A/N: If Eric had come when Sookie called and it was he who turned Tara into a vampire.

Song: Father Figure- By George Michael

I will be your father figure

(Oh baby)

Put your tiny hand in mine

(I'd love to)

I will be your preacher teacher

(Be your daddy)

Anything you have in mind

(It would make me)

I will be your father figure

(Very happy)

I have had enough of crime

(Please let me)

I will be the one who loves you

'Til the end of time

TARA POV

I'm only going to describe briefly what it felt like as I was dying, simply because it happened so fast and mostly because it's not that important.

Not to me anyway.

To me, the important part of my death was what happened afterward.

After a lot of bullshit with witches, spells, mediums, and vampires at war; I just needed some time to sleep it off. And I was doing just that on Sookie's couch when I heard her grating voice calling out to me. I was gonna ignore her annoying screech and pretend I was deep asleep until I heard another voice... So I reluctantly got up from the couch to see what the fuck was going on.

It was a female voice and judging by all the cursing, I assume she was pissed. I got confirmation when I heard the sound of a rifle being cocked. So I picked up the pace and rushed towards Sookie.

I got there just in time.

Just in time to get my brains blown out by that crazy bitch Debbie Pelt. This was not the evening of R&R that I had planned. Without thinking, I had sprung forward, pushing Sookie out of harms-way; I hear the click and the loud bang of the rifle. In a split second, I feel the searing flesh-burning heat of the bullet. Like a hot knife to butter, it penetrated my skin, shattering my skull like glass, and making minced meat outta my brain. Next, a deafening- ringing noise. The ringing noise sounded like a speaker being blown. And then everything went black...

It felt like I was staring into an abyss, and after so long I could feel the abyss staring back at me... I look up, down, and all around me.

Nothing...

I searching for my own hands, my body, but nothing is there. I'm just a formless mind without a body. Like an elevator stuck between two floors. I was in limbo...I can only see and think...I'm existing, but that's it.

I'm nowhere, but everywhere...

My mind begins moving, a rainbow of lights wiz past me and suddenly it stops.

Judging by my surroundings, I've traveled back in time. I'm in a primitive house, the fireplace was in the middle of the room, and benches ran alongside the walls, a few lambs and goats run along inside the structure. In an instant, the scenery changed and suddenly I was in a Victorian style room, the design was elegant, the tapestry, dark and seductive. I feel a presence, pulling me, forcing me near. I have no control whatsoever as I'm gravitating to the unknown force. The strings of energy coming from it thrum into the depths of my core. Like flying for the first time, I'm afraid and excited at the same time.

With no warning, everything went black again, but I could still feel the presence.

And then I hear the voice call out to me.

"Look at me, Tara..."

I didn't realize I'd closed my eyes. When my eyes opened and I saw him.

Eric Northman...

I must be in hell... Why else would he be here?

"The night beckons us, child."

His fingers started to go dangerous places and after moaning a little louder than I planned, my eyes squeezed shut and I nodded in acceptance.

But damn, I figured I'd go to heaven since I sacrificed myself to save another.

"Rise and shine, dark angel." He purred like a sadistic cat.

It was as if his words were the missing piece of the puzzle, my eyes opened and I could see it all. I was seeing what happened to me through his eyes...

Sookie held my head up, while Lafayette pressed my chin, maneuvering my mouth to open so Eric could seal my fate with just a few drops of his blood.

I'm not in hell ... I'm a fucking vampire – which is much worse...! Fueled by wrath, I rise out of my shallow grave, hell-bent on kicking Sookie and Lafayette stupid asses. It's unbelievable how fast I can move. The first person I see is Sookie's ding-bat- ass, I slammed and pinned that vampire-lovin whore against the tree and took a nice big bite out of her neck.

YUMMY!

That bitch taste just like my favorite - Ben & Jerry's - Carbonite Crunch! She yelped for Lafayette's help, but I was ready, so when he came at me I shoved him away. I didn't mean too, but just a little shove sent his fruity ass flying back about 20 feet.

"I command you to release Sookie and come to me."

And just like that, I dropped the bitch.

My stomach felt as if I'd jumped a high hill or a rollercoaster – I was falling. Sookie ran away and all I could do was watch the little rat scurry. The gut-wrenching assault increased when I tried to stay put. The more I fought it, the more the dreaded tugging at the pit of my gut bombarded me. My entire being was held to his essence, heaving me towards him, like a ball and chain.

Eric was the presence I felt when I was in limbo. That bastard scooped me up and hauled me over his shoulder...and we flew off.

"I'll never forgive either of you!" I screamed out at them, I could hear my voice echoing off the treetops, I hoped my words haunt them forever.

ERIC POV

I'd narrowly escaped being captured by the AVL guards. And even though I had more pressing matters to address, tainted curiosity was the reason, I went to Sookie residence upon feeling her distress.

When I arrived, to my surprise Miss Stackhouse was not harmed, nor was she in harm's way...

Although, Sookie's friend was a different matter.

I never asked, but I assumed the raven-haired woman was killed by the wolf-bitch, who lay rotting a few feet away. The scene was gloriously bloody, I was impressed, but I still...It was time for me to go... I walked slowly towards the exit, taking pleasure in the scent of blood in the air.

"Eric, please save her!" Sookie cried her useless tears as I neared the door. I owed her and could not deny her request.

I found myself challenged. Could I bring back someone who'd been dead for quite some time?

I received my answer the following night.

Shortly after I'd ascended for the night, the newborn I created sprang from her grave, ferocious and vengeful.

And I was once again impressed...

My plan was to leave her with Sookie and Lafayette, but seeing she wanted to rip them apart, I felt obligated to prevent it.

For now, I shall keep Tara Thornton, have Pam teach her the basics and then, I shall release her.

TARA POV

The water is hot and soothing. Hmm... I could stay under this shower forever. I reach for the body wash and it smells of Eric. It's a delicious smell. I rub it all over myself. Unable to prevent the overwhelming desire taking over my body. My mind is awestruck by the vampire who made me. I'm fantasizing that it's him-him rubbing this heavenly scented soap into my body, across my breasts, over my stomach, between my thighs with his long-fingered hands. Oh, my. This feels so... so good.

God, what is wrong with me?

And then the door swung open.

At first, he didn't move. With his eyes firmly holding mine, he stood still, like a beautiful, nude, marble statue, and deathly silent. For a moment I thought I was seeing things, my own paranoia finally breaking my mind and causing hallucinations, but soon enough, I realized this was not some creation of my over-active and wild imagination.

Slowly he moved closer to me.

"You're taking too long." He said, sliding into the shower and standing behind me.

The frenzy I felt that had once been lustful was suddenly replaced with complete chaos. He gazes are unwavering and intense.

"Excuse me, me but you ordered me in the shower!" As bad as my eyes wanted to travel south, I kept them steady. Not that that helped. His sky-blue eyes were stunning. I'd never seen them look like that before; they were soft- lust filled. The blond stubble on his face only added to his masculinity.

"You've been bathing for quite some time, it is my turn now."

His hungry eyes roamed over my body and damn it...it's turning me on.

Why do I feel this way?

"Fine, get out and I'll be finished in less than a minute." My attempt to sound stern was an epic failure, the wolfish smirk he gave in response was confirmation.

"You don't want me to leave." He purred in that familiar way of his just as my eyes were traveling down his body.

I knew what he wanted.

I wanted it too.

One hand cupped my breasts, gifted fingers tweaking my straining nipples. I was aching for him to touch me farther down and decided to give him a hint by pressing my body firmly against his.

His thumb traced the bottom of my lip.

"You are mine," he whispers. "Only mine. Don't forget it." His voice is inebriating, his words potent. I feel his growing erection against my thigh. Those big hands of his moved down my back and grabbed my ass and he bent over and licked between my breasts,

"Then take, me Eric."

If I wasn't so anxious for him to fuck me, I would've blushed at the words that came out of my mouth.

ERIC POV

I leaned down to kiss her and was surprised at how savory her lips tasted.

Her kiss elicited a primal response. My senses heightened; my awareness of both her feelings and mine. Taste and touch, scent and smell, all that she experienced, I did too.

She sucked my lower lip into her mouth while her hands roamed all over my upper body. It seems I'd overlooked how stunning Tara is. Perhaps, as a human, her contrary disposition masked her allure.

Now that she is a vampire, there was no denying her magnificence; her smooth dark skin, those large dazzling onyx eyes, and kissable plum lips command attention.

Tara is stunningly gorgeous, like a painting of a goddess brought to life. I wanted nothing more than to make love to her, it was as if I needed to crawl inside of her skin, but even that wouldn't get me close enough.

Alas, the night was fleeting and she needed to feed before we go to ground for the day.

"We must go, my child, the night awaits."

Needless to say, my plans to release Tara Thornton have changed.