AN: So sorry I didn't post this yesterday! I've had a cold since baby sitting my niece over the weekend. (She's snotty but only literally, not in disposition) I got home from work last night, took a dose of Nyquil, put on the BBC Pride and Predjudice with Colin Firth and promptly passed out. This chapter is tying up some loose ends from the book.

"Sook! She was his sister, he's got the right to be here," Jason shouted from the upstairs bedroom as he and I faced off before the funeral. "Just like I've got a right to be at your funeral when you get yourself killed from hanging around vampers!"

"Jason Stackhouse, you watch your tone with me," I growled. Eric must've been rubbing off on me. "Gran wasn't speaking to or even thinking of that man since she shut her door on him when we was kids. And trust me, I would know."

"It's too late, he's on his way. You're just gonna have to suck it up and keep quiet. This is Gran's funeral, not the Sookie show."

"Suck it up and keep quiet is exactly what he had me doing fifteen years ago!" I screamed at Jason's back. His footsteps stuttered in the doorway and then hurried down the stairs.

I sagged onto Gran's bed, pressed my face against the old comforter that smelled like fresh bread and talcum powder, and screamed until I couldn't catch my breath. It was Lafayette and Arlene who pulled me up and cleaned my face and helped me down the stairs. Jason was at the edge of the yard with Renee and Hoyt. I could tell they were talking him down, and he rolled his shoulders out of their hands and walked through the gate as I stepped outside.

"He can't come to house after," I said. "Someone needs to tell him he can't come."

"Sookie, he's your brother," Arlene said gently. "Adele was his gran too."

"Not Jason. Gran's brother, Bartlett. She hated him. She wouldn't want him here. She kicked him out of her house years ago." I could hear Arlene thinking that I was being nasty, that everyone should be allowed to grieve. I turned to Lafayette and pressed, "He can't come to the house. She never forgave him. I know she didn't. She never would."

"Alright, Sook," Lafayette whispered, wrapping an arm over my shoulder. "He won't come, baby."

When we made it to the grave, where the priest and the rest of Bon Temps waited, I almost fell backwards from the force of it.

It's her fault.

The same thought from dozens of directions, faces, familiar and strange alike. I closed my eyes and put up my shields, grateful for the small boost of blood Eric had given me the night before. We'd spent a fair amount of the night arguing about whether or not I should take it, until Eric pointed out that if his blood was really able to influence me the argument would have ended hours before. I probably should have been leaving my mental blocks down. Eric was sure the killer was coming to the funeral today. I had a small gun with one bullet in my handbag at his insistence. But I couldn't face the blame from such a large crowd, even if one of them really was the one responsible.

I suppose the service was lovely, everyone who spoke knew Gran real well and they said the very best that could be said, but I wasn't moved. I felt alone in this sea of people who loved in such deceitful ways. They supported me and Jason because it made them feel merciful, not because they cared how much we struggled. I thought about Eric and Pam, and how they cleaned the blood from my floor so I didn't have to. That Eric sent someone to the house when the rogue vamps were around, so that Gran would be safe. For all his promise of self-serving vampires, Eric had been more generous than anyone in this past week. Maybe someone could say he was seeing to the performance of his telepath, but I had seen selfish generosity in my life, and his was not that.

Arlene had given up on me at the end of the service – She ain't even cryin' – so it was Lafayette who escorted me back to the house. Which was just as well since his were the only thoughts I could stand to hear. I was passed from visitor to visitor, avoiding their sympathetic touches that were laced with poisonous thoughts. The tables filled up with cheese casseroles and jello salads. I tried to make it to the door for a brief escape when I saw what was coming up the drive.

I realized I hadn't taken much notice of him in the cemetery. He was diminutive, wasting away in his old chair, hooked up and wearing down. Jason was pushing Uncle Bartlett up the drive and as I watched them hit a hole, rattling the old bastard in his chair, I was glad I had refused to let Eric pave.

"Lafayette," I hollered.

Jason looked up and glared at me, lodging one of the wheels in a pothole.

"Shit, Sookie, I told him," Lafayette said from just behind me.

"He ain't never listened before, why start now," I hissed. I reached just past the doorframe, behind the coat rack with my ratty old thermal, to where I hid the shotgun.

"Sookie," Lafayette said slowly.

"If I haven't killed anyone yet today, it probably won't be family," I said, but I could hear that Lafayette didn't really believe me. I walked to the top step and leveled the barrel of the gun at my relatives. "Jason, this is my house now, and that man is trespassing. Would you do him the favor of escortin' him far, far away?"

"Goddamnit Sookie," Jason yelled, letting go of the handles of Bartlett's wheelchair, leaving him stuck in the rut in the drive. "Look at yourself, choosin' some vamp over yer family."

"What vampires, Jason? It's daylight out."

"I remember him, Sookie. That big blond one that was out at the house the night Gran died."

Only Jason could manage to make something so innocent sound so nefarious to so many ears at one time. I ran down the stairs, shot gun in hand and Jason flinched and held his hands up as I rushed at him.

"That big blond vamp," I snarled at Jason when we were close enough that we were the only ones who could hear. "He was Gran's friend. He came as soon as he knew something had happened and he stayed to make sure I was okay and I didn't have to wash Gran's blood off the floor. Where were you? Aw hell, where were you for even before that, Jason?"

"I been under suspicion for murder," Jason said, his face red.

"And I've been question vampires and readin' minds to prove your innocence Jason Stackhouse." I tried to take a breath and the air got tangled in my throat. "Something worse just proved it first."

Jason covered his face, rubbed at his eyes and then looked at me all puppy faced. "Sook, he's family."

"Jason," I whispered, "he molested me."

It was the first time I had said those words. Jason knew, he must have known something, but Gran and I had never called it that. Either way the words hit him hard. His shame at not understanding my hate and fear of Uncle Bartlett made him angry with me but he swallowed what he couldn't help but think.

"Please, please, just take him somewhere else."

Jason nodded and turned away. "I'll take him home. We gotta talk, Sookie."

"Sure," I said, letting the shotgun droop as I headed back to the house where most of the parish was standing on my porch. "Ya'll can help yourselves to… whatever. I'm taking a rest."

I didn't sleep. I sat up in Gran's bed, gun propped between my knees, partly hoping the killer would walk through that door so I could shoot someone. And when that didn't happen and the house went silent, I crumpled. I beat Gran's mattress. I screamed myself hoarse, and I shook with unshed tears. I didn't keep track of the sun and I didn't listen for any blank spots so the first I heard from Eric was his shouting my name.

"Sookie! Sookie!"

"Here," I said, my voice a rattle, and I rolled over onto my back. I could see that the sun was only just down, the sky till dusky, and when Eric rushed into the room his skin was rosy and hot to the touch. "You're burnt."

Eric's hands ran across my skin from head to toe, ignoring my comment. I batted them away and scooted back on the bed.

"Don't. I'm fine. You're burnt, Eric."

"I'm healing," he said, and he was, his skin paling as we spoke. He reached for me again and I leaned away. He froze. "I don't remember emotional pain being so tangible as a human."

"Yeah, well it's been a thousand years. You're allowed to forget a few details."

Eric sat back on his heels, his eyes narrowing and scanning me. "Are you angry with me about something, Sookie?"

I sucked in a breath. "No."

"The killer was in the house today."

"I figured."

"But that is not what has you upset."

"It was Gran's funeral, why are you so surprised that I'm unhappy?"

"Because I have felt the pain you experience at Adele's loss and this is jagged and dark and much deeper. And before you tell me to leave," Eric said as I opened my mouth, "I will not, as I have not yet."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, and then I took another and waited, hoping Eric might just slip away in the quiet.

"Lover," he said and the word brushed against me as if it were his own soft touch.

"Jason brought our Uncle Bartlett to the funeral. He tried to bring him to the house." I knew it wasn't the whole story, or even the beginning, but it was all that came out at first. In the ensuing silence I tried to work up the courage to tell Eric everything, but he beat me to it.

"Adele disowned that man from the family years ago." His voice was cold and furious.

I blinked my eyes open and sat up straight. Eric was rigid, his hands in fists, his eyes drilling cold holes in the mattress.

I gasped. "You knew."

"It came accidentally," Eric said. "While we were discussing our families, our disappointments. I told her of my intentions toward you."

"When?"

"Shortly before you came to Fangtasia to find the thief."

"You called me unspoiled, untouched," I whimpered. "And you knew."

His gaze widened and warmed, the ice melting away, and even as I retreated from him, Eric wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me into his chest.

"Lover," he purred. "Nothing that man did, or could have done, would have spoiled you to what we share. You have been a victim but I have seen your strength every night we have known each other. The light in your eyes flickers, but it does not wane. And while I plan to see to it that you are touched in every pleasurable way I can think of, it will never spoil you in my eyes. Although I do hope it starts to deter other vampires."

I tried to laugh through my tears but it was more like a gargle. I took another deep breath as Eric held me and wiped at my eyes. I'd been watering his t-shirts enough as it was lately.

"Sorry for being mean," I said, snuggling into his arms a little more.

"You acted as an injured animal might," Eric said. "Which is reasonable. Adele would not accept my offer to kill the man. I don't suppose you-"

"Lord, Eric! No," I said pushing at him and leaning back to meet his eyes. There was too much in them at once. Hard anger at Bartlett, gentle care for me. "He's old and by now his body is its own form of punishment. I hate him and I don't want him near me, but that's not my kind of revenge."

"It is mine," Eric said.

"I know it is. But I wasn't yours when Bartlett hurt me, and I don't want you to do it."

"And your brother?"

"Jason's stupid," I said. "He didn't want to believe what Gran and I knew about Bartlett, but I know he was sick with himself today for making me hurt that way."

"I don't know how to ease you." He sounded genuinely frustrated. "You won't let me kill anyone."

I snorted and then shifted so that our chests were pressed together and my cheek rested against his. "You already did. I was afraid that you would look at me differently once you knew, but you never did. That's all I needed from you."

Eric was quiet, turning my words over in his head probably, and I wasn't sure I'd convinced him at first.

"As much as I would like to point out the opportunity for make up sex," Eric said finally, "There is something I would like to show you."

I laughed and pulled away, cleaning my face. I looked down at myself. I was still in my funeral dress and it was crazy wrinkled.

"I should probably change then. Are we going somewhere?"

"You look lovely," Eric said, which was probably a gross exaggeration. "And that is appropriate. Come."

"Bossy-pants," I accused under my breath.

"Did you know that when you sass me all I can think of is what way I would most like to get you naked, writhing and begging beneath me?" Eric asked, totally conversational.

I didn't have a response to that that wasn't likely to get me exactly where he'd just described so I kept quiet and stuck my hand in Eric's. He led me out of the house and towards the cemetery. I pulled back and hesitated at the gate.

"Eric, I've had enough of this place today."

"This will be different, lover."

We stood there together, Eric waiting patiently while I resisted, for a long pause. I gave in. We went to Gran's grave.

The earth was freshly packed and the flower wreaths from the service were waiting there. I had already started looking for a headstone, but they were expensive, and they took time so it would have to wait. The only real marker for the grave was a large white candle resting at the edge of the dirt outline. It hadn't been there during the day, just as the floral headstone, made of white lilies and yellow roses, had not been there.

"You did this?" I asked, brushing my fingers against the cool petals.

"Yes." Eric stood at my back, his hands resting on my shoulders, fingertips slipping under the straps of my dress to touch my bare skin.

"Do you have to go to Fangtasia?" He had been with me all of the night before, and I knew by the frequent phone calls he'd been fielding, that time away was costing him.

"Soon," he admitted. "For now I am here to provide you silence."

I sighed and my breath shook. Eric was going to make me start crying again, if he wasn't careful. Gran probably would have wanted me to say thank you, or tell him how thoughtful and kind he was being. But I suspected Eric already knew all that and would have just as well preferred not being reminded that he was being uncharacteristically human. So I just relaxed into my own mind, unfettered by unsolicited thoughts, and enjoyed the silence that only a vampire could offer me.

Eric had to leave before ten so he could 'enthrall the vermin' as Pam put it. There was a vampire hovering at the edge of the woods. Eric promised he wouldn't come any closer to the house and then he added, "But if he does, pretend you don't recognize him. Call him Bubba." Which was mysterious enough without the added instruction of keeping my cat Tina indoors.

I called up Sam.

"Hey Sookie, you alright?"

We were pretending I hadn't kicked Sam out of the house after his reveal that he spent a fair amount of his time running around as wild animals.

"Better," I said. I was glad I couldn't read minds over the phone cause Sam had been at the house after the funeral service and he probably wasn't very convinced by that diagnosis. "You got any shifts coming up in the next couple days? Being at home just isn't any good for me. I need to be busy."

"Arlene was just complainin' about her doubles," Sam admitted. "I could give you the lunch for tomorrow back at least. We'll work the rest out while you're here."

"Kay. Thanks, Sam."

When I'd settled that business I got to work packing up some of Gran's old clothes. It was hard when the things were favorites of hers, but other things were easier. I piled up the library books that needed to go back, checked the cupboards and fridge for fresh ingredients, and put together a grocery list that included cardboard boxes to pack things up. Then I threw out most of the food left in the house. I've never been much for casseroles and second-rate pies.

It was getting close to one when I realized two things. Firstly, I was tired. I'd been running on empty for a few days and nights where I tried to keep up with Eric's world and the world of responsibilities of working and seeing to Gran's arrangements. And secondly, Eric wasn't coming by again tonight and I didn't have any incentive to keep burning the candle at both ends. So I left Gran's dresser half undone and retreated to my room.

I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Some nights I can almost count the minutes as I sleep, and I wake up feeling rested and ready. This was not one of those nights.

"Sookie, wake up."

My eyes popped open as if I had only blinked. Eric was propped up over me, stark naked. It was not an entirely unwelcome sight, but it wasn't one I was expecting. I jumped and Eric swallowed my cry of surprise with a kiss. I shifted away from him and checked the clock. It was close to five. Dawn would be coming quick.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, even though we were alone. I guess that's just how most people talk at night.

Eric pulled back the sheets and nestled against me, his hands pawing up my shirt. His eyes were almost entirely black. I wondered if it was possible to get a vampire high.

"Malcolm, Diane, and Liam met their final death tonight," Eric said, his hips stirring against me.

My eyes widened. He was talking about the rogues that came by Merlotte's and harassed me. "You killed them?"

He bent his head forward and nipped at my neck. I wasn't sure how to feel. My body was happy to see Eric, happy that he was feeling happy as it were, but my brain was a little creeped out that killing vampires was what did it for Eric.

"No," Eric said, his tongue flicking against my pulse, and I wasn't sure if that was enough reassurance to make me feel better. "I was informed. The house they were staying was burnt down, doors secured with silver."

"Humans," I said.

"Yes."

I couldn't say I was sorry, and I wasn't sure what it had to do with me.

"Eric," I snapped before he got too carried away. He stilled and held his breath. A little blue returned to his irises. "That's great, but why did that bring you to me."

"Lover, I need you to read your humans," Eric said, sobering slightly. "They were staying between here and Monroe."

"You're going to kill whoever did this?" I asked, knowing the answer.

"Yes." His voice was sharp. I was not going to get an inch from him on this. "It's likely the burners will lead to the strangler of women."

"I see," I said, borrowing his catchphrase. "I will listen in. And if it's daytime and I can find a way to prove to the police who was guilty, I'll do that."

His eyes narrowed. "You make a habit of challenging me, lover."

"Yeah. I do. And if that bothers you, there's a bar full of humans who would sell their first born just to follow one of your orders so you know where you can go. I don't appreciate you coming here all riled up at the thought of getting to kill a bunch of humans with a little helpful hint from me. That doesn't turn me on."

"Sookie," Eric purred and I glared at him. "If you think for one minute I don't rise for the day burning for you, then either I have done a poor job of proving my interest in you, or you are blind."

"Hey!-"

"I was on my way over to ravage you within a inch of your sanity when I got the call from Pam. My apologies if my lust for revenge was too tangled in my lust for your body." Oh, he was smooth.

I snorted. "I think I've seen enough of vampires to know that they aren't too picky to differentiate from all their different kinds of lusts."

Eric grinned and then his mouth was on mine, devouring my protests until my only complaint was a whimper as he pulled away. "You will turn over the names if there is nothing that can be done by human justice. As my employee, you would be paid for looking out for the interests of Area Five."

"Fine, but as your… human I wish my boss could've just sent me a memo."

"If I had, you would've been furious," Eric guessed. He was probably right. "The sun will be up soon."

"I guess we're out of time."

"Not at all," Eric said with a delighted smirk.

Then my clothes were on the floor and Eric showed me exactly how quickly he could satisfy us both until I was a limp, panting, puddle of pleasure. In thoughts, quickies had always seemed impersonal and perfunctory, but between our laughter and our eager groans this was anything but impersonal. We finished so thoroughly entwined that for a moment I confused the heavy beating between us as being Eric's heart, when of course it was mine.

He peeled my arms off his back and left a lingering kiss on my lips.

"The blueprints for my resting place are on the kitchen table, lover," Eric whispered as my eyes fluttered shut.

AN: There you have it! I will post the next chapter as soon as I've finished writing and revising it. (Which may be tonight or it may be two weeks from now but I'll try to keep it prompt.) Please review! It would be super cool if we could get to 200 reviews before the next chapter.