I do not own the characters that I write about. they are the sole property of Charlaine Harris and her publishing company. This is all original from my head and I am poor so please dont sue!

A/N: CH gave us a hint that the knife used in ATD would be used again.... this is my own idea of what happened. I could be and probably am very wrong about what will happen in the next book. this is just my idea.

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Valentine's Day is just around the corner! The cover of Februarys Vampire Monthly magazine declared. Modern and classic traditions for and you and human companion! "Classic" meant substantially more than 100 years old to most vampires and since Valentines Day was really only marketed and promoted in the past century when vampires had been hiding their existence, they never really got the idea or knew of most Valentine's Day traditions. My subscription to the magazine had been a gag gift from Holly and the girls at Merlottes (Arlene of course excluded) because it was basically the vampire version of Cosmo complete with make-up tips for going to a vampire bar to advice on "how to tame yourself when in bed with a human" for those vampires who were a little to rough in the sack. Since then it's become a staple in my magazine collection. Of course I still read the trashy gossip magazines to find out what's going on in the crazy lives of Britney, Paris, Lindsay and all the other famous stars who are only famous for their off screen behavior. Saying that, I also have subscriptions to Time and AVL for both human and vampire real life (or death) issues.

Flipping through while the coffee pot was finishing brewing coffee, I came across an article headlined " Vampire Wedding Traditions" It was getting close to Valentine's Day and wedding season was just around the corner. More and more states were becoming open to mixed species marriages its only natural that the magazines would too.

I have only been to one vampire wedding and that was between two vampires, men at that, so legally I doubt they weren't even married, but mortal laws don't really come to mind for the centuries old marriage traditions. It was a strange experience, thinking back to it I giggle at the thought of Eric being a priest wearing the dramatic black cloak, I sometimes daydream and think of him in a Catholic pope get up compete with the red Prada shoes. I felt a chill down my spine and my smile fade quickly when I remembered what happened after that wedding and under Eric's cloak. We were now blood bonded because of the events of that fateful evening. When it first happened I was mad as hell, but over time now I've come to grips with it as much as I can for now. I still don't know what this bond fully entails because a certain blonde vampire and been avoiding a certain conversation about certain recovered memories with a certain blonde telepath. I wasn't looking forward to our talk but I knew it needed to be done so we can move on and both fully understand each other.

To Bond or not to Bond? I don't think Shakespeare was thinking that one day there would be a pun of his work in a vampire grocery store magazine.

When taking on a mortal mate and spouse, the vampire must decide if this mortal is trustworthy and responsible enough to handle a blood bond. Blood bonds should not be taken lightly, they are permanent and the only way to cut the tie is final death of either party. If the mortal wishes to cross over at any point in time, the bonded vampire should be the maker. Common practice is finalizing the bond during the marriage ceremony. Because public biting is illegal you and your mate should make a special trip together to pick out a ceremonial blade that would best represent both personalities. During the marriage ceremony common practice is for the reverend to take the blade and quickly cut a small incision on the mortals wrist first and while bleeding into the goblet, cut the wrist of the vampire and repeat the procedure. Some humans wish to naturally heal the cut on the wrist as a permanent scar of their marriage while others like to take the time for the bonded vampire to gently heal his or her mates cut with their own blood. After taking turns drinking from the goblet, it is up to you and your spouse to either have pre-written vows recited or vows that you have written yourself. Once fully bonded you and your spouse will enjoy a lifetime together in almost every sense of the word. Once again, we only condone blood bonds if both parties are fully aware of the lasting results and truly trust one another. Bonding is far deeper both spiritually and emotionally than any other form of marriage.

I was completely still. I noticed that my coffee finished brewing 10 minutes ago. I was staring at the article. I read it over again. "What the…" I said to myself. I read it 3 more times before I got up from the table to get a cup of coffee. "No… no way." Once again out loud to no one. Amelia's father had some close family friends coming into town and he wanted her there for the weekend, and Octavia went down to New Orleans too for a week to do something witchy and secret. All she said about it before she left was saying, "Some business needed to be taken care of." I didn't ask further.

Okay, so hypothetically according to the $3.99 Vampire Monthly magazine I was…..married to Eric. I couldn't even say the words out loud this time. No one has ever even talked about wanting to marry me. I take that back. One person did. He was sweet and caring, and actually really and truly good to me. I missed that Eric. A lot sometimes. But that person is now long gone and now what stood in his place was the politically fueled, ego charged, devious Eric. According to this magazine, my now hu… Nope. Can't say it, or even think it. But what I did think about was if I am reading this magazine, who else is?

Who knew that Eric and I are bonded? Well of course Eric, and I, Andre since he was standing right there. I don't think well have to worry about him telling though. Quinn knows because he caught us at the end of the act and we were still together at the time so I had to be honest with him. I haven't heard from Quinn since after his mom and sister paid me a rude visit harassing me for breaking up with him. Quinn called me about a week later after I got off work to apologize for them. He understood that I really did like him, I just have trust issues with men and he was just too much for me to handle right now. "I still think about you babe. I hope we can still keep in touch from time to time." He said ending the conversation. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Quinn for a casual lunch or a phone call every now and then, its just I already have one ex-boyfriend who tries to take every possible chance he has to declare his love for me, I didn't want to take the chance of having another one do that indefinitely. "I'll see you around" I said before I hung up.

The only other person who knew about the bond was the king of Nevada, Felipe DeCastro. I don't peg the king of 3 states as much of a rag magazine reader so I don't think I have much to worry about there. As far as I knew Pam and Bill just thought that Eric and I were tied, much like the way Bill and I were before we broke up. Eric being able to feel my emotions and such. I don't think that either one of them knew about the third and final exchange.

Thinking harder I don't think ANYONE knew that Eric has used a blade to cut his own flesh, and according to this magazine a blade was needed to seal the deal for a legal ceremony.

"Oh boy" I sighed. "I gotta get out of here." I had today and tomorrow off courteous of taking double shifts earlier in the week and working the past 3 weekends in a row. I woke up this morning thinking that I would have a casual Saturday where I could sleep in late (which I did) stay in my PJs (which I am) all day and do whatever I want. Now I was racing around my house like a mad woman trying to leave it as soon as possible so I wouldn't be here all day alone with my thoughts and that damn magazine. "I am cancelling my subscription first thing Monday morning!" I tore the page out, folded it and put it in my wallet. That was defiantly going to be a BIG part of our "talk" next time I see Eric. I threw the magazine in the trashcan with all my might imagining the damn Vikings head at the bottom before walking out to my car and starting down my driveway.

I had no idea where I was going I just knew that I couldn't be alone in my house. I needed to get away. I blasted my radio singing along to whatever was on at my loudest just so I wouldn't think. That is one thing that I love about living in the country is you can sing at the top of your lungs with the windows rolled down and no matter how bad or good you are, you never have to worry about someone pulling up next to you and hearing. There are only a few stoplights and signs in Bon Temps and I was not going anywhere near them. In fact I was headed the complete opposite direction of town.

At about 4pm I was well away from my home near the border of Texas. I thought that maybe I could cross the state line only a mile or two before turning back around just to say I crossed a state line. When I remembered all I've had to eat today was cold coffee. I pulled off at the next exit and went into a quaint diner in what seemed to be a somewhat busier highway town. When the hostess set me at my table and left me a glass of water and a menu I heard my stomach rumble. Whenever stress enters my life the first thing to go is my appetite. I have to remind myself to eat constantly. "BLT sandwich please with a Sprite." I said with a smile to the dark haired waitress as she took my menu. "Sure thing Hun." She said back before heading over to the kitchen to hand in the ticket.

As I waited for my food I decided that I should look at my cell phone. I still am not used to having one. I never understood how people could become so attached to their phone. At work, Holly has forgotten it at home a few times and all day during her shift she is constantly calling her voicemail and saying over and over "I feel so disconnected from the world!" In a town like Bon Temps, if someone doesn't know where you are all they have to do is call a few key people and then they will know your whole days schedule. Sam is one of those few key people as the owner of one of Bon Temps very few bars. I pressed the button to turn it on and after a few beeps and chimes of trying to find service, I found that I have both voicemails and text messages waiting for me. "Hmm.." I questioned myself, last time I turned on my cell phone was yesterday morning to call Sam to tell him I was running 10 minutes late because I forgot to put gas in my car and the gas station down the road from Merlottes had gas for under $2.00 and you cant pass that price up anymore. Once I got to work though I turned it back off and I suppose I haven't turned it on since.

"3 new messages." My voicemail lady told me. "Sookie, this is Pam. Please call me back at Fangtasia as soon as you get this. You know the number." Okay. Second message 30 minutes later: "Sookie, I called Sam and he said you had already left for the evening, call me back as soon as possible." No please or thank you, must be important. Last but not least " Sookie this is Pam…again. I have tried to get a hold of you twice now and you are not responding. If I don't hear from you tonight expect us at your house tomorrow at first dark." Us? Who is "us"? The text messages were nothing more than "Call Fangtasia."

As my sandwich was arriving I turned back off my phone and put it back in my purse "Thank you." I said to the waitress exchanging smiles. Being a part of the restaurant worker family I know how wonderful it is to have a customer that is not only polite, but gets to the point with her order and uses common courtesy with please and thank yous. Dipping into her loud broadcaster brain unintentionally I found out she had been here since 6am and has been given pitiful tips all day. She was tired and ready to go home. She had about two and a half more hours to go until she had to pick up her son from daycare, get him home and to bed before she started all over again tomorrow at 6am. Sometimes I thought I had it pretty bad, but imagining this poor woman working 60+ hours a week to support her son all by herself with no husband or help or anything all on a highway exit diner waitress salary. Geez, I don't have it bad at all. At least I have a husband.

I was pretty sure I was going to leave a mark on my forehead when I slapped it so hard after having that thought. What in the world was I thinking! 'At least I have a husband.' My Lord. Eric is NOT my husband! I screamed in my head. If a vampire wrote that article, then is that how vampires see marriages? To vampires eyes are we married? A million and one thoughts were racing through my head as I ate. I went on this road trip to once again run away from my problems for a short time. After a few hours of singing with Kelly, Carrie and Taylor I almost forgot what problems I had, and now with one excursion into another person's brain I was calling Eric my husband.

I paid my bill and left my waitress a 30% tip, she was fast and efficient, and after hearing about her day it was the least I could do. I opened my door and sat behind the wheel in complete silence for about 5 minutes before turning on the ignition. I had to go back home. Pam left no indication as to what was so important on the voicemails and first dark is only about 45 minutes away. My clock said it 5:13pm. Eric would be awake soon and I was a good 2 ½ to 3 hours away. "Time to go home" I sighed to myself. My road trip only cleared my mind for the first half. Now on my way home I was more nervous than ever.

Once I saw the sun set over the horizon about an hour later, I pulled my phone back out of my purse and turned it on. Realizing that I don't have Eric or Pam's cell phone numbers and just Fangtasia's in my contacts I didn't know what to do to get a hold of Pam. Amelia! Her and Pam had a "thing" a while ago and maybe during that time Pam gave Amelia her cell phone number.

"Oh thank God Sookie!" Amelia squeaked. "You have no idea how welcome your call is! My father is going on and on and on about his business and all of his good doings to the Howard's. I don't know how much more of this I can take! I've thought about putting a stasis spell just so I can go and punch my dad in the nose while he's under just to prove a point that no one wants to hear about your stupid bid on some building in New Orleans!"

She said all this before I even got a hello in. I was guessing the Howard's were the family friend that Cope was entertaining for the weekend. "Well I'm glad I could help, but I actually was calling to ask you something, do you have Pam's cell phone number? They are trying to get a hold of me and the bar doesn't open for another couple hours." "Yeah, I have it in my contacts, hold on a sec."

After I got the number I chatted with Amelia for a few more minutes of how her weekend was going, then we said our goodbyes and hung up. Time to call Pam and find out the big problem.

"I am at your house and you are not."

"Your power of observation never ceases to amaze me Pam, really." I could have sworn I heard a chuckle through the phone.

"Why did you not return my calls last night?" Pam asked getting back to the subject.

"Well I didn't get off of work until after midnight and I was tired and wanted to go to bed. I turned my phone off earlier in the day and I guess I must of forgot to turn it back on."

"Where are you?"

"Umm, I wanted to go to an outlet mall for some shopping." Lying through my teeth. "I'm about 2 hours away from home. What is going on that is so important? You said 'us' on the phone, who is there with you?"

"It is just myself. I wanted to talk to you. Eric had wanted to tag along, but I convinced him it was purely going to be 'girl talk' so he is still at Fangtasia."

Well that surprised me. What did Pam want to girl talk with me about? "Oh..Okay. Well I'm sorry I didn't check my voicemail until it was too late. Do you want to wait at my house until I get there or do you want to have our "girl talk" another time?" Please be anther time, please be another time.

"I'll wait. I am already here, I might as well enjoy some quiet time until you arrive." Damn.

"Okay. What did you want to talk about anyway?" I was so scared I was going to regret asking that.

"Rhodes." Ah oh.

"Oh… Okay. Well I'll see you when I get home then Pam!" I said way too cheerfully. The corners of my mouth hurt by holding that grin as tight as I could over the phone. My nervous habit of smiling broadly sometimes happens during phone calls too. Too bad the other person can't even see how big my smile it. Pam knows me well enough she could probably hear it in my voice.

"I can tell you are nervous, I'm not going to bite. That is of course unless you want me to." Now I could hear her smile. "We'll talk more when you arrive. Goodbye Sookie." Click.

The ride home now took forever. I took this trip to try to clear my head. Now after talking to Pam I had more thoughts than before? What did she want to talk about Rhodes for? Eric had already thanked me for saving his life. Pam and I, I imagined were on well enough terms that I knew of her gratitude. Maybe she just wanted to sit down just the two of us and thank me in person. That was the only thing I could think of. If I were a nail biter I could guarantee I wouldn't have any nails left by the time I pulled into my driveway next to Pam's car. I walked into my unlocked back door to my kitchen to see Pam sitting at the table looking like she was in vampire downtime.

"I'm back." I said softly not to startle here. But then I remembered she is a vampire and I don't think I had what it takes to startle her.

"Where are your bags? I'll help you bring them in." She asked getting up immediately.

"What bags?" I said totally unaware.

"You said you went shopping at an outlet mall. But now I can tell that was not true. Where did you go Sookie?" she said narrowing her brows.

"Well.. I uh, went to the outlet mall, but I didn't see anything I liked so I decided to window shop instead. So that's what I did." Another big fat fake smile. "So what about Rhodes did you want to talk about." I said trying to change the subject and fast.

"Eric told me." No emotion or clue on her face to what she was talking about.

"Eric told you what?"

Pam then did something that made my heart just about jump out of my chest and all the blood drain from my face.

She pulled my Vampire Monthly magazine out of the trash and opened it to the page that I had torn out. Then she reached into her own bag and pulled out what I am assuming her copy and opened it to the same page that was still intact. I sat down and just stared at her.

"Like I said, Eric told me what happened."