Charlaine Harris owns almost everything. I own the rest.
NSFW All mistakes are my own, and I’m sure there are a lot of them.
Chapter 7
Sookie’s POV
Sookie’s head swam. She knew she’d have to explore her family history sooner rather than later, since it seemed to keep coming up.
“You need a hot shower and something to eat,” Eric said, wrapping his arm around her and leading her into the bathroom. “You look a little pale. Are you feeling all right?”
“No. Everything still hurts and my head spins if I move too fast.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “You lost a lot of blood. Enough to feed me,” he admitted. “I healed your wound and then cleaned your skin and clothing. I’m so sorry Compton hurt you.”
“You kept me safe.” She leaned against the counter.
“I would’ve died trying.” He lifted her onto the counter and undressed her quickly and gently, stuffing her plastic suit in the garbage and putting her blood-soaked blouse in the sink. Then, he undressed himself and lifted her until she wrapped her arms and legs around his body so he could carry her into his large shower.
She sighed when the warm water caressed her back and washed some of the blood out of her hair.
“Will you let me heal you properly?” he asked, kissing her forehead.
“With your blood?” she asked.
“Yes. It’ll make you stronger.”
“The queen said it would only take three exchanges for a bond to form. Do you want that? To be bonded to me?”
Wisps of steam curled around Eric’s face as he gazed into her eyes. She could feel something coming from him stronger than ever, but was too afraid to fully acknowledge it. Is it love?
“Was Bill right? What he said, before…” she shook her head scattering the gruesome images of his death. “About how you feel about me?”
“Yes. That’s why he was so afraid.” He paused. “Love brings out the monster in me.”
She grinned from ear to ear. “So you love me?” she asked, knowing his answer before he said.
“Yes. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He winced before he kissed her, and when she opened her mouth to him, she understood why: he had pierced his tongue nearly all the way through. The second his blood coated her throat she felt the familiar strength and hunger stir inside her, but unlike the first time she’d taken his blood, this wound stayed open. She swallowed again and again while she slid down his lean body searching for his cock. She needed him. All of him. All at once.
Without releasing his tongue, she reached between their bodies and guided his dick inside her. He groaned and stumbled forward until her back was against the wall. She gasped when the cool tile shocked her skin, but then she latched back onto his mouth, milking more blood from his self-inflicted wound. He slammed into her and came almost immediately, drawing an orgasm out of her. She pulled away to breathe, releasing his tongue and regretting her action immediately.
As Eric started pumping in and out of her, she watched him bite his tongue again before offering it to her. She tightened her grip on his neck so she could suck while he fucked her. She moaned and swallowed, until the new wound healed too. She leaned her head against the wall and held on for dear life, waiting for orgasmic oblivion.
He didn’t disappoint. He never did.
She came twice before he finally joined her again, growling as his cock swelled inside her. When her breathing evened out, he lifted her onto the ground, holding her as her legs shook.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much,” she replied. She stretched under the water and smiled. “Bye bye pain. Hello hunger.”
Eric laughed. “We still haven’t had a chance to go shopping!”
“I have leftovers.” She shrugged and washed every inch of her body with soap. “Thank you for healing me.”
“Thank you for letting me.” He kissed her again and then turned off the shower.
After she dressed, Sookie went into the kitchen and warmed up her Chinese leftovers, and started digging for the plastic fork the delivery guy had left. “Thank goodness he brought a fork and chopsticks, or I’d be eating with my fingers.” She sighed. “I still can’t believe what happened. I mean … I know it happened because I saw it, but it seems so surreal.”
“Death is always a difficult concept to understand.”
She rolled her eyes. “Says the immortal man.”
He picked up the other chopstick and held it between his thumb and finger. “Not against this.”
She nodded. She hadn’t really planned to kill Bill. She just wanted to threaten him a little. Put a little fear into him. But he had done the unexpected.
She ate quickly and then made her way into the front room, where the folder full of family information still sat. “I think I’m ready.” She exhaled slowly. “Okay, here goes.” Her fingers trembled as she opened the file. A black and white photo sat on the very top with her gran’s handwriting scrawled across the white border. She squinted. “That’s my gran and my grandpa.” She outlined their young faces with her fingertip and smiled. “This must’ve been before my dad and aunt were born.”
The next item was a newspaper clipping stating the Corbett Stackhouse had been born. A picture was clipped to the article featuring her gran and grandpa again, but this time smiling with a brand-new baby. “Look at how cute my dad was!” she grinned at the bundled little baby, but something struck her odd. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it so she showed it to Eric. “Something’s off. What is it?”
“Your grandfather is glowing.” Eric tilted his head.
Sure enough, a halo of light surrounded her photographed ancestor. She held the two pictures side-by-side. The men looked similar, but not exactly the same. “Who is this?”
Eric pressed his lips together. “I’m guessing he’s a fairy, but I can’t identify him. He’s masking his true form.”
“Masking?” She turned to face him.
“Fairies can do that in our realm, but it makes their skin shimmer.” He tapped the picture. “Like this.”
She shook her head trying to make sense of what he was saying. “So some fairy came to our realm and pretended to be my grandpa?”
“Seems that way.”
“Did my gran know?” Her head spun as a million questions filled it.
“Take a deep breath,” Eric said, holding her shoulders.
“What does Niall have to do with this? Who is he? Is this him?” She tapped the picture.
“I can’t answer your questions.” He looked over her shoulder at the pile of papers in her lap. “There’s more.”
Another picture surfaced, same pose, same glowing grandpa, different baby. “This must be my aunt Linda.” A newspaper clipping of her mom and dad’s marriage was taped to one announcing Jason’s birth and then Sookie’s. Her eyes filled with tears as she read the next headline: HUSBAND AND WIFE DRIVE OFF BRIDGE. NO SURVIVORS. A pile of family pictures filled the folder: Jason, Sookie, and Hadley playing outside Gran’s house, Sookie and Hadley hanging upside-down from a tree branch, Sookie and Hadley dressing in matching Easter dresses. They spanned her whole childhood, but stopped abruptly when she hit her teens.
Sookie’s skin crawled. “Where did these come from? These are personal.” Truth was, she hadn’t even known they existed. “I need to talk to my gran. In person.”
“We have enough time to get there if we leave now,” Eric said, surprising her.
“We?” She had expected to make the trip alone.
“I love you, Sookie. I want to be there for you. Please let me.”
She smiled. Despite the chaos of her past and the confusion of her twisted reality, she knew one thing: he loved her and she loved him right back. “I love you. Thank you.”
* * * *
“Where are you going to sleep?” Sookie asked, her forehead furrowing. “I don’t have a coffin or anything at my house.”
“Do you have a crawlspace under your house?”
Sookie grimaced as she imagined the decades of dead spiders and mice that had accumulated under her family home. “Yes, but—”
“Good. That’s where I’ll sleep. I don’t want to leave you.”
“It’s so dirty down there. No one’s been in there since we got a new line drawn in for our water heater. That was twelve years ago.”
He smiled. “Dirt doesn’t bother me.”
“But there’s dead stuff down there!”
“So I’ll be in good company,” he joked.
Sookie laughed. She could always count on him for that … and many other things.
The closer they got to Bon Temps, the more anxious she became. She thought of how she was going to ask all her questions. She wanted to know everything: where the pictures came from, who the man in the photographs was, and if her gran knew.
With the folder of pictures clutched tight in her hands, she braced herself for the upcoming confrontation.
Eric slowed as he wound down her long, gravely driveway. A single light shone through the kitchen window, which didn’t surprise Sookie. Gran always got up well before dawn to make breakfast.
Being home filled her heart with contentment. She hadn’t realized how much she missed it. Suddenly, her question and answer session seemed less important. She put the folder down on her seat and got out of the car.
The aroma of biscuits and sausage fill the air, stirring Sookie’s appetite. She smiled. “Come meet my gran before you have to go to sleep.”
Eric followed her up the front steps and waited respectfully at the door.
Sookie called out, “Gran, I’m home!” And then she was in the kitchen, wrapped in the loving arms of her grandmother. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered, fighting tears.
“I missed you too, honey.” Gran rubbed her back. “What are you doing here so early?”
“We drove all night,” Sookie started and then realized Eric hadn’t followed her inside. She sighed and pulled out of her gran’s arms. Of course he didn’t. She hadn’t invited him in. “Eric, will you please come in?”
In the blink of an eye, Eric whooshed into the kitchen. “Mrs. Stackhouse, it’s a pleasure,” he said, bowing.
“Are you the man I spoke to on the phone?” Gran asked, narrowing her eyes.
“I am. Eric Northman.”
“And he’s been keeping you safe?” she asked Sookie. When Sookie nodded, Gran went on, “I don’t know what happened at Vampire Bill’s house, but I sure am glad she wasn’t with him. Thank you,” she said, and then, without any hesitation she hugged him. Her frail, tiny body seemed even smaller against Eric’s. “Thank you for bringing my girl home.”
He patted her lightly and bowed again when they separated. “You are very welcome.”
“Now,” Gran said, wiping her eyes and sniffing. “What can I get you for breakfast?”
Sookie looked at her and then at Eric. Gran had no idea that Eric was a vampire.
“I’ve already eaten,” Eric said graciously, “but thank you for the offer. I need to rest now.” He glanced out the window, which had begun to brighten.
“I’ll take two eggs, please. I’m going to go get Eric situated. I’ll be right back.” Sookie took his hand and led him down the hall to the trapdoor under the rug. The hinges creaked as she lifted the heavy plank of wood. “Are you sure about this?”
He nodded and gathered her into his arms, kissing her before descending the roughly cut earthen steps leading to the tiny crawlspace. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
She nodded and closed the door, leaving it unlatched, but covering it with the rug. A plate of steaming food waited for her at the table. A moment later, Gran plated her own breakfast and joined her.
“Thank you so much. I’m starving,” Sookie said, digging in.
“I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too,” Sookie replied around a bite of food.
“Tell me about New Orleans and this Eric fella.” Gran lifted her eyebrows and waited expectantly.
While the sun rose, Sookie recounted a very modified version of what had happened over the last two weeks. She skimmed over her stay at the cabin and carefully chose each word to describe the truth about Bill, that he had used her and hurt her, but that he wouldn’t hurt her ever again. And then she talked about Eric. How wonderful, caring, protective, and supportive he was. She couldn’t admit to her gran that she loved him, but it seemed pretty obvious.
“Where is he sleeping? Not in your room, I hope.” Gran held Sookie’s eyes.
“First of all, he’s a vampire, so he’s sleeping in the crawlspace under the house right now. Second, I’m a grown woman and I happen to enjoy sharing my bed with him.” Her cheeks flushed. She refused to be ashamed of her healthy sex life, but she wasn’t about to discuss it in detail, either.
“You know how I feel about that.”
“I know.”
“So you came home so I could meet another vampire?” Gran asked.
“No. I came home to ask you about grandpa.”
Poor Gran is going to be put on the spot…read on Relapse: Chapter 8
I love when the ol’ hypocrite is called out for her double standards! Sorry…I may have issues with that “don’t cuss around me or I’ll beat you with a switch but hang on a minute while I cheat on your grandfather and pop out illegitimate babies” old biddy…
In both book and show canon she did a lot of harm to Sookie with her lies of omission. If Sookie had been raised knowing the truth, or at least the version kid-Sookie would have understood and progressing from there, she’d never have felt as alone and therefore wouldn’t have been so quick to fall for Bill. Knowledge is power and beat’em-up Granny purposefully withheld that from her.
But I digress (as usual). Great chapter!! I can’t wait to read Sookie putting Hypocritical Granny on the spot!!
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I have issues with that, too. Of all the things Gran could’ve done to help Sookie ease into her ‘special’ life, the truth would’ve been the right first step. I do love Gran, because she’s always there for Sookie, but it’s time to have a heart to heart.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks so much for the lovely and FIRST review. 🙂
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I should totes have proclaimed in shouty-caps, “FIRST!”… 😀
In my saner moments of pondering Gran, I do give her props for taking in Jason and Sookie, but then I go with the idea that ANY half-way decent grandparent would have done the same…then I go off the rails about her and eat a cake in revenge. That’s not wrong, is it? I mean, if you eat the whole cake it’s still considered “one slice”, right?
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Definitely not! One slice is one slice no matter it’s size. 😉
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See? THANK YOU! *glares at lying fork* That’s exactly what I thought…
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You’re not wrong! We’re ALL agreeing with you!
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*hard to type whilst face deep in good cake*
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You know, in all this discussion of cake, you never mentioned what kind…
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Srsly, cake? What cake?? *hides plate*
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I imagine you’re a carrot cake kind of person. Mostly because it goes well with coffee. Plus, it’s practically health food.
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And you know coffee is basically berry juice. I like anything that goes well with a true buttercream frosting. Of course, when you consider that everything from blondies to yam cakes go well with buttercream frosting, that covers a lot of ground…just like my waistline.
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There’s nothing quite as good as real buttercream. I don’t get it often, which means I really enjoy it when I do. 🙂
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Exactly! It’s definitely a treat! 😀
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Exactly!
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I think you should said: FIRSTIES! That’s way better. 😉
yep. Any good family member would take in kids in need, but a decent person would divulge family history to those who need to know. Sookie definitely needed to know! Gran is great most of the time, but she can be selfish, too. Glad we’re on the same page.
Also, I believe that’s called a single-serving cake. Go for it. 🙂
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Ohhhh, cake!!! Sorry, did you say something? I was staring at that cake… 😉
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Don’t just sit there and stare at it. Grab a fork and go to town. 😉
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Cake? *dabs corners of mouth* What cake??
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I hope you enjoyed it! 😉
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*cheeky grin*
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I have to agree. Gran always struck me as a bit of a hypocrite too. Sookies life could have been so different if she was raised as being special, (with an explanation why), rather than having a disability that she should try and hide.
Even if her Gran knew nothing of vampires or werewolves, she could have at least told Sookie there were “others” out there so Sookie wouldn’t feel so alone.
(Rants must be catching) Anywho, great chapter and I can’t wait to see what Gran has to say for herself.
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Rants are totally worth catching, and this is an issue worth getting riled up about! Sookie could’ve been spared so much misery and Gran must’ve known that. But she didn’t want to admit the truth. Why would she? Nothing to gain, right? Yeah, she’s about to face the music! Thanks for reviewing!
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Oh I totally agree! That always bugged the heck out of me too. Such a hypocrit with all her “a lady doesn’t…” Crap. A “lady” doesn’t cheat on her husband.
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A lady doesn’t cheat on her husband and have kids with the other dude…even if he is a fairy! Sookie grew up paying the price for Gran’s indiscretions, the least she could have offered was the truth. Right? Thanks for reviewing!
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Damn straight!
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True story. 🙂
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Gran is in for it now. She should not have kept Sookie in the dark.
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You’re so right. Sookie deserves the truth, and Gran needs to come clean. It’ll be very illuminating, that’s for sure. Thanks for reviewing!
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I think Gran is in for a surprise- the kind she never expected- go Sookie!
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Yep, Sookie’s going to put her on the spot…something that should’ve happened a long time ago (if only Sookie had known!). Everything would’ve been different if Sookie had known from the beginning! Thanks so much for reviewing! 🙂
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I’m glad she told Gran about Eric. She’s going to have a lot of questions to answer. Good thing she has a loving and supportive Eric!
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Loving and supportive Eric is always nice to have around, right? 🙂 She’s going to need it after the emotional roller coaster she’s been on. Thank you so much for reviewing! 🙂
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Good for Sookie! It was time for her to impose to her grandmother for her own life.
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Sookie should’ve known the truth all along, everyone should’ve. Sookie wouldn’t be a target if that were the case, which means she never would’ve met Bill. Ugh. Maybe I could write a whole story about kid Sookie learning about her past and meeting her fairy kin and not having it be a weird thing. LOL. Thanks so much for reviewing!
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Yes.
That.
Now.
I’d love to see your take on a Sookie growing up knowing about her heritage, maybe figuring out how to make Niall contact her and see him becoming a decent, loving g’g’father to her, etc. I want this to be a thing that exists in this universe.
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So you’re saying it should be my next story? I think it’s a great idea, but if you keep going around agreeing with me all the time, I’m going to start thinking you’re sucking up to me or something. 😉
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*wipes brown off nose* That was cake icing, btw…for reals…sure… 😀 I would love to see what comes of your take on this line of thought, though, srsly.
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It would be totally different than anything I’ve written. Weird to have a well-adjusted Sookie, huh? 🙂 I’ll have to think on it. I’ve got another story idea brewing, too, so it’ll be a matter of which gets out first. 🙂
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Heh, either way it’s a total win for your readers… *sips coffee smugly and waits*
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I’m glad you can be smug AND enjoy your coffee. We wouldn’t want you to be without your coffee.
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It’s hard to do both at the same time, but with some practice and the support of good friends and a lot of hard work and dedication, it’s feasible. *straight face*
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You make it look so easy!
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*attempts to find Humble Face #17* It…it’s a talent…or so they say…
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Oh, you’re talented. That’s for sure.
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You write it and I’ll read it.
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Excellent idea!
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Yes! Yes, please!
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That’s the third vote…I think I know what my next story will be. Now I just need to think on it! 🙂
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Well, unless Gran was tricked and didn’t know it wasn’t her husband, she has a lot of explaining to do to Sookie! Often wondered why Gran never talk to Sookie in either the books or show…it would have made such a huge difference in her growing up if she knew exactly who and what she was. Or at least talked to her when the vampires came out! Looking forward to the conversation!
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Gran definitely owes her an explanation. A big one. And Sookie should’ve known the truth years ago. What a difference it would’ve made! Right? Time to face the music! Thanks for reviewing!
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Ohhhh….I wonder how Gran will react when confronted with the scandalous truth??
Awesome chapter?
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LOL….I didn’t mean to pose the question on whether or not the chapter was awesome! My daughter (sluggy) was talking to me while I was typing my review.
The chapter was awesome!!!
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LOL I wondered about that!! Thanks for clearing it up and sharing the love! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
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So scandalous! Gran, good ol’ Gran, cheating on her husband with a half-fairy magical man. Yeah, and Sookie’s a whore for staying with Eric. Not a fan of that thinking. They’re going to clear the air for sure, whether Gran wants to or not! Thanks so much for reviewing!
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Great update –now…time for Gran and Sookie to get down to the business of her heritage and what Gran knows about Fintan and Naill….
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They’re going to get to it all, and Gran’s going to have to step down from her high horse. 🙂 Their conversation is long overdue. Thanks so much for reviewing, Pat! 🙂
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I think a lot of us feel the same way about Gran..she did so much damage by hiding what she did. Seeing Sookie struggle with her telepathy and not helping her understand why she was the way she was. And the gutless way out, write a letter and hide it so she wouldn’t have to face the truth. I think that based on the interviews and statetments that CH has made about this series and what she did with it, we are seeing a lot of her in Gran.
She was a hypocrite, in a very fundamental and destructive way. I’ve tried to take into account her generation and how they kept things like this secret, but I can’t get past the damage it did to the granddaughter she loved..
Okay, off the soapbox.. great chapter, look forward to the conversation that is coming.
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I totally agree! We’re not alone in wondering why CH threw Sookie under the bus and keeping her past in the dark until several books in. It’s sad that the vamps knew more about Sookie than she did. Not cool, Gran. I think I need to right this wrong and write a whole story based on a healthy Sookie growing up knowing the truth. What a difference it would’ve made! Thanks for reviewing!
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Good for Sookie for standing up to her Gran! Gran always got off easy (I thought) in the books. She lied to Sookie her whole life, but expected her to behave like a good Christian girl. A little hypocritical coming from a cheating, liar! I think Sookie’s going to be in for a shock when Gran starts spilling the beans about her real grandpa!
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Yep. She’ll be in shock for sure. Sookie would be even more surprised if she hadn’t already figured out her fairy linage. Gran needs to come clean and ask for forgiveness! No more secrets, right? Thanks for reviewing!!
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Good to see sanctimonious Gran put on the spot! Can’t wait to hear what she has to say for herself. Thanks for the great story, loving it! x
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Thank you so much for reviewing! I’m so glad you’re loving it. 🙂 Gran’s about to get really uncomfortable. Thanks again! 🙂
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Yep, time to have a heart to heart with Gran. Great chapter. Glad she let him heal her.
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He wouldn’t have it any other way! Bonding to Sookie is just what he wants! Gran’s going to have to face the music! 🙂 Thanks for reviewing!
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moment of truth! love revelations! 😀
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Gran’s past is about to catch up to her!! Watch out! Thanks so much for reviewing! 🙂
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Ooh! Can’t wait to see this conversation! It seems that we all feel the same way about Gran’s hypocrisy. Now it’s time to pay the piper, so to speak.
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Yep. Good thing Sookie is a kind person, because she could really put Gran through hell if she wanted to! Gran’s going to admit the truth, finally. Thanks for reviewing!
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I like that Sookie is being direct with is Gran. The time for hiding things is over. Sookie isn’t a child and Gran should have told her long before now. The truth may not be pretty, but not revealing it won’t make it less ugly. While some of it is Gran’s business, ultimately it concerns Sookie, so that makes it hers as well. They’re in love! YAY! 🙂
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I thought that fact had been overlooked…love declarations are pretty great, huh? 🙂 It’s about time Sookie and Gran had a heart-to-heart about the past and what it means for Sookie. Gran hasn’t done her any favors keeping it a secret. That’s for sure. Thanks for reviewing! 🙂
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They certainly are! 🙂
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🙂
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OMGosh, even with enough chapters ahead…it’s still not enough.
This is so interesting. Such a page turner. LUV IT A LOT.
Love your Eric as always.
Gran “you’ve got some explaining to do”. Wow. Will you make it long enough to introduce Niall?
Can’t wait. Great to be back, well I never really left. Just held back for a short while.
Thank you.
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It’s great to have you back! I’m glad you got to read lots all at once and get into the story! I’m not sure how long this story will be since I haven’t written the ending yet. I’m kinda going with the flow on this one…something I haven’t done in a while. 🙂 I know where I want to end, but there’s not one path that leads to it. We’ll see. Until I figure it out, I hope you continue enjoying the story! Thanks for reviewing!
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This is a defining moment for Gran. Either she’ll come completely clean or be too embarrassed. Either this will still have it’s effects on both women.
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It’ll be a little of both. Coming clean while being totally embarrassed! Gran’s choices have always had a huge impact on Sookie’s life and she deserves to know the truth! Thanks for reviewing!
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[…] My Secret O Relapse […]
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Can’t wait for their talk especially after the “You know how I feel about that comment.” I think she’s about to feel like a huge hypocrite!! I get she wanted kids and it was hard for her to admit her “sins” but it could’ve helped Sookie soo much in the long run!! Anyways loved how Eric admitted he loved her!
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Aww! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Eric is kind of smitten with Sookie, so I thought it was time for a declaration! Gran could’ve helped Sookie so much along the way, and yes, she’s about to face the music! Thanks for reviewing!
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Glad she accepted the healing. Wonder if Gran will come clean
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She’s more than happy to have him heal her and do another little exchange. Gran should’ve come clean ages ago…
Thanks for reviewing!
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