Thank you to everyone who has added me as their favorite, also I am grateful for all the wonderful reviews I have received. I started writing FanFic because I really liked all the other stories posted, but I ran out of stuff to read =(.

I also have another in process story called "Against Her Will" check it out, it's a little darker.

Anywho, as always I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to AB and CH…..

Previously…

Great, so now I have Weres addicted to V out to get me. I didn't say anything; instead I just sat there in stunned silence.

"I don't think it's a good idea to leave you alone, at least until I can figure out who sent the Weres for you." Alcide said. I just nodded. I thought it was really sweet that he was so vested in my safety.

"We will go back to your home, and I will stay with you until we figure this out." Alcide said wearily. I was too tired to argue, so I just agreed. We drove back to Bon Temps, this time it was awkwardly silent the entire ride home.

Chapter 10

I ushered Alcide into my home. Being that this was only our first (disastrous) first date, I didn't think it appropriate for him to sleep in my bed with me.

"You can have the guest room across the hall from mine." I offered, hoping that he would politely accept my offer.

"Sounds good chere." He smiled politely. Before he went to bed, he made sure to do a perimeter check just to make sure there weren't any more V fueled Weres out to get us tonight.

I went to the hall closet and took out my Benelli shotgun that Jason had given me after gran died. Jason had taught me how to shoot a shot gun and a handgun. He also took me bow hunting with Hoyt once, so I had a pretty good idea how to use a cross bow.

Alcide came back in the house happy to report that there were no more Weres out to get us, but he did say he smelled a vampire, but that the scent was a couple of days old.

It was only midnight, still relatively early for me at least. So I decided to watch a bit of television before going to bed. Alcide decided to stay up with me. We started watching re-runs of the Golden Girls on Nick at Night, or at least I was. Alcide spent most of the time stealing glances my way. I could hear that he wanted to lean over and kiss me, but he was afraid that I would reject him because of the attack. I decided to put his fears to rest and I scooted closer to him.

"I know the evening didn't turn out the way you planned, but I want you to know that I had a really great time at The Strand." I said smiling shyly.

He smiled at me and brushed a small thread of hair from my face. He was internally debating whether he should kiss me or not. Inevitably, he found the courage and leaned in to kiss me.

His lips were large and so so warm. I was definitely not used to a warm embrace. He kissed me softly and his tongue brushed my lips begging for entry. I opened my lips, granting him his longing request. He massaged my tongue so gently and so delicately. It felt incredibly warm and enjoyable. Our kiss never deepened and I was glad for that. I didn't want to feel pressured into having sex with Alcide, and I could tell he didn't want to pressure me. The kiss lasted for about a minute and I slowly pulled away from him.

Alcide looked at me with care and warmth in his eyes and said, "Sookie that was amazing."

All I could do was smile shyly and involuntarily blush. I liked Alcide a lot. I could see myself settling down with a guy exactly like him. He was warm-blooded, he could waken during the daylight hours, he was self-made, and his thoughts were difficult for me to read. I could see myself with him in a normal, mostly human relationship that wouldn't be frowned upon by society. I wouldn't be ridiculed as a fangbanger or a slutty whore.

We could have a picnic in the park during lunchtime, or go to the zoo, or ride the Ferris Wheel at the carnival. We could have a cute little house with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids. It was everything that I had ever dreamed about, everything that I couldn't have with a vampire like Eric or Godric or Bill.

"I'm really tired; I think I am going to bed." I said, as I stared into his beautiful green eyes. I felt a little awkward, but I didn't want to lead Alcide into believing that I was ready for anything more than a little kiss.

"Goodnight Sookie." He said tenderly. I could hear from his thoughts that he was relieved that I didn't reject his kiss and that he was excited to see where our "relationship" would go. He was also thinking that I could help him get over Debbie.

I wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea that I was his rebound girl, but then again if I really thought about it, maybe he was mine too.

As I climbed into bed, my thoughts strayed to the Viking. I wondered if he was with that skanky brunette fangbanger. Thinking about him made me furious at myself for even giving a damn about his absurd sexual escapades. Maybe Alcide was exactly what I needed to get my mind off Bill's betrayal and Eric's painful disinterest in me.

Eric's POV

"I'm sorry Eric, I'm fine. I just can't see you right now." Sookie said. Before hanging up on me I could hear her sobs on the other end of the line and it truly unnerved me. I could feel her fear and her pain. Something had happened to her and I wanted so badly to go to her and help fight off whatever danger she managed to find herself in.

I knew that she was out on a date with the mangy mongrel. I knew this because Godric had told me all about their encounter earlier this evening.

A Were! Of all fucking creatures she could take up with, she chose a filthy dog. His ability to care for and protect her was obviously not up to par. She needed me, but refused to allow me to go to her for whatever reason.

I felt ashamed of myself for allowing Sookie to see me in such a compromising position with the Estonian whore. After Sookie walked in on me and Yvetta, she actually apologized to me for showing up unannounced. Her deeply instilled manners would never have allowed her to show any kind of disgust or disappointment in her reaction at seeing us, but I knew that I had, at the very least, offended her with my actions.

I couldn't allow myself to admit my feelings for her, and I felt like I had to continue living my life the way I always had, by banging bloodbags. If I allowed myself to show the feelings I had for Sookie, I could seriously compromise my station as Sheriff and my safety. Point blank, she was a weakness for me, a vulnerability that I wasn't willing to allow.

Godric tried to tell me that I could love her and protect us at the same time and that each was not mutually exclusive, but I had serious doubts.

"Speak soft but carry a big stick." Was Godric's advice to me. I took that to mean that I could be kind and loving, but if someone fucked with me I would rip them apart limb from bloody limb. His theory, in my opinion was flawed. Intimidate them with words and follow through with actions was always my modus opperandi. I couldn't conceivably see myself being all pussy whipped by Sookie in front of my underlings while garnering their respect at the same time. It just wouldn't work, they would all think of me as feeble or worse…human even.

Still, the conversation with Sookie was plaguing me. I decided to go to her home to check on her. As I flew to Bon Temps, I was pissed at myself for running to her; she had such power over me. Even when she told me not to go I went. I would give into her every whim if I thought she would let me and it didn't make me look like a weak jackass.

I landed on her roof. I could see her car and another car that I had never seen before. I knew it belonged to the mongrel, I could smell his stench. She had invited him into her home after midnight? I had to find out if she had allowed him into her bed, it was bothering me beyond comprehension to know that the mongrel would get to touch her, taste her. No, she wouldn't allow that. I had to see for myself what was going on.

I landed just outside of her living room window and peered into her home. What I saw made my thousand year old blood boil. I saw the fucking mongrel sticking his goddamn tongue down her throat. I could feel that she was actually enjoying that shit too! I was livid, seeing nothing but red. I had to destroy something, anything. I had to leave before I murdered him.

I took to the sky headed for my home. It was my fault. I had pushed her right into the arms of the dog. Fucking Yvetta! I knew that Sookie was warming to me. Hell, if she hadn't walked in on me last night, it could have been me with her tonight, it should have been me with her tonight! I needed to speak with Godric.

As I walked into my home, Godric was sitting in the library reading a manuscript about Romans. He was asked by a film director to point out any factual errors on a new Julius Caesar film that was about to start shooting.

"Good Evening Godric." I said. I had hoped that my voice didn't give away the volcanic anger that was building inside of me, but of course I could deceive nothing through the bond that he and I shared.

"You went to her didn't you?" he asked glaring at me sorrowfully.

"Yes, she had her tongue down the dog's throat." I said disdainfully.

"You must be patient, my son. He is nothing but a distraction from you. She cares deeply for you; you must show her your feelings for her. You must prove yourself to her." He said. I felt like I was a teenager getting relationship advice from my father. Prove myself to her? What was there to prove, I'm a thousand year old Viking vampire. I had women throwing themselves at me nightly. What was there to prove? She knew I was good looking, she knew I was smart and powerful, she knew I had money. What else did she want from me?

As if he were the telepath, he said "You need to prove to her that your heart belongs to her and ONLY her." Godric said. I didn't understand what he meant. Did she want assurance that I would be monogamous? I couldn't promise her love, shit I don't know what that even means. All I could offer her was my body, my money, my protection and my time. That's it. What else is there?

"I don't know how to be with her." I told Godric. I was lost; I had never been in a relationship with a woman. Not one that lasted longer than a week or two anyways.

"Eric, look inside yourself. How do you feel about Sookie. Look past all your preconceived notions of what a vampire should be. Ask yourself how does she make you feel when you are around her. What are you willing to sacrifice for her?" Godric said. How would he know anything about love anyway. As long as I have known him he had never been in love, or even had a human companion.

"Godric, I know you have a special interest in Sookie as well." It wasn't a question. It was a fact. I saw it in the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her. He even went to see her this evening.

"Irrelevant. Answer my questions." He said sternly. He didn't deny his interest in her, but he didn't confirm them either. I thought about his questions for a few minutes.

"I'm not sure I can say that I would sacrifice my life for her, but I know I would do almost anything to protect her. I feel drawn to her, almost unnaturally. When I am around her, I feel content, protective, lustful, fearful, vulnerable. I want to take her in my arms each time I see her. I want to make her feel happy, I want to give her everything she could ever want and things that she doesn't know she wants. I want to feel her warm light envelop my entire being. I want to be surrounded by her magnificent scent. I just want her, all of her." I said honestly. I had never admitted these things even to myself. I felt naked, bearing my soul to Godric.

"Then you know what you must do." He said earnestly.

I knew. I had to win her heart. And in order to do that, I had to expose mine. I was a vampire on a mission, and I prayed to the gods that it wasn't a suicide mission.