This was an unusual chapter to write. I'm looking forward to them making up in an appropriate manner :-) Second half is in Bill's POV. This is my first shout out to KrazyKatt. There will be more. There had better not be any scratches on that 'Cuda Mr. Northman!

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 12

Bill was at the kitchen table pouring himself over some books when I came downstairs. I was still cuddled up in my robe. This was the first time Bill had ever woken up before me. Usually I would wake an hour or so before him so I could watch the sunset and have some alone time. Now that we were keeping the same hours, we were never apart.

I had been training with Eric for a solid month now and I was physically and emotionally exhausted. My body had been brought to the breaking point almost every night and my skills had improved fifty fold. He had told me he was proud of me last night. I was so excited to have earned the respect of this great warrior that I hauled off and roundhouse kicked one of the trees in the front yard, sending wood chips flying everywhere. I left a HUGE divot the size and shape of my foot in the trunk. Bill was not too pleased with me. That tree was apparently older than him.

My study sessions with Bill were long and kind of boring. I thought I was done with homework when I graduated from college. He was trying so hard to keep me interested and I really was learning things from him. I couldn't help that I was an adrenaline junky. I much preferred kicking some ass and was beginning to appreciate Eric all the more. He was like the fun Uncle while Bill was more the concerned parent type.

I bent down and kissed his hair. I yawned as I spoke.

"Hi baby. Whatcha workin' on?" He set down his book and turned, pulling me down into his lap, kissing me softly on my mouth.

"Hello there beautiful. Sleep well?" He placed another kiss on my lips, holding his palm against my cheek. I was such a sucker for that.

"It occurred to me that we have no idea what would happen if you were to have my blood. In larger quantities I mean. I thought I'd see if there was any research on the subject." Where did he come up with all of these books? There were at least 12 of them scattered about the table. Was there a supernatural library that borrowed books to vampires needing to research sensitive topics?

"Were you planning on feeding me some?' I had Bill's blood only once while we were making love. I got carried away and bit him in the shoulder. I only got a few drops. We had dismissed the incident since it appeared it hadn't had any after effects outside of that night.

"If there is a situation that calls for it, yes. We need to know how it will effect you. You and I can look through some of these books tonight. Oh, by the way, Eric was here. He won't be back tonight. He has a meeting with Victor. He left you this." Bill handed me an envelope. It was heavy. I opened it and a set of car keys fell out. I opened the folded note. It was written in Eric's handwriting.

Matilda-

I am sorry I will be unable to work with you this evening. Victor has asked me to meet with him. I will be in New Orleans for a couple of days. Please spend the time studying with Bill. Try not to be too bored. I will be back by the weekend. Remember our arrangement. Now you will have to be on guard at night as well.

Eric

P.S. I borrowed your car. Don't scratch mine.

"What? What's wrong?" I must have looked extremely irritated for Bill to wonder what was up. I turned on my heel and ran out the back door to the garage. Bill had the barn converted into a nice garage space. It even had a lift so I could change my own oil.

"He stole my car! That stupid viking stole my car!"

There in the garage, parked in my spot, was Eric's corvette.

"I am certain he'll return it to you tomorrow evening. In the mean time, I will actually get to do some driving for a change."

"No Bill, he won't. He took her to New Orleans with him. He won't be back until the weekend! He had better not do anything to my transmission. He doesn't drive stick that well. He's not that gentle with her. OOOOOOH! I am going to kill him!" I was fuming. I had let Eric drive my car many times, but only over to Merlotte's or so we could race each other down the Parrish road. He had taken her without asking me and he took her to the other end of the state!

"It is merely a car Mattie. It really is not that big of a deal." I was losing patience with Bill at this point.

"It's my car Bill! She's my baby. She was expensive. Eric should have asked me. Letting him drive to the end of town and letting him take her away from me are two very different things!"

"I thought I was your baby." He was missing the point. "He hasn't taken it away from you. He will return it."

"I don't care if he brings her back with new tires and a tune-up, he didn't ask me!"

"Unfortunately Mattie, he doesn't have to. He is your master. He can borrow 'it' if he pleases."

My patience with Bill was now officially gone. I stomped back to the house and upstairs. I threw on some clothes and fixed my hair and make-up. When I got back downstairs, he was drinking a TrueBlood and reading again. Nerd! I grabbed my purse and walked out the door. He didn't bother to follow me.

I sat down and slammed the door. I was pissed! I put the key in the ignition and started it up. The Corvette roared to life and I backed up at lightening speed , not even looking behind me. I wasn't sure where I was driving exactly, but I sure as hell didn't want to be here.

I pulled into Merlotte's parking lot and screeched the Corvette into a parking space, spraying some gravel with the back tires. I sat there for a moment trying to compose myself. I was hungry and angry. I went in to have something to eat.

Jason and Hoyt were sitting in one of the booths. I never asked if I could join them, I just sat down. They both looked at me, surprised at my dramatic entrance.

"We had a fight OK! Just leave it at that and you two can take turns buying me drinks. I need to escape for a night." Jason nodded at me and Hoyt just sat there with his mouth open. Sookie noticed my arrival and came over to see if I needed anything. She must have heard what I was thinking.

"You had a fight? With Eric or Bill?"

"Both. Eric left for New Orleans. He took MY car! I drove his Corvette here." I was clearly sulking, but she just smiled at me.

"Get used to it Mattie, He does that. I would take it as a compliment. He never let's me drive his car. Can I get you anything?" I ordered some chicken strips and a beer.

I sat there with Hoyt and Jason drinking myself silly. I was really in no shape to drive by the time they left me there. I sat in the booth alone finishing my 6th or 7h beer when Bill walked in. He sat down across from me.

"What do you want?" I growled at him. I was still angry with him. He grabbed my hands in his.

"You. I was worried. I should be. You're drunk."

"I've been here for 3 hours Bill and you just now cared enough to check on me?" I started to climb out of the booth, but I lost my balance.

"Keys." He was holding his palm out to me. "Give me your keys. We're going home."

He was right. I was so far gone that I needed him to carry me back to the Corvette. He placed me in the passenger seat and shut the door. I tried to open it again, but it was too late. I threw up in between the seat and the door.

"Eric is not going to like that."

I was too wasted to care. I fell asleep.

I woke again when Bill was tucking me into our bed. He had taken off my clothes and slid a nightgown on me. I looked over at the clock. It was early. He would be up for another 5 hours at least. I smelled horrible and instantly began to cry.

" I'm so sorry baby. I shouldn't have gone off like that. I shouldn't have drank so much. I'm so glad you came to rescue me."

He was holding me in his arms now.

"Shhhh. You get some sleep. I'll be back to check on you."

"Bill? What about Eric's car?" I remembered what I had done to the upholstery.

"No worries. I'll take care of it." That was the last I heard from him.

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As I scrubbed her vomit from the grooves in Eric's door, I was fuming. Why did it matter if Eric took her car or not? It's just a car. I could buy her a new one if she wanted. It would be newer and safer. It would have seat belts. I will never understand why they both obsess so much about a hunk of metal.

Eric had probably taken it to upset her.

That made me even angrier, and here I was cleaning out his stupid car. I wondered if he took it to see how mad he could make her. Maybe it was in an effort to push her limits. If that was the case, it failed. Mattie has far too much self control to hunt him down for that. She had taken it out on me instead.

Maybe she was just hormonal. Women had a tendency to overreact at the slightest thing when they were having their time. Of course I would know if that were the case. So why was she so upset? I would have to wait until she calmed down to ask her about it.

I finished cleaning up, closed the garage door and walked back to the house. I went upstairs to check on her before finishing with my research.

Mattie smelled awful, but still looked beautiful. I felt bad that I had hurt her so much, but I had never seen her act so childish. I was angry with her for the way she had treated me. I kissed her on the forehead and left the room.