A/N So no Eric in this chapter, i feel a little lost, but i needed to get some things out there. There's a lot going on so let me know what you think. I love hearing it Enjoy!

I slept better that night that I had the previous few nights. I still dreamt about Eric, but it wasn't as lust filled as before. This dream had us kissing quite a bit, but we were acting like a normal couple. I dreamt that we went to the movies and to the beach under the moonlight. It was so nice and normal that I was sad to wake up, but I had a lot to do today.

I got out of bed and saw that it was a little before nine and I need to get a move on. I went to the bathroom, did my business, washed my face, brushed my teeth and hair and dressed in a tank top and shorts.

I went into the kitchen when I was done and found Gran cooking up a storm for breakfast. "Morning Gran."

"Morning Sweetie. How did everything go last night?"

"Just fine Gran. I'm moving into a beautiful house and you should see the kitchen Gran. You could cook up a giant feast in that kitchen and still have room left over." I told her all about my new home and what I had planned to do today as we chowed down on our breakfast and I helped her clean up.

Gran went into the living room while I went to get my shoes and purse when there was a knock on the door. I went to answer it, but I stopped before opening the door and opened my mind to see who was on the other side of the door. I knew that it couldn't be a vampire since it was daytime, but it didn't hurt to be cautious.

I listened to the man's thoughts, but he was thinking so quickly all I could catch was Eric's name. If Eric sent him, then I knew it was all right to let him in. I opened the door and plastered a smile on my face. "Hi there. Can I help you?"

"Are you Miss Stackhouse?"

"That's me."

"I have some papers and things that Mr. Northman sent me to go over with you."

"Okay, please come in Mr….?"

"Burnham, Bobby Burnham. I'm Mr. Northman's day man."

"Please come in Mr. Burnham." I led him into the kitchen. "Please have a seat. Can I get you something to drink or anything at all?"

"No thank you, I'm fine." I sat down next to him and he started right off. He pulled papers out of a briefcase that he was carrying and set them in front of me. "Here is the deed to the house that you are moving into. I just need your signature at the bottom of the page." I took the pen that he offered and signed away.

He pulled out a set of keys, some more papers and a garage door opener and handed them to me. "Here are your keys, the directions to the house and the garage door opener." He brought another shopping bag that he carried in and set that in front of me. "I also have for you a new cell phone that is all charged and ready for you to use with all the important numbers already loaded in it." He reached back into his briefcase and pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. I quickly tore it open. It was thicker than I expected and I was shocked as what was inside. There was a credit car and a very large stack of one hundred dollar bills.

"What is all of this for?" My hands were trembling just from holding that much money.

"I was instructed to tell you that this is for any house hold incidentals you would need and any expenses you were to have while moving."

I wanted to pitch a fit at that moment over that amount of money, but as I stopped and thought about it I realized that this was another way for him to protect me. He was making it easy for me to get settled into my new home as quickly and efficiently as possible so that I wouldn't be any more exposed than necessary. I closed the envelope and set it aside. "Is there anything else?" Just as I said that I heard someone coming up the driveway. "What is that?"

"That would be your new car."

"My new car?"

"Well, your temporary car until your bullet proof car is ready."

"Bulletproof? What the hell does he think is going to come after me?"

"I don't know ma'am."

I got up, slid on a pair of flip flops that I'd left by the door and went out onto the front porch. I stopped short at what I was seeing. I couldn't believe the car that he had picked out for me. It was a huge SUV. In my mind this was not really a car that blended in well and made me inconspicuous.

I walked down the steps and watched a young woman get out of the car. She looked even younger than me and she didn't seem the type of person who hung around with vampires. I opened my mind to hear what she was thinking about. I can't believe that Mr. Northman asked me to do these favors for him. I can't say that the extra thousand dollars isn't a bonus, but I would have done this for him anyway. Mr. Northman is a kind vampire and she looks really nice and sweet, not anything like the normal trashy girls that hang around him like Ginger…

I stopped listening as she walked up to me with a sweet smile on her face and her hand outstretched for me to shake. "Hi there. Are you Sookie Stackhouse?"

"That's me."

"I'm Belinda. I work at Fangtasia and Mr. Northman asked me to introduce myself so that when you start work later this week you'll know somebody besides him and he also want me to help you learn the ropes."

"That's very kind of you Belinda, thank you."

She handed me the keys to my new car and a manila envelope. "It's no bother at all. Here are your keys. The insurance and registration are in the glove box and this envelope has a list of places to go and pick up clothes to wear at the bar. Some of the other waitresses dress trashy, but most of us prefer things that are tasteful. The best place is right in the same strip mall as the bar. The woman who runs it is very helpful. Her name is Amelia and she always knows just what you need."

"Thank you Belinda, you have been so helpful already. I can't wait to start working with you."

"Ditto. Are we ready to go Mr. Burnham?"

"Yes." I hadn't even known Bobby had come outside. He stopped next to me. "My numbers are in your new phone. If you need anything feel free to call me anytime day or night."

"Thank you Mr. Burnham."

"Good day Miss Stackhouse."

"Good day. Bye Belinda." Belinda waved to me as they got into Bobby's car and drove away.

When they were gone I couldn't stop myself from heading over to my new car. I opened up the driver's side door and I was hit with that wonderful new car smell. I had never had a new car of my own before and this was a real treat and a new experience.

I got inside and I was already in love. The seat was so comfortable and it was the softest leather I'd ever felt. Eric was not one to go have way when it came to comfort and also when it came to options. There were all kinds of gadgets that I'd never had in a car before. There were automatic door locks and windows, an air conditioner, a CD player and all kinds of buttons and knobs that I didn't know what they did. I was going to have to read the instructions on this beast, or maybe I could have Eric show me what everything did. That would be much more pleasant.

I put thoughts of Eric to the back of my mind for now and went inside to talk to Gran. I knew that she had been giving me space to talk to Bobby and I just knew that now that he was gone she was going to be chomping at the bit to know what had been said.

Gran was sitting on the sofa knitting and watching her stories. She put her knitting aside the minute she saw me come in and I went and sat next to her and didn't even wait for her to ask before I told her about everything.

She waited until I was done before she spoke. "Sookie, do you think that it's appropriate to accept all of these things from a man you hardly know? It just doesn't seem right to me."

I'd had a feeling that Gran wasn't going to approve. "Gran, I know that it may look like I'm going to be a 'kept woman', but Eric is just doing all of this to protect me. Putting me in a safe house and making sure that I have everything that I need is his way of protecting me. It's either I live like a princess her near my family and friends, or I get abducted and forced to live in New Orleans where I will be treated like a slave and you will most likely never see me again." I could see the tears well up in Gran's eyes, but she needed to hear everything. "Is that what you want Gran? Do you want me to be someone's slave?"

She pulled me tight into her arms. "Of course I wouldn't baby girl. I'm so sorry Sookie. I know that you will do what's right."

"It's all right Gran." I hugged her tight until her tears dried up. "Everything is going to be all right Gran, I promise." She smiled at me, then I told her I had to get going to get my errands done before tonight.

I needed to pick up some boxes and other packing materials, I wanted to see if I could find a set of luggage for my clothes, then I had to go to Merlotte's to talk to Sam. I was dreading that conversation more than anything else that was going on in my life right now. Sam had been good friend and boss to me, but he'd also kept a huge secret from me and that hurt more than I ever imagined. If he had told me I wouldn't have felt so much like a freak.

I went to my room to put on my sneakers and grab my purse, when I realized my purse was too small for all the stuff that I would need to carry. I had my new phone which I grabbed out of the bag and as I looked at it, would be something else that I would need Eric to school me on, I also had my new car keys, my new house keys, my wallet, the money and credit card that Eric had given me, and the manila envelope where I could buy new work clothes. I would need a back pack if I had anymore stuff to carry.

I gathered everything up and took it with me to my room and set it onto my bed. I looked through my closet and the only I had that would work as a purse was a cloth beach bag. It wasn't the prettiest to look at, but it would do the job until I could get a new one.

I placed everything inside, put on my sneakers, let Gran know I was going and I was out the door. I got into my car and I loved being up so high off of the ground. It was kind of empowering and I liked it.

I set my bag on the passenger seat and was just about to start up the car when a work crew came driving towards me. I had no idea what this was about, so I got out of the car to find out.

The lead truck stopped and the foreman walked towards me. "Can I help you?"

"Are you Sookie Stackhouse?"

"Yes I am."

"My crew and I are here to re-gravel your driveway."

"We didn't order this."

"A Mr. Eric Northman place the order and paid for it."

Eric was definitely going overboard with everything, but it was very sweet and thoughtful anyway. A definite point in his favor in my book. "Do you need me to move the yellow car? I'm leaving so the SUV will be out of the way." And Gran's car was out on the back lawn where Jason was suppose to wash it and change the oil later today. Oh Shit Jason! I had to tell him about everything that was going on. There was no way that he was going to take this well, but I would think about that later.

"No need. We have also been paid to tow that car away for you."

"Oh." I hadn't thought about what I was going to do with my old car yet, but I guess that was okay. "What are you going to do with it?"

"It's going to the junk yard."

"Oh no! Isn't there some way that you could donate it to a needy family or some charity or something."

He looked at me for a moment and I was tempted to read his thoughts, but was trying to keep my shields up unless absolutely necessary. Plus I wasn't getting any bad feelings from this guy. "I can arrange that."

"Thank you very much. If you need anything my Gran, Adele Stackhouse is inside."

"Of course Miss Stackhouse." I ran in to tell Gran what was going on, then I was on my way.

My first stop was to the U-Haul place. I loaded up on boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap. I knew I had probably gotten more than I needed, but I'd rather have too much than not enough.

My next stop should have been to Merlotte's, but I wasn't ready to deal with that just yet. I knew that where I was headed next was a bit out of the way, but with my new car full of gas I couldn't help myself, so I made the long drive out to the Super Wal-Mart. Two times in one week, I was going to be spoiled if I kept this up.

I managed to find a parking spot fairly close and I as I locked the doors I noticed that there was also an alarm on my car. I didn't know how to work it, so I just locked the doors and went inside. I would have to ask Eric about that later as well.

I stopped short as I went to grab my cart. I would be seeing Eric tonight, or at least that is what he implied to me the night before, but where would we be meeting? Did he want to come over to the house or was I suppose to go to Fangtasia? I really wanted to see him tonight, but if he wanted me to work later this week I would need all my spare time to get settled and moved in. I wouldn't be able to focus well until I was settled in, but I would worry about that later.

I went through the store and actually found a very nice set of luggage. It had more that enough room for my clothes. I knew that I had what I had really come looking for, but I decided to look more. I needed more time.

I continued going up and down that aisles and I found quite a few more things for my new place. I found a nice set of pots and pans, a set of dishes with matching flatware, a set of tumbler glasses and a set of coffee mugs. I also picked out a coffee maker since I hadn't seen one in the kitchen and I needed coffee in the morning.

I knew that I was going to have to stock up on food for the new place, but I would worry about doing that another time. I did pick up dishwashing soap though. I could throw all of my new dishes in there to wash them, then they would be ready when I needed them.

I wandered a little bit more and found a new purse that would be plenty big enough to carry all my stuff. I also picked up paper and pens and a little notebook and pocket calendar to keep in my new purse. I was going to have to go through the whole house to make a list of everything that I would need.

When I'd stalled as long as I could, I made my way to the registers and paid for my things. I spent more than I ever had and it made me a bit nervous, but it was nice to have new things for my new home. That was still a bit surreal to me. I'd never had a place that had been mine before. It had always been either Momma and Daddy's or Gran's.

As I was loading my bags in my new car I thought about what I was going to tell Jason about what was going on with me. I had to warn him about not letting strangers in his house, but I didn't want to bring up the involvement of vampires. I wouldn't want him running off and getting himself bitten or killed. He gets into enough trouble on his own.

I was driving back to Bon Temps and I was dreading what I had to do. I was leaving Sam with no notice, but I had to do this for my own safety. That's what all of this was for. I would shine Eric's boots if it meant I would be safe and free.

I started thinking about Eric then and our kiss from the night before. Just that one kiss had set my whole being on fire. I wanted to do so much more than just kiss him, but maybe, for now at least, I could keep him happy with just kissing. I did enjoy just being close to him and the quiet that he offered me if the kissing was too much without going farther.

I was lost in my thoughts of the Viking and didn't notice when I had arrived at Merlotte's. My stomach was full of butterflies as I parked the car. No matter what I was about to say or do there were going to be hurt feelings, but there was nothing I could do about that. I took a deep breath and pulled up my big girl panties as I made my way inside.