As always to start a massive Thank You to those who reviewed the last chapter. I know I am behind in replying but I really do appreciate each one from those who have recently found the story as well as especially the ones who are there every chapter!

So this Chapter is a day late, and has basically had to be edited and put together by phone, due to my technical issues which has not been fun, its all un-betaed which also means all mistakes are my own, but I hope you enjoy.

Stood in the doorway unnoticed by her, Richard watched Sookie with growing amusement. He found he was smiling as she scrunched up her nose, and tentatively sniffed at a red towel she had pulled from a locker. It seemed to have met her approval, as it quickly joined a bottle of shower gel, and wash bag down on the bench behind her. The locker she was rifling through, he thought must belong to Christopher with the familiar way she hunted for whatever it was she was looking for. His suspicion was confirmed when a pair of black jeans, and a blue t-shirt joined the growing pile of items she had decided was his, to use.

The wet room that took up the bottom corner of Adele's cramped staff changing area wasn't exactly what he had had in mind, when he had voiced his desire for a shower. What he had hoped for was the warmth and comfort of her home. Though old fashioned in layout, and with no doubt less modern appliances than he was used too, he found the old farmhouses bathroom overflowing with the sweet scent that was distinctively Fairy beyond charming. Sookie however, had made her position clear. He could either go to her home alone, or wait out the remaining hours of her shift in his present state. What she didn't realise, was after the events of tonight, he had no intention of leaving her side, not until he could safely hand her over to Eric.

When he had promised her over a week ago that if she stayed safe now, did as she was bid, he would make sure she was there when it mattered for Eric, he had expected to be able to arrange it, so that she didn't step one foot over the state line into Oklahoma. At least not till all threat to her had been removed. Richard was well aware of the extent of the anger he would have faced afterwards from her. How she would have seen it as some kind of betrayal when she had realised what he had done. Yet to have her safe and unharmed, would have made the resentment and distance between them worthwhile.

However, that was last week. Now, he could see no other way than to take her with him when he left for Arkansas in a few days. Eric, when they had spoken less than an hour ago had vetoed the plan immediately upon hearing it. He understandably didn't want Sookie anywhere near any fighting or Oklahoma for that matter. However, with more time to think it over Richard hoped Eric would be pragmatic enough to see they had little other choice, not unless some alternative way to have her guarded could be found.

Eric knew like he did that unlike the trouble Sookie was having, his wasn't orchestrated by Freyda. The origins of the threat to him had to be closer to home. There was no other way so much could be known about his travel details, or security. Unfortunately for them all, what he didn't know was who was behind it or why. This inevitably meant with the three of his children accompanying him to Oklahoma, and Karin already there, there was no one apart from Pam, which could be trusted to stay in Bon Temps with Sookie and her son.

"You look thoughtful…?"

Unwilling to discuss it whilst there were so many opportunities to be overheard Richard shrugged his shoulders.

"I was considering how inappropriate it would be if I asked you to stay, and wash my back?"

Looking up into the handsome face Richard had managed to transform into a perfect picture of innocence, Sookie couldn't help but smile.

"Now, I don't know whether to be more impressed that you know that word exists, or that you somehow manage to grasp the meaning of it?" She teased earning a rich chuckle of amusement in response as she closed the distance between them. He stretched out a hand to capture a lock of her hair between his fingers, and tugged on it playfully.

"With most women I don't. You, however my dearest delight are unlike most women that I have had the pleasure to meet in the past. For starters, I have never been concerned about a woman's wellbeing as I was yours this week, and just so you know, it wasn't an experience I enjoyed."

"Welcome to the world of friendship."

"That won't sit with me, Miss Stackhouse. I believe I deserve some kindness in return."

"I am not washing your back!"

"No minx, I meant you should have taken me to your home! After all, I did nearly die tonight, and yet you still deny me such a small thing like the comfort of your home."

Richard wished back the words the moment they were out of his mouth as he was forced to watch all amusement wash away from her face. Concern quickly took its place, as she frowned up at him in confusion.

"I thought you had been riding the bike?"

There was a shift in the green eyes, and Sookie knew in that moment he was considering whether to lie to her.

"Don't lie… Friends do not lie like that to each other, especially not after I have just defended you to Bill."

"Fine… I was in the car, up until ten minutes or so before the blast. I grew restless, and as both my children were riding as outriders I decided I would join them, and ride the rest of the way here. We were just turning off the highway outside Shreveport; the car was just behind us. When it slowed to take the corner, it happened. I was knocked from the back of my child Aimery's bike. Cuts, grazes aplenty but nothing more serious than a few singed hairs…"

As he had spoken his hand had travelled down to take hers and he squeezed it in apology.

"I shouldn't have joked about it; I was enjoying your smile too much to think. You know you have sounded so unlike yourself this week and Lucian has even described you as quite… docile..."

The look of disgust on his face as he almost spat the word out had her almost smiling again as she shook her head trying to put the pieces together.

"You said Aimery was with you, where is he now?"

"I left him to deal with the police. From there he will head back to New Orleans to investigate what happened, whilst it is assumed I am here enjoying your charms."

"So he will be finding out who knew you were coming here tonight?"

"That and how they managed to gain access to my vehicles… All the guards I have with me in the main residence in New Orleans have been with me or my brother for years."

"So it's the similar to what happened the night of your party. But, what's different is unlike then; it's pretty obvious you weren't expected to survive…"

"You're glad I did though? I believe even Pamela may be, "

"I think we both know what Pam meant was that when you do meet the true death, it should be at her hands and preferably her hands alone!"

"Oh the games you women play… Now, unless you do want to see what you are missing out on, you my dear delight may want to leave… … "

Richard released her hand and when she realised they were heading straight for the button on his jeans she pulled the door shut behind her. His laughter followed her as she made her way back to the office. The Vampire that had come with Richard, who he had introduced as his child Karl was stood leaning against the wall opposite.

"Pam kicked me out of the office,"

He announced, answering the question on the tip of her tongue before she had chance to voice it.

"What did you do to warrant being kicked out?"

Sookie queried, taking the opportunity offered to her to study the Vampire she had barely been introduced to previously. Now he was rid of the helmet it was her first chance to get a real look at Richard's child.

Wavy honey brown hair brushed against the collar of his shirt. It was pushed back from his forehead with his fingers, in what she guessed was a habit he had carried on from his human life, as he was doing so again now. In she supposed his twenties when he had been turned; he had been left with a permanent all over five o'clock shadow that only added to the image she couldn't shake. Karl, reminded her of a character from one of the historical romances she had read years ago, a poet who had pined away after one lady or another. It merged in her mind with the picture of him as a hippie from the sixties, wondering around barefoot. Soulful, was the word that kept running around her head, and that was never a word she had used to describe a Vampire before. Nor was she foolish enough to believe one of Richard's progeny should be taken on face value alone, no matter how lovely that veneer was.

"She said my face annoys her…

"Your face annoys her?"

"Well not in those specific words, but you look too innocent to hear what really came out of her mouth! Pam has quite an extensive vocabulary; I learn something new every time we meet."

Sookie coughed to hide her choke of laughter, and it seemed he took no offence as he smirked leaning his head back against the wall.

"She also has a very long memory when you have pissed her off… It is better my brother has returned to New Orleans, it seems five years wasn't enough to ease her ire."

Sookie was distracted from asking what they had done to Pam as she looked past him to the shop, where a large queue had built up in her absence. The girl serving alone was beckoning to her for help, and with a nod of encouragement Sookie moved forward.

"I'm going to get back to work; I can get you a blood, and keep you out of Pam's way if you want to take a seat?"

She suggested, slightly surprised when he pushed himself from the wall and followed her. It was nearly twenty minutes later before Sookie had chance to look up again, and take in the room around her. Richard and Lucian had joined the table where she had left Karl, and all three were sat heads bent together talking. As if he had felt her watching Richard left the table, and bounded over the counter. He wrapped his arms around her back as he took the familiar position of resting his head on her shoulder. She knew in part it was to put on a show for Gerta and Bill, and the other Area Vampires present, but also so that when he spoke, only she would hear.

"Do you know what amuses me?"

"Annoying people."

"Well that wasn't what I meant, but yes I suppose I do. Like right now when I do this…"

He moved his head so he could kiss her neck

"I know just how much Bill Compton would like to be in my place,"

Sookie didn't need to look over to where he was, to know Bill was watching them. Reaching a hand up, as if she wanted to hold him there she yanked sharply on his hair, as at the same time she stepped back hidden by the counter to stomp on his toes. It wasn't done in Bill's defence, more so to prevent Richard taking it too far. Her actions had no effect other than to make him laugh against her skin, his cool breath causing goose pimples to rise.

"Witch! What, I was going to say was it entertains me that every human here sees me kissing a lady, no doubt a lovely one, in her fifties rather than the beautiful creature I have in my arms. It's almost as if we have the real you all too ourselves,"

He whispered into her ear, and Sookie was shocked to realise she had never really thought of it that way. Nor she realised would she ever want to probe too deep to see what they thought as amusing as it might be at first. She had heard enough of what other people thought of her, to last her the rest of her life without going looking for it.

"You hadn't thought of that had you? Don't you realise how useful it could be to us… It is a pity it can't work on Vampire's … Though thinking about it, you are enough trouble as you are now, without the added difficulty of not knowing from one moment to the next what you looked like."

"Now that would be useful, I may even be able to get some work done. I know Pam kicked Karl out of the office, but did she kick you out too?"

"No, I imagine she is finishing up talking to Oklahoma. Like the good child she is, she is informing her maker of what is going on in his former Area. My Sheriff is busy painting the picture of how I am a diligent, hardworking King, distracted only by what is happening in his Kingdom, and of course with his delicious Fairy telepath."

His voice was a mere breath against her ear and as she stepped back from the counter she turned around to face him. Her face as close to his as was possible without actually touching. Sookie did her best to pay no heed to the threads of the old bond that cried out that a few feet away was Eric. She reminded herself that in a few short hours she would have him to speak too, then it would just be her and him, and she wouldn't have to see Freyda beside him as she would now if she was in the office in Pam's place.

To distract herself instead, Sookie tried to focus on the meaning that lay behind Richards words. The moment she closed off her emotions she realised what he was hinting at, the reason why he needed Freyda to believe what Pam was telling her.

"When?"

"Days,"

When she moved to open her mouth again he shook his head and closed the millimetres of distance between them. To anyone watching it would look as if he was kissing her, but instead with green eyes boring into hers he spoke.

"Not here. You need to speak to Eric first; it will be his final decision on what happens."

"Sookie, can you spare a moment please?"

Pam's voice broke them apart, and Richard apparently knew something that she didn't as he grinned down at her.

"Now I wonder whether you will pull Pam's hair for what she is about to do,"

Poking her tongue out at him much to his delight, Sookie followed Pam as she crossed to where Bill and Gerta were still sat together. They were both looking down intently to where Bill's finger was moving across the screen of the tablet he was holding out. Pam stood tapping her feet until Bill's cool blue eyes rose up to acknowledge them.

"Sheriff, Sookie can I help you with something?"

"Sookie has a problem. A problem only you can help her with!"

"I do?" Sookie asked knowing she now looked just as confused as Bill did.

"Yes you do. Gerta leave!"

"Yes Mistress,"

"Now Bill, as you know there is only room for one Vampire at Sookie's home,"

"Yes?"

"Well the King will obviously want to stay with Sookie. You of course understand that desire, after all you who built the hidey hole in the first place."

"I still don't see what does this have to do with me?"

"The King's progeny will need somewhere to stay,"

"Isn't that the Sheriffs responsibility?"

"It is, and your Sheriff which is me, has decided that Karl and Lucian will stay with you."

Sookie knew Bill was about to refuse, to argue the point until another voice joined the conversation as she looked on helplessly knowing exactly what Bill was imaging. Richard had come up behind them, sitting down in the seat left vacant by Gerta. He lent back so the chair was balancing on the two back legs, looking to Sookie as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"That's not a problem is it Bill?"

"No problem at all your Majesty,"

"Good."

Richard's head dropped back so he was now looking at her.

"Please can we go home now?"

Sookie was grateful Richard had at least given her time after her own shower to wrap a dressing gown around her before he invaded her bedroom. Once again throwing himself down on her bed, seemingly content for the moment to lay there, and watch her as she began to comb out her hair.

"Are you going to stay, and talk with Eric?"

"No, whilst you talk with him I will accompany Karl and Lucian to Compton's. I don't want him to feel neglected by his King after all,"

"More like you will enjoy rubbing his nose in it,"

"That too. He is a sanctimonious bore Sookie, I don't know how on earth you put up with him, but I suppose he has his uses at the moment…"

"Like you do you mean?"

"Oh you are sounding just like Pamela now… You know what that kind of talk does to me,"

"Yuck… Earlier when you said the final decision is up to Eric, what does that mean?"

"I wondered how long it would be before you brought this up…"

"Richard.."

"Okay you win. The plans we had made to go after Freyda, have had to be altered somewhat in the face of what has happened tonight. I have suggested an alternative to Eric, and he wanted some time to mull it over before he spoke to you… I assume he would have also been in contact with Conrad. In fact I expect Conrad will be here or close by within a few days."

As he spoke he pushed himself up and crawled over to the end of the bed where she was sat, his eyes following more closely the strokes of her hairbrush. She was relieved when he made no move to take it from her, or suggest he brush her hair for her but it was then she realised he was watching her so that he didn't have to actively meet her gaze and suddenly she knew.

"You are not leaving me behind. Even if that is what Eric decides I won't stay here alone, and wait not knowing anything… I have to be there for him! You promised me!"

"You wouldn't be alone; Pam has to stay too so she can take care of everything from here. You have to understand Sookie, where you are concerned I can't go against him, I won't do that, so if Eric decides different, then we will have to find another way."

"Is that what you want?"

"What I want is for you to be safe. "

"I will not stay with Conrad if either of you even suggests that… "

Sookie announced and Richard fell back laughing, his grip on her arm pulling her with him so she was laid next to him. He turned so they were face to face and lent forward so he could brush a kiss to the tip of her nose.

"I have never been so fond of someone who is so uncaring of my brother before, it is a novelty to be the favourite …"

There was a bleep from his pocket, and he passed her the phone so she could see the short message from Eric.

"If you need me just call, and if I return before you have finished I will wait outside on the porch."

By the time she had collected the phone Pam had given her to use to contact Eric, Richard was gone and she had the house to herself once again. With a sigh of relief she leant back against the pillows and waited for Eric to answer.

"It has been too long Lover… Have you missed me as I have you?"

The sound of his voice after a week of silence caused her heart to thump in recognition, and closing her eyes she was able to imagine the colours of his void. How it had been in New Orleans when he had lain beside her, and she had been able to sink herself into them. It felt so real she could almost feel him laid next to her.

"Where have you been, has there been some kind of trouble there? I tried ringing…"

"I'm sorry I couldn't speak to you, I wanted to Lover believe me. It was just not possible… I have been doing some probing into the man who seems intent on fucking with me and what is mine. Has there been any more visitors hanging around?"

"Someone came to Merlotte's last night, asking questions about the men Richard killed, but no one has been near the house."

"Sam told you this?"

"He gave me the security footage. Lucian is tracing the car, but there was someone there waiting outside for him. Whoever it was knew the layout of the car park, where the cameras were, and how best to avoid them. The cameras pick up a shadow, that was how Lucian spotted them, but that's all that can be seen…"

"I will arrange for the footage to be emailed to me… Tell me about you now dearest one, what have you been doing?"

"I looked up the colours of your void,"

"Would you care to explain what you have found?" His voice was deceptively innocent, but Sookie was able to picture the satisfied grin on his face as if he was right there in front of her.

"How did you know?"

"Ever since Pam explained the changes in how you were able to sense those of my kind I have been curious to what it might mean. When she realised her and Karin shared a connection I knew it was my blood in you that made that distinction between them, from other Vampires. That though the blood bond we had shared had been removed, my blood still calls out to you as yours does to me."

His voice had lowered a notch in depth, seducing her with its smooth silkiness.

"I feel it now, just as I felt it that first night we spoke and every time since. It was that very pull in my chest which made me decide to do some more in-depth research into your new ability. At first I followed the themes of the reds of my children and Richard, but there was always something missing. So I explored more choices, how I imagined I would possibly see you … It is fitting isn't it?"

"You don't have to sound so smug about it?"

"I'd say I have a lot to be smug about Lover… It is something I look forward to exploring in the future…"

"Eric…"

"I have a feeling this conversation is about to take a turn I will not like so much, you have a particular way of saying my name I do not enjoy."

"I need you to let me come to Oklahoma. You have to let me help you, to be there with you,"

Sookie knew she wouldn't be able to bear it if Eric had Richard keep her here. She understood his need to protect her, but she had that same need to be there for him.

Twenty five years ago she had turned her back on him, no real goodbye nothing. She had allowed him to leave as if the years he had been a part of her life had meant nothing, and she couldn't let history repeat herself.

Tonight Richard had come so close to death, and though if he had been in that car she would have been hurt, she would have missed him, it would compare to nothing of what she would feel, if that happened to Eric.

"I promise that I won't do anything stupid, I won't put myself in any unnecessary danger, I will do whatever Richard asks of me…?"

"And what of what I ask of you Lover? Do you not remember one of the clauses in my marriage contract is that you forfeit your life if you enter Oklahoma? Do you know what Freyda will do If you are discovered? Shall I tell you? I will have to watch you die. Freyda would chain me in silver, and do worst to you than even Neave and Lochlan did, and instead of just feeling you pain I will have to witness it all knowing I was to blame, that I might as well have been torturing you myself... Do you want that for me Sookie? For me to watch the women I love suffer that way?"

Sookie had no defence against the anger and grief in his voice. It was the same as the night he had cried with her after she had awoken from a nightmare. When he had finally explained why it was he wasn't able to come to her after Neave and Lochlan had taken her. How the hours of torture haunted him, just as they had her.

For a long time she stayed silent, lost in the memories until gathering herself she spoke softly.

"I am not as defenceless as I was then."

"And I have already experienced losing you once; I am not prepared to do so again."

"I owe you this."

"You owe me nothing. How many times do you have to be told that? "

"Yes I do."

"Is it so wrong that I wish for you to be safe Lover? Why do you insist on fighting me on this?"

"Because I think you know there is no other way this can be done… Richard would never let me be harmed, look at what happened in New Orleans, he did his best to hide me."

"And you went against his wishes. The same way when he told you stay inside your home only a week ago, you did the opposite, and I doubt that will be the last time it happens. "

"I think you have to trust me… "

She was met with silence, and for a moment she was sure he had hung up. Until the harshly muttered string of what she suspected to be curse words came down the line.

"I will talk with Richard, and Conrad again; there will have to be more provisions in place before I will agree to this..."

As she was about to open her mouth to speak, he cut her dead.

"No more talk of this now, not one word else do I want to hear about it…"

"Do you want me to go?"

Sookie asked tentatively knowing in the past one of them would have already ended the call in frustration.

"No Lover I do not. We have plenty of other things to discuss instead,"

Richard sat on the porch swing tried not to listen to the one side of the conversation he could still here going on inside in the house, to give Sookie some sense of privacy as he waited for her to finish. Instead he allowed the sounds of the night to filter her voice out, as he enjoyed the scent of the Fairy magic her land was charged with.

Sookie joined him there an hour later, curling herself up on the seat beside him. He draped a casual arm around her shoulders as she relaxed against his side.

"Eric wants to talk with you and Conrad again, before he decides … "

"He wants to protect you… Do you know sometimes I am not sure I could ever do what Eric has, to love someone how he loves you. It takes a great deal of trust to give another person that much power over you, especially for a Vampire, it is almost unheard of…"

"My Great Grandfather once said Eric was the perfect Vampire, who's only flaw was me. Well that wasn't how he perceived it personally, apparently to Niall I was the best decision Eric had made in five hundred years but …"

"Niall was right…"

Richard spoke softly in to her hair and Sookie gave a quiet sleepy chuckle.

"You shouldn't let your brother hear you say that,"

"You know it's the blood that flows through your veins he has the problem with rather than so much you personally don't you?"

"The Fairy in me?"

"More the Brigant blood that you were born from, Conrad's history with your family is long, and complicated, too much to go into tonight but I wanted that to be clear to you…"

"Oh… So I suppose when he felt that I was more than he expected in New Orleans it didn't help?"

"No it didn't… "

Richard laughed for a moment staring off into the darkness as if he was remembering something. As it died he looked down at her again.

"Conrad does not believe Niall has sealed all the portals. Or more accurately, that those portals are sealed permanently, that Niall one day will decide to open them once more. Unfortunately in his mind you're a link to Niall and it is well known Niall loved you, that he favoured you… It makes him cautious shall we say…"

"What's the other reason?"

"I don't understand?"

"You said, rather than so much me personally… Which must mean there is something?"

Richard silently cursed himself for ever breaching the subject in the first place. How was it possible to explain that the problem Conrad had personally with her was that he was concerned for his feelings for her. That Conrad feared Richard had grown too close, that he was already too fond of her. If he told Sookie she would pull away from him, she would start to hesitate before approaching him; she would no longer be at ease with his touch, or accept comfort from him, and their friendship would never recover.

"I'm afraid you are hearing things my dear delight; I said no such thing… All you need to remember is that my brother will not harm you…"

"I think you're lying to me, and I don't mean about Conrad harming me."

"Well I think lack of sleep is making you delusional. Come on I'll carry you to your room, maybe Compton is out here, shall we give him a show?"

"Richard!"

Sookie protested and he simply shook his head, his laughter competing with her own.

"Hush woman. Has no one ever told you that you talk too much?"

I leave for a fortnights holiday this weekend, so its doubtful I will be able to update Sunday , but the week after we should be back to normal.