but can y’all actually imagine Derek’s first thanksgiving since the fire?
Derek not having sat down at one for literal years?
every year, the pack would break off and go celebrate with their families. not ever thinking to invite him because they just assume he wouldn’t want to go? not their fault, totally understandable.
maybe they also all assumed Derek would just spend it with Cora and Peter. but having lived out of the states for so long, Cora doesn’t really recognize the holiday anymore (valid) and who knows what the fuck Peter gets up to.
so for however long, Derek’s just spent the holiday alone; cooking himself something boring like chicken and rice or just ordering thai food.
Stiles probably also didn’t know this was going on; he also had assumptions that Derek just preferred to be alone, skipped town, or doing god knows what. the Hale’s are an enigma, okay?
but this year, he invites Derek. straight up asks him, “what are you doing for thanksgiving?” when Derek shrugs and says probably nothing, Stiles says, “be at my dads place by noon on thursday.”
and Derek’s sat outside the old Stilinski house for a little too long, genuinely surprised he agreed to come in the first place. he’s staring at the bottle of wine in the passenger seat because he didn’t want to show up empty handed either. he’s maybe in his car for so long, john comes outside and taps on the window telling him to get inside. “Stiles needs help finishing up but he won’t let me come in the kitchen,” john complains and Derek nods, taking a deep breath before hopping out the camaro with the wine.
when he steps inside, he feels his whole body relax. and it just all feels familiar! there’s football on tv, the home is warm, and it smells like wonderfully made homemade meals.
john takes the wine from him as Derek makes his way into the kitchen, watching Stiles mutter to himself recipe steps as he bounces between the stove and counter. Derek’s eyebrows raise at how much food is already been made and sitting at the dinner table but Stiles seems to still be finishing up something.
Stiles yelps when he turns and sees Derek just standing there, cursing under his breath before quickly directing Derek to help around the kitchen. there really isn’t that much left for Stiles to do, so Derek ends up only helping to set the table or give the mash potatoes one last mix.
Stiles tells him thanks and basically dismisses him to the living room. Derek at first feeling awkward just sitting on the couch with the sheriff watching football, but it dies off pretty quickly when the sheriff asks him who his favorite teams are and if he’s been keeping up with them. Derek smiling to himself every time john yells or groans at a flag, foul, or touchdown [i dunno i don’t watch sports!].
soon enough, it’s time to eat and Derek feels a little weird again. he’s too self aware of where he is at the moment, feeling like he’s encroaching on a space that doesn’t belong to him, that maybe Stiles only invited him out of pity. but john says he’s glad that he came and Stiles smiles gently at him before they begin to eat. and then that familiar feeling hits again with john and Stiles laughing over stories, and john and Derek talking more about sports or future plans, and Stiles and Derek bickering over silly things that make john roll his eyes and tell them, “you boys are going to give me a headache.”
Derek compliments Stiles’ pie to which Stiles leans over and admits it’s store bought (he knows how to bake, but who has the time?!). they’d all fall against the couch after their bellies were full. all of them drifting in and out of sleep. allowing themselves a day to be lazy as they watch the parade, the dog show, and more football.
john’s fully conked out in his chair as Stiles and Derek watch some charlie brown thanksgiving special. Stiles’ feet are in Derek’s lap and Derek trying so hard not to think too much into it. except Stiles pokes him in the side with his big toe, smirking at him and saying, “really glad you came, big guy.”
Derek sheepishly smiles back, telling Stiles, “thanks for inviting me,” unconsciously rubbing at Stiles’ ankle.
when it gets late, Stiles walks with him out to the porch, already asking Derek, “can i expect you for christmas?”
Derek sighs contented, “if you’ll have me.”
Stiles smiles, leans in and kisses Derek quickly across his lips. Stiles’ own eyes going wide as if it caught him more off guard than it did Derek. Derek just huffs a little laugh, pulling Stiles in to kiss him back.. and then again, against his cheek.
Derek watches Stiles’ smile grow even wider before he steps off the porch and into his car. in the rearview, he can see Stiles still watching him from the top of the porch as he pulls off.
safe to say Derek attends christmas (and hanukkah), and there’s more kisses on new year’s eve, and more when Stiles’ birthday rolls around in april.. before they know it, they’ve been dating just short of a year and neither of them would change a single thing.
