A/N: You guys are amazing! I'm tickled pink with all your reviews – thanks so much. So I know I put you all through the wringer a bit last chapter – let's see what I can do to make it up to you...

We're still on a Sookie POV but hopefully this chapter will answer some of your more burning questions.

Charlaine Harris owns the rights to these characters.

I woke to the smell of coffee and bacon wafting through the house. For the first few seconds of waking, the smell caressed my consciousness, I felt contented as I stretched out warm and rested under the covers. But little by little the events of last night began to bleed cruelly into my waking mind. I felt a cold shiver run through me and felt for the bullet scar to check if it was true. My body was mended but my heart was in tatters.

I threw back the sheets, fighting back more tears. I had to move, to think of something else. I noted I was still fully dressed from last night. I felt pain surge through my chest as my eye caught my sweat top from the night before and my mind flashed to my last conversation with Eric. I clawed it off me as if it were infected, tears beginning to roll.

Finally freeing myself, I caught sight of myself in the mirror, puffy-eyed and drawn. I willed myself to pull it together. My heart was broken, yes, but I was a Stackhouse and I wouldn't let it beat me.

With a heavy sigh, I chucked on my tatty Bon Temps High t-shirt, feeling comfort from its familiarity. I brushed my teeth, splashed some cold water on my face and made my way downstairs for breakfast.

Alcide was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee.

"Mornin' Sookie," he beamed at me.

"Hey Alcide. You came back?" I smiled at him as I fetched myself a cup of coffee and topped up his. It was nice to see a friendly face and I could tell by his mind that he was really worried about me after my high drama performance last night.

"Yeah, your grandmother let me in. She's gone to church but she left breakfast." He pointed to the oven. "Just so you know, I gave her a very limited account of what happened last night. I figured it would be all over the news and didn't want her to worry. I said there was trouble at the bar but didn't mention you getting shot - I didn't know if you'd want to tell her. I also didn't mention how upset you were about it all." He frowned. "I guess that was shock..."

I blushed. I couldn't imagine what he must have thought last night. "Thanks Alcide. And thanks for putting up with me last night. I guess I was in shock a bit from the shooting although I've almost totally healed now. I also helped interview the guys who did it, which knocked me for six a bit. It's not easy getting into someone's head when their thoughts are that vile... And, er, I had some other personal stuff going on too. So taken as a whole, last night was pretty up there on my worst nights ever list. And I've had some pretty bad ones this year as you know!" The last bit was meant to be light-hearted but Alcide didn't smile.

"By personal stuff, I take it you mean Eric?" he asked, frown deepening. I didn't really want to get into it so I just nodded briefly and went to the oven to retrieve our breakfast. I could feel rage emanate from him and couldn't look him in the eye.

"Sookie, I said this on the first day I met you and I mean it even more now that I know you, you're too good for them. For him. You're an amazing woman and all these vamps ever seem to do is take from you, leaving you teary-eyed and broken..." He was trying to keep calm, but his voice was getting steadily louder.

He paused, taking a deep breath and running a hand through his unruly mane. "Look, I don't want to further confuse you when you're going through a tough time, but I also don't want us to get into a friends pattern and then regret it, so I'm throwing my hat in the ring."

I looked at him eyes wide, "Alc.." I began but he cut me off.

"Please let me finish or I might not," he said, holding up a hand. "I like you. A lot. Not just want-to-get-in-your-pants kind of like you, which for the record I do, but can-see-myself-settling-down kind of like you. I think we could have something really good together." He paused, seemingly relieved that he'd got it off his chest. My early blush had turned into a deep scarlet but I was also smiling. Who wouldn't be?

"Look," he sighed, "I'm not going to stay for breakfast, I know you've got a lot to think about but I just wanted to get that out there. Whatever you choose to do with that information Sookie, I honestly don't think that Eric is the man to make you happy. Fact that he's a vamp aside, you need someone who's willing to put you first and I just don't think he ever will."

He made to go and I followed him to the front door.

"Take care of yourself," he whispered, voice low, and reached down to kiss me on the forehead hugging me to him. I leaned into his embrace, inhaling Alcide's delicious smell, feeling safe and cared for. We stood there for a long time just holding each other, breaking only when we heard a car making its way down Hummingbird Road.

"I'll see you soon," Alcide smiled and went to get in his truck as the car pulled up beside him.

Alcide pulled away and my attention went to the man getting out of the car. He approached the porch, carrying a big red box.

"Sookie Stackhouse?" he enquired, tone polite. Inside I could hear him sizing me up, wondering what all the fuss was about. I nodded. "I'm Bobby Burnham, Mr Northman's day man."

"What can I do for you Mr Burnham?" I asked, tone neutral.

"Mr Northman asked me to appraise you in relation to tonight's trip to New Orleans." My heart sank. I had forgotten all about that. I felt a mild panic grip my body; I didn't want to go to New Orleans and sure as hell didn't want to see Eric again so soon. "A car will come to collect you at 8pm to take you to the airport."

"You can tell Mr Northman that I'm not going to New Orleans, not now and not with him." My pitch had elevated, I was beginning to sound a little irate.

"Mr Northman anticipated that you might say that. He told me to stress to you that, whatever your personal feelings towards him may be, disobeying her majesty was not an option. It would, I quote, result in swift and brutal punishment for the both of you."

I sighed, resigned. He was a pompous ass but he was right. I didn't want to be on Sophie-Anne's shit list. "Fine," I snapped, exasperated, "I'll be ready for 8."

"One last thing, Miss Stackhouse..." He smiled at me smugly and I shot him a look, not even trying to be polite anymore. "This is for you. Compliments of Fangtasia." He handed me the box.

After some clipped good-byes, Bobby left and I carried the box into the kitchen, laying it down on the table. I already knew what it was but couldn't stop myself from opening it to confirm.

My dress from last night, or at least an exact copy of it, was folded luxuriously in black tissue paper. Even the size was right. I looked at it with wonder for a second and then stuffed the dress back into the box. Rage welling up inside me, I threw the box down by the trash can and stormed out of the kitchen, indignantly.

I paced around the living room, fingers pressing into my temples, fuming. I was in an impossible situation, having to spend the evening with the man who had so abruptly broken my heart. I was angry and I was bitter and feeling incredibly sorry for myself. Did he think that he could buy me off? This one gesture and all would be forgiven? I sighed, stalking back to the kitchen to retrieve the box.

I hated Eric for how he had made me feel but I really did love that dress.

0-0-0-0-0

When it was time for me to start getting ready for New Orleans, I made my way to my closet. What the hell was I going to wear? My mind was vacillating from dressing down, making no effort whatsoever, to glamming up to show Eric what he was missing. In the end, I decided it would make me feel better if I looked good, settling on a white strapless summer dress with a red flower pattern. It was one of my favourites, pretty and feminine and made my boobs look great. I straightened my hair, sweeping it back in a white Alice band, and kept the make-up simple. I did a twirl in front of the mirror, feeling better than I had all day.

At 8pm there was a knock on the door and I opened it, surprised to see Pam on the other side. I looked behind her to see the minivan parked in my drive.

"Hi Pam," I said, noting that she was back in pastels tonight, "I didn't realise that you would be the driver tonight."

She smiled. I think it was her friendly smile but frankly it was hard to tell. "I wasn't. Bobby had ordered a town car to collect you. However, I decided to give the driver a night off..."

"Okay," I replied, hesitatingly, "Did you want to come in? I have some bottled blood." I immediately regretted mentioning it, knowing that she would know that I had bought them in case Eric ever came to visit.

"You would invite me into your home?" She seemed genuinely surprised.

"Of course Pam," I smiled. "Just because things with Eric have fallen apart, doesn't stop you being my friend. I haven't got so many friends that I can afford to throw them away willy-nilly, have you?"

She looked at me, as if trying to discern an ulterior motive, and then smiled, warmer this time. "No I have not. Thank you for your offer of hospitality but we must be leaving if we are to make the airfield in time."

I nodded and went to grab my purse and a wrap, shouting to Gran that I would see her later. We got into the minivan and Pam pulled away with a screech, peddle to the metal as soon as we reached Hummingbird Lane. I noticed Pam hadn't put her seatbelt on. Presumably, she could survive a head-on collision at full speed. I couldn't.

"You smell of Were again," she said, suspiciously. "Eric will not be pleased."

"To be honest, I couldn't really care less what he thinks," I snapped. Damn vampires and their super senses.

"Oh, I think we both know that's a big lie…" she drawled.

I sighed, irritated. "So let's cut to the chase Pam. Why are you here? Did Eric send you because if he did..."

She cut me off. "Eric does not know that I am here... I feel that there are things that you should know but I am also aware that it would not please my master for me to tell you these things." She frowned.

"Oh." I didn't know what to say about that. I kept quiet waiting for her to continue.

Pam seemed to decide on something and then began. "Eric is my maker, as you know, and of course he and I have shared blood many times over the course of our association. As such, we also have a blood bond of sorts, although it works in a slightly different way to yours. I am privy to Eric's feelings and emotions, as he is to mine. Generally we work hard to keep that part of our bond under control, to give the other privacy... In time, I'm sure you will learn to do the same."

I nodded encouragingly, wanting her to continue. This was by far the most open Pam had ever been with me. I was captivated.

"Things get through the bond of course, particularly strong emotions. Since Eric met you, this has been happening more and more often... When you were shot, I felt such overwhelming anguish from him. It was as if it were my own. He was so worried that you would not survive and I know he blamed himself. These are not the feelings of a man who does not care. These are the feelings of a man who cares too much."

"But at the warehouse Pam. He dismissed me so easily. I felt nothing from him." My voice was low and I could feel my bottom lip quivering.

"He had been distraught that you had been shot. But then to realise that we'd been the cause. We'd made use of your telepathy, appointed you as shadow owner of the business, for our own betterment and you might have died because of it. You were a target and it was because of us. Oh, we'll deal with Cranson and his ilk," she smiled menacingly at that thought, "but there will be others and they will continue to target vampires and those who associate with them. Eric and I are immortal…"

"Try telling that to Andre," I half-joked.

She frowned. "Yes, Andre's death shows that even we are not completely invulnerable. You, however, are very human, easily breakable. Eric was trying to protect you, to do the right thing. You must see that?"

"No I don't see that Pam, I'm sorry." I tried to keep calm but I could hear the emotion in my voice. "I see someone who ruthlessly dumped me, hours after he bonded and had sex with me. Job done, Queen's orders followed. Presumably now he's got what he needed, he can move on to the next fangbanger stupid enough to fall for it."

"Sookie." Pam's voice was suddenly hard and she turned her head to face me. I wasn't sure if I was more terrified of the fact that she wasn't watching the road, or the fact that now she was watching me. "Eric hasn't had sex with anyone, or even fed from anyone, since you slept together the first time. He wanted to after you rejected him, as he perceived it, but he didn't go through with it. This is highly unusual behaviour for any vampire, especially one such as Eric. I think he knows that you would not approve if he did…" She frowned as if confused. "But, more than that, I think he genuinely doesn't want anyone but you."

I looked at her mouth agape. That couldn't be right, could it?

"Eric is my maker, my master and has my total loyalty. But more than that, my fortunes and those of Clancy, Felicia and all the other vampires of Area 5 are inextricably tied to his. One of the reasons Eric is such a popular master is because of his innate ability to protect himself and those under his control. You are... a distraction from that. Eric takes risks, makes decisions, which he wouldn't normally take because of his infatuation with you..."

"So I don't understand," I replied confusedly. "Why try to convince me that he cares about me? Isn't it better for all involved if we are not together?"

She shrugged. "If your relationship settles, I have no doubt that Eric will regain control of himself. Find a balance. Sookie, I genuinely want to see my master happy but, more than that, the consequences of his not being so are... highly unpleasant, for all involved." I remembered her awkward hug at the bar weeks ago now and smiled. I could well imagine.

"I will say no more on this Sookie, except that you have the blood bond now. He can lie to you with words but what you feel through the bond? That will always be the truth."

After a few minutes of thoughtful silence, we filled the rest of the journey with girly chit-chat. Pam loved my dress and suggested that Eric would too. Apparently, the flowers looked like little splodges of blood (and, by all accounts, that was a good thing.) She really did have a mean sense of humour, especially for vampire. At my insistence, she also told me a little about her life before she was turned. It sounded fascinating, like a period novel, but Pam didn't seem to miss it at all. She, just like her maker, truly embraced what she was and I respected her for that.

We arrived at the airport. Eric was there already, leaning up against his car in black suit, typing something into his blackberry. He looked relaxed, like a giant cat basking in the sun. He raised an eyebrow at Pam as she rolled down her window.

"Driver cancelled," she lied smoothly. He nodded, seemingly buying it. "Well, have fun in the Big Easy," she drawled, looking at me pointedly as I got out of her car. Then she sped off into the night, leaving me alone in the darkness with Eric.

"Thank you for coming," Eric said softly, not looking me in the eye.

"Bobby didn't give me much choice," I muttered grimly. He looked at me then and smiled at that. Eyes tender, as if seeing into me.

"Right, let's get this show on the road shall we," I said nervously, breaking the look. "The quicker we get to New Orleans, the sooner we get to come home."

0—0—0—0—0

Eric and I said little on the flight. I was nervous again, going on the plane, but this time Eric didn't try to touch me or comfort me. I tried a couple of times to feel him through the bond, but he had somehow managed to suppress it.

A car was there to meet us at the other end. I gasped with horror as we pulled up to the palace, surveying the damage that had been done. Almost all of the left side of the building was in ruins, fire damage ravaging the beautiful building. Everything else looked blackened, scorched with fire or sodden with water damage. I could feel anger well up inside me at the sight and I knew that not all of it was my own.

We were led through the house by a young male vampire I didn't recognise and taken to staircase that descended to a level of the house which was below ground. I looked at Eric, who gave me a reassuring smile, but somehow I didn't think that this was a good sign. The basement area seemed to run under the whole palace and, from what I could see, had been spared any fire damage. We approached a large oak door and the vampire knocked, I heard Sophie-Anne's voice tinkle on the other side of the door, bidding us to come in.

I looked at her and gasped, filled with horror as I took her in. She was as petite and elegant as ever, in a beautiful red vintage silk gown that swished around her vertiginous heels as she walked. Her hair was curled in a way that was reminiscent of a young Rita Heyworth or someone of that era. She looked to have full make-up on to finish the look but her cheeks were stained red, blood red tears streaking down her beautiful face. I noticed then that she was badly burned down one side, the skin on her left arm and across her chest melted and cracked. Her left hand appeared to be tender, raw red flesh blazing through the charred skin. She looked so macabre, like a china doll that had been tossed on a bonfire.

"You should have seen me yesterday," she said wryly. "By tomorrow, I should be back to normal. I was quite near the main blast but my darling Andre sheltered me from the brunt of it, sacrificing his life for mine."

Eric offered his condolences on our behalf, tone impassive. I just nodded. What was there to say?

"Yes, well, Andre is gone but those responsible, they are still here. For the meantime anyway," she smiled at that and it was chilling. "Come, come, let us go see our first guest."

She led us through the basement to what seemed to be a row of cells. I noted for the first time that the troll twins were not with her. It seemed strange after the recent attack. Maybe they had been injured too? I wasn't about to ask.

She typed in a code next to one of the cells, no wrought iron bolts for modern vampires it seemed, and the door slid open. I stepped in, shaking and hesitant, scared of what I would see on the other side.

A woman was chained up against the wall. I looked to Eric in a fluster and could feel him trying to send reassurance and calm through the bond. She looked to be about the same age as me, slim, with brown hair cut in a blunt bob. I guessed that she was probably quite pretty under normal circumstances but she had clearly been worked over by some of Sophie-Anne's goons as her face was swollen and covered with bruises. She was an exceptionally loud broadcaster and I knew she was in pain and full of fear. She looked at the Queen as she entered and immediately wondered if this was the moment she was going to die. I felt my eyes welling up just looking at her but stopped myself, I couldn't help her if I lost my cool.

The Queen gestured to the girl and trilled, "This one's a witch. We used her to put up wards around the palace; we were supposed to be protected. Clearly she's either incompetent or in on it all. I'd like to know which it is so I can plan her punishment accordingly."

"I didn't do anything," the girl pleaded, speech heavy from her swollen lip but clear enough. "The wards stayed true but they were there to keep hostile people out. I can't do anything about those people hurling petrol bombs onto the premises, I'm not that powerful."

"She's telling the truth," I said, confidently. She was but I may have said it even if she had been in on it. I had no doubt what her fate would have been otherwise.

"You are sure?" the Queen asked, suspiciously.

"Quite sure," I nodded. "She's a very loud broadcaster."

"Fine." She seemed disappointed. She turned to Eric gesturing at the girl. "Eric, kill her please."

"No!" I shouted, impulsively. The Queen whipped her head around to me, cruel glint in her eye. Eric's mask of calm had been replaced by shock.

"Sookie…" he said, voice low in warning, his eyes begging me to be quiet.

"You can't kill her, she hasn't done anything wrong," I pleaded softly.

"My dear, if she's not a good enough witch to protect us from all eventualities, then she is no use to me. Believe me, if she had been involved, her fate would have been much more… drawn out."

"If you hurt her, I will refuse to work for you again," I whispered, voice tight. Jesus Christ what was I saying?

She just laughed callously. "You really are quite amusing my dear."

"I mean it," I asserted, jutting my chin out like a stubborn school girl.

Quick as a flash she was on me, holding me up against the wall by my throat. I wheezed, struggling for breath, while I felt the pressure increase on my windpipe. "You will do as I say, when I say, or I will snap you like a twig…" She lifted me up, hand still round my neck, and I began to see spots before my eyes. I was going to lose consciousness.

Suddenly she jerked back and I felt myself slump to the floor as I gasped greedily for air. Eric had her up against the wall in the same position as she had had me, her tiny feet dangling at least a foot off the ground. She didn't need to breathe of course, so it wasn't haven't quite the same effect on her and it had me. I felt, rather than heard, her heartless laugh fill the room as the hairs on my arms stood to attention. She made no effort to struggle.

"My, my, Eric, this is unexpected. Risking your life and your position for a human woman. She must be quite the delicious morsel. I'll have to have a taste myself now…" I could feel Eric's wrath surge through him as he increased his grip on Sophie-Anne, slamming her aggressively against the opposite wall. She laughed again, sexily this time as if it were foreplay to her.

"You don't want to share Eric? Don't tell me you've fallen for her," she taunted. He looked at her unswervingly and she laughed again. "Well, well, the great Eric Northman in love. How deliciously pathetic."

I ran to the girl and went to unchain her. She collapsed in my arms and I hugged her close.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much."

"We're not out of here yet," I replied grimly, looking over to Eric and the Queen. "I'm Sookie Stackhouse, by the way."

"It's a real pleasure to meet you Sookie. I'm Amelia, Amelia Broadway."

Eric had lowered the Queen to the ground and forced her to her knees on the cold stone floor. "We are going to return to Area 5. You will not seek retribution for this from me. And Sookie will go on to live a very full and happy life. If she should meet with an unfortunate accident, if she should even get struck by lightening, I will be looking to you to find out why. Never forget that you are queen of this state because I do not want to be king. That can all change Sophie-Anne, that can all change…" Eric was in full vampire mode and, despite the traumatic circumstances, he'd never looked hotter. I could tell by Amelia's thoughts that she was in complete agreement. "Give me your word Sophie-Anne and you will have my continued fealty."

Her word? Surely her word meant less than nothing but I guess it was all we had for now.

She nodded. "You have my word," she whispered, smiling eerily.

With one swift move, Eric snapped the Queen's neck and she slumped into a heap on the floor. He looked at me, "Come, we do not have much time."

"Eric, you killed her?" I asked surprised. I didn't care but it was still quite a shock.

"No, she will recover," he said dourly, "but she will be incapacitated enough for us to get out of New Orleans. Killing the Queen would not be a good idea and she's a pragmatic woman, she'll come around, once she has calmed down. She needs us both."

'Pragmatic' wasn't really the word I'd use, 'psychopathic' maybe but I'd trust Eric's judgment on this. He scooped up Amelia, who groaned painfully at the contact, but then nestled into his chest with a leer. I smiled; any girl who could think sexy thoughts mere minutes after she was supposed to be killed was a trooper in my book. I knew I was going to like her.

We rushed to the airfield, taking Amelia with us. She needed to leave New Orleans for a while, so I offered to let her stay with me.

We boarded the plane and I felt relief as I we took off, heading for home. Eric had laid Amelia across a couple of seats at the back and she had immediately fallen asleep.

He sat in one of the large seats next to mine and I touched his arm, gently.

"Thank you Eric," I whispered.

He smiled, reaching across and drawing me into his lap. I felt it then, he let his walls down and all his feelings came rushing through the bond. Concern, relief, lust and love. Above all, love.

Silent tears started to fall down my cheek as he pulled me closer to his chest. "Sookie, I'm so…" I leaned back and put a finger to his lips shushing him.

"Don't Eric," I said, as I tried to push my feelings to him through the bond, so that he would know he wasn't alone.

He smiled and held me tighter, kissing the top of my head. We stayed like that for the whole flight, Eric stroking my hair as I nuzzled into his chest, never wanting to move.

We arrived back in Shreveport, some time after midnight, making our way out of the plane, towards Eric's car. He chucked me his keys, which I caught one-handed, the other arm being used to prop Amelia up. "You take Amelia home, I will make my own way there." Of course, Eric's car only had two seats.

As we approached the Corvette, Eric tensed. I immediately felt alarm through the bond. If Eric was panicking, that was not a good sign.

"Eric," I said looking up at him questioningly, "what's wrong?"

He made his way to the car and picked up a small envelope. I realised with horror that one corner of the envelope was pooled with blood. He opened the envelope slowly, shaking the contents onto his palm.

Two teeth, fangs to be precise. They had been removed by the root.

I looked at him with dread, waiting for him to confirm my suspicions.

"Pam," he said quietly. "A message from the Queen."

A/N: So please review, review, review. I'd love to hear your thoughts….