A/N: Deciding what to write in this chapter was a challenge . I have so many ideas running through my head it's hard to keep track and organise them all, but I hope you like it. The reviews have been great as well, so I hope to read a lot more of them soon ;)

Note: Other than my obvious past reference that there was a bombing at Godric's nest, Lorena hasn't happened and neither did the killing of Stan. Sookie isn't even aware of Lorena's existence just yet, so expect an explosive confrontation on that note. Just wanted to clear that up since they are present in later chapters and I wanted to avoid any confusion.

Un-beta'd so all mistakes are mine, but I've tried my best xx

Disclaimer: I do not own True blood; I just borrowed the characters for a bit of fun!

Chapter Seven
Scolding's & Disgruntled Veterans

Annoyed that Eric hadn't seen her fit to handle the misunderstanding herself, Sookie didn't regret her slightly rude abrupt departure as she made her way down the extravagantly styled corridors in her search for the elevator. If Eric felt it in his right to interrupt what had been a very acceptable apology than he could deal with the situation on his own.

She had already suffered through an eventful afternoon that she could have done without.

Instead of being upset by Bill's lack of appearance, Sookie found herself both relieved and content at the fact she wouldn't have to deal with his grouchy attitude first thing on his awakening. Wanting to do nothing more than to have a shower, put on some clean clothes and relax, Sookie didn't comment when she soon sensed Eric's towering presence at her side as they both continued to walk silently.

She kept quiet, still at odds with the possibility of Eric's actions resulting in either Liam or Lisa getting into serious trouble because of her. Lisa, while clearly needed some strict retraining on the social and moral side of her job, her attitude needing some serious work, Sookie didn't have any urge to see that the women suffered because of it. Not for one mistake.

Very much aware of the fact without second chances she wouldn't have a job of her own, Sookie knew that without forgiveness the world would be a very cold, strict and unhappy place. She knew as much as the next person that everyone had faults, things they wished they could change about themselves but unable to.

It wasn't right; especially even the possibility that either of them could not only lose their jobs but their life over something so unimportant.

"The bitch deserves more than losing her job, Sookie" Eric's confident opinion cut through the silence. "She could have lost more than her job had she offended the wrong vampire. It is not suitable for Bristowe to staff such incompetence.

Even in the current situation Sookie couldn't help but wonder why exactly the hotel owner had gotten a name like Bristowe. It sounded almost erotic as it rolled off the tongue.

"I still don't like it," she made a right turn. "What about Liam, he really did nothing wrong."

Eric glanced her way. "Considering Lisa was the one at fault, it is doubtful the boy will face any detrimental consequences. Charles is more concerned about the severe breach in security of her bringing you to such a highly regulated area of the hotel more than her unacceptable attitude towards you. If word got out about the incompetence of his staff he would be losing a lot of safety conscious clients."

The term detrimental did not settle her heavy heart in any letter of the word.

"Like you?"

Eric glanced at her. "I believe the events of today will have him see to increasing security rather than slacking on it. So no, I have no intention of not staying here again upon my travels to the Dallas area."

Oh, she guessed that made sense.

Making their way back towards Eric hotel room, Sookie having decided to follow through with her desire to check in on Godric to see how he was doing before she sorted herself out, she couldn't help but glance towards Eric's direction. The tall blonde had obviously changed since last night, now wearing black jeans and a simple shirt. It left her envious, especially when she was still stuck wearing the same clothes she had slept the night in.

She felt unclean.

It was a far from pleasant sensation, but she hadn't been raised a complainer.

Eric surprisingly once again broke the silence. She didn't mind. "You're quiet."

Frowning, Sookie shrugged. "Just eager to see Godric that's all. How was he when you rose?" she couldn't help but ask. She was curious, not to mention slightly concerned he would regret his decision to stay with them.

If so, she would simply have to try that little bit harder to convince him to stay.

Only years of repressing his emotions had Eric successfully resisting the urge to outwardly smile, but instead managing to keep a straight face. Her concern for his maker was…touching. Not only had she done him the greatest of honours by bringing his maker back to the right frame of mind, but the telepathic blonde genuinely seemed to care deeply for the most important person in his life.

He was not used to feeling so many emotions at once.

It was unsettling.

"Godric was curious as to where you were. If you were hungry, room service would have been an appropriate solution," his lips quirked.

Sookie rolled her eyes. "I didn't feel comfortable ordering to your room if you must know," she huffed.

Eric paused. "Why?" he hadn't expected her reply.

"Because you were vulnerable, as was Godric, and I didn't feel it my place to allow some stranger into the room. If you haven't already guessed, I don't have the best luck when it comes to vampires."

Silence.

Eric didn't break the silence until they reached his and Godric's hotel room. "You are something else, Stackhouse."

When he didn't elaborate Sookie simply shrugged, move to knock on the door only for it to open before her knuckles managed to touch the wood. Her face lit up when she caught sight of a freshly dressed Godric on the other side.

"Godric!"

Remembering he didn't mind her touch she quickly pulled him into an embrace. He didn't resist, in fact curling his own arms around her waist as she relaxed against him without hesitation.

"How are you feelin' this morning?"

She felt his chuckle shake his chest. "I am very well, älskling. Thank you for asking. I do hope you didn't come across any difficulties while we were still dead for the day."

Eric scoffed. "She was escorted by security, Godric."

Godric raised a brow. "Yes," he spoke slowly. "I assume the altercation had been taken care of."

Sookie pulled away with a smile. "It was a simple misunderstanding-"

"She was referred to as a gold-digging fang-banger," Eric felt the need to cut in.

"Eric!" did they really have to speak of this now? "Like I said-"

Amused, Eric didn't relent as he crossed the room in few strides. "She was fired."

Sookie hadn't expected Godric accepting the news with a pleasant expression combined with a satisfied look in Eric's direction. Pulling away she stared speechless.

What was up with the two of them?

"I hardly think a woman losing her job is something to celebrate over," she crossed her arms over her chest, deciding to remain oblivious to the fact Eric's gaze seemed to automatically relocate to her chest.

Godric smiled and Sookie was once again taken aback by how beautiful it looked. Eric may be handsome in a conventional way, but Godric…

"Considering the fact she had insulted you, älskling, her fate could have been very much worse. Had it been merely a few years ago she would have lost her life."

Sookie stared, speechless. "But…why?"

"She insulted you," he replied simply. "Referring to a human companion as a blood-bag, fang-banger, or even a gold-digger is an offence to both the vampire and the human. What many humans are unaware of is that we follow many unspoken rules when it comes to their race."

Oh.

Too taken aback by how willing Godric was sharing what was clearly classified information she couldn't help but once again wonder why Bill wasn't so open to sharing. She was his girlfriend, and yet he hide as much as he possibly could from her.

Perhaps now would be the perfect opportunity to get some answers.

"Godric?"

"Yes, älskling."

"Why are vampires so secretive with their nature?" she followed Godric as he moved to take a seat next to his childe. "I understand that some things are private, but vampires seem to take it to a whole new level."

Surprisingly, Eric was the one to answer to question. "Humans try to destroy what they fear or do not understand. We are the superior race, our sole existence was a threatening revelation to humans considering their believe that they are dominant to all others."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"What Eric is trying to explain is that there are many reasons we are so secretive as a race. We have covered our existence since even more my time, it was both a survival mechanism and instinctual. It is not surprising we do not wish to give up what has been our means of survival."

Oh, Sookie could understand that.

Godric expanded. "Our weaknesses for example. Once it became known to humans that silver was very damaging towards us, they did not shy against using it against us."

Sookie winced. It was hard to argue with the truth.

~~( )~~

Heading back to her own hotel room Sookie couldn't help but smile at Godric's desire to escort her, telling her that he wished to make sure the rest of her stay here was as pleasant as could be. She had spent the last hour discussing vampire tendencies with both Eric and Godric, it intriguing her more than scaring her about the inner workings of the powerful beings that are vampires.

It only furthered her decision that perhaps her and Bill should take a break. It wasn't that she wished to pursue a relationship with another so quickly, but she hoped the space would clear her head enough to figure out whether it had simply been the fact Bill was the first vampire she had met that was drawing her to him.

She would hate to lead him on if she didn't believe it was going anywhere.

Bill didn't deserve that.

Godric broke the silence. "Perhaps after you clean up you would be interested in accompanying me to the restaurant as you did not have the chance to eat before I arose."

Sookie blushed. "That would be lovely," and she meant it. She enjoyed Godric's company very much; she did not want to waste an opportunity to hopefully learn more about him since he seemed more than willing to share.

Returning back to her room should have been a breeze, but what she had failed to prepare herself for was Bill's attitude. She was very much aware that he may not be pleased with her previous abrupt exit last night, but she found it impossible to sympathise with his attitude when he was the one who wished to heartlessly allow Godric to burn.

So no, he would not manage to guilt her into regretting her decision.

Barely having entered the room she found herself face to face with a angered Bill. "Sookie."

She rolled her eyes at the slight growl that accompanied his greeting. "Hello Bill, how was your morning?" she politely asked before slipping past him and heading towards her suitcase. She couldn't wait to get out of these clothes.

"It would have been better if you hadn't buggered off last night!"

Frowning slightly at his choice of language Sookie paused in pulling out a simple red dress before shaking it off. She didn't want to anger him any further, especially not when Godric was standing right there, already looking at her boyfriend with a disapproving expression.

"I don't really wish to discuss this with you now Bill," she made her way into the bathroom. She knew they would be able to hear her over the shower of water with no difficulty. "I hold no regrets about my decision. If anyone is to be ashamed than it is you."

Hearing a bang in reply she paused in pulling off her dress before shrugging. She was just stepping under the spray when she heard a response. "Will you be joining me for dinner?"

Sookie cringed. She knew Bill used blood donors, and while she may not like it she could understand. She had yet to feed him as it where, considering they hadn't had sex yet, but it did confuse her considering he had claimed to be mainstreaming when they had met, and yet as soon as they had gotten into a relationship he had claimed it not to be enough.

Was it simply coincidence, or was it more than that?

She couldn't tell nowadays!

Hardly in the mood to see her apparently boyfriend sink his fangs into another, a blood donor who she already knew would be pretty, willing, and female. It was as if Bill wanted to flaunt it in her face that he could have anyone he could chose simply because he was a vampire, giving her the impression she should be grateful that he had taken such an interest in her when he turned more beautiful women away after feeding.

If so, it did not have the desired effect. She knew it was necessary so she couldn't hold it against him, yet did he have to be so happy about it?

"Godric invited me to dine with him," she quickly washed her hair before rinsing the blonde strands under the warm stream.

Another bang came from the bedroom.

Frowning, Sookie quickly finished up before drying herself off. It took her only a few minutes get slip on her panties, bra and dress before running a brush through her hair. She didn't have time to dry it.

Leaving the bathroom she smiled when she caught sight of Godric, scanning the room only to see that he was alone. "Did Bill have other plans?"

"Does he always use a donor, älskling?"

While it should have seemed like a personal question Sookie found she didn't mind answering as she applied a bit of make-up with a shrug. "He was mainstreaming when we met, but for some reason he began taking human donors. He never told me his reasoning behind it."

"Does it bother you?"

That made her pause.

Did it?

While she wasn't happy about it, the fact she didn't so much as feel betrayed or hurt that he had his lips around another woman's throat should have surprised her. Should she not feel some kind of jealously? In the minds of the few friends she had they frequently felt jealous or anger at other women when it came to their men, and yet with Bill…

Her silence seemed to make Godric regret asking. "I apologise if that was insensitive of me."

"Oh no," Sookie shot him a smile. Slipping on her shoes she pulled on a light cardigan. "I was just thinking. Bill's my first boyfriend, should I be jealous?"

Godric's opinion couldn't hurt, right?

Pale eyebrows rose as he sweetly held the door open for her. "I do not believe I am the most informed on matters of the heart, älskling. I have very limited experiences regarding relationships."

"Oh," Sookie frowned. "Are you similar to Eric, not a relationship person? I know not many vampires understand the whole dating aspect."

Godric's lips curved. He had not been wrong in his assumption that Sookie would not be satisfied with anything other than a completely monogamous relationship. He respected that.

"It isn't that, älskling. In my time people focused on other things, love or affection rarely came about other than on the rare occasion. Relationships had no place in a time of war."

Recognising the blonde hostess from earlier Sookie kept her lips sealed. It was clear that the girl had been scolded, her manners impeccable along with the previous confidence in her actions having been replaced with shaky nerves. She found it hard to be sympathetic.

The food as she had predicted was lovely. She had no doubt that the hotel had excellent reviews on all aspects of the building. Not to mention Godric's company was something Sookie knew she could very much get used to on a regular basis.

Any opinions whether you want the relationship between Eric, Sookie and Godric to be slow burn or present in the next few chapters?

All thoughts are welcome.

Reviews = Motivation!