Sookie needed air. Clean fresh air. She opened the door to the bedroom and walked purposefully toward the front door ignoring the vampires standing guard. Once on the front stoop of the old home, she took a deep breath. She wrapped her arms around her chest and sat on the bottom step. She let the cool night air brush across her face. She had stopped crying, but the ache was still raw in her chest. She heard the door open and then softly close above her. She refused to turn around. She didn't have the energy to care.

"Sookie?" Bill's cool voice sliced through her. The last thing she wanted to deal with was him.

"Go away."

"What are you doing out here?"

"Aren't you supposed to be with the Queen?"

"She's done with me. I'll be leaving with you and Eric tonight." She laughed bitterly.
"Great. That's just…great."

"Please let me try to explain." He took a seat next to her and she slid as far as she could up against the cold stone railing.

"What's to explain? I've been told the whole story, chapter and verse."

"Not all of it."

"Well, I don't think I can handle anymore."

"I love you, Sookie."

"Don't."

"I didn't think I could, but I do. I know I was sent to…" She squeezed her eyes shut and willed him to go away. She rested her head against the railing and sighed.

"You didn't love me."

"And you think Eric does?! He's just using you! I'm the one that really cares about you, not him!"

"Bill!" Suddenly Bill was on his feet at Eric's booming voice. Sookie looked up startled but then looked away. "Sookie, come inside." Eric commanded.

Sookie stood and looked from Bill and then to Eric. She lifted her chin slightly and then stepped off the bottom step onto the sidewalk. She ignored the growls behind her and continued to walk down the street away from them. She was getting tired of both their shit.

****

She walked for about thirty minutes before stopping to sit on a bench outside of a bar. It was noisy inside and the music was vibrating against the windows. She wasn't there long before Eric walked up slowly beside her.

"You like defying me, don't you?" She was surprised his tone was more amused than angry.

"Are you in trouble with the Queen?" She asked still staring at her feet.

"No. Why would you think that?"

"We're leaving tonight, instead of tomorrow." She offered as explanation.

"I told her I wanted to return you home. You were frightened by the newness of your situation and that keeping you happy makes you behave. Because of her affection for your cousin, she allowed it. Besides, I'm very well respected."

"How nice for you. I wish I could say the same."

"Sookie…."

"Why is Bill leaving with us?" Eric slipped off his jacket and slid it around her shoulders before taking a seat beside her. He draped an arm across the back of the bench and stretched his legs out in front of him.

"She decided that it would be far more punishment for him to see you with me, than any harm she could do to him. He requested that the Queen allow him to leave Bon Temps, but she refused him."

"What about Jessica?" She really didn't care about Jessica, she just didn't want to talk about what was going to happen after they returned home.

"She's going to stay a few days. The Queen's charged a few of her retinue with teaching her humility and respect."

"It's going to be painful, isn't it?"

"Oh yes, very." He grinned to himself. They sat in silence a few moments and then Eric took her by the hand.

"Come, lover. It's time to go." She nodded and stood from the bench. Eric faced her and tightened his jacket around her. He held her shoulders and placed a kiss on her forehead. "It's not as bad as you think."

"Just take me home, please."

"Of course."