We parked back near Jason's. There was a lot of space there to set up a picnic and enjoy the day. Ben insisted on carrying the box while I grabbed my bag. I trudged across the grass and to find a nice spot looking to the lake/pond on Jason's property. I chose a heavy shadowed area that let me dangle my feet into the water.

Ben sat as I flopped down, ripping my shoes off. His eyes looked to the home then to me.

"You know the owner?"

I nod, reaching for the box. "My cousin Jason, Sook's older brother. Last place she'll look for me."

"You avoid her often?"

He was looking in as the large amount of food. I snatched up a gumbo and burger fry combo. I didn't pay mind to if he ate or not, just looking to the food I had.

"She likes to pester. Got used to people leaving me be back home. Hard to get used to again."

I was devouring the soup quickly. Only after it was gone did I look up. An embarrassed grin was given. He was hardly into his food, like half the burger.

"Sorry. Large appetite."

He shakes his head, motioning me to keep eating. Embarrassment gone, I happily return to the food. I downed the burger and fries along with some bread before finding the beer hidden at the bottom.

"Wooh," I call in excitement as I find it. "La is amazing. Sent beer too."

"Seems you're popular." He sat with one leg bent up to rest an elbow on, leaning back on his other hand.

I popped my beer open and offered it to tap his.

"La?" I glance to him before taking a drink. "He's the cook for the bar. Gay. Think he sells drugs on the side to most of the town." One shoulder rolls. "Wouldn't call it popular though. Got an urge, sate it. Flirting's fun too. Cheers them up and you."

I look to him again. "Mom was a bit open with stuff when I was growing. Seems it's a trait in the family." I lift fingers as I list. "Me. Jason. Mom. My grandma."

He chuckles, looking to the water. "Must be hard for boyfriends."

I let out a scoff, grinning into my can before drinking. After letting it hang in my hand, I speak.

"Not really. Never really dated. I tend to have favored partners, but I don't date." I glance his way. "Something mom and pa taught me. They don't find the oddities that way."

"Sounds lonely."

Hint of pity there. I shake my head a bit. "Nah. Got my family and friends for that. And Bars. Lots of bars."

"And when they aren't there?"

The smile slipped a bit, thoughtful as I looked to the can in my hand. "Try to enjoy yourself, Ben. No negativity." The smile came back, looking to the water while tapping the can against my shin. "I try not to think of the then. Live in the now, Ben. Be happy while you can."

His arm lifted, reaching out to pull me in to a half hug. I laughed, slinging my arm over his shoulder too. His chin rested on my head as we sat facing the water.

"You should talk to Sookie about this."

I set my empty can in the box, pulling away to stand. "Nah. She's a Debby Downer. I'm not depressed, Ben. But, I am in need of a good swim."

"Here? You don't have a swimsuit, do you?"

I dropped my over shirt to the side by the bag, bending to grab the orange bottle from a pocket to touch up a bit.

"Best place to swim. No teens to worry over."

My top ripped off easily, dropping with the other. Shorts joined them with a few flicks. I rubbed the lotion in before tossing it toward him and turning to pace to the dock. He watched, sitting up and putting his can down. I was running over the dock, jumping to give a flip before hitting the water. I came up, laughing as I looked to him.

He rose fully, shirt pulled over his head to drop. He was chuckling and shaking his head while kicking off his boots, hands working at the front of his pants. I ducked under before he got the pants undone, swimming back to the ladder on the dock to get up.

He was in the water by time I was on the dock. One tug at the tankini top and I stepped to the edge.

"If I hit my head," I jokingly call as he swims closer. "Just tell Jason I slipped or something. Cause I wont live it down if he knows I failed a jump."

"You've my word."

Nodding in mock seriousness, I took two steps back before swinging forward to get momentum and back flipping to land a cannon ball in the water. I let out a woop as I surface, throwing my fist in the air happily.

"Still got it!"

"Bit of skill there."

I splash some water toward him. I was being polite and not ogling, for once. Fine, not once. Nor was I being obvious. His eyes flicked over my face, falling to my eyes. We treaded water, relaxing in the cool water in the shade of the dock. His hand reached up, grasping the platform to steady his place. I was under the dock mostly, back on the beam.

"Swimming? I thought you were showing me around Bon Temps."

He was flirting a bit, tone making it more than clear. I shrug, glancing toward the clouds.

"This is part of it. I think this is the best swimming hole, one of the few things to do in this town. Thinking of driving through town after to point places out. Maybe the woods with that big field where everyone says odd things happen."

"No dates to rush off to? Nobody messaging or calling for your attention?"

I grin cheekily at him. "Well. There may be Sook. My boss will more than likely call to demand work. But I'm taking a mini vacation."

"Mini vacation. Sounds nice."

I laugh, glancing away to adjust how I was leaning on the pole to be a bit more out of the light and in the shade.

"Working out so far. Stay up most of the day so I'm mostly delirious from the sun by time they wake up. Thus, no work and vacation for me."

"How will they manage?" he sarcastically questions with a grin, leaning a bit in.

I meet his eyes. "Just fine, I should think. All deliveries are good. Nothing on the schedule that needs me for the week. More than enough to wear that wont demand I go to the cleaners. Clear."

"And how do you plan to use this time?"

Still close, flirting. I'd really held off on the flirting with him. My eyes caught the cord on his neck, hand reaching out to fix it without thought.

"By enjoying myself without Sook or anyone barking orders or breathing down my neck. Maybe some dancing. Lots of swimming where I can." I glance up. "And hopefully in good company."

Our eyes met and he leaned in. Our lips crashed, his hand not holding the dock moving to the pole behind me. I didn't think, didn't question. I kissed back, one hand reaching back to help keep me up with a grasp on the dock, the other grasping his hair tight.

We were getting heavy into it, him pressing me back against the poll to keep me up. It let his hand that had held the poll grasp at my head. My hands were free this way too. Heat surged over my body, heart feeling as if beat a mile a minute. Where we touched, an odd tingling sensation was left in the wake.

I jerked away as I heard the slam of a door. A familiar slam. My eyes went wide, pulling his hand down and pushing him clear under the dock.

"Stay here."

"Is it your cousin?"

I peek out.

"Fae?" Jason questions as he stands by the SUV looking confused.

"He's a protective sort. Stay here."

I duck under and swim out like I'm surfacing from a jump. Jason spots me at the splash.
"Fae? What cha doin' here? Specially at this time of day?"

"Hey, Jase," I call as I swim wide strokes toward the dock.

Jason's boots were loud on the dock, moving to stand by the ladder while I pulled myself up.

"Wanted a swim. No better place."
He squints at me. "Is that a new suit? You didn't have that when you were staying here."

He was eying the tankini top with the halter style. One shoulder shrugs as I glance down.

"Yea. Crystal was lending me that one last I was here. Mine was lost in the move."

"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that." He looks over the water, hands on his belt as he enjoyed the day. "Sure is a pretty day." His eyes shoot to me with a wide grin. "Go on. Show me that move you used to do."

He gave a light shove. I laughed, slipping out of his hand. "Come on, Jas. It's nothing special. I'm working on my flips."

He leans in. "You chicken? Think you'll slip?"

I huff, arms crossing as I meet his eyes. "I would not slip. You know it."

"Says the chicken."

"I'm not a chicken, Jase. Besides. Why the hell are you here? Shouldn't you be at work?"

Jason shrugs. "Work was halted. Found a body. Looks like a vamp attack."

I frown, searching his face. "And what did you think?"

"Looked like a mauling. Like when you was a kid-"

"I'd rather not mention it," I cut sharply, tone verging on cold."

He holds his hands up to placate me. "Right. Lips are sealed. But Bud remembers and was talkin' it up before I left."

My hand covers my face, breath slipping out in a slow and shaky breath. Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to meet my eyes.

"You sure you're over that?"

I smack his hand away. "Fuck no! And stop making me think about it!"

"Hey, I'm just worried." He turns to head off. "I'm going to the bar to tell Sook. Try to stay to the streets."

He pauses at the end of the dock, one foot on the grass as he turns to look back at me.

"I never got to thank you for coming when I called ya."

I smile at him, waving a hand. "I would have come either way, Jase. You know I'm here for anything and everything."

"It's great having you back." He laughs as he goes to walk back to the truck. "Even if Hoyt has the hots for ya!"

"I turned that boy down!" I call back to him. "Don't you go stirring that back up, Jason!"

"Be safe, Fae!"

His engine started before he backed up and sped off. I took a few breaths, hand to my eyes. I hadn't noticed one hand resting over the lower half of my ribs.

"Fae?"

I jumped, turning to see Ben looking up as he held his head above the dock with his arms crossed.

"Fried fritters!" I gasp, hand from my eyes snapping to my chest. "I forgot you were there."

He looked a bit serious, eyes flicking to where Jason had left. "Did he say there was a murder?"

I turned a bit away, gathering my wits as I nodded.

"Yeah. Something like that."

"You alright?"

I glance back, trying to smile brightly as I had before. "Yup. Perfect."

"You're shaking, Fae."

My hands fisted moving to jump in the water to avoid the topic. I surfaced to those still searching eyes.

"What spot was he talking about?"

I jerk my chin toward the left. "Just on the far end of Bon Temps. Off the highway to Shreveport it this little road that leads to some houses. In that area."

"Sure you're fine?"

I pushed a bit away, splashing water at his face. "We're here to swim and have fun. Come on."

I sunk under, feet shoving hard off of the pole in the water to launch me.