The smell of coffee wafted through the house. Amelia was home. She rolled over and looked at the clock, it was just after 9:30. After she washed up and brushed her teeth she greeted Amelia.

"Morning" she was very happy to see her.

"Morning sleepy-head" she returned.

"What time did you get home? I didn't hear you come in."

"About a half hour ago. Tray went to the shop early. He promised some Were from Monroe that his bike would be ready this morning....coffee"?

"Please, did you have a good evening?" she asked

"Sure did, we went out to dinner and had drinks. Went back to his place, jumped into bed." She daydreamed about the night before as Sookie choked on a sip of her coffee. It had been too long since she had enjoyed anything in bed. Amelia noticed the forlorn look on her face.

"Anyway, how was your day? How did you meeting with Hunter go?" She was truly concerned and interested.

"It was nice, his dad seems OK. He is so sweet Amelia, he has the cutest little voice". Now she thought very hard about her next statement. She needed to tell someone.

"Amelia, he can, hear...he's..."

"A telepath, like you? Oh my god! Sookie, does his father know. Does anyone else know"? Her jaw was still on the floor.

"I think his father knows, but I don't think he really understands, how can he? Hadley couldn't have explained everything to him. The drugs, the vampires, it's impossible. I haven't told anyone else, yet."

"I just can't believe it. What are you going to do?" She asked, not sure if she should.

She thought for a moment and finally said, "I just don't know. I think I should tell Eric, I just don't know why. I think it would be best for everyone involved." She reflected on her own statement with curiosity. "Amelia, do you think that you might spend the night again at Tray's? I'm just asking". She was still and white. Her blue eyes were bright, but they were somewhere else entirely. They were starring a hole in her coffee cup.

"I'm not sure. Why don't you tell me what's going on and then maybe I can make my plans accordingly. Sookie, whatever it is, it's OK. You can tell me. Do you want to bring a guy here, or a girl, no judgments..." She winked at her, she had secretly hoped that Sookie may one day also enjoy the company of a woman. Amelia liked both and had no problem letting anyone know. "If you want to be alone with a date I'm gone. Hey, we all have needs that must be tended to". She teased.

"No, it's not that. It's Eric, I'm meeting with him tonight to have that conversation I have been putting off. It's just time to clear the air and get on with it." She sighed heavily.

"And you're OK with this? Did he make you feel like you had to, you know, with that bond thing you two got going?" She asked.

"No, it was just the opposite, I called him. It was silly really...I was watching TV and ended up getting glued to Gone with the Wind...."

"Oh God, Sookie! Are you looking to feel like you've been beaten and kicked to the side of the road. Didn't we decide long ago that we wouldn't watch that movie in this house, especially you!"

"I couldn't help it. I had a bad day and it just happened to be on TV last night. Really, I'm fine. I'm ready to handle this. It's been long enough and me refusing to look this thing down is the same as me running away. And I don't run away!" She protested and almost stamped her foot for effect.

"OK, I'll make sure to stay out tonight. I'm sure Tray won't mind my company again...we did have an excellent time last night. He really is an animal in bed...literally." She laughed and winked.

"Thanks for the coffee." She washed her coffee cup out and went into the bathroom to get ready for work. As the warm water of the shower rained down over her body she again thought about Eric. How could she not think about the pleasure that he brought her in this very place? If she closed her eyes she could see his perfect, white chest. She could see the water trickling down the well defined muscles. She could feel the smooth, cool sensation of his skin on her hands, and she could taste him. Why? Why did she stop for him the New Years morning?

"Because you are a stupid fool", she answered herself. "The same reason you rescued Bill from the Rattray's". She was annoyed and angry with herself. "You are the most stupid and foolish woman to ever live, Sookie Stackhouse. You did this to yourself. You got involved in this vampire shit".

She dried herself off and got ready for work. Hopefully it would be a busy day so she could get through her shift and get home with almost know thought. She fixed her hair and put on a light amount of makeup. She was never one to look too done up, just not her style.

"Today is going to be a good day". She gave herself a little pep talk in the mirror as she gave herself the once over before she left her room.

"I'm leaving for work Amelia", she yelled.

"Bye Sook, I won't be here when you get home. If you need me you just call. Everything is going to be fine", she assured her.

"Thanks Amelia, I appreciate that. Talk to you later".

Ten minutes later she was at Merlotte's. "Hey Sookie, how was your day off"? Sam greeted her with his usual excitement.

"Oh, just fine Sam. I needed it, lots going on you know". She looked at him and he immediately understood. He knew everything in Soookie's life at this point. Sam was a Supe himself, a shifter. He could change his form and become an animal, mostly he preferred a collie. He knew all about Bill, about Eric, Quinn, Alicide, Niall, her brother, and most recently, Hunter. He just didn't know about Hunter's gift.

There was a time when she considered Sam as a man that she could settle down with. He seemed to her to be the most human of them all. He had been there for her in some pretty desperate times. But one day she had realized that he was becoming more like a father figure, or even a great big brother, than a love interest. Of course there had been a few stolen moments in the past when she could have easily gone to bed with him. Things were different now, everything had changed.

"Hey Sam, do you think if we are slow later today that I could maybe take of a little early? I have, uh, something I need to take care of". She quietly asked.

"Well sure Sook, I don't think that would be a problem. You in trouble, you need anything"? He asked cautiously.

"I'm fine Sam. I just need, I have this..." she was stumbling on her words. "Sam, I'm getting together with Eric tonight at my place. It's not a date or anything like that. It's more like a....meeting of the minds", she offered with a smile.

Sam looked at her with weary, blue eyes, his hair was its usual tousled mess. "Sookie, I was there the night that you came back here to rescue him, Felipe, and me. I saw you face and how distraught you were when you saw how much danger he was in. I also saw him protect you, numerous times. I have seen his face when you have been in harms way. It's about time you settled things". Sam's words were sincere.

"I was also here when he pledged his life to you under the new regime. The night that he and Pam came in. Sookie, he would have pledged his life to you even if it wasn't requested by their new king. He is a man of his word. I don't have to like him, or what he does. But I do know how he feels about you, and I think you know too". She was relieved to hear this from Sam. She really did value his opinion, he was the only man in her life lately, ever since her brother's asshole betrayal.

"Thank you Sam"

She began her prep work and silently thought about what she would wear that evening. The lunch crowd began to pour in, the regular crowd, same orders, same thoughts. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Thank God for that. Before she knew it the time was past 4:00. The crowd had thinned out. She was getting anxious about her impending meeting. She nervously glanced at the clock . Her heart was practically beating out of her chest. She was really going to do this, after all this time. It was too late to change her mind. She knew Eric would not appreciate a back out message left on his voice mail. He was after all still asleep, the sun had not set for the day. She could only imagine his reaction if he awoke to to hear her saying, "So sorry to cancel last minute, but lets not do this". She would almost put money on him showing up at her house anyway to convince her otherwise.

But, then she remembered how sincere he sounded last night when they talked about making sure she was ready to have this conversation. She would not back out, she could handle whatever this night brought.

She must have been deep in thought because she was startled when Sam repeated her name a second time. "Sookie, hey, Sookie? We're good here. Arlene's gonna be here in fifteen minutes. You get going". His face was gentle and soft. "You'll be fine, you'll be safe, don't worry." He assured her again. "Besides, if he gets fresh you can just rescind his invitation". He teased her with a wink.

She laughed at his last jab, although it was completely true. She remembered how she had done that to both Bill and Eric, on the same night, at the same time. The night that they saved her from the pack of Jackson Were's by quickly ending their miserable lives. The night that Eric had taken bullets for her...again. The night that Bill had,... raped her. They had decided that they were going to decide who was best for her and she was not going to have any part in it. So...the invitations went out the window. Both of the vampires looked so helpless as they backed out of her house.

"What a good weapon to have". She thought about that for a moment, to herself.

"OK Sam, I appreciate you letting me leave. I'll see you tomorrow night". She waved good bye as she grabbed her bag, but then she decided to give him a hug for providing her with the kind words when she needed them most. He inhaled her scent deeply and sighed.