two.

Maggie had settled in at Gran's house for the most part. And even after having a week to fall into a routine, she just felt a little off. It was a bit harder for her after being on the go for so long. But Bon Temps welcomed her back with open arms and more surprises. Such as the new revelation of a vampire in town. One that her older sister Sookie had taken a liking towards.

One night Maggie had been introduced to Bill Compton at Merlotte's when Maggie went to hang out with her older brother, Jason, along with Gemma, and Hoyt Fortenberry. To say the girl wasn't pleased that much to meet him was a bit of an understatement. There was something off about Bill Compton that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Sookie one night had explained how she had met Bill and some of the things that had transpired. But it all left Maggie a little confused at the coincidences of Bill being there at the right time and right place.

Though Maggie put on an act for Sookie to make her sister feel a little better to have someone close to her like Bill. Having good control on her thoughts had come in handy for the younger Stackhouse girl. Though when Sookie had walked away with Bill, Maggie was quick to voice that she didn't seem to like the old-fashioned vampire that much. The three others couldn't help but agree in response. And since that night, the girl had been much more wary of the vampire who lurked around.

Due to Gran's request, Maggie had been finishing up the dishes after the two of them had dinner so Gran could go get ready for bed. The radio played faintly in the kitchen, trying not to make too much ruckus for the older woman upstairs. A bit of silence that enveloped the room was just what Maggie needed. Her walls in her mind had been brought down due to the calmness of the home. Gran's mind was like classical music half the time so it hadn't been hard for the young Stackhouse girl to relax.

However, the indication that someone had come home was made when Maggie was hit with the sad voice of Sookie in her mind. Her older sister was rambling along in her head before Maggie heard a static noise. Only some words coming out almost like an out of range radio. That was now accompanied with Sookie's own thoughts which left the girl inside the house confused.

Turning off the kitchen sink and placing the last dish on the drying rack, Maggie wiped her hands on the dry towel. Curiosity got the better of her as she made her way towards the front door. Hearing the voices talking back and forth on the porch. Peering out to see Sookie along with Bill, where it seemed to be that they were having a heated conversation. Maggie was more confused now to know that the static noise and faint broken words had been coming from Bill. After Sookie had informed her that vampire thoughts were something that she couldn't hear, Maggie assumed that went for her as well. Though she couldn't hear the exact thoughts from Bill Compton, there was still something rather than just silence. However, it was more something she'd have to focus on to really notice it around any other individuals thoughts.

"Why on Earth would I continue seeing you?" Sookie questioned Bill. That made Maggie wonder what had conspired prior to that topic. Afterall, Sookie was infatuated with Bill before she had left to his house. Now it's like a switch had flipped in her.

"Because you will never find the human man you can be yourself with," Bill answered. With that response, Maggie was quick to open the front door. The two turned to look at the other blonde girl who didn't bother to hide the slight anger on her face.

The audacity.

"Vampire Bill, I think it's time for you to leave," Maggie announced, glaring at the dead man. Sookie tried to head towards her sister when the vampire grabbed her arm.

"Sookie."

"Do not touch me!" Sookie yelled at him. Maggie stepped completely out of the house, taking her place right besides her older sister. Arms crossed over her chest in a challenging manner. If looks could kill, Bill Compton would be more dead than he already was.

"Just go, please," Sookie told Bill before heading inside. Maggie stayed planted in her spot on the porch, glaring at the vampire.

"I don't know what you did, but I know it was enough to make the happiest person around dislike you at the moment. So I will say this once. One time. If you so much as try to hurt Sookie, or put her in any more danger that I know you have done already. You best believe Mr. Compton that there will be hell to pay," Maggie spat out. Bill held a sour look on his own face as he looked at the younger Stackhouse. It made her look stupid in his eyes that she was threatening a vampire like himself. He could easily kill her if he wanted to. Though he wouldn't because of Sookie.

Maggie scoffed at the dead man who stood in front of her. Hearing the faint echoing of the word "threat."

"And that is a promise, Compton," With that last thing said, she went inside and made sure to lock up behind her. Bill Compton sure knew how to get under Maggie's skin without even trying.

Switching off all the downstairs lights when she realized Sookie had made her way up to her room. Maggie knew she would be stopping in Sookie's room to see if she at least wanted to talk about what had been upsetting her before she went to bed. Making sure to close her thoughts off again before she climbed the stairs. Preparing for an interesting conversation about her older sister's night.

+

"Sookie! You're gonna faint out here in this heat, honey," Adele Stackhouse called out to one of her granddaughters who was mowing the lawn. The older woman stood on the porch with a glass of lemonade for the girl. Sookie stopped the lawn mower so she could hear her grandmother better.

"It's barely 9:00 and already 80 degrees. I made you some lemonade," Adele handed the glass over to Sookie.

Maggie, who laid on a lawn chair in the middle of the yard pulled her sunglasses down slightly to look at the two.

"Gee, Gran. Feeling the love," Maggie sarcastically remarked.

"Oh, dear. Your sister was doing the lawn. She deserved the drink," Adele said.

"Hey, I would've been doing it but Sookie fought me for the lawn mower," Maggie raised her hands up in defense. "So I opted to work on my tan."

Adele chuckled before looking around at the yard. The older woman realized just how much Sookie had been doing.

"My goodness. What has gotten into you?" She asked Sookie.

"I just need to stay busy is all," Sookie shrugged off.

"What? How long have you been–."

"I started, uh, when the sun came up," Sookie answered Gran's question before she could finish.

Maggie stood up from her chair to join the two ladies.

"Yeah, she was out pulling weeds from the garden first when I came out for my run. I offered to do the grass but she was quick to take that option from me," Maggie informed.

"Are you concerned about the vampire?" Adele questioned, Maggie tried her best not to scoff. "Sookie, has he done something untoward?"

"No. No."

Maggie gave Sookie a look.

That little liar.

After their conversation last night, Bill was lucky Maggie didn't storm over after he left to shove her foot up his ass. Staking his claim on Sookie the way he did. He didn't even have the nerve to talk to her about it before he announced to those random vampires that she was his. Like it seemed to really make a difference protection wise. From what Sookie had told her, the vampires didn't seem to care much if the human girl was claimed or not. They only saw her as a blood bag they could share.

Sookie had tried to put up a slight fight with their Gran about coming inside to eat. Their grandmother offered to make some breakfast for the three of them. Sookie declared she wasn't hungry though Adele told her it wasn't up for debate. Maggie snickered, nudging Sookie's shoulder when she saw the look on her older sister's face. Arguing with Gran was never in their favor.

"Did y'all hear there's going to be a Starbucks?" Maggie brought up, sitting down at the table while she flipped through a magazine.

"I cannot for the life of me see why anybody would spend $3 on a cup of coffee with too much milk," Adele commented.

"Arlene told me people are less-calcium deficient than they used to be because of all the fancy coffee they drink nowadays," Sookie recalled.

"You know, I never thought of that," Adele said.

Maggie took a sip from her mug before placing it back down on the table.

"Don't get me wrong, Gran. I highly prefer your coffee. But when I was on the go, their drinks were a nice substitute to get my much needed caffeine," Maggie told her grandmother.

Silence fell over the trio who began to eat their breakfast when Sookie decided to break the silence with what was on her mind.

"Hey, Gran?" Sookie peered over at Maggie, knowing what her sister's opinion already was. "Do you think I should continue seeing Bill?"

"Sookie. I can't tell you that. I'm sure your sister has given you an earful from what she may already know. But it's ultimately your decision. He presents himself as a nice young man, though he has to show me that side in order to continue courting you. I don't know him the way you might," Adele told Sookie.

"He scares me," Sookie admitted.

"Well, it is scary opening your heart up to somebody."

"Sook. I might have my heart heavily guarded due to some boys in my past. But Gran's right. It's your decision in the end. If you say you're scared of him, my first thought is to let him go. Though maybe that's because that's how I handle things. Yes, I might not be fond of Bill. But it's your life and you make your own decisions," Maggie explained to her sister. Though Sookie was older than her, Maggie knew a bit more when it came to guys and feelings. One of the reasons why she had learned to keep to herself. Her own heartbreak from her high school sweetheart was enough for her to stay away from relationships and feelings.

Sookie sighed, "I just think it's scarier to me because it's a vampire instead of a regular guy. And I guess I'm more scared that I don't know what he's thinking."

"I would imagine that that wouldn't be such a bad thing for you with your... ability," Adele said. Understandably so, Maggie could see where Sookie's fear came from. There was only one other person before Bill that Sookie couldn't always hear and it was Maggie. Sookie was used to all the people in her life's thoughts, especially the nasty ones from men. Bill was something different. Someone Sookie had to get to know through the normal way without being able to peer inside his head. It had thrown her off to say the least.

Maggie stood up from the table with her plate in hand. Making sure to clear it before she placed it in the sink. The girl needed to get out of the house for a bit, maybe just go around town and see if anything nice jumped out at her to buy.

Maggie began, "Sorry, to bail out now. But I might swing by Merlotte's before I go to the shops. I have to give Sam his lighter back that I used for my candles."

"Oh, are you going to apply for that open position he's got? We still need some more help," Sookie wondered.

"Absolutely not. Sorry, Sook. Merlotte's is not where I see myself working, no offense. Its atmosphere is kinda ...sad?" Maggie told her sister. There was that reason and the fact Maggie didn't see herself as a waitress at all. Along with serving a lot of the town's dirtbags. She had to kindly pass. She would stick with her idea of working at the town's library and making her candles in her free time.

The three Stackhouse girls parted ways. Unaware that later on that day, when Sookie went to run a favor for Sam, it would leave her more traumatized along with their older brother being arrested.

Second chapter...
Slowly easing into True Blood story.

Please feel free to interact with the chapters!
Until next time...
—cait