Page 38 of Nick: His to Claim

“Nick, if there’s anything I can do to help you with your… plans, let me know. I think I’d kind of like having you around on a permanent basis.”

“Don’t worry about that, Jason. I’m not going anywhere, and believe it or not, I can be aforce of naturetoo. Night.”

* * *

Nick found Maggie huddled on the couch, one arm curled around an empty bottle of wine. The room was dark but for the glow from the fireplace, and the door had been unlocked. When he saw the tear tracks on her cheeks, he decided to save that lecture for another time.

“Maggie? Honey, are you all right?” he asked gently, trying not to startle her.

A hiccup was her only reply. Nick approached the couch and managed to slip the tilted, half-full wine glass from her fingers before she dropped it. At least she hadn’t descended into drinking from the bottle, he thought with a smile.

She had on the most disreputable nightgown he’d ever seen, and he absently noticed her socks didn’t match. Must have been drinking for quite a while before she’d gotten undressed, he observed.

“Maggie, sweetheart, talk to me,” he encouraged as he slid down beside her.

“I can’t talk.” Hiccup. “I don’t deserve to ever talk again. My tongue should just fall right out of my mouth.” Hiccup.

“Don’t be silly, darlin’,” Nick told her as he lifted her onto his lap. “You have a beautiful tongue and I would really miss it. Now, why don’t you tell me what this is about? Jason and I had a talk and he?—”

“Jason, oh God,” she sobbed. “He’ll never forgive me.” Hiccup.

“Of course he forgives you. He loves you,” Nick reasoned.

“How? How can he love me? How can anybody love me?” she demanded. “Where’s my wine glass?” Hiccup.

“Why do you think you’re so unlovable?” Nick asked, trying not to laugh. God she was cute, even if she was totally shit-faced.

“Because… ” she drawled out as if she were talking to someone not quite right in the head. “I… am… a… liar… ”she informed him, putting both her hands on his cheeks and forcing him to look into her bloodshot eyes. “Where’s my wine glass?” Hiccup.

“Honey, I know you’ve had a few… ”

“A few? I have lied to probably everyone in the entire world,” she informed him, totally missing his point. “The world, Nick, the whole damn world.”

Maggie dramatically threw her hands up to encompass as much of the universe as her noodle arms would allow before they flopped back down into her lap. Hiccup.

“Have you lied to me, Maggie? I know you lied about Jack Harley and we took care of that, well I thought so until today. But that can wait. What other lies have you told me, sweetie?”

“Oh, Nick,” she sighed, sinking against his broad chest. “Ihavelied to you. I have seriously lied to you. Where’s my wine?” Hiccup.

“Why don’t you tell me about these lies and let me decide how serious they are?” he suggested helpfully.

“Oh, they’re serious,” she told him popping back up and looking into his eyes. “In fact, I’m probably going straight to hell,” she sniffed while wiping her nose on her sleeve. Hiccup. “Where the hell is my wine glass?” she demanded, slapping her thigh in agitation.

“Tell you what. I’ll give you your glass back, and then you tell me what you’ve lied about. How’s that?” he asked, reasonably.

“Deal. I’ll take door number three. You give me back my wine and I’ll tell you all about my lies… how’s about that?” Hiccup.

Nick handed her the glass after taking several large gulps, leaving her very little wine in the bottom.

“Hey,” she griped, snatching it out of his hand and peering intently into the glass looking for more. “No fair.”

Nick couldn’t resist sliding his fingers into her hair and pulling her close for a kiss. Maggie’s tongue slipped along his wine covered lips.

“Yum,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around him as he quickly saved the glass again.

“Okay, sweetie,” he informed her, detaching her arms from his neck. “Here’s your wine; now tell me about those lies.”

“Well,” she told him, swallowing the last of her wine. “It’s kind of embarrassing. Do we have more wine in the kitchen?” she asked innocently.