A/N:

I'm upside down, inside out.

Cannot figure what I'm about.

I'm sometimes up, sometimes down,

sometimes smile and sometimes frown.

Topsy-turvy is what I am.

Seems I'm always in a jam.

From Topsy-Turvy by Edwina Reizer.

Okay, when I try to focus on one of the stories that I'm trying to finish, something always strikes my fancy and off I go in another direction. I was trying to come up with something different. I get tired of all the same stories of Bill bringing Sookie to Fangtasia and meeting Eric. So, this idea came to me. I'm sure that this idea has been used before, but this is my interpretation. So, in this story, essentially Sookie and Eric have traded places. Sookie is a thousand year old vampire who runs Fangtasia with her child, Pam. Eric is a innocent young boy from Bon Temps whose world is about to get turned upside down. Sookie is everything Eric is in True Blood. She's beautiful, seductive and manipulative. Eric is a telepathic bartender at Merlott's. He's younger in this story, around 22. Please, note that both Sookie and Eric are acting out of character from the series. I usually write OC stories and not stories with Sookie. But, this is a very different Sookie. I think that I'm going to like her. Innocent Eric? How can you resist that?

I had a little giggle about leaving Bill in the story as trying to procure Eric (Eric is mine, haha), but alas, it isn't to be. So, Lorena and Bill have switched places as well. Bill is Lorena's maker and Lorena Compton was a young wife who was turned during the Civil War. She would give the traveling soldiers a hot meal and a place in the barn to sleep in, until a vampire (Bill) masquerading as a soldier took advantage of her kindness.

I think everything else is as usual.

The story starts with season 1, but things may not faithfully follow that story line.

Chapter One

One Night at Merlott's

Sam passed his eyes over Eric who was working behind the bar. Eric was old enough to tend bar and the kid was such a good worker that he had been given a promotion. He was certainly tall, thought Sam. With shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes, he was handsome, as well. Now, Sam was comfortable enough with his own sexuality to call another man handsome. Already, his new bartender was drawing some appreciative glances from his female clientele. Those same women would be ripping his clothes to shreds if it weren't for his little peculiarity. He had heard the gossip about the craziness that ran in the Northman family. Hell, he had seen Eric' unusual gift at work, himself. He admitted that the boy made him nervous. He didn't want Eric poking around in his head. There were secrets up there and he preferred that they stay that way, thank you very much. Eric had started working here as a busboy while still a teenager and he was a hard worker who was always ready to lend a hand. He had been recently working as a greeter, but Arlene had an issue with him waiting tables. Already the girls wanted to leave him their tips, she said. So, to keep the peace, Eric had taken over behind the bar. Sam found that it was working very well for him. He could now devote his undivided attention to actually running the restaurant and bar. Plus, he had noticed an increase in liquor sales since Eric had started working at the bar. Evidently, eyeing him up was thirsty work, thought Sam. Sam watched as Jason came into Merlott's and made a bee-line to his younger brother. Jason stepped up on the footrest bar to make himself taller and ruffled Eric's hair.

"Hey, there, little bro," he said. "How's it going?"

"Pretty good," replied Eric.

Eric poured a draft beer for his brother and expertly put just the right amount of foam on the top. He passed it to Jason, who critically surveyed the product.

"That is just about perfect," said Jason.

Jason took a thirsty drink and flashed a smile at Eric. He lowered his voice and leaned in closer.

"I, ah, was talking to an old girlfriend and she has a cousin who just moved here," said Jason.

Eric grew nervous because he knew where this conversation was going. He looked over his attractive brother and wondered if they were really related. Jason had been the high school hero. He had been popular with the girls and never stayed too attached to just one. Yet, the girls seemed to line up just for the privilege of having their turn with him. Jason's legend had still been the fodder of gossip at Bon Temps High School. Eric had just tried to get through high school without being noticed. In a small town, it was hard to escape from yourself. His disability was well known to everyone. There were the stares and the jokes. Crazy Eric. God, he was so tired of hearing that. Now, he had to deal with the good intentions of his brother. Jason tried to set him up on dates. They were awkward affairs because he knew what those girls were thinking. They would undress him with their eyes and ponder the size of his attributes. Mostly, they were just curious and were willing to get laid to satisfy that curiosity. The fact that most of them were familiar that way with Jason didn't help matters.

"So, what do you say, little brother? Do you want to go out her cousin?" asked Jason.

"I don't really think so," said Eric.

He began wiping the counter with much more concentration than the job required. Jason wasn't the brightest, but surely he would get the idea that Eric didn't really want to talk about it. Jason lowered his voice even lower.

"Come on, who are you saving it for?" he asked.

"Jason, I don't really want to talk about it," said Eric.

"It ain't normal," replied Jason.

"News flash, big brother," sarcastically said Eric. "I'm not exactly normal."

"That don't mean that you've got to abstain from sex," replied Jason.

Jason studied his brother and asked, "You do like girls, right? I mean, it's okay, I guess, if you like boys."

Eric looked up and flashed Jason an angry look. Jason held up his hands and said, "Just checking. I love you, no matter which way you swing."

"I guess that I'm just waiting for something special," said Eric.

"Don't wait too long," replied Jason with a wink.

Jason sauntered off to join some friends from the road crew. Eric was always so envious of how Jason seemed to blend in and make friends. Oh, well, back to work, he thought. At least, working here at the bar kept him busy in the evenings.

Sam had watched the exchange and was startled when Lafayette appeared at this side.

"That boy is a tall, cool drink of water," Lafayette said.

He eyed Eric's 6'4" lean frame and when Eric turned his back to them to get a bottle behind him, Lafayette said, "Lord have mercy, that is the finest piece of ass in this bar."

"Don't you go scaring him off," warned Sam.

"Unfortunately, I'm not that honey child's type," said Lafayette. "Because if I was, that precious cherry of his would already be popped."

"Lafayette, I didn't really need to hear that."

"Oh, come on, you'd go gay for him in a heartbeat," teased Lafayette. "Admit it."

Sam opened his mouth to give Lafayette a piece of his mind, when a newcomer came into the bar. Both Sam and Lafayette watched her as she stood in the doorway. She had dark, shiny hair and pale skin. She was wearing a pretty-looking dress in a floral pattern. Sensible flats adorned her feet. Sam knew immediately what she was. She certainly didn't look like a regular one, he thought. Sam watched as the vampire scanned the bar. Her eyes fell on Eric and a tiny smile appeared on her lips. She started walking to the bar, drawing the stares of several other patrons.

"Who the hell is that?" asked Lafayette.

"I would guess that she's our new vampire neighbor," replied Sam.

"What? Bon Temps has a fucking vampire living here, now?"

"Some would call it progress," replied Sam.

"Yeah, what do you call it?"

"Dangerous," replied Sam as he watched the vampire take a seat at the bar counter across from Eric.

Eric was wiping the glasses when he heard someone behind him clear their throat. He turned around and saw a beautiful woman staring right at him. She wasn't shy about staring and Eric locked eyes with her. That was when he noticed that he couldn't hear her thoughts. That had never happened before. He stared at her and tried to figure out what was different about her.

"Didn't your mother teach you that it's not polite to stare?" she asked.

"Oh, sorry," said Eric with an embarrassed smile.

"That's okay, when I'm being stared at by someone as cute as you, I can overlook it," said Lorena.

"What can I get you?" asked Eric.

"Do you have any of those Tru Bloods?" she asked.

Eric's eyes widened, as he realized the reason for her difference.

"We just got a few in," he said. "They are all A pos."

"I guess that will have to do," replied Lorena.

Eric moved to get her beverage. He popped it briefly in the microwave and shook it as he brought it over to her. He sat it in front of her and lingered before her. He looked over her and listened. But, only silence greeted his ears. The sound of nothing was a very sweet sound. He heard all the mindless chatter. He heard all the nasty things that even nasty people were too embarrassed to say out loud. Yet, now, he knew how it felt to be a regular person. He found that he liked it and he was loath to move away from her. Lorena lifted her eyes to his and Eric finally moved away. But, her eyes followed him. Sam watched her with growing misgivings. No vampire was going to do her hunting in his place, he thought.

Eric did his job and tried to keep his thoughts from the vampire at the counter. Why was she here? He never thought that he would see a vampire here in Bon Temps of all places. Were all vampires like her? The lure of spending time with someone whose thoughts he couldn't read was a powerful attractant. When she finished the Tru Blood, he moved to her to remove the bottle.

"Would you like another?" he asked.

"One's my limit," replied Lorean.

Eric paused and she asked him, "What's your name?"

"Eric," he said. "Eric Northman."

"My name is Lorena," she replied.

"That sounds like a vampire name."

Lorena studied him and asked, "There is something different about you."

"I'm sure that you are mistaken," replied Eric. "I'm just the bartender here. Did you move here?"

"Yes, I moved into the old Compton home," she said. "I was originally from here."

"You were?" asked Eric. "I never knew that Bon Temps had a vampire in its history."

"Well, in those days, we couldn't return to our families when we were made vampire," said Lorena.

"Oh, that's kind of sad."

"Yes, it was," replied Lorena. "But, times have changed since the Great Revelation."

"Not here," said Eric. "Very little changes in this place."

"Maybe, I'll fit in here," said Lorena.

"Don't count on it," replied Eric. "Not to be rude or anything, but they have a hard time accepting anyone who is different here."

"Well, I'd better get going," said Lorena. "I'll see you around."

"Sure, I'd like that," replied Eric.

Eric watched as Lorena left Merlott's. He was already wondering when he would see her again. He hoped that she would come back and stop the noises.