The rest of the drive to the mall was rather uneventful. Jackson didn't pop up out of nowhere threatening to lock me in his basement or something. (Technically he doesn't have a basement any more. He lives in a trailer. A nice trailer. But not a trailer with a basement.) It was back to being just a normal girls' day out. With the added little spike of revenge on the boys.

"I still can't believe that you and Eric are actually going out on a date," I mused, thumbing through a rack of shirts. "That man has been trying since before I went all missing and shit."

"I'm still not entirely sure that he's sincere," Sookie admitted stubbornly. "I mean, isn't our blood supposed to be like chocolate or something to them?"

"Something," I chuckled. "But that doesn't make him like you. And Eric definitely has a soft spot for you." She raised her eyebrows at me. "Oh come on. He wouldn't have stuck his neck out for you in Dallas otherwise. And, yes, he was mostly there for Godric. But he didn't have to offer himself for all of your safeties. He could have easily taken Godric and left you, Bill, and Jason to the crazies. But he didn't. He willingly had silver put on himself." I kept the thought to myself that it probably wouldn't have saved the three of them—she just didn't need to know some things. She was happier that way.

Sookie continued to quietly look through the shirts. "Do you really think so?"

"Yes, yes I do. But," I declared as I picked out a shirt, "I also believe that this shirt would look amazing on you." As she gave me a doubtful look, she obediently went into the fitting rooms. I watched her retreating form for a few moments before turning around. A startled gasp escaped my lips as I ran into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going."

"That was partially on purpose," Bahari grinned down at me. I almost didn't recognized him in human clothes.

"Bahari?"

He frowned. "What? You aren't happy to see me?"

"No—I mean, yes, I'm happy to see you. Why are you here?"

"Because you apparently have a death wish," he shrugged. "And Nahla was convinced that you being alone would end badly."

"I'm not alone."

"Sookie doesn't count."

"Excuse me?" Sookie cleared her throat, looking at Bahari expectantly. He turned a light shade of red, coughed and then shuffled nervously.

"Er, her words. Not mine."

"Smooth," I laughed.

"Look, social faux pas aside, that doesn't change the fact that you're a very high commodity right now."

"Bahari, if I was in danger, Michael would know it. And he'd get his angel ass over here before I died."

"Not if the danger was Fae." I furrowed my brows at him. That was one thing I hadn't thought of. Truth be told, I had forgotten that some faeries were still hellbent on rounding us all up like sheep. God. I can't go anywhere without someone wanting to kidnap me. Maybe I should start wearing a brown paper bag over my head.

"You're right," I relented, looking around the store. "Hey, wait, is she Fae?"

Bahari turned to where I was pointing. "What?"

I grabbed Sookie's hand and took off at a dash. "Wait, I still have the shirt!" The security sensors went off just as we ran out of the store and into the crowds in the mall.

"Aline! Sookie!" Bahari called as a security guard detained him. "No, you don't understand…"

"Aline, where are we going?" Sookie asked as I yanked her away from one of the security guards. I came to an abrupt stop as Sookie stumbled slightly in front of me. My hand yanked her arm back, knocking her off balance as my free arm knocked her feet out from under her. She was in my arms, bridal style, moments later with a surprised and disgruntled squeak.

I dashed to the exit, taking her outside into the parking lot. Her car was easily visible in the crowd. As I made a mad dash for it, I fished the keys out of her purse. Then I unlocked the car and threw her into the passenger's seat from the driver's side, sliding in after her. I started the car, peeling out of the parking lot as fast as I could. A pair of disgruntled security guards ran outside just as the mall began to fall out of sight.

"I don't think we're going to be able to go to that mall again," I observed after a few moments of silence comprised of Sookie simply staring at me, baffled by the events that had just happened. My light blue eyes flickered over to her face. She appeared to be torn between enforcing human social dignities and laughter.

"Not shopping there again is your biggest concern?" she eventually worked out, her voice slightly higher than usual with just a touch of hysteria.

"What else would it be?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you just ditched a Faerie in the middle of a mall and made me shoplift this shirt?!"

She held up the shirt as proof, the security tag catching my eye. I glanced at it before reaching over and breaking the white plastic cord that held it in place. It fell in a dejected little pile in her lap.

"You're worse than a vampire."

"Please, werewolves invented trouble," I grinned, pulling onto the highway.

"Where are we going?"

"The mall." She stared at me before shaking her head and turning away from me, her arms firmly crossed. After a few minutes of silence, I glanced at her. A small smile graced her lips.

"At least it is a cute shirt." I broke out in a grin.

"See? It's good to keep faerie-wolves around."

"Trust me, one is more than enough. How mad do you think Godric's going to be?"

"Probably more than Alcide—but less than Bahari. Godric at least loves me and hopefully expects these sort of things. Bahari might actually get in trouble for losing me. So he'll probably be pretty pissed."

"You really aren't worried?"

"Are you?"

"No," she admitted. She chuckled. "You can probably just pick me up and run away again if there's trouble."

"Trust me, if there's any sign of trouble, Michael should appear. He's just smart enough to know that I'm pissed at him and want my space. I don't have a death wish." Actually, I wasn't entirely sure if he could do that. He hadn't really helped me out so far—and I've gotten in a lot of trouble since being put under his charge. But I wasn't about to tell Sookie that. She'd feel better if I made our situation seem all nice and cushy.

"Sometimes I think you do."

"Okay, I don't have one right now. Happy?"

"As long as they don't charge me for whatever fines they're about to give Bahari." I chuckled, wondering if faeries were even capable of paying things like that. Well, if not, he'll probably just glamour it away and destroy the tapes.

Our journey soon lapsed into a casual chatter as Sookie directed me to the nearest mall. I was under strict instructions not to cause as much of a commotion here as I had last time. Secretly, though, she liked the commotion and the fuss. I could tell. (Or she no longer had any choice in the matter but to like it since she had chosen me as a friend.) This mall was more peaceful—no faeries lurking about in the distance nor was it sunset yet so we didn't have to worry about Godric and Eric coming to get us before we had properly broken Eric's credit score. Er, before I had broken his credit score, rather. She was insistent on paying for everything herself. I was willing to settle for monetary vengeance.

We actually made out pretty well when the trip was all said and done. I had gotten several new outfits, a pair of combat boots, a few pairs of fashion boots, a new pair of flats, and a jacket for myself. But I had also begun to pick up Christmas gifts. After all, it was nearly October. Christmas would be here sooner than any of us would like to admit. The gifts, however, I put on my own personal account. Which was still active, surprisingly. Sookie had also gotten several new outfits and a new pair of shoes for Merlotte's. Always the practical one. In a way, I envy that. Practicality can shove it as far as I'm concerned most of the time.

"Food and then home?" I questioned.

"I'm starving," she grinned in agreement. We found a small sports bar and grill that looked fairly cozy about a block from the mall. The hostess seated us in a booth in the far back of the restaurant but kept giving us worried glances. Apparently we looked suspicious?

"So why do you think that hostess keeps staring at us?" I leaned forward, my eyes locking with the back of the hostess' head. Sookie tore her eyes away from the menu, looking over her shoulder casually. As if on cue, the hostess looked over and then quickly looked away at realizing she had been caught. My blonde companion frowned, a look of concentration appeared on her face as she listened telepathically. Oh duh. Why didn't I think of that? (I don't think things through enough. Though I deny it, this is why everyone worries about me.)

"I can't get a clear read," Sookie frowned. "Can you?"

I stared at the waitress, separating her brain from the busy hum of the patrons in the restaurant. She was hard to pinpoint and get a hold of—but I eventually did. "She's a werepanther," I raised my eyebrows in surprise, "and she doesn't like that I'm here. Apparently this part of town didn't take very kindly to supes coming out. She tries awfully hard to blend in." I sniffed lightly. "I can't even pick up her scent." I leaned back. "Oh well, not like we're here to out everyone, right?"

"Right," she glanced over at the hostess again. "I didn't even know that there were werepanthers."

"You'd be surprised at what actually exists," I mused. Our waiter came over, took our orders, and then left us again. He seemed rather jittery and nervous, too. What in the world? Was everyone here a supe?

"What is with the people here?"

"I'm half afraid to eat dinner," I admitted with a frown. "Who knows what they've done to it."

"Maybe we should just leave."

"No," I shook my head slowly. "We have a right to be here, too. Last time I checked America was a free country. Or at least partially free." The waiter brought our drinks to us, leaving right away. Sookie and I exchanged glances, eyebrows raised. All we wanted was some food before driving back to Shreveport. (She was insisting on actually driving me home—mostly, I suspect, to see the spectacle of the boys freaking out.)

We had been talking for about forty minutes waiting for our food, observing other tables getting theirs before us when we had clearly ordered before them. "Excuse me," Sookie said politely, trying to catch our waiter's attention. He pretended not to hear her. I growled, reaching out and snatching him by his sleeve. My eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"Look, we just want some fucking food," I hissed. "We tip well."

"You aren't welcome here," he recoiled from me. My eyes widened, traces of anger momentarily shattered. I glanced around at the faces there. Every pair of eyes were on us. Something inside me snapped. I stood, nearly knocking the table onto Sookie, who responded with a surprised squeak.

"You're refusing me service because I'm not 'human' enough for you?!" I stepped forward, causing him to stumble back into a rather large, burly man. The man stared the waiter down before giving me a harsh look. "There's more supes around you than you think," I snapped, grabbing my purse, putting a five on the table for our drinks. "Come on, Sook, we're apparently not welcome in their little shit hole."

She grabbed her purse to follow me.

"You're refusing these women service?" the burly man asked in a deep voice. The waiter frowned at him.

"She's that werewolf-faery thing," he replied as indignantly as he could manage.

"And?"

The waiter's voice went up several octaves: "And?!"

"You're turning her down 'cause she's a Were?"

I stared at the man in surprise, catching his scent. (I really should pay attention to my nose more often. But, dammit, I just don't think about it that much.) He was a werewolf. I wonder what pack he's part of. "She'll draw more of them in here if—"

The man's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I assure you that she won't. You won't be finding any Weres in your establishment any more." He glanced at the hostess with a hard look. "Nor any other supes, I hope." The man threw enough money down to cover his half-eaten meal. As if on cue, a few scattered sets of patrons also rose and left money on the table, filing out quietly. Sookie and I followed, a smug smirk plastered on my face.

Hey, Michael never said that I had to handle this role gracefully or humbly. Which is good. Or else I'd have to tell God to move along to the next stray faery-wolf. "Thank you for that," I addressed the man once we were outside. He lit a cigarette, taking a drag.

"Wasn't really for you," he admitted.

"No, but still. The other supes in there wouldn't have stood up like that," I stressed, eyeing everyone sincerely. He gave me a crooked grin, exhaling some smoke.

"We don't all have the balls to go on TV, girlie," he chuckled, tapping away some ashes. "But we do what we can with what we've got." I gave him an understanding smile.

"Still, thank you. You ever need anything—"

"Don't worry about it. You got your hands full. Go get somethin' to eat. Ron's place is just up the corner. Called Up. He's a panther. Nice guy. I recommend the roast beef and potatoes." He slipped me his business card. His name was Dave and he was a mechanic. I grinned. Dirty, messy Were men. I love it.

He gave us some directions. "Thanks, Dave."

"No problem. You girls have a good night." Sookie and I pulled onto the main road like Dave had told us to, finding Up with little difficulty. It was a very casual bar—the kind where most people are wearing jeans and t-shirts while drinking beers at the bar. The atmosphere was more pleasant here. We settled into a booth before a tall, pretty redhead came over to us.

"Hi I'm Mari, what can I get ya'll?" she beamed cheerfully.

"Well, we were recommended the roast beef and potatoes," I admitted without looking at the menu.

"Dave sent you? Hang on," she took the menus back before returning with different ones. "This is our discount menu. Dave only sends people in asking for that whenever they've been kicked out of another place or just generally had some kind of hardship dealing with the establishments around here."

"Oh, no, you don't have to," Sookie began but the woman waved her off.

"We take care of our own around here. You girls just order anything you like." We both decided just to order a sandwich, fries, and a soda each. It was on our table in under fifteen minutes. I tell you, no sandwich has ever tasted better than that. Partially because we were so hungry and also because the people here were just so much nicer.

When we left, we made sure to leave a gracious tip—and silently vowing to send friends here whenever they were in the area. Dusk was beginning to fall as we began the drive back to Shreveport. "How far away are we, anyway?" I asked from the passenger's seat.

"About an hour or two," she replied. "You were driving too fast to take the exits for the closer malls."

"Oops. My bad."

"Uh huh."

I gave her a sheepish smile before turning my attention outside, watching the world pass me by. Things were changing so quickly. More quickly than I had thought they would be when Jackson initially dropped me off at Eric's doorstep. Hell. I hadn't thought that I would end up caring for Eric as much as I do. He's like that older brother that I never really wanted but I'm so grateful to have. Even if his ego is now the size of Russia. Plus his daughter is pretty awesome. I love Pam—even if she can be the second bitchiest woman I know. (Debbie proudly takes first.)

And Godric? Oh god. I never thought I would find someone else to replace Marc. No, scratch that. He's an upgrade from Marc in all of the best ways. Kind, sweet, but still with that rough edge. And he doesn't hide anything from me. I mean, we're all entitled to our secrets. But he doesn't hide anything that could cost me my life. He was even willing to meet the sun when he thought I was dead because he didn't want to live without me. You can't really ask for much more of a committed love than that.

Not to mention all of the friends I've made along the way. The faery relatives I've met—even if they do cause me more headaches than I've ever had before. And the Vampire Authority. Such a crazy year—er, three years? That time gap still kills me. But life goes on. Good or bad, it still goes on.

Thank you OrangePlasticGummyBear and Godric Fan for reviewing! :) There should be plenty of drama next chapter when the girls go back to Eric's house. As always, thank you to everyone who continues to read/review this. I like hearing feedback. Encourages me to update more. ;)

Poor Bahari.

~Lynn