The next morning, while Eric slept, Tara was thrown by an unexpected delivery. Eric had a cleaning woman that did not arrive until ten in the morning, so Tara was more than a bit surprised to open the door to two delivery men, bringing things for a 'playhouse' that was on the property.

Tara had not lived with Eric long, before she had run off to the other reality, so she had never looked around. Especially at night. Tara accepted the delivery as true, then kind of trailed after the men, that seemed to know where this 'playhouse', was.

What Tara saw, near a patch of forest, was a white playhouse 6 inches square by 6 inches in height, with a green door. Tara squinted. It would be cute when the twins grew older, but they wouldn't be able to play in something like that for awhile. Still, the thought was sweet.

Tara could hear her cellphone ringing back at the house. She hurried back and picked it up off the coffee table. It was Agent Weiss.

"Mrs. Compton, how are you this morning?"

"I was fine before you called."

"Yes, well after reading the morning paper, I can see why. What do you plan to do about it?"

Tara frowned. She had not looked at the morning paper, though she remembered that Eric did receive one. She hurried back outside, down the drive and punched in the code for the gate. The mailbox was just outside of it. She pulled out the paper, unfolded it and squeaked!

Alcide and herself were on the front page! He was leading her through the media frenzy and the headline read LOCAL VAMPIRE IS A PERSON OF INTEREST IN V PROBE.

"Why would I do anything about it? You're the Feds."

"Uh, obviously, we have our lines crossed. I'm not calling about the headline, the article or what happened," Agent Weiss said, "we knew Northman would be picked up last night. And as we made clear to you, we're concerned about the Morphia drug, not V."

"Then what are you talking about?" Tara asked impatiently.

"The fact that Alcide Herveaux's hand is on your breast and you seem fine with it. Mrs. Compton, I thought you understood that Eric Northman was who you were supposed to have the relationship with."

"Oh please! Alcide just grabbed on there because he had to grab something, okay? This isn't a big deal."

"I hope not. Because if you can't get Eric Northman to trust you..."

"Listen," Tara interrupted, "what makes you think that Eric is just going to break down and tell me that he's selling Morphia. He might not ever."

"Well for your cousin's sake, you'd better hope he does. I'll be in touch, Mrs. Compton." Agent Weiss said curtly, before hanging up. Tara hung up, then was startled when the phone rang again.

This time it was Sookie.

"Tara, girl, you are in TROUBLE! Bill saw that picture of Alcide and you on this urban website called 'Black Vampire'. He told me to tell you that tonight, you two are going on TV as a couple and disputing all of these rumors."

"What the HELL are you talking about, Sookie? What? Alcide was just..."

"Copping a feel! And Bill thinks..."

"Bill can tell me himself what he thinks." Tara said and hung up. She didn't appreciate the phone call from that whore Fed or Sookie! She took a deep breath, walked over a laptop Eric had sitting on a counter, and typed in 'Black Vampire'.

Tara raised a brow as the same picture of Alcide and herself, was front and center on the first page of the site. But the conversation was a bit different...

Last evening, the first African American Vampire Queen, Tara Compton, was seen trying to make her way into the Bon Temps Police Station, escorted by known Were, Alcide Herveaux. Although many feel the existence of Were groups is BS, those of us supernatural beings know the truth.

The picture above makes many vamps wonder: could Alcide Herveaux be the real father of Tara Compton's unborn twins? The Were's hand and protective arm around her, is a known territorial type of embrace...

Tara's mouth dropped open as her eyes went down to the comments:

NightVamp- I don't know if Herveaux is the father of Queen Tara's babies. But I think they've f-u-c-k-e-d at least once. Notice she isn't trying to remove his hand.

QueenTara2- Why is everyone up in the Queen's business? And you can bet that Eric Northman would've killed her dead if he thought she had slept with a Were!

NastyVamp- QueenTara2- What does Eric Northman have to do with this? They're just friends. It's King Bill that should be upset.

Princeofdarkness- King Bill is sleeping with some waitress in Bon Temps. I can't remember her name, but I think she waited on me once at the place she works. She alright to look at.

NightVamp- The real problem here is, if Queen Tara is f-u-c-k-i-n-g other vamps or weres, outside of her marriage, why can't she do some Black ones? I've never seen her with any Black men, human or supernatural.

PastyWere- That is not true! I know for a fact that Queen Tara was involved with a Black man that got killed by the police.

NightVamp- When was this? Did he turn after he got shot?

PastyWere- Yeah. He turned into a Were Cougar or something and left town.

QueenTara2- STFU both of you! The Queen was involved with a Black man, he was killed by the police and he stayed dead! Love has no color!

Tara stopped reading and left the site. Maybe she should pay a visit to Merlotte's and talk to Sookie. All of this online chatter made her nervous. She would wait until the housekeeper arrived and head over.

Sam gave Tara a sharp look when she walked in. LaFayette came out of the kitchen and sat down next to her at the counter.

"Girl, keep it together." he said in a tight, low voice. "Is Alcide looking to die? What's going to happen when Eric wakes up and sees that photo?"

"I already spoke to Agent Weiss, if that's what you're worried about," Tara said in a similar tone, "and we need to talk to her about finding another way out for you."

"What do you mean?" LaFayette asked.

"Because I don't think I'm going to be able to pull it off." Tara replied. "Eric isn't the type to share that kind of shit with me."

Before LaFayette could respond, Sam walked over.

"I'd like to speak to Tara-alone."

LaFayette nodded slightly and headed back towards the kitchen, then faked a left and went to the employee locker rooms. He was calling Agent Weiss and Latteste about this shit...

Meanwhile, Tara almost withered under Sam's silent disapproval.

"I'm here to see Sookie. I know she's here." Tara said.

"How could you have anything to do with Alcide, after what he did to you?" Sam asked.

Tara was very mindful that more than a few people were staring at her.

"Can we not talk out here?"

"Fine. Step into my office then." Sam said, leading the way. Once inside, Sam closed the door and Tara sat down.

"Well? Have you taken leave of your senses?" Sam asked again.

Tara took a deep breath, then spoke.

"Sam, I don't know what to tell you. I don't hate Alcide. I know he cares about me and he pulled that dirty ass trick because he wanted a chance. I don't hate him and I don't cringe when he touches me. Eric has said it's because we're related through blood. He thinks there will come a time when we won't be able to keep away from one another."

Sam's mouth dropped open!

"Holy shit, Tara! What are you saying? That Alcide and you won't be able to help fucking?"

Tara nodded.

"That's exactly what Eric is saying. I heard that Bill has a sister he's fucked too."

"I'm sure Sookie doesn't want to hear that," Sam said, "and that's another thing that bothers me."

"What?" Tara asked.

"Bill. Why would Eric confess that he lied on Bill NOW? I know there was some sort of deal about you."

"Well, I think Bill knew Eric lied on him and wanted him to confess to Sookie." Tara lied.

"Yeah. Still, something seems off about that. But then again, Sookie seems happy. That's all that counts."

Tara reached over and touched Sam's hand.

"What about you, Sam? How are you doing?" she asked.

Before Sam could answer, Sookie entered the office. She could see she had interrupted something.

"I can leave and come back." she offered. But Sam shook his head.

"No. Stay here. You two have a lot to talk out." Sam said, before leaving his office and closing the door behind him. Sookie leaned against Tara's desk.

"You hung up on me."

"I know Sook. Look, I just think you need to stay out of this Bill shit. At least the Bill and I shit. You don't need to play his secretary. If he has something to tell me, he can tell me when he's up at night." Tara told her.

"Fine. Agreed. Now what are you going to do about Alcide? He's not backing off, is he?" Sookie asked. Tara shook her head.

"No. I don't want to talk about him either. What time does Bill want me at his house tonight for the interview?"

"Six. He wants to go over some things. Actually, he wants to talk to you about what's going on."

"You mean he wants to yell at me?" Tara suspected.

"Bill doesn't really yell. You lived with him long enough to know that." Sookie said. Tara nodded, then stood up.

"I guess I'd better get back to Eric's."

"Tara, let's get together and do something? Maybe shop for the babies or something." Sookie offered.

Tara nodded again but didn't say anything. She couldn't because she was confused and choked up.

FANGTASIA/EVENING- Alcide discovered Chancellor Kibwe and Jessica screwing like rabbits in one of the stalls! They didn't even stop moving plus they both glared at him! Alcide closed the stall door for privacy.

The whole incident made him wonder about Kibwe again. Alcide sat at the desk that Pam used to occupy and drummed his fingers along the desk. It was as he did this for a few moments, that something came to him.

Someone had something on Kibwe. Probably Northman. That was why Kibwe betrayed him. That was why Kibwe let Northman and Compton out of their cell. That was why he didn't get too huffy about going from Authority Chancellor, to stripping.

But when did Northman and Compton find out whatever this was? Because both of them could've used whatever this info was on Kibwe, long ago. Alcide was still thinking along those lines, when Eric entered the office.

"I would rather see your hand tapping that desk, than on Tara's breasts. If I see anything like that again, I will stake you myself. Are we clear?"

Alcide didn't answer, since he had every intention of putting his hands on Tara at a later date. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Eric didn't give him a chance to respond anyway.

"I want you to come down to the basement with me." Eric said to Alcide. Alcide got up out of his chair, followed Eric down a long hallway until they reached the basement door. They went downstairs and...

There were two humans tied up and quivering in a corner! A man and a woman. The woman was crying through her gag.

"Alcide, these are Federal Agents Tom Latteste and Sara Weiss. They were attempting to corrupt Tara, her cousin LaFayette and I believe Chancellor Kibwe, in an attempt to destroy our family. I own a boat. We will take these two out on it, dine on them and then throw them overboard. Are you clear on that?"

"These two are Feds?"

"Yes. They are. Please go and get the chancellor off of the King's daughter. I believe they are in the Men's room." Eric said blithely.

"Then what?" Alcide asked, fearing for Tara.

"Then we will swing by and pick up Mr. Reynolds."

"And Tara?" Alcide demanded.

"Will be dealt with my me. And me alone." Eric answered.