure she knew the answer.

"She's an angel," Pam replied. "It is a travesty she has not won an Oscar."

Tara made a pfft sound.

"Oh, please," Laff said to his cousin. "That girl's so pretty even I would fuck her." He was finished hooking up the DVD player and took a seat on the couch beside Sookie.

"She has the body of a prepubescent boy," Tara said. "So yeah, I guess she's your type, Lafayette."

"True," Pam agreed. "It's her acting ability and face I adore. I usually like a girl with a little bit more meat on her bones. Athletic."

Pam cocked her eyebrows at Tara and leered. Tara dropped the DVD she was looking at and scrunched up her face.

"Sookie, tell her to stop."

"I don't have any say what she says to you," Sookie said once she stopped giggling.

"Well then tell her boss when he gets back."

"I only let Eric think he can order me around," Pam said.

"That man can order me around anytime," Lafayette said.

"You're not his type, She-male," Pam replied.

Sookie giggled again and Lafayette narrowed his eyes at her.

"Oh, you thinks that's funny do ya, Vamp Bait?" He began to tickle her. She laughed harder and tried to roll away from him. "How you like that, huh?"

"Stop!...Stop it!" Sookie squealed. "Stop."

"Oh, please don't," Pam said, her fangs clicking down. "It makes her heart pump faster and smell that much more delicious."

Lafayette's tickles immediately stopped and Tara's face went slack.

"Uh, Pam." Sookie sat up. "Maybe try to refrain from saying stuff like that."

"I was complimenting you, Sookie. Is that not appropriate?"

"Not that kind of compliment," Tara said. "Talking about wanting to eat her."

"I never said anything of the sort. I know better. Eric's very territorial."

Sookie blushed and Pam winked at her. Before Tara could ask if Sookie was letting that vampire of hers bite her Gran came in from the kitchen with the bowl of popcorn and another True Blood for Pam. She looked over the four of them like they were naughty children.

"Y'all behaving yourselves?" she asked.

They all replied with a 'yes'um', even Pam.

"Good. Now what movie did y'all decide on?"

Eric was shown into the drawing room where the other Sheriffs were already waiting. The room looked liked it was designed for a dollhouse. Or by someone who was colorblind. The walls were an eggshell blue and the carpets teal. The two large couches in the room were leather and white. There was an actual freaking doily on the coffee. The large fireplace was lit, though none of the occupants in the room had need of it.

Duprez and Kirsch were occupying the two couches. Duprez, who was a vampire of few words, nodded in greeting to his fellow Sheriff, while Kirsch smiled.

For a vampire Kirsch was actually nice. She was the youngest of the Sheriffs, the youngest vampire to ever hold the title of Sheriff in the Kingdom of Louisiana, so she was no doubt just as ruthless and cunning as the rest of them. Maybe even more so. Still Eric couldn't get the idea out of his head that as she was ripping someone's throat out she would be apologizing profusely for having to do so.

Patino was standing in front of the mantle staring at the fire completely ignoring everyone and everything. Sanctimonious prick. Blackburn had been pacing back and forth behind the couch that Kirsch sat on. When he saw Eric he stopped pacing.

"Fuck. I bet Duprez one of my pets that you wouldn't show up!"

Blackburn was the third oldest Sheriff in the room after Eric and Patino, but he still acted like the age he had been when he was turned. Immature and boorish. It was a fucking miracle he had gotten where he was in the vampire hierarchy.

Duprez didn't show any emotion at having won said bet.

"That was just stupid of you, sweetie," Kirsch said. Her smile was not as compassionate as it could be. "Even if Northman hates Her guts he still has to come when She calls, just like the rest of us."

Eric sat down on the other end of the couch that Kirsch occupied. There was a decanter of warmed donor blood sitting on the table and Kirsch moved to poor him a glass but he waved her off. With the amount of blood he had taken from Sookie over the last few days he would not need to feed for the remainder of the week. Even though Sophie-Anne's pets were some of the most exotic and flavorful in the North Americas, what with Sophie-Anne's illegal procuring practices, Eric would not be partaking in any of them. He had meant what he told Sookie the previous night. After drinking from her anyone else's blood would be like sucking down pond scum.

"Why, whatever do you mean by that, Kirsch?" He gave her his own smile. "I am a loyal subject of the crown. Her Majesty has nothing to complain of about me." Professionally anyway. Even with the antagonism between them Eric was still her favorite Sheriff. "I am ready to serve her at a moments notice, willing to shed blood, even my own, in her name."

Kirsch snorted.

"Sure. Your Area is the closest to court yet you always manage to arrive last."

"I had some pressing matters that could not be delayed."

Blackburn leaned over the back of the couch.

"Yeah, well if I had pressing matters that smelled like that I'd tell Sophie-Anne to go fuck herself too."

Duprez sat up straighter and even Patino seemed to be taking an interest in the way the conversation turned.

It was a bit childish and foolish to wear the Sookie scented shirt to the Queen's court. But Eric loved to rub things in other's faces. Smelling her scent was the closest thing any of these vampires would get to coming near Sookie. It would drive the Queen insane of course. There was really nothing she could say or do though unless she wanted to reveal her hand to Eric about why she really sent Compton to his area. She was still probably deluding herself that Eric was an idiot who could not see Compton's mainstreaming spiel for the watered down shit it was.

"Seriously, man," Blackburn said. "Why do you always get the best pussy?"

Kirsch showed her distaste for Blackburn's words. She had been turned in Puritan New England and though she had committed monstrous and sexually explicit acts since then old habits died hard. She could not stand for vulgar talk.

"You really expect him to answer you?" she asked Blackburn, who climbed over the back of the couch and sat between his two fellow Sheriffs.

Northman was known to be discreet about his conquests and Kirsch doubted that would change anytime soon with this one. It was rather stupid of him to flaunt the fact that he had obtained a blood bag that was like sunshine in a bottle though. Not like him at all. Unless he was bonded to the cow, which with it being Eric was a beyond insane idea, the Queen could just order him to hand the human over as a tribute.

"Come on, man." Blackburn was actually starting to whine for some details. "She smells even better than that pet of the Queen's." He immediately shut his mouth apparently saying something he hadn't meant to.

Kirsch smiled wider.

"Someone's obsessed."

"Shut up," Blackburn said , slouching further down the couch.

"What's this?" Eric asked in a bored tone.

"Blackburn's got the hots for that little favorite of the Queen's."

"Shut up," Blackburn repeated.

"You know the one. Blonde, blue eyes, smells pretty good for someone of her background. Sophie-Anne won't let anyone else have a sip or a sniff of her. Blackburn's still not over it." The older vampire glared at her.

Eric seemed to vaguely recall seeing a girl matching that description briefly. There were so many pets running around here though and if Sophie-Anne was greedy with this one she had probably made sure not to have her underfoot most of the time when Eric visited. He'd never be stupid enough to steal a pet from his Queen, but then it would not be steeling if they willingly wanted to come to him. He hated the idea of pets altogether, too much work really.

The room went silent and remained so for several minutes. The Queen would keep them waiting awhile longer no doubt, hoping one of them would speak out of turn. If she wasn't listening in herself someone else surely was.

Sophie-Anne couldn't kill any of them for simply speaking ill of her. Technically the only time she could kill a Sheriff under her command was if she had definitive proof of a coup. She would need the proof to send along with the report to the Authority. Slaughtering a traitorous Sheriff was still a last resort under the Authority. A monarch was supposed to try and detain any traitors until the Magister could be dispatched to come and hold a tribunal, unless the circumstances were dire and the Magister could not be waited on, then the monarch could receive verbal permission to carry out the True Death. With the tribunal though if the proof was sound the Magister would then sentence the traitor to the True Death and the sentence would be carried out by one of the tribunals enforcers. Though she herself knew that it was stupidity that any vampire would speak of plots in her own court Sophie-Anne was, like most vampire monarchs, extremely paranoid and would rather be safe than sorry.

After several minutes of silence and Blackburn's sniffing loudly at Sookie's sent as if wafted off Eric (seriously it was annoying and would get him a broken nose as a warning), Duprez finally spoke.

"A little birdie told me that a certain favorite of the Queen's has recently relocated to your Area, Northman."

"Whoever your spies in the court are, they're better than mine," Kirsch said. She turned to Eric. "Who is he talking about?"

"Bill Compton."

Patino turned around at the name and the three sitting Sheriffs exchanged looks.

"She let him go?" Blackburn questioned. "He left the court to go live in Shreveport?"

"No, actually. He left to live in his ancestral home in a backwoods swamp of a town."

The four other vampire Sheriffs let that fact sink in.

"Seriously?" Blackburn spoke first of course. "I mean I know he's always been so angsty/emo and shit, but really?"

Duprez did not speak but smiled. He, like Eric, knew that no matter how sappy Compton was he would never leave the service of the Queen unless ordered to do so. That bitch was playing with fire if she thought she could poach in the Viking's Area.

The five vampire's heads and eyes all snapped to the door. The four sitting quickly stood and a moment later the door opened as Sophie-Anne, Queen of Louisiana, entered. She was dressed in her signature color of white though Eric doubted she could ever be considered virginal. Her dress was in the style of a 1920's flapper and her flaming hair had a netting of real pearls weaved through it.

Patino, the ass kisser, was the first to greet her.

"Luis," she smiled. He held out his hand to her and she let him kiss it. "You must tell me how you handled that situation with the were packs you were mentioning last time we spoke. I was thinking you should just lock them all up and start a kind of a zoo."

The others bowed deep, while Eric only bowed his head, relishing the Queen's locked jaw.

"Northman, I believe you arrived late did you not?"
"You requested I be here before midnight, Your Majesty. It is now barely the witching hour."

She could no doubt smell Sookie on him. He wondered if she knew exactly what she was smelling and how she knew about Sookie in the first place.

"Yes, well. Cutting it close aren't we. I hope I'm not keeping you from anything?"

"There is a situation in my Area I was reluctant to leave." Very fucking reluctant.

"Nothing serious I hope?"

"My second is keeping me abreast of it."

"Yes well, Pamela, for all her vices has always been extremely loyal to you."

The glint in Eric's eyes dissipated and his face became as neutral and still as a statues. The bitch should have known better than to insult his child, even vaguely like that. Sophie-Anne took no notice of her supposed faux pas and continued talking.

"You must tell me more about it when we're in private. I have a little job I need done and I know you're just the vampire to complete it." Great. She was no doubt punishing him for the treatment of Compton, unless she really did know something about what was going on between him and Sookie. He'd have to text Pam to order surveillance on Compton along with a phone tap.

Sophie-Anne snapped her fingers at all of them as if they were dogs.

"Come along. There are fresh refreshments in the sunroom."

The sunroom. Great. That meant one thing. Her fucking board games.

They had decided to watch Atonement. Sookie had to agree with Lafayette that the only thing prettier than Kiera Knightly were James McAvoy's eyes. The actor's bright baby blues made her think of a set of older, dearer azure ones.

Stop it! She told herself. You're just make it worse.

It was only five days. She was not going to let herself turn into one of those clingy, whiny women who couldn't function without their man around. She had to smile at that though. Her man.

A few minutes into the movie Pam went rigid and her head turned to look over her shoulder toward the hall leading to the front door. Sookie reached out with her mind and felt a void. Larger than Pam's but nowhere near as vast as Eric's. Sookie got up.

"I'll get it." Gran, Tara, and Lafayette looked at her retreating form questioningly. There had been no knock.

Sookie opened the door to find Bill Compton walking up the steps of the porch. He faltered for a moment when he saw her in the doorway but continued his ascent coming to stop a couple of inches from the door.

"Good evening, Sookie."

Before Sookie could give him a good evening back or tell him to get the hell off her porch Pam spoke.

"I seriously underestimated the size of your balls, Compton."

Sookie looked over her shoulder. Pam had followed her and was standing only a few feet away with her fangs down. Further down the hall stood Tara, taking her cue from Pam, in her own defensive stance.

Bill's own fangs clicked down and Sookie thought they looked rather small compared to Eric's.

"My business is with Miss Stackhouse."

"You shouldn't have any business with her. You are disobeying a direct order from your Sheriff, Compton. And you're interrupting our movie."

"The Sheriff is out of his Area."

"That doesn't mean his laws don't apply. Even a fucking retard like you should know that. But then how do you know Eric's not in residence? Did you maybe lie about that little pink slip Sophie-Anne gave you?"

Bill's eyes and mouth went wide with shock. He could tell that Sookie obviously had heard the Queen's name before since she was not registering any confusion at the sound of it.

He had already smelled Eric's blood in Sookie and knew she was no longer untouched. These two facts alone made it hard to keep his anger in check. But he refused to give in to his baser nature anymore than he already had. He would not let the young woman see that side of him. He still held out hope that whatever Eric and Pam had said about him to Sookie could be overcome. She was human, though maybe not completely, and she seemed especially naïve and gentle hearted. He was sure his gentlemanly manner would win her over.

"I have not spoken to the Queen in several days," he said for Pam's benefit but his eyes stayed on Sookie.

It was true. He hadn't been in contact with the Queen since that night he had discovered Sookie in the parking lot of Fangtasia. He had to tell the Queen that Eric had met Sookie, but he downplayed Eric's interests in the girl. If Sophie-Anne knew how fascinated Eric was by Sookie she would no doubt curse Bill for his fuck up and order him back to court. He did not want this.

"You expect me to believe that you're not her little spy just because you say so? Wow, maybe you've got some real estate you want to sell me too? Do yourself a favor and leave now. Take the time to look at your wreck of a house, make peace with whatever God you might believe in before I contact Eric and he gives me the okay to have you silvered and waiting for him when he gets back."

"There are higher authorities than the Sheriff."

Pam smiled.

"You going to save Eric the trouble of killing you? Smart move actually, he'd take his time. You start talking to the Queen, even if I believed you ever stopped, my maker will go to the Authority about you and a couple of drainers. I'm betting you'd turn traitor real quick against Sophie-Anne once the Magister got his hooks into you."

Instead of showing shock that Pam, and therefore Eric, knew about the business with the drainers Bill smiled. With his fangs down it was more creepy than usual.

"I was not talking about the Queen."

Pam raised an eyebrow.

"You want me to believe you, the most incompetent vampire that has ever been turned, has some sort of sway with the Authority and the AVL." Her voice became deeper. "I am going to save Eric the trouble of having to deal with your bullshit and stake you right now."

"I am older and stronger than you."

"Yeah, well the spray can of liquid silver I packed might even things out a bit."

This was getting ridiculous.

"Okay, that's enough. Pam, go back to enjoying the movie. Bill, even if you're a vampire you should know better than to get into a fight with a guest at my house. It's not winning you any points. I'll listen to what you have to say but then you have to listen to me."

Pam snarled.

"Sookie, if you think—."

"I think you should know that I'm not stupid enough to go outside with him or invite him in here." Bill had the audacity to look hurt. God, he really was an idiot. "I can handle this." She looked over the vampire's shoulder to where Tara stood. "Both of you get."

Pam let out another snarl and warned Bill that she would be listening before she turned on her heel and stalked back down the hall, grabbing and dragging a yelping Tara back toward the living room.

Sookie turned back to the door.

"I want to thank you for agreeing to talk to me," Bill said, retracting his fangs. "I would have liked a more private audience."

"Yeah and I'd like you to cut the horse manure and say what you got to say so I can tell you what I think of you."

If he thought she was some weak wilting flower boy was he in for a rude awakening.

"Sookie, I don't know what Eric has told you—."

"The truth for starters. Something you were never going to do I'm betting. Even though I saved your life."

"Yes. I am in you debt for that."

"And you repay that by planning to kidnap me?"

Her comment gave him pause. She could just see his mind working up a plausible explanation.

"Don't you dare even think of lying to me now, Bill Compton, or I will go get that can of liquid silver."

Bill's fangs ached to drop. His lips thinned holding back a snarl. Was she really so naïve? Didn't she know it was dangerous to talk to a predator in such a way? The insolence of this human. How had Northman not ripped her tongue out yet? He schooled his features to show sincerity and just a touch of hurt.

"As you seem to be privy to, as a vampire I must answer to others who are older than I. The Queen gave me a job and I could not refuse her. I do not know how she learned of you or why she wants you." He paused, foolish enough to think that she might give him something. He'd be waiting for Doomsday. "Then I met you and you saved my life. I see that you are a remarkable human." If aggravating. "I have come to care about you. I hoped—."

Sookie had to stop him there.

"If you really cared about me you would've told me the truth. If you came here just to give me some hallmark card spiel I'm going to shut the door on you right now. I am not interested. I'm Eric's. And even if I wasn't I would never, ever be yours."

Bill looked like a kicked puppy. It was so sad it was almost funny. He shifted to anger pretty quick though.

"Sookie, Eric has taken advantage of you. He has given you his blood. You don't know what that means."

"Oh, you mean the thing about it that makes me faster and stronger." Plus makes her glow like a nightlight. "And the dreaming and feeling more attracted to him. I say more because before I took his blood I was already crushing pretty heavy on him. From like the first minute I saw him at Fangtasia. I guess I should say thank you for that. If you hadn't been there and been such a tool I might never have met Eric, so thanks. And that's the last time you will hear me say that to you by the way."

Bill's fangs clicked down and Sookie couldn't help but flinch a little. This seemed to please the bastard. That was it. She'd spent too many hours this week listening and fighting with the people she cared about the most defending Eric and her relationship with him. No way was she going to do the same thing with a vampire who she was starting to hate.

"Don't you dare try to scare me, Bill Compton. I tried to give you the benefit of a doubt but you know what I didn't hear you say what with all the caring you're doing? An apology. Not that I'd accept it. Now get off my porch and stay the hell away from my house and my friends and family. If you don't I'm going to call the cops on you and then I'm going to call all the local news stations. Give them your name and address and tell them how you like to stalk pretty young girls. Bet that would help you make more friends in this town huh?"

Before he could say anything else she slammed the door shut and locked it for good measure

"Dickhead," she said loudly so she was sure he could hear her.

She waited until she could feel his void moving away back toward his own house. She turned around to find Pam standing at the end of the hallway, her IPhone out.

"Pam, what are you doing?" Sookie asked walking toward her.

"Filming that bloody beautiful moment. I'm putting this up on Fangtasia's website."

Sookie rolled her eyes.

"I doubt that Eric would approve of that. Are you going to call him and tell that Bill came by?"

"I'll text him. So many vampires in one place. Someone would always be listening. Come on. If we've missed the sex scene in the library I might just ignore my orders and go over there and rip Compton's fangs out."

"Just once…" Blackburn whispered, "…couldn't we play poker or something." Sophie-Anne could hear him of course but she had just rolled another Yahtzee and was winning so she let it slide.

"At least it's not as bad as Halloween when she made us do the Ouija board," Kirsch said.

Eric's phone vibrated in his pocket. A text from Pam obviously. He reach into his jacket to retrieve his phone and Sophie-Anne raised her eyebrows.

"Should I maybe implement a no cell phones policy, Northman?"

"It's concerning that situation I was talking about earlier, Your Majesty."

"You mentioned that yes. What type of situation exactly?"

If Sophie-Anne thought she could be a little cunt on a power trip with him right now he'd have to remind her about his little favor. Compton would almost certainly roll over on her if he was brought before the Magister.

"The one I told you about last week. Involving that vampire and the drainers."

They were both aware of the other Sheriffs and the half a dozen pets eyes on them. The Queen's playful smile fell and her face became a mask showing no emotion. Her eyes were as dead as her. She was apparently smart enough to hear his underlining meaning. Her smile returned, a bit tense looking.

"Oh yes. By all means take your call." She waved him off.

He walked out the door leading to a back terrace letting the cool night air envelope him. He was not stupid enough to make a call. Someone was always listening.

He had expected the Queen might try something but the fact that it was still Compton she was using was laughable. The end of Pam's lengthy text gave him pause though.

He says has no contact w/ QSA for days.

This seemed plausible. If Bill was behaving like the good little carrier pigeon he was supposed to be Sophie-Anne would have been metaphorically pissing vinegar about Eric's first meeting with Sookie. She would have had him silvered on some trumped up charges the minute he set foot on her property.

He texted Pam back.

Have surveillance complete w/ phone tap on Compton.

Eric he implied he has sway with the Authority.

This idea was just ludicrous. If it hadn't been Pam he would have dismissed it immediately. Could Compton possibly be some sort of double agent? Eric wouldn't put it past the Authority and that bitch Nan Flanagan to have spies in every monarchs court in the North Americas. If Compton was working for the Authority Eric would have to tread lightly.

Eric quickly replied that they would have to wait and see on further developments. She was not to instigate any confrontation with Compton. Pam texted back a frowny face, complete with fangs, and then a second later sent him a message attached with a video. Watching Sookie berate Compton almost made up for having to spend time in Sophie-Anne's presence.

It was a few hours until dawn and the house was quiet. Lafayette had gone home soon after the movie ended and Tara and Gran were asleep in bed. Sookie couldn't sleep though. She could feel Pam's void from upstairs.

Pam was flipping through a French fashion magazine when Sookie came downstairs. The vampire didn't look up when she spoke.

"Don't humans need a certain amount of sleep to function during the day?" Pam asked. Her voice didn't sound curious or concerned. Just neutral.

"I'll be alright. It's not like I'll get the bleeds."

"Lucky you."

Sookie came and sat down on one of the chairs across from Pam, tucking her knees under her. Pam put her magazine down. Apparently her maker's little telepath wasn't going to be able to get to sleep until she scared the monsters away.

"Well?"

Sookie bit her lip and Pam rolled her eyes.

"Sookie, that whole thing about there never being any stupid questions? That's complete bullshit. But you obviously have something on your mind so why don't you just spit it out so you can go to sleep?"

Tact was apparently not in Pam's vocabulary.

"Is Eric going to kill Bill?"

"Not any time soon unfortunately." When Pam saw Sookie's look of relief at her words she let her own disgust show. "Don't tell me you actually want that piece of shit to live? He was sent here to take you to the Queen and even if he says he won't he would have kept lying to you, Sookie."

"He might be a giant a-hole and I might hate his guts but that doesn't mean I want him dead. I don't want anyone dead cause of me."

René's lifeless body flashed in her mind. She shuddered and Pam saw. The vampire handed Sookie the blanket that had been folded up on the end of the couch thinking the little human was cold. Sookie took it, not wanting to explain.

"Thanks. Wouldn't Eric get in trouble for killing Bill? I mean y'all can't just go around killing each other can you? Don't you have laws or something?"

Pam raised an eyebrow. She knew Eric was sharing more with Sookie than what was proper for a blood bag to hear. Still it seemed like Sookie could handle herself pretty well if the altercation with Compton was anything to go on.

"There are strict laws against killing another vampire without cause but as long as there aren't any witnesses…" Pam let her sentence trail off and almost laughed at the shocked face Sookie made. "Sookie, you're going to have to get a thicker skin if you're going to be involved with vampires. You're…what's that saying from that children's book? Ah! You're down the rabbit hole."

"You've read Alice in Wonderland?"

"It was a sensation back when I was still human. Is that analogy not correct?"

"No, it is. I'm definitely out of my depth." She took a deep breath and pulled at the edge of the blanket. "What about the Queen? Even if Bill's not following her orders she won't give up will she? Eric can't kill her."

"Actually he can. He's several centuries older than her. All the other Sheriffs would be behind him too and the Authority would almost certainly make him King."

Sookie tried to picture Eric in a crown.

"He doesn't want to be King?" she asked. If the Queen was as incompetent and unpopular as she seemed why didn't Eric just get rid of her?

"He says it's too much paperwork. And he calls me lazy. Really he just likes his freedom too much. If he were King he'd never get to do anything he wanted. He'd still find time to fuck you of course."

Sookie turned bright pink.

"Pam!" she admonished. Pam ignored her shock.

"If he became King he'd never be able to walk away from it. He only entered into the contract for Sheriff because he didn't want to have to answer to some other bootlicker of Sophie-Anne's. Really though Sookie, there's nothing to worry your pretty little head about. Eric….cares about you." Pam sounded as though she was having troubling pronouncing the words. The feeling that went behind them must have been a foreign concept to the vampire as well. "He's not going to let Compton or Sophie-Anne get their fangs into you. Now it's time for all little telepaths to be in bed so Aunty Pam can finish her copy of this months La Femme Actuelle."

Sookie got up smiling and leaned over to hug Pam. The vampire sat, frozen rigid.

"Sookie, vampires do not hug."

"Well humans do so get used to it." She pulled back and smiled. "Thanks for talking to me. And telling me the truth. For being so nice."

Pam's fangs clicked down.

"I .Am . Not. Nice." Sookie laughed and Pam glared. "Now go to bed before I forget that you belong to my maker." The vampire gave Sookie a smoldering look. Sookie blushed, uncomfortable, but continued laughing to herself as she made her way back upstairs. She knew that Pam would never actually try anything.

"This is a dream," she said with absolute certainty. For one thing it was snowing but there were no clouds. For another the sun was shining but Eric wasn't being burnt to a crisp. They were outside again. In the middle of a forest, maybe the same one as last time, but the trees were all bare. It was winter and the ground was covered in white yet Sookie didn't feel cold.

"You might as well enjoy it then," Eric said beside her.

Their hands roamed over each other as he claimed her mouth. Sookie swore she could feel the snow melting on her skin and fur of the blankets caressing her legs. She broke the kiss and rubbed her cheek over his.

"I miss you," she said. She knew that when she woke up it would be the first day since she had met him that she wouldn't see him at all.

"Tell me." His voice was low and silky.

"Make me." She squeaked when he started tickling her. "Eric! Stop it!"

She tried to wriggle away but he leaned more of himself on top of her. Her shrieks and giggles turned into moans as his fingers glided from her side up to her breasts.

"Say it."

Even in her own freaking dream she didn't have any control. What did it matter though really? It was a dream after all.

His other hand ghosted down over her stomach toward the apex of her thighs.

"I love you."

She would never be foolish enough to tell him this out loud in real life after such a short time but she meant it. She would no doubt freak out about this when she woke up. Now though his hands and mouth felt so real on her and this was all that she would have for the next week. She wrapped her arms and legs tighter around him in a possessive hug. The snow, the trees, everything around them turned hazy.

When Sookie's eyes opened Tara was standing in the doorway.

"You okay?" her friend asked. "You were groaning in your sleep."

Sookie pulled the covers up to her chin and prayed she wasn't blushing.

"Um…I'm fine. Did I say anything?"

Please God no.

"Naw. I thought I'd get you up. Don't you have an early shift?"

She did. Sam the ass had given her breakfast and lunch shifts for the rest of the week. Tara was not scheduled until later in the evening so she would get a ride in with Lafayette who also worked until close.

Though she was without Tara and Laff, Sam was also not there for her shift, which was a plus. The crowd was steady enough to give her decent tips. Not enough to keep her mind occupied constantly though. She was definitely having a mini breakdown about the dream.

About midday Jason's road crew came in for lunch. If she couldn't read minds she would have still known something was wrong with her brother. He was a heart on his sleeve, bad attitude on his face kind of guy. She kind of wished him and Hoyt would have sat in Arlene's section.

"Jason if you have something you want to say just say it. Just know that I may not hesitate to hit you over the head with the napkin dispenser if I don't like it."

"Jesus, Sook. I didn't say nothing."

"You were about to so why don't you just get it out."

He glared at her for a long minute and she dramatically tapped her foot. Hoyt pretended to be very interested in his menu though he knew the whole thing by heart.

"I cannot believe you would invite another vampire over after what happened last time."

"What happened last time is a lying crazy psycho tried to kill me because he was so full of hate. It really had nothing to do with vampires and more to do with René being a nut bag who didn't like himself very much." She almost felt sorry for mentioning the man's name when she saw how it hurt her brother and Hoyt. Still it was the truth. "And you didn't seem to mind Pam last night when you were flirting with her."

"You didn't tell me the vampire was a girl," Hoyt said.

"That don't matter," Jason snapped.

"Oh it didn't matter until you found out she was a vampire. Because you're being a big ol' bigot. You better just stay away from Gran's house for the next week else you're just going to end up bringing shame to her in front of her house guest."

"Jesus, that vamp's staying at the house?" Jason looked like he was going to be sick. His reaction made Sookie feel the same way.

"Yes and if you can't be nice stay away. Gran will make you bring her a switch if you come around acting like this." She took Hoyt's order and didn't ask for Jason's, guessing what his would be. Before she stomped back to the kitchen she said one more thing. "It was a human who tried to kill me and it's a couple of vampires right now who are trying to help me. So just think about that."

"You didn't tell her or Gran you been going back to church?" Hoyt asked. Jason kicked him under the table. "Ow! What? I thought she might not be so mad if she thought you were trying to be a better Christian."

5 o'clock came around quick. Sookie clocked out but hung around for about another hour to talk to Tara and Lafayette who were just then coming in. She knew she was cutting it kind of close. As it was she only arrived home minutes before the sunset.

She had expected to smell dinner cooking when she walked in. Gran had stated she was going to make bread pudding for dessert. Gran must have been exhausted over the events of the last few days as she was sleeping on the couch in the living room. That or she was trying to change her sleeping habits so she could spend more time with their undead houseguest.

"Hey, sleepy head," Sookie said coming around the couch. Pam would be up soon and Gran would hate to not be awake to greet her. Sookie reached out her hand to gently shake the older woman awake. She stopped when she noticed it. Her Gran's eyes were open. Glassy and lifeless like Dawn's and René's had been. "Gran?"

She reached out her fingers and touched her grandmother's cheek. Cold. Sookie jumped back, knocking into and falling over the coffee table directly behind her. She landed hard on her butt and knocked her head on the chair that was directly across from the couch. Her brain and body didn't register any pain. She pulled her knees up to her chest. She barely heard the click of Pam's travel coffin opening on the back porch or the voice a moment later.

"Sookie? What's wrong? Why do you smell afraid?"

.runs and hides. Please don't come after me with pitchforks and fire. At least I didn't let René get her. Gran's death was a very big turning point for Sookie's character plus if Gran were still around half the shit Sookie got into would not have been happening. Seriously most of Season 3 would be gone because Gran would have sent Sookie to her room. If it makes you feel better I'm almost 75% certain another favorite character will be living past the exit they were giving on the TV show in this fic.

Also for those of you who are worried about all the Jason bashing fear not. Our loveable doofus will more than make up for it once the season 2 plot lines start kicking in.