A/N: Sorry I'm not cool enough to own the southern vampire mysteries. Sorry it took so long to update. My muse was lost for a while.
After he walked out I turned to Tristan "Start talking lady."
Tristan looked at me and said "Look, here's the truth. I'm a gargoyle sent to protect you. I didn't tell you because I couldn't. There is nothing I can do about that. Please, don't get mad at me. I know how you are. Niall wasn't trying to control. He just loves you. I didn't want to keep this from you but I couldn't help it. You are my friend. Although I came here on a job I care about you. I'll keep doing my job no matter what. You need my help."
I stood there staring at her. Gran would have said I was catching flies. I'm really getting tired of people trying to control my life. "Get out NOW" I screamed at her.
She put her hands out like she was defenseless. "Sookie, I'm really sorry. Please call me soon so we can talk about this." I just gave her a stern look.
I stomped down the hall as I slammed my door I yelled "I'm going to bed so screw off." Gran would have found a bar of lava soap if she heard me say that.
The next morning I decided I needed to get out. So, after my toast and coffee I drove to Merlottes to see Sam. Sam was in hs office doing paperwork when I got there.
"Well hey cher. I didn't think 'd see you here for a while." He said with a big smile on his face.
"Hey Sam, I just wanted to talk for a bit and get out of the house." He gave me a knowing look after I said that.
"Alright, what's up now?" he huffed out.
I told him everything about my grandfather and Claude's inheritance, Quinn and I talking, Eric and I talking, the blood offense, and Tristan.
"I told you those Eric was no good." He growled out. "But a gargoyle I thought those were a myth. That's pretty cool I've got to say." I never realized Sam could switch subjects so fast.
"Sam, please he didn't mean to. And why is everyone so excited about Tristan?" I really am getting sick of this.
Sam rolled his eyes at me, "Sook you've got to understand. Gargoyles are true defenders, they were never forced to work for other supes. They just like to protect. At first they would protect when they found someone noble, asking nothing in return. As time went on they learned to ask for something in return. They will never protect anyone who isn't worth protecting. Gargoyles are peace keepers, not aggressors. I've never heard of one attacking without just cause."
"How do you know so much about them?" I could only stare at Sam.
"Well some shifters and weres believe that thats where all shifters and weres come from. It's is said that a gargoyle mated with every animal." I think I had a look of pure disgust on my face because Sam said, "Don't look at me like that its a legend. I really don't think your friend will be messing with any animals any time soon."
I couldn't help but breathe a little easier. I like Tristan and all but thats just gross. "Sam, do you think I should go talk to her?"
"Yes I really do. She was just doing what she was born to do after all." Then Sam gave me a big hug and told me to scoot.
The drive over was uneventful. When I got to her apartment I remembered she told me last time to stop knocking just go in because Billy goes crazy if you knock. Billy greeted me at the door happy as ever to see me. I walked over to her room and poked my head in. "Oh sorry." blushed as I closed the door. Tristan was in bed with two half naked men. I went and sat down in her living room.
"Fuck, guys how many times do I have to tell you stop coming over in the middle of the night. Now my friend thinks I'm some kind of sexual deviant." Tristan yelled
"Shut up and make me breakfast woman." I could hear one of the guys say.
"Fuck you douche." Tristan said as she walked down the hall. "Sookie, I'm sorry sometimes my friends show up at the worst times." I couldn't help but look at her funny. "Don't look at me like that. We just shared the bed. We didn't sleep together. I love them but more as brothers."
"Sweetie I have a brother and I've never woke up as an adult in the same bed with him." I laughed at her.
"I do to but I used to party with these two and we kind of picked up the habit so we wouldn't get unwanted advances while we were sleeping. California is a different place a person sleeping alone at a party is free game to some people. Safety in numbers you know." she explained
"So you've never?" I had to ask
"EWWW gross no." I don't think she could have answered any quicker.
"So are they gargoyles too?" I couldn't help myself I couldn't read them.
"No, Russel is a Grizzly and James is a jaguar. We were the only people we knew who shifted so we always stuck together." Wow now thats cool.
"Okay that makes a little more sense." I still confused about the sleeping in the same bed but I can understand it.
One of the guys decided to walk down the hall. "Woman where is my breakfast? Why aren't you in the kitchen?" He demanded. I could tell from his head he was teasing her.
"Russ, make your own god damn breakfast I'm going out." She rolled her eyes then said "Hey Sookie I need to go shopping care to join me."
"Yeah, my cousin used to tell me its the best therapy. I've had a long couple of days." I sighed in relief. I don't think I can handle the banter in her apartment for long.
"Yes you have let me get ready and we'll go. Lets take my car more room" She said running down the hall. She came out a few seconds later pulling on her clothes in a hurry. She looked positively green.
Who I guessed was James poked his head out her door and said, "You could have knocked you know."
She grabbed my hand and drug me out the door grumbling about naked men and having to knock on her own bedroom door.
As we walked to her car I heard someone yell "Bring lunch when you get back I know how long it takes you to shop."
The ride to the mall was quick. She can drive faster than Eric when she's pissed. "I'm so sorry Sookie I didn't know they were coming until they showed up at 2am this morning. It was a surprise to see them they both still live in Cali."
"Its okay. My brother shows up unannounced all the time." I could really understand where she was coming from.
"So, Sook what did you wan to talk about? I know you didn't suffer through my brothers for no reason." Well she hit the nail on the head there.
"Okay, Sam explained the whole gargoyle thing to me. So, I really want your opinion on the whole Quinn and Eric thing." I hope she'll help me with this.
"Well, I think the best place to talk about men is in Victoria's Secret. Men are too embarrassed to go in there. And what ever you decide you'll be able to get the right equipment for your decision." She says this while we walk over to the underwear. "So, are you thinking along the lines of granny panties or lacy thong?"
She was holding on of each in her hands I snatched them away quickly. "Stop it. I really don't know what to do here. I like them both but I don't know what to think."
"Why not have your cake and eat it too?" She was looking at a really skimpy nightie while she said that.
"What do you mean? Date both of them? I'm not that kind of girl." I was looking at her like she was crazy.
"Sweetie I'm not saying jump into bed with both. Just date no sex, but you need to lay down the ground rules. Tell them you like both and you like to get to know them better. So, go out have fun at the end of the date say goodnight at the door. You are in charge. Take it slow and have fun. When you're ready you'll know. But don't lead them on, you need to be fair they both care for you." She said this all like it was not anything important.
I thought for a minute, "You know what I really like it. But I don't know how to go about it."
She put her hands together in front of her and bowed, "Ah then you must speak to the master. James is a dating expert. He can teach you how to do it with out stepping on any toes. Russ, will have some great advice too. When we get back talk to them." I couldn't help but laugh.
We had a great time. I ended up buying both the granny panties and the sexy thong, along with a few sexy bra and pantie sets. Even if I wasn't going to do any thing I deserve to look sexy.
We bought lunch and enough for the boys and headed back to her place. When we got there I was surprised to find that James and Russel were really helpful and funny. They ribbed Tristan the whole time and explained how I could date both Eric and Quinn.
"Remember always be open and honest with them, but try not to tell them what the other did. They will get jealous and very competitive if you do. And the golden rule is never see them both on the same day." James looked me straight in the eyes as he said that.
I drove home that evening feeling a lot more confident. I had an uneventful night. I told Amelia Tristan's idea she seemed to love it. I went to bed with a smile. I'll talk to Eric and Quinn tomorrow.