A/N: Penultimate chapter - I shall be sorry to get to the end of this one!


I got Gran settled in at home, and we fell back into a sort of routine; I was glad she was home again, though I missed having the privacy I'd had with Eric when she was in hospital, so I did end up staying in Shreveport more often - a couple of times a week, normally - though he spent time with me and Gran as well. He made good on his promise, taking her out for a spin in the Corvette one night; she came back laughing, cheeks flushed, and looking younger and more carefree than I'd seen her in years. "That was fun," she said, her eyes bright. "Even though I'm sure you were over the speed limit the entire time."

Eric just laughed, and refused to comment. I heated him a bottle of True Blood – I had no qualms about buying it, now that Rene had made a full confession, and was firmly behind bars. "Apparently the Rattrays are up for trial soon," I told him.

"I heard. They're likely to get harsher sentences this time, as it's not a first offence. They've traced some of the vials of V back to vampires who went missing without explanation, so things are looking pretty bleak for them."

"No more than they deserve," I shrugged. "Shouldn't have broken the law."

"Quite. I hear your friend Dawn is now with the Shi- with Sam Merlotte," he said, catching himself in time, remembering Gran was there, listening in.

I nodded. "Yes, now she's got over her wild ways," thanks to Eric glamouring her out of them, which I didn't say, but he understood, "she seems happy to be in a relationship, and after the break-in at her place, they got to be quite close."

"I'm glad things worked out so well for her," he said, raising his eyebrow in a way that managed to be amused, challenging, and ever so slightly mocking. Yes, yes, rub it in, Eric; your way worked out well for everyone, I got the memo. He grinned at my eye-roll, then got back to business. "Sookie, Sophie-Anne is pressing me to bring you to New Orleans to meet her. I held her off until your grandmother was able to look after herself, and this business with Lenier was resolved, but I can't keep on making excuses. She wants us to go to New Orleans this weekend."

"Gran, will you be okay on your own?" I asked anxiously.

"I'll be just fine, dear," she said with a smile. "You go and have some fun in the Big Easy."

I nodded. "I'll ask Sam to re-arrange my shifts," I said with a smile.


We were delayed on the way to New Orleans, so didn't have much time to explore the suite Eric had booked in the hotel – just a very quick freshen up and change before we headed to Sophie-Anne's residence. I stuck very firmly to Eric's side when we got there, but found there was no need to be nervous – Sophie-Anne was charming to me.

"There are various people who wish to meet you," she said. "Alejandro," she greeted a tall, good-looking vampire who entered the room. "This is Miss Stackhouse."

He sketched a brief bow to me, after bowing to Sophie-Anne and nodding to Eric. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Stackhouse. I thank you for your part in the apprehension of Miss Lenier's killer. She was… most dear to me."

"I'm pleased to have helped," I stammered, realising that this must be Cindy's vampire lover.

He was very polite, and they managed to keep the talk for the most part on topics I understood, until at some point during the evening, Alejandro made his excuses, and left. After a short while, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in, my dear, we're expecting you," Sophie-Anne called out.

A familiar face peeped round the door, and I felt my face split into a grin as I saw my cousin for the first time in years. I felt Eric, beside me, tense, as Hadley's fangs clicked down; she cast a pleading look in Sophie-Anne's direction.

"Come in, Hadley. Put your fangs away," she said gently. "You are not to harm your cousin in any way, nor any of your family. As your maker, I command you."

She relaxed immediately, her fangs clicking smartly back into place. "Thank you," she murmured gratefully; her relief was almost palpable.

"Hadley is still dealing with the hungers of the newly risen," smiled Sophie-Anne. "It is sometimes hard to control, especially given how sweet your scent is; she meant no ill."

I nodded, not commenting on the scent. Hadley looked at me longingly, then at Sophie-Anne. "May I…?"

"You may greet your cousin, of course, my love," she said indulgently. "Why else did you think I sent for you?"

With a beaming smile, my cousin flung her arms around me, and spun me round as if I weighed no more than a doll. "Sookie," she laughed, still twirling me round. "I've missed you."

I hugged her back tightly. "I've missed you, too, Hads. Gran sends you her love, and would like you to visit, but we need to make some adjustments before the house is safe for you."

She smiled softly. "I'd like to see her again. And Jason, too – how is he?"

"Still tomcatting around," I laughed.

"Hadley, why don't you give Sookie a tour of the building?" suggested Sophie-Anne. "Eric and I have political business to discuss in relation to Area Five, which will probably bore you both; and besides, I'm sure you have much to talk about. Be back in an hour."

She bowed to Sophie-Anne, and I did my best to copy her – Eric merely grinned and blew me a kiss, and winked at Hadley.

As Hadley shut the door behind us, she motioned for me to stay still and be quiet for a moment, then grinned, and pulled me along the corridor. "They were just saying how sweet it was to see the two of us together. Sook," she said, shaking her head and smiling, "you weren't kidding about Eric, were you? He is hot."

"He is," I confirmed.

"You lucky, lucky girl," she said, slinging her arm around my waist, as she used to when we were kids. "He taking good care of you? You're looking good on it."

I laughed. "He'd spoil me rotten if I let him. Yes, he's been amazing. Even coming to the hospital with me when Gran was ill."

"Mm, he must be quite taken with you," she said slyly.

"According to his older child he is, yes."

She pulled me into her side for a hug. "I'm glad to hear it. It's good you've got someone there for you. You never seemed to have much luck with the boys at school – it's nice you've hit the jackpot this time around."

I laughed. "I could hear the thoughts of the boys at school, and it was pretty off-putting. I can't hear Eric at all, which makes a huge difference."

"And is that his only attraction?" she asked archly.

"You can tell from looking at him it's not," I replied. "But quite apart from being drop-dead gorgeous, and amazing in bed…" she chuckled at that, "he's a lot of fun, too, very supportive, and really easy to talk to. I just…"

"Love him?" she suggested softly.

I hadn't been prepared for that, but I smiled. "Yes. Yes, I think I do."

"I'm so, so happy for you, Sook," she murmured, hugging me gently. "I guess it's the same with me and Sophie-Anne. She's been amazing to me, and I… I just love her," she said with a shy smile. "Even more because she arranged for me to see my baby cousin again," she said, in a more teasing tone. "Now, let's get this tour underway!"


By the time an hour had past, Hadley and I had caught up, and felt completely at ease with each other, just as we'd been as children. "I'll see if I can find Remy and Hunter," I promised her; Remy Savoy was her ex-husband (that really surprised me), and Hunter was her young (she suspected, telepathic) son. She wanted to make sure Hunter was provided for, without drawing him to the attention of the vampires – I guess she'd learnt her lesson with me. I was happy to act as a go-between, and help Hunter where I could.

Eric and I said our goodbyes, promising to drop in to Hadley's apartment the next evening for a more informal chat – I suspected she wanted to get to know Eric a bit better, and she wanted me to meet her landlady, Amelia Broadway, who would apparently provide some human food for me and herself. I was looking forward to it; it had been a real treat to see her again, and be able to spend time with her.

"Had a good evening?" asked Eric, as he drove us back across town to the hotel.

"Wonderful," I told him. "It was so good to see Hadley again."

He chuckled. "Sophie-Anne clearly dotes on her. She's happy?"

"Very – she adores Sophie-Anne."

"And how did you like the big bad vampire queen?" he teased.

"Better than I thought I would. Alejandro seemed nice, too."

"Mm. I've known him a very long time – many centuries. He was very fond of Cindy Lenier, and was happy to be able to meet you. Apparently, he believes he owes us both a favour for this."

"I barely did anything," I protested.

"Not deliberately, perhaps, but you've done much to help," he answered, pulling into the basement parking lot of the hotel. "It's… useful to have him on our side." He smiled. "You seem to make friends wherever you go in the supe world, Sookie. Even Karin liked you, and she's not noted for her friendliness."

"I'm pretty inclined to like her, too, given that she helped save my life."

He pulled me into his arms as we went up to our suite in the elevator. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, thanks. Hadley took me down to the donors' waiting room and found me some food. What about you?"

"Bottled blood, but I have room for a little dessert," he said, nipping playfully at my neck.

"Oh, really?" I slid my arms around his waist, and gave a sigh of contentment. "Well, maybe it's your lucky night."

"Mm, maybe. Or maybe," he said, bending to kiss me, "it's yours."