A/N: What might have happened if Eric was the first vampire Sookie met, and they met on their own terms, without the shadow of murders hanging over them? Read on to find out.

As Dawn and I threw out the unused bottles of synthetic blood, I mourned the waste. "It seems such a shame," I said. "All that money Sam spent, all just going down the drain. I hoped we'd get a vampire out here, even in Bon Temps. I'd surely love to meet one."

"I've met a few," she said casually. "I go to a bar sometimes, in Shreveport. It's owned by a vampire. Actually, I'm going tomorrow night – you're welcome to join me, if you want."

I was surprised by her offer, as Dawn and I weren't close friends, or anything, just co-workers at the bar, Merlotte's. But I'd been curious to meet a vampire ever since the Great Revelation, a few years back, so I considered. "Sure," I said finally. "I'd like that. If you like, I'll drive, so you can have a drink. I'm not a big drinker, so I don't mind."

She gave me a big smile. "Thanks, Sookie. That would be great. Come by my place at eight?"

I nodded, and we made arrangements. I went home with a smile on my face.

"I'm going out this evening, Gran," I told my grandmother the next morning. "Dawn's invited me to go with her to a bar in Shreveport, owned by a vampire."

"Oh, my! You must tell me all about it," she said with a smile. "It'll be good for you to get out of the house, too. Are you excited?"

"Excited and nervous. But more excited than nervous," I said honestly.

"Well, you just take care, Sookie. Are you driving?"

"Yes, ma'am. I said I would, so Dawn can have a drink."

She looked pleased. "That was thoughtful of you. I hope you have a good time, Sookie. Don't be out too late."

It was a bit strange being carded (I hadn't been carded in years), but once we were inside, the club wasn't all that different to a normal club, though the décor was a bit of a cliché – all red and black. Everyone except me seemed to be in black, black and revealing. In my white dress with red flowers, I stood out like a candle in a coal mine. Or, I thought nervously, like Little Red Riding Hood in the forest. I slammed my shields right up; the last thing I needed was to pick up on the kind of thoughts I just knew folks would be having in here.

Dawn and I headed for the bar, where she ordered a Screaming Orgasm for herself (I tried not to wince on behalf of the barman at how obvious a come-on that was, especially when Dawn leaned forward with what I guessed was meant to be a suggestive smirk), and a soda for me.

"Ice and lemon?" asked the bartender, a Native American with long, wavy hair.

"Yes, please."

He gave me a sharp-toothed smile. "Anything for you, pretty lady."

I smiled back politely as Dawn paid (she insisted on buying the first round), and we sipped our drinks, surveying the crowds. She pointed out some of the vampires she'd met; I discovered that the barman's name was Long Shadow, and the two vampires up on the raised stage were the owner, Eric Northman (Viking sex god, according to Dawn's mind), who was lounging on an honest-to-goodness throne, and Pam Ravenscroft, his business partner. She was petite and beautiful, with a milkmaid-sweet face. They both looked utterly bored.

Dawn excused herself to go to the Ladies' once we'd finished our drinks, and I felt horribly exposed for a while, until the music changed to a favourite song of mine by Buena Vista Social Club. It seemed a little out of place, but I didn't mind; my body was already moving gently, swaying with the music. To my surprise, I found my hand taken in a cool, large one, and I was tugged into a dance hold.

I looked up (and up and up); it was the man – vampire – from the throne. I hadn't realised just how tall he was – about six and a half feet – with a shoulder-length mane of blond hair and bright blue eyes. He moved with grace and elegance; I was envious of the snake-like movement of his hips, far better than my own. "You like to dance?" he asked me, as he led me through the moves.

"I love dancing," I smiled.

"You have a talent for it," he complimented me.

"So do you," I replied. "I don't think I've danced with a better leader."

I'm not kidding, he smouldered at me, just as if he'd walked out of a romance novel. "I have many talents, Miss…?"

"Stackhouse. Sookie Stackhouse," I told him.

"Sookie…" he said thoughtfully. "An unusual name. I am Eric."

"Pleased to meet you," I said politely.

He looked vaguely amused. "Well, aren't you sweet."

"Not especially," I said with some asperity.

To my surprise, he threw his head back and laughed. His eyes sparkled with mirth, though I had no idea what it was I'd said that was so funny. The arm that was around me held me a little closer, his other hand tightened slightly, and he smiled down at me, clearly still amused. "This is your first time at my bar? I would have remembered if you had been before."

"Yes, I came with a friend."

"Male?" his tone was frostier.

"Ah, no, a friend from work. Well, co-worker, really. She asked if I wanted to tag along."

"She has been before, then."

"Yes, she's been a few times."

He gazed into my eyes. "You will be coming here again." It sounded like an order, not a question, and I got a funny tickly feeling in my mind.

"I guess I might," I said slowly.

He frowned, as if puzzled. I wondered if maybe he thought he could just order people around, and they would do his bidding – the throne rather suggested that might be the case. The tickly feeling increased, and his frown deepened. I risked lowering my shields just as he said (with some effort), "I hope you will be coming back."

I gasped. "I can't hear you," I said, astounded.

"I said, I hope you will be coming back," he gritted out.

"Oh! Sorry, I wasn't clear, I heard that," I said. "I meant I couldn't hear your thoughts."

He ended the dance with a slow, low dip, then pulled me upright. He gave me a strange look. "Come," he said, tugging me along behind him towards a private booth.

He beckoned over one of the servers. "O negative. For you?" he inquired of me.

"Just a soda, thanks, I'm driving."

"And a soda." He took a long, hard look at me. "Ice and lemon." The server kind of bowed, and scurried off. He gazed at me for a long uncomfortable minute. "You are a telepath?" he asked finally.

"Yes."

"But you cannot read vampires?"

I shook my head. "No. At least, I guess not. I've never met a vampire before tonight. I had my shields up until just now, so I don't know if it's the same for you all, or just you."

He gazed at me contemplatively. "It would be wise if you did not try too hard," he said. "Vampires are… private. Many vampires would be greatly uncomfortable if you had that ability. It would not be… safe."

I shivered. "Right, well…" I tried to shrink back in my seat.

"But you could not read my thoughts, correct?"

"No, I couldn't," I said, and couldn't help but smile. "It was wonderful," I added. "The silence, I mean."

"They say silence is golden," he said, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly into a smile.

"I don't get much of that," I said ruefully.

"You hear thoughts all the time, then?" he asked curiously. "I don't believe I've met a telepath before – I'm curious as to how it works. Must you be in the same room? Close by, touching? How do the 'shields' you mention work?"

I stared at him for a good long while. "You really want to know about that?"

He looked surprised. "Yes. It is something new to me, unknown. I like to discover new things, learn new things. I find myself interested."

"Okay," I said dubiously. "It's just…" he was looking at me patiently. I took a deep breath. "Most people… they hear I'm a telepath, and they look at me like I'm some kind of freak. It's… it's a bit… different, for someone to be just, just interested, and not… well, recoil in horror."

He chuckled. "Humans, so afraid of what they don't understand."

"I guess it's been the same for vampires – being treated like outsiders?" I asked tentatively.

He shrugged. "In some ways, yes, there are similarities. But tell me about your telepathy. Have you had it all your life?"

I found myself talking to Eric, telling him about my telepathy, and far from recoiling, he seemed fascinated by it. I have to say, it felt amazing to have someone to talk to about my 'curse' – or 'gift', as Eric called it – who was interested rather than horrified, asked intelligent questions, and also happened to look as though he'd stepped out of a romance novel.

"I wonder," he said thoughtfully, "that you do not use your telepathy for income. It is a valuable asset. I would certainly be interested in being able to call on a telepath, and would pay you well."

"I've never thought anyone would want to pay for it," I said honestly. "I normally try to hide it from people. Easier to fit in," I added.

He smiled faintly. "Fitting in has its downsides as well. But I meant what I said; if you would agree to use your telepathy for me, I would make it very much worth your while." He gave me a bone-melting smile. I was left in no doubt what he meant by that, and firmly tamped down my smile.

"I might consider it," I said cautiously, deliberately not saying what I was taking him up on. I felt at ease with him, and was enjoying the flirtation.

His eyes twinkled, as if he knew I was playing hard to get, and was enjoying the game, sure enough of himself to be sure of winning eventually. "If you're able to come back in a week's time, I can have a draft contract ready for you."

"I don't want to give up my current job," I warned him. A steady income wasn't something to be taken lightly, and Sam was a good boss, and a good friend.

If he was disappointed, he didn't show it. "I was thinking of something a bit more ad hoc than that," he said smoothly. "But if there is a formal agreement it is better for everyone."

"I guess so. Okay; I'll come back next week." I suspected that was what he was after all along, but as I wanted the same thing, I didn't see that there was any harm in it.

He gave me yet another of those smiles that made me want to clamber onto his lap and run my hands down his chest. "I look forward to it."

Oh, so do I, Eric, I thought. So do I.

A/N: in case anyone's wondering, the name of the song is 'Chan Chan', and I envisaged them dancing Bachata to it. Thinking of Eric dancing Bachata makes me purr.