He held up a small slip of paper between two fingers as he moved to stand lazily. I opened my mouth, a sign that my hands were busy. Slowly, he held it before my mouth. I snapped my teeth down on it before slipping from the desk. The skirt of the dress had ridden up a little. Sookie quickly leaned over and jerked it down.

"Pam."

The door swung open as I started on twirling the two, keeping them in a pose as if they were dancing. I was obviously toying with them. Pam stepped in as Sookie smacked my arm.

"Stop that," Sookie commands, frowning at me. "It's disturbing."

"Then you wont like my party tricks," I tease, hands dropping with little care.

The two crashed to the floor at Pam's feet. I took the slip from my mouth, winking at Pam as she picked the two up with ease. She smirked, eyeing me again before leaving the room.

"So, you said we were going out?" I ask as I turn to face both Sookie and Eric.

"We just did."

My smile falls to go blank on my face as I just looked at her. "You took me from horror movies for just this?"
"Well, I did tell you about it the other day."

My eyes roll as I turn, marching from the room. "Then I'm getting drunk."
"Dang it, Fae!" Sook calls as she rushes after me. "We can go to Merlottes for that."

I lit up a bit. "Oh, Sam is there tonight."

"What is with your fascination with him?" she huffs as she catches me at the bar.

"The better question is what isn't my fascination? He's one of the best friends I've had in a long time."
"Only because you're sleeping with him," she huffs.

I motion to the bartender. He came over, vampire. "What will it be?"

I point at the bottle of scotch. "I'll take that."

He glances over my head, giving the smallest nod before setting the bottle and a glass before me. Ice was dropped in as I glance over my shoulder. Eric was speaking to Pam near the door to his office.

I poured a generous amount of scotch in as I spoke again. "Sookie, believe it or not. I've not slept with anyone since reaching this shitty state. Sleeping in the same bed, does not count." I give her a pointed look. "I've only seen Sam without a shirt. Nothing more."

"You're getting his hopes up," she says while a Gin and Tonic was placed before her.

"Sook," I say with a sigh after downing half of my glass. "That would be you. He likes you. Not me. Made that clear the first night. Hoyt is the one I worry over. Poor man is starting to moon over me."

"Hoyt?" she gasps out, covering her smile as she looks to me. "That poor man. You've gotta cut that before it starts."

I lift a brow at her. "You think I haven't?"

We were both leaning on the bar, glancing to the other. Obvious that we weren't there to get social with others. We had our hips nearly pressed together. I glanced over the paper Eric had given me. All it said was Pam. No number. Nothing. Ugh. I turn, paper help up with a lifted brow toward where Eric sat at his 'throne.' Pam was nowhere in sight. I flipped Eric the bird with an angry frown at his cocky smirk.

"I'm not sure you spending more time with either Eric or Pam would be a good idea," Sookie says low enough that I could hardly hear her.

"Friends in high places are good to have, Sook," I say with wisdom as I look her directly in the eyes.

"So you're flirting with him?" She couldn't believe me.

I smile brightly at her. "Sook. I flirt with a lot of people."

"You're as bad as Jason. You really are."

"Stick and stones," I say with a salute of my glass at her, downing it.

I didn't fill it as high this time, Sookie watching me pour it.

"You've had three of those now."

I grin at her, leaning in so she could see my eye. "Sober still too."

She frowns a little. "You'd have to be the worst to buy drinks for."

I motion toward Eric's chair with my glass. "It's why I'm drinking here. Eric's footing it all."

He frowned a bit at me as I smiled and took a drink, resting my rear on the bar. Sookie took the bottle from my hand to read it as she turns to partially mimic my position.

"This is strong too."

"Helps," I say with a tap at my temple.

"You keep saying that."

I glance at her. "Now, my head doesn't hurt. Gotta love alcohol."

"Your head hurts?"

"Most all the time. I've got stuff for it all the time."

She frowned as she looked at me. "Have you been to a doctor?"

"Doctor? Or other medicine?"

I looked at her with my brows lifted. "Sook. I've seen doctors all my life. They call it chronic migraines. They even said I have restricted blood flow. All lies." I took a big swig of my drink, not looking at her as I watched a vampire on one of the polls dancing. "It's logical that my skill has draw backs. Nothing too bad. Kind of like a muscle, just a little too strained once or twice."

I really didn't wish to talk about it. My eyes snapped to Sookie, still holding the bottle of scotch. The sudden vibrating in my bra had me jumping a bit, free hand slapping for the top of my dress. Sookie rolled her eyes as I pulled the phone out. A frown was on my face as I sighed.

"Fuck off!" I call a bit loudly. Only those around us heard it over the music, aside from the vampires. They all looked up toward the sound. My eyes were directly on Eric. He was chuckling as he used his free hand to motion me to come to him.

"Eric?" Sookie asks as she takes the phone. Her look sours as she spots what was sent. "What a pig."

I smirk at her, shoving my glass at her. "Stay at the bar."

Eric sat up a bit, watching me. He must have thought I was going to join him. I stepped out and toward one of the polls flashing flirty looks at a few people. I stopped by the poll, hips lightly moving to the beat before I threw my hands to my hair. This brought more attention to my throat as I started rolling my body in time with the beat. I started moving a bit more, making it far more sexual as one hand slid down the side of my body.

A male was before me in a flash, vampire by the peek of fang flashing. He wasn't too old either, could hardly be 100. He offered out a hand, asking to join. I turned my back on him, rolling my body as I dipped low. I slid back up, flipping my hair a bit as I glanced back at him.

"There you are."

I didn't stop dancing as I looked over to the voice. Pam smirked down at me, standing very close. My hip would brush her as I danced. The other male took her territorial hint and backed away. I grinned up at her.

"Hello there, Pam. Lovely night."

"Lovely show," she responds, eyes watching as I slipped low again.

Her hand shot out, taking my hand from where it rested on my thigh. She helped me up. Sookie stepped up behind her, frowning at me.

"Really?" My glass thumped my chest, almost sloshing on me.

"Nothing wrong with dancing," I say smugly before taking a sip. "I was looking for you, Pam."

"Is that so?" She was smug, purring almost as she watched my lips on the glass.

"I'd hoped to get you number."

Her brow lifted. Sookie rolls her eyes at us. "She wants you to shop with her," Sookie cuts.

I grin innocently up at Pam. "I need something other than black on a budget. Seeing as you are the most fashionable person I know, it seemed logical."

"Shopping?"

She looked to not like the idea of the girly thing. I roll my eyes, hips cocking to the side. "Yeah. I hate shopping. Sookie likes to make this whole ordeal out of it. I just need some advice really. Nothing more than that."

"Aw, no slumber parties?"
I beamed at her sarcasm. "Oh, Sookie frowns upon my kind of slumber party. Specially since her 'Bill' is out of town."

Pam smirks, eyes flicking over to Sookie. "She is a full time job."

"You're telling me," I mutter, downing more of my drink as I avoid looking at Sook. She clearly couldn't hear me. I did look back at Pam. "I need to get some clothing for job interviews, maybe a dress for nicer nights, and new lingerie."

"Looking for a new job?"

I nod, "Hillards' was a bit of a short notice. I don't mind manual labor, but it's annoying. Maybe a library or something."

"I've a few jobs in mind," she says with a smirk, eyes roving over my form.

One of my fingers flicks at the poll. "It better not include any of those."

"I could think of a few."

"I like to work with my clothing on," I say with a wink at her. "Definite line between work and play then."

"Fae!"

I didn't have time to dodge as her hand smacked my arm good. I had enough time to pull my drink away. It stung something fierce, a large red mark on my upper arm in the shape of her hand. Sookie frowned at me.

"What would Gran say?"

"I really don't know. Nor do I see how this would be any of her business," I snarl. It was quickly getting on my nerves. "You seem to forget that I'm not a child, nor did Gran ever care what I did."

I finish my drink, taking the glass of Sookie's Gin and Tonic. "I'm sorry, Pam. It seems we need to leave. You know where to find me. I'm taking these."
I hold up my glass and the scotch bottle. "Thank Eric for me."
Sookie's glass is set with force on a table as I stride past it. Sookie looked a bit startled by my behavior. She made it to the car after me. I was in the driver's seat, car running. For once, I said nothing as she got in the passenger's side. I did slam the gas, gravel skittering up as I hit the breaks before slamming the gears into drive and gassing again.

"Fae!" Sookie cries out in surprise as I whip the car out in front of a car.

It blared the horn, just missing us. I didn't look to her as I kept the car going, above the legal limits. The car skidded to a stop in her drive. Another car was there. I threw the door open, opening the bottle of scotch as I strode toward the door.

"Sookie?"

"Fae!" Sookie calls as she gets her door open, rushing out after me. "Talk to me!"

I ignored Bill standing a step above me. I did whirl to show Sookie a very angry snarl, bottle hanging at my side. I motioned at her with my glass, one finger out to point.

"I am not a child, Sookie Stackhouse! I will not have you treating me like one everywhere we go! You are the naive fool! Not me!" I yell out, thoroughly done with the way she had been treating me of late. "You are not my mother." Her mouth was a bit open in shock at my actually yelling at her. A bit of a wind had picked up around me in my anger, my power. "I have listened to you scolding and had you smacking me all week. I am done acting like it is all cute. It is not cute. Nor has it ever been. Do you not find it odd that you can't be trusted on your own? I did. I'm starting to think it is because you really are a fucking idiot." I motion toward Bill. "You're fuck toy is here. Now leave me the fuck alone."

I stormed into the house, grabbing the keys to my van before marching back out. "Fucking hell I go through," I muttered while throwing the door open.

"Fae, you've been drinking!" Sookie calls in worry.

"Should have been drinking more!" I snarl.

She stood with her Bill, his arms around her. The van didn't start, I just threw the little metal door between the seats open and stepped into the back. I'd set up a sleeping bag in there the other night when I wanted time away from Sookie. The door kicked shut after a moment. Bill let out a breath, hearing a small radio turn on.

"Can't say it's been roses," Sookie says as she glances up at Bill.

"I take it you have been fighting?"

"She says I'm too controlling."

"I can fucking hear you!" I bellow from the back of the van. That little radio was turned up loud enough for Sookie to hear now. Bill was frowning at the van.

"She behaves like a child."

Sookie sighs. "No. She's right. I've been telling her how to act and bossing her around the whole time." She didn't like to admit that.

"Ah, Compton," Eric says as he steps out of the dark by the woods.

His eyes glanced to the van where music was playing. It wasn't anything obnoxious, just a local station for oldies.

"I had wondered," Eric spoke up with a smirk as he stopped in the drive.

"What do you want, Eric?"

"I wanted to ensure the women made it home," he says with a motion to the yellow vehicle. "Seems Fae put the thing into paces getting here."

"It's fine, Eric," Sookie snaps, voice a little louder.

The door at the back of the van swung open with a bang. Fae looked over the top of it at the group.

"No wonder you weren't answering," I huff as I glower at him.

"Wonderful night, Faelyn."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not in the mood."

"Planning on leaving?"

"Fae, just come inside," Sookie starts, drawing my frown to her.

"Rather not. Go enjoy your time with Compton."

I didn't look to her, jaw set tight. Sookie sighed, storming past Bill and into the house. My eyes were set on the woods. Bill shot Eric and I both separate looks before stepping inside after Sookie. Nothing to bother me. Seen worse. Eric watched the door shut before glancing back to me.

My eyes slowly slid to him, watching as he kept his hands in his pockets and stepped closer to the front of the van. It was clear I was still dressed in the heels and dress. The clip had slipped a bit. He was looking at the red mark on my arm.

"You called?"

"Who else would I call at this hour?" I huff. "I only know a handful of people."

He smirks. My eyes roll before I slip back into the van, a few things banging before he came around to look in. His brow quirks at the set up. I'd set it so everything was neatly put in the small shelves on the wall, other things strapped to the sides. Along the middle was a thick sleeping bag with a few fuzzy blankets. My butt was too him, on my knees and one hand while the other smacked the radio.

"Stupid thing. I knew Jason only gave it to me because it was crap," I grumble.

It kept shutting off. I sat back, ripping the battery cover off. That would be why. I groan in aggravation. Tossing the thing to the side. It smacked the metal dividing the seats to the back. My eyes flicked to Eric.

"I wasn't aware Compton was due back today."

Eric steps closer, his thigh touching the bumper of the van. I stayed kneeling as I looked to him. The bottle of scotch lifted with a flick of my hand from one of the bins. My eyes flicked up as I opened the bottle. The glass I took from his club sat before me on the shelf.

"Nor was I."

"Should I be worried?" I ask, one brow lifting a bit, watching the amber liquid pour.

"This is why you called me?"

I shrug. "Needed a distraction from my anger. That or go Steven King on Sookie's house."

I believe he understood my joke reference there. He let me take a drink before speaking up again. My face turned to look at him.

"So I'm a distraction?" That flirting smirk was in place.

I smirk back the same way, shifting so my legs extended toward him, back lounging on the metal wall.

"Are you?"

His eyes slowly drifted up my legs, pausing on the hem of the dress. It was riding high do to the way I leaned, ankles crossed.

"It depends on the distraction," he says, voice dipping a bit low.

That was a shiver worthy voice. I smirked more at him, lifting one foot to cross my ankles the other way. It caught his eyes. His eyes shot up to mine, I was taking another drink of the scotch. His eyes were hard on my mouth as I pulled the glass away, tongue slipping out to catch a drop on my lip.

My head turns to watch as I place the glass down.

"I guess the best thing to ask would be about our arrangements," I speak up. "As annoying as my cousin has gotten in the years I've been away, I love her still. I need to know If I am required to watch her as closely as before."

"If Compton is back, I would assume you're work has been cut in half."

"Then I've no need to have you keep paying my portion of the bills."

"You could come work for me."
I smiled, glancing back at him. "I think Pam gave the same offer before I embarrassed Sookie with my flirting."

My smile slipped as I sat up, eyes flicking from the side of the van. "I will have to get a new job fast. Hillard's is starting to get suspicious."

"I've a few openings."
I smirk a bit as I try not to laugh. "Northman, I'd not like a job that has me wearing hardly any clothing. Nor would it be smart to have me at the bar."

"We could use you for cleaning there."

"I'd be better off with Hillard's."
He looked me over then. "What are you looking for?"
"I need a bit of a guarantee."

I lifted the glass again, looking at the liquid. A bit of a sigh left me as I glanced to him. He was waiting for me to speak.

"I've not been fully truthful," I start, voice low enough that I knew only Eric would hear.

"I had assumed as much."

I shoot him a frown. "The King took my mother, as you know. My step father did help me get out, as I said. I'd just omitted a bit."

He looked down at me, patient for me to tell him. My legs pull back to me as I look away. "My step father was supposed to take me to the King. My mother didn't push her skills like I did. Apparently he wanted to keep me around as a sort of pet." I sneered at the word, taking a swig of the drink.

"What sort of assurance are you looking for?"
I frown at him, a bit exasperated. "I'd kill half this state before I let that sick fuck try to take me. I want some sort of assurance that I wont be passed off to him." I pause, frowning as I glance toward the house.

"You're looking to be claimed," he said smirking, fangs flashing.

My head tilts as I look back at him, exasperated. "I'm saying, I'll work for you. IF you don't let them take me."

He was suddenly in the van, towering over me. My eyes flicked to his, glass held out to the side as if to protect it. His knees were on either side of mine.

"It just so happens, that I need a new person for days," he says lowly, air from his words brushing my throat where my clip pulled the hair away.

"Well look at that," I laugh a bit, keeping my head tilted so my chin didn't hit him. I could feel him breathing in my scent. "And here I am needing a job. How coincidental."

His hand reached out, resting over mine as he placed the cup out of the way. "How am I to trust that you wont betray me?"

I scoff, eyes rolling at the ceiling. He was leaning us backward. "I'm more of the type to punch you in the face. I hate betrayal as much as the next person." He'd kept his face nearly pressed to my throat the whole time, lips brushing my flesh as he spoke. Yeah, it was getting a little hot, but I wasn't a fool to be blinded by it.

"Then I will need a reassurance," he speaks, pulling back to look at my eyes. He had me laid out under him. I just looked at him, a bit bored.

"Like what? A contract or something?"

It got no further. His hand shot over my mouth to cut off the startled yell. The liquid was cool, thick and sweet as it filled my mouth. He'd cut his palm open with one of the scrapers from my bin. I had thought he was going to bite me or something. I was quick to swallow it before I could choke on it. He pulled his hand back after I swallowed a few times. There was blood smeared around my mouth where some had leaked out. He smirked, licking his palm clean, eyes on my face.

"You could have fucking warned me," I snap, hand lifting to wipe at my mouth.

"You'll need to live closer," he says back to his usual tone as he pulled away and sat at the end of the van.

I sat up, frowning as I fixed the dress. "I've just moved in with Sookie."

"I will give you a few days to get your work in order."

I huff, leaning forwards as he stood up, fixing his shirt. I didn't care if this gave a great view down the front of my dress.

"Eric, are you not listening? I'm not sure Sookie should know."

"Then don't tell her," he says calmly, glancing down at me. I knew he was looking down my dress.

"Wouldn't it be odd if I just moved?"

He shrugs. "You'll figure something out. Pam will have a place ready for you by Friday night."

He walked away, vanishing around the edge of the van. I frowned, a whoosh following seconds after. Arrogant pig.