Trading Places

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the True Blood characters (*sigh* unfortunately). I only own my original story plots and characters.

A/N the first chapter is a little bit of back story for Roanne and her relationship with Godric and Eric. I will be doing mostly AU for the first bit anyway. This story starts a few years before vampires come out of the coffin and Sookie is slightly younger. I have reposted this chapter. I 'jumped the gun' so to speak and I needed to add a few bits to the start to make the story flow better for the ideas I have.

Chapter 1

Present day…..

Roanne's POV

I blinked my eyes. The blackness ebbing away….all the colours seemed a little off….a little too clear. "Roanne…..Roanne….are you ok?" I could hear Godric's voice calling me. "I'm ok Godric. Just a little bump to the head" I answered trying to sound light hearted though I knew I was going to be in a world of trouble. My voice sounded a little gruff. "Hmpff" I struggled to pull myself up, the room still spinning a little bit. Everything felt a little small….a little different. "Roanne" this time Godric sounded alarmed. I looked over to see him kneeling beside…beside me. "Oh fuck no…."

I woke with a start; my heart pounding in my chest. Today was the day. I brushed the dream from my mind and the blind panic set in. Today was the day. I was being abandoned by my mother and shipped to the USA to live with a vampire. Vampire…..why yes…a vampire I was supposedly destined to be with. Hell no. This is the 21st century and destined sounded way too like arranged marriage to me.

When I turned 16 and my powers started to develop my mum finally came clean. She told me about her power; that she was a witch, a Fae and could see the future. I thought she was crazy but as it turns out, I'm part crazy too. My mother isn't sure what powers I'll have. Mostly it's just dreams and doing things like accident – like making the lights blow or making things move a little. My mum also thinks I can set fires with my mind – I was too scared to tell her that Christina from school gave me a cigarette and matches and that I accidently set my curtains on fire trying to smoke out the window. Why would I get myself in trouble?

It wasn't until she started to get sick that she told me about Godric and Eric. That one was a shocker to say the least. She told me what I do was my choice and she expressed how much she disliked vampires. I couldn't blame her form what she told me. But nothing… I repeat nothing, prepared me for the day when she told me I'd have to go and live with them. She told me the only way she could heal was to go to Fae and that I couldn't go with her.

I begged to stay with neighbours, go to boarding school…..anything, anything except go live with them, but she wouldn't budge. She said I'd be safer with them than with anyone else.

Dallas, 15 years ago…

"I'm here to see Sheriff Godric".

Rose stood at the front door of the Dallas mansion; staring straight into the eyes of a real life vampire cowboy. Her feet were sore. She was tired and the heat was killing her; the beads of sweat rolling down the ridge of her back.

"Eh…there's no sheriff living here lady. Turn around and go back to wherever you came from" the big cowboy all but barked at her.

"Stop trying to glamour me you oaf and tell Godric that Rose the seer is here to see him. Believe me; he'll be pissed if you turn me away". The cowboy looked shocked that his glamour didn't work. "Wait here" he snapped; slamming the door in the woman's face. She didn't budge however. She waited patiently outside.

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Godric was in his study; massaging his temples. Paperwork. Who knew being a Sheriff would involve so much bloody paper work. But….it wasn't like he had anything else to do.

Knock knock

"Come in Stan" Godric called; somewhat glad for a distraction…even if it was Stan. "I'm sorry to disturb you Sheriff, but there's some human at the door. She says her name is Rose….Rose the seer". Rose….could it really be her….after all these years? "Bring her to me Stan" he ordered; the bored look gone from his features.

Stan led the woman into Godric's study; sniffing the human with a confused look on his face. Godric dismissed Stan with a wave of his hand. Rose stood there staring at Godric.

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Godric's POV

"Sheriff" Stan nodded to me; sniffing the air around Rose. I could see the confused look on his face. Rose didn't smell, or at least she didn't smell like what a human should….she smelled of…..lemon shower wash and sandal wood…nothing else. She looked just as I remembered; she hadn't aged a day in hundreds of years.

"Rose…please, take a seat" I offered, gesturing towards the two chairs near the bookcase. She only gave a curt nod and went to sit down. I paused a moment, hoping she would speak first….she didn't. "It has been a long time Rose. I guess hell must be freezing over". She looked at me confused. "You said you would only come to me again when hell was freezing over. This must be important". And it must, I remember our last meeting. Rose promised but me and herself that she would have no more dealings with vampires. I had offered her all the riches in the world, but she refused. I would have given her anything that she wanted. Rose was powerful. She was a gifted and powerful; being half witch and half fae. But that wasn't all she could do…..she was a seer, and her visions were particularly accurate.

"I wouldn't have come if it wasn't a life or death situation Godric. Even then, I still wouldn't have come…..only" she hesitated. "Only….?"

"Only it involved someone dear to me". "Who's life or who's death?", she had my attention now. "Yours Godric…and….and Roanne."

"My life and my death?", what could she possibly have seen? "And who's Roanne?"

"Roanne is my daughter Godric". This surprised me. I never thought that Rose would have children…..well I guess I never really gave it much thought at all. She hadn't seemed the mothering type.

"I still don't understand Rose. You need to tell me more." Rose let out a sigh of frustration. I could hear her heart beating faster. Thump thump….thump thump.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a little plastic box. Opening the box, she took out a little zip lock bag. There was nothing more than a tiny little piece of fabric. "Here" she said, taking the fabric out…. "What do you smell" and she shoved the fabric towards my face.

Then the smell hit me "mmmmmmm" and my fangs went down without even realising. That smell, that wonderful sweet smell. It took a moment for me to realise what I was doing and I composed myself; feeling a little embarrassed. "I must apologise….but, what was that?"

Rose had visibly paled; the tears were brimming round her eyes. "Damn it" she hissed; jumping out of her chair and walked a few feet away. "I hoped…..God, I hoped it wasn't true….vampires, bloody vampires".

I still hadn't a notion what she was saying but I thought it best to let her have a human moment to compose herself.

She took a few minutes to collect herself and came back to set opposite me. "What this all about Rose?" I asked.

"It's my daughter Roanne. She's….she's only three. She means the world to me. She's everything I've got. I wanted to raise her right, keep her away from your kind. But….that's impossible now. She's destined to be a part of you now".

I still didn't understand. "Be a part of me?"

"I saw Godric….I didn't think you would ever change, but I saw….even now as I talk to you I can see that you've changed. But…I don't think there's anything I can do. I've seen it too many times for it to be any different…"

I looked at Rose, my brow furrowed. I still didn't comprehend what she was saying. I looked at her; imploring that she help me understand.

"She's destined to be your mate Godric….I've seen it too many times. She destined for you…..and that blond imbecile progeny of yours. She's fated to you both. You both hold her happiness."

I didn't quite know how to react. My mate…never once in all my years did I meet anyone I'd want to spend eternity with. Never. "That's impossible" I whispered.

"Believe me….I wish it was, but it's the strongest and most persistent vision I've ever had. I wouldn't be telling you this….I'd have brought Roanne when she was old enough to meet you….but…" this time Rose trailed off; studying me intently. I leaned in a little "But…?"

"You're going to ruin her life…..not that I don't think being with a vampire isn't ruining her life but I only see her happy, until…..until you ripped her soul out" she was shouting now "you went an took your own life…gave yourself to the sun…not that I would have cared…I would have been happy to see you burn….only…..when you died you took a part of my baby's heart….the part that makes her happy. And I can't….. I won't let your self-pity bullshit ruin my baby's life." The tears started flowing and Rose slumped back into the chair.

How did she know? How the hell did she know? It wasn't like it was something I'd been thinking about for two long…..a few months perhaps, the idea had crept into my mind. It seemed like a blissful end….and retribution for mankind.

"Well….you can snap the hell out of that melancholy Godric. I'll hex you to hell and back before I'll let you ruin my baby's life".

I was still in a sort of daze. "Are you sure Rose?" was all I could think to say. "For God's sake Godric" she snorted "Would I be this upset if I wasn't sure. That's why I brought that" she gestured to the piece of cloth, "it's a tiny square from her comforter….her favourite blanky. You see what her smell did to you….she's you personal brand of heroine. You can't get enough of her and you would do anything for her. Same with the Viking oaf. It just wasn't meant to happen for years, not until she matured into herself…but that all changed once you became a suicidal risk" she snarled.

This was a lot to take in….but then, what if…..what if she as my mate, but it didn't make any sense, she was to be Eric's too? If she was mine I didn't want to share…why couldn't he find his own mate? Wait, what am I thinking? I have already begun to speak as if we were meant for each other.

"I want to see her" I said, looking straight at Rose. She fished into her bag again and handed me two pictures. The first one was of a chubby little human with blonde curls. She was in a red sundress and there was ice cream all over her face. The second photo was of the same chubby little human in an infant's sleep suit, sucking of one of those human infant plastic things and clutching a patchwork blanket. How could this tiny human be destined to be my mate?

"I want to meet her" I blurted out, surprising even myself.

"I thought you might" she answered. We're living in Ireland at the minute. We like it there…it's in Donegal". "Bring her here to see me". "Not a hope in hell Godric. She's staying where she is, where she's safe. If you want to meet her, you're going to have to come to us. Here…" she handed me a business card. "These are my contact details. I'm flying back home this evening. Let me know before you arrive on my doorstep." With that she marched out of my office…I listened as her footsteps headed out the front door and out of the property.

I walked to my desk and picked up my phone. "Eric….." "Godric….it's been too long. What can I do for you?" "We're going to Glencolumbkille in Ireland. Come to me now" and I hung up the phone. I glanced again at the two photographs Rose left behind.

I set about putting things in order for a brief trip to Ireland.

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Eric's POV

"Godric…have you lost all reason? How well do you know this Rose? She's a witch…..she can't be trusted. And part fae no less…I thought they had gone extinct on earth….how can you even be sure?"

"I've tasted her Eric. I've seen her vision come true. She has saved me even when I put her life in danger. If anything we are the ones who she shouldn't be able to trust."

I couldn't believe it. I hadn't heard from Godric in centuries then out of the blue I get a phone call summoning me to him. I went to him of course. He didn't need to command me. I would do anything for Godric and he knew this.

But this…this ridiculous story… I had looked at the pictures of the fat little human. How could I be destined to be with this fat little teacup. And the piece of cloth…I couldn't smell a thing. It had to be a trap.

"It's a trap Godric. She's playing on the good part of you nature. She must be pulling a scam…..your blood perhaps? Or does she want money. That's it isn't it? Money. She see's you've gone a little soft"

"ENOUGH" Godric snapped. Shit. I'd just called my maker soft. What in the hell was I thinking? "Master" I whispered, sinking to my knees and bowing my head; thinking this was the best move. Godric had gone soft in the last few years and he rarely raised his voice. In fact I haven't really seen or felt very much of him in a long time. In fact, I was really glad that he called. But that voice….. I knew that tone well enough to know when to be submissive. Godric had punished my wilfulness enough during my early years that I learned soon enough when to back down.

I kept staring at the floor, waiting for him to speak or possibly strike me….i wasn't sure just how mellow he had gotten. Fingers crossed. He walked to me, taking my chin in his hand. It wasn't rough and our bond wasn't sparking with anger. Infact I could just barely feel it. I leaned into the gentle touch, one I have missed so much. "Eric…do you take me for that much of a fool? Do you think I've gone that soft or would you rather I prove you wrong?" Damn…. "I'm sorry. That was out of order. Forgive me master."

"We head for Ireland in two days. Isabelle has made arrangement, we will travel in coffins to Dublin and make out own way to Donegal. Be prepared and feed well" and with that he left his study. I stood up…thankful that all I suffered for my slip of the tongue was a telling off.

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Godric's POV

We were waiting at Dallas airport in our coffins. It was the only way to make such a long flight. Eric had been complaining no end about the situation but he needed to come too. Rose had said Roanne was important to him too. And as much as I didn't want to believe it…..Rose had yet to be wrong. She had helped me too many times….albeit reluctantly, but she was truthful and I trusted her.

"Please accept my condolences Mrs. Beaumont" I heard the human speak to Isabelle, who was shipping her dead relatives back to Ireland. I heard Eric snicker in the coffin beside and sent a rebuke through the bond. However, I too could see the funny side of it.

"Thank you Mr. Clement. You're too kind."

And that was that. Eric and I were loaded onto the plane in the luggage hanger.

"Do you think she'll be fat as an adult human?" Trust Eric to ask such a question. He was too vain for he own good sometimes. But I could understand his concern. He had bedded supermodels, royalty…..anybody he wanted really. He was beautiful after all. And here I was trying to convince him that he was destined to be with a plump little human who lived in the middle of the country in Ireland. I didn't blame his disbelief…. I did however get bored of his moaning. "Eric….I command you to shut up until we land in Ireland. Don't speak unless spoken to. Let me think". I heard a low grumble, but nothing else for the rest of the flight. It was rather peaceful.

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Eric's POV

Stupid Godric. I'd go because he asked me too but I wasn't buying all this bullshit. But if it makes Godric happy. So be it. I let the pull of the sun over the ocean take me to day rest.