A/N: As always thanks to everyone who favorited/followed/reviewed the last chapter, it means a lot to me. I hope you guys enjoyt this chapter!

Celebration

"Is this romance?" He hadn't kept up much with the entertainment of humans but he knew this was considered outdated for the times. Despite that and the black and white theme Sookie had seemed enraptured throughout the film. When he had come over for the day she had immediately led him to the living room floor where she had set up a nest of pillows and a bowl of popcorn. He had been pulled down to site beside her and instructed to not interrupt. He had obliged simply because the moment her eyes hit the screen they had glazed over with something akin to adoration.
"Absolutely." She nods fiercely ponytail bouncing up in the air. Her tan legs ensconced in only jean shorts were folded under her. "He loved her and she loved him, but he gave her up for the good of the world."

"Perhaps he didn't love her enough." He couldn't fathom letting Sookie go in that manner, especially if she was willing to stay by his side.

"He did, he just wasn't selfish."

"True love is always selfish." Love in general he had seen was destructive in it's nature. He had seen kingdoms and empires built and destroyed by love. Though the film had done a good job in telling it's tale he couldn't believe that it was true love the main characters had between each other.

"What do you mean?" She looked up at him curiously.

"If you love someone then you care about them above all else, nothing should matter but them." Death/pain/pleasure/life was all mixed into love you couldn't have one without all the others and though he wished for nothing but pleasure between Sookie and him he knew that eventually pain would seep in, it always did. Once people gave themselves completely to one another the darkness everyone hid inside was easily exposed. He wanted her to do that, wanted her to show him her fears, her worst nightmares, and her pain, he wanted everything from her.

"That makes sense, but it was still romantic what he did." Her voice becomes wistful and her eyes dart back to the rolling credits.

"You found him appealing didn't you?" He didn't understand it, Sookie was young and vivacious while the man on the screen had been old and brooding. What was the appeal?

"I don't know TCM is the channel Gran and I watch the most, I suppose it's a little hard not to fall for all the men on here." She turns to face him biting her lip anxiously before continuing. "You know you could look like one them."

"What one of these guys on TCM?"

"Yeah, I mean you could just grow out you're hair a bit." She's smiling and pushing on his hair, her warm fingers threading through his hair was intoxicating and soon he found himself leaning in.

"Would you like that?" His breath ghosts on her lips and if he just moved a little bit more he could capture them. But he won't do it, he needs her to move forward, needs her to take the next step. I can be your friend, but I know you want more. Her cheeks are flushed and her heart is thumping, and he just needs her to lean in a bit more.

"Well I…"

"And then she was angry, when I didn't call, I just don't get that girl." Jason's booming voice assaults him as the door is swung open and though only a second ago Sookie was close enough to kiss she was pushing herself back to lean onto the couch in a flash. I thought I was fast. Just in time since her brother enters not a second later.

"So how did she end up at your place?" Hoyt, your back, great. He had been having a great morning with Sookie and now that was over.

"Well… what's going on here?" Jason asks the minute he looks around the room and notices the pair of them on the floor.

"Hi Jason, Hoyt, nice to see you too."

"Where's Gran?" Jason's voice is laced with warning and Warlow can tell Sookie's sarcastic voice is egging him on.

"She's in the back gardening, we were watching a movie can't you tell." She holds up the popcorn bowl with a fake smile.

"Now.." Before Jason can begin what is sure to be another tirade about propriety, Sookie's grandmother comes in through the back door.

"Jason honey you're back, come in here, you too Hoyt let me fix you guys something to eat." Without any preambles she rushes over to greet the boys.

"Hi Gan." Jason answers looking away from them, to smile at his grandmother.

"Hi Mrs. Stackhouse." Hoyt and Ben recite together, and for a moment he does feel like a boy.

"Ben you too, I'm sure you'll enjoy a home cooked meal." No one dares to protest as she ushers them into the kitchen and settles them around the table. Sookie wordlessly begins to help her grandmother prepare plates piled with food and that's how he finds himself having lunch at the Stackhouse house.

"It's sure nice when you don't have to be rushing off after lunch to work Sookie." Adele comments as they eat.

"My days off are nice Gran, but Sam's been real nice to let me come on full time even though he doesn't really need four waitresses. I'm not going let him down by coming in late." It bothered him that Sookie had to work but he figured in a town like this that was the norm, still he could have easily taken care of her and her grandmother if that was what she wanted. He hadn't brought up the issue yet, he wasn't sure if she would take any offense to the offer but figured she might, she was a stubborn willful girl and he realized that she had a lot of pride that she refused anyone tarnish not even a family member.

"So Sookie you still coming over later, it's for Hoyts birthday after all." Jason interjects harshly.

"Oh well… I'm not sure." She's twirling her green beans around with her fork, purposely not meeting anyone's eyes. So it's Hoyt's birthday.

"You said you were last week." Her brother won't let up even though she obviously doesn't want to talk about it. Did you have big plans Sookie? He knows how big birthdays are for humans, it doesn't surprise him after all when you have less than one hundred they probably matter more to you.

"I know… but I kind of figured I'd spend the day with Ben."

"Ben can come along too." Hoyt adds smiling at her, they meet eyes which has Sookie blushing like a tomato. I can also rip out your ribcage in under a second. He grips his fork more forcefully willing himself to not reach over the table and stab Hoyt through the eyes. He doubts Adele would appreciate cleaning up blood.

"Oh I don't know, I was just thinking we would do something like watch a movie or something just us and Gran." She discreetly places her hand on his knee under the table, Do you know how much I want to kill him right now? She must know something's wrong because she obviously wants to calm him down even if it means touching him like this.

"Come on Sook, don't be selfish let Ben come, after all he could meet a lot of new people." Still Jason won't let the matter go, idly he wonders why Jason wants him to go so bad. What are you planning?

"That would be nice, I would love to spend more time with you Ben, but it would probably be better if you got to meet more of the young folk that's around here." Trust me you're very young at least compared to me. Still he can't say no now, when it would seem odd that he wouldn't want to go, after all most humans thrive on interacting with one another.

"Why not, after all it is for Hoyt." He smiles at the boy who only has eyes for Sookie, we'll see just how special you are Hoyt.

"Great." Sookie's voice drips with sarcasm but her hand hasn't moved yet so he gives it a squeeze.

"Too much?" She asks as she twirls around in the red sundress her hair is down in curls and she just looks ripe for the picking. Gorgeous.

"No, you look perfect." He had a left after the lunch fiasco ended so that she could get 'ready' he didn't understand why she felt she needed hours to get ready but he could admit she looked good.

"You don't look too bad yourself." While he had wasted most of his time reading and doing crossword puzzles he admits he took a little longer to get ready.

"Now don't you two look like the perfect couple." Adele coos as she studies them.

"Gran!" Sookie immediately begins to protest but Adele won't listen as she waves her hand at her dismissively.

"Shush now honey."

"I agree I think we look marvelous together." He pulls her closer to him and grins at how red she becomes, her face basically matches the color of the dress.

"Now Ben I must tell you that her curfew is midnight that being said I go to sleep at ten, I'm a very deep sleeper." With a wink in his direction she begins to shoo them out of the door despite Sookie's scandalized protests.

"Okay now I think she gave you permission to ravage me." Sookie mocked as she led them to her tiny yellow car.

"Told you she liked me." Sookie huffed in what he presumed was annoyance.

"So you just found him wandering around?" He's sure they think they're whispering, or something close to it. The moment they had walked into Jason's house he had been accosted with so many introductions it had been dumbfounding how many young people actually lived in such a small town. Once Sookie had made sure he was fine hanging out with her brother and his friends her own friends had dragged her off to get some 'punch' in the kitchen. He was in the living room settled around a coffee table with most of the guys cheering the birthday boy on as he chugged his fourth beer in the row. It wasn't far, and despite the loud music Sookie's conversation might as well have been occurring right next to him.

"Yeah, pretty much." Sookie answered her friend Tara, who had taken one long look at him and smiled knowingly at her friend.

"Damn Sook, how come in this whole red neck fuckin town the one time something delicious comes around your pert ass has to find him first!"

"Lafayette he's not gay, it wouldn't have matter if you saw him first."

"Trust me honey, that's what they all say." With one lascivious wink which has the girls giggling.

"Plus were just friends." Both Lafayette and Tara share a look that begs to differ.

"Friends my ass Sook you got the whole town buzzing about the pair of you, besides it's not like you weren't marking your territory showing him off yesterday." Tara calls her out and Sookie immediately begins to drink out of the red plastic cup, still he can see the red flush that envelopes her. Is that what you were doing, well I could have found a much better way you could have marked me up. I would not have minded.

"Okay shush now you nosey Nelly's , don't scare him off." They leave the kitchen and walk over the crowd gathered around Hoyt bypassing the people who have made a makeshift dancing floor further to the left of the living room.

"Your back." He grins as she sidles up to him and slides into the empty seat next to him, while her friends have found they're own entertainment handing Hoyt bottles of tequila and vodka.

"Sorry I just don't like beer much." She makes a face at the bottle in his hands, he didn't like it much either since he couldn't really get drunk off of it, but it did weaken his mental powers a bit. She holds up the red cup for him to taste, and he drinks a mouthful readily, sweet and tangy with a kick at the end. He licks his lips while keeping his eyes on her.

"It's good."

"I'm not much of a drinker but this stuff is okay." She shrugs her shoulders and turns around to see the show. He would be hurt that her attention is off him and on Hoyt, but she moves her chair over a bit more and soon enough she's leaning to his side. She might be looking at you but she's obviously all mine. He grins smugly which only widens when he puts his arm around the back of her chair and she doesn't protest.

The moment is ruined a moment later when Jason comes up to him, the boy's had a few beers already and though he's not staggering Warlow can tell he's not all there either.

"Mind if I have a word with you?"

"Sure." Despite his answer Jason still stands though there is a free chair nearby.

"Outside." With a nod of his, Warlow begins to get up.

"No, why just talk here Jason." Sookie pleads as she grabs onto Warlow's arm refusing to let him up.

"It's okay, I'll be back." She sends both of them a warning look before reluctantly letting go of his arm.

The air is crisp and the moon is shining offering little cover for creatures of the night. Still he can hear the slithering of snakes not too far off and the fluttering of birds taking flight.

"So what's up with you and my sister." Not a man of subtly. He turns away from the scenery and focuses on the here and now. He takes in Jason defensive stance, the way his arms are at his sides ready to take action if need be, how his eyes have a glaze across them indicating he's just consumed alcohol.

"We're friends." He answers with this because this what Sookie wants so he figures he best keep up the front.

"Don't bullshit me!" The angry tone Jason has is grating his nerves, and he almost swipes his hand out to choke the boy. Hi Sookie, yeah sorry I kind of killed your brother. He didn't want to go back in with that sob story and begging for forgiveness so he kept his cool.

"We are friends." It was technically true even though for him they might as well skip over this friendship business, after all they were destined for each other.

"You two don't act like friends. Now I don't know what kind of impression she gave you, but Sookie's a good girl she's never act like this around anyone." He admits he respects him for this, despite the lack of finesse he has Jason is only trying to protect Sookie and if there's one thing he can respect it's that.

"Look Jason I know Sookie is a good girl, she's someone to be respected. I won't disrespect her in anyway, I'm not going to hurt her." Jason could never imagine how much he actually means that, the hope of finding Sookie was what had made the loneliness bearable for the last couple of centuries. She was his life.

"You better not." The anger in his voice wasn't as strong as before but Jason didn't loosen his stance.

"I know it's sudden but I feel we have a real connection and trust me I would never do anything to jeopardize that." The boy eyes him down and there must be something he sees that makes him back down.

"Respect her and we ain't gonna have an issue." He puts out his hand which Warlow takes readily.

"Don't worry."

"Good come on let's go back in Hoyt's probably passed out by now." Jason says with a laugh as he leads the way.

Hoyt isn't passed out on the floor when they head back in but Jason seems to lose interest in this as soon as a brunette with very little clothes on finds him and pulls him on to the dance floor. Hoyt missing wouldn't have bothered him much either except for the fact that Sookie wasn't there either. Her friends he found easily in a corner of the room taking shots with a couple of guys who didn't mind having salt smeared all over them, but his blonde is nowhere near. He could open his mind up and try to locate where her shields are but he doesn't want his mind inundated with the drunk thoughts that are bound to be found here. So instead he quickly inhales deeply through his nose.

Her smell is far too distinguishable that despite all the bodies in the small house it's not hard for him to latch onto her scent. He's not too worried when it leads him deeper into the house bypassing couples who are locked at the lip. Bathroom, humans always have to use the bathroom. That's where she's at. He had expected her to be in her seat waiting for him but he can't fault her if she needed to use the restroom. He's not too happy when he finds himself turning away from the long line of girls forming outside a door and towards another hallway where there's another door closed.

She went in there, he takes another breath and realizes the other scent intermingled with hers must come from Hoyt. What the fuck is going on? He's about to barge in but doesn't want to cause a scene or give any warning so instead he leans closer and listens in.

"Aww man Sook, I didn't mean to drink so much." Hoyt sounds sad and pathetic and though it disgusts him he can tell Sookie is probably going to sympathize.

"It's okay Hoyt it's you're birthday your turning twenty-one what else are you supposed to do."

"I'm never drinking again."

"I'll remind you of that when you head into Merlottes asking for a beer for the first time… legally." She laughs a little and though he tries to get into the boys mind to see her he can't, Hoyt's mind is a mash of images that make no sense, he probably has his eyes close. He gets out of Hoyt's mind before it makes him sick.

"Thanks for taking care of me."

"I wasn't going to leave you on the floor." He can't even get angry, she was helping a friend and though he disliked the notion of Sookie even being alone with that guy he knows she's not the type to abandon someone in need.

"I love you Sookie." On a second thought, maybe pulling out your ribcage would be too nice. Peeling skin off is always an interesting death, though messy. .

"Shh… don't say that, that's nonsense." Thankfully she didn't reciprocate or who knows how many people would have died that night. He would never have harmed her, but the party goers would have found their 'fun' night ending in a blood bath.

"I do, I mean it. I don't care who hears it I don't care if Jason knows."

"Shut up Hoyt you're drunk, don't… just don't." He can hear the anger in her voice, what happened between the two of you?

"Don't you love me?" The boy seriously had a death wish.

"I never said I did." You're not saying you don't.

"But you let me…" What did you let him do Sookie?

"Hoyt!" She cuts him off with a screech. "Look I'm gonna go you just sleep it off, you'll be fine." He can hear her rush out of the room before the boy can protest. She's careful to open the door and close it behind her silently which is when he finally sees her.

"Ben!" He's startled her and though at any other time he might have been grinning like a Cheshire cat he can't get past the words echoing in his mind. I love you SookieI love you SookieI love you SookieI love you Sookie. The filthy words the boy had uttered were wreaking havoc in his mind and though her presence settled him a bit, it also urged the demon to act, to dominate.

"We have to talk." Before she can answer he grabs her hand and pulls her along, making sure to go out the back door he noticed before so that Jason won't see them leave. She needed to explain some things and he wasn't going to take no for answer this time.

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think!