A/N: A special thanks and big fat I heart you goes out to Suaru-chan (beta extraordinaire) and tracee40 (beloved reader and sharer of my brain). These two ladies are awesome and helped me more than you'll ever know with this chapter. But, I got it finished and I hope you like it.

Sookie POV

"Well hello, Sookie." I'm not sure why, but she's sporting a big Cheshire cat grin on her face. This is devious Pam, for sure.

"Pammie! How did you get here so fast?" I walk over to give her a hug and she almost doesn't want to let go when I pull back.

"I flew, naturally," she says with a wave of her hand.

"Oh, Pam this is Alcide. He's waiting here until his flight leaves. I didn't want him sitting alone in the airport for hours and told him he could keep me company while I waited for you. I hope that's okay?"

"Hi, Alcide."Her eyes rake over him slowly.

I never thought I'd see Pam blush, but the way she looked at Alcide made me… jealous? Huh. Her eyes rake him over at least twice before she looks into his eyes again. She pulls her bottom lip in between her teeth and shoots him a wink.

"It's so good to meet you, Pam. Sookie's told me a lot about you." Alcide looks between Pam and I before settling on me.

"All good things, I hope?" She takes a step closer to him.

"Of course." He smiles politely and looks to me for help.

I sigh and step between the two.

"Pam, where's Eric? I thought you two were together?"

"No need to worry about him right now. We need to talk." She looks pretty serious so she must mean business. "Alcide, would you excuse us for a moment? We'll be right back." Not waiting for a response from Alcide, she grabs my arm and drags me back to her bedroom.

"Pam, you haven't answered any of my questions and you're being rude!"

"I told you we needed to talk and it has to be done without an audience." Her head snaps up at the sound of the front door slamming shut and the look on her face is one of pure terror. Her eyes are darting wildly and she's wringing her hands together nervously. "Fuck! Okay, listen I need to tell you—"

"Pamela! Get your ass out here right now!" Eric's voice booms through the apartment.

"Please, Sookie. Before we go back out there you need to know that I love you. I didn't want to do things this way but Eric is forcing my hand and I can't let him have you. I thought I could do it but I really can't I mean I've known you longer and met you first and that's what matters, right? You understand that I would do anything for you and I want you to be happy? I would never hurt you Sookie; you have to believe that above anything. Just remember that I love you."

She's so frazzled; her words come out in a rush. I've never seem Pam so, so… un-Pam-like. I don't know how else to explain it. She's always so calm and cool and take charge about everything. Now, I wouldn't be able to say that about her. She's frantically pacing the room while she speaks—her hands still wringing together, her voice getting so low it's almost as if she's mumbling to herself. I can barely keep up with everything she's saying to me.

She stops suddenly and reaches out to grab my arm—her voice wavers, her glassy blue eyes staring straight through to my soul.

"Tell me that you understand. Tell me that you love me too…"

"I know you love me, Pam and I do love you, but I don't understand."

"Don't you get it? I love you, Sookie," she says with heavy emphasis on love, but I got that part.

I must be missing something. I shake my head, chuckle and look at her waiting for her to explain. She looks at me with wide eyes. As the realization of what she's just said comes to me, I blink, suck in a deep breath and mouth the words, "Oh…shit."

Then she does something I will never forget. She grabs the sides of my head and pulls me in for a kiss. A toe-curling kiss at that. Her lips are very soft and warm against mine. She applies very little pressure and nips at my bottom lip. I feel her tongue slide along my upper lip as she sucks my bottom lip into her mouth. Her fingers weave through my hair and she pulls gently on the loose tendrils hanging over my shoulders. The sensation is nice and I can't help moaning as her tongue brushes mine. I've never kissed a girl before, but Pam knew exactly what she was doing.

Her hands drift down from the side of my face, to my back and I shiver at her touch. Her left hand stops at the small of my back, pulling my body closer to hers. Her right hand moves up and down in a soothing motion. I know we shouldn't be doing this, but I can't seem to break away. I'm completely caught up in the moment. As my mind clouds over, Pam's left hand continues its way down to my ass. She grabs a cheek and squeezes just so, and I can't help but squeal and jerk in response. She moans, her tongue searching the inner recesses of my mouth, and bites down on my bottom lip. Her hand keeps squeezing and my hips jerk forward again. Then I think about what this all means and I sober up quickly. I pull away to separate our lips but she doesn't let go of my ass.

"Pam, what… when… why haven't you told me? I really don't understand—"

"What, that I want to fuck you? Sookie, you're beautiful, funny, vivacious. Why wouldn't I want to get in your pants? Every guy you meet wants to do the same. Look at Alcide. So, why not me?"

"Why not you? Why not you? Because you are my best friend. You are a female, like me and you are nota lesbian. Pam I've known you for how many years now? I've never once seen you bat an eye or ogle some girl's breasts. Wait, are you coming out to me and you thought this would be the best way?"

"No! I'm not a lesbian. Why does everyone keep saying that? I just want you. I don't know what it is but I think, no—I know that I want you. But more than sex, I want to be with you like we used to be. Just us. No assholes to come between us. And then we give each other orgasms." Fuck. Me.

"You cannot be serious. I'm not bisexual. I don't look at you that way. I don't—"

"Sookie, look at me. I just had my tongue down your throat and groped your ass. You liked it. I dare you to deny it. Tell me I'm lying."

"No… you're not lying but I'm horny as hell and damn it you're a good kisser!" I say scrunching my face up in anger.

She smiles so brightly I'm sure I can see every single tooth in her mouth. Fucking cat that ate the canary look. I don't like how this is going at all.

"I knew it. Listen, we can make this work. It doesn't have to be anything conventional. We'll do what makes you comfortable. I want you to be comfortable with this… with me."

"I can't, Pam. I just can't. I want Eric. I'm sorry, but I do. Nothing is going to change my mind about that." Her face drops and I feel like shit. I'm hurting my best friend and that's the last thing I'd ever want to do. Even though she just dropped an atomic-fucking-dirty-hydrogen bomb on me. Talk about apocalyptic.

"What if I told you he wasn't who you thought he was? Would that make you change your mind?"

"You know something about Eric that I don't? You would actually stoop so low to hurt me so that I won't be with him? Is that what this is about? You don't want me to have him so you concoct this, this ruse because you know I still have feelings for him? Pam, I'm sorry about the way that I feel. I'm sorry I met Eric before you did. I'm sorry that I left him the way I did because we wouldn't be in this predicament right now, but it's done and I'm done trying to make everyone happy because it's apparent that I can't. I just can't believe you would do this to me. Doesn't our friendship mean anything to you?"

Tears fall from Pam's eyes and I don't think I can muster up the emotion to care. This is just unreal. She doesn't want me to be with him. That's the only thing I can think of. She still loves him. I can't say that I blame her, but to be so vindictive and try to manipulate me. To kiss me like that knowing I wouldn't return her affections? I'm baffled and throw up my hands in defeat. I don't know if I can forgive her for this.

"Don't say that Sookie. You know our friendship is everything to me. This isn't a ruse—it's how I feel and if you can't see that then you're not worth his or my time." She pauses for a beat. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. There really is something you should know and he's not going to tell you that he's—"

"Um, stop. Just stop, Pam. I don't want to hear another word from you. In fact, I think maybe I should get Alcide and just leave. I don't want to be here anymore. And this is not me running. This is me saying no and goodbye. You can't drop something like this on me and expect me to be okay with it. That's not what friends do to one another. Not like this." My words are barely above a whisper. I don't really know what to say.

She grips my arm as I turn to walk away. "You can't run away from this. He'll hurt you and I'm only trying to protect you. He doesn't give a shit about you, you stubborn bitch!" Her voice gets louder toward the end of her sentence.

"Pam, I've had enough of this! Let go!" I push her off me as I hightail it out of there, heading for the front door. She falls back onto the bed as I slam her bedroom door behind me. I barely hear her choked sob as I make my escape.

"Sookie, wait! Please, I'm sorry!"

This is not going well at all.

In my haste I almost run straight into Alcide. It's possible the tears blurring my vision prevented me from seeing him, too.

His back is to me as he stands facing Eric in what appears to be a standoff, but I hadn't heard any commotion when I came into the hall. Alcide turns around and puts his arms out to stop me from barreling into him. I run the back of my hands across my face before looking up. My eyes meet Eric's and my heart flutters. That's a good sign, right?

Eric looks me over and about three emotions flash across his face before they are replaced with a blank stare. He completely shuts down and is void of anything. His hair looks tousled but so does Alcide's (although that's his usual appearance). I can just imagine the two of them running their hands through their hair in frustration while staring each other down. I hope I didn't walk in on something that was going to escalate into violence. I couldn't handle that. Not now.

"Uh, thanks. Hey, Eric! I see you and Alcide have been introduced? Ha, ha!"

That was not supposed to be a question. I laugh out of pure delirium. My emotions are all over the place. I'm glad that Alcide is here. I hate to use him as a buffer, but with the way things are going… I'm happy to see Eric. Ecstatic even, though he doesn't look too happy. My nervous smile spreads across my face as he looks me over again and I know he can tell something's wrong. I put my hands up to my lips wondering if they're red and puffy from Pam's kiss. It got pretty hot and heavy for a minute there. Eric shifts his weight from foot to foot before looking over at Alcide.

"Yes, I've met Rövhål," he says with a smirk. His eyes narrow as he glares at Alcide.

"It's Alcide." Eric just shakes his head as Alcide corrects him.

"Yeah, like I said, Rövhål. Sookie, can we talk in private?" I nod almost enthusiastically. I probably look like a bobble-head. I agree we need to talk, but I don't think I can handle being alone in a room with him right now. Not after Pam. I smooth my hands over my hair and run them down my face hoping to rub away my stress. Eric approaches me with a serious expression and I feel really nervous all of a sudden.

"What is with the private conversations today? Alcide already knows everything." Eric looks pissed. I turn to see who he's glaring at.

"He knows what?" Pam says.

She walks towards us and I can't even look at her. Her eyes are red and puffy and she's clutching a rumpled tissue in her hand. Eric turns his attention to her. He looks very angry. I would not want to be on the other side of that stare.

"Did you think you were being funny? You know how long it took me to get out of that fucking precinct? If you ever pull some shit like that again…"

"Wait, what's going on here? Pam? Eric?" I ask looking back and forth between them. Alcide looks just as puzzled as I feel.

Eric takes a deep breath before he answers. "Pam here thought it was funny to have me detained by the police."

"He means, I got him arrested. I told the police he was stalking me. It was quite simple really. I think I may have a future in acting," Pam cackles and the sound is bitter and crude.

"I'm glad you find this funny, because I sure as hell don't," Eric bites at her.

I've never seen Eric this angry before. In fact, I've never seen him angry. The time we spent together was, well… it was in bed, so there wasn't an opportunity for him to get angry about anything. It brings to mind just how little I know him, and what Pam said in her bedroom. But that doesn't change the way I feel about him.

"Okay, okay you two. I need you both to listen to me—"

"I'm sorry, Sookie, but I won't have a conversation with him here. I just won't. Why is he here anyway?" Eric barks.

"Alcide is my friend and he helped me realize a few things. You should be a lot nicer to him. In fact, you both owe him an apology."

"Why?" Pam quirks an eyebrow

"Fuck that!" Eric yells.

"Okay, I've had enough. If this is how you want to play things, I'm going home. To Louisiana. I'm already packed so I might as well. I can't handle the fighting anymore." I throw my hands up and continue my march to the front door. Eric steps in front of me before I can reach the doorknob.

"I'm sorry, Sookie. Don't leave. We'll talk. You talk; I'll shut up and listen." Eric's face softens and he looks repentant.

"Is that all it takes to make you heel like a puppy, Eric? I couldn't get you to do that even after we fucked. You've got a gift, Sookie."

"Uh, okay. I don't know how else to say this, so I'll just say it. I'm going home. I came here to ask Pam if she would have a problem with Eric and I… being together… as a couple but I already know—"

"I do have a problem with it. I don't like the idea of it but as I told you, I want you to be happy. Just not with him." She jerks her head toward Eric. "Heck, I'd be okay if you hooked up with Alcide here. I think he's perfect for you. You don't have any baggage, right?"

"Let's keep him out of this, Pam. This is between us three. I still don't understand why he's here but if he must stay, I'd like to know why."

"Fine. During our vacation—which was lovely by the way, thanks for asking—he helped me to realize what I want, and it's you, Eric."

"I've always wanted you. You already know how I feel about you. I love you, Sookie."

"That's bullshit! You hardly even know her. You're worried that she might choose me. Just admit it, Eric."

"Pam, there's no way in hell. Sookie and I have a connection." He turns from her and looks me in the eye. "If you're willing Sookie, I want to try. I want to be with you. No matter the repercussions." He whispers that last part.

Alcide doesn't look too happy at Eric's declaration and Pam mutters something under her breath that I can't quite make out.

"I know no one asked me, but if I could say something?" All eyes turn to Alcide.

"No, you can't you, dynghög. I know you have a plane to catch, so why don't you leave now so you don't miss it. Here's cab fare." Eric throws a few bills at Alcide's feet.

"Eric!" I yell.

Pam just laughs.

"I need some air. I think I'll go with you to the airport, Alcide. I can't stand to be here one more minute."

Eric takes hold of my hand.

"Sookie. I won't let you run away from me again. This would be the third or fourth time. You walk away now, that's it. I won't chase after you. You want me, I want you, let's just do this. What do you say?"

What do I say? I want to say yes, but I can't do it. The look on Pam's face is killing me. Her eyes are pleading with me and I can't even go there. I know where Alcide stands and that's the only consolation in this whole mess. Then there's Eric. I look up at him and hope he can read the answer from my face. I don't know of any other way to convey what I want to him but to smile. I want him and we will be together. If I have to wait, then I'll wait. I'm patient. I don't know what I'll do about Pam though. Therein lays my dilemma. What should I do about Pam?

Eric's POV

I get to the apartment and who meets me at the door but Asshole. Why am I not surprised? I guess I should have known he'd be sticking around to see if he could put his bid in too. He proffers his hand—I glare at it, and then back at him. There's no fucking way I'm shaking Asshole's hand. No. Fucking. Way.

"What the fuck are you doing here and where are Pam and Sookie?"

"Nice to finally meet you, too. They just went back there somewhere to talk." Fuck!

I yell for Pam to get out here so we can do this out in the open. I can only guess what she's telling Sookie or what she's doing to her. I don't even want to think about that. I'm man enough to admit that I'm nervous that Pam could convince Sookie to see her side of things. I just don't want her to have the chance.

"Well, thank you for sticking around and making sure that Sookie made it back safely, but you can leave. Here, let me show you out." I grab his arm and shove him toward the door, but he doesn't budge. Motherfucker!

"You don't scare me, Eric. Sookie wants me here; I'm here until she says otherwise. You have a problem with that, take it up with her. Now I would appreciate it if you removed your hand from my arm before I remove it for you. I know she has a thing for you and I would hate to ruin our friendship because she's caught me kicking your ass. So please…"

Asshole seems to have a huge set of balls on him. And, I hate to admit it, a good point. I don't want to upset Sookie and her seeing the two of us fighting wouldn't help matters. I release his arm but I don't back away. I run my hand through my hair to keep from swinging on the smug bastard. He folds his arms across his chest and glares at me.

"You know you don't have a chance with her."

"I don't know that, actually. I seem to be the only one here who's not pressuring Sookie one way or the other. I'll let her decide what she wants. You on the other hand, I don't think you can do that. You'll make her choose here and now. She's been fighting with this and it's killing her. If you cared about her, you would let her come back to the States with me so she can move on with her life."

"You don't know the first thing about me, Asshole. You spend a few days with Sookie and now you think you know her? I don't think so!"

"I know more than you think I do."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" The bastard just smiles at me.

I'd like to wipe that smile off his scruffy face. But before I can, Sookie stumbles from Pam's bedroom. Pam's bedroom? She looks upset and isn't watching where she's walking. I watch her wipe her eyes. She must have been crying. I will fucking kill Pam if she hurt her.

Alcide turns to her before I can, and reaches out to keep her from barreling into him. I want to ask Sookie what happened with Pam but now is not the time. I want to take her in my arms and wipe away her pain. Looking her over I notice she appears flushed. I remember that look; she usually looked that way right after we'd kissed. I can't believe it! Pam actually put the moves on her. She's playing dirty. Not only did she call in a favor with her policeman friend to get me arrested, now she's kissing my woman. Sneaky bitch!

Pam finally makes an appearance and I can tell she's been crying too. I'm not sure what all happened in that bedroom, but I know I won't be happy when I find out. Maybe Asshole's right and she's under too much pressure right now. I can back off and I plan to, except she wants to be with me. Now the ball is in her court. I just hope she doesn't decide to run again. I can tell her that I won't chase her as much as I want to, but we both know the truth. I would follow her wherever she goes. The smirk she gives me lets me know I have nothing to fear. She pulls her hand away and takes a deep breath before speaking.

"Can I have a second?"

I nod and she walks Alcide out into the hall. I turn to Pam. I want answers.

"You kissed her?"

"And?"

"You didn't say anything about kissing. There was only supposed to be talking. If I pulled any of the shit you pulled today you'd be trying to kick my ass into next week."

"Don't think I still won't. Oh, and she loved it."

"What?"

"You heard me. She looooovvvvvved it. If you hadn't come in when you did I could have—"

"Could have what?" Sookie asks. I'm glad she's come back (without Asshole) because I'd love to hear what Pam has to say.

"Nothing. Listen Sookie, you don't have to let Eric bully you into anything. It's okay if you want time to think about it."

"Why Pam, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were worried."

"Shut the fuck up, Eric. Sookie?" I manage to stifle a laugh.

"Pam, while you know I love you, I just don't love you like you want me to. You're my best friend and I need you in that capacity. I can't think of having you in my life any other way. I think you're beautiful and smart but I'm not attracted to you. You need to accept that I want to be with Eric. I understand if you won't support me in this, but I want you, need you to be my friend."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Stop being a hard-ass, Pam. There's no reason why you two can't still be friends. There's no love lost between us. I want to be with Sookie as much as she wants to be with me."

"Oh, I don't know about that. She didn't stop me when I kissed her." The look on Sookie's face reminds me of a kid getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Or should I say Pam wrapping her lips around the Sookie jar.

"I don't see what that has to do with anything, Pam. Eric and I—"

"You enjoyed it. Tell him how you moaned when I grabbed your ass." My cock twitches.

"Fuck me. Sookie? Is that true? Did you like it when Pam kissed you?" I ask her mockingly but I'd really like to know the answer.

The blush that spreads across her face does something to me. I have to adjust myself just thinking about her kissing Pam and enjoying it.

"It's okay to tell him how you ground your hips into mine, pressing yourself against me like a cat in heat. Knock that ego of his down a couple of notches. I was better than him, wasn't I?"

"I'm not doing this. I can't." Her face gets redder.

"My sweet, sweet, Sookie. I guess we do have a few things we still need to learn about one another," I laugh.

"It shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry I let things go as far as I did. I only came back in to let you know that I'm going home. I always planned to go back no matter what, so I'm just doing it sooner rather than later. I love you both. I have to go."

She presses her hand to mine and pulls away leaving me stunned. The shock hadn't worn off and before I could say anything, she was gone. Again. I clench my hand in anger and stop when I feel the crunch of paper in my palm. I tuck whatever Sookie has passed to me into my pocket and bow to Pam.

"It would seem that you have run her off again. I won't say I told you so, but I will say this—if I find out that you hurt her, you'll have me to deal with."

"I'd watch the threats, Eric. I still have my trump card. You want to test me, I'll pull it. Then we'll see who deals with whom."

"Fuck you, Pam."

I storm out of her place hoping to never have to set foot in it again. And here I thought we could still be friends. If that's the kind of friendship I have to look forward to, I don't want it. She set me up more than once and I almost lost Sookie because of it. When I get to the elevator, I pull out the piece of paper and read it.

Please meet me at the airport. I'd hate to have to fly home alone.

A/N: Translations

Rövhål = asshole

Dynghög = pile of manure