NIGHT-
Alcide found Tara standing over him, when he awoke! He was actually pleasantly surprised. So much so, that he didn't notice that she was not smiling.
"Hey you! You're a nice sight to wake up to."
Tara half smiled. She knew Alcide meant that. But she had to keep her mind on business. She pulled out a book she'd had behind her back.
"Tell me, 'Bill', what was your great grandmama's name?"
Alcide was now fully awake! He climbed up the steps that took him out of the hole Bill Compton had fashioned as his resting place. Tara was right on his heels behind him!
"Uh, what is that book you have?" Alcide asked. He had went into Bill's office to pour himself a drink.
"It's the Compton Family Bible, something you should recognize."
"Tara, honey, what's going on? Is this about that slavery shit Northman has been trying to start up?"
Tara set the book down and folded her arms.
"Do you know what your great grandmama's name was or what?"
"Of course I know it!"
"Then tell me what her name was!" Tara countered. Alcide set his drink down, moved past her and picked up the book! He began paging through it. Tara rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Put the book down, ALCIDE! You know good and damned well, you shouldn't have to look in it to know the answer!"
Alcide slowly set the book down and turned to face her.
"I don't know what you mean. But you look tired. Maybe you should get some rest."
"And maybe you should give this shit a rest! Look, Sam turned into a fly and overheard you all at Authority Headquarters! So it's time to cut the shit! I know you're not Bill."
Alcide sighed and shook his head.
"Well damn, I'm caught! So go ahead! Tell me how fucked up this whole thing was."
"No, Alcide, I'm not going to say that. I know you were driven crazy by Eric turning you. And there was a part of me that knew something was wrong. Bill is polite and courteous. But he doesn't care for me. Not in that way. Not in the way you did last night."
"Then let's not end this," Alcide said firmly, "putting things back the way they are isn't going to make that situation any better."
"It wasn't bad."
"It wasn't bad?!" Alcide asked in disbelief. "You would really stay in a loveless marriage..."
"Alcide," Tara interrupted, "a loveless marriage is the least of my problems. Now there are some things I don't understand. Like why you told the Pelts about Sookie killing Debbie? Why would you do that?"
Alcide paused for a second before answering.
"They were the ones that knew exactly where I should go to find a witch doctor, that would help repress the vamp in me. And we thought that going to another reality to have him do it would be easier, since Northman was always calling me! But there, I didn't have to put up with that Maker shit."
"So in order to get that info, you outed Sookie?"
"And promised to give them your twins and all of Bill's money. Kibwe is now head chancellor. He was involved too."
"Okay. Well we have to put this right. Let's go to headquarters. You're going to get yourself put back into the right body."
"No." Alcide said curtly and picked up his drink again. Tara bit her lip for a moment, before speaking.
"Why?"
"Because I don't fucking want to! How's that for your answer, Tara! I love you! I do and I know you don't want to hear that but it's true. I loved being with you last night and I think you liked it to. I KNOW you did."
"I did, Alcide. But you can't stay Bill. You know that's not right."
"And if I go back to my own body, do we take up where we left off the other night?" Alcide asked.
"No. You know we can't. Bill wouldn't stand for it. When we get there, I have to convince him not to put your ass to death!" Tara reminded him.
"I won't do it. You can be as mad as you want, but I'm staying Bill." Alcide argued.
"Alcide, I'm not going to have any choice but to call the news. I'll call them, tell them about you and the Pelts. I already plan to at least put it out, that the Pelts knew that crazy assed Debbie killed me and let me be turned. If you think humans were already uneasy living with vampires, just wait until they hear that shit!"
Alcide set down his drink again.
"You would do that?"
It was now that Tara made her move. She walked up to him.
"I could be persuaded to change my mind about most of it. Meaning...maybe you could stay Bill. But I can't let Sookie go to prison."
Alcide was confused.
"Tara, what are you telling me?"
"I want that ring. The reality ring you used to find that witch doctor. I need to tell the real father of my children that I didn't just run off and leave him."
Alcide took a step back.
"Well I'll be a sonofabitch," he said in a low, deliberate tone, "this isn't about putting things right with Bill or saving Sookie. You want to go back to that other reality and live with Northman Fuck #2!"
But Tara wasn't about to be shamed.
"I would come back every once and awhile to be with you. If that's what you wanted. It's better than nothing. Or what I offered you at first."
"Fine," Alcide said quickly, "let's do this. But the ring is at headquarters. I couldn't take the chance hiding it here."
Tara nodded.
"I'll just go pack some stuff."
Alcide said nothing as Tara turned and walked out of his office. Then with a heavy heart, he walked over to the desk and picked up the phone.
When Tara walked into the Chancellor meeting room with her suitcase, she did not see that the real Bill and Eric were standing on each side of the door she had just come through. Alcide moved to stand next to Chancellor Kibwe.
Tara nodded to Kibwe.
"So Alcide explained everything?" she asked him.
Kibwe nodded slightly.
"He did. But there has been a change in plans. We have ALL worked out a deal."
Tara noted how Kibwe accentuated the word 'all', and looked behind her. Eric and Bill, as Alcide, were behind her back by the door. Tara frowned. She thought they were in a cell...
She then looked at Alcide as Bill.
"What's going on?"'
"Tara, honey, we have to leave these other realities be. And what you offered just doesn't work for me." Alcide said before looking at Kibwe. Kibwe brought out the Lillith blood powder and the real Bill suddenly came into her vision. Eric pulled Tara out of the way as Kibwe blew the powder, then stepped out of harm's way. The powder swirled in the air and Bill and Alcide actually began coughing violently, before dropping to the ground.
When they awoke, Bill stood up as Bill.
Alcide stood up as Alcide. But...
Alcide's fangs emerged. Eric let go of Tara and walked over to him.
"Well, well. I see that you are now back to being more vamp than wolf. As your maker, I command you to wait for me over there in that corner."
Alcide gave Tara a rather pitiful look, before walking over into the corner like a child. Bill now looked at Tara.
"Tara, Alcide called and told us that you knew and what you wanted. It's time to end this."
Tara was very, very uneasy! She clutched her suitcase, but Bill gently took it from her. Then Eric produced both rings in his hands. Tara tried to grab for one, but Eric CRUSHED BOTH OF THEM IN HIS HANDS!
"NO!" Tara screamed and Alcide attempted to hurry to her, but Eric called out the command again.
"AS YOUR MAKER, I COMMAND YOU TO STAY THE FUCK IN THAT CORNER!"
Kibwe winced. It was clear that the Queen of Louisiana was not happy. That being in that other reality was what she dearly wanted. He looked away. He had made his own deal that spared his life. Though it wasn't exactly a good one.
Bill looked away from Tara and her tears to face Kibwe.
"You betrayed me and this council. You took a chance surrendering like that."
"Once Herveaux admitted he planned on living as a King on the dole, I knew our plan would not work. Then the Queen found out and I didn't know if she could be trusted to keep quiet."
"You will go and work for Eric Northman at Fangtasia as well...as a stripper. Please go gather your things now." Bill told Kibwe. Kibwe slunk from the room.
That just left a sobbing Tara, who was now on the ground, rummaging through the ring dust. Eric walked over to Bill.
"Leave me with both of them."
"You remember our agreement. You tell Sookie you lied on me about Russell and Tara and I stay married. We have to keep up appearances."
"You just remember OUR agreement." Eric countered. Bill nodded slightly, then looked down at Tara with something akin to pity, before leaving the room. Alcide growled from the corner.
Eric now looked at Alcide.
"Come over here and stand next to your sister. Tara, stand up."
"Fuck you! I hate your guts for what you did! I'll always hate you and..."
"Yes, yes, I know. Stand up." Eric repeated and Alcide helped Tara up. She swiped at her eyes then reached for her suitcase.
"I realize that the events that have taken place, have occurred because they weren't handled right. I did not handle MY children right. Alcide, I turned you because I hated your guts from bringing that whore in Pam's midst and allowing her to kill her. If you slay her daughter, then I will release you and you will be free to live your vampire life, unfettered by any duty to me."
Alcide linked arms with Tara.
"I can't kill a child. You can't expect me to kill a little girl."
"Then I suggest you let go of Tara and get back to Fangtasia. Kibwe and you have a show in two hours." Eric said coolly. Alcide reluctantly let go of Tara and left the room. Eric now stood so that he was in front of Tara. He took the suitcase that she had been clutching, away from her and set it on top of the meeting table.
"Look at me." he ordered her. Tara stared up at him defiantly.
"This is how things are going to be from now on: I have agreed to tell Sookie that I lied when I told her, that Bill Compton gave Russell Edgington the location of the fairy world she comes from. I will admit that I did it. That should go a long way in helping the two of them get back together. That leaves nothing for you when it comes to Bill."
Tara now glared at him and moved to go around him, but Eric blocked her way.
"Bill realizes that people think that you are having his children and you are officially Queen. So during the day, you will be the Queen of Louisiana. At night, you will be with me..."
Tara slapped him across the face, grabbed her suitcase and began walking towards the exit. She tried to open the door but it was locked! Tara threw her suitcase and turned to face Eric!
"Open that fucking door!" she snapped.
"Are you finished with your tantrum? Because I wasn't done informing you of how our lives are going to be from now on."
"I don't want a life with you!"
"No, you want it with the 'Good Eric'. The one that's Prince of Northland. The only reason you wanted that, is because you couldn't have me in this reality. And it is long past time that you began accepting the fact that you are staying in this reality. If I can't get Pam back then you will not have HIM either." Eric informed her.
The door did open just then and Nora walked in. Tara gave her a dirty look, then hurried through the door! Nora stared after her, before facing her brother.
"What's going on?"
"Tara was just learning that her life is about to change." Eric said calmly. He now wondered if it was a good idea to keep the other secret from her. Giving her false hope had evoked this kind of reaction about the reality rings. How would Tara react when she found out she would go back to being a full blooded vampire after the twins were born?
Eric shoved the thought to the recesses of his mind. He didn't know how Tara would handle it(probably not well) but he knew it would be easier for him to deal with.