Happy Saturday Boys and Girls! It's that time again, yea! Okay, I need to explain the title and breakup of this chapter. It's one of the longest I've written since Ch.1 which I know wil make many of you happy. The title of this chappy comes from a song called, "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch by the Clark Family Experience". It came out years ago and I've never been able to get the lyrics out of my head. So each section is titled with a line from the chorus. On a side note...there is no new character named Blanche...it's part of the song lyrics, I use Bubba instead. There are also, a few time skips but they occur all in the same night to I hope it's not too confusing.

Next, things are about to heat up in this chapter, a few questions get answered but also a few new ones pop up, hehehe. So brace yourselves and I'll see you at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or anything else here. I'm writing purely for shits and giggle purposes. Please don't sue.

One last thing, big shout out too my totally awesome Beta, slcurwin, for putting up with me. She laughs and all the right places and makes me feel so smart. Thanks!

Chapter 12

Meanwhile back at the ranch …erm, farmhouse…..

Gran was sitting at the kitchen table sipping a hot mug of tea waiting for her family to arrive. They were going to want answers and she was finally ready to give them. She'd thought hard about how to tell them what was happening with her, and though she knew they wouldn't judge her for the things that were out of her control, she wasn't sure how they would react to the choices that were. Specifically, the decision she'd made recently. Sookie was a headstrong, independent and admittedly stubborn woman but she had an underlying vulnerability to her that made Adele worry if whether she could handle the news. She didn't want Sookie to hate her or resent her for the choices she'd made without consulting her, even though they were her decisions to make. Gran was glad that Sookie's relationship with Eric seemed to be getting serious and the fact that they had formed a family unit with Sarah made Adele even more resolved that her choice was the best for everyone now. Sookie had Eric to lean on now when her sensitive heart needed healing. All that Adele felt was left was to convince Eric of the validity of her next decision and hope he allowed it.

Gran was roused from her inner monolog by the sound of Pam entering the room. She had met her at the diner in town after her 'dinner date' with Jessie. Adele knew Eric had sent her to ensure that she made it home safely while Tray escorted Jessie back to the Compton house. Adele had been pleasantly surprised at how gentlemanly and polite Jessie had been at dinner. There was very little of his usual crass and vulgar humor that had put her off for so long. Instead he was lightly flirtatious. It had truly delighted her to talk with him about his life and the experiences he'd had. They talked about the places he'd visited during his time in the service, why he'd never married, and how he felt upon learning of his ancestor's vampire status. She realized how little she knew about the man she had lived next door to for nearly forty years. It saddened her to think of the friendship she missed out on because of preconceived notions and town gossip. She vowed she'd not let it happen again.

They had arrived home just a few minutes prior and Gran had not yet had a chance to change out of the evening's stylish attire. Pam helped herself to a True Blood and was complaining about not being able to have any of Gran's special 'homebrew', when there was a knock at the front door while at the same tome the phone rang.

Automatically reaching for the phone, Gran asked Pam to answer the door. Ten minutes later after she hung up the phone, she noticed that Pam had not returned from answering the door, so she went in search of her. It wasn't hard seeing as she was still standing at the door with her arms crossed staring at the person on the other side. All Adele could see of the person standing on her porch was the dingy baggy hoodie that was pulled up and half covered the face but a few strands of stringy, lifeless, dark hair was visible. The only clue to the sex of the stranger was the chipped, worn and nearly gone red nail polish on the toes. Adele could see this because despite the hoodie and the colder weather, the visitor had on shorts and flip-flops.

"Pam, why are you standing in the doorway letting out all the heat? Who is this?" Gran was getting irritated.

"I saw this fang-banger at the club earlier tonight asking for Sookie. Now she's here. I've glamored her to see if she followed me and why she's here but she just keeps saying she needs Sookie. 'Sookie will fix it.' 'Sookie always fixes it.' I was just about to tell her to go the fu…." she stopped the curse at the look Gran was giving her, "to go home when you came up." She did not have the fear of Gran that Bobby and Lafayette seemed to, but she did respect the Stackhouse matriarch.

Gran huffed, ignoring the slip in language, "Well, we will never learn anything like this. Release her so we can at least shut the door." Pam nodded once and did so.

A small, tired and distinctly female voice said, "Gran?"

Gran got closer as the hood was shoved aside. "Good Lord in Heaven! Hadley?"

Sitting on the front porch swinging with Blanche…

As Eric, Sookie and their entourage rolled down the drive almost fifteen minutes later, it was obvious that Gran was not alone inside. Before Eric could use his senses to tell him who else was in there, Sookie said, "I count three brain signatures including Gran inside, and two voids outside. I think that's Pam on the porch."

"It is," he confirmed. Even from this distance he could see her sitting on the swing with Bubba.

As they pulled to the side of the house to park, Eric heard Pam say, "Adele asked that you come in through the front door tonight instead of through the kitchen."

Relaying the message to everyone that couldn't already hear Pam, they walked around to the porch. When they reached the steps Pam said in an almost pained but bored tone, "Adele has requested only family enter for now. Lafayette if you would please take Sarah straight to her room, Gran will meet you there before meeting the rest of us in the living room." She said all of this as politely as she could through gritted teeth.

"What has happen since we called? Who's inside?" Eric's tone held no nonsense. The last few hours had been eventful enough and he could feel Sookie's exhaustion through the bond so well even he felt weary.

"Gran asked that you have patience and wait for her inside, she will explain everything then." She looked at the guards and in a tone that completely contrasted her words she said, "Would any of you like something hot to drink or a blanket while you wait? Adele says she has coffee, hot chocolate, and something called a Hot Toddy prepared in the kitchen and I am to take your orders and bring them to you here." Most of the guards declined, having a healthy sense of self preservation, but Bull and Bear both asked for large mugs of coffee as they each gave her a shit eating grin. They both knew about Pam's punishment as well as her regard for Adele.

Eric dismissed the others to check the perimeter then quickly spoke with Bubba. "Bull, you and Bear remain on the porch until we are finished. I'll have Pam refill your mugs again in an hour if we are still engaged. There will be new security arrangements to make afterward." With that said he escorted Sookie inside to find out what mysteries Gran had to unveil.

The world's running from an Avalanche…..

Earlier in the evening…

The moment Bill began to speak to Eric, his mind was flooded again with Sookie's voice, 'She's not waiting, she's coming now! Sarah, when I say now, you and Laffy run and hide understand?'

The little cherub was instantly alert and nodded then whispered the instructions into Lafayette's ear just as the door opened with a loud bang. Everybody was so focused on the redheaded strumpet waltzing up towards them they didn't hear the small exchanged between the child and her LaLa.

Eric's mind was immediately flooded with a new plan. It wasn't his plan, this was completely Sookie. His beautiful, brilliant, brave, bonded. His match. His equal. His Sookie. The timing was the key, so he waited for her signals. The moment Sookie stepped between Sarah and Lorena, Eric heard 'Now!' in his head and suddenly Sarah and Lafayette vanished. As in disappeared from sight (well that was different), but Eric's blood in Sarah told him she and Lafayette were walking slowly and cautiously to the back storeroom where Sookie had her earlier encounter with Bill. At the same time, Eric noticed every human left in the room freeze. They didn't faint or pass out like the other night at Fangtasia. They simply stopped, staring, unblinking, and straight ahead.

Then Sookie dropped his hand. That was his first signal, he gave Bull a nod and he suddenly changed into a mouse and zipped across the floor to shift back to human and open the doors for backup. Apparently, he'd gotten Sookie's mental battle plan downloaded into his head too. When Bull let in the new guards Eric had hired and texted earlier to be waiting outside for their signal, they immediately began taking out Lorena's hired thugs. Eric then zipped over to the other vampires and staked the large one with tattoos before he had time to blink. He then caught Diane's hands as they flew at him and he ripped the entire arm (both of them) from her body smacking her in the head with one as he ordered her, "Stay down unless you want to re-grow your legs as well."

He then heard and saw his second signal when Sookie began to taunt the lunatic, "You are NUTS! Completely, totally and 100% certifiable for the loony bin. Just to make things crystal clear, I BELONG WITH ERIC NORTHMAN, you raving psychotic!" As Sookie yelled his name at Lorena and wiggled her fingers, he turned to finish Malcolm but noticed that he, along with Bill and Judith, dropped to the floor, 'out dead'. Oh well, less mess to clean up. Thalia came zipping in with silver chains in gloved hands and started with Diane just as he saw Lorena's hand rise. He didn't have time to stop her assault on his Love, but he did have just enough time to interrupt it, as he flashed in front of Sookie and took the claw rake across his chest.

"Cutting it a bit close there aren't ya, big guy." Sookie said as she stepped out from behind him while he scoped Lorena up by the ankles and held her while Thalia bound her in silver. "Not getting slow in your old age are you?" She winked at him as she surveyed the damage.

He leered at her and winked back, "I'll show you later just how much my age affects my speed, minx."

She giggled as she took in the damage around the room. "Geez Eric, both her arms? You know we have to clean this up before everybody snaps out of it right? And just how did you manage not to get blood all over your suit?"

He smirked as he dropped Lorena on her head after Thalia had her in silver, "It's a gift. That and need I remind you of my many years of battle experience? I know how blood sprays and how to avoid it. I like this suit; it's the first one you've bought for me. I didn't want it ruined." Luckily, Lorena's claws had only ripped his shirt. He took the jacket off to prevent it from getting bloody.

"Awww, you big softy," she rolled her eyes at him but secretly loved what he said. "You're still cleaning the mess." She mock scolded him as she snuggled into his chest and he engulfed her in his embrace. They both needed the reassurance of the others touch after the small scare.

A few minutes later, Bull and the new guard, affectionately called 'Papa Bear' by Sarah, came up to the two lovers as they held each other. Bear, as he preferred to be called by everybody else, was a massive black man nearly as tall as Eric but twice as broad. He was a were-bear, a Kodiak to be specific, that appeared to be in his early fifties. He had a deep baritone voice that made Sookie so wet when she first met him, that Eric didn't know which he wanted to do more, rip Bear's throat out or claim her as his right in front of the large were. When Bear noticed Sookie's reaction he actually blushed, which is hard for a man of his deep skin tone, and said that his mother-in-law had the same reaction when they first met but what made it so embarrassing was that she'd been fully human and not aware of his 'extra' status. So she went the entire evening completely oblivious to how uncomfortable her smell had made him. His wife still liked to razz him about it.

Bear was another of Bubba's contacts. Bear explained that he helped his father with his security business when he was a teenager and Bubba had been a client before his death. After Bubba's turning, they were contacted again by his maker (before he was ended for changing such a high profile celebrity) to help Bubba 'learn to hide'. When Bubba contacted him this time, his business was struggling a bit between the revelation and the recession so he jumped at the opportunity. He brought with him his first born, who was also a were-bear, to learn the ropes of the business. Eric hired them both.

"Sir, the area is secure, the survivors are being taken to the vans per your orders and the mess is being cleaned now. You got any idea when the humans are gonna wake up or uh, 'snap out of it'?" Despite the melee of the evening, Bear was still in a spotless powder blue sports jacket with a matching blue fedora hat. He had a sense of style that rivaled Lafayette's. Sookie couldn't help but think he looked like a gay gangster with his shoulder harness peeking out from inside the unbuttoned jacket.

"I'll release them as soon as we find Sarah and Laf. Any clues where they're hiding? She's gotten so good at hide and seek, I can't even find her mind anymore. What's really weird though is I can't sense Laf either." Sookie was very confused by this but because of Eric's calm she knew they must be safe so she wasn't panicking, yet.

"They're in the back storage room, Lover. However, I suggest only you and I go get them," he said as he gave the guards a look to stay put and led Sookie to the back.

There weren't many places to hide in the small room so it took Sookie all of a minute to see that they weren't there. "Eric, I don't see them could they be…." She was interrupted by Laf's voice.

"Sook? Girl, Thank God it's you! Is that nut job a pile of ash yet?"

"Lafayette?" Sookie's eyes scanned the room again seeing nothing. "Where are you? Why can't I see you?"

"What the hell you talkin' about, yous cain't sees me? I's right here holdin' Sarah. She fell asleep again, weirdest damn thing too."

Before Sookie could say more, Eric asked, "Lafayette, can you still see us?"

"Yeah, 'course."

"I have an idea. Put Sarah down carefully without waking her and step back."

"Sure, but trust me I've been tryin' to wake her for a few minutes before y'all gots back here. She didn't do more than mumble something about 'hidin', shifted a bit and went back to sleep." It was obvious the moment he let go of the little girl because he reappeared not two feet in front of them.

"Shit! Where'd she go?!" He said a little panicky.

"She's right where you put her," Eric said as he reached down and touched her making himself disappear from sight as he gently shook her. He could see her plainly while he kept in contact. This could come in handy, he thought.

Sookie mirrored those thoughts when she said, "Well that's just freaking cool and useful. Sarah baby, wake up, it's time to stop hiding."

The moment her words registered to the sleepy child, both she and Eric became visible almost immediately. "Can we go home now? I's ty'jad." She said as she crawled into Eric's strong arms.

"Yes sweetie we're going now." Sookie said as she soothed her until she fell asleep against Eric's shoulder again.

Lafayette knowing now was not the time or place to discuss this, mumbled, "I hopes you Hookers know what's goin' on 'cause this shits freakin' me out."

"I promise we'll explain later LaLa." They walked back to the main area. After Sookie checked the humans to see that they were all unharmed and with no evidence of the short scuffle anywhere on their person she ushered everyone back to their places like they were taking to their marks in a play.

There had been about two dozen people left in the hall when Lorena made her dramatic entrance. Sookie had managed to put them all into a trance like state, the kind that happens when you stare at something just a bit too long. Only two of the humans had been knocked over during the were's brief struggle. Eric made sure they were glamored and remembered nothing of the fall. They would probably wake the next morning with a few new bruises and wonder when they did that to themselves.

Sookie released them from her hold and immediately felt tired and hungry. "Eric I need to eat something. Would you mind if we swung by Merlotte's before we head home. I need something that will stick to my ribs. Greasy bar food would be perfect and we can get it to go if you want." She gave Eric a little pout.

He put the arm not supporting Sarah around her shoulders, pulling her close enough for him to kiss her forehead. "Though I do not like the establishment, it is likely the only one open in this tiny town at this late hour." With that they left the meeting hall and the confused humans still inside, behind.

As they entered the bar and took a table off to the side, Sookie noticed Sam behind the bar. She'd managed to smooth things over enough with Sam that he was at least civil to her in public, but she knew he was still nursing a broken heart and wounded pride at 'losing her to Eric'. That's how he saw things and it didn't seem to matter that Sookie never once encouraged or shared his feelings. She knew, as Sam made his way toward their party, that it was just going to make things even more awkward. Especially since Lafayette had quit working at Merlotte's after the offer from Eric.

"Hey Laf! What brings you here, new job not workin' out? No hard feelin's about quitin' so fast if ya wanna pick up a few shifts. New cook just doesn't have your flair…for food." Sam thought he was being funny and maybe a little gracious in not making Lafayette beg for his job back. Especially after he quit with no notice for a job that never even called to confirm references, Sam was certain that Laf didn't get whatever job it was he was so happy about a few days ago and was now too embarrassed to come back. It would serve him right to have to beg but Sam was trying to show an understanding and compassionate side since Sookie was there. He was blatantly ignoring the other people at the table, because he could smell that they were all were's except for the one bald white guy that was shifter but smelled slightly off. He did notice they had brought Sarah in even though she was half asleep in the deaders arms. It still stung that Sookie had chosen that over him after he'd been so kind, understanding and supportive about her disability. He never held it against her and even ignored it a time or two when she was tired and let things slip. He had felt very betrayed about her lack of loyalty.

Sookie sighed deeply as she heard every last bit of Sam's inner tirade. But she kept her mouth shut so they could at least order food. Lafayette who was usually very animated was instead reserved as he answered Sam.

"Hey Sam…umm nah the…uhh jobs workin' out fine, we just stopped in from the DGD meetin' and need some food. Mind if we order now?"

"Sure, sure you can order now lemme just get Holly…..HOLLY!" He screamed for the waitress that was busily running food orders to other tables. Apparently, they weren't the only ones from the meeting that decided to eat out that night, half the town seemed to be in the bar excitedly gossiping about the 'wonderful' talk and the strange events afterward that nobody could quite remember the details of. They were woefully understaffed. It seemed that Holly was the only one on the floor and poor Terry was about to lose it in the kitchen.

"I'm commin'! Hold your damn horses Sam! Can't you see I'm busy? If you're not gonna help me by takin' their orders, boss, you're needed behind the bar." 'Asshole.' She clearly thought as she smiled apologetically at Sookie and said, "I'll be right with you guys."

Sookie smiled back, "It's not a problem Holly we can wait." And wait they did, half an hour later Holly finally made it over to Sookie and company.

"Gosh! I'm so sorry sweetie. I've been busier than a one legged man in a butt kickin' contest tonight. Arlene called in sick but I know she had plans with some new guy she met the other day, its Dawn's night off and you know she never answers her phone when she's not scheduled to work, Danielle worked the morning and lunch shifts alone and Sam still refuses to hire a full time waitress to cover your shifts Sook."

"What?" Sookie was startled by that news. "I quit four months ago!"

"Yeah well, you know Sam. Ever the eternal optimist, he's still holding out that you'll come back. I've been stuck with the silly high school girls that can only work 'til nine. It's been me mostly all night and you know how much help Sam is. And it's just gotten worse this week when you left Laf. He's made poor Terry handle the kitchen alone all week and you know how it stresses him out. It's just a mess. I don't know how much longer things are gonna last." 'It's not helpin' that he's taking a percentage of our tips every night to pay some new tax thing. I'm gonna need to find sometin' else soon or I'm gonna lose my apartment and custody of Cody.' Her thoughts were particularly loud that night. "So enough about us, what can I get for ya?"

As the rest of the table ordered, Sookie had a brief 'talk' with Eric that consisted of her pushing her entire idea at Eric at once. It was faster that way. She'd caught a few random thoughts from Sam during Holly's ranting and it just made her all the more determined. She looked at Lafayette just after Holly left to fill their orders and said, "You wanna take one last 'victory lap'?'

LaLa's eyes got big as saucers as he immediately knew what Sook was planning. He was very familiar with that phrase. "What about Sarah?"

"Eric's got her, she'll be fine. She's asleep again anyway. Come on LaLa, we'll get fed faster and I've got a little extra for Sam." She wiggled her fingers at him. "Pweeeeeeese, LaLa!" She said in her best imitation of Sarah.

"Hells why not?" Laf barked out a laugh as Eric gave Sookie a playful slap on the ass and told her to have fun 'causing mischief'. She pretended to be offended as she made her way to the bar and Lafayette slipped into the kitchen to relieve an exhausted and stressed out Terry.

"Sam, could I speak to you in your office for a minute, alone?" Sam was doing an internal happy dance. He'd seen Laf slip into the kitchen and he just knew all his patience was finally paying off.

"Sure thing Sook." He left the bar and four customers, to strut to his office like a rooster in a hen house.

Five minutes later Sookie came out of the office with a huge satisfied grin on her lips that made Eric wonder where the canary feathers were at. As she tied on an apron she asked any of the guards if they knew how to tend bar. Both Bear and Bull raised their hands.

For the next half hour Eric watched his 'whirling dervish' of a bonded, dart around the room filling orders, deliver food and drinks, and clearing and cleaning tables all while singing, in all her cringe worthy glory, along to 'Sweet Home Alabama' on the jukebox. Just as entertaining was watching Bull, Bear, Laf, Holly and a scruffy, worn out looking man he assumed was this Terry, all singing right along with her and working together like a well oiled machine. At the end of the half hour Sookie announced last call and informed the customers that Melotte's would be closed for the next week, 'cause Sam's decided he's in need of a vacation.

Ten minutes later, all but one customer was gone, some lush named Jane, who's son was apparently 'on the way', Sookie was counting down the drawer while Terry and Holly wiped off tables, put chairs up, and closed up the rest of the bar. Lafayette came out of the kitchen carrying four large bags of food for them to take with them while Bear and Bull each had two of their own. The food got passed around to the guards and they immediately began eating it not waiting until later, while Sookie waved Eric over to her at the bar. He passed Sarah to Lafayette and approached Sookie as she pulled out the wad of tips she'd made that past half hour or so and handed it all to Holly. She then took out several hundred from the drop bag and split that between Terry and Holly. Before they had a chance to refuse she began her explanation.

"Sam's been stealing from you, both of you, well everyone that works here, for the past four months really. That 'new tax' he was collecting for wasn't really a tax. Sam has run up some gambling debts with some 'local casinos' and was scamming money from your wages, tips and a few of the customers to pay them off." She raised a quick eyebrow at Eric, he was not happy with this information. "I 'talked' with Sam and he's had a change of conscience, you could say. Holly you've been promoted to manager and you have the next week to hold interviews and hire some more full time help. He's turning himself into the proper authorities tomorrow but wanted to make sure you guys still had jobs. I've agreed to step in, in an advisory position only, so if you need any help running things all you need to do is call me." She handed Holly her Fangtasia business card. Holly and Terry stood there in stunned silence as the information bomb Sookie just dropped sunk in. Suddenly and without warning Holly bust out in tears and grabbed Sookie in a hug so fierce she was afraid she may have bruises the next day. Terry sat down hard in a chair and looked like he might cry a few tears also but managed to contain it with what sounded like a sigh of utter relief. Sookie took a short peak in his head and saw that Sam had been threatening the damaged war vet with unemployment if he revealed to anyone what he'd overheard a few weeks back. That just made Sookie madder at Sam. Terry had a kind and gentle heart, even if his mind was all mangled from the horrors of war.

A short time later had everyone except Eric and Sookie leaving the bar. Holly, Terry and Jane on their way home while Laf took Sarah to the car with the guards to wait while they dealt with Sam. When Eric opened the office door he saw a small collie tied to the desk with a short piece of rope. The dogs muzzle was taped shut with duct tape, but the instant it saw Eric and Sookie it began to growl.

"Hush it Sam! I'm going to let you shift back now, so do yourself a favor and hold still while I loosen the knot around your neck and remove the tape." Once Sookie cut the rope and tape with an old, rusty, pair of scissors from Sam's desk, she stepped back, closed her eyes, and held out his pants that were lying on the floor earlier. She felt them being snatched out of her hands and after another moment or two (she really didn't want to see him naked) she uncovered her eyes to an angry and confused Sam.

"What the hell happened? Why did I suddenly shift? Why the Hell couldn't I shift back? What the fuck is he doing in my office?" Yes Sam was livid but Eric could also smell the fear wafting from him, and it wasn't totally fear of him. He was scared of Sookie.

Sookie rolled her eyes at Sam and to him she looked like she was being her usual defiant self, yet Eric saw through that. She was deeply tired and now even hungrier than before. Eric kissed Sookie on the temple and said softly in her ear, "Why don't you go get some of the food Lafayette made for you and wait in the car with the others while I deal with this. It's my turn to have a little fun now," he winked at her while she nodded, kissed him softly and left the room.

Eric saw Sam eying the door Sookie had left half open, "Go ahead, run."

Sam ignored his comment realizing it wasn't wise to run from a vampire let alone Eric Northman, he asked a question instead. "What the hell is she?"

"She is my bonded and a brilliant telepath, but then you already knew that even if you didn't appreciate it." Sam paled and grabbed the side of his desk. Bonded? "That is a problem for you isn't it. Not appreciating what you had even after it's long out of your grasp. For example this hole in the wall you call a bar, when you first put it up as collateral in that poorly played game of poker I was not impressed with it at all. So I allowed you to pay back your debt in installments at least that is what our contract said, you know the one I revised to include my rights where Sookie was concerned, which you did sign I might add. Now normally I would not care how or where you came up with the money to repay your debt, just so long as you did. However, these past four months with my bonded must have made me more…aware of the plight of the hardworking, hmm what is it Sookie calls them? Oh yes the 'average Joe'. So you can imagine my displeasure at finding out you have been stealing from your own staff and a few of your customers to pay your debt to me. That's very bad business." Eric had seated himself on the dingy little sofa Sam had in the corner of the office. His muscular frame taking up most of the sitting space as he lounged back with his ankles crossed and his hands behind his head, he looked like he was about to take a nap instead of discussing business.

"As I'm sure you are well aware, vampires like myself have an image to maintain. We can't be associated with known thieves, well besides those in political office but I digress. So this is how this will play out. As of now the contract is null and void. I'm taking over ownership of the pathetic dump and have already begun turning business around. By tomorrow morning the entire town will know of your duplicity, if they don't already, and the police should be paying you a visit. Now as I understand it shifters and were's do not manage well in the confines of a cell." Sam had slumped into his chair by now, his head hanging between his knees to keep from passing out.

"How did it go so wrong so fucking fast?"

Sam didn't even notice that he'd spoken out loud until Eric chucked, "Funny thing about secrets around telepaths. They are nearly impossible to keep. Now let's discuss your freedom, shall we?"

Ten minutes later Eric joined Sookie in the car. "Bull, have one of the new guards stay behind and make sure Mr. Merlotte leaves before dawn. Have Peyton…Patton…Pearson…" he faded out with a frown, trying to remember the newly hired guard's name, which was odd because he never forgot anything.

"Preston Pardloe, sir?" Bull helpfully provided.

"Yes, him. He's small for a wolf and doesn't have an obvious sent. I want Merlotte observed and followed. If he crosses state lines then have him report back. If not, I want to know where he goes and who he talks too."

"Yes sir," Bull left the car briefly to relay the orders.

Eric looked at Sookie, "You look better. Greasy bar food agrees with you."

"It helps having the world's best cook make it for you," she smiled as she looked over her shoulder at Laf in the back next to Sarah.

"Psha, flattery will get you everywhere, now are you going to explain what happened in there?"

"Sure on the way back. You ready to go home?" Eric could tell that though she was full, the evening's events had left their toll on her. She was exhausted.

"Will you be able to stay up for that talk with Adele or….."

She cut him off, "Heck yeah! She's not getting out of it that easily. I called her a few minutes ago and told her we were on our way."

As Bull reentered the vehicle, Eric started the engine. "Well let's not keep her waiting any longer."

Meanwhile back at the ranch…

It was too much. After everything that had happened that night, Bill with his plotting, Lorena with her crazy, Sam with his lying, thieving ways, and now Gran was telling her Hadley was back. Hadley was worse than Jason in some respects because Hadley knew how to be just pathetic enough to get you to do what she wanted or give her what she wanted. She played on your sympathies, compassion and pity for her situation, which ever that happened to be at that moment. Jason was blatant and up front with his detestation towards Sookie, Hadley was sneaky in her loathing by twisting emotions to make Sookie detest herself. For years Sookie had bitten her tongue and let all the mean, unbearable things Hadley thought about her, in a desperate attempt to make herself feel better about her own actions, wash off Sookie like water off a ducks back. She couldn't do it anymore and defiantly not tonight. She was so worn-out all she wanted right then was to be nestled, naked, and safe in Eric's loving embrace.

Gran had barely begun explaining the circumstances that brought Hadley to their door once again, when Sookie interrupted. "Is she staying here?"

"Sookie Stackhouse! I did not raise you to be so rude!"

"I'm sorry Gran, but it's been one complicated circumstance after another tonight and I simply don't have the energy to care. If she's staying here Sarah and I will leave. I refuse to expose that sweet little girl to Hadley's toxic mind." As Sookie stood to leave and retrieve Sarah, Gran had no choice but to drop the other shoe.

"She didn't come alone," she blurted out.

Sookie barely flinched. "That doesn't surprise me, I felt three brains in the house as we came up the drive and now that I know it's Hadley," she nearly spit the name in contempt, "it just gives me another reason not to expose Sarah to anyone Hadley's attached herself to this time." She didn't even wait to finish her sentence to Adele's face, talking while walking to the back bedroom across from Gran's that she use to stay in herself as a child. It now served as Sarah's room and when she opened the door she was not expecting what she saw.

Lafayette was sitting in the rocking chair in the corner of the room holding a small bundle to his chest. He had rigged a baby bottle out of one of Sarah's sippy cups, a latex glove, and a heavy duty rubber band. The infant in his arms was sucking away on the thumb of the glove like it had never eaten before. It was thin and slightly yellow in coloring. Sarah was tucked up in bed fast asleep completely oblivious to the new dynamic of her family.

Something in Sookie snapped. She turned and left the room and made a bee line for where she could feel Hadley was. She went up stairs and though there was an extra bedroom on that floor that Gran had made up for Hadley in the short time she had, Sookie found her in the other bedroom, Sookie's bedroom. When she stepped inside noticing the door wasn't even shut she found Hadley rummaging through her jewelry box. Several pieces Eric had given her over the past few months were missing. Hadley herself was wearing Sookie's favorite pair of jeans, which hung limply on her anorexic looking frame. The red baby doll top Eric had bought for her that looked great on Sookie's tan skin and showed off her breast to a T, hung droopingly off Hadley's thin shoulders making her look flat chested, while completely washing her out. Her lifeless dark hair was resting in limp wet clumps around her shoulders apparently from a recent bath.

Before Eric, Gran or Laf, who had followed Sookie upstairs and saw the hot mess that was Hadley, could say or do anything, Sookie marched into the room. In a voice that held years of pain, hurt and anger she said in a very controlled low tone, "You spoiled, selfish, cow! How dare you bring that child to us in that condition and expect me to clean up your fucking mess. Again!" She swung so fast and so hard, Hadley was on the ground cradling her split lip and broken nose before anyone noticed what had happened. "Get the fuck out of my clothes! Put my jewelry back in the box and if I find so much as an earring missing I'll rip that nasty shit you call hair out of your head!

"Sookie Marie Stackhouse that is enough! She is a guest in this house not to mention family and I expect you to…." Gran couldn't believe what she'd seen Sookie do.

"No Gran. No more. I refuse to stand by and allow you to defend her to me anymore especially when I can clearly see how she's manipulating this and you to her benefit. You've never once taken my side when it's come between us and I've had it." She looks at Eric briefly. This entire thing would have been hilarious to him if it wasn't for the fact that he could feel Sookie's pain and hurt so intensely through their connection that it was making him physically uncomfortable. He gave her a small nod knowing instinctively what she needed right then, a safe harbor.

"I'm leaving tonight and taking Sarah with me. I refuse to be within ten miles of that or expose Sarah to her. I'm going to Eric's if you need me you know my number. If you'd like to finish our conversation later we can meet somewhere in Shreveport." She immediately began filling an old duffle bag she had with as many of her cloths as possible reminding herself to have them washed ASAP, she had no idea what Hadley had already been through and touched. She found her jewelry in the pocket of a nasty old hoodie tossed carelessly on the floor. "I'll take as much with me tonight as I can and I'll send Bear for the rest tomorrow." She turned from her hurried packing handing Eric what she'd managed to collect in the short time and looked at Gran. Her façade cracked and tears slowly began to roll down her cheeks when she saw the look of hurt and anger on Adele's face. Why, oh why, couldn't she see Hadley for the venomous, scheming person that she was?

"Whatever you decide to do with her and the baby is up to you, I can't have any part in that. I love you more than you'll ever know but I…I just can't," she shook her head as she headed back out of the room. Turning to Laf as she walked by, "Make sure none of the stuff that kid touched gets near Sarah or her things." When both Laf and Gran was about to admonish her for her unusual harshness toward the child she stated, "It's got lice, see." She pointed to the obvious little bugs crawling all over its head. "Make sure you wash those clothes on hot and shower before you touch Sarah again. Those things are ridiculously contagious." She looked at Eric before she descended the stairs. "I'm taking Sarah back out to the car. We'll wait for you there."

Eric nodded, "Please send the guards on the porch up, Lover. We won't be long."

Looking as if he was holding a live bomb, Gran took the little boy from Laf's arms and sat hard on the bed as Laf retreated out of the room to catch up with Sookie. Looking at Eric, Adele said, "I don't know why she reacted like this. Besides this obvious intrusion on Hadley's part..." she glared angrily at Hadley. "They've never gotten along but Hadley's never done anything like this before to Sookie as far as I know…"

"Exactly, Adele, as far as you know. You've already had this type of experience with your grandson. Why would Sookie react like this unless there was a reason?" They were actively watching Hadley as she sat there sobbing and blubbering up snot and blood all over Sookie's clothes. When Bear and Bull arrived Eric instructed them to remove as much of Sookie possessions as they could that night and deliver it to his home by morning.

"Make sure that worthless thief has stolen nothing else and call Ludwig. That child needs seeing to and I'm sure she'll be interested in gaining more samples for her study." Bull nodded knowing full well what Ludwig wanted. "I'm taking my women home. Adele, we still need to talk but I feel as if we should give Sookie some time."

"Yes, I…" she cleared her suddenly choked up throat, "I'll call her in the morning."

A/N: Please don't hate me for the small cliffy or Gran for her reaction. I swear all will be explained in the next two chapters. Well most if it anyway...BUT I strongly feel as if Gran reacted as any parent or grandparent would. Willing to believe in the best of their offspring even despite obvious evidence to the contrary.

I hope y'all liked Bear 'cause you'll see more of him and his 'first born'. (Did ya notice I didn't specify sex?) HEHE hmmm wonder what I'll come up with.

I hope you were able to follow along with all the itallics and quotes and bold type but just in case:

" " - Double quotations denotes a spoken conversation.

' ' - Single quotes denotes a mental conversation, these are also italicized.

The bold print denotes an emphasized word or phrase.

If I forgot anything just let me know. As always if there are questions, comments or rude jokes you want to share feel free to and I'll respond if it's wanted. THANK YOU to all my people who've done so thus far, your thoughts give me warm tingles in all the right places. And a special thanks to those of you who've Favorited my story or me or both. *Blushes* I'm humbled to be in someones favorites list.