Marilyn stood in line behind several vampires all waiting to pay their respects to Godric, who was sitting in the corner of the room surrounded by two bodyguards. They had all arrived back at the hotel a few hours ago, Marilyn was still in Eric's arms by the time he dropped her off at her room. Before disappearing to his own room, he had lingered with his hands around her waist but whatever he was going to do he had decided against and vanished in a blink of an eye. Marilyn had stripped off her blood-soaked clothes, glimpsing her reflection in the bathroom mirror. There was still blood on her chest from the bullet wound, which had not healed fully along with all her other injuries. She rose a trembling hand to that spot where she felt the metal pierce her skin and tear through her body, tears spilling from her eyes. She thought she was going to die, and the scary part was that she was okay with that. Marilyn had been ready to die. She quickly banished the thoughts from her head and climbed into the bath scrubbing her skin raw as if she could wash off the memories of the pain, she had endured in the last 24 hours.

They were now all gathered in a hotel room the nest had acquired just for Godric's coming home party, Sookie was off with Bill somewhere and Jason was now talking to Godric. Marilyn hadn't seen Eric since he'd left her outside her room, she'd assumed he would have been one of the first ones here. Jason now walking away from Godric, after having finished speaking to him, that's when He caught her eye. Those dangerously ocean-deep eyes snagged on Marilyn's before making their way to block Jason's path. Eric's looming form made Jason so nervous sweat started to drip from his brow. Marilyn moved her place in the queue and slowly stalked closer to where Eric and Jason now stood, she knew that whatever Eric was saying couldn't have been good, probably about the V Jason had been doing a few weeks back. Marilyn gently tapped Eric's broad shoulder causing him to turn around and face her.

"I need to speak to Jason," Marilyn stated making Eric raise an eyebrow. "In private." She added, her eyes not leaving Eric's.

"Y-yeah, sure. No problem, Sis" Jason stuttered, pushing past Eric to escape.

Marilyn could have sworn she saw a hint of disappointment in Eric's eyes, as Jason and she moved across the room. They found a quiet corner to stand in away from watchful eyes and listening ears.

"H-how are you?" Jason asked, wringing his hands together.

"I'm good. A little traumatised but who wouldn't be?" She answered as honestly as she possibly could. Things had always been tense between her and her brother, not for any specific reason other than they don't have a lot in common. Jason and Sookie have always been closer, it'd never really bothered Marilyn much- she liked keeping to herself, but it was moments like this she wished they were closer. Wished it didn't feel awkward and uncomfortable.

After several beats of uncomfortable silence, Marilyn made up some bullshit excuse about wanting some air leaving her brother alone. She was about to go out onto the terrace for a breath of fresh air, but Isabel came striding past her over to Godric, she held Hugo's shirt in her and dropped him in front of the sheriff.

"This is the one who betrayed us," Isabel said, tears in her eyes

"Hugo? He is your human, is he not?" Godric asked, looking from the man kneeling on the ground to Isabel.

"Yes..he is" Isabel replied turning her face to the ground, shame filling her features.

"Do you love him?"

"I...I-I thought I did" Isabel stuttered, tears sliding down her rosy cheeks. Marilyn moved in closer, leaning against the wall beside Godric.

"It appears you love him still" Godric observed

"I do" Isabel admitted. "I am sorry...but you are my sheriff, do with him as you please"

"You are free to go," Godric said, addressing Hugo, who looked confused.

"What?!" Stan stepped forward from where he stood against the wall.

"The human is free to go" Godric repeated, sitting back down in his, Marilyn moved away from the wall. "And do not return, I fear it is not safe for you here" Godric warned Hugo, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

"This is a travesty!" Stan continued.

"This is my verdict" Godric retorted. "Eric, escort them out, make sure he leaves unharmed" Eric stepped forward from the crowd that had gathered to hear Godric's ruling and grabbed Hugo by the back of his shirt. Eric only glanced at Marilyn as he walked out.

"Thank you, Sheriff," Isabel said, face red from crying, before following Eric out.

Godric's attention shifted from Isabel to Marilyn.

"So, you're the one who can read the minds of vampires?" Godric inquired.

"Yep, that's me. I feel like I should have that tattooed somewhere, just so people would stop asking whether it was true." Marilyn replied, humour filling her voice. Godric seemed to appreciate the attempt at humour as a faint smile filled his face. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course. I am in your and your sister's debt for risking your lives to come and get me." Godric gestured with hands for Marilyn to sit on the stool beside him.

"Why did you let them take you?" Marilyn asked, after placing herself on the stool.

"I am old and tired. And I believe this war between humans and vampires is ridiculous."

"But..you were going to let them kill you." Marilyn stopped herself before saying too much.

"Go on." Godric sensed there was more she wanted to say, but before she had a chance Godric's thoughts came flooding into her mind. Want to die. Tired.

Marilyn looked up at Godric and grasped his hands in hers, his face full of understanding. "Promise me that you'll take to Eric before you decide anything."

"You care for him, don't you?"

"Maybe" Marilyn replied, a smirk filling her features.

"I promise, if only because I have not had a human care for a vampire, the way you do."

"If you think I care for vampires, you should meet my sister" Marilyn joked, thinking about Sookie and Bill's odd relationship.

Isabel walked back into the lair, glanced at Godric, and then wandered off to join the main group of people. Eric followed her in and made straight for Godric. Marilyn looked up at the tall blonde vampire, I want to talk to you later, he nodded before shifting his attention back to Godric.

"Might I have a moment alone with my maker?" Eric asked, Marilyn, nodded walking off to try and find Sookie. She found her over by a table, on her own.

"Hey Sook, how're you feeling," Marilyn asked.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? You were the one who got shot." Sookie stated Marilyn's hand drifting to the spot where the bullet hit as if she could still feel it. "But since you asked, Bill's been avoiding me all night ever since he told me that he was held against his own will, and that was why he didn't come and get me at the church, but he keeps getting side-tracked every time he tries to explain"

"Where is he now?" Marilyn asked, ready to hear whatever explanation Bill had for not coming to rescue her sister. But also, her. Marilyn had to admit that she had also been relying on Bill to come and save her as well as Sookie.

"He's talking with Jason outside somewhere, he said it was important," Sookie told her

"Hello, I'm Lorena" An elegantly dressed vampire suddenly butted in, addressing Sookie.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sookie and this is my sister Marilyn" Sookie smiled at the woman, and Marilyn nodded her attention turning back to the blonde vampire who had just finished talking with his maker.

"Mmm, yes, you're what all the fuss is about?" Lorena smiled, she wore a flowing red dress that hugged all the right places her lips adorned a lipstick the same colour as her dress, her hair pulled back into a bun that sat atop her head.

"Excuse me?" Sookie asked, looking baffled.

"Your rather perky, aren't you?" Lorena added.

"I'm sorry who are you?" Sookie asked

"Well, we have a mutual friend," Lorena told her. Marilyn's attention changed back to the conversation at hand.

"Bill?"

"That's right, funny he never mentioned me, I practically made him what he is today" Lorena explained, a condescending smile on her face.

"Lorena?!" Bill said, walking towards them.

"Oh, hello darling, I was just getting to know your plaything, you always did like to prey on the innocent" Lorena smiled a Bill, looking Sookie up and down.

"Bill, is this your maker?" Sookie asked.

"She released me years ago, she no longer had any hold over me" Bill explained, looking at Lorena with pure contempt.

"Strange that she still hangs around like a bad smell" Marilyn butted in, staring intensely at Lorena.

"We had two marvellous nights in your hotel room," Lorena told Sookie.

"What?!" Sookie asked.

"Do you know that your boyfriend, hit me over the head with a fifty-two-inch plasma television earlier tonight? Everyone says they're so thin and light, but let me tell you when wielded properly, it's quite a weapon" Lorena told Sookie, amusement filling Lorena's features.

"Lorena, you need to leave," Bill said sternly.

"I agree, it is plainly obvious that you are not welcome here, it would be appreciated if you stop humiliating yourself and leave" Marilyn cut in, she will not have some random Bitch humiliate her sister. Marilyn's hand grasped Sookie's, squeezing her hand for reassurance.

"Don't you tell me lies, William wants me here, we're in love" Lorena hissed desperately at Marilyn.

"Maybe you do love him, but it is blatantly obvious that he does not love you" Marilyn retorted, knowing the feeling of unrequited all too well.

"Take those words back, or they will be your last!" Lorena hissed her fangs sliding out at Marilyn, but it would take more than that to scare her.

"I would leave, we both know that you've lost this one" Marilyn added, and Lorena grabbed her around the throat, slamming her down on the table, Marilyn caught the vampire by the wrist, holding the vampire's arm just above her head. Marilyn twisted Lorena's wrist enough to cause a snapping sound, Lorena stood back from where she held Marilyn to put her wrist back to the correct angle and then turned to continue her attack, but she was interrupted by Godric, who held her by the throat. Eric appeared in front of Marilyn as if to shield her from any further attacks.

"Retract. Your. Fangs. Now." Godric said, his voice calm as a gentle breeze on the beach.

Lorena did as she was told, backing away from Marilyn, until she sat on the back of one of the sofas.

"I neither know, nor care, who you are, but in this area, and certainly in this nest, I am the authority, do you understand?" Godric asked, his authority absolute.

"Yes, sheriff" Lorena answered, her words quivering. Godric released her throat, and she took unsteady, unnecessary breaths.

"These humans have proven themselves to be courageous, and loyal friends to our kind, and yet you treat them like a child does a dragonfly, pulling off wings for sport, no wonder they hate us" Godric sounded deadly serious and full of sorrow at the same town.

"She provoked me" Lorena winged.

"And you provoked me, you disrupted the peace in my own home, I could snap you like a twig, but I haven't, and why is that?"

"It's your choice," Lorena told him, still sounding terrified.

"Indeed, it is, you're an old vampire, I can tell, you've had hundreds of years to better yourself, yet you haven't, you are still a savage, and I fear for all our lives, humans and vampires if this behaviour persists" Godric addressed the whole room, before turning to Bill. "You, you seem to know her?" He asked.

"Yes, sheriff" Bill replied, looking a little embarrassed.

"Escort her from the nest" Godric ordered, and Bill turned to Sookie to make sure she was uninjured.

"I want you out of my area before dawn," Godric told Lorena, and Lorena stood up and walked for the door, Bill following. Everyone went back to their conversations.

Eric turned, grabbing Marilyn's shoulder, making her turn to face him. His eyes scanned her body for any injuries.

"Are you hurt?" He asked, still looking down her body.

"Would it matter if I was?" Marilyn replied, tired to her bones. She was so sick of all this fighting, all she wanted was to rest.

"Of course, it would matter. I know the last few days have been a lot but-"

"A LOT?! Eric, I have been thrown down a flight of stairs, almost watched my sister be raped, and then to top it all off I was shot. A lot doesn't even begin to describe what the last few days have been like." Marilyn shouted, sobs escaping her mouth. She didn't want to do this not here, not now. "We'll continue this later." Marilyn held up a hand to stop Eric from answering and started to walk off. Eric's hand grasped hers, pulling her into him. He just held her there against his chest, tears freely sliding down her face. Marilyn's whole body relaxed against his, exhaustion hitting her like a train. Nobody had ever held her like this and that was enough to make her cry. Eric's hand was making circular movements across her back, the only tether she had. Tears subsided after a few heartbeats, Marilyn raised her face from where it was placed against Eric's chest and looked up into his blue eyes- she could've drowned in those eyes, she thought.

"I'm sorry." Was all he said, Marilyn nodded still not ready to speak. She wasn't sure what he was apologising for, but it didn't matter, those words seemed to heal some broken part of her. And that was the moment she decided she never wanted to be alone again.

The feeling of great unease suddenly hit Marilyn and glancing around the room, she saw a familiar-looking boy standing in the entrance to the lair, he wore an over-padded back coat, something was wrong. Marilyn ran to Sookie and grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the man.

"What is it Marilyn, what's wrong?" Sookie asked, before pulling her hand away and following her gaze.

"Excuse me, everyone? If I could have your attention" Everyone looked at the boy or got into a position where they could see him. "My name is Luke MacDonald, I'm a member of the Fellowship of the sun" Vampires all around her started to stand up and growl at the boy. Marilyn grabbed Sookie's arm, trying to pull her away. "And I have a message from Reverend Steve Newlin" The boy opened his coat to reveal silver chains and bricks all around him, with a black shape in the centre, with flashing lights on it. Marilyn grabbed Sookie and pulled her underneath herself, shielding her, she heard the start of the explosion, but everything quickly went quiet. There was something incredibly heavy on top of her, and she couldn't move. Maybe she was dead? She thought, but when she convinced her eyes to open themselves, she saw Sookie's golden hair in front of her eyes. She couldn't hear anything, only an ungodly ringing, the weight at her back was removed, and she rolled off Sookie, trying to pull herself upright. She wobbled and fell back down next to Sookie, who grasped onto her hand, dazed, and confused.

"MARILYN!" She faintly heard Eric yelling in her ear, and she looked up to see that he was bleeding and covered in dust, ash, and debris. Sookie sat up next to her, trying to stand up, but falling back down as Marilyn had done moments before.

Bill appeared and clutched onto Sookie's hand, before turning and running out of the lair. Eric pulled Marilyn to her feet, supporting her in his arms.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked, his mouth right next to Marilyn's ear, so she could hear, though the ringing was slowly subsiding. Marilyn nodded, and touched one of Eric's wounds, as it was healing.

"Are you?" She asked him, and he nodded.

Bill came back and a few moments later, and picked up Sookie in his arms, Marilyn was still walking with Eric's aid.

"EVERYONE?!" Isabel called, getting everyone's attention.

"Y'all? Listen up!" Jason added.

"They may come back, go to the Hotel Carmilla, they have been informed, security is in place," Godric told them all, his voice as calm as ever, though he was covered in blood, dirt, and cinders.

Everyone got up and headed for the Hotel, some carrying wounded, all with the thoughts of those lost in the blast. Eric took picked up Marilyn in his arms and headed for the door. He flew back to the hotel, taking her to the room.

A few hours later, Marilyn sat with her back against the outside wall of the bathroom, while Eric showered. Eric had refused to let her out of his sight; therefore, he would be staying in her room tonight and apparently using her shower. Marilyn took in her injuries, just a few cuts and bruises nothing too serious. Her dress was completely ruined, torn up, and covered in all sorts of muck after the explosion. Marilyn starred down at her bloodied hands, her eyes completely glazed over, all she could think about was that she could've been killed. And started to wonder when her life became about bombs and continuously trying to escape death. At least Sookie was okay, at least she had saved her. Marilyn had told Eric to go in first, as she didn't feel she could stand up on her own yet. Marilyn sighed, rubbing her face with her hands, and they came back even dirtier. She didn't even care about having a shower anymore, all she wanted was her nice warm bed. The sound of water spraying in the bathroom quickly turned off, and she heard Eric step out and dry himself off. He strode out of the bathroom with a towel covering his lower section and pulled some clothes on.

"It's free," Eric told Marilyn as if she might have missed him coming out.

"Yes, I know, I just..." Marilyn said, trailing off.

"You just what?" He asked, squatting in front of her.

"Nothing" Marilyn pulled herself up, steadying herself against the wall she had been sitting against. Eric caught her shoulder before she could shut herself in the bathroom.

"I know, you're tired," he told her.

"Do you? Eric, I didn't sign up for this. I agreed to help but this whole week has been one disaster after another. And it's not your fault, I said I would help but..." Marilyn stopped, composing herself for what she was about to admit out loud. "When I got shot, I was so ready to die. I mean I thought I was going to die in that cage after I realised that no one was coming. And I didn't care about myself, but Bill had promised to take care of Sookie and the one moment she really need him, he wasn't there. A-and I couldn't help her. I was useless." Sobs escaped Marilyn's mouth in a short burst.

"I came for you. And I will always come for you." Eric said, eyes glazed over. "And you weren't useless you were injured there's a difference. You shield Sookie from the bomb today, you protected her. That's what you do for the people you love. So..I will always protect you even if you don't need it, I'll be there anyway. Even if it is just to watch you kick some poor guy's ass."

"I'll protect you too Eric. Even if I am just a human."

"You're much more than human,Marilyn Stackhouse," Eric told her, and she nodded, placing a light kiss ontoEric's cheek, and went into the bathroom to clean herself off. When Marilyn cameout, she pulled on one of Eric's T-shirts, which was plain black, and a pair of booty shorts. She noticed that Eric was laying on the bed, completely still.Marilyn climbed under the covers, facing away from Eric. Without warning, Ericturned over and laced his arm around Marilyn's stomach, and dragged her backinto him, holding her close to his cold body, his muscles locked up, and shecouldn't escape his firm grasp, even if she wanted to. Eric buried his headinto her wet hair and took a deep breath in through his nose. Her musclesrelaxed at this gesture, and she melted into him. Her heartbeat lessened as shefelt her consciousness fall away from her.