Note: Bill's thoughts appear in the large italicised section at the end of the chapter

Bill woke to find me in Eric's arm; his fangs ran out full and his eyes were wide, black and full of rage. (I had to think and act quickly) and again I had to step in front of his supposed enemy and talk a mile a minute in order to get his attention.

"No! Bill honey, don't!, Eric is not the enemy here! You and I need to talk! Honey please calm down!"

He focused on my face for a moment but returned his gaze to Eric (never retracting his fangs). I motioned to Eric to sit in the reclining chair never stepping out from in front of him and giving Bill a clear shot at him. Slowly Eric's fangs which had run full out started to retract as he sat down on the chair but he never removed his daze from Bill's face.

I felt as if I was in the middle of a vampire stare down and I couldn't take it any more. I just shook my head and reminded them, "You know I almost died a couple of days ago and you two were crying like bitches at that sight."

"Now I'm caught in the middle of two vampires that claim to love me and that know that I love both of them." I added quickly as they stared at me, "I love you both differently but still, I do hold you both with great esteem in my heart."

"Now Bill honey, we need to talk; but first, Eric is there anything else you believe we need to say to each other now or can it wait? Bill and I haven't been awake together for more than just a minute and there are things we need to discuss. I'd really appreciate it if you would give us that time now."

I shot out my hands in a "stop" motion to both of them so they'd let me finish speaking.

"But, you are our sheriff and I will abide by your command." I politely bowed my head to him and waited.

Eric's jaw was on the floor as was Bill's. They looked at each other (probably in disbelief at the words that had come out of my mouth) and returned their gazes at me. Eric nodded to each of us and walked out the room.

Finally alone, Bill just stared at me with those beautiful dark eyes of his and I felt his awe (in me), all his love and desire swam over me. After five minutes I tried to fill him in on all that had happened. He asked me if Eric had anything to do with his capture but before I answered I debated if I should lie to him; but I just couldn't.

"No honey. Eric didn't have anything to do with your capture; however, he'd sent you away so that he and I could be together and talk without you interrupting us. He knew the conditions there and did not really secure your passage but he didn't expect you to be captured or harmed. Bill calm down and let me finish please. Whatever you are thinking please forget it." I took his hand in mine and squeezed it to garner his attention.

"He had no idea that I'd be feeling your pain so clearly, none of us did. He was in agony seeing me suffer not only because I was suffering for you but, because he blamed himself for it." Seething Bill asked, "And, what did you tell him?"

"Calm down honey and listen to me please, I'm going to tell you exactly what I told him and you need to know this too. I told him that I know how much he loves me, I heard his cry, I felt his pain and I felt his love for me, it was the same love I'd felt for him at one time. But, that was when he wasn't himself and that Eric has been long gone since the witches' curse was erased. I think it was probably that strong because of our blood bond and everything that had happened between you and me."

"I also told him that my love for you was immeasurable even without a bond between us. I told him that I hated him for putting you in harm's way and would kill him myself if anything happened to you."

"Don't smile at me Bill Compton! You should've seen how I pushed Eric, he went flying across the room. It scared the hell out of him and out of me too."

Bill sat there for a couple of seconds (I think in shock or amused) and looked me up and down and then started to laugh as he reached for me but I pushed him away as my face grew serious.

"Bill, we need to talk about us. Niall said that we (both) needed to drink from the little green bottle and also forgive each other or no matter how much we loved each other both of us would die, but I didn't swallow or at least I don't remember swallowing; so now I don't know what is going to happen beca…," (Bill cut me off stopping me from rambling) "Sweetheart, you did drink. I poured it into your mouth, at first you would not swallow and someone I don't know who, well many someones kept whispering in my ears to kiss you and I did and you swallowed."

We just stared at each other with confused looks on our faces until Bill said, "so you love me, do you Ms. Stackhouse?" He had a gorgeous sly grin on his face that just radiated lust, desire and love.

My response was a shy "maybe Mr. Compton" as I looked at the floor. I felt a twinge in my heart and quickly corrected as I looked into his eyes, "yes, I do love Mr. Compton with all my heart."

Bill pulled me and had me on his lap in a flash. He was nuzzling my neck and taking in my scent I swore he was about to say 'you smell like Eric' but he didn't. He kissed my neck and touched my face and traced his fingers along the welts that still remained. His eyes were brimming red with tears as he felt each welt and kissed each that was visible. "I am so sorry I put you through this sweetheart, I've hurt you yet again" and I replied, "Bill, this wasn't your fault; you didn't do this to me."

Before I even noticed him move, he was biting his wrist and brought it to my mouth, without hesitation or conversation I grabbed it and pressed my lips tightly around the wound as I drank from him. I felt him flowing into me, I felt my body start to heal itself and my desire for him almost overwhelmed me as Bill let out a slight groan. I pulled myself away and licked my lips, turned my face and presented him with my neck but Bill hesitated.

"No my darling you are still too weak."

I kissed him again until I felt his desire for me take over and his fangs run completely out. I ran my tongue over his fangs and felt a rumble building in his chest as I gently pulled away and pushed his head towards my neck until I felt his mouth over my skin. I kept pushing until I felt his fangs lightly nick my skin. As he drank from me I felt heat building between my legs as Bill groaned. As he licked my wound all I wanted was to throw him on the bed and let him have his way with me; I'd missed him so much that my body ached for him more than for my bruises. I'd felt Bill grow hard as he drank from me so I knew he felt the same and it took all in us to just sit there wrapped in each other's arms, staring into each other's eyes and lost to our thoughts.

I woke to find her in his arms. My bloodlust at seeing him holding what is mine - no, she who owns me - almost blinded me with rage. Her voice, that sweet voice was what brought me back to myself but I don't trust him.

I should've known the night he came to see me but in my excitement of finally being able to interview the elusive Octavious, I lost my edge. It wasn't until it was too late that it started to dawn on me that Eric seemed too please with himself that night. He didn't summon me or send one of his minions. I should have known that something was amiss as he always has an underlying plan.

Even while I sit here with her in my arms, I can still remember the silver chains being thrown over me, the many blows that landed on my body and them draining me slowly. I still don't know what purpose I played in their war but the weeks of torture and the lack of rest made me delirious and I found respite in my dreams – My Sookie. Some nights we made love or just held each other; without those dreams I'd have gone insane from the hunger and the pain. In my insanity I wondered if Eric was aligning himself with one of the kingdoms and used me as bait? I wondered if Octavious had set me up himself. A million theories flashed through my brain each night.

Not until the night of that fateful dream did I realize that my love for her and desire to be with her had possibly pulled on some remnants of our faded bond. In my insanity I saw her being held captive and felt her in pain but I couldn't reach her, I couldn't break my chains until it was too late. I wanted to kill them all as I watched her hit the floor. I feared she was possibly feeling all I felt; I had to let go to avoid sharing my pain with her or it could kill her. But I swore to myself that I'd kill the Viking the first chance I got if this was more than just a dream.

Then I saw her standing there, bruises similar to mine and I knew that it hadn't been a dream. I ripped myself from the walls and chains that bound me. I had to save her as my love for her almost killed her again. I had no right; I had no right to hurt her. I almost killed her because my love couldn't let her go. And there he stood trying to touch her. I could taste his blood under my fangs but she leapt in front of him and that sweet voice brought me back to her. Her mouth dripping in blood and her heart dying, I could hear the beats and her breath slowing as she spoke. She loved me, she loved me and forgave me and I would have to live on without her. But I would kill him first and then his child for the sheer madness of it all before I left myself. The world went blank after the voices said to kiss her…

Again her gentle heart begged me not to kill him; even if I couldn't kill him the satisfaction of destroying some part of him would have been enough. She is the only one that can stamp out by bloodlust rage with a single word. She has so much power over me, yet she is so fragile.

And, here she is again in my arms, kissing me as if I hadn't hurt her. But as much as I can blame the Viking for sending me to that hell, I have to blame myself for pulling her into it as well.

I belong to her, she is the one I would die protecting and the woman that holds my existence in her hands. The day she goes I will go with her as this existence without her is not worth living.

But for now, I will love her, I will protect her, I will die for her, I will love her, I AM HERS….

"Bill, what are you thinking? Honey, where did you go? Bill?"

"I'm right here sweetheart. I haven't gone anywhere. I am right here. I love you."

"I love you too Bill."

"Sweetheart rest a little longer, you are still tired and I'm not going anywhere. I'm sure we'll have more guests before the night is done." My head rested on Bill's chest as he breathed for me, cradling me in his strong arms as his gentle fingers rubbed circles on my back and I quickly fell asleep.