;
  Little Melissa climbs easily into the cart, the motions loud in the quiet supermarket and a wide grin spread effortlessly when she's fully seated, fingers hooking into the metal workings. "Dad, come on! You promised me I could pick the cereal this time."
  A chuckle answers her persistence, arms lazily pushing the cart forth down the nearest aisle, "You're going to get Coco Puffs, I know it. I knew I shouldn't let Uncle Stiles babysit you in the mornings. Every time he does, you want something really sugary. You can't fool me, Mel. I saw those Reese's Pieces' wrappers in the trash."
  "But Dad, you're the one that gets Reese's every time we come to the store," A pout and he's melting, leaning over the raill between them to splay kisses all over her face. Her curls bounce, swaying to her laughter and Scott finishes with a sloppy peck to her nose, "Guess I can't fool you either, huh?"
  Tiny fingers snatch the brown cardboard box, hugging to her chest with a determined burn in bright eyes. Mel's eyes are too light in coloring compared to his and her nose too slim to match his but the rest of her is from him, a burst of pride warming through him. The thought keeps him and his wolf content, joyous to have a beautiful, little daughter part of his close-knit pack, "I promised you, didn't I?"
  The cart is neatly jolted, startling both him and Mel and Scott rushes to apologies, peering over his daughter's hair, "I'm really, really sorry, are you okay—"
  Out of all of the people who had left Beacon Hills, he had never imagined—he's hoped, mindlessly and recklessly despite himself but never expected—Allison standing before him with a store branded basket in the crook of her arm. "I—I hope I didn't hurt you or anything."














