Don't You Wanna Stay?

Disclaimer: All I own are my original characters.

Six

After visiting and discussing matters of state with her parents Seren went to her rest. Secretive both by nature and by species, she never allows herself to slip into sleep in any other place than either her or her parents' home. It's a damned good thing she only needs to sleep to heal and replenish her powers otherwise she'd be a walking corpse more often than not with how rarely she actually is able to go home.

Winging through the sky at speeds invisible to the naked eye the afternoon following the events at Godric's – her Mate's – nest she focuses solely on the creature fate and nature bequeathed to her. A vampire of all things. An atypical vampire to be sure…but a vampire nonetheless. That species is right after humans and witches on the Seraph/Fallen list of beings NOT to tell about their continued existence.

But with what is going to surely be her continued involvement with them…she's not likely to have any choice but to out herself at some point. Perhaps even today at this meeting with the American Vampire League Sookie called her about. Someone needs to be there that the AVL and the Authority has no power over to protect her charge's interests.

Godric and Eric are big boys, they can handle themselves.

Sookie is another matter entirely.

With that thought Seren touches down on the roof of the hotel and moves stealthily through the corridors to her charge's room – a different room than the suite she'd shared with Compton and one on the human floor without a light-tight space. Absently she gives a minute flex of her power and opens the door, startling Sookie and Jason from their minor sibling spat.

"Dang it!" Jason half-laughs/half-shouts as he spills his drink at her entrance. "I hate it when you do that!"

He might not know what she is or her purpose in his sister's life but Jason Stackhouse has always had a crush on his sister's weird friend. Hell, anyone that's friends with Sookie is ok in his book as long as they treat her right.

"What are you arguing about?" She asks flicking them an amused glance as she moves over to the bar to pour herself a drink, wings tucked safely away before she even entered the building.

This afternoon the siblings were dressed much more normally, with Jason in his jeans and T-shirt and Sookie in a short, flirty sundress. Seren herself decided on a much less aggressive manner of dress than she'd been wearing around the vampires. Dark wash jeans lovingly cup her…assets…while a simple jersey halter leaves her back open in case she needs her wings. In place of her preferred boots she wore bright blue Converse Chucks. Simple and non-threatening.

If you ignore or can't see the various weapons tucked around her body. Like the silver chain belt in a herringbone braided design or the corded silver rope necklace thin enough to use as a garrote. Even dressed down Seren is as deadly as ever.

"Eric," Sookie says answering her mentor with a roll of her eyes. "Jason doesn't think I should have anything to do with him."

"What brought that on?" Seren asks, idly taking a sip of her Jameson and lime.

Sookie motions to the breakfast bar tucked in one corner. Studying the floral arrangement that is in a word gorgeous with its tiger lilies and countless roses…Seren is impressed. Apparently someone has done his homework on her friend's favorite flowers.

"Hmm…" she hums under her breath. "He has good taste."

"He's not the only one." Sookie teases Seren motioning to the coffee table in front of Sookie's seated position upon the couch.

This time the arrangement was much more restrained and refined. Less an explosive riot of colors and flowers and more a simple statement of intent. An elegant sapphire blown glass vase contained what must be a hundred Gerbera daisies…her favorite flower…in every color under the sun.

Moving over to inspect the gift she plucks the card from the butterfly-shaped holder and opened it to read the inscription.

Seren –

I hope you pardon my presumption, but I wanted to be in your thoughts as you went about your day. Hopefully you will return to see your friend and find favor with this simple token of my appreciation.

Yours,

~ G ~

Raising a brow at the humbly worded card she studies the flowers anew before being drawn from her reverie by Jason.

"Neither one of you should be truckin' about with vampires anymore." He said throwing his hands up in the air. "We just got rid of the last one and now y'all wanna bring two more into our lives. Two," he points out righteously. "That are a helluva lot older and dangerous than Bill. Hell," he said moving to stand and pace. "We don't know a damned thing about Godric or Eric. We don't know a damned thing. How'm I supposed to protect my girls if I don't know what's gonna be comin' after 'em? Huh?"

Sighing, Seren tucked a piece of hair that escaped from her French braid during her flight back behind her ear. He means well but Jason really is over his head if he thinks he'll be the one protecting her.

"Jason," she says, sitting gracefully next to Sookie and taking her hand. "I know you're upset and are trying to find your way. But Sookie and I are both grown women and can see anyone we like. And," she gave him a look when he would interrupt. "And. There's nothing to say anything is going to come of this." She motions to the flowers. "We saved both of their lives last night and they're understandably appreciative. But we have a meeting an hour after sunset with the AVL and will come home right after and things will likely," maybe, possibly, ok never. "Go back to normal. Ok?"

Groaning Jason scrubs one hand over his face. He may not be the smartest guy but he knows when he's being placated.

"Speakin' of that." Sookie says trading a look with her friend. "You should probably head to the airport now. Eric booked you a flight in a couple hours that should put you home and well away from any fallout of the FotS business." Nobody wants to explain to the vampires how Jason came to be at the FotS church just in time to pop Newlin with paintballs and help save his sister.

"Yeah," he says with a sigh. "Yeah. I don't have anything with me except for my driver's license and the ticket so I'll just go grab a cab."

Moving over to the girls he gives them each a hug and a kiss on the forehead, telling them to be safe.

Watching him leave Seren felt a combination of relief and concern. Hopefully Compton won't do anything stupid like kidnap Jason to try and use against Sookie. At that thought she gets out her cell phone and makes a call for someone to watch him until he gets on the plane and then another for protection once he arrives home. It's good to be a princess sometimes.

"So…" Seren drawls, leaning back against the cushions and placing her now-empty glass on the coffee table next to her flowers. "What is going on between you and the Sex-God?"

Sookie laughs tucking her legs up under herself on the couch and propping herself up on a cushion.

"I honestly don't know." She says, shrugging. "Before we came here I would've said I hated him. But once Bill's blood was out of me I saw him in a whole new light. Plus with how worried he was about Godric and him being willing to die for me and his Maker…" she trails off looking off into the distance. "I just don't know how I feel about him anymore."

"You desire him." Seren points out only to get a light smack on her arm. "What?!" She laughs. "You do. What's more he knows it. How much of his blood did you take in last night when you helped him?"

Sookie hums thinking. Saving Eric last night was a profoundly intimate experience culminating in their shared blood.

"Maybe a mouthful altogether?"

"And how much of your blood did you give him?" Seren asks shrewdly. Fae blood can be intoxicating to vampires but hopefully the cloaking serum she gives Sookie regularly blocked most of the effects.

Her protégé blushes looking away. "Maybe a cup or so…"

Seren rolls her eyes. Younglings. They never listen to the finer points of things.

"That was more than enough to cement a bond between the two of you, Sookie. What's more you know that. Can you feel him?"

Closing her eyes Sookie felt deep within herself to that place where she felt a change last night when Eric took her blood.

"Yes," she breathed in surprise. "I can. It's real faint and hard to focus on…but I do feel him in me."

"And how does he feel?"

"Right now…" she frowns. "Not much of anything. More shadows of feelings. Like he's resting but not dreaming."

"That's about right." Seren nods. "He old enough to rise early but after last night will probably stay down until just before sunset. And I assume he can sense you as well only much stronger."

Blood bonds tend to be stronger on the vampire's side until the third bonding exchange.

"He said as much last night." Sookie blushes thinking of some of the things she was thinking and feeling last night when Eric escorted her to her new room after recovering her things from Compton's former suite. "It's a lot more now than the fear or pain link we had before."

"This is something you need to think hard on Sookie." Seren cautions her. "I can't just undo this bond like I could break the hold Bill had on you. A mutual exchange is a much bigger thing. It's a very big deal in vampire society. Plus…"

"I need someone to protect me until I come into my powers." Sookie finishes for her. "I know. And I'm starting to think Eric might be just what I need. Not just as a protector but as a partner. I'm just worried. About his past, about his tomcattin' ways…he can be plenty controlling too I think. But that's not how I want to live."

Seren sighs. Show her a vampire that wasn't a slut at some point in their life and she'll show you a bare-faced liar.

"You need to talk to him, Sookie." She advises. "Not just flirt or fight. Actually talk. He might surprise you."

"And what about you?" Sookie cocks her head. "You and Godric have to have a bond now. What does that mean for you?"

"That, miss." Seren says standing and stretching feeling her vampire rise. "Is a conversation I need to have with my vampire before I have it with you. Speaking of which…" she moves toward the door waving at her charge over her shoulder. "I'm going to get at least part of it out of the way before the meeting. Try and stay out of trouble for once."

"No promises!" Sookie calls out laughing as Seren left the room.

xXxXxXxXx

Feeling his Seraph much nearer to him upon waking than she was when he went to his rest, Godric let out an unnecessary breath in relief. She isn't going to make him chase her, something the predator inside of him was actually looking forward to. A challenge after centuries of boredom.

But he rather thinks she'll be a challenge all on her own without the two of them playing games.

Moving with vampire speed he rushes through another shower to wash away the day and then dresses in casual jeans and a short sleeved silk T-shirt. Nan Flanagan and the AVL are hardly deserving of anything more and if he ends up chasing his Seraph after all he'd like to be comfortable.

Heating up some bagged donor blood in the microwave – he can't stand to stomach that bottled synthetic garbage – he monitors the links between him and others with a deft touch. Eric yet slept while Seren is awake and feeling a combination of concern, amusement, and caring. He senses she's close, somewhere in the hotel.

Popping the bags onto his extended fangs he quickly drains a pint of blood to restore what he lost during his captivity and the explosion. His Seren's blood had done much for him but didn't completely restore him as his wounds continued to heal throughout the day.

Hearing the faint knock he's been waiting for he tossed the empty bags in the trash and moved on bare feet to open the door to his Seraph.

With a smile she greets him and enters at his behest, allowing him to look his fill as she removed the sunglass she wore while moving between the rooms.

Smiling at his bare feet she spoke before the silence could stretch out between them as he closes the door behind her.

"I imagine Eric told you what I am." She commented as she moved to sit on one of the couches in his suite's seating area.

"Yes, he did." Godric nods, taking a seat at her side and picking up one of her hands in his to give it a kiss. "Did you like your flowers?"

"How did you know?" She cocks her head to one side. She had a good idea but wanted it confirmed.

"Eric needed to glamour Jason regarding certain things he saw." She nods, that was to be expected. "He asked about both yours and Ms. Stackhouse's preferences regarding certain things while he was at it. Perhaps not the most honorable way of gathering information but it was expedient."

Seren makes a sound somewhere between agreement and disgruntlement as she stares at their entwined hands.

"I loved them." She says at last. "They're lovely. What else did Eric learn about me from Jason?"

"Not much," Godric says studying her with patient eyes. "That you tend to come and go during times of great turmoil. You prefer flowers to jewels and a good fight to a good movie. But when you do watch movies you like those that make you cry. Gerbera daisies are your favorite flowers and you've never yet turned down chocolate. Not much at all."

"And yet," she says looking up into his eyes. "That's still worlds more than I know about you. I know you're Eric's Maker and that he loves you, he wouldn't have protected you so fiercely otherwise. I know you've grown tired of walking the earth. I sense a deep loneliness in you that has lifted somewhat in the past hours. I know you have a great capacity for gentleness and patience…and yet…"

"And yet?" He arches a brow, deeply interested in his Seraph's opinion of him.

"You also are capable of great cruelty. You're dangerous, especially to me."

"What do you say that?"

"Simple." She says removing her hand from his. "You would've left Eric, one who loves you deeply, alone in this world by meeting the sun. What is that if not cruel? As for being dangerous to me…I think you already have an idea for why that is."

He nods, thinking carefully about her charge against him.

"You think I still wish to meet the sun."

"I think that once such an idea occurs to a vampire it would take some doing to remove it from your thoughts, yes."

Reaching over he claims both her hands, pressing emotion-filled kisses to the back of each in turn.

"And if I were to tell you than such a thing is banished from my thoughts now that I know who you are to me, would you believe me?"

Taking a deep breath as shivers danced up her spine at the gesture she stares into his deep brown eyes, wetting her lips with a dart of her tongue and sparking a fire inside his gaze.

"What am I to you?" Mate or not, even a Seraph as old and powerful as she is needs to hear the words. She's still a female after all.

"You're the only person in over two thousand years that I've wanted to form a permanent blood blond with." He says, shaking his head with a small laugh. "The only creature I've desired for reasons beyond feeding my thirst in hundreds of years. You…bring me joy when before I knew only sorrow. You're my Mate, a gift from gods who I've long thought had forsaken me."

Licking her lips again she shifts, turning her body to face his.

"Do you know what it is to be a Seraph's Mate?" She asks, wanting to be honest with him before the move forward any further.

"I don't even know what it is to be a Seraph, let alone one's Mate." He chuckles ruefully at his lack of knowledge.

She nods, that was what she thought. Glancing up at the clock on the wall she winces. Unfortunately she doesn't have time to educate him at the moment. Eric and Sookie should be knocking on his door any minute so they could go up to the meeting together.

Telling him as much she stands with his help and turning wraps her arms around his neck. Surprised he settles his hands on her hips, careful of her silver.

"We might not have time to finish our conversation right now…but we do have time for this." With that she leans up on her toes and presses her body to his, waiting for him to take the next step.

Grinning wickedly he closes the inch between their lips and takes her in a heated kiss filled with lips, tongues, and teeth. Pressing her ever more firmly against his body he strokes his hands down her back before cupping her ass in his hands and lifting her up against him. Leaving one hand to support her as her legs wrap around his hips without breaking their kiss he wraps one hand in her braid, controlling her head.

Before things could get too heated Eric knocks firmly on the door. Controlling his grin at the sounds he heard coming from the room as they moved to answer he shares a look with his Sookie. It seems like things are going well for his Maker. Very well indeed.