| To Forgive |

The meeting inside the sheriff's office had been strained at best. Scott and Lydia did their best to assure everyone that what they were saying was genuine. That, while it had been only two weeks since Schrader's appearance, and while they were still keeping him at Eichen House a while longer for observation, Theo appeared to be reformed. Even Morrell, Deaton, and Fenris were there to confirm. Neuro-physiologically this seemed to be the case as Fenris revealed three sets of brain scans: one before Scott's initial visit, one in between visits, and one as of a week ago. It would've been a medical miracle if they all didn't know Scott's role, or at least to the extent they did without details. His brain activity no longer reflected that of a psychopath's; it was normal.

The reactions had been mixed, as was expected. Most everyone seemed uneasy and skeptical—fair reactions to be sure. The extremes, however, were Malia, who seemed nonchalant, Corey, who seemed quite wary of the prospect of seeing Theo again, and Liam and Stiles. The beta remained silently pissed—Hayden noticeably whispering calming words to him—while Stiles stormed out. Scott made to go after him but the sheriff stopped him.

They didn't speak for two weeks, despite Scott's attempts.

So when Stiles called one afternoon, saying he wanted to see him—see Theo—Scott drove over to pick him up. They barely exchanged greetings, the rest of the drive to Eichen House made in total silence. For Stiles, this was all stress-inducing, but for Scott, this had been his eighth time there since the meeting at the sheriff's station. Theo actually smiled when Scott came into view, only to lose it, his expression saddening with guilt when he saw Stiles.

"Stiles?" was all he was allowed.

"My turn to talk," the human said, noticeably agitated, even surprising the alpha next to him. "What you did, everything you did, to me, to my dad, to my best friend, to my girlfriend, to all of us. Everyone. We're never going to forget it."

"Stiles," Scott tried.

But he ignored him and continued. "I don't care what the druids say and the doctors. Or even Scott. I'm never going to trust you. And for the half second I did, that's on you, too. You're a liar, Theo. A psychotic, manipulative, murderous liar." His eyes shifted right so that Scott could become clearer in his peripheral. He breathed heavily in that second. "Scott may see something in you now. Just like he did before. It's in his nature. And it's clear there's something else going on between you two; I'm not blind. So when you get out of here, if you so much as harm an eyelash on his pretty little face, I'm coming for you. And don't I won't be counting, or watching, or whatever." Scott actually bit back a grin. "'Cuz I will be. So you better watch it. Got it?" Theo just nodded, looking thoroughly into Stiles' face, as if a parent just ripped him a new one. Stiles looked over at Scott and then Morrell. He turned to leave, giving his best friend and the interned chimera a final look over before walking away.

"Do you want some time?" Morrell said to the true alpha. Scott nodded and she followed after Stiles. When she was around two corners, Scott opened the glass cell door and walked in.

The scene dissolved and Scott was opening the front door to see Theo standing there with flowers and a bottle of rosé wine. "Are those for me?" Scott said with a grin, motioning to the flowers.

Theo smirked. "They're both for your mom." The brunette stood aside to let him in. Theo looked around; his hands were fidgety, even with items occupying the. He was antsy, a little sweat on his forehead despite the cooler weather.

"You don't need to be nervous," Scott said, taking the wine and leading them into the kitchen, a dish towel on his shoulder. Theo just shot him a look. "You don't, I promise. She'll be protective at first, but she'll warm up to you. I sweat." Scott grabbed a base and scissors and handed them to the boy before returning to the stove. He was cooking. "Besides, you look great," Scott said, peering over at him. "Really great."

Theo laughed a little and began on the flowers. There was a clang from upstairs and then a yell. "I'm okay!" The both grinned widely and Theo propped the flowers up inside the glass.

"Where do you want these?" the chimera asked.

"The coffee table in the living room?" Scott said.

Theo nodded and carried them away. "Is your dad still coming?" he said when he rejoined the alpha.

"Yeah, he's on his way."

There was a brief silence before Theo said, "Is he bringing his gun?"

Scott put the wooden spoon down and grabbed both of Theo's shoulders. He looked straight into the boy's eyes before saying, "He's not going to shoot you." Theo nodded and Scott turned back to his sauce. "Besides, it's not my dad that would shoot you first," he deadpanned. Theo's anxiety spiked just before Scott turned to reveal his teasing grin. "I'm kidding. It'll be okay."

"Well I'm not kidding," Melissa said, walking into view. "I would shoot you first." The blood drained from Theo's face, yet she walked up to him and put out her hand. "Start with a handshake first? Go from there?"

Theo nodded and took it. "Um, I brought some wine," he said, pointing to the bottle next to the far side of the sink. "Scott, he said that was your favorite. There's flowers in the living room. And…and you look very nice." She smiled at him and gave Scott a kiss on his cheek before walking over to take a seat at the table.

"Go sit," Scott said to him.

Theo just looked at him, Scott making a face back at him. He relented and joined Melissa at the table. Awkwardness immediately settled in as neither of them spoke while Scott bustled about. When almost five minutes passed, Theo built up enough courage to ask, "How much does Scott's dad know?"

"About werewolves or about you?" she replied.

Scott didn't try to stopper her, or shoot her any looks. He not only expected this, he knew they were right to handle him skepticism. Hold him at arms' length. Maybe even treat him with cynicism for now. After all, Lydia was the only other person who what he saw, and she was opening to Theo just as easily as Scott was unlike everyone else.

"I guess both?" Theo offered.

"Rafe know about Scott and his friends. And I've told him some things about the dangers. Knowing him, I'm sure he's done even more digging. With you, I told him you were involved in the latest scuffle, but you had been coerced and had a change of heart. That you remembered being at elementary school with Scott and Stiles, and in little league, so you helped them in the end. And that's all he needs to know." The 'for now' certainly lingered in Scott's mind, but to Theo, he felt nothing but shock, warmth, and gratitude towards the woman. They heard a jingling of keys at the back porch and Melissa looked straight into Theo's face. "So don't make a liar out of me," she said before giving him a smile, a wink, and getting up.

Melissa opened the door and Rafe walked in, a container of specialty-cupcakes in one hand and a bag with ice cream in the other. "I didn't know what to get," he said.

"It's fine," Melissa said, taking the bag and sliding the ice cream into the freezer.

"Smells great, Scott," Rafe said before spotting the chimera, who'd gotten to his feet. "You must be Theo."

He nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Rafe walked up to him to shake his hand firmly. "You graduated this year?"

"Yes, sir."

"What do you plan on doing once the summer's over?"

"Dad, can we make our plates first?" Scott pushed.

The scene dissolved again and Scott was walking out his front door; he'd left something upstairs. He saw Theo across the street, leaning up against his truck with his back to him. Scott crossed and stepped up onto the sidewalk again to stand in front of the boy. "Did you survive okay?" Scott asked.

"Normal still feels weird. It all does," Theo admitted.

"Does it feel right, though?"

Theo nodded without hesitance. "School was already a little normal." Scott made a face. "I said a little," he offered with a grin. "You have to stop worrying about me. I'm adjusting, that's all." Scott shrugged, Theo shaking his head—delighted in a way.

"So, I know it's only been a few months," Scott started, reaching into his back pocket before kneeling front of Theo.

"Scott, what're you doing? Stop being stupid."

Scott presented a ring box, looking up at the dirty blonde. "Would you do me the honor of becoming my beta?" he said, grinning stupidly as he opened it to reveal a kid's temporary tattoo of a wolf's head.

Theo smacked his hand to his forehead before letting out a genuine bellow. "You're such a dork. Adorable, but a dork."

Scott stood, crowding the boy a little. "Would you?" he asked, eyes glowing red. It pulled the false yellows in Theo's and the latter was forced to look away.

"Scott…"

"I believe in you. And you've wanted to be a werewolf for a long time. And—"

"And it's tempting, it really is."

"If it's the bite, Hayden survived just fine. I think being a chimera gives you added strength, enough to rule out the danger. And your counseling, it's still progressing, right?"

"Scott, it's none of those." The alpha didn't respond, only waited; he'd learned to wait. "Your trust in me. Belief…both? I'm not there, yet. And I don't think…I'm never going to trust myself enough. Not with your bite." Theo looked back into Scott's eyes, deep into those reds. They were alluring. Gravitating.

"In that case, I should just say, I'm not the only alpha in Beacon Hills," Scott provided, a smirk appearing on his lips.

The scene shifted to the billiards room in Dave & Buster's. Scott was watching his teammate line up a shot. Liam took it and nailed the '13 ball perfectly, giving his exact position to line up for the '9. Their two opponents—Stiles and Theo—watched in visible frustration as he sunk it, too, the ball falling into the side pocket.

"I hate this kid," Stiles exclaimed, almost throwing his cue stick; it was Liam's fifth sink in a row and he also broke. "Are you sure he's not using wolf powers?" Stiles grumbled to the dirty blonde next to him.

"I'm sure," Theo confirmed. Scott glanced at them, gleeful for a number of reasons. Stiles was actually making an effort to be civil. His pack building event wasn't backfiring at all. Sure, Corey and Mason had ditched them in favor of the extravagant arcade, and the girls were still at their table talking, but integrating Theo with the other two was his primary concern.

Liam shot Stiles his most asshole, shit-eating grin as he sank his sixth stripe. "I'm just that good." Stiles flipped him off and Liam sank the '12—their final ball. "Side pocket," he called, pointing to the one closer to Stiles. He shot the '8 and that was game. Scott high fived him and grinned wildly.

"You, you don't play anymore," Stiles demanded as Theo hung his head.

"That's fine," Liam accepted. "I whipped your ass enough for one night. I'll save it for lacrosse practice."

"Bite me."

Scott and Theo exchanged amused looks. "Cut throat?" Scott offered. Stiles and Theo looked at each and, with Theo's shrug, Stiles nodded. The former teammates were vicious, though. Liam watched as, despite Scott's reasonable break (sinking the '2 in the process), the duo went after him with all they had. Scott only managed to get one more chance at play when Stiles took the killing shot. It was Theo, however, that rose victorious. It had come down to 1-ball-to-1 and, to Scott's delighted surprise, Stiles and Theo shook.

Liam hopped off his stool to rack—ready to play again—when six guys and two girls walked up. They looked older, early 20s. Scott didn't notice at first until Theo motioned with his head. Scott turned to see as one stepped forward. "Why don't you guys sit out a few rounds?" the blonde said.

"It's first come first serve," Stiles retorted from the back.

"Stiles," Scott hushed. "We were kinda' here first, though. I think we're only gonna' play a couple more games and then it's all yours." Scott's soft and offering tone was genuine, but the blonde didn't bite.

"We weren't really asking," he said, one of the others taking a step forward. Theo moved to back Scott's right, Liam doing the same to his left. But it was Malia who came out of nowhere to pin the blonde's lackey to the divider by the tuft of his shirt; Lydia and Hayden were off to the side and now the adults playing at the other three tables paused to watch.

"Scott?" she waited, looking back at her alpha.

"I'll make you a deal," Scott said after tearing his gaze from Malia and placing it back on the man before him. "If one of you can beat one of us, I'll not only give you the table, but I'll pay for your dinner, or drinks, or whatever."

The blonde smirked back at his friends before turning forward. "And if you win?"

"You do the same, and that includes my gamer friends in the arcade."

"And you piss off," Stiles added, Lydia smacking his arm.

"Alright. You got it," the blonde said. A third guy stepped forward and Scott looked at Malia, giving her a nod. She released her captive and walked over to Stiles. They all moved to the back and Scott and Liam exchanged knowing looks. His beta cued up and the other guy went first. He broke and almost sunk the '9, the ball teetering on the edge of a corner pocket.

Liam stepped up for his turn, but he didn't take the easy shot. He went for solids and seven shots later the opposing group was in awe and frustration just as Stiles had been. "Side pocket," Liam called, the opposite of the one prior, and he sunk it with ease and flare. The pack and even the bystander-adults cheered. Scott hugged him and Hayden kissed him hard. Corey and Mason had returned and the latter give him a huge high five after the end of their secret handshake. Stiles gave him a hug-turned-noogie.

Scott walked up to the blonde, Theo and Malia behind him. The older was reluctant at first, reeling from utter and devastating defeat. He relented, though, handing Scott three 50-dollar bills. The alpha smiled and the group sauntered away, giving their player and even the blonde total hell. Scott and his reinforcements went back to celebrating Liam's victory, Theo and Liam sharing in a bro-shake.

Dissolving again, the nine pack members were sitting outside in the strip-mall's parking lot. They were on top of their cars, all nicely parked near each other. They were coming down from the high of laughter, Liam's pompous boasting about his victory having turned into comic relief that night. They were all looking down, smiling as they sat on the rooves of their cars. But then, after a moment. Stiles looked over at Theo on Scott's car. "Can I ask you something?"

"Stiles," Lydia groaned.

"No, see, it's been bugging me."

"It's okay," Theo assured in spite of the annoyed looks. "Stiles, go ahead and ask."

He looked around, considering if he was going to be hit or have something thrown at him. Finally, he returned to Theo. "Your eyes…even after the bite they're still yellow. After all that they're still yellow? How?" Theo looked away, not sure how to answer. "I mean, Malia was just a child. Her family, they were accidents. Derek, he was trying to save a girl from suffering for hours upon end. And Jackson, hell, he was under someone else's control. But you? How are yours not blue?"

Tension had taken hold thickly: Scott was burying his face in his hands, Lydia was reeling, the two younger couples were looking off as if they wanted to be anywhere else. "This," Theo began slowly, stuck on his words, "this is gonna' sound bad. But, I guess, I guess the only people I've actually killed were supernaturals. Or, along those lines. Josh…Tracy…you," he said, looking at Scott next to him.

"Your sister?" Stiles continued.

"I didn't help her, but I didn't kill her. Directly anyways."

"Convenient."

"Enough, Stiles," Lydia said.

"What about your parents?" the human ignored. "Your real parents?"

"After what happened down in the tunnels, when I didn't come home, my proxy parents took off. My real ones…my dad is in a coma in a hospital in Portland. And my mom, she was killed in the crash.

"What caused the crash?" Scott asked genuinely.

"A storm," Theo answered. "But I'm not entirely sure it was supernatural." Stiles nodded, only out of comprehension. "They didn't have me out for a while. The research and experiments took years. And when they did let me out, it was for simple things. Test. Physical tests. I never came into contact with anyone long enough, let alone the primal desire to kill them; the adjustment period after the changes took hold was much shorter than after getting bit."

"And there were no other candidates? None they had you take care of?"

"Oh for fuck's sake, Stiles, drop it," Hayden exclaimed.

Stiles looked expectantly at the former chimera across from him and Theo shook his head.

"Satisfied?" Lydia asked, the bite in her tone ready to become physical.

He looked over at Scott, who was looking back at him, and nodded. Of course, there was always a 'for now' that lingered with Stiles, especially when it concerned Theo, but for the moment he dropped it. And before awkward silence could settle, there was a loud fart between Corey and Mason. "I'm so sorry," the chimera said. "I've tried to hold it. The nachos…there were jalapenos." The packed cackled, bursting even harder when Mason reacted to the smell…

The bed was creaking, the noises set at a steady pace. The room was filled with them—and others. Scott was on his back, Theo on top of him. The beta's hands were gripping Scott's pecs, claws pressing into the skin but not quite breaking it. His arms were locked straight, sitting upright. Scott was lying flat, not even a pillow under his head. His hands were on the boy's hips. His slick cock was buried inside of him, pushing in and out at a rocking pace. They were in a dorm room, a sock on the outer knob of the door to keep Scott's roommate from coming in unwelcomed.

Scott sat up to kiss him, staying vertical even after their lips parted. "Teddy," he half breathed. His hands moved up from his hips, grazing up to his slickened back. His back with two circular tattoos—the outer larger and thicker than the inner. Unity, the sign of the McCall pack and poetic given their present festivities. They were close. So close that Theo came at Scott's use of his nickname again (of course, it was combined with the powerful strike to his prostate and the friction on his dick that was caused between the rubbing of their sweaty abdomens together). He came harder than he could've hoped for, panting next to Scott's ear.

Scott was short to follow, a host of sensations getting him there. When he was about to erupt, Theo pushed his alpha onto his back and pulled off just as he was about to burst. He fed Scott his dick while the brunette came handlessly, the hot spray drenching Theo's back, the gooey liquid sliding down the crack of his ass. Theo shifted down Scott's body and leaned down, resting his forehead on the other's, both feeling each other breathe against the other's hot skin. Their highs turned giddy and Theo finally said, "We really need to shower; we're gonna' be late for Liam's first game." Scott nodded, smile still wide.

Theo rolled off to fall flat on his back. The alpha got up, rummaging through his drawers to collect a towel and a clean pair of clothes. Theo just looked over Scott's nude-sweaty form, especially paying notice to his hairy butt. So when the latter crouched down to retrieve a pair of cherry-red boxer-briefs from the bottom drawer, Theo leaned up on his forearms to watch his ass muscles bubble out. "God, I wanna' fuck you," Theo said, his dick throbbing, bouncing on its own accord.

Scott stood and looked back at him. "Maybe when we get back," he said before giving Theo a teasing wiggle. The beta laughed and the other boy walked into the bathroom, turning the water on in the shower. Theo immediately followed.

A second later, Theo's voice echoed out into the room. "I don't know if I can wait, though."

"Hah, Theo!"

"You're so tight around my finger, Scotty."

"Nnghh…"

"Bend over."

There was a pause and then a moan that sounded like Scott's. "Teddy, your tongue…fuck…"

"Your hole…these cheeks…I can't get enough, Scott." There was a slap, followed by groaning. Slick and squishy noises. Moaning. Harsh breathing against skin. A double pat against skin. "Get in the tub."

"The game…" A heavy breath followed. "He's gonna' kill us."

"Yeah, but it's gonna' be so worth it."