AN: Thank you for a wonderful feedback! It means a lot :)

Big thanks for my beta, keiman and kei for fixing my mistakes.

Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN TRUE BLOOD OR SVM. MOST CHARACTERS WON'T BE MINE. THEY BELONG TO HBO AND CHARLAINE HARRIS


Chapter 14

Home, Sweet Home

SPOV

The last few days had been so emotionally exhausting that I was barely conscious during the entire flight to Shreveport. I would have never accused myself of being someone who can sleep like the dead but there I was, snuggling into Eric and sleeping soundly through all of the turbulences. Only when we touched down did Eric gently wake me up.

I remembered that we'd argued where I should spend the remaining two hours of the night and eventually I had surrendered and agreed to stay in Eric's house. In my sleepy haze, I complimented his accommodation, trying not to show my surprise when I took a look around. I was half expecting some male, cold, modern apartment, not the cozy house in the guarded neighborhood. He even had a garden and fireplace…

I politely declined my vampire's suggestion to organize a sleepover in his basement. No matter how persistent he was and how allegedly giant was his bed, I was not planning on sleeping with him in the same room.

He didn't push me too much and finally I was able to fall asleep in one of his bedrooms upstairs. The next morning I woke up confused and lost, feeling on the verge of panic until I remembered where I was. I looked around the room, taking in the décor. It was neat, elegant and very bright. Somehow, all of this shining, almost sterile furniture, looked like it had been taken from a commercial of some shop rather than another part of the house. In direct opposition to the living room I had seen yesterday, this room had nothing 'Eric' in it.

I yawned, covering my eyes from the sun and looking around for a clock. When I located one on the nightstand it, was showing 1 PM. Holly Moley, I had slept quite long...

I decided that while I'm here and Eric is no doubt still resting somewhere in his vamp cave, I could safely venture out to find a bathroom. It was not hard, seemingly it was a house where each bedroom had one. I took a quick shower, did my human business and I was brushing my teeth, wondering if I would be able to find something to eat, when I heard a door downstairs being opened and closed.

I tensed, squeezing my toothbrush harder and wondering if I can be in danger. Recent events had left me rather edgy - could that be someone from the Fellowship?

I almost fainted with relief when I heard a man's thoughts.

"So strange. Master Eric never requested human food…"

I cringed – Master Eric? I could understand if some pompous ass like the Viking would have been required to be called 'Master' out loud. But in a servant's mind? We live in the 21st century!

I quickly put on some pants and a simple tee-shirt and jogged downstairs. Damn it, the idea of food was very tempting. I was all smiles when I stepped into the kitchen and I silently anticipated some similar reply in return. I was greeted by a dull man wearing a sharp suit who was busy unpacking the grocery bags.

"Hello," I greeted the guy politely but he- and I couldn't believe it- gave me a 'look-see' and turned his back on me without saying a word.

That was just plain rude!

"Excuse me?" I asked, this time a little sharply. "Who are you?"

The man huffed at my question and honored me with a look that most people keep reserved for cockroaches or a piece of shit under their shoe.

"My name is Bobby Burnham." he informed me. "I am Master Eric's dayman."

I almost gasped when he began to think 'That's the first time one of Master's 'whores' spoke up like that. She must be putting on her 'Alms House Airs' for me.' I was flabbergasted!

"So," I said folding my arms and feeling my meaner side taking control over me. "You're an errand boy." I watched with satisfaction the blood flowing into his cheeks. He was about to call me a name again, this time out loud, so I decided enough was enough. "As the Sheriff's business partner…" A little innocent lie – after all I was some kind of associate while gaining him with my telepathy, right? "… I can say it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Burnham." I walked over to him and took a package of bagels from his hand. "I think we will be seeing each other from time to time."

I hoped he understood that it's a kind of dismissal but Bobby either didn't take the hint or he had become quite curious about me.

"What is your job description, Miss…"

"Sookie Stackhouse. I am…" My brain was working very fast to find a good excuse. "… a human relations consultant."

Bobby raised his eyebrows skeptically, challenging me to say something more but I folded my arms and stared back at him. After a short glaring challenge, uptight Bobby, bade me a good day (extremely insincerely if his thoughts were any indication) and walked back to his shining BMW parked outside.

I am a friendly and peaceful person by nature but this man had almost turned me into mean bitch within seconds. I did not like the way he was measuring me up, I didn't like that he thought himself to be so far above everyone else. Finally, I didn't like that he summed me up as 'a 'whore' not good enough for his Master'. I swore to myself that the next time we met, I would not be so polite.

I was looking at my cell phone and wondering if I should call Sam and tell that I am back but something was nudging me not to do this. After all, I still had some free time left that Eric had so efficiently negotiated and the events in Dallas left me wanting some free time. I will go back home, do some gardening and soak in the sun for the next few days. It was an appealing plan.

I made myself some bagels, ate, I even felt tempted to clean a little bit but Eric's house was spotless so eventually, I ended up in front of the TV watching some culinary show. That was how Eric found me when he walked in from his hiding hole.

"Good evening, Lover," he purred close to my ear and I jumped a good foot off the sofa, startled by his greeting.

"Jesus, Eric!" I exclaimed, holding my chest. "You scared me half to death! Don't sneak up on me like that."

He only chuckled, sitting down next to me and leaning back comfortably on the couch. It hadn't escaped me that even though his couch was monstrously giant, he chose to sit very close to me.

"What are you watching?" he asked casually and I gently sat back.

"Jamie Oliver is cooking something called 'spaghetti con gamberetti e rucola'"

"Spaghetti with shrimp and rucola," offered Eric.

"Yup."

We were sitting together in silence watching a British cook doing his magic. I was amazed how easy it seemed for him to make any food look good. My pasta would have ended up looking like something that was chewed by a dog…

"Do you enjoy food like that?" asked Eric suddenly and I risked a glance in his direction. My vampire looked authentically captivated by the show and I bit back a smirk.

"I love pasta," I admitted. "It's great for my taste buds but not so much for my hips."

"Nonsense, you have beautiful hips." He winked at me and I blushed furiously.

"Eric, I would like to go home…" I told him few minutes later and my vampire tensed a little bit, glancing at me with a frown.

"Aren't you comfortable?" Recognition sparkled in his eyes when he asked: "Maybe you're hungry?"

I smiled this time, surprised by how sweet this giant asshole could be from time to time. "No, I am fine really but I have a house I need to visit. You didn't expect me to stay with you for the rest of the week, did you?"

Judging by the spark in his eyes, he might have but he shook his head nonetheless. "I would rather not have you so close to Compton."

He dropped a big bomb on me at that moment and I felt my stomach clench with worry. Bill, I had almost forgotten about him.

"Do you think he'll do something to me?" It was almost surreal to even consider Bill being violent towards me but if I was to be honest – he had never showed me his true face.

"I will make sure that such an idea will not cross his mind, Lover."

Eric sounded so sure of himself that I actually calmed down a little.

"Then I guess we should go…"

EPOV

I was hesitant to allow Sookie to leave my house. I found a strange comfort in the fact that she was still in the same building with me. Her wonderful scent was present in the air and just sitting with her on my couch made me relaxed and content. I could only dream how heavenly it would be to wake up, having that warm smooth body pressed to me in my bed. The thought made my not so little friend, stir a little in my pants but Sookie chose that moment to ask about her departure.

I was trying to delay it as long as possible. We checked twice if she had taken all of her belongings. I insisted that she have a warm drink before leaving but when she asked why, I couldn't find a good excuse. What was I supposed to say – I want to cling next to you and watch you a little longer?

I was insistent though and forced her to stop at the small bistro on our way to Bon Temps, pointing out that it's getting late and she needs to keep up her strength. Sookie gave me a dirty look but she didn't fight me which only made me sure that she was a little hungry after all. She chose some kind of pasta with a white sauce and she dug into it with gusto. I smirked, hearing her happy noises and I vaguely considered cooking her something like that in the near future. If some irritating Englishman can make any kind of food in less than thirty minutes than I sure as fuck can too.

"So, what are you planning on doing later?" I asked when we were mere minutes from Sookie's hometown. I even drove under the speed limit to give myself some extra time with her.

"Does Bon Temp offer some good night entertainments?" I asked casually.

For some reason, Sookie blushed beautifully at my question and shook her head. "Aside of Merlotte's, no, not really. I think I will watch TV, maybe read a book. I am still rather tired."

What a hovel of a town. Such a radiant full of life creature like Sookie should live her life to the fullest and yet, she was spending her nights like an old lady. Of course, I would have nothing against her staying home if she chose to do so with me. In the bed, naked and taking care of giving Sookie a some much needed physical exercises.

"I will stay with you," I offered simply and Sookie being Sookie, started to argue.

"No, I'm sure you have to go to Fangtasia or…"

"Pam can handle things," I interrupted. "I want to spend some time with you."

Such a simple statement gave me a better reaction than the most sophisticated deceit. The telepath blushed once more and agreed that we can spend the night in her house. She was warming to me more and more and I was damn sure that tonight I would get a fantastic goodnight kiss. I realized that playing Sookie wasn't the smartest thing to do. I have to be more genuine and even a little sappy if I want to get between those long tanned legs of her. I was definitely going to cook her some pasta.

"I think you should know that my friend Tara is staying at my place." I did not let my annoyance show. "She is not very… vampire friendly but I will handle her." We were turning in at Sookie's driveway and I cursed when my Corvette bumped into the horrible potholes. It has to be taken care of… The road looked like a battle front full of trenches. "I even have a 'True Blood' in the fridge if you are…" The words died on her lips when Sookie looked at her house. I was surprised myself…

I was around here once, when I was at Bill's. I could not stop myself taking a look at Sookie's house. If I remembered correctly, that's not how it used to look.

My little telepath was outside the car before I had even stopped it properly. I was quickly on her heels, slightly worried about her wellbeing. It looked like there had been a small tornado in Sookie's front yard. Dozens of bottles and sheets of papers were scattered around. Someone had to have made a bonfire because the pile of burned wood was laying next to the porch. It was a miracle that the whole house hadn't caught on fire. Flowers were plucked from the ground and the grass was destroyed by, if the tires marks were any indication, some heavy vehicles. I noticed that the doors were hanging crooked and some panes of window glass were missing here and there.

Sookie was standing next to me completely paralyzed, seeing her family home in such a state. I glanced at her, regretting that I could not sense her emotions. Her eyes were round and they were shinning dangerously, like she was on the verge of tears. I prayed quietly that she wouldn't start to sob.

My attention was distracted when the front door burst open and two humans, a man and a woman, ran outside. They were African or African American (if I was to be politically correct), loud and clearly drunk. They were giggling and stumbling and the man was trying very hard to take the woman's dress off.

"Tara Mae…" whispered Sookie next to me and a gentle shiver ran down my spine. She sounded quite calm but her eyes were burning with fury. I found an angry Sookie an ultimate turn-on and my dick twitched. "What the fuck did you do to my house?!"

Sookie's presence and the rage in her tone stopped the couple dead in their tracks and the female almost fell.

"Sookie? What are you doing back so early?!"


AN: The academic year has started over here and because it's my senior year, I will be very busy in the near future. I promise to update at least once a month though – you have my word :)

Please, let me know what you think about this chapter.

Till next time!