Time frame: Years after "From Dead to Worse"

This is a companion piece following "Family", "Bowling for Vampires" and "Leather Underwear"

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: Okay, this chapter will be in Sookie's POV. I've been nervous in doing this because I have a hard time getting into her character and I didn't wish to the Sookie Police to come down on me for writing her wrong.

Please be kind when you read this, and I hope you like it.

Chapter 30

One week ago...

Bill Compton. My first love. My first heartbreak. My first everything.

There was a time when I would burst into tears just thinking of all that I'd gained and lost from the first moment he walked into my life. There was a time that I believed he loved me and I believed I loved him. There was a time when I wanted to stake his deceitful ass for all it was worth.

Those times have long gone thank goodness. Somehow through all the mire and bull we've emerged as friends. Good friends. It's hard to stay mad at Bill for too long. He seems genuinely sorry whenever he's made a mistake and he's made some whoppers in the time that I've known him.

So here we are walking arm in arm into Tiffany's in New York's Fifth Avenue. Now that vampires were part of the mainstream, businesses have revised their hours to accomodate them. He wanted my opinion on an engagement ring he had picked out for Ally. I'd never seen him so nervous in my life. Bill's not what you would consider to be outwardly expressive so this was a rare treat. He hands the pretty sales clerk a card. She gives him a nod and disappears to locate the ring. Bill gives her a friendly smile and she blushes as she hands him the box.

He opens it carefully to show me and I gasp. It was so delicate with the diamond beading around the one carat round center stone. It had a milgrain detailing, with 5 channel set diamonds of either side of center. It was on a lovely platinum band. It wasn't too big or ostentatious. It was perfect for Ally.

"Do you think she'll like it?" he asked, studying my face as I looked at the ring.

I smiled as I looked up at him. "Bill, she'll love it. This is exactly the kind of ring Ally would want."

His face lit up from my reply. Taking one last look at the ring, he closes the box and hands the clerk his credit card.

"Thank you Sookie for coming with me. I've only proposed once before and that was over 150 years ago."

I nodded. That was when he married his Caroline when he was still human. Even though he told me once that he never really loved her, he was good to her and their children. They were together for over ten years until he was turned. Gotta hand it to Bill. He certainly sticks to his guns.

"You're welcome, Bill." I say resting my hand on his arm. "It's nice to see you've finally found someone."

He offers me a playful grin. "Well I was getting tired of you and Eric being the only ones thumbing their noses against vampire traditions."

I roll my eyes and slap his arm playfully. His face turns serious.

"I know that things haven't always been good between us, Sookie; but we were just never meant to be. I know now that Ally was what I've been waiting for all my life. She is everything to me. I hope you don't think badly on me for saying that."

"Bill, this isn't an ego thing. You're right- you and I were never meant to be together. Thank you for being considerate of my feelings but trust me when I say that I'm happy for you both."

"Thank you, Sookie for your friendship." he smiles softly his hand covering mine.

"Anytime, Bill. Anytime."

We hurry out the store so that we could catch our flight back.

I didn't get stabbed, beaten, shot, or staked on the way there or on our trip home. A pretty good day in my world.

Yes, it was extremely strange to go with your ex vampire boyfriend to help him pick out an engagement ring, but I like strange and besides...

...that's what friends do.

TBC- It's not over yet...