#sterekfeststent

With the wedding reception in full swing, guests mingled around the gorgeous, sprawling grounds of the Hale Estate. And Stiles was in Trouble—capital T—as he stared out at Derek across the lawn. Derek, who looked too good in his tailored suit as he spoke with someone Stiles didn't recognize. Not that Stiles would know anyone here besides Derek or the rest of the Hales.

Talia, Derek's mom, had offered the use of their home to a neighboring pack for their wedding after their venue informed them that they'd double-booked. And, of course, Stiles said yes when Derek asked if he'd be his date since the Hales were all invited to attend.

"You're drooling."

Stiles flipped Cora off as she sat beside him under the enormous tent on the property.

She laughed. "Well, that's not a very nice way to treat your future sister-in-law."

Heat crept up Stiles's cheeks, and he just knew he was blushing. "I think you're getting kind of ahead of yourself, aren't you?"

Stiles and Derek had only been dating for a few weeks, so it was far too early to think about things like that. Right?

"Please. Derek is so hung up on you." She refolded the napkin on the table. "I wouldn't doubt if he's already picked out the ring."

"Don't be ridiculous." Stiles glanced back and found Derek heading their way. His heart jumped. It was as if a kaleidoscope of butterflies had taken flight in his stomach, and his whole body seemed to come alive just at the sight of him.

"I'm just saying…" Cora chuckled, and Stiles forced his attention back to her as she spoke. "Besides, you two are perfect for each other."

The back of Stiles's neck prickled in awareness.

"Hey." Derek's voice was a rumble behind him.

Stiles couldn't help but smile as he tilted his head back and looked up at Derek. "Hi."

Derek held out two roses. One white, one red. "For you."

"Me?" Stiles stood and adjusted his suit jacket before taking them. Warmth spread through his chest. No one had ever given him flowers before, let alone roses. He knew there was significance in their meaning—though he couldn't recall what either color meant beyond love. He ducked his head and smiled, offering up a shy, "Thank you," as he sniffed them.

Derek tipped his chin up and ran his knuckles across Stiles's jaw.

The look on his face took Stiles's breath away. It was soft. Adoring. And then he smirked, and Stiles wanted to swoon.

"Wanna get outta here?" Derek asked.

Stiles nodded, saying a quick goodbye to Cora as he linked his arm with Derek's when he held it out.

"Just…y'know," Cora called out as they walked away, "no hanky-panky in the gardens or anything!"

Heat crept up Stiles's neck, and Derek laughed.

"Just ignore her," Derek told him as they walked down the limestone steps that led to the gardens.

Stiles had only been down here once before, and that was the first day he'd come to the Hale estate—two weeks prior. Derek had given him a tour around the property. And just like before, they walked down the flagstone path that wound through the gardens.

Derek gestured to the bench by the koi pond—koi pond!—so they sat. "Thank you for coming today."

"Of course," Stiles answered honestly. While it might have been a little weird to attend the wedding of someone he didn't know, there was no way he would have said no. Not when it was a chance to spend more time with Derek.

Honestly, this summer had just been so amazing, and it was all because of Derek. Because of his easy-going nature, and the way he encouraged Stiles out of his comfort zone. Stiles could have spent the past few weeks holed up in his room, playing video games or bugging his dad about ongoing cases at the sheriff's station. But instead, Stiles had spent all his free time with Derek, doing things he never would have done before. Mostly because he would have been alone. But not anymore.

With Derek, he'd gone to the beach. He'd gone camping. Go-kart racing. Six-Flags. Had dinner at the fanciest restaurant Stiles had ever been to. They'd even gone to Jungle and Sinema, the local dance clubs.

"What are you thinking about?" Derek asked, cutting into Stiles's thoughts.

Stiles couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips as he looked at Derek. He twirled the roses as he spoke, "All the different things we've done this summer."

"Ah." Derek chuckled, and his gaze softened even more. "It's been okay, though? You know if there's anything you don't want to do, we don't have to."

"I know," Stiles assured him. "And I've had so much fun. Normally, I'd be at the station, helping my dad out. Well, I say helping—" He laughs. "My dad would probably say I’m more of a hindrance."

He had a habit of distracting the deputies.

Derek chuckled again, then looked across the gardens—a contemplative look on his face—and asked, "So what else should we do? Is there anything you want to do? Anywhere you want to go?"

"I don't know. I mean, we're going to the lake next week." And Stiles was excited about it. They were spending the full moon at a cabin Derek's family owned. He was looking forward to seeing Derek shift. As for anything else…

There were so many things Stiles wanted to do, but he also didn't want to take advantage of Derek. Stiles was perfectly content just sitting here with Derek. Or in either of their rooms. Or going to the park across town. Even strolling down Main Street.

"Hmm…" Derek glanced back at him, a thoughtful expression on his face. "What if we take a road trip somewhere? We could go to the Grand Canyon or just drive down the coast."

Stiles huffed a laugh. "You wanna do that?"

"I wanna do everything with you."

The butterflies that had been fluttering in Stiles's stomach from the moment Derek walked up to him intensified. "I'd like that."

Derek smiled, it was small but gorgeous, and Stiles melted a little. Especially when Derek reached out, threading their fingers together and squeezing. "Good."

Then he tilted his head as if he were listening for something.

"I think they're going to do the first dance now. You wanna go back?"

"Yeah." Excitement bubbled through Stiles as he imagined walking onto the dance floor with Derek. Swaying with him to whatever song the DJ played.

Derek tugged Stiles up and off the bench, their hands still linked as they wandered back to the reception.

When they returned to the tent, the newly married couple were having their first dance—eyes locked with beautiful smiles as they swayed to the music.

One day. One day that would be him and Derek. He was sure of it. More certain than anything else he'd ever felt before because Stiles knew, without a doubt, that he was in love with Derek. And while Derek hadn't said it either, he'd shown Stiles, in just about every way, that he loved him too.

Stiles looked up at Derek then, a smile tugging at his lips. His heart fluttered in his chest. And as if Derek knew the direction of Stiles's thoughts, he leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. Stiles glanced around, but no one was watching them, their attention on the bride and groom. So he reached up, cupping Derek's face and pressing their lips together.