Disclaimer: Mash-up. I merged my favorite book as a kid with my favorite book as an adult. The basic story is from Elizabeth Cadell's "The Lark Shall Sing," (also known as "The Singing Heart") while the characters and setting are from Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries.

AN: There are many changes to original as the Cadell book is set in 1950s England and did not include potty mouth, white trash, Hollywood, VWs, cell phones, etc.

Chapter Fourteen: The Road from San Antonio

A short time later, everyone settled down in the dining room to partake in Pam's Chicken Ravenscroft and Eric Northman's 'Big Salad.' The chicken was perfect—juicy and tender on the inside, crispy on the outside. Luckily Sookie had picked up juice—the kids were not into water, while the adults had finally popped open a couple of bottles of wine.

As they sat at the table, Sookie glanced from person to person—almost as if in a trance. She'd pinched herself twice to assure herself that it was not, in fact, some kind of dream. Not only were all her siblings home, but they had also quickly and effortlessly fallen right back into their old groove. Everyone looked perfectly at home. They were at home. Even, Sookie realized to her chagrin, the three strays. It was incredible. The surreal nature of the evening had even given Sookie an idea for a Hallmark card. On the outside of the card would be a photograph of their motley crew having dinner. When you open up the card, it would simply say "What the fuck." Or maybe just "WTF."

WTF indeed.

Tara and Amelia were sitting on either side of Pam. From the tidbits Sookie caught here and there, it sounded like they were alternately talking about fashion in New York and what Ame could do to reverse her blue black hair color.

Hoyt and Hunter were telling Maxine about the tree house. Sookie smiled as she listened. The boys were assuring the older woman that the ladder—heavy and solid with 3-inch planks—would easily accommodate her and she shouldn't hesitate to come up for a visit, although maybe not tomorrow. They were anxious to check it out and make sure the 'crooks' didn't do anything to mess it up.

Hmm. Jason had his head together with Eric Northman. They were a bit too far for Sookie to hear their low conversation and since she wasn't a mind reader, nor a lip reader, she hadn't a clue what they were plotting. She'd encountered Eric's eye a few times and would've sworn he was watching her when she wasn't looking.

Feeling a wave of exhaustion come over her, Sookie let out a sigh. Sipping her wine, she set her mind back to the origin of the current WTF mess. Her emails.

She hadn't realized the kind of tailspin her emails would cause. She really thought her siblings would have realized without her even telling them that selling the house was the inevitable next step in the progression. Certainly, they hadn't talked about any of them moving back to the house.

They lost (well, technically, they weren't 'lost'- ha ha) their tenants. After that fucked up fiasco, Sookie didn't think anyone would blame her for not wanting to take on new tenants. It was too risky. And what if she wound up with more 'criminal element'? What then? She, for one, did not enjoy having a one-to-one with the FBI.

Casting her gaze around the table again, she couldn't help but feel that they were all ganging up on her.

Hmm, she thought, that's because they are. They even brought —what? Reinforcements? Or in the case of Eric Northman, an understudy?

She sniggered silently to herself.

JB had finally extricated himself from Tara. Or maybe Tara had finally pushed him out the door? Either way, that definitely seemed to be picking up right where it left off. Since JB left—and presumably was reporting everything back to Uncle Mike and Aunt Jane—Sookie had been half expecting Aunt Jane to come running over, despite the monsoon outside. Aunt Jane was a big Eric Northman fan. Sookie remembered talking to her on the phone a few months earlier and Jane saying how she'd just watched Northman's latest movie, something about an Army troop in Iraq. Sookie knew from reading reviews that there were some pretty graphic war scenes in the film so she asked her aunt what she thought of the war scenes. Aunt Jane's response had been priceless: "What war scenes?" Sookie smiled at the memory, shaking her head.

Yep. She couldn't deny that the man definitely had some off-the-scale good looks. Apparently those good looks rendered his movie fan minions enthralled to the point that they were incapable of recalling the details of his films. She figured this way they'd have to keep going back to see each movie multiple times.

I guess, she thought, its like Lewis Black's skit on Alzheimers' patients caught between two Starbucks. Struggling not to laugh at the idea that Eric Northman's good looks effectively hypnotized movie audiences forcing them to return again and again, Sookie kept her mouth in a straight line. But her eyes belied her amusement.

Sensing someone watching her, Sookie looked up and met a pair of clear blue eyes staring at her. No, not at her. More like through her. His eyes were…smoldering…The look in them—the heat in them—caught her off-guard and took her breath away. Feeling a blush work its way across her features, she silently cursed and turned her attention down to her plate.

Eric, in the meantime, had been darting intermittent glances around the table throughout his conversation with Jason. He had tried to distribute these looks—hoping that they did not appear too obviously focused on Sookie. But they were directed on Sookie. Of course.

Eric had been listening with interest to Jason's experiences in the military. The man was a natural storyteller. Eric didn't want to say anything prematurely, but he thought some of Jason's stories could be incorporated into the script for his next war film. He'd have to consult with Pam but Eric was seriously thinking they could get Jason a co-writer credit if they used the stories.

If they were able to make that happen, it would mean cash in hand, and that could only help Jason and the other Stackhouses. Especially as it was obvious—at least to Eric, maybe not yet to the stubborn blonde seated at the opposite end of the table—that Jason now regarded himself as the head of this family.

Eric had been observing Sookie when she suddenly looked up. Meeting her eyes, he could see she was trying hard to stifle a laugh. Her blue eyes were clear and guileless. She hardly looked like the formidable threat—the enemy—her siblings had been portraying her as. She looked…vulnerable…sweet…gorgeous. He couldn't help but stare at her and after a moment he noticed she caught her breath sharply and then the most delightful pink flush rose in her cheeks and traveled downward. She met his stare, refusing to back down, a silent battle of wills. It –quite literally—pained Eric to pull his eyes off Sookie and re-establish eye contact with Jason. But that's just what he forced himself to do. His acting skills came in handy just then as he resumed his conversation with Jason, and pretended that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

But what had occurred was far from ordinary.

How was this girl he barely knew eliciting such a strong feeling in him?

Pam was right. He was a pussy.

Suddenly Sookie arose from her seat with an "excuse me." Minutes later, she returned, reclaiming her spot at the table.

Jason was looking at her expectantly. An unspoken question hung in the air. Sookie shrugged sheepishly.

"I had my cell phone recharging and I forgot about it. Turns out when I set it up to recharge, I accidentally hit the "no volume" button—I really don't understand how they design these iPhones. Anyway, I just remembered my phone now and it turns out I got a bunch of calls today." Sookie directed pointed looks at Amelia, Hoyt and Hunter.

Without another word, Sookie began checking her voicemails. Eric tried to keep his focus on Jason but he couldn't help but look at Sookie. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Pam doing the same. Eric thought watching Sookie listen to her voicemails a delightful exercise. She could be very mobile with her facial expressions. It was fascinating to watch the progression of her response as she got news that pissed her off. Her face would start off calm and collected. As she'd listen to a message, her features would take on an interested look. Brow raised in surprise. Lips tightened in displeasure. Slight 'WTF' look. Then anger. Then repeat. Finally, done, she cleared her throat. Her siblings knew that sound well. And they knew that look well. Okay, this was the Barracuda Sookie that everyone feared. Looking at her now, Eric saw her eyes held this icy veil of anger. The dinner conversations all came to a halt as everyone turned to look at Sookie. Sookie's gaze had settled on the two boys.

Ah, Eric thought. Aunt Linda.

Right then Eric decided he would do whatever was necessary to support 'his' boys, Sookie's hotness be damned. He wasn't so shallow he would throw Hoyt and Hunter under the bus just because their sister was perhaps one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen and he felt that he could easily lose himself in her eyes for the next 20 years.

No, Northman. Focus, focus.

Everyone's attention on Sookie, finally she spoke. "I have three voicemails from Aunt Linda and one from Felipe de Castro. Before I tell you what they say, why don't you tell me exactly what the hell you two did today?"

Hoyt and Hunter exchanged guilty glances. Finally Hoyt, running his fingers through his hair in the same way Jason often did, started to explain. "Well, after we read your email, we figured we needed to come home. Last year, you said we'd 'revisit' in a year and so we figured it was time for us to revisit, since you were here and all."

"You took the word, 'revisit' to literally mean visiting the house? It didn't sound like the word 'revisit' was to revisit the plan to sell the house?"

"You said we were gonna revisit, Sook," Hunter injected. "That's what we did!"

Sookie glared at Hunter who quickly fell silent. "Hoyt, go on."

"So made a plan to come home. We went to the Greyhound station and bought bus tickets with our savings. We met Eric in Shreveport—by the bus depot—and he agreed to drive us home."

"Yep. That's what we did today." Hunter chimed in.

Sookie drew in a breath. "What did you tell Aunt Linda?"

"Uh. We left her a voicemail that we were going home and that you'd call her." This from Hoyt.

"When were you going to tell me to call her?"

"We forgot." Hoyt replied.

"Sook, we'd remember eventually –" This from Hunter. Sookie flashed a look on Hunter. 'Be quiet' that look said. He wisely stopped speaking and let his older brother respond to the inquisition.

"What about school?"

"I wrote a note to the principal that we couldn't go to school because we had family business to tend to."

Sookie's eyes became slits and her next words were accusing. "Don't you need a guardian's signature on a note like that?"

"I signed Aunt Linda's name."

At Hoyt's admission, Sookie simply nodded. "What about your babysitter?"

"I left her a voice mail that we didn't need her because Aunt Linda was picking us up."

Sookie seemed to take a deep breath. She closed her eyes and Eric could've sworn she was counting. Anger management issues?

Finally she spoke.

"Aunt Linda—apparently- spent most of the day in hysterics, worried about you two. Frankly I'm surprised we haven't seen Bud or Kenya over here. She said something about calling the Sheriff to find you two. She thinks you two are old enough to know better. She's scared Social Services are going to find out and send investigators over. She said she's been worried that it was all too much to manage and she's thinking it's best you two don't go back there. Felipe ripped me a new one for you two upsetting her and Hadley," at this Sookie rolled her eyes, "by association. Whatever. He won't marry her, but at least he seems to care about her and the baby ….So…what do you two have to say for yourselves?"

Hoyt and Hunter exchanged a glance. Eric, being well-versed in non-verbal communication, and having spent a few hours with the boys, was now able to read their silent communication. They were weighing their options. Be contrite? Or be honest?

Hoyt took a breath and bit the bullet.

"Sook, we did what we felt we had to do. We don't want you to sell the house. It's our home, too," Hoyt's eyes blurred at this point and Eric felt a catch in his throat. "We didn't think you'd listen to us if we just sent an email or called you. And we wanted to come home. There's no room at Aunt Linda's. And Felipe keeps dropping hints about moving to Las Vegas," Hoyt shuddered at this, "and we don't want to move to Las Vegas. That place is creepy."

Sookie stared at her brother. Immobile now. Her face revealed nothing.

Hmm, Pam thought, this girl could've been an amazing actress.

Sookie turned to Hunter. "Hunt, you got anything to add?"

"Yeah, you said to let you know what we wanted. But you can't store Long Shadow for Hoyt. There's no way Ame could keep all her books at school. And you can't ship my tree house to me. So, in essence, you made anunreasonable request." Pam's jaw nearly dropped at the kid's vocabulary. "It could not have elicited any response other than confusion."

Eric had to bite back a laugh. Hunter basically parroted back Eric's words from their earlier conversation during the car ride from Shreveport.

As if Sookie somehow knew this, she whirled around to glare at Eric. He just nodded and smiled pleasantly. He was proud of 'his' boys. Turned out, they didn't need his help after all.

Taking a few measured breaths, Sookie considered her words. Everyone else—including the Hollywood Contingent and Maxine—just waited with bated breath.

"Well, it seems that you are no longer welcome in San Antonio. I'm not saying you two are staying in Bon Temps, but you're clearly not going back there." Her tone was brusque and matter-of-fact as she informed them of this. Catching Hoyt and Hunter exchange a glance that looked suspiciously triumphant, her anger skyrocketed. "However, this was the most fucked up stunt I have ever heard of! You two are not old enough to be traveling cross-state by yourselves. I don't even want to imagine what could've happened. I'm not going to say 'next time,' because I swear to you THERE WILL NEVER BE A NEXT TIME – DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? I WILL END YOU MYSELF," Sookie stopped briefly, taking several deep breaths and allowing her anger and fear to dissipate. "You are smart boys—I know this for a fucking fact—you use better judgment. You should have just told Aunt Linda what's going on. She's an adult. She could've helped you. You don't have to go all…" at a loss for words, Sookie paused, "all emo/loner. You have a fucking family." Sookie's words were breaking up here as her voice caught on her own heavy emotions. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

Contrite, Hoyt and Hunter nodded silently. They looked relieved. Eric flashed them a reassuring smile. Jason seemed to be weighing things in his mind. Tara's eyes were a bit watery. Holy Fuck. Pam's eyes looked a little watery.

Turn away, Northman. Pretend you didn't see it. If Pam thinks you witnessed her being human, it'll just make her want to put a stake in your heart.

Continuing to glance around the dinner table, Eric could see that, for Maxine, missing her AARP bus tour was clearly the best thing to have happened to the woman in years, as she was so enjoying her Stackhouse Staycation. Hmm. Amelia seemed quiet. Pensive. Guarded. Uh-oh.

"Amelia," Sookie started.

Yep, Eric thought.

"You want to explain to me exactly what happened with you today? Not the part about hitching a ride with Pam—although I'm willing to bet my life there's more to that story. I want to know what happened before you left Poly Prep."

Amelia's turn on the hot seat, Eric thought. Here we go.

AN: Dedicated to Alexandra76! THANK YOU FOR READING! Loving the feedback and need ideas for the sequel. Every little bit helps. Thanks. :)