I stood at the end of the bed looking down at my gown as she searched through her drawers. I hadn't realized there were blood-dried spots all over the front of the gown. She came to me quickly and handed me a lounge set, my size. It was lavender. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You can change in the bathroom."

I nodded and closed the master bath door behind me. I didn't want to be apart from Eric, but a part of me did—my ass. I changed, and it suddenly hit me how exhausted I was.

Leaving the bathroom, I saw her sitting on the bed, smiling. "Ah, that fit you perfectly. I knew it would. Come," she said, patting the mattress beside her, "Sit." I dreaded having to sit on my butt again. "Oh, right. No problem." Standing, she pulled the other side of the comforter down and jumped into bed. "We can talk this way."

How does she know? Oh, right, she knew I couldn't sit from my actions downstairs. I went to the other side of the bed and climbed on, grunting, then lay on my side facing her. "Are you alright now?" she asked.

I nodded. "I will be."

"Honey, Eric Northman loves you. He didn't ..."

"I ... I know He does," I said, my voice cracking. "The first time ... I shouldn't be talking about this."

"I won't tell. We're just a couple of girls having a slumber party," she joked, smiling.

"My first punishment, and it was only once before, He was wrong, and He admitted it. This time, it was justified."

"Do you love him?"

Then the tears came again. "Yes."

"Now, now, don't dirty my pillowcase," she said then chuckled.

"How long was I asleep after you changed me?"

"Two days, three after tonight. You woke up earlier than expected. It's Tuesday afternoon."

"What? Really?" She nodded. "Did Mas ... Eric sleep the entire time?"

"Yes, He did as well. It takes quite a few days for a vampire to gain their strength back after the injuries such that He received."

"He stayed with me the whole time?"

"Yes, even when I suggested He go out to feed again."

"How could I have eaten that rare, bloody meat when ... Why don't I have a heartbeat, and why do I not cry blood tears?"

"Those answers we don't know. You are aware I am Bintaur?" I nodded. "When I was changed, I had quite a different experience than you did. I was left for dead by my Maker, who deserted me. The Quincy's found me and James gave me his blood. They were on vacation in North Carolina, where I was living at the time, and brought me here. James and his wife Hildie were King and Queen of Virginia. They helped me in my new life. I have no doubt Eric will show you the ropes."

I hesitated, afraid to ask her what I wanted to know. "Downstairs you called me Leigh Connee. How did you know my first name is Leigh? I don't go by that name anymore."

She put her other hand on my cheek lovingly. "Because I gave it to you."

"You? Makers give their children names? No, that doesn't make sense."

"Oh, no," she sighed, removed her hand and sat up. "You're my daughter."

"Right, I understand that, I'm your child," I said impatiently.

I read her facial expression. Then it dawned on me: Her knowing my first name, one I hadn't used since I left my father and went to Shreveport. The colors of her bedroom just happened to be my favorite color. Her 'motherly' way she was towards me. Her name being the same as ... "No, no, no."

"Yes, baby, I am your biological mother."

"No, no," I mumbled, getting off the bed and headed for the door.

Before I could even reach the door handle Francesca stood beside me with her arm between me and the door. "Please, don't leave. I have so much to explain to you."

"I don't want to hear it."

"You must," she insisted, then placing her body in front of the door.

I backed away and headed for the bathroom. Again, she stood in the threshold, blocking my exit. I narrowed my eyes at her, bared my fangs and repeated, "I do not want to hear it!" I stepped away and paced beside the bed.

"Where do you think you can run off to? I'm way faster than you are. We can play this game for the next few hours, if you'd like," she said confidently, sitting on the bed.

"You ... how could you ... you left me!"

"No, no," I heard her say, but I wasn't looking at her. "Baby, I—"

"Don't call me baby! I am not your baby!"

The next thing I knew I was flat up against the wall with Francesca's body pressing me so tight I could hardly breath, if I did breath. "You will not talk to me like that! I am your mother."

"No, you stopped being my mother when you walked out on me!" I spat.

She promptly smacked me across the face so hard my head turned away sharply. I didn't look into her face, but I could see her expression. She was horrified. I could barely hold the tears back.

There was a hard banging on the bedroom door. "Connee! Queen? What's going on in there?" Eric asked, His voice urgent.

"Master, I—" I started to say, but Francesca placed her finger over her lips for me to remain silent. I had no other option but to obey my Maker.

"Nothing's wrong, Eric. We're just chasing a mouse," she replied.

It was quiet outside in the hallway, as if He were considering if that was the truth.

"Please, let Him ... I need Him with me," I pleaded, whispering.

"Damn," she cursed then backed away from me, allowing me to slide down the wall; I grunted in pain when my ass hit the floor. "This isn't the way I wanted to do this. Enter, Mr. Northman." The door burst open with a crack, and Eric took two steps in. "I didn't mean for you to break my door down," she huffed.

He wasn't listening to her because He rushed to me and pulled me into His arms. "Are you alright?" He asked anxiously.

I was crying by then and could only nod, burying my hands in my face. He brought me little comfort.

"Queen, will you kindly explain to me why my woman ... Connee is in hysterics?"

"Connee, come to me," Francesca spoke.

I wanted to scream at her, curse her out, anything but go to her, or talk to her, for that matter. But Master pulled me up and walked me to the bed in front of her, holding my arms at my side, pressing His body against me. I leaned back into Him, squeezing His hands.

"I had every intention of telling you before you left, which looks like might be tonight," she started, and her voice did sound remorseful. "I didn't leave you, Leigh ..."

"No, don't call me that. You have no right to call me that." I shuttered.

She furrowed her eyebrows then nodded. "When you were three, we had no milk for the next day, so when your father came home from work I went to the grocery store. I was also going to get the cookie mix I knew you liked and ... that doesn't matter. When I came back out of the store—it was around ten at night—someone grabbed me and pulled me into the back of the building and drained me. The Quincey's came to my aid shortly after when I was bleeding to death. They were on vacation and just happened to come in for some bottled water to wash up in at their cabin ... again, doesn't matter. James gave me his blood and brought me back here to Virginia. They were wonderful to me, but sadly were killed by Thomas Milton's henchmen five years later."

"Wait, wait," I said, trying to understand. "You knew what he was going to do to me!" Master promptly squeezed my hands in warning.

"Yes, I did. But knowing you were with him, you'd also be near me. But I knew he would not harm you. And he didn't."

"That's not the point," I argued, trying to keep my voice calm. Then I forgot what my objection was.

"Let's back up. What did your father tell you when I disappeared, Connee?"

I remembered exactly what he told me. "When I was older I'd asked him about you. He called you a whore. He said you were an alcoholic and out screwing guys at the bars. He said you didn't love me anymore, and that's why you left. My god! You could have always come back and gotten me when I was a kid."

"Don't use that tone with me. And I did come back to you every night, Connee. When I knew your father had passed out or wasn't home, I'd sit outside your bedroom every single night and watch you sleep. Not right away, but since you were five." A single bloody tear slowly came from the inside of one of her eyes, and she wiped it away. "I was then vampire, honey. I couldn't come back to get you. Eric, did you explain that to her?"

"Yes," He answered.

I had to close my eyes because I was getting dizzy from all the information, and to prevent breaking down crying. "So, you knew when he ... he abused me."

"Yes," she said regretfully. "I was so relieved when you left him and went to live with Judy and Theresa. I knew you'd finally be safe. That was when you stopped going by your first name," she stated.

I nodded. "Yes, because he called me that, and it took me years to get that name out of my head. I'd always hear his voice when Aunt Judy called me that. But why didn't you just kill him?"

"Because you needed to be strong, baby. And you are."

We stared at the other in an uncomfortable silence. I started to shake but kept my head level. "Okay, how did Eric get in Milton's house?"

"I gave Eric to Thomas, but I had no idea what was happening to him. You have to believe me. Courtney notified me and I came right over. I knew at that point that it ... wasn't meant to be. But then you ..." She looked at my wrists. She didn't have to finish.

"You said Milton's henchmen killed your adoptive parents. Why?"

"Because he had his plan worked out even back then. He knew when you became of age he would use me to get to you. He thought I was weak, and he despised my parents, so he got rid of them." She ran her hands through her hair. "The reason why I was so adamant about not helping you, Eric ... When you called me the second time, I could hear the fear in your voice over Connee's situation. It just so happened to work out that you came earlier. I conferred with Thomas that he could have you, but only to give you enough time to get her out of the house, not to be tortured. That way, I wasn't involved when Connee vanished, and would remain on good terms with the Bintaurs."

"But, okay, wait." I played the scenes in my head before I asked, "I remember an emergency room and the blood bags before you changed me. You're a doctor?"

"I was a nurse before I married your father. After I was changed, I went to night school to get my medical license. I was so afraid I was going to lose you. May I ask why you cut your wrists?"

"Because I thought Eric was dead. I wanted to be with Him." I grew weak in the knees and started to go down, but Eric held me up.

"Mr. Northman, can you take her back to bed?"

"Yes Ma'am. Come on, sweetheart."

"No, wait, I have more ..." I was still talking, or mumbling, really, when Eric led me back to the bedroom we were staying in.

Eric pulled the bed sheets down and placed me on the bed, but I groaned in pain. I quickly rolled on my side. "Sleep now."

"No, Master, I don't want to sleep. I still have—"

"Shh." He leaned forward and brushed His chin against my cheek. His lips moved to my ear and whispered, "I am so sorry for punishing you."

I didn't reply until He leaned back and looked over my face. "Master, I know why I was punished. I deserved it. Thank you for correcting me."

He smiled. He actually smiled. "Connee, you are an amazing woman."

I returned His smile. "I know."

He chuckled and ran His thumb at my temple. "Do you have anything else to say before I crawl into bed with you and we go back to sleep?"

"I love you?"

Chuckling again He nestled His chin against mine and brushed His bottom lip against mine. We nibbled each other's lips, joyously kissing, when He suddenly pulled back and looked alarmed. "What's wrong?"

"Your lips," He said quietly.

"What?" I asked alarmed, pressing my fingers against them.

He shook His head. "Your lips are warm."

"That's because you made them warm."

"No, mine are cold. I feel heat from yours, not as warm as when you were human, but still warm." His face relaxed, almost relieved. "I thought ... I didn't want you—"

"Changed?"

He nodded, almost ashamed. "Love, we'll talk more later, okay?" He crawled into bed beside the wall and pulled me into Him, nestling His chest to my back.

I rested my head against Him. "Master?"

"Yes, sub?"

"Do you have anything to tell me before we go back to sleep?"

"Um, I love you too?"

We laughed before we settled down and fell blissfully asleep.

When I woke up hours later I was disoriented at first. Then I remembered falling asleep in Eric's arms, something I hadn't done in forever. After I stretched I rolled over and smiled when I saw a bouquet of flowers on the nightstand. I hadn't gotten flowers from Him in a long, long time, either, or so it seemed.

Slowly sitting up to prepare for my ass to scream at me, I was relieved when there was no pain at all. I grabbed the card in the holder and smiled even wider. 'Meet us downstairs. I meant what I said. E' What had He said last night that He meant? Then I saw clean clothes sitting on the other twin bed with another note. 'Make yourself at home and take a shower. We have a project in the kitchen. F'

Shortly after I cleaned up I walked out of the bathroom completely refreshed, practically skipping down the stairs. I was a little curious why my fangs hadn't come back out yet, though. Remembering the note, and His painful reminder that I was still His sub, I heard voices in the kitchen. My smile disappeared. Turning the corner, I stood in the threshold, again in my submissive position, head down.

"Good morning!" Frannie greeted me as she approached, then stopped cautiously.

Eric's shoes settled beside hers before she backed off. Eric took my hand from behind me and led me down the hallway towards the front door. "We'll return shortly, Your Majesty," He told her.

"Of course. Take your time."

Eric held the door open for me and we stepped out into the cool evening air. Still pulling my arm, I stopped and looked out over the grounds, my mouth gaping. "Connee, come," He said, but with no anger in His tone. I followed Him to a swinging bench on the end of the long, curving porch, and He told me to sit.

Still with head bowed, I replied, "Master, I'd prefer to stand, if it's okay with you."

Tilting His head down so He could see my face, He was grinning. "Is your ass still hurting?"

"No, Master."

I couldn't see the expression on His face. "Hmm. Sit anyway." I did as I was told. "The Queen and I have been talking while you slept." My eyes were still on the floor boards. "Connee, while we are here in Virginia, until we are back home, I am no longer your Master. You may look at me and speak as you wish."

I immediately jerked my head up and looked at him, I'm sure with confusion and disappointment on my face. Eric Northman looked amazing! There was an aura about him that took my breath away, if I breathed.

"What is it?" Eric asked when I remained silent a little too long in my thoughts.

I looked out over the field. "You look ... different. Good, but different. And I swear I can see a mile out there." I turned back to him. "And I can even hear the fallen leaves scrunching under mice's feet, mouse's feet, whatever." I chuckled.

"I was going to ask. It's been so long for me that I don't really remember. But as I was saying, the queen and I concluded you are unique because you are Bintaur, and she changed you. You now have your mother's blood in you, and that must be the reason why you still have a heart beat and are warm to me." I blushed when I thought of our first kiss since the change. "And, it seems you still blush."

He came and sat back beside me, starting to sway the bench by moving only his feet, but keeping his gaze ahead of him. "I have to be honest about something. I didn't want you to become vampire. I didn't want to lose the feeling of your pounding heart against my chest, or the warmth of your skin, or your breath gasping in my ear when you orgasm."

A damned tear fell from my eye. "Neither did I," I replied in shock. I turned my body to face him. "I didn't want to miss your body cooling me on a warm morning ... I can't even begin to ... but the way I feel ... shit." I shook my head, frustrated at having so much trouble finding the right words.

"How do you feel?" he asked, then looking at me.

"I don't know how to put it."

He leaned forward and whispered into my ear, "How do you feel?" His voice was deep and melodic, like the right chord on a cello that gives you the chills. And yes, I melted.

"It's like when you take me to sub-space, and the only thing I feel is my body. My mind isn't in control anymore. The yearning to be touched, whether with your hand, flogger, it doesn't matter."

He stood by me, looking over my face. "How do you feel?" he asked for the third time, his hand on my lower back.

I turned, facing him head on, our eyes locked. "My body's on fire. When I first had your blood, it was like electricity wrapped around every muscle, every bone, every nerve ending. Now, it's worse, or better." I chuckled again nervously.

"How do you feel?" he asked, then pressing himself hard against my back, his arms around my waist. I shivered when his hard, erect cock pressed right above my ass cheeks.

Reaching my hand up and back behind his head, I moved my upper torso back and looked into his eyes. They were intense, and hungry. I smiled. My fangs flicked out. He sighed, grinned, and flashed his eyes at them. "I feel you inside me, Eric." My body shook from nerves. "I want to make love to you for at least three weeks, non-stop."

He growled then pressed his lips hard against mine passionately, heavily. I was worried about cutting his lips from the way we were going at it, but he seemed to know what to do to prevent that. He twirled my body around, our lips still locked, and I threw my arms around his neck; he held on to me tighter. Chills coursed through my body as our kiss grew, if that were possible.

"All right, you two!" Frannie hollered from inside the house; all the windows were open. "Keep that in the bedroom and get in here."

We both started laughing into each other's mouths as Eric pulled away. I grunted my displeasure. "That's what I wanted to hear," he said, then kissed my forehead. "And we will, but I'd say at least two months."

"What did your note mean when you wrote, 'I meant what I said'? If you are no longer my Master, for now, you weren't referring to that."

"What I meant, Connee, was that I love you."

"Oh," I said with a teasing grin, "Is that all?"

He smacked my ass and pushed me into the house, his body pressed against mine, our legs in perfect sync. Walking into the kitchen, I was as giddy as a teenager busted by a parent making out with her boyfriend.

"Connee, I thought ..." She hesitated and grinned when we saw my fangs, which weren't out when I'd left. I shyly covered my mouth. "... we'd make some cookies."

"Oh, god," Eric grumbled and we both glared at him. "I'll be right outside."

"No, wait, Eric, please." I turned to Francesca, and swallowed my pride. "Your Majest—"

"Frannie, please," she corrected.

"I am really, really sorry for the way I acted earlier, and for ruining the couch, and how I talked to you, and, um, thank you for everything you've done for me, and for Eric." I shuffled my feet nervously.

"Honey, I completely understand. And you didn't make too bad of a mess. Words can be forgotten."

"Newborns are vicious until they are able to control themselves," Eric said. "But under your circumstances, you handled it fairly well." My ass would have disagreed only a few hours ago.

I stared at them dumbfounded. "Frannie, I still don't understand everything about your decisions. But, can you give me time?"

She stepped to me, put her hands gently on my shoulders, and told me sweetly, "Take all the time you need, honey. I'm not going anywhere."

"Like I said, I'll be outside," Eric interjected. "Come get me when you're done doing your ... girly stuff." The disgusted expression on his face was priceless. He sauntered out.

I shrugged my shoulders. "What can I say?" Frannie and I bust out laughing.

"I heard that!" he screamed from the front porch.

"Well, let's get started," Frannie said as she turned to the island, where bowls and the ingredients were set.

"Why, exactly, are we making cookies if we aren't going to eat them?" My fangs withdrew. "Ow."

"It'll take a few days to stop hurting when they come out. They're like baby teeth. And the cookies will be for the staff and my patients. It's more nostalgic, I think. We had so much fun in the kitchen. Why don't you get the dry ingredients together in that bowl, there."

We talked very little while we made the dough, but that was partly my fault. I was thinking about what kind of relationship Frannie and I would have. I couldn't image a thing. As I watched her spoon the dough on the cookie sheet, I blurted out, "What kind of baby was I?"

She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. "Oh, you were the best. Let me put the sheets in the oven and we'll talk while they bake." I nodded. "Do you want some coffee?" My head flew back in surprise. She chuckled. "You've never had synthetic blood?"

"No, eck."

"Well, I prefer saying coffee, or tea or, whatever, although I don't often. I'll give you a little to see how you like it." Putting the baking sheets in the oven, she poured some fresh TruBlood in a coffee mug and nuked it. "I feel like I'm giving you your first beer. Eric, would you like some?" Considering he was on the porch, I wondered why she didn't yell. Then I realized we vampires have impeccable hearing.

"No Ma'am. Thank you," came a disembodied voice.

The microwave dinged, she placed the mug in front of me then sat down. "Try it."

I gulped, just staring at the mug. When I couldn't put it off any longer, I brought it up to my lips and smelled it first. "It smells different than real blood." Closing my eyes, I plugged my nose with my fingers and took a swallow. It was thick and hard to get down. When I opened my eyes, Frannie was looking at me anxiously. "It's, um, worse than Milton's blood."

Outside, a growl echoed into the kitchen through the open windows. "Sorry, Sir," I said seriously. He growled again, and I knew he did that because I apologized. "It's off, remember? Your rule. Sorry about that." Again, another growl. Naughty butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

"Well, go ahead and finish it off." She watched until I downed the blood completely. "You are just as stubborn now as you were then." There was a snicker from the front porch. I pretended to ignore it. "I made you sit at the kitchen table for hours until you'd eat your asparagus."

"That's where she got her safe word from?" Eric asked himself.

"Eric, why don't you come join us?" I asked. "We can hear you anyway."

"No, thank you. I'm fine." I could tell he was amused at our conversation. It would just give him more ammo, though.

"And yes, that's where I got my safe word from."

"You hardly ever cried. You were so content just playing with your toys in your playpen. And you smiled all the time." She was speculative for a moment. "Honey, you said Rob abused you. How so?"

I didn't want to talk about that. Just then, the buzzer went off for the cookies, thankfully. She took them out of the oven, placed the cookies on the cooling racks, refilled the sheets and came back to the table.

"He didn't abuse me, per se." I told her of the chores I had to do at a young age, and then the hen incident when I was sixteen. "It was more mental abuse, I guess."

She leaned forward and squeezed my hand. "Oh, honey. Was that why you left?" I nodded. "I didn't know what happened during the day, obviously. I was so worried about you that night. But then I called Judy to see if—"

"She knows about you? And Theresa?"

"Judy does, yes. She hated Rob. They might have been siblings, but that's as far as the love went. Don't know about Theresa."

"Wow, this is getting to be too much," I said, placing my forehead in my hand.

"Hey, I've got a koi pond in the back garden, right by the stream. Why don't you and Eric go for a walk?"

The front door slammed shut, Eric rushed into the room, and I looked at him alarmed. "What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I heard mention of a walk?"

"Yes," Francesca said as she stood. "Let me get the blanket." She left us alone.

"Don't think I'll forget about my least favorite word," he warned, looking at me crossly.

"It doesn't count, remember? You can't punish me if we're—"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," he frowned defeated. "But since you heal after only a couple of hours instead of days, I think I'll change to the whip for your punishment," he ended threateningly. I shut the hell right up and squirmed in my chair.

"Here you are," Francesca said as she came in and handed Eric the blanket, who then promptly handed it to me as I stood up. "You two have fun. I have some patients coming in."