A/N - Hello everyone! I just wanted to answer a couple of comments that were made in reviews. If I could reply personally to all of you I would. They mean the world to me. Anyway - My swedish online translator has been dumped! Thank you to the reviewer who pointed out how rubbish it was!:) Also, Sookie's job!!:L Thank you to the sharp eyed reviewer who pointed that out! I completely forgot to include that Eric has arranged with Sam that she will be off for the foreseeable future! Sometimes the chapters are so complete in my head that when it comes time to put it all down I forget some details that need to be in there.

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to comment on the story. I love ALL of you!! I'm a really busy mum of one, with a TERRIBLE internet connection and I just don't have a lot of free time on my hands so don't be offended when I say that I haven't even worked out how to reply to reviews yet. I appreciate every single one of them and please do keep them coming! When I'm done with the story I plan on thanking everyone personally for the support.

Now, rambling over, thanks to my FANTASTIC beta, here is chapter 13. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 13

Sookie blinked at him. Even through her shock, it still registered that she had a job and friends. She couldn't just abandon them to go stay with Eric until this was sorted out. The vampires' increasingly bemused expressions made her realize she hadn't replied. Shaking her head, she said, "Eric I can't."

For a moment she could have sworn he wanted to slap her. "Sookie, there is nothing to discuss. You are not being given a choice in this matter. It would seem that we are both in serious danger and I will not allow you to leave my sight until it has been resolved." She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand to silence her. Turning to Pam, he said something in rapid Swedish, then walked around her and sat down at his desk. Pam left the office with a smile that could only be described as gleeful.

"You know," Sookie growled at him, "I really hate it when you two do that. It's just rude!"

Eric looked at her with an expression of resignation. "Sookie, this is serious. The very fact that Niall is involving himself proves how dangerous the situation is. There can be no arguing. You are coming with me."

She glared at him, marching up to his desk and banging her fists down. "This isn't fair Eric! I have a life. I have a job. And friends. What about my brother? I'm needed in Bon Temps. I can't just hide away with you and wait until the monsters decide to leave me alone. I just can't!"

"We will not be hiding." He looked up at her, his beautiful blue eyes more serious than she had seen them since Godric's last dawn. "We will be planning. And when the time comes we will fight."

Fear sparked in the pit of her stomach as she saw again the dream in which Eric had been taken from her. The hollow, empty ache she felt in that dream haunted her now. Eric was around the desk and taking her in his arms before she could blink.

"Do not fear Lover. I will not allow any harm to come to you. I will protect you." he said softly, gathering her close against his chest. Sookie closed her eyes, savouring the feeling of safety that his arms evoked. She felt as though nothing in the world could touch her as long as Eric had his arms around her. Burying her face in his chest, she simply nodded. No words were needed. His fingers lightly traced up her spine. His lips pressed into her hair. They stood that way for a long time, breaking apart only when Pam re-entered the office and tutted in their direction.

"Urgh, can you two hold off on the hugging till I'm not around? I feel like I'm in an episode of Dawson's creek." She approached Sookie with a gin and tonic. "From the bar, I thought you might need it. And can you please stop looking at him like a lovesick puppy? It's making me nauseous."

"Enough Pam." Eric said, at exactly the same moment that a blushing Sookie exclaimed, "You watch Dawson's Creek?"

Pam smirked, "I liked the dark-haired one. Drink up, you look like you need it."

Sookie smiled at the vampire gratefully. She'd become increasingly fond of Pam lately. Her sarcastic wit took some getting used to, but really she was alright. Taking two huge gulps of her drink, she moved over to the leather sofa and sat down. "Thanks Pam."

Pam offered a rare genuine smile. Then she turned to her maker.

"Everything is ready master, I have arranged for delivery in the morning."

"Very well, thank you Pam."

Just then, Sookie dropped her glass. Gin and tonic splashed over Pam's Jimmy Choo's as the spunky telepath passed out. Eyebrow raised and elegant hands on her hips, Pam leveled a withering stare at her maker.

"If you insist on keeping her, you are going to have to buy me a shoe factory!"

Bill entered the compound shortly after sunset. If his heart could beat it would have been pounding. He had failed. Again. Sometime in between him leaving the Stackhouse residence and returning there the following evening his sheriff and Sookie had disappeared. Sophie-Anne was not going to be happy.

He had left because he could no longer stand the sound of Eric screwing the woman Bill loved.

The rising depth of feeling he was sensing from Sookie had only made things worse. He knew that particular feeling well. The first rush of love. So slight that she probably hadn't recognized it yet. But there it was. That blurring of the line between like and love where every touch made the heart skip and every kiss made it sing. Bill had felt every single flutter inside Sookie's chest as Eric had been pawing all over her.

He could not understand it. Although he knew deep down that Sookie's feelings for himself were based mostly on the thrill of first love and the excitement attached to not being able to hear his thoughts, he could not grasp any understanding of why she had fallen for Eric.

He was everything Sookie disliked about vampires. She had told Bill so herself. Eric was manipulative and conniving. He had tortured her friend and lied to her face and still she had fallen under his spell as though he was anything BUT a cold-hearted bastard. The Sheriff of Area Five was incapable of loving anybody. He was incapable of giving any of the things that Bill knew Sookie would need from a relationship; trust, respect, fidelity, caring words when things were difficult... Most of all Sookie needed to feel loved. She was not the kind of woman who would casually enter into a sexual relationship. Eric would stomp on her heart until there was nothing left of it - of this Bill was certain.

At first he had told himself that Sookie was sleeping with Eric to get back at him. To hurt him for hurting her. It had lessened the pain that day at her home when she had clung to Eric and rescinded Bill's invitation. On entering the house that day he had smelled Eric's scent all over the place. He had sensed him in her. On her. And he had told himself that this was his punishment for betraying her. Hope of forgiveness still flamed within him. That she would let him explain his reasons for doing what he had done, come back into his arms and forgive him.

But then he had stood amongst the trees last night, feeling her heart swell for the Viking and hearing her moan his name. He knew then that Sookie was lost to him. The knowledge had been more than he could bear and he had sped home to bury his face in the pillows that she had slept on only a few weeks ago. His tears had stained the white pillowcases with bloody streaks long before he had to go to his rest.

Somehow though, Bill didn't think the queen would accept his heartbreak as a satisfactory reason for losing track of her desperately coveted telepath. This was probably going to hurt. A lot. Sparing half a smile for the two guards at the doors, he put his poker face on and entered the queen's residence.

Eric smirked across the room at one seriously pissed off Sookie Stackhouse.

"Come now Lover, you were only going to argue and we do not have time for your stubborness."

Sookie glared at him from her place on the bed.

"This is abduction Eric Northman! I could have you arrested for this!"

"I know a good sheriff if you need one."

"It's not funny! You could at least untie me ya great big jerk-off!"

Eric grinned at her, leaning back against his computer desk and folding his arms. "Do you promise not to kick, fight, run, or do any of that delightful

slapping you seem to enjoy so much?"

"ERIC!"

"Now now Sookie, you must promise. That is the deal. If you find my terms unacceptable you can remain as you are."

Which was with both arms tied to the bed frame behind her head - thanks to Pam. The last thing Sookie remembered was getting comfortable on Eric's sofa in Fangtasia. One moment she had been perfectly alright and the next the world had gone dark. 'Should've known better than to accept a drink from her when she looked so excited,' she thought.

"Eric, if you do not let me go right now - I will never have sex with you again. Ever."

His smile only widened. Slowly, he pushed off from the desk and made his way over to the bed. If she thought he was going to release her though, she was mistaken. He stopped at the bottom of the bed.

"My dear, sweet Sookie. You and I both know that is a threat you will be unable to uphold for very long."

"Hmph!"

He laughed, stretching out a hand to run along her thigh. He heard her breath catch. Smirking, he leaned forward and slid his fingers higher. Dipping them between her legs but not quite touching the outside of her panties. She had thrown on her yellow sundress before they had left her home, how long ago? She had no idea and couldn't concentrate on finding out as his fingers skimmed lightly over the flimsy material covering her already heated center.

Eric watched smugly as her facial expressions jumped back and forth between annoyed and aroused. She was trying very hard to remain angry with him, but his ministrations were already winning out. He began rubbing her through the panties, his fingers sliding up and down, slow and intense. Sookie pushed her hips up to rub against them, wanting more. He was torturing her with her own need. But Eric pulled his hand away and waited until she stopped writhing before resuming.

Sookie's face was flushed. Her entire body ached for more of his touch. Her back arched involuntarily as he slid just one finger inside her cotton panties and began rubbing her clitoris in small circular movements. Sookie bit down hard on her lower lip, determined not to move again. Forcing her hips to remain still was quite a challenge, but she managed. Just about. The Viking was driving her crazy with just the gentle touch of one finger. But she would be damned if she'd ever admit that to him. Besides, if she moved she was certain he'd only stop again.

Suddenly, he spoke. In a teasing whisper he asked, "What were you saying Lover?" just as he sank his finger into her. A string of unintelligible moans and insults fell from her lips as she

bucked against his hand. Eric chuckled, driving his finger in deeper and bending it slightly, pulling back to press against that little spot inside her. He fought back his own groan as her waves of pleasure ran through him. She whimpered softly as he moved his hand away. But she needn't have worried. Half a second later he was on her. His clothes had vanished, his body pressed hers down into the mattress. Eric captured her lips with his own, moving them with bruising force. The roughness of the kiss only served to fuel her lust and her legs wound themselves around him, pulling his hardness directly against her heat.

His lips moved from hers to lay a trail of hot kisses across her cheek and down her throat. All the while he groaned her name. His need was relentless. It were as though his very life depended on having her, being inside her. It was a primal feeling. Animalistic. He needed to mark her, to claim her as his own. Not just as a vampire, but as a man. As his fangs ran down and grazed her skin he sank them into her neck without awaiting permission. Pulling deeply on her blood, his eyes rolled back as her Fae essence rushed through him. Cock twitching against her, he began rocking his hips rhythmically, earning a hoarse groan from Sookie.

"Eric. Please... Eric."

Eric pulled once more on her delicious blood, then closed the wound and lifted his head back to stare down at his woman.

"Please what Sookie. What do you want?" She looked up at him blearily.

"You. I want you."

"First, tell me you will stay." His eyes smouldered down at her. Bastard.

Sookie glared up at him. She was in no fit state to say no to anything right now, and he knew it.

"Fine."

Eric leaned down and pressed his lips against her ear. "Say it. Say you will stay with me."

Her eyes rolled shut, "I will stay with you Eric. Please."

"Please what Lover?"

Growling, she yanked her head away from his. Staring up into his eyes, she whispered roughly, "Fuck me."

Eric happily complied. Without warning he pushed up and entered her, hard. Filling her with his cock, he pushed until every last inch of him was wrapped snugly in her warm walls. She tensed as he hit her hilt and the resulting pressure sent him over. With a cry not unlike a battle call - he drove her into the mattress, each thrust bouncing her body up off the bed. Resting on his arms above her he rammed into Sookie as he had never done before. This time it was pure possession. His victory. She was now his. His to do with as he pleased.

Her legs gripped his waist like a vice as he leaned forward, staring at her trapped beneath him. Her eyes were closed now, her mouth slightly open in dazed wonder as Eric claimed every part of her. The ropes securing her arms to the bars of the headboard tightened and chafed against her wrists, but she didn't care. The slight pain only added to her heightened sensations. In this moment, all she cared about was that Eric never ever stop his relentless pounding. His growling ceased as he began hoarsely groaning her name, increasing his speed now with every thrust until he was moving so fast he blurred. As reached an extraordinarily powerful orgasm, something incredible happened.

Eric heard her scream out his name as she gushed over his cock and her eyes began glowing white. With one hard yank, she was free of her bindings and Eric found himself on his back on the floor. Before he could react, she was on top of him. Her mouth smashed against his as she sank onto his cock, taking all of him in one thrust. The Viking groaned into her mouth as she rode him, squeezing him hard inside of her. He seized hold of her hair, clashing his tongue against hers. And all the while Sookie rode him faster and faster until they both reached an explosive peak.

Then Sookie collapsed onto his chest, pushing her face into his shoulder as his arms came up around her. Eric lay beneath her smirking. That was new. Oh Billy, you have no idea what you have lost, he thought. He held Sookie against him as she regained her breath. What had just happened would probably scare her once she came down from her orgasmic high.

When she finally lifted her head to look at him, he was struck by just how beautiful she was. It was not mere superficial good looks that made Sookie Stackhouse the most beautiful woman he'd ever known. In fact, he'd had plenty of better looking women. It was the beauty inside her that made her so stunningly unique. She was truly a good person. She was loyal, and brave and so very determined to do what was right. These were qualities that had mostly annoyed and at best amused him before now as she had fought his actions and decisions. But now – now she had given that same ferocious loyalty to him. Had defended him to her friend. Had made clear to her newly-discovered great grandfather that she was firmly on Eric's side. Had bravely stood at his side and fought her own corner in front of a vampire queen... Now he could see just how remarkable she truly was. For a moment, he felt his undead heart ache.

And then it passed.

"I. What was that?" She whispered, half to herself.

Eric smiled up at her. He lifted a hand to her cheek, "That, dear one, was you manifesting some of those faery gifts you were promised."

He was surprised to see tears pricking in the corners of her eyes and an immense sadness both in her demeanor and through their bond.

"Sookie, it is alright. This is a good thing. You overpowered a 1000 year old vampire long enough to throw him across a room. This can help us. Whatever is coming, this gives us a great advantage." He assured her.

Sookie smiled weakly at him. "I guess."

Eric lifted her up by the waist, groaning as he slid out of her. Sitting up, he turned her in his arms in the same movement. He looked down at her in confusion. "What is the matter? There is no need for sadness. We had sex, you again used your powers. This is a good thing is it not?"

Looking up at him, she felt her heart warm briefly as she took in his genuine concern. "It's not that Eric, of course it's good. Both are good. Better than good. It's just that I really don't want to be a faery. I just wanna be me." She looked down, suddenly aware that she sounded stupidly ungrateful.

"You are you. You will always be you. Sookie Stackhouse. Waitress and mouth-piece extraordinaire."

Sookie mock glared at him, "You know, I wouldn't have to use my mouth so often if you weren't such an overgrown jackass most of the time."

Eric laughed, "So sometimes I am not a - what did you call it? Overgrown jackass?"

She grinned, nodding. "Sometimes you're alright. Lately whole days have passed without you doing something that makes me want to stake you

while you're sleeping."

"How intriguing. We cannot have my bonded plotting my final death. Perhaps we should tie you up again."

"Or perhaps you could stop being such a jackass."

Eric stood up, holding her body to him. Sookie giggled as he gave a dramatic sigh. "I believe you just do not want me to have any fun at all little one."

"I just let you have lots of fun! By the way, where are we going?" she asked him as he carried her towards the door. There were no windows in this room so she was fairly certain that they were in Eric's own bedroom. Not that she remembered getting here. Which reminded her...

SMACK! She dug him on his shoulder.

"Why did you do that?"

"That's for kidnapping me!"

"You are entirely too casual about picking fights with vampires Lover."

Sookie glowered at him, her face a mask of pure fury although Eric could feel that she was more amused than insulted by his comment. "Maybe vampires are too casual about trying to walk all over me. Princess, remember?"

He laughed all the way upstairs and into the master bathroom.

He knelt on one knee in front of her deckchair. She watched the humans in the room splash their feet in her pool. Among them, sporting several healing wounds was Hadley Stackhouse. The idiotic girl was a lot more subdued lately. Less keen to draw attention to herself. Sophie-Anne watched the girl for a few long moments.

Then she turned her gaze on Bill. Cold fury burned in her youthful eyes. Though her demeanor gave the impression of calm, Bill could see clearly that his queen had been infuriated by his news.

"What do you mean you have lost them? How could you lose them?" she barked at him. "Your task was simple, William." Bill nodded, hoping his sorrowful expression was convincing. "I realize that your majesty, I am sorry. I left them so close to dawn that I felt certain he could not have risked leaving with her." This of course, was a lie. But if it kept Bill alive it was a lie worth telling, in his opinion.

Sophie-Anne gave him a calculating look. Once again her telepath had slipped between her fingers. And once again Bill Compton had been the cause. It was time to try something else, someone more powerful. Someone hopefully more competent than the idiot kneeling in front of her now. She had hoped that it wouldn't come to this, but the fools around her had guaranteed that this was her only option. It was time to be rid of William anyway. He was starting to grind on her nerves. His love for the telepath was both pathetic and wasted as far as Sophie-Anne was concerned. The bloodbag would be hers!

Cocking an elegant brow, she intoned softly, "Very well William. I see I have no further need for your services regarding Miss Stackhouse. I have a visitor here for you, you can leave with her."

The first sign of fear showed itself on his face. No. No. She would not...

"Loreeeena," she called out in a sickly sweet tone. "There's somebody here to seeeeee you!"

A dark haired woman sauntered into the room. Her smug smile was evident on her face already.

Bill had fallen backward, terrified. "No, my queen, no. Please, I implore you. Give me another chance with Sookie. I am certain that given time-"

Another icy glare silenced him. "You have already failed me twice. And thanks to you my telepath could very well be lost to me forever! You will get no more chances from me William Compton. Your maker is free to take you if she wishes. Though I can't imagine why she would want to."

"No!" Bill protested, "No! She freed me! She no longer has any right to take me anywhere!"

The queen leaned forward in her lounger and smiled sweetly at him. "I think you shall find that she has every right. Not only do I, Queen of Louisiana allow it, as your maker she has total power over you. Whether she freed you or not."

"Awww sugar, didn't ya miss me?" Lorena drawled.

Sookie sat at Eric's kitchen table eating a chicken salad. The fact that Eric had a kitchen, let alone one that actually had edible food in it, surprised her. He had shown her the bag of clothes Pam had somehow managed to procure from Sookie's home and allowed her to dress. Then he had disappeared to make some calls.

This was of course after giving them both a leisurely rub-down in the shower. The man had his priorities apparently. Which also included a repeat performance of the last time they had showered together. Not that she could complain. Despite the circumstances, she had left the bathroom wearing only a towel and the biggest smile ever.

Eric was insatiable and she had to admit that she was just as bad. Merely looking at him had all sorts of lustful thoughts running through her mind. Thoughts she would never have admitted to. He had unleashed something within her that simply hungered for him. She would never get enough of the Viking. And that scared the hell out of her.

That was the reason she'd avoided him since their first meeting that night at Fangtasia. She had felt the pure power radiating out of the beautiful man on that throne. When they were introduced, she had stood defiant as his gaze had penetrated her. Even though she couldn't be glamoured, she was pretty sure that if she had looked into his eyes for long enough she would have been his that very night.

He had affected her so deeply that he frightened her. There was nothing safe and comforting about the way his eyes had undressed her at every meeting. There was no warmth or sense of humanity from Eric. He was pure Viking vampire god. His attitude towards human life, and his blatant complacency over holding Layfayette prisoner had only made it easier for her to tell herself that she hated him. That she didn't want him with an intensity that just wasn't normal.

Which was why she had been so keen to choose Bill. He was attractive. He made her want him. And most importantly, he was so determined to hold on to his humanity. His warmth and compassion, his gentleness, had drawn her to him. She had loved him for it. Convinced that this was real love; in safety, warmth and comfort, she had been happy to dismiss her attraction to Eric as something completely unnatural.

And Bill had lied to her from the start. He had pushed his way into her life, stood by and watched as she was beaten almost to death, just to get his blood into her. Had played the hesitant, southern gentleman, the type of man she'd dreamed of meeting for most of her life. He had taken her innocence because a vampire queen ordered him to. For all of his self-hatred, Bill's actions had been about with as far from humanity as it was possible to get. She raged at herself for not being able to hate him. Gran would have said that she should feel proud that her strength and compassion would not allow her to hate him. But she didn't feel proud, she felt weak. And afraid.

Eric had done more for her than she had ever given him credit for. Right now, especially compared to Bill, he was a good man. A sarcastic, manipulative pig, yes. But there was good in there somewhere too. He had proved it when he'd saved her life after the maenad attack. He had saved her again at the Fellowship of the Sun; had even offered himself to save her, when he really didn't need to. When faced with a bomb that could easily have killed him, he had chosen to shield her from the attack. It was his actions immediately afterward that Sookie had chosen to focus on. Thinking back, she wasn't even sure that she had thanked him for the risk he had taken to protect her.

And now, he had taken her into his home. A place that he never took anyone other than Pam. He had provided for her things that Bill never even dreamed of providing in his home. Simple yet important things like her favourite shampoo. He took care of her. And he had risked so much to protect her from his queen; would probably risk much more before this was over.

Sitting in his kitchen, the whole thing suddenly felt surreal to Sookie. How could so much have changed in so short a time? she didn't know. And right now she couldn't find it in her to care.

Eric paced the library, speaking fast in his native language. He was setting up more security for his home, plus more guards for Sookie should she decide to be foolish and leave the grounds of his home while he was in his daytime rest. Not that she would need to. There was more than enough here to keep her entertained while he slept. The library, his games room, the cinema-style television room where hundreds of DVDs lined the walls. There was also the swimming pool and gym to keep her occupied.

Finally finishing, he thanked Pam and ended the call. Instead of heading straight back to Sookie, he went to the window. Staring up at the stars, he finally allowed himself to really think about what it was that he was doing.

He had already made an enemy of his queen over his faery princess. And now it seemed he was going to war with an as yet unknowable enemy. It occurred to him that perhaps he was just losing it. He was not 1000 years old because he acted on his impulses. It took hard work and a lot of self control to end up as old as he. Godric had taught him survival, had taught him well. Ruthlessness - knowing what to let go of and what to hold on to. Every vampire survival instinct in him was telling him just to kill the girl and have done with it. Or at the very least, distance himself from her and leave her to her own fate.

But the problem was, every single other instinct in his body screamed at him to keep her by his side. To embrace the feelings she was beginning to awaken inside him. Eric knew that Sookie was worth every bit of trouble that would come his way. He also knew that she would not survive for long without him. If the queen didn't get her, some other vampire would. Her telepathy was just so fucking important to vampires in general. It made her a valuable asset. If her other developing powers were discovered, she would also be seen as a powerful tool. And most vampires would secure her loyalty in any way they saw fit. Which wouldn't mean anything good. Not for Sookie, or anyone she cared about.

He watched out the window as the sky turned completely black. Then, his decision made, he turned and left the room in silence.

Sophie-Anne watched with an amused smile as Bill cowered at Lorena's feet. She knew all about how he had treated her in front of Godric's nest. Now he was going to receive his punishment. It was unfortunate. She had quite liked William Compton. His southern manners and devotion to a human were always great sources of amusement to her. And she did not like Lorena. The woman was delusional. For decades she had convinced herself that she and William were part of some epic love story in which they would love each other forever. She could not seem to grasp that William Compton could barely stand her, let alone love her.

But still, Sophie-Anne was bored with him now and she had plans to make. William's fate was his own problem. She had her own destiny to sort out. Besides, Lorena now owed her a favour for returning her unruly child. And a sadistic bitch who owed her a favour was exactly what the Queen of Louisiana needed tonight. How clever she thought herself. Everything would fall into place after tonight. She was confident that Sookie would be hers within the week.

Her attention strayed back to the maker and child accompanying her this evening. Bill had just received a brutal kick to the ribs. Every human in the room kept their heads down. They knew the punishment for speaking up over vampire matters.

Lorena, noticing that the queen was now looking at them again, smiled cheerfully, "William and I were just ironing out a few difficulites before our journey south your majesty. Please do excuse my rudeness."

"Not at all," Sophie-Anne replied smoothly, "A maker must assert control over their children if they act up. You will, though, have to continue your fun later. I have a job for you that you can do on your way."

Lorena curtseyed, "Of course, your majesty. Anything you desire, I owe you a great debt for returning my William to me."

The queen made no attempt to hide her eyes rolling as she listened to the idiot grovel. "I have another visitor arriving shortly so let us make this quick. Hadley dear, do come to me," she sang out.

Hadley raised her head slowly, fearfully. She met the queen's icy stare and climbed painfully to her feet. After their return to the palace that awful day, Hadley had made the rather serious mistake of demanding to know why she hadn't been told that her Gran was dead. And why her cousin had no idea that they were coming for her. The resulting beating had left her unable to move and the queen had ordered that she suffer through. No vampire blood, not even any human pain relief. Hadley didn't mind, even though it was agony to move. She felt she deserved it.

She was an idiot, always had been. But she had never meant Sook any harm. She had been under the impression that Sookie knew all about Sophie-Anne and how Hadley had come to stay at the palace. They had told her that Sook wasn't happy at home, that she and Bill were planning on coming to live with them at the palace as soon as their affairs in Bon Temps were sorted out. Now she could see that those "friendly" vampires were just duping her in order to learn all they could about Sookie. And now, as she made her way over to the queen, she had a feeling she knew how her story was about to end. As she walked slowly, almost stumbling once or twice, she said a silent prayer that somehow her cousin would forgive her. That Sookie would be okay. And finally, that her little boy never got to know how his Mother's life had ended.

Sookie was just clearing up her dishes as Eric entered the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway to watch as she hummed to herself. She looked lovely in the red silk bathrobe that Pam had picked up for her earlier. It hung just below her ass and clung deliciously to her curves. Eric loved a woman with curves. They were soft, warm, and comforting. As she finished up, he realized that she had stopped humming.

"Phone calls all done?" she asked quietly, still facing the sink.

He stepped forward, slipping his arms around her, and pulled her back against his chest. "Yes, security is in place."

Sookie nodded, letting her eyes fall shut. "What do we do now Eric? Do we run? Fight? Roll over and die?"

He chuckled, "I never run. And I will never roll over and die. We fight Sookie. And we win."

She turned to face him. "It's that simple?" Her gaze was searching and he met it unwaveringly.

"Yes, Sookie. It is that simple. I will protect you, this I vow. Do not fear."

"Eric..." She shook her head, leaning forward to rest her head on his chest. "Don't you get it? It's not me I'm afraid for. At the end of all of this, it's not me that I see dying every time I close my eyes."

He let his hands slide down her back in what he hoped was a soothing manner. "Sookie, nothing has ever defeated me before. Nothing will now. I have legions across the world who would take up arms at my side. I have a resourceful and extremely skilled child, ready to follow me into battle." He paused, reaching down to tilt her face up. "And I have a warrior princess who will develop and use her powers in any way she must in order to see us all through this."

She couldn't think of anything to say to that. He could already feel her fear. And he could already feel her gratitude. The only thing left to do was to stand on her tiptoes and let him feel her need to kiss him.

Sophie-Anne was now alone in her sun room. She had ordered Lorena to kill Hadley in any way she desired, so long as the first light of dawn found the body on Sookie Stackhouse's front lawn. She also insisted that Lorena involve Bill in the killing as much as possible. A nice gift for her telepath. Her smile was juvenile and smug as she remembered the resigned look in Hadley's eyes as she listened to her own death sentence. The foolish bint had actually impressed her in the end. Hadley had stood with her back straight and tears in her eyes, but not one touched her cheeks. And she never once begged, or asked for mercy. She simply stared at the vampire who had promised her the world and given her this instead. She hadn't even screamed when Lorena forced dear William to drag her from the complex by her hair. She had simply stumbled along in his wake.

"Excuse me, your majesty." Sophie-Anne's musings were cut short by the arrival of one of her guards, "Your witch has arrived."

"Very well, thank you. You may show her in." The guard bowed and left. Sophie-Anne's eyes eagerly watched the door as a tall, fierce looking woman was led inside.

"Ah," she smiled, "Hallow. How lovely to see you. I have a job for you. It involves Eric Northman and I need it done as soon as possible..."

A/N- Hadley's story is sad to me, and I wanted to keep it like that. The book Hadley wasn't my favourite character by any means - but show Hadley seems just a bit stupid and naive and playing way over her head. I hope that comes across. Her whole story is sad.