"Talking"
'Thinking'
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Other
chibichibi98: More scenes like that to come :)
Fandomenforcer: Don't hurt yourself lol Glad you love her!
SomebodyWhoCares: Eric is gonna try harder :)
Beauty422: Like Pam's, I love her shoes lol.
Marine76: No problem :)
rubybelle218: *To self* don't let them see you cry! :) Wow, so you've been through everything with this story. Thank you so much! Here is the next chapter!
Sookie entered Bill's home to find it empty.
'Maybe he's in his cubby.' She thought as she walked over to the false wall.
Sookie lifted the fake rug/door and saw it was empty as well, just some old books.
She walked the living room where the sheet where they made love was still in front of the fireplace.
She sat down on the sofa and waited.
He was bound to come home right?
Royce and his friends were scoping out the house where the vampires lived in.
Royce took the ripped rag and was putting it into a bottle of vodka.
One of his friends noticed. "What are you doin'?"
"Turning this shit into napalm. I ain't taking no chances." His friends did the same. When they finished, Royce spoke again. "Alright, boys. I'm gonna take the front porch. You boys go around back to the back windows."
"Which windows?"
"Don't matter, fucktard." One of the men hit the other.
"You'll fuckin' spill it." The man whined.
"Enough!" Royce broke them up. "You wait 'til you hear me break the glass. Alright?" his friends nodded.
They ran toward the house and threw their Molotovs. "Go! Go! Hurry up! Go! Go!"
One of the men ended up getting his arm caught on fire and started to run as he screamed.
"Stop running, dipshit!"
They tackled him down and put his arm out, then ran as the sheiks of the vampires inside echoed through the area.
Sookie awoke at the sound of sirens on Bill's sofa.
She got up and ran toward the hole in the cubby, but it was still empty.
Where was he?
Sookie beeped her horn as she drove to the house that had firefighters and police there.
Bud spotted her car and turned to the firefighter he was chatting with. "Excuse me."
Sookie got out the car and jumped over the tape as she heard 2 men talking to each other.
"Special of the day, country fried vampire."
"This'll take the heat off of them having to find out who's killing those women."
Sookie ran pass them to where Andy and Bud were. "Is Bill in there?"
"No way of knowin'." Bud answered. "They're awful messy," Bud commented as the firemen took out coffins and placed them on the lawn.
"But there was four of 'em." Andy continued.
Sookie's heart dropped. Was Bill in one of them?
Bud came up to Sookie and place his hand on her shoulder. "Sookie, are you okay? You want some water?"
"Four?" Sookie turned her head to Andy. "You're sure you found 4 bodies?"
"We shouldn't even be telling you this."
"Not now. Not with me."
Andy sighed. "There's 4 sets of remains inside four coffins."
"Oh, my God." Sookie gasped and went to run toward the coffin but Andy held her arm.
"We can't let you go in there."
Sookie glared at him. "If you don't take your hands off me right now, I swear to God, I will kill you." She ripped her arm out of his grip and ran up to the coffins.
Mike Spencer spotted her. "Sweetheart, you don't wanna come up here."
"Jiminy Christmas." An FBI investigator gasped as he saw the bloody bubbly mess inside the coffin they opened up. "That's what happens to vampires?"
"Evidently. Plus, we got three more." The mess made the investigator and Sookie gag but not Mike. "I hope you skipped breakfast." He turned to Sookie. "Did Bud send you up here to make an ID? 'Cause…"
Sookie turned and ran back to her car.
"Sookie, you okay?" Bud asked her as she ran by.
Sookie went home and called Bill's cell, but got his machine.
"Bill Compton. To leave a voice message, press one or just wait…" she hung up and looked at the muddy tracks she left.
She groaned and got a bucket and brush. She was scrubbing the floor when she remembered her Gran had been in the same spot, all covered in blood. She tried to scrub harder, to get her mind off of it, but the memory got stronger.
"Shit!" she cursed as she threw the brush. She grabbed a rag, wiped the mud clean, and ran out of the house toward Charlotte's.
Sookie sat on Charlotte's couch as the woman tried to sooth her sobs.
"Sookie, what's wrong?" Charlotte asked as she watched her friend cry.
Sookie explained everything that happened from after Charlotte left to that morning.
"He never came home!" Sookie sobbed. "I waited at his house but he never did, then I heard the sirens across the way and ran to find out that they found 4 coffins in a house fire." Sookie chocked on a sob. "I couldn't take it anymore. I ran home. I called him, you know, just in case it wasn't him inside there, but it just went straight to voice mail. Then I saw I made a mess and started to clean, because Gran likes her house clean, and I got this sudden flash of her, on the floor all bloody. Charlotte, I couldn't hold it in anymore." She sobbed hard as Charlotte gave her more tissues.
"Sook, I'm worried for you." Charlotte spoke softly to her friend.
"Everyone around me is dying!" Sookie's hair was a mess, the mascara from last night running down her cheeks as she cried.
"That's not true Sook." Charlotte tried to calm her down.
"Yes it is!" Sookie just got up and stormed out of Charlotte's house.
Charlotte watched her confused but tired.
'She's gonna stress the hell out of me.' Charlotte stood up, threw away the tissues away.
Sookie needed to be alone right now.
Tara was walking to the kitchen entry way from the back, a smile on her face from the amazing morning.
Her smile dropped as she saw Sookie's body halfway into the oven.
"SOOKIE!" Tara yelled as she ran toward her friend and pulled her out. She was shocked to see that Sookie was wearing a small mask to cover her mouth and nose. "Jesus Christ, what the hell are you doing?"
Sookie removed the mask. "I'm cleanin', what does it look like? Watch your feet. I just waxed."
Tara glared at Sookie. "I hope you mean the floor."
Sookie rolled her eyes at her friend. "Can I help you? I'm up to my elbows in Easy-Off."
Tara smiled, remembering the amazing morning she had. "My mama made me hoecakes this morning."
"So?"
"She cooked me breakfast. When's the last time you saw my momma lift a finger before noon for anything besides Mad Dog 20/20?" Tara began to explain her night. "We went into the woods to get a $445 hoodoo exorcism last night. You do not wanna get me started on that."
"My grandmother's dead." Sookie cut her off, her bad mood still in effect. "At least you got someone to make breakfast for you. You ever stop thinkin' about what's happening with others before you barge in on them?"
Tara frowned. "Sorry. I didn't me…" she paused as she spotted the holes in Sookie's neck and her tone changed from sorry to angry. "Oh, my God, are those fang marks?"
Sookie glared at Tara as she moved a bit away from Tara. "So what? It means someone cared for me when everyone else left me high and dry."
Tara gave her a snarl of disgust and anger. "No wonder you're crazy. A vampire made a meal of you."
Sookie groaned. "Why am I the only other person that doesn't think vampires are monsters?"
Tara gave Sookie an obvious look. "They drink our blood. What's to say Bill won't leave you once he's had his fill?"
Sookie felt like a cat with its hairs standing up. "Do you have any idea what I've been through today? A friend would ask."
"Don't tell me how to be your friend. I'm the only one you got, goddamn…"
"Lord's name in vain and no you're not."
Tara glared at Sookie, hurt. "Fuck off."
"Get out of my house!" Sookie pointed to the door. "I've gotten very good at losing people like you. You are only making it easier for me."
"Bitch, I don't even wanna be here." Tara snapped. "If you are hell-bent on being alone in this world, I ain't gonna stop you." Tara marched out, her day now ruined.
Eric sat bored out of his mind on his throne, not even paying attention to the women.
Pam rolled her eyes from the door as Longshadow looked at his boss in confusion. What the hell was wrong with him?
Pam walked over to the throne and stood in front of Eric. "You're lowering the vibe of this place with you moping there. Sad the little Irish Raven didn't come?"
Eric looked up at Pam. "Irish Raven?" Pam shrugged. "I like it."
Pam rolled her eyes. "Why don't you just go over to where she lives and fuck her until she's out of your mind?" Eric raised an eyebrow at her. "What? You followed her home the last time she came, right? Just go and come back when you're done."
Eric smirked. "Wonderful idea Pam."
Pam shrugged. "Whatever." She walked away and Eric got up, walking out the club and making his way toward Charlotte's house.
As quick as the night came, as did the rain.
A perfect night to watch the rain or sleep. Sadly, Charlotte could not sleep, so she decided to go on her porch to watch the rain.
Charlotte had a thought while watching the rain. Ivy use to tell her 'God was in the rain, not the thunder.'
She released her hair from the clip she was using to keep it out of her face, took off her robe, and started to walk bare foot out in the rain.
She let the rain just wash over her, washing away the pain from recent events and old, from the stress, from everything.
She closed her eyes and moved her face toward the sky. She sighed as she could feel every drop that hit her skin, sending goose bumps throughout her body, the dirt underneath her feet, the smell of rain, the sound of thunder in the distance, it was magical.
Eric stood in front of her, unannounced to the woman in front of him. He watched her as the hum intensified and watched as a soft glow came from her. Eric thought she shined lightly like the moon.
"Beautiful." Eric growled as he watched the rain drops run down her face and neck, to her chest.
Charlotte gasped and opened her eyes.
Eric smirked as he looked to her chest. "My, seems it's a bit… chilly out here."
Charlotte covered her chest and glared at him. "Mr. Northman, what are you doing here?"
"Well," he shrugged, feeling his shirt cling to him. "I was in the neighborhood when I saw you in the rain." He looked down at her attire. "Nice night gown, lilac is your color."
Charlotte wore a lilac chemise with lace cups and delicate straps. The color brought out the glow on her skin. "Thank you. Now, tell me why you're here."
His smirk grew larger. "I cannot visit a beauty as she stands in the rain like a nymph?"
The rain stopped all of a sudden, making Charlotte question the weather in this place in the back of her mind. "Sure. I'm just going to go back inside my house now, goodnight." Charlotte quickly rushed to the porch, got her robe and ran inside.
As she was about to close the door, a hand stopped it. "Now now, is at a way to treat a guest? Hm?" Eric smirked he looked into her eyes, not blinking as he stared into the green of the fields in her eyes.
Charlotte just stared, confused, but remembered what he was doing. He was trying to glamor her. She played along, her face becoming blank.
"Good girl," he purred. "Now, how about we have a little chat and have some fun? Or we could skip the chit chat." he took his hand off the door as he smirked.
"That would be nice." Charlotte kept her voice blank, remembering how the cop that pulled her over sounded.
"So invite me in and we can get started on the fun." Eric clicked his fangs out and gave a cocky smirk, this was too easy.
"Eric, would you like to…" Charlotte changed the tone of her voice back to normal. "Get the hell off my porch." she slammed the door on his face.
Eric frowned, the pouted. "Now that wasn't very nice." His voice muffled by the door.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to be nice to you. So leave, and tell Pam I'll give her back the dress tomorrow since I couldn't go tonight, and a surprise. Night!" she yelled as she turned off the living room lights.
So she would be coming tomorrow? Excellent. "Make sure its pink." Then he left.
Charlotte looked out the window to make sure, but she didn't see anything.
She sighed and just went to bed, today was way too hectic.
Pam was standing by the bar when she spotted Eric coming in and going into his office.
She followed after him and closed the door of his office. "That was a bit fast. I think you might have a problem if it was that fast."
Eric glared at Pam. "I don't have a problem, she didn't fall for it."
Pam snorted. "Why not just glamor her then?"
"I tried." Eric sat on his chair behind his desk. "But she didn't even waver." Eric pressed his crossed hands to his lips as he thought. "Glamor didn't work for her."
Pam snorted then started to laugh, making Eric looked up at her with a glare. She ignored it as she braced herself, laughing to the point where some blood tears came out.
"It's not funny."
Pam tried to stop. "Oh yes it is. Here you are, sulking 'cause a girl said no to you." Pam wiped the tears away with a wet napkin. "I've never see you like this. It's too funny."
Eric rolled his eyes and told Pam to leave his office.
Terry placed an order of fries and chicken fried steak on the counter. "Kitty! Order up!" he called out.
Charlotte rushed over after giving a group their drinks. "Coming!"
Sookie was rushing into Merlotte's by the back, running toward Sam. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know I'm late."
Sam turned around and gave Sookie a sorry look. "Listen, I heard about the fire. I'm real, real sorry. How you holding up?"
Sookie was all smiles though. "He's alive."
That took Sam back by surprise. "What?"
"Bill. They said four bodies. I thought for sure Bill was one of 'em."
Sam was confused. "He wasn't?"
Sookie shook her head. "He's fine. In fact, he's wonderful."
"That must be quite a relief for you."
"You have no idea. Anyways, no need to worry about me. I'm great." Sookie ran off as Sam watched her go.
"Sweetie, where you been? I'm up to my eyeballs in tickets." Arlene told her as soon as Sookie came to the bar.
"Arlene, you look so beautiful today." Arlene gave Sookie a confused look as Sookie continued. "I love you, even if you are a bigot sometimes." Sookie hugged Arlene and skipped away.
"What's with her?" Arlene asked Sam as he walked behind the bar.
"Bill's alive."
Arlene stopped putting items in her tray and look at Sam in shock. "What? But I thought…"
"I know. So did I."
"Order up." Terry called out as he placed an order down.
"I'm comin'. Hold your horses." Sookie yelled out as she explained to Charlotte, Hoyt, and Rene what happened. "He got my message that something bad might be brewing, so he figured he spent the night in the graveyard."
Charlotte frowned. "Doesn't it get cold out there?"
"He was in the ground. So after I couldn't find him, then hearing about those four bodies at that burnt-up house, you can imagine what I was going through."
Charlotte bit the inside of her cheek as Sookie continued. "I heard people saying there was three vampires that come in the other night. Was it…" Charlotte gave Sookie a look and Sookie nodded, confirming Charlotte's thought. "Who was the fourth body?"
Sookie shrugged. "Some fangbanger, they're saying now. Some vampires like to keep a human around for sex… and blood." Hoyt and Rene became uncomfortable but Sookie gave them a smile. "I'll get your Cokes."
"I'll get your food now." Charlotte gave the men a smile and walked toward the kitchen window to see Sookie looking confused.
"I thought you said 'order up'."
"I did. New girl took 'em."
Sookie frowned. "New girl? But Charlotte was with me."
Terry shook his head. "Not Kitty, her." Terry pointed behind the women toward the tables.
There they saw a woman with dark curly hair and bohemian clothing. "BLT, cheeseburger, well-done, fried egg on white, hot wings, smoked sausage, tuna melt, and the chicken fried steak must be for you. Thank you. We've got a four-top open." The woman announced.
Jason came over to Sookie and Charlotte. "Isn't she something?"
"She's with you?"
"I know you're pissed at me, but… I really want you to like her." Jason told his sister.
The woman came over to the trio. "Sorry about that. You looked really swamped and the natives were gettin' restless so… You're Jason's sister, right?" she stuck out her hand and Sookie shook it, then Charlotte. "It's… I've heard so much about you."
Arlene came over. "Who are you?"
"My name's Amy." She introduced herself. "Amy Burley. I'm with Jason."
"With me." Jason grinned.
"You must be Charlotte with the pretty green eyes!"
Charlotte smiled. "Thanks."
"Ah, and Irish?" Charlotte nodded. Amy turned to Arlene. "You must be Arlene with the beautiful red hair. It's so nice to meet you."
Arlene shook Amy's hand. "How'd you know all the table numbers?"
"I waited tables in college so I just assumed clockwise." Amy turned half way around and counted the tables. "You know, table 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I think the guys at table 5 like you, 'cause they left you a really nice tip." Amy reached into her pocket and handed it to Arlene.
Arlene turned to Sam. "I think we might have found a replacement for Dawn."
"Looks like you did too." That comment earned Sookie a slap on the thigh.
Arlene was on the phone with her babysitter. "Sure, I understand. It's no problem." She hung up and sighed, turning around to see Terry there working behind the bar. "Every time I get a night off, my babysitter falls through on me."
"You know, I like kids, Arlene. Donuts too."
Arlene smiled. "Maybe, if you brought a lady friend along. Lisa likes a female in the house."
Terry's smile dropped. "I ain't had a lady friend since I come home."
Arlene's did as well. "That's some bad luck for you, I guess. Did something happen there that you been… keeping to yourself? 'Cause you could talk to me, you know, if you're wantin' to."
Terry lowered his gaze to his feet as he flushed in embarrassment. "No, I'd… I'd just as soon sit here and listen at you. I like your voice. And your clavicles."
Arlene just gave him a smile.
Sookie and Amy were clearing up the tables while Charlotte was clearing the booths since the place was empty.
"I've been admiring your necklace all day." Sookie told Amy.
Amy looked down at her necklace. "Oh, thanks, it's a lariat. I made it."
Sookie turned to look at Amy. "You make jewelry?"
Amy shrugged as she wiped a table down. "It's an easy way to earn extra money. I can make you one, if you want." She offered.
Sookie shook her head with a smile. "Thanks, but I don't think my boyfriend much likes silver." Sookie paused. "You know my brother's a dog, don't you?"
Charlotte turned around. "Sookie." She hissed lightly.
Amy looked at Sookie confused. "I'm sorry?"
"He's all charm and smiles in the beginning, but the second he gets tired of you, he's gonna stop callin'." Sookie continued. "Before you know it, he's off with some other floozy. Not… not that you are one. But trust me, it's as regular as the seasons. You seem like a sweet girl. I don't want you to get hurt."
Amy wasn't offended. "You know, I don't think Jason's realized even half of what he's going to be." Sookie rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't be so quick to judge. You might be surprised at what he's capable of."
Arlene walked over as Amy walked away. "I've been meaning to talk to you."
Sookie frowned. "What's the matter?"
Arlene sighed, stressed. "I've just been a mess lately. You know, with the kids and the double shifts and Rene and everything, it's been awful hard. And I've probably said some things that I don't mean, but that's the pressure talking. I love you like my own sister. And you know that, right?"
Sookie nodded. "I appreciate that. Thank you." Arlene hugged her. "And sure, I'll babysit your kids tonight." She smiled. "I heard you talkin' to Terry. I'm a better choice."
Arlene felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "We'll drop 'em off at 8. Rene's taking me to Ruston to see that Oak Ridge Boys tribute band."
"Ooh. Fun."
Tara came over to Hoyt to give him his order and Hoyt greeted her. "You look mighty pretty tonight, Tara. That's a nice color on you."
"Fuck you." She spat.
Hoyt started to stubble over his words. "I'm sorry, w… was that sexist?"
Sam came over to Tara. "May I have a word with you? In my office." He ordered and they walked into his office.
"Hey, I get it. You said yourself hiring me might not work out. I piss people off." Tara started once they entered Sam's office. "If you wanna fire me, fire me. I totally understand."
Sam shook his head and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You and I are the only ones who get it." He started to wrap his arms around her as he moved them both back until Tara's back was against the door. "It's everybody else who's fuckin' themselves up." He kissed her and she responded.
Sookie walked over to Charlotte. "Hey, you wanna help me watch Arlene's kids tonight?"
Charlotte smiled. "Sure, I like kids. What time?"
"She's dropping them off at 8."
"Sounds great. Should I bring anything?"
Sookie thought about it. "I don't know really."
Charlotte petted Sookie's arm. "I'll think of something."
Charlotte got out of the car and made her way towards the entryway. She opened the door and was hit with the smell of leather, the sound of pounding music, and the cold air from inside.
Eric quickly smelt lavender and vanilla over all the smells in the place and the humming intensified as he looked to the door where Charlotte stood wearing a grey and white striped top, light jean skinny jeans, and nutmeg-hued heeled boots. She stuck out like a sore thumb but she looked splendid to him.
Eric popped up next to her. "Hello." He grinned as she looked up at him quickly, not expecting him. "I knew you couldn't resist me."
Charlotte rolled her eyes and then looked up at Eric with a smile. "I'm not here for you, I'm here to return the outfit and get my uniform back." Charlotte showed him the bag in her hand. "Do you know where Pam is?"
Eric called Pam to him and she showed up a second later wearing a white stretch-jersey crepe dress is designed with black leather panels and buckled waist tabs that clung to her like a second skin.
Pam spotted Charlotte. "Well, well, well. Look who it is."
Charlotte nodded hello to Pam. "I came to give you the outfit back and get mine in return." She held out the bag toward Pam. "Also a gift for you for the makeover."
Pam took the bag, unsure. She walked to the office to retrieve the uniform as Charlotte stood there with Eric, who was staring at her.
Charlotte looked up at Eric. "What?"
The humming turned almost like a purr in his head and the glow from her had him entranced. "Nothing."
Charlotte gave him a look before looking back to Pam as she came toward them with the bundle in her hands. "Here you go. Washed and ironed."
"Thank you, you didn't have to do that." Charlotte thanked her with a smile. "Anyways, I have to go. Kind of busy tonight."
Eric felt a flare in his chest as he stepped closer to Charlotte. "Busy?"
Charlotte took a step back. "Yes."
"Doing?"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow at his behavior. "None of your business." She turned back to Pam. "Thanks again, hope you enjoy your gift!" she left with a wave.
Pam looked at Eric while shaking her head. "Down boy." She joked. "It seems like she doesn't like you humping her leg."
Eric rolled his eyes and moved to his throne. "Get back to work Pam."
Pam smirked. "Jealous she came to see me but not you?"
"Pamela." He warned as she walked away laughing.
"What's it like to sleep in the ground?" Sookie asked Bill as they laid her bed.
"It's not exactly comfortable. But it is safe." Bill gave a small smile as he played with Sookie's hair. "Which, if I recall, is what the three voice mails required of me that night."
The doorbell rang and Sookie cursed as she sat up. "Oh, crap. Arlene. I forgot, I told her I'd babysit the kids."
"Shall I go?"
Sookie shook her head. "Stay. It'll be good for her. You can put some pants on, though."
Sookie put her clothes on and ran toward the door.
Arlene quickly questioned her. "What's wrong? What took you so long?"
"I was out back in the yard." Sookie lied.
"In your nightie?" Coby questioned.
"The cat got out." Bill entered the group view and the kids gasped in surprise as Arlene tensed up. "Made friends with a squirrel."
"Mommy, look, it's a vampire." Lisa went forward to greet Bill but Arlene held her back.
"You didn't mention that you had company."
"I didn't think I had to."
"Well, I got a right to know who's looking after my children."
Sookie shrugged. "Here we are."
"Is there a problem?" Everyone turned toward the doorway to see Charlotte standing there with 2 boxes of pizza in her arms. "I brought pizza for us and the kids."
Arlene was surprised. "What?"
"I asked Charlotte to come over to help me watch the kids. She accepted and she brought pizza." Sookie explained to Arlene.
Rene touched Arlene's arm. "Take it easy, chère. Mr. Compton's raised a couple of them little ones himself maybe, yeah?"
Bill nodded. "That's quite right." He turned to Charlotte. "Here, let me get those for you." He took the pizza boxes and walked toward the kitchen.
"Thank you." Charlotte thanked him.
Arlene took off 2 of her silver bracelets and put one on each of her kids' wrist. "Keep these on you, you hear? And… stay close to your Aunt Sookie and Charlotte."
"They'll be fine, we promise." Sookie waved her off.
Charlotte smiled at the kids. "Who wants pizza?"
"Me." Lisa and Coby called at the same time.
Charlotte laughed. "Good, 'cause that's what we're havin'." She turned to Sookie. "I didn't know what topping to bring, so I got one with extra cheese and the other with sausage."
Sookie nodded in approval. "Yum."
"You can eat pizza?" Rene asked Bill.
"Well, unfortunately, no, but I understand it's delicious." He smiled.
"Whipped cream." Bill announced as he opened the container of whipped cream for the kids and Charlotte's sundaes.
"Yeah." The kids cheered.
"I hope you can finish this before your mother comes back." Bill told them as he placed the whipped cream.
"No problem. I ate a whole jar of mayonnaise once."
"I had to watch." Lisa added with a disgusted look.
Cody turned to Charlotte. "Why do you talk funny?"
Charlotte tilted her head. "You mean my accent?" the kids nodded.
"Well, I'm from across the world, a place called Ireland. It's really nice, and nowhere near this hot." She explained and ended with a smile.
The kids nodded and Coby looked to Bill. "Bill, how come you can't have ice cream?"
Bill sat down. "You might say that I'm lactose intolerant."
"Just like my Aunt Fern. Except she don't tolerate Mexicans." Coby's comment made the adults frown.
"Aunt Sookie," Lisa placed the chocolate syrup down. "Is Bill your boyfriend?"
Sookie grinned and looked to Bill. "Bill, would you say that you're my boyfriend?"
"Well, I suppose I'd have to ask permission from Coby and Lisa." He turned to the kids. "Would it be all right if I was Aunt Sookie's boyfriend?"
"Do you buy her flowers?" Lisa asked.
"Why, no, I haven't yet."
"You better. Rene buys flowers for mama all the time."
"Then I will have to mend my ways."
"You do that. Then we'll talk." Lisa giggled and ate her ice cream.
"Can we see your fangs?" Cody asked.
"I don't think that's gonna be possible." Sookie told him.
Bill cut her off. "Why, certainly." He leaned down so his head was under the table, broke a cone, stuck some strawberry sauce that Charlotte was using at the ends of the 'fangs' and placed them in his mouth, over where his own fangs come from.
He growled as he showed them his 'fangs' and everyone laughed.
Arlene was standing at the door with a giant smile on her face as she showed Sookie and Charlotte her ring at the table. "I know I've done it four other times, but it never gets old."
"Oh, I'm so thrilled for you two." Gushed Sookie.
"Would you be a bridesmaid for me again? And you Charlotte?" she asked the women.
Charlotte nodded as Sookie jumped in her seat from happiness. "Why, of course. You hardly have to ask."
"Oh, honeys," she pulled the laughing women into a hug. "I love you so much."
"Maybe you two are next, huh?" Rene pointed to Bill and Sookie. Everyone sobered up. "Well, I mean, when it becomes legal."
Lisa came into the kitchen. "Mommy, what's going on?" she had heard the laughing and high pitched squeals.
"Sweetie," Arlene stuck out her hand to show the ring. "You're gonna be my flower girl."
Lisa started to scream in happiness as she jumped up and down.
'Why, in all that was good on this earth is Eric in my tub?'Bill thought as he stared at the tall Viking whose legs were coming out of the tub as music played and the candles were lit.
"I texted you three times." Eric opened his eyes and looked at Bill. "Why didn't you reply?"
"I hate using the number keys to type." Bill tried to understand the music that Eric was playing but couldn't. "What are you listening to?"
"From my younger days. It's really quite beautiful if you know old Swedish." Eric closed his eyes as he relaxed and listened to the music again. Bill rolled his eyes and shifted his weight. "You smell of her. You were with her?"
"Who?"
"Charlotte."
"Well, yes."
Eric opened his eyes again to look at Bill. "Tell me about her."
Bill narrowed his eyes at Eric. "Why? Why are you interested in her so much?"
Eric smirked and dodged the question. "I have a favor to ask of you."
Bill snorted. "A favor or an order?" he crossed his arms.
Eric slowly turned his head to look at Bill. "Depends on how you look at it. Honestly, did you think you could keep them both to yourself?" he smirked and stood up.
"Ugh!" Bill covered his eyes. "You could've at least warned me!"
Eric stood outside, watching as Charlotte moved about in her home. She looked like she was going to go out somewhere and stepped out of her door to come face to face with Eric.
"Hello." Eric greeted before throwing her over his shoulder and running toward Fangtasia before Bill and Sookie arrived.
Eric placed her down once they reached the club and sat her down at a table.
There was a 40 year old man sitting at another table, sweating profusely. He looked to Charlotte with a confused look but returned to being scared as Eric growled at him.
Longshadow glared at the humans from behind the bar.
Pam came into the room with her newly bought outfit that caught Charlotte's eyes, it was so different from what she normally saw her in. Pam had a casual look on with her pastel pink long sleeve shirt and khaki pant suit.
Charlotte looked down and laughed. There on her feet were the shoes she had gotten her. Crystal-studded suede pumps.
Pam saw Charlotte and smirked. She walked over and sat down in front of woman. "Well, look who it is, my most favorite person. How did you know I would just love these?"
"It just screamed Pam." Charlotte laughed. "I take it you like it?"
"No, sweetie, I love it." Pam smirked and lend back on the chair. "We are going shopping one day, because the outfit you're wearing is a tad bit boring."
"Gee, thanks Pam, love you too." Charlotte looked down at her outfit. Red V-neck shirt, bleached ripped skinny jeans, and some black velvet Mary Jane pumps. "I was going to the place I work at for drinks."
"Why not come here?" Pam pointed to the bar.
Charlotte gave her a look. "Pam, vampire bars aren't my thing. All full of fake people just after one thing, either sex, drinks, to watch you guys, vampire blood, and to feed." A drink was dropped slowly in front of her. She looked up and saw Eric. He walked back to the man with the glasses. She picked up her drink. "Pam, why am I here?"
Pam shrugged. "Eric said he saw something the night in the rain." She said it slow, like there was something hidden behind her words.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Yeah, he saw me in my night gown and proceeded to be a pervert. Yes Eric, you were." She slipped her drink, knowing he was listening in.
"That wasn't what I was talking about, but it was a nice view." Eric walked over to the table. "I will find out what that was." He moved his face closer to Charlotte. "And I will find out what you are my sweet."
"I will say this once, kalla mig inte söt, skitstövel."(Don't call me sweet, asshole) the corner of Charlotte's lip twitched as she held back a smirk.
Both Pam and Eric looked surprised, but Eric opened his mouth. "Du talar svenska? Sedan när?" (You speak Swedish? Since when?)
"My caretaker is Swedish, she taught me." Charlotte took another sip from her drink. "Now, care to tell me why I am here?"
Eric kept his eye contact with her. "Well you see, I saw something the other night. You had a glow, more bright than usual and the humming seemed to vibrate me from the inside."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "Glow? Hum? What the hell are you taking about?" she put her drink down and stared at Eric as if he was bonkers. She looked to Pam, who rolled her eyes.
Pam had heard this so many times. She didn't hear or see what Eric did, so she thought he was losing his mind.
"You have a glow, I can't quite explain it but last night, it was brighter, and you looked so serene, at peace, like you belong outside in the rain as the hum sang so beautifully that it could put a beast to sleep. What did you do?" he brought his face closer to hers.
Charlotte tilted her head to the side a bit. "Um, I honestly have no idea what you guys are talking about."
Eric felt like she was lying. He grabbed Charlotte's arm and pulled her out of the chair roughly.
Anger erupted in Charlotte as she yelled for him to let her go, and in that moment, a bright soft blue light flashed where his hand was on her arm.
Eric yelled in pain and grabbed his hand. It felt like he had been burned.
He used his speed to be right in Charlotte's face, growling.
Charlotte gasped and threw her hands up, shutting her eyes as she awaited pain. Yet there was nothing. She opened her eyes and saw Eric staring at her blankly.
Charlotte looked around and saw Pam and Longshadow stare at her in shock. "Guys," she called out to them "What's going on?"
Pam shook her head. "We don't know." Pam went up to Eric and waved her hand in his face. He did not react to her.
Charlotte decided to try. "Eric? Eric, if you can hear me, uh, move away?"
Eric stood up straight and back up to the wall of the bar.
"What the hell are you doing to him?" Pam yelled as she watched. She had never seen anything like this.
"I don't know!" Charlotte panicked.
That panic caused the spell to be broken and Eric to return to normal. "What did you do to me?" he yelled. He was about to march toward Charlotte when the door opened to show Sookie and Bill. They looked surprised to see her.
"Charlotte? What are you doing here?" Sookie as as she looked at how close Eric was to Charlotte.
"Hey Sookie, Hey Bill, oh you know, I just love these guys." Charlotte told them with a tone of sarcasm. "So I decided 'Hey, what the hell? I'm in the mood to see them.'"
Eric turned to Sookie and Bill. "Ah, Sookie, take a seat." He cooed to Sookie, making Bill glare on purpose. He always did love bothering Bill.
Charlotte rolled her eyes and sat back down at her chair.
Eric paced around Sookie and the man sitting there sweating. "Longshadow, Pam, and I are partners in this club. And we recently noticed that 60 thousand dollars are gone missing from our books. And Bruce," he stopped next to the man, who was now crying. "Is our accountant. Perhaps you can start by listening to him."
"He's not saying anything." Sookie replied quickly.
"Don't be coy." Eric said not looking at Sookie. "It's humbling enough to turn to a human for assistance. We know what you can do." Those words caused Bill, Charlotte, and Sookie to tense up.
"And I know what you can do too. Why don't you just glamour him?" Sookie shot back at him.
"Don't you think we tried everything before we summoned you?" Those words kept Sookie quiet. "So, it would be a great favor to me… and to Mr. Compton if you help us."
Sookie looked at Bill then back to Eric. "If I find out who did it, then what?"
"We'll turn that person over to the police and let the authorities handle it from there." Longshadow told Sookie from behind the bar.
Sookie busted out laughing. "Hundreds of years old and you're still a terrible liar. Come on."
Longshadow turned on his lighter and Sookie turned around not scared at all.
"I'll make you a deal. If you promise to hand over the person who did this to the police… I'll agree to help you anytime you want."
"Sookie no, don't." Charlotte called out softly.
Sookie looked her way from the corner of her eye but did not answer.
"Alright." Eric smirked. "Why not?"
Sookie reached over and grabbed Bruce's hands.
'Shit, what's this crazy bitch doing? Why did I agree to work for vampires? Goddamn it, I knew it was a bad idea. I've been straight with these fuckers. Gotta be an idiot to steal from them. Jesus Christ, I was the one who reported it.'
"Bruce, it's okay. Deep breaths." Sookie calmed him down. "Did you steal their money?" she asked nicely.
"No. No. No. You got to believe me! I didn't do it, I swear!"
Sookie shushed him softly. "Do you know who did?"
"No. No. I wish." 'No, I wish. I would turn that fucker in. Who was it? Couldn't have been Ginger. She's too dumb. Although she's hot as shit. I'd fuck her if I could.'
"He's telling the truth." Sookie's words made Bruce calm down and let out a breath of relief.
"You trust the skinny human to clear the fat one?" Longshadow asked Eric.
"Bring the next one in." Eric told Pam.
Pam left and came back with a woman wearing a dark grey shiny tube top, a tiny jean skirt, very skinny, blonde and had bite marks everywhere. "This is the last of our humans." Pam announced.
The woman was forced to sit down when she saw Bill. "Mmm, yummy." she moaned. Sookie looked like she was about to scratch out her eyes.
"Ginger, this woman has some questions for you. Be a good girl and answer them will you?" Eric ordered Ginger.
Ginger smirked "Aye, aye master."
Charlotte rolled her eyes and asked Pam if she could get another drink. Pam quickly did so and Charlotte thanked her.
Sookie reached over to touch Ginger's hand but Ginger quickly moved her hands away. "Don't you touch me." Ginger snapped coldly to Sookie.
"Hold her still." Eric ordered Pam. Pam held her as Sookie began to talk.
Sookie got started. "Ginger, someone's been stealing money from the bar."
"Really?" 'Don't look at me. I didn't do nothing. I'll beat the shit out of you if you say I did. It wasn't me that took it.'
Sookie got her answer. "She didn't do it…"Pam and Eric looked at each other confused. "But she knows who did."
"What? Fuck you." Ginger spat as if Sookie was lying. 'Shit. How'd she know? I didn't tell anyone, I swear. Fuck, he's gonna kill me.'
"Who? Who's going to kill you?" Sookie held Ginger's hands. "Ginger, honey, what's his name?" Ginger didn't respond, her face was blank as the sound of static echoed in Sookie's mind. "It's blank. Like her memory has been erased." Sookie looked confused as she let go of Ginger's hands.
"I don't know anything, I swear." Ginger pleaded to Eric.
"She's been glamoured." Charlotte got up from her seat and walked to Sookie's side quickly, wanting to protect the blonde.
"It's a vampire." Sookie looked up at Eric.
Ginger looked behind the girls and gasped. They turned around and saw Longshadow launching himself towards them.
Something inside, like an instinct, made Eric grab Charlotte and pulled her away to safety while Sookie was being choked.
"Bill! Help her!" Charlotte called out as Eric held her tight, yet she tried to fight against her hold. The smell of her hair filled his nose as she struggled.
Bill broke a piece of wood and stabbed it into Longshadow, making him explode all over Sookie. Eric held back a grin at how scared she looked.
Once Eric realized how he held Charlotte close to his side, he let her go.
"Sookie, are you alright?" Charlotte ran towards Sookie and almost slipped, yet Sookie grabbed her arms quickly before she did. "Thank you."
"I'm fine, just…" Sookie looked Eric's way. "Can I use your bathroom?"
Pam pointed boredly towards the bathroom as they watched Ginger sob and clean the mess.
Eric walked over to Bill. "Come, I'll buy you a blood."
Bill followed Eric into his office and Eric heated up a Tru Blood before handing it to Bill.
"Thank you."
"How do you stomach that stuff?" Eric scrunched his nose in disgust at the fake blood. "Don't you find it metallic and vile?"
Bill shrugged. "I don't think about it. It's sustenance, that's all." Eric chucked as he sat down. "What?"
"If you're their poster boy, the mainstreaming movement is in very deep trouble. Tru Blood. It keeps you alive, but it will bore you to death." Eric gave him a smirk.
Bill rolled his eyes. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" Bill sat down in front of Eric.
Eric became serious. "You killed a vampire, Bill. For a human. What are we gonna do about this?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"I'll take the girls."
"No." Bill answered quickly. He caught himself. "You can have anyone you want. Why do you want them?"
"Why do you want both of them? You seem more attached to the blonde than the brunette." Eric kicked his feet up on the corner of his desk. He saw the look on Bill's face. "You're not in love with her, are you?"
"Sookie must be protected, as well as Charlotte." Bill spoke slowly.
Eric grinned. "Now, that sounds like an edict. But it couldn't be, because I would know about that." Bill looked away. "Admit it. You love her."
"If I hadn't done what I did, would you have let his disloyalty stand?"
"Whatever I did to Longshadow, I wouldn't have done in front of witnesses. Especially not vampire witnesses. Not smart, Bill. Not smart at all."
Bill took a swig of his Tru Blood. "Why did you move Charlotte away?"
Eric tensed up, glaring at Bill. "What?"
"I saw how fast you got her out of the way and held her back." Bill put the bottle down. "What I wanna know is, why did you do that? You just met a couple nights ago."
Eric grinded his teeth together in annoyance. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do." Bill grinned. "You like her."
Sookie and Charlotte washed most of the blood out of Sookie's hair but her once white dress was now just a blood red.
Charlotte was cleaning the blood that got on the floor as Sookie cleaned her neck.
Pam came in the bathroom. "Put these on." she held up some shiny black clothes.
"Thank you, but I'm fine, really." Sookie stuttered as she saw what Pam had in her hand. "I'm just gonna dry out my hair and be on my way."
"You're not going anywhere. Eric and your boyfriend aren't nearly done talking just yet."
Sookie turned around at Pam's comment. "Is Bill in some kind of trouble?" she asked nervously
"That's for the boys to figure out. Right now what you need to do is change out of your clothes." Pam looked at Sookie's chest. "There's vampire in your cleavage."
Sookie looked down and gasped. "Okay, ew." Charlotte laughed lightly and threw away the bloody napkins.
"Allow me." Pam purred. She walked up close to Sookie and pulled out the piece of vampire.
"Thank you."
Pam stared at Sookie. "I'm beginning to understand the fuzz everyone is making about you." Pam smirked.
Ginger walked into the bathroom all fine and dandy, no longer remembering the mess what just happened. "Oh hi Pam." she spotted the 2 other women. "Oh, who's your new friends?"
Pam rolled her eyes and sighed. "Ginger, Sookie and Charlotte, Sookie and Charlotte, Ginger."
Ginger smiled "Nice to meet you both."
"Right, nice to meet you too." Sookie said unsure.
"Hello Ginger." Charlotte awkwardly waved at her.
Ginger looked between Sookie and Pam. "You don't have to be scared, they're actually really nice here." she went and washed her hands.
Sookie gave Pam a 'what the fuck' look.
"Glamor." Charlotte whispered. "Hey, um, can I have a ride home? I was sort of kidnapped from my porch."
Finally!
I've been really busy with school but I finally finished it!
Now, I'm going to take a really long nap to relax from the stress. Night guys!
