Scarlet walked inside the house after Alcide had shifted back to human form and entered. She grabbed some clean cloths from the laundry baskets at the bottom of the stairs. Slipping on a white tank top that went to her thighs and a pair of black boxers, she waited for him on the couch knowing he'd want to talk. Exhaustion from her sleepless nights finally caught up with her, so she curled her legs up and fell asleep.

Alcide almost ran down the stairs after he had slipped on a pair of jeans and saw Letty had fallen sleep waiting for him. After he had changed he ran through everything he wanted to say in his head. But once his feet hit the last step and saw her asleep, he couldn't bear the thought of waking her up.

He moved closer and saw dark circles under her eyes and it she looked a bit skinner. He hoped he hadn't been the cause of her not eating or sleeping. Knowing she'd be stiff in the morning from sleeping on his couch, he carefully tuck one arm under her head and the other under her knees and pick her up. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck and she snuggled closer to his bare chest.

This has to be a dream she thought to herself as she snuggled into Alcide's bare chest. He had pick her up and started carrying her up the stairs like out of those cheesy romance novels she only read when she needed a good sex scene, but she always envisioned him in everything she read and she was the woman.

He sat on the bed his back against the headboard her still cradled in his arms, his heart beating so fast she could feel his pulse race against her cheek.

He could just watch her sleep forever, as long as she wore his clothes. Again he could see them lying in bed together after a day of work, both just talking about their day or do something else under the covers. Then they'd fall asleep in one another's arms.

She was wearing his white tank top that made her lightly tanned skin and dark features stand out even more.

He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, which snapped opened. They looked at one another in total silence until she spoke. He propped his head in his hand, elbow leaning on his pillow.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what hon?" He moved them both so they were lying on their sides, facing each other.

"For acting like a teenager. For avoiding you this past week instead of talking about what happened."

"Hey, you didn't do anything, ok? It was all me."

"Still I should have handled the situation better."

"I personally am surprised you didn't take a swing at me." He smiled and it got bigger when she smiled back at him. "I really missed you. I thought I lost my best friend."

"You'll never lose me Al. I promise. No matter what stupid things we do, or whoever our mates are. I'll always be there." She leaned forward and kissed him under his cheek, near his jaw line.

It took so much to not to turn his head and kiss her lips but that was what caused this whole thing in the first place.

He laid on his side watching her sleep. He was devising a plan to seduce her and show that they were meant for each other. He knew that she was his true mate. In the week they were apart, he had talked to his parents and they basically told him that the pain he was in was a result of not being with her. They also told him that once they mated and they were ever apart for a few days or by death, then the pain was much worse.

So he was trying to find the best way to win her heart.

Scarlet woke up see her lying on Alcide's left pectoral muscle, her hand resting on his rock hard abs. She played with the light dusty if dark hair that was around his navel when he grasped her hand and gave a light chuckle.

"That kinda tickles."

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake ya."

"You didn't. How'd you sleep?"

"Good. No chainsaws kept me tossing and turning all night." She smirked as went to get, but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back to bed, pinning her hands above her head.

"Do we really need to go through this again? I do not snore. Now take it back or I'm gonna tickle you" he playfully growled as he used one hand to keep her hands pinned and the other began tickling her sides. She was able to hook one of her legs around his thigh and rolled but misjudged where the edge of the mattress was which resulted in her landing with a dull thud on the carpet and him crushing her as he landed on her chest.

"Letty! Oh Christ honey! You ok?" He immediately rolled off her and took her in his arms are she shook her head.

"I don't know. What does it mean if I'm seeing three of you?"

"I'm taking you to the ER! You may have a concussion!" He quickly moved to his feet, her still in his arms and gently placed her on the bed again.

"No, Alcide, I'm ok not. Just took a good knock to the head. Really I'm fine."

"You'll tell me if you get light headed." He asked, concern still in his voice.

She couldn't help but smile at his concern. He worried about her, injuries or no injuries. "I promise. But if you wanna make me feel better you can wipe those famous waffles of yours for breakfast."

"Want me to add chocolate chips for ya?" Man knew her too well.

"That'd be great."

The rest of the morning went as if they never had been apart. He made breakfast while she brewed the coffee, set the table and then helped with the dishes. He then drove her to get her truck so she could go home to change before the football game in the afternoon.

The store was closed on Sundays so she didn't have any costumers, but when she stepped into her apartment she saw the flashing red light on her machine. Thinking it was Alcide asking her pick up some thing on her way back, she hit play. Only instead of Alcide's voice she heard Sam's.

"Hey Scarlet it's Sam Merlotte.

Listen I don't know if you have plans this week. But I was wondering if you'd like to go out to dinner. Just call me back when whatever time is best for you. Bye."

She flopped onto her old armchair her parents had given her when she moved out and signed heavily.

'What do I do? I like Sam, but I love Alcide. Man I wish had a girlfriend to talk this shit with.' She thought to herself as she ran her hands through her hair and went to her bathroom, hoping a shower would help the new found tension she had in her shoulders.

Alcide immediately noticed that Letty's mind wasn't on the game. Sure she was wearing her favorite Drew Brees shirt, the one had he had gotten her for her birthday a few years. The soft cotton molded to her petite yet curvy figure. And sure she cheered and high fived him whenever they scored, but something was troubling her.

"Hey, you ok?" He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, startling her before she let her head fall on his shoulder.

"Not really."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Promise you won't freak or wolf out I guess?"

"I promise."

"When I got back to my place, there was a message from Sam Merlotte. He asked me out on a date." She looked up at her friend/secret love's face and waited for his reaction.

Sorry it too so long guys, but my work schedule has been crazy and then I had computer problems.