Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed. Here is the last part!

Stiles can't quite believe how quickly time passes in this world. Before he knows it he is permanently released back into his Dad's care on the stipulation he continues to attend counselling once a week. He practically skips out Eichen House's doors and makes sure to flip Jackson the finger through the gates as soon as he's outside. He's free…almost…well until his Dad makes him go back to school.

Soon he finds himself uncomfortably in the principle's office, trying to ignore the fact he is pretty much sure the man is dead in his world. The worst part of it was he'd spotted Harris in the hallway; he really couldn't catch a break!

'So you obviously will be put back a year or two, we'll see how you get on during your tests. But we're hoping that with tutoring you will be able to graduate next year.' Said the principle who Stiles has long forgotten the name of.

'Great,' says Stiles, sounding more enthusiastic than he really was. He'd said it like it was his last word before a giant boulder landed on top of his head and crushed him. 'Fantastic.'

'Are you going to be alright if I leave you here today?' asked his Dad.

'As alright as I can be, in a school full of people who are just going to stare at me all day like some zoo exhibition.' He muttered under his breath.

Hid Dad put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 'I'll pick you up at the end of the day.'

'We'll make sure he's okay.' Said the principle.

An hour late Stiles almost laughs at those words, as he stepped into yet another classroom and finds everyone is now silent and staring at him. He resists the urge to run and tries to ignore how much he misses Scott. He was in hell and now there wasn't even his best buddy to go through it with him too.

As he slips into an empty chair, Stiles tries to ignore the way the boy next to him is staring at him.

'Do I have something on my face?' he asks.

The boy shakes his head.

'Then stop staring dude, I don't do tricks.' Said Stiles, as he opens up his book.

TW

Stiles practically runs out of school at the end of the day, he is moving so fast that he walks straight into a familiar red head.

'Lydia?' says Stiles breathlessly. It turns out she is practically a Goddess in this world too.

'Do I know you?' she frowns, raising a perfectly plucked eyebrow at him.

'Stiles…Stiles Stilinski' says Stiles, somewhat hopelessly.

'Lydia's frown deepens. 'The coma kid?'

'It wasn't a coma, more like this strange catatonic state where I just dreamt about werewolves and banshees all the time…' Stiles stops as he notices Lydia's eyebrows disappearing further up her forehead. 'Just forget it.'

'Don't worry,' she reassures him. 'I already am.' Before turning and disappearing back into the crowd.

'I miss my Lydia,' mutters Stiles under his breath.

'Bolinski!' says a familiar voice.

Stiles turned and noticed Coach standing behind him.

'If you don't move it soon I will be dragging you by the shaved bristles on your head to Lacrosse practice. You're blocking my hall way!' said Coach.

'It's Stilinski,' said Stiles.

'Does it look like a care?' asks Coach. 'Now are you going to move or am I going to be forced to put you back into that coma of yours?'

'It wasn't a…never mind,' said Stiles, stepping away.

'That's better,' replied Coach.

TW

When his Dad drops him at School the next day, Stiles waits about a minute before walking straight back out again. Screw this world; he isn't going through another day of that again. He heads to the cemetery and settles himself in front of Scott's grave, pulling out a bottle of Mountain Dew.

'Back again buddy…told you that you wouldn't keep me away.' He taps his bottle to Scott's headstone. 'So school sucks, this world sucks and well everything sucks. If there was a prize for the most sucky world ever, this one would win it.'

Stiles glanced around and was relieved to notice he was still alone.

'Lydia doesn't know I exist and Derek is freakily attractive in this world but thinks I'm nuts. Not to mention well…everyone thinks I'm nuts and you're dead. It's like some freaky gone crime movie.' Continued Stiles. 'I keep expecting you to jump out from behind a tree and yell 'surprise' at me…because anything, even a zombie you would make more sense than everything else happening in this world.'

Stiles was about to continue talking when he felt a strong hand clasped around the back of his neck, sharp claws digging in to the delicate skin there. He hardly has time to scream before he is lifted into the air and threw against Scott's grave stone.

He let out a small whimper, before forcing himself onto his hands and knees. He wasn't going to go down without a fight. Stiles actually let out a relieved laugh as he notices the person standing over him was a werewolf. Granted it's a werewolf he doesn't know and it looks like they want to kill him…but it's a werewolf!

'If you wanted my attention,' Stiles wheezes out. 'All you had to do was say, throwing people around in a cemetery isn't very respectful dude.'

The male werewolf narrows his pale blue eyes. 'Where are they?'

Stiles forced himself to his feet. 'Where are who? You're going to have to be more specific, I'm not a mind reader here.'

'Where are the Hales?' growled the werewolf.

'About six stones back up that way,' answered Stiles, pointing towards the cluster of graves that make up the Hale plot.

'Don't try and be funny,'

Stiles tried not to smirk. 'This isn't even me at my 'A' game; if I was trying to be funny…you'd know it.'

'I want the Hales.'

'Well I wanted my bottle of Mountain Dew that is now seeping into the grass over there; we can't always get what we want.' Answered Stiles.

The werewolf is on him in seconds, lifting him into the air again. Stiles closed his eyes cursing his smart mouth. The pain never comes and instead Stiles feels himself being roughly tugged into someone's arms. Not just anyone's arms: Chris Argent's arms.

Stiles feet finally manage to touch the floor, as Chris drags him away from the werewolf. The werewolf doesn't even glance at Stiles as he launches himself at a wolfed out Derek Hale. Laughter again starts to bubble from Stiles's lungs, looks like Derek's a werewolf in this world too. The two wolves seem to be tearing and snarling at one another, in what looks to be the beginning of a fight to the death.

'Are you okay?' Chris practically shouts over the growling.

Stiles is practically buzzing with energy and relief, 'I'm not just okay…I am awesome! Dude…werewolves are real'

Chris gives him a 'are' you crazy?' look, a look that Stiles has become accustomed to recently. It doesn't bother Stiles one bit because werewolves exist! A sound of several guns going off causes Stiles's attention to go back to the fight between the two werewolves, just in time to see the rogue drop to the floor with several steaming bullet holes coming out of his chest.

Derek stepped away from the rogue, as a number of hunters appear from behind the graves and surround its body. Derek's piercing blue eyes shift immediately back to green when he notices Stiles staring over at him open mouthed. Derek crosses the graves and pulls Stiles straight into his arms, holding him close to his chest.

'Dude…can't breath.' Stiles said with a mouth full of leather. 'Again with the hugging? People are going to start to talk.'

Derek sheepishly let go of him. 'Sorry…it just I feel like I should know you.'

'Maybe you do,' said Stiles.

Chris Argent lets out a snort. 'Why do I feel like I've suddenly stumbled into the middle of a romance novel?'

Stiles rolled his eyes. 'It's totally a zombie movie.'

The two men looked at him with confusion.

'Never mind.'

TW

'I am guessing you have a lot of questions.' Says Chris Argent as they are sitting down in his apartment an hour later.

Stiles took a huge gulp of his coffee. 'Not really.' His gaze shifted over to a smiling picture of Allison, looking young and beautiful.

'You don't want to know about werewolves?' asked Chris.

'I could write several books on what I know about werewolves dude.' His gaze shifts over to Derek, who is watching him intently.

Chris frowns, but then a moment of understanding crosses over his face. 'You're not Stiles Stilinski.'

'I'm a Stiles Stilinski, just not your one.' Answers Stiles honestly, relieved to finally say it out loud. 'I don't belong here, I belong somewhere else.'

'Do we know each other in your world?' Said Derek suddenly.

'Yes,' said Stiles. 'Although you're a lot more growlier in my world, every time I see you I feel like I should be telling you to frown more.' He finally looks back to Chris. 'I know Allison.'

'Allison,' Chris almost whispers, like the name holds some type of magical property. 'Is she…is she okay?'

'Yes, well bar the fact she keeps bringing home werewolf boyfriends.' Said Stiles with a smile.

'Why should we trust you Stiles?' asked Derek, a familiar frown on his face. 'You could be a plant.'

Stiles frowns at him. 'What? Like a daisy or something? Why would I make all this stuff up? I just want to go home, but I didn't think that would ever be possible until today.'

'You want us to help you?' asked Chris, his expression careful closed.

Stiles nodded. 'I want you to help me because it is the right thing to do and you're a good man,' he glanced over at Derek. 'And it's what you and I do., in my world at least; we help each other.'

'I'll have a talk with one of my contacts; see if they can dig anything up.' Said Chris. 'Do you want to give Laura a call?' he asks, directing the question at Derek.

'Laura's alive here?' said Stiles. 'Holy shit.'

'We decided to stay legally dead in this world; everyone assumed we died in the fire. We decided it would be safer that way. But yes she is alive here, isn't in your world?' replied Derek. He nodded at Chris as the other man slipped out of the room.

'No,' replied Stiles. 'I guess that explains why you're so different here.'

Derek raised an eyebrow. 'Different?'

'More relaxed, not so much of a sour wolf.'

'A sour wolf?' asked Derek, a half smile on his lips.

Stiles felt himself blushing. 'It's just a nickname.'

'Like Miguel?'

'Something like that.' Said Stiles, trying to ignore his own increased heart rate. It seemed this Derek had quite an affect on him especially down in his trousers. He desperately tried to figure out when he had first found Derek Hale attractive, like wanted to climb him like a tree attractive. He was drawing a blank, but guessed it must have been for a while.

'What do I call you?' asked Derek, his voice low.

'An idiot.' Answered Stiles.

Derek let out a soft laugh and Stiles couldn't help but smile. This had to be the real Derek Hale that his Derek was hiding underneath. He'd managed to get glimpses of him in the past, but obviously he'd only just scratched the surface.

'So…' said Stiles, 'How did you and Chris end up being friends in this world?'

The smile on Derek's face disappeared. 'We're not friends, more like allies. He sorted out a problem for Laura and me. We kind of owe him again now after sorting out the rogue today that has been causing Laura and me trouble.'

'Did Kate happen?' questioned Stiles.

Derek's face went on a complete emotional shut down. 'I don't want to talk about it.'

'Okay,' said Stiles.

After that the two sat there in awkward silence, something Stiles wasn't accustomed to with his Derek. By now that would have at least exchanged at least a few witty quips. He was almost relieved when Chris came back.

TW

Stiles briefly glanced up from his lap top as his Dad slammed into the house. He was about to continue his research on string theory and alternate universes when he realised his Dad was hovering next to him.

'Okay?' asked Stiles, taking one eye off his laptop.

'Why weren't you in school today?' asked his Dad.

'Who says I wasn't?' replied Stiles.

'Were you?'

Stiles finally tore both eyes away from the laptop. 'No.'

'Stiles,' sighed the Sheriff.

'I'm sick of being some circus attraction Dad,'

'You're not a…'

Stiles put down his lap top. 'Yes I am.'

'It'll get better, you'll make friends.' Said his Dad.

'Yeah, but none of them will be Scott.'

His Dad was silent for a moment, looking almost lost. 'Come outside son.'

Stiles cocked an eyebrow at him. 'Outside? You're not going to take me outside and shoot me, are you? Because I don't think you'll be able to make it look like an accident if you do near the house, they'll be blood stains and everything. Plus it was just one day.'

'Stiles.'

He let out a sigh and reluctantly followed his Dad out of the front door. Stiles stopped as he noticed what was sitting in the drive…an almost exact copy of his lost jeep.

'Is that?' he asked breathlessly.

'It's for you,' says his Dad, dangling the keys in front of him.

Stiles stepped forward and ran his hands over the bonnet. 'She's beautiful.' He began to stroke the car. 'Where have you been all my life? I could kiss you…in fact.' He bent down and did just that, contemplating climbing onto its roof and hugging it. He had a jeep again, he had freedom. Was licking his new keep a too extreme reaction?

'Stiles take your tongue off the jeep,' said his father. 'It comes with conditions.'

Stiles paused mid stroke. 'Conditions?'

'I don't want to ever hear about you skipping school again and I want you to try and make some friends. You've had a tough year and at the minute you're sinking and I don't want you to sink son, I want you to swim.' His Dad said gruffly.

Stiles put his arms around his Dad, pulling him into a hug. 'I'll try.'

'That's all I ask.'

He tried to ignore the intense feeling of guilt in his stomach, knowing deep down he didn't mean it. Deep down he was going to do everything in his power to go home.

TW

Stiles quickly shoved his books into his bag on day three of not avoiding school. At least it was getting easier, other than the whole eating lunch on his own thing and the fact people were still staring. He'd caught a brief glance of non-werewolf Erica and Boyd too, but had decided not to approach them. Stiles had said his goodbyes at their funerals and he didn't want to open the healing wounds from loosing them. Perhaps the thing that unnerved him the most was Isaac, who always seemed to be hidden in the shadows. Stiles couldn't help but feel sick when he noticed the other boy's black eye and the way he limped around school. Isaac's Dad obviously wasn't dead in this world and up to his old tricks. Stiles need to sort this out some how.

'What are you doing at the weekend?' asked the boy sitting next to Stiles.

Stiles looked around, trying to figure out who he was talking to. He was shocked to realise it was him. 'Me?'

The boy smiled at him. 'Yeah.'

'Nothing much…just the usual…' Stiles trailed off. His usual was helping Scott and Derek with whatever supernatural being that had rolled into town. In this world it was watching bad re-runs of awful television. 'Video games…and stuff.' He tried.

'Awesome...well if you ever want to, you could always come round my house and play some games.' Said the boy hopefully, an innocent smile on his face.

'You're asking me? The one they've nicknamed the crazy coma person?' asked Stiles.

The boy shrugged. 'Yeah.'

'Not that I mean to sound ungrateful or anything…but why? Even I wouldn't ask me round to play video games.' Said Stiles, half wishing he would shut his own mouth. It was the first time someone had made an effort with him at school and he was blowing it. He wondered if he could blame the social deprivation he was feeling lately and the fact he'd roomed with a psychotic Jackson.

'You made me laugh the other day when you spoke to Coach and I thought a guy who says things like you do must be pretty cool.'

Stiles tried to ignore the burning in his eyes and feels his defences weaken. 'Okay.'

The boy's face splits into a big grin. 'I'm Liam by the way.'

'Stiles.'

'I know.' Said Liam, smiling at him.

TW

Stiles felt a weird chill as Lydia Martin grabbed onto his arm at the end of school, pulling him along with her.

'So Stiles,' she says cheerfully.

He feels his heart flutter out of habit and at the fact she knows his name. He quickly pushed away the feeling, knowing this Lydia isn't his friend. She is either up to something or wants something.

'Lydia…me lady' he replies, making sure not to add some gushing remark about how beautiful her hair is in the sun.

'I want you to tell me how you managed to score the hottie in the leather jacket, when you've been a patient in Eichen House for the last two years. Because you've got real game Stilinski, I give you that.' She smiled at him with her perfectly painted lips.

'What hottie?' asked Stiles. 'I don't know any hotties…just Der…' he trails off noticing Derek leaning against his new jeep…in sunglasses. Stiles has a feeling that sunglasses will be featuring in quite a few of his less than innocent dreams tonight.

'So you do know him?' asked Lydia, almost glowing with glee. 'I'm impressed.'

'He's just a friend.' Said Stiles quickly.

'Just a friend you fancy the pants off,' said Lydia, rolling her eyes. 'Don't worry; this will be our little secret. Just point me in the direction of his brother, if he has one.'

'I don't think he has one, just an uncle.'

Lydia looks almost disappointed. 'How old is his uncle?'

'A good ten years older than you.' Replied Stiles.

'Pity,' Lydia finally let go of his arm. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't Stilinski,' she winked at him, before making her way across the car park towards her own car.

Stiles ignored the aching in his heart for the old Lydia and instead distract himself by walking over to Derek. People again were staring at them, just when Stiles thought they were starting to stop.

'Derek,' he said, leaning alongside him on the jeep. 'You're at my school…like a creeper…I would say this is a lovely surprise or something new…but it's not. It's actually a scary habit of yours that seems to exist in every universe, it's slightly worrying.'

'Are we getting in your car or not?' asked Derek.

'Ah…awesome, you're also in one of your usual dark moods that makes me want to savagely beat my own head in with a baseball bat…it's almost like I'm not trapped in some messed up universe where everyone thinks I'm insane.' Said Stiles.

'I'll rip the door off.' Replied Derek.

Stiles let out a sigh and opened his jeep with his key. He doesn't say a word when Derek climbed into the passenger side. They are five minutes into the journey to Stiles's house, when he decides to break the silence.

'Bad time of the wolf month?' he asks.

'Something like that.' Answered Derek. 'Where are we going?' he asked when Stiles drives past his own house.

'Dude…it's kind of creepy you know where I live.' Answered Stiles, purposefully avoiding the question.

'Stiles.' Said Derek in a warning voice.

'We're going to get curly fries and then to Isaac's house.' Said Stiles.

'Isaac?'

Stiles pulled into a nearby drive thru 'He's a friend, kind of. He's important to both of us in my world.'

'Okay.' Said Derek.

Stiles raised an eyebrow at him. 'Okay? No cynicism or witty come back…you do disappoint me.'

Derek took off his sunglasses and finally looked at Stiles. 'I'm not him.'

Stiles can't ignore the painful ache in his chest at his words. 'I know.'

TW

Three hours later Stiles banged heavily on Melissa McCall's front door, hoping to God she wasn't on shift and was in tonight. Melissa opened the door was the same look of weariness in her eyes, she was surprised to see Stiles standing on the other side. Especially since standing next to Stiles is a beaten up Isaac Lahey.

Stiles practically forced his way into the house, dragging Isaac with him.

'Stiles…what?' starts Melissa.

Stiles waveed his hands in the air to make her stop talking. 'I want to tell you something and it's going to sound insane, but you need to listen to me.'

'Okay.' Said Melissa.

'This is Isaac; Isaac needs a place to say. Isaac's Dad hurt him a lot, but he won't be doing that any more. Because in the world where I came from the same thing happened and in that world you and Scott took him in.' said Stiles, feeling breathless. He wasn't entirely sure his crazy plan was going to work, but he had to try.

'Stiles I can't just take him in.' argued Melissa.

'He's eighteen, why not?' answers Stiles. 'Plus have you seen his injuries? He needs a nurse and you're a nurse.'

'Stiles,' said Melissa again. She sounds tired, so tired.

'It's just for a day or two. Can't you both just try it, in my world it works. It works really well.'

Melissa glanced over at Isaac, her restraint wavering. The nurse in her obviously wanted to fix Isaac up. 'You've been ill for two years Stiles, I don't know if it's right that I should be listening to you.'

'Scott would have done,' said Stiles simply. 'This is what Scott would have wanted.'

'The guest room is upstairs on the first right,' said Melissa softly to Isaac, 'if you want to go put your stuff in there. I'll be up in a minute with my first aid kit.'

Isaac nodded and made his way up the stairs. Once he was gone Stiles and Melissa looked at one another, neither breaking the other's gaze. It is Melissa who finally turns away, her eyes showing the beginning of tears.

'Please, for Scott.' Whispered Stiles.

'Okay, I'll do it.' she said softly. 'But just for a few days. I can't believe I am agreeing to something like this.'

Stiles threw his arms around her; she is stiff for a moment and he is almost ready to pull away when he feels Melissa return his hug.

'Thank you, you won't regret it.' Said Stiles pulling away.

'I hope not,' answered Melissa, she tentatively reached out and touched the large scar on Stiles's head. 'I miss having you both around the house, for a while it felt like I lost two sons.'

Stiles swallowed down the hard lump in his throat. 'I'll try to come round more.'

Melissa smiled at him tearfully. 'That would be nice.'

TW

Stiles slid down the seat in his jeep with exhaustion, as he finally turned the key to turn the engine off. He contemplated sleeping on the steering wheel, but realises Derek is still in the passenger seat next to him.

'That thing you did with the bat,' said Derek softly. 'It was pretty great.'

Stiles felt his cheeks again flush red, with another unexpected Derek Hale compliment. He wasn't used to getting them very often. 'It was nothing.'

'I've never seen anyone look so scary with a baseball bat before.' Said Derek.

'You've obviously not seen it when the Sheriff's office plays baseball once a month; those guys are lethal with the things. Though everyone underestimates the power of the bat, everyone but the awesome Stiles Stilinski of course.'

'Do you often talk about yourself in third person?' asked Derek.

'All the time.'

'No wonder you drive the other me crazy.' Said Derek.

Stiles smiled softly at the thought of his Derek. 'I think he likes it secretly, though he would never ever tell me that.'

'I can't blame him; you're a pretty amazing guy Stiles.' Said Derek, his eyes not leaving Stiles's face. 'Not many people would have done what you just did for Isaac tonight.'

Stiles suddenly felt the jeep get really warm all of a sudden. 'It's not just me; we're all a team in my world. We rescue and look out for one another; it's just what we all do.'

Derek leaned forward a little. 'What are we in your world?'

'Friends,' answers Stiles without hesitation. His heart was pounding away in his ears; it seemed he wanted Derek to kiss him…that was new.

'Then why do I feel like it's something more?' asked Derek softly, leaning in so close that his lips were only centre meters from Stiles's.

'It's the scar, makes me look all sexy.' Answered Stiles, trying to ignore how high pitched his voice got on the word 'sexy'. He can't help but let out an awkward laugh.

'That must be it,' said Derek, finally pulling himself out of the trance he seemed to have been in. He slid quickly out of the passenger door. 'Good night Stiles,' he said, his voice almost a whisper as he disappeared into the night.

Stiles waited for a moment before slamming his head down hard on the steering wheel. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid.' He muttered under his breath.

'Just friends, ay?' asked his Dad, appearing as if by magic at his car window, with a cup of coffee in his hand.

'I don't want to talk about it,' groaned Stiles. He's almost sure he can hear his Dad laughing as he follows him into the house.

TW

A few days later Stiles is surprised as a number of lunch trays slide down next to him on his empty table. He is so used to eating lunch by himself that the sound makes him jump. He glances up and notices that Lydia and Danny have joined him at his table.

'I was thinking,' said Lydia as a way of a greeting. 'What is the point of being the most popular girl in the school, when you don't have any nuts in your group?'

Stiles raised an eyebrow at her. 'Er…thanks, I think.'

'I like you Stiles,' said Lydia. 'You never fail to surprise me in any of the things you do, we could all do with someone like you around to lighten things up every once in a while.'

Two years ago Stiles would have melted in his seat at her words, but all he feels now is relief. Relief that maybe he can have some pieces of his old life back.

'How are you?' asked Danny warmly. 'I used to visit you after the accident, but I'm guessing you wouldn't remember that.'

Stiles shifted awkwardly. 'Sorry dude, but thank you.'

Danny shrugs. 'It's what any one would have done. Scott was a good guy, I miss seeing him around.'

For the first time in months Stiles suddenly looses his appetite. He looked at anywhere but Danny, trying to hide how much him mentioning Scott's name had killed him a little inside. Stiles finally notices Isaac across the room watching them, clenching his lunch try so tightly that there are sure to be marks in his hands tomorrow. For a moment Isaac hesitates, before crossing the room and placing down his tray hard at the space opposite Stiles.

'Hi Stiles,' says Isaac, giving both Lydia and Danny a mistrustful look.

'Hey Isaac,' said Stiles. It seemed Isaac's weird imprinting like thing that had happened with Scott had been switched to him in this world.

'What happened to your face?' Lydia asked Isaac.

'He was in a fight,' answered Stiles for Isaac. 'You should see the other guy.'

Lydia looked at Stiles and then at Isaac. 'I think I'm going to like you two.'

TW

Around ten' o'clock Stiles let Liam out of his house, as the kid excitedly went on about the game they'd just been playing. Stiles liked Liam, he reminded him a little of Scott and was like a breath of fresh air. He even laughed at Stiles's random thoughts and looked at him in awe as he told him about Lydia Martin sitting at his table that day.

'Can I sit at your lunch table tomorrow?' asked Liam, just as he was leaving.

Stiles shrugged. 'Sure, the more the merrier.' It was going to take a while to get used to this whole people wanting to sit with him at lunch thing.

'Awesome!' said Liam. 'I'll see you tomorrow and on Saturday I will thrash you again at Mario Kart.'

'Never going to happen dude,' said Stiles, unable to stop himself from smiling.

Liam wavered at Stiles again as he reached the sidewalk, before taking off in a jog to the direction of his house. He was about to turn and go inside, when he noticed a familiar shadow lurking near his jeep.

'I can hear you thinking from over here dude.' He called over to Derek.

Derek slipped out from behind his jeep, doing his best not to look awkward. The Derek of Stiles's world never looked awkward, so it was a rare treat.

'Are you stalking me like some creeper again?' asked Stiles.

'I'm keeping watch.' Answered Derek.

'Why?' asked Stiles.

'It's my way of repaying the favour I owe Chris,' replied Derek. 'He hired me a few months ago to watch over you.'

Stiles bit his lip. 'And here was me thinking I was special.'

Derek edged closer to Stiles. 'You are special Stiles. He did it on the request of a woman who disappeared moments after making it.'

Stiles felt his body go hot with how close Derek was. 'Oh, do you want to come inside? Or will me making you some hot chocolate put you off your game?'

Derek's lips slipped into a smile. 'I can make an exception this once.'

A few minutes later Stiles joined Derek on the couch, ignoring the tingle in his fingers as their hands touched as he passed Derek his hot chocolate.

'Any luck in finding me a way home?' asked Stiles.

The expression of Derek's face twisted with a number of emotions. 'Not yet. But would it be so bad if you had to stay here?'

Stiles's mouth went dry at the expression on Derek's face. 'I don't know,' he answered.

'I've been watching you lately and you fit Stiles, you fit into this life. You have friends, you have your Dad and you have me. I don't get why you want to leave it all behind.' Said Derek, as he placed his cup down on the coffee table.

'Because this isn't my home!' cried Stiles. 'This is some other Stiles's home and I'm taking his place and it isn't right.'

'Forget what's right Stiles!' growled Derek, his eyes flashing blue.

'I can't!'

'Well let me help you.' Said Derek.

Derek leaned forward and crushed their lips together hard. For a moment Stiles was frozen, before his instincts kicked in and he slid his arms around Derek's neck. Their lips crashed together in desperation, in kisses full of teeth and unsaid words. Stiles dug his nails into Derek's back, as desire and heat flooded through his body. In moments Stiles was on his back on the sofa, with Derek on top of him. Their lips didn't leave each others once. Just as the heat began to feel unbearable Derek began to run his hand down the waist band to Stiles's trousers, Stiles felt as if somebody had chucked a bucket of cold water over him. He pushed Derek away hard.

'No,' he panted breathlessly, positioning himself as far away as possible on the sofa from Derek.

The expression on Derek's face was pure anguish.

'This isn't right,' said Stiles, 'No matter how much we both want it. Were we going to…?'

Derek nodded.

'All night and in lots of different positions?'

Derek nodded again.

Stiles felt the blood go to a part of his body that wasn't his cheeks. Derek Hale wanted to do sexy times with him and he'd said no. Stiles was pretty sure ninety year old him was kicking himself hard right now. He is almost tempted to close the distance between them again, but the side of his brain that had stopped them in the first place seems to finally jolt him out of it.

'Is there someone else?' asked Derek.

'Yes,' answered Stiles, before he could stop himself. 'I can't do this because I think I might be falling for someone else, it doesn't help that the someone else is you from another world.'

'But I am him,' said Derek, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

Stiles smiles, almost bitterly. 'But you're not. You're not the guy I held up for hours in the pool this one time because he was paralysed, the one who I nearly had to chop the arm off because there was a bullet in it, the one who wouldn't kill me when I was possessed even though it was probably the right thing to do at the time, or the one who is so emotionally constipated that you have to work days just to get a smile. We could do this right now and it would be so easy, but I don't want easy. I want Derek, my Derek.'

'I don't understand,' said Derek.

'You're like some warm and fuzzy version of my Derek and it's great if you like that. But I want the real thing and if I have you right now, I'll never be able to have that. It'd be like reading the end of a book I haven't read or getting money before I pass go in Monopoly. It's cheating and I don't want to cheat, I want to work for it and win fair and square. If we sleep together I can't un-see your body, I can't undo what we did…and I'll never be able to have that with him, without thinking about you. And he deserves to be the only one on my mind when we do those things.'

'Does he love you?' asked Derek.

Stiles bit his lip. 'I don't know, but I think there's a chance we could grow to love each other and I can't give up on that.'

'He doesn't deserve you,' said Derek.

'No…but I think he is working towards a day when he will.' Said Stiles, believing it more than anything else he'd ever believed in his life.

'I should go,' said Derek.

Stiles nodded and didn't try to stop him as he quietly left through the front door. And later that night he makes himself go to sleep with a clear conscience, ignoring the anguished howls coming out from somewhere in the night.

TW

Stiles stepped out the house ready for school, when he once again noticed Derek lurking by his jeep. Part of him wants to run inside and hide, while the other part of him wants to throw himself at his feet and apologise for ever being stupid enough to reject him.

'It's time,' said Derek simply, not looking Stiles in the eye.

'Time? Time for what?' asked Stiles.

'I spoke to Deaton; he's ready to send you home. He's been ready for a while, I just couldn't tell you.' Said Derek, looking at the floor.

Stiles clenched his fists, the urge to punch the other man the highest it has ever been. 'How long?'

'A few days,' answered Derek.

'A few days?' Stiles almost shouts. His world's Derek would never have done anything like this. This Derek was selfish.

'I'm sorry,' said Derek.

'Because you woke up and thought: you know what, I think Stiles needs even more time in this upside down crazy world?' said Stiles sarcastically. 'I can't see any flaw in this fantastic idea.'

'I thought I could get you to change your mind.' Said Derek, still not making eye contact.

'Well you thought wrong,' said Stiles angrily. He glanced back towards his front door. 'Have I got time to say goodbye?'

'If you're quick,' answered Derek.

'How generous of you.'

Stiles turned away from him without another word, he is so angry right now he can barely look at him. He finds his Dad exactly where he left him: eating a bowl of muesli at the table with a disgusted look on his face.

'Did you forget something?' asks his Dad.

Stiles launched himself forward and flung his arms around his Dad. He held on so tightly that he wasn't sure if he was blocking his Dad's ability to breath 'I love you Dad.'

The Sheriff smiled fondly at his son. 'I know you do kiddo, I love you too'

'You're going to take care of yourself, aren't you?' said Stiles.

His Dad looked concerned. 'Of course I am, is something wrong?'

'No,' said Stiles softly. 'I just needed you to know that before I left.'

Stiles takes one last look at this world's version of his Dad, before heading out the door and closing it behind him for good.

TW

Deaton is the almost the same in this world as he is in Stiles own. He looks almost fascinated by Stiles and asks him questions about his own world. Stiles feels almost tired by the time Deaton takes him into a room where there is a familiar metal bath filled with ice. Derek follows silently behind them, not saying a word to either of them.

'You were displaced by something supernatural, so I am going to displace you right back.' Said Deaton.

'Will it work?' asked Stiles.

'Well as long as it doesn't kill, it should do.' Explained Deaton.

'Will you be able to get this world's Stiles back?' Stiles asked, thinking of all the faces of the people he cared about in this world.

'I can try,'

'Promise me you'll do it,' said Stiles. 'Promise me you'll bring him back, he deserves another chance at this.'

'Okay. Are you ready now?' asked Deaton.

Stiles hesistated for a moment as he glanced over at Derek 'Could we have a minute?'

'Certainly,' Deaton stepped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Stiles finally looked at Derek. 'I'm still angry at you.'

'I know,' replied Derek.

'That was a really horrible and selfish thing to do.' He continued.

'I know,'

Stiles awkwardly bit his lip. 'We don't do things like that in my world; we look out for each other. You've got a lot of growing to do before you deserve him.'

Derek looked confused. 'Deserve who?'

'This world's Stiles.' Said Stiles, rolling his eyes.

'What if I don't want this world's Stiles.' Replied Derek, fixing him a cold glare.

Stiles unconsciously touched the scar on his head, 'You may not now, but you will later. You owe me for keeping me here when I could have been at home. So you're going to repay me by looking after this world's Stiles. He's going to need someone like you, what with Scott being dead here.'

'What if I say no?' said Derek, his eyes cold.

Stiles shook his head. 'You won't because I know part of you is tired of being selfish. Part of you wants to change and do things like we did the night we saved Isaac from his Dad.'

Derek grunted, but didn't argue. Stiles took this as a positive sign and stepped forward, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.

'Maybe in some other life. Goodbye Derek.'

Derek awkwardly stepped forward and put his arms around Stiles. 'Goodbye Stiles.'

As they parted Deaton stepped back into the room.

'Ready?' Deaton asked.

Stiles nodded and stepped fully clothed into the bath.

'Go get him,' said Derek softly.

Stiles gave Derek one last smile, before he was lowered into the bath and water surrounded his face. The world was became hazy, and then drifted into nothingness and darkness.

TW

Stiles felt as if only mere seconds pass until a white light surrounds him and he is sitting up gasping and choking for air. As his eyes start to adjust he notices he is once again in a hospital. He clenched his chest, trying desperately to calm down his heart.

'Stiles?' said his Dad, swimming into view. He looks tired, like he hasn't slept in days.

'Dad? Did it work?' he asked, his voice a mere croak.

'Did what work?'

'Oh god,' moaned Stiles. 'I'm still trapped here, aren't I?' sliding down the pillows between coughs 'How long will I have to spend here this time?' assuming here was Eichen house again.

His Dad doesn't have time to answer, before the door to his room swung open. Stiles felt the world stop moving as he noticed Scott standing in the doorway, light flooding into the room.

'Scottie,' said Stiles softly, feeling a sting in his eyes. 'You're alive?'

'Course I am,' replied Scott, he crossed the room and put his arms around Stiles.

Stiles clung onto his best friend, trying to ignore the fact he was making a mess of his shoulder. Scott could handle a bit of snot and tears, especially after everything Stiles had been through. He was a mess, but he'd blame whatever drugs they had him on.

'I'm never letting you out of my sight again dude,' said Stiles softly into Scott's shoulder, 'like never. You're like going to have to pee with the bathroom door open from now on.'

Scott pulled a way a little with a smile on his face. 'Okay.'

'Son, I think you're crushing Scott's ribs.' Said his Dad, before standing up and joining them in their hug.

When they all pull away a little misty eyed from their group hug, Stiles notices Scott has the same tired look as his Dad.

'What happened?' asked Stiles, staring down at the drip attached to his hand.

Scott couldn't quite meet his eyes. 'You were kidnapped by another pack; you were doing some research on them for me and got too close to one of their secrets. They had a witch with them…' he trailed off.'

'Son,' started his Dad, in his sheriff matter-of-fact voice. 'They hit you over the head and dumped you in an almost freezing river. You were technically dead for two hours until Derek found you.'

'Derek found me?' asked Stiles, choosing not to focus on the whole dead thing.

'You should have seen him,' said Scott, 'He went crazy afterwards, tore several of their pack members to pieces. I didn't even realise Derek cared about us and you that much.'

'I'm going to pretend I didn't hear the whole thing about tearing,' said his Dad.

Scott grinned awkwardly. 'Probably best too.'

'How long have I been in hospital?' asked Stiles.

'Just a few days,' replied Scott. 'Derek managed to resuscitate you and bring you here. They were worried for a while that you would be brain damaged.'

'That's nothing new,' said Stiles. 'Takes more than a dip in some luke-warm river to get rid of me.'

'Can we avoid jokes about waters and rivers for at least a week or two,' asked his Dad. 'I don't know how much more my heart can take of you and your near death experiences. I think I might need a burger'

'Not going to happen Dad.' Replied Stiles with a grin. He couldn't help but keep looking at Scott, a part of him terrified he was going to disappear at any moment. He didn't. And Stiles was relieved he was finally home.

TW

A few days later Stiles huddled up under what felt like a mountain of blankets whilst everyone else was at school. He still couldn't get warm after his apparent dip in a river and several tin baths full of ice that he didn't want to think about. He was trying not to be bitter about the fact he'd spent both his eighteenth birthday in this world and the other world passed out in a hospital bed; although Lydia was talking about throwing him a party when he was better.

Stiles had finally been allowed home, after Melissa had got sick of throwing his friends out of his room for rowdy behaviour. Whatever rowdy behaviour was…so he and Scott had borrowed two wheelchairs and had a race, what was the problem? They hadn't hurt anyone, bar the grumpy Doctor who seemed to hate Stiles for no reason. And to be honest that was a victory.

As Stiles pressed the play button he tried not to think how he hadn't seen this world's Derek since he'd woken up. It might be a bit awkward any way, since his twin from a universe had put his tongue and hands in places that still made Stiles blush. He didn't want to think about Jackson either, who was in the depths of his own madness in a different universe. Stiles had managed to get his number from Lydia and called him. He was still a dick in this universe, but he was a non-murdering dick at least. They'd actually had an okay conversation once he'd done insulting Stiles.

The sound of his bedroom window being pulled open doesn't worry Stiles, he knows instantly who it is and he'd been waiting for him for days. Stiles can't help but feel warm all of a sudden as a very stubbly Derek Hale lands gracefully in the middle of his bedroom floor. Derek looks hot, so much hotter than other world Derek. Stiles actually wants to run his fingers through his hair and lick his abs…this was new. He wondered if his rain check on sexy times with other Derek applied in this universe.

'Stiles, do you need to go to the hospital?' asked Derek, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

Stiles closed his mouth and wiped away the drool. His new found attraction to Derek was so going to make things awkward. 'No I spent plenty of time there already, not that you would know seen as you never visited.'

Derek glared at him. 'I was busy.'

'Doing push ups?' asked Stiles, because he was almost sure Derek's muscles were even bigger than the last time he'd seen them.

'Helping Deaton,' replied Derek, he slid his jacket off and sat down on the edge of Stiles's bed. 'How are you feeling?'

'Like some witch drowned me and displaced me into another universe for a few months.' Replied Stiles. 'And I've got to ask, does the shop you get your leather jackets from exist in every universe?'

Derek lips twitched. 'Probably.'

'You can either sit there and stare at my wall for the next hour like you're doing…which news flash dude; my wall is not that interesting. Or you can pop in another DVD and come sit up here with me.' Said Stiles, after he'd been on the receiving end of one of Derek's silent stares for the past few minutes.

Instead of climbing out the window like Stiles expected him to do, Derek pops a new DVD into his player, slipped his shoes off and joined Stiles on the bed.

'Dude…' said Stiles, as Derek slides in next to him. 'You know how to work a DVD player?'

'Shut up Stiles.'

Stiles can't help but smile, feeling a familiar warmth in his heart when it comes to Derek. He threw his blankets over the other man, shifting closer to him. He felt so cold and Derek was so warm. He shifted a little closer and finally rested his head on Derek's shoulder, trying to not feel too discouraged by the way Derek stiffens under him.

'What are you doing?' asked Derek, sounding almost vulnerable.

'Snuggling,' replied Stiles, feelings his eyes drift close.

'Why?' asked Derek.

'Head injury,'

'Stiles you didn't sustain a proper head injury, you nearly drowned…there's a difference.' Replied Derek.

'No there isn't,' said Stiles.

'Don't you think you're milking it now?'

Stiles let out a soft laugh 'Is that a problem?

'No,' replied Derek, seeming to finally relax underneath him. Derek slowly reached out his arm and pulled Stiles to his chest.

Stiles let out a content sigh, feeling properly warm for the first time in days. The sound of Derek's fast heart beat was almost soothing him to sleep. Just before he drifted off, Stiles muttered one last thing under his breath. 'Wolverine was such a cliché choice dude.'

He can't help but smile as he hear Derek's chest rumble with laughter underneath him.

TW

Stiles woke up to find the room dark and the TV screen showing the end credits to what he assumes is still Wolverine. He feels as if he has been submerged into a warm bath and snuggles even closer to his source of warmth. Derek…who now has become Stiles's new personal pillow lets out an odd noise. And his hand that seemed to have been moving in Stiles hair stills.

'Hey,' said Stiles softly, looking up at unreadable green eyes.

'Hey,' replies Derek.

'I missed you,' the words leave Stiles lips before he could stop them. 'In the other world, you were there but you weren't you.'

'Wasn't that a good thing?' asked Derek.

'No,' replied Stiles. 'He wanted me to stay with him. But I said no.'

The look in Derek's eyes is relief. 'Did you want to stay?'

Stiles looked up at the ceiling. 'For a moment I thought I did. But I couldn't live in a world without Scott, without you.' Stiles was pretty sure the medication he was on was making him loose lipped. He had only briefly spoken to his Dad and Scott about the other universe; it was still a painful subject for him.

'Okay,' asked Derek, but he was already retreating in on himself.

Stiles sat up and looked him straight in the eyes. 'The other you, he was open and a bit awkward. I always seem to put my foot in my mouth when I said something that wouldn't matter if I said it to you. He wanted me to stay with him; he wanted me as more than just a friend. He hid a way of getting home from me and instead tried to make a move on me.'

In seconds Derek was out of the bed, pacing in the middle of the bedroom floor with his eyes glowing blue. 'Did the two of you?' he asked, his voice low.

'No, because he wasn't you.' Said Stiles quickly, his heart pounding in his chest. Maybe he'd gone too far, maybe he'd misread things. 'He was like a warm and fluffy Derek clone Derek, but I didn't want that…I want someone who isn't selfish and who might take me a while to figure out but will be totally worth it at the end, someone who wouldn't think twice about saving my life, calling me out on my shit…I wanted you Derek.'

Derek finally stopped pacing and instead stormed over to the bed. For a moment Stiles is unsure whether he is going to rip his throat out or kiss him into a coma. Stiles licked his dry lips and is about to open his mouth to say something, when Derek is suddenly on top of him and their lips are moving together. This kiss is different to his kiss with the other Derek; it is more intimate and filled with so many more words that have been left unsaid. Stiles's heart practically feels like it is going to beat right outside of his chest with how right it all feels.

'Dude,' said Stiles, as he breathlessly pulled away for a moment. 'Are you jealous of yourself?'

Derek replies by placing his lips back onto Stiles's, biting down hard on the bottom of Stiles's lip and causing him to arch up.

'Because,' says Stiles, as Derek's hands begin to roam all over his body, 'There's no comparison.'

Derek lets out a growl, as his lips make their way down to Stiles's neck. He tugged at Stiles's shirt and pulled it right off. 'You nearly died and now you tell me some other me tried to claim you as his own…how do you expect me to react?'

'This was is good,' said Stiles as Derek's lips once again covered his own in a kiss that sends warmth right down to the tips of his toes. 'Just to check,' said Stiles breathlessly, as Derek's tongue ran down his neck. 'We are about to do many unspeakable things in many different positions, aren't we?'

'Shut up Stiles,' replied Derek, placing his mouth back on his.

When this time Derek's hand dips low towards his trouser waistband Stiles says yes instead of no.

TW

Sheriff Stilinski had gone through a lot of pain in his life: he had lost his wife, lost the boy who he'd seen as a second son and for two years lost Stiles to his own mind. So as he slips into the chair next to Melissa on graduation day, he couldn't be more proud. A year ago he never thought he would be here, never thought he'd get his boy back like he did. Stiles had come back to him and then went on to have an accident at the vets loosing his memories of his recovery over the last few months. Why Stiles was at the vets that day, John would never know; but it was obviously something to do with the werewolf crap him and his friends were now involved in.

John gave Derek a swift nod as he slipped into the seat next to him. After the accident Derek hadn't left his son's side, even though he had no idea who the man was. When John had questioned him about it, Derek has simply said 'we look out for each other, it's what we do.' Derek was now training to be the town's new deputy Sheriff and was growing as a person, just like his son was. Although that hadn't made it any better when a month ago he'd walked in to find Derek and his son making out on the sofa in a state of undress. He'd called it months ago, but it still didn't stop him giving a lecture while he fingered his gun the entire time. Werewolf or not, John was going to put multiple bullets into Derek if he ever hurt his son.

A group of kids surrounded his son just before the ceremony; John knew most of them seen as they spent most their time round his house eating pizza…pizza he wasn't allowed any of. The kids had seem to have stuck to his son like glue after he'd come out of hospital for a second time, making his son believe again that there could be life after Scott. That there was hope even in the darkest days. John would never be able to thank them enough after that.

'How's Stiles holding up?' whispered Melissa to him.

'Okay, though he ate four portions of curly fries this morning.' Replied John.

'Isaac felt too sick to eat, although I think he's relieved he got held back a year and got to graduate with Stiles' replied Melissa. 'I wrote to his Dad in rehab and asked him to come, but he said no.'

'Maybe it's for the best.' Replied John.

'I think so.' Said Melissa.

As the ceremony began a hush settled over the field. As the names were read a polite cheering came afterwards, but none were as loud as when Stiles took to the stage. His friends sitting nearly the front row stamped their feet and even Derek joined in with making the noise as loud as possible. John was on his feet before he could stop himself.

'That's my boy!' he shouted, thumping Derek on the shoulder.

When all the names were read but one, a hush came across the proceedings. The principle stepped forward with one last certificate. A special certificate that his son had to fight tooth and nail for.

'Scott McCall.'

Stiles practically leapt out of his seat and stumbled up the stage to take the certificate for his lost best friend. John felt Melissa's hand slip into as Stiles grabbed the certificate and held it up to the sky.

'This one's for you buddy,' he said softly into the microphone, his eyes wet with tears.

He stepped down from the stage and a slow clapping began to rise from the crowd. John couldn't stop himself from smiling as Stiles practically ran down from the stage and threw himself into Derek's waiting arms. Things would never be the same and in some ways they would always be hard. But they would survive and adapt, because that's what Stilinski's did.