"Kira, are you going to school today?" Ken's voice called to her as her eyes blinked away sleep. Noisily, she rolled away. "If you still need a couple more days, I-"

"No, it's okay. I… I can't miss anymore classes, I don't want to end up repeating."

Ken paused thoughtfully, leaning on the doorknob as he stood in the doorway sucking on his lip. "Alright… if you think that's best. Be ready in half an hour."

"Half an hour?! Dad!" Kira said, jolting up.

"I didn't think you'd say yes!"

"Augh dad!" Kira threw her blankets off and started getting ready. When he closed the door, Kira didn't move out of bed. Instead, her thoughts drifted to Scott's texts the night before.

"Sorry I missed your call."

"No cant rn."

"Yea Im fine. just need some space."

"Thanks, gn."

Kira shook her head and rushed to the shower. She would just see him later, unless he was taking another day off to grieve. He said he was fine, so he probably is. Don't worry about it. She told herself.

Xxx

Stiles stared at the wall. All the work he had put into solving everything was up there. Pictures and string meant to piece everything together. He started mapping up in his head what the truth was and what he was mistaken about. As he did, memories weaved their way in and out of his consciousness. He stood up and walked up to it, following one of the strings with his index finger. "Key." He paused. It was the first time he had ever thought that the source of all the madness might have been him. That was the night of the party, where he was first asked if he was bi. He shuddered as he remembered the morning when he saw his own hand writing on the chalkboard. Remembering Scott, he frowned. Guiltily, he wondered if things would have gone differently if Scott had believed him then.

Suddenly, he saw himself, Scott's teeth sinking into him, Kira's blade running through his chest. Stiles trembled as he watched his body crack and crash onto the floor, disappearing into dust. He shook himself away from the flashback. That wasn't me… it just looked like me. His face darkened as he went downstairs to distract himself.

"Hey Stiles, I'm off to work." Officer Stilinski said.

"'Kay, see ya dad." Stiles said, waving his hand half-heartedly in disinterest as he headed into the kitchen.

Mr. Stilinski looked at the clock on the wall, "Didn't school already start?"

"Yeah…" Stiles said, pausing at the opened fridge door.

"Are you going back soon?"

Stiles sighed and took out a carton of milk. "Yeah, dad, just not now."

"Well when are you planning on going?"

"This week." He said, pulling out a box of cereal.

"Stiles… I know this is a tough time for you… Maybe we should talk to your guidance counselor about doing summer school."

"Yeah, I get it dad." He said, pouring the cereal into a bowl.

Mr. Stilinski didn't say anything for a while, and then headed out the door. At the sound of it closing, Stiles sighed to himself. "And then I'll miss a bunch of classes in summer school too." He said, thinking of what he considered to be the inevitable in a town like Beacon Hills.

Xxx

Ms. McCall came down the stairs and noticed Scott at the dining room table. He looked so big and so small, and still so much like her little boy. She walked up to him and knew he just needed someone right now. Not wondering what his thoughts were of, she reached out to him and he held onto her. Tears came and she accepted them silently.

My poor boy… who would have thought he'd have to go through so much so young.

After a long while of silent comfort, Scott wiped at his eyes and told his mother thank you. She smiled softly at him and nodded.

"You're so strong, Scott. Really. You kids amaze me with how much you push through. When I was your age, I was…" She paused, and then remembered her inner mom "I don't know, studying. And here you are, saving lives. She let her hand rub down some of his bed hair. "I'm so proud of you all. I just wish we could do more to protect you from it. I feel like the adults should be the ones doing all this, but we're so powerless now."

"It's alright mom. I'd rather do it than let people get hurt again." Scott said.

She smiled sadly, "I know."

When they finally left each other's side, Scott began to wander around the house in the same way that his thoughts wandered back to Stiles. He'd been thinking about their talk the whole night. Kira slipped into his mind as doubts flooded him. What was the right thing to do?

Xxx

Kira waited for Lydia to get her books out of her locker as she confessed that she wished she knew how to comfort everyone better. She told Lydia that she was just the new girl at school anyway.

Lydia closed her locker. "Not for long…" The two of them watched as Malia walked down the stairs with coach, who was giving her a tour of the school. Malia and Lydia's eyes met, and they shared a smile. The two of them watched as she walked away, confidence radiating from her.

"I wonder if we'll share any classes." Kira asked, making Lydia turn to face her.

"We'll find out soon enough." Lydia said, feeling tired. She looked over her shoulder just to see the last of Malia turn around a corner. Somehow, she felt hopeful.

Xxx

Stiles was standing in the doorframe of his room, looking at the red string on his wall. Somehow he couldn't help but feel agitated. He walked up to his desk, letting his fingers slide over a drawer where he pulled out some green string. He looked again at the wall as he started to unravel the string when his doorbell rang.

He found himself slightly annoyed but headed down the stairs to answer. If he was lucky, it would just be UPS and he could head back up the stairs and add a sense of completion to his life. But when he opened the door…

"Hey."

"… hey." Stiles said. "I didn't expect you back so soon."

"Yeah," Scott said, grinning nervously as he looked down at his shoes. "I guess I just…" He looked up with a face Stiles didn't know how to read. His eyebrows were cinched together and his smile quivered. "I don't know."

Stiles wanted to ask right then and there what Scott's answer was, but instead, he let Scott inside. "Do you want… water or something?"

"Yeah, I'll just…" Scott started heading into the kitchen. Stiles sighed, feeling somewhat at ease as he watched Scott head to the cupboard. Stiles leaned on the countertop while Scott filled his cup with water. It was nice to watch this sense of familiarity despite all that had happened. It somewhat calmed Stiles' heart. After Scott gulped down some water he said, "I… I don't know what I'm doing here."

"Okay…" Stiles said, waiting.

"I…" Scott looked at his hands, one of them still holding his half empty cup of water. "I still don't know what to think about all of this. And I'm just trying to get through every day after what happened. I just…" Scott's voice cracked and he took a breath. Stiles felt the impulse to go to Scott's side, and came round the other side of the counter. Before he reached Scott, the werewolf started up again, pulling away. "I don't think I'm ready to lose you."

"Scott…" Stiles said, he started to reach out to hold Scott's shoulder, but stopped himself. "You don't have to lose me. I… I really want to be with you, but… if you don't want to-"

Scott looked up angrily, "I do want to be with you, I just…" He shook his head. "I don't want to be with her."

"Uh, okay, so I had to explain this to Malia too." Stiles said with a laugh he hoped would dispel the nervous tension, "So you wouldn't be dating her, you'd just be dating me. I mean, you could date her too, but if you did, it should be because you like her and not because you're dating me." When Scott didn't say anything, he added, "Does that make sense?"

"Yeah." Scott said, sulking. Stiles couldn't help but think that, even now, Scott looked cute. "But… that's not really what I mean."

Stiles sucked in his lips. "Well… yeah. I guess not." Stiles sighed and leaned away. "Look, Scott, I really want us to be together, and I know that this kind of relationship isn't… it doesn't sound like your kind of thing." Stiles said, trying to hide his disappointment. He didn't see Scott's eyes glance over to him. "And if it's not… that's okay." Stiles looked back at Scott, "That doesn't mean we have to lose each other, it just means we aren't boyfriends. We can still be friends."

"Why not be boyfriends?" Scott asked, meeting Stiles' eyes with frustrated determination.

Stiles hesitated, and in that moment, Scott wondered if he could convince Stiles to be with him instead.

"Scott…" Stiles said, almost pleading. Doesn't he know I'm already with Malia now? I can't just break up with her, that'd be messed up. Stiles shook his head, trying not to get frustrated. "So… is that us? Best friends?" Stiles asked, wondering for the first time if maybe they couldn't even be that anymore. His fists tightened at his sides as he waited for Scott's reply.

"I don't know."

His words felt like a stab to Stiles' chest. Stiles remembered Kira's katana running through his heart-the nogitsune's heart. He suddenly saw Kira and Scott dating, holding hands in the hallway as Stiles watched him. He wondered if he'd be able to endure it with the new distance between them.

"I don't know why I came over here. I just, I wanted to see you. Maybe I thought talking to you would help me figure this out better." Scott said. His hands pressed against his forehead. "I don't know what to think anymore. And… I do like Kira, even if I wanted to push her away. She's… great."

Stiles rubbed his finger into a stain on the counter top.

"I just…"

There was a knock at the door. They stayed motionless, silent.

"It's okay, go answer it." Scott said.

Stiles left the room and opened the door. As Scott got up, he saw Stiles get tackled by a hug. "Wait, Malia, this is bad timing, do you mind-"

"Scott!" Malia shouted. "Great- bad timing?" Malia asked, "This is great timing. Stiles said you might be able to help me regain control of my powers-"

"Wait- Malia- really this is a-"

"It's okay." Scott said. Stiles' head snapped towards Scott who chuckled softly to himself at Stiles' reaction. "It isn't easy becoming a werewolf… or a werecoyote I guess. The transition was hard for me too. At that time, I had Derick and Stiles to help me through it. You shouldn't have to do it alone either."

Malia's smile widened and she walked past Stiles who stood shocked, but then chuckled at the typical "good guy" Scott. When she looked over her shoulder in glee, Stiles unfroze and posed awkwardly, nodding his head in encouragement. Turning back to Scott she said, "Come on, let's go upstairs."

"What-now?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, why not? You two in the middle of something?"

"Well ac-"

Disinterested, she headed up the stairs. Scott sighed and followed her. Stiles couldn't help but stare at the two of them as they went. Blinking in disbelief, he finally followed them.

As Stiles sat on his bed, he watched Scott and Malia work together. How could Scott always be so selfless, so sure in doing what was right? He couldn't help but think that maybe they would work, the three of them, as he watched them get along. When Scott finally got Malia to bring out her claws, he got swept up in the excitement as Malia reclaimed just a little bit of herself that had been locked away. Stiles watched Malia turn between the two of them, showing off her claws, and saw Scott smile widely with a satisfaction that said he knew she could do it all along. Stiles couldn't help but feel hopeful. He glanced back at the wall of red string and then back at the excited half-humans. He finally knew, as long as he was with them, it didn't matter in what way, he would be able to handle whatever mystery came at them.

Xxx

After Scott left, Malia excitedly recalled the day, and practiced bringing her claws up. "By the way, what happened last night? Since he was here today, does that mean you two got together?"

"No… he's still thinking about it." Stiles said, lying on his bed. Malia ran her fingers through his hair, just above his ear and let her arm settle across his neck before pulling it back to her side.

"Well if he hurts you, I'll have to fight him."

"What?"

"Otherwise, who knows when he'll try to steal you. Or fight me for you."

"Uh… I don't think you'll have to fight him."

"Well…" She looked at Stiles as if he were thinking too innocently. I probably will if he wants to be your mate instead. It's like when another coyote fights you because they want your food." As if suddenly realizing something, she said, "I hope I won't have to kill him." With determination she added, "I can't let him have you just because he wants to. You're my mate now."

"Wait, Malia, but no offense, I don't think you could take him on. He's like, a true alpha. I mean, thanks, but I don't think you'd need to fight him anyway."

"I totally could!"

"Uh… that's… not how we do things here though. The rules of the wild don't apply here."

She looked at him with disbelief.

"Seriously Malia." Stiles said, "Please don't go trying to kill Scott."

"But he'll try to steal you away."

"Malia." Stiles said definitively.

"What?"

Stiles sighed, "We're gonna have to work on that."

"Work on what?"

Stiles grinned, "Your reintegration into human life." He pulled her in for a tight hug and kissed her on the forehead, catching her by surprise. He rolled onto his back, with his arms open and she held onto him, letting her head nestle into his neck. Stiles' eyes lingered back onto the case wall.

"I keep thinking about what happened. Not with us-" He clarified, "-but with everything. I mean, how many times did we think all of this mess was finally over?" He felt himself grow hot and his heart speed up. "What if the nogitsune still has something else up his sleeve? And even if not, I mean what if we didn't accidentally unleash something else when we sealed it away?" Malia looked up at him, and then followed his eyes to the wall he'd used to link all the mysteries together. She got up and walked up to it.

"Stiles…" Malia said, she noticed a few words, recognized Eichen House, and tried to follow the red string with her eyes. "It's over." She said to him, as he watched her, sitting up in his bed. "Didn't you say you saw it get trapped in that box yourself? And that animal doctor said the box was powerful enough to hold it, right?" She walked back over to him. Stiles couldn't help but feel his mind was full. He felt a headache coming on him and pressed his palm to his temple.

"I just don't know if I can be calm yet. Even if this is over, that doesn't mean something else isn't going to happen. What if we lose people again?" He asked.

"Stiles… nothing is happening now. Right now, the only thing you have to worry about is making yourself happy. And you're trying really hard to make that happen. I'm sure Scott can see that. I can definitely see that. When something new happens, deal with it then. But right now, it's Spring, so let's build a new den and be happy we're safe now." She said with a grin.

Stiles looked up to her with concern. The late sun beamed on her and in that moment he wondered if he could trust reality to follow suit with her words. He tried to return her grin with a smile but it didn't feel right. Immediately she tackled him and flooded him with kisses. "Let me distract your worries about the future for a bit."

"Malia," Stiles said, unsure if he should ask her to stop.

"What?" She asked.

He wasn't sure. Nervously he looked away. "Nothing."

She smiled a wicked grin and pressed on, expecting his hands to slip over her waist as she continued to kiss him, but instead, he just leaned back giving little effort. "Stiles…" She said a little breathlessly. "What, are you not in the mood?"

"What? No, of course I am-"

Malia paused and drew back a bit to meet his eyes, then huffed and looked away, leaning away from him.

Instantly, Stiles felt a little guilt, "No, Malia, of course I am! What, like I wouldn't be turned on?"

Malia rolled her eyes. "No, it's fine…." She looked away again with a frustration settling in her eyes.

"Malia-"

"No, it's fine. I'm sorry. I just… I don't know what to tell you. Or how to make you feel better."

"Ma-"

"I just thought that since that was something you liked, it could make you feel better."

"Well yeah, I just, I don't know…" He felt foolish for saying so, "I just wasn't in the mood I guess. I mean, I'm really worried that-" A rush of flashbacks came back "-maybe this isn't the end. I mean, as long as we're doing it with Scott and the pack, I guess it's fine. I'll always fight with him…" That is, if we can even stay friends at this point. "It's not like we aren't helping people. I mean, look at all the people we saved too." He said, trying to reassure himself.

"If it helps… I'm glad you helped me." She suddenly felt embarrassed, "I mean, I wasn't when I punched you, and when I first met you, but I'm glad now." She took his hands, "And right now is what's important, isn't it?" She smiled and for some reason, Stiles felt better. Maybe it was the genuine look in her eyes, or the strength she put into the simple act of holding his hands, but he felt some relief. He kissed her softly.

"Thanks."

Xxx

Scott stared at his ceiling. They didn't have to date, but he wanted them to. He just wished he didn't have to choose between not dating Stiles and dating Stiles with Stiles' new girlfriend. He felt bitter enough about it that he wasn't sure he could stand talking to Stiles if he saw them get lovely-dovey. He wondered if his jealousy would end their friendship….

But he seemed to be able to handle seeing them together today. She seems nice… and she seems to really care about Stiles. Scott thought, remembering how she'd been so worried about Stiles and had come knocking on Scott's door during their troubles with the nogitsune.

Scott's thoughts drifted to Kira as he wondered what his future could look like. He couldn't help but think about what it would be like to date her and Stiles at the same time. He'd never seen anyone like that in his entire life, and the people who did were cheaters. What if this jealousy he felt now was still there when they were all dating? Could a polyamorous relationship really work in real life?

He looked at his hands, spreading his fingers out as if he meant to touch the ceiling. He let his claws extend and grinned softly. It's not like we're being sneaky or trying to hurt each other. But he felt a pang as her remembered his own jealousy. How would I be able to fight that? … He let his hand fall to his chest. Then he chuckled realizing he already knew the answer. If it's with Stiles, we'll find a solution. He remembered fighting the nogitsune over and over, being told that he couldn't trust Stiles or that if the only way to defeat the nogitsune was to kill Stiles, that he should do it. He slapped his hand on his forehead. Over and over he had chosen Stiles, to trust Stiles, knowing that together they'd be able to find a solution. Why should now be any different? Sure, he could try one more time to get Stiles to be only his but… he remembered Malia grasping Stiles in such a big and warm hug. He smiled to himself as he recalled the shared excitement they had as Malia looked excitedly at Stiles after brining out her claws. He went so far as to think about how it was Malia who told Scott to look for Stiles after he escaped from Eichen House. And he remembered her determination to find him again when she came knocking on his door a second time. Sure, he couldn't understand it. For all he knew, they only really started to get to know each other recently. Scott had way more history with Stiles and he felt like if he pushed a little, he could get Stiles to be with him instead… but Scott started to wonder if he wanted to, if he should, if maybe that wasn't what was really right. Didn't Malia make him happy? And if so, did that mean that Scott shouldn't make Stiles happy that way too? If it would work with anyone, wouldn't Stiles of all people be someone that could make it happen?

Scott rolled out of his bed and opened a window. He thought to himself that it'd be nice if suddenly Stiles came for one of his surprise late-night visits. Resting his head on his hand as he leaned into the window frame, he started to wonder if he really even needed to think on it.

Xxx

Kira stared at her phone. Should she text now? Or should she wait? What if he still wanted space? But then what if he was hoping she'd reach out to him now? "Augh!" She burst out as she rolled on her bed. She began to pout as she stared at Scott's last message. She didn't know everyone as well as they all did. They all grew up together and just knew when to reach out to each other. Nervously her grip tightened on her phone. Maybe it didn't matter. Maybe she could just go see him and it'd be fine.

She ran down the stairs- "Kira? Where are you going?" Kira's mom asked from the couch.

"To see Scott-" She said, pulling a sweater over her.

"Is someone in danger?" She asked, looking up from her newspaper.

"What-no-I just need to see him."

"Alright…" She said, turning back to her paper before jolting her head up, "Don't be out too late."

"Yeah mom." Kira said in slight annoyance.

As the door closed, Noshiko gave Ken a look that said "Something's up."

"Do you think they're dating?" Ken asked.

Noshiko sighed loudly, "I hope not, he sounds like he's always off fighting dangerous things."

Ken smiled.

"What?" She asked.

"You used to be like that too, remember? Before you settled down for boring old me."

"For a nice quiet life. It's not like we haven't had our adventures. But now she's off fighting nogitsunes- ghosts from my past. I just-"

"It's alright," Ken said, coming to her side with a smile like morning dew freshly touched by the early sun, "She's just growing up. Life will throw what it will at her, and we've just got to trust that we're doing all we can to support her."

Noshiko looked annoyed at his response, "Or we could just ground her."

Ken laughed and squeezed her shoulder, "That too." Noshiko tried not to smile, but his laugh sneaked one out of her.

"Let's not worry too much. She's strong, and a kitsune. It would have been nice if she could have experienced these things a little later in life, but… it's like you said, we were drawn to this place. Maybe it's fate. Let's trust her and see what happens. If she needs help, we can help her, but for now… let her grow." Ken said. Noshiko hid her smile, but melted into his arms.

"I just… want her to be safe."

"I know… I do too."

Xxx

The air was cool. The hum of his bike in the night was a comfort as the breeze relaxed his muscles. The moonlight was bright enough to illuminate his drive even if the streetlights weren't lit. He felt a nervous giddiness inside him but with his hands gripped on the handlebars, he started to feel himself calm down. It was a big gamble, and he didn't know how it would work out… but… maybe it was the right decision.

Xxx

Huh, isn't that… what was her name, Malia? Kira wondered on her walk. She tried to not think of it as a distraction, but she almost felt relieved to call out to Malia before reaching Scott's house. "Malia!" On the street corner, a girl looked up and peered over at Kira. Is it not her?

"What?" The girl called back, demandingly.

Hmm… maybe not. She pretended she hadn't said anything and kept walking.

"Hey! What?" The girl asked, stomping across the street.

"Oh no..." Kira whispered.

"What do you want?"

Feeling confronted, Kira said, "Uh, you're Malia right?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I just… wanted to say hi… uhm, what are you up to?"

"I'm going home." She said with shrug. "Why? What are you doing?" She said, almost accusingly.

Blushing, Kira said, "Nothing I was just… heading to a friend's place-uh Scott's place, you know Scott right?"

"Yeah, I know him, why?"

"Uh… no reason" She squeaked.

Malia narrowed her eyes at Kira and crossed her arms. "Doesn't sound like no reason."

"Uh… I'll talk to you later, okay?" Kira said awkwardly. Malia continued to watch with suspicion, but said nothing as Kira hurried off.

She's kind of intimidating… Kira thought to herself. I wonder where she was coming from… She thought, looking over her shoulder. She jumped in surprise when she noticed Malia was still staring her down, and quickly continued on her way. She looked past the corner where Malia had come from, thinking to herself that Stiles lived roughly in that direction. Maybe they got close in Eichen House? Kira thought, remembering that it was Malia who gave them tips on where Stiles was.

Xxx

Stiles smiled into his dark room as he tried to will himself to sleep. He couldn't help the feeling that he was lucky to have Malia in his life right now. Despite her bluntness, she was easy to talk to… or maybe it was her bluntness that made her easy to talk to. He smiled harder thinking of all the reasons why she was easy to talk to, and then sighed loudly, turning on his side to stare emptily at his desk as he hoped again for Scott to join them.

He suddenly heard a loud thud by his window that startled him from his bed. Immediately, he grabbed for his lacrosse stick, but then pushed it aside for a baseball bat, cursing himself for not picking it first. Realizing, his baseball bat wasn't where he thought it'd be, he grabbed for the lacrosse stick again. He tried to shake out his nervousness by thrusting it in front of him. I fought off a nogitsune, I fought a kanima, I fought werewolves, you. can't. scare me. He felt anger rise in him and a desire to prove to himself that he could take care of himself still. He took a few steps towards the window and gulped, but didn't let his determination slip away from him. As the window slid open, Stiles charged at it with a roar.

"Stiles!"

"Scott?"

"What are you doing?"

"I…" Stiles said with his stick raised high above his head. "I… what are you doing sneaking into my window?!"

"What? You always do that."

"No I don't-" Stiles said, lowering the lacrosse stick.

"Stiles." Scott said, really written all over his face.

"Whatever, what are you doing here?" Stiles asked, feeling a little embarrassed tense. He tried to shake out the adrenalin and relax. "You're almost never the one to come over like this."

"Yeah well… I thought I'd return the favor." Scott said, shrugging and letting himself in. Stiles felt an awkward tension fill the room, but Scott's giddy energy dispelled it.

"Well, what? Spit it out already." Stiles asked nervously. It… seemed like good news.

Scott grinned. "Stiles…" He moved towards him, grasping Stiles' free hand, the moon beaming behind him into the room. "You've always been there, through everything, and… even though it feels crazy, and it might fail, I just… if it's you… I can try it."

"It?" Stiles asked. Scott nodded. "It-it as in-as in us?" Stiles said, pointing back and forth between the two of them with the lacrosse stick still in his hand.

Scott coughed out a laugh, "Yes."

"As in us dating?"

Scott let his head roll back in laughter and pulled Stiles in for a tight hug. "Yes, Stiles."

Stiles felt washed with relief, letting himself melt into Scott's warm body. It felt so good to be touching him again, to feel safe and secure by his side. "Good." He mumbled as he let the smell of Scott fill him. "I missed you too much." He felt Scott smile on his neck. Stiles felt a bit of guilt slip into him wondering if he could be so happy with Scott after causing him so much suffering. With his abs pressed against Scott's, he wondered if he'd left a scar.

"Me too." Scott said, his voice muffled by Stiles' skin. A soft rumbling laugh started to build up from Scott. "But what's with the lacrosse stick? I mean, yeah they can hit, but I'd expect, I don't know, a baseball bat?" He said, pulling the stick from Stiles' hand.

"Yeah, well, I grabbed whatever was there." He said, and then chuckled, "I was looking for one, but I think I must have left it somewhere else."

"Isn't it always right there?" Scott said, nodding to a corner of the room.

"Well I looked there, but all I found was the lacrosse stick." Stiles said, his eyes following as Scott went to put the lacrosse stick away. Stiles crossed his arm as he watched him. At Scott's laughter, Stiles impatiently went to his side. He blushed at the sight of his baseball bat now in Scott's hands and relaxed his posture.

"What? I just looked there-"

Scott continued to laugh and Stiles felt eased into laughing as well, both giddy and happy to be by each other's side. Scott, pulled Stiles to his hip, satisfied to be with his best friend and now boyfriend again. Maybe we can still be happy together. Stiles thought, a small hope lighting inside him.

Xxx

Kira sat sleepily in class. She'd waited for Scott to come home from wherever he was, but he ended up not going home. Noshiko almost grounded her for coming home so late, but Ken gave his wife a smile that seemed to calm her down and Kira was just sent to her room. As another person walked in her classroom, she looked up. It was tall Malia, who Kira quietly admired and thought beautiful. An arm peeked through the doorway and held onto Malia. Kira watched as Malia turned towards the arm and ask "What?" In her usual demanding manner. A head made its way through the doorway and give her a quick kiss. Oh! That was Stiles! So they're dating now! Kira thought, then last night, she really was coming from Stiles' place. As he left, Malia met Kira's eyes. Embarrassed, Kira quickly looked away, though she wasn't sure why. Kira wondered if she'd be seeing Malia more often now.

At lunch, she bumped into Isaac. "Hey, how's it going?"

"It's going." Isaac said, grabbing a tray. They walked to where Scott and Stiles were sitting close to each other, smiling and laughing. Kira couldn't help but smile as well at their contagious energy.

"Oh! Hey Kira." Scott said, looking startled at seeing her. He suddenly looked down and then looked up at Stiles, smiling. She couldn't tell what it was he looked at because the table blocked her sight, but she sat more curious about why he seemed off-guard at seeing her.

"Hey Scott, I went to your place last night, but you weren't home."

"Oh, yeah, I was out." Scott said, blushing. "I'll tell you about it later."

"Oh, okay." She said, noticing Stiles and Isaac seeming to secretly communicate with short gestures. Isaac nodded in satisfaction. What was that about? Was it some sort of inside thing she didn't know about? She decided not to worry and instead be happy that she'd get to talk to Scott later.

"So Stiles…" She said, as Lydia started to walk over. "You and Malia started dating?" She asked with a grin, and then instantly thought that maybe it wasn't any of her business.

"Really?" Lydia asked in surprise.

"Uh… yeah…." Stiles said, looking awkwardly at Scott as if trying to see if he should say something else.

Lydia looked nervously at her hands. "But Peter…" She mumbled to herself.

"What?" Kira asked.

"Nothing," Lydia said, sitting down next to her.

"Where is she anyway?" Isaac asked. "Does she know where to find us?"

"Uh, I think so, I told her to meet us here earlier. I'll go look for her." Stiles said, leaning into Scott before getting up from the bench.

"Alright." Scott said, his eyes following Stiles as he left.

After a short pause, Isaac suddenly said, "Ohhhh!" Startling everyone at the table.

"What?" Scott asked.

"Nothing, nothing, I just realized-nothing."

Lydia narrowed her eyes and said, "Okay?" and turned to her food. "Anyway, I've been freaking out over this history test coming up. I don't even know where we are in the textbook."

"Yeah, I was sitting in econ and just stared at coach the whole time because nothing he said made sense."

"Hey, at least you have some background, I just started school." Malia said, coming up to the table. "Where's Stiles?"

"You didn't see him? He was looking for you." Scott said.

Malia narrowed her eyes at him in a question, and Scott blushed and nodded back. Malia flushed in excitement and turned quickly away saying, "I'll find him."

Huh? Even Malia has some secret knowledge?... Maybe it's not about me being the new girl then… Kira thought to herself. She nervously watched Scott and wondered when she'd get to share some silent secrets with him.

Xxx

Stiles slipped his book bag off in his room and stared at his wall. All the newspaper clippings and string felt so cluttered on it. His mind started to wander off, thinking about what new sort of monsters he'd be dealing with next. He shook his head. It didn't matter what was next, he-no-they would be able to get through it. There wasn't anything he and his friends wouldn't be able to get through. They'd be able to keep each other and Beacon Hills safe. But his hands shook as he thought of Alison and Aiden. He walked up to his wall. His hands slipped into his pockets as his eyes touched every bit of knowledge he'd ever pinned to it. Sighing, he felt his mind jumble up with anxious thoughts and started to tear it all down.

Mr. Stilinski paused as he almost passed by Stiles' room. "Whatcha doing?" He asked.

"Just uh…" Stiles started, pulling down another piece of paper, "clearing my head."

Hmm… maybe that's best.

Xxx

"So… yeah. I was at Stiles' place." Scott said in the parking lot.

"Oh. Okay, is everything alright?" Kira asked, extending her elbows with her hands in her pockets.

"Yeah... yeah, it's all fine. Uh… I'm… dating him." Scott said simply. He then nodded and gave a nervous laugh.

Dumbfounded, Kira just stared blankly at him.

"Uh… and I don't know, maybe we could date too?"

Kira's neck almost snapped with how fast she turned it in immediate confusion. "What?" She asked.

Scott clasped his hands together. "Ha! Joke it was a-"

When Kira didn't smile, he went back to the truth.

"Sorry, not a joke. Yeah. Uhm. Yeah. What do you think?"

With bubbling anger, she said sarcastically, "I'll get back to you on that." And walked away. Scott scratched the back of his head.

"Well I guess it could have gone worse." He thought out loud nervously.

Isaac's hand slapped against Scott's shoulder blade loudly. "Yeah I guess so."

Scott jumped away from him. "What? When did you get here?" Malia and Stiles walked up behind him.

Isaac crossed his arms and stepped back to take a look at the three of them. "Huh, pretty nice."

Stiles smiled dumbly as Scott and Malia looked at Isaac in confusion, Malia slightly annoyed by Isaac's smirk.

"Yeah, thanks for the advice." Stiles said.

Isaac's grin widened and he gave Stiles' shoulder a push, "Hey anytime-"

Malia's hand grabbed Isaac's wrist tightly. "Don't. Touch him."

Isaac squirmed under her grip and Stiles quickly went to calm Malia. "Hey, it's fine, he's just being playful. You know, like how puppies bite each other when they're playing?"

Malia narrowed her eyes at Isaac as she let go.

"We'll need to work on that." Stiles said with a helpless smile. Malia shrugged in disinterest and walked away.

"Where's she going?" Isaac asked. Scott and Stiles shrugged.

"She'll probably pop up somewhere." Stiles said.

Xxx

And she did, walking across the street from Kira. The kitsune's eyes widened as she stared at her. Did Malia know? She couldn't have! Poor Malia had been tricked too! She was new just like Kira! It was too cruel! Feeling kindled by their shared romantic heartache, she ran up to Malia, finding something to bond over.

"Malia!"

The werecoyote's head spun around and her eyes locked on Kira, who froze. Still intimidating. Kira thought. She quickly caught up to Malia. "What?" She asked, demanding as ever.

"Scott and Stiles are dating! He even asked me to date him at the same time. Boys are gross huh?" Kira said, walking with Malia.

"Wh-"

"Doesn't that just piss you off? That's too mean! Let's get revenge!" Kira said with determination, looking up at Malia. "You're strong right?"

Malia stopped walking and turned to face her. "Uh… I'm not looking for revenge…"

"But… he's cheating on you!"

"No… we're just dating each other."

"Right! And he's dating Scott!" Malia gestured a sarcastic and? When Kira's words didn't get the results she was looking for, she added, "At the same time."

"Yeah… I know." Malia said, matter-of-factly.

"You… know?" Kira asked, confused. "You mean you're letting him?"

"Yeah." She shrugged and then walked away.

"What?" Kira whispered to herself. It didn't make any sense. But given enough time and conversations, she gradually found herself becoming comfortable with the idea of dating Scott in this way. Sure, it took a bit of discourse and it was a bit awkward when the four of them hanged out the first couple times (though Scott and Malia didn't really feel awkward), but for a while, they were happy. And as they continued to fight new and old demons, insecurities, and school, they struggled together to make things work. At least, for a little while.

[End]