AN- All characters are the property of Charlaine Harris.
Adele was nice enough to give Bill a ride home from the meeting and he told her that he would help her carry things into the house. He still hoped to get his invitation back. As they approached the house they were alarmed to see police cars outside. The lights reflecting blue and red off of the house and trees. It was an eerie scene. They both instantly assumed that Sookie was hurt.
"Oh no," Adele gasp as she ran to the house forgetting Bill altogether.
Bill got out of the car and started toward the house. Suddenly he was knocked into the trees near the cemetery. He instantly fell into a defensive stance with his fangs extended. He looked up to see Eric snarling at him, his eyes aflame.
"Go home Bill, you are not needed here," the rage in Eric's voice was evident.
"Is Sookie alright?"
Eric grabbed Bill by the throat and propelled him into a nearby tombstone. It crumbled to pieces as Bill's head exploded through it. "Sookie is none of your concern Bill," Eric roared.
"I would never make her do what you did Eric," Bill said as he struggled to stand up. "That was depraved and you know it. If you continue to treat her that way, she will not stay by your side."
"No, you are right, I did not have to make her do that. But you did not see her resist either, did you? She is truly magnificent. It is too bad you never got to sample that sweet flower. She would have never yielded to you as she has so totally to me." He sneered, "And it was totally worth it to see you run out of Fangtasia with your tail between your legs." Eric straightened up and casually folded his arms across his chest. His gaze burned holes into the smaller vampire. "I will not ask you again Bill. Go home, and do not return here."
"Is she just some conquest for you Eric? Is that the only reason you wanted her? Because she was mine?" Bill was slowly retreating. He knew that he was stirring up a hornet's nest, but he needed to see if Eric would toss Sookie aside.
"She was never yours Bill. You were only there to bring her to me. Why don't you go back to that bitch Lorena Bill? I'm sure that she will not be as sweet as Sookie, but she could take your mind off of her at least." Eric almost dared Bill to admit that the queen had sent him.
"You are a savage," Bill spat.
"I am a Viking you fucking moron! I invented the word! And you would do well to remember that you stupid Southerner," Eric's lips pealed back as he exposed his fangs. He flexed and took two steps toward Bill and was thrilled to watch him flee before him yet again. Eric's laughter chased Bill all the way home.
Sookie was sitting in the living room next to Andy Bellefleur when her Gran came running through the front door. "Oh my goodness! Sookie, are you okay? What happened here?"
Sookie jumped up as soon as she saw her grandmother and ran over to give her a hug. "It's okay Gran. I'm fine really."
In the kitchen Rene was screaming loudly, "It's all her fault! Why couldn't she just lie down like the others! That's right you fuckin fang-banger! I know you can hear me! You should be dead! If I don't kill you that demon spawn sure will!"
Sookie turned to Andy and gestured angrily at the kitchen. "You better git him outta here or I'm gonna finish the job! My Gran doesn't need to hear that trash pourin outta his mouth!"
"Yes, well I think we are done here anyways. If you could just come down tomorrow and make a formal statement Miss Stackhouse." Andy got up from the couch and motioned for Kevin and Kenya to bring out the prisoner. He had to be dragged through the house kicking and screaming.
"Oh my heavens," Adele gasp as she watched Rene twist in the arms of the police officers.
"How could you let your granddaughter throw herself at a vampire?" He stared at Adele with wild eyes. Spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted. "It's an abomination just like Dawn and Maudette! Whores of Satan that's what they are!"
Adele surprised them all by slapping Rene as hard as she could. "Don't you dare talk about my Sookie like that!" Kevin and Kenya quickly pulled him out of the house before anything else could happen and shoved him into the police cruiser. Andy nodded to Sookie and Adele and quietly left.
Adele sank gratefully into her chair and gladly excepted the tea that Sookie brought her. "What in the world happened here Sookie?"
Before Sookie could answer there was a knock at the door. She got up and pulled the door open allowing Eric to come in. She instantly hugged him. He reached back and closed the door silently. "They are gone now. We are safe my love." He gently stroked her hair.
"I thought I told you to leave," she smiled up at him. She knew he hadn't really left.
"Yes, well I had to take out the trash," he replied secretly. He didn't want to upset Sookie's grandmother more than she already was.
They both turned back to Adele who was still waiting for an explanation. Sookie sat down next to her Gran and grabbed her hand as she began, "Eric and I were sittin here watching tv waitin for you to come home. And then Eric heard somethin so he went 'round back to check it out. I heard Rene's thoughts Gran, they were all snarly and nasty. So I just grabbed the fire poker and waited for him to come round the corner. Soon as he stuck his head out I wacked him good and he went down like a sack a potatoes. Eric was apparently right behind Rene ready to grab him. But I got him good. We decided we should tie him up and call the cops. I figured Eric should take off though since I was the one that hit Rene and it would only have gotten jumbled up with him being a vampire and all." She paused a moment, "Rene killed those girls Gran. Dawn and Maudette. He even killed his sister if you can believe that. Probably others, I couldn't tell. Any girl that had been with a vampire." She glanced at Eric as he hissed. "It's okay dear, you couldn't have known," she patted his arm.
"How terrible Sookie. I can't believe anyone would have that kind of hatred in them. The things he was spouting off where...," Adele shook her head trying to forget the terrible things he had said about Sookie.
"I know Gran, it's okay though. He's in jail now and he won't be able to hurt any more girls." Sookie got up and hugged her grandmother's frail body. "I was going to go to Eric's tonight Gran, but if you need me here, I'll stay with you."
"Nonsense, I'm not so frail." She lightly swatted Sookie. "I'm fine dear, don't you worry about me. It's you I'm worried about. That man wanted you dead something awful. What if there are more out there like him?"
"Well then maybe I won't be so nice to them," she laughed. "Besides Gran, I'm sure Eric will look out for me."
"Do not doubt that," Eric replied.
Sookie left her Gran and went to her room to pack some clothes. She actually didn't plan on ever staying another night in her Gran's house, but she didn't think that she would drop that bomb just yet.
Eric stood in the door and watched as she stuffed an old suitcase full of clothes and necessities. He could see what she was doing and he decided to help her by finding a duffel bag and stuffing her shoes in it.
When she had filled the suitcase to exploding, she rushed to the bathroom and gathered up her belongings in a smaller case. She half considered sneaking the items by her Gran, but she felt that wouldn't be right. She went back to the bedroom and found Eric sitting on her bed waiting patiently. She looked through the room one more time to see if she had missed anything. In her closet she saw the dress that Pam had picked out for her, she wasn't going to leave that. She didn't want to fold it though. She knew her Gran kept a garment bag in the attic. She ran up to get it. As she was coming down the stairs she decided that she couldn't leave her Gran without telling her.
Adele was in the kitchen cleaning some pans that she had used for the meeting. Bill had actually been very accommodating and the stories he had told were interesting. Especially to the more established families of Bon Temps. She couldn't believe that Rene Lenier had been such a hate filled man. Sookie had sure taken care of him. She was proud of that girl.
Sookie came up next to her Gran and silently started drying the dishes for her. After a long silence she finally started, "I'm not comin back Gran. I'm goin to stay with Eric. I didn't think that tonight was the right time to tell ya. What with Rene being a psycho an all. But I can't leave without tellin ya. I need to be with Eric Gran. We belong together. I hope you can understand."
"Oh my, so soon? Are you that serious?" Adele suddenly felt very lonely. She missed her husband.
Eric stepped out of Sookie's room, "I love Sookie, Adele. And for a vampire that is very strange. But I have loved your granddaughter for a thousand years. My commitment to her is unwavering." His arms encircled Sookie.
"I'll still come by and visit all the time Gran. I'll just be in Shreveport. It's not that far away," Sookie added. "Besides Eric sleeps during the day, I will need someone to pass the time with." She tried to smile for her Gran but she could hear her saddness.
"And what about Merlotte's dear?" Adele was sure she already knew the answer to that one too.
"Honestly Gran I can't even stand bein around him anymore. He doesn't like vampires and he really doesn't like Eric. I know that he's held a torch for me and all but he never said anything until someone else took an interest in me. And then suddenly no one was good enough. Work was hell today, he knows that I can read people and he purposely thought about every nasty thing that he could picture a vampire doing to someone like me." She paused because she hadn't told Eric the full extend of Sam's behavior and she could feel his rage. "Eric has work for me Gran. Something that will let me use my telepathy. I won't have to hide who I am anymore. I can only do that in his world, normal people will never understand me. You know how it's been. How bad growin up was for me."
Adele nodded her head, "Yes Sookie, I know how hard it's been for ya. The kids where mean and the adults where not better. I've always tried to be there for ya and I'm afraid I wasn't always. I sorry that Sam contributed to your problems dear. I really am. I thought that he understood you, it seemed to be the only job that you could hold."
She pulled the plug in the sink to let the water drain and turned to Sookie. "I won't be the one to hold you back from your dreams." Adele embraced her granddaughter. "It will sure be lonely here without you though. You have to promise to come visit me. And you," she pointed at Eric, "you had better make sure she is eatin. She came home starvin, poor thing. I won't stand for that, you hear."
"You are right, it is my fault. I was monopolizing her time," he gave Adele a twisted smile. "Please forgive me. I will take care of her Adele. You have my word, and you should know that I do not give my word lightly."
"Do you intend to marry my Sookie?"
"Yes, I do," he stated without pause.
Sookie's felt her heart do a back flip in her chest. If Eric hadn't been holding her, she might have fallen to the ground.
"However vampire-human weddings are not yet legal in any state and I have not been able to locate a ceremonial knife used in vampire weddings. Rest assured Ms. Stackhouse, I will be marrying Sookie." He hugged Sookie closer to him. "If she will have me that is."
"Oh Eric, of course I will. I already married you once didn't I?" She turned in his arms and embraced him.
"Yes dear but that was an arranged marriage. And originally with my brother as I recall. I must confess it worked out marvelously for me though." He kissed the top of her head tenderly.
"Your brother was very good to me Eric." She paused and touched the ever present stubble on his face, "But I always wanted you. I felt bad for lusting after someone other than my husband."
Adele cleared her throat to make sure they remembered she was still in the room. "You will have to come over and tell me stories Sookie. You know how I love history." She was trying not to cry, she hated to admit that Sookie was her anchor.
"I will tell you all that I remember Gran. Maybe you could write it down, it would be fun. And it might help me reconcile my two halves." Sookie wiggled out of Eric's embrace and hugged her Gran tightly.
"Alright Sookie," Adele patted Sookie's back, "It's okay...I just wanted to be sure you had thought about this is all. Don't forget to invite your ole Gran to your wedding."
"It wouldn't be right without you Gran," Sookie said as she kissed Adele on the cheek.
Eric hadn't driven, so they had to pack everything up in Sookie's car. Plus Sookie would have it at Eric's if she needed to go anywhere during the day.
Eric let Sookie drive so that he could use his phone as they traveled. He pulled it out and dialed his child. "Pam, I need you to work your magic on Sookie's attire again. In fact I desire you two to match and I will need a new tailored suit."
"How soon?," Pam replied.
"Tomorrow. We will be visiting Sophie-Anne," he heard Pam hiss on the other end. "Now, now, Pam. I expect you to be on your best behavior."
"What am I committing to by standing at your side Eric?" She knew that Eric had something up his sleeve.
"My goodness, I forgot to tell you Pam, Sookie is going to be assisting us in our business dealings. It must have completely slipped my mind," he looked at Sookie and smiled widely.
"Why in the world would I agree to that?" Pam sounded offended.
"Well because, dear one, she a telepath. Did I forget to mention that as well? How silly of me," he laughed. "Sookie will be sitting in on all of our dealings with humans from now on Pam. And she is to be a constant fixture at the bar. No more police raids or V users. It will be marvelous."
"She can not read vampires than?"
"No Pam, you do not have to worry about her reading your nasty fantasies."
"Alright than," she sounded relieved. "When will we be leaving?"
"As soon as the sun sets, I want you at my house. You two will be allowed time to get ready and we will be underway. I expect to have a beautiful woman on either side of me when I confront the queen." He absently twirled his finger around Sookie's hair.
"Very well than. Should I have Bobby arrange a car?"
"A terrific idea Pam. See that it gets done." He abruptly hung up phone.
"Tomorrow huh?," Sookie was a bundle of nerves.
"You will be fine lover," he smoothed his hand down her arm. "Do not speak unless you are asked a direct question. If it helps, just let Aude handle it. She has experience dealing with royalty."
"You were a Prince?," she looked slightly confused.
"Like unto. As you have said, my father was the chief. His lands were vast. You were a Princess love, our families married us for a reason."