A/N: So, originally this isn't the way I wanted this story to go. But, after thinking on it a great deal I decided I liked it this way. Tell me what you think of the turn and if any of you recognize the new character. Currently I'm having a hint of issue with how I play this out. Though this is meant to be as dramatic as some, it has to happen. I'm working to make it fit with the chaotic way Fae seems to operate when given her own way.

I woke with a gasp, heart racing faster than a New York minute. The cool form next to mine didn't shift. Godric? Upon looking, I was right. I was back in my room, in the top and jeans still. My shoes sat on the floor, neatly set aside. I didn't remember falling asleep. I didn't remember leaving Fangtasia.

For a moment I was lost, sitting there just gathering my wits. A glance at the clock told me it was noon. I paused, reading the clock.

Crap! I jerked up with a gasp, stripping clothing as I went. I was naked before I left my room and crossed to the bathroom to shower.

"Ben!" I call loudly as I park in the lot for the cemetery and swing the door open.

Did I miss him? Was I too late? It looked-

Ben stepped out from the side, having been sitting on the bench there. I let out a breath, grinning like an idiot as I tried to calm myself. I bounced forward, arms out and open.

"Don't ask, just hug me! Hug me!" I command with a small squeal of joy.

I bounced up to crash into him as he opened his arms with a hint of confusion and a deal of humor. My arms curled around his neck as I hung on tight and let out a goofy giggle. His arms hugged back, helping to keep me from falling.

"Not that I'm complaining, but why are we hugging?"
I laugh, pulling a bit back to see his face but not letting go. It was nice to look somebody in the eye for once.
"I'm not sure what the Hell happened last night but I think I'm safe. They can't take me. Not legally."

He laughs a bit, "Congrats."

I let go, not bothering to fix my shirt. The tank had rode up, to flash my skin. But the plaid cotton over shirt hung open and helped keep it from light. I wore a pair of jean shorts held up by a belt. My hair was back in a ponytail, a quick fix, but still wet.

I let out a breath, hands to my hips and pushing the over shirt back a bit as I looked to him.

"First things first. Sorry I'm late. Woke up at noon."

"There wasn't a need to rush."

I roll my eyes. "I don't get to get out much. I take every chance I can, thanks. Secondly, you were waiting. I may be an uncouth heathen, but I'm not that rude. Third, I am dang famished. Let me buy you lunch."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Fae, there is hardly-"

I cut him off, slinging an arm around his middle to drag him toward the SUV.

"Hush, hush. We eat, or I attempt to eat any and everything I see. It's more civilized this way."

"Lead the way then."

"Good choice," I tease as he gets in on his own.

I rushed around the vehicle, hopping in and backing out. He didn't buckle up, nor did I. He seemed to be watching me mostly. I was happily smiling as I drove, head nodding to a local radio station.

"You're in a happy mood."

"Trust me, after last night. I feel like I'm on top of the world again."

"What exactly happened?"

"Not sure what you know about vampire politics," I start, letting out a breath. That happy aint going a smidge away. "Nor should you act like you know. But, they have a hierarchy here. In a nutshell they made a case out of my issue. I was brought before a magister, kinda like a judge. I was outed, which I will berate him up one wall and down another later. Which happened to be better than I thought."

I pulled to a rough park at Merlotte's in the back by Sam's trailer. Ben glanced to the less crowded space then the buildings. I looked to him. "Since I'm such a weirdo, the case was put off till later so the magister could talk to his bosses. In the meantime, I'm to stay here."

Ben frowned. "Weirdo? Isn't that just temporary?"

I shrug. "Live in the now, deary. And yes, weirdo. Whole town says so."

I hopped out, waiting for Ben to join me at the other end. He caught up quickly, shooting me an odd look.

"It's hardly fair to call yourself names, Fae."

I shrug, twisting to nearly skip backwards in front of him. "Not like anyone else could hurt my feelings. Plus, it's probably a matter of time before the whole town knows it with how my luck and Sookie's mouth run."

I move forward, snatching his hand to drag him faster. "Come on then. Talk later. Food now."

I all but kicked the door open to make an entrance. "Sam~!"

"Fae," I hear my name sighed as if in dread.

I whip to the left, letting go of Ben to take a broad stance in the entrance to Sam's office with a hand on my hip.

"Wooh, boy do you look like shit," I whistle.

He looked to have been up all night on a bender. That was a kind way of saying it. Sam groaned into his hands with his face on his desk.

"Whine all ya want, Sam," I tease, crossing to drop to my elbows on his desk to get to his level. "Tell me I'm amazing. Come on. Just once and I'll do one thing for you."

"Why are you here, Fae?" Sam grumbles into the papers on his desk.

"Well I wish it was to say to keep an eye on your ass, but I'm here for my favorite man."

"I'm out of Jack."

I let out a loud aghast sound, pulling back as if stuck.

"What the mother of fuck?! What kind of scandal is this? How could you desecrate my sanctuary?" I dramatically flopped to my knees on the floor, head back as if calling to the sky. "Blasphemy!"

"I'm too hungover for your shit, Fae," Sam grunts as he finally looks up.

He pauses, nose twitching before looking harder. He was frowning hard now.

"What the hell happened to you?"

I shrug. "This. That. Him. Her." Flippant until the end. I move in close, smirking as I purr out the next. "Could have been you."

"Fae, I thought we were over this."

I bounce up, clapping my hands once to get the crap from the floor from them. "Yup. Speaking of, totally meant to ask you how the Sook Fan Club was going. Is that the reason for my missing man? Yall had a shindig to woe and whoo over the state of affairs?"

Sam cracked a hint of a grin, leaning back in his chair. Seemed to loosen him up some. "Happens that I have left said fan club."

I rush forwards, plopping on his desk to scatter papers. Ben leaned on the frame of the door, watching. My hands grasped the armrests of the chair to lean in over Sam.

"You talk; I talk."

"Found a new club and we had a meeting the other night."

"Woooooo. Should I wish I was there?"

"Possibly."

"Possibly?"

"Nudity was involved."

I moan as if in utter pain and dejection, hands flopping to hit the desk. "Ah! Why am I never at these parties?"

Sam shrugs. "Wrong days."

I laugh, looking to him. "Really. What is wrong with the world?" I lean in and pat his cheek. "You're too good to be single, Sam. Good for you on movin' on. I want invites to the next nudist party though. I'm so up on that."

Sam laughs, pushing my hand away. "Go on then. Your order is waiting."

I slipped to my feet, lightly swatting his hair as I go. "Add it to the tab for me."

I slipped up by Ben, twisting away to leave the room.

"Who's the friend?"

I pause, glancing up at Ben then looking back to Sam with an embarrassed laugh.

"Yeah, sorry, Sam. This is Ben. Ben, this is Sam. Sam's a favorite eye candy of mine."

Ben perks a brow but grins to him. "Hi. Nice to see some of her mentioned eye candy."

Sam chuckles a bit, standing to nod at Ben and gather the stuff I messed up. My hands grab at Ben's upper arm, playfully forcing him to turn and let me by. Back turned, I winked at Sam and motioned at Ben's rear. One fist pumped before Sam let out a chuckle.

Ben turned. I acted like I was rolling my shoulder while fixing the rolled sleeves of the over shirt. A big grin was given to Ben. "Just a sec. I'll pop in and grab the stuff."

I slipped into the kitchen after making sure Sook wasn't at the window on the other side. La glanced back, smirking as he saw me reaching for the box with to-go boxes and containers. One hand lifts in a wave with mouthed words of love. I was bouncing out, box set to a hip.

"Fae?"

"Shitt!" I call as I shove Ben out the door.

"Fae!"

Sookie was hot on the chase as I shoved Ben into Sam's office and shut the door. Sook Rounded the turn, hands snapped to her hips as she took the pissy-diva stance. Those eyes were judging as she looked to the box in my hands then my face.

"Heh, heh. Hey, Sook."

"Don't you dare 'Hey, Sook,' me." She marched forwards like a mother on a warpath. I backed up and thumped the door. "Do you have any idea how worried I was when Godric showed up to take off with you? You didn't call or text at all, Faelyn."

"Woah, woah. Back up there, Barbie." She stopped advancing on me, but her gaze seemed to narrow and grow heavier.

"Faelyn, don't act all nonchalant about it. This is your life, not some game."

I shrug, flapping a hand. "I die, I die."

SWAT

"Ow! Sook! I didn't say I wasn't taking out the offender with me!"

"That isn't better!" she seethes. "Bill says Godric mentioned the Magister and Queen were involved. Spill. Now."

"But…" My eyes flick about as I drag the word out. "You are working! Yup. Can't you're on the clock."

"I'm on my break. Spill." She leaned in, almost putting her face in my own. "Or I force it out."

"Hey!" I cry in indignation. "We will not do such a thing!"

Her brows shot up, challenging. I huff, glowering.

"Fine. The King back home some how found out about me and my mom. Pa got me out. The King sent somebody to try to bargain me back. Godric outed me to the Magister, delegate, and Queen in order to get it tossed out."

Sook gasped, pulling back. "Outed you? To the Queen? Fae…"

She sounded so sad. I shrug, shifting the box. "Don't worry, Sook. I'm technically under Godric's care in accordance to the Magister."

"That can't be all, Fae. He wouldn't just let it go like that."

I sigh, glancing away. "He may have mentioned speaking with the Authority before it was decided."

"What?!"

I hush her, glancing about to ensure people weren't looking in on us in the back. "Geez, Sook. Calm down. This is why I never tell you things. You get all dramatic."

"Fae," she hisses with pure worry while taking my upper arms. "Do you not understand the severity of this? The Authority isn't good. There is a reason I don't go talkin' 'bout my power."

"Well, I trust Godric, Sook. I really do."

"You hardly know him, Fae."

I narrow my eyes as I meet her gaze. "Sookie. I'm hardly at a point where I can question."

I move close, box held far to the side to put my mouth by her ear. "Look, I wanted to talk to you later. But, I may have to make up for missing last night."

She shot me a look, knowing better than to push. I grip her upper arm, lips to her ear.

"Something's going on with me and I can't figure it out."

Her eyes said the question. I glance away to ensure our privacy one last time before speaking in her ear.

"I'm suddenly eating more. The nose bleeds. Bouts of unexplained rage. My hormones are all over the map. And this odd feeling when I get really upset."

She pulls away, pointedly looking toward the hall to the front. I step a bit back, grinning again as I pat her shoulder.

"Call me later. I may steal those shoes Pam got ya."

"I get off around seven."

I wave her off. "Back to work, woman."

She give as smile, leaning in to kiss my cheek. "Love you, Fae."

I smile warmly as she pulls back. "I love you too, Sook."

She eyes me one last time and rushes off. I lean around the corner, ensuring she was gone. With a flourish, I whipped the door to the office open. Ben leaned against the side by the door, brow arched at me. Sam shot me a droll look.

"Hiding men from your cousin?" Ben teases.

I blow a kiss to Sam and look to Ben. "Course I am. She seems to think she can keep them from me." I lean a bit in, winking. "Doesn't keep me from the women though."

"You gotta fight Jason for those," Sam remind with a chuckle, working at his books.

I shoot him a sour look. "Like Jason has anything on me."

"Seems to be doing well with the new waitress."

My eyes shot to Sam, a bit brightened and attention sharp. "New waitress? Holdin' out on me?"

Sam gives a dismissing look before looking back to the books. Nothing said.

"You hound you," I chirp. "Well, I'll just have to pop in and see if she's worth any effort. Come on, Ben, before Sook gets to seeing if I'm still here."

"Sam," Ben calls in farewell before we slip out.

I lean back in, looking to Sam. "Ehy, I'm still going to ogle your ass. Even if you're taken."

"I expect nothing else," he absently calls with a shooing motion.