time and a bottle of hope (1339 words) by Winchesterek
Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski Characters: Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski Additional Tags: Established Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski, Mates Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski, Future Fic, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, FBI Agent Stiles Stilinski, True Alpha Derek Hale, Derek Hale Deserves Nice Things, Stiles Stilinski is a Nice Thing, Alternate Universe - Post-Canon For @sterekfests bonfire and @sterekweekly moon
The air was cool against his lips as Stiles sat in the dark, the only thing lighting their surroundings being the moon that was high in the sky and the bonfire blazing in front of them. The full moon would be a in few days and he couldn't wait for Derek to shift and run, letting himself free on their property.
Seeing him like that made Stiles feel like something right was happening in the world when all the darkness threatened to steal away any slice of happiness they had. But it hadn't been like that for at least a year now, even if Stiles felt like he was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. For something or someone to show up and take everything away.
He shifted when Derek came back and sat down behind him, blanket in hand.
âYou know that you keep me warm enough and we have a fire, right?â Stiles asked with a chuckle.
âWell, you never know. I know youâve been cold lately and I want to make sure you don't get sick. I still wish youâd get the bite, sometimes,â Derek replied as he scooted up behind Stiles, while Stiles settled between Derekâs legs and leaned back against him.
âMaybe someday. And you know Iâll only get it from you, right?â Stiles wouldn't have it any other way. He didn't trust anyone else to give him the bite and Stiles didn't want to be bound to anyone other than Derek, ever.
âI know. And I wouldn't want it any other way.â Derek opened the blanket and laid it over Stiles, tucking it around them. Stiles knew that soon enough he would be boiling under the blanket with Derekâs heat radiating off of him like it always did.
Stiles smiled, closing his eyes, and breathed deeply. He smoothed his hands over Derekâs arms as Derek hugged him close to his chest. He relished moments like this, feeling Derekâs love through their matebond. If they could stay locked away from the rest of the world forever, Stiles would do just that. It felt like they had over the last year.
âBeautiful night,â Derek said quietly as if he were afraid to break the fragileness of the moment.
âNot more beautiful than you,â Stiles teased as he opened his eyes and leaned sideways enough to look at Derek. He loved seeing Derekâs cheeks flush at something so simple as calling him beautiful.
âThe full moon is soon,â Derek added, but Stiles wouldn't let him change the subject that easily.
âAnd youâll be beautiful then too when youâre in full-shift running under the moonlight.â The tips of Derekâs ears were red and Stiles knew it wasn't from the cold. He really didn't know how to take a compliment, even if they were mated and practically married at this point.
âYou really think that?â Derek asked softly.
âOf course. Why wouldn't I think that? You know I love your wolf. I love you in all of your forms.â Stiles leaned up to kiss Derek on the cheek, turning his head as Derek buried his face against Stilesâ neck with one of those happy rumbles that Stiles always teased Derek about because it sounded like he was purring.
âThank you, for everything,â came Derekâs voice, muffled against Stilesâ neck.
They were words that Stiles had heard on more than one occasion and he kept reminding Derek he had nothing to thank him for, but he knew where Derek was coming from. And without each other, Stiles didn't think heâd have anything to be thankful for either.
âI love you.â Stilesâ hand moved out from under the blanket and threaded through Derekâs hair, scratching gently at his scalp. âForever. You know that, right?â
âI know⌠and Iâll love you the same. Forever. Remember, thatâs the whole point.â Derek pressed a kiss against Stilesâ mating bite and it sent warmth radiating through his chest as he felt the truth of Derekâs words there.
âYeah, it is.â It wasn't the first time theyâd made that promise, but Stiles knew they both needed the reminder sometimes. And he was more than happy to give it to Derek whenever either of them needed it.
Sometimes Stiles thought about what their lives might be like if it wasn't just the two of them. If theyâd ever have kids or get married officially. He was happy with how things were now and he had no wants or needs that were being unmet, but he felt that they had so much love to share that he wanted more.
It was selfish, he knew, but Stiles couldn't help but want. âDo you ever think of having kids?â
The question would likely seem abrupt to Derek, but Stiles didn't think it would be an issue talking about it. Derek hmmâd against his neck and drew away to press a kiss to Stilesâ temple.
âI guess that was something I never thought about⌠after everything, I didn't think that was in the cards for me. But I never thought Iâd have you either. Have this. Be happy.â Derekâs words sunk inside of Stiles and he wished more than once he could erase Derekâs past and take away all his pain. It was easier now, but he knew it was still painful.
âBut now?â Stiles prompted, wondering if there was more.
âNowâŚâ Derek was quiet as he pressed his lips against Stilesâ temple again, breathing deeply and running his nose through Stilesâ hair.
âMaybe⌠I think thereâs a lot of stuff weâd have to do to have kids. Weâd have to get a bigger house, for one,â Derek added with a chuckle. âBut someday. If weâre adopting itâll be a long process. Years.â
Years. Stiles had never thought about that. But he guessed Derek was right. They couldn't just pick up an abandoned werewolf kid somewhere and claim them as theirs. They still lived in the human world where laws ruled everything. There were legal things theyâd have to do in order to have kids.
âMaybe we can get someone to have a baby for us. Like a surrogate. I wouldn't care if it were you or me that were the biological father.â It was something that Stiles hadnât really thought of beforeâŚgetting someone to have a child for him, but whatever got them a child that was theirs, he would be all for it.
âMaybeâŚâ Derek replied and nuzzled the side of Stilesâ head. âWe could look into companies that facilitate those services unless you have someone in mind.â
Stiles thought about the women in his lifeâŚLydia and Allison. He wasn't sure that either of them would want to birth a kid for them but he supposed he wouldnât know until he asked. âWe should look into the services, I think. Just so we know what weâre getting into and how much itâs going to cost.â
âCost isnât an issue. If thatâs what you want and what we decide to do as a couple, then Iâll pay for it,â Derek replied, running his hands along Stilesâ arms as he held him.
Stiles always forgot about Derekâs inheritance, or maybe neither of them wanted to think about it because it always seemed like it was blood money. Thankfully Derek made his own money renting out space in his building.
Money was something theyâd never have to worry about even without Derekâs inheritance. Stiles tried to tell himself that he shouldn't feel bad about the money. Derek had always told him whatever was his, was also Stilesâ because they were mates.
âSomething to think about,â Stiles replied softly, turning his head enough to kiss Derek gently, then nuzzling against him more.
âYeah⌠we have time.â
It was something that Stiles never thought theyâd have. Time.
Time together, time to grow, and time to have a future.
He smiled and closed his eyes, letting the moonlight shine down upon them and the fire warm his skin as he rested in Derekâs arms.
Derek was right. They had time.












