PART FOUR

A Fairy, a Vampire, and a Telepath

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"Godalmighty." Danielle, one of Merlotte's waitresses, whistled as she counted up her tips for the night. "This is crazy."

"How good did you make out?" Sookie asked. Her hands worked quickly, wiping clean the bar as she shuffled empty bottles to one side for disposal.

"Never this good that's for sure," Danielle giggled. "So far I've counted a hundred and fifty."

"That is good." Sookie was impressed, but not surprised. Preston had told her that every customer that walked through the doors would be happy and generous. And obviously thirsty too; she'd have to make sure to place an extra liquor order. Just then Danielle glanced up quickly at Sookie.

"Whoa," Danielle breathed. Her fingers stopped their counting movements. Gaping at Sookie, she blinked twice to make sure she'd actually seen what she had. Sookie's hands had been moving so fast over the counter. If she didn't know better she would have thought…No, not possible, Danielle quickly amended her thoughts.

"What?" Sookie froze. Her muscles tensed. She felt self conscious.

"I don't know…" Danielle was suddenly not so self-assured. She shook her head, telling herself she must have imagined it.

Cautiously, Sookie let her guard down allowing her telepathy to sift through Danielle's thoughts. Sookie swallowed hard. Like most folks in Bon Temps, Danielle always thought Sookie was a bit odd. She was familiar with the rumors traveling around Bon Temps about Sookie not being human. If Danielle didn't know how outrageously impossible such a thing could be, she would swear that Sookie had to be part vampire or something else, something fast. Sookie's hand went limp, dropping the dish towel. It landed silently next to her feet.

"Since you're closing tomorrow," Sookie drew Danielle out of her thoughts. "Why don't you call it a night? I can finish up here."

"Really?" Danielle beamed. Leaving early, meant more time with her man before he went to bed.

"I'm heading out now," D'Erique called out. His sudden appearance was a welcomed interruption. Standing several feet from them, his leather jacket on he said, "You gals have a great night."

"Thanks D'Erique. You too." Sookie waved at him.

"Night." Danielle quickly followed after Sookie.

"Why don't you get going as well," Sookie told Danielle.

"Thanks Sookie." Danielle hurried around the bar before Sookie would change her mind. "Oh, don't forget. Tanya said for me to make sure to tell you to stay away from this place tomorrow."

"Sure thing," Sookie agreed halfheartedly. Danielle's right brow arched, but she didn't say anything. Her stomach was filled with little flutters at the prospect of seeing her man. Moments later, Danielle came back out of the office and appeared in the main bar where Sookie was putting the chairs up on the tables.

"Are you sure Sookie? I can help you."

"Nonsense, you drive safely now."

"Suit yourself." Danielle waved her goodbye and walked out the door.

Finally alone except for the jukebox playing in the background, Sookie relaxed her mind. With no one else left in the bar except for her, it was utterly and blissfully quiet inside her mind. The only thoughts clanging away were her own.

She lifted the last chair and placed it on the table. She glanced down at her watch. In a few minutes Preston would be there for her. Her stomach did a flip with anticipation. The next instant, the feeling was bittersweet. Sadness. Despite vibrating with the expectation at seeing him, the weight of the events earlier that day pressed harshly against her chest. She still wasn't sure how she would find the strength to see him walk away from her.

She struggled against the dismay that lurked around her consciousness. Behind the bar, she pulled up and removed the trash bag from the trash can. Just then she felt that odd dull prickling sensation again. The strange sensation was most concentrated on her butt cheek, where her touch piece was safely tucked away in her back pocket. Instantaneously her mind and body connected the weird feeling to danger. The trash bag in her hands dropped to the floor. The sound of broken glass echoed over the sound of the jukebox.

Danger, her touch piece echoed at the fringes of her consciousness. Danger. Every possible frightening scenario raced at high speed across her mind. For a split second she hesitated. Lemon, she thought. In a flash, despite her mind telling her no, she rushed toward the kitchen. A few feet from the door, she ran into an invisible wall of warmth and happiness. The sensation was familiar. Confusion flooded her mind.

Danger, cried out her touch piece. At the same time, warmth—happiness—lust snowballed her.

Eric was coming. As her mind registered this awareness she was startled by a familiar accented voice. "Lover?"

Sookie yelped as she jumped a few inches off the ground. "Geesh!" she screamed. Eric was amused by her reaction. She glared at him; all six feet. It had been over two months since she last saw him, and he looked exactly the same: perfect.

Danger, her touch piece resonated at the back of her consciousness. At the same time, a surge of lust assaulted her through the bond she shared with Eric. Her libido spiked. It frustrated her and confused her all at once. As much as she liked Eric when she wasn't afraid of him, she regretted and loathed the bond she shared with him. It complicated their strange relationship.

Danger.

She told her touch piece to calm down as if it could understand her, assuring it that everything would be okay. Eric was there. Any fairy that got close enough would undoubtedly change their minds once they picked up Eric's scent.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people," she scolded the ancient vampire.

"It seemed prudent to sneak up on you since you seem to be hiding from me," he said taking a step closer to her. His senses were at once flooded by Sookie's scent. She smelled more like a fairy than usual. "Mmm," he inhaled deeply. His body quivered with ecstasy. "When you smell delicious," he purred. "I want to fuck you." Sookie's heartbeat jumped. Eric stepped even closer and inhaled deeply again. His face rippled with bliss.

Sookie felt her legs buckle from the intensity of the lust that violently shook her to her core. She felt ashamed at how her body was responding. Eric leaned forward, yanked her against his chest, and set his mouth over hers.

She wasn't prepared. A vortex of erotic sensations swirled around her making her feel dizzy.

With a thousand years of experience, Eric knew exactly how to make a woman forget her name. It was too easy; as easy as taking candy from a baby. Confidently, he coaxed her tongue, sucking the delicious pleasure her sweet saliva and the heat of her mouth created. His hands at her waist and back encouraged Sookie's body to yield.

Danger, her touch piece pricked her. The strange sensation was enough to pull her back to herself. As easy as it was to allow herself to get lost in the moment, she had a boyfriend. And even if she hadn't, she felt Eric didn't have the right to kiss her. Fury began to boil in her blood.

Eric groaned with irritation. He could feel her resisting him.

"Stop it!" she screamed into his kiss.

"Yield to me Sookie." His voice was sultry and sexed up. He did enjoy Sookie; he loved kissing her and he especially remembered loving to fuck her. "Your body tells me you want to."

"Stop." Sookie struggled to free herself from his embrace. As much as she realized how easy it would be to have uninvolved sex with Eric, she knew she would regret it for the rest of her life. Even if Preston would never find out, she would always know. How could she live with herself? Beyond that, she refused to make a mockery of her feelings for Preston. She cherished what she had with him too much to let this happen.

"Fine." Eric drew back, but he didn't release her. He felt his bond with her disappear. Exactly how she did this, he wasn't sure. Somehow Eric speculated that it was tied in with either the traces of fairy blood that Sookie had or her telepathy. He wasn't sure. However, he was certain that she wasn't aware that she was doing it, closing off the bond, and he would never mention it to her. "I know you want me," he faked amusement, hiding his uncertainty in their bond. "Why do you fight me lover?"

"I'm not your lover," Sookie snapped. Her body trembled this time, not from pleasure, but from pure annoyance. "And I haven't been avoiding you. On the contrary, you're the one that dropped off the face of the earth."

Three months ago, Eric regained his memories of their time together. Sookie had hoped that he would have called, maybe asked her out on a date. She would have said yes. But he didn't. The train stopped, but Eric never boarded. He was a 'no show' and a 'no call'. It truly was like he had dropped off the face of the earth.

"Dropped off the earth?" His tone was teasing and perhaps a bit sarcastic.

"You know what I mean," she insisted. "For two months you showed no interest, but now suddenly you're bombarding my voicemail and showing up at my house—uninvited. Why suddenly all the interest?"

"I've been busy with the aftermath of the takeover," he pointed out matter-of-fact. "Had I known you were contemplating jumping into another's bed, well…" A small smile spread across Eric's face. The bond was open again and he could feel her irritation; among other feelings. It amused him, because he knew he spoke the truth. If he had known competition had showed up, he would have been more attentive at ensuring his claim over her.

Danger.

Sookie was distracted from her touch piece's warning by her anger over Eric's accusation. "How dare you," Sookie heatedly retorted. "I didn't jum…" she bit her tongue. She decided to react differently. It was so easy when Eric was around for her to lose herself to her emotions.

Little by little, she calmed herself. Eric watched her curiously as she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. His brow wrinkled at how odd she was acting. Through the bond he sensed a wave of calm. Sookie opened her eyes. "What vampire business demands my attention?" she asked calmly.

"None," Eric lied. Sookie raised her brow, giving him a 'when pigs fly' expression. Eric continued, "We need to talk. There was a lot that was said during our time together."

"That was a year ago," she pointed out flatly.

"For me it's been only a few months," he reminded her. "Do you love me?" His arms were still holding her.

"What?" His question was unexpected. Sookie felt herself taken completely off guard.

"Do you love me?" he asked again. Sookie shook her head with disbelief.

"Interesting question," Preston interrupted. His blood boiled with rage. This was too much. How could he say good-bye, leaving this…this vampire pursing Sookie?

Sookie's eyes darted toward Preston, and for the first time since Eric stopped kissing her, she realized he was still holding her. Quickly she stumbled out of Eric's embrace. To her relief, he released her without a word, but not fast enough for her liking. Ungracefully, her feet drew her next to Preston.

"Great," Sookie quietly mumbled to herself. The hard line that Preston's jaw was set in was not good.

"Why is the vampire asking if you love him?" Preston asked, struggling to control his displeasure. He stared unblinking at the vampire. He knew this was Eric, one of Sookie's old lovers.

Looking up at Preston, Sookie hated being called out on the carpet; especially when she hadn't done anything. "He's nobody," she answered. Preston glanced down at her. His eyes softened. He found her expression priceless. He'd only seen it once before since meeting her. It was the night Niall appeared in her living room.

"I've had this woman," Eric pointed out; his voice as hard as marble. "She is my woman." Sookie rolled her eyes.

"If she were your woman, why does she share my bed?" Preston asked. Eric growled. Preston was making no effort to disguise his true nature from Eric.

"Did Niall drive this," Eric forcefully stabbed at the air, "Into your bed?"

"No," Sookie blurted out. "Technically, not," she finished silently.

Eric's fury radiated from his pores. He should have known not to trust that damn fairy. The moment Niall summoned him and requested an audience with Sookie, he should have tried to kill him. "It was only a matter of time before he tried to take you from me," Eric fumed.

"Don't be so paranoid," Sookie said. "I never belonged to you." They had only shared a week together, and despite how passionate and wonderful their time had been together, he didn't belong to her anymore than she belonged to him. "Anyhow," she breathed, "Niall had nothing to do with us."

"I highly doubt that," Eric snapped. His anger mingled with everything else he was feeling and thinking. He hadn't bargained on her supposed lover being a fairy. Venom pooled inside his mouth. Vampires were no match for the fae. If he didn't play his cards right, he knew that in a heartbeat, Niall would exterminate him and his retinue. Eric was certain that the large payment the Prince would send to DeCastro would be more than enough to satisfy the loss of revenue from the Sheriff of Area Five threefold.

His vampire thoughts cranked swiftly inside his head; plotting. "Felipe has requested your services." His tone was harsh, and the words were technically untrue. Granted, Felipe was interested in using Sookie's talents in Las Vegas, but at the moment Felipe was more interested in confirming Eric's claim of husbandry over her.

"My services aren't available," Sookie replied. "I explained all this in my message." After Preston had disappeared following the scent of Crystal's murderer, she'd called him like she had promised Amelia.

"Do you really think you can dismiss us off-handedly?" Eric snarled. The way he saw it, she had attached herself to them the moment she accepted her first payment. She belonged to him.

Preston immediately took a defensive step forward. "Careful vampire," Preston cautioned him. He'd just tortured a fairy to near death for information; he had no qualms about ending a vampire.

"Preston." Sookie touched his arm. "Please." Her voice was gentle and soft. This wasn't what she wanted. She couldn't stand the idea of them fighting because of her. It didn't matter how off base Eric could be sometimes or how angry he made her, she didn't want him hurt.

Eric watched the silent exchange between Sookie and the young fairy. His cold blood boiled. How was it possible that his plans could be flustered by one fairy? What he had always feared was unfolding before his eyes. She was slipping between his fingers.

Sookie glanced over at Eric. For a split second, she recognized something in his expression. It was the same fleeting look she saw for an instant the night he left her at the restaurant with Niall. He looked almost sad. "Eric." Sookie's voice pulled at his dead heart. "It's late, and I'm tired. Right now is not a good time for this conversation."

"This settles nothing," he pointed out. "We have to talk without the fairy present."

Sookie nodded her head in agreement. "Ok," she softly said. She realized that she had had a year to reconcile her feelings over what had happened between them. But for Eric, it was as if it had just happened, and she felt she owed it to him to do what she could to help him find peace with it.

"Did you get my package from Bobby?" he asked. Deception crept into his heart. There was no way he was going quietly into the night, dismissed like a dog.

"Yeah." Sookie nodded. She hadn't seen the package since she left it in Sam's office. Right away, she hoped she hadn't misplaced it. "I'll get it," she volunteered. Eric smiled, and the flicker in his eyes, concerned Preston. Sookie stepped in front of Preston, slipped into the hallway, and made a beeline to Sam's office. Once there, Sookie walked over to the desk. Leaning over, she pulled open one of the desk drawers.

Danger, her touch piece echoed.

Sookie's hand hesitated a mere inches from touching the velvet box. Swallowing hard, she pushed through her uneasiness and pulled the box out of the drawer. She removed the top and tossed it back into the drawer. She confirmed that the knife was still there. Carefully, Sookie pulled the knife out, holding it by the handle. She wasn't sure what it was supposed to mean, but her gut rang an alarm bell. Had she been high on the warmth-happiness-lust sensations Eric filled her with, she would have ignored the nagging feeling tugging at her.

With the knife in hand, she made her way back into the main area of the bar. Preston and Eric were in the middle of a staring contest. Sookie nodded her head and stepped toward Eric. "Here you go." Sookie handed him the ceremonial knife, holding it flat on her palm.

Eric smiled triumphantly. Reverentially, he reached for it.

In a blink Preston rushed forward.

One moment Sookie felt a feather like touch brush against her hand. The next moment the knife ricocheted off the wall and clanged as it bounced once against the cement floor. She didn't have a chance to recover. A vampire and a fairy streaked across her line of sight. Air swept across her cheek. By the time her eyes focused on one spot, it was yanked to the opposite direction.

Eric attacked Preston, slamming him against the cement floor. Sookie's instinct was to stop them, but her mind quickly registered that it would be a bad idea. "Please stop!" she screamed, her voice trembling with fright. In vein her brain struggled to keep up with Eric and Preston's movements. All she could make out were flashes and occasional still lives.

One of the tables suddenly crumbled beneath Eric's body as Preston slammed him down against it. The next instant pieces of drywall came crumbling down from the ceiling.

Sookie's legs crumbled from under her. She dropped to her knees. "Stop it!" she cried.

"Enough." A steady and imperial voice resonated.

Sookie glanced up. Through her tears, she saw her great-grandfather standing next to her. Relief washed over her. "Niall." Her voice quivered. She knew that he would stop them from hurting each other.

Niall leaned down and helped Sookie to her feet. He gently took her into his arms. "You're safe now," he lovingly assured her.

"Your great-granddaughter is my woman and mine alone." Eric's tone was defiant. Niall glared at him. Sookie felt a chill rolling off Niall's expression, and she felt very afraid for Eric.

"What happened?" Niall asked Sookie.

"I was giving Eric back his knife." Her voice was soft and hesitant. "Then I think Preston knocked it out of my hand and before I realized what was happening, Eric attacked him. They started fighting." Niall turned to look at Preston and then at Eric. This time Sookie followed his gaze. To her astonishment, Eric stood frozen, his arms at his sides. She knew his stance was involuntary when she noticed Eric's feet an inch or two off the floor. Her eyes darted over toward Preston. He stood, seemingly unaffected by whatever Niall was doing to Eric.

Preston gave Sookie a reassuring glance, letting her know with his warm expressive eyes that everything would be okay.

"Child," Niall spoke drawing Sookie's attention back to him. She turned to face him, her eyes breaking contact with Preston at the last moment. "Where is this knife?" he asked.

"I think," Sookie whispered. Niall followed her eyes to the floor where it laid. He turned and reached for it, carefully picking it up. Standing next to Sookie again, she heard him huff as he examined it.

"Do you know what this is?" he asked her.

"Just that Eric used it in Rhodes when he married the Kings of Mississippi and Indiana."

"Eric instructed you to give this to him?"

"Yes sir," Sookie answered. "He told Bobby, his day man, to tell me that I was supposed to present it to him in front of Felipe de Castro's lieutenant. But he wouldn't tell me why."

Niall stood still, his features lit by the bar lights. He looked beautiful, remote, and dangerous. "You dared to deceive my great-granddaughter," Niall commented not looking for a response. "I should kill you, vampire."

"She belongs to me," Eric said. "She's my bonded."

"I question the validity of the blood bond you share with her."

"If you didn't share his blood," Eric spoke to Sookie. His calm veneer was beginning to fray. "He would have never lowered himself to care for you. You would have never known him."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Sookie gaped at Eric.

"Do you want to be pledged to this vampire?" Niall asked Sookie. At his words, Preston felt a sharp stab at the center of his heart. Nausea, fear, anger, pain swirled curling inside his stomach.

Sookie looked up at Niall. She didn't know what being pledged to Eric meant. By her expression Niall noted as much. He asked, "Do you want to be bonded in a marriage contract with this vampire for a hundred years?"

"No!" Sookie spat out in a quick rush of air. She cared about Eric, was even attracted to him, and most of the time she considered him a friend, but she certainly did not want to be married to him.

Preston exhaled. Absolute relief washed through him, and in its wake he felt lightheaded and weak. His hand moved across his face. The movement caught Sookie's attention. Preston had always been a good broadcaster of his emotions and tonight was no different. She was worried until she felt his hope. Glancing up from his hands, Preston's gaze met hers. As if their eyes knew this would be the last time they would see each other, they stared unblinking, studying every detail of each other.

"Vampire," Niall spoke to Eric. "You may share a blood bond with my great-grandchild, but she desires no further attachment with you."

Eric's expression was as solid and unmovable as a marble statue, which he resembled. "It's for her protection," Eric stated. "Other vampires desire her and will stop at nothing to bond with her. I can assure you, they will not be as kind to her as I."

"Nor will I be as merciful to them as I am with you."

Sookie shivered at the threat in Niall's voice. As much as she loved her great-grandfather, and as certain as she was that he loved her and would never harm her, she was terrified out of her socks for anyone Niall chose not to like. There was no doubt in her mind that Niall could be as brutal as he was beautiful.

Niall turned his attention to Sookie. His malachite green eyes softened with warmth and tender affection. From his observation, Sookie's spark had grown in intensity since he last saw her. It made her breathtaking. It made her less human and just that much more fairy. Within time, her close association with Preston would make it nearly impossible for Sookie to live too long among the same humans.

"Dear one." Niall gently drew Sookie's attention from Preston. "I came so you would take my warning serious." Sookie's heart rate spiked. "Things are not turning out as I had hoped." Niall had wished that the others would see how much humans had to offer. He wanted to make it so that one day if Sookie desired it, she could live in Faery. "Please be careful," he pleaded with her. Lochlan and Neave were aware of Sookie's location. He hoped the measures that Preston had taken, would be enough to protect her. "Claudine will join you as soon as she can."

"What's happening?" Sookie was really trying not to panic.

"There is war in Faery," Niall answered. "They attacked Enda." Sookie gasped.

"Breandan, he tried to kill a fairy woman? Isn't that really bad? There aren't many fairy women right?"

"That was his goal." Niall sounded somber. "Enda is safe now."

For the first time, Sookie noticed her great-grandfather's cloths. They were stained and torn. "Were you fighting?" she asked. Her expression lined with concern.

"Yes," Niall said. "His attack on Enda was an act of war."

"The twins?"

"They are joining the fighting."

His words filled Sookie with dread. She rubbed her hand across her forehead. "What about Preston?" she quickly asked.

"He is needed in Faery." With his hand on Sookie's arm, Niall allowed his spark to sooth away her worries. "There is much I need to share with you, but now is not the time. Please be careful." Niall leaned forward and kissed her. He stepped away from her, taking several steps toward Eric. He gave Eric an appraising look. The next moment, he released him. Eric's feet touched the floor. "Vampire." Niall narrowed his eyes.

"My knife," Eric coldly stated.

Keeping his gaze locked on Eric's, Niall handed him his knife—blade side first. "Tread carefully," Niall warned.

Preston and Eric exchanged stark glances as Eric walked past him and toward the front entrance of Merlotte's. The small bell on the door chimed when it opened and closed.

"I have to go." Niall glanced at Sookie. "There is strong magic protecting you."

"It was Preston." Her eyes darted over to the young fairy. "Amelia and Octavia too."

"I wanted to make sure you were safe."

"I am. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Niall glanced at Preston, meeting his gaze. Preston nodded his understanding. The next moment, Niall disappeared.

"Preston?"

He rushed toward Sookie gently wrapping his arms around her.

"I'll take you home."

"No," she breathed. "I have to finish." She wearily glanced around the bar. Before her next inhalation, Preston was a streak, leaving only clean and tidy in his wake. In several seconds, he had discarded the broken table and chairs, swept up the wood chips and drywall chunks, unplugged the jukebox, locked the front door, closed the blinds, and tossed the trash.

"Better?" he asked. His forehead glistened with perspiration.

"Yeah." Sookie gaped. She knew fairies were faster than vampires, but knowing this and actually witnessing their speed were two completely different things.

After retrieving her purse from Sam's office, securely wrapped in Preston's arms, she was instantly wrapped in a blanket of light and warmth. Several seconds later, they stood in her backyard.

At once, Preston's fairy senses picked up Mór, his friend and dwarf, inside the house laughing with Amelia. "I have to go," Preston breathed. His words were like a sharp bite at the center of Sookie's chest.

"Please don't go." She visibly quivered. Her arms and hands clung desperately to him.

Preston felt every inch of his body torn in opposite directions. She was asking something that despite how much he wanted to give her, he couldn't. He had to go. "I love you…always." He wrenched himself from her and took several steps back.

"No!" Sookie charged at him, his chest stopping her in place. She nuzzled her nose and lips at the base of his neck where it sloped and met his shoulder. Inhaling deeply, she whispered, "I love you too."

His throat hardened as his eyes welled with tears. Squeezing his eyes shut, he took a step back, away from Sookie's arms. He glanced at her one last time and then disappeared.

She stood motionless for several long seconds. Numbness filled the gaping hole at the center of her chest. She waited; counted the seconds before it would start. Everything was all happening again, she thought. Hot tears burned her cheeks. She missed her Gran. Burying her face in her hands, the hole in her chest flooded with pain. She dropped to her knees and cried as the leaves from the trees surrounding her home rustled gently in the warm night breeze.

From inside the house, Amelia's music carried outside through the open windows of the kitchen. The hauntingly rhythmic beat of The Homecoming by the Pretenders drifted along the air around the house.

Careful, the touch piece echoed. Sookie's heart jumped. Pounding wildly against her chest, her eyes darted around her yard. Her knee jerk reaction was to run. She flew up the porch, two steps at a time, reaching the door in a heartbeat. As she inserted her house key into the keyhole, a familiar voice called out to her.

"Sookie?" Eric's accented voice was just above a whisper.

"You have got to quite doing that," she said; her voice stern.

Eric had seen her dash at an inhuman speed toward her backdoor. Though she was far from being fast as a vampire or fairy, she had moved faster than any human was capable of. He stared at her with trepidation. For the first time in a while, Eric suddenly considered that there was more to Sookie than either her or Niall had revealed to him.

Hesitantly, Eric approached her. He could see that she had been crying. He hated when she leaked. Though it had been at least three months since she had last had his blood –their bond was beginning to fade –it was strong enough that he could feel her emotions. Her pain and sorrow flowed freely from her side. Agony and discomfort tensed Eric's expression. He pushed as much calm through their bond as she allowed him.

After several long quiet minutes, Eric gently asked, "Do you love him?"

"Yes," Sookie whispered. Her breath caught and stuttered; a side effect from her crying. Her face was slightly puffy.

"Did you love me?"

Sookie stared at Eric. His timing was never good. She exhaled loudly. "Did you love me?" she replied with the same question.

"No," Eric hesitated. "I feel something close to it."

"Me too." At least she had.

"And now?"

"No." Sookie nodded her head. She loved Preston. A momentary silence fell between them until Sookie asked him, "Do you hate me?"

"No. Never," Eric admitted. There was something about Sookie; you either hated her or you loved her. There was no gray area when it came to how supes felt about her. "Disappointed—yes," Eric said. "But like I promised, for as long as I can allow myself, you will have my friendship."

"Thank you." The night breeze stilled for a fraction. "I have to go now Eric. It's late, and I'm tired."

"Good night Sookie."

"You too." Sookie turned and unlocked the door. By the time she stepped inside and closed the door behind her, Eric was gone.

.

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A/N: Happy Holidays ^_^