#*stereksanta18

“As if,” The Asshole was actually laughing at him.

“I get that you probably have a weapon or two in hand,” Derek did not have the patience to be dealing with a hunter who thought himself invincible. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t be killed.”

Though, he couldn’t smell any wolfsbane on this guy. He couldn’t smell much of anything, which was probably a bad sign. If hunters had somehow learned how to block their chemosignals, that would take away a large part of the advantage the wolves had over them.

They needed that advantage.

His pack was probably going to call him paranoid, since they had very little problems with hunters anymore, now that Chris Argent had turned out to be a decent person. But it wasn’t paranoia if it kept all of them alive.

“I don’t need weapons,” That Asshole rolled his eyes at Derek.

That was a new one. He hadn’t ever heard a hunter say that before. They were always so dependant on their guns and their wolfsbane - or even bows. This guy seemingly carried none of those things. Though he was wearing so many layers it was hard to tell.

“Do you have claws hidden underneath that plaid?” Derek had to ask.

Because that was the only way that The Asshole would have made it out alive. There was no way a human got that close to a rabid Omega without any weapons on him and still lived to tell the tale. Not without some kind of interference. Or someone saving their ungrateful ass.

“Nothing up my sleeves,” the guy pushed up said sleeves.

Nothing to see there. There was nothing special about this guy, until Derek turned to look at the Omega (the corpse) lying on the ground, and then looked up to find that The Asshole was nowhere to be found.

Well, fuck. Clearly this was no random human. The smell of petrichor told him that much - funny how that he could smell, when there was nothing about the magic-user himself that Derek could get a scent on. So he was powerful, and could have probably handled himself against that Omega - but was it worth the risk?

And still, a ‘thank you’ wouldn’t have been out of place here. Derek was just saving a life, it was That Asshole who had to make it into a big fight. Just because Derek hadn’t wanted him to die at the hands of a feral Omega.

That was about as kind as he got.

2 - The best Spark ever 1 - Grumpy Wolf 1

So clearly the Beacon Hills Alpha was a self-righteous ass, but it wasn’t like Stiles could just let him die. That would be… less than ideal for his standing in the local community. Also, he wasn’t actually that much of an asshole. Not usually, not to anyone who didn’t deserve it.

He was just in doubt about how much the Alpha deserved it.

Still, there was a difference between actively being an asshole to someone and letting them die because of a troupe of egomaniac hunters. Beacon Hills needed an Alpha, and Stiles was going to get one over on the asshole Alpha - so clearly two reasons to do the right thing. That and Stiles’ hatred of hunters. That made three.

Ugh, guess he had to show off now. He hated doing that (no he didn’t).

“Hello there fellas,” Stiles did enjoy playing the harmless human card when it gave him an advantage. “I’m not sure what’s going on here, but it feels like the start of a bullying PSA.”

That stopped these rednecks in their tracks - and seriously, why were hunters usually rednecks? Was it the racism or the love of guns? Or both? Both.

“You’d best get on your merry way, boy,” the one with the baseball cap started threatening him.

And that meant he really didn’t know what he was up against, which was awesome for Stiles but not so much for these guys. And not so much for the Alpha’s ego, clearly, because he was halfway to growling at Stiles before he even spoke up. Right, because it was perfectly fine for Stiles to be the damsel but this guy is too manly to be put in that position?

Fucking toxic masculinity!

“I’m going to need your pet Alpha for that,” Stiles grinned. “I kinda called dibs.”

That surprised them enough that Stiles could get off the first spell with a quick flick of the wrist - a modification of the mountain ash circle that allowed nothing or no one to enter or exit the circle without Stiles’ permission. And since the asshole Alpha was very much outside that circle…

“You’re welcome,” Stiles cocked his head, waiting for some appreciation from said Alpha.

He got none.

The Alpha was basically growling at him. “You called dibs?”

Maybe that wasn’t the best thing he could have said about an apparently extremely paranoid Alpha. But he’d already said it, and well, he stood by it. Because underneath that anger, and the heavy brow, and the asshole behavior… Well, underneath all of that the Alpha was kind of hot and Stiles would have hate-sexed him in a heartbeat. If, you know, he wasn’t an ungrateful ass. Or if he seemed like the kind of guy who was into hate-sex.  

“I’m sorry, are these rednecks more your type?” Stiles had no trouble keeping the circle intact. “I am not sure you’re kink-compatible.”

The joking just riled the Alpha up even more, which was a whole different level of entertaining. And watching the Alpha’s eyebrows twitch when Stiles easily tightened the circle the hunters were still trapped in, well that was just the icing on the cake, really. The guy was really pissed off that Stiles was powerful enough to save himself and others - such a savior complex.

“Well, I’d best be off,” Stiles wasn’t going to let the Asshole Alpha get another word in. “I have some criminals to hand-deliver to the Sheriff. You’re welcome.”

And with that, he left an Alpha werewolf in the dust. Like a BAMF.

3 - Dangerous magic user 1 - Derek 2

There was no way that Derek was going to let a dangerous magic user run through Beacon Hills unchecked. This was his territory, and it was his job to keep people safe, and therefore it was his job to know when dangerous people were around who risked tipping the balance.

And this guy - there was no way that he wasn’t dangerous. Someone that powerful, who could trap groups of hunters with a flick of his wrist and casually drag a protective circle after him… Maybe Derek had trust issues - and he knew he did - but he couldn’t trust the intentions of anyone that powerful. Especially when this person hadn’t even introduced himself to the pack, which was supposed to be tradition.

It almost made him miss Deaton. At least he remembered how things were supposed to work, enigmatic as he might have been before randomly bailing two months ago. He never even explained why he left or where he’d gone. And he’d left no forwarding address.

The wendigos were a bit more of an urgent issue, though.

Derek’d had to look through his mother’s old journals, the one she always locked up in the vault because she didn’t want the kids to get their hands on them. She’d spoken of the creatures, mentioned how dangerous they were and how imperative it was that they be kept far away from humans - especially those who were born with magic in their blood.

Did he mention that wendigos had an immunity to most spells?

Clearly the pain in the ass magic user hadn’t done the research, because he was still out there, in the Preserve in the middle of the night, flinging spells at an advancing wendigo. Derek knew his pack was dealing with the rest of the family, but they’d left the most dangerous one to him - as they should. Derek healed faster than they did.

“Get out of the way,” he threw himself into battle without another thought. “They’re mostly immune to magic. You need to get to safety.”

The magic user didn’t listen, not right away. But Derek couldn’t spend too much energy keeping track on him, not when he had a cannibalistic creature to get rid of. Looking back once already earned him a slash across the ribs, and he was lucky it wasn’t worse.

“What the hell is that thing?”

So clearly the magic user wasn’t leaving.

“Wendigo,” Derek shouted at him. “Now leave. Please. I’ve got this.”

The please just… came out. It was completely unlike their previous interactions, but Derek had said it and now he had to deal with it. Or he could just pretend he’d never said it and deal with a dangerous monster instead. That sounded like the better option.

Sometimes he wished there was another way to deal with a wendigo. But there wasn’t. His mother had tried, several times even, and if Talia Hale couldn’t do it… It had to be impossible.

He took a deep breath, trying to center himself, trying to anchor himself to his pack as he let the wolf into the driver’s seat. Against a creature like this, it is best to shift completely. Like his mother had.

It hurt to have his bones completely rearrange themselves, but he was used to pain. It helped him heal the scratches from the wendigo a bit quicker too.

“Holy shit, did you just?” Mage was still there.

Derek-wolf growled at him. Not safe for Mage with nice scent .

Not until after he shifted back, his body too tired to maintain the shift after he’d managed to defeat the angry wendigo singlehanded, did he realize that the magic user had never left. That he’d stuck around to watch Derek save his stupid life, for some reason.

Though he disappeared as soon as Derek’s pack came to find him.

He didn’t say thank you. Not surprising.

4 - The Amazing Mischief 2 - Sexy Wolf 2

So apparently the Alpha could actually turn into a wolf. Stiles was reluctantly impressed. Reluctantly, because the guy was still an asshole who thought Stiles couldn’t handle himself against one single wendigo - and yeah, okay, maybe he was right about the whole immunity to magic thing, but still.

But the full shift? Impressive. Saying please? Heartbreaking. Protecting Stiles even in full wolf form? Confusing. Stupid. Weird.

Grudging acceptance was not the way he wanted to go with this guy.

And so, when he saw another chance to piss the Alpha off by saving his ass, even though he had a whole pack he could call in for backup instead… Stiles just had to take it.

And yeah, technically he was the protector of the town now, after that vet had just disappeared and his Dad had dragged him back from Poland because they really needed the help. And after the weeks he’s had, with the Omega and the hunters and a family of wendigos - well, Stiles is never dismissing the Hellmouth-like quality of Beacon Hills ever again. So technically it was now his job to protect idiot martyr Alphas - even though his job description just said “consultant”.

Ugh, damn Alpha werewolf and his martyr complex.

“We have got to stop meeting like this, Sourwolf,” Stiles leaps in front of the monster with a smug grin on his face.

Is that actually a fucking kanima? He’s never seen one of those in the flesh before.

“Of course you’re here,” the Alpha is not amused.

“Danger’s calling,” Stiles shrugged as he erected a magical shield. “Did you murder anyone recently? Other than the wendigo? Because he shouldn’t be after you like this, sexy wolf.”

That one just kind of slipped out, but Stiles was certainly not going to walk it back. No, he was totally going to own it - he’d hit on Alpha werewolves before. Sure, those were probably less hot - and less of an asshole. Infuriatingly, that made this guy just Stiles’ type.

Which was something he’d have to contemplate after he saved him from the kanima.

“Please just call me Derek,” the Alpha hid his face.

Because he was actually… blushing? That was awesome. Even the kanima seemed to think it was funny, which was just…

“Is he our new Daddy?”

Where the kanima had just stood, a smug douche-looking guy had taken his place. There was still a slimy quality about him, but it didn’t seem like they were in any kind of real danger, so Stiles figured he could drop the shield.

“You interrupted our sparring session,” Alpha Derek had crossed his arms over his solid chest.

And no, Stiles, that was a terrible road to go down.

Best to focus on the fact that there was a fucking kanima in the pack, and no one had bothered to inform him of that. He was going to have to have words with his Dad about this. Yes, his father would hear about this.

“Still saved your wolfy butt,” Stiles had to argue.

“I was in no danger whatsoever,” Derek rolled his eyes.

Ugh, the sass was a great look on him, and that was just unfair. He was just glad he was good at masking scent, because he did not want the wolf to have that kind of advantage.

“Still counts.”

Figuring that was a decent enough exit line, Stiles made a magical escape. Sure, it was a waste of his power, but he was trying to make a good impression here. Sort of.

5 - Mr. Stilinski if you’re nasty 3 - Derek freaking Hale 2

Research was key, especially when dealing with a pack that he was going to be having dealings with for a long time, if his Dad had his way. Dad was so happy to finally have Stiles close again, that he was about five seconds away from setting up a play-date with Alpha Hale and his pack. He only dropped it when Stiles assured him that he had it handled.

Sure, his Dad only dropped it long enough to seriously laugh at him, but it worked.

So the next time he approached the Hale pack, he followed the protocol that Babcia had drummed into him. Which was all well and good, until they got attacked like ten seconds after Stiles had finally properly introduced himself to Derek.

“Chimeras,” the blonde girl cursed. “Fucking chimeras.”

Oh, his Dad had filled him in on those, and Stiles was not in any way looking forward to this, but he was prepared to handle them. If he had to, because those kids had probably not asked to be turned into this, had not asked to be made feral.

“We just have to hold them off long enough for Lydia to get the cure,” Derek showed why he was actually a good Alpha. “Stay safe. Be careful. Don’t go after them alone. You know Theo and his traps.”

Fucking Theo was still around? Of course he was. He was never happy until he was making everyone in this town miserable. Sucked for him that Stiles was back now, because Stiles had never had any patience for his brand of dangerous bullshit. Also, Stiles was way more powerful than he was, and he was going to enjoy rubbing that in Theo’s face.

Just, well, he still didn’t want to hurt any innocent people.

“There’s a cure?” Stiles turned to Derek. “I can hold them for a while. How long do you need?”

The look on Derek’s face was just unfair. It was grateful, warm, pleased - Derek trusted him, trusted Stiles with his life and his pack’s lives. And that was… stupid of him. Sure, Stiles had saved his life… well this would be the third time’s charm.

Okay maybe it wasn’t stupid.

And maybe they made it work, with the girl named Lydia - he vaguely remembered her from elementary school, before his Mom died and he went to live with Babcia to get a handle on his abilities - and all of Derek’s pack. But Stiles’ powers were the only reason no one was harmed while they waited for the cure to work.

That wasn’t arrogance, that was the painful truth.

“Thank you,” Derek looked at him way too sincerely.

“Yeah, had to save that hot ass,” Stiles was babbling, he knew he was. “Disregard that. I’m just going to go. Because well, it’s your turn next. Or whatever.”

It was. Stiles was in the lead now, and it wasn’t like Stiles wanted to be saved… He just wanted to be chased, a little. Maybe wanted Derek to like him. He wanted this not to be the last of this thing they were doing. He didn’t want to go back to the politics of it, the usual business of the pack and the protector.

He kinda just… wanted Derek. Which was stupid, but it was what is was.

6 - Stiles 3 - Derek 3

It took Jackson about fifteen jokes about getting a new daddy to get Derek moving. Yeah, he was disappointed in himself too.

But Stiles - and what even was that name - was different. He was the Sheriff’s son, a good old boy from Beacon Hills, but he was also a powerful mage and the most immature asshole Derek knew outside of his own pack. Derek was drawn in by him, like magic, but it was also terrifying.

But when he saw those hunters, those very same hunters that Stiles had chased off a few weeks ago, trying to move in for some revenge… Well, he didn’t even think. He just leapt, growled at them like they couldn’t just put him down with a single bullet.

“Stay away from him,” he growled out from a suddenly fanged mouth.

So much for his fabled control. Because they were threatening Stiles, and Stiles was…

Not his. Not like pack, no matter how badly Derek wanted just that. Because Stiles had proven himself worthy, putting himself out there for Derek, risking himself to keep Derek’s pack safe. It made him special, made him worth taking note of as a potential ally. It was the humor, the flirting, the seeming fearlessness that made Stiles worth taking note of as a potential partner.

“Did the beast find himself a pet human?” Hunters were never original.

“A friend,” Derek growled. “A mage. A powerful mage. And the son of the Sheriff.”

Maybe he thought of Stiles as just another harmless human at first, as someone who needed protecting. He knew better now, knew just how dangerous Stiles could be to people who meant harm. Staying back and letting Stiles handle things was never going to be his first instinct, but having Stiles and his bag of tricks around could make such a difference in this dangerous town. They could really make a difference here.

“Skip the mating rituals,” the hunters were not impressed.

“I have Chris Argent on speed dial,” Derek warned, and somehow that worked.

Derek kept his claws out, kept up the beta shift just to be sure, but the hunters backed off Stiles and walked away. Sure, they’d be back, but Derek could handle it. Or he could let Chris do it.

“Guess we’re tied now,” Stiles turned to him, impish grin on his face.

“I’m sure we’ll have more opportunities,” Derek responded, because he knew exactly what this was. “But I’m not just going to let you win.”

This was actually a mating ritual - it was courting in the most roundabout way. And he didn’t have to doubt Stiles’ interest, because he was right there with him. They could bicker and get to know each other later, but the interest was obvious from both sides.

“Good,” Stiles stepped in closer.

“How about we go on a date that doesn’t involve violence?” Derek found himself making the first move. “Tomorrow night?”

That put him in the lead in another competition, and Stiles was already getting pouty that he hadn’t been the first to score. It was childish and overly competitive and perfect for Derek.

“I had that,” Stiles huffed. “I was going to ask you.”

Good, so at least they were definitely on the same page. And Stiles was going to say yes when he got over not being the one to ask.

“You snooze, you lose,” Derek pointed out.

“You’re terrible and I can’t believe I’m dating you,” Stiles rolled his eyes.

Okay, so maybe Stiles wasn’t over it yet, but he could work on it. His pack was going to mock him for all eternity, but Derek kind of couldn’t wait for Stiles to be a real part of his pack.

“I’m assuming that’s a yes,” Derek grinned. “Pick you up at seven.”

As Stiles huffed and puffed and groaned, Derek was the one making a perfectly-timed exit this time.

Which is exactly the problem: The spark that constitutes the magical expression of Stiles is actually very interested in mischief. Supremely interested in making some things very much tougher for Stiles, and he tries to remind himself it's also done a lot of good for him over the years. A nudge here to take this turn, and a thought of just stopping and waiting somewhere on the sidewalk for a minute can both lead to finding old friends and good times, or missing a falling chunk of the facade from some ancient brick building. He can't often tell ahead of time despite pleading with himself to make it work.

He's decided that Beacon Hills has to be a good place, with good WiFi and good coffee and all that stuff. Nature is also calling more insistently against his bladder and he really hopes there's someplace open this early with internet service and decent restrooms.

"If I find that nobody in this town is awake at this terrible hour, and that they haven't got decent WiFi, I'm going to write them a very bad review and hex their coffeemaker. There are standards for how these things should work and that last place was a disaster!"

Of the four diners in the last town, some eight hours ago down the highway that specifically avoids the big urban centers, he found no curly fries on any of the menus. They seemed completely unimpressed with the idea of tater tots and he considered hexing them in some way or other but ended up just snagging food from the hot case at a convenience store and busting a move out of town.

When the first exit for Beacon Hills comes up he passes without exiting. It seemed too wild, like it was a regional wildspace, or something. Maybe this was more of an industrial exit for logging and whatever else they do here. The next exit surely showed promise.

Quietly in the back of his mind, a tiny version of Leslie Nielsen's voice replied, "And don't call me Shirley."

Erica had been ready for several minutes. Derek's routine for how to open the store properly had been whittled down to just 12 minutes for the cleaning prep, six minutes to get all the food out and presentable, and another full minute just to go around and make sure everything was in order. Derek usually closed the shop up, but today claimed he was feeling restless and arrived before she had and was already bustling around.

"Derek, you pay me to worry about these things. Why are you even here?" She watched as Derek redid everything she had completed already so he could be sure it met his extremely specific standards that are in no way related to what actually makes customers happy. Well, he's the boss, so he can ask for what he wants, but she's going to do it the way she knows is best when he's back on his regular routine.

She hollers at him from the cafe's dining area while Derek is in the back organizing and cleaning things in the kitchen he'd definitely organized and cleaned the night before. "You should go run out in the preserve or something. You have too much energy to be in a confined space before 6 AM on this day or any day." Her supernaturally-enhanced hearing helped her catch every syllable in reply.

"I'm here because it's my place and I don't really need a reason to be here, now, do I? I can come whenever I like."

Erica smirked.

"Shut your pie-hole, Reyes, or I'm switching you to the lunch shift and giving your boyfriend the morning."

"He'll hate you for that."

"I'm the alpha. I can take it."

At Erica's snicker, Derek growls to himself. As the alpha, his hearing is even more enhanced, but he can also feel her perpetual sniggering through the pack bond. He tells himself he should be used to it by now but he just can't. Wolves aren't monsters, they need to behave in a respectable way.

"Are you lecturing me mentally on how wolves should behave respectably in polite society? I mean, I know these customers and though some of them are gems, some are definitely not polite and don't belong out in society."

"Erica," Derek says as he enters the room. "Keep it down. You don't want anyone to overhear you talking trash about others."

"It's three minutes to six and I'm going to open up."

"It's too early. We open at six. Don't mess with people's expectations."

"Anyone here this early is here because they have no expectations, just a demand for coffee, bossman. You really don't have anything to worry about."

Erica walks to the windows and turns the lights on in the displays. She admires the way the colorful borders around the windows twinkle in the early air. They cast bright splashes of light into the intersection, visible from any direction of the street. Derek does fine display work and has made a version of the town in a huge diorama lit with tiny LEDs in the windows of the shops and homes, and decorated with the tiniest versions of people Derek knows. Customers, family, random people who caught Derek's eye are all represented in some way in the display.

She thinks it's the softest, brightest, most wonderful thing Derek does and he pretends to everyone like it's no big deal. He's the most ridiculous rough-edged marshmallow-soft man she's ever met. When she told Boyd about it, he agreed with a knowing nod of his head before he returned to mixing beverages for the fine residents and visitors who came through the door.

The subtle change in the air alerted her to potential danger, and she spun around to catch Derek standing at the door, looking confused and surprised at the man standing there.

"Uhh, if you're not open, that's fine, but I really need to use a restroom. Can I come in anyway to take care of the call of nature? She's been really, really going hard these last few miles."

Erica's snort escapes unintended. The man at the door snaps to look at her and grins, holding a thumbs-up. He gives her a sort of look that says, "Is this guy broken?" and Erica replies with a look that yes, totally broken, and harmless.

"Hey, welcome to Beacon Hills! We're opening right now and the bathroom is right down there. Go for it."

The man exhales and seems to weaken for a moment before taking off at a fast walk between the chairs and to where Erica had pointed. "Close your mouth and the door, Derek. I hear the landlord hates when people waste energy heating the outside."

The door closes with a click at the same moment Derek's jaw slams shut. She watches him transform from bare surprise to guarded watcher in an instant. "Watch out. I didn't hear him at the door when I want to go put the mat out."

"You still have that in your hands, Derek." She looks at him as he seems to realize the truth. Derek opens the door and half throws it out, trusting it to land however it lands as Derek seems to listen to the back area.

"Are you listening to him pee?"

"No, I'm—" He flashes his eyes at her. There's a visceral reaction for any beta to the flashing of one's alpha's eyes, but Derek does it so often they've all become somewhat immune to the power of it all. Derek's mother warns him about overusing his strength when a simple word will do, and while Erica see's he's gotten better with her coaching of him, he's still got a long way to go before Talia's advice actually makes a solid difference for him. "I can't hear anything. Nothing at all."

"He's probably just shielded, Derek. There are a lot of good reasons for that, especially when traveling alone."

Derek is a good-hearted alpha, and he's young, but Beacon Hills has been stable for long enough that his parents leaving him in charge isn't a disaster. Talia and her husband are consulting for another pack in Idaho and Derek's putting his training to use at home. The pack in Idaho had lost their alpha and Emissary in an attack of some kind, and they some serious help getting back on track. The mission, as it were, will be for a couple of years, but they're not far away and so the territory isn't really at risk even if Derek has some trouble to deal with.

"I don't think he's a threat, Derek. He seems kind of fun.." Which Derek would have considered if he wasn't being totally weird about this guy.

"Anyone who can sneak up on us is a potential threat, Erica. I shouldn't have to remind you of that." Indeed, Erica flashed right back to the moment she and Boyd finally returned to the territory after having been abducted by a nutty grandpa hunter and his daughter.

"Yeah, but like you also said, we can't just go in being suspicious of everyone. What if he's one of the good ones? You're the guy in charge, so people need to know they can come to you. He's probably not even aware this is our territory."

"We can't know that."

"I can just ask him, dude." Derek looks at her with an expression of disgust. She's solid in her sense of this new guy and his not-at-all-threatening intentions. Whoever he may be, or whatever he may be, he's good people. And he's not a werewolf, so there's no direct threat there. Derek's had his heart broken and his trust trampled on extremely effectively, so he's far less willing to consider his instincts and defaults to threat mode whenever something both supernatural and unexpected comes around. She regards him for a moment.

"I think we'll be okay. I'll find out about him and you hang in the back and listen, okay?" She considers for a moment. "What do you think he likes to drink?"

"I have no idea," he mutters and heads to the back room. Derek's taking things down to DEFCON 3 from DEFCON 2, which seems like a mark in her favor. She's not his first beta, but she does seem to be able to get him to think about other stuff sometimes when other people can't. When anyone happens to notice she says it's her brilliant curls, but the blonde really does seem to get his concern in a way the rest of the pack don't. Except for Boyd, and he's too busy being silent to really help Derek so directly. She lets a smile fill her face and nods to herself. Derek is trusting them more. He's been training them hard, and it's working, and she sets herself to figuring out who the new guy is and what new guy is up to.

She forgets for a moment how weird he was when he opened the door.

Stiles throws his bag onto the bench in one of the high-backed booths with a good line of sight to both the counter and the entryway and heads to the counter.

"What can I get you?" Erica says in her warmest 6-am customer service voice.

"Well, I think I want a coffee, but I also need to sleep soon, so that's probably a bad idea. I mean, caffeine can put me to sleep if I have a little, but it's been a while since I've taken my medicine and my ADD is probably going to fight me for sleep if I don't indulge in some delicious beverage action."

Erica laughs. Stiles beams. "I'm here with the jokes, folks."

"Oh, yeah, I can tell that about you."

Too quietly for normal hearing she hears, "Ask him who he is!" in an urgent tone from the back. Erica rolls her eyes briefly, making sure the visitor doesn't see it. She growls subvocally.

"Welcome! Sorry you had such a weird first experience with my boss at the door. He's not normally a weirdo."

"Eh, I'm not worried. I'm plenty weird. But he is okay? I mean, he seemed kind of... surprised?" Somehow, in some manner she didn't interpret, she heard the meaning behind it. The boss seemed both surprised and actually afraid of something, and the new guy had picked up on it.

Erica beams. "Yeah, we get that all the time. Boss is a total weirdo." Derek growls in the back and sets something hard against the table.

Stiles glances in the back then makes eye contact with Erica. "Is he alright?" he mouths at her.

She shrugs her shoulders. She isn't about to explain the weirdness on display right now. Derek's never been like this before.

"I am not sure he slept at all last night. He normally works the closing shift. I'm here to open, but when he needs pre-dawn fun, I'm apparently the one he needs to hang around."

"Oh, really?" Stiles raises an eyebrow.

"Oh, no, not like that. I'm taken. Boyd's a really good guy and he's not into sharing."

Stiles had glanced again to the back room but that comment brings his full attention right back to her. "Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to flirt! I am just like this all the time."

Erica leans back. "Hear that, Derek? He's like this all the time." She adopts a theatrical pose for a moment. "Oh, gosh, I'm sorry, I've completely forgotten to introduce myself. I'm Erica, and that's Derek."

Stiles doesn't miss a beat. "I'm Stiles, and you're one of the betas, then? Is he the only alpha around? It seems a little..." Stiles seems to taste the air, sort of. Erica isn't sure how to describe the way he takes an open-mouthed whiff and kind of lets his eyes go blurry. "Oh, I see. Got it."

"What do you think you get, Stiles?" Erica says with a dash of suspicion. She'd heard Derek freeze in the kitchen, his heart racing now. She tries to be a cooler customer than her alpha and hopes that Stiles isn't offended. She's not really sure what a spark is, or what they do, but Derek's got an idea and it's shocked the hell out of him for whatever reason.

"Eeek, yeah, sorry! Sorry. I find I do this all the time, and usually on accident, if I haven't prepared ahead of time. I'm a Spark, and I'm really just here to find a quiet place to rest and drink something hot and warm. I'd like to write for a bit in the booth," he says, gesturing with a huge swing of his arm to the booth.

Erica nods at him. "I am pretty sure we can accommodate that request and we won't even have to do some paperwork for it," she makes a show of stage whispering, "Since my alpha is hiding in the back instead of greeting important guests like he's supposed to do."

This time the growl is clear to everyone. Erica smiles wickedly. "Alpha Hale, I believe you have some alpha-level responsibilities here with regard to our guest. Don't you think you should get out here and be polite?" She winks at Stiles, who returns the wink with a laugh he tries to stifle behind his fist.

Derek comes out and now Stiles looks at him without saying anything. He seems to close-off a bit, looking at the alpha in his black shirt and forest-green apron with the cafe's logo on it.

Erica notices the two of them and then grabs her phone from the counter and stepping out of the way.

"Stiles, you're welcome to be here. We have no restrictions against visitors," and by this Stiles heard between the words that the alpha meant. "of the supernatural variety." Stiles hadn't met an alpha so formal as this before. He mentally knocked his hand against his temple to try to recall proper protocols. He was not successful.

"Hello, Hale. I mean, alpha. Gah. This isn't going well. I don't do many formal introductions and I'm sorry to mess it all up. I hope you're not offended."

"No offense taken." Derek looks at the counter and then at Stiles. "Do you know what you'd like to have to drink this morning?"

"I hadn't decided that, though I imagine you already heard." Erica and Derek watch him as he catches himself glancing back. "And crap! I left my shields up without regard to any possible werewolf packs in the area. I'm sorry!" he said emphatically. "I would have taken them down in the parking lot if I'd have been thinking. It's been a long trip, and again, I—" he waves in the direction of the restrooms in the back and at that moment Erica and Derek both got a whiff of the spark without his protections. It took a moment to realize he was still talking.

"...distracted, on top of that, I've got ADD. You know how it goes? Wow, this probably explains why Alpha Hale had some trouble deciding what to do with me when I was at the door." Erica couldn't tell if Stiles noticed Derek was taking deep breaths, seemingly to scent him over and over again, which our staunch Alpha Hale never, ever does.

It was the, "You can call me Derek," said in a very warm and cozy tone that persuaded Erica to get the pack here. Whatever was going on needed witnesses, and she wanted to be sure someone else could verify this totally bizarre behavior by their alpha. Stiles didn't lie about being a spark, though if he were doing sexy mojo on the boss she doesn't know if she could tell. The scent of magic in the air happened only after he released the shield, and even hen he's been fading into the background. She snaps a picture of them with her phone and sent a broadcast message to the pack. Derek's phone vibrated, and he subconsciously pulled it out and put it on silent, no vibration, as he continued talking with Stiles.

Something is odd here, and Derek's doing things with his eyebrows that are perfectly adorable. Erica wants to find out what's going on, and she wants witnesses. While Derek and Stiles worked out the beverage order for a specialty hot chocolate, Stiles had also talked himself into a muffin and some veggie snacks. She's been providing summary notes to the pack and comes to a conclusion about this situation that she debates momentarily, then shares with the pack.

She's certain that Derek is deeply smitten by this newcomer.

By 6:45 the pack had all arrived, even those who had other jobs they were supposed to be getting ready for. Derek seems to have blithely missed the fact that the pack had arrived at the cafe and had been huddling together at one of the larger tables getting the play-by-play from Erica about whatever each had missed before they arrived.

Stiles had developed his senses such that he noticed Erica noticing them, and noticed that there were more wolves coming. Their energy wasn't hostile, but it was actively engaged. As he talked with Derek, he couldn't help but wonder why the alpha didn't seem to notice the rest of them. During a break in their chat about a particularly delightful staff he'd made friends with at a diner in Nevada, Stiles nodded to where the pack was sitting and waited for Derek to follow his gaze.

"Why is your pack here, Derek?"

"I don't know." He seemed surprised at not noticing. Derek looked at them and noticed that yes, everyone had arrived. He gave a glance at Scott who was loosely affiliated, being an alpha in his own right but mostly disinterested in claiming territory and building his pack.

"Don't you have work, Scott?"

"I'm sure Deaton won't mind that I came for the show at the cafe." Stiles laughed, and Derek looked at him, confused. "What show?"

Stiles isn't sure how to break this to him, so he tries to ease the wolf into the idea in a roundabout sort of way.

"Derek, what time is it?"

Derek glances at the clock above the exit. "It's almost seven. Why?"

"When did I arrive?"

"Just before we opened, I think." He scrunches his eyebrows. Stiles smiles, having already started learning the way the wolf's expressive eyebrows communicate thoughts he doesn't speak with his words. "Yeah, I opened the door and you were there."

"So you've been here talking with me for an hour and haven't noticed?"

Derek looks at Stiles, and the pack, and then moves to leave. Stiles gently sets his hand over Dereks' own hand, interrupting his sudden (and fearful?) escape.

He opens his backpack and pulls out a notebook. He then slides out of the booth and heads to the pack table, and pulls up chairs for him and Derek to join them. He sets the book down.

Wrapped around the book is a worn leather cover. It's got a few scratches and stains, and it is soft to the touch. Stiles loves this book, and as he holds it up for the pack and explains the leatherwork. Derek looks at the cover, surprised. Erica brings over a plate of cookies from the display and they show the same triple-spiral pattern, a triskelion, curled into itself in a familiar form.

Erica seats herself in the lap of one of the pack members. "Good morning, Boyd" Boyd nods to Stiles, unfazed by the recognition. Derek looks surprised that Stiles knows Boyd's name, and even more so that his packmate seems unbothered by the way Stiles already knows his name. Stiles says hello to each of the pack members. He gets to Scott and instead of "hello," Scott asks, "Why does your book have Derek's tattoo on it?"

Derek finds himself flushing and he's not half-sure why. The triskelion is a common symbol in supernatural circles. They've got it on their cookies, as the plate suggests. He grabs one of them and takes a bite. Stiles laughed at Scott and confesses that he sometimes blurts questions out, too. When Scott beams back at him, Derek sees how the two of them will become fast friends.

Then he tilts his head to the side. The pack takes notice, and then so does Stiles, who has turned to him with a sly smile.

"I hope you will allow me to share something with you all that I haven't shared with anyone, not even my dad." They nod, and then Stiles looks at Derek and raises an eyebrow.

"Go ahead, I guess. Not sure what you need our permission for."

Stiles grins at Erica, who knows something special is about to happen that will make all everyone's grumbling about being up early disappear in an instant.

"At three years old the little wolf, with his bare little feet and scruffy face and pointed ears, was poking around at the wild things in the area near his home. He couldn't control his shift yet, so sometimes he was half wolfy and half boy, and he barely noticed."

Stiles tilted the book at Derek who took a look at the image and said nothing, but his heart skipped a beat and his eyes opened wide.

"And the little wolf saw a lizard. The lizard told him that they could be friends, but that they needed to learn how, because one day, the little wolf might have to remind the lizard who his friends were."

Stiles didn't glance at Jackson, but a couple of the others did. Danny set his hand on Jackson's shoulder and squeezed gently.

"The little wolf did not understand the lizard. He asked the lizard how he would know him in the future. The lizard said they were family, but they didn't know that yet."

Scott's excitement overruled his better judgment again. "Jackson was a kanima and we found out that he was Derek's cousin!"

Stiles glanced at Derek and nodded. Derek avoided looking directly at anyone, but remained attentive in his listening. When Stiles continued, he looked at Jackson and smiled slightly. They had a rough go of things at first, but they've come a long way. Jackson really has worked on letting his fears go, the ones that fed the kanima and he's becoming a better man. Derek likes to think the experience has humbled him, too. After all, it isn't every day you discover that a dangerous were-creature was basically possessed by the darker side of his own fears and ended up doing some pretty awful things until they got it all worked out.

Jackson is reliable now, and Derek is one of the people he sends texts to when he is looking for advice. Derek considers it good progress that Jackson doesn't just ask about pack advice anymore, and instead about real-life stuff, like running a business and all that stuff.

Stiles has moved to a new story and Derek catches his name again. He inhales once more, and Stiles stops to scoot a little closer.

"Oh, sorry, this one is out of order. I'm not sure Derek will remember it." Derek sets his hand on Stiles' knee almost as an afterthought. It is as if being with Stiles is a thing that has already happened, and they've been together for decades. They haven't, but it's so easy to believe it, to trust Stiles, and to trust Stiles with his pack.

"When the little wolf had his first birthday, his asshole uncle creepy pants..." ("That's exactly who he is" slips Lydia under her breath, echoed by "yeahs" around the table.) "...gave little wolf a box. Little wolf was a boy at this time, almost never being wolfy at all. The box in front of him had a very interesting handle. Uncle creepypants showed little wolf boy that he could spin the handle around and around and listen to the music the box played. Little wolf boy was so excited! He squealed with delight and turned the handle in his tiny fist and laughed himself silly."

"But when the box clicked and the lid opened to reveal an ugly clown on a spring, the surprise of the moment caused little wolf boy to change, with little sharp teeth and little sharp claws and he knocked the little box over with his mightiest growl." Derek chuckled at this. The image was adorable even if he still has a thing about clowns."

("Derek's got a thing about clowns." Scott chimes in. "Perhaps we should not keep interrupting Stiles, Scott?" Lydia said with a glare. Scott was suitably threatened into silence and put his hand over his mouth as a reminder.)

"After little wolf hit the toy he ran to his father. The man was tall, friendly, and even for a human he was strong. This man was not a wolf like the little wolf was, but he seemed just as strong as everyone else to the little wolf and Derek felt himself scooped into his father's arms and held close as he cried about the toy. His father soothed him, promising to damage his uncle's personal things in retribution for such a prank. Little wolf was happy, and though he dreamed of bad clowns for a week, he also dreamed that he and his dad would fight them together."

The pack seemed to adore the stories, and Stiles kept reading. Derek would have preferred if the pack never heard some of these stories because many of them revealed parts of his life he'd forgotten about, or didn't want to talk about. Stiles was a good storyteller, though, and he found that as he wrapped his arm around the other man's shoulders, and felt the lean muscular strength there, and smelled the way the chocolate and spice and scent of orange blossoms filled his nostrils, and how there was almost a flavor to the frisson of electricity in the aura of the spark. He felt cozy, and watched as the pack listened raptly to this master storyteller at work.

"This one is set in the future. Not even today, but in the near future." The pack looked at each other. Stiles looked at Derek, sat-up so Derek couldn't read ahead, or see the drawings in the margins. He wanted them all to experience this together. After all, the future isn't set, but this particular event isn't one of great triumph or struggle, so it shouldn't impact much of anything one way or another.

"It's the kind of Christmas morning where the windows are foggy and the lights on the houses nearby are blobs of color on the glass. The snow is on the ground thick enough to muffle noise, but not so bad you can't walk through it. In the great house in the preserve the pack meets. The little wolf is now a big wolf, but not a bad wolf. He's got his own pack now, and they welcome family and friends from far away every Christmastime."

"In the kitchen big wolf makes hot chocolate using a secret recipe he's developed at his cafe and which delights everyone. He prepares a cup for his electric friend, and for his friend who knows the ghosts, and for his cousin and his betas, for his sisters and their partners. He brews a magical potion of love and chocolate for everyone and makes it only at this time of year, as a treat to himself for his birthday, and as a cherished present to those he loves." Stiles grabs a cookie and munches it and glances at his notes.

"Oh, dang. Sorry, everyone, but I need to skip the rest of this."

"What, is it PG-13? We can handle a little of that. You two are already cuddling up."

"No, it's not that. The future is not set, and these stories might be pretty close to reality, but they're not facts. I don't know if the newcomers — No, sorry, I just don't know what I should say, so I'm going to skip it. And don't go trying to get into it later, Erica, you literally cannot read it, on top of getting a nasty burn if you try to open the book without my permission." She grunts back at him something about Batman with all his tricks and traps. "We'll get to it when we come to it. Together."

Derek nudges him with his shoulder. "Oh? Have you already decided you're staying?"

"Well, yeah, duh. When people meet their soulmates they really shouldn't just keep going."

"What? You did?"

Erica takes a cookie and throws it at Derek. "You're an idiot!" Derek looks at her confused, and annoyed. Boyd gives him a look that says to Derek that he is, in no uncertain terms, "being so stupid right now I can barely stand how stupid you're being. Would you please figure this out right now so we don't have to hold your hand through this life-changing event? What the hell, dude?"

Derek looks at Stiles, looks at the pack, and Jackson says, "Yo, dude, just check your threads."

It's Jackson's way of referring to the bond the pack has, and how they're bonded together with something that mentally looks like an energy string tying them together, supernaturals and humans alike. It's also the thing that Jackson knows will have Derek realize the truth of the situation. Derek tends to have to feel things out for himself. He doesn't think his way so much as do and feel and goes with that. The pack bond is one of the alpha's most powerful tools for relating to the people he's responsible for, and Jackson knows it's the kind of thing that will quickly get Derek out of his stupid place.

So Derek does at Jackson suggests. The pack are held with bright yellow bonds, the links between betas and between betas to their alpha. There are links to his family in colors that are tinted mostly with greens. Even Danny and Scott, both of whom are loosely associated with the pack, still have bonds to the alpha which show as gold from Danny and red from the other alpha. But there's a new line now, one directly to Stiles, and from Stiles come lines to the rest of the pack. There's a sort of hum to the group, a frequency that sounds like a cat's purr, or the perfectly tuned note on a piano, or the breeze through the forest in spring.

And the smells are incredible. He can now tell each member by scent just by thinking about them. Stiles being part of the group enhances his abilities considerably. He has the scent of desert clay and expensive wine from Jackson. There's the mixed whiffs of poppy and rain from Erica and Boyd. There is a tickling scent of dust from Lydia that underrides the floral of begonias and sparking wine. Allison smells of metal and snickerdoodles, and Scott of cane sugar and browned butter.

"Why can I feel your dad, Stiles?"

"Oh, well, we're a package deal. I bet you that within two years he'll move here, become Sheriff, and everyone will know him. He's just that kind of guy."

"How do you know this?"

Stiles opens the back cover of the notebook and holds it up to Derek so that only he can see. He folds it quickly before the pack can lean over enough to catch a glimpse. "Does that answer it?"

"Yes and no. I mean..." Derek glances at the window. Erica watches, and Lydia gasps minutely before catching herself. She barks an order.

"Boys, why don't you go get those figures and bring them to the table?" Jackson and Scott rise without a thought, only belatedly realizing they came to attention at her order. She's got no direct power over them, but yet, she somehow really does. She's just that intimidating. When she and Jackson broke-off their relationship, they took some time to heal from it, and now it's genuinely a good, close friendship between them. But he still does her bidding without necessarily meaning to, at times, to his minor annoyance. Danny just laughs at the situation, having been Jackson's best friend for ages and aware that Jackson really just kind of likes to be told what to do sometimes.

Stiles sits upright as the figures are laid before them. Derek is red-faced again, up through the tips of his ears. It's easily one of his most endearing qualities that are entirely outside of his control. Stiles loves that about the man, that his embarrassment and pride show through even when he doesn't mean to. and he's adorable when he's struggling with it.

"Wait." Stiles holds one, and then taps the rest, seeming to sense something about each. "You made these figures? The whole pack?" Derek nods. "These are great! Look, you even gave Jackson a little lizard tail. So cute!" (Scott had brought the Jackson doll over and hadn't realized that feature had been added. "Asshole" is all he says before sitting back in his chair and watching his cousin squirm under Stile's scrutiny.

"They're wonderful, and I think you did a great job. You could sell work like this for some pretty big bucks online, Derek. But why are we looking at them?"

Derek rises from his chair and goes to the window display. There's a house there between some tall trees. He reaches to the back, opens the door, and looks at whatever it is outside of Stile's line of sight.

"Come on, big guy. You don't need to hide your toys. Bring it over!" Stiles says playfully, and the pack giggles. Derek's ears flush brighter red and he steps over to Stiles and holds up to him a tall, thin figure with wild hair, a backpack just like the one he's got (down to the star and moon diagram in the middle), and sets it in front of Stiles next to the figure that looks like Derek.

"When did you make this?"

"I've had dreams about you for a long time. I could never see your face, but I knew the hair, and the bag, and the flannel shirts and tight jeans. I knew you were coming, but it wasn't until a few minutes ago that I realized this was you."

Erica holds her hands out. Several pack members put fives and tens into it. "I told you they were soulmates, but you all didn't believe me. All Stiles had to say was that he needed to pee and Derek just couldn't control himself."

Stiles and Derek could not help but laugh at that. Lydia and Boyd both gave half-disgusted, half-amused looks at her. Danny and Jackson were just laughing their asses off and Jackson silently filed that quote away for use later.

On Christmas day, not a week after they'd all met Stiles for the first time, the alpha and his soulmate had organized the pack to put up decorations inside and outside the Hale family home, they'd been cooking food, with Stiles giving Derek a flavor suggestion that perfected the recipe Derek's been working on, and they gathered everyone together for a huge pack picture. Stiles' dad and Derek's parents were able to get to town in time to welcome the happy couple to their first major holiday together and celebrate the blending of their families and pack.

It wasn’t his fault, ok? There had been a kanima. Jackson, asshole of the year (and of course it would be Jackson’s fault, the guy lived to torment him), had managed to get some random Alpha to bite him. Of course Jackson, asshole of the decade (Stiles was pissed, ok?) did not take to the bite well and began turning into a monster.

Thankfully, there are protocols for things like these. Still, when the scent of omega lured Jackson’s then reptilian ass to The Jungle the call to evacuate created a bit of a panic. Within that panic the lights went off and someone grabbed Stiles’ arm, which made him feel like his heart was about to burst out of his chest and like he needed that hand to stay there for the rest of his life. He thought he was having a panic attack.

Scott found his other arm and pulled him, taking him quickly outside to safety alongside Isaac. Paramedics outside found him, asked what was wrong and Stiles said he was having a panic attack because, in his defense, he did not know what being touched by your soulmate for the first time feels like. One of Beacon Hill’s deputies found him and offered a ride home, since he seemed to only be having a mild panic attack (that wasn’t a panic attack) and the ambulances were needed for people paralyzed by kanima poison.

Stiles went to bed, feeling weird but not understanding why.

Finally, when he saw himself shirtless in the mirror next morning, he understood. His soulmark was there, the familiar red and white swoop, but now another swoop had joined it. This one was jet black and circled around his own like a shield. 

There are stories of people in similar situations to Stiles’ but most of them were romance novels where the circumstances for it were laughable and the soulmarks pulled both of them to meet quickly. Stiles felt no pull, just an absence.

He woke up and expected someone to be there. Grabbed his phone and expected to be able to call someone to tell them how his day had gone. His heat came and no toy was good enough. It’s like his body knew he had an Alpha. Which he did. He just didn’t know where that Alpha was.

It’s not like he hadn’t tried to find him. He had gone to back to The Jungle often, but the staff there had said that no lone Alpha had come with the same problem. The newspaper had a section in which people who thought destiny needed a hand in putting soulmates together would publish their own soulmarks and wait for people who thought might make a good match for them to contact them. Stiles didn’t know if it worked for those people, but it certainly didn’t work for him.

It’s not like Beacon Hills was that large of a town. The rumor mill would be bound to turn up another person looking for their soulmate at some point. His father asked the nosiest of his deputies and none had an answer. For a moment Stiles worried that Jackson, asshole of the century, had managed to kill his soulmate but no one had died during the incident.

Stiles was close to simply parading the town shirtless and hope for the best. He only didn’t because although the incident had happened in June, it was now December and way too cold to be parading around town shirtless.

He also didn’t do it because a sad voice inside him was telling him that his soulmate was out there, and he knew who he was, and was thanking all his stars that he had managed to get away from him the way he did.

Stiles knew he wasn’t a model omega. For starters, he deeply questioned the idea of a model omega and had written a long piece for an op-ed on the town’s local news website on how that idea was more a cultural than biological thing. He had gotten some hate mail out of that. He was loud, he didn’t have the graceful coordination omegas were supposed to have, and he reacted to authority figures with a mixture of mockery and anger.

When he shared this with his father, somewhere in the middle of December, the older beta hugged him tightly. “Don’t even think that, any Alpha, beta, or omega would be lucky to have you.”

Stiles wiped his nose on his sleeve. “But it’s been almost half a year. Why haven’t they tried to find me?”

“Maybe they have, just in a place you wouldn’t usually think of,” his father answered. “Come on, it’s like you to give up.”

Stiles nodded, calming down.

“I just wish I could find them before my heat this January,” Stiles added. “Last one was unbearable.”

His father nodded, obviously still worried. “By the way,” he said, “what would you think of spending Christmas Eve at the Hales?”

Stiles perked up a little at that. “The Hales? They invited you?”

“They invited us,” Noah corrected. “When I told Laura’s mother we would be spending the holiday alone, she insisted.”

Usually they’d spend it with Scott and Melissa, but they had booked a cruise to warmer weathers. 

“Sounds great!” I’ll bake a pie or something.

“I’m sure Talia had that in mind when he invited us.”

Talia Hale, Alpha of the Hale pack, had a sweet tooth. So did her children, and Stiles’ confections at any bake sale they happened to appear were always praised by her. Alpha Talia was also a rarity in that all of her children were Alphas. Laura, who would replace her mom after she retired. Derek, the most handsome man in all of Beacon Hills as far as Stiles was concerned. Cora, the most intimidating girl Stiles had ever met. And even the youngest, George.

Stiles, like almost any omega in Beacon Hills, enjoyed seeing any of them around town. They were all beautiful and nice, unlike other Alphas who seemed to always be close to brawling to show superiority.

Stiles would usually spot Derek around town always doing something to help someone. Once he saw him carrying some furniture, apparently helping a younger couple move into their new apartment. His arms flexing ever so temptingly. He had been driving to see his father with a healthy lunch otherwise he would’ve stopped and stared. More. There had also been that time when he walked out of his house and saw Derek mowing the neighbor’s lawn. Shirtless. Stiles got on his jeep and fled the scene before Derek saw him drooling. No use getting too attached to that scene, anyway, Derek had already found his soulmate. Laura had told his dad as much when he asked her.

Which was a shame because Derek, as far as Stiles was concerned, was the perfect Alpha. Tall but not too tall. Wide and muscular but more like a fitness model than a bodybuilder.  And while he was usually seen with his trademark frown, his smile was dazzling. Stiles had spent more than one heat imagining those strong hands on him.

“I’ll make a pecan pie, she seemed to like that at the Fall Festival,” Stiles mused, grateful for the distraction. He enjoyed baking, not only because it seemed to do wonders against his anxiety but also because at some point he had felt that was the only thing he had to convince his soulmate he was worth keeping. He was a bit better in the self esteem department nowadays, but he still hoped for the day he could make his soulmate the perfect birthday cake.

After some digging around for special recipes and deciding he would wow the town’s Alpha before asking for her help on finding his lost soulmate, Stiles landed on a bourbon pecan pie recipe that looked too good not to make. He learned from his father that Laura liked cheesecake and that sounded way too much like a sneaky way to make him bring cheesecake, so he obliged.

So, on the early afternoon of the 24th, Stiles and Noah rang the bell to the Hale mansion. Noah had a cheesecake on one hand and a bourbon pecan pie in the other. Stiles had yet another bourbon pecan pie, because he remembered the Hales were a large family, and a box filled with gingerbread wolves in the other.

“I may have overdone it,” Stiles said to his dad for the twentieth time that day.

“I don’t think they’ll mind,” he answered. The door opened and Talia Hale herself was there to greet them.

“Noah, you made it! We’re so glad you’re here. Come in, come in. Cora, take their coats. And what’s this? Pecan pie! Two of them! I’m tempted to keep one all to myself, they smell so lovely. George, please take these to the kitchen, we’ll bring them out for dessert. And cheesecake? Did Laura ask for this? Of course she did, I’m sure. Cora, take it to the kitchen, too, and don’t let Laura stick her finger in it. Come with me, we’re in the living room at the moment but I heard Claudia’s jeep approaching and I simply had to be the first to greet you. Derek can bring some mulled wine or hot cocoa to warm you up. Derek? Derek why are you standing there like that?”

Stiles stopped when he saw him, not understanding why Derek was looking at him so intensely. Derek was famous for how his look could stop other werewolves in their tracks, but this wasn’t a look of anger at all.

“Stiles?” Noah’s voice was low but just as hopeful as the omega’s own heart felt.

Derek walked towards Stiles, slowly but surely. The noise from the living room seemed to have vanished, and Stiles could only hear the thumping of his own heart, apparently in rhythm to Derek’s footsteps. Stiles noticed the way his jeans hugged his strong legs, the way his chest stretched the sweater he was wearing, just like his arms filled up the sleeves so nicely. Derek had let his beard grow ever so slightly, and it framed his lips perfectly. His green eyes were focused on him like none had ever been before.

“I knew it was you,” he said in a low voice, his hand reaching to touch Stiles’ cheek. The moment Derek’s fingers made contact Stiles nodded, because it was obvious. Because it was true. Stiles would’ve dropped the box of cookies to jump into Derek’s arms had Talia not stopped them.

“Derek,” she said, firm. “You will behave yourself. You know he’s mated.”

Stiles felt like he could hear a record scratch at the sound of that statement. He turned to her.

“I’m not mated,” he said. “I mean, I am, kind of, but-”

“You said he had found his soulmate.” Laura had, at some point, appeared next to them and was looking at Noah.

“I said it was complicated,” Noah answered, defensively.

“You said you had talked to him.” It was now Talia who looked accusingly at Laura.

“I did!” Laura almost yelled. “Kinda,” she added, lower.

The argument went on, each trying to figure what had happened. Stiles himself was curious, but he was ok with figuring out later. Right now, Derek’s hand had found his hip and when he turned to face him, the Alpha was looking at him like he was the only thing that mattered in the whole world. Stiles felt sure that his eyes said the same thing.

Stiles moved his hand to rest on Derek’s shoulders and when they kissed Stiles could only think two things:

1) He felt like if they took a photo of them now, it would look like a cover for one of those cheesy romantic novels, but Christmas themed. Both of them wearing sweaters, Stiles holding a box of gingerbread wolves on one hand, while standing on a tastefully decorated hallway. It would probably have an awfully appropriate title like “Home for the Holidays” or “Just in time for Christmas.”

2) Every single sickly sweet description on how it felt to kiss your soulmate for the first time on those novels was right. It was like falling into syrup. It was like a thousand boxes of your favorite cookie. It was like falling asleep into a dream you’d always want to go back to. 

When they finally broke the kiss, Derek rested his forehead on Stiles’ and inhaled deeply. Stiles chuckled, loving the way Derek’s arms wrapped around him.

Talia cleared her throat, and both of them turned to her like this was the hundredth time she had found them making out, lost to anything and anyone else, and not the first. Noah and Laura were both there, smiling embarrassedly, and so was George, his cell phone out no doubt to post a picture to annoy Derek with later.

“George,” Derek said, “I will break your phone.”

“Not before he shares the picture,” Cora said. “Now could you please come over to the living room? Or at least let Stiles give me the cookies before you take him up to your room?”

“He can take Stiles to his room after dinner,” Talia said. “Now, if you please, Derek, some mulled wine for Noah while I introduce Stiles to the rest of the family.”

They share a small kiss and Stiles walks into a living room of smiling faces. The story comes together in pieces. Stiles would’ve found it frustrating if he wasn’t riding a massive high from kissing Derek.

After Derek touched Stiles, he was torn. On the one hand he could feel his soulmate being taken away, on the other he had to make sure people got out safely. He had stayed outside Jungle, hoping for his omega to come back and finally left, sad but determined to find him. 

He returned to Jungle, but never thought of leaving a message with the staff. He felt foolish, telling someone he had found his mate and had let them go. He relied on Laura as part of the Beacon Hills police department, but after he had learned Stiles was already mated his drive waned.

Had he known Stiles was also looking for his lost soulmate, Derek would’ve shown up at his door, but instead he simply waited for the day he could meet the lucky person that was mated to the author of one of his favorite op-eds in the local news website. He had done a couple of questionable things in his quest to get close to Stiles, like offering to mow the lawn of one of the Stilinski’s neighbors. He of course did it shirtless because if Stiles, like he supposed, matched his soulmark; he was bound to notice it then.

Each detail on how they kept on missing each other made the people in the leaving room groan with frustration or howl with laughter. Derek had dropped the couch he was holding seconds after Stiles had left the scene of the move, distracted by the feeling of his mate close by.

“Oh, god, did you hurt yourself?” Stiles asked.

“Dropped the couch on his foot,” Erica, a friend of the family said, and everyone laughed. “Thank the stars for werewolf healing.”

Their story blurs into the background as the other couples share the stories of how they met, and when Derek sits beside Stiles it’s too easy for him to lean into his warmth. Under the watchful eye of their parents (and the teasing eyes of Derek’s siblings) it’s hard to not just excuse themselves so they can make out for a while, see each other’s soulmarks on each other.

Seats are shuffled for dinner so they can sit together, and after dessert, when everyone is done complimenting Stiles’ pie and cheesecake (and more than one comment on how they expect more baked good from him is made) the Hales’ extended family retires to guest rooms and hotels. Noah correctly guesses Stiles will stay over, and Talia tells Derek he doesn’t have to do the dishes this time, George and Cora had volunteered.

“Don’t be too grateful,” she says at Derek’s surprise. “They also posted several photos of the two of you looking at each other like loons.”

Stiles laughs, both at that and Derek’s frown. The Alpha looks at him and his face instantly softens. “You’re adorable,” he says.

“Thanks,” Stiles says, blushing.

“I mean that literally,” Derek states. “You’re worthy of adoration. You’re beautiful, funny, and-”

“Derek,” Cora yells from the kitchen. “We offered to do the dishes precisely so you could do this lovey dovey bs in your room where it’s soundproofed.”

Derek laughs and takes Stiles hands, leading him upstairs. Derek’s bedroom is large, with a queen size bed on one side and a desk on the other. Derek apologizes for the mess and by “mess” Stiles assumes he means the two socks that aren’t in the hamper. Derek closes the door and the kiss they share this time is soft and tender, like a the nuzzle of a mate coming home to their den. Derek guides them to his bed.

They take off their shoes and begin undressing each other slowly. Derek is wearing a button shirt and Stiles says “Merry Christmas to me” as he begins to unbutton it. He pulls on it to reveal Derek’s soulmark and his own, both of them together in Derek’s body the same way they are on his. As sure as he was, as right as it had felt to be with Derek the whole day, it was nice to have visual confirmation. Stiles plants a kiss on it and Derek growls low before forcing Stiles out of his own shirt. He stared at the soulmark on Stiles’ body adoringly before licking a stripe from it to Stile’s neck, where he sucks, apparently intent on leaving a mark.

“I’m already marked as yours, you know,” Stiles giggles, but stretches his neck.

His words seem to affect Derek, and the Alpha stops.

“Everything ok?” Stiles asks.

Derek nods, and arranges them so he’s spooning Stiles. He hugs the omega tightly and inhales deeply. Stiles turns his head awkwardly until they face each other.

“I feel your anxiety, you know?” Stiles says. “It’s like mine but different.”

“It’s dumb,” Derek says.

“Anxiety usually is.” Stiles plants a kiss on Derek’s nose. “Tell me.”

“I thought you didn’t want me,” Derek says. “I thought you’d made up an Alpha to keep me away. I thought you thought I was grumpy and mean and-”

Stiles kisses his Alpha, not only because it hurts him to imagine a world where he would be stupid enough not to want Derek, but also because he can’t express with words how wrong he is. Derek returns the kiss, and he seems to get the message.

“I also thought, you know, something like that,” Stiles confesses when they break the kiss. “I thought maybe the Alpha had seen me from a distance and ran away, glad to have dodged this bullet.”

“You’re kidding,” Derek says. “You’re perfect.”

“You say that now but just wait until you have to deal with an actually messy room, or half an hour of anxious blabbering because I have a doctor’s appointment later that day.”

Derek grins.

“No, really, you’re all grins now but one of these days you’re gonna walk in on me unshowered, half panicked because of some deadline or the other with a half-eaten box of cookies in one hand and then what will you do?”

“Good question. I think I’d take that half eaten box of cookies and put it away to eat later, I’d make you some tea to calm you down and help you meet your deadline, and then I would shower with you to fuck any remaining worries out of you.”

Stiles is for once, speechless.

“Does that sound good?”

Stiles nods.

Derek kisses him again, and this time he doesn’t stop. Stiles is glad the room is soundproof because he didn’t know he could be that loud for that long. Derek looks unbearably smug the next morning.

“Stop it,” Stiles says, once he’s awake enough.

“Stop what?” Derek asks innocently. He’s wearing flannel pajamas and enjoying the sight and smell of Stiles wearing one of his shirts.

“Stop staring at me like that. I’m human, your werewolf stamina is gonna have to wait a little longer.”

Derek laughs. “Yeah, specially since mom wants us down for breakfast. Come on, we can shower together, it’ll be my birthday present.”

Stiles rolls his eyes. “Christmas present, Derek. It’s Christmas.”

“It’s also my birthday,” Derek says, pulling Stiles to the edge of the bed.

“Wait, really?”

It takes an emergency run to the only store open in town but Stiles manages to bake his soulmate the perfect birthday cake. Or at least the first birthday cake, Stiles is sure he can improve the recipe for next year.

——

A little extra: The Conversation between Noah and Laura

“You seem frazzled, boss,” Laura said leaving a cup of coffee on Noah’s desk. The sheriff nodded.

“Stiles found his soulmate, but it’s complicated,” he said before taking a sip from his mug.

Laura sighed, enjoying her own cup of coffee. “Yeah, the same thing happened to my brother just yesterday.”

“I don’t think the same thing that happened to my son could happen to two people.”

Laura laughed. “Same with my brother.”

Before either of them could ask the other to elaborate, Officer Parrish yelled there were donuts in the break room.

But then his mum gets sick, and the fire happens, and suddenly, Stiles is on his own. Of course, he still has his dad, and while he knows about his wife and son’s abilities, he is only human, and they never talk about the supernatural much. So Stiles practises alone, with the help of his mum’s books and an online community that he has found through his grandma in Poland, and though it is not the same as having someone by his side, he learns a lot and his magic gets stronger every day. Therefore, when Scott gets bitten, Stiles knows a lot more about it than he should, but of course he can’t let that on, and pretends to be clueless, gently steering Scott in the right direction, who is fortunately too preoccupied with his situation to notice anything.

And then Derek Hale is back in town and Stiles has a revelation: He is most definitely attracted to men too, and it seems that Derek is exactly his type, and isn’t that slightly worrying? He remembers his mum telling him about the Hales, and what a wonderful pack they are, hoping that one day they can trust them, and Stiles desperately wants too.

Of course, everything turns out to be a little more complicated, with Derek being accused of murder, and Stiles hiding him, and Scott falling in love with a hunter of all things. But the more he gets to know Derek, the more he realises that his mum has been right. He is a wonderful alpha, even under the circumstances that have made him one, and under his gruff exterior, he cares deeply, and he is thoughtful and smart and altogether amazing, and Stiles is aware that he is falling for him, not that he would ever admit that. They keep expanding the pack slowly, with Erica and Boyd and Isaac, even Lydia and Jackson belonging somehow, maybe more so than Scott these days, who only stops by occasionally, too busy mooning over Allison to notice much else. And Stiles never thought he’d say that, but it doesn’t feel like they’re best friends anymore. That title now goes to Erica, who is smart and fun and has so much in common with him, and he’s really glad they found her. He considers telling her, he really does, but then maybe she’d tell Derek, because he is her alpha after all, and Stiles really doesn’t want him to find out. It’s not that he doesn’t trust Derek, of course he does, he’s put his life in his hands more times than he can count, and saved Derek’s in turn, but that’s not what this is about. He knows that Derek would do just about anything for his pack, and having an emissary would severely strengthen theirs, but he cannot bear the thought of Derek choosing him just for his powers. And he can imagine that Derek would, sacrificing his happiness for the good of the pack, and Stiles cannot let him do that. As much as he wants to be with him, he does not want him like that, Derek only being with him because of his magic, and not because he actually wants him. And since that will never happen, Stiles knows that he hasn’t gotten much else going for him, why would Derek, strong, amazing, wonderful Derek, even look twice at him, he keeps quiet, keeps pretending to be just human, even when it’s hard sometimes. It’s not only that he feels like he’s betraying his friends more and more, it also gets more difficult to come up with excuses as to why he knows certain things, or why some research doesn’t take him much time at all, and saying “the internet” only gets him so far. Especially Lydia keeps looking at him thoughtfully, but fortunately, she hasn’t said anything yet.

Then Derek gets the message that Cora is in Mexico, and he goes to spend time with her, saying that the pack will be fine without him for a bit, that there’s no immediate threat, and that Stiles can take care of them. He actually winks at him when he says that, and Stiles thinks about it for days. Of course Erica teases him about it approximately two seconds after Derek has left. “So, you’re the pack mum now?”, she sing-songs, grinning widely, and Stiles flushes. He tries to pretend that he finds that idea embarrassing, but in truth, he’d of course like nothing more than to be Derek’s partner and take care of the pack at his side. He sighs. “That’s not what he meant.” Erica must hear his dejected tone, because she throws an arm around her shoulder and gets more serious. “Ah come on, we all think you’re awesome, and everyone knows you’re pretty much keeping the pack together!” If only. Stiles shrugs. “Would you let it go?” “But..” “Erica, please?” He really doesn’t want to talk about it. “Of course.” She hugs him a little closer and suggests to watch cartoons, but Stiles knows that she’s concerned, but he figures that as long as she doesn’t tell Derek, he can handle that.

When Derek gets back a few weeks later, he’s even more beautiful than before, not that Stiles thought that that was possible. It’s just that there’s a confidence about him now that wasn’t there before, and Stiles feels himself falling a little deeper. Cora has come with him, to see the pack, and Stiles finds himself liking her a lot. She fits with the pack seamlessly and brings out a playful side in Derek that they hadn’t seen before. Just when he thinks that Derek couldn’t get any more attractive, he discovers that he speaks Spanish. They’re in the kitchen, and Derek says something to Cora, and she grins and replies, and then Lydia chimes in, because genius that she is, of course she speaks the language, and Stiles is aware that he’s staring, but he can’t help himself, because how did he not know this, and why is it so hot? Derek turns to him, noticing that he’s quiet. “¿Pasa algo, cielo?“ „Huh?“ Stiles blinks, still too caught up in Derek speaking Spanish, and Derek actually blushes at that. “Oh sorry. I was just asking if something is wrong?”, he explains, and Cora smirks at that, while Lydia just looks smug, and Stiles feels like he’s missing something. He vows to learn Spanish after that.

He never gets to it, because they get news that another pack will be visiting. Apparently, they’re from Canada, on the way through, and want to meet. Everyone is understandably nervous, and Stiles tries his best to calm them down, without giving away that he has of course asked his magic community about any information they have, and confirmed that they’re a good pack, widely liked across the continent. When they arrive, everyone is introduced, because Derek insisted that they need to make a good impression, and Melinda, the alpha, seems slightly amused, but pleased, until Stiles is introduced as human. Her eyebrows shoot up and her nostrils flare, and he gets the impression that she knows, panicking instantly. She doesn’t say anything though, but the glances she keep shooting him do nothing to settle his fears. All in all, their stay goes over well, until it’s time for them to leave. “I have a proposition”, Melinda starts, and Derek nods for her to go ahead. “You need to strengthen your pack, that much is obvious. I’d be willing to give you Katarina, or Ben, or both even.” She pauses, and Stiles is entirely sure it’s for effect, and he sees Derek frowning, picking up on it aswell. “In exchange for Stiles”, she finishes then, and there’s an immediately flurry of activity. Erica and Boyd both throw their arms around him, Derek’s frown deepens considerably, Lydia and Isaac both step in front of Stiles, and even Jackson tenses next to them. Only Scott looks contemplative. “That’s not the worst idea”, he says then, and everyone stares at him. Stiles feels his heart drop. While it’s true that they’re not as close as they used to be, he would have never imagined something like that. “What?”, Derek manages, sounding furious, and Scott shrugs. “She’s right. We do need more power. And Stiles is just human.” Erica’s arm tightens around him, and Lydia looks like she wants to strangle Scott, but it’s Derek who finally addresses Melinda. “Thanks for your offer”, he starts, sounding anything but grateful. “But no. Firstly, I don’t understand how you can just offer up your pack members like that. Secondly, I don’t give mine away. Even if Stiles is just human, he’s important, and we need him. I need him.” Stiles’ heart flutters at that, and Erica shoots him a look, them nervously turns back to Melinda, afraid that they have ruined their good relations now. But the alpha is smiling. “Very good answer, Derek. You’ve confirmed that you’re a great alpha. Caring for all of your pack is important. We should stay in touch.” She looks directly at Stiles when she says that, and has the nerve to wink at him, and he’s positive now that she knows. And sure enough, she texts him a few days later. “They have no idea, do they?” “How did you?”, he replies, curious and terrified. “I can smell it. Magic makes you different”, is what he gets back, confirming his fears. Before he has chance to reply, another text comes through: “You should tell them. Derek at least. It’s obvious that you can trust him.” Stiles sighs. “I know. It’s more complicated than that, though.” “I see.” And Stiles has the feeling that she really does. “Let me know if I can help.” And just like that, Stiles has added another person in the know, and since at least the pack knows about her, he can pass off some of the information he gets from his community as having it from Melinda.

Stiles gapes at him, "Uh I thought they came back after Chris helped them escape?"

Derek leans into Stiles personal space, "Escape what?"

Stiles flinches backwards fingers twisting together, and Derek can smell as his anxiety spikes. He reaches out to put a hand on his shoulder, but let's it fall short.

"Oh uh. Okay. So. Thing is. When you were all dealing with Jackson and him dying or whatever uh Gerard kidnapped me and Erica and Boyd. He took me as a message to Scott and he was trying to get secrets from the other two about you. He had them chained up and had electricity running through them. Um. Chris came down after Gerard had left and let us all go. I thought they came to find you"

This time as Stiles breathing becomes faster and his eyes unfocus, Derek reaches out. He grabs Stiles shoulder and pulls him in to a rough hug. Cora used to have panic attacks when she was younger and the whole family learnt to help with them, close contact was always good for her and he hopes it helps Stiles. Stiles leans into the touch and places a hand on Derek's chest to feel him breathe. They stay like that for a few minutes as Stiles regulates his breathing. Stiles pulls back and wipes at his eyes.

"So if they didnt come to find you, where did they go?" He asks.

"I'm not sure but since I know their last location I should be able to track them".

Stiles nods, and turns to leave. Derek watches him as he walks to the door, and pauses turning back.

"Would you like some help? I know I'm not a wolf and a wolf would be better but I'm the Sheriff's son, I know this town almost as well as he does."

Derek nods, "Yeah I'll pick you up tomorrow."

Stiles nods and then leaves. Leaving Derek to contemplate the past few minutes and everything that happened. Him and Stiles have never exactly gotten along, they had worked together before but this time seemed different and Derek couldnt figure out how.

☆☆☆

The two of them spend the next week tracking Erica and Boyd's scent. It didn't seem to be leading them anywhere. The betas would've been injured but starting to heal. And Stiles can't figure out the trail they're taking. On the third day Derek brings along a map, that he puts Stiles in charge of. At the end of the week they had followed the beats track, and Stiles realised they were headed towards the Hale house. When Stiles told Derek he nodded like it made sense.

"How does even make sense?"

Derek sighs, "They'll be searching for me. And my scent. My scent is deep in that house, so it would make sense for them to go there."

Stiles nods, "Right I didn't think of it like that."

"Most humans wouldn't. Your sense of smell is dull compared to ours, and you don't know what it feels like to be drawn towards your alpha."

"Right, so you grew up with that? Feeling drawn to your mother?"

Derek nods, "Yeah it was like some invisible force pulling you towards them. You want to do what they say, it can be weird when you don't grow up with it. But for us it was normal"

Stiles nods and together they make their way back towards his jeep. Over the past week he can feel Derek letting his guard down, talking more and giving out details of his life and werewolves willingly. It had been nice, and Stiles hopes it doesn't end. He likes this little friendship they've got, he just hopes Derek can't tell how interested he is in him. And if he does, well Stiles just hopes he doesn't bring it up.

They drive towards the old Hale house. First in silence, but soon Stiles is tapping against the steering wheel, and he's sure Derek can smell the anxiety coming off him.

Derek reaches over and turns the radio on, bring the volume down to a low murmur, he places his hand on the back on Stiles neck, thumb lightly brushing up and down. Stiles tenses slightly but as Derek continues he slowly becomes less anxious.

Derek points out the turn to the Hale house after Stiles almost missed it, and they both wait as Stiles drives, for the moment when they find Erica and Boyd. Derek is leaning forward, eyes focused, head slightly tilted to listen and Stiles is not at all thinking about dogs.

Stiles parks back from the house, Derek gets out first and starts for the house. Stiles gets out and waits, if there are two wolves in there he's not sure it's the right place for him. As he waits he looks around. Noticing an old flower bed and and what looks to be an herb garden. And old rusted swing set towards the back. And tyre swing hanging from a tree near the front of the house. He thinks about the lives the Hales lived here and feels sad that it ended so abruptly.

Loud growling can be heard coming from the house and then a high pitched whining. Stiles focuses all his attention on the house, taking a few steps forward when no other noise is made. He walks forward and slowly walks in.

"Derek?"

"This way Stiles," Derek calls back

Stiles follows Derek's voice to the back of the house. He looks into the room to see Derek, Boyd and Erica cuddled on the ground. He wishes he could take a photo of this moment.

Erica looks up eyes flashing, "Stiles you found us."

Stiles smiles, "Yeah I didn't know you were lost."

"Thank you," Boyd nods.

Stiles nods back and catches Derek's eyes, they both smile at each other.

"Can you help me take these two back to mine?"

Stiles scoffs, "Of course, c'mon you lot."

☆☆☆

Three days later, Derek sends Stiles a text asking him to come over. Stiles texts back and tells him he'll be there within the hour. He heads down stairs to where he can hear his Dad in the kitchen.

"Hey kid, where are you off to today?"

And Stiles decides to be honest, he doesn't want to lie to his dad anymore. "I'm going to Derek's."

John puts his cup down on the table, "And why would you be doing that?"

"Listen Dad, there's a lot I have to tell you, about this past year specifically, and it's going to be rough and you're not going to believe me. So I'm going to go to Derek's for a bit and when I come back I want to bring him with me so we can tell you everything."

"Seems reasonable. You know you can tell me you're bisexual though right?"

Stiles sputters, "What?"

John scoffs, "Oh kid please, your mother and I knew for years."

"Well that saves a lot but can we have this conversation later? I've got to go and I want to save myself some embarrassment."

"Wait aren't we already having that talk later?"

"No we're having a different talk. Oh my god what is my life anymore." Stiles mutters as he walks out of the house without waiting for a response from his Dad.

Stiles leaves the house and tries not to think of his father and their conversation. He drives to Derek loft, eager to see him after not seeing him for a few days. And it's crazy how used to him Stiles is, how much he genuinely enjoys Derek's company, he likes the guy. Stiles just hopes they can stay friends.

He parks beside Derek's car and walks in. He wonders if anyone else lives here? He's never seen anyone else, but there's always cars outside, and it looks like a decent industrial apartment. He doesn't stop to knock he just walks on in. Derek is on a couch, reading a book, and when did Derek decorate?

"Does anyone else live in this building or is it just you? Also when did you decorate? You have a TV? And a couch? Dude who are you?"

Derek chuckles, "Hello Stiles nice to see you too. I'm good thanks for asking. Yes there are other people who live here, just down on the lower floors. And Erica made me decorate, said she wouldn't live here if it looked like this, and well it's Erica how could I refuse?"

Stiles grins, "What a good alpha."

Derek throws his book at Stiles, intentionally missing him, "Oh ha ha very funny."

Stiles grabs the book from the floor and places it on the table as he sits on the couch. He takes a deep breath, "I need your help telling my Dad everything"

Stiles looks up to see Derek looking at him, "Are you sure about this? Once he knows there's no taking it back"

He sighed, "I know but I can't keep lying to him."

Derek nods, "I'll help you"

Stiles sags against the couch, relieved he doesn't have to do it himself.

"I also wanted to talk to you." Derek says, turning in his seat so he's facing Stiles.

Stiles sits up and mirrors him, "Okay?"

"I've thought a lot about what you said when you first came here, and I think you're right. I need to find someway to bond with my pack and for them to bond with each other. What do you think of a movie night? Just to start with?"

Stiles smiles and reaches out to grab Derek's hand, "I think it's a wonderful idea Derek".

Derek nods, turning his hand to hold Stiles hand'. And Stiles tries to ignore the way his heart starts thumping in his chest. Derek has a small smile on his face, looking down. Stiles doesn't dare say anything, he doesn't want this moment to end. Derek brings their hands close to his face and kisses the back of Stiles hand. Stiles stares and wonders where this is leading.

"I want to talk about something else too."

"Yeah?" Stiles whispers.

"Yeah," Derek pauses, "about the possibility of an us."

Stiles stops breathing.

"But if we do, we take it slow, and set boundaries. You're underage, and we're going to tell your Dad and do this right, okay?" Derek looks up at him, face open and hopeful.

"Yes, yeah I'd love that" Stiles grins at Derek and leans forward to kiss his cheek.