This is my very first fanfiction. Be gentle. I am really interested in ideas and advice, so review, review, review. I am a huge Eric/Sookie fan, but this is from Bill's POV. I figured he needed a life of his own. He really is a sweet guy, he's just gotten a raw deal. Enjoy!

I do not own any of the characters from Southern Vampire Mysteries. They all belong to Charlaine Harris. Bless her for sharing them with us. Mattie is my very own.

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Chapter 3

Bill was in awe of this woman and all of her qualities. He thought about her his entire drive home. She was peculiar in a way, but very interesting. Her scent was so sweet, but it had an underlying smell of strength and power. He especially liked the way that she spoke to Eric in a manner he had always wished he could. That thought made him smile. The big kind of smile that runs from ear to ear. He couldn't remember a time in recent months that he had been so content. He would definitely have to start going in to Merlotte's a bit more than he normally would have. He would start tomorrow.

It was barely 2 am when Bill arrived home to find Eric standing and waiting for him on his front porch. Well if that didn't kill his mood he was sure whatever Eric had to say would definitely do the trick. Bill parked his car, locked it up, and trudged toward the house. "Hello Eric. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Bill said sarcastically. "I thought you were otherwise engaged for the evening?" Bill wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer to that, but it was too late to take back the question now.

"My lover has decided to help the shifter tidy up the bar, so it seems I have time to kill before I can ravage her for the remainder of my waking hours." Eric smiled a wicked smile. Bill in turn wanted to be sick at Eric's comment, but he had asked hadn't he? He knew full well that Eric would take advantage of every opportunity to rub his relationship with Sookie in Bill's face. "I was thinking Compton that maybe you could persuade your new human pet into changing her mind and coming to work for me. She seems to enjoy your company for some strange reason. Maybe you could bring her to see my bar and she can witness for herself what she is missing."

"She is not my pet Eric. She is barely even my friend, but I don't very much think she would be interested in working for you. I believe she basically just said that to your face."

"It seems to me that she only needs a little push in the right direction. I am after all very convincing when it comes to getting what I want from her family. Don't you agree?"

Bill's fangs came out a bit at the sting of Eric's words. He sounded so superior knowing that he possessed the one thing Bill truly wanted. Or so Eric thought. Yesterday Bill would have totally agreed with him on that fact. Tonight, he was no longer sure.

"This Mattie has an interesting scent does she not? I think she is a creature worth getting to know a bit better." Eric said slyly.

"I think I can take care of that myself Eric. I have a few thoughts on the subject. There won't be any need for you to get to know her." Bill stated in a rather possessive tone and then quickly changed his demeanor when he saw Eric's reaction. "You have, more important things to attend to."

Eric went on to talk about the numerous messages he had left for Bill in the hour before he woke. He voiced his concerns about Bill's not responding to him and stressed how important it was that they discuss the Were reveal and how it would impact the vampire community. Bill only half listened as he revisited her in his mind. The hair, the skin, the scent. She was truly a mystery to him. One that he definitely would not mind unraveling. He would have to ask her to have dinner with him, as odd as that sounded for a vampire. Human women like that sort of thing right? Or perhaps a movie? His mind wandered again until Eric's voice snapped him back to reality.

"Compton, are you even listening to me anymore?" Eric yelled at him rather rudely.

"I'm sorry Eric. I was considering your words and trying to come up with some solutions." Bill lied cautiously.

"You're a terrible liar Compton. I need to take my leave. My lover will be wanting me and I can't keep that body waiting any longer than it has to. We can talk about this tomorrow night." Eric walked out the door and drove off into the night.

Bill was disgusted by Eric's remarks, but he tried to push them out of his head. He started a fire and read a book for the remainder of the night. He couldn't really concentrate on it though. His thoughts wandered to Mattie and what she might be doing. He smiled at the fact that she was probably sleeping. That would at least be logical. He hoped that the next time they saw one another, the night would not have to end so early. The fire died out around 6 am and Bill put down his book. He walked over to his resting place and lay down so he could die for the day.

When Bill awoke the next night it was 5:30. Perhaps it was anticipation that made him rise early. He got up and went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. He stepped in and let the water cascade over his shoulders and down his back. He washed his hair and cleaned himself up. He thought about the numerous projects around the house that he should probably be doing and started to make a mental list of things. He got out, dried himself off and strode to the bedroom for a change of clothes. He put on a pair of khaki pants and a navy blue button down shirt and went downstairs. Bill began his evening in the usual way of checking text, voice, and e-mail messages. Apparently the plumber would be by tomorrow to fix the sink in the downstairs bath. His other messages were the same boring kind he received everyday. Mostly from Eric and Pam and a few Spam e-mails. He did receive an e-mail from a colleague of his in Peru that he was happy to respond to. He spent about 30 minutes on the computer before getting up to get some chores done. He flipped a load of wash and checked to see that he had enough blood in the house for the next few nights. He made a mental note to buy some Fresca if he intended to entertain a human any time soon. A man can dream can't he? He wondered. Maybe he should get red wine instead. It seemed more to her liking for some reason, all though he couldn't put a finger on why he thought so.

It was 8 o'clock when Bill finished with his laundry and ironing and decided he'd run out quick to buy some TrueBlood and wine and to pick up some supplies at Home Depot. He arrived back home at 9:30 and decided he couldn't stall anymore. He walked out the door into the crisp fall evening. It was a beautiful moonlit night so he thought he'd walk to Merlotte's tonight. He moved with his stealthy vampire speed and arrived there in a mere 5 minutes.

Bill saw her car in the parking lot and stifled a laugh. Maybe he could get her to explain that one to him as well. He floated in the door and took a seat in what he perceived to be Mattie's section. He watched her glide across the floor to the bar to fill some drink orders before coming over to greet him. He was lucky it was Sookie's night off since she would no doubt be able to sense his interest in the girl and he was not ready to admit he was interested in another human.

"Well hello there Bill." Mattie said in her sunny demeanor. " What can I get for you tonight?"

"TrueBlood, O negative if you would please Mattie."

"Certainly sir. Coming right up." She did a cute little bow and walked away to grab his blood. He watched her twist off the cap and place it in the microwave to warm. When it was done, she pulled it out, grabbed a napkin, and strode back over to him with it. "If there is anything else I can do for you Bill, please let me know."

"There is actually. I was wondering if you were busy this evening after your shift?" Bill barely got the words out of his throat before he started to second guess himself. She looked in his eyes as she slid into the booth across from him. Very quietly she asked him, "Mr. Compton I do believe that you are asking me out. Am I correct in assuming that?" He could tell she was teasing him and he nodded gently before she responded, "Well in that case, I'd love to. I get off at 11. You're welcome to hang out here in my section if you'd like or meet me in the parking lot." She got up, left him his check and walked over to help another table. Bill was dumbfounded that it had gone so smoothly. His image of Bill Compton started to grow increasingly more positive. Who says a southern gentleman can't get the job done now a days? He drank his blood with a smile on his face and silently chalked up a point against the Vikings of the world.

11 o'clock had come and Bill was still sitting in the same booth he had been occupying. He had spent the last 90 minutes watching Mattie flit around the bar and serve her tables. It was a relatively slow night and she was able to check back at his table frequently to chat and see if he needed another blood. Sam pointed to the clock and motioned to her to be on her way. It was Holly's turn to close and she had offered to finish Mattie's side work so she could go. Bill wasn't sure if they knew she was accompanying him that evening or not. If not, they were about to. He watched her disappear around the corner and she came back with a jacket and her purse. She walked over to him as he rose from his seat.

"Ready to go sir!" She exclaimed as she gave him a little salute. He smiled at her quirky way of addressing him, offered her his arm, and out they went into the night. They walked arm in arm in through the parking lot to her car. "No ride tonight Compton?" She inquired of Bill and he shook his head. "Well it seems as though I get to do the driving this evening. Hop in!" She fired up the engine and it began to purr. "Sweet isn't she? I told you I fell in love with her when I saw her." She eased her foot off the clutch and squealed out of the parking lot in a haze of dust and gravel.

Bill's eyes opened a little wider at her maniacal driving. He had to admit that she had skills though. She took corners with great ease and had wonderful reflexes. He thought once again that she could pass for vampire in the eyes of another human. A trait she might want to consider hiding a bit better for her own safety. He reached over looking to fasten her seat belt as she was driving. She just laughed and said, "Not much of a seat belt wearer. This car doesn't even have any. I figure if it's my time, that really wouldn't help much with the situation. But thank you any way Mr. Safety." She pulled into Jason's driveway in record time and slammed the car into park. She jumped out of her door so fast that Bill was barely around the car to her side. He pondered that fact for a moment as she stared at him and asked, "Were you going to open my door for me Bill? That was a very sweet gesture." She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked through the front door. Without a moments hesitation she turned back and said to him, "Please come in." Bill thought it interesting that she automatically thought to invite him in to the house. Most humans don't think of that and he usually had to explain it. She had obviously had prior experience with vampires in her home. He stepped over the threshold and into Jason's living room.

Mattie turned to Bill looking rather relieved. " I was afraid that wasn't going to work being that this is Jason's house and all, but I guess it counts for family or house guests or something like that." Bill smiled at her revelation. He hadn't really thought about that either come to think of it. He was still surprised she asked him in to begin with. She told him that she was going to go change and they could be on their way and left him sitting on the couch. She was barely gone 5 minutes when she came back into the room having changed not only her clothes, but it seemed she had also applied fresh make-up. She stood looking at him for a moment while he took in her appearance. She really looked quite lovely. She was wearing a dark red cardigan, short black skirt, and a pair of boots that went up to her knees. She had also put on a new necklace in the shape of 2 entwined circles made with little rhinestones. Bill thought about her appearance for a moment while she spoke. " I apologize for the delay. I couldn't find a necklace that went with this that wasn't silver." She gave him a little grin as he was thinking her rather considerate for remembering that. They walked back out the front door and hopped into her car. Bill wasn't normally one for letting a woman drive, but her nature was still a mystery to him that he thought he would indulge her a bit while he studied her behavior.

She slammed the car into gear and tore out of the driveway. Bill could understand why a human might be a little frightened about her driving. He thought he might advise Sookie against driving with her any time soon. Of course she was used to the "white knuckle" rides she had told him about when Eric was driving. Come to think of it, Mattie drove almost exactly the way Eric did. A fact that did not excite Bill in the least. In fact, she had a lot of characteristics very similar to the Viking. Bill thought he had better stop thinking that before he squelched the fun of their evening. As if she knew he needed the subject changed, Mattie spoke up. "So, um Bill? Where is it that we're going anyhow. I've nearly driven out of town and I'm not even sure I'm going in the right direction. Not that I really mind of course. I love to drive at night. Wind in my hair, speeding down the highway. It's kind of a therapy for me. Gets rid of the day's stresses. I am a little hungry though. "

"Well, then by all means you go ahead and enjoy your drive. There's an all night diner in Monroe we could stop at and get you something to eat if you'd like?"

"Sounds good. I know the general direction and you can show me the way once we get close. OK?"

Bill nodded in agreement and they drove off down the Parrish road. It didn't take long to get to the diner and they sat down in a booth by the window. Mattie ordered some eggs and bacon with toast. She explained how she liked to eat breakfast late at night since her body was probably ready for breakfast anyway. Bill chuckled at her logic and watched her eat. This was not a process he normally enjoyed watching humans do, but there wasn't a single thing he didn't enjoy doing with her. Except maybe letting her drive. It wasn't that he was frightened since that would be silly for a vampire. She just reminded him of someone he'd rather not think about.

"So Bill, how long have you been a vampire?" She asked him this question as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Nearly a century and a half, but the last few years have definitely been the most interesting." He told her about the night he was turned and about the many years he spent wandering both with Lorena and on his own. He told her about his work on the database and some of the strange occurrences that had happened in his life. It was funny how naturally the words ran off his tongue. He couldn't remember a time when he had ever given any of this information so freely. Most of these things he had never even told Sookie. Bill paid the check and they left the diner. They drove back to Bon Temps and Bill invited her to see his home. They parked in front of the house and he told her it's history. She seemed very interested in his human life so he told her about his wife and children. They walked around the house hand in hand and he took her to see the cemetery where his family was buried.

"I know how hard it is to lose the people you love. It's an unpleasant situation and I don't wish it on anyone." Bill heard her say those words so emphatically that he couldn't help but ask her what had happened to her to make her come to Bon Temps. "I lost a person very dear to me. A very good friend that was there for me when I was going through a time. I found out a lot about my self that I didn't like. I just needed a change to clear my head and start to forget the pain." She told him as she looked into his eyes knowing he understood her completely.

"I'm sorry for that Mattie."

"Don't. It's not a big deal. I'm not here to talk about all that garbage. I want to be right here, right now. With you." She smiled at him and continued talking. I do want you to know that Sookie told me a little bit about your history with her. I don't mean to bring up a sore spot, but I thought you should know that she had confided in me. I didn't want you to feel the need to explain it. I know a bit about the maker and child relationship and that much of what happened was out of your hands. I just wanted you to know I don't hold it against you." Bill appreciated her honesty yet it still made him feel awful.

"It was not my finest moment." He faltered on his words as he spoke. "I've tried to put all of that behind me, but it remains difficult with her around as a constant reminder. But as you said, that isn't important now. Let's go back to the house and put a fire in the fire place. We can sit and talk and I'll pour you a glass of wine. Would that be agreeable to you ma'am?"

"I'd like that Bill, but what did I say about the ma'am bit?" She sounded rather stern and it made him laugh. He turned to face her and gently lifted up her chin so he she was looking into his eyes. Bill leaned down, placed his hand on her cheek and gave her a soft kiss. Her lips felt warm against his. She responded to his kiss with more force than he had expected and it took him a moment to compose himself before he pulled away. He took her hand and they slowly walked back to the house.

He deposited her on the couch as he began to make the fire. He could tell she was not typically one to sit idly by and watch when she came down to sit on the floor beside him. She handed him the logs as he stacked them up in the fireplace. He lit the kindling he had put in place beneath them and blew out the match. He looked back at her and smiled before he asked if she would like a glass of wine. "Sure. Just point me in the direction of the kitchen and I'll pour myself a glass." She noticed he looked a bit surprised by her comment. She stood up reached out her hand to him. "Unless of course you want to get in on that whole chivalry thing, in which case I can just watch you pour it." Mattie said with a silly tone to her voice. Bill took her hand, got up off the floor, and walked her over to the kitchen. He pulled out 2 glasses and set them on the table. He opened the bottle of wine he had bought and a bottle of blood for himself and poured both into the waiting glasses. Mattie raised her glass and gently clinked it to Bill's. "Cheers!" She said in her usually happy tone of voice and took a drink from the glass. They walked back over to the couch and sat quietly together drinking and enjoying the glowing orange fire light. Bill couldn't have hoped for better company and proceeded to tell her so. They talked some more about general interest sorts of things, his database and how she was getting used to her new job at Merlotte's. Mattie told him about her childhood and her family. He enjoyed watching her as she recounted fond memories.

Two weeks went by full of evenings they had spent together. They saw a few movies, went for walks through the park. Most nights they would end up talking until just before dawn. Each night Mattie was working, Bill would sit at Merlotte's drinking a blood and just watching her. He was captivated by her every move. She was light on her feet and moved quickly around the bar almost as if she were dancing. She really seemed to fit in perfectly in Bon Temps. Her smile lit up the room and she was becoming very well liked by the regulars.

It was well past 4 one morning when he noticed that she was very tired. The hours she had been keeping in order to spend time with him were obviously starting to catch up with her. Bill watched her stretch and yawn thinking that he should probably take her home. It was something he didn't have the heart to do just yet. He had really enjoyed having her companionship in the recent weeks. The words slipped from his mouth before he knew what he was even saying. "Stay here with me tonight…… If you want to that is." What started as a man stating a firm request more or less ended up sounding like a boy wary of his own feelings and afraid to be rejected. Bill immediately cringed at how ridiculous he had just sounded. Why did this woman have that kind of effect on him?

Mattie set down her wine glass and moved over closer to Bill. She snuggled up and laid her head down on his chest as he put his arm around her shoulder. " I think I'd like that very much." She stated much to his great relief. He gave her a little kiss on the forehead as if to say goodnight. There in the early morning hours they watched the fire die out as Mattie fell asleep in Bill's arms.