Trading Places

by blathana

Roanne just wanted a normal life, but it was never going to be normal. It was never meant to be normal. As Roanne struggles to accept her life, grow up and find her place in the world, Godric has already accepted her into his life and Eric does everything he can to ignore the fact she exists. Can Roanne survive stepping into Eric's shoes? Will they ever resolve their differences?

3. Chapter 3

Trading Places

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the True Blood characters (*sigh* unfortunately). I only own my original story plots and characters.

Chapter 3

Roanne POV

Ding dong ding dong ding dong

The sound of the door bell woke me up. Urgh …. I'd fallen asleep in my clothes, curled up on the mattress. My eyes felt puffy and sore. I answered the front door to be faced with a tall man with dark hair.

"Emmm….hello?" I offered….better than 'who the hell are you' I guess.

"Hi. I'm Cameron. Godric's day man. And I'm armed with coffee and croissants" he said, waving the brown bag in the air. "Hi….I'm Roanne, you're new best friend" I said smiling, making a grab for the bag as my tummy rumbled in appreciation. He let me grab the coffees and followed me to the kitchen.

"So….what do you do for Godric" I asked with a full mouth, spraying little bits of crumbs about… "Sorry" I mumbled, taking another huge bite of the croissant; instantly thinking of the saying I want the news not the weather. "I take care of Godric's business during the daylight hours. I worked for him in Dallas but he asked if I would move closer to here to help with you". I raised an eyebrow, mouth being full and not the weather and all. "I'm supposed to help you with anything you need and to pose as your uncle in case school authorities ask any questions. I've also been asked to help sort out the house" he said as he looked around "looks like it needs a bit of work".

"I'll say. There are no sheets on the bed or towels in the bathroom." Godric really didn't have a clue at all.

"Don't worry – I've a decorator firm sending over Gwen. I've worked with her before…she's really great. She should be here in about an hour".

As so was the start to my first day in Louisiana. Gwen showed up as Cameron had promised; armed with colour and material swatches and furniture catalogues. It was actually quite fun. We picked out colours of paint for all the rooms, materials for blinds and curtains, and furniture for all the rooms. If I was going to be stuck here; I may as well be comfortable. I hadn't even realised that Cameron had left until he picked arrived back with lunch.

Gwen left with promises of starting the painting tomorrow. Cameron was dealing with an electrician who was apparently contacted about fitting outdoor lighting…..Godric moves fast. So I was left to explore outside. The heat hit me straight away. Damn it's hot for April. My skin just wasn't used to sun…I'd better start applying sunscreen or I'd be a lobster pretty soon. The grounds were actually quite big. There was a big porch off the kitchen that led down steps to a huge lawn and a patio. But that was it…no garden furniture or flowers ….nothing. It was nothing like home. Immediately I felt a pang of home sickness. I missed my greenhouse, my swing set I had since I was little, I missed my apple trees, my vegetable plot, my bird house. "Here kid" Cameron handed me a tissue. I hadn't even realised I was crying. "Let's go to Shreveport and pick up some supplies".

…

Shreveport was actually kinda fun. Cameron brought me to a shop where they give you a little zappy gun thing to run on the barcodes of stuff you want….then they deliver it to your house. Cool huh? I got everything I thought could possibly be needed. At first it felt wrong because Godric was going to be paying for it all but Cameron pointed out that the house was supposed to be ready for me to live in anyways….and that Godric was loaded with money and the things I was picking out was just chump change. It still felt a little weird though. After dinner we set off back to Bontemps. With jetlag and all I did today, I must have fallen asleep in the car. All I remember is cold hands lifting me from the car.

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Godric's POV

As the sun set I headed upstairs. Her smell was all around the house. I missed her straight away. Decorators were already in; with dust sheets down. They threw me a few nervous nods….their heart rates thrumming faster. But where was Roanne? Just as I was about to ring Cameron; I heard his car coming in the driveway. I could smell her already…..mmm Roanne.

Standing on the porch I could see that she was fast asleep in the car. My anger suddenly boiled as I saw Cameron go to her side of the car. Was he going to wake her? Was he going to carry her? No….Mine….he cannot have her. My fangs snicked down as I zipped forward; startled Cameron with a low growl. I was thankful he backed off immediately…I wouldn't be responsible for my actions if he had of touched her….cradled her to his chest.

Opening the door; I lifted her as gently as I could. She was light as a feather. So beautiful. She stirred a little as she curled into me. I couldn't help but grin proudly. Yes….my Roanne. I'll take care of you my love. My love. I suddenly realised I was taken. I would do anything for this girl. But I must let her choose me…I cannot make her choose me…or I'll try at least.

I lay her gently on her bed; taking in her scent.

…

"So….is she still fat…the teacup?" Eric asked over the phone. "She's not fat Eric" I snapped back. "Sure Godric. That's was you said about that picture of her Rose sent…a school play I believe. She had…..what do human's call it? A muffin top. Although I think there were a few muffins there" Eric snickered. "Son….you would do well not to goad me. . Not. Tolerate it. And believe me…..she's no teacup anymore" I replied; tired of Eric's incessant teasing of Roanne. She may have been a little chubby as a child, but I will love her no matter what she looks like. Besides, she is beautiful. I hung up on Eric…..not wanting to listen to his childish banter anymore…. I'd raised a monster…..quite literally.

It took me every fibre of willpower not to creep into Roanne's room again and watch her sleep…

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Roanne's POV

I woke to the noise of sawing and hammering; yet again after sleeping in my clothes on a sheetless bed. Damn it to hell Roanne…..let's get your shit together…but after breakfast.

It wasn't until I was walking down the stairs and the musclely contractor guys said hi that I remembered I was in the same clothes for a third day now. Roanne you've got to get your smelly ass a shower. Bless Cameron's heart…the kitchen cupboards were stacked with food. Toast, eggs and tea it is.

The house was beginning to fill up…..guys working everywhere. The smell of paint hung strongly in the air. Right. Mission desmellification a go…procedure initiated once I found the towels Cameron and I bought.

As the hot water ran over my body I couldn't help thinking; Godric wasn't the worst looking guy….I mean, not that I was ever going to be with him…I wasn't…..but if I had been…well….a girl could do worse. Stop that line of thinking this instant Roanne Whitford, I chastised myself. You will go to American high school, date cute boys, kiss cute boys; then as soon as mom is back….go home to Ireland and forget about the creepy vampires.

….

The house was finished in three days. Three days. Record in my books. And after a week I decided I was going to start school. I was bored and needed something to do…besides, Godric was creeping the hell out of me. He seemed to be everywhere I turned, constantly staring at me. I felt like a mobile buffet.

So, dressed in a sundress and sandals, armed with my backpack and school supplies….I headed for school. Not the smoothest of arrivals I might add….giving that most kids my age seemed to have cars. I didn't know how to drive and insisted that Cameron couldn't keep playing chauffeur and that I needed my independence….so I ended up with a bicycle….quite a nice bicycle but a bicycle all the same…..go bike girl…ra ra ra. I had opted out of the cycling helmet, elbow pads and knee pad left beside my bike…Godric no doubt. I wanted to keep what little cool factor I could…but, obviously…..the stupid Irish girl didn't factor in the scorching heat. So I arrived on my bike, sweaty, pink faced and out of breath. Uber cool Roanne….just keep your head down. Note to self…..buy stronger deodorant.

The school was huge…..nothing like my old school. I took in a big breath before entering the room. Everyone stared straight me. I gave an awkward nervous smile. "Hi….I'm Roanne" I offered to the nearest girl. That's it Roanne…you are a social diva….you can do this. "Whatever newbie….keep moving"….and with that my little safety bubble burst and my cheeks went hot pink. The girls beside her laughed. "Leave her alone Kimberly" came a voice behind me.

Turning round I came face to face with…..what did the Americans call them….jocks? A super cute jock might I add. "Austin baby" the uber bitch called; pushing past me and planting a kiss on his lips. I hate you I screamed mentally…..wanting to shove her to the ground. But instead, I hugged my backpack to my chest and walked to the back of the class; sliding into a seat and keeping my eyes down to avoid eye contact with anyone. God how embarrassing.

"Don't mind her. Kimberly's a cow… I'm Sookie by the way. Sookie Stackhouse". I couldn't help but smile and the southern manners of the girl in the seat next to me as she held out her hand. "I'm Roanne. Roanne Whitford".

I was glad to have a friend…..if you could call Sookie that…..but I was hopeful. Although she did frown at me a lot during lunch; where she grilled me with questions about myself. I lied naturally…pretending I was staying with my uncle Cameron while my mother travelled with work.

"Well well…..looks like the local freak made a friend. You two fit perfectly together" Kimberly sneered at us as she walked by. I watched as Sookie face saddened. "Well" I said as I patted Sookie's arm "let's us two freaks get going to our next class, shall we?" Sookie's face brightened so much when I said that and she linked my arm. "I'll have to introduce you to Tara my other friend. We can all be friends together" she beamed. Usually I would have laughed at her eagerness but honestly, I was glad to at least have one friend.

Sookie and I exchanged phone numbers as we walked out to the parking lot (she had a bike too…thankfully I wasn't the only pleb). I headed home…..if you could call it that. What a fucking shitty first day at school.

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Godric's POV

I woke to the most wonderful smell….and an absolutely awful smell. The wonderful smell turned out to be Roanne. No surprises there. The bad smell…well, I guess not all human's can cook. After attempting to ask how school was and being responded with "Don't ask", I settled to watch as she made fried chicken in peanut butter, burned broccoli and poptarts. She kept scowling at me as I watched her. I couldn't understand what had her in a bad mood. It must be school.

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Roanne's POV

Jesus H Christ, if he doesn't stop staring at me I'm gonna shove a poptart up his nose. Ok, I need to get out for the night. I sent a quick text to Sookie, asking if it was ok to call over for a while. She replied back with directions and a millions smiley faces. She was only maybe a 15 minute cycle away. "I'm going out tonight….over to a friend's house. I won't be out late". "I'll drive you"

"No"

"It's not safe"

"I'll be fine" I snapped. God who did he think he was, my father.

"You really shouldn't be out by yourself Roanne".

"I'm a big girl Godric" I barked, grabbing my hoodie and heading out to my bike. Then I stopped, looking at the darkening sky and into the isolated surroundings. Shit. "Well, I'll cycle and you can pick me up at 10. My bike will go in the boot" I tried to say casually, swallowing my pride.

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Sookie's POV

"Gran"

"Yes deary" Gran answered, kneading into dough.

"Is it OK if a girl from school calls over? She's new and started school today".

"Oh that's nice dear. Of course." I'm so glad she's made a friend. Poor dear. She's too nice of a girl to not have good little friends.

"Thanks granny" I said, not being able to stop myself from listening to what she was thinking. It was strange though….Roanne wasn't as easy to read as others…sometimes I'd hear a thought, but very little; it was mostly blank. And I loved it; it was so peaceful being around her today and I was super excited that she wanted to hang out. If I couldn't hear her…god that would be great; I'd finally have a little peace and wouldn't know what she was thinking about.

Ding dong

I jumped up from the kitchen a few minutes later to the sound of the doorbell. Please don't think I'm a freak. "Hey Roanne. Won't ya'll come in?"

I brought Roanne in and introduced her to Gran. "Gran….meet Roanne"

Gran rubbed her floured hands in her apron and extended her hand "Pleased to meet you Roanne. Welcome to Bontemps".

"It's really nice to meet you Mrs. Stackhouse" Roanne answered. Still nothing but silence.

"Call me Adele or granny dearest. Sookie, why don't you offer our guest some lemonade and homemade cookies?" Roanne tucked into the cookies and stayed for dinner too. The silence around her was utter bliss. I could have cried. Not that is wasn't strange to head all her thoughts, but I'm a good living southern lady so I didn't ask too many questions. My god…..a friend, a normal friend. No nasty thoughts or comments, no noise….she even helped me with a math problem I couldn't figure out, and I actually got it – without hearing her answer it in her head. She offered to help me with homework.

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Eric POV

Godric was nowhere to be found at his house. Teacup's smell was all through it…..I still couldn't see what the big hu-ha was with her smell. A human's a human. I followed Godric's scent and knew through the bond that he wasn't far away.

I didn't however, expect to find him hiding in the bushes spying on a farm house.

"Son"

Hmmm…. Son was a double meaning; it was what Godric called me when he showed affection and wanted to be close, but it was also a term he used when he'd decided I'd done something wrong and was going to treat me like an infant. But considering that Godric raised his voice before hanging up on me last night….. I was steering more towards the latter.

"Father" I said softly, hanging back a little and keeping my head down…trying to make myself small – not an easy task for a vampire my height. But it didn't matter so much, when Godric was angry he had a way of making any vampire feel miniscule and insignificant. Ok… how to get in his good books? Don't call the teacup fat, actually; don't call the teacup…teacup. "How is Roanne keeping?"

"I don't know" Godric snapped. Shit….still pissed. I took a small step back. "Can I do anything father?"

"NO" he hissed. I took another step back. Stupid Eric… STUPID….you should have said master that time.

As Godric balled his hands into fists and his fangs dropped, I took yet another step away…..desperately trying to distance myself from his anger.

"Eric, do you really this stepping away is going to help you? That somehow you can outrun me? That I couldn't catch you to punish you?"

My head snapped up at the word 'punish'. It had been many decades since Godric was angry with me….let alone punished me and I hadn't heard that leering tone of voice in many hundreds of years. What the Gods did I do? Was it because I called the teacup fat? Surely he wouldn't punish me because of the human? Shit. Shit. Shit.

"…I love Disney cartoons too" was spoken and Godric attention immediately shifted to the little human girls coming out to sit on the porch. The one talking was a slim blond girl with wavy blond hair and brown eyes….must be Roanne considering the Irish accent. Hmmm …not fat anymore. Why didn't Godric just tell me? And the other girl… mmmmm now there's a smell….sweet sweet blood. She was a pretty blond too….bigger boobs though… hmmmm.

My lustful thoughts were quickly interrupted, "Go to the house Eric. To my basement. Do not come up until Roanne is sleeping". I was instantly grateful…although it seemed Roanne's fault that I was going to be punished…she bought me some time. Maybe Godric would calm down by then. "Yes Master" Good Eric….suck up all you can.

I couldn't help but think of the things I'd like to do with the busty blond as I flew to Godric's.

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Godric's POV

I was now officially stalking Roanne…..but I had justifications. I didn't know this Stackhouse family. Maybe they were bad people…it would be neglectful if I hadn't followed Roanne here and made sure she was ok. She seemed happy there; the older women fed her well and the child seemed to be nice to my Roanne. Why couldn't Roanne see me like that?

I'd come close to hurting Eric tonight for the first time in a long while…..but nothing, not even Eric would talk bad of my Roanne. I needed to find some calm….so I focused on Roanne's voice and smell.

"So who's giving you a lift? I could ask my bother Jason when he gets back?"

Jason will not be touching what's mine.

"No….it's ok. Godric's gonna pick me up and bring me home."

"Is he your boyfriend?"

Say yes. SAY YES.

"No way. He's…..em….he's my uncle's friend's creepy son who's staying at his house. My uncle's kind of like the family childcare."

"Why's he creepy?" the little blonde asked.

I'm NOT creepy.

"I dunno…..he just creeps me out. He follows me about and I always feel like he's watching me. He gives me the heebie-jeebies. He never does….. I dunno….normal stuff"

"Maybe he likes y'all"

Yes…..good little Stackhouse girl.

"Ewww… no no no"

And they both laughed. How could she not like me? I was powerful. I was a sheriff. I was one of the oldest vampires in American for crying out loud.

"I wonder where he is though… I said 10ish."

Shit.

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Roanne's POV

As if on cue…Godric drove up the driveway. Yey.

"Thanks Sookie…I really enjoyed tonight. See you in school tomorrow" I called as Godric like my bike into the car. I should have been polite and introduced Sookie to Godric but I didn't want her involved in all that.

"Would you like to turn on the radio?" Godric asked as we drove back to the house.

"No thanks. I'm good."

We got home in just a few short minutes, but I was glad for the lift…it was pitch black out. I would have been scared beyond belief cycling home. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on Godric.

"Em…..thanks for picking me up Godric. I appreciate it" I said, as we walked into the house. I headed to the kitchen to make some tea and called over my shoulder "Would you like a drink?"

Fatal error…..I broke the cardinal rule of vampire no no's 101….I offered a drink. I jumped at the clicking sound behind me and turned to see Godric's eyes turn black…his fangs down. Should I run?

A/N so…..what do you think guys? Do I have too much POVs? Do you like the different personalities?