The characters are not mine, they belong to Charlaine Harris.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get the update out between the release of D&G and vacation it has been crazy.

Eric's POV

I awaken slowly, trying too hard to hold on to sleep. I don't want to wake up alone, again. I have been dreaming of Sookie, a dream so intense that I can still feel her lying on my chest holding me. I want to hold on to this feeling forever. I can even smell her beautiful scent.

I open my eyes instantly and the only thing I see is the top of her perfect head. It was real, she is here! Blessed be Freya! My lover, my bonded really did come to my bar and really did get down on her knees! She told me that she was mine! She yielded to me! I feel tears come to my eyes, how could I have ever believed that I could live without her? I was so stupid. I hate to admit, even to myself, but Pam was right, we had been killing each other slowly.

I owe Pam. I owe her for her constant harping, her biting comments, and her refusal to follow my orders. Pamela Elizabeth, my beautiful rebellious child, without her intervention I am sure that last night would have never happened. It is really too bad I will have to punish her for her disobedience.

I check the clock, 5:45pm, the sun will be set in just a little while. Sookie must have been very tired to have slept so long. I am quite sure she will be hungry when she awakens. I leave our day chamber and rummage through the kitchen. I wonder what she wants to eat for breakfast. I have never been with her when she rises before. I make coffee, from what Pam has said all humans drink coffee when they rise. I'm glad that I purchased the instant coffee maker, I hate to wait. I'm not happy when I realize that instant really means wait two minutes asshole. I am impatient, I want to get back downstairs before my Lover awakens.

I grab the breakfast tray, a gift from Pam, put a round bread bagel loaf on a plate, with a squirt of ketchup on the side and a few pickles. I have seen Sookie dip almost everything she eats in ketchup and she sneaks pickles at the shifter's bar when she thinks no one is looking, I know they are one of her favorites. The coffee is ready, finally, I choose a heavy brown mug and fill it full. I have to admit the coffee smells good. I will have Pam show me how to cook a human's breakfast, she loves to watch the Food Network. When I was human I would have just cut a few pieces of bread and carved off a piece of last night's roast. Modern human's have so much variety, it almost excessive.

I descend the stairs and place the tray on her bedside table. I climb back into our bed and slowly and carefully arrange her perfect body until she is lying on my chest again. I do not want to wake my lover quite yet, I want to enjoy holding her while she slumbers. I want to feel her warm, soft body pressed against mine. I take her hand, I cannot help it, memories from the time that I spent at her home begin to flow to the surface. I have never told Sookie why I was there, why I came to her that night. I did not know myself until after my memories returned. I was sent there to kill her.

Floating in the magical nothingness, before Sookie found me running down the road that cold January night, Hallows voice echoed the words of her curse.

"You will go Northman, with no knowledge of self. You will go Northman, to the one you covet the most, her blood calls to you. I know why you covet her, Northman, I know the secret of the telepath's blood. You will go Northman and when you see her you will only have knowledge that you are a vampire. You will go Northman, hungry, needing to feed, wanting and lusting for her. You will go Northman and kill the Fae's niece, defiling her in the process. Know Northman that once you have drank the last drop of her sweet Fae blood the curse will lift. You will know Northman, the moment you have swallowed the last warm, sweet drop, draining her dry, what you have done. It will be too late to turn her, too late to change what has happened. In that moment Northman you will know the secret of her blood. You will know exactly what it is that you lost."

The next thing I remember I was running down the road, my shirt and my shoes had been ripped from my body. I had no idea where I was, I did not know my name, I was a void. I was acting on instinct, nothing more. Something was coming, and coming fast, there were lights. I ran faster and faster, but there was no escape, the lights were getting closer. I turned, the car was slowing and came to stop beside me, my fangs ran down, I prepared to fight.

I remember how my lover rolled down the window and asked me "Can I help you?" I did not know her. I remember just glancing at her and running faster.

I could smell her blood and I wanted it so much, it was almost overwhelming. I could not understand why I ran away. This caused me confusion. I knew I was hungry, I knew I was a vampire and I knew she was a human. I also knew I could easily feed from her and fuck her senseless and I wanted to do both of those things very badly, but still I ran. I thought for a moment about going back, that instant something deep down inside of me screamed NO! The feeling was sharp and painful, almost like the pain of a maker's call, but more than that. I ran faster, I was panicked, which made me very, very dangerous. I could not understand that war raging inside of me pulling me towards her and causing me to run from her. I did not know who she was, I did not know who I was!

I remember how beautiful and confused she looked when she jumped out of the car and started running after me yelling "Eric it's me!"

The war inside of me was reaching a fever pitch. The compulsion to feed and fuck and the compulsion to throw myself at the feet of the beautiful creature standing before me and beg her to shelter me. To this day I am glad that Sookie could not see the war raging inside of me, I am very sure that it would have caused her to run away for good. I stopped and stood before her trying to decide if I was going to ... I cannot bring myself to even think it again. The thought it's self is repugnant, when I was human I was a part of many raiding parties and I never forced a woman and I have not force anyone since I became vampire. I have drained humans, but only when necessary and never for fun or an unnecessary feed. My master taught me restraint very early, as I taught my child. I did not know these things then, all I knew was the smell of her blood and the look in her eyes. Her eyes won, temporarily.

"Stay, back woman!" I warned her, my fangs were still out, my hands were still curled into claws. I still struggled with what to do, the struggle was painful. It hurt not to feed from her. It hurt not to rip her clothes from her body and take her right there on that cold, dark road. It hurt to think of harming her, it hurt not to run to her and seek shelter at her feet. I was a void empty, no knowledge, no memory, nothing to help me end the internal struggle that was ripping me a part.

"What are you doing out here?" She questioned me, there was something special about her, something different.

I realized for the first time that night that Sookie was not completely human. I remember smelling the Fae in her blood and losing control. I began to advance toward her slowly, I did not want to scare away my prey. I had made my decision, I would have her, and I would have all of her in every way. The moment the decision was made the pain inside of me intensified. I struggled against, but I could not move, it was as if I was locked in place. I continued to stand there for what seemed like an eternity when I began to smell something .... something else, not human and not Fae. It was fleeting, even now I cannot put my finger on what I smelled. Whatever it was it saved both of our lives that night. I had a fleeting vision of my human home, of the knarr I used to command, of the horgr I built to Freya. The desire to take her by force left me completely, I was disgusted that I had even had those thoughts. I was relieved, it was if as if something was banished from my body allowing me to regain a part of myself.

To this day I believe that thinking of Freya is what banished the worst part of Hallow's curse. Even before my memories returned I built a new horgr and I began leaving weekly offerings to Freya. Even without my memories somehow, some way I knew if I harmed Sookie, if I had .... killed her ... I would not have been able to live with myself. I would have chosen to meet the sun. I have been tied to my lover in a way that I still do not understand from the second I spotted her in Fangtasia on the arm of another.

I snarl, I cannot help it, Pam's words echo through my mind "... you know she had a "funny uncle" right? Kind of ironic Bill had the uncle killed for what he did to Sookie and then he rapes her." I did not know, she never told me, about the "funny uncle", and I most certainly did not know about Compton. When I ripped open the trunk she was in such bad shape from being drained, I did not pay attention to anything else. How could I have been so naive? It does not matter, I know now. I may not have had the pleasure of killing her uncle for what he did to her, but I will insure that Compton meets his end, slowly and painfully. I will be patient, I will bide my time. I have done it before, after all revenge is a dish best served old and cold.

I inhale her scent and try to calm my emotions. I do not want to awaken my Lover with my dark rage filled thoughts. My memories begin to drift again, almost like a slide show, images of her float through my head, I enjoy this feeling. I have not been this comfortable and happy since the time she cared for me that night so long ago. I remember how she knelt before me, cleansing my feet, she clothed me, she insured my safety, she comforted me, and she loved me.

I remember lying next to her while she slept that first night, unable to understand why I cared for the human lying next to me. I knew the house that she lived in was meager, I did not know how I knew this, but I still knew. I wondered how I would be able to provide for her, since I was a vampire. She had told me that I was Sheriff and that I owned a bar. I knew that this meant that I was powerful and wealthy, but that knowledge had no meaning for me. She was my world, my anchor, my salvation, to go to my bar would put her in danger, other vampires were there and they would want her, they would try to take her from me. I remember being scared that vampires from my bar would be coming tomorrow night. She had told me that one of them was my child, but I did not feel any connection to a child. What if she had been lied to and this was a trap? What if they were really coming to take her?

I knew vampire Sheriff's only answer to Kings and Queens and the seconds of the Kings and Queens. I knew I was a very powerful vampire to be Sheriff of an area as large as Area 5. I also knew that with power came wealth. Unfortunately, not knowing how to access those funds and not knowing who was loyal to me and who was not meant that my position and wealth were not assets that I could utilize. Lying next to, holding her hand, I tried desperately to remember who I was as I began contemplating my next move. I determined that the best course of action would be to cut and run. I would have to convince her to come with me, I knew that I would not leave her behind and I would not allow another vampire to take her from me, she was mine.

I remember turmoil and confusion swirling through my mind. I could not understand my feelings. I could not remember anything, I was a void. But, I did know that vampires do not care for humans, humans are just meals on wheels. I could not remember who would say that over and over and over, but I knew that it annoyed me. Pam's humor can be so grating at times, but it pleased me when my memories returned that some memory of my child survived Hallow's curse, even if it was annoying. Lying there I knew vampires do not kill other vampires for humans, there must always be another reason and even then there are consequences. It did not matter, I would fight and die for her if necessary. Sookie was and still is my world, my valkyrie, life without her has no meaning.

I am startled from my thoughts by tears falling on my chest. "Lover, what is wrong? What has upset you?" I hate it when she cries, it feels like I have failed in a way that I cannot explain.

"Eric, I don't deserve you." Is she crazy? She thinks that she does not deserve to be with me?

"Sookie, my lover, it is I that does not deserve you. What has upset you?"

"I wonder how Hallow knew my uncle Dermot?" She is changing the subject and I do not like it, but she does have a good point.

"I think that we will have to speak with Niall, but that does not answer my question. What has upset you?"

"I woke up in your arms, I was so happy I just wanted to stay that way forever. I started to drift back to sleep and ... and .... and I was in your head .... I could hear all of your thoughts."

NO! I never wanted her to know why Hallow sent me to her! Sookie has always cherished our time together, I have felt it through the bond, I never wanted that memory tarnished! I did not want her to feel the bloodlust that I felt for her. I do not want her to fear me, especially now that she has finally yielded to me.

"Eric, I'm so ashamed!" She begins to shake as her body is racked by her sobs, oh please stop crying Sookie. I reach out to stroke her face and she knocks my hand away, my mind begins to chant 'please no, please no, please no' over and over and over again. I cannot allow her to leave now that she publicly proclaimed herself as mine, it would prove that I am weak and would endanger both of us. The only option is forcing her to stay, which will cause her to hate me. Fuck!!!

"Lover?????" I question gently as I step forward and she takes a step back. Dammit, I know if she will just let me hold her I can calm her fears.

"No!!!! Eric, you have to listen to me, I have to say this." taking a deep breath she continues "I have pushed you away, rescinded your invitation to my home, ran away from you, refused to comfort you, refuse to help heal you, how can you possibly love me? I'm not like you, I always make the wrong decisions. I'm not strong like you, I felt your hunger Eric, I felt your desire ... I .... I ... would have drained you dry. I'm weak, being with me puts you in danger. I should ..."

"NO! DO NOT SAY IT!" I am roaring, I cannot help it. I cannot allow this, I will not allow this , she is mine! She yielded to me! I will not allow her to do this to us! I know what she truly wants, I know how she truly feels, I felt her love for me through the bond. I have made my decision, she is going to stay here even if I have to chain her to the bed. What she said is true, my love for her is a weakness and after her display at my bar there is no way I can allow her to leave and still save face. She publicly yielded to me, the stakes, so to speak, have increased so the rules have changed. I try one last time to reason with her. "Lover, if you felt those things, then you also felt my pain. Lover, how did you feel when Niall offered to stake me for you?"

I feel it when the memory surges through her brain. She does not need to tell me how she feels, words are not necessary. I can feel the sharp pain in her stomach, I can feel her anguish, she does not want to think of life without me anymore than I want to think of life without her. I reach out to her and she allows me to hold her hand, relief flows through me. I did not want to have to force her to stay or punish her for her disobedience, but now after last night, neither of us can go back, if she would have tried to leave I would have had no choice. I will not allow her foolish pride and her stubborn ways to endanger us.

I push those thoughts away and begin to concentrate on her. She is in my arms now and I am kissing away her tears. "Lover, I never want to rise alone again. I will never leave your side and I will never allow you to leave me." I have to be honest with her, I cannot help it, she must understand. "Sookie, in the supe world what you did last night, how you acted, was a pledge. You ... you basically told everyone that I am your master. I cannot allow you to leave me, it would put both of us in danger "

"I know, I know ... and I can't question you in public anymore because it will hurt your position in your vampire political crap game. Blah, blah, blah ...." I am shocked, I just told my strong, independent, woman that she can never leave and she is joking with me. Maybe she really does not understand.

"Sookie, do you really understand what this means? If you disobey me publicly I will have to punish you, just as I must punish Pam for her disobedience, there will be no other choice. There is no going back now or calling it quits. You are mine."

"I know, I know. Thalia explained all of this to me a few weeks ago. She called it vampire etiquette and she was even more serious about it than you."

"I am surprised at Thalia, she is the last vampire I would have expected to attempt to give lessons in etiquette. Did Thalia tell you why you needed to learn vampire etiquette?"

"Thalia said that she did not want me to embarrass you or your retinue because I did not know the formal responses. Eric, I like Thalia, even though she refuses to come into my house and is a little stiff sometimes, but she really does care about you. She told me that she was so unhappy with her last master because he was cruel to her ... sexually. She said she behaved so poorly because she wanted her Master to stake her, but he would not even allow her that, instead he turned her out. She told me that you were the only Sheriff that would allow her to come to your area, she really feels like she owes you. Oh, I also know that Thalia is at my house as punishment."

"What else did Thalia tell you?" I never told Thalia not to tell Sookie about Compton's punishment, now I wish I would have. I have underestimated my lover's influence, yet again, I must not allow this to happen again.

"She told me that you and Alcide whipped Bill with a silver cat of nine tails and that he was locked in a coffin, without food for several weeks. Thalia wouldn't tell me why, just that he caused problems at Fangtasia. I was pissed off at you at first, then I figured whatever he did must have been pretty bad for the weres to ally with the vamps over the whole thing."

Sookie is so clam, she is making me uncomfortable, I expected her to be pissed off. Do I tell her everything? Do I tell her about his pet, Bee Bee? Do I tell her that he desires to meet his end at my hands or do I just leave it alone? I want to show her trust but there will be things that come up that she is better off not knowing about. I guess it really does not matter, if she really wants to know something she can just read my thoughts. Nevertheless, I do not want to fight with her over Compton.

"Do you want to know what happened?" I ask cautiously.

"Nope. If you, Alcide, and Pam believed that Bill had to be punished like that then I'm sure that it was the right supe decision. I do want to know what is up with you and Alcide, when his sister, Janice, told me that you were over at his house watching football I almost choked to death. I had just taken a drink, soda shot out of my nose, all over my windshield, it was gross."

I begin to laugh, by the Gods this woman never fails to surprise me. I thought she would be pissed about Compton's punishment, but instead she wants to talk about Monday night football and soda coming out of her nose. Pam would say that I got my 'panties in a bunch' over nothing and she would be right. I am still confused by the change in my lover, acceptance has never been one of Sookie's best attributes.

"Lover, Alcide and I have come to an understanding and formed an alliance. The alliance has helped to settle disputes between our kinds without involving the human authorities and since he publicly relinquished his claim to you and acknowledged our bond he is no longer a rival. Therefore, his protection of you and our alliance is now possible, where it was not before."

"Because of his claim to me?"

"Yes, lover." I should have listened to the tone of her.

"That is just stupid. Alcide never had a claim to me to begin with, so what on earth was he relinquishing? This is the shit that I will never understand .... " Oh she is pissed now. I begin to push calm through the bond.

"Sookie, love, when you became a friend of the pack it gave the pack a claim to you. Since you are a female of breed-able age it is Alcide's formal right to approve or disapprove of your mate. If an acceptable mate cannot be found then it is Alcide's duty to mate with you."

"When was anyone going to tell me this?"

"I assumed you knew, if I had known that you did not know this I would have explained this to you. Nevertheless, Alcide made it known that he would not be exercising his rights to you and that you were free to choose any mate you find acceptable, except for Compton." I feel the anger building again. I am pleased that she is unhappy with Alcide, not me. I continue, she must understand. "If you become involved with Compton at any time in the future the Shreveport weres, the Hot Shot panther pack and the weres & shifters of the greater Dallas area will kill him."

"That's a bunch of crap, who I'm with is not any of Alcide's business. What gives him the right to decide? Why does he hate Bill so much?"

"Lover, not only is it Alcide's business who you are with it is his responsibility as pack master to insure that all female members of the pack and all female friends of the pack find acceptable mates. If he allows you to be with an unacceptable mate it will weaken his position. Alcide must approve all matings within the pack, the weres trust him with their daughters, Sookie, and after what ... after what happened in Jackson, the pack will never find Compton acceptable." I feel her pain, her embarrassment, and her shame.

"Eric, who told? I know it wasn't Pam. Answer me!"

"Alcide told me. I am not sure who told him."

"But you have an idea don't you? I bet it was Trey. Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!!!!!" I stand there helplessly as her anger turns to despair. "Eric, this is exactly why I didn't want anyone to know, I knew it would bother everyone more than it should. I knew y'all wouldn't understand."

"Understand? What is there to understand? And yes, of course it bothers me, that bastard harmed you, he ... he raped you, Sookie."

"No, Eric. I wasn't raped, Bill just lost control because he was starved and tortured."

"Lover, did he rip your clothes from your body?"

"Eric, that's not the point."

"Answer the question lover, yes or no. Did he rip the clothes from your body?"

"Yes, but ..."

"Sookie, did he make advances that you welcomed? Yes or no."

"No, but ..."

"Did he ... did he take you by force?"

"Yes, but ..."

"But what lover?" I feel her pain, but that is not her dominate emotions, those are guilt and shame. I cannot understand why she would feel either.

"It was my fault Eric. I should have know better, I should have had the True Blood ready for him, but I didn't and when he was ... when he was drinking from me I fought against him. I should have ...."

I gather her into my arms. "Lover this was not your fault, there was nothing that you should have done or could have done differently. Compton was not a newborn, torture or not he should have been able to control himself, especially after he had fed from you. I am truly sorry, Sookie, but Compton did rape you, he did not lose control, it was a choice."

I can feel the dam breaking inside of her washing away the guilt and the shame as a kenning wail escapes her lips. "Why did he do that to me Eric, I loved him. Why did he hurt me? Why did he even bother saying he was sorry?"

I cannot answer her question, there is no way to explain. I do the only thing I can, I hold her in my arms as she finally releases her pain. When her tears begin to subside I look in to her eyes opening the bond fully so she will know that I am not lying to her and say. "Lover, it was not your fault, you did the only thing you could do, you survived. Now we are together and I will protect you, so will Pam and Alcide."

She smiles at me now, my relationship with the were truly pleases her. "Don't forget Thalia and Sam"

I cannot help it I growl at the mention of the Shifter's name, while Alcide has acknowledged the bond the Shifter has not. I will not acknowledge his right to protect her, as I have with Alcide and his pack, until he realizes and publicly declares that she is mine.

"Eric, why don't you like Sam?"

"The Shifter has not acknowledged our bond and until he does he will be ... what is the saying ... on my shit list."

"When I was upset after Jason's divorce Sam called you."

"That is not the same thing."

"Fine, I'm not going to argue with you, give me your phone."

"What?"

"I know you're not deaf, give me your phone, now please." She's pissed again. Freya, she is beautiful when she is pissed!!!

I grudgingly hand her my phone. I know that she is going to call the Shifter and try to make peace. I do not like it, but at least it is not Compton.

"Sam, this Sookie"

"Hey Cher how ya doin' ? I went by your house last night, Alcide told me that you were out with Pam, did you have a good time?" I love it that I can hear both sides of the conversation. I am surprised the Shifter is respectful when speaking of my child.

"Yes, I did. What'd you need last night?"

"Sookie, there were strange vamps at the bar, you better watch your back and let Mr. High and Mighty know. Where did you stay last night?"

"In Shreveport, at Eric's."

"Okay, well at least you're safe."

"Yes, I'm safe but even more importantly I am happy. Sam, I know Pam told you that I would need to be off until Tuesday for the King's celebration, but I'm going to need more time off than that so you should probably get an ad running for a replacement."

"Sookie, what's wrong? Are you in trouble?"

"No, not trouble this time. Sam, Pam and I went to Fangtasia last night and I yielded to Eric."

"You what???!!!???" The dog was scoring points before but now he is treading on dangerous ground. "You're telling me that you got down on your knees in front of witnesses and waited for him to acknowledge you?"

I can feel Sookie's irritation coursing through the bond, the dog better watch it, I am starting to think that I am the least of his worries.

"Yes, I did, do you have a problem with that Sam?" The fucking dog is laughing, I am going to neuter the bastard.

"No" more laughter "I just wished I could have been there to see you come down off your high horse, what took you so damn long?"

I can't help it, I am laughing now. The shifter really knows her, she was riding a pretty high horse.

"Eric, why are you laughing? Were you listening to my conversation? Sam, stop laughing. Damn it you two! I'm taking a shower, here." she says as she shoves the phone to me. I am satisfied that the shifter has accepted our tie, I do not need to speak with him, but she has effectively left me without a choice.

"Sh.. Sam, this is Eric."

"Tell me Eric, do you have security cameras at Fangtasia?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because if you have a video of that girl kneeling before your throne, in a bar full of vamps, I will pay you for a copy, hell I'll give you an interest in my bar. I can't believe she finally did it. You have to admit Eric, Sookie's got balls, bigger balls than you or me." more laughter "How did the vamps take it?"

"Very well actually, they provided her with an honor guard when she approached my throne. I will check in to the video and let you know."

"You're kidding me right? Northman, you're one lucky bastard."

"That I am." It does not hurt to admit it.

"Now let's get serious, you know she doesn't have a father, her brother is a shit, and her great grandfather is .. well odd."

"Odd? Odd, shifter? You find a Fae Prince odd?"

"Yes, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Okay then. I know Alcide has recognized your bond, so have several other packs."

"Yes, but you have not."

"No, I have not, but my refusal to acknowledge the bond was never meant as a slight to you. I want you to know that I have not been disrespectful, I haven't pursued her the way Quinn did, I have just been her friend. Sookie doesn't have anyone but you, me and Pam that really look out for her." I am impressed that he knows of my child's love for my bonded and that he is willing to include Pam in such an exclusive group. I take note that her brother is not included.

"I will publicly acknowledge the bond now that Sookie has and I will continue to acknowledge your claim to her as long as Sookie acknowledges the claim. Eric, this is the strongest bond I have ever seen. I won't try to come between the two of you, I don't think it would matter if I did." I am pleased that he understands that continuing to pursue Sookie is futile. "Eric, you know that I used to have romantic feelings for Sookie ... stop growling ... but I fucked up. I didn't trust her, I waited too long to tell her that I was a shifter. I was not honest, don't ever make that mistake, she needs you. You are the only one of us that can offer her any protection. That being said I still want to be there for her as a true friend. A friend hat isn't looking for anything. Don't worry, I'm not going to be like Compton, 'oh Sookie, I love you, I will die for you but I won't spend any money on you and I will cheat on you with any woman that will have me'. I hate that fucking guy, Eric, please promise me that if anything happens between the two of you ... dammit, stop growling at me ... before you release Sookie you will send Compton to his maker. I know what Alcide has said and what the packs will do, but it would just be a lot easier if you would get rid of him"

"First of all, I hate him too. Secondly, nothing will ever happen between us, I will never release her ... I cannot live without her."

"I know you care for Sookie, Eric, hell if you weren't a vamp I would say that you are head over heels in love with her."

"Sam, have you been informed that Compton raped Sookie while she was in Jackson?" I do not know why I feel compelled to tell him this, but I am. I know the he cares for her and I know the knowledge will hurt him. I found out in an unpleasant manner, I can spare the shifter some of the pain of dealing with those feelings in a public place.

"No, I did not. How long have you known?" Sam's voice is cold, I can tell that he is very upset.

"Since last night. I found out in a very public place and since Alcide has such a large mouth it is likely that you will hear it from someone, at some point. I did not want the information ... well it is better that you heard it from me."

"Yeah, hearing it from you and not as gossip makes it better. Fuck, what am I saying there is no way to make this any better just not any worse. When are you going to kill the bastard, Northman?"

"I do not know yet. I assure you it will happen, but I will have to be careful."

"It might be better if you let me do it." Is he crazy or just stupid, I do not like him enough to grant him that honor. "Sookie will not be happy with whoever does it and we can't have her leaving your protection. I'm a rouge, I don't belong to a pack there will be no one she can blame anyone but me. She might be pissed at Alcide for having a big mouth but she will get over that and she likes some of the weres from the Shreveport pack so she will retain protection while ya'll break her down. I know she isn't talking to her brother right now but since he belongs to the Hot Shots pack she won't be able to get rid of Calvin, even if she tries. She might forgive me over time and she might not, either way she will be safe."

I am impressed, the sh.. Sam has a very analytical mind, maybe, just maybe I do like him enough to grant him the honor of sending Compton to his maker. I have a feeling that the only other creature on the planet that would make Compton suffer as much as Pam or I would, is Sam. "While I do not want to forgo the pleasure of killing the bastard myself, I may take you up on your offer, but not right away. Sam, I believe that you and I can reach an understanding. You have pledged yourself to Sookie, I will consider that a pledge of fealty to me as well since the bond makes us one ... now who is the one growling, dog?"

"Northman, you are an asshole."

"Just shut up and let me finish. I understand that you rent houses, which means that you must have contractors in place for general maintenance, lawn care, etc.?

"Yeah, why?"

"I would like for you to manage Sookie's house in Bon Temps. The witch will continue to live there, but Sookie will not be there often enough to keep up with things. There are also repairs that must be done, such as the roof, the shed, you know what I am talking about. Please hire the contractors and send me the bills, you will be compensated for your time."

"I don't need your money."

"I know, but Sookie will not allow you to do these things without pay, you know how difficult she can be, and since she loves that house she will not trust just anyone to oversee the work. I would have preferred to just request that you oversee the work and then owe you a favor, but ..."

"All right Northman, I'll do it if you can talk Sookie in to it. What's up with the strange vamps coming to my bar?"

"I am not sure who they were or why they were there. If you see them again please let me know, you have my cell number."

"I will call you if I see them again. I didn't tell Sookie, but they went to Compton's."

"I know, did Alcide tell you?"

"Yeah, but before that I followed them ... I won't be making any apologizes...you and I both know there aren't many vampires out there that don't want Sookie for her talent. Well anyway, I turned in to a bat ..."

"A bat? Why?"

"Because they have perfect hearing, I couldn't get too close. Eric is this a secure line on your end?"

"Yes. Yours?"

"Why would I have asked if it wasn't? The strange vamps names were Harold and Daryl, they work for Victor Madden. Funny thing is they didn't call him Bill, they called him Thomas. I couldn't stay any longer to hear more, the wind was changing and I didn't want them to get my scent."

Fuck, I should have know! William Thomas Compton. That asshole won't give up, I should have listened to Felipe and staked the bastard.

"Thank you for this information Sam, it is invaluable. I am sure that I do not have to tell you that it would be best if you did not provide this information to anyone else, especially that hothead, Alcide. Now what I want to know is why didn't you tell this to Sookie?"

"Because she would go and stick her nose where it doesn't belong in less than a heart beat. I will always be on her side first, but sometimes that is gonna mean that I have to go behind her back to help keep her safe. I wish to God she had never had anything to do with any of you vamps, but as vamps go she could have done much worse than you Northman. I'm just glad she found one that seems to really care about her. That being said I hope you understand that even you are going to need help protecting her and I'm gonna help whether either of you like it or not."

"I know and I will accept your help, shifter, but make no mistake she is going to hate it and bitch about it. Then again If I would have said no she would have hated it and bitched about that too. In the end she would have probably made me let you help anyway. Maybe you could help me understand this behavior, after all aren't your females know as bitches?"

"Fuck you vamp. Sookie is going to be keeping you on a very tight leash, right where you belong. I'll keep you up to date."

"Fuck you too shifter. God help me I like being on the end of Sookie's leash, it is where I plan to stay. You can always call Pam if you can't reach me." I hang up laughing, so many supes love my bonded, it amazes me. It makes me very uncomfortable, angry, and jealous most of the time, but every once in a while it pleases me and more often than not recently it has been pleasing me more and more.

I dial Pam, we need to get this problem taken care of before the celebration, which only leaves tonight and tomorrow night.

horgr = alter