Chapter Text
August 1, 2015
“Alan, forgive me if I’m wrong,” Peter Hale said, shifting forward so that he could fold his hands at the edge of the table, “but it sounds like you’re suggesting an arranged marriage.” He spoke to Deaton but his eyes were fixed on his nephew who sat on his right.
“Yes, I suppose that’s accurate. Though I’d suggest a Moon Union Marriage.” Deaton looked almost amused at the faces around the table.
“You’re joking,” Erica said a little hysterical from Peter’s other side.
“Despite the fact that both of your packs cannot behave in any way but childishly,” Deaton said sternly, “I am not giving up on you. I do think that it will help the situation. I know you both want an end to all this pointless fighting as much as anyone does.”
The room went silent. Stiles flickered his gaze to Scott, trying to remain calm even as his heart pounded in his chest. Scott’s eyes met his for half a second and then darted away.
“I think that’s a little extreme,” Laura Hale said, her composure not quite as calm as Scott’s.
“Alpha Hale we have exhausted almost every possible avenue that I can think of in order to find middle ground between your two packs. The Hale Pack and The McCall Pack simply have too much hatred and history between the two of them to accept terms. This is what I have to offer you. I thought both of these packs were committed to trying everything they could to find peace after all these years.”
Scott seemed to recover first, calmly asking, “Deaton you’re not honestly arranging a marriage between Derek Hale and Stiles, are you?”
“Well, obviously the marriage would have to be between two prominent members of your packs. As both Alpha's are attached, it seems logical to offer the Seconds as the next option. Of course if both sides accept it as a possibility we can negotiate how it would be handled but…first we need both of you to be willing to even discuss it.”
Stiles refused to look at Derek. His face was heating up, horror written across it as he stared from Scott to Deaton and back again.
“But it’s Stiles and Derek!” Kira blurted.
“You’re not suggesting I force my brother into a loveless marriage with a McCall,” Laura spat, her words dripping with disdain.
“I’ve said my piece,” Deaton responded. He stood from the head of the table, eyes wandering down to graze each side of the table. “I don’t want any answers now. Go home, discuss this among yourselves. But honestly think about this. We’ll meet back up in a month. This conflict has gone on long enough. It’s important that we consider ever option, the people I work for demand it. You must think long and hard about this.”
Laura Hale stood then, nodding towards Deaton. Her voice was calm though she looked angry, her fingers clenched tight into fists as her side. “We will. Thank you, Deaton.” She paused a moment, her jaw working for a moment before she looked at Scott. “Alpha McCall.”
Scott stood, nodding to her. “Alpha Hale.”
The other members from both sides of the table stood, silent. Stiles felt like someone had muted the world, but he imagined Scott was listening to surround sound of rapid heartbeats. He glanced at his Alpha, watching his best friend stand with a blank face as the Hales left.
Stiles followed his eyes to the Hales, studying each one as they left. Alpha Laura Hale, enraged by the suggesting. Peter Hale with a look of glee and cruelty. Erica Reyes, eyes narrowed towards them like she was waiting for someone to spring towards her. And finally, Derek Hale, the Alpha’s second.
He was the last out the door, meeting Stiles’ heavy gaze for a moment with a look Stiles couldn’t identify, and then he was gone.
“Scott,” Stiles started, turning to his best friend.
“Wait,” Scott said, taking in a deep breath. “Thank you, Deaton. We’ll see you next month.”
He turned to go without waiting for a reply, an even pace bringing him towards the door opposite of where the Hale’s had gone.
Stiles snapped his head around to turn to Lydia and Kira who both were staring at him. They exchanged looks, sort of bewildered panic for a moment, before taking off after their Alpha.
They made the journey in silence, an uncomfortable hike back to their territory as they left the neutral zone. Even Kira, who normally was skipping along by now, was held tight with tension as she trudged along beside her boyfriend. Lydia and Kira kept swapping looks, raising eyebrows in a silent conversation that Stiles didn’t even want to try to follow.
They hit the territory line and all sighed in unison, relaxing a bit to be inside the border.
A moment later and Scott whirled around to throw his hands up in the air. “Oh my God!”
Stiles rubbed his hands over his face. “I know.”
“I can’t believe it was even suggested! What are we—in the dark ages?” Scott walked backwards, looking at Stiles a he went.
“I know.”
“An arranged marriage?” Scott shouted, eyes wide. “This is ridiculous! An arranged marriage between Stiles and Derek Hale?!? Is he crazy? Why would we even consider that?”
“We should.”
Scott and Stiles both turned to face Lydia, her face pulled in an apologetic grin.
“What?” Stiles demanded hysterically.
“You’re freaking out right now and not thinking with your head,” Lydia said. “Think about this for a moment. People have arranged marriages for hundreds of years for a reason. Because sometimes it works.”
“Lydia,” Stiles whined.
“If you weren’t so freaked right now you’d be way ahead of me.”
“You think a marriage between Stiles and Derek Hale would work?” Scott demanded.
Lydia shrugged. “We don’t even know that the Hale’s would accept this either. But if we say no then we can’t exactly claim we’ve been honestly doing everything in our power to resolve the issues between our two packs.”
“There’s a reason we’re at odds,” Scott spat, his face contorted in anger. “The Hales. This is ridiculous.”
“We need to consider this.”
“We? We!?” Stiles sputtered finally. “Lydia this is my life!”
Lydia’s face crumpled in regret, a light blush dusting her cheeks. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just that…Look, I’m not saying you should do it. Only that you should consider it. You are always saying how stupid this fighting is and how we should be doing all that we can to fix it.”
Stiles faltered. “But a marriage? A fucking Moon Union Marriage can’t be broken, Lydia. I’d be connected with him for the rest of my life—someone who’d always hate me.”
Moon Unions connected people on a different level. You could read their emotions, no matter how far you went. Their well being was suddenly an urgency that came to you like instinct. There would always be a pull between them, so they could find each other, take care of each other--that was the idea anyway. The only way to break a Moon Union Marriage was through the death of one of the connected. Often times the one left behind went crazy and depressed.
Scott nodded furiously, waving his hands like Stiles was laying down the obvious law. “It’s nuts. We’re saying no.”
They began walking a bit faster. There was a long pause before Kira spoke.
“I mean, Derek Hale is really hot,” Kira supplied.
“Oh my God,” Scott whispered like he was in pain.
“He is,” Lydia agreed with a smirk. “Hot like burning. And kind of mean, which is definitely Stiles’ type.”
“He’s a Hale,” Scott scoffed.
“He’s the only person who’s ever really kept up with Stiles when he really gets going, talking about border options and neutral zone,” Kira said, tilting her head as she thought about it.
“And I mean, Deaton picked Stiles and Derek for a reason. No one wants an end to all the fighting as much as the two of them do.”
“No one fights as much as the two of them do,” Scott muttered.
Lydia and Kira ignored him, mischievously looking over at one another.
“Remember when Stiles brought up the Hale Pack baby and blessing…”
“Oh, God the man looked like he was going to grab him and have his way with him right there on the table!” Lydia crooned.
"God, I bet that'd be good hate sex."
“Guys, stop!” Scott shouted, picking up his pace like he could outrun their words. “We already talked about this. It’s a terrible idea. I’m not making Stiles—”
“You wouldn’t be making me,” Stiles sighed.
“What?” Scott yelped.
Kira stumbled, looking at Stiles with big eyes. “Oh, Stiles. We were only joking. You don’t have to do it. No one wants to force this on you.”
“Like Lydia said, we don’t know Laura Hale would even consider it,” Stiles said with a shrug. “I’ll think about it. I just—we’re not making any decisions here and now. We have a month before the next meeting. Let’s just drop it for now.”
“You don’t even have to consider it,” Scott said, pulling back to walk beside Stiles. “I don’t know what’s going through Deaton’s head, but giving up a chance for love…a family. That’s asking too much.”
Stiles bit his lip, staring down at the forest floor as they kept walking. Finally he huffed and looked upward towards the sky. “After all the people that have died through this pointless feud, no one wants more lives lost. But that’s what’s going to happen. It always does. Every time we reach a point of almost civil coexistence something happens. This isn’t a way to live, constantly at war.”
“It’s not your job to single handedly fix it all. We don’t even know if it would work. You could end up dead after a week with him.”
Stiles rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging. “I said I’d think about it. But honestly, Scotty, as much as I can’t stand Derek Hale, I think he hates all of this as much as I do.”
“You really willing to tell your father that he can forget about grandkids because you’re marrying the Hale Harbinger?” Scott asked, voice thick with disgust. “Can you actually face him and tell him that you’re going to do something so ridiculous after what happened with your mother?”
Stiles stopped walking abruptly, eyes blazing.
Scott faltered, a look of regret passing his face. “Oh, Stiles. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…that wasn’t okay.”
“No,” Stiles agreed, walking again, “it wasn’t.”
And that was the end of that.
(2 Years Previous) July 9, 2013
Tuesdays were Stiles’ favorite day of the week. It was the only day off that he had from being in his territory working, and he spent most of his day in the Neutral Zone in town. It was rare that a pack member from either side entered the town at all on the off chance that they ran into someone from the other pack and a fight broke out. But Stiles’ mother had been born in Beacon Hills, and he’d grown up in that town just as much as he did within the McCall Pack territory.
While everyone occasionally would go to the movie theater or the store in town, it wasn't common. They'd usually go to a town over for whatever they needed. It was the only way to make sure the packs wouldn’t run into one another because a person could be stupid but groups of people could be reckless. People got hurt from carelessness and unnecessary conflicts in Beacon Hills.
Scott, and Stiles were the only Pack Members who didn't work outside of the Pack. Most members held a job in one of the surrounding towns. Stiles couldn't bring himself to stay away from Beacon Hills for long though. Stiles spent a great deal of time in the library and the little comic store in town, but mostly he enjoyed the little coffee shop. He’d been going there for years, enjoying the warm smells and environment.
Heather had Stiles’ friend for years when she told him she was putting her business degree to use and starting up a business all on her own. She was one of the few friends that Stiles had that wasn’t a part of his Pack. He’d been a loyal customer from the first day it opened, but he wasn’t the only one. Everyone loved that coffee shop. Though it was usually pretty empty while Stiles was there, mid morning to late afternoon on a Tuesday was usually a pretty slow time.
It was painted with warm reds and oranges with quotes written in white script across the wall. There were 5 small tables and a big counter and lots of good coffee.
And that’s where it happened, that very first time. Everything changed that day, on the corner of Capulet and Montague in the quaint little coffee shop called Café Verona.
Stiles didn’t look up when the door to the coffee shop opened, the little bells over the door frame giving a little jingle. He was busy buried in a book, his right hand wrapped around his coffee cup, absently bringing it up to his mouth to take a sip.
“Hey! I’m surprised to see you here today! You’re usually here on Wednesdays!” Heather said from behind the counter. “You looking for your usual?”
Heather owned and ran her coffee shop with success. Beacon Hills was a fairly large town and lots of people like Café Verona. Teenagers tended to hang out there after school, which is generally when Stiles would take off. But he’d end up there somewhere in the early morning to spend his day in the peace and quiet. Away from the fighting and responsibilities.
“Yes, please,” the customer replied, voice kind of shy. “Our schedules shifted around so I have rotation on Wednesdays. I’ve got a free Tuesday instead.”
Stiles froze, his arms slowly coming downwards to bring the book away from his face. He knew that voice. Surely though, it couldn’t be. But there he was, paying for a cup of coffee at the counter, far more relaxed then Stiles had ever seen him.
Stiles couldn’t move. He didn’t know what to do. He’d never run into a Hale while he was alone in town. This wasn’t just a Hale either, it was Derek Hale, Laura’s Second in command.
He was a good looking guy, dark hair and neat stubble. Derek was a mass of muscle and scowls in a leather jacket. But this was the most relaxed Stiles had ever seen him, too at ease with himself for Stiles to reconcile with the images of an angry, stiff individual who glared at Stiles every time he opened his mouth.
Derek took his coffee from Heather carefully, smiling gratefully at her as he turned to take his seat. He must have felt Stiles’ eyes on him though because his gaze fell over to corner seat Stiles had taken.
Derek stopped walking, and his eyes widened, flashing blue. Stiles had to take a deep breath to keep himself calm, trying to convince himself that they were not about to break into a fight here in Heather’s coffee shop. It was clear though, that Derek Hale recognized Stiles.
It wasn’t the first time the two had met in person, hell it wasn’t even the second or third but this was different. And Derek had a reputation at the McCall Pack. Derek was the Hales’ best fighter, all strength and speed. Back home they called him the Hale Harbinger because no one survived a fight with him. Derek Hale wasn’t a leader like his sister and for the longest time Stiles thought of him as an attack dog, though it had nothing to do with being a werewolf.
Stiles couldn’t help but wonder what the Hales thought of him. What did they say about the magic boy who returned from college and became the Second? Did they tell tales of his mother dying the same way the McCalls talked about Talia Hale and most of her family?
Stiles stood with as much patience as he could muster. He made sure each movement was slow, leaving no room for panic. He carefully picked up his travel mug and book, taking a step back from the table. Not looking away from Derek’s eyes he yelled to Heather.
“Hey, Heather, I’m going to take off now, okay?”
His heart was going to bust out of his chest. It was thundering in his ears.
Heather seemed to have picked up the tension. Like everyone living in Beacon Hills she understood the dangers of the two packs and their feud. “Alright, Stiles. I’ll be seeing you. Say hi to your Dad for me.”
“Sure thing,” Stiles agreed, taking a step forward.
Derek’s body went rigid as Stiles stepped towards him, but Stiles refused to panic. His magic buzzed beneath his skin, answering his nerves. He offered an awkward smile, a curt nod and moved towards the door. His instincts told him not to turn his back on a Hale, but Stiles did. It took everything that he had to look away from the Hale werewolf and just walk out of his coffee shop.
“Holy fuck,” Stiles swore under his breath as he made his way along the sidewalk. He felt like his legs would give out from under him any second. Heather should have warned him that the Hale Second frequented her coffee shop.
Derek left only just after Stilinski, feeling wrong footed and uncertain. He’d forgotten about his coffee and it was practically lukewarm by the time he got back to Hale Territory. He sighed, dumping it down into the grass and shaking his head. The unexpected run-in with the McCall Second had Derek’s head spinning.
“Derek, you’re back early,” Cora said, walking up to him.
Derek grunted, rolling his eyes. “Where’s Boyd?”
“Hmm? Oh, I think he’s with Isaac and Erica right now. Scheduling the full moon rotation I think. They should be done soon. Isaac promised we’d go out Acredale this evening to catch a movie.”
Despite being married for a year Cora and Isaac still found time to go out when neither of them were needed by the Pack. It was cute, the way they acted around each other still. Not that Derek would tell them that.
Derek nodded. “Laura?”
“Right here,” came from behind him.
Derek swung around to find his other sister grinning at him, stalking closer. “What do you need, Dweeb?” she asked, slinging her arm around his neck. “I thought we agreed you’d do something fun on your days off. Not skulk around the territory.”
Derek pushed at her playfully, scowling. He thought about telling her about the coffee shop and Stilinski, but he didn’t see the point. “Who’s on patrol right now?”
“Braeden and Malia at the moment,” Laura answered dutifully.
Derek nodded, eyes scanning around absently, checking over everything. “Well, I’ll probably head over to Acredale now and do some grocery shopping while I have the time.”
“You should wait for Peter to get back. I think he needed to go.”
Derek shook his head, giving Laura a look. “Yeah, because that’s how I want to spend my day off, shopping with Peter.”
Laura laughed, shrugging. “Alright, alright. Get out of here. Relax for a little while, Alpha’s orders."
July 16, 2013
“I didn’t know he was a Hale!” Heather protested, but her face showed regret and guilt. “Besides, he’s only ever shown up on Wednesdays! He’s a regular and he’s polite and—I didn’t know!”
“He isn’t just any Hale. He’s Derek Hale. How did you not know?”
Heather waved her arms around. “No offense, but Hales and McCalls die so quickly, rising and falling from power, that no one in Beacon Hills keeps track of that crap.”
Stiles took his coffee from her, frowning. “I know. It’s just dangerous, you know?”
“Of course I know! Everyone knows that.”
“Don’t worry about it. If it happens again I’ll just—”
Stiles cut himself off and spun around at the sound of the door opening and shutting. There was Derek Hale, eyes wide with panic and mouth open slightly. He looked at Stiles and ducked his head regretfully. He hesitated only a moment before reaching for the door again, looking to bolt.
“Wait!” Stiles called, causing Derek to pause in his movements just before he grasped the door handle.
He turned to look at Stiles with a sort of uncertainty and something close to daring.
“I—uh, sorry. It’s just that this place has like the world’s best coffee. I’ve been coming here for ages so I understand the addiction. But—I just mean that if you can handle being in the same room as me, I can handle it too. If we want to resolve all of this conflict, we gotta start somewhere, right? So if you…if you wanted to get your coffee and drink it here I’ll be in my corner. I won’t bother you if you don’t bother me.”
Derek stared at him like he was nuts. But he dropped his hand away from the door. “Okay.”
Stiles breathed out. “Okay.”
With the careful slowness again, Stiles walked his coffee to his usual seat and sat down. He picked up his book, pulled it to the correct page and tried to relax.
“Large latte, for here,” Derek said quietly with a stiff demeanor. “Please,” he added. He pointedly didn’t look towards Stiles.
Heather cleared her throat, her nerves showing. “Okay,” she said, “$3.95.”
It took Stiles several minutes before he could actually get himself to concentrate on his book, but he finally did. He leaned back, forgetting all about sharing his coffee shop with a Hale, and sank into his book.
When he got up to leave after a while, Derek was still there, as far away from Stiles’ table as he could get. Like the distance between them would negate the fact that they were in the same room like it was no big deal. But Stiles noticed Derek’s attention on him, watching him leave with a sort of weary suspicion that people like them always held now a days. They both knew this was a big deal.
Stiles refused to look over at him, just grabbed the door and pulled it open. “Bye, Heather! See you next Tuesday!”
“Bye, Stiles!”
September 7, 2013
Stiles didn’t know what to make of it. But it just kept happening. The two of them, enjoying their Tuesday mornings in the quiet, warmth of Café Verona. Heather would go to sit and chat with Stiles sometimes, but most of the time the place was completely silent, but for the soft crinkling sound when Stiles or Derek turned a page of the book they was currently reading.
Stiles didn’t mention it back in the McCall territory. He didn’t tell Scott or his father. A part of him knew he should, he should have mentioned the continual Tuesdays of Café Verona and Derek Hale. But this was a step in the right direction.
It was someone from the Hale Pack and someone from the McCall Pack just coexisting. It was proof that they could in fact share space without a fight breaking out. Stiles figured that they could prove that people from each pack could even talk and be civil to one another. Except that Derek and Stiles didn’t speak. They didn’t even look at one another. For the most part, Stiles ignored all things that were Derek Hale while in the Neutral Zone. Managed to forget about Hales being threats.
Of course, meetings at Deaton’s always reminded him what was at stake.
Deaton had a tall, round building just at the edge of the neutral zone. It was tucked there in the middle, safely standing between the two territories. Years ago, when people outside of the packs began to make noise about the fighting between them, Deaton was called in. He was a mediator and he was good at staying neutral.
Every three months the Alpha from both packs, their Second, and two other trusted pack mates traveled to Alan Deaton’s building. In a big, square room with a long, rectangular table the two pack were seated across from each other. Deaton sat at the head of the table, patience with them all dwindling in the past years.
Stiles hadn’t been going to the meetings very long. Scott’s father had died only a year ago. As his Second, Scott took the place as Alpha and named Stiles as his Second. Stiles was certain there would be an outcry from their pack, but no one questioned it. Everyone seemed to be content with Stiles in that seat of power.
Along with them they brought Kira—Scott’s wife, and Lydia Martin who was just down right terrifying when she wanted to be.
Laura Hale had been Alpha for the Hale Pack since her parents died a few years back. She named Derek as her Second and brought her uncle, Peter as well as Erica Reyes with her.
While Stiles was impressed by the collection of people that they Hale Pack sent forth, they never seemed to find common ground. It was already high tension, everyone in the room already hating each other on pure principle. Every moment felt half a second away from a fight. Throw in the fact that they couldn’t agree on anything and it made for unproductive and short meetings.
“I don’t care if your magic can tell when someone crosses the border in either direction,” Derek said coldly. “You can’t just cross into our territory to retrieve some idiot going against orders and expect us not to attack you.”
“Why not?” Stiles demanded. “If the purpose of it is to help maintain some peace that lasts longer than a freaking week, why shouldn’t we?”
Despite the civil silence in the coffee shop. Stiles really did hate Derek Hale. While Laura and Peter both argued with logic and reasoning, Derek was prone to saying because I said so and thinking that was enough. At least Erica didn’t pretend to think she was using logic when she said that.
“What, we’re supposed to trust one guy—a McCall, the Second in the McCall Pack, with maintaining watch over the borders?” Derek snapped.
“I’m not saying that!”
“No, you’re saying that it’s unreasonable for us not to trust you and your magic and just let you pass through our borders whenever you like but not treat you like a threat!”
Stiles frowned at the Hale Second, twitching in his seat. The man was all kinds of infuriating. “If one of our Pack members crosses the territory border and into yours, they’re still our responsibility.”
Derek barred his teeth. “And a threat to us. You want to stop idiots from attacking us? Stop them before they cross the border.”
“Yeah,” Scott said, rolling his eyes, “because the Hale Pack doesn’t attack with prejudice. You have total control on all your members at all times and have a grip on their long standing hatred.”
“Deaton,” Stiles demanded, “can you please weigh in here?”
Alan Deaton looked over at the Hales critically for a moment. He then turned back to Scott. “You have to consider it from their point of view, Alpha McCall. While Stiles raises a good point and excellent idea, it has flaws. The Hales can’t know that you’re coming to retrieve someone, they have to assume you’re attacking them. You’d do the same thing.”
Stiles sighed dramatically, trying to ignore the stupid smug look on Derek Hale’s face because Deaton sided with him.
“We don’t trust you,” Erica said, leaning forward to press her cheeks to the palms of her hands. “You don’t trust us. All for good reason.”
“We understand perfectly well that this whole situation isn’t ideal,” Kira said, shrugging. “You’ll have to forgive us if we don’t want countless people to die. We’ve got enough orphans as it is.”
“Yeah? And what happens when Stilinski here thinks he felt someone cross the border. And then he “goes after them” and starts cutting throats?”
Stiles gaped at Derek. “What? Jesus Christ you fucking psycho! First of all, what the hell? Second, my magic is always right, it isn’t like I can’t tell.”
Derek sneered. “Sure.”
Stiles glowered. “I think you got more of a problem with magic then you do with me!”
Deaton tapped his fingers along the top of the table, raising his eyes to the ceiling. “I think we’re done for the day.”
“Oh, thank God,” Peter laughed.
As everyone was making their way to leave, Stiles found Derek glaring at him. Stiles narrowed his eyes at the werewolf, wondering how it was possible to hate someone so much.
September 10, 2013
Despite the hard looks and rough words, as the next Tuesday came Stiles found himself in Café Verona again, sharing the quiet with Derek Hale.
Stiles sat there with a crossword, tapping his pencil on the table rhythmically as he stared down at his puzzle.
“I think 23 down is Prometheus,” Heather supplied, leaning over his shoulder.
Stiles glanced down at the question and then at the little boxes. He nodded, scratching in the answer.
Heather moved away, going to wash down the counter. “So how’s Liam doing? You mentioned he was a bit grumpy.”
Stiles snorted, sipping from his coffee cup. “He’s moping. His best friend is going to college but Liam wants to stay on the territory. Scott’s been pressing to try to get him to go to school too, but that kid grew up to be a stubborn one.”
“You went to school,” Heather said thoughtfully. “You returned when you were done with school and you’re more helpful for it. Education is important.”
“Ehh, it isn’t for everyone. Scott didn’t go the college, and he’s the Alpha.”
Heather laughed, “But that’s why he’s got a bunch of smart people around him.”
Stiles grinned up at her, winking. "Well, Liam thinks there's enough of that. He wants to stay, help people."
"He's a kid," Heather sighed. "He ought to see what the rest of the world is like."
Stiles shook his head. "He doesn't want to listen to anyone."
"Sounds like someone else I know. Didn't Rafael McCall try to stop you from going to school?"
Stiles shrugged, before looking down at his paper. “What do you think? 8 letter word for an unknown person of growing oddity.”
There was a reply from across the coffee shop, low and hesitant. “Stranger.”
Stiles jumped, snapping his head up to look at Derek, eyes meeting and holding for a moment. Stiles blinked a few times, confused before he realized what the Hale had just said. Stiles cleared his throat, trying to offer what was supposed to be a smile but probably looked more like an uncomfortable grimace. “Thanks.”
Derek didn’t reply, but the silence was louder than anything. Stiles felt like he couldn’t move. He’d forgotten the man was even there. How do you forget a cold-blooded killer is sharing your space?
Heather looked extremely uncomfortable, choosing to go clean the machinery silently instead of chatting longer. But after a short while it was comfortable again, like it’d never even happened.
But when Stiles checked the time and sighed, figuring he’d have to be going as it was nearly dinner time, he packed up his stuff. He threw his bag over his shoulder, and walked to the door. “See ya next week, Heather!” he called, pushing open the door.
And that moment held, like everything had frozen. Stiles eyes darted to the opposite corner of the room where Derek was sitting, staring at him.
“See ya, Derek,” Stiles said, his voice calm and even. He caught the way Derek’s eyes went wide and then he was taking off back towards home without waiting to see if the man would reply.
August 1, 2015
“It’s not funny,” Derek scowled at his uncle.
Peter just laughed harder. “You’re kidding me, right? Alan Deaton thinks that putting you and Stilinski together would solve all of our problems!”
“Shut up, Peter,” Laura growled, pacing.
“He really wants them to get a Moon Union Marriage?” Cora asked again, disbelief oozing off of her. “Did you punch him?”
“Of course I didn’t punch him,” Laura snapped, rolling her eyes. “Some of us have to be mature.”
Cora snorted. “You though?”
Erica waved her arms in the air. “I’m sorry, can we get back to the fact that Deaton wants Derek and the magic boy to hook up?”
Derek groaned, putting his head in his hands. “Can we not?” Derek wanted to sink into the ground. He hated all of them. Everyone in the room was a terrible, terrible person. Almost everyone who was higher up in the pack was mocking him.
Isaac patted him on the back awkwardly, offering a pained smile when Derek looked up to glare at him.
“What are we going to say?” Malia asked.
“We’re going to say no!” Laura said without ceasing the pacing.
“Yes,” Peter said at the same time.
“Excuse me?” Derek said, raising his eyebrows at his uncle.
Laura stopped, turning to frown at Peter. She put her hands on her hips, cocking her head to the side. “Peter stop teasing Derek. I’m not letting him marry a McCall, especially not the Alpha’s best friend.”
Peter dropped down from his perch on the edge of the table so that he was standing. He shrugged. “I’m not kidding. I think Derek should say yes.”
“Why’s that?” Erica questioned. “From what you guys have said this kid drives Derek up the wall. The two of them couldn’t go five minutes without killing each other.”
Peter sighed, leaning up against the wall to study Derek. His nephew looked like he was somewhere between wanting to punch a hole in the wall and wanting to scream. “Derek will say yes, won’t you?”
Derek dropped his head back down into his hands. “Not if Laura doesn’t want me to.”
Laura walked over to Derek, her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? You hate that guy. You say as much every time we leave that place.”
Peter answered for him. “It isn’t about the boy. It’s about everyone else. What do you imagine will happen if the McCall’s agree to this, but we don’t?”
Laura’s lips thinned, her face hardening. “Shit.”
Peter cackled, leaning forward to ruffle Derek’s hair, laughing harder again when Derek batted his hands away with a murderous look.
“I don’t get it,” Isaac admitted.
“Look at it this way,” Peter said. “If the McCall Pack agrees to this then they can go to the people and say ‘hey, we tried and they wouldn’t make an effort.’ What happens when the town’s people decide one side is more at fault then the other?”
“So either way we have to agree,” Laura sighed. “If McCall refuses then we get the upper hand. But if he agrees then I’m treating my brother like some sort of prized pig. Wonderful.”
“Derek understands,” Peter shrugged.
“We’re not really considering this,” Erica said, eyes filled with horror.
“Don’t have much of a choice,” Derek sighed, lifting his head up. “We just have to kind of hope that McCall refuses.”
“He won’t,” Erica groaned, flinging herself forward to wrap her arms around Derek. “I hate to admit it, but that Stilinski kid isn’t exactly an idiot, is he? He’s going to have thought this through, too.”
Laura stood in front of Derek, her arms crossed over his chest. “Derek you don’t have to agree to this. One word, and we can think of something else.”
Derek shook his head. “C’mon. You’ve been playing this game long enough. If this can end it, I’ll suck it up and deal with the crazy kid. Every chance to fix this, we gotta take it.”
Laura gave him a sad smile. “I don’t understand why Deaton would suggest this. He knew we’d both have to agree to it, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d be willing to put people in this kind of situation.”
Derek shrugged, letting Laura share Erica in hugging him.
“I mean, at least he’s cute, right?” Erica whispered against Derek’s shoulder.
October 22, 2013
Stiles was running behind. After a late night he’d opted to sleep in that morning, getting to the coffee shop a little later than usual. By the time he arrived, Derek Hale was already there, standing in line to get coffee from Heather.
He had a book tucked under his arm. An Agatha Christie novel, by the look of it. Derek turned to look at Stiles when he came in, but turned back around quickly to wait for Heather to make his coffee.
Stiles stood there in the doorway for a long moment, unsure if he should go to sit down or just wait. After considering he stepped up behind Derek, patiently waiting for Heather to finish up with him.
“I love Agatha Christie,” Stiles blurted because he was an idiot and couldn’t manage to keep his mouth shut.
Derek turned around, blinking at Stiles in confusion before nodding with realization. “Oh,” he muttered, lifting the book slightly. “Yeah, it—it’s pretty good. I like mysteries.”
“I started with And Then There Were None which really freaked me out,” Stiles confessed, awkwardly shifting his weight from one foot and then the next. “I didn’t sleep for like a week.”
“Here you go, Derek,” Heather slid a coffee across the counter.
“Thanks,” Derek gave her a relaxed grin, and then turned back to Stiles. He hesitated a second, like he might just turn and walk away. But instead he steeled himself, keeping his face blank. “You bring a book today?”
“Nope,” Stiles shook his head, fishing his wallet out of his pocket. He handed money over to Heather who set about to make his usual. “Today I brought sudokus and my laptop. Thought I might catch up on some of my shows.” He hefted his bag higher on his shoulder for emphasis.
“You watch a lot of TV?” Derek asked, narrowing his eyes like he didn’t really believe it.
“Not so much anymore,” Stiles admitted. “I did when I was in college. Decided to spend weekends binge-watching shows. There are a few I keep up with still.”
Derek nodded.
“Here you go, Stiles,” Heather said with a small voice, eyes darting between the two of them like she was staring at a fragile moment in time.
They both jerked back, like Heather had shouted. Stiles’ mind crashed, unable to fathom the fact that he’d just been making small talk with Derek Hale.
“Thanks, Heather,” Stiles replied, taking his coffee cup from her. When he turned back around Derek was already making his way to his far corner.
November 5, 2013
“Oh my God is that…do you knit?” Stiles gaped as he watched Derek enter with knitting needles in hand.
Startled, Derek spun to face Stiles, his cheeks going pink. “I—it’s not—I don’t—” Clearly flustered, Derek looked somewhere in between kicked puppy and dear Jesus kill me now.
“That’s awesome!” Stiles continued, ignoring the stuttering embarrassment Derek was fighting. “My mother used to knit all the time but…it’s harder than it looks. I kept messing up the counting until I admitted defeat with a lopsided, really awkward looking scarf.” He stood up from his table, nearing the corner Derek was retreating to. “What are you making?”
Derek eyed Stiles suspiciously, going rigid as he neared. “A hat. For Laura. Her birthday is coming up and…that's what she said she wanted.” He lowered his eyes, clutching knitting needles in tight fists.
“That’s nice of you,” Stiles declared, maintaining a comfortable distance. “What color?”
Derek’s eyes shot back up to Stiles, like he was trying to figure out if he was making fun of him or not. Slowly he turned to his bag and pulled out yarn. Two colors were produced, a bright pink and a black.
“Huh,” Stiles mused, “I didn’t really figure her for a pink kind of girl. But I like the colors. I think they’ll look good together.”
Derek snorted. “Laura likes every color ever.”
“Makes for a more colorful life,” Stiles nodded sagely.
“Coffee, Stiles,” Heather called, presenting Stiles’ third cup on the counter.
Stiles beamed over at her, moving away from Derek to retrieve his coffee and then return to his usual corner.
Derek eyed him for a moment with a contemplative expression.
November 12, 2013
They both got the message at the same time, phones buzzing in the middle of the afternoon. One look at their phones and the two of them were bolting up from opposite ends of the coffee shop, feet bringing them to the door with a hurried frenzy.
Derek pulled open the door and Stiles followed him out. Neither looked at the other, both sprinting for the end of the neutral zone. And then they reached it, both tensing as they reached it.
Stiles took a deep breath, turning towards his own territory and running to find his Pack and deal with whatever had happened. “Be safe,” he muttered under his breath, but Derek was a werewolf, and Stiles was sure that he’d heard him.
Stiles pulled magic from the ground as he ran, picking up speed that was inhuman. He could match the speed of a werewolf, but only maintain it for a short time. He reached his Pack housings as fast as he could, eyes searching.
“Stiles!” Danny shouted, waving an arm.
Stiles bolted forward, eyes widened in question.
“Some idiot kids decided to start something from the Hale’s. They crossed over the border and found Liam and Mason and some of the others.”
“What’s the damage?” Stiles demanded, nervously running a hand through his hair.
“Your dad and Scott broke up the fight. But…Jane Sawyer’s son Brian…he’s hurt pretty bad. They don’t know if he’s going to make it. Everyone else has minor injuries.”
Stiles swallowed hard, shuddering a bit. “Fuck,” he swore. “What about the kids that crossed over?”
“We chased them out,” John informed him, walking up from behind him. “A couple of them got hurt pretty bad but no casualties on their end.”
“Any news on Brian?”
John’s face twisted into sadness. “It doesn’t look good, kid. You might want to make a visit.”
Stiles felt like someone had tied weights to his shoes. Fights were a way of life between the two packs. The feud was far older than any living person and it stretched through the generations. But today was Tuesday and Stiles wasn’t on the territory. He couldn’t monitor the border and he’d been away from all of it.
Coming back to this was a cold bucket of ice he wasn’t prepared for.
“Okay,” Stiles whispered, nodding. He made his way towards the infirmary. No one followed him.
He reached the doors to find Scott and Melissa.
Scott looked up with a sad look. “Hey,” he greeted weakly.
“Brian Sawyer?” Stiles prompted, looking at Scott’s mother.
She shook her head. “I don’t think he’ll get much longer.”
Stiles licked his lips instead of biting them. “Scott, you working with Lydia? We gotta contain this before some people start building up revenge ideas.”
Scott nodded, turning towards the exit.
Stiles pushed past them to find the room. He heard the sobbing before he entered, finding Jane Sawyer in a chair beside the bed just staring at her son.
She looked up when Stiles entered and her face crumpled further. “Stiles,” she whispered, “tell me you’re here because you can help my son.”
Stiles ignored her, sitting on Brian’s opposite side. Brian didn’t speak, just followed Stiles with his eyes. He looked bad. Scratches from wolves were visible down along his chest and scraping his throat. One of his eyes was swollen shut and the other had a large gash over it. His left leg was bent in a bad angle. Brian’s breathing was hard and labored.
“Hey, Brian,” Stiles whispered, reaching forward. He took his hand in his own and offered a sad smile. “Scott already come and take your pain?”
Brian blinked once with a slow manor and Stiles took that as confirmation. “I’m so sorry, kid. I’m so sorry.”
“No, no, no,” Jane chanted, her tears coming faster and hard sobs escaping her.
Stiles looked up at her slowly. “You need to say goodbye, Jane.”
“No,” she hollered, standing so quickly that the chair shot backwards, hitting the wall. “I have lost both my parents, my sister, my husband. Do not ask me to say g-goodb-bye to my s-son. N-not-t Brian. Not my B-Brian.”
“I’m sorry,” Stiles whispered, clasping both his hands around Brian’s. He looked back at Brian. “It won’t hurt at all, I promise. Quicker and easier than falling asleep.”
There was a light of recognition in Brian’s eyes. A watery, painful looking smile pulled at his lips. But then he looked at his mother. “s’kay, Mom. Love you.”
Jane’s arms shot out to grip his arm, her eyes still pouring tears but her attention and energy going to smiling at him. “I love you too, Brian. I love you so very much. I—you were so brave. Like you’re Dad.”
Brian’s grin grew then, but fell quickly. He looked back over at Stiles. “Th’n you.” A bit of blood dribbled down from his mouth and leaked along the curve of his cheek.
Stiles gave him a nod. “Goodbye, Brian.” Stiles shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. His magic twist and turned, jolting through Stiles. It was a complicated piece of magic to perform, but he’d done more times than he’d like to admit.
“My boy,” Jane whispered, and then louder. “My son. God, my son! Fuck them! Fuck them all! I hate the Hales. I hate every last one of them. They’re monsters. They took my boy!”
Stiles reopened his eyes to look at the hysterical mother. He refused to look back at the still body of Brian Sawyer. “Do you have it?” he whispered.
She was breathing heavily again, hate and anger written on her face like she was engraving it. But she dug into her pocket to pull something out, thrusting it over to Stiles.
It was a class ring, class of 2006. A ring that Brian Sawyer had gotten when he had graduated from High School, so proud. He joked all the time that he was from the class of “fuck off, we made it.”
Stiles took the ring in his hand and let the magic seep into it, breathing out slowly. He shivered, clutching it tightly. Memories washed over him, vivid and happy. A smiling Brian Sawyer telling Stiles about this car he wanted to get. His face so friendly, so open.
Stiles dropped the ring into Jane’s open palm. He stood and walked away, ignoring the hard sob that escaped her as the magic of the ring hit her.
He’d made so many of those over the past few years. Putting happy memories of people into objects. Something to keep the memory alive because too many people around here died too damn young.
“You okay?” Melissa asked, watching Stiles leaving.
I hate the Hales. I hate every last one of them. They’re monsters.
The words echoed in Stiles’ ears but he couldn’t share the sentiment. He felt nothing at all.
He shrugged. “I gotta go see what needs doing.”
There was always something that needed done after this sort of thing.
November 19, 2013
“I’m sorry for your lose,” Derek murmured as he looked at Stiles. He turned away then to find his seat.
“Me too,” Stiles replied, gripping his book tighter.
December 7, 2013
“Because they’ve listened to their parents! They’ve grown up with the understanding that they’re supposed to hate each other,” Scott argued.
“You can’t just throw them all in a room, tell them to play nice and hope for the best,” Lydia agreed.
Derek scrunched up his face. “If we start getting them to understand and accept each other while they’re young—”
“You’re going to end up with kids fighting. They’re going to be mean and brutal and it’ll get ugly,” Stiles stated plainly.
“They’re kids!”
“No, they’re kids from Packs and they know to hate each other like they learned their ABCs.”
“So we start now, showing them that has to change.”
“This isn’t the right way to go about it,” Stiles shook his head. “You’re saying kids should be able to do what the grownups can’t even do. Maybe if we were talking one or two kids interacting from each pack it would be different. But when you’re putting a bunch of them together it is welcoming them to team up Pack on Pack.”
“You’re just be difficult,” Derek all but shouted.
“No,” Stiles said coldly, “I’m thinking rationally. Just because you can’t be bothered, or just don’t have the capacity to do it doesn’t mean you can be angry at me for it.”
“Watch it, Stilinski,” Laura warned.
January 14, 2014
“Why did you decide to have the promotion on a Tuesday?” Stiles whined.
Heather grinned, grabbing another cup to make coffee. It was during a school break so a lot of kids were there, coming for the promotion Heather was running for half-priced coffee.
“You knew about it before hand,” Heather reminded him. “You could have, and usually would have, skipped out and done something else. Now why is it, I wonder, that you were so determined to come in today?”
Stiles glared at her smug face. “I hate you.”
“Love you too,” she announced just as Derek walked in.
Derek looked around and sighed, taking in all the bodies. Despite the fact that the coffee shop was still fairly quiet it was really busy. All of the tables had someone sitting at them and there wasn’t really anywhere for him to set up shop. He looked a bit defeated, turning around as if he might leave.
“Hey!” Stiles called, kicking out the chair across from him at the table he’d secured. “Have a seat.”
Derek blinked at him in surprise and then his eyes narrowed. He stared at Stiles and his open-seat invitation for a moment before slowly making his way over. “You’re sure?”
Stiles tilted his head up, looking at Derek. “Yes.”
Derek set down his book at the table, sinking into the chair instead of getting into line. “Why do you come here?”
“Because I don’t’ want my life to be completely made up of people I care about fighting and dying over stupid things.”
Derek sighed. “Yeah.” A beat. He cleared his throat.
Stiles stared at him a moment, studying him.
Derek squirmed in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable with the silence between them. “Did you see the new Avengers movie?”
January 21, 2014
Stiles didn’t even look up when Derek came in, just smiled behind his book when the other man pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.
February 18, 2014
“I’ve known Stiles since were little kids,” Heather said, not releasing the coffee cup even as Derek went to take it.
Derek looked up at her in surprise, eyes going sharp. “Okay…”
“I’m a Beacon Hills kid, we know better to take sides in your stupid Pack wars. That’s how you get hurt—get killed. But if you hurt him, if you were trying to manipulate him or trick him I would take a side, you know?”
Derek’s eyes widened. “I’m not—there isn’t—did he say I…I’d never do that.” He stopped. He looked away and then looked back up. “Do you want me to go?”
She pressed the cup more firmly into his hands, smiling kindly. “No. I just was curious, you know? You used to come in every once in a while and only stay for an hour or so. Now you’re here regularly nearly all day on Tuesdays.”
Derek’s cheeks went pink, his gaze sliding down to the counter.
“I thought it was because you were trying to get something from him. But it’s not is it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Derek quickly.
“Hey, he’s a cute guy. I just…I don’t want you to get hurt either, you know?”
Derek’s head snapped back up. “I’m not—he isn’t—it isn’t like that.”
Heather shrugged, looking over Derek’s shoulder to where Stiles was busy reading. “It really sucks about the whole Hale and McCall Pack Wars because the two of you would make a cute couple.”
Derek couldn’t seem to find the words to say he quickly spun around and walked away. He sat down heavily in his now-usual seat across from Stiles with a scowl.
“Hey!” Stiles greeted, setting down his book. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about ‘group think’ and I found a really interesting article.”
Derek's face pulled into a reluctant grin, holding his hand out for Stiles to place the stack of papers. "Okay."
This wasn't meant to have become what it was. He was comfortable around Stiles. They constantly argued. But it was fun to argue with him.
"No," Stiles groaned, making a face at Derek. "You're wrong! Clearly you lack the refined taste that I have developed."
Derek muffled his chuckle, shaking his head. "Video games are a waste of time!"
Stiles maturely shoved his hands over his ears. "Stop it, Derek! You're stupidity might be contagious!" But he was smiling, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. His eyes widened a moment later when he saw the time. "Oh, shit. I gotta go. I promised Scott we'd do a taco dinner and I haven't gone to the store yet."
Derek snorted in amusement as Stiles quickly tried to collect his stuff, fumbling with things in his hands. "I'll see you next week," Derek said.
Stiles grinned. "It's a date." And then to the counter. "See ya, Heather!"
"Bye, Stiles!"
Derek just sat there, eyes staring off after the McCall Second.
September 5, 2015
Scott shifted in his seat, uncomfortable there in a way he hadn’t been before this day. He looked at Alpha Hale and then her Second before looking back at Stiles.
Stiles loved his best friend, he really did. Even a moment away and Scott was still looking for reassurance. Like if Stiles gave even the slightest notion that he was uncomfortable with what was happening then Scott was back out right then. But Stiles merely nodded, trying to calm the shaking of his hands.
Scott cleared his throat and looked back to Alan Deaton. “The McCall Pack accepts the effort for mediation in the Moon Union Marriage between McCall Pack Second, Stiles Stilinski and Hale Pack Second, Derek Hale.”
Deaton’s lips gave a slight quirk of a smile, nodding to Scott. He turned then to Laura Hale, his eyebrows raising expectantly.
Laura didn’t look away, her lips pursed tightly and her eyes narrowed. “The Hale Pack also accepts the suggestion for the Moon Union Marriage between Derek and Stiles. Provided that the negotiations go smoothly.”
Deaton looked delighted, clapping his hands together and pulling out papers from a folder. “Excellent. We’ll need to get things sorted as soon as we can. These things take time but I imagine that…oh, three months from now we shall have the Union?”
“We have some conditions before we move forward,” Lydia proclaimed, straightening her own papers.
“What a coincidence,” Peter said with a smirk, picking up a pen. “So do we.”
Erica groaned, smacking her head on the table. “Why is everyone here so damn dramatic?”
Deaton turned to Lydia. “Well, what’s the first item on your list of concerns?”
“Where they’ll be living, of course,” Lydia answered with an eye roll. “While the McCall Pack is reluctant to welcome a Hale on to its lands, it would willing to accept Derek Hale provided that he was with Stiles whenever he left his home to wonder our territory.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Laura snapped. “I’m not sending my brother to live with you. If this is to happen than Stilinski can suck it up and move in to our territory, accepting the same conditions.”
“We are not—” Kira started in a loud, outraged voice.
But Deaton cut her off, looking back and forth between Derek and Stiles. “How would you feel about building a house right down the middle of the territory border? I realize it’s a bit far from the buildings of both your Packs, but it’s a bit more neutral.”
Stiles rolled his shoulders back, glancing at Derek and then back at Deaton. “If Derek and I both agreed to enter each other’s territory accompanied by the other, or with another of the Pack when approved by the Alpha.”
Derek nodded stiffly, looking extremely uncomfortable. “I hadn’t thought about…moving out of my apartment but…it does make the most sense, right? We’re not trying to make this a gain for either of the Packs. It’s supposed to make negotiations and communication easier right?”
“As long as Scott doesn’t have a problem with it?” Stiles said, glancing Scott.
Scott looked like someone had ripped the floor out from under him. “That’s so far from…I don’t think I trust Stiles’ safety alone with a Hale.”
“Scott,” Stiles snapped softly, giving him a stern look. “I can handle myself. Besides, if I’m going to be…married to the guy I should probably place a little trust in him, right?”
Scott exhaled roughly when he looked over at Lydia and Kira and found no support. “Okay, if you’re comfortable with that.”
“Accepted,” Alpha Hale nodded too.
“Then there’s the matter of the actual Union,” Peter said, looking all too comfortable and pleased with everyone else’s discomfort.
The negotiations went on and on and they talked about so many things heatedly, even when Stiles couldn’t have cared less. He honestly didn’t mind if Derek had visitors over, as long as they were announced beforehand. He didn’t think Derek would care too much about Stiles having anyone either.
But both sides argued and argued, deciding that anyone outside of the Alphas couldn’t visit without alerting both members of the household and both Alphas prior to the visit.
The whole thing was making Stiles head spin.
Hours passed, and then it was well into the evening. Everyone was hungry and tired and frustrated with the whole thing.
“It sounds like we’re making progress,” Deaton said, “but why don’t we pick up again in 2 weeks? Everyone can recollect and determine what else needs to be decided.”
Both Alphas nodded in relief.
Everyone got up to stand, both Alpha’s doing their usual stare off.
“Why don’t we let the two Seconds have a moment alone?” Deaton suggested, eyeing both the Alphas.
Laura Hale opened her mouth to protest. “I don’t—”
“Laura I’m going to be marrying the man in a couple months,” Derek said harshly. “I think I can handle a couple minutes.”
Laura blinked back her surprise but then nodded. “Okay, you’re right. We’ll be just outside when you’re done. Just a few minutes.”
Scott looked to Stiles to make sure he was okay and turned to go at Stiles’ nod.
Both Pack’s left their opposite doorways leaving Deaton, Derek and Stiles alone in the sound proof room with the doors shut.
Derek and Stiles stood stiffly from opposite ends of the room, looking at Deaton.
“Well, I did like I promised,” Alan said with a grin. He looked at his watch and then back up again. “You have probably five minutes before the Alphas start getting antsy.” And then he too was gone, leaving just the two Seconds alone in the room.
The moment the door shut, Derek vaulted over the table, reaching towards Stiles. His eyes flashed, hands taking hold of Stiles’ shoulders and roughly pushing him up against the wall with a low growl.
Stiles let out a grunt of surprise but then grinned up at his—huh, fiancé. “Missed you too,” he managed to mutter before Derek was ducking down to kiss him.
Despite the feral growl and tight, desperate grip, Derek’s kiss was soft and deep. He sank against Stiles like the weight of the world was leaving his shoulders. He moved in closer, lining his body up against Stiles until they were chest to chest.
“Derek,” Stiles whispered, pulling back a little. “It’s okay.”
“It’s been months,” Derek snarled, pushing closer again. “I hate it.”
Stiles stared at him a moment, face softening as he smiled. “I know. I hate it too.”
And then they’re kissing again, both pulling at one another to get closer, express all the pent up feelings from the past months since they’d been able to see each other last.
Stiles reached up blindly, one hand sinking into Derek’s hair and the other cradling his cheek.
Derek moaned, his lips traveling down to Stiles’ neck, licking at the skin there and breathing in his scent. “I don’t ever want to be away from you that long again.”
"You've been okay though, right?" Stiles questioned, hangs running over Derek's chest and down his sides.
Derek wrapped his arms around Stiles in a hug, pressing even closer. "I'm fine. Just missing you."
Stiles squeezed back in the hug, nodding awkwardly with his head pressed against Derek's shoulder. "Missed you too, Der. Not much longer. Just a little bit more and...God, Derek and then its forever.""
"Stiles," Derek whispered, his voice dipping vulnerably for a moment, "What if something goes wrong?"
"We can't think like that," Stiles answered, shutting his eyes as tight as they would go. "This will work. We're getting married, Derek. Smile for me. You're supposed to be happy."
Stiles pulled away then to see the smile on Derek's face, a small but genuine look so filled with hope that Stiles' eyes stung, threatening to tear up.
"I love you," Derek told him, ducking down for one more kiss.
"I love you too," Stiles answered, pulling away then, clenching his hands in fists.