They take their shots but we're bulletproof

And you know for me, it's always you

In the dead of night, your eyes so green

And I know for you, it's always me

I Know Places – Taylor Swift

It was three more days before Stiles was ready to see our friends. If there were any humans in the group, I might have pushed it back further, but seeing as everyone of our ragtag little group were werewolf, banshee, kitsune, or some variation thereof, I figured it was safe to introduce him back into the world.

It was hard bringing our few short days of perfect, uninterrupted solitude to a close, but I knew I couldn't lock Stiles away forever just because he was now a vampire and I was horny and in love.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Stiles asked for at least the dozenth time, fretting from where he was standing by the bay window, pacing a hole in my floor. "I mean, a party? What if I slip up?"

"You'll be fine, love," I assured him as I set down two bowls of assorted chips for the rest of our friends to munch on. "I told you, Lydia smells like death dipped in too much perfume and the wolves all smell like wet dog."

"But you said Kira might be kind of appetising," he said anxiously.

"Just slightly," I told him, flitting to his side and catching his face in my hands, using my fingertips to smooth away the worried lines on his forehead. "If you do slip up, no one's going to come at you with stakes and pitchforks," I promised. "We're all here to help and support you."

"But what if I slip up and someone ends up dead?" he asked, pain on his face at the mere idea.

"You have an alpha werewolf and a two-centuries old vampire here to keep you in check," I reminded him. "You'll be fine. And the alcohol will help with the cravings," I added with a smile. Stiles' anxiety didn't ease. He still looked just as tightly wound as he had before. I sighed, bringing his head down to mine, pressing our foreheads together tenderly. "I'm going to be right beside you the entire time," I promised. "If you need to escape out to the woods, that's okay. Everybody here understands, and no one will think any less of you for it."

Stiles sighed, a release of pent up nervous energy. His tense shoulders drooped as he caved to my words. "You'll make sure I don't hurt anyone?" he checked.

"I've got your back, love," I promised him, sliding my arms around his neck and pulling him closer to me.

He smiled, and I pressed into him, letting my eyes drift closed as our lips brushed...

Before I could sink into the kiss, the timer in the kitchen went off, and I pulled back with a gasp. "The muffins!"

I flitted into the kitchen, and Stiles followed, hovering in the doorway as I pulled out the tray from the oven. The temperature burned my skin, searing it and making it sting, and I gave a loud curse as I dumped the tray onto the stovetop.

"You're meant to use an oven mitt," Stiles told me dryly.

"That part wasn't in the recipe," I frowned.

"No, because it's just common sense," he grinned, eyes narrowing at the tray of only slightly-burned muffins before us. "You're baking now?" he asked skeptically. "Did I miss something?"

I shrugged as I consulted my recipe book, nodding to myself as I tested whether the muffins were ready. "I thought the guys might like some freshly baked food to eat while they're here," I said like it wasn't a big deal.

Stiles stared back at me like I'd just sprouted another head. "All right," he said as I painstakingly tipped the muffins out onto a plate – in lieu of a wire stand, since I had nowhere else to leave them to cool. "Spill it, Jules."

"Spill what?" I asked as I began to arrange thee muffins into a nice pattern. Normal people liked that sort of thing, right? Human food presented all pretty? Maybe it was to make it seem more appetising? I didn't pretend to understand the inner workings of the human psyche.

Stiles appeared at my side, reminding me starkly of his new abilities. He caught my hand, stopping me from putting the finishing touches to my mound of chocolate chip muffins.

"You're being weird," he said plainly. "Why're you being weird?"

"I've never thrown a party that wasn't intended to just be one big, bloodlust-driven orgy," I told him briskly.

"So you're compensating by baking muffins?" he asked skeptically. I didn't react. "I don't buy it."

I didn't meet his eyes, pulling away from him and moving over to the fridge, pulling out two packets of blood. I was getting low and would need a trip to the hospital to restock soon. I put the bags into the microwave, setting them to warm.

"Are you trying to … impress them?" Stiles asked from behind me. I stopped moving, giving myself away. "Jules, you've known them over a year. You've been friends with them that long. Why would you feel the need to impress them? They already know who you are."

I knew I had to be honest. Not just for myself, but for Stiles as well. I sighed, turning back around to face him. "Things have changed, recently," I said softly.

When I glanced up to meet his eyes he grinned, exposing two sharp, glistening fangs that instantly made me feel warm all over. "I've noticed," he said impishly. I rolled my eyes at him, overcome with fondness.

"What I mean is, you changed," I said. "I made you change. This is my doing." I turned back to the microwave when it began to beep. "I guess I'm just scared that, at some point, they'll realise what a dick move that was."

I felt rather than saw Stiles roll his eyes. "They've always known this was inevitable," he reminded me. "Ever since the day I said I loved you, this has always been the plan. None of them hold this against you. They know this is what I wanted."

I was unconvinced, focusing my attention on pouring the blood into two separate wine glasses – because this was going to be a party, as it helped me to feel a little more classy at times.

"Are you sulking?" Stiles asked from behind me.

Chucking the empty bags in the trash, I turned back to him, holding out his wine glass full of thick, crimson blood. "I'm not sulking," I insisted, but Stiles suddenly wasn't listening, too busy gulping down the blood in his glass. "You're meant to sip it," I told him with a roll of my eyes. In moments the glass was empty, my love's mouth covered with blood. "Satisfied?" I asked dryly.

"Never," he replied, and at that I had to smile.

Overcome with affection, I found myself speaking without thought. "I tolerate you," I told him quietly, eyes shining with love. "So much."

Stiles grinned, lips still smeared with crimson blood. "I tolerate you, too," he said warmly, the love in his voice overwhelming me.

I grinned, nearly bursting with happiness. "Go wash the blood off your face," I said with a nod in the direction of the bathroom. "I'll refill your glass. Think you'll be able to manage sipping it like a civilised vampire this time?"

"No promises."

He disappeared into the bathroom, and I put another blood bag in the microwave for him. As it was heating up, I quickly plumped the pillows and made sure everything was tidy, the food all laid out perfectly. I quickly lit a candle in the corner – Stiles had gotten it for me awhile ago. It was vanilla, strong and potent, and I hoped it would mask the scent of fresh blood just a little better for Stiles' sake.

I set some music playing, one of my favourite old jazz records, and then I was just finishing pouring Stiles' new glass when he reappeared, mouth clean of blood.

"You know, Anthony Braxton isn't exactly modern day party material," he told me wryly.

I blinked at him in surprise. "You know who this is?"

"He's one of your favourites," he said like it answered my question, which I supposed, in the sweetest way possible, it did.

"What would you suggest we play instead?" I asked, glossing over the moment, not wanting to let myself get caught up in him with our friends only minutes away. It wouldn't do for them to walk in and find us both naked on the rug.

"Can I hook up my phone?" asked Stiles, moving over to the old sound system I had in the corner.

"This is your home too, y'know," I reminded him. He took it as the yes it was, smiling softly to himself as he hooked up his phone. I moved over to my records, putting away the Anthony Braxton one and instead letting the soft plucking of an acoustic guitar fill my senses.

"There we go," Stiles grinned. "Much more appropriate for the century we're in."

I laughed, rolling my eyes and ducking down to swipe up my wine glass, taking a sip of perfectly heated A negative. "How do you feel?" I asked quietly, and Stiles looked away from his phone, up to me.

"I feel better," he said, a small smile quirking at his lips. "Taking care of you helped take care of me," he admitted softly. "I guess it's good to know you're just as nervous as me."

"Albeit for different reasons," I murmured.

There was a beat. "You're sure I'm ready?" he asked quietly. "I am only four days old, y'know?" he joked wryly.

I laughed, putting my wine glass of blood down on the coffee table and padding across the room to him. My hands settled into place at his hips, and I smile up into his bourbon coloured eyes. "You're ready," I promised him. "You've taken to vampirism startlingly well."

"I don't wanna freak anyone out," he admitted quietly.

"Your best friends change into dogs, Lydia can sense death, and Kira has nine tails," I reminded him. "I doubt a pair of fangs and a set of red eyes is going to push anyone over the edge."

From down the road there was the rumble of an engine, and Stiles looked up sharply. I glanced over at the clock, noting the time. Five on the dot.

"That's them," I said softly.

"Should we have a code word?"

I looked back up at him weirdly. "A code word?"

"In case I start to lose control," he elaborated thinly.

I smiled, pushing up onto my toes to peck him affectionately on the lips. "You'll be fine, love," I swore, and though he didn't look convinced, I knew deep down he knew it would be okay. These were his best friends; his family. He was going to be so happy to see them that his anxiety would fade into nothing.

Car doors banged from outside my house, and the sound of voices drifted up towards my door.

"Stay here," I whispered to Stiles. "Deep breaths. Sip the blood."

He nodded, and I moved towards the door, opening it just as Scott lifted his hand to knock. Everyone was there – Scott, Lydia, Malia, Kira and Liam.

"Hey guys," I said, leaning in the doorframe and smiling at them all patiently. "Ready to fuckin' party?"

Malia rolled her eyes, and Liam snickered. Scott just smiled, small and slightly hesitant. "How is he?" he asked me gently, concern shining in his eyes.

I smiled back. "Come see for yourself."

Holding the door open for them, everybody flooded into the house. I shut it after Kira was inside, then followed them all into the lounge room, where Stiles was still stood beside my TV, not appearing to have moved an inch since I'd left the room.

"Stiles?" asked Scott, standing in the doorway as though unsure whether coming further into the room was a good idea.

"Hey Scotty," said Stiles, but from the way he was standing still as a statue, I could tell he wasn't breathing. I flitted to his side, pressing a gentle hand to the base of his spine.

"Take a breath," I told him in a whisper that we pretended the others couldn't hear. Stiles inhaled meekly, muscles coiled with tension. When he realised the scents in the room weren't particularly appetising, he relaxed a fraction. "Come in, you guys," I said to the gang louder. "There's beer in the fridge, liquor's in that cabinet. I've got soda for Liam, because he's a little bitch, and feel free to eat anything you want."

Liam shot me a scowl at the dig, and I grinned back innocently. Everyone moved deeper into the room, Lydia and Kira taking seats on the couch while Liam moved over to the sound system. Malia and Scott, however, moved directly towards Stiles and I.

"How're you feeling?" Scott asked Stiles when he reached us, eyes hovering on his best friend.

"Alive, ironically," replied Stiles. Scott smiled.

Rolling my eyes, I gave Stiles a shove and he tripped into Scott's arms. "Just hug it out already," I ordered them, and they complied, sweeping one another up in a tight bro-hug, patting one another on the back.

"You look good," said Scott, voice warm.

"I feel good," Stiles replied, extracting himself from his brother's grasp to turn to Malia, pulling her into a quick hug too. "You guys are giving off the worse stench ever, by the way," he muttered as he pulled back from the were-coyote.

"Gee, thanks," muttered Malia, unimpressed.

"It's like wet-dog magnified by a hundred," he said with a teasing grin.

"You're one to talk," she scoffed. "You smell like a fresh corpse."

Stiles snorted, picking his glass back up and taking a sip. Malia grimaced as she realised it wasn't wine in the glass, but rather heated human blood.

"Wow, you really are vampire then, huh?" she murmured thoughtfully.

"No, this is an elaborate plot just to screw with you," Stiles deadpanned. Despite herself, Malia's lips twitched upwards.

"How's the … the hunger?" asked Scott, concern knitting at his brow. I suddenly got the sense that Stiles and Scott needed some time alone, and I caught Malia's eyes.

"Want a drink, coyote?" I offered. "I made sure I had your favourite."

"All right," she agreed, and I gently pressed a hand to Stiles' back again.

"You all right?" I checked, asking if he's okay if I left him with Scott.

Stiles' gaze flickered over to his best friend, and I saw the resolve in his eyes harden, and I knew he was stubborn enough to be okay. "I'll be fine," he promised me, and I smiled. I pushed myself up to kiss his cheek, warm and affectionate, before I dropped back down to the flats of my feet and nodded for Malia to follow me into the kitchen.

"It's a shame you can't get drunk," I said as I opened the fridge, pulling out Malia's favourite brand of beer – Stella.

"Still tastes good," she shrugged, ripping off the cap with her teeth, then spitting it out onto my floor. It made me laugh.

The night went well, not to my surprise, but certainly to Stiles'. He'd been so nervous, and I was beyond thrilled to see him sitting in the corner with Liam and Scott, laughing about something or other as they sipped their various drinks.

"What's it like?" asked Lydia from beside me on the couch. I took a sip of blood from my glass, turning to look at her curiously. "Having Stiles be like you."

I thought for a moment. "Amazing," I told her with unrestrained sincerity. "I love that I don't have to be careful with him any more. That I don't have to worry about trying not to kill him."

"Is it weird?" asked Kira, a reasonable question.

"No," I replied honestly. "It feels natural."

"Is it a strange feeling, knowing that now you'll have him forever?" asked Lydia, and I turned to look at her, blindsided by the question.

It hadn't really occurred to me yet – we'd been so caught up in our little bubble of domestic bliss, I didn't stop to consider the future. Stiles was a vampire now – he was immortal. Lydia was right. This thing, me and him, there was no longer an expiration date on it. We had one another forever, no aging or death. We were eternally bonded, and the realisation filled me with a sharp warmth that made me smile, wide and content.

"He looks good," said Kira suddenly, our previous conversation fading into nothing.

"He does, doesn't he?" I asked, unmistakeably proud as I stared over at my boyfriend, who was smiling wide and at ease with his friends.

"It suits him," said Lydia, "this whole vampire thing. I was worried he'd be different, but he's really just … the same as he always was."

"Just a little more indestructible," I grinned, curiously tuning into the boys' conversation.

"Have you compelled anyone yet?" Liam was asking Stiles eagerly.

"Nah, I haven't left the house. Wanted to settle in a bit before taking my new abilities out for a spin."

"You've just been at home this whole time?" asked Liam skeptically. "You haven't gone insane from boredom yet?"

"We've kept ourselves busy," replied Stiles, glancing over to meet my eyes with a small, satisfied little smirk. I felt my body become awash with warmth, and I grinned back.

"How strong are you now?" Liam pressed eagerly. "Strong as an alpha?"

"As a rule, wolves are stronger than vampires," I interjected, and he looked over at me curiously. "We're faster, though. In the end we're pretty evenly matched."

"Who d'you think would win in a fight?" he asked quickly, practically vibrating with excitement. "Stiles or Scott?"

The two friends looked at one another appraisingly, and I couldn't help but smirk. "I dunno," I said innocently. "Why don't we find out?"

Stiles and Scott turned to look at me in surprise. Malia let out a loud laugh. "Hell yes!" she cheered enthusiastically. "Now things are getting interesting!"

"We're not going to fight each other," said Scott flatly.

"Oh, come on, Scott," Malia whined. "Don't be such a pussy."

Scott suddenly looked affronted. "I'm not being a–" he cut himself off with a sigh. Stiles, however, began to look excited at the prospect of the fight.

"Come on, Scott," Stiles goaded him teasingly. "Afraid I'll ruin your alpha cred?"

Scott smiled suddenly, eyes glowing red for just a brief moment. "More like afraid I'll break your bones," he argued.

Liam laughed, and I grinned widely, sliding to my feet. "All right," I said bracingly. "If we're doing this, we're doing it outside," I ordered them, moving over to the boys and beginning to herd them out through the kitchen. I turned my backyard light on, and Stiles and Scott moved down onto the grass.

Liam hovered down near them, practically vibrating in excitement. Malia was beside me, a wide smirk on her face as she leant against my porch railing, eager for the entertainment to start. Kira and Lydia hesitantly followed us out, both sitting down on my porch swing, neither looking particularly interested in the coming fight.

Stiles began to roll up the sleeves of his shirt, and I snorted at the move. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Scott asked me, eyes narrowed with concern.

"He's not a fragile human any more, Scott," I reminded him simply.

"But he's never even been in a fight before."

Stiles looked affronted by the argument. "I think you'll find instinct will take over," I assured Scott. "Besides, this'll be fun."

"Are there any rules?" Scott asked, clearly not wanting to do this, but feeling like he had no choice.

"No teeth," I said firmly, before breaking out into a wide, eager smirk. "But everything else is fair game."

Scott sighed at he turned to Stiles, who had begun to bounce on his toes with anticipation. "Please try not to break my bones," Scott asked hopefully. "I don't heal quite as fast as a vampire."

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Malia and Liam began to chant like a pair of children, and I met Stiles' eyes with a grin. He looked hesitant and just a little scared, while at the same time beyond eager. I nodded, assuring him that he'd be okay.

Scott's nails morphed into claws, and his eyes began to glow a startling red, hair sprouting from his cheeks as sharp canine teeth appeared from his mouth. Stiles leaned forwards on his feet, his eyes turning crimson with blood and inky black veins crawling up the length of his cheeks, like the most beautiful vines on earth. His fangs appeared, sharp and glistening white in the moonlight, and he bared his teeth in eager threat.

I grinned, full of a happiness I hadn't ever expected to find. When I'd come to this little, one-horse town I'd been bitter and jaded. I'd have never been able to imagine that this was where I would end up, surrounded by this mismatched, ragtag little family we'd chosen for ourselves.

I looked at Liam, grinning with excitement below us, eager to watch the coming entertainment. Lydia and Kira were pretending they were uninterested, chatting on the porch swing, each with a glass of wine in their hands. Malia stood next to me, eager eyes focused on the boys in the yard, a pretty smile on her face.

I looked down at Scott, whose hesitance had begun to fade, replaced by excitement for the upcoming match. He was glad he could finally let loose with Stiles, be himself in a way he'd never been able to before.

And I stared at Stiles, now a vampire, like me, and taking to it so well. I wondered what I did to deserve such deep, unending happiness, but I knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth. We had forever to come, and who knew where our eternity would take us? I just knew I was beyond excited to find out.

I loved who I was now, who these wonderful people had helped me become. I was the kind of person I always wished I could be, and I felt, suddenly, overwhelmed by the sense of home I was getting.

This was my family, and no matter what came next, I knew we'd face it together, as a team. And I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Forever.

"Ready?" I asked bracingly, the smile on my face bursting with all the brightness of the sun. The boys snarled eagerly, but even they couldn't hide their smiles. And when I spoke next, it wasn't to anyone alone, it was to all of them; my friends, my family, my pack. "Well then, let's begin."

A/N: Hello everyone! It is with bittersweet emotions that I'm announcing this as the last chapter of I Know Places. I know I said I had a few more chapters left, but this is where I've decided to end it. That's not to say that I won't ever revisit this world, or never add more to Stiles' and Juliet's story. I deeply and truly love these characters and the relationship I've built.

At the moment I'm currently going back and polishing up the earlier chapters, so once I've done that I'll let you know and maybe you can give this another read to enjoy all the fixed mistakes and added extra scenes. I hope you always know that you can come back to this ragtag pack to smile, laugh and cry along with them.

I love each and every one of you who stuck around for this story. You all mean the absolute world to me, and every review I get fills me with so much happiness it's crazy. Thank you, all of you, and if any of you ever need anything, let me know!

The next story that I'm putting all of my energy into is a Doctor Who story I've just begun posting called Heart of the Storm. If you're a Doctor Who fan, it would mean the world to me if you would go check it out and let me know what you think. I'd love to take you all on yet another crazy, funny, romantic, action-packed adventure.

All my love to the fans; forever and always, know that I tolerate you ;)

-Sonny13 xx