Bare with us. Bill says this chapter helps set up future events in "ALBD."

I got up around noon, took a shower, ate some cereal and while drinking my coffee my mind wondered over to my returning to Merlotte's. I like my job, missed Sam and needed my paycheck but, I truly did not feel like leaving Bill's side yet. I was making myself depressed and was on the verge of starting my own pity party so I decided to take my coffee outside and breathe in some fresh air; I was immediately greeted by three very large weres.

"Good afternoon miss."

"Hi, would you like some coffee, I just made a fresh pot?" I said as I plastered a nervous smile on my face.

"No thank you miss. Is everything OK? We didn't scare you, I mean you knew we were comin'? Alcide sent us?"

"No, I just forgot that's all and I've been a bit jumpy lately. Is Dawson here?"

"Nope, he's over on at the shop. Think he'll be here later tonight. You want us to call him? Will that be more comforting to you?"

"Oh no, it's fine just that I haven't seen him in a while and wanted to say hello. I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"

"It's OK miss, Alcide told us to be make you comfortable as you are healing and to go where you go. So you just say the word and one of us will go with you."

"Oh, thank you. I'm going across the way to my house in a while and to the grocery for some food later on. So I'll really appreciate it, if it's not too much of a bother."

"No bother, we go were you go. Five of us here so the grounds won't be alone."

"Thank you, I'll go get ready then." I turned and walked back inside, feeling like the crazy Sookie everyone thinks I am and went upstairs to get dressed. I threw on my jeans and a brown knit sweater, as I tied my sneakers my mind drifted back to Merlotte's all on it's own. I drove over to gran's house with my were bodyguard in tow. Amelia wasn't home and the door still had not been repaired. The message on the answering machine said that they would be over early in the evening; probably so that Bill and I were there for the repair I guessed. I checked the refrigerator, packed some clothes and we left for groceries. If I was going to be staying at Bill's I needed more than cereal and peanut butter and jelly.

By the time I'd ran all my errands my companion looked as raged as me. Hunger was setting in and our stomachs growled. We got a bite to eat and then headed home. Bill still had another two hours before he woke. I unpacked the grocery, and set my clothes on the dresser and closet were I'd kept my things before Bill and I…, well before our big breakup. I found myself crying as I hung up my clothes and decided to take a nap while I waited for the sun to settle and Bill to wake.

I woke and found myself wrapped in Bill's arms; "Sweetheart, you've been crying. Why?" He asked in that cool and smooth as silk voice of his.

"Humm? No Bill I…"

"Sookie, I felt your sadness. Now tell me darling what was wrong?"

"Bill, I was thinking of going back to work, missing you and then the closet and dresser... (hic up)" I was a blubbering fool as I got to the dresser part.

"The dresser and closet? You were crying about the dresser and closet? Oh sweetheart don't cry, we can change whatever furniture you don't like."

"No Bill, it was stupid. I like them, I was just…, well sad. Hanging my clothes reminded me of a lot of things; how much I'd missed you and then going back to work. I miss Sam and all but I'm going to miss you when I'm there. I don't want to go back just yet."

"We're together now and you don't have to go back to work for a while and I will be there every night as soon as I wake. I can sit and wait for you and then we can come home together if you like."

"But for now, please stop crying. I hate to see you cry." Bill kissed me lightly and held me in his arms as his fingers drew small circles on my back. I quickly fell asleep again. While I slept Bill made a couple of calls. He spoke to Sam about giving me an extra week off (Sam agreed since he'd seen me at the hospital) and then called Eric. Eric had agreed to send someone to cover my shifts.

I woke to find Bill as he finished his last call. He explained that Sam agreed to give me a week off and someone from Fangtasia, a girl named Vicky, would cover my shifts until I returned. I'd worried about my decrease in salary but Bill assured me that Eric had arranged for me to receive full pay from Sam for the shifts covered by Vicky. Eric would be paying Vicky for her time separately. Bill used the excuse of my health for the needed rest but there were other reasons he knew we'd need the time.

First, we needed to make sure there would be no reprisals from the two warring camps, we needed to find out if there'd be any side effects from potion we'd drank and, there were some renovations to both homes Bill wanted done that required me being home during the day. (We got into a heated argument over these renovations). But mostly, we just couldn't keep our hands off each other for more than a minute. I just would not have been able to go to work without him latched on to me or me to him. I think we did it in every room in both houses; if he didn't jump me I'd jump him.

During the repairs to the broken door, Bill had expressed his concern over the lack of security at gran's house and I made the mistake of saying that it wasn't that much better at the Compton home; immediately he'd a solution for both issues.

He wanted state of the art motion sensors, a security and video link system for both homes, Fios Internet connection, new doors, safe rooms, light tight windows, central air and heating, the chimneys cleaned. You name it, he wanted it. He got highly offended when I told him I couldn't afford those things and I got highly upset with his retort; "…, it's my responsibility to ensure your safety and comfort and cover all expenses to our homes."

Oh yeah, you can say I lost it. He knew how much I hated feeling like a kept woman. I tried to rescind his invitation and when he didn't budge I remembered my "our home" statement. He just stared at me with a raised eye brow grinning and I went ballistic with anger rolling over me and I slammed the bedroom door on his face.

Bill let me calm down for a while and then walked into the bedroom. He lay down next to me on the bed, put his arm around me and pulled me to him. With his sweetest voice he said, "sweetheart, you've never been or will ever be a kept woman unless you so desire it. I'd give you the world if you so wish for it. If it's mine, it's yours first, but I have to ensure your safety. I am immortal you are not and during the day I'm not here to protect you from those that mean us harm. I also want for our homes to be as comfortable as possible for both of us."

"I want nothing but your happiness and I know that you've desired some of these things but living alone hasn't allowed you to afford these renovations. You are not alone any more, now there are two of us and between us we can make our homes as comfortable as you've wanted them to be. And with the safe rooms, we can stay in each others arms all day and night. I've the means to do this for us, please let me." He convinced me pretty quickly with those words and after the renovations started I could see his point clearly; I did want them.

I didn't ask how much it was going to cost as I knew I'd lose it again; but I suspected it to be more than the value of both homes combined. Bill had left strict instructions that all expenses should be discussed with him ONLY and, with the amount of money he was shelling out they wanted to keep him happy. Crews worked around the clock and simultaneously at both homes. It's amazing what you can get done when the money is available and cost is not an issue, I wondered if Bill was rich but I never asked.

Bill had contacted Alcidefor referrals of companies used to supes' needs, specifically vampire needs. When I suggested he ask Eric, Bill gave me a look that let me know they weren't as good buddies as I'd thought they'd become a couple of nights ago.

He explained that it would be best if Eric was not aware of the intimate details of our renovations and security system just in case he stopped being as 'pleasant' in the future. I got his meaning lickety-split, and I really didn't need or want Eric showing up while Bill was away knowing all of the secrets of our homes. I also knew that Eric would not let the opportunity pass if and when Bill was away; that Viking is nothing but persistent.