Had I not already had a drink or two to calm my nerves, I would have sworn the air around Eric vibrated the moment he stepped into the room. I blinked at him, trying to steady myself. 

He wore a gray suit over a black shirt, and compared to the last time I'd seen him—especially compared to me—he looked disgustingly refreshed and... annoyingly good. Freshly showered, his damn hair perfectly in place, he exuded confidence and desirability. 

Sex on legs!, my buzzed brain supplied. 

Of course.

I, on the other hand, hadn't showered in... honestly, I'd lost track of the days. My hair was flat, my arm in an (admittedly unnecessary) sling, all while I was still wearing Isabel's ill-fitting, albeit snug and sexy looking clothes from Dallas. Eric clearly noticed, raising an eyebrow as he took in my appearance.

"Those aren't the clothes you left my hotel room with," was his first comment as he approached our table, which earned me a wide-eyed look from Sam and a flirtatious smile from Pam that seemed to say, "I like them."

I snorted.

"Gentleman that you aren't, you didn't exactly leave me any!" I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest. It may not have earned me any more respect (judging by Sam's even wider eyes), but I wasn't here to salvage my dignity. Though I wouldn't mind getting it back someday.

Eric's lips curled into a smile at my remark, a deep rumble escaping his chest that was almost like a cat's purr as he eyed me up and down. "I suppose I didn't, did I?" There wasn't the slightest hint of an apology in his tone. If anything, he sounded almost proud. 

"Eric? Sam has a favor to ask."I decided to ignore his jab and turned to Sam.

I wasn't about to include myself in that favor, which Eric noticed as I felt his eyes study me for another moment before lazily turning his attention to Sam, lounging across from him. Deep in the recesses of my mind, I could hear a memory of my late grandmother's voice scolding me, "Sit up straight, child; lounging is for laying about at home."

Suppressing the urge to correct Erics posture in the same manner (which I was certain wouldn't go over well), I cleared my throat and watched the scene unfold before me. My gaze kept flicking to Coby and Lisa, who were watching Eric with a mix of interest, fascination, and fear. Like just about everyone else in the room.

"What are you doing here..." Eric's voice was more than cold as he addressed Sam, "Shapeshifter?"

I nearly sprayed the table with half my bourbon coming out my nostrils. You'd think I'd forgotten how to drink like a normal human. Sam's eyes narrowed, clearly offended, while I struggled to regain my composure as I processed the gesture. Did that mean Sam was literally a shapeshifter? I felt  the world tilting yet again on its axis, as another reality I'd taken for granted crumbled. Was anything as it seemed anymore? Didn't anyone think it necessary to keep me in the loop? Shapeshifters were real, too, on top of witches? What was next, Bigfoot?

Eric turned his head toward me, offering an exaggeratedly sympathetic look. "Seems like you didn't bother to fill in your waitress. Isn't that a breach of some employment contract or something?"

Now it was my turn to growl. 

First of all, I didn't appreciate being referred to as Sam's waitress. While technically true, I was more than just his waitress. I had a name. And a somewhat personal relationship with the vampire, who had to referred to me as Sam's waitress, was currently eyeing me like I was a speck of dirt. I felt like shaking him, especially since I could still feel how his tongue had traced along my neck not that long ago. 

The least he could do was use my name, god dammit. I felt the anger simmer inside me. 

But thanks to Eric's condescending tone and his pitiful attempt to play us against each other, I was quickly snapped back to reality and able to focus on what really mattered. I shot a reassuring smile at the worried-looking Sam before turning back to Eric with clenched teeth to keep myself from saying something I'd regret. The result was probably more of a grimace than a smile, but whatever

"Sam, tell him what you want," I said sweetly, though it was more of a hiss. I just wanted out of here now. 

Sam pulled himself together.

"Eric, I'm here because I need your help. Because we need your help."

I stiffened. 

Great. 

Now he'd dragged me into it after all. I wasn't exactly thrilled about it and was tempted to jump across the table and strangle Sam. Letting my eyes shoot daggers at him, he avoided my gaze. He kept talking, undeterred. "And hopefully, one day, I'll be able to give you something you want in return."

A dangerous glint appeared in Eric's eyes, the kind I'd learned by now, which meant nothing good. Especially when paired with the change in his body language. Where he had seemed only half-interested before, scanning the room, he now straightened and focused entirely on Sam. 

"Can you give me Sookie Stackhouse?" His tone was casual, but Pam's eye roll at Eric's demand made it clear he wasn't joking. What was it with those two? Sam's eyebrows furrowed in disgust and rejection, his answer came swift and clear "No."

Eric's interest seemed to wane almost instantly. "Well, that's a shame." He turned his gaze slightly toward me, so that he could look me directly in the eyes as he continued. "That would've been a tribute, I wouldn't soon forget."

Now what the hell was that supposed to mean? 

In the dim light of the bar, his blue eyes glowed even more intensely, and I could hear myself gulp as I was mesmerized by his eyes. I felt exposed because Eric's desire for Sookie had, as much as I hated to admit it, a hot surge of jealousy burning in my chest. That treacherous heart of mine roared and beat against the confines of my ribcage. Erics eyes stayed glued to mine, reading every last emotion I tried to conceal. 

He had just tried to make a deal with my boss for a human being, for God's sake, and here I was almost envious of that human? Then again, I was like, right there infront of him, the mark he'd left on my skin still pulsing beneath my clothes and he wasn't even attempting to bargain for me. 

I shouldn't feel hurt by that. 

I knew that. 

Truly. 

I was smart. My whole body just seemed to simply refuse to listen to reason with that vampire and I had no idea why. 

Fortunately, Sam kept talking, officially diverting the attention back to himself, allowing me to hide behind my nearly empty glass. After that disastrous interaction, I at least managed to studiously ignored Eric's sidelong glances.

"I'm not here to pay tribute, Eric.", Sam barked.

Eric cut him off harshly: "No, you're here to ask me for a favor, one I might hypothetically call in sometime in the distant future. Why should I agree to that?" He laid out the facts, anger coating his voice, his challenging gaze returning to me. 

Admittedly, when he put it like that, it didn't sound great. 

Sam looked a bit lost as well, glancing at me for help, but I deliberately looked away. I was not going to intervene. Not yet. Sam had gotten us this far; he could hopefully get us out of this mess himself. I intended to be the last resort, the emergency plan. My skin began to tingle the longer I stood in the center of attention—and my glass was empty again.

Sam tried again, hoping to win Eric over with a gesture of trust, but Eric continued to eye me like a predator sizing up its prey.

Damn it, I wasn't the one trying to strike a deal with him—Sam was. So why was I the one being stared down? I stood abruptly, intending to head to the bar for another glass of bourbon and escape the awkward situation (and mostly Erics stares that had me feel like I was being stripped naked infront of him) but Eric saw right through it.

"Ginger. Bourbon," he barked, and the poor blonde behind the bar snapped to attention, nearly tripping over her own feet to bring me a another one. I smiled apologetically at her, thanking her before sulking as my excuse to leave was taken away. At least I had more alcohol.

I felt Eric give me a final once-over before finally sitting up straight and leaning forward towards Sam.

"I have no knowledge of this Maenad creature," he began, speaking just low enough that I had to lean in too, to catch his words. "Though I suspect it's that bull-headed figure that passed through the woods a few weeks ago."

Suddenly, Pam sprang to life again, hands on her hips in outrage.

"That thing owes me a pair of shoes!"

My head shot up, sizing up Pam. Maybe there was an alternative after all?

Technically, we didn't have to convince Eric per se, to help our cause. Having any vampire's help would be beneficial. Maybe it would be enough to win Pam over. Some people are motivated by  a from destruction, mayhem and favors, and others, it seemed, by a nice pair of shoes. I wasn't here to judge; I was just relieved that Pam seemed to be on our side, if only to revenge a ruined pair of pumps. A debt, easily paid: If the price was literally just a pair of new, gleaming shoes, I'd personally get them for her and break them in, if I had to.

Suddenly, the situation didn't seem quite as hopeless as it had a moment ago. I was almost ready to shout, "All right then!" and link arms with Pam to leave the bar. Even though she had threatened to turn me into a fashionable leather bag at our last meeting, I would have preferred her company over the inscrutable and continuously scrutinizing Eric right now. 

Over and over, he kept looking at me. And each time, he chipped away at the walls I was holding up against him, painstakingly and with waining strength. I had let my guard down in Dallas for one small moment only to end up in his bed (literally) and now my traitorous body recognized him. Wanted him back. Remembered what had happened and the promises of what  could happened. It was humming in anticipation around Eric, no matter how much I tried to argue with my brain that this was not only a bad but probably one of the worst ideas I'd ever had. That I should just get some of that build up sexual tension out of my system any way possible but as far away from Eric Northman as I could imagine. However, my body was a literal bitch in heat, unable to follow my demands. 

Since I had been kicked out of that hotel room, I had been in a state of shimmering arousal clawing its way through my body beneath my skin. I thought time had dosed its affects, however being in Erics vicinity had lit it aflame once more. 

Don't be an idiot, this can never happen! 

There was just too much history. Too many promises, too much death, too many... emotions. In his presence, I felt like I was losing control. So, if it were up to me, I'd choose the murderous Barbie with a penchant for pumps. But Sam, unfortunately, clearly wanted Eric.

"Can you help us or not?"

Great. There it was again. "Us." I took another sip eyeing the distance to the door. 

Eric hadn't missed that either, his gaze snapping back to me.

"I know someone who might be able to contribute something useful. Possibly. With the right motivation."

A deal with the devil—just as I had suspected. Have I mentioned how much I dislike the way Eric looks at me? Once? Twice? I should probably say it again. I could almost see the gears turning in his head, and judging by the way he was eyeing me, his plan had something to do with me. I couldn't take it any longer. My muscles tensed as I prepared to stand, taking a deep breath to excuse myself from this little gathering.

But then, bless his heart, Coby interrupted us. The little boy at my right had leaned forward curiously. "Can I see your fangs?"

Eric looked down at him,  his fangs snapping into place, causing Lisa to lean back uneasily, her hands clasped tightly to her chest. Immediately, a surge of protectiveness shot through me, something I hadn't even known I had, sobering me up in an instant.

When Eric then turned his attention to Lisa and asked, "Don't you like vampires, little girl?" my patience snapped, as did Sam's.

"Eric!" Sam reprimanded, while I wrapped a protective arm around Lisa and hissed, "Back off."

Our reactions seemed to amuse Eric, and he continued to gaze at her challengingly. A strange, primal noise I didn't recognize as my own escaped from my throat. I... growled. Surprised, Eric glanced from Lisa to me, eyebrow raised. I looked equally bewildered until Lisa, almost to her own peril, began to babble, diverting our attention back to the kids.

"Our almost-stepdad hated vampires." Erics raised eyebrow face turned to hers, at this unexpected honesty, and thankfully Lisa kept talking, softening her previous words. "But we don't."

Coby chimed in, "He's on vacation with Jesus."

The atheist in me, combined with the alcohol and the release of tension, made me laugh involuntarily. Even Eric retracted his fangs, and I could almost swear I saw the hint of an unwilling smile graze his ever stoic features. Pam looked down at the children the way I used to look at my art homework—confused and slightly irritated.

"You're making me so glad I never had any of you," she declared.

To my surprise, Eric disagreed.

"Oh, come on, Pam, they're funny," he said, still watching the kids. "They're like humans, just in miniature." His voice took on a nearly soothing sing-song quality that I couldn't help but find comforting. "Teacup humans!"

Pam rolled her eyes again, a gesture she seemed to reserve especially for Eric.

"I hate them. They're so stupid!" she declared, causing me to place my hands on my hips in outrage. How could she say such a thing in front of the children?

"But delicious," Eric countered, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

I burst out laughing, only to quickly slap a hand over my mouth. It wasn't funny at all. In fact, it was cruel, and considering we were in the presence of vampires, it could very well be the truth. Yet, deep down, I couldn't bring myself to believe that Eric would actually eat children. Kill everyone around him in the most cruel way imaginable? Possible. But for whatever reason, he never seemed unnessary cruel, but more overly righeous. He seemed to draw a line at children.

At the sound of my laughter, Eric's head whipped around, a gleam of excitement in his eyes, and I changed my mind, because let's be honest, my judgement in people (or vampires) hadn't exactly been good. I jumped up, grabbed Coby by the hand, and nudged Lisa out of the booth.

"Eric, you can't say that in front of the kids!"

Our little group fell silent at once, the only sound being the music still playing in the background. But everyone stared at me as if I were the one who had lost it –  not Eric. Desperately, I looked to Sam, who also regarded me with confusion.

Eric however looked at me with intrigue, surprise flashing in his eyes, though he was trying hard to mask it with indifference.

"I didn't...", he answered, measuring me. 

I wanted to poke him in the chest with my finger and argue, "I heard you loud and clear" but Sam cleared his throat, breaking the tension that had been building in the room, almost palpable in the air.

"So, can you call this other person, or..." Sam let the sentence hang, steering the conversation back to the matter at hand.

"It's better if we visit. But we need to leave immediately."

Even though he was speaking to Sam, Eric didn't look at him for a second. Instead, he let me drown in the blue of his eyes, still analyzing, still taking me in. All of me. Maybe it would have been better if I had just packed my bags and left like I had originally intended after James revelation in Dallas. Then again, I would maybe have raised more suspicions than I had now?

But it would all be over soon. I would do this one last thing – for Coby, who I had promised to be there for him if his mother couldn't – and then I'd drop of the face of the earth like all those times before. 

"No problem, I'll walk you out," Sam said, snapping me out of my thoughts and away from Erics lingering ganz, seemingly eager to leave the bar as well. He stood and headed for the exit. I swallowed hard, seemingly forgetting how to walk. Sam grabbed me by the elbow and pulled me along, while I could hear Pam call out after Eric, "Good, get those awful things out of here. I'll be smelling them for weeks."

Eric laughed at Pam's rant, while I marveled at Sam's detached expression. "Do you think it's okay for him to talk about the kids like that in front of them?" I whispered, surprised, into Sam's ear, who looked at me, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"The insults, and saying they'd taste good?"

Sam looked at me as if I had lost my mind. And after everything, I was beginning to wonder that myself.  

As we step outside the club, still warm but comparatively crisp night air surrounded us and I took a deep breath, relieved. The summer days had become so unbearably hot that I almost looked forward to the still-too-hot nights. I was about to head toward the truck with the kids and Sam, but Eric caught me by the elbow.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I stopped, confused.

"Home? To shower, for starters?"

I gestured at myself and sighed. 

Please let that be ketchup from the bar on my shirt and not some dried up crusty blood...

"Slip into my own clean clothes again?" I mumbled on, then paused as I took in Eric's expression. There it was again.

Eric grinned broadly. "That's not the deal."

I must have looked as bewildered as I felt, but everyone else simply ignored it. Eric added, with a mischievous gleam in his eye, "Besides, you look much better without clothes anyway."

He was trying to throw me off balance, but I was too exhausted for that kind of nonsense. "I'm tired, Eric. Let me go."

He released my elbow at my request, rocking back on his heels.

"Okay, then let your town go to hell for all I care." he hummed, staring up at the night sky as if it held the secrets of the universe. I stopped in my tracks.

"But you just said..."

"I just said we need to leave quickly."

He emphasized the word *we* this time, and as the penny finally dropped, I glared at Sam. "You son of a bitch, you knew it would come to this!"

Sam looked down at his shoes, a little guilt creeping into his expression. He wasn't willing to barter Sookie, but me? Apparently, I was not there to butter Eric up, but to be handed over as a bargaining chip. Fair game, Eric's second choice—how humiliating. 

I gritted my teeth and marched back to Eric, equally pissed off of Sam now. Eric however, looked far too pleased with himself.

"Don't worry lover. I'll be gentle!" he winked at me suggestively as I reluctantly clung to him, crossing my arms behind his back. If he were human, I would have broken his ribs with the force I used.

"I won't," I growled angrily, which only made Eric laugh out loud. He leaned past me toward Coby and Lisa, whispering conspiratorially, "Goodnight, tiny humans," before wrapping his arms around me and vanishing into the night.