Previously…

Everyone in the bar was watching Eric. He looked back at Bill, who looked semi-disappointed. His eyes found mine and we just stared at each other for a moment.

"I apologize for making a scene, Mr. Merlotte. As a man, I have a very low opinion of men like that one," He moved towards the door and left, leaving everyone staring after him. I looked around and motioned to Sookie that I would be right back, and followed Eric out into the night.

When I stepped out of the bar, I didn't see anyone. The parking lot was eerily quiet and as I walked around looking for Eric, I could feel someone there.

"Were you looking for me, Miss Wilkensen?" I gasped and whirled around, finding Eric standing a few feet behind me, hands behind his back.

"Actually, yes." I said strongly, moving closer to him. He side-stepped me and circled around me, making me turn around to look at him.

"What, may I ask, did you want to talk to me about?" I had to think for a second. The truth was, I just wanted to touch him. Shake his hand, anything to see what he was thinking. But it's not like I was going to tell him that.

"I just wanted to…thank you. For back there," I stuck out my hand, hoping he would take it. I was letting down my guard, which didn't happen very often. Eric just stood there, staring down at my hand and then glancing up at me. I retracted my hand, tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and muttered, "Fine."

I thought I saw Eric smirk, but from the way he'd been acting, I was pretty sure it was just a trick of light.

"That's not it." I raised my eyebrows at his statement. "There is something else you wanted; I just can't figure it out." He was being annoying and I knew he could tell it was driving me insane. "You can ask me anything you wish, Miss Wilkensen. At the moment, I am very much an open book."

"How do you know my last name?" I hadn't noticed when he'd said it earlier, but it was strange that he just knew. He started chuckling and surprised me by moving closer.

"I have friends in very high places." He actually did smirk this time. "Plus, Sookie told Bill." I laughed lightly. "It's very good to know I can still make pretty girls laugh after all this time." I blushed and looked away. No wonder Sookie was dating a vampire. "And blush."

Apparently, he just couldn't control himself and his hand came up to softly stroke my cheek. As my guard was still down, I immediately saw the images. Mountains and valleys of soft green turned to clumps of ash and fire. Men dressed in animal furs wearing horned helmets. And then I was hearing the roars of armies. It was all so much, that when I finally controlled the images and saw Eric again, he was standing very close, watching me. My hand was holding his to my cheek.

We stood there for a moment, staring at each other. He was breathing heavily (even though vampires don't really have to breathe).

"Eric," A stern voice said from behind the blonde man. He immediately let me go and turned to Bill standing at the doorway. Sookie and the red-headed vampire were standing just behind him, looking worried and bored. "We're leaving, now,"

Eric stood firm, just watching Bill. Finally, he nodded and turned back towards me.

"Always a pleasure, Miss Wilkensen. I hope to see you very soon," And then he pulled a move I figured only Bill would pull. He reached down for my hand and laid a gentle kiss on my knuckles. As they left, I watched him go; still reeling from the images in his head and the slightly dizzy, yet annoying feeling he gave me.

Sookie and Bill said a quick goodbye and then he was following Eric towards a sleek looking gray car. The red-headed one came up to me and smiled brightly, sticking out her hand. "I'm Jessica. It's nice to meet you, but knowing Bill, he's gonna yell at me in a second for even being close to you, so I should probably go."

I shook her hand just as Bill called out, "Jessica!"

Jessica smiled again and winked. "Told you. He's such a sour-puss." I watched her go, a little frazzled with her peppy attitude.

Sookie grabbed my hand gently and brought me back inside the bar, where people were continuing to stare at me even after the vampires' departure. She took me over to Sam, who led me back into the office.

He sat me down, as if I were made of glass and then leaned against his desk. "You're ok, right Anya?" I nodded, and he seemed satisfied with that answer. "Good. I wish that hadn't have happened, but sooner or later it had to. Some people just can't help it." I nodded again. I guess I was still a little out of it from talking to Eric and everything. "I've decided that since we aren't that busy right now, you can take a break, get your bearings back. Maybe eat something. Just until you feel a little better."

"Alright. Thanks Sam." He patted me on the shoulder and got up from the desk.

"You can stay in here or sit at the bar. Whatever you like. And Terry can make you some French fries," I followed him out back into the bar and sat down. When Tara asked me if I wanted a drink, I just got water again. About five minutes later, Terry brought out my fries and I was relaxing, just thinking about Eric's mind and how much more of it I would like to see.

Eric seemed like an old soul, but there was just something about him that seemed so sad and alone. I was wanting so bad to get to know him and see if all of that was true.

After I had been sitting at the bar for about ten minutes, an older woman came up and sat right next to me. She was dressed quite well to be sitting in a bar like this and had long luxurious-looking black hair.

Tara greeted her warmly and looked even happier with the woman here. "Maryanne, this is Anya. She just started working here. Anya, this is my friend Maryanne."

The older woman stuck out her hand and I shook it. "Nice to meet you, Anya. What an excellent name. Is it short for Anastasia or just Anya?" I smiled at her even though I could feel some kind of strange vibe coming off of her.

"Short for Anastasia, actually. My mother was like obsessed with the Czar family history and I just ended up getting the short end of the deal." She chuckled at this and her laugh sounded like ringing bells. There was just something so odd about her.

"Well, your mother sounds like an interesting person, Anastasia." Maryanne looked thoughtful for a moment. "Anastasia. It means 'she who will rise.' Quite an interesting name to give a child. Your mother must've thought you would do great things in your lifetime."

I laughed at that and took a sip of my water, still nibbling on my fries. "I'm pretty sure she was just another crazy lady obsessed with missing princesses."

Tara and I had a good laugh at that, but Maryanne was just watching me. Why did people have to keep freaking out on me tonight?

Suddenly, Sam was out in front of the bar, practically dragging Maryanne back to his office. I looked to Tara, who just shrugged and went back to work.

Maryanne was an interesting person. But why did she seem so strange? And why did it seem like I was just so interesting to her? And just what is up with Sam?

Author's Note:

Alright…sorry for the later update. I've been on vacation and I haven't had very much time. Plus I have this friend that I've been getting into True Blood and we are spending all of our time watching the show. Hopefully all of you like this and don't think I'm crazy or anything. Just let me know by reviewing. Also, I know it's kind of short and I apologize. Bear with me here.

Arytha21keybladewielder---Yeah, Eric and protectiveness just kind of go together. Even on the show he seems a little bit like that. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope the Eric/Anya official meeting was to your liking. Not to sappy I hope.

Murgatroid—98---Definitely. And I know that they would have helped too, but it's just so much more fun with Eric because he's definitely more lethal. Eric is pretty awesome, even with dismemberment and blood in his hair.

Jdcoke---Not quite. But you never know, being friends with Sookie means that Anya might just get into trouble a lot too…don't tell anyone I told you that.

Micaburn---It's so great that you did take the time. Thanks a lot. Yeah, I really love that Eric can have the sweet protective side even when he seems so mean on the show.

Rebelwilla---Thanks. Great to know that I wasn't making the characters seem too different then they really are. That always seems to be the most difficult part of fan fictions.

xXxCaRoLiBoOxXx---Thanks. I hope this chapter gets a lot of love too. Keep on reviewing!

Razzie11---Yeah. Eric and Pam have a…interesting relationship. It's kind of like brother and sister to me. Just because I have an older brother and if he did something I didn't particularly like when I was doing something for him, he would probably feel bad…Probably.

SavagelyDisTurbed---Thanks so much. And I was actually more hoping this would be a chapter where Anya was more in awe of Eric. But it's just for now. There will definitely be confrontation. That, I can't wait to write.

The Shadowy Phantom---Good advice. And I'm sorry for the cliffy, but I don't plan to do it very often, so you can be happy about that.

Kvaes Varetnai---I don't plan on giving up on this story. I really enjoy writing it. Even when school starts in about a month, I plan to keep it up as much as I can. The posts may just be a little further apart.

Hennesey---I wrote more. So I hope that you found it very good and are still enjoying.

Trixie09---Thanks for the info, but I did realize. I promise its part of the story. But Anya isn't psychic. She's partially empathetic and when she touches people, she can see thoughts: past, present and sometimes future. It's weird. And Sam just said that Sookie is psychic, so that's what Anya thinks. Sookie will remedy that, I promise. And note that Sookie didn't ask if Anya was psychic, but if she could read minds.

JordanGoombette---Here it is. I hope you enjoy it. Just keep up the reviewing because it makes me so happy.

.Hitachiinx3---I love Eric too. He just makes everything so much more interesting. Thanks for the awesome review.

Erithraea---I will definitely check out your story. And thank you so much for the great comment. I definitely don't really agree, but thanks anyways. Yeah, you think Anya is all sweet, just wait….mwahaha.

Raging Raven---That's the best part of men. When they go testosterone crazy…it's always so funny.

Thanks so much everyone. Keep reviewing and if this is your first time reading my story, I would really appreciate a review.