Edited 2019

AN: I don't know if I can apologize enough for not updating, I am sorry I have made you all wait. I have been having a horrible case of writer's block on top of having no time to write. I think that I was a bit ambitious in thinking I would have more time than I do. The good news is that the chapter is longer. Anyway enough apologizing and whining I have a new poll up on my profile. This one is for Sookie's Halloween costume. So please go vote and let me know what you want this time I will go strictly from the votes and if there is a tie I will work it in. Now that I have groveled a bit on with the chapter as always read, enjoy and please review. Like last time, my beta is still gone so all of the mistakes are mine.

Chapter 33

Hadley had come out to look for me. "Sookie I would really like to talk to you." I glanced over to John apologetically and he just nodded his head. He got up from his seat on the swing next to me.

"I will talk to you later Sookie." He kissed my cheek and left us alone.

"So, you seem to have grown up a lot, you have boys chasing you now and you actually look like you like it. I remember someone telling me that boys were gross, and she would never kiss one," She said taking John's vacated seat.

"You would have known about that if you had been here," I muttered scornfully.

"I get that you feel like I abandoned you when I left but can you see it from my side of things? I found out I was pregnant. I didn't know who the father was, and I was scared of how Gran would react. I was afraid that she would make me leave because I was such a bad influence." She sighed heavily.

"I understand, I'm just mad because you didn't even say goodbye or anything. After you had been gone for a few weeks, I was convinced that you had died. I thought for sure you wouldn't just leave if you had a choice. You didn't even call. You were so close and you did not call." My tears had come back in full force.

"You can be mad at me as longs as you forgive me and start to get to know Hunter. I want him to know his family, even if he doesn't know who his daddy is." She shook her head sadly.

"I'd have liked to know him sooner. You know that Gran would have supported you if you stayed, she may have been mad too at first, but she would have done everything that she could do to help you."

"She may have, but at the time, I was not so sure. I cannot go back and change what I did, but I can work to try and fix it in the future. I would like to have the chance to get to know you again."

"Ok, so what have you been doing all this time, other than working as a legal aid?"

"Well, I went to New Orleans to getaway. I started to work at this little hole in the wall of a dinner. I stayed there for a few months until I started to show and then I took a job as a secretary because it was the only job, I could find that had health insurance. I stayed there for the rest of my pregnancy and then took my maternity leave. They were really nice about it and everything. I went back to work there when Hunter was eight months old. My boss offered me the chance to take some classes so that I could be classified as a legal aid. It made the job a lot easier when I knew what I was doing and could help more. I have been there since. I have tried to date a bit but have never found anyone that I felt could be a good role model for Hunter. What have you been doing? How is school going, you are a freshman now right? Are you still doing pageants?" She responded with a hopeful smile.

"I grew up. I am a freshman and I like school. I am the JV dance captain. I still paint and draw and all that. Um, let's see, I got first chair in Orchestra, which is still hard for me to understand at times. I started driver's ed and I can't wait for it to be over. Mr. Dearborn is so boring and he thinks that girls can't drive so he does not give us anywhere challenging to drive. All of the boys have gotten to go on the interstate but none of the girls have. Mostly we get to go around the parking lot or on some of the back roads. I need to ask Gran to take me out so I can have some other experiences. I quit doing pageants. It got to the point where I was doing them to make Gran happy and not myself. I could show you some of what I won and the art that I have been working on."

"I would like that. I am proud of you that you are doing so well. I remember Mr. Dearborn he was just as bad when I took driver's ed. At least you are getting to go on side streets he never let us do that. I could take you out driving if you would like. I am sure that Gran would love to have some quality time with her great-grand baby. I was planning on coming back up here in a few weeks we could do it then. I think that we are going to come back for Halloween too cause I want Hunter to get to go trick-or-treating. It is not as safe as I would like to do that in New Orleans. Are you going to do anything fun for Halloween?"

"I don't know yet. Jason said that one of the football guys was going to be having a party but I don't think that Gran will let me go. Holly and I might be doing a scary movie night."

"Well, if you have time, would you want to come with me and Hunter trick-or-treating?"

"Maybe we will have to see. I need to go back inside and work on my homework for tomorrow is there anything else you want to talk about?"

"No, not if you don't want to. I should go put Hunter down for a nap. He may be four but he still gets real cranky in the evening if he hasn't." We both got up and hugged. I went into the kitchen to get a drink to find Gran on the phone. She finished her conversation and hung up.

"I have some really great news Sookie. Talbot called and your cello is fixed. He said that he could have one of the employees that live in Bon Temps deliver it on their way home."

"Did he say when it would be here?"

"Probably at eight tonight. He also said that you can keep using the cello that you have been for school so yours does not get broken again. I know that you were worried about it."

"Ok that is good I am going to go and work on some homework due tomorrow. Do you need me to help get dinner ready?"

"Nope, I am ordering in so we can have the night off. Go do your homework I will call you down when it gets here." I left Gran and went to my room. I had a paper that I had to do for English. What kind of teacher gives you homework over homecoming weekend it is just cruel. I wrote for about an hour until I could not think anymore. I decided to take a break and drew for a bit. I had sat on the floor with my sketchbook and pencils. I started to sketch my window and the tree outside of it. I was concentrating so hard that I missed when Hunter came in and sat with me.

"What you drawing?" He asked looking at my paper.

"The window," I said simply going back to my task.

"Why don't it have any color?" He asked picking up my charcoal. He wiped his fingers on his pants when the turned black from the charcoal.

"Do you mean that charcoal or the picture?" I countered not sure which he meant.

"The picture. It would be pretty with colors. I could ask Mama for my crayons so you could make it pretty." He offered sweetly.

"I have my own colors I could use but I wanted to work on how I make it look like the light is coming through the window. If you want you can draw a picture of it in color." I said getting up and retrieving my colored pencils. I handed him the colors and one of my smaller sketch pads. We sat there silently drawing till Hadley came up to tell us that dinner had arrived. We went down to the kitchen. The boys were already piling their plates with as many slices as they could hold.

Gran swatted at Jason's hand when he went to take a sixth slice. "Now you eat what is on that plate and let the rest of us get some." She gave him the same look she gives us when we do something unscrupulous in public.

"That's not fair, Eric and Quinn both got six." He pouted.

"They are guests you aren't now quit whining and eat or you not getting anymore." Once everyone had food we spread out between the kitchen and dining room. I still had not had a chance to talk to John after my talk with Hadley. I wanted to say yes but I didn't want to hurt Eric's feelings. I knew that he was still mad at me, but I didn't know if I was ready to deal with his attitude. I care a great deal for Eric, but he was just not an option at the moment.

I sat in the living room eating soundlessly, watching the boys in their attempts at new gastric feats. They seemed to be able to turn even the simple act of eating into a competition. I don't know what they were trying to prove by gorging themselves to the point of sleep but it was still entertaining to watch. Jason was passed out on the floor with a slice still hanging half out of his mouth. Eric was in his own food coma on the love seat. John and Alcide were still going and looked like they would both pass out or puke at any second.

I took my plate to the kitchen to wash it. Gran was cleaning up in the kitchen and Hadley was taking Hunter to get ready for bed. "Hadley said that she would like to take you out driving, are you up for that?"

"I really want to, if you will let me." I squeaked.

"I think that it would be just fine." She said handing me a towel to help dry. We cleaned everything up and put it away. It was almost eight so I went back to the living room to wait for my cello. I plopped down on the sofa right when there was a knock on the door. I shot to the door to answer it. I wrenched it open to see Talbot himself standing there with my cello. I almost knocked him over in my haste to hug him.

"I didn't know that you would be bringin' it, Gran just said that one of your employees would," I said pulling back from the hug.

"Well after all the work that I put into fixing it, I just had to be here to see your face. I also didn't really trust the boys not to drop it on the way here."

"Thank you so much for fixing it. I don't know what I would have done if you couldn't. Thank you." I flung my arms around him again.

"I am glad that I could. It was a pleasure to get to work on it." He said returning my hug. "Now how about you try it out to make sure it still feels the same." He handed me my cello and followed me into the living room. As soon as I had it out of the case I let out a breath I didn't know that I was holding. It looked like it did when I was little, I just hoped that it sounded the same. I played the first thing that came to mind. It felt like I was home. The notes that poured out of the cello were perfect. I was afraid that the repairs would have changed the sound but I think that they just made it better. I knew Mama would be happy to know that her cello was doing alright.

"I'll take it from your smile, that I did a good job?" Talbot asked.

"It is perfect, better than perfect. I don't know how I can thank you."

"Just take good care of it and play it. That beauty needs to be heard. I am going to get going. Call me if you need anything repaired." He said heading out the door. I was so enthralled with having my cello back that I missed the fact that I had woken all of the boys up. They all had varying degrees of happiness on their faces. Most notable was Eric looked both happy and pissed like he was mad at himself for being happy for me.

"It sounds great Babe. I am glad you have it back. Al and I need to get be heading home and we are taking Holly with us. I will see you tomorrow." He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek and then laid one on me in front of everyone. I blushed furiously trying to return his kiss and not come off as slutty. "You can give me your answer to my question tomorrow when I come to pick you up for school." He did not give me a chance to reply and walked to the door thanking Gran for having him.

When I came back to myself, I noticed that I was alone in the room. I got up packed my cello away and took it to my room. I got ready for bed smiling the whole time. Eric came into the bathroom as I was brushing my teeth. He hesitated at the door but came in anyway. He got out his own toothbrush and went to work. He would catch my eye every time he spit in the sink. I could tell that he wanted to say something but it seemed like he would chicken out when he looked at me. I finished up and went to leave when he grabbed my arm. I turned back to look at him to see him with a serious look on his face.

"I don't like it and I don't want you to date Quinn, but you could do worse. Just remember that I will be waiting for you and when he messes up because I know he will, I am here for you." Then he pulled me in for a hug. He kissed the top of my head and muttered in Swedish. "Jag älskar dig. En dag kommer du bli min och när den dagen kommer jag inte låta dig gå. Sleep well Sookie." He kissed me on my head one more time before letting me go. I went to my room, switched off the light and went to sleep.

The next morning when John came to pick me up I told him I would love to go out with him. He asked me to go on a date with him on Saturday that I accepted. John was going to be taking me to a movie and then out to eat. I know that it was kind of a cliché date but I could not wait. He had been so sweet all week, bringing me flowers every day and walking me to class. When the team won their game again Friday night he came up into the stands and hugging and kissing me to celebrate. He was not so subtly marking his territory not that I minded at all. The week went by super-fast and it was Saturday morning.

I spent an hour and a half getting ready. I had taken a shower and let my hair dry naturally so that it had a nice wave to it. Since I didn't know what type of restaurant, he was going to take me to I picked out a nice dress and cardigan with some flats. It was a bright green dress that had a halter style neckline. It had a fitted bodice and flared out nicely at my waist. The cardigan was black and had beading on the top. I thought that it was a nice outfit that could be seen as both dressy and casual. He had come to the door while I was just putting on a last bit of makeup. I came down the stairs and saw him sitting somewhat uncomfortably on the sofa between Jason and Eric. It looked like they were threatening him with castration if he did anything untoward to me on the date. Everyone's heads whipped to look at me when I got down to the bottom of the steps. Gran smiled at me and pulled me into a hug. She whispered into my ear. "Have a good time but act like a lady, so you know not too good of a time." I nodded.

John stood up he was wearing a dark purple almost black sweater with dark washed jeans and dress shoes. He looked handsome. "Wow, you look great Sookie. Let's get going the movie starts in forty-five minutes." He offered me his arm.

"Take good care of her and make sure that you are back by midnight. Have a good time." Gran said waving us off.

"I will," John said over his shoulder as he led me out to his car. John was driving a really nice town car that night. We were nervously silent for most of the ride to the theater. The little bits of conversation we had were awkward. I hoped that the night would get better once we calmed down a bit. When we got to the theater John let me pick the movie. Since I was underage, we had a choice between a cute kids movie and romantic comedy. I was not sure if he could sit through singing animals so we saw the romantic comedy. He got the tickets and refreshments. We took a pair of seats up at the back of the theater. He held my hand through the whole movie periodically picking it up to kiss it. He didn't let go of it until we got in the car to go to dinner. We pulled up to one of the only Chinese restaurants around. We had a nice supper and conversation. All of our earlier awkwardness had left. When the check came so did our fortune cookies. Every time that I would go to a Chinese restaurant or order it in Jason and I would play a game by adding this one phrase to the end of our fortunes which would make them funnier. We had done this for as long as I could remember. We would read them out loud and then add "in bed" to the end. John's was "Only if you dive for pearls shall you find one." I burst out laughing when he read it for me. When he asked me why it was so funny I explained the game to him. "Well isn't that just spiffy." He said blushing.

Mine read "The one you love is closer than you think." My fortune did not work as well as John's for the "in bed" game. I did not give my fortune much thought till we were leaving the restaurant and I saw Eric sitting in a booth on the other side of the room with a blonde girl whose face I could not see. I tugged on John's arm wanting to get out of there before we had to stop and talk. I was not in the mood for another girl hanging from his arm. He'd had a different girl draped over him all week. It made me sick I was glad that his father was coming home. I got John out without him noticing Eric and his date. The ride back to Gran's was quite but the good kind. When we got back, he opened my door for me and walked with me, up the porch steps, holding my hand.

"I had a great time with you Sookie and I hope you did too." He said shyly.

"I did thank you for taking me out." I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the check. He was not having it and pulled me in for a proper kiss. John and I had kissed a few times and each had been great but this one made my toes curl.

"That is a goodnight kiss." He said before pecking me on the check. "I will see you tomorrow for church and remember that you are coming home with me for lunch." He kissed me one more time and then walked down the steps to his car. He had the biggest grin on his face as he drove away. I stood there for a minute just reflecting on the night when I noticed the curtain on the front door move. I looked just in time to catch Gran and Jason looking out the window. I shook my head and went inside to face the questions I knew were coming.

Gran and Jason were sitting on the sofa with the TV on and Gran pretending to read. "I did not know that you could read upside down Gran."

"Oh, hush. How was it? Did you have a good time? Where did he take you?" Having caught her she put down the book.

"It was a lovely night. We saw a movie and went to dinner. The kiss cause I can tell you are just dying to know after you botched job of spying was fabulous. I am going to get ready for bed so that is all you get." I said smiling leaving the room. I laid awake for a while thinking about how nice a time I had. I was almost asleep when my fortune popped into my head. It was just a silly piece of paper what did it know?

AN#2: Thanks again for still reading, please review and vote in the poll.

Translation from Google: I love you. One day you'll be mine and when that day comes I will not let you go.