Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Layla and a few of the plot twists.

Too. Damn. Early

Too. Damn. Bright.

Those were Layla's thoughts as she trudged towards the bar with Sookie. On the way down from their rooms Sookie had filled her in on Hugo, Isabel's human, who had offered his services in an attempt to make the girls seem less suspicious. The cover story was fairly simple. Hugo and Sookie were engaged and looking for a place to get married. Layla would be cousin from up north, flying in to help with the arrangements.

It had been a pain in the ass to dress the part of a happy bridesmaid. Layla mostly wore black, not out of some weird fascination with looking gothic, but just because it was her favorite color. Thankfully, she had found a white sundress that must have gotten stuffed into her duffel bag by mistake. It was the best call she could make really. The white would make her skin look a little less pale in contrast, and plus she had been raised Catholic, so she knew how white represented purity and whatnot. Her long, dark hair was down in it's usual loose waves and she had gone lightly with her make-up. Her eyes had only a smidgen of mascara and a hint of blush on her cheeks. The aviator sunglasses she had invested in before moving south were perched on the top of her head as Sookie introduced her to Hugo.

"This is for you." he said to Sookie, handing her an engagement ring. Sookie giggled and took it with mock joy.

"Look, Layla, I'm engaged!" Sookie fake squealed to the brunette at her side.

"I'm thrilled I could share in this magical moment." Layla responded flatly, focusing more on her bloody mary. She felt terrible. What kind of vampire hotel had a room this bright? It was ridiculous.

"Also, it might be best if you let me do most of the talking." Hugo added. Layla nodded.

"Sounds like a plan." she replied groggily. Sookie placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly. Layla paused to yawn into her hand.

"Yeah, I just, I haven't been up this early since high school. It's throwing me off a bit. I'll be fine though, don't worry. After I finish my drink I'll switch to coffee." Layla told the blonde, shaking the little bit of bloody mary she had left for emphasis. Sookie and Hugo immediately began talking about vampire/human relationships. Jeez, did Sookie ever have anything else of her mind besides boys? Layla's ears perked up though when Hugo mentioned being turned. He began talking about how humans will age but vampires won't. Layla groaned inwardly. Making Sookie nervous about her relationship with Bill was the worst thing Hugo could have done before they walk into a dangerous situation.

"We should go." Sookie said standing up. The bartender handed Layla her coffee to go as Hugo apologized to Sookie.

"It's okay Hugo, really. Besides, now, if I die today, who cares? I'll never have to feel old, and unloved, and unwanted." she babbled before leaving. Layla stood and clapped Hugo on the shoulder, looking him dead in the eye.

"Good job." she said sarcastically, before talking a sip of her coffee and following Sookie out.

XXXXXXXX

As Hugo drove the car up to the church, Layla saw a woman directing them towards a parking lot. Hugo explained the the woman was Sarah Newlin, the reverends wife. Apparently they were on TV a lot, but Layla usually ignored anti-vampire talks, so she didn't recognize them.

"You know in person, she looks like vanilla pudding." Sookie remarked. Layla snorted to herself. When the car was parked the three stepped out. Layla immediately pulled her sunglasses down to hide her eyes from the blinding sun. Layla watched as Sarah introduced herself and then was forced to listen as Sookie basically self-destructed.

The girl would not shut up. Introducing herself, then Layla (as Lucy Simpson) and then Hugo. Everything she said came out too fast and too sweet. It sounded like she was hurling sugar at Sarah Newlin's face. As they followed Sarah in to see Steve Newlin, the reverend, Hugo leaned over to Sookie.

"I thought you were going to let me do the talking?" he said.

"Sometimes, when I get nervous, I talk too much." she admitted softly. Layla rolled her eyes.

"No shit." she mumbled.

Layla, aka Lucy, remained quiet, strictly there for moral support, ooing and ahhing at appropriate times. Once or twice Layla threw in an obscure family reference for authenticity.

"Uncle Harvey is going to love this, Holly!"

Sookie, as Holly, would just giggle and agree and Hugo, as Rufus, would smile. After a brief chat with the Newlins they went on a tour, one of the main stops being the main part of the church. Steve make some hokey warning at the door. Layla forced a smiled and slight laugh as they opened the door. They had warned them that the love that comes flying out might knock them down. Well, Layla almost was knocked down but it definitely was not love that did it. There was so much sunlight. Everything seemed to be glowing. Layla winced at how bright it was but, being inside, couldn't put on her sunglasses. It would only make the Newlins suspicious. As Layla struggled to remain upright she could hear the Newlin's talking about a 'lock-in'. She'd heard of them before, they were kind of like parish slumber parties. No thank you.

Everything about Layla's body was screaming at her to go and lay down. She felt like she had just run a marathon. She needed to sit and catch her breath. Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse she heard the tone of Sookie's voice. She was worried. Layla's eyes snapped to the blonde's, who was trying to communicate the fear to Hugo.

"Holly, Rufus, Lucy. I'd like you to meet and aid of mine. This is Gabe." Steve said, introducing a hulk of a man. This put Layla even more on edge but she forced a smile. She refused to be the reason they got caught.

"Like the archangel." Layla remarked sweetly, referring to his name.

"Gabe will be joining us on the rest of the tour."

Uh oh. Layla thought. This is very bad.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"My father's tomb. It's on the lower level." Steve said. Layla glanced out the window. It was dark, but she still didn't feel much better. She knew what she needed was a good rest...maybe some chicken noodle soup. Maybe she had gotten the flu? Or worse, maybe Eric had given her bubonic plague. He had lived through it after all.

Sookie and Sarah were trying to gently dissuade Steve from taking them downstairs. Layla didn't want to join in, worried the more voices against it would make them more suspicious. She tried not let her feathers get ruffled at the Catholic comment. She may not be practicing, but it's a pride thing.

Hugo came up with a great excuse for him and Sookie. Claustrophobia.

"Well, at least take a quick little looksie and that way you can say you saw the whole church." Steve pressed.

"Steve!" Sarah said. Layla's eyes flickered to pudding girl. Even she seemed nervous. Okay, this was really really bad. Layla put a hand on Sookie's shoulder and smiled at Steve.

"Reverend Newlin, with all due respect, we have plans to go dress shopping an the morning, and Holly's going to need a good night's sleep. She won't be able to do that if she's having nightmares about being in the basement of a church." Layla lied smoothly

"Besides, we've already made our decision. So why don;t we go back to our apartment, look at our calendar and call you to set the date?" Sookie proposed.

"No. Gabe!" Steve shouted. Sookie and Sarah both screamed. Layla was whirling around, trying to swing at Steve, since he was the once who had grabbed Sookie. Her strength was failing her though, she was still too damned drained from a day in the sun. Gabe, who had Hugo in one hand used the other and hurled Layla down the stairs. Her body slammed down the stairs, and when she hit the bottom, everything went black.