A/N: Things are starting to come to a head. The end is nigh. I really do promise to wrestle my muse into commission on the SE front very soon, but we should be a week or two from getting YnB all wrapped up. :/ Bittersweet. I love these kids.

Thanks, ilovemysteries. You're swell.

Chapter 37

June 2, 1996 - June 3, 1996

Bill Compton was nearly back to his house when he heard her voice in the distance. "The coast is clear. You can come out now." He stopped to listen.

He was able to hear everything. Fucking Pam Ravenscroft, sticking her nose where it didn't belong. Trying to convince Sookie to go back to that insolent fool. And, worse, the girl thought that Bill was creepy. Creepy and old.

Hadley had told the Queen that she had a telepathic cousin, and even pushed to have her taken and enslaved. But the Queen wanted to take a more conservative approach, and sent Bill to attempt to get close to her. Woo her. It was a shock to find her on his very first night in the area, in the Sheriff's office, pregnant with Godric's child's spawn. And Godric noticed Bill's interest, and claimed her as his. And told Bill, in no uncertain terms, that she was off limits.

It was more of a shock to see her and smell her and need her for himself. So soft and round, like his Caroline had been when she was with child. And even after the child was born, and her scent diminished, she still smelled so sweet and delicious. And when Godric asked him to keep an eye on her, he gladly accepted. Any excuse to be nearby. To make her think of him. To run into her and make conversation. And then, eventually, lend a helping hand, maybe get invited inside...

He had tried to be charming to the girl. He had tried to get Northman to attack him so he could be "accidentally" killed. Neither had worked, and now they had moved the visitations out of his home and into hers, and she was talking about getting back together with that overgrown child.

He was going to have to do something more drastic. Bill would glamour her to find him attractive. To agree to a date. To get over Northman. And, eventually, to tell Godric that she wanted to be free. And, if they couldn't break the bond? He would find a way to break it for her.

…

After Gran had gotten home and they'd chatted a bit before they went to bed, Sookie replayed those last few seconds with Eric over and over again in her mind. His cool arms on hers, handing Leif over to her. The way he'd stroked the baby's cheek when he said goodbye. When he looked up, that lock of hair that fell over his eyes, and she wondered if he'd pulled it out of his ponytail on purpose. She'd wanted so badly to reach out and tuck it behind his ear. But she was holding their baby. Then that half grin that always made her heart skip a beat. And the perfect way to end the night - just a see you soon. And then he walked away, and his jeans fit just right. And he really did have the world's greatest butt. Those last few seconds did more to melt her resolve than anything else had.

God, he was so gorgeous. And he was still the man she loved, even when she hated him. But, as much as she wanted him, part of her did still hate him, a little. Worse, part of her didn't like him much, either. That one was going to be a lot harder to deal with. And she was so afraid that she was never going to be able to be happy, either with him or without him.

She did want him, though. A lot. She wished they could just have some no strings sex that would affect neither one of them. Just some meaningless fun, and then go back to where they were right now. But there was, of course, no such thing as meaningless sex with him. Not when they meant so much to each other.

She imagined him turning around instead of getting into Godric's car, and coming back up onto the porch. Leading her inside. Taking the baby and lying him in his bassinet. Tilting up her face and kissing her, for a long, long time. Taking her hand and leading her to her bed, now back in her old room on the first floor. Taking off her clothes and then his. Lying her down and kissing her all over and making love to her.

She was getting close when she heard a knock on the door. And she didn't want it to wake Gran, and especially didn't want it to wake the baby, so she threw on some shorts and ran out to the door. It was a vampire outside, and her stomach dropped. Unless it was Pam wanting some more girl time, this wasn't going to be anything she was going to enjoy. She opened the door and took a quick step back, just in case it wasn't anyone with an invitation. Pam had been a very good teacher.

"Bill. What can I do for you? It's very late."

She smelled so incredibly good, and strongly of arousal. he had to fight to keep his fangs in check. He didn't have such good luck with his cock, but he hoped she didn't notice. He didn't hear anyone else moving around inside, although there could be someone lying quietly in her bed. He was betting she was alone, though. He would make sure before glamouring her to do anything else incriminating.

"Invite me in."

She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and frowned. "That doesn't work on me, Bill."

He was frozen for a moment. It hadn't occurred to him that she might be immune to glamour. It must be because of the telepathy. And, of course, he couldn't even go in after her to shut her up. "Please, let me apologize. I just wanted to get to know you a little better, since Godric has me watching over you."

"How about next time, you just ask?"

"Certainly. May I please come in?"

She uncrossed her arms and put her hand on the doorknob. "I'm sorry Bill, but it's well past midnight, and I've had a long day. My grandmother and baby are asleep, and I was hoping to be by now as well. Maybe at a more reasonable time."

"I'm very sorry again. I'll call on you another night."

She closed the door before saying anything else, but he heard her mutter, "Not getting in then, either," after it was shut. He was going to have to get a little more creative. It was her own fault that they were going to have to do this the hard way.

…

The next evening, Sookie took Leif to Shreveport to meet Pam for a little shopping. The baby was tall like his daddy, and needed to move up to the next size already.

"This is ridiculous. There is no selection in Shreveport! Especially for boys. We need to do this somewhere civilized, like Manhattan or Paris or Beverly Hills. Or, hell, even Dallas!" Sookie rolled her eyes and kept on shopping. There were plenty of cute outfits, even if it was really dumb that there were twice as many choices for girls than boys.

It was the first time she'd really enjoyed herself in a long time. She wasn't a big fan of shopping, but shopping with Pam was really fun. She even found the complaining kind of funny.

They took a break at the food court so Sookie could get a drink and feed the baby. She bit her lip and then said, "Last night wasn't too much of a disaster, I guess."

Pam smiled to herself. She hadn't really expected Sookie to bring it up at all, unless it was to insist it would never happen there again.

"Yes. I think it went as well as could be expected. I'm very proud of you, you know."

Sookie laughed, but she couldn't really deny how good it made her feel. She looked up to Pam a lot, and she really was the best friend Sookie had ever had. Pam continued, "Eric was very appreciative. And he's looking forward to next week very much."

Sookie was, too. But she was also dreading the hell out of it. But she thought that the looking forward to it part was winning, maybe.

A middle aged woman walked up to their table with a scowl on her face. Sookie heard way more than she wanted to about the woman's disgust and disapproval, both that Sookie had the baby in the first place, and that she was feeding him in public, even with a cover. Before the miserable old cow could open her mouth, Pam caught her eyes and said, "You won't say one goddamn word for the rest of the night. And you'll never bother strangers in public again. You also won't remember this conversation. Now get the fuck out of my sight."

The woman turned around and walked quickly away from Pam, desperate to get out of her field of vision. Sookie watched her head disappear behind the railing halfway down the escalator. Sookie tried to hide a grin. Pam had saved her a lot of humiliation - that awful woman had been about to make a great big scene. And Sookie thought that maybe she'd been an influence on Pam, the way Pam had been on her. Pam hadn't done one thing that would hurt that woman. She hadn't even made her do anything embarrassing. Pam had kind of used her powers for good instead.

Pam brushed an imaginary piece of lint from her sweater and said, "Now that the trash has taken itself out, we should get back to business. Which store next?"

…

Bill Compton waited fifteen minutes after the little yellow car had turned onto Hummingbird Road. He went to the farmhouse door and knocked. He heard the old woman inside, and cursed her slowness. He was in the middle of nowhere, but he felt suddenly exposed. Godric was very powerful, very old, and very very strong. Bill thought that the Queen would likely come down on his side, although it was quite possible that the Queen was scared of Godric as well.

They would have to run, but he hadn't decided whether they should go to New Orleans and beg for protection from the Queen, or go to Seattle and the protection of his maker. But he didn't really trust either woman. The Queen might want Sookie for herself, or give her to Andre, rather than give her to Bill when the Queen didn't need to make use of her telepathy. That was the arrangement she had offered him on procurement. Or at least that was what she had implied. His maker, Lorena might ask him to choose. And he wouldn't be given the choice to choose anyone but Lorena.

They could flee to Mexico, and then down to South America. He had always enjoyed Peru, and he was sure she would grow to love it, too. They weren't so hung up on rules there. There would be no need to check in. They could hide forever, just the two of them. Well, maybe two and a half. At least for a while.

But the little shit Northman would be able to find them. Bill would need to make sure that Godric and Pam were busy elsewhere, and scare Sookie enough for the boy to feel it and come running. Hopefully leaving Long Shadow or Clancy or whatever idiot they have babysitting him behind. He was sure the impetuous little shit would never ask for help. And Bill would be waiting.

The old woman finally made it to the door, and opened it. Bill gave her his most charming Southern gentleman smile. "Mrs. Stackhouse, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Bill Compton, and I've recently moved into my uncle's house across the cemetery."

"I didn't know Jessie Compton had any family left."

"I am the last one, I'm afraid. He is actually my great uncle. He recently moved into an assisted living facility over Baton Rouge way, and I agreed to take care of the old homestead."

"Forgive my manners. Please come in, Mr. Compton. Can I get you a glass of lemonade, or some sweet tea?"

"Bill, please. And a glass of lemonade would hit the spot. Thank you."

He followed her inside. He didn't even need to glamour an invitation, although he would certainly glamour away her memory of his visit. And that he didn't touch his lemonade. And that he went into Sookie's bedroom and smelled her pillow and stole a pair of panties from her hamper. They would tide him over until he made his move. And now he had access, in the form of an invitation.

…

Being so close to Sookie last night had been incredible. To finally touch her again for the first time in almost a year… God, he wanted to touch her all over. She smelled so good, and there was still the hint of the day's sunshine in her hair. He had managed to get his nose right up in it.

He had basically been hard since he'd risen. Or his dick had risen with him. He had given up trying to get anything useful done, and had a pressing date with his right hand. He flipped through his mental Rolodex of Sookie porn, and chose one of his favourites - on the front porch swing.

He had been sitting down, and she was on his lap, fucking him with her back against his chest. Her breasts, covered only in a silky camisole, were in the perfect place for his hands, and the crook of her neck was right up by his mouth. He was kissing and sucking and nibbling, but not biting. Not yet. She had her skirt hiked up and no panties on, and she had managed to find a rhythm that worked with the back and forth of the swing. She looked over her shoulder so he could kiss her, and he slashed his tongue to give her his blood. She sucked on his tongue and moaned into his mouth, and moved one of his hands from her breast down to between her legs. She took over pinching and tugging on that nipple, and she laced her other hand through his so they could feel the other breast together. He circled her clit, and he felt how close she was through the bond.

She pulled away from his mouth, turned back around and pulled her hair away from her neck. She almost never offered her blood, because he had taken so much of it. He started to suck on her pulse point again. He was almost ready to bite. She still had her other hand joined with his, and she pulled them both to her mouth. She sucked hard on the inside of his wrist.

When she started to cum, she bit, and so did he, and whatever magic it was that made the blood exchange feel so fucking good took them both over. And, remembering, he came, too. He had pushed love through the bond to her when they had finally come down, and he almost did it again. He stopped himself in time, although he so wished that he could show her again just how much he did love her. Even if she wasn't with him, she was his, and always would be. He knew she didn't really understand, but she was part of him now. Forever.

He had been suppressing his instincts since he had gotten back to Louisiana, because his impulsiveness had been what had gotten him into this mess. And trying to analyse every instinct before acting was damn near impossible, and totally counterintuitive. But they were screaming at him now to reach out to her. Loud enough, maybe, that he needed to listen.

Tentatively, he opened the bond. He knew she was nearby, shopping with Pam at the mall. And he pushed - not too hard - contrition. He felt a momentary confusion in return, and then, instead of the irritation he was expecting, she sent him back… acceptance. It didn't feel quite like forgiveness, but he would take it. He smiled, and sent back gratitude, before closing the bond again.

…

Pam realized that Sookie was no longer walking next to her, and stopped and turned around. Sookie was standing there, in the middle of the mall, disrupting traffic with a stroller full of bags and a baby in a Swedish contraption attached to her chest. You couldn't even tell how incredible her breasts were. Sookie had tears in her eyes, and a small smile on her face.

Sookie had forgotten what he felt like inside of her. And she had gotten so used to the emptiness that she had almost forgotten that there had ever been anything there. But feeling him again… She felt whole again. And a little more of her resolve melted away.

She had known he was sorry, but feeling it made it so much more tangible. And she wasn't ready to forgive him - at least not out loud - but she found that she was ready to accept his apology. She sent that acceptance to him, and how grateful he was in return moved her, a little. Well, enough to make her tear up and stop walking.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm better than alright, actually. Thank you for tonight, Pam. I really needed to not feel so alone."

And she sent out a silent thank you to Eric, too. For the same reason.