Bella and Eric spent the flight sitting next to each other swapping stories and bantering back and forth. They realised that they shared the same immature sense of humour, except Eric's was much filthier and darker. He enjoyed teasing Bella immensely. It was rare to come across someone so innocent in this day and age, Eric knew. They noticed Sookie discreetly trying to watch them from the corner of her eye and when she looked, Eric, made sure to show Bella an affectionate gesture such as pushing hair back behind her ear or stroking her hand. Because of this Sookie spend the entire flight in a rage and was battling with her emotions. Part of her wanted to burst out in tears and the other slap Eric in the face. It was not long ago that she was the centre of his attention.

They arrived at Dallas in reasonable time. They exited the plane and entered a waiting car at the airport then promptly sped over to Hotel Carmilla. In the car, Eric sat texting on his phone at incredible speeds and Bella tried to speak to Sookie. Sookie acted off with Bella. She answered her but would do so in a curt manner. Bella only hoped that Sookie could forgive her when all of this was over with. It wasn't worth risking her relationship with her cousin. By the time the car reached the hotel, Bella had had enough. As they all got out of the car, Bella shot Eric a look a held up two fingers to indicate 'two minutes', Eric nodded and swaggered in the hotel. Bella grabbed Sookie's arm to stop her walking away. Sookie looked blankly at Bella,

"Sook, can I talk to you a minute?" She asked nervously. She hoped she could repair things with her cousin. Things were so hostile with Sookie and she had been flirting with Eric less than a day! If this continued she worried she might cause irreplaceable damage to their relationship. Bills eyebrows furrowed but Sookie shot him a look that said 'don't' then Bill simply followed into the hotel after Eric.

"What's up?" Sookie asked with a hand on her hip.

"Sookie, look I know you're not happy with what's going on with Eric and me. I just wanted to clear it up. I get that you don't like Eric but I do. He's a lot of fun. Please don't let this get between us. I love you Sook, you're my family. Nothing can come between that. You need to get over it. I have a friendship with Eric Northman, please accept that" By the end of her speech Bella was trying to hold back tears, she was so worried and confused by her wonderful cousins behaviour. Bella looked down and sniffled. She just hoped she got through to her cousin.

Sookie at her little cousin and sighed,

"I get that Bella, I do, I don't want him to come between us neither. I don't trust him. He's sneaky, manipulative, high-handed and an asshole. I don't like you getting close to him. You've been through so much lately with Edward, you shouldn't get into another relationship right away. Especially with someone like Eric." Sookie said sadly.

Bella nodded. Her plan was certainly working, however, it was seriously impacting her relationship with her cousin.

"I need you to trust me, Sook. I won't let myself get hurt like that. Me and Eric are just teasing, I promise. I'm not getting into any relationship! This might backfire, who knows. I may end up more fucked up but don't be mad at me for that. I'm gonna make mistakes like I did with Edward... just support my choices, please? Like family would. I don't get why you're so mad at me. I'm sorry for whatever it is I've done. Please don't be angry any longer" Bella pleaded looking at up Sookie's face.

Sookie seemed hesitant like the was having an inner debate. She scrunched up her face and shook her head back and forth. Bella looked at her confusedly. Finally, Sookie sighed and covered her face with her hands.

"Ugh, I just don't know Bella. I don't understand this! Your right, completely right. Just cos I don't like Eric doesn't mean I should take it out on you. But I can't forgive you. No, I'm still angry but I don't know why" Sookie groaned, frustrated.

Bella observed her carefully. Sookie seemed genuinely baffled as to why she was so bothered with Bella and Eric's interactions. Sookie may be a little country bumpkin' from time to time but she wasn't this stupid. She obviously was jealous. She must like Eric and be attracted to him on some level but why then is she so sure she hates him? None of this made sense. It was like she was fighting against any possible amicable feelings towards him. Why would she do that? Because she's in a relationship already? That wouldn't explain why she can't at least be civil with him. The idea to flirt was just a silly, immature way to get Sookie to open her eyes and see how much she liked Eric. She had no idea it would effect Sookie this much. Bella began re-thinking what she had done.

"Look Sookie I have no romantic interest in Eric. We are just friends and that is all we are ever going to be, okay?" She hesitantly reassured her cousin. Bella was beginning to become worried, Sookie was acting very strangely.

Sookie exhaled loudly and smiled brilliantly at Bella. She was the picture of pure relief. 'How does Sookie not realise she has feelings for Eric?!' Bella thought, utterly baffled.

"Thank god. I'll try to be more acceptin' of your friendship. That doesn't mean I'm going anywhere near him" Sookie winked at Bella and drew her in for a hug. They entered the hotel with arms linked and huge smiles on their faces. When Eric saw them he raised his eyebrows and smirked but Bill frowned deeply and seemed to be deep in thought. Sookie gave Bella a kiss on the cheek and skipped over to Bill. He took Sookie's hand and led her swiftly to the elevators at the far end of the lobby, muttering to her quietly.

Bella approached Eric and saw him pout,

"You ruined all the fun, tiny. I was enjoying watching Sookie squirm. She looks and smells delicious with her face flushed in rage and her heart pounding" Eric looked off with a dreamy look on his face. Bella shook her head and sighed,

"Yeah well, I wasn't risking the relationship with my cousin just so you could get her. I'll help you with her but not that much. Plus, it was getting a bit weird. Next, you would have been sending me nude photos and I'm already traumatised from seeing you in your office, you know!" Bella teased with a mock outraged face.

They began walking towards the elevators,

"Hm, fair enough. You should consider it an honour to have seen me naked, tiny. I have a great body, better than most and I know what to do with it" He told Bella, he pressed the call button and waited at the doors.

"Oh yes, an honour. Just like how you honour' the people at Fangtasia?" Bella snorted sarcastically. The doors opened and they entered. Eric pressed a button and the doors closed again.

"You seem to be awfully confused. Yes, I honor them with countless hours of mind blowing pleasure the likes of which their small human brains cannot comprehend" He explained patiently.

Bella sighed, "calm down there Eric. The elevator isn't big enough for you and your massive ego." Eric chuckled and then the doors opened. Bella exited only now realizing she had no idea where she was going,

"Oh, Eric. Where's my room exactly?" She asked hesitantly, cursing herself for forgetting. Eric looked back, smirking at her then he grabbed her hand and started leading her down the hallway. Bella was confused but allowed herself to be led by Eric. The blond vampire reached a door right-hand side of the hall. He paused and used a key card to open the door,

"After you, tiny" Eric motioned for her to enter first. She walked into the dark coloured and expensively furnished hotel room. She heard the door shut behind her and she looked back to see Eric had entered the room,

"Eric..." She began.

"Welcome to our room. I trust it is to your liking?" He asked politely with an innocent look on his face. Eric Northman could not pull off innocent.

"Our room? Wha- wh- how- I- I don't understand" Bella stuttered out. Surely he didn't think all the flirting and was real? She prayed that she didn't give him the wrong impression. Eric chuckled at the flustered look on her face. He strode over the the couch and flopped down on it gracefully, stretching his body,

"Relax, tiny. I only booked two rooms. I had originally booked this for me and Sookie and the other for you. However, thanks to William the arrangements had to be altered slightly. There are two bedrooms, tiny. No need to worry about your virtue" Eric explained smiling cheekily at Bella. The brunette shook her head. She met the vampire yesterday and was already sharing a room with him? Why wasn't she freaking out?

Bella walked over and sat across from him,

"Oh, alright. So what we up to tonight?" She asked. She was looking forward to exploring Dallas.

"We? Nothing. You are to stay here at the hotel whilst Sookie, Bill and I visit the Sheriffs nest to find out more about the situation. You are to stay here and under no circumstances are you to leave this room. Are we clear?" Eric leveled Bella with a serious look. She scowled back,

"Yes, master" She replied sarcastically. Eric smirked, Bella resembled an angry kitten when angered, in his opinion,

"Calm down, tiny. I bought you a gift and I am sure you can occupy your night with going through said gifts" He smiled, hoping Bella would like the clothes. He had hidden them in the bedroom he chose as hers and was disappointed that he couldn't see her reaction. Bella was stunned by another present 'Why does this guy keep getting me gifts? Geez, I know he's generous but c'mon'

Bella was just about to question Eric when there was a knock on the door. Eric flashed over to the door and opened it,

"Hello Miss Stackhouse. Can I help you? Are you here for business or pleasure" He purred at Sookie. He leaned casually but seductively against the door frame and Sookie couldn't help but blush and gulp at his pose.

"Cut the crap Eric. We need to get going" She promptly stormed away. Eric watched her retreating figure and sighed, 'Soon, my Sookie, soon'

Eric turned around to Bella,

"Your gifts are in that bedroom" He pointed in the direction of a closed door. "It is yours for as long as we are here. Feel free to order room service and not one complaint about the gifts. It was very expensive and time consuming for Pam to get all that in such short notice; be grateful. I shall be back before sundown" and with that Eric flashed away closing the door behind him.

Bella sat in the living room of her hotel room bored. She had spent the last few hours going through the massive amount of clothes that Eric bought for her. She couldn't understand why Eric was buying her these things. It seemed too generous. She only met the guy yesterday and yet she traveled to Dallas with him and is sharing a hotel room with him. 'Maybe I am a danger magnet. No I just don't have any common sense'. Bella thought. Then she mentally scolded herself. She had a gut feeling that she could trust Eric, she had a strange connection with him and needed to trust her instincts. She could have saved herself a lot of grief with the Cullen's if she just followed her instincts.

She heard her phone start to ring and looked at the caller ID. It was Billy Blacks house, 'Must be Jake' she thought

"Hello" She answered politely leaning backwards on the couch and turning to volume on the TV to mute.

"Hey Bells! I've not heard from you in ages. What's up?" The voice of her best friend came through the phone. Jake had helped her immensely after her break up and although he always hoped for more, Bella could only ever see him as a brother. His insistence that they belonged together was another reason why she decided it would be best to move in with her gran. She hated leading him on.

"Sorry Jake, Its slipped my mind, lots has happened" she explained. She shared everything with Jake. Bella thought she heard a slight click of the door opening but when she turned around didn't see anything. She ignored it.

"Like what? Did you go to the book store?" He teased, knowing Bella didn't go out much.

"Haha Jake. No, well first of all, Sookie and her boyfriend Bill took me to a vampire bar" She said casually hoping Jake wouldn't flip out.

"Is that the jackass you were telling me about? Why did he want to offer you to his other bloodsucker pals?" Bella heard his angry reply through the phone. She sighed, she knew Jake wouldn't take it well, what with him being a werewolf.

"No Jake. Sookie works for the vampire sheriff remember I told you that? She had to go to see him and I went along with. Turns out she was needed in Dallas so I decided to come along and now I'm in Dallas" She got out quickly.

The phone was silent, "Wait. Is that the vampire you said Sookie said was a psycho?! Why did you go see him? Bella you need to stop hanging around with them leeches! Remember what happened last time?" He exclaimed.

Bella was frustrated being reminded about the Cullens, "Yes of course I remember. How could I not? This is different. It's not like I'm dating any of them. I made a few friends. That's all. No he isn't a psycho Jake! I made friends with the Sheriff, he's pretty fun but inappropriate at times. You'd get along with him, I bet" She heard a snort come through the phone and chose to ignore it, "oh and there's this other vampire named Pam, She was absolutely gorgeous, probably the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Prettier than Rosalie. Oh and has a really dry sense of humour she seems like lots of fun! I can't wait to get to know her better" Bella grinned.

"Bella! This guy probably only wants to fuck you and drink your blood. Don't be naive, please. He's a vampire not a person. He will just use you! He's a monst-"

"Now you stop right there Jacob Black! How dare you, you don't know the first thing about Eric and certainly not enough to judge him. I get it, your a werewolf and you don't like vampires but your being completely unfair. He's a good man, he's smart, funny, generous and a good friend of mine. I won't hear you say another bad thing about him. Am I clear?" Bella replied in a stern voice. She wasn't having anyone bad mouth her friend.

Jake didn't insult Eric directly again but simply started droning on about how vampires weren't good company and weren't friends and such. Bella listened half-heartedly for about five minutes only muttering here and there. She loudly heard the door slam shut and looked up to see Eric had returned. He looked at Bella with an impassive expression.

"Uh- Jake. I've got to go now. I'll call you back tomorrow. Love you" She hastily said and hung up quickly. She knew about vampire hearing and didn't want Eric over hearing Jake bad mouthing his kind. Eric slowly walked over to the seating area sat down across from Bella; looking at her attentively. She felt uncomfortable,

"So, how did it go? Do you have any idea where the missing Sheriff is? Thank you for the clothes by the way. It was too much but thanks." She asked hoping to divert his attention. He studied her for a moment before replying,

"Yes, we believe him to be taken by the fellowship of the sun. Sookie and another human will infiltrate it tomorrow to see if he is located there. It seems unlikely, a vampire of Godric's age should not have been able to be taken by mere humans" Eric explained leaning back on his seat but still keeping a close eye on Bella.

"Godric? Is that the sheriff?" She asked curiously. He sounded old, Bella thought. Eric nodded his head. He kept staring a Bella with an usually serious expression and Bella simply tried to ignore it but it became too much,

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face" She asked worriedly touching her face for signs of half eaten food or something equally embarrassing. There was nothing there. Bella yawned and Eric stood up,

"No. I am going for a feeding. You should get some rest. You are getting tired" Eric stated before flashing out of the room. Bella was worried, Eric didn't usually seem in such a serious mood. She hoped everything was alright with him. Bella wanted to do something nice for him but wasn't sure what she could do for a vampire except offer blood and she wasn't doing that.

She thought back to Edward and wondered what he liked. She considered it for a moment then had an idea. She knew Edward always enjoyed the warmth of Bella so she thought Eric must be somewhat similar even if he wasn't as cold as the other type of vampire. Satisfied she skipped over to the phone in the hotel room and called downstairs and asked for some supplies. The person on the phone seemed confused by her request but said it would be up shortly. In such a luxurious hotel you could order just about anything and they would get it. She wondered if she could even order a big mac and they would go get one for her. Giggling she looked around the suite for a pen and paper. She found some hotel stationary and sat on the couch leaning forward on the small coffee table to write Eric a note. As Bella finished, she entered his private bedroom and set up her little surprise for Eric.

Eric rolled over on the bed removing his fangs and cock from the bloodbag below him. She was gasping for air and her naked body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat,

"Wow baby, that was amazin'" She panted looking at Eric through her dark brown ruffled hair. Eric frowned at the word 'baby', that was a completely inappropriate name to call a vampire. He heard her speak again and simply ignored it. He dressed quickly and left the room, starting to walk slowly back to his suite.

His typical fuck and feed didn't leave him with the usual satisfied feeling he usually got. No, his mind was too full.

Firstly, there was Godric. His maker was missing and it scared him to the bone. Godric was one of the most powerful vampires existing today, how could he of been taken by humans? It didn't add up and dread was starting to coil in his stomach. He probed the bond between them and felt nothing, he only felt his presence enough to know he hadn't met the true death. Eric was deeply concerned, his fader was missing and he would stop at nothing to get him back again.

Next, there was Miss Stackhouse. The beautiful blond was appearing in his thoughts more and more frequently. Originally, he simply wanted to fuck, feed and take her from Compton as a trophy but it was becoming more than that. He felt something for her. He did not like having feelings. She was filled with spirit and a fire that could challenge his own. She was the most stunning creature he had ever met. She was not perfect but it was a little unique parts of her that made her distinctly Sookie that made him so enthralled. She smelled like temptation, sunlight, honey, everything Eric missed. She smelled like home. Eric was becoming more and more desperate. He needed her to be his and soon or he would not be held accountable for his actions.

Lastly, there was the little brunette that seemed to be embedding herself under his skin so rapidly. He was feeling increasingly protective of her and couldn't figure out why. He just met her but felt an odd connection to her, like he'd known her all his life. He enjoyed her company which was extremely odd as he only enjoyed the company of his maker, his child and most recently Sookie. He didn't have the usual urge to fuck her as he did with every beautiful female. He would fuck her as she was beautiful, it was simply the lack of longing to do so which confused him. He did not dislike her physical touch as he did usually when it came to humans that he was not fucking or feeding on. He couldn't figure it out. Earlier he overheard her conversation with some werewolf named 'Jake'. He was concerned as she said she loved him and hoped she wasn't involved with a werewolf. If she was, he would put a stop to it. Hearing her defending him and praising him in such a way made his chest feel strangely warm and he was pleased by this. She seemed to hold him in high regard, she even said he was her 'friend'. Eric hadn't had a friend before. He wasn't sure what constituted as one. He had texted Pam and told her about Bella's comment that she thought Pam was the most beautiful person she'd ever met. Eric smirked, Pam was extremely pleased by this and even inquired about her health. It seems Bella was getting under his progeny's skin also.

Eric reached his hotel room and opened the door. Bella was no longer in the sitting room but he could hear deep breathing coming from her bedroom and a relaxed human heart beat, 'likely to be sleeping' he concluded. Eric walked to his bedroom, opened the door and stopped in shock. The lock to the private bedroom clicked in place behind him. His room was filled was various candles at strategically placed points in the room; letting off a pleasant musky aroma. He noticed a note on his pillow and sped over and picked it up.

Dear Eric,

You seemed pretty tense earlier and I wanted to do something to help. I don't know much about vampires but I figured you would enjoy the warmth. I hope it helps,

Your friend, Bella

Eric read the note twice. A small fond smile entered his face. He could smell Bella's scent in his room and he figured she must have been in here earlier to set this up. She had done something so thoughtful to try and cheer him.

He flashed to the en suite bathroom and showered quickly. Eric enjoyed Bella's scent and didn't want the stench of his quick fuck to ruin the fragrance in the room.

When he returned to the bedroom he dropped his towel and blew each of the candles out. The firelight had left the room a little warmer he noted with satisfaction. As he climbed under the blankets he felt an incredible warmth. Their seemed to be heat coming from the blankets. He wrapped himself around in it enjoying the temperature. There was some sort of bottle filled with hot liquid on his pillow. He wondered why Bella did that. As he removed it and lay his head down he realized why. It had left the pillow feeling nice and cosy. With the strangely warm blankets and the warmer air of the room, it felt heavenly. Eric started purring, nuzzling his head into the pillow. Vampires were not very warm creatures. They could survive and adapt to any temperature but they only had a little body heat to warm themselves. They very much enjoyed the heat. Eric wrapped the blanket around him like a cocoon and drifted into his day rest with a contented look on his face and a small smile on his lips.