-

MOURNING SEEMED TO BE a pastime in the Stackhouse siblings' life. From a young age, when Alex and Jason were 8 and Sookie was just a few years younger, they lost their grandfather Earl. Then, just a few years later, they lost both of their parents. A couple of cousins here and there, but their family had an unusual death rate.

Alex knew how to mourn, her way. Which was to drink and be around the people she loved. It was what she did.

Which is why, the next morning when Sookie told her she had people coming over, Alex was upset. She was sober in a room full of people where there were 6 people she actually loved.

Alex smiled lightly as people piled into her home, bringing food and Hallmark cards. She was sitting on a stool in the corner of the kitchen as Lafayette played with her hair. She hadn't spoken a single word since everyone started piling in. She just gave them curt nods and small smiles.

Maxine Fortenberry strolled through the kitchen, looking around. She was carrying what looked like a tuna casserole, the fifth tuna casserole Alex and Sookie had received that day.

"Oh, Ms. Fortenberry, you shouldn't have." Sookie gritted her teeth, looking up at the older woman who placed a hand on her heart. She gave a sympathetic smile as she patted Sookie's arm.

"You poor child. Oh, Alex, I'm so sorry for y'all's loss." Maxine glanced over at Alex who nodded in respect for her best friend's mother. She desperately wanted to see Hoyt instead, but he ended up having to go to work after he consoled her enough to fall asleep for about an hour.

"That's very kind of you, Gran often talked about you." Sookie gave her a weak smile and Alexandra snorted, Maxine turned to give her a glare. Adele always had a burning dislike for the woman that stood in front of Alex. She had always said any woman who kept her son locked up as much as she did, for the reason she did, wasn't much of a mother.

Tara grabbed the dish from Maxine's hands, and walked to the dining room, where all the other food was. There were piles of cornbread, desserts, casseroles. Usually, Alex would be all over the food but she couldn't even stomach water, let alone food.

Lafayette gave Alex's shoulder a pat, going to join his cousin in the dining room. Alex looked around, seeing all of the old people from Bon Temps crowd in the den and living room. She shook her head and sighed. Adele didn't even speak to most of them, yet, they still showed their faces at her house.

Instead of listening to Maxine ramble on, Alex hopped off of the stool. Her legs were wobbling slightly as she pushed through people to get to the back door. She closed it quietly, taking in a breath of fresh air.

Alex pulled the pack of golden cigarettes from her pocket, along with her lighter. She held the flame up to the tobacco stick until the end of it glowed bright orange. She was halfway finished with her cigarette, enjoying the quiet, when she heard footsteps coming around the back. She looked up to see Sam, standing there with a small smirk graced on his lips.

"When you're done, Tara wants you to come upstairs. Sookie almost bit Maxine's head off in there." He chuckled slightly, making Alex gave him a small smile. She stood, with help from Sam and slowly walked back inside.

-

"I shouldn't have lost it like that." Sookie's lips twitched into a frown as Alex lightly shut the door to her bedroom. She trudged over to her sister's bed, plopping down.

"Don't feel sorry for yellin' at that snoopy old bitch. She's been stickin' her nose where it don't belong for years." Tara smiled, grabbing Sookie's hand tightly. Alex leaned on the bed frame, her head fell onto her sister's shoulder.

"Say it." Lafayette hummed, "I mean, if she talked any more shit she'd be shaped like a toilet." Alex couldn't help but chuckle at his silly comment. She soon hushed down, seeing Sookie's uncomfortable look.

"I'm sorry," Lafayette's laughter ceased and he placed a hand on his chest. Sookie looked unnerved, "She's really gone." Alex placed a small chaste kiss on Sookie's forehead and stared off at the ceiling.

Alexandra's mind kept bringing up the night before. As if it hadn't replayed in her head a million times. Her gaze drifted over to Lafayette who held up a baggie of blue pills.

Alex was intrigued, she tilted her head slightly. "What's that?"

"Valium, you want one baby girl? It'll knock you out, let you get some sleep." Lafayette reached his hand in the crinkled bag, and plopped it into her hand. She instantly swallowed it, making him chuckle.

"I don't do drugs." Sookie politely refused, holding her hand up slightly. Tara let out a snort, she didn't understand how Sookie could be so innocent.

"Sook, relax. This ain't drugs, it's just a Valium." He held it out to her, she looked at the pill and then to Alex, and then back at the pill. "Well, I tell you what: put it on your nightstand, just in case you change your mind. I'm gonna go and check on the circlin' buzzards." Sookie obliged, sitting the pill on her nightstand.

Lafayette rolled off of the bed, brushing his pants off. He tucked the bag back into his pockets and Sookie looked up at him, grabbing Adele's last pecan pie from the bed.

"Lafayette?" Sookie raised her hand slightly, "Would you mind taking this downstairs for me?" She gulped and he placed a hand over his heart.

"I will guard it with my life." Lafayette gently took the pecan pie from her hands and walked out the door.

"Y'all want me to call anyone? Your cousin Hadley?" Tara questioned, looking between them. Alex scoffed, "No one has heard from Hadley in over a year. After popping pills, she ran away for the rehab that Gran paid for. No one even knows how to get ahold of her."

Tara nodded softly, "What about Bill? You wanna invite him?"

"Tara, he can't go." Sookie raised her eyebrows. Tara clicked her tongue, "Oh, right."

"It's not like you've known a lot of vampires. It kinda takes gettin' used to." She sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. Tara bit her bottom lip and leaned on her propped arm.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it." She shook her head and Sookie glared at her. "What? Not everyone is as open-minded as you and Alex. Shoot me. You guys should hear the things people are sayin'." Alex raised an eyebrow and gave Tara a slight smirk.

Does she realize who she's talking to?

"I do." Sookie simply said. Tara stared at her with wide eyes. "Bill did not kill my grandmother!" Alex just watched as they bantered, a spark of humor in her eye.

"Don't get all mad at me. Nobody's blaming Bill, exactly. But didn't you tell me he had scary ass friends?" Tara cocked her head and Alex looked over at Sookie.

For a second Alex thought Tara was talking about Eric. "Not all vampires are like that." She narrowed her eyes and scrunched her nose up, giving Tara a pointed stare.

"I'd lose it if anything happened to y'all. You know that, right?" Tara grabbed Alexandra's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Tara, last night was so horrible. I don't know how I would've gotten through it if it weren't for Bill. I don't know how to explain it exactly, but it's like I almost feel normal." Sookie explained, and Tara nodded. The room stayed silent for a moment before the door was ripped open, it gave a loud thud as it connected with the wall behind it.

Alex jumped up, seeing Jason with an awful look in his eyes. He stared at the three girls for a few moments and she could tell by his heavy breathing and the sweat dripping off of his forehead, he was angry. Sookie stood up as well, going up to her brother, Alex saw his hand raise to hit her and she quickly pushed Sookie away.

Alex gripped Jason's arm, he cried out in pain. She twisted his arm behind his back. She could feel some kind of unusual strength running through her veins as she was able to keep Jason in that hold.

"What the fuck?" Tara abruptly stood up, going over to Sookie who had backed up to the point where her knees buckled and she was sitting on the bed.

"It's your fault! Gran is dead 'cause of you!" Jason yelled, pointing at Sookie with his free hand. He tried to get out of Alex's hold, and Alex was struggling to keep him in it.

"Get the fuck off me!" Jason screamed, breaking free of Alex's hold and sending her into the door with an inexplicable amount of force. Her back connected with the hardwood, and she could feel the door crack behind her. 

Pain shot up and down her back and she fell, slowly gliding down the broken door. Tara's eyes widened as Jason then lunged for Sookie, but Tara pushed him back, using all of her strength. "Don't you lay your hands on her!"

"She's fucking a vampire, Tara!" Jason's voice was like thunder and Alex took in a deep breath, trying to stop the searing pain that was shooting through her spine.

"Yeah, and that vampire was here for her when you weren't!" Tara shouted, pushing Jason back again, "You oughta be ashamed of yourself! Is that how you grandmother raised you? To beat on your own sister's? Look at you! I don't even recognize you anymore! Get the hell out of here!"

Tara placed her hands on his chest, giving him one last push that sent him out of the door. Alex had managed to crawl over to the end of Sookie's bed before Tara slammed the door shut.

Tara immediately crouched down, placing a hand on Alex's cheek. "Are you alright?" She asked, her voice shaking. Alex nodded, shutting her eyes tightly. She felt the tears flowing down her face and she angrily wiped them off. Sookie let out a heavy breath and reached over to her nightstand, grabbing the blue pill and swallowing it.

Tara got up from her knees, holding a hand out for Alex to grab. Alex took it graciously, groaning when she got pulled to her feet. Her gaze went from Sookie to Tara and she sniffled. "I'm gonna go lay down for a little bit." Tara nodded and watched as she walked across the hall to her old bedroom.

-

Alex shifted slightly, rolling over in her bed. The valium that Lafayette given her had kicked in almost as soon as she laid down. All of her pain was gone and she had woken up around two hours later. The sun was slowly going down as she tiredly glanced out of the window. She got up slowly, bending backwards until she heard a satisfying pop in her back.

Alex grabbed her phone and made her way downstairs. Her feet treaded lightly against the wooden panels, signaling to Tara and Lafayette she was awake. They gave her a warm smile and continued to sweep and clean up the mess that had been made from the visitors.

"Y'all didn't have to do that." Alex brought her hand to the back of her neck, her gaze leaning over to the flowers that were laying on the mantle.

"You just relax, we wanted to help you and Sook out." Lafayette swept the dirt up as Tara picked up the plastic plates and cups.

She slowly reached her hand up to the bouquet of yellow roses. She immediately knew who they were from and smiled warmly. "Hoyt came by. I told him you was asleep." Lafayette spoke, leaning the broom against the wall.

"Maybe I should go check on Sookie." Tara worriedly looked at the stairs, turning to Lafayette with a raised brow.

Lafayette chuckled, "Trust me, that child is dead to the world."

A smirk graced Alex's lips and she was about to speak before the front door slammed open and a figure which she was barely able to see ran up the stairs.

"What the fuck?" Tara yelled, running up the stairs along with Lafayette and Alex. They busted into her room to see Bill gripping Sookie's shoulders, shaking her violently.

"Sookie!" He called out and Alex grabbed Lafayette's arm, squeezing it tightly. She froze, and chills covered her arms when Sookie wasn't waking up. Suddenly, Sookie's eyes popped open and Alex placed a hand on her chest, letting out the breath she was holding in.

"Bill? What's wrong?" She sat up, rubbing her eyes lightly. Bill was speechless for a moment, his jaw dropped slightly as he ran his eyes over her face, searching for anything that could've been wrong.

"I thought-I just had a dream. That's all, you go back to sleep." Bill gave her a small smile and ran his hand over her head.

"But," Sookie placed a hand on his chest. Bill held a finger up, "I'm not going anywhere." She nodded and turned over, closing her eyes. Bill slowly moved his hands away, kneeling against her bed.

After Sookie had gone to sleep, Bill and Alex made their way downstairs. She heated him up a Tru Blood that Adele had bought after she unknowingly offered the vampire finger sandwiches. She joined Bill who was outside, after arguing with Tara about going outside with a vampire. He was standing with what looked like the dog Alex had seen around Merlotte's.

Alexandra handed Bill the synthetic blood, and leaned down, petting the dog lovingly. "Looks like you're a little far away from home, buddy. But I see you made a new friend, huh?" She cooed, giving the dog a kiss on his head. Bill glanced over, an amused look on his face.

Alex immediately stopped, clearing her throat and standing up. She felt at her pocket, she pulled out her car keys. "Can you tell them I'm leaving? I need to go home and take a shower." She lied, and Bill seemed to notice.

"Alexandra, you cannot be alone. You need to be here with Sookie, where I can protect you both." Bill argued, watching as the girl folded her arms and raised her eyebrows.

"I have my conceal and carry. I keep a gun in the house and in my car." Alex bit her bottom lip, debating on whether or not telling him she was going to go home and wait for Eric. Bill gave her an unimpressed look and she sighed, "I won't be alone."

"You're going to see Eric, aren't you?" The disapproval in his voice was prominent. Alex scoffed, scratching the back of her neck. "I take that as a yes. I know that he is very alluring, but Eric is far more dangerous than any serial killer. I promised Sookie I would watch after you as well."

"Eric is scary and brooding, but he makes me feel safe. I know you probably wouldn't understand, but it's like we have this bond. I don't know," Alex playfully kicked the dirt with her shoes, looking over at Bill.

Alex really didn't know how to explain it.

He studied her for a moment, she wasn't lying. The thought of Eric Northman treating a human anything other than a plaything or a human blood bag baffled him. He slowly nodded his head, "Go, I'll tell them you'll be safe."

Alex gave him a soft smile and a small hug before jogging over to her car. The vampire sent a worried gaze to the dog, scoffing when he let out a bark.

authors note
hey guys! please vote and comment, leave your love, criticism, anything below!

guys if you read these (which i hope you do) i would so appreciate it if you could share this book. i love this story and i would love for more people to read it and give their feedback or any comments! so please help me out!

OKAY listen i know it's been a while but hey it's an extra long chapter just to make up for it! also i just wanted to thank you all so much for the support i have been getting here recently on this book, honestly it makes me so happy that you guys like it.

i don't really write anymore but when i try to write this story everything just flows so easily and i love it. it's not the best writing but i am having a good time so i am gonna continue and hope it gets better haha!

thank you for all of the votes and comments we have gotten so far!

love mack