Posted: 9/11/10
Updated: 8/1/11

PART ONE

Are we Clear

Preston, still naked, stood in the living room, his eyes fixed on Sookie. He waited for her to speak, not sure what to expect. His best bet, he figured, would be to wait for her, allow her to take the lead, and then he would come up with a plan to fix the situation, which would be slightly easier if he knew what and who she was. All he knew for certain was that she wasn't entirely human.

Sookie closed the door and placed the rifle back in the closet, purposely avoiding Preston's gaze. "Get me something to drink," she said plopping herself down in the armchair. Preston didn't wait for her to tell him again. He turned, headed into the kitchen, and started going through the cabinets. He knew she was upset, and if she was anything like a fairy woman, he figured he better find something strong for her to drink.

"Perfect," he quietly mumbled, finding exactly what he was hoping to find. As he made his way back into the living room he decided his backup plan would be to use magic. "If it even worked on her," he silently thought.

When he entered the living room Sookie was still in the chair. Her expression was filled with questions, anger, and exhaustion. Preston handed her the short glass of bourbon. She avoided looking directly at him and this worried Preston. She took the glass and held it to her soft perfect lips. He'd dreamed of those lips for weeks.

Carefully, Sookie sipped the bourbon and then gulped the rest of it down. "Not good," Preston privately lamented. Sookie closed her eyes as the bourbon burned smoothly all the way down. It took her a few seconds before she opened her eyes again. Unexpectedly, she started laughing at seeing Preston naked and wearing nothing but white socks. He looked like the perfect unwrapped gift.

"For Pete's sakes, cover your self," she said waving her hand up and down the length of his amazing body. In less than a second Preston went into the kitchen and retrieved the towel wrapping it around his waist. "You're crazy," she pointed out the moment he returned into the living room, "letting Curt and Ralph beat you to a pulp." She had seen everything in Ralph's mind. "I can't believe it. What in your right mind and Niall's were you both thinking?"

"Niall," Preston hesitated. He was uncertain how much to tell her without angering Niall. "He said you were 'deserving' and that I was to make you happy."

"You were supposed to make me happy?" Sookie thought it sounded like a tall order. Not that she was hard to please, far from it, she was profoundly simple when it came to what made her happy.

"Helping people makes you happy, so I was hurt," he explained. "And protecting people makes you happy, so I was hunted." Sookie wasn't sure what to say. She couldn't say 'no sir'. There was truth in everything he was saying so far. "And you haven't had sex in a long time." Sookie's eyes opened wide with shock. She didn't know how he knew that. "So I planned to seduce you," he absently let the words slip out of his mouth. The moment he heard himself speak the words out loud, he regretted them. Sookie stared at him, her vivid blue eyes wide and unblinking. She wasn't sure if she should be horrified or shocked at the way she became excited at the latter part of his confession.

"Ohmygod," she groaned painfully and buried her face in to her open hands. She was utterly mortified. If ever the ground needed to open up and swallow her whole, it was now. In a flash she remembered Amelia going on about her needing sex, not realizing that Niall was in the next room. The thought that he had heard them —she wanted to die. Amelia had bought her a pink vibrator and Niall, she thought, gave her a live one. Granted, she mused, a gorgeous one, if you liked the chiseled from top to bottom Italian god type. "Geesh!" Sookie moaned inaudibly. She could only imagine how pathetic they all thought her to be.

"Sookie?" Preston's voice was gentle and smooth. She was too embarrassed to face him. She hated to think about what he thought of her. "Sookie?" He gingerly touched her knee. Preston was wrought with worry. He hated himself for having hurt her. "Please don't be sad."

"I'm not sad," she mumbled into her hands. The words and the feelings were true, which surprised her. As she went over everything that had happened over the last few hours, she realized that all day she had been sad…until Preston.

Abruptly a new man's voice resounded in the room.

"What have you done?" Niall demanded. His sudden appearance startled Preston and Sookie. She sprung to her feet, standing only inches from Preston's very warm and naked body.

"Nothing," Sookie immediately rang out. She swayed back on her heels. Preston reached over and steadied her by her waist. Though it was quick, it didn't escape his notice the way she responded to his touch: the way she drew in her breath and the way her pupils dilated. Sookie tried to ignore the sensuous feelings that being so close to Preston induced. "We didn't do anything," she sang innocently though her voice was laced with guilt. About the only thing she was guilty of was coveting Preston.

Niall's eyes darted suspiciously from Sookie to Preston. They both wore guilty expressions on their faces. Niall drew in a silent breath and instantly was relieved that he didn't smell sex on either of them. Though it was rare for a human and fairy to breed, he had worried that with Sookie's unique heritage; she could be impregnated by a fairy rather easily. He hadn't given Preston permission to lay with her, but then again he didn't say he couldn't. Now he regretted not being more precise with his instructions.

"You called," Niall said. "I was told you didn't sound yourself. Then I couldn't reach you."

Sookie stepped away from Preston and walked toward Niall. "I'm happy to see you Great-Grandfather." She embraced him.

Niall glanced at Preston and saw the surprise on the fairy's face at hearing Sookie's admission. Sookie's relation to him was kept from Preston for their safety. Niall's enemies were strong and wouldn't hesitate to use Sookie against him. They also wouldn't hesitate to torture Preston into revealing Sookie's whereabouts. Now he felt compelled to threaten the young fairy with his life should he ever speak a word to anyone about his great-granddaughter.

Lovingly, Niall wrapped his arms around Sookie and kissed her gently on her forehead. "I was worried," he said. "I thought…" his voice faded. He thought he had made a mistake trusting Preston. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you," he apologized.

"Ralph, the Were you had beat up Preston, scared me," Sookie explained. Right away she noticed Niall's expression change slightly. He wasn't happy. "When you called," she explained. "Ralph pounded on my door, frightening me."

"You weren't supposed to know," Niall said. He shot Preston a hard disapproving look. He was almost certain that he was going to have to hurt the young fairy for disobeying him.

"It wasn't Preston's fault," Sookie quickly stated. The way Niall had looked at Preston worried her. "I saw it in Ralph's mind." Her confession surprised Niall. He hadn't known she could read shifters. A wide and proud smile spread across his face. His great-granddaughter's gift was stronger than he had expected. "I only just found out," Sookie explained. "It was all overwhelming and Preston was just trying to comfort me."

"I see," Niall said giving her a kind expression, which went blank when he looked over at Preston.

Sookie didn't like the look on Niall's face. She didn't want Preston to get into any trouble on her account. "He's beautiful." She glanced over at Preston. His soulful tawny eyes met hers. Her stomach tightened. The way he looked at her, she knew she was in real danger from herself. "It wasn't necessary sending him," she quickly told Niall wanting Preston to know that even though she found him attractive, she wouldn't be falling into bed with him. "You really shouldn't have sent him."

"You never allow me to give you anything," Niall replied. "I saw an opportunity."

"Spending time with you is more than I could ask for," she reminded him for the billionth time, but he wasn't satisfied. He was a grandfather, and he enjoyed giving his grandchildren gifts. "Besides Jason," Sookie whispered. "Who you know I'm not speaking to because—well you know why—and of course Claudine and Claude, you're my only family."

"Yes, dear one," Niall whispered holding her hand between his two. "So you're happy with the companion I sent you?" he asked. Of all the fairies he could have sent to her, Niall was certain she would enjoy Preston's company the most. He was young, handsome, and vibrant much like her.

"Yes," Sookie answered succinctly surprising herself with how easy her reply came out.

"Good." Niall smiled. "Then why did you call?" he asked.

"Oh, well, that was before Preston," she hesitated deciding to omit that she had been lonely. "I was hoping to spend some time with you."

"I see." Her great-grandfather smiled, moving one hand to rest on her arm. He loved Sookie more than words could express. She had his beloved Einin's eyes and his son's smile. "I can't tonight," he regretfully admitted. His duties in Faery had kept him from being with her tonight, which is why he had sent the fairy. "But knowing how much these two days mean to you, I didn't want you to be alone today. This is why I sent Preston to you," he explained. "I'll return tomorrow and spend Christmas with you, if you'll let me."

"Really? Yes." Sookie's face beamed and her joy made Niall feel a deep sense of happiness.

"Yes," he said. "Now if you don't need me, I really do need to get back."

"Ok," she said. Niall leaned forward and kissed her on her forehead.

"Preston." Niall's tone made his name sound like an order. His smile had left his face, which worried Sookie.

"He doesn't have to go." Sookie's words came out hurried.

Niall looked at his great-granddaughter with curiosity. The fluctuation in her voice didn't escape him. There was a sense of protectiveness in the way she spoke her words, but it was more than that. The way her body turned. "It wasn't possible," Niall assured himself and brushed the thought aside. He told himself her reaction was a result of her overly passionate and fiercely independent manner; a fairy trait. Though humans possessed these qualities, it was the intensity with which Sookie exhibited these that were fairy.

"If he doesn't want to go," Sookie explained. "It's ok with me that he stays." She resisted the temptation to role her eyes at herself for stumbling over her words.

Niall was pleased that she was enjoying his gift. "I need to speak with Preston," he said gesturing to the young fairy.

"Ok." Sookie wasn't sure if she should step out of the room or not, but quickly, she realized she needn't bother. They were talking so low she couldn't even hear if she tried.

"Stay out of her bed," Niall demanded.

"I will stay out of her bed," Preston conceded.

"Think not, because you know who she is," Niall explained, "that this changes anything."

"I understand."

"Speak to no one about my great-granddaughter," Niall said. "And I'll be indebted to you."

"You have my word."

Sookie watched Preston nod his head several times and then whatever Niall had to say, he seemed to have said it. He turned toward her. "I'll see you tomorrow," Niall said. He smiled at her and gave her another hug before disappearing. Sookie had no idea what the two men had just said to each other. She stood for some time staring into the space where Niall had been standing.

"Sookie?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you ok?" Preston asked.

His question quickly reminded Sookie of what he had said to her before Niall appeared out of thin air. She didn't want Preston thinking that she would go through with his plans to seduce her. She didn't care how much her body was betraying her at the thought of being seduced by him. Her will was stronger than her body; almost.

"Just because I said you could stay," she blurted out; flames flickered in her ocean blue eyes. "It doesn't mean I'm gonna sleep with you. Are we clear?" Her voice was strong and unwavering.

Preston drew in a sharp breath. "Yes," he said mesmerized by her passion. A brilliant smile lit his handsome face. "She's magnificent." He rested the palm of his hand over his heart. He wanted to love her if it was the last act he ever did.

"I only said what I did, so you wouldn't get in trouble on my account—"

A loud knock on the front door cut her off.

Preston and Sookie froze and stared at the door. They both hesitated for several seconds before they moved. Sookie reached out with her mind and noticed the void on the other side. Somehow she knew it was probably Bill.

"It's ok," she assured Preston. A quick look in the peephole confirmed that it was her ex. She couldn't be sore at him; after all, two werewolves had been howling. "Hi Bill," Sookie greeted him.

Bill was pleased to hear her so happy. "I heard menacing howls in this direction," he said.

"Is everything ok?" Preston asked. He came to stand behind Sookie. She turned her head to face his very warm and broad chest. Swallowing, she lifted her chin and answered him, "Yes." She really hoped Preston wouldn't pick up on the subtle ways she was certain her breathing and heart rate had changed at his nearness.

"Is this your man?" Bill asked glaring at Preston's half naked figure. Being a vampire, he noticed the changes in Sookie's respiration and pulse. Not only that, but he had had her blood; they were bonded and he could feel her passion for the man inside her house. In a blink he closed his side of the connection. God help me, he didn't have to feel her emotions. He was jealous. Sookie recognized the look in Bill's eyes.

"We're fine Bill," she assured him. "There's nothing to worry about." Sookie was certain that Bill thought Preston was her lover, and a large part of her didn't care if he did.

"I smelled blood and—"

"I had a small altercation with a few shifters," Preston interjected. "But it's been handled. Sookie is safe." Bill didn't appreciate Preston's cavalier tone, or the fact that somehow he may have endangered Sookie.

"Thanks for checking on me." Sookie smiled at Bill. "It's been a long night."

"I understand." Bill's expression was glum. It pained him to see someone else making her so bright and cheery. "Goodnight Sookie."

"Goodnight," Preston and Sookie spoke over one another. Bill's eyes darted to Sookie and then to Preston. They both had glanced at each other; exchanging mutual smiles like love struck fools. Bill turned around and stepped off the porch. He wondered who this new man was and whether or not Eric knew. If he couldn't have Sookie, he found some comfort in knowing that neither could Eric.

"Was that your neighbor you told me about?"

"Yes," Sookie answered as she closed and locked the door. Bill heard and wondered what she had told her new lover about him. Irritated, Bill shook his head and headed back through the woods toward his house. ~