Marilyn and Eric drove to the airport together with Lafayette in the back seat, she wanted to make sure he got home before they left. Before leaving Sookie had begged Marilyn to go in the same as her and Bill as she still didn't trust Eric and to be honest neither did Marilyn, but she needed to know her friend would be safe whilst she was away. So, all three of them now sat in Eric's cars in awkward silence. Marilyn had tried and failed to start up a conversation and therefore settled for the awkwardness. They soon arrived at Lafayette's house, and no sooner did he climb out of the car and run-up to his old front door, Marilyn climbed out after him leaving Eric in the car on his own.

"Hey Lafayette wait!" Marilyn begged as she caught up to the drag queen

"Please just go. All I want is a hot shower and some sleep, just go to Dallas with your scary ass boyfriend." He pleaded clearly irritated that she followed him.

"He's not my boyfriend and don't you need a hospital? I mean you were shot."

"I don't need no hospital. My uncle's a veterinarian, I'll just him to stitch up my leg in the morning." His explanation did little to soothe Marilyn's worries, but she decided there was no point in arguing with him. Lafayette always did what he wanted to do no matter what anyone else said, he was stubborn like that.

"Okay but call me when you're feeling better. And I'm gonna send Tara to check up on you at some point she's really missed you." Marilyn knew better than to wait around for a response because all it would be is him protesting about someone checking up on him.

At that moment Eric honked the car horn as an indication that they should get going, Marilyn gave Lafayette one last hug and apology before getting back into the black four by four. As Marilyn strapped in her seatbelt she could feel Eric's eyes on her face, she waited for him to say something, but he just started the car and continued driving. They spent the whole car ride in silence and once they got to the plane Eric, Bill, and Jessica who Bill decided at the last minute to bring all got into their travel coffins. Sookie and Marilyn spent the next hour and a half discussing various things like Sookie's newfound friendship with Jessica and how they think Jason is, even though they aren't exactly taking right now. Although Marilyn found out that Sookie thinks Jason's at a church retreat in Marlboro instead of where he really was which was the light of day conference. Marilyn thought she'd save Sookie the stress of worrying about their brother by not telling her the truth, she'd find out eventually on her own. Sookie seemed ecstatic for the most part this was her and Bill's first trip together and even though it was favour for Eric, she wanted it to be special. Marilyn couldn't blame her for that this was probably the first trip out of Louisiana Sookie had been on as well, as for Marilyn well she spent a good part of her teen years traveling around trying to find the perfect place to live- that cottage she used to live in was the closest she ever got but even then, she had to keep a bottle of whiskey on hand just in case. Her mind drifted back to what her life was before coming to visit Sookie all those weeks ago, Marilyn couldn't decide if she missed it or not.

They arrived in Dallas sometime in the late evening, once arriving at the airport all three vampires practically jumped out of their travel coffins apparently, they're not very comfortable. At least that's what Marilyn could pick up from Jessica's incessant moaning. Once Bill had checked that Jessica and Sookie were okay; the trio climbed into one of the two limousines', Marilyn was about to join them when a certain blond took hold of her arm.

"You're riding with me" he whispered in her ear leaving no room for protest Marilyn nodded her head to confirm she'd heard him. Sookie gave Marilyn a look of sisterly concern before she switched cars. Marilyn knew Sookie would spend the whole car ride to the hotel worrying about her being alone with Eric, but Marilyn knew him better than Sookie did- at least that's what she hoped. Eric climbed in first his long limbs stretching out into most of the car's free space, this meant leaving only either side of him free to sit on. Marilyn sat closest to the door but in turn, also meant she was sitting extremely close to Eric but then she didn't really mind that. She felt the cold radiating from him, he was an ice burg both physically and emotionally. After several minutes she felt his fingers intertwine with hers. Marilyn made no protest to the form of affection in fact she quite liked him holding her hand, it felt natural. She couldn't believe how quickly she had let him back in but the way he just looked at her was enough to make her fall to her knees. Marilyn knew that she would eventually give in and tell Eric she wanted to be his but first, she'd have a little fun.

They arrived at the hotel which after several moments of looking at it- Marilyn realised it was a vampire hotel, all the windows were blackout in fact the whole hotel was black with only neon lights to illuminate the tall building. Eric led her in his hand light placed against her waist for guidance around her new surroundings. The interior was not much different from the outside if she was being honest; the whole place was black, and purple filled to the rims with either vampires or 'fang bangers' as people called them although Marilyn strongly disliked that word, she thought it was demeaning. As she looked around, she realised her sister and Bill hadn't arrived yet. She wondered what was taking so long because they couldn't be having sex in that car since Jessica was with them and they left before Marilyn and Eric. Whilst lost in her thoughts Eric checked them both in luckily, they weren't sharing a room but hers was right next to his although that didn't come as a surprise to her. Because even though Marilyn wasn't technically Eric's, yet she knew he would want to keep her close in a place where all she could hear were the thoughts of the undead.

Marilyn and Eric sat in the reception of the hotel waiting for the others to arrive, whilst waiting Marilyn let her mental guard down which meant floods of voices came rushing in.

"Hey, just breathe. I know this is overwhelming but remember what we practiced" Eric uttered softly to her. He had sensed her distress the moment the first wave of vampire murmurs entered her head, I guess that's what happens when you spend nearly every waking moment with someone. Marilyn listened to what he said and drew her mind back to when she and Eric were sitting upon the throne in Fangtasia together. It was the first week after the murders had been solved and she had spent all day waiting to get to that stupid vampire club. She remembered what Eric had told her that evening, he told her to build a wall in her mind a place where only she could go and no one else. So, that's what she did and one by one the ceaseless voices died down.

"Thank you" she muttered, relief filling her features as the world went quiet again.

"Did you hear anything worthwhile?" He asked and she knew it was because Eric was desperate to find out what's happened to Godric because although he'll never admit it, he loves his maker. Not a sexual kind of love but the way a child loves his father. Godric had saved Eric and now it was his turn to save Godric, and Marilyn was going to help in any way she could.

Several minutes later, Sookie, Bill, and Jessica came bursting through the hotel door with the look of distress written all over their faces. Marilyn rose a look of concern written all over her face.

"What the hell happened to you three?" she asked hoping one of them would give her a decent answer

"Sookie was almost kidnapped, that's what happened," Bill answered whilst rushing towards Eric who had come up behind her.

"Why is the church of light trying to kidnap Sookie?" Bill was now having quite a heated agreement with Eric which by the looks of was more Bill shouting at Eric. The last piece of the argument that Marilyn was able to hear was "I am your sheriff, Bill; you listen to me if you don't like that take to up with the magister. Or the queen." Eric walked off after that, probably to sort out whatever is happening with that vampire-hating church and Bill made his way over to check him and Sookie into their rooms.

Marilyn rushed over to Sookie and pulled her into an embrace. Jessica was standing beside Sookie with a man, that's when Marilyn decided she would let one voice in. I can't believe I just glamoured my first human!!! Marilyn released a little laugh before turning to Jess and offering her a well done and a thank you for helping Sookie. Jessica went a little red from embarrassment, but she was mostly happy that someone appreciated what she'd done. Marilyn pulled her into a hug and whispered, "Bill's proud of you." As a form of response Jessica lightly squeezed Marilyn before letting go. Jessica went back to glamouring the man that had tried to kidnap Sookie whose name she had learned was Leon. And by the looks of it Jessica was having a lot of fun controlling that man's mind. That's when the man shouted, "Becky Eubanks is a stuck-up whore who let Jace finger her in church!", Jessica burst out with laughter, but Bill turned around from the check-in desk looking rather displeased. Marilyn had to admit even she found that quite funny.

After Sookie and Bill had sorted out their rooms making sure they had an adjoining one for Jessica, they all made their way upstairs with Leon in tow. Instead of going straight to her room Marilyn followed Sookie and Bill to theirs she wanted to know why the Fellowship of The Sun had sent someone to kidnap her sister. They all sat in the living area of the suite; the room was huge with an even bigger room attached for Jessica to say in. Bill sat next to Leon trying to under the effects of the glamour Jessica had put on him, once successfully convincing the man he wasn't in mortal danger both Sookie and Bill started asking questions.

"Who sent you?" Bill asked

"Fellowship of the Sun" the man replied

"Are you a member?" it was Sookie asking the question this time.

"No, they hired me" This went back and forth for several minutes, discovering that they didn't know what Sookie looked or even her gender, we don't know who hired the man and that the church know that Eric and the others are using a human (Sookie) to find Godric. This meant they didn't know about Marilyn and her abilities, that was probably for the best. If they didn't know that she could read the minds of vampires it meant Eric hasn't told anyone, she was glad she could trust him to keep her secret. It would do more harm than good if the church or even the other vampires found out she could the thoughts of the undead. After Bill had finished glamouring Leon into thinking we never arrived Marilyn left Sookie and Bill's suite to give them some time alone. Bill had wanted to call Eric to talk to him about the Fellowship of the Sun and Marilyn already knew how the conversation was going to go so she thought she'd head back to her room for a nap before meeting the Texas vampires. She had made it back to her room and quickly climbed under the freshly washed sheets of her bed, as soon as her head hit the pillows her hold body relaxed, and she comfortably fell asleep.

Hours had passed by the time Marilyn was awakened by a constant knocking at her hotel room door. She dragged herself out of the now warm covers and opened the door to be faced by the Viking God himself.

"Loving the new look, especially the red panties. Suits you very well" He sarcastically commented, blood-filled Marilyn's cheeks as she'd realised how she must look but the more distressing thing was that she wasn't wearing any bottoms so, her underwear was on full show. She quickly ran back into her room to find a pair of shorts. After rummaging around in her suitcase for about 5 minutes she found a pair of black booty shorts and decided they would do. Marilyn walked back into the living area of her room where Eric was stretched out across the settee.

"I much prefer you without any shorts on." He said taking in her new appearance.

"If you had it your way, you'd rather me
without any clothes on at all." She added having literally read his mind.

"I didn't know that was an option. "A smirk filled his features as he imagined her naked.

"Eric, did you need something?" She asked wondering why he had knocked on her door, all she really wanted was to go back to sleep and the sooner Eric left the sooner she could do that.

"Yes, I want to ask if you'd like to have a drink with me." Even though Marilyn wanted to just go back to bed she couldn't turn down the opportunity to have a drink with Eric.

"Yeah, I'd love to. Let me just get changed again and sort out my hair. I will not be seen in public like this" She used her hands to emphasise what she meant, and Eric tried hard to hold back a smile but failed.

"I don't know what you mean. I think you look very presentable." Was his reply

"Oh, shut up." She said whilst walking away and as she entered her bedroom all she could hear was Eric's laughter.

They spent nearly the whole evening down in that bar, talking and laughing at whatever embarrassing story they had just told the other. The best night they'd had together so far.  But as the sun was about to rise soon, they decided it was best to try and get some sleep before tomorrow evening.Eric escorted Marilyn back to her room, she turned towards him and kissed himon the cheek before saying goodnight but grabbed hold of her waist before kissing her on the mouth. Butterflies filled Marilyn's stomach as she and Eric continuedto kiss, she was the first to break away breathless. Eric gave her one last peck before telling her goodnight and stalking off back to his room which was just a few doors down from hers. That morning Marilyn fell asleep with a smile plastered to her face, she didn't care what happened tomorrow evening or the evening after that because she had just been kissed by the man she wanted to call hers