A/N: I do not own any characters or the world of True Blood, but I do like to play in it.

I've been itching to get this one out since the season ended, but had too many writing projects going at once. This is my version of what happens after the end of Season 3. I'll be borrowing from the established canon of the TV show, though bits from the books might slip in every now and again where appropriate.

"You're not alone, come with us." Claudine stood in the cemetery, her face a mask of hope, hand outstretched invitingly. As the statuesque faerie waited to see what Sookie would choose, more of the fae stepped out of the mist, each glowing brighter as they moved closer to the pair.

Sookie was tempted, sorely tempted to take that hand, knowing what lie behind it. That sense of peace and joy and contentment. Would it really be as easy as all that to let go of her misery? Moving a hesitant step closer, a soft glow emanated from her own hand in kind. Leave it all behind… it sounded so simple. No more vampires, no more drama. She could dance all day long and… what was the word? Frolic. That seemed to sum up her time with the fae the best. She took another step closer to the beautiful faerie, and another.

The glow grew brighter between them and Claudine's expression shifted to one of triumph.

"Sookie?"

The deep voice called her back to reality and Sookie turned to find Alcide standing at the edge of the path, his eyes wide with surprise and perhaps a little fear at finding her among a group of glowing beings. "What the…"

"Sookie come with me now." Claudine's face betrayed her impatience.

Alcide obviously didn't understand all of what he was seeing, but it was enough to draw his brows together into a single dark line. "Come away from her, come on here to me, Sookie." He held out his hand and Sookie felt like one of those dogs being called by both old master and new master alike.

With a heavy heart she turned back to face him, eyes shiny with unshed tears. "I can't. This is the only way."

"What are you goin on about? There ain't nothing that's been done that can't be fixed." He gave her an earnest smile.

Sookie took in his good, honest features and knew that he believed the words he was saying. But she knew that he didn't understand, couldn't understand how she felt. Not really. No one could. Her Gran had always said that you can take the measure of a man by walking a mile in his shoes. But no one knew what it was to walk in her skin; except maybe Barry the bellhop over in Dallas. Even he hadn't wanted to get to know too much about her, fearing being found out for sharing her gift of telepathy. Her 'gift' had set Sookie apart in this world, but maybe it would bring her closer to others in the faerie realm? "

"You wouldn't say that if only you knew." Fat tears ran down Sookie's cheeks. "I don't want to be alone anymore." She took another step closer to Claudine, who nodded her approval. All around them the other faerie folk began to disappear with a shimmer of brilliant light.

"You ain't got to feel alone Sookie. There's plenty of people right here that care about you." The way he said it made Sookie feel like he meant himself, even though he couched it in more general terms.

"This is none of your concern, Wolf in human clothing." Claudine's eyes blazed.

Sookie's hand dropped to her side with a startled gasp. Just what was going on there?

"There is very little time, you must come with me now." Claudine gave her a desperate smile, taking a step closer when Sookie did not approach on her own.

"Hey now, Sookie ain't goin nowhere she don't want to." Alcide was instantly at Sookie's other side, drawing her into the protective shelter of his arm.

"Alcide I'm just fine." Sookie protested, starting to get a funny feeling about why Claudine seemed so hell bent on getting her to come to faerie land. "I think I'll pass for now, thanks all the same." She said politely to the woman she knew so very little about.

A flicker of something passed over the fae's pretty features, but she recovered quickly. "Very well. But I will not be far. You have only to call for me if you change your mind and I will come."

"That's real nice of you." Sookie smiled, easing when she didn't seem to take offense. "Just call out your name?"

"Of course not silly." Claudine smiled, producing a card out of thin air. "If I don't answer, just leave a message." She pressed the card into Sookie's hand. "I must go. Take good care of our girl." The last might have been a threat for the note of steel in her voice s she met Alcide's eye, and then she too vanished in a shower of sparks.

"Lord a'mercy." Sookie breathed at the sudden departure and then looked down at the card that gleamed in the uncertain light. It bore a phone number and nothing else. Who woulda thought that a phone call could make it through to the other side?

"You alright?" Alcide rumbled at her side, his hand rubbing her bare shoulder in a soothing manner.

"Yeah, I reckon so." Sookie gave him a tremulous smile, her emotions still a little out of whack. "What are you doin' out here in the middle of the night?" His body blazed with heat, and she was grateful for it as she hadn't exactly been thinking straight when she'd run out of the house.

Alcide shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and dropped the arm around her shoulders. "I was worried about you."

Sookie instantly missed the warmth of his embrace and shivered. "I thought you were doin' something for Eric." It hurt to even say his name, to think of what she's suffered at his hands and Bill's.

Catching the shiver, he shrugged off his coat and slipped it around her. "I'm done doing things for Eric now. My father's debt is wiped clean and I don't have to take orders from bloodsuckers no more." His voice was almost a growl at that last.

"You and me both." Sookie agreed wholeheartedly, immediately sticking her arms through the sleeves, savoring the body heat that lingered there.

He chuckled at that. "Come on, I'll walk you home and you can tell me all about it or not."

A grateful smile was given, and not for the first time Sookie thought on how much she enjoyed his easygoing nature. "I've had better nights is all. The less said about it the better." She swallowed, the heartbreak returning like a lump to her throat.

"You got it chere." Alcide agreed easily enough. They walked back to her house in companionable silence, Sookie lost to her own private thoughts. "Hows about I make you somethin' hot to drink? Your hands feel like you been jugglin' ice cubes." He grinned, giving her hands a little squeeze.

Truth be told they were cool by comparison to his, and Sookie was grateful to have someone worry about her needs for a change. "I wouldn't say no to that." She nodded, leading him into the house.

Once inside, he deposited her on the couch and pulled the crocheted afghan hanging on the back of the sofa down around to tuck her in. Feeling a little like a child home sick from school, she let him fuss over her, a faint smile returning to her lips.

"You got some wood outside?" He looked to the empty hearth, the corners of his mouth tugging into a frown.

"No. Jason was talkin' about bringin' over a load from his place, but he ain't got around to it yet." A roaring fire was one of life's true pleasures, she'd always thought, but it was a luxury she couldn't always afford on her salary.

"That don't seem right." His frown spread to a furrow across his forehead.

"Sorry, but that's all I got to work with." A half shrug was given.

He seemed to accept that and departed for the kitchen and Sookie heard him banging around in there as he looked for everything. Briefly she considered getting up to show him herself but reckoned he'd just shoo her away after going through all the trouble of covering her up in the first place.

It was nice having a body looking after her. Not since her Gran was alive had someone offered to fix her a hot drink on a chilly night. Bill had fussed over her in his own way, being fond of brushing her hair and braiding it for her, but it never occurred to him to help her fix a meal. She'd always gotten the impression that it had been vaguely distasteful to him to watch her eat or drink, though he'd never come right out and said so.

But Alcide definitely knew his way around a kitchen; she'd seen that first hand in the brief time she'd stayed with him. Idly she wondered if he would return with a hot cup of tea or coffee or something else. To her memory he was a coffee drinker, but that didn't mean he would remember her tastes. While she did enjoy coffee in the morning to wake up, she only drank it at night when she wanted to stay up. Now that she'd broken ties with the vampire community, she supposed she wouldn't be drinking coffee nearly as much.

"Hope you don't mind, I raided the cupboard a bit." Alcide returned with a lopsided grin, her grandmother's heirloom serving tray in his hands. She'd had it put away up high since it was made of silver.

"Not at all." Sookie smiled widely, sitting a little higher on the sofa, eager to see what he'd brought. On the tray were two mugs of what looked like hot chocolate and a small plate of Oreo cookies that looked like a couple might have already been missing. A quick look confirmed the light dusting of dark crumbs on his lapel and she reached up to brush them off as he sat down beside her. "Silver don't bother you?

"Naw, not to touch." He shook his head, offering the mug to her so she could grasp the handle. "Get it lodged in me sure, but as long as you don't attack me with it I reckon it'll be fine."

Sookie smiled at that, "Not too much danger of that unless you get fresh with me." She teased. It felt nice to sit there with him and unwind after the rollercoaster day she'd had. After blowing on the steaming mug, she brought it too her lips and took the tiniest sip, surprised by the bite of alcohol she tasted. "Peppermint schnapps?" Her brows rose.

"Yeah, I thought you could use a little jolt to steady your nerves. You and me both." He took a deep drink, not seeming to mind the temperature of the hot liquid.

"What do you have to be nervous about?"

"About not getting' fresh with you." Alcide quipped and she wasn't quite sure if he was serious or not.

"Alcide…" Sookie began; her voice low and reasonable.

"No, you ain't got to worry chere. I ain't gonna hit on you, not tonight. You been through too much to take advantage of you in this state. But that don't mean I won't be back another day." His eyes blazed with intensity before his easygoing manner returned.

Sookie almost wished he would take advantage of her; it would be a wonderful distraction. There was no doubt in her mind that sex would be hotter than Satan's britches between them, she'd already been powerful tempted to kiss him on occasion but the timing had never been right for either of them. He was handier than a pocket on a shirt to have around and sexy as all get out; but truth be told, she needed a break from men. A good long break. But that didn't mean she was ready to burn that bridge.

"I really hope someday you will." She replied earnestly. "And I hope it's at a time when we're both willin' and able to do somethin' about it." Meaning he was well and truly over Debbie and she had managed to purge all vampires from her heart.

"I hope so too." With that settled between them, Alcide leaned back against the sofa, and Sookie leaned into the crook of his arm comfortably. There wasn't any need for fancy conversation; they just soaked up each other's presence.

Gradually the warmth and the alcohol began to do their trick and Sookie's eyelids grew heavy. Gently, he took the empty mug from her nerveless fingers and gathered her into his arms, lifting her easily. It wasn't hard to find her bedroom and Alcide laid her gently on top of the coverlet. After slipping off her shoes, he stood there staring down at her, uncertain if he should attempt to undress her any further. In the end he decided not to take that liberty with her and instead pulled up the other side of the blankets, wrapping them around her like a taco.

"Sleep deep Sookie." He rumbled, pressing a faint kiss to her temple before leaving her to rest, pulling the door firmly shut behind him.

Sookie awoke to the smell of cooking bacon, and as she looked up at the ceiling; she wondered if Tara had decided to go all out and make breakfast for once? Normally Tara wasn't much of a morning person, and Sookie rarely saw her before noon when they were even both home at the same time. Idly she wondered when her friend had made it home. The last thing she remembered was talking to Alcide on the couch and it getting fairly late. Pulling back the covers, she was surprised to find herself still dressed and thought maybe the handsome Were had something to do with that? Running fingers through the tangle of her hair, she wandered out to the kitchen, stopping stock still at the sight of Alcide cooking up a storm and generally making him self at home.

"Good mornin' chere. Sleep good?" He grinned at seeing her, filling up a plate and setting it down at the table.

Sookie got over her shock and pulled up a chair, studying the home cooked meal with a rumble of hunger. He'd made bacon, scrambled eggs and toast. And to the right was a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries and brown sugar on top. It was enough food to feed a trucker though she supposed he could eat that and plenty more; he was a big man. "Yeah, a little too good, I forgot what was…" No, enough negativity… she stopped herself. "I admit I'm a little surprised to see you still here."

"Oh, well it was late and I didn't think you'd mind, me crashin' in your spare room." Alcide gave her a sheepish smile.

"No, it's fine, I don't mind, was just a little surprised is all. You gonna join me?"

"Naw, I already ate hours ago. I'm an early riser."

So this was all for her? A girl could get used to living like this… "You gonna hang around all day?"

"Tryin' to get rid of me already?"

Sookie shook her head vehemently, mouth full of eggs.

A chuckle rumbled deep from Alcide's chest. "No, I got to get back home before too long but I wanted to finish up some chores before I go.

With a swallow and a pat on the lips with a napkin, Sookie found her voice. "Chores? Alcide you don't got to do chores around here, you already been more than sweet to me with all you done so far."

Alcide gave a self deprecating shrug. "Ain't no big deal Sookie, I'm happy to do it if it makes things easier for ya."

Her eyes grew bright with unshed tears at that, and she took a bite of crispy bacon before she said something emotional at his kind nature. It was a fine day when a home cooked meal and a kind smile from a man nearly turned her into a watering pot, but there it was.

Uncomfortable with the display of female notions, Alcide edged closer to the door. "Well, I best get to it. I'll leave you to enjoy your breakfast." With a nod he was out the back door like a shot.

"Thanks again!" Sookie called out to his back, eating the rest of her breakfast in silence. There were still a couple of hours before she had to be in to work, so she didn't have to rush with anything.

Once she was done, Sookie set the breakfast dishes in the sink to soak. She looked out the window to find Alcide out back, splitting wood against the ancient stump that was there expressly for that purpose. Steam poured off of his bare chest in the chill of the morning air and she stared at him in open admiration while his muscles flexed with good honest labor. "Lord but that man is an eyeful…" She murmured.

Alcide looked up at that, catching her eye and Sookie froze, mortified. Had he somehow heard her? For a long moment they held each other's gaze before she was the first to look away. Leaving the dishes to sit, she retreated to the cool porcelain of her bathroom and took a long steamy shower to wash away any fool ideas she was entertaining.

Finally Sookie emerged from her bedroom dressed in a pair of shorts and a white boat necked shirt for work. She was bent over to tie her white sneakers when Alcide came in with an armload of wood, depositing it in the basket on the hearth.

"Well hug your neck, ain't you just the sweetest thing!" She beamed, straightening up with a smile a mile wide.

"I'm happy to do it." He said gruffly, a rush of color creeping up the side of his neck.

Sookie stood up on her tiptoes to drop a kiss on his rough cheek. As she started to pull back, Alcide chased after her mouth, covering her lips with his. Her soft gasp of surprise was swallowed by the kiss and just as she had resigned herself to moving closer to him he broke it, taking a hasty step backwards.

"Sorry, I'm all sweaty." He grumbled.

In that moment she didn't much care, but had to agree in the long run that it was for the best. "It's fine."

"I got to get goin." Alcide was already backing towards the door, catching up his shirt and tugging it on over his glistening flesh.

"Did you want to shower off before you go?" Sookie stepped after him, walking him to the door.

"Naw, I'm good. I'll see you soon Sookie." All of a sudden he seemed like he was in the biggest hurry to get out of there.

"Bye Alcide. Thanks for everything." Sookie leaned against the doorframe as he took the stairs two at a time on the way to his truck. He paused once the truck was between them and gave her a little half wave and a lopsided smile.

Hells bells men were hard to figure out!

A/N: Okay so I realize this seems more like a Sookie/Alcide pairing to begin with, but I swear I am an Eric fan all the way. I figured Alcide might be the one person who could talk her out of going off to faerie land seeing as how ticked off she is with the vamps at present. Don't worry, we'll get there!

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