Reality

Hello everyone I am really sorry for the unexpected hiatus but I'm grateful for anyone who is still reading and still interested in this story. I felt that this story was lacking direction and was losing the motivation to write something that had no clear ending. Finally I feel like I've found a solid direction that I can actually continue with so hopefully now I can actually finish it. So I hope you guys enjoy it.

General chapter notes:

I know throughout the story I have strictly stayed in third person limited for narration but I really wanted to show the scene with Sookie since I felt it fit better that way. So this chapter we start out in a Sookie pov but after we are moving back to Warlow pov. This may just be for a one time thing but depending on how you guys like it I may do it more often.

"Damn who in the hell brought all these fine pieces of ass to town?" Dawn thought as she rushed to apply a little more color to her lips, within the last five minutes her shorts had magically become shorter and her top had become tighter. Sookie, which might have found the other girls idea of fixing herself up a bit ridiculous, couldn't help but agree. Bon Temps was not a place where so many young men flocked to, especially not during the day. She had been hanging out in the break room enjoying a cheeseburger she had gotten from the kitchen for her lunch, when Dawn had rushed in pushing and pulling her clothes and making a mess of her cosmetics bag to bring more color to her face.

She supposed she could have just asked the girl about the men outside but instead Sookie had subtly snooped around Dawn's head. It wasn't hard since it was all the other girl could apparently think about. There were about fifteen of them from what she could see in Dawn's perspective, and all of them could only be considered rugged and burly and, yes she supposed, handsome. They had that look about them that they had just completed a hard days work even though it was only midday.

After hurricane Dawn left the break room, Sookie couldn't help but wonder what had brought all those men here? Since realizing that there were many more things that bumped in the night but could also walk in the day she had been more on guard with new people. Just because there was sun shining on them doesn't mean they're harmless. I guess there's only one way to truly find out.

Sookie didn't like to look around peoples head, it was a violation of privacy no matter what way she put it, but she knew that what she had was a gift and sometimes gifts needed using. Especially since her last conversation with Warlow the idea of anyone wanting to hurt him made her retch. He had made it clear the vampires didn't like him, so she doubted anything else would be friendlier.

After dipping one last fry into her mayo and ketchup mix she cleaned up her mess and plastered on her most pleasant smile possible. It was time to get back to work.

Though Dawn's mind did do the men justice, Sookie wasn't prepared for the small army that had invaded the bar. All the tables were full and though that wasn't shocking the noises that attacked her mind were. Human minds were much more... muted at least compared to the barrage of voices that emanated from these men. Yet what was more odd was that it wasn't just words and pictures but barks as well. She tried to be as quick as possible about moving about and taking orders and moving to the kitchen and back making sure everyone was good; still she tried to bring her mental walls down every time she felt she could handle it.

The feel of wet dewy grass under paws, long howls that felt like emanated from deep withing, running together fast as possible chasing the night and the moon. It all felt so surreal but she understood the barks and growls and even whines were a form of communication. It was still voices because they were werewolves. These huge bulking men that were eating right in front of her were werewolves. The thought stunned her for a moment, werewolves in freaking Bontemps! She couldn't help the absurd grin that graced her face even as she forced her walls back up. Their presence made a little bit more sense once she overheard Ben's name the good old human way. Of course it would take a vampire/fairy to bring something like werewolves here. By the time all the tabs were paid and tables were cleaned Sookie felt exhausted both mentally and physically. Still she felt proud of herself for being able to handle it, for being able to pick up tidbits about 'Ben' and was eager to share her findings with Warlow later.

"I thought you were coming for lunch today?" She sways a little in his arms as she leans back after a chaste kiss. It was just after dusk and though he had not told her he would be coming by she hadn't seemed surprise to find him on her porch as she pulled up the driveway in her little yellow car.

"Merlotte's was inhabited by the werewolves today." Instead of the shock look on her face he had expected she just smirks slightly.

"So, it could have been a big supernatural convention. You know just the really low key kind with an undercover fairy and vampire/fairy hyrbid, it might have been fun. Besides the wolves didn't seem to bad, just hungry."

"Sorry love, but for the time being I have to play the normal vampire game."

"Normal vampire? Why?" She questions him even as she leads them onto the porch swing, easily she maneuvers him to sit while she sits beside him and winds her legs onto his lap. She pulls him close and loves how much she seems to yearn contact, how her head just naturally rests on his chest just above his undead heart. She's basically sitting on him but he doesn't mind it all.

"You know building a house with supernatural work crew isn't entirely low key and if I want to keep up my charade walking in a bar during the day would definitely not help with that. So I gather you figured out they were werewolves?" Warlow couldn't help but be giddy about it, Sookie was such a sweet innocent thing but he needed her to be smart too, she wouldn't survive long being just a pretty face, especially one that could be fooled easily. She would need to hone her gifts to her advantage. Reading humans was probably quite easy given how long she had co-mingled with them but he would need her to get used to reading other types of supes as well.

"At first I didn't know they were werewolves, I just knew they weren't completely human. Their minds were hard to read at times it would be... more animalistic I guess? Growls and barks could be heard like communication but then it would be like just anyone else with words and pictures perfectly clear. It was odd. But then there would be bursts of perfectly clear images of how they were in their other form, it was odd but nice too, they were happy memories. That's how I realized what they were."

"I'm glad."

"Glad about what? That they tipped well, because so am I."

"No that you figured out they weren't human."

"Well they weren't exactly low key, besides what's the point of being like this if it isn't any help." He stroked her hair fondly, his Sookie was such a bright young woman. She was using the tools he had helped to give her in the perfect way. Sure she might not like to intrude on other people's thoughts but it was obvious she wasn't naive enough to throw away the useful gift she had. "I figured you would know what was up given that they kept thinking about you and I guess I was right."

"Let me guess nasty horrible thoughts about the vampire?"

"Not exactly, they weren't exactly nice thoughts, but they kept saying you seemed nicer than other vampires. So that's good right?"

"Eh, werewolves and vampires are never going to be friends but there have been notable times of alliances and there are certain vampires who have found ways to tame wolves to do their bidding. Usually though those aren't through the most savory of methods."

"What do you mean?"

"While were not exactly enemies that will kill each other on contact, they're not beings I would let my guard down around. That's why it's important they just assume I'm a regular vampire, especially given that they've worked with other vampires around the area as well." Mostly he just didn't want any unexpected visitors coming around. He didn't feel like leaving anytime soon and having another vampire in the area was too dangerous to even consider. He only hoped the pack mentality was strong in the crew and that they didn't obey some other master. He hadn't noticed any traces of vampire affiliation but one could never be safe.

"Well we'll still see each other at nights right?"

"Always."

"Good, don't worry Warlow you might have to play normal vampire. But I can be your daytime eyes and ears. Especially if they keep coming down to Merlottes for lunch, which given the choices in the town is pretty much a given." She grins up at him but her eyes are set in determination, she's going to take this role seriously.

"Do you really worry about me Sookie?" Sometimes this all felt like a dream something too good, something that is all in his mind. He knows he can't dream but this is as close as he's going to get and he worries that one day it will just stop being his reality and just fade from his grasp. Sookie is in his arms worrying about him, wanting him to be safe and it's almost too much. Her small body almost wrapping around him keeping him grounded.

"Of course, Warlow. You're the only one who knows everything about me. You're the only one that understands what it means to have voices in your head. You're the only one like me. "

"I do understand, I understand you Sookie." The way she pulled somehow closer enough the her own heart thumping wasn't just a low noise emitting from her but rather a sensation that he could almost feel in his own body let him know that she was more than pleased. He let his fingers thread through her hair and felt complacent that this was starting to be less like a dream and more like reality.

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