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: Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews everyone! It really makes me feel good that y'all are enjoying my little bouts of craziness. Keep 'em coming!

Both Bill and Ally share this chapter. They are just more accommodating than Eric is. But hey, that's part of his appeal I suppose. I have marked each section to avoid confusion though I doubt that you will be. Had a wild hair today, I hope you like what I came up with.

A favorite character of mine will make a cameo appearance in this chapter, watch for it....

Enjoy.

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Chapter 17

Hours became days. Days became weeks. Weeks have become months.

It was almost two and a half months and still Ally would not wake. Her vitals were back to normal, but still nothing.

Bill sat at her bedside. He was there from the moment the sun set until he went to ground for the day. He read to her everyday in hopes that his voice could keep her tethered to him. Tonight's story was Homer's Odyssey. He knew she was interested in mythology of all sorts and thought she would enjoy it. If nothing else, it was a long read and he needed to do something other than sit and wait.

Sam comes every now and then and Eric sends her flowers every week and occasionally would accompany Sookie on her visits.

Clancy is the only other regular besides Bill. Just a quick visit after his shift at Fangtasia. He'd ask if there were any changes (there wouldn't be) and then he'd leave.

He smiled at the nurse as she came in to check on Ally's iv. This one's name was Courtney. He knew all of the nurses that have attended her. They were all very kind and proficient at their job. They also lent a blind eye to hospital hours to accommodate him. After the first month, they even brought a microwave and a small fridge stocked with True Blood for him after noticing his thinning appearance.

"So what are you reading Ally today, Bill?" she asked as she swapped out the saline pouch.

"The Odyssey."

"Homer. I'm sure she'll like it." she smiled warmly at him. She was an elderly woman in her mid sixties. She worked hard and was always kind to him. He especially liked the fact that the first time she met him, she had assumed that he was Ally's husband knowing full well he was a vampire.

It immediately propelled her to the top of favorites list.

"Thank you Courtney. I hope she does."

"Where is your partner in crime, Cole, today?"

"I'm sure he'll be here later." he said after a pause.

Courtney gives him a friendly pat on his shoulder and walks out leaving him with his thoughts.

Cole used to be there with him everyday. They would share stories about Ally and laugh about her more impetuous moments, each of them keeping her fresh and alive in their minds. He had become a respected friend and Bill enjoyed his company. But during the past week or so, his visits became more infrequent and often he was accompanied by Pam. It was as if he had begun to move on.

Bill should be happy about that, but he wasn't. He was angry. How could Cole give up so quickly? How could he just forget? How could he claim to love her and just let her go?

Bill held on to everything. Every expression, every gesture. Her smile, her laugh, her touch...all were vivid in his mind as if not a single moment had gone by.

Really, how much time has passed? Two months? That was nothing in long life of a vampire. A mere blink in time. He would not abandon her. He will stay and wait for his love to awaken. The walls could crumbled around him and he will be there. She was his reason for being. She was his world. How could he move on knowing that she was still alive?

He reached out and touched her necklace. She never went anywhere without it. He remembered asking her about it and she said that it was a gift from her mother, her real mother. When he asked Cole about Ally's real mother he hadn't heard of her.

Hmm. She must have encountered her mother sometime after she and Cole had parted. Curious. He knew her mother was powerful considering Ally's mine boggling abilities. Oh well. This was just another thing for him to learn about her. He reminded himself to ask Ally when she woke.

He stood up to kiss her softly on the lips and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Ally." Sitting back down, he settles in for the evening.

He opens the book.

"Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who traveled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy..."

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The Nether Realm

"This is insanity." I said to myself as a stream of assorted projectiles were being hurled at me. I tucked in my body and spun, snatching a knife from the air and throwing it at one of the many targets scattered around me. There were facades of innocents scattered in the training arena and I had to concentrate my barriers in order to protect them.

This is not insanity, it is necessity, Ally. Guan Yin's instructions were very specific...

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I have to hone my abilities or else I'll keep ending up here."

Exactly. Now be a dutiful daughter and concentrate on the task at hand. Remember don't will your gift, focus and release it. Your making your mind and body work harder than you should.

Well it was easier when I unlocked myself to heal Eric...

I wouldn't recommend that you let go in that fashion- controlled discharges are safest. Completely releasing your power can yield...unusual results.

"Yes, See foo (master)." I said as I ducked to avoid a cinder block. My small victory was short lived as I was hit from the side by a wooden hairbrush of all things. Talk about the pain of beauty- that dumb thing broke my rib!

Welcome to coma boot camp.

Remember the last time I was here? Pleasant right? Meeting my mother, the good goddess, Guan Yin; green rolling hills, peace, serenity, revelations about the path of my life, yada, yada, yada...

Next time I get knocked in here, I want that.

Hopefully, the next time you decide to heal a vampire, you won't end up here...

"Got it..." I grumped. The sky grew dark as a thousand spears littered the sky all flying in my direction. I braced myself.

Don't forget the innocents...

"Already on it..." That was my problem. I focus too much on everyone else and forget about myself. I've been taking it for granted that I would eventually heal, that I was an immortal. Yes, I can't die but I can be hurt. I can be hurt badly.

"Ow!" Spear in the leg- that's gonna be a treat to remove.

See what I mean?

"When's dinner time?"

You ask that constantly. You are not in your body. You do not require sustenance.

"So what's the point in training when my body is laying somewhere, atrophying?"

Sigh. Your body is healed. It has not and will not atrophy. Our goal is to strengthen your concentration and teach you to compartmentalize each action. Your mind controls your body...

"Well, my mind says I'm hungry."

Very well...child.

A small wooden table and two chairs appear before me. On it were two steaming bowls of noodles in broth. I turned my body to reach the spearhead poking out of my thigh and snapped it off. Then grabbing the shaft I yanked it out.

"Son of a bi-..."

Ally...

"big poopy head." Kind of takes the steam out of the phrase, doesn't it?

There are so many rules here. I guess you aren't really suppose to run a muck amongst the gods, but it sure would make my stay here much more interesting if you were. No profanity, no dirty thoughts, what's a young red-blooded immortal to do?

I limped over to the table and sat down. My master joins me as we eat for a while in silence.

"See foo?"

No.

"Aw, come on. I didn't even ask you anything yet."

I already know the question and you are not ready to go back yet. So the answer is no.

"How long have I been gone?"

.................

"Hey, how long?"

Two.

"Two days? That's not bad."

Two months.

"What!" I've been here for two months. Two months of training up here while my life, my real life waits below. I wonder if...

Yes, your true mate waits for your return. He has only left your side to rest for the day.

Bill. So Bill really is my true mate.

As if you had a doubt.

"Well, what about Cole? I know I'm not imagining my feelings for him. Are you telling me I don't love him?"

I never said that. You asked about your true mate and I answered your question.

Okay. A lot of help there.

Maybe the question is not who but what. What do you love about them? When you know that you'll have your answer. Frankly, Ally you had that answer already too. You were simply too afraid to admit it.

I sat there and thought.

What do I love about Cole? Friendship. I love our friendship and our shared history. I love how we know each other's thoughts without even speaking.

That's something learned through time. You two had over twenty years together...

And Bill? I love his strength of spirit, his gentleness, his mind. I also love his body and his voice and his humor...

Really Ally. His humor?

"Yes, he has a very good sense of humor. He just doesn't realize he's being funny." I said defensively.

You are hopeless you know...

Okay back to the big question. What do I love about Bill? Everything. I love everything about him. The good things and the bad things. Good grief, I'd been such a fool. I love Cole but not in the forever kind of way. I was clinging to the ideals of youth. He was my first love, my champion, my friend.

Cole was the past. Bill is my present and future. End of story.

Finally!

Now let's finish with the training so that you can get back down there.

"Aw. Can't I practice down there? I didn't realize I'd been gone so long." I pouted.

Promise me you'll both practice?

"You know I will."

Sigh. Alright, Ally. You know I can't say no to that face. Besides, there are matters that will soon require your attention. Remember all that you've learned and use it wisely.

"Yes Master Yoda."

Ally...

(Giggle) "Yes, See foo."

He comes up and embraces me. My powerful and wise teacher- wearing a teal and pink ascot.

See you in the real world, Ally.

I was positively thrilled at going back. Clicking my heels and snickering (well it's not really necessary, but master seems to have a flair for the dramatic) I said, "There's no place like home...There's no place like home..."

And then I was. I was home.

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My eyes opened slowly. I allowed them to adjust to the light. I was in a hospital room. I glanced around and noticed a lovely bouquet of wild flowers, my favorite, on the combination dresser/ tv stand and there was a book flipped open on my lap. The beeping of the microwave called my attention to the other side of the room. Bill's back was to me pulling out a True Blood. He was shaking it a little to even out the temperature.

"While you're up there, do you mind making me some popcorn? I'm starved."

His body froze. Putting down the bottle, he turned slowly to look at me. He was wearing an indigo dress shirt and...jeans. Well, that's new.

"Nice jeans." I grinned.

Seconds later I was in his arms. Cheek to cheek, hands on my back and hair. He was peppering my face with kisses, sobs of relief escaping his lips.

"I've missed you, Ally."

"I've missed you too." I said sighing in contentment.

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Fangtasia

Eric bolted up and walked swiftly to his office. He turns to see Cole exiting at the same time out of Ally's door.

They look at each other.

They had both felt it. The quickening.

Ally had awoken.

TBC