Time frame: Years after "From Dead to Worse"

This is a companion piece following "Family", "Bowling for Vampires" and "Leather Underwear" Please read the end of Family or you will be extremely confused.

Disclaimer: I don't have any claim on any characters in the Sookie Universe. Please don't sue me. The other characters are my own creation and just wanted to play with them for a while.

A/N: Sorry for the short boring chapter. Had to be done. Ooey gooey romantic gestures coming up.

Chapter 11

"What exactly were you three doing?" asked Eric raising an inquisitive eyebrow. Pam was glancing at each of us critically and Sookie was looking at both Bill and Cole very angrily. Not one member of the blond trio cracked a smile.

"Uhhh..." I was at a loss. What the hell were we just doing? I looked at Bill and Cole who seemed just as befuddled as I was.

"We were discussing something and then we weren't. Discussing I mean."

Brilliant. That explains absolutely nothing.

"Please, have a seat." I finally said gesturing towards the living room. Sookie came up to me and hugged me carefully. "Are you okay, Ally?" she asked full of concern.

I gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm okay." I said patting her on her back. She pulled back and gave me a skeptical look. "Really, Sookie I'm okay." I said again. She nodded and took a seat next to Eric who had already taken a spot on the love seat. Pam sat down on the slipper chair that was close to the fireplace with her legs crossed, hands laced over her knee.

Bill came up from behind me and guided me to the couch. Once I was seated, he sidled up next to me. Cole grabbed the cream colored throw from my couch and wrapped it around me. I smiled at him gratefully, suddenly realizing that my wet t shirt left very little to the imagination. He sat down on the floor next to me.

Silence.

"You saved us last night Ally. You protected us from the explosion. We came to save you but you ended up saving all of us." said Pam finally in the clear pragmatic way she had.

"I wouldn't have been able to if Bill and Cole weren't there. I would have been too weak to do anything." I admitted. Cole looked up at me cupping my calf with his hand giving me a thin smile.

"You are very gifted, Ally." said Eric then his steely gaze fell on to Cole. "As are you, Cole." I didn't like the direction this conversation was going. Sensing my discomfort, Bill put an arm around my shoulder giving me a gentle squeeze.

Cole remained silent but I could sense that he was trying to glean something from them. His hand on my calf had tightened its grip slightly. I didn't know he could use his gift on vampires, but then again he never really had the opportunity. When I felt him relax, I did as well. Okay, that was a good sign.

"Thank you all for coming to save me." I said softly.

"We were glad to do it Ally. I only wish we had arrived sooner." replied Pam her eyes reflecting her sadness for a split second.

I nodded mutely trying to blink back the tears I felt welling up in my eyes. Bill kissed me on my temple.

"So what were you three discussing earlier?" asked Eric, never one to let a subject drop. I miss the other Eric though. The one that accepted me at face value. Of course I was Sookie's child then. Ah well.

Despite the change in my relationship with Eric, Sookie and Pam, I still felt compelled to tell them.

"I was asking Cole and Bill to help me sort out my feelings for the two of them." Sookie's eyes widened in surprise.

"How exactly were they supposed to do that?" asked Pam, keenly interested.

"I just want to be able to spend time with each of them without the other getting upset about it."

"You mean date both of them?" said Sookie. She looked at Bill, utterly surprised. "And they agreed to this?"

"Yes, we did." replied Bill smoothly. I relaxed a little. Thank goodness someone else was speaking.

"We both love Ally. We just want her happy." said Cole.

"She apparently loves you both as well, or else your spirits wouldn't have merged in such a way. I've never heard of a human being able to do that with one mate, let alone two." Eric fixed his eyes on me. "But then again, you aren't completely human- are you?"

"Why don't you just come right out and ask us already?" said Cole irritably. "I know you want to know about our gifts. You want to see if we could help protect your area and those you care about."

"Your gift is truly useful." said Eric appreciatively. Then looking at me, "I have an idea about his gift, your gift however, is less...straightforward. Do you care to elaborate?"

"Part of my ability allows me to bend time and space- change their nature."

"And the other part?"

"I'm just learning about the other part." I said quickly.

Eric just nodded sagely. "You mentioned that you were too weak to use your powers yesterday. I take it that you and Cole are stronger when you are together?"

"Yes, physical contact enhances our abilities; but last night it was both Bill and Cole that allowed me to project the protective field. I don't think Cole alone would have been enough."

"Interesting." Eric was now looking at Bill. "Very interesting."

"To answer your unspoken question, Eric. I will be more than happy to help you. You all are like family to me (if they only knew how much). You have only to ask."

"You will have my loyalty so long as you have hers." was all Cole would say.

"That's settled then." said Eric rising to get up. I stood as well and was surprised when Eric pulled me in a gentle embrace.

"I am sorry for all of the questions, Ally. It was not my intention to come here and interrogate you. I am truly sorry for your suffering, my child." he said softly as he stroked my hair.

"Thank you, Eric." I said with a contented sigh. "I know it wasn't."

With that, the rest of the party left with Pam giving Cole a particularly curious look before they departed.

"I better be going too, Ally. You need your rest." said Cole as he kissed me on my cheek. Then looking at Bill, "Do you need me to drive you to pick up your car?" he offered.

"Yes...thank you." said Bill slowly. He turned to me and gave me a soft kiss on the opposite cheek. "Til tomorrow then." he said in his cool liquid voice.

"Tomorrow."

As I closed the door I smiled knowing full well that with Bill would have figured a way to retrieve his car on his own.

After I locked it, I went upstairs to take another shower. Afraid to linger, I made it quick and was in my soft cotton nightgown in no time. I was suddenly very nervous at being alone in my own home. "Everything is going to be okay, Ally" I tell myself. "You're safe."

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. "You're safe." I repeated to myself over and over again. My eyes refused to close as I prayed for sleep to take me over.

It never did.

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Cole's POV

"Why did you agree to do it?" I asked Bill as I drove us to Bon Temps.

"Like you said. We love her. She has been through so much. Who am I to deny her some peace of mind?" he said smoothly.

"What will you do if she decides to be with me?" I ask.

"Ally does not give her heart lightly. She is most wonderful person I have ever met. If she chose you, I will honor her decision." he said sadly.

"I will do the same, but I confess that I think you may be the one she chooses."

"You've known her since childhood. I've only known her for a month. I think the advantage is yours."

"Yes, but we were thrusted together. Our parents made sure that no one else interfered. People shunned her, Bill. People shunned her and were afraid of her. She didn't even have a friend other than me until she came here. She may have chosen me regardless but the truth of the matter is she has already chosen you. You aren't the only one here who's interested in her and yet she chose you all the same."

Bill looked at me very carefully.

"I can see why Ally loves you, Cole. You are a good man."

I reached out to shake his hand when we got to Merlotte's. To my surprise he took it.

"May the best man win, then." I said.

"Yes, may the best man win."

As I started to back out, Bill asked, "Who's the other person interested in her?"

I glanced at the bar entrance and watched his eyes narrow slightly. Chuckling I pulled out of the parking lot and made my way back on to the interstate.

Let the games begin.

TBC