I own nothing.

True Blood S4

Chapter 35 Closer To Home

Twenty minutes after Eric and Bill arrived at Ginger's mansion LaFayette was buzzed in to enter the gate and drove his charges up the circular drive to the door.

"Damn, Ginger got it like that? Go on, Miss Ginger," LaFayette said admiringly to himself as he got out of his truck and then helped his mother out from the back seat. Jesus joined him and the two men linked their arms through hers and escorted her to the door as the valet took his vehicle away. Kirsch greeted them.

"Hello, please follow me..." and she lead them to the Great Room where Bill was waiting.

"Sheriff Kirsch, this is Tara's cousin, LaFayette Reynolds, her aunt Ruby Jean Reynolds and Jesus Velasquez. Everyone, this is Sheriff Kirsch, who has been kind enough to run things while Eric and I have been away," Bill said as he introduced them all.

"Very pleased to meet you all. Tara and Jessica should be here any minute now." Kirsch gave a smile and a bow and left them.

Ruby Jean went to Bill and gave him a hug as if he were her own child, full of warmth and great affection. He found it hard not to be touched. "She loves you, Bill," she whispered into his ear before she let him go. "I'm so glad you're all back safe and sound."

"As am I," he smiled warmly at her.

"Where's Eric?" asked LaFayette after he and Bill exchanged handshakes and heartfelt pats upon their backs.

"He's gone to assist Chow, Ginger and Blackburn with their work here tonight, in preparation for tomorrows trial."

Jesus and Bill shook hands and then Bill led them all to sit down and get comfortable.

"We've heard practically nothing about what went down in New Orleans," LaFayette began.

"LaLa—no. Details later. Nothing but love tonight, do you hear me?"

LaFayette smiled. Ruby Jean was right, there would be plenty of time for details when the girls cared to give them. He thought back to his time in Eric's dungeon and shivered.

Outside another limo pulled up to the door.

"Ladies...and gentleman...you'll please excuse me for not coming in with you—I must go to Fangtasia to deal with Isabel and Sarah Newlin. Please give my regards to all and I'll see you at trial tomorrow evening," Nan bid them adieu and the limo pulled off. The trio headed for the door.

Kirsch greeted them all with hugs and led them quietly to the Great Room. She stood in the entryway and cleared her throat loudly. The four in the room looked up to see Tara, Jessica and Julian Cromwell and all of them jumped up, rushing to greet them. Kirsch slipped quietly away and left them to enjoy their reunion.

"Bill!" cried Jessica as she ran into his arms. He caught her and cradled her gently, kissing the top of her head as he pulled her hair out of her face. Tara was locked in a group hug with the others and trying to stave off blood tears. Ruby Jean broke away from them and, ever the mother, grabbed Julian and gave him a strong warm hug as well, before she made her way to Jessica. Finally, after everyone had passed around their hugs Bill and Tara locked eyes and walked towards each other. Whatever anger he felt or thought he felt melted away as soon as she touched him. Both of them, being very private, held back their desires and only embraced each other, anxious to do more when other eyes weren't watching, but more than happy with the chance, at last, to be together again.

"Nan sends her regards, all," Julian announced, "but she has business at Fangtasia to attend to."

"Where's Eric?" Jessica asked then, finally aware that he was not there.

"He's gone to assist your Blackburn so that he can get back here and see you before sunup," Bill smiled at her when he finally tore himself from Tara's embrace.

Jessica blushed.

Tara knew better. That might be partly true, but she knew that Eric wanted desperately to see Sookie, no matter what he told everybody else. He had found it necessary to busy himself and work through the agony of having to wait yet another night before he could do just that. She looked at Bill then, really looked at him and reached up to run her fingers through his hair.

"You need a hair cut..."

"No more hair cuts," he looked at her devilishly.

"Oh, it's like that, huh?"

"Yes, it's like that."

"I like it."

"I thought you would. Tara, we need to talk."

"That doesn't sound good," she said as she removed her hand from him. He grabbed it and kissed it then pulled her close to him.

"Only you will be the true judge of that."

"We can't just leave everybody now."

"I know that. But as soon as possible."

"Yes, alright."

Just then an elderly but stately woman came in to see to them.

"Hello, everyone, I am Mrs. Mirren, the housekeeper here. Refreshments are being served in the dining room. Mistress Tara, Ms. Jessica, Mr. Julian, have you had dinner this evening?"

"As a matter of fact, no..." said Jessica.

"Thank you, Mrs. Mirren, I'm good for now," said Tara.

"Mr. Julian?"

"Uh, no, neither have I."

"Would both of you please follow me then," she said delicately. "We shan't be long, please make yourselves at home," she told the rest of them as she ushered Jessica and Julian away.

"Stop looking so shocked, you two," said Ruby Jean to Jesus and LaFayette, "they're not going to bring their donors to the table while you nibble on gourmet mini sliders and sip punch...they have to eat, too."

Bill and Tara looked at each other and had to laugh.

Not long afterward Jessica and Julian rejoined them and they all sat around the dining table telling funny stories from better times and enjoyed the much needed catharsis.

"Well, good people, I'm actually kinda tired and as much as I hate to tear myself away from you I'm going to say goodnight," said LaFayette as he rose from the table.

"Good gracious, is it really one-thirty?" Ruby Jean said looking at the clock over the mantle of the fireplace. "I think that's a good idea, LaLa. We want to be fresh and rested when we receive Sookie and Sam in the morning."

Mrs. Mirren appeared then. "I shall be happy to show you all to your rooms," she said to the humans. She knew the vampires weren't ready to retire just yet and Kirsch had already shown Bill his and Tara's cubby earlier.

They all said their good-nights.

"Jessica, Julian, we don't mean to be rude, but I must talk to Tara before sunup..."

"We understand completely, my Liege. Good morning to you both and we'll see you tomorrow night."

Jessica rose, went to them and kissed them both on their cheeks. "Sleep well."

"And you," said Bill. And then they were gone.

"Shall we go back to the Great Room, Jessica?"

"Sure."

At last they were alone.

"I really do like your hair all long and wild like this, Bill." Tara smiled as she reached up to play in his soft locks.

"Remind you of Sam, maybe?" Bill accused her through narrowed eyes, his voice low and menacing as he cocked his head to one side. His words were like a slap upon her cheek and she recoiled from him as she drew her hand away from him. He grabbed it and yanked her forcefully into him. "Well? Answer me!"

"What do you want to know?" she said then, steeling herself against his rage and his angry grip.

"Do you love him?" he hissed at her.

"Yes."

"You want to fuck him." It wasn't a question.

"I'm a vampire now, Bill, I want to fuck everybody. Threesomes are especially delicious—you know a little something about that, now don't you?" she said, her voice low and steady.

"Do not even try to hide behind that, Tara—the intensity of your feelings for him have nothing to do with your vampire nature and you and I both know it."

"I won't deny that every time he touches me I want to give myself over to him completely. But I'm not what he needs, Bill. And as much as I'm still drawn to him he's not who I want. I'm with who I want."

"And when you see him again?"

"Well, what did you do when Sookie realized she loved you and Eric both, equally as much?"

"I let her go."

"Did you, really?"

"She let us go because she could not make a choice, but I pushed her out of my heart long before that."

"Debatable. But she did make a choice. And she and Eric, for whatever stupid reason, are still fighting it."

"What does that have to do with us?"

"I've made my choice, as well. But I'm not fighting it."

"What happens when you see him again, Tara, and your desire to give yourself to him takes over?"

"I don't know."

"Are you going to make me say it?"

"Say what?"

"That I can endure...anything...except not having you. Do you understand me?"

"I understand you. I love you, Bill. Do you understand me?"

Bill loosened his grip upon her and yanked her head back savagely by her hair and then answered her with a vicious kiss upon her lips.

With Eric's help the North American collaborators were wiped out much sooner than anticipated and the team returned to Ginger's house by four am. When they arrived Mrs. Mirren greeted them.

"Can I get you anything, Mistress Ginger?"

"Mrs. Mirren, what are you still doing up?"

"There are still guests to attend to," she looked in the direction of the Great Room.

"Oh no, darlin' above and beyond the call of duty. Go up and get your rest. Thank you for everything. As a matter of fact I insist that you take the rest of the week off. You've worked so hard and done such a wonderful job preparing things for me."

"All my pleasure, Mistress Ginger. I don't need the rest of the week..."

"Then tomorrow, at least, really. Really."

"Well then, yes Mistress, I am a bit tired. Thank you."

"Thank you. Sleep well and enjoy your day tomorrow."

"Thank you again, Mistress." Mrs. Mirren retired then.

"I can taste bile in my mouth, Ginger. What the fuck?" Eric grimaced as he walked past her and proceeded to the Great Room.

"She's a proper English lady, and I enjoy the protocol. She was very hard to find and came highly recommended and I want her to be happy here."

"Spare me, please," he said over his shoulder.

"You know, I'm doing this all for you, Eric. This should be your house, your responsibility," she called after him angrily.

Blackburn and Chow watched intently but said nothing as they followed him. Blackburn's steps quickened when he heard the familiar voice of his red-headed sweetheart.

Like Bill and Tara before them Jessica and Blackburn kept their passion at bay. Eric was not fooled.

"For the love of hell, go somewhere and fuck, already," he told them caustically.

"Happy to see you, too, Eric," said Jessica with a smile that belied her embarrassment and upset as she left them all.

"Eric, what's wrong?" Chow dared to ask carefully.

"I need to sleep. Good morning to you all."

"Let me show you to your cubby," Ginger offered.

"Thank you, but I'm not sleeping here," he growled at her. With his vampire speed Eric disappeared.

"Alright then, gentlemen, let me show you to your cubbies...or did I buy this place for nothing?" she said bitchily to Chow, Blackburn and Cromwell.

"He'll be alright, Ginger. And I love your place. Please, after you," said Chow, ever the diplomat.

In the wee hours before the sun graced the morning sky there was still a buzz in the air, electric with love and longing; fear and anticipation; promises and recommitments.

At Ginger's palatial home Blackburn had found Jessica and brought her to his cubby where they made love, finally, both anticipating the first night that they could go out and kill together and experience the blood orgasm Jessica so wanted to share with him; content then to sleep together peacefully in each others cold embrace. So too, Bill and Tara, their commitment to each other as strong as ever; still locked together in the physical embrace of their love, filling each other up literally even in sleep. Chow, Ginger and Julian, all mentally exhausted, had given in to the Little Death immediately when their heads hit their pillows.

In their room, Jesus and Lafayette woke with the rising sun and made love quietly while Ruby Jean, in her own, rose to greet the day. She got dressed so that she could go to the kitchen and make breakfast as she gave thanks to the Mother, who had seen fit to grace her with another day of life.

In New Orleans, Sam and Sookie rose with the sun, anxious to pack their few belongings and begin the journey home.

In Bon Temps, Jason walked through his house to survey his sleeping family as he held the two babies in his arms, having decided easily to name them Michelle and Corbett after his mother and father. Hadley had changed her mind and decided that she would like to go and see Sookie in Shreveport, after all, and the night before the whole house had been filled with unbridled excitement.

At Sookie's house Eric was in his cubby that Sookie had tried so adamantly to have removed. The blood tears had long dried upon his face as he lay holding her pillow close to his body, drinking in her scent until he could relish the genuine article. Free to feel his damned feelings without them being broadcast to the world he gave himself over to them and then finally closed his eyes.