Disclaimer: Disclaimer: All characters belong to Charlaine Harris. Don't sue please :)

A/N: Special thanks for Hope and Meads for being my extra eyes.

"Bill…"

His face didn't change. He just stared at me. I knew what his reaction was from. No one had told him, but he must have found out somehow. His expression would have been that of shock. His eyes were now moving over my body as if he were taking? It all in for the first time and in disbelief of what he saw. His eyes moved back and forth, over and over, slowly as is to reaffirm what he was seeing really was there.

Thank Gran for teaching me manners and maintaining them even in awkward situations. I shifted a tighter grip on pile of clothes in my arms. The silence was just filling with more and more tension. Someone had to say something.

"It's good to see you."

Bill was still silent. Why wasn't Eric coming? I was sure he knew Bill was out here or that I was internally freaking out. I took a step out into the hallway and closed the door to the closet. Bill's hard face melted into the saddest look I had ever seen on a vampire. As I focused back on his eyes, I could see the waterline faintly turning red.

"Bill, please."

I tried to speak as calmly as I could. But before I could form another word, I was in the arms of my former lover. Bill wrapped his arms around me so tightly, he would have squeezed every breath of air out and broken a few rib if I was even close to being still human. Sure enough, I heard the hard plastic handle of my hairbrush snap in half against my sternum. Ouch!

"Let her go, Compton."

Oh, hell! Bill's grip loosened, and he lifted his head to Eric who was now only a foot away. I stepped back and pulled myself from Bill's grip. He was stronger than I was, and if he and Eric were going to fight in the hallway, I didn't want to be what he was holding.

"Eric, he didn't hurt me. It's ok."

Eric's blue eyes were too busy burning into Bill, who returned a stare back that blazed with utter hatred.

"How could you let this happen?"

"Let this happen? You'll bite your tongue if you know what's good for you. You have no right to any action regarding this situation."

Situation? Guys I'm standing right here!

Bill's eyes broke from Eric's and met mine. He looked heartbroken, and if it were not for our extremely rocky past, I would have felt worse.

"You ruined her."

The sound of Bill's head being smashed through the blood red drywall was only half of Eric's response. As his huge fist rose to plummet down on Bill's face, I caught his wrist. There was no way my newborn strength would have caused Eric to yield, but the connection of our bond did.

Eric head snapped back to mine, and his eyes almost seemed challenging. I knew Eric wouldn't hurt me; he was just seriously perturbed from the younger vamps insult. Eric still had Bill by the neck, but at least his head was out of the wall.

"First of all, I am not a situation, I am a hu – I am a vampire, and I am not ruined. Bill, do not hate Eric for what he has done. If you must know, he had no choice."

"Sookie."

Eric cut me off with a warning so hard and cold, my name could have been made from granite. Was this not for me to share?

"Why can't I tell him? Are you denying me my will to speak about what happened to me? That isn't fair."

Eric stood quiet a moment as if he were weighing out the pros and cons in his head, but before he could come to a conclusion, a new voice filled the hallway.

"Well Northman, if she can't tell her story, I will."

Victor.

What was Victor doing here and how did he get here so fast? I felt strangely relived to know whatever was to happen in Miami tomorrow, he would not be harmed.

Eric's eyes softened, and I continued.

"A little over a week ago, I was kidnapped by men who worked for Felipe de Castro; they also had Eric; and to make a long story short, they gave Eric two options either turn me or die. Eric knew that if he chose death in order to save me, it would have only made my future worse. I think we can all agree that Felipe would have turned me after he killed Eric. And Bill, please don't accuse Eric of not willing to fight for me. They held Eric for a lot longer than they did with me, and his time with Felipe's men was no picnic."

By the time I was done explaining, Eric had released Bill.

"I'm so sorry? Sookie."

"Don't be. Lord knows I was never going to have a normal life anyway, and the only person who failed me? was the king."

Both Eric and Victor let out little warning growls.

"I think that if we all wish to continue this conversation, it should be done in my office."

We all filed in, and Pam closed the door behind us. She had caught the last bit of the scene in the hall. I let Eric take control of the rest of the story not knowing what was ok to share with Bill and what wasn't. Bill wanted to kill Felipe, but Eric made it very clear to him that he would end him if he spoke of this to anyone or planned his own personal attack on the king.

After a few more minutes of conversation, Pam led Bill out to the bar. I was happy Eric took the power he had over Bill to shoo him out before things got too weird. Bill still had this strange fascination with me that seemed to have a romantic intent, but I had a hard time believing he was able to truly love anything.

The moment the door closed behind them I demanded to know what was going on with Victor. My main concern was if he could be trusted. I mean, how did we know he wasn't manipulated into revealing our plan to Felipe? My second concern was that even if he was on our side, why was he in Shreveport? Wouldn't the king become suspicious?

Victor and Eric explained everything and why he could be trusted. I was not the first strange and drastic act for which the king has been responsible. Victor also explained why he was in town.

"Felipe was suspicious of why you two left with such haste. I explained to him that you were probably still having a little trouble adapting, and as forgiving as you are, it was also likely that you had trouble being around him for too long. Even though it seemed reasonable, he still didn't trust you two. After he ordered me to find and kill the men you heard, he ordered me here to keep an eye on Eric for a few days."

I looked at Eric, then back at Victor, and they both stood. Victor allowed only a trace of a smile cross his lips, and Eric smiled back before glancing at me. Something was going on that they weren't telling me about. I would play dumb for now, but I would definitely be keeping a very close eye on these two.

"Now I think we've discussed this enough. Victor, you are more than welcome to join Sookie and I me in bar."

I was happy Eric cut the little vampire shindig short. Even if we were on Eric's turf, I didn't feel comfortable elaborating on too much detail of our plan. I was a little disappointed to find out that the men who were plotting against the king didn't have the chance to harm the bastard, but I guess my telling the king didn't help much either.

Eric went to the door.

"Just got a case of trial product from Red Stuff. Apparently, it's supposed to be borderline enjoyable."

Victor let out and unimpressed huff.

"Eric, you should know better than that. If it doesn't come out hot and with a pulse, it isn't worth drinking."

I stood and went to Eric, who was now at the door, and all three of us walk out to the main bar. Fangtasia was busy as ever. Victor caught quite a few glances walking up to Eric's booth. Both women and men were buzzing with excitement and curious about who the obviously powerful vampire was.

Bill was standing at the bar. He wasn't glaring at us- just staring at me. He had this look about him; it was the look of defeat. If he had let go for a moment, he would have realized that he had lost any game involving me a very long time ago. Still, his stare was heavy with mixed messages. His discomfort and his hatred that I was a vampire now; I was "ruined."

Frustration flared in me. I couldn't be unmade a vampire. I had accepted what I was now, and he better get used to it. I had nothing to be shameful of, and considering everything at least, I was loved.

I broke my eyes from the sullen man at the bar when Eric wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to him.

"Relax my love; he is only jealous he didn't turn you. Do not let him make you feel sorry about what you are. You are beautiful, strong, and intelligent, and soon you will be so much more."

I gave Eric a weak smile and took a sip of blood. His arm stayed around me absently as he took up a conversation with Victor.

The vibrations from the? heavy bass were almost soothing as I let myself slip into some much needed down time.

***

"Ok, now your feet should be apart a little bit more, like this. The more control you have in your stance will aid in hitting where you want and with proper force."

Pam instructed as she stood next to me in the same position under the dim vibrating florescent light of Fangtasia's basement. Eric had planned on having her teach me some combat moves prior to our visit to Florida, but we didn't have time. We had only been down here for a half hour, and I had already obtained some new skills in kicking butt. Pam was a great instructor, and I saw a rare joy in her eyes as we went through another move.

"Ok, now keep standing like this. Sookie I want to test you and see if you really are putting your strength behind those moves as I showed you. It'll be proof you actually learned something and can be more useful in a fight rather than just brute, unskilled, supernatural strength."

She gave a teasing wink as she moved in front of me and brought her bare hands up. She wanted me to go through all the moves she taught me with real strength.

"You can't hurt me much Sookie. I have a few hundred years on you, and it does make a difference in strength. So give me all you got; don't you dare go soft on me."

Pam gave me the cue, and I followed through every kick, back, punch, and block she had taught me. Halfway through, her counter actions became fiercer, but I kept up. The last punch I threw she blocked with her palm. She held my fist tightly there for a moment and let out a small laugh before releasing it.

"You're a lot better than I thought you'd be. Nothing personal but the young ones always have problems with control and delivery."

"Thanks."

I shifted my dress to its proper position.

"Would have rather done this in pants but…"

"You never know when you'll need to fight Sookie; that's why I took the opportunity tonight."

"Next time, I'll try not to flash you so much."

She rolled her eyes and smiled at me as she replaced a few stray hairs. Our eyes both strayed from each others as if we both were contemplating what to do or say next. My eyes focused on a row of kegs that lined on wall. I liked Pam, and it made me happy inside to know I had a female ally.

I brought my eyes back to Pam's as I felt her soft palm on my bare shoulder.

"We bonded tonight."

"What do you mean, like Eric and me?"

"No –not like that at all, like sisters."

Pam said the last word like someone questioning the proper pronunciation of a word they hadn't used before. I wasn't the most insightful person in the world, but it didn't take a mastermind to see that it was something Pam hadn't had in a long time and wanted now.

I smiled at her and nodded. She gave my shoulder a little squeeze, and I placed my hand over hers.

"Sookie," Pam spoke in the gentlest tone I had ever heard her speak in. My name glided out of her mouth with a soothing, velvety softness that I would never have thought Pam to be capable of.

"Sookie, I want you to know that I am happy you are a vampire now. I am sad that it happened in the way it did, but now you are Eric's and…"

Was Pam at a loss for words? I didn't know what to say. There was such sincerity in her eyes. Every word spoke caressed my dead heart. With a quickness even I wasn't capable of, Pam gathered me in her arms; without a second thought, I snaked my arms around her slightly smaller frame. There was nothing sexual about our embrace, but it felt nice. Pam stroked my back almost like a mother to a child. Her soft voice came to my ear.

"Don't ever leave us."

I gave Pam a little squeeze before pulling from her to see her face. Her face was blank, and even as though the door at the top of the stairs had opened, she didn't change her stance. I looked her square in the eye and spoke with equal sincerity.

"Never."

Pam smiled and kissed me on the cheek before we both dropped our hand and looked at Eric. He seemed amused at the display of affection he had just walked in on.

"I heard you two down her sparing earlier, but I doubt you're going to kill anyone with cuddles."

Pam dismissed his comment and proceeded to tell him how I held up in sparing and gave a full evolution of my strength, skills and weaknesses.

"There is nothing young about her strength Eric, not as strong as me but not far off either."

"Wow, really?"

I was shocked at what Pam had just said. It meant I was stronger than vampires that had been around at least a hundred years, and I was only a few weeks old. Did this mean I could kick Bill's butt? Not that I would.

Eric took me in his arms, and I felt the pride he had for me through the bond.

"So Sookie Stackhouse is not a vampire we want irritated."

I frowned playfully. "Are you patronizing me?"

"Yes."

I didn't care. Eric kissed me on the forehead, and I felt the warm loving cocktail of emotion that would have turned anyone into a puddle of melted goo.

"Let's go home."

I couldn't have thought of a better idea. There was nothing more I wanted than to be with Eric until the sun came up. Any bit of stress I had was gone after Pam's little lesson, but there wasn't a tired bone in my body. In fact, my libido was doing back flips before we could even make it to the car.

A/N: Sorry no nookie, but there will be a hefty helping of GP in the next chap. Something a little sweet and a little sour.