A/N: For your entertainment! I thought up this little nugget while fighting a case of writers block and watching a very B grade movie. All translations will be at the bottom. I will continue this if I get enough interest. I am still working on my other story Just Can't Get Enough I promise the next update for that soon.

A huge thank you to EtherealDemon for her cultural advisement and for the translation of the Swedish portions in this story.

I own nothing just playing with the toys of others.

Finally here I am in Shreveport after a 19 hour flight from Sweden; if I never get on an airplane again it will be too soon. I have spent the last 6 years living in Stockholm with my adopted family after my Gran died suddenly. Since I was only 15 and they decided Jason was not fit to be my guardian I was placed by the state with a nice family that lived in Shreveport and I was happy to still be close to BonTemps and could still see my friends. After living with them for a year they petitioned the court to adopt me so that I could move to Sweden with them after my foster fathers company promoted him to VP at their firm there.

For a long time I was sad to be leaving behind my brother and all my friends but soon after we had moved I made the decision not to cry about it since things could have been worse. I finished high school there and after much difficulty I learned to speak Swedish as well as I spoke English and stayed with my adopted family even after I was an adult and started college. I always kept in touch with Jason and over the years we became close, I knew he felt bad that he was not the one to look after me after our Gran had died but he was barley an adult then and I harbored no resentment towards him.

Jason was the reason that I had come back to Louisiana after all these years, he had finally found him a nice girl and they were getting married this summer. I decided that instead of just spending a week here for his wedding that I would take the summer of from school and spend it with my brother and my old friends. I leased myself an apartment that specializes in short term rentals and took a job as a maid in a very swanky high rise apartment complex near downtown. I was excited and exhausted and couldn't wait for Jason to show up and drive me to my apartment. I sat down on one of the benches in the passenger pickup area and must have dozed off because the next thing I knew heard Jason's voice calling my name.

I jumped up and hugged him tight, I didn't realize how much I had missed him until I laid eyes on him. He helped get my bags into his truck and talked nonstop as we drove to my apartment. He filled me in on all the town gossip, told me all about his fiancée and that he had just been made the lead supervisor on the road crew. Soon we pulled up to my apartment and all I could think about was hitting the sheets to get a few hours sleep before I had to start my first shift at my new job. I hugged Jason and promised that I would come by the next day to meet his fiancée Krystal and catch him up on my life. I piled all my bags in the corner of my room, peeled off my clothes, set my alarm clock and passed out seconds after my head hit the pillow.

After what only felt like minutes my alarm clock pulled me from my sleep. I swatted at it trying desperately to silence it for a few more minutes but only managed to know it off the table. Damn! I dragged myself out of bed turned off the offending alarm clock and staggered into the bathroom to get ready for work. After a shower that helped bring me back to life I went to the kitchen to make some coffee noting that it was 7:30 and I had to be at work in 30 minutes I had been in the shower a lot longer than I thought. I set the coffee to brew and ran back to my room and threw on a jean skirt white wife beater and cropped jean jacket pulled my hair up into a ponytail and added some gloss to my lips and a little mascara before I decided that was good I was only going to work after all. I ran back to the kitchen filled a travel mug with coffee and took off out the door as I had to walk 3 blocks to get to my new job and I didn't want to be late on my first night.

I arrived at The Valkyrie Tower Apartments promptly at 8pm; I made my way to the security desk to ask where I should go to meet my new supervisor. The huge man seated behind the desk smiled a lopsided leering kinda smile at me asked my name and told me to have seat and he would call up to let them know I was here. I grabbed a seat and a magazine to keep my occupied while I waited, I heard the elevator ding and looked up to see if it was my new boss but it wasn't. However huge bald and creepy was staring at me from behind his desk he had weird purplish eyes and he was leering again since he thought I was checking him out. Ewww…dream on buddy! I rolled my eyes and turned my back to him.

I shrieked and almost jumped out of my skin when I turned to find a woman standing right next to me. She laughed and said" I am Pam and you must be Sookie Stackhouse." I nodded and said "Pleased to meet you Pam." She informed me that she would be overseeing me and getting me set up to work, she seemed none too pleased to be doing it either. She told me I was being assigned to the penthouse levels and that they were located on the top three floors. She said there were eight apartments 3 on two of the floors and 2 on the top floor; she said that I would be splitting the 8 with another girl named Amelia.

She explained that all the apartments had to be finished by 4 am and we were never to start work on any apartment before 9pm. When I asked why people would want a maid working in their homes at such a late hour she said their residents all work at night so that's the best time for them so they weren't disturbed during the day. Weird that everyone in those units' works at night must all be for the same company.

Pam then handed me a key card that would give me access to all the apartments informing me that I would pick it up with security when I arrived and drop back off before I left. She handed me a black vest with the name and logo of the building embroidered on one side and my name on the other. Well at least the uniform isn't ugly! She handed me a list of the units I was going to be taking care of, my list of duties and showed me to the room that held all the supplies and a break room.

I stowed my things in a locker and put of my vest checked my reflection in the tiny mirror satisfied I swung the locker door shut and turned to get my supplies. For the second time tonight I shrieked and nearly had a heart attack as Pam was suddenly right in front of me. Sweet baby Jesus! "Sorry Pam I didn't mean to scream in your face, I just didn't hear you come in." She laughed and smiled at me and asked "Are you always this jumpy?" I shook my head and felt a blush rise on the face in embarrassment and said "No." and that was the truth I usually heard people coming way before that got close enough to startle me, you see I was born different, I can hear the thoughts of others. Then it hit me like a Mack truck I couldn't hear her thoughts, how did I miss this during the last hour we had spent together! She was still smiling when she leaned towards me and inhaled, her eyes got a faraway look to them and she said "You smell wonderful Sookie." Ok this is weird my boss just smelled me. Is she hitting on me? "Thanks Pam, it's called Deep Red." I replied. She winked at me and said "Yes, well you better get to work if you want to finish by 4. Have a good night Sookie." Then she walked away.

I started putting gall the supplies I would need to clean the four apartments I had been assigned to tonight while I was thinking about not being able to hear Pam. I had never encountered someone whose mind was closed to me, some people were more difficult to read but I still got flashes or feelings from them. I found it wonderful the more I thought about it, how nice it will be to be around her and not have the shield my mind from the onslaught of musings form her mind.

Speaking of the onslaught of thoughts I could hear whoever was coming down the hall like they were using a megaphone. A few seconds later the door opened and a very loud thinking brunette bounced into the room. I slammed my mental blocks up to shut off her thoughts so I could concentrate on what she was saying.

"Hi there, I'm Amelia and you must be Sookie." She drawled. "Hi and yes I am" I said. She went on about how much she liked it here and that she was glad I wasn't old or mean like the last maid and she hoped we could be friends. I smiled and said "I would like that Amelia, but we better get to work." She agreed and we went our separate ways since she had the three apartments the floor below mine, I had the two suites on the top floor.

I rode the elevator up with my cart to get started. Every suite I entered was just amazingly beautiful who ever built this place has great taste and very expensive taste. They were all furnished differently to suit the occupant and none of them were very messy usually just the bathrooms and bedrooms required cleaning. I met Amelia after I finished my floor and we finished the last three suites together. We worked well together and had everything finished by 3:30.

Amelia suggested we go and sit on the roof and relax before clocking out for the night. She told me the view was not to be missed and that she found it very peaceful up there. I agreed so we stopped by the supply room and dropped of our carts and grab our personal stuff before heading up. She was right it was magnificent and I decided that I would come up her to unwind after all my shifts. When it neared 4 we headed down to turn in our keys to Quinn the Creeper, Amelia laughed when she heard me call him that and agreed whole heartedly that he was in fact a creeper. We said our goodbyes and I headed home.

That was how the next 2 months passed by, I spent my days with Jason and Krystal helping plan the wedding and at night I cleaned the apartments with Amelia before we convened on the roof before heading home. I liked my job, spending time with Jason, Krystal and Amelia and catching up with old friends; I was going to miss all of it when I returned to Sweden in 2 weeks. Jason's wedding was a week and a half away and after they left for their honeymoon I left for home.

It was Saturday night and I was getting ready to go to work when I heard someone banging on my door. I finished putting on my gloss and ran to open the door and found a grinning Amelia waiting for me. "Hey Sookie, I thought since I was just up the street having a coffee that I would grab one for you and we could walk together." She said. "You came bearing gifts of caffeine, how can I say no to that!" I said returning her smile.

I grabbed my jacket and purse and we headed to the Valkyrie. While we walked I asked Amelia if she had ever seen anyone in the apartments since she had been working there because I never had. "Nope never." She said. "Don't you think that's strange?" I asked. She shook her head and told me they all work for the same company and that they did a lot of international business and handled stuff that could only be done at night. "What do you think of Pam?" apparently I was full of questions tonight but I wondered what he deal was since she was always smelling me and making eyes at me that looked hungry.

When I looked at Amelia she was blushing "Well, what do you think and why are you blushing?" I asked. "Sookie Pam likes women and she and I have hooked up a few times. I think she's great!" She replied. "Why do you ask, are you interested in her? We aren't a couple or anything." Now I was blushing. "No nothing like that I don't swing that way. She just sniffs me a lot and tells me how nice I smell. It's weird but now it makes more sense." I said.

We walked in and got our keys from the creeper and he was leering at us just like always. God, what a pig. I had the top floor as always and told Amelia I would meet her on the lower floor later. I took the elevator up to my floor and slide my key into the lock of the larger suite, this one was my favorite. It reminded me of home and clearly who ever lived here was from one of the Scandinavian countries based on the art work and antiques that decorated it and it always smelled wonderful like sandalwood and night air.

I put my iPod on and loaded up my favorite playlist as I began to clean up the suite. I was dancing to the beat while I washed up the dishes in the sink and put them up to dry. My favorite song started playing as I made my way to the laundry room to retrieve the dry cleaning to hang up in the closet. I swayed my hips as I crossed the bedroom to the closet and was grooving away as I hung up the last of the shirts. I spun around just as the song ended to find I wasn't alone in the suite. I shrieked at his sudden appearance as I was sure no one had been here when I came in.

He held up his hands in an I surrender gesture which looked comical cause he was a big guy wearing only a towel. I pulled out my ear buds and glared at him "No one is supposed to be here, I don't know how you got in but you best be leaving before I call security." I said. He smiled at me and what a beautiful smile it was, that's when I noticed the rest of him was amazing too. I was snapped out of my ogling by the sound of his voice "No need to call security this is my home. I thank you for defending it so valiantly." He said with a chuckle.

I blushed ten shades of red and said "I am so sorry. I didn't think anyone was here. I'll grab my stuff and get out of your way." I rushed past him and out of the closet. He must have been in the bathroom when I came in but I didn't hear anything with my ears or my mind. That stopped me in my tracks, I hadn't heard his mind, and he was silent just like Pam. What are the odds of finding 2 silent minds in the same place after never in my 21 years finding one before? Think on that later for now I gotta get out of here.

I grabbed my things and headed for the door when I heard his voice "What is your name?" he asked. Shit he is probably going to report my intrusion to Pam and I'll get fired. I leave in a week so not like it matters. "My name is Sookie." I replied. "Eric." He answered back. "It's real nice to meet you Eric and I am sorry for invading your space, I didn't hear you when I came in. I have never seen anyone here at all since I started and I guess I should have paid better attention." I said. I was babbling and I knew it but I can't help it, happens when ever I get flustered.

He smiled at me he was clearly amused at me being so flustered and said "Do not give it another thought; I was not here when you came. I only arrived minutes before I found you in my closet." Whew glad he isn't mad I would hate to lose the job even if I will be leaving soon. I would miss my sanctuary on the roof and Amelia. "Please go ahead and finish your work I do not mind you being here, I will be in the office and out of your way." I nodded and went back to his room to finish my tasks there.

I decided against putting my IPod back on, I didn't want him to sneak up on me again I doubt he'd enjoy me shrieking in his face twice in one night. I started changing the linens on the bed it was weird being in his personal space while he was here. I wondered what he looked like laying here in his silk sheets. I bet he sleeps nude someone that had such fine sheets surely enjoyed the full experience. Shit! Oh my god! am I really thinking about him naked in his bed. Pull it together Sookie.

I heard a knock on the door and it open and close then I heard Pam's voice. I heard Eric call out saying he was in the office and then her heels crossing the suite towards him. Wonder what she is doing here? He said he was fine with me being here. I went back to my duties and was about to put my IPod on so I wouldn't feel like I was eves dropping on whatever they were saying but I was very curious to know why she was here.

"You called Eric? Is Sookie in your room?" Pam said her tone implied that she thought something untoward was going on. "Yes, I have met the maid actually I nearly gave her a heart attack when she was dancing in my closet." He said with a laugh. Oh I am just so thrilled he found me so damn entertaining. "Dancing? Why on earth was she dancing in your closet Eric? You better not scare her off she is one of the best we have ever had. Also she smells delicious." Pam sounded annoyed. I guess Eric was some Lothario that slept with maids or scared them right out of work.

"Hanging the dry cleaning, she was dancing while she worked. I did not mind at all she is quite skilled and I have no intention of scaring her off. This is not why I called you here thought." He said. I felt my cheeks flame and wondered just how long he had watched me dance before I noticed him; I had been grinding around in there for about 10 minutes. Oh my god how embarrassing! At least he liked it.

When they resumed their conversation he was speaking Swedish, I guess they didn't want me to know what they were going to say now. Too bad for them that I was fluent in that language, I was more than curious to know what they had to say that they clearly didn't want me to hear. "Du har rätt om hennes doft den är mycket mer tilltalande än flesta människors. Hon är annorlunda Pam. Det är omöjligt att glamma henne." Oh for crying out loud what is with them and their thing with my scent, I mean I really like my perfume too but for Pete sake they seem obsessed. I can most certainly be glamorous if I want to; I am no beauty queen but damn how rude. Why am I so different? I mean I am but no one has ever come right out and said it before. At least he didn't intend me to hear his rude opinion but it still hurt.

"Det är något som är annorlunda med henne, hon är något annat. Tror du att hon vet vad vi är? Det skulle vara illa, vi kan inte låta henne avslöja oss." Pam sounded tense now. What the hell did she mean by that I have an otherness about me? Oh god! No, no, no they could not know about my mind reading. Maybe they think I'm gay, maybe they are gay and that's what she meant about knowing about them. Who would I tell if they were, I don't care how they live their life.

My heart was beating out of my chest I didn't like being discussed and was terrified that they knew my secret. I grabbed everything and made a bee line for the door; I threw everything on my cart and decided to head to the roof to regain my composure. A little meditation and prayer always centered me so I went to the little area I had set up on the roof for that very thing. I gazed up at the stars and began taking deep breaths, my heartbeat slowly returned to normal and I felt my body relax.

Once I found my center I closed my eyes and began to recite my pray to the All Father. I could have said it in English but it seemed to feel less genuine when not spoken it the native language in which it came from. I lit my candle and faced the north and began my prayer.

Oden varde helgad, ni som bär otal anleten. Herjafader jag söker er. Hör min bedjan och giv mig styrkan att besegra mina motståndare. Mitt öde befinner sig i era händer, må det ledas till framgångens stigar. Giv mig tålamod och förmågan att motstå misströstan så som ni själv har gjort tidigare och erfarit så mycket mer innan mig. Belägra er i mitt hjärta och min själ genom det mörka nätterna, Allfader, tills jag åter erhållit Livets Runor och jag som ni bliver hälsosam, hel och vis.

I felt better afterwards but I realized that I was ready to return home. I was glad that I had come back here to be with Jason for his wedding and really happy to have met Amelia but I didn't feel like I belonged here anymore. I never felt out of place even though I was different back home with my adopted parents, my friends there had always made me feel welcome and even the people I worked with there had never made me feel different. It occurred to me that Pam and Eric didn't try to make me feel bad they had no idea I understood every word they had said.

I cleaned up my little private space and stowed my things under the AC unit. I still had two suites to finish before I could go and now I was going to have to work double time to finish by 4. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn't heard anyone approaching, so when I stood up I shrieked when I saw Eric standing there looking at me. "Oh sweet mercy you scared me to death Eric." I gasped out.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked. "Long enough." He replied. I wasn't sure what to make of his tone or the look that was on his face. I was annoyed he should have let me know he was here, was he spying on me. Shit did he hear everything I had said, did he know I understood all that they had said. "It's rude to spy you know." I huffed. "Your one to talk about spying, you were very content to listen in on my conversation in the suite." He said coolly.

Well he had me there I had stayed in his room overhearing everything they said. My biggest question was still did he know I understood Swedish and second did they know my secret. "I wasn't spying, I was working. I couldn't help but hear what you two said you were in the next room; you could have asked me to leave if you required more privacy." I insisted. He grinned at me and said "Your very feisty Sookie, I like that in a woman." Did he follow me up here so he could hit on me, I laughed I couldn't help it. I guess my secret is safe! "I have to get back to work Eric. I have a lot to do before my shift ends. Have a good night." I said as I walked around him and headed for the stairs.

I could feel his eyes following me as I made my way across the roof. "Min natt skulle var mycket bättre om den slutade med dig i min säng." He said. Well the nerve of that man, who does he think he is speaking to me that way. I spun around and leveled him with a glare "You watch your mouth mister; I won't stand for your nasty talk." I hissed at him. He smiled at me triumphantly and I realized the error I had just made, he spoke to me in Swedish and I answered him. Oh fuck my life! Stupid Sook very stupid.

A/N: Translations for Home Coming.

"You're right about her fragrance is much more appealing when most people. She is different Pam. She cannot be glamoured."

"There's something different about her, she is something other. Do you think she knows what we are? It would be very bad, we cannot have her outing Us"

Hail Odin, you who bare innumerable faces. God of War i seek you. Hear my plea and grant me strength to conquer my opponents. My fate is in your hands, may it be led to the paths of success. Grant me patients and the ability to withstand dispair as you have done and so much more before me. Besiege yourself in my heart and my soul though the dark nights, Father of All, until I once again grasp the Runes of Life and I am as you are healthy, whole and wise."

"My night would be much better if it ended with you in my bed."