Tara gasped for air. Her vision was blurring to the point where everything looked like spots of color. She was going to die today. She was going to die, and her life was a mess. She wasn't able to resolve things with Eric, or get passed Sam's animosity; she wouldn't get to tell Sookie how much she meant to her, or that she considered her to be her only true family. Jason would constantly wonder if she forgave him for Eggs death. She did. Alcide, he was a new addition to her life, a pleasant one. Lafayette, the one blood relative she could always count on, he was more than just her cousin. They were not the most outwardly affectionate people, and she wondered if he knew how much she loved and appreciated him. There was so much she needed to do and say to those she loved; now she wouldn't get the chance. She wished she would've been more open. Her defenses always hindered her in the end. She wondered if her friends and family would ever find out what happened to her. Will Eric blame himself, will he even care? She thought he would, if she didn't matter to him, he wouldn't have gone through all the trouble to protect her or hire Alcide as her guard. She wished now that she would have been more honest with him, maybe if she would have told him that she loved him things would've been different. At the time though she was too scared, she always thought he was incapable of loving her in return. Even if she could have lived without his love, she wouldn't have been willing to share him. No matter what after all she had endured, somewhere along the way she discovered that she was worth it, all of it, and if she had to settle for a little something less than being loved in return, she would have complete faithfulness. If that was something he couldn't handle than he wouldn't have her. She'd compromise but she wouldn't be trampled on. Not that it mattered, none of it mattered anymore. She was dying and no one was here to save her. As she slipped from consciousness, she started to realize there was nothing there, no white tunnel, no red flames... all she saw was black. A numb feeling started making its way through her body and all thoughts of regrets fled her mind. For once she felt peaceful, the sounds in the background began to fade. If this was death, well it wasn't unwelcome, it was serene.

Eric was able to break through the door, this was obviously Franklins current home. He had half expected for Franklin to be in a human home, so he could keep him out. Turning to the wolf next to him, he told Alcide to be discreet. He would need him to get Tara out while he dealt with Franklin. He could feel his connection to Tara fading, but he refused to acknowledge the only reason behind that. He would not allow her to die, and if he had to, he'd turn her before she had the chance to. He knew she didn't want to become a vampire, but he wasn't willing to take her wishes into account if the alternative meant not having her at all. No matter how much he fought her. She was always there. The unnatural attachment he had for this human was vexing, he never needed anyone in the past thousand years. But he needed her. The last time he felt this desperation was when he watched his family being slaughtered by wolves. He swore never to allow himself to become vulnerable again, as a vampire he learned not to care. People were disposable. They were just a meal and a quick fuck. When he began things with Tara, he was intrigued because she was a challenge, it wasn't easy to get what he wanted from her. He assumed once he finally did get what he desired, like all things, he'd get bored and send her on her way. The opposite was reality. He couldn't only not let her go, but he also couldn't get enough of her. The fact that she lived a separate life from him, in the day when he was sleeping, annoyed him. He didn't want her to have other people in her life. He wanted to be the only one. It was thoughts like those that made him pull away. H didn't want to become obsessive like Franklin, or weak like Bill. Those were emotions for humans, and he ceased being one ages ago. He went on, business as usual and pushed himself back into a routine of not giving a fuck. He never thought he'd actually care if he injured Tara's feelings or made her cry. Why would he? And as much as he denied Pam's prodding, she was right; he had more than just a blood bond with Tara. He wished he could easily dismiss her; he hadn't felt any type of emotional pain in years. Godrics passing was the first time, since his family's death. Losing Tara, he thought, would be much worse. He wouldn't lose her. He'd kill Franklin and turn Tara before he put himself through the pain of living without her. Killing such an old vampire would have its consequences if discovered. Luckily, Franklin was always a nomad. He hoped no one would miss him.

Franklin heard his entrance. He looked down at Tara. She seemed to be slumbering so peacefully. He had practically drained her, but she was still alive, barely. He knew if she didn't get to a hospital or at least some vampire blood in her quickly, she was as good as gone. Eric wouldn't be able to fight him and save her, there simply wasn't enough time for her. Fighting was not an option, tonight everything would come to pass. He'd kill Eric. He was looking forward to it. It was a shame Tara had to die. He wouldn't mind turning her, but he didn't just want to kill Eric; he wanted to destroy him. He knew his brother well enough to know to he'd attempt to save Tara and Pam, in fact, he was hoping for it. That would give him the edge he needed to win. Everyone played a part, in the end everyone would die, well, except him.

Franklin was pulled from his thoughts when he was sent flying through the air crashing through the wall and leaving a man size hole, leading outside. He quickly recovered and ran back into the room.

"So nice of you to join us," he said, giving Eric - who was now standing next to Tara, a smile. Eric bent down he could faintly hear her heart. She was faded quickly.

"The game is over, Franklin." He bit his wrist, and before he could give her his blood Franklin lunged at him. He was pushed back so hard against the opposing wall that the structure shook. Small piece of the concrete ceiling cracked and came loose, landing close to Tara on the bed. He had to give Tara his blood and soon but he couldn't risk the ceiling falling on her. He pushed Franklin back through the hole in the wall and they both tumbled a few yards away from the house. He saw the wolf from the corner of his eye, tossing Franklin into a tree, he signaled Alcide to the hole. A hot piercing pain went through his shoulder and down his back, bringing him down to his knees. "Silver blade," Franklin said walking around so he was facing Eric. "Doesn't matter how old you are," he said showing Eric the knife covered in blood, then plunging it into the center of his chest, "It hurts like bloody hell." Eric let out a piercing scream and pushed Franklin away from him. He looked over to the house and didn't see Alcide or Tara, he deduced he was able to get her out. Franklin's distraction with him seemed to work, but now he felt weakened from the silver.

He ensed him before he heard him. He withdrew the silver blade from his chest, and struck out. He managed to stab Franklin in the neck. Blood flowed from the wound down his arm; he stood to look Franklin in the eyes.

"You should have stayed away," Eric said, before pulling out the blade and shoving it into his heart. Once Franklin was nothing but a pike of blood, he ran back into the house. Running through ever room in the house, he came across her in the basement. She looked to be in immense pain. He made quick work of removing the silver ties, not caring that his own flesh burned.

"Can you get yourself to Fangtasia?" Eric asked, he didn't want to leave Pam alone, vulnerable, but he had to get to Tara. "Go," she rasped, "I'm fine." Eric barely spared her a glance before flying out.

Instead of rushing through the hospital doors like he wanted to, he forced himself to slow down. He knew she was here. He could feel her; that meant she was alive. When he asked the woman at the front desk about Tara Thorton, he was told only family could see her, seeing as she was in an intensive care unit. He had no time to fight with the stupid human denying him. He glamored her easily and gained entrance into ICU. He knew what room she was in thanks to Alcide's stench. He pulled aside the curtain and quickly let himself in. Alcide stood from the chair he was occupying by her bed when he entered.

"It doesn't look good, they say she lost too much blood." He heard Alcide say. He approached her bed and looked at her. She wouldn't survive. She needed his blood. Before he could bite his wrist to feed her, Alcide called out to him. "Wait," he said quietly. "She was conscious for a few moments when we got here. She asked me to tell you to that she doesn't want to become a vampire. If it's too late to save her, she said to let her go."

Eric gave him a withering look, "Too bad. She will become a vampire, that is inevitable. However, she won't become one tonight. She's not at that stage yet. My blood will heal her, and when she is fully recovered and has gotten over the trauma that Franklin put her through, she will be turned. Tara is mine. She will always be."

Alcide wanted to argue with him, but right now he just wanted Tara healed. Once she was better, once she was safe, he'd help her. If she didn't want to be turned, he would make sure she wouldn't be. He watched as Eric pressed his bleeding wrist to her mouth. Nothing happened. Vamp blood was supposed to work quickly, especially when it came from a vamp as old as Eric. "Why isn't it working?" He asked, on edge; Tara couldn't die.

"She has to ingest it. Right now in her comatose state, she can't." Alcide was about to ask him how to help her, when he saw Eric rummage through one of the cabinets. He understood quickly once he saw the syringe he was holding. He watched in fascination as Eric withdrew blood from himself and injected it into Tara's blood stream. Surely, one syringe would be enough, but Eric repeated the process three more times.

"It should work, give it a few minutes." Eric said. Alcide knew it would work. He was more worried about what the blood would do to her. This was different from just drinking it. This was shot straight into her system, mixing with her own blood. There was no removing it, it wouldn't just dissolve after a It it was there forever.

Tara could hear whispering in the background. She she knew those voices. She tried to smile but everything hurt, even though the pain was lessening. It was weird, one moment, she felt numb, then she felt some pain, and now she was feeling close to normal. She cracked her eyes open and immediately shut them against the bright light. "Open your eyes slowly, Tara," she heard Alcide say. She followed his instruction and squinted against the glare. Alcide and Eric were on either side of the bed looking down at her. Alcide seemed happy to see her; Eric wore his same emotionless expression. "Alcide, I need some time alone with Tara. I'll see you tomorrow night at Fangtasia. I'll take care of getting her released and take her home. I'll expect you at her house in the morning, until I tie up all loose ends, I still need you to watch her. We'll discuss payment tomorrow." Alcide bristled at being dismissed by Eric, but he didn't want to argue or add more stress on Tara's shoulders. Ignoring Eric, he looked down at Tara again and gave her a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm really glad you're okay." Tara smiled back at him and whispered a thank you. She watched him walk out and almost wanted to beg him to stay. After everything she'd been through, she was nervous about being alone with Eric, especially since he didn't seem too happy to see her. Eric sat down on the chair beside her. He had no idea what to say, she had yet to speak a word to him. He knew she must be angry with him, after all the precautions he took, Franklin still got to her. It was his fault she was here, his fault she was hurt.

"Are you just gonna stare at me all night, or you actually gonna talk to me?" He cracked a smile at her sassy tone, it was proof that his blood worked, and she was back to normal, almost.

"I find myself at an impasse. I don't know what to say to you." She was surprised at his honesty.

Biting her lip, wondering if she really wanted to know, "Just say whatever you're thinking." She closed her eyes for a moment and waited for the lecture and the anger. She knew he was mad. She left the house when he told her not to, it wouldn't matter that she was tricked. How was she supposed to know that Sookie wasn't really Sookie but a shifter? It wouldn't matter. She knew the words were coming. He'd cut her down for her carelessness and rip another tear into her heart.

"I want to be mad at you," he started. His voice was low she had to strain to hear him. "But this is my fault, all of it." He rendered her speechless, those were not the words she was expecting.

"Tara, I'm not human and I'm not like Bill. The last human emotion I remember feeling was hatred, anguish, and loss. I was turned shortly after my entire family was slaughtered. I was the last one left. I watched them die. Back in those days love wasn't something you expressed openly. Boys were raised to be fighters; girls were raised to be wives. Children weren't coddled, like they are now. I loved my family but in the way that was custom to love. I never had a wife or children, like Bill. I've never had a grandmother that comforted me or spent time with me because she wanted to. I was part of a royal family, in a time when love made you weak. The men who fawned over their women were ridiculed and never in a position of power." Tara tried to hold back her tears at his confession. This was the most he'd ever shared with her, and it was heart breaking.

"I've lived a long time. I've gone through a lot of people, a lot of women. Pam is the only person I ever turned and I did so because Franklin terrorized her to the point of insanity. She doesn't remember anything, although, after tonight I'm sure Franklin told her. Pam has been with me for two hundred years, before her, I mostly was alone. Franklin and I would meet up from time to time and spend a couple of years at a time together. That ended the night I turned Pam. So you see, Pam is the only family I truly know. Could I call what I feel for her love? I think by your standards, yes. But tonight when I thought you were going to die, and I would lose you forever. The feelings were greater and more intense than those for Pam, Godric, or anyone else in my life. I can't tell you I love you because I don't truly understand what it means. But I hope what I'm telling you know is enough for you, because it's all I have, and it's what you're going to live with for the rest of your days as a human and a vampire."

Tara decided to ignore his comment about her being a vampire. She was too excited, he inadvertently told her he loved her, in his own fucked up manner. Truth was she loved him too; she has loved him for a long time. She reached out and took hid cold hand in hers. "I love you too." She said.

He didn't correct her, he couldn't say the words to her but if what he felt was, in fact, love than she had it. "Can we go home now? I'm tired and I want to be in my own bed. Plus, I'm starving." Eric leaned down and gave her lingering kiss. She was his. She just sealed her own fate. She was his and she would be turned. He would just have to convince her.

So I'm torn. I can finish this here and pick up with the sequel I've started, or I can add an epilogue and then load the sequel. I wanted to have this finished and my new story up before the new season started but real life wouldn't let me. Just in case I don't put out an epilogue, I want to thank you guys for being amazing readers and putting up with my occasional long waits between chapters. I will have either or up by 4th of .