A/N- Don't have much to say beyond thanks for all the support and reviews and that all characters belong to CH.


34:

I pushed the sheets in the washer to let them soak for a while and went into the kitchen with Frannie and Quinn. Quinn had started making lunch…we were a little late in rising for breakfast.

I walked up behind Quinn and hugged him around the waist. I whispered up to him, "You could have at least worn a shirt that covered the marks. Frannie is just as bad as Amelia, only I get the added mortification of her being your sister!"

Frannie giggled from her seat at the bar and I knew she had heard me.

He chuckled and I just rolled my eyes at the both of them.

We ate and chatted, Frannie taking every opportunity to rib us. I think she was trying to see how red she could make me. Quinn was unaffected as he usually he about any embarrassing topic, well, embarrassing to me. Quinn declared he was going to work out; there was a gym downstairs as well, apparently. Frannie helped clean up then was off up to her room to change because she apparently wanted to work out with her brother. I, however, was completely content in relaxing with a book.

I found a book on one of the shelves downstairs and settled in to read on the couch. I heard Quinn and Frannie playfully talking as they, I assume, lifted weights. After a while I got bored with the book and went to wander around in the game room. I got distracted on my way as the sight of Quinn finishing a set of squats stopped me in my tracks. After a moment Frannie spotted me frozen in the door and she chirped, "Your drooling, Sookie." Caught gawking, I blushed and continued on into the game room. I messed around with one of the pinball machines for a while then went back into the main room to watch a movie. I selected one I had seen before so I could just vegg out and not really have to pay attention.

I let my thoughts drift to the series of events that brought me here. We weren't really 'in hiding' since DeCastro had released Quinn, but it was better to remain off the radar right now while Eric cooled down. Quinn and I had discussed the reasons why DeCastro might have released him. We both came to the same conclusion that Niall must have had something to do with it. If that was the case, then we didn't really have to worry about DeCastro anymore, because he wouldn't want to risk pissing off the fairies by messing with me. Since Niall thought I was with Quinn, which is now a reality, he might have wanted to help Quinn out for me. I'd have to ask Claudine to see if she knew anything about it.

I wonder how mad Eric was when he found out I'd left. I really didn't care if he was mad after how he acted. I didn't want to deal with his 'your mine' bullshit right now. That Pam had risked angering him further to come make sure I was okay still astounded me. I just didn't get how he could view me as a piece of property he could command. It wasn't too different than how men viewed women 50 years ago, and sadly, some still did today. I was definitely not one of those women though and I would never let a man treat me like that. Gran was old fashioned on some things in raising me, but not in that regard. She raised me to be a strong, independent woman and to be able to take care of myself. I wasn't about to let Eric or any other vamp get that kind of control over me again now that I knew how it could be used. I closed my eyes and put a hand on my abdomen and rubbed it thinking of how Gran always said every cloud had a silver lining. I guess this was my silver lining. Finding happiness and love with Quinn finally and breaking the bond with Eric. I'd always wanted children, and even though this wasn't the ideal situation, I would still love this baby unconditionally. It was not at fault for anything that this cruel world had done to me.

I must have been deep in thought or dozing off because I didn't even hear Quinn come into the room until he said, "Babe?"

I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He looked at where my hand was and gave a look of concern, "Everything alright?"

I nodded, "Yeah, just thinking."

He had showered, shaved and changed after working out, so I must have dozed off at some point. He smiled, "Looks like you were sleeping."

"Yeah, I think I dozed off for a bit. How was your workout?" I sat up and patted the couch beside me and he sat down and I laid back down and put my head in his lap.

He stroked my hair and answered, "Good. I haven't had access to real equipment for a while. Frannie had fun."

I yawned and he smiled down at me, I said, "I'm sorry. I'm just so tired. Do we need to do anything? Should I get up?"

"Nah, it's okay. Just sleep. You are here to relax and get away from everything."

I nodded and closed my eyes. The soothing feeling of him running his fingers through my hair put me to sleep quickly.

*****

Pam had found out from her sources that Niall was the one to get DeCastro to release Quinn. Pam had already guessed as much, but this just confirmed it. Not only did DeCastro not want to mess with fairies or anyone that they put protection on, he also thought that his 'kind' gesture of releasing Quinn would endear Sookie to him and perhaps she would work for him directly. Pam doubted that would happen considering DeCastro was likely behind the tigress' death and Sookie wouldn't do that to Quinn.

Pam had been right in her presumption and now Sookie was the one in the bargaining position, even if she didn't know it yet. With fae protection she could choose to work for the vamps or tell them all to go to the devil if she wanted.

Eric was still stomping around like a petulant child who had lost his favorite toy, though. In a sense, Pam thought with a smile, he kind of had.

He had been even further angered when Alcide Herveaux had chosen to not to help him find Sookie. Alcide figured if she was with Quinn, then she was fine and Eric didn't need to worry about her. Her shifter boss had returned back to his bar and pretty much thought the same. Eric hadn't been this pissed off in decades. Pam was positively giddy.

She knew that Sookie would turn back up eventually. She loved her home and her friends too much to disappear for long. Pam tried to explain this to Eric when he wasn't in too much of a fit, but he didn't seem to want to hear it. So Pam put up with his temper and kept a steady supply of blonde waitresses around for him hoping he would get over it soon.

Pam didn't understand it. He had ignored Sookie for months and never made a move, and once she is gone is when he chooses to care. Men.

*****

I woke up to Frannie squealing with excitement. I groggily opened my eyes and asked, "What's going on?"

Quinn was smiling, "It's snowing."

"Really?!" I woke up instantly and was excited as well. I sat up and looked out the floor to ceiling windows to see that it was indeed snowing heavily and there was already a good covering starting to form on the ground. It was dark out now, I must have slept the rest of the afternoon away, but the moon was bright so you could see very clearly. Then it hit me, "Quinn, it's so light out. When is the full moon?"

"This Sunday, the 12th."

It was already Friday night, and I found myself suddenly worried, "Will you be safe to change here?"

He smiled and said, "Of course, I wouldn't own the place if it wasn't."

I spun around to look at him, shocked, "You own this house?" I had thought it was a rental or something. It was enormous just for one or two people.

"Well, technically, Johnny Quentin owns this house. It can't be traced back to me in any way. But, yes, it is mine."

I guess that explained the state of the art gym and the secluded area. "How come there are no other houses in this cove?"

"Because I own all the land surrounding this cove and the others for several miles either way down the main channel."

He said this as casually as if he were telling me he owned a couple old lawnmowers, not thousands of acres of lakefront property. I was astounded. How rich was he?

Frannie interrupted my train of thought as she bounded down the stairs decked out in full ski gear demanding that we all go play with her in the snow. I hesitated not having anything near warm enough to wear in the snow, but Frannie covered that angle and dragged me up to her room to get me into some of her clothes. Quinn just laughed at her.

Once Frannie had me upstairs she dug through her massive closet and started throwing things at me to put on. I felt like I was caught in a tornado with the energy she was exuding. I had to work at blocking her because her happy thoughts and excitement was a bit overwhelming.

I went back downstairs to our bathroom to change so I could see to my needs and brush my teeth since I'd slept the whole afternoon. I sighed and took a deep breath being alone with my thoughts after being bombarded by Frannie's.

After I had put on the warm clothes she provided I went back out carrying the ski coat to find Quinn changing into just a long sleeve t-shirt. "Do you ever get cold?" I asked shaking my head.

He shrugged, "Not really. It would have to be much colder than this to bother me."

Quinn definitely was hot-blooded. It was definitely a wonderful sensation after sleeping with cold vampires. I flashed to another difference that Quinn had that made sex with him more interesting. Quinn was the only circumcised man I'd been with and the feeling of him inside me was slightly different because of it, but without doubt in a good way. I had gotten lost in my thoughts and I hadn't heard a word he'd been saying. I'd gotten myself all hot and bothered thinking about his hot member so I basically attacked him, but he caught me easily without even a stagger.

I think I even took him by surprise, but he was quickly in the moment with me. My legs were wrapped around his waist and I felt him move and then my back was up against the wall. I kissed him hungrily and he pulled away to kiss my neck and asked hoarsely, "What got into you? Not that I'm complaining."

I gasped as he licked the sensitive spot at my neck and said, "Thinking…of…your…heat. Ahh!" Suddenly the pants I had just changed into were shredded and on the floor and I gave the briefest thought to it before I was tearing at Quinn's pants to free his swollen member. I finally managed it and before I knew it he was driving into me. I held onto him for dear life as he thrust into me. He was strong enough and big enough that he had no problem with this awkward standing position. I couldn't get enough as he drove into me and I was slammed against the wall screaming in ecstasy with every stroke he took.

Neither of us lasted long with how heated our coupling was and I was quickly muffling my cries against his shoulder as he grunted and came inside me. We collapsed into a panting, sweaty heap on the floor, impaling myself on him as we went down. I winced and he quickly moved me up and off of him apologizing profusely. As we lay there catching our breath, I caught a glimpse of Frannie's shredded pants that had been practically ripped down the middle in two. I groaned and Quinn immediately thought I was hurt, "Sookie?"

"No, I'm fine…well, mostly, anyway. But you ruined Frannie's ski pants. She's going to be pissed at me." I said inclining my head to the pieces of fabric scattered around us.

He laughed and kissed me before saying, "I'll buy her a new pair."

I wasn't fairing much better in the underwear department, either. This was the third pair in two days that had met with an unfortunate accident.

His face got more somber and he asked again, "Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"

I smiled and shook my head but he remained stern, "Sookie, when it gets closer to the full moon I have more testosterone and adrenaline because of the coming change. We were's don't always know our own strength around the full moon."

I kind of purred and smiled wider, "Mmm, lucky me!"

He frowned, "Sookie, I'm dead serious. I don't want us to get carried away and you end up getting hurt. I'm not exactly a small man and combined with your pregnancy, I'm concerned."

"Quinn, I know you would never do anything that hurt me." I said softly.

"Of course I wouldn't, but you know we have a lot of chemistry and in the heat of the moment things could get out of hand. Look what just happened when you jumped me out of nowhere."

Now that he mentioned it I realized that he had taken great caution to be gentle with me the first several times we made love yesterday, but when I surprised him this morning and then just now it seemed like neither of us could hold back. For me that wasn't really a problem, I'd just have to be sure I kept my nails trimmed as to not give Quinn any more scars. But him being 100 times stronger than me and very well endowed, I could see his point. Now that the euphoria was wearing off I definitely was feeling well loved. Considering we hadn't been able to keep our hands off of each other the past 36 hours it wasn't surprising I was a bit sore. I would probably have bruises on my back with how vigorous we had just been, too, but I bruise easily anyway.

He smoothed my hair away from my face and I nodded letting him know I understood. He kissed me softly and said, "Please, promise me you'll tell me. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you in any way, even if it was something we were both into at the moment."

"I promise." I whispered. "But just so you know, I bruise easily and will probably have some from the encounter with the wall, but I promise, I'm not hurt, so don't freak out about it, okay?"

He sighed heavily, "Sookie…."

"Quinn, seriously…I'm fine. Don't worry." I smiled and kissed him, "Come on, Frannie is probably already out playing in the snow." I hopped up and winced a bit, but hid it from Quinn, and started searching for another pair of pants that would be warm enough.

I cleaned up in the bathroom, pulled on some jeans and put on the heavy coat while Quinn redressed as well. He pulled me into his arms after we were both ready and hugged me. I looked up at him, "I love you, Quinn and I do understand where you are coming from. I trust you."

He kissed me softly and whispered, "I love you, too."

We walked out the back deck doors and Quinn was promptly hit in the back with a snowball. I heard Frannie laugh and it echoed through the woods from wherever she was hiding. Quinn chuckled low in his chest, and he called out, "I have better night vision than you little sister. Don't start something you can't finish!"

She challenged him further by laughing again and I heard her dart off in another direction. He kissed me quickly on the cheek then promptly jumped off the deck into the woods. I gasped as it was a long drop down off this side of the deck where there was no stairs, but he yelled back up at me as I looked over the edge that he was fine and I saw him sprint off after Frannie. I just hoped they left me out of the game. They were at a distinct advantage athletically and I really wasn't fond of the cold.

There was now several inches of snow on the ground and the air was crisp and fresh. I breathed deeply and looked out across the lake enjoying the night as the snow kept falling.

I walked down the steps to the lake – obviously not wanting to take the exit Quinn took, and tried not to fall on my ass in the process as it was slick with ice and snow.

I kind of wandered around near the dock while I listened to Quinn and Frannie fighting their snowball war in the woods around the house. It still baffled me that Quinn owned so much land here. If he owned all of this then what else did he own? Was I out of my league?

I suddenly panicked with the thought of it all and ran back toward the house suddenly. As I was climbing the steps I slipped and twisted my ankle and I cried out at the pain of it. Before I knew it Quinn was there with Frannie not far behind. I tried to get up but slipped again and Quinn caught me and picked me up in his arms and carried me swiftly into the house. He asked me what was wrong and I explained I was just clumsy and to not worry about it. He took off my boots and socks to reveal the very nasty looking already swollen and bruised ankle.

Fran and Quinn both declared it as a sprained ankle, which I already knew, but it was still undoubtedly painful. Someone once told me a sprained ankle was worse than a broken ankle because it takes longer for the ligaments to heal and they never heal back normally. I kind of believed that right now.

I tried to blow it off, though by changing the subject and asking which of them won their snowball fight, but they wouldn't fall for it.

Frannie left to go get ice for my ankle which didn't sound like much fun considering how cold I already was from being outside.

Quinn asked me quietly, "Sookie, I saw you take off running. What were you running from?"

Should I tell him? Tell him I got spooked because of his wealth? I stammered, "I…uh...just freaked out about all of this." I indicated the house around me with a gesture.

"All of what?" Quinn asked confused.

I swallowed hard, "Um, I mean…I'm just a waitress….I think you are a little bit out of my league?"

He looked appalled and then Frannie came back down with the ice interrupting us and he stormed back outside and started pacing on the deck furiously.

She looked to me, "What happened?"

I had tears in my eyes that were not from the pain of my ankle, and I blabbered, "Frannie, your brother deserves someone better than me. I shouldn't be putting him in this position."

Before Frannie could get a word out, Quinn stormed back in and picked me up and carried me quickly into our bedroom slamming the door behind him.

He put me on the bed and looked into my eyes. I was terrified at what was about to come. Had he realized finally that I wasn't worth the trouble?

"Now you listen to me Sookie Stackhouse." He started off with authority, "There will be no more of this 'not deserving' talk. I love you. I'm here for you. I don't care about money or jobs or any of that petty nonsense. All I know is that I love you and that I am going to be here for you."

"But…" I started weakly before he cut me off.

"Sookie, you have always been too hard on yourself. You are worth 10 of most of the 'rich' people I have met in my business dealings. Money isn't everything. I was just lucky to amass some off of the idiots that were involved in betting on pit fighting, so I could take care of my mother and sister. I ended up with more than I thought I would and I've used that to keep my family safe with places like this. Don't treat me like I am some rich snob who doesn't care about you and our baby." He paused and swallowed hard then corrected himself, "I mean your baby."

I blinked hard and whispered, "No, you were right the first time."

He placed his hand on my belly and said, "Then just stop trying to push away. I'm not going anywhere. You don't have anything to worry about. I'm here. What are you so scared of Sookie?"

That was a very good question.