I own nothing to do with True Blood, first. Which is obvious lol.

Thank you all so so much, time and time again for your support in this story. I know I say it a lot every update, I know words are most likely never enough. But, wow, thank you all! You're all so inspiring and amazing, I'm truly touched!

I'm hoping you will enjoy this one?

Love you all so much, thank you! :-) xxx

So sorry for any written errors, also. Argh! I was thinking about having the story run through Sookie's older life (mid-twenties), too. It is initially a Sookie/Eric story, but I think it would make sense to go through her older life also, where Eric will show up now and then and their relationship would take a different course (i.e; Eric using her Faerie skills to her advantage, etc). Hoping that will interest you also :-) Thank you all so much! x

I had all these supernaturals in my house, getting ready for the big battle for my life. It reminded me, funnily enough, of a parent-teacher conference.

There was Alcide, and his pack of wolves, nearing fourteen. There was Mr. Merlotte, my English teacher. And then, there was Eric, who stood by my side like a big blonde shadow.

"Listen, you told me Pam was on our side, right? Well, I think the more people we have here to take the King and Mr. Compton down, the better. I think what I better do is call her. And besides, I know she'll be just dying to see you."

"Pam?"

"Uhm, I don't really know what she is to you. But sometimes, she calls you Master. I think you might be her boss. You both co-own a bar together, called Fangtasia."

"I own a bar?" He was about to ask me more on that, I could tell. But before he could so much as get another word out, I silenced him by placing my fingers on his lips. The fangs popped out, prickling at the tips of my fingers.

"Just tone the intrigue down a second. I'll go call her, and see what's going down. Now where's your phone?"

"Um." He patted around every pocket, until he found something he felt startling. He pulled out an iPhone, top of the brand, which really surprised me. No doubt, Eric had accumulated a whole bank-full of money throughout the years. What with, his enterprising business and all that. "Is this it?"

"Yes, Eric." I took the phone from him, and thumbed through his list of contacts. I learned way more than I ever would have thought possible, in doing so; Clearly, the real Eric thrived on being organized. He had little folders for different contacts, each individually under the category "Were", "Vampire," and "Shifter".

When I delved through his "Vampire" folder, I was a little put-out to find Pam's number wasn't in there. So, I scrolled down the folders again. One folder of contacts, was actually maliciously named "Gold-Digging Whores". Whoa, not even in my right mind did I know you could learn so much about a person, just by looking through their phone. It was madness all around.

One said "Daughter" and, curiosity getting the upper hand, I clicked it. Luckily for me, it was the folder this Pamela was under, so I considered myself lucky. I dialed her number, and was stunned it took her hardly half a second to answer.

"Fangtasia, the bar with a bite," she said, in her awe-inspiring, unmoved voice. "Founded by the virtuous and most handsome man known to the vampire-race, Eric Northman." There was a deliberate pause on her end of the line, and even then I hadn't the slightest idea what to say in response to that. "How does that sound to you?" she went on crisply, when my voice completely and utterly failed me. "Is that enough to give me that well-deserved raise we've been tattling about for the last twenty-five years, or are you looking for something a little more subtle?"

"Uh, Pam?"

"Oh, oopsie-daisy." Another long pause. "This is not the Master calling on his cell phone, is it?" You would have had to be deaf not to hear the cutting disappointment in her voice over that.

"Uh, no. It's Sookie."

"Oh, of course. The smelly Faerie breather, how could I forget?" I tried my mighty hardest not to get insulted by that. Anyhow, I knew she meant well, in her Pam-ish way. "What can I do for you, girl?"

I didn't know how to ask it without coming off as rude, or presuming. "Um. You've seen what was broadcasted on the news, right?"

"Oh, did I ever."

I decided to take that as a confirmation. "Well, you probably already gathered as much, but... Eric's here. In my Grandmother's house." When everything was an unnerving silence on her end, I expanded my reason into calling the way I was. I was guessing she needed it, anyhow, if her still silence was anything to go by. "In my Gran's house, where the King is apparently sending people to ban together and come for me. Now, I don't know if you see it exactly the same way I do, but that puts everyone in danger here, including your Eric. We're kind of in need of your help here."

"Oh, sure. I'll just pop on over and who knows? Maybe we'll end up being the best of friends, and we'll listen to Justin Bieber on replay, and hell, maybe we'll even take turns in braiding each other's hair."

"Ouch," I breathed out nervously. Clearly she didn't have much faith in my generation one bit. How rude of her to make assumptions like that; Not all of us teenage girl's could be molded together, no more than vampires of different ages could. And, excuse me, but I wasn't that amateur.

"Seriously, little girl. Put Eric on the phone," she demanded steadily. "This is a grave matter discussed between two mature adults."

I glanced over at Eric, who was watching me with unblinking blue eyes. I mulled over whether I ought to have done what she requested or not; No doubt, she'd be plunged into a deep shock over how much Eric had changed and softened up due to this curse falling onto him. I found that more amusing than I ought to have.

"Sure," I said happily. "I'll just put him on for you."

"Jolly good, little girl," she murmured sarcastically.

I passed the phone down to Eric, who clutched it tightly in one of his big hands and stared down at it uncertainly, like he somehow believed had he stared at it long and hard enough, the phone might magically sprout wings before his very own eyes. I imitated bringing the phone up to my ear, miming with my hands. He nodded curtly in understanding, then finally cradled it between his left ear and jaw.

"H-hello?" He sounded so uncharacteristically nervous that I almost got the giggles just simply by imagining what was going through Pam's head on the other end of the line at the sound of it.

There was a loud squabble on the other end of the line and then Eric was wincing and pushing the phone back into my hands.

"Yes, Pam?"

"What the fuck have you done to Eric?"

"He's not himself lately," I managed apprehensively, going for simplicity. I knew she'd very much appreciate it at a time like this.

"No shit," she said, in a very disgusted tone. "He almost sounds like a babbling tween."

"Wow," I gasped, surprised. "You can actually tell all that, just by hearin' his voice on the phone?" I was amazed.

"Of course I can. I know my Master well. This is a disaster."

I hesitated, unsure. "So, does that mean you'll come then?"

"I'll be there in at least twenty minutes," she answered, and I knew she was being honest. She obviously cared about Eric a whole lot, in her own way. "Oh, just so I know. How different is he really?"

I considered Eric in silence for several minutes. Did she mean aesthetically, or mentally? Hell, if I know.

"A whole lot different," I replied, after a long moment of careful consideration. "More mentally, than anything else, I think."

"Oh." Her voice was low and downtrodden. "So by different, you don't mean a mere shorter haircut and a moustache?"

Vampires get haircuts and grow moustaches? Well, I'll be damned. "Um, no."

"A real fucking pity. Well, I'll be there."

"Great, Pam." I felt so relieved. "And, just so you know, I'm real thankfu-" And then, she hung up. It took me a moment to recover from the hurt I felt over such a thing happening to me. But really, what did I expect?

0

"Well, you sure do know how to have a party," Pamela remarked, soon as she got here, when her eyes took in all the men huddled in Gran's living room. "Is that Were and Shifter I smell? I think I might just vomit." At that comment, I didn't know whether to laugh, or to take her literal word for it.

In my awkward indecision, I even thought about being polite in showing her where the toilet was for when she really was gonna throw up, but that thoughtful idea kinda went down the drain when her eyes focused on Eric, who was standing among the men in the living room, looking all sorts of out-of-place and confused.

Really, he stuck out like a sore-thumb though. He was certainly about the most tallest man in the modest confines of Gran's living room, with Alcide coming in a very close second. He was visibly wary of his surroundings and all the men, and that made my heart flop painfully in pity.

"My God," Pamela groaned out loudly in disgust, and when I turned to look at her again, she had a manicured hand tightly clasped over her mouth, her blue eyes wide as saucers. I definitely got the feeling her comment on vomiting was something to be taken seriously, then. "What is he wearing? This is so beyond him, it's nauseating. How could he let himself go so cheaply?"

The way Pam said it, like it was something so scandalous, you'd think Eric was waltzing 'round the living room in nothing but a red thong. I felt a surge of heat all over at the thought.

I contemplated him with my eyes again over her words; I couldn't see eye-to-eye with her opinion at all. If anything, Eric was casually dressed for the occasion. Besides, it seemed a bit unrealistic for him to be wearing anything fancy when we were all probably about to get creamed in a fight against Russell Edgington and his men. Surely, we all had more pressing things to be concerned about, than fashion at this moment in time.

He was dressed neatly in one of the biggest track suit jumpers that belonged to my brother I could find, and a pair of denim shorts, barefooted. The jumper was usually baggy on my brother Jason, but on Eric, it fit super snug and tight, giving that athletic, cut body of his due justice. I didn't think he looked that bad at all. If anything, that was an impossibility in my eyes.

"I mean, a haircut would have been tolerable. But wearing those," she went on, showing no effort to hide her outrage, "He's more damaged than I previously thought. I wonder if I'll have enough time to duck out and get him some designers," she mused thoughtfully.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes, because she was making such an unnecessary fuss.

"Oh, well. I'm sorry, Pam, if designer clothes are a bit out of my price range," I murmured dryly through my teeth.

She went on as if she hadn't heard me speak, and did a preening thing in straightening out the lapels on the bright pink business blouse she was wearing. Then she readjusted her skirt, pulling it midway to her slender white thighs immodestly in a way that shocked me, and without further ado, she was off prancing over to where he stood all by his untalkative, cautious lonesome.

I had a good enough set of ears that I noticed how all the men seemed to falter in casual conversation marginally at the entrance of her in all her pristine, female vampire glory. It was almost as if they hadn't seen a female vampire in the flesh before. I caught this Alcide exchanging a glance with his girl Debbie. Boy, not only did this Pam lady know how to cut a man down to rightful size, but she also knew how to make an earth-shattering entrance into a room.

My breath hitched in my throat, when she at true last met Eric. I felt a little miserable for her- hell, more than just miserable- when she stepped right in front of him, eyeing him with palpable anxiety, like she believed he would come as a threat to her somehow.

He looked heartbreakingly frightened, when she did a Maker's bow in lowering her head. I saw, in quick procession, her expression turn into one of deep upset, when he swept his eyes across the room frantically. And, once they settled on me in the hallway, I noticed the tension left his body in a startling way. This Eric was mighty dependant on me, that was absolutely clear.

He patted her swiftly on the shoulder and I felt so sad for dear Pam, when he slinked away from her like a desperate person. He came to me in a quick, urgent stride.

"Lover." His voice was a scared whine. "I don't know these people. Why am I expected to associate with people I don't know? I only want to be with you."

I couldn't quite face looking him directly in the eyes. Or bring myself to look at Pam, for that matter. She cared for him so much and, just the act of him walking away and shaking her off like she was a bad smell, I could tell it was bound to have hurt her severely. And justifiably so. I could only just half imagine what she were going through, because I was sort of going through a similar situation myself, with Jason.

"You do know her, Eric," I said, trying to keep as calm for him as possible. I was aiming for some of that calmness to rub off on him somehow, just with how he had managed to project his anger onto me due to this pledge-thingy. "You've known her far longer than you've known me. Give her a chance, she needs it from you right now."

His eyes darted back over to her again. Poor Pam. She was standing alone in the very same place she had briefly talked to him seconds ago, and her hands were clutched over her stomach, like she had just been socked with a fist. I noticed her thin shoulders were trembling a second later.

"I don't want to be near this woman," he said, moving fractionally closer into my side, while he scrutinized her nervously. "I don't know her at all."

"Eric, you're real special to her." Unfortunately, I didn't quite know what they had together, or understood it all that better either.

"In fact, I don't like any of these people. They smell." He said the bizarre statement, so casually, that I had to contain myself from smiling stupidly.

"Well, there you go," I whispered up at him, trying to make light of the whole affair. "Pam said it smells so bad, she could vomit. You both share the same opinion, so go talk to her about it." I placed my hand on his back, and gave him an encouraging push. Too bad for me, it didn't serve me any good. He didn't move an ounce, he was just too heavy.

"No," he said harshly, utterly argumentative. "I will not. I will stay by your side, and I will never leave it."

Seeing him like this, it was a little terrifying and worrisome. I knew he was just simply feeling insecure and like he didn't belong in the room, because when his memory had been swiped, he also lost all those fundamental parts within himself that told him who he could trust, and who he couldn't. But, come on. This was Pamela, she co-owned his bar with him. If he couldn't trust her, then who the heck could he trust?

I could tell their separation was tearing her apart and, honestly, it just made me hate myself all the more. I sure as hell would not be able to live with myself, had I ever ruined the good thing they had. So, to say my mind was sorely fixed on repairing the thing between the two, was a major understatement.

"Oh, geeze. Would it make you feel any better if I walk over there with you?" I asked hopefully.

"I am not a child," he said indignantly. My eyes widened. That was about the closest I'd ever come to the real Eric in days. And then, his face cracked slowly into embarrassment. It was ever so... endearing, really. He brought his eyes down to look at me. "Actually, yes. I would much like that."

"All righty, then." I was feeling even more cheerful by the minute. "Let's get on over there."

His mouth set into a solemn frown, when he took my hand and whisked me along with him into the room, his body oddly enough angled to one side, shielding me. He was in protective mode yet again, I think I gathered as much.

Almost like she had sensed his presence behind her, Pam gave out a long sniffle before turning around. Her eyes fell on me, bleak and drained. "So, it is true? He really doesn't remember a single thing?" She looked on the verge of weeping, but she held it in with admirable restraint.

I gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'm afraid so. But his Maker Godric says it'll hopefully pass soon, it's not like it's forever," I added, trying to cheer her up as much as possible. "Before you know it, he'll be his old self again. It's just gonna take some... patience." I really didn't know whether I'd done a decent enough job of consoling her, but she gave me a stiff nod. Guess that was the closest I was ever gonna get in gratefulness.

There was an awkward silence shared between the three of us, and then a masculine voice was breaking through it. "Hey," a man called, and I think we all about turned at the same time towards the source of it.

Alcide.

"Sorry to interrupt, just thought it'd be better to make proper introductions."

This was such a supernatural mingle-mixer, if I ever saw one.

"This is my Debbie," he said, gesturing down at the woman who was like a permanent fixture to his body.

"Oh hey, ya'll," she grinned good-naturedly. She was quite the pretty woman, long and lean, wearing a leather jacket and tight jeans, with red sneakers. I could tell her and Alcide were deeply in love. At least, it appeared that way to me. Debbie's appearance aside, I just didn't quite know how to take her. Somethin' about her seemed a little... off. I think I about got the gist of it a second later, when she outstretched a hand with chewed, bitten-down fingernails and shook mine.

It rippled through my ears so suddenly, it took me a minute to recover. "Mmmm, tall, blonde and vampire. Bet he'd have a lot of blood on him to spare, being as big as he is." She ran her tongue over her top lip, as her light green eyes flitted over to Eric. She was openly ogling him and admiring him in a hungry way that set me on fire, for some reason. "Bet he'd taste so fuckin' good, too. He certainly looks yummy enough. God, if I could just get him alone for at least five min..." I pulled my hand away and rubbed the side of my face. While I didn't quite understand what she was getting at with what I'd just heard, I knew it wasn't for reasons all that good.

Still, I pushed all my uneasiness aside for the sake of being the polite, good girl my Granny raised and loved best. "Hi there. I'm Sookie. Pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, really? Huh." Her eyes ran down my body, in a very critical way. Her thin pencilled-in eyebrows rose. "So, you're the Sookie my Alcide's been obsessively talkin' 'bout, huh?"

Alcide looked nervous, and if he could have, I believed he would have blushed. "Deb, cut it out."

"Oh, don't you tell me to cut it out," she snapped back through her teeth, in such an angry way. I never knew such anger could be directed at someone you supposedly loved so much. I guess, looks can be very deceiving, then. "Our relationship would be picture-perfect if we had children, but no! You said you don't like children, and yet, here you are, actively goin' out of your way to fight for one!"

Well, that rubbed me up the wrong way. And she sure as hell was about to know it. Luckily, Eric was gripping my shoulder so tight and clinging to me, it prevented me from getting out of line and saying something in defense that I might have well and truly come to regret later.

After all, she was here with the rest to fight against Mr. Edgington and his clan. I had to feel appreciative, all the same, despite how out of line she was to me.

"Debbie, she's just a girl. Of course, she needs someone lookin' out for her." Alcide was glowering down at her, shaking visibly. "You saw the news, all right? I'll be damned if I let those fangers hurt a child."

"And, so what?" she hissed out through her teeth venemously. "That means that we can't have one?"

My God. Clearly supernatural relationships were a lot more complicated than at first-glance. Then again, I think relationships were complicated in general, whether that person be human, Were, or not.

"Debbie, we're not havin' this talk in front of-"

"-Why the fuck not?" She stomped her feet, in a very childish way.

And then, Pam said, "I know you," so out-of-the-blue, it killed their argument once and for all.

I raised my eyebrows, looking between Pam and the Debbie woman curiously. Debbie had went about as red in the face as the color of her sneakers.

"Yes, she's my woman," Alcide said, in a puzzled kind of way.

"Two months ago. In Fangtasia," Pam went on, in a coolly impersonal tone. "I never forget a face. It's stored here, right in my vault." She tapped a finger against her forehead to prove it. "In fact, I caught you in the bathroom. Had a nice evening frolicking with one of the vampire regulars, did you, honey?"

Although I couldn't understand much of it, I knew it wasn't anything all that good.

This Alcide looked terribly shocked as he peered down at Debbie, like she'd grown two heads. Then, in a way that had me feeling a little crushed for her, he shoved her away forcefully. Her eyes started welling over with tears.

"This true, Debbie? You went into vampire territory?"

"N-no, baby," she laughed anxiously. Her voice didn't sound very convincing. At least, not as much as Pam's. "Why would I even go to some shitty place belonging to fangers? You know I'd rather get caught dead." Her eyes turned accusing, as she gave her Alcide a hard once-over. "I'm insulted that you would even think such a fuckin' thing, let alone believe a fanger! Don't you love me, huh? Ain't I good to you?" Her voice broke on the last part, and it made me feel terrible.

"If you were any good to me, you would have stayed outta there!" Alcide retorted, his gruff voice shaky in all types of betrayal, and shock. "I am packmaster, and you are my woman! Now what the fuck am I supposed to say to them, now that my woman's gone against orders in such a way?"

"She's lying, baby." She turned her eyes onto Pam, and the hatred blistering in them shook me. Pam was coolly unaffected and hardly wavered at all underneath that malicious look aimed at her. "She's just jealous, because what we got here, is amazing and real!"

"Oh, please," Pam laughed, in a very fangy way. "Spare me the jealousy card. What bullshit."

"You know what, I've had enough shit for one night, Debbie." Alcide's voice had turned strained, and exhausted. "Let's just hope the King gets here soon. Because once he gets here, God knows... I have a lot of energy and anger to roll with here. I'm ready to kill me some fuckin' assholes!"

"Baby, please," Debbie sobbed, leaping out to grab her man by the elbow. He shook off, rippling with anger.

"Look, Deb. We'll get to it later. As for now, I think it's about time we go over some ground rules here."

Her face closed in on anger and, boy, her eyes shifted and changed color. They turned into a glowing, luminescent yellow, and that disconcerted me deeply. Clearly, this Debbie wasn't as human as I'd thought.

Hell, maybe I was the only human girl here?

"All right everybody, listen up," this Alcide called, in a strong voice, going into serious packmaster mode. "You see this girl standing here?" At that, everybody fell silent and I had at least over twenty eyes on me. It was a little scary, to say the least. "This girl is Sookie, the one those two vampires on live television were talkin' about. And, as you full well know, we're here for her this evening."

There was an excited murmur of greeting.

"What are you?" a long-haired man had the gall to ask, making me nervous. A few other men close to him nodded, like they were wondering the same thing.

"Uh, I'm a... a Faerie." Still, it was so hard to acknowledge, especially to a room full of supernaturals. To my horror, everyone's looking turned curious and astonished.

"You're a Faerie?" Alcide repeated, unable to hide his bewilderment. "Never heard of it."

"Yes. I know, it's a surprise, isn't it?" I tried, unsuccessfully, in making humour out of the whole thing. My voice failed me, and I sounded all shy and scared. "I feel all human myself!"

Several people grunted. Eric, in a way he felt necessary, stepped right in front of me. His fangs were out, and he was meeting all those eyes 'round the room with challenging looks. He put his hands on my shoulders, and drew me in more closely to his side. The act alone, had his actions screaming that I was his to protect and look out for. He might as well had written She's My Faerie Girl, All Mine on my forehead. He stroked the back of my hair, and I hated it. I felt all awkward and stiff just being held near him the way I was. His possessiveness was crazy mind-boggling.

"Yes, and she's the Master's girl," Pam went on brightly, like as if with Eric's action alone, all these men hadn't the smarts to get that.

"Well, all right," Alcide muttered, once he got through the initial shock of it all. "Let's all lay this out carefully, shall we?" All of his packmen turned to look at him, giving him their most undivided attention. I couldn't help but thinking he must have been a great leader. "No doubt, what they put on the news, the whole parish of Bon Temps has heard about it. They all know the King wants this little girl before sunrise, and I'd be willing to bet a hundred dollars some humans will be coming for her also. That puts not only the King and Compton as our enemies, but some humans in the mix also. They wouldn't like their Mayor's life in jeopardy like this, so they'd be wanting to get her too."

Oh, great. Now that was a bigger problem within itself. I hated the thought that some humans would probably get killed, all because of me.

"That also means, we gotta deal with this thing a little more sensitively. I sure as hell do not want us slaughtering humans, even if they are here with the intentions of harming little Sookie. That goes against what we are, and what we stand for. So, we come across a human in the middle of a battle, what do we do?"

It reminded me of a class of high-school students, with the way Alcide was actively trying to get people involved.

"We get them outta the way?" One Were with pock-marked cheeks asked uncertainly.

"Ace on that, Milton," Alcide praised. "We get them out of harms way. We push them aside and focus on our main goal here, and that is taking down Russell Edgington, all the vampires in his group, and Mr. Compton."

"And some Weres," a man pointed out confidently, somewhere near Eric. I couldn't see him past Eric, since Eric was so tall the way he was. "I know for a fact, that the King has some Weres as part of his allegiance."

"He has Weres?" Seemed it was shocking news for Alcide to swallow. "Well, clearly they ain't like us. We take them out, if need be. I'm thinking, once the King arrives, we try for a little negotiation here. We try to get him to see reason, and if not, worse case scenario and that all falls through, we go in for the kill."

"Hope he ain't open to negotiate," another man said excitedly. "This will be a battle we ain't had the pleasure of experiencing in fifteen years! I'd love to kill me some ugly fangers!"

"That makes two us, bud," another man cackled, and he stepped forward to knock his knuckles against the waiting man's ones, in manly agreement.

Both Eric and Pam stiffened at that. They were the only two vampires in the room, aside from Godric, who was... I peered past Eric, searching through the faces. Godric was nowhere to be found.

"Eric, where's your Maker?" I asked, unsettled by his absence something deeply.

Eric looked around too. "I don't know."

"Didn't he come out with you after sundown?"

"I don't know, lover," he hissed again, full of agitation.

"You think he's all right?" Boy, I hoped he was.

"I don't know." Clearly, that was all I was gonna get from Eric tonight, and that answer didn't help me one bit.

"How many people you think Russell Edgington has?" Another man spoke up curiously.

"Not too sure about that. I have a hunch that we'll be out-numbered," Alcide said, his face darkening. "That don't matter, though. Not if we fight, and fight hard. Which we will," he added, with more confidence in his words.

"When they supposed to be gettin' here?" Another man asked. The questions were incessant.

"Judging by what they said on the television, I'd say anywhere between now and one in the morning."

"How we go 'bout this?" More damn questions.

"Well, one of us has to stay with Sookie, at all times." Alcide gave me a sharp, stern look. "That means, Sookie, you stay in safe range at all times. We can't be havin' you by yourself to be grabbed at, not for a single damn minute."

"That is no problem," Eric spoke up, sounding all types of calm and determined. "I will stay by my wife's side and loyally fight for her, whether I meet the death or not."

More than a pair of eyebrows flew up at that.

It took Alcide a moment to gather himself. I knew it was all because of Eric calling me his wife, which was so crazy for even me to take in, especially in front of a room of people. "Well, all right. That solves that dilemma, then. Sookie, you stay with your... husband?" He gave me a questioning look at that, disbelieving, "At all times, no matter what. No acceptions, all right?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Great, as for now," he turned to Debbie meaningfully. Poor girl was hunched over, gripping at her knees, like standing was even painful for her after the fight they'd just had. "Debbie, go out to our truck, and gather some gear." He turned to Eric and Pam. "We thought of bringing a few bottles of True Blood over, in order for you both to get your strength up. Figured, we'll all be needing all the help we can get on this one." He turned his eyes onto his pack of men. "As for my men, we'll all remain like this, until the King arrives for the showdown. We won't change before then. So, all of you, don't. Besides, this house is too small. I ain't want so much as a single thing broken or out of place, you hear?"

I breathed out a sigh of relief at that. Last thing I needed, was anything of Gran's broken in the house.

"Debbie," he said, fixing an angry look on her. "You heard what I said. Go fetch those bottles now."

"Come with me, baby?" It was more like hesitant request, than anything. Alcide considered for a moment, looking way against it. And then, with that hopeful and soft look on her face, he visibly melted. Seemed she was the only one weakness in his life.

"All right, baby," he sighed, and opened his burly arms out to her. "Get over here." In a way that made me feel kinda giddy, she laughed sadly, and ran to embrace him. He pushed his chin on the top of her scalp and held her close, muttering things I couldn't hear from where I stood. They sounded awfully tender, and she blushed like a teenage girl. It was quite touching, though. A little make-up moment after some lover's tiff gone wrong.

They left out of the house together, holding hands. Debbie looked visibly peaceful, and I swear she was almost glowing with love. How nice.

"How are you feeling in regards to all of this, lover?" Eric asked, bringing me out of my hazy moment of awed speculation, his voice thick with nerves. That surprised me.

The old Eric was hardly concerned about anyone's feelings. He'd made it very clear on me that feelings were something foreign to him, something he hadn't the heart within him to have. How he had shown me now, in so many ways with this curse that what I had believed for him, deep down, in actuality, was true. He did have feelings and personal attachments to people, he just didn't like anyone knowing it and making him feel all vulnerable. Which, was just all kinds of stupid, if you really thought about it.

"Are you frightened?" The expression on his face wasn't helping me any, when he asked it. I had to drag my eyes away and look elsewhere across the room.

He looked so forlorn, like he was highly aware that the end was coming. For who, I hadn't the slightest idea. I guess, since we weren't sure what we were fighting against at this point and just how much of a rapport the King Vampire had gathered in the hours following his threatening video message on live T.V, it was anybody.

Besides, I knew there was bound to be some lives lost in the midst of it all. And the aching awareness settling in my throat once again, that this was all my fault- that they were all battling it out because of me- just made me feel all the more accountable and sad.

"Frightened doesn't even begin to cover the half of what I'm feelin' right now, Eric."

"I will be with you, every step of the way. I will not leave your side."

His arm went around me. His actions were one big surprise to the next, and the next. This cursed Eric was just a bucket load of unexpected surprises.

"I will protect you, lover," he whispered, his voice strong with profound conviction. "If anyone so much as lays one hand on you, they will be quivering in fear."

But there rested the problem within itself; I didn't want him to feel as if he needed to protect me and stand by me, as every second ticked by once the King and Bill Compton made their arrival to get to me. I didn't want anyone feeling they had to protect me, at all. I wanted to protect myself, because... surely, I was capable enough. I had my flashlight fingers now and while I didn't have the best control on them, I had this hope held in an iron clasp that they would make their appearance just at the perfect moment.

"I don't want anyone feelin' as though they're obligated to protect me, Eric." My voice was a heavy sigh filled with the despair I felt over the whole thing. "Surely, everyone has their own well-being to think about. I don't want anyone putting me before themselves, all right? I know you mean well by saying that and all, and its mighty sweet of you, and I'm super grateful. But it just... it only makes me feel worse about everything."

"Then I am not doing this for you. I am doing this for myself and my own feelings."

"Oh, really? Your own feelings?" Now that was the grandest falsehood, if I ever heard one. Eric Northman, discussing so openly to me, on feelings? Too weird.

It made me feel even worse, because it just illustrated how much so this Eric was unlike his real self. And I had grown to very much enjoy this Eric; He was a whole lot of uncomplicated, defensive fun, in his own right. It just made it all the more tragic accept that, once this curse was well and truly broken, he'd be the other Eric. The one who made a big point of hiding his feelings. The one that was ultra defensive, and viewed feelings and even so much as talking about them, as something weak.

"Yes. I know why I am doing this now, why I am so willing to protect you. I know why where you were, before, felt like home to me now."

"You do?"

"Yes, lover. I have feelings for you."

I almost cried at that, because really, that was about as un-Eric as he could get.

"You have feelings for me?" I repeated, completely disbelieving.

"Yes." He looked down at me, and held me closer. There was such honesty in his face, and in his voice. "I have feelings for you, in the way a father loves his daughter."

Well, that kind of killed the moment. But hey, what did I expect? It was better than nothing. Besides, how else could Eric have feelings for me? Anything else than that, would have been super wrong for a girl my age. I could accept it, and I could appreciate those words for what they were worth. "Well, that's nice," I whispered, all breathy with flattery. "You're not too bad yourself, when you're like this. All nice and... sweet." Too bad it'll never last forever.

I had completely forgotten about Pam, until she spoke next. "Oh, god. Get a room, you two oversensitive tweens. This is disgusting. I think I am well and truly gonna puke."

"I apologize if my words offend you," Eric said to her, in an icy cold voice. "I only speak them true."

"All I know is, I cannot wait until the old Eric gets back. The old Eric, who is more concerned about lays and cheap thrills. This Eric is so particularly dull, and once he hears about this, he won't ever be able to live it down."

Eric slowly- and reluctantly, I might as well add- separated himself from me to look Pamela in the eye. "Are you my child?" he asked, astonished.

She beamed up at him, showing fangs. "As a matter of fact, I am Master."

Well, took him long enough to figure that out. Geeze.

Someone grabbed me by the shoulders, pulling me away from the pair. It was only Mr. Merlotte, thank goodness. I hadn't known he was still here. For some reason, I assumed had phased back into Gran's cat again.

"This house is filthy. You think your Grandmother would be proud to see it all go downhill this way?"

"What are you gettin' at, Mr. Merlotte?" The words came out more louder and wounded than I had intended. He almost reminded me of Gran and all those times she had demanded I go clean my room, which got me upset like all hell.

"Hey, now. Don't get all upset on me." He gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm just sayin', you've let the house go." I let Mr. Merlotte shove me into the direction of the kitchen, away from all the supernaturals in my living room. He steered me over towards the kitchen and I got then, what he was hinting. Oh, boy. Was it obvious to him? How embarrassing! He opened the door, and gestured towards the foul-smelling food decomposing in the vegetable tray. "Come on, Sookie. I know you're a heck of a lot brighter than this. Show me so."

Yes, so all the vegetables Gran had brought were rotten and mouldy. Some old bowls filled with week-old left-overs could use some throwing out into the garbage, too. But come on! I had a whole bunch of supernatural people in my living room, not to mention a King, who sent out a death threat on live television to the whole parish of Bon Temps for my head. Surely, I had other things to be worried about, than the state of Gran's house right now.

"Well, let's get to it." He clapped his hands together, trying to sound all business-like and enthusiastic. Quite the lousy performance. "We got some work to do. Let's start right here in the kitchen, then work our way 'round, all right? What do you say, Sookie?"

"Why are you even bothering with this, Mr. Merlotte? I could be dead in just a few hours. What difference will any of this make, if the house is spick and span?"

He dared to look a little pained over how carelessly I could talk of my own death. Still, I had to be accepting of it all, because any second now... things could change. This Russell Edgington could be bursting in at any minute, putting all this business into motion.

"Oh, darlin'." Like Mr. Merlotte believed it'd console me in some way, he patted me on the shoulder. "It'll make all the difference in the world. And, you know what they say 'bout a bit of spring cleaning..." He trailed off meaningfully, looking around the kitchen. "Hey, where does your Grandmother usually put the garbage bags?"

I didn't say anything, nor did I move a single step. I just stared at him blankly, while he walked around Gran's kitchen, opening and closing cupboards, peeking around.

"What do they say about spring cleaning, Mr. Merlotte?" I decided then, I wanted all the reassurance and distraction I could get from what was, no doubt, coming for me in a several hours time.

"Come on, Sookie," he said briskly, taking on the voice he used as a scolding, stern English teacher at school. "They say that spring cleaning does wonders for the mind and works at beating stress. Now let's get to it."

I couldn't say that I was as eager as Mr. Merlotte seemed to be. But I threw myself into it, regardless. And, turned out, Mr. Merlotte sure was right. Mr. Merlotte was tossing all the rotting food away into a garbage bag, while I strutted around the kitchen, with a bucket and a few old rags, wiping down the kitchen table, while I thought things over and listened carefully at the noise that was going on in the next room.

Boy, I hoped Pam and Eric were talking it out. Not about any of this impending business with Mr. Edgington and Mr. Compton, but about whatever relationship it is they had. It kind of concerned me to see Pam so distressed and shaky the way she was, in reaction to Eric. I could only pray that he was being more open to her, and kind now.

All of a sudden, I had a dismal idea. I knew it was bound to be a silly one, but it was bound to work well for my own protection. After all, since everyone else would no doubt be too busy in the fight, it didn't seem fair to expect everyone else to keep close watch on me when they probably would have their own lives to be looking out for. Besides, I thought it was mighty creative of me.

Leaving Mr. Merlotte downstairs in the kitchen, I treaded my way upstairs onto the second floor. I went into Gran's room, and at first, the realization that she were dead truly hit home once again, to the point where I felt like I was about to cry. Her room had been left in its state she had left it in, before her death.

The purple covers on her bed were folded down, like just at the point of her death, she was getting prepared to go to sleep beforehand. Her dresser, stashed with her square oak jewellery box of rings and necklaces and pearl clip-on earrings, was left open in its neatly arranged condition. Gran took great pride in her jewellery collection; Sometimes, on rare occasions, she'd sit there in her chair and polish them, 'till they looked brand new and sparkling.

Too bad for all Gran's hard work. I was going to get her necklaces and rings severely messy. All dripping with blood and vampire gore.

Gran favored silver over gold. Now it all came together like a miraculous blessing. How convenient!

I slipped on her most favorite ring; a four carat diamond stunner on a thick silver band. Then, I gathered all her long necklaces - silver, of course- and slung them over my neck. Luckily, some threads of silver chain were big enough they slung over my shoulders. Some, were more smaller chained in length, and they wrapped loosely around my throat wonderfully. I evaluated my look in the mirror, and almost laughed at my reflection staring back at me.

I well and truly looked like a silver wielding teenage gangster. I was now a vicious vampires walking, talking nightmare in chains. I was a moving vampire repellant.

Now, any of Russell Edgington's vamps, as well as Mr. Compton himself, would instantly be taking note to steer clear. It was somewhat relieving to know I didn't have to rely on the allies on my side so much. I could well and truly look after myself, with not putting someone else on my side in harm's way.

When I got back downstairs into the kitchen, Mr. Merlotte stopped with what he was doing, to give me a closer look. He looked astonished, and full of awe, which was nice. It made me feel good.

Mr. Merlotte grunted something at me inaudibly.

"I beg your pardon?" Mostly, I was waiting for him to say it, out-loud and clear on me. Well, I was expecting someone to say it, for once; For someone to fully acknowledge how imaginative I was for a girl my age. At least, I felt I deserved someone singing my praise for all the smart initiative I had taken, in all my resourceful intelligence. See, even though I was a fifteen-year-old, I still knew when it was time to get dirty, and when to play hard, fast, and mean.

Old Eric would have definitely been left choking on his hurtful words.

"Now this," Mr. Merlotte whispered, shaking his head in bewilderment. Surprising me, he gripped my shoulders and gave me a little playful shake. "This is why I consider you one of my top students. So creative, I fuckin' love it, Sookie. You're gonna give this Russell Edgington hell!"

"Well, I sure hope so," I said, feeling pleased as punch over his outright praise in me.

Just at that moment, there was a loud commotion in the living room. I think Mr. Merlotte looked about as scared as I did, then. We ambled out way into the room, and at first, everything looked so serene and nice.

Pam and Eric had gotten their bottles of True Blood, thanks to Mr. Alcide. They were sitting on the couch, drinking. They both about had the same expressions on their faces, like twins, and they made their dislike for synthetic blood well-known to whoever watched them as they drank it.

"Shit's going down, for real," Alcide said frantically. It took me a moment to find him through all the men in the living room and, when I did, he was standing by the window, hunched down low, peeking out the corner of Gran's blinds.

Everyone was thrown into a state of panic, then. Poor Pam sloshed a bit of True Blood over her skirt, while Eric rose from his seat and came to me faster than you could cry "Help."

"How many?" One man asked, sounding excited for reasons beyond me.

Alcide was quiet for all of a minute, counting out whatever was waiting outside in his head. "There's at least six wolves. Eight vamps, not including Russell Edgington and Compton. Roughly around seven humans and, oh fuck!"

I think about everyone was holding their breath over Alcide's haunting description. Eric was holding my hand tight.

"What, baby?" Debbie asked, all shaky. Still, not shaky enough that she couldn't help a grin.

"They got a whole lot of Shifters with them, too. A few panthers. A few horses."

Horses?

Well, now. I almost burst out laughing hysterically. I mean, horses? Really? What were they gonna do? Trample us down or something? Too funny!

"Oh, shit." Boy, Alcide was all jumpy tonight. "Compton's making a move." Hardly a second later, there was a scary knock on the front door.

Alcide looked fiercely determined, as he gathered up a group of his grungy-looking men. "Come on. We're heading out there to see what he wants. When I make the signal, change, all right boys?"

"You got it, pal," the three men said in ecstatic unison.

I stepped forward. Eric grabbed the back of my shirt.

"I'm comin', too," I said, determined as all hell.

"Fuck no, you ain't," Alcide said, in a very scary angry voice. He was almost shaking all over, in anger. Every part of him was rippling. "I told you, you gotta stay right here. You can't let yourself get into the line of fire so easily, all right?"

"But he killed my Grandmother," I kept up strongly. "I think I have a right to talk to him. And besides, he can't come in my home. Their invitations been revoked." Some smart thinking on Eric's part, really.

"Fine then," Alcide gave in, his voice a quiet growl of reluctance.

"Great," I breathed out, pulling myself free from Eric's restraining hold.

"But you stay behind us, all right?" Alcide whispered back. "You stay covered, at all times. You hear?"

"Yes."

One Were in an ill-fitted plain shirt went first. He opened the door, I looked past all the men guarding me, and it was then the nerves well and truly shook me.

Mr. Compton, sure enough, was standing out there by the front steps of the porch. His face was so pale, it glowed against the dark bleak background of the night.

"Why hello, my sweetheart," he said, once his dark eyes fell on me, huddled behind a very keyed-up Alcide.

"Fuck you," I whimpered, before I was able to stop myself.

"Oh, I love this new development within you, darling," he said, too calm. Always too friggen calm. "I love my women talkin' dirty."

A few growls broke out from in the living room, and in front of me. One, came from Alcide. The other, I think, was coming from Eric. Maybe he could hear the whole thing from where he was? Wouldn't have surprised me, really.

"You killed my Grandmother, you bastard," I whispered furiously. "You manipulated her into liking you, and gaining your full trust!"

His face softened, and he looked close to outraged. "I did not kill her, I swear it. In fact, it was Talbot who was guilty of that. It was no crime I was willing enough to commit. I liked your Grandmother, I most sincerely did. She was a very lovely woman. But I only grew fond of her, as she had a part of you inside her."

Lucky I had all these men in front of me, otherwise I would have well and truly lost it. I would have lurched myself at him, and hopefully even then, my flashlight fingers would have come to surface. I never knew such hatred blazed inside of me, but all that anger existing inside of me wanted Mr. Compton dead. Well, more dead than he already was at least.

"How dare you have the nerve to talk about my Gran like that," I seethed, "You have no right, you lying, cold piece of vampire shit!"

"But my words are truth, Sookie, sweetheart," he said, his voice low. "I grew fond of her as the nights in her company grew, because she had such spitting-image of you." He gave me a desperate look with his beady eyes. I shivered underneath it, unable to help it. "I am not ashamed to say, I much was fond of her, as a human. Much as I am, with you. But she could never compare, sweetheart. She was severely lacking, when you are the love of my life, and I truly see that now!"

Love of his life, and yet he's working with the King to get me drained? Ha ha.

I threw a frustrated look up at trembling Alcide. His nostrils were flaring, and his big hands were fisted. "Can we get this thing over with, all ready?" I begged him shakily. "I'm tired of hearin' all this crap."

Without any further wastings of time, the three men, with a gurgled sucking noise, changed before my very own eyes. Mr. Compton looked well and truly out of his depths. His eyes widened down at the three wolves, and he backed away slowly.

"Please," he begged anxiously. "I was workin' to infiltrate the King! I mean you no real harm. I am on your side!"

The true words of a liar. My Lord, he was so pathetic.

With a snapping growl, the dogs lunged out onto the porch. Too bad Mr. Compton made a hasty vampire retreat onto the lawn. And then, with human whoops, all these supernatural men were barging out of the house to jump into the fight. Too bad Eric was one of them.

Hope you enjoyed this one? Thank you all so much for your inspiring and encouraging reviews, it's still so much to get my head around! Never dreamed people would like or be interested in this story, so wow! Thank you!