A/N: We start with Eric and Payton and we end with Eric and Payton in this chapter, with a few other things thrown in.

Chapter 17

I

Eric was driving them home after everything that had happened at the Tolerance Festival. Payton glanced at him sideways and saw that his attention seemed to be totally focused at the job he was doing. She looked out the passenger window and felt another wave of nervousness wash over her. Maybe, she thought too much about things. Her mind might think one thing, but her body always seemed want what it wanted where that vampire was concerned. You're fighting the inevitable, she told herself.

"Is something wrong?" asked Eric.

"I think that we should see if Lafayette or Jesus has returned," replied Payton.

Eric turned back and stared down at the road in front of them. He began to brake the car.

"I'm sorry," said Payton.

"If you think that it's important, then it must be," replied Eric.

He turned the car around and they headed towards Bon Temps in the darkness of the night. They arrived and pulled into Lafayette's driveway. Payton could see Jesus and Lafayette unloading luggage from a large van. Both of them stopped and stared at the car, no doubt, curious about who was seeking them out. Payton didn't cause any reaction, but when Eric stepped out of the vehicle, Lafayette dropped his bag and backed away.

"Shit, what's he doing here!" cried Lafayette.

"Wait, it's alright," replied Payton. "He doesn't mean either of you any harm."

"Yeah, right," said Jesus, moving in front of Lafayette.

"Please, just hear us out," said Payton.

Lafayette looked at the distance to his front door and realized that there was not any way that he could make it there before Eric Northman caught him. Cooperating was starting to look pretty good, he thought. He gripped Jesus's arm and pulled Jesus back with him towards the front door.

"We'll listen, but he keeps those fangs to himself," replied Lafayette.

"Deal," said Payton.

Lafayette and Jesus walked backwards with their eyes on Payton and Eric. But, once they all were on the front porch, Lafayette stopped.

"We can talk out here," he said.

"I would rather talk inside," replied Payton.

"Well, I don't really give a rat's ass where you want to talk," said Lafayette. "Because, I'm not inviting Eric Northman into my house."

"Don't speak to her that way," said Eric, staring at Lafayette.

Lafayette flinched and passed a glance between Payton and Eric. "Oh, I sees how it is, Girlfriend," he said. "Looks like taking my advice has worked wonders for you."

"It's not what you think," said Payton.

"You don't got to explain anything to me," replied Lafayette. "Trust me on that."

"He's not the villain here," said Payton.

"Oh, maybe, I was just delusional all those weeks that I spent chained in his dungeon," replied Lafayette. "Maybe, Eric was just being friendly when I was shot, bitten and threatened with death. That must be vampire for I really like you."

"What?" asked Payton, turning to look at Eric.

Eric shrugged and said, "I am a sheriff, you know. I must have had some reason to do that."

"Please, I know it's hard, but I'm asking you to trust us," said Payton, looking back at Lafayette and Jesus. "Marnie is incredibly dangerous."

"Marnie?" said Jesus. "The Marnie that I know isn't a threat. It's that spirit that has possessed her."

"I hate to break this to you, but that Marnie is long gone," said Payton. "Antonia is bound to Marnie against her will."

"I'm having a hard time believing that," said Jesus.

"Your supposedly harmless friend tried to kill Payton in cold blood," said Eric. "And she almost succeeded."

Lafayette and Jesus exchanged a glance. Jesus looked back at Payton and Eric.

"Maybe, she can still be reasoned with," he said.

"I think she's passed that point," said Payton. "I've tried to reach her without success."

"She might not be able to overlook your choice in friends," replied Lafayette.

"You have been gone and you don't realize what has been going on," said Payton. "She's holding the rest of the coven hostage. You were lucky to escape when you did."

"Is Tara okay?" asked Lafayette.

"Without Sam to protect her, she might not have been," replied Payton.

"Look, I know that Marnie's your friend, but when it comes to her threatening my family, that's a different story," said Lafayette to Jesus.

"I'm just asking you not to help Marnie," said Payton. "I can sense that the two of you have power and if I can, then so can Marnie."

"What are you planning?' asked Jesus.

"It's just not me," said Payton. "She's declared war on the vampires, here. I can't control everyone involved anymore. Things have been set into motion that can't be undone."

"Are you saying that it's too late to stop more bloodshed?" asked Jesus.

Payton studied Jesus and said, "I still believe that something can be done to stop that or I wouldn't be here."

Payton glanced at Lafayette and said, "To show his good intentions, Eric will release you from your obligation to him."

"He will?" asked Lafayette.

"I will?" asked Eric.

"Yes, you will," said Payton to Eric. "Whatever crime he may have committed, I'm sure that he has more than paid for it. If he chooses to work for you after this, then that is his choice."

Eric turned his gaze over to Lafayette. "Agreed," he said.

Eric raised his arm and motioned to the car. Payton turned away and headed towards it. But, Eric glanced back at Lafayette.

"So, we're done?" asked Lafayette.

"I agreed, didn't I?" replied Eric. "As long as you stay out of trouble."

"You can bank on that," said Lafayette. "I'm done with you crazy-ass vampires."

"I'll still keep my eye on you, Lafayette," replied Eric. "Just to make sure."

Eric gave Lafayette and little smile and then turned away.

II

In the new coven headquarters, Roy was keeping an eye on everyone else for Marnie. He didn't mind the hushed whispers from the other members. Yeah, let them try to say anything out loud, he thought. Marnie had made him second in command and he wasn't going anywhere. Looking out over the room, he thought that he saw the flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned quickly, but there wasn't anything there. Maybe, his nerves or the excitement was getting to him. Marnie approached him with a little smile.

"We have a little errand, tonight," she said. "Let's go."

As Marnie and Roy walked to the front entrance, they passed a standing full-length mirror. Roy turned to look at his reflection and saw something following him. The image was blurred and it just looked like a shadow, except that it moved independently of anything that could have caused it. Roy whirled around, but there was nothing behind him. Marnie noticed that Roy was hanging back.

"Are you coming?" she asked. "Because, sometime tonight would be nice."

"Sure, I just thought that I saw something," muttered Roy.

Marnie turned and addressed the rest of the coven before leaving.

"Do not attempt to leave," she said. "That would be unwise."

With Roy at her heels, Marnie walked outside. Once they were outside, all the doors and windows of the building slammed shut. The doorknobs glowed red with heat.

"That's so cool," said Roy.

"I'm glad that I keep you entertained, Roy," replied Marnie.

"Just what are we doing?" asked Roy.

"There is a traitor who needs to realize the error of her ways," replied Marnie.

"Cool," said Roy.

III

Tara tried to shake off Sam's hand. They were out in Merlott's parking lot and she was attempting to get into her car.

"Lafayette's home," she said. "He sent me a text message. I need to see him."

"You're not going anywhere," said Sam. "It's not safe for you to go there. Marnie might look for you there."

"I appreciate your concern, but I'm a big girl, Sam," replied Tara.

"Yes, I know that, but you're my girl," said Sam.

"I don't remember agreeing to that," replied Tara.

"It was understood," said Sam.

"Says who?" demanded Tara.

"Me, that's who," replied Sam. "The guy that you just made love with."

"I tried telling you that I wasn't a good choice for your girlfriend," said Tara. "I can't help it if you didn't listen."

"If I had wanted a safe choice, I would have looked elsewhere," replied Sam.

"Well, why don't you?" said Tara, turning away.

Sam grabbed her arm and stopped her, but he quickly let up on his grip so that it became a caress.

"I want a girlfriend who keeps me on my toes and who keeps me guessing about everything except for one thing," said Sam.

"Yeah, and what's that?" asked Tara.

"The fact that she loves me," replied Sam.

Tara paused and gazed into those magnetic blue eyes of his. Sam reached out his hand and touched her cheek. His fingers felt intensely hot against her skin.

"You can fool everyone else, Tara Mae, but I know that you are trying to run away because you are afraid of getting hurt," he said.

He leaned in and kissed her and his lips were just as hot as his fingers. She felt herself melting like butter. Even though she willed herself to be resistant to his touch, she found herself kissing him back. Sam leaned back and his blue eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. It gave her shivers, but the good kind, she thought.

"Only someone who loves me can kiss me like that," he said.

"I don't want to hurt you," whispered Tara.

Sam smiled and said, "You can hurt me a little, as long as you make it up to me."

They leaned back into each other to kiss again, but the voice of someone that they should have been watching for interrupted them.

"How sweet," said Marnie. "The treacherous shifter and his turncoat girlfriend are in love."

Sam immediately positioned himself in front of Tara. "What do you want?" he growled.

"Lots of things, but I'll settle for Tara," replied Marnie. "If she comes quietly, no one needs to get hurt."

Roy leveled a gun on Sam and Marnie smiled, "At this close range, even Roy could manage to hit his target."

"I'll go," said Tara. "It's okay, Sam."

"Like hell it is," replied Sam.

Sam shifted into a large Rottweiler and leapt at Roy. Roy had time to squeeze off one round, but it went high and then Sam crashed into him. The Rottweiler bit down on Roy's sleeve and shook his arm causing him to drop the gun. But before he could sink his teeth into Roy's flesh, he was knocked away by an unseen force. He flew through the air and struck a tree trunk. The Rottweiler barked a yelp of pain and then the dog fell lifeless at the base of the tree. The dog's form blurred for an instant and then shifted back into Sam. With a sob, Tara tried to rush to his side, but Roy had recovered by that time and grabbed her arm.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm sure that he will be just fine," said Marnie. "But, he really should pay for double-crossing me."

"It was all me, I swear," said Tara. "Please, just leave him alone."

"I suppose if you agree to cooperate with me, I can let bygones be bygones," said Marnie with smile.

Roy gave Tara a little push and motioned her to the car. As he walked, he felt the hairs on his arms begin to stand up. A chill ran down his spine. In the silence, he heard a sound in the air behind him. It felt as if something large was bearing down on him. He whirled around and a gust of wind ruffled his hair. His eyes searched the darkness, but nothing was there.

"Did….did you hear something?" asked Roy.

"I'll leave you here alone by yourself if you don't get a move on," hissed Marnie.

Roy searched the woods and backed up to the car.

"I f*cking hate nature," he said.

IV

"I want that witch destroyed," hissed Nan.

"Oh, did you have a change of heart?" asked Bill. "Not such a harmless Wiccan after all, is she?"

"Shut up and let me think," replied Nan. "And who the hell shot me?"

"Everything happened so fast, it's hard to tell," said Bill.

Bill looked over and saw Jessica coming down the stairs. She was wearing a red dress and her hair was curled. She certainly looked like she was ready for an evening out. This was not the best time for her to go out alone, since who knew where Marnie and her followers might be lurking. He also had not seen her since the Tolerance Festival and wanted to tell her what a good job she had done. Bill rose quickly and moved to the base of the stairs.

"Well, you look very pretty," he said.

"Thanks," replied Jessica.

"Does this mean that you are going out?" asked Bill.

"Um, yeah," replied Jessica. "I kinda have a date."

"Patching up things with Hoyt?" asked Bill.

"That ship has sailed," replied Jessica.

She attempted to move around Bill, but he stayed in her path.

"Then, who?" asked Bill. "Someone that I know?"

"That's kind of personal," replied Jessica.

"I can't have you running around unprotected, Jessica," said Bill. "You are a target simply because you are my child."

"I'll be careful," replied Jessica.

"Are you trying to keep him a secret?" asked Bill, even more curiously.

"No, I mean, yes," said Jessica. "I don't want to jinx it."

"I'm sorry, Jessica, but I can't allow you out of my protection until these hostilities are over," replied Bill.

"But, I'll be just fine," said Jessica.

She looked down and tapped her toe. "I'll be perfectly safe."

"There's no such thing as that anymore, even for vampires," replied Bill. "I demand to know who it is that you're planning on seeing, as your maker."

"Oh, you're so rotten, playing the maker card," whined Jessica. "That's so unfair."

As Bill stared at her and waited, a voice called out from the doorway, "She's going out with me."

Bill looked over to see Blackburn. He looked almost like a younger version of Eric since he was dressed in a black leather jacket. He exuded confidence and Bill felt a moment of concern that this old and powerful vampire had set his sights on Jessica. His child had gone from training camp to playing in the big leagues. Was she ready to for this step? And, just what were Blackburn's intentions? The fact that this vampire was also an old friend of Eric's also gave Bill qualms.

"I see," replied Bill.

Jessica moved around him and walked towards Blackburn and flashed a smile to him as she reached his side.

"Don't worry," said Blackburn with a little smile. "Your progeny is safe in my very capable hands.

Jessica giggled and Blackburn gave her a wink. He reached down and took Jessica's hand in his.

"I wasn't sure that vampires liked to hold hands," replied Jessica, shyly.

"I have a few surprises up my sleeve," he said, mischievously.

"I want my child back, along with yourself, no later than 3 AM," said Bill.

"That's at least two hours before sunrise," pouted Jessica.

"You will obey the curfew," said Bill. "It's in place for all vampires."

"I'm not a child," protested Jessica.

"Now, daddies always worry too much," said Blackburn.

"I don't need another daddy," replied Jessica. "The one I have is more than enough."

"That's good to know because I'm not interested in being your daddy," said Blackburn. "My interests are very different."

Jessica bit her lip and said, "I think that I like the sound of that."

Blackburn swept Jessica out the door, but he had time to give Bill a parting glance. He would bear watching, thought Bill. Those youthful good looks of his were like pretty wrapping paper. The question was what exactly was exactly was hidden beneath them?

V

As they arrived back at Payton's home, Eric called Pam and Payton curled up with some of the black books in bed. Payton realized that she was avoiding the obvious issue of Eric and her. For someone who thinks that you're strong, you really are a coward when it comes to knowing your own heart, she thought. She turned a page and shut out those thoughts. She became so engrossed that she did not notice that Eric had been watching her for several minutes from the doorway.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

Payton raised her eyes and noticed that he had removed his shirt, although he was wearing some pajama bottoms. Her eyes were drawn to him, until she made herself look away.

"Of course," she said.

Eric came forward and slipped underneath the covers next to her. He propped himself up with a pillow and looked over her shoulder at the black book.

"What is that?" he asked.

"They are called black books," replied Payton.

"That sounds sinister," replied Eric.

"I guess that they can be," said Payton. "But, that is not their true intention."

"Then, what is their true intention?" asked Eric.

"It's like a witches or magician's diary. A recording of favorite spells left so that their knowledge does not die with them," replied Payton.

"And, I take it that they don't just leave these black books to anyone?" asked Eric.

"That's right," replied Payton. "My grandmother left these to me."

"So, what are you looking for?" asked Eric.

"Maybe, just some words of wisdom," replied Payton. "I could use them."

Payton closed the book and traced her fingers over it's worn leather binding. Eric brushed her hair out of her face.

"Did you find any?" asked Eric. "Because I could use them, too."

"Really?" asked Payton. "I thought that you were always the vampire with his own agenda."

"That must have been that other me," said Eric with a smile.

Payton turned and looked at him and touched his chest. "He's still in here. I see him grow stronger every day," she said.

"Does that disappoint you?" asked Eric.

Payton paused and replied, "No, because I will still be able to see this side of you."

Her hand lightly moved over his chest and she said, "You still feel warm to the touch."

"I think that I like it," said Eric.

"That's good because I don't know when it's going to stop," replied Payton, with a smile. "You just might be stuck this way."

"I can think of worse things," said Eric.

He took her chin in his hand and gently held it as he leaned in to kiss her. He kissed her a second time and pulled away.

"I only want to be with you," he said. "I am confident in that future that you have foreseen in which we are lovers. I can wait for that to come in it's own time."

Eric hesitantly moved in next to her and rested his head against her chest. Payton lightly touched him with just her fingertips.

"After all, if a thousand year old vampire has learned anything in all those years, it's patience," he said.

Eric snuggled in closer and said, "I want to fall asleep with the sound of your heart beating in my ear."

"I'm sure that tomorrow night all your memories will return," said Payton, as she petted his hair.

"Why are you so sure?" asked Eric.

"Because tomorrow night, Marnie will die," replied Payton.

A/N: I think Marnie has a plan with using Tara. And I think that Roy shouldn't be making any long-term plans. The same goes for Marnie.

I liked Bill being all concerned about Jessica dating Blackburn. I will admit that his parenting skills seemed to improve this season.

And I liked Payton using her influence to make Eric release Lafayette. I think that she's always had a soft spot for him ever since she saved him at Hotshot.