Thank you a million times over for your chapter 1 reviews, bless you all, keep them coming

Remember that this is the sequel to 'Tempting Fate' so please read that first

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I'm still dithering on thoughts re characters/plots such as Alcide and the trip to Jackson

Any thoughts on Season 3 plotlines/characters you fancy mentioning? These will help to alter the series for your entertainment

Looking forward to this week's TB because last week was awesome, even with Willa being turned -Melody will not be happy about this, agreed?-

Eric is kind of back to his old self, are we loving that or what?!

Please review, I'll update soon, read on and be well

His luscious white skin was beginning to trickle with sweat as he clawed his fingers into her skin. He punished her, over and over, in that sickly sweet addictive way of his. Eric knew exactly how he made a girl feel, how he made her want and crave more. His body blurred as he pressed against her, ramming his athletic build against her curvaceous figure. Those eyes of his were clouded with lust and desire, his mind running with thoughts that should have been saved for me, and only me. Breathing heavily, he only stopped when he heard two people running into his basement, disturbing his pleasure. Eric's eyes connected with mine and a twisted smirk haunted his lips as his rough hands let go of Yvetta's exhausted body momentarily…

"Mel…Mel-o-dy," a voice punctuated my name before shouting, "Hey, Miss-England-2010, I'm talking to you!"

My head jerked up and my eyes connected with Lafayette in an instant. He stood behind the counter where he was stirring a pot of chilli, his eyebrow hitched as he regarded me curiously.

"Sorry, what was that?"

He huffed and nodded his head towards the plate resting on the steel counter.

"I said 'Burger and Fries', table four," he repeated, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Baby girl, what is going on in that pretty red head of yours? You look like you was some place a motherfucker can only dream of being at."

"Nothing," I mumbled, frowning at the plate in front of me, hoping to keep last night's image of Eric and Yvetta going at it like dogs out of my head.

"Mm-hmm," Lafayette drawled, unconvinced. "Well, once you're done with that fantasy you is in, your Auntie wants her order."

I nodded dumbly. Before I could grab the plate and escape Lafayette's prowling thoughts, Arlene had joined my side to pick up her own order. When I had gotten to work, the woman had thrown herself into my arms, thanking me for taking care of her babies, Coby and Lisa. While Maryann had pretty much destroyed the town and taken over every sane mind to flip the switch, Sam Merlotte and I took care of them while Arlene and Terry had gone all bug-eyed crazy. Arlene told me Lisa had asked for me to babysit the next time her mama's 'eyes went funny'.

The redheaded friend of mine leant over the counter and took a whiff of the bowl.

"Hey, Lafayette," she called out, "is there something different about the chilli tonight?"

Lafayette continued to stir his pot, a look of surprise on his fabulous face.

"Actually, yeah," he replied, a little startled, "it was tasting kinda flat so I put a pinch of–"

"Cinnamon,"

"Cinnamon in it…" Lafayette frowned, pausing in his cooking to regard the waitress. "Yeah, how the hell did you smell that? I put, like, half a teaspoon in the whole pot?"

Arlene frowned with him, until her eyes widened and she stepped away from the counter.

"Shit. I'm pregnant again."

A grin broke out on my face and I opened up my arms, "Oh, Arlene, congratu–"

"No!" She pointed a finger at me, her expression stern like she was hushing up a child, "No." I dropped my arms, confused as the woman's mouth fell open and closed shut as she gawked.

Silently, she turned on the spot and walked out back.

"Hey, you forgot your rings!" Lafayette yelled out to her.

"Fuck my rings!" Arlene shouted back, throwing her hands up to silence the two of us. My dumb expression met Lafayette's, his eyebrow kinked in suggestion.

I rolled my eyes and took the Onion Rings in one hand and my Auntie's order in the other one. "I got it," I grumbled.

Lafayette grinned and returned to his pot.

"I loves ya!"

"Yeah, when you want something!" I called back in good humour. I could hear the man laughing to himself back in the kitchen as I walked over to Arlene's table and gave up the Onion Rings with a smile to Jason and Hoyt who sat with two girls in their booth.

Jason flashed me a wink as a form of hello while Hoyt went all old fashioned and polite as was his nature.

"Hey there, Melody," he greeted warmly, though his eyes were a little red.

"Hi, Hoyt," I said, a little concerned. "Everything alright?"

Though I knew it was likely about Jessica, Hoyt went to open his mouth to reply but Jason cut him off real quick.

"Yeah, we're all good here, Mel. Thanks," he finished for his best friend before his gaze returned to the two girls opposite him. Hoyt gave me an exasperated smile before offering me a short wave.

"Have a good night, Mels."

I returned his smile, knowing the lad was suffering but doing his part to help his best friend get laid. I hurried away from Jason and his wingman and joined my Auntie Barbs at table number four. She was out for dinner, hoping for me to join when my shift ended, which was in ten minutes and counting.

"Sweetpea, you look exhausted!"

I chuckled lightly, slapping the woman's arm playfully as I sat the burger and fries down in front of her, joining her booth to take a seat opposite.

"Thanks, Barbs," I mumbled in reply, rubbing my small hands over my face. With a mixture of concern and intrigue, the woman refused to eat until I sat back and shrugged. "I'm fine, really."

"I don't believe you," she replied firmly but took a fry and popped it into her mouth, her wrinkly aging face full to the brim with worry. "Baby, you've been quiet since you got home last night. Wouldn't even eat breakfast before your shift, and you know I wouldn't stand for that if you hadn't been up and gone before I was awake." She eyed me suspiciously. "Something happened last night."

I shrugged off her question. "It's not important."

She wasn't having any of it. "Was it Sam? That why you came to work so early?"

I frowned. "Why would it have anything to do with my boss?"

"Aha!" She pointed a finger at me theatrically. "So there is a 'something'!"

I held back my laugh as best as I could. No matter what happened in my life, my Auntie Barbs had a way of cheering me up. Usually it was just by being her crazy self. Times like this I was grateful for the little family I had left here in Bon Temps. Her excitement fell when she saw my own expression sober.

"What is it, pumpkin?"

I sniffed, trying my best to sustain a neutral expression. My lower lip trembling and my breaths catching failed me.

"When I told you I had met someone," I started quietly, not trusting myself to speak, "when you asked if there had been anyone in town I'd met?" I sniffed but refused to cry. After I had returned from Shreveport last night, I had cried until my shift started, sleep rejecting me completely.

"I thought things were going well with…?" she asked cautiously, referring to our midnight chat on the couch, although never actually getting his name.

I breathed and answered, "Eric. His name's Eric." I shook my head slowly. "Last night, when Sookie called me…" I swallowed. "Her boyfriend, Bill–"

"Bill Compton? The vampire?" she asked.

I nodded, "Well, he'd proposed to her. But before she could answer, he'd gone missing, you see. Sookie rang me up when you'd fallen asleep and we went to look for him." I altered my thoughts to keep Barbs from worrying for me, especially where Eric was concerned. "We decided to see Eric in Shreveport to ask if…if he could help," I quickly danced around the fact Sookie thought Eric was responsible for Bill's kidnapping and carried on. My heart ached and my mind flooded with last night's scene when I added, "When we got there, Eric was with someone else."

Auntie Barbs' expression darkened while her eyebrow hitched and she popped another fry in her mouth and pushed the plate forward for my own hunger.

"Where does this bozo live?" she asked in a deep, threatening voice.

Unexpectedly, I guffawed, choking on the fry I had eaten. I took a gulp of Barbs' drink, my normal breathing once again return only for me to laugh out loud at my Auntie's attempt at a 'threat'.

"What? You gonna beat him up now?" I drawled, grinning from ear to ear, my heartache momentarily forgotten. "Get your witches on him?

"I might do," she replied, mock casually. "I might just hex him into oblivion for you. And I might chop off his balls while I'm at it."

"Barbs!" I giggled at her.

She shrugged, reaching across the table to hold my chin endearingly. "Nobody messes with my baby. I'll teach him that."

"I don't want you anywhere near him," I said seriously. "He's dangerous."

"Did he hurt you?" she half-hissed.

I swallowed and lied, "No," I mumbled and then gestured to my watery eyes. "At least not physically," I lied again.

Auntie Barbs almost growled at the sight of me, heartbroken and weepy. She was just like my dad in that way. They were both as sweet as pie, but if anyone crossed me, both my dad and now Barbs would teach them a lesson they'd never forget. But Eric was stronger and faster. I wanted what little family I had left safe.

"I'm alright, Barbs," I spoke softly, touching her hand. "Honest. I've learnt my lesson."

"Good," she replied grouchily, her eyes softening as she continued to eat her meal. "But if he comes near you again–"

"I'll slam the door in his face," I reassured her. Although considering the man I loved who betrayed me was a vampire, I wasn't sure if that was physically possible.

"That's my girl," she grinned.

"Well nice of you to sit there ten minutes before your shift's over, Mels. Don't worry 'bout the rest of us, we're just fine and dandy," Arlene rambled on as she approached Auntie Barbs' table. When she caught her eye, Arlene automatically smiled. "Oh, hi, Miss Yuley."

"Hello dear," Barbs sent my friend a knowing smile. Next to Adele Stackhouse, Barbara Yuley was basically Queen of Bon Temps. No one trod on her toes.

I abruptly stood from the booth and apologised.

"I'll help you clear up, Arlene."

"Na," she shrugged my offer off with a wave of her hand. "We ain't busy anyhow. You go take off for the night."

I smiled, "You sure?"

Since Sam Merlotte had left the bar in the safe hands of Arlene, Terry and Lafayette while he was on 'holiday', or so he'd called it, Arlene had taken to bossing us around all day, even if she were pregnant. I was missing Sam already, but after our awkward time together and romantic dealings, it was best we had some time apart.

She nodded, "Absolutely. Now get out," she ordered before turning to walk away. I caught her attention quickly.

"I'll talk with you soon about…"

Realising I was talking about the baby, Arlene waved her hand while her eyes widened like a startled deer. My mouth closed with a pop as my friend shut me up on the spot, returning to the steel counter for her orders. I laughed to myself and turned back to Barbs.

Remembering something, I asked, "Barbs, would you mind awfully if I went to Sookie's tonight?" The woman looked surprised. "She's going through a hard time, what with Bill missing 'n all."

"Course," she replied warmly. "She'll need a friend with her."

"Thanks," I grinned down at her and kissed her cheek. "I don't know when I'll be home…"

She waved me off, "Just gimme a call to tell me you're safe, is all." I nodded eagerly. "Besides, what could be so dangerous in Bon Temps?"

I gave her a dumb glare, watching as she reconsidered her question.

"Don't answer that."

I stared up at Sookie's ceiling, covered in vines and dirt as if it had been abandoned decades ago. Her poor home was as filthy as the day Maryann had been killed. She'd had no time to clear the place up, and to be honest, there wasn't a girl in the world that would know where to start. I came by Sookie's just as she'd gotten back from the Sheriff's Department. She had asked Bud Dearborne to issue a missing person's report, but as prejudice as the sheriff was, the 48 hour rule still stood.

Sookie walked in, dressed in a flowery blouse and denim shorts, and handed me a glass of red wine.

"Thought you could use a drink," she suggested, sitting beside me on her couch.

I scoffed before taking a sip.

"You and me both," I murmured, looking at my friend with sympathy. "No news on Bill?"

She shook her head sorrowfully. "Nothing, though Bud didn't seem keen on even issuing a report. It's like vampires don't deserve to live in their minds!"

I growled to myself, "I can think of one or two that don't…"

Hearing me, Sookie adjusted her position, curling her bare legs under herself and placed a gentle hand on my arm. "Are you ok?"

I took a gulp of wine. "Um…no, not really, no..." I stared at the glass in my hands and smiled to myself. "You did warn me…what he was like. It's my fault."

"No," Sookie scolded, wagging her finger at me, "it's not."

"But it is," I argued, looking up at the blonde. She sighed as I reminded her, "I know you're only trying to help, Sook. But I'm the stupid idiot that thought Eric Northman would miraculously turn into the perfect boyfriend after a couple of shags and love confessions."

Sookie watched me in silence for a moment. I guess she couldn't argue with that.

"Do you love him?" she asked, unconvinced. "Really, though? Cause a guy like that, Mel–"

"I know, I know!" I growled, angry with myself. "How could any girl fall in love with Eric? But how could you not?" I asked her in all seriousness. "I mean, he's a cruel, cold-hearted tosser and lives to see others in pain, but I thought he was my cold-hearted tosser."

Sookie stifled a laugh. I ignored her mouthing the word tosser, taking out the English insult for a test drive on her tongue.

"He could be kind, Sookie," I insisted sadly, staring back down at my glass dreamily as I stroked the tip of my finger around its rim. "With me, after everything that happened with Godric and Maryann… He cared about me. He showed me that he cared. He opened up in ways that for anyone else he would break their necks to keep them quiet, but with me…" I looked up at her. "I thought things were exclusive. I thought I was the only human he wanted. I thought we could be like you and Bill!" I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "But no, turns out I'm just another fucker that fell for the charms of Eric Northman but got to live to tell the tale."

Sookie rubbed my arm, knowing what a bastard the Viking could be. She had seen my face last night when we discovered his little 'session' with Yvetta and knew just how heartbroken I was. She was facing heartbreak at the hands of a vampire also, but it wasn't Bill's fault. Bill didn't ask to be kidnapped. Eric knew exactly what he was doing, knew exactly how it would make me feel, and still he did it anyway.

"Maybe he'll come to his senses," she offered lamely.

My laugh was void of humour. "Yeah, maybe. When the world implodes…"

"Then fuck him," she answered shortly, causing my head to snap up. "Fuck Eric. You deserve better."

I nodded absentmindedly. "Sure," I agreed, eyeing my friend. "I do, Sookie, I know I deserve better." I shrugged. "But you can't just fall out of love with someone like that," I mumbled, snapping my fingers. Quietly, I added, "I'm not sure I want to…" I took Sookie's hand and gave her a lame smile. "Imagine if it was Bill. Would you forgive him?"

"No," she said with certainty.

I asked, "Would you still love him?"

She watched me silently before mumbling, "Always."

We smiled at each other, knowing exactly how helplessly in love we were with these men and there wasn't a thing we could do to change that.

"Vampires suck," I muttered, pulling a giggle from my blonde friend. I sat back into the couch, laughing with her as she squeezed my hand and gave me a warm smile.

"Mel, would you sleep here tonight?" she asked. "Maybe for a few days?"

My look of surprise caused her to explain her request.

"I mean, since Gran died and Tara won't talk to me, it gets pretty lonely." Sookie had told me all about last night. Tara's boyfriend Eggs, the same guy that stabbed the ceremonial knife into Sam's chest, was shot in Merlotte's car park. Poor Tara was torn up but attacked Sookie after she confessed that she'd helped Eggs remember all the things Maryann made him do. Sookie's face darkened at the memory before taking a look around her. "Besides, this place is fucking creepy thanks to Maryann. I could use a friendly face around."

I nodded, smiling. "Of course, Sook," I agreed. "Anything you need."

She squeezed my hand, her smile genuine and thankful. "You're the best, Mel."

I waved her off. "Na. But pretty close."

Our soft laughter was cut short by the house phone calling. Sookie excused herself to pick it up, speaking to someone called Isobel on the other line, for which I assumed was about Bill's kidnapping.

A knock on the door came just minutes after the phone call, and since I had nothing better to do, I pushed myself up from the couch with a groan.

"I'll get it," I offered, earning a thanks from her.

I walked over to the front door where Sookie stood none too far. We peered through the door's window and saw none other than Pam standing outside, dressed in hot pink with a smirk plastered on her flirtatious face.

"May I?" she drawled from the other side of the door. I opened it but turned my head to face Sookie, who seemed just as displeased to see the vampire.

She rolled her eyes, covered the mouthpiece and said, "Come on in, Pam."

I closed the door behind her while Sookie left us to finish the phone call. Left alone with the vampire, I felt my need to scream and shout at Eric's progeny simmering against the tip of my tongue.

"Now, why did ya'll have to kill that Maenad?" she asked, staring at the filthy walls. "She's a terrific decorator!"

I bit my tongue and glared at the blonde vampire. "What do you want?"

"Just making my nightly rounds," Pam drawled, reaching into her purse. "Eric wanted me to pass these on to ya'll. Two birds, one stone."

Pam handed me what seemed to be two cheques, one made out to Sookie and the other to me. I stared at the number on the cheque, my eyes widening at the couple of extra thousand dollars on each cheque.

"This is too much." I told her, confused. "The agreed amount was five thousand each?"

"We know," she replied. "Eric wanted to give you a bonus for going above and beyond." She winked at me and I growled in disgust.

"I'm not his whore, Pam."

"Clearly," she laughed, "you're not. No hooker would get that attached to their client, even if it is Eric. Believe me, I'm an expert."

"He's nothing special," I grumbled.

Her eyebrow hitched. "Now, you and I both know that's not quite true." She looked me up and down. "But even I'm surprised that Eric couldn't hold onto you last night. If I was you, I would've joined in the party." She smirked. "Maybe next time."

I hissed at the vampire. "That bastard cheated on me. There will be no next time."

She laughed and eyed me knowingly. "We'll see." She nodded towards the cheques. "Want me to tell him thanks from ya?"

"No," I replied shortly, resulting in her growing smirk. Suddenly Pam gasped almost pleasurably, her whole body shivering in her hot pink outfit.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, interested.

"Just Eric calling me,"

"He can call you?"

"I should probably check in," Pam made for the door but paused to eye me confidently. "I'll tell lover-boy you said hi." She saw my cheeks redden before she disappeared without a second's notice.

"Vampires and their creepiness," I mumbled to myself. How does one call their progeny? Then I thought…

Bill was missing but Jessica was alone in the old Compton place, with no idea what to do or how to help. Being such a young vampire and all, maybe she didn't know she could be called by Bill? Maybe he had been trying all this time and we just didn't know it?

I raced through to the kitchen, yelling out to my friend, "Hey Sookie, I've got an idea!"