Maggie's POV****
It had been over a week since the fundraiser and I was heading out of town, driving to Washington, D.C.
I was packing my bag when heavy knocking drew me to my door. It was Damon.
"Morning, Mick... Going somewhere?" His eyes caught a glimpse of my suitcase. I raised my brows at him.
"Not that it's really any of your business, but I'm going to D.C. for a week. My cousin, Sean, he's flying over. I'm gonna meet him," I told him bluntly. Damon frowned a bit.
"Who am I supposed to drink with, then?" He demanded.
"Maybe that history teacher/vampire hunter, Alaric Saltzman. Aren't you guys like besties or something?" I rolled my eyes, glancing through a pile of books, deciding which to pack.
"You know, if you invite me in, I can help..." He was only half serious, though. I gave him a skeptical look as I lifted my suitcase, wincing a bit as it tugged on my semi-healed side.
"If you want to help, Damon, put that in the cab of my truck."
He rolled his eyes, but complied.
When he came back to the porch, I was locking up my house, purse over my shoulder.
"I'll be back in time for Happy Hour on Friday, Damon. Promise," I winked. He smiled wryly, clapping me on the shoulder.
"Fair enough. I'll be waiting," He said suggestively. I rolled my eyes and headed to my car.
I got to the Capital about three hours later and checked into a hotel. Sean met me in the lobby. He was the stereotypical Irish boy with red hair and vivid green eyes that almost had a radioactive glow to them. He waved it off as the Sidhe blood. I hugged him tightly, remembering all the mornings we'd spent on his Ma's porch, drinking tea and watching the sun come up.
"Top o' the mornin' to ya!" I greeted in a false Irish accent.
"I'd forgotten how charmin' ya could be," He rolled his eyes, his own accent sounding much more real than mine had. I grinned wickedly at him.
"Don't you know it. Come on, let's go find someplace to eat!"
And so began my few days with my cousin. In the mornings, he had places to go and people to meet, but in the afternoons, we played tourist, going to all the museums.
"So, how've ya been, Maggie?" He asked on the second day, "Ya seem blue."
"Things are rough at home...The town is being ripped at the seams by a pissing contest between the supernaturals. I got in the middle of it and ended up getting stabbed," I admitted. He looked sympathetic.
"Our door's always open, Maggie," he told me sincerely.
"Don't think I haven't thought about it...But what would running do for me?" I asked rhetorically. He smiled teasingly.
"Well, it'd keep you alive. 'Sides... Danaidh misses you," His eyes twinkled mischievously. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. Now, I don't want you to get the wrong impression. The Sidhe aren't bad, but they do find endless amusement in causing trouble for us mere mortals. They weren't as troublesome to those of us who had Sidhe blood, but they still liked to taunt us to no end. Danaidh had been the one who came every day to visit, bringing a huge repertoire of stories and tales.
"Oh, please, he's probably been through hundreds of fairy girls by now," I told him, rolling my eyes. Sean shrugged, grin still playing at his lips.
As I've commented before, good things never last. I went home after spending three days with Sean. True to my word, I got back to Mystic Falls in time for Happy Hour. I found Damon chugging whiskey with a man in a suit. He looked oddly familiar.
"Hey, Mick! Meet Elijah," He declared drunkenly.