Author's Note: Sorry for the delay since my last post! This is my first time writing a long story, and as I was writing I realised I am not a write-as-you-post kind of gal. So, the good news is—the story is done! I plan to post around once a week, possibly more often if I get too excited (which may happen as Eric becomes a bigger focus of the story).

"You're getting started on that pie early."

It was Sunday morning and Quinn sat at the kitchen table with a newspaper as he talked to my backside. I, on the other hand, was rummaging through my kitchen cabinet in search of my favourite pie dish.

"It'll take a few hours all in all. I have the pie, then I also need to bread the chicken and make the mash," I said distractedly, my head still in the cupboard. I'd invited JB and Tara round for dinner that night. I hadn't spent much time with them since they'd eloped and I was looking forward to catching up (as well as showing off my new boyfriend).

"Have you considered buying a pie instead? The last one was good."

It had been delicious. Between Quinn, Amelia and I it was gone in a few days.

"That was from a place in Monroe, it would be just as much effort to drive over there and pick one up as it would be to make one." I also wasn't sure exactly where the patisserie was, since Eric had bought it for me. I sat back on my heels and looked over at Quinn. "Besides, I want to make it."

"I don't want you to spend all day cooking and cleaning."

I softened at that. "Well, if you want you could help? We could make a day of it!" I found I liked that idea. I hadn't baked with anyone since Gran had passed away. Although I couldn't imagine Quinn in an apron.

"I have a better idea. You got a grill?"

"Nope, ours gave out when Gran was still alive and we never replaced it."

Quinn rubbed his hand over his head thoughtfully. "How about I cook us up some steaks instead? I can borrow Jason's grill."

I stood up and leaned on the kitchen counter, thinking it over. It was the perfect day for it. The sun was shining. The woods were particularly beautiful at this time of year: an array of rich golds, warm browns and violent reds. And pretty soon it would be too cold to cook outside.

"I could make a salad instead?" I offered. "And we can have the chicken tomorrow night."

"It's a plan."

I started packing away everything again as Quinn finished off his coffee. I could sense that he was pleased with the turn of events, and though it hadn't been my plan I figured in a relationship you need to compromise. Sometimes, anyway.

Before Quinn left to pick up the grill he gave me a long, slow kiss. "Maybe we can put that free time to good use."

"It's a plan," I repeated his words, smiling.

I spent the next hour cleaning the kitchen and living room. It felt nice to put my head down and do some housework. I'd always gotten a sense of satisfaction from cleaning. And I liked seeing Gran's home in good order. With both Amelia and Quinn out, I realised this was one of the first times I'd been truly alone in days. If I was honest, it was nice to rest my shields.

I called up Tara and suggested she and JB come over a bit earlier so we could enjoy the afternoon sun.

Quinn still wasn't home so I had a shower and changed into a sundress. A white and blue checkered one. I was sitting on my bed putting a final coat of glossy red polish on my toenails when Quinn got home.

"In here," I called out.

"Could you hear that I was looking for you from my thoughts?" He smirked as he sat on the bed.

"Just that you were wondering about something, kind of like I could sense the underlying theme of the thought," I said. "Sorry, since Amelia's not home I was resting my shields."

"It's alright with me if it's alright with you." The bed creaked and I looked up to find Quinn kneeling on the edge of it. He started crawling toward me on all fours, his eyes dark with desire.

"Whoa, steady tiger," I warned. "I've just finished painting my toenails and you're gonna mess them all up."

"What if I could promise that won't happen?" His thoughts swirled with lust. I hesitated. I didn't want to deny him, exactly. I could feel his lust strong and thick. But, on the other hand, I wasn't particularly in the mood.

"I don't see how you could promise that."

Quinn gave me a steady smile and put his two thick hands around my calves, dragging me to the edge of the bed. He rested my feet on the floor, then slid his hands up my legs until they found my underwear. I watched with interest as he carefully pulled them over my legs, ensuring my toe nails remained pristine.

Then he parted my legs, lifted my dress and kissed me. But not on my mouth. To his credit, he kept his promise.

Afterwards I found a fresh set of underwear and fixed my dress while Quinn showered.

"So," I asked as Quinn emerged from the bathroom with his towel around his waist. "Did you get everything?"

I heard the answer before he opened his mouth.

"Jason is coming?" I asked incredulously.

"He invited himself, I didn't think it would be a problem." That was classic Jason, if there was food involved he considered himself on the guest list. From my expression Quinn was starting to realise his mistake. "I fucked up, didn't I?"

I sighed. "I appreciate you making an effort with Jason. I do. But I was looking forward to catching up with Tara and JB." Quinn's mind was a swirl of ambivalence. I put my shields up before I completely lost my temper.

He spread his hands. "I'll call Jason and tell him we'll have him and Crystal round another time."

"He'll make a big fuss," I grumbled, resigned to my fate. "It's fine, let's just leave it. Amelia can join too."

"You sure, babe?"

"Just tell them to bring their own steaks and maybe a side."

"Already did," Quinn leaned in to give me a peck on the cheek and even with my shields up I sensed his pleasure. He was looking forward to it, which I suppose was something, but still, I couldn't quite tamp down my irritation.

In the end we had quite the little party. Amelia was excited about the prospect of having people round and I ended up inviting Sam, since Merlotte's was closed on Sundays.

Jason and Crystal arrived a few hours later. Jason set up the grill while Crystal started unpacking a few chairs they'd brought in the truck. Sam arrived not long after with a case of beer and a cooler filled with ice. Quinn had pulled a few chairs and side tables from the porch down to a nice spot in the shade and Amelia and I put down a couple of picnic rugs that we could sit on. I fished out some mosquito repellant and was putting some on when Amelia jumped up and ran inside, emerging a few minutes later with a scrap of paper with some scribbles on it.

"It's a keep away spell for pests," she said quietly when I gave her a questioning look. "I did some research after we spent the day in the garden. I haven't tried it yet but it might work for mosquitos."

I shrugged. "As long as no-one will turn into a mosquito or anything."

"Don't worry, I'm sure that won't happen," she paused. "Ninety per cent sure."

I didn't love the sound of that but was distracted by the rumbling of another truck announcing JB and Tara's arrival. I sensed Tara's surprise as I hugged her.

"It's gotten a bit bigger than I initially planned. I hope you don't mind."

"The more the merrier," JB smiled behind her. "Thanks for having us, Sookie." He wandered off to join Quinn, Jason, Sam and Crystal, who had each chosen a seat for themselves.

"It'll be fun," Tara smiled. "What's Amelia doing over there?"

I looked over to see Amelia putting a fist-sized rock down on the ground to the north of the house and talking to herself.

"Oh, you know," I gestured vaguely. "She's really into feng shui. She's a bit of a hippy like that." As we watched, Amelia rose and walked to the east of where we'd set up our chairs, another rock in her hand.

Tara raised her eyebrows and decided she didn't want to know, which was probably for the best. We went to join the group and after Amelia had traipsed a large border around where we were sitting she joined as well.

Sticking to the unspoken rules of social gatherings, the men and women had naturally drifted into separate conversations. The men were debating the merits of their favourite beers while the women were catching up on the town gossip.

Tara started telling us about her and JB's elopement. Amelia and I had heard it all before, but we both knew that was no good reason to stop a new bride from talking of her wedding day, so we nodded along dutifully and asked all the right questions. Then we moved onto discussing the upcoming double Bellefleur wedding.

"That Bellefleur wedding sounds like more trouble than it's worth," Crystal said, taking a sip of her beer. "If you want to be with someone it ain't that hard. You just decide to be with 'em. You don't need a whole double wedding that's gotta be postponed twice and gives your Meemaw a heart attack."

She wasn't wrong. The Bellefleur wedding had been planned and postponed a few times over the last six months to accommodate Caroline Bellefleur's health.

"Jason and I decided to get married and then we did. That easy." Crystal continued, raising her voice to catch my brother's attention. "Don't you think Jas'? If you want to be with someone you should just marry 'em."

If Jason was surprised by his sudden inclusion in the conversation, he didn't show it. "That's right, baby. There ain't nothin' that woulda stopped me from marryin' you that day."

Crystal nodded once, satisfied that her point was made. Quinn had started listening in too and I thought I felt his eyes on me. I took a sip of my drink, fishing a bit of mint out of the glass. I'd added it to be fancy, but damn if it wasn't annoying to drink around.

"I love a big wedding," Amelia piped up. "A big celebration— food, booze, dancing. I'd be happy to go to a wedding every weekend."

"I'm not saying I don't like a party, but this whole double-wedding feels like they're doing it for show. If you decide to be with someone you should be doin' it for yourself," Crystal said.

I shifted uncomfortably. Jason and Crystal were hardly an ideal couple in my books, but I could see she meant her words. For better or worse, they both wanted to be together. I sure as hell knew Jason wasn't with Crystal to please me. And the Hotshot crew weren't Jason's biggest fans either.

"I agree with Crystal," Tara's words caught me by surprise. "I'm not saying everyone should elope, but this Bellefleur wedding feels more like they're doing it for attention than because they want to be together."

"They might have felt family expectations, but that's not a crime in my books." I said, wanting to stand up for Halleigh. "I'm still looking forward to it."

"You're going Sook?" Tara asked. We'd both been invited to the bridal shower but it seemed like Tara hadn't been invited to the actual wedding.

"I was meant to be helping out Sam, but Halleigh insisted I come," I felt my cheeks warm. "I think she was just grateful that I helped Andy propose."

"Looks like I won't be bartending anymore anyway," Sam said.

"How come?" Tara asked, surprised.

Sam looked suddenly awkward, which was unusual for him. "The company that's running the event insisted on providing their own bar service."

I realised his predicament. E(E)E was organising the wedding. Not the supernatural branch that Quinn worked for, but the branch that dealt exclusively in human events.

"That's not right," I said. "You've already ordered extra drinks and organised staffing. Plus the extra blood to cover the event."

Sam had ordered Royalty, an extremely expensive type of bottled blood which contained blood from European royals. He'd never be able to sell it at Merlotte's.

Sam shrugged. "It's not a big deal, I can cancel the orders."

Quinn had been listening and had either heard of the wedding or was able to piece everything together. "E(E)E is running that event right?"

Sam nodded.

"If it was your contract first and you want it, I'll have a word with management."

"I don't want to cause any trouble," Sam said.

"No trouble," Quinn responded. "I'll take care of it."

Sam raised his eyebrows at me and without reading his mind I knew what he was trying to say. He liked Quinn. I felt a little swell of pride.

Quinn was starting up the grill when another truck arrived and Hoyt hopped out. I rose and made my way over to him.

"Hi Hoyt, thanks for coming!" I said, forcing a smile. I'd had no idea he was coming, but that was beside the point.

"Hoyt!" Amelia called out as she ran up to join us. "I'm so glad you made it!" She threw her arms around him, giving me a sheepish smile over his shoulder.

I said Jason could invite him! I hope you don't mind. Her thoughts were so loud and clear, directed straight at me, that I blinked. I felt a pulse of tightness in my forehead as I resurrected my shields.

As we returned to the group, I made sure Hoyt was settled with a drink then busied myself, playing hostess. I set out the sides on a little table with some plates, napkins and cutlery. I also topped up the refreshments, setting out a few jugs of sweet tea and a bottle of coke.

Quinn cooked the steaks to perfection. I wondered idly whether his increased sense of smell helped him determine when the steaks were just right. We all perched with our plates on our laps. Quinn and Jason were dominating the conversation, comparing stories about their wins and losses in highschool football. I found my attention drifting and rose to fill up everyone's drinks in an effort to perk myself up.

JB, Tara and I talked about this year's season of American Idol. We'd all watched it since it started. It was the first time I'd actually spent significant time around JB and Tara as a couple. To my surprise, they seemed suited to one another.

Tara brought a wisdom to their relationship. She was smart and resilient, qualities JB admired. JB, on the other hand, brought a sweetness and an acceptance that Tara's life had always been lacking. JB was never going to be winning any awards for intelligence, but Tara accepted that about him.

My chest hurt a little looking at the ease between them. Tara, JB and I had been close in high school. It was sad watching that part of my life close with finality, I reasoned.

As the sun set I turned on the security lights and we pulled our chairs closer to the house so we could see. Quinn had moved to sit beside me, and his hand was resting on the low of my back. This time of evening always made me think of the vampires in my life, and I couldn't help but wonder what Eric was doing right about now.

"I'm going to go get a glass of water," I said quietly to Quinn.

He nodded distractedly and I slipped away. I made my way to the kitchen, filling up a large glass of water and resting against the counter. Tonight was going well, but I still felt a sense of discontent.

Instead of a quiet dinner with Tara and JB, we'd ended up with a hodge-podge of guests. It was nice, and in many ways it was the kind of night I'd always wanted. The kind of night that regular people have, where their boyfriend could spend time with their family and friends. Still, it felt different than I'd expected.

I heard Tara was coming before I saw her and I knocked back the last of my water, rising from where I'd been leaning on the bench as she entered the kitchen. "I'm sorry for slipping away, I just needed a second."

"Is everything okay?" Tara cut to the chase, she was always good at that.

"I'm fine," I hesitated, wondering whether to say more. Tara raised her eyebrows and after another second I relented. "I'm just sorry about tonight. I wanted this to be a chance for us to catch up and spend some proper time together, but I feel like we've hardly had a chance to talk."

"Let me guess, Quinn got involved?"

"How'd you know?"

"Men just have a way," she smiled at me so I'd know she wasn't being critical. "But no matter, we can talk now. How's everything going with him?" She was curious about him. Tara knew enough about me to know that I'd never been able to date a regular guy. She knew Quinn wasn't a vampire, on the one hand, but she suspected that maybe there was something else at play.

"Good. We've been dating for a few months, but he has to travel a lot for work so this is the first time we've been able to spend some proper time together."

"He's certainly hot."

"I know, right!" And we both giggled, the interaction taking me back to our days in middle school. "He's only been here for a week or so but it's going well enough. And Sam and Jason like him, so that's good. What about you, how's married life?" I asked, wanting to change the subject.

"It's good. It's nice having someone to take care of," I nodded to show I understood. Tara was no fool, and she'd never be blinded by love. Other things, maybe, but not love. I knew she clearly understood the rules of her marriage to JB, and she didn't seem to mind. "JB's kind and sweet and reliable. He'll be a good dad for my kids. That's all I really need."

I wasn't exactly surprised by Tara's assessment of the relationship, but it was still strange to hear it said aloud. Most people didn't voice those thoughts. I had to admire how honest she was, with herself and with me.

"So what about you two? Will Quinn be popping the question anytime soon?"

Her suggestion alarmed me. "We've hardly been dating long enough for that." I'd dated Bill longer, after all, and there was plenty I hadn't known about him.

Tara shrugged. "You said it's been a few months. That's hardly nothing. And now you're living together right?"

"Just for a few weeks," I said, my confidence dissipating.

"All I'm saying is guys like that know what they want. He might pop the question sooner than you're expecting."

Lord almighty. That possibility had never even occurred to me.

We returned to the group and after another forty minutes or so everyone began to make tracks. Despite myself, I was relieved the night was drawing to a close.

Tara and JB were the last to leave, and Quinn and I chatted to them for another ten minutes or so before they finally said their goodbyes.

"Thanks for having us Sookie," Tara pulled me in for a hug. "Maybe next time we're here we'll be discussing your wedding." She gave me a wicked grin.

I looked over at Quinn, but he was in conversation with JB and hadn't seemed to hear the comment.

"Well, isn't that a thought," I said weakly.

And really, what else was there to say.

I woke to a snuffling noise. It took me a few moments to realise it was Quinn making the strange sound in his sleep. I lay awake staring at the ceiling, trying to forget the vision of Andre's red eyes.

He was still making that strange snuffling noise. It wasn't snoring exactly. It sounded too animal for that. I wondered what he was dreaming about, perhaps a dream where he was a tiger. I pushed him gently, trying to roll him over in the hopes that he would quieten. He rolled to his side, facing away from me, and fell into silence.

I rolled to face the wall and snuggled into my blankets, but after half an hour I was still awake. I eased myself out of bed and padded out to the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water. According to the kitchen clock it was only a couple of hours until sunrise. A sigh escaped my lips.

I felt…lonesome, and I wasn't exactly sure why. I wished there was someone I could talk to. I wished Amelia was awake, or maybe Claudine was here. I hadn't heard from Claudine since before Rhodes. I wondered how she was doing, if she'd be awake. I didn't know what kind of hours fairies kept, but I couldn't bring myself to call her just in case she was asleep. The only people I knew who would definitely be awake right now were all vampires.

I made my way to the living room and curled up on my favourite chair, tucking my legs under me. The moonlight was streaming in through the window and my mind drifted to other nights, with other men. That was a perk about dating a vampire that I'd never considered before now. If you woke up in the night, you always had company. Of course, the trade-off was that they were dead for the day. Plus your sleeping pattern would get all messed up.

My mobile phone was sitting on the coffee table. I chewed my lip. Maybe I'd call Pam. I didn't have her direct line but I could call Fangtasia. But if she was there she'd be working and I didn't want to distract her.

The house felt peaceful, in the quiet living room, awash in a silvery blue hue from the moonlight. The only minds nearby were quiet with the hum that came with deep sleep. I got up and fished a blanket out of the camphor box before settling back onto the couch.

I was starting to drift off again when something pulled me awake. It took me a few moments to figure out what it was. A void. I tensed. A vampire was in my backyard, toward the woods. I sat up, very carefully. The void was moving slowly, but not with any clear purpose.

I rose very carefully and moved toward the kitchen, careful to stay in the shadows. The longer I looked the more I thought I could see something lurking on the far side of my yard. Who was that? The void moved closer. I could just make out a figure. A man, I thought. Something turned over in my stomach as I wondered who it could be. I opened the door a little, making sure to stand well back from it.

"Eric?" I whispered into the night. The word hung in the air, for one moment, two, before I realised this was definitely not Eric.

There was a whooshing noise as the vampire zoomed with inhuman speed toward the house, stopping a few yards from the porch stairs.

"Sookie." Oh, brother.

"Hey Bill."

"I did not expect you to be awake," Bill's voice was cool and crisp.

"Neither did I. What are you doing here?"

"I was walking through the woods and noticed strange smells in your yard. I wanted to ensure everything was well."

"I had some friends over last night," I said by way of explanation. "Your face healed real well."

The last time I'd seen Bill was just after the explosion in Rhodes, when his face had been exposed to the sun with stomach churning results. Now, I could just make out a faint pinkness to his cheeks, and what looked like peeling skin. He looked like he had a mild case of sunburn.

"It is a wonder you can see me at all," Bill said stiffly. "I slept for six days. When I finally rose it was mostly healed."

"Pleased to hear it," I said tartly. I stepped back and began closing the door.

"Wait."

I paused, opening the door so I could see him properly. "What, Bill?"

"I wanted to speak with you."

After a moment's hesitation, I relented. "Hang on a second," I sighed. I went and gathered the blanket I'd been using and, wrapping it around myself, made my way out onto the porch. There was a chill in the air tonight.

"Go on."

"I wanted to check whether you needed help." His voice was cool and emotionless.

I concentrated on keeping my voice measured. "Why would I need help?"

"I understand you and Eric are blood-bound."

I raised my eyebrows, not sure what he wanted me to say to that. "I'm fine."

"Darling, I'm afraid you do not fully comprehend the consequence of this. In the eyes of the vampire world you are now his."

"What," I said, keeping my voice quiet so as not to wake anyone, "do you want me to do about it? The only reason I'm in this mess is because Andre wanted to create a blood tie with me. I don't know Andre very well but I know I would rather die than give him any control over me. So if the alternative is being bound to Eric then I will take it. And just so you know, Eric has barely treated me any differently since Rhodes. I haven't even seen him since Quinn arrived."

Bill blinked, a display bordering on an emotional outburst for a vampire. "Quinn is here? You are still dating the tiger?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes. I am."

Bill's brow furrowed momentarily, an action so brief I almost wondered if I'd imagined it. "That is most unusual."

"Is it really so surprising that someone wants to date me without being ordered to do so?" Or without losing all their memories. Irritation and embarrassment, anger and grief battled within me.

"Darling, you must know I would give anything to turn back time. Not to take away our time together, but to change my actions toward you. To treat you as you deserved to be treated," Bill's face was stiff but he was earnest. I could tell he meant what he said.

My eyes stung. I thought I'd cried all my tears for Bill, but his words snagged on something within me. Something raw.

He took a step toward me, his eyes wide.

"I haven't any defense for how I treated you, except that when Sophie‐Anne told me to pursue you…I was reluctant, Sookie. At first, I didn't want to even pretend to have a permanent relationship with a human woman. I thought it degraded me. I only came into the bar to identify you when I couldn't put it off any longer.

"And that evening didn't turn out like I'd planned. I went outside with the drainers, and things happened. When you were the one who came to my aid, I decided it was fate. I did what I had been told to do by my queen. In so doing, I fell into a trap I couldn't escape. I still can't."

I shook my head. I felt exhausted by the whole charade. "And what about the next night Bill? When I was beaten by the Rats and you fed me your blood. Was that fate?"

Bill's expression tightened, becoming even more closed off. "I know I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I will spend the rest of my undead existence trying to be worthy of it."

Lord, I did not miss Bill's penchant for melodrama.

"Even if it meant killing Eric to free you from him."

Shock rippled through me and I had the sudden desire to laugh. Kill Eric? I knew Bill had always resented Eric but his offer was still extreme. And…absurd. Even if Bill couldkill Eric, which I sincerely doubted, it wouldn't solve the problem. In fact, it might just make my problem bigger. Right now, Eric was the only thing standing between me and Andre.

I looked at Bill then, really looked. He was standing stoically, head high. I imagined he thought of himself as a knight in shining armour, as my knight in shining armour. But his grasp of the situation was crude at best. He didn't have a head for politics, for nuance. Either that, or he thought I didn't truly understand my situation—thought that I could be placated with grand, foolish words. And then I felt something I didn't expect to feel for Bill ever again. Pity.

"I don't need you to die for me Bill." Die again, anyway.

I turned and made my way back inside, locking the door behind me. After a few minutes I felt his departure. I made my way back to the living room and sat, pulling the blanket around me once more. I looked out the window as I turned the conversation over in my mind, until I fell asleep.

Author's Note: Thank you to all the lovely people who have commented or messaged since my last chapter. I'm very grateful! Every little message has me grinning like an idiot all day. Also, I promise the next chapter has Eric! In fact, this is the second last chapter in the story without an appearance by him.