#petopher events

Their wariness around him isn't much better but at least he's done this before. Derek and Cora trust him well enough now and he can do it again, slowly but surely. They have the time and while they wait, they begin plotting out what to do next. Derek suggests pulling down the old Hale house finally, as it's been used far too long by unsavory sorts as a meeting place and it really isn't all that safe to be in. They all agree and Peter has a field day with designing what should go in its place and how they’ll approach patching up the lake house (they decide on a greenhouse with rooms to train underneath it and Chris thinks that’s a wonderful idea, a peaceful but meaningful monument to one Hell of a family). 

"Mind you, this is all mostly because my humble penthouse isn't going to hold all of us much longer. God knows you two don't like returning to that house in the suburbs and need someplace to go on the weekends. No, we need to take care of the lake house first and make sure we have all the necessary wards and security that entails while we clear the land. Perhaps we can speak about it more at length at dinner, say Friday at six? You are, after all, a security expert, dear Christopher."

Allison laughs at him when he realizes the day before dinner that Peter has asked him on a date.

"Aw, come on, Mr. A. It won't be that bad."

"Why are you in my room, Erica?" 

"Cora is downstairs playing with guns." Chris is already moving at that, long strides carrying him through the house as Erica calls out after him, "She's in with the safe and Allison is with her, she'll be fine. She said you wouldn't mind and would need help picking out an outfit anyways!" 

"I mind!" 

The giggles of three teen girls surround him as he rounds a corner and Chris can't help but smile, even as he admonishes Cora for trying to sneak an assault rifle out of his house. He hands her a high tension sling shot instead, shaking his head as Allison pleads to go to the shooting range at the edge of town. He agrees on one condition: they allow him to dress himself.

(He should have been more specific about date and time, or known something was up when they all agreed easily - they are tricky people, especially when together, and they get to go to the range AND he ends up with a judge panel while changing the next day, a Henley that 'brings out his eyes' being thrust over his head, Erica catcalling from the corner as his daughter and Cora all but manhandle him into the bathroom, and he's never been so happy in his life as he's shoved out the door by Boyd and Isaac into Peter's awaiting chest). 

There may be making out in the back of his truck like their teenagers before they return home. There may also be a disgusted look on Derek's face when they come back, the young man horrified at the state of his uncle's hair and clothes and scent. There may be a shovel talk at the dinner table from the entire Pack afterwards, which strangely focuses on Peter and a loud declaration of, "You hurt Mr. A and we'll seam rip all your nice suits so subtly that they will fall off you whenever you wear them next." It’s creative, he’ll give them that. 

They have kept their heads down in town through it all, stayed out of the way of everyone else, and life continues on as if this is the way it's always been. Midterms come and go, college applications start to get filled out by those who want to do so, and Derek picks up a job, a mechanic assistant at someplace local that they celebrate with cupcakes that Chris most definitely baked with Allison and didn't buy behind Peter's back from the German bakery on the other side of town (the look of amused betrayal Peter gives him when he finds the box is easily wiped away by pinning him to the nearest wall with a promise of a long night ahead). The newer pups get keys, and Allison smiles more while complaining about school work less. A construction company is hired to tear down the old house, after a few weekends where the Hales go to clean out what's in the different rooms, take the time to finally see what's left (they've asked to do it on their own but the Pack still follows at a distance, waiting on the trails nearby while leaving them to it, but stepping in when they step out with their boxes and haunted eyes, arms open wide and picnic lunches ready, conversation carried on without them until they are ready to come back to them). Somewhere in there Derek gets a girlfriend who hasn't lied to or enchanted him. Everyone is ecstatic and welcomes her to dinners when she’s in town but still asks Chris to run a background check on Braeden, just in case. 

The lake house is a personal project, all elbow grease and trips to the hardware store, a project that only Pack hands touch. A shared office is the first room done, Chris and Peter immediately starting to work out of it so they can run around during the day and fix the little things. Next is the kitchen and living spaces. By the time the bedrooms are done, everyone is over at the house all the time anyway and shifting Peter, Derek, Cora, and Isaac's things is hardly work. It's only when Allison approaches their Alpha late one week as they gear up for the fall holidays that things once more shift on their axis. 

"The house has a lot of memories but they aren't good ones. Can we maybe come here? To stay?"

"Allison…" She hasn’t talked to him about this and Chris doesn’t want to impose, but she scowls at him and shakes her head, braided hair flopping around slightly with the venomousness of it. 

"Dad, we practically have to drag you out of Peter's bed on the weekends when we want to go somewhere with you." With her hip out and her arms crossed, she reminds him so much of Victoria it hurts for half a second before the relief that his wife is still with them in some way rushes in. "It's time. Let's do it."

Peter accepts as graciously as he ever does, which means he immediately spirits away his daughter to choose a paint color for her room and bemoans the wardrobe that will be combined with his own. Chris doesn't mind all that, not when Peter tugs him close at night and whispers to him about the future of the Pack, about their future as a pair. 

"One of these days I'm going to ask you to marry me," Chris warns the morning after their first night in their room and he's frying eggs for the adults who have work that morning, meaning Peter and Derek. "I'm not going to tell you when but you'll probably figure it out anyways. Better tell me now if that's not what you want."

"Oh Christopher, I will be delighted whenever it comes to pass. Now, I will kill you if you don't move out of the way of the coffee machine. And I will regret nothing."

Still not a morning person. Still one of the best things he's ever allowed himself to have.

When the holidays arrive, they can no longer ignore the rest of the town, nor do they really want to. Apparently, the Hales do big Christmases and they are constantly out, snapping up deals and painting the town red. They see performances at the local theater, volunteer at the long-term ward at the hospital, and drink what has to be gallons of cider. The lights that go up on the house are elegant but all encompassing to make up for lost time, so much so that Chris goes out and gets Allison black out window shades so she can sleep. There is music constantly somewhere, traditional folk music he's never heard before drifting on the air with the scent of cookies he can't place the kind of, and then there's the tree that requires everyone's help to decorate. Tradition, that’s what Cora says, eyes glittering in the multi-colored lights as she stares up at the fir tree and pretends she’s not thinking of her parents. Allison is the one that tucks into her side then, handing her an ornament, and they’re inseparable for the rest of the night.  

It's a good day, the Saturday they dedicate to celebrating and decorating cookies, despite the mess that the colored frosting leaves. Everyone gets their own ornaments and stockings. Ice cream is also acquired later that night after some fancy risotto dish Peter puts in front of them, the whole lot of them jamming into two cars and somehow getting to the parlor that Chris remembers from a lifetime ago (and someone has to be sitting on someone's lap, surely, since there are eight of them and no Hale has ever had a practical car). It takes grace and coordination to get them even across the parking lot, Cora jumping on her brother's back for a ride while Erica walks backwards to tell a story about one of her finals getting interrupted by a bird through the window, Boyd trying desperately to make sure she doesn't trip. Allison is tucked under his own arm, her hand in Isaac's while his is clasped in Peter's. The world is cold and dark, air leaving them all in soft puffs of white, and the chatter doesn't stop even as Chris slows, glances through the windows and sees ghosts at an empty table. It dispel quickly with a shriek from Cora as Derek dumps her backwards into Peter, who thankfully is fast enough to catch her, laughing openly and carrying his niece into the place like a princess, much to her dismay. 

Chris holds the door, ushering everyone else inside where it’s not warm but is warmer, and misses the way they attract a few stares. At least he does until he's about to step through as the last one in and hears a familiar voice. 

"Uh. Mr. Argent?"

"Hello, Scott." 

There are quite a few of them there watching the Pack through the windows as they argue over flavors and toppings (two scoops of sprinkles for the girls, extra chocolate sauce for the boys, spoiled, all of them). Some wear anger on their faces, some concern, and then one or two open curiosity. There are some kids behind Scott that Chris doesn't know, younger teens that he'll ask the pups about later. Right now, his hands simply slip into his pockets and he rocks back on his heels, all easy slopes of shoulders and a small smile. 

"Something I can help you kids with?" 

"What. What's going on? Why does it feel like… Peter can't be-"

"We're just out for ice cream. We'll be back in our territory after." 

"No. That's not. You can get ice cream, it's just. You all feel. Different."

Different. Chris pays closer attention at that, having become used to his Pack being his whole world for a while now and unconcerned how they look to outsiders, so long as those outsiders don't mean them harm (and Scott is many things, Chris thinks, but he doesn't think he'll start a fight here, if he wants to start one at all). Glancing through the glass doors beside him, he sees the head tilt of Peter that says he's waiting for him, sees Isaac scrunching his nose as he orders the monstrosity Chris likes his milkshake to be - there's nothing wrong with key lime and pumpkin, thank you very much - and nods slowly as he realizes what they've done. 

They acted like there was no one else in the world but them, even when just going to get ice cream, gazes flickering between each other and smiles flashing in the holiday lights. Even from where these kids would be watching they should be able to feel how connected they are, not just see it. It is a radius of effect, a vibration in the air, that speaks of more than just family but of Pack. There is power in each and every one of them that stems from that connection, their Alpha strong because the rest are stable, the rest are happy.

Chris smiles at Peter and gives a head bob. His wolf rolls his eyes and turns away, pleased that he doesn’t have to come rescue him from overly curious teen wolves.

They'd done that. They'd done this. 

They made it. 

"We're a Pack, Scott. We're meant to feel different to you. Maybe especially you, since you're another Alpha."

"Another. So there is-"

"Peter is Alpha of the Hale Pack, yes. Remember, our property and the Preserve is our territory. We agreed to that."

"But. Derek-" 

"Was there as a representative of our Pack, as we told you when we got there. He would have been a great Alpha with the rest of us behind him, would have been able to juggle the responsibilities, but he doesn't have to now. He was allowed to make that choice. It's been good. I see you've expanded as well?"

"Uh. Yeah. Some more lacrosse players."

"Good, good. You'll have enough to make your own team soon. Let us know if you need anything, alright? You should still have the Pack email. Boyd checks it regularly, as does Peter. If it’s urgent, you still have Allison and Isaac’s numbers, I presume. But, I should get going before Erica attempts to add anything to my milkshake. Have a good night."

He disappears inside without any preamble and slides an arm around his wolf's waist, sipping at the milkshake he's given before herding everyone to two tables separated by a narrow aisle. 

"Don't blow straw wrappers at each other, please. You're teenagers, not children." 

He gets a wrapper to the face for that and Peter laughs outright, even if Chris is somewhat impressed with Derek's accuracy considering the projectile. There's no way to miss the other group of teenagers that make their way slowly into the ice cream parlor for their own dessert but, for the most part, the Pack focuses on themselves and their holiday plans. There are a few head nods in acknowledgement but beyond that, it's talking about TV shows Chris has never heard of and discussions about what kind of cookies to bake despite having nearly half a dozen flavors at home already. 

"You know, the new moon of the new year tends to make a good time to celebrate new pack bonds." Quiet doesn't descend all at once, but it does settle warmly over them, eyes turning to their Alpha at his nonchalance and lowered voice. "We'd have to find a druid or other magic user to conduct the ritual but it would allow the Argents among us to be fully bonded to everyone here. If that is something they wouldn't mind as a holiday gift."

Ah. Chris shakes his head as he places what has felt off about Peter's entire sentence. The reason for the nonchalance, just in case they reject his offer, a mask to hide behind - they’ll have to work on that. Chris glances at the excitement in Allison's eyes and leans right in to press a kiss to Peter's lips before grinning, himself (if there's a startled yelp at the action from somewhere on the other side of the room, only Isaac is momentarily distracted as Allison rolls her eyes in a way that is disturbingly similar to the man next to him). It's the last step, isn't it? Of this thing they started. It won't be an ending, just a new beginning. Stability, solidarity, and the last thing they can do that isn't taking on the Bite and become wolves themselves.

"As if we'd say no, Hale." 

"Well there's no way of telling with you people. One day you're chasing me through the woods, the next you're in my kitchen making french toast. One does wonder, Christopher. One does wonder." 

"I would like to point out that having us chase you was your idea."

"Well, the pups have to learn to track without relying only on their enhanced senses somehow." 

"You didn't seem to mind being caught, either."

"By you? Never."

The chorus of disgruntlement from around their two tables and Cora's mumbled "gross," has both men laughing, content. Chris gets why Talia didn't mind Laura wandering to his side that day so long ago now, sees why she wasn't concerned. They're here, together, and nothing can touch them. Oh, they'll take precautions because they know better than to pretend they're invincible, but right now, at this moment? They're good. He's good. 

And when the new year rolls around and Chris feels the sucker punch of warmth as a witch releases his wrist, the affection and love from his Pack deep in his chest settling brighter than before, when he sees Peter grinning at him over the heads of all the pups and feels the wave of affection from his wolf, he's even better.