Charlaine Harris owns all of this.

A/N: Please enjoy A Different Turn of Events and Sookie is Stunning before starting this story.

Sookie and I were on our first monthly trip to New Orleans to do the queen's bidding. Sookie had been dreading it of course and had begun referring to the queen as Aunt Flo, apparently in reference to her human monthly cycle. I found it rather amusing but kept reminding her that she could only speak so freely in my presence and Pam's and must behave herself in front of others. Pam was quickly becoming Sookie's biggest fan and I was pleased at their relationship. I constantly worried about Sookie's security and felt better knowing that Pam had her safety in mind as much as I did.

When Sookie and I arrived at the palace, we were escorted into the court and stood before the queen. We both bowed deeply to her. Sophie-Anne began addressing me regarding Bill Compton right away. She was not happy about his demise. He was a heavy earner with his database and was obviously doing some work on the side for her as well which included the seduction of a human Sookie. As a pragmatist, I could see that she would be angered at his loss. He was her little step-and-fetch-it boy and would be difficult to replace.

Sophie-Anne asked me how exactly Compton had died. I had debated with myself about how to handle that and had made the decision to tell the truth. I knew that Sookie was justified in killing him because she was defending her maker and therefore could not be charged with a crime. And Lorena was already gone (thanks to a brave human Sookie), so there would be no reparations to pay to Compton's maker. It wouldn't hurt Sookie's reputation any for others to know that she was capable of killing in spite of how recently she had been turned. I hoped that it might deter any ambitious vampires intent on attacking her. Her stunning gift made her an automatic target and it was a constant concern of mine.

The queen said that she would investigate Compton's killing before making any decisions, which pissed me off. She had no reason to charge Sookie with a crime, and I didn't trust that she would let Compton's death go so easily. Sophie-Anne turned to Andre and asked him to assign someone to investigate and that's when I looked over at him as well. As if on cue, his eyes rolled back into his head and he slid down in his seat as if his bones had turned to liquid and slumped into a little heap on the floor. The room grew silent as all eyes were on an unconscious Andre. I heard a tiny, "I'm sorry," as Sookie whispered beside me, her head still bowed.

No one seemed to know what to do. The queen's bodyguards, Sigebert and Wybert, immediately appeared between Sophie-Anne and Sookie, but then looked around nervously, obviously aware that they were just as vulnerable to Sookie's anger as Andre was. Sophie-Anne simply stared at Sookie in horror. Finally, I broke the silence. "Your highness, perhaps Sookie and I could be excused to our room."

"Yes, by all means, you are excused."

I led Sookie by her arm out the back of the court and a brave Rasul escorted us to our room. Once we were alone, Sookie looked up at me with red tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that. Am I in trouble?"

I took her in my arms and held her. "It's okay, lover." I rocked her from to side to side until I felt her sadness recede. "Tell me what happened."

"While you and the queen were talking about Bill, I was listening to the brains of Hadley and some of the other human pets up there and heard that Andre was in on the decision to have Bill to fight you for my ownership. He had been surprised that you won the fight because he knew about the silver net and expected Bill to win. Eric, he wanted Bill to win so that the queen could take me away from Bill with you out of the picture. Knowing that Andre was in on the plan to kill you just got me so mad, and well, you know what happened after that. I tried to stop it, but I just couldn't."

"It's okay, really. In a way, I'm glad they all got a little demonstration of your skill. Perhaps it will help you to retain your autonomy. Don't worry about it, lover. When we get home, we'll work on your training some more, okay?"

"Okay." I kissed her and held her and was just contemplating taking it a little further when a gentle knock on the door reminded us why we were there.

Rasul led Sookie and me downstairs so that she could begin her readings for the night. We were sitting at the conference table watching Sookie work when a human messenger came to the door. I had to smile because there were clearly no vampires willing to approach Sookie, and so the queen sent a human. "Excuse me, Mr. Northman, but the queen requests your presence alone in court." I looked from Rasul to Sookie and then replied to the messenger that I was unable to leave Sookie's side and that perhaps Sookie and I could both report to the queen after Sookie's task was completed for the evening. It was a part of our agreement that I would be with Sookie at all times when in the palace, and Sophie-Anne knew this.

Within a few minutes, the messenger had returned and asked me to step out into the hall alone. I looked at Sookie to make sure she was okay with my stepping away and then to Rasul. They both nodded and so I left the room. I was shocked to find the queen herself standing in the hall, flanked by Sigebert and Wybert. "Eric, this simply won't do. I need to be able to call you to court alone."

"My apologies, your highness, but surely you wouldn't want Sookie to be left alone after seeing her little accident with Andre. Plus, it was a part of our agreement that I accompany Sookie at all times here."

"Well, can't your other child, Pam, babysit while I see you in court?"

"I'm terribly sorry, but I had to leave Pam to take care of Fangtasia. Because of the increase in tax that our agreement included, I can't afford to hire another manager to replace Pam. She is needed at the bar and therefore cannot be here to help with Sookie."

The queen stood perfectly still, staring at me without expression. "Very well. I repeal the additional tax, and in return, I want Pam here for Sookie's monthly duty. Is that understood?'

"Absolutely, your majesty. We are all happy to comply with your wishes, of course."

She turned on her heels and marched back towards the stairs, followed by the two giant guards. I kept my smile to myself, but of course was very pleased at the new turn of events.

As satisfied as I was about getting my way in this particular situation, I was also concerned about taking a newborn stunner to the upcoming summit in Rhodes. I knew that I wouldn't be able to leave Sookie at home and so the best I could hope for was an uneventful trip. Somehow, that didn't seem very likely to happen.