Big things have happened in my life since I last uploaded, but I remembered how much I missed writing this fanfiction, and wanted to get stuck back in.

I read every single review. Thank you to those who have stuck with me from the beginning and to those just joining. Let me know what you think.

Without further ado, please enjoy.

Soft fingers traced my jaw, grazing over my cheek, then left me cold, alone. It was enough to rouse me and cause my whole body to protest, my limbs stiff and aching. I opened my eyes and found myself lying on the couch inside Fangtasia's office, with a clean shirt lying over my chest to keep me warm.

I blinked away the sleep to see Eric's back moving away from me and towards his desk. When he collapsed into his chair, I saw the blood slowly escaping his ears, his nose. His eyes flittered over to me as I sat up and stretched.

"I slept all day?"

He blotched away the bleeds with a soaked tissue and hummed. "It's almost sunset," he confirmed.

In only his black vest, I realised he chose not to wake me or ask me leave, instead covering me with the shirt off his back. I felt no pain or discomfort in my jaw, prompting my eyes to look over my arm. The puckered skin that was once there before had disappeared. I lifted my top and the ugly slash across my stomach was gone too. A toothy grin bloomed on my face, thankful that Russell's aggression no longer left a mark on my body.

"Thank you," I murmured, eyes still on my tummy, marvelling at the magic of vampire blood.

His reply was forced, bitter, causing my gaze to shift. "Don't thank me."

I couldn't argue with him. Sleep was hardly peaceful since I'd come face to face with the vampire king of Mississippi, and my thoughts didn't go unaffected either. I was scared of him, and I could tell, as I watched Eric's eyes stare into the emptiness of the room, so was he. I pushed up from the couch and slowly approached, his eyes never wavering as he stared off into space. Cautious not to jolt him from his thoughts, I moved to his side and gently began to run my fingers through his blonde hair. Slowly, his eyes closed. In either comfort or guilt, I did not know which. But slowly, his jaw loosened and the tension started to seep out of his body.

Eric opened his eyes and turned to look up at me. They looked into me, so intensely that I had the time to notice every fleck in his iris. My hand trailed down to cradle his cheek, brushing away the blood that tricked from his ear. He regarded me softly for a moment, his eyes seemingly battling with something before I found his arm cautiously winding round my waist, guiding my body to his.

I perched myself onto his lap, gathered in his arms and I did not know if he did this to comfort me or himself. But I choose to tuck my head into the crook of his neck and let out my fears in a sigh. His fingers brushed unconscious patterns along my thigh.

"What happened to you, Eric?" I rested the palm of my hand against his chiselled stomach.

I received no answer, and for a moment, I felt that we were back in the Hotel Carmilla. Eric had held me once then, but back then he had full control. If I wasn't mistaken, in this moment, we were closer to equals.

"What did Russell do to you to fill you with so much hate?" It was hardly a question to Eric; moreso my own verbal wonderings. But it was to this that I heard his gentle reply.

"Russell Edgington murdered my family a thousand years ago." My eyes widened but I dared not move. "Under Russell's command, these same werewolves massacred my family and destroyed my home. I alone survived." The soft brushing of his fingers against my skin ceased. His hand gripped my thigh to anchor himself. The strain in his voice grew. "And I've been hunting him ever since."

I pulled away from his neck and watched his face, unable to keep the sorrow from my face. "Eric, I'm... I'm so sorry."

He refused to look at me. "He took everything from me. So I took from him the only thing in Russell's world that he adored. Talbot had to die." His teeth started to grind in his growing anger. "It was worth it; to force him to feel the loss that I once felt so long ago. Finally," his words fell into a mutter, "my debt is repaid."

I traced my fingers in small patterns against his chest.

"At what cost..." I mumbled.

Eric's silence confirmed my suspicions.

"He'll hunt you for this."

"Yes."

I frowned. "Aren't you frightened?"

"I would be foolish not to be." His fierce gaze was glued to his desk. "Russell Edgington is three times my age. I fully expect to die at his hand, but," he sneered, "if I have one chance to kill Russell, I would gladly pay the price."

I swallowed and shakily took his chin tightly in my hand, forcing the vampire to look at me. He only stared at me, honesty radiating from his lost, lonely eyes. I returned his frankness with words that scared me.

"I don't want you to die."

In that instant, Eric's eyes softened as they looked into mine and his grip unconsciously tightened on my body. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against mine.

"My only regret is that he hurt you," he confessed, hatred rolling off his tongue. "I will kill him. For my family," his hand moved from my thigh to clasp my neck firmly in a promise, "for you. I will not let him touch you again."

"Is that why they're here?" My voice was barely audible, thinking of the AVL that remained guarded outside of that door. "Is that because of Russell?"

Eric's head moved away from mine and my innocence and naivety played a faint smile onto his lips. "Of sorts; Russell has killed the Magister, an important figure in the Authority, and it seems the blame is to be placed on me. We're awaiting the Authority's judgement as we speak."

I glared at the injustice. "But why won't they go after the right man? Why not help you kill Russell?"

"Because dealing with the King of Mississippi is a shit pile that no one wants to clean up. It is more likely that I'll be taken into custody for the true death of the Magister and the disappearance of Queen Sophie-Anne." He gave me a false smirk as he quipped, "Well, it looks like you'll have your wish, Melody. I'll soon be out of your life one way or another."

I was taken aback by his easy tone. I'd been burnt, I'd been bitten, I had almost died because of the vampire before me. For a time, I had no clue if I wanted to run to him or run away as far as I could, back to the farm or to England if it meant the hurt, the danger would stop. Despite it all, I knew truly that I didn't want to be rid of Eric Northman. A life with him gone didn't seem plausible to me in that moment. And not in a romantic way; Eric was strong, unyielding, commanding. He couldn't die, could he?

"You know I don't want that," I argued gently.

"Do I?" Eric's voice suddenly turned resentful. "Let's indulge for a minute. You moved here, all alone and when we met, I started to strip you day by day of your pride. You hurt yourself because of my words. You came to me once, ready and eager," he grit his teeth as he spoke those next words, "full of love for me and I showed you that vampires do not love. And now, my enemies hunt you as they do me." He gave a nasty, half laugh void of any humour. "How can you not be glad to soon be rid of me?"

My breath was heavy and audible, and my anger grew. How could after all this time and all I had done, he couldn't understand.

"Because despite all that, Eric," I mumbled, "all that pain you have caused, there have been many moments where you choose to protect me, where you have chosen me to be the one you care for."

His voice held a bite to it as he said, "Do not lower your answer to that of some fangbanger."

"I don't just lust after you, Eric," I accused, pushing my body far from his without leaving his lap, "I love you, you asshole!"

My answer rendered him mute but I didn't stop there, my pride burnt and my anger boiling away. "Jesus, after all this time, is that how you see me? Some fangbanger? I know you don't love humans, you have warned me time and time again, but that doesn't mean I can stop the way I feel about you. It's not about the sex, for fuck's sake. It's about you!"

A deep frown had set on my face and I moved to stand. "Sookie was right, I shouldn't have come here. I need to go."

The moment I stood up, I was pushed, my butt falling onto the desk, with a strong arm trapped either side of me. Eric's deep eyes burned into mine as he leaned over me.

"You're not going anywhere, Melody. Russell is still out there."

"I don't care," I lied, his name lighting fear inside of me, the thought of him twisting my stomach into uncomfortable knots.

"I know you like to be stubborn, but for once," he hissed, "you need to listen to me."

"Let me go-"

"I won't."

I growled, "The last time you kept me prisoner, that monster tortured me. Burnt me. Now let. Me. Go!"

Eric gripped my raging face in his iron grasp and his authority ceased my struggles in an instant. His Viking rage took command of my ears. "He will hunt you down and use you against me!" The declaration released all my anger and I went limp. "He knows you're alive. If he's smart, he's watching Fangtasia as we speak. If you leave my side, Russell will kill you in front of my eyes for what I did. Don't make me watch that, Melody." His stern voice faded into a mutter. "I have to protect you. I don't know how else to do that."

He held me there in silence for a moment before his beautiful, glistening eyes softened. "You can hate me for it. But I have to keep you safe."

My voice was uneven, threatening to cry out and spill my tears. I roughly rubbed at my eyes. "You don't owe me anything."

His large hand pushed my hand away from my face. "I will do all I can to keep you safe. Whether I am charged by the Authority or I meet the true death. You are mine to protect, Melody."

"Stop acting like this is the last time we'll see each other."

His lack of response said everything.

Eric held me there, fixed to the desk, making no move to let me go or to take me in his arms. I could only search his face, watching him fight all his instincts to take me right then and there. To kiss me, feed on me. But for once, even the Viking seemed to understand that I was on the verge of fight or flight when it came to this life of mine in Bon Temps.

It caught me off guard after a minute of quiet, a muffled voice sounded behind me.

"Are you two done sucking the fun out of everything yet? My outfit's creasing in here."

I internally groaned and craned my neck to see the lid of the AVL coffin pop open, Pam's pampered hand propping herself up as she regarded the both of us. I felt the weight of Eric's body lift away from me.

Pam smirked at me once she got out of her coffin. "Really honey, I don't know why you don't just enjoy all the fucking and leave the emotional bullshit behind."

"Leave her alone, Pam," Eric commanded, leaving no room for response from either Pam or myself. He took hold of my wrist, and with the sun having set, he moved to leave the room and brought me with him into his bar. The sound of Pam's shoes clicking behind me and the sight of the tall, ancient vampire leading the way offered me some form of comfort. It did not stop my eyes darting about the bar, noting the V-Feds bulked up in their bullet proof gear, cradling their weapons, watching the only human in sight being led to a seat.

Eric wandered over to the bar and poured me a whiskey, grabbed a bottle of Tru Blood and returned to my side. I lifted my eyebrow in question as he placed the glass on the table and sat beside me.

"For the nerves," he answered, taking a swig of his own bottle.

And then we waited. The alcohol did very little to soothe me, surrounded by guns and suspicious looks. It wasn't until an hour after sunset that the figurehead of the AVL herself strutted into the room; Nan Flanagan held an official stamped letter in her hand as she approached the three of us, curious to see a human sitting beside Eric.

"Nice to see your little human again, Eric, but she doesn't belong in this discussion." Nan's beady little eyes looked at me from top to bottom, lingering too long for my liking.

"She stays."

"She doesn't have clearance," she said firmly, looking to me. "Leave."

Before I could stand to leave, Eric spoke with authority. "She was captured by Russell Edgington and deserves to know how this will end. She stays."

Nan rolled her eyes. "Fine, but she will need to be glamoured." Nan cocked her fingers, signalling one of the guards over. Eric stood from his seat and covered my body from their sight.

"She is mine," he declared, and took a moment to say, "I will do it."

Nan regarded Eric for a moment, perhaps in all her years alive never seeing this particular vampire show any care or dignity to any human before. Eventually she nodded, and pulled the letter forward.

"The ruling is as follows," she declared. I shared a look with Pam, neither of us able to hide our anxiety for the vampire we both cared for. "The Authority disavows any knowledge of our previous interview, your statement, and indeed, this ruling itself. None of this ever happened."

Eric's somewhat flattened demeanour started to rise in surprise. "What?"

Nan handed Eric the declaration and explained, "Missing royals, dead Magisters, it's a political tar baby no one wants to touch. Especially not with the Vampire Rights Amendment this close to ratification."

Eric swooped over Nan, baring the letter. "This is the Authority's answer? Russell will not stop killing. What if the humans learn of this?"

She gave him a firm look. "That's why you're going to take care of it. Quietly, discreetly, and completely off the books. Your revenge is yours, Mr Northman."

I watched Eric's eyes light up, only for mine to be shrouded with worry.

"What resources will you give me?"

"None," she bluntly replied. "As I said, we're not going near this." Nan swept past Eric and he stepped after her angrily.

"How do you expect me to kill him? He is three thousand years old!"

She spun back round to Eric and hissed at him. "Listen you whiny, little bitch. You are the only link between Sophie-Anne, the magister and Russell fucking Edgington. You brought us this steaming pile of shit, and you're going to make it go away. Bring me his fangs," she ordered, turning to leave the bar, her guards filing behind her before she yelled back, "or I will have yours. Don't forget to glamour your little redhead!"

With her declaration, Nan was gone, leaving the stunned vampires and myself alone in Fangtasia. I glanced at Pam whose eyes were fixed on her maker, before I looked back at Eric.

"What do we do now?"

Eric kept his back to me. Pam's eyes remained on her Maker, watching the cogs turn behind his eyes as Eric registered how royally fucked we were.

The minutes turned into hour after hour. Eric isolated himself from us both in his office, nursing a bottle of Tru Blood that he'd barely touched, his eyes staring off into oblivion. Even in the dire situation I'd found myself, boredom started to creep in, and with boredom, my thoughts began to wander. The only sound in the room came from a small TV hanging in the corner, playing TBBN, plus my tentative footsteps as I meandered round the club. I waited patiently for Eric to figure out a plan, a great scheme to destroy the 3000 year old vampire before he destroyed us. But when nothing was said and the clock ticked on, panic began to seep into my heart.

My slow and thoughtful wanderings brought me to Fangtasia's stage as I stepped up onto it, trailing a hand along the golden arm of Eric's throne, before placing myself tentatively on its seat. From the bar, Pam's eyes darted towards whoever dared sit on Eric's throne, until with a roll of her eyes, she returned her gaze to the TV.

With a shaky hand, I brought the glass to my lips, swallowing every last drop to steel my nerves.

He's coming, I thought.

Every moment we waited, every second without a plan was another second that Russell could swoop inside Fangtasia and snap my neck with just a flick of his hand. I wondered if he'd make me suffer. If he knew whether I meant anything to Eric, to see if it would cause the Viking pain to watch me die. I would have wondered that myself, if the murmerings of the news anchor hadn't cut off in a gasp and a scream.

My eyes darted to the screen. A woman behind the camera, unseen, cried out in fear until the vampire before her silenced her, ordering the crew to keep the cameras rolling. Pam rose from her seat in disbelief as Russell Edgington addressed his viewers, his hand clutching the reminents of the news anchor's spine. Fresh blood oozed down Russell's arm as he carelessly shoved the corpse from his chair, replacing him to introduce himself.

I inhaled with wide eyes. "Eric…" It had barely been a noise but the vampire heard my frightened call. In an instant, he'd joined us, his eyes trained on the monster on TV.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the American Vampire League wishes to perpetrate the notion that we are just like you, and I suppose in a few small ways we are." His light and airy voice made it clear that with Talbot's death, Russell had lost himself to despair and madness. He moved forward and pressed his hands against the desk, looking into the eyes of America as his voice turned cold. "But no, in the end, we are nothing like you. We are immortal. We drink the true blood...blood that is living, organic and human."

Russell stroked his tongue from his wrist to his fingertips, delighting in the sobbing noises from the camera crew. My eyes darted from the TV, to the two vampires before me, both frozen and more fearful than I'd ever seen them before.

"That is the truth the AVL wishes to conceal from you. Because let's face it, eating people is a tough sell these days. So they put on their friendly faces to pass their beloved VRA, but make no mistake, mine is the true face of vampires! Why would we seek equal rights? You are not our equals." His teeth bared, stained red and his eyes souless. "We will eat you, after we eat your children."

No noise could be heard as the cameras cut out, all but my fearful swallow echoing against the walls of Fangtasia.