cut
Stiles looked up when the door of the room opened and Derek walked in. He smiled weakly and Derek frowned at him in confusion.
"What is it?" Derek asked, "You said you would come down." He took a seat beside Stiles on the bed, and frowned in worry when the younger man bowed his head.
"I want to, I really do, but…"
"But what?" Derek asked when Stiles hesitated.
"Is my dad – is my dad really alright?" Stiles asked in a small voice. Derek never heard that voice come from Stiles. Not from him.
Stiles never sounded frightened.
He never sounded scared and defeated.
He always looked danger in the eye and faced it with more than just false bravado.
He was a special man, and Derek didn't know how to approach him.
He didn't know how to come to Stiles and ask him to be part of his Pack. He could easily approach Erica, Isaac and Boyd. Neither one of them had Stiles' spark.
Neither one of them had Stiles' defiant nature.
Neither one of them had his bravery, his quick wit, his big - sometimes too big heart.
Stiles didn't need someone to lead him, to protect him.
Not until now.
"Derek?" Stiles asked in a wavering voice, and Derek looked into those amazing orbs of autumn gold.
"Your dad's fine. I bit him, and he survived the Bite. Peter explained everything to him. He's fine."
Stiles swallowed and nodded his head, taking a deep breath before he slowly stood up. "The Alpha Pack?"
"They are in the living room, and so is Deaton."
Stiles nodded and took a step towards the door only to stop when Derek grabbed his right hand with his and stopped him.
"Stiles?"
"What?"
Derek took a deep breath and stopped right in front of Stiles before he bowed down and kissed him gently.
Stiles sighed against Derek's lips and moved closer to him.
"Everything will be alright. I promise," Derek swore and Stiles gulped.
"I know," he whispered and they made their way out of the room.
They walked down the stairs and Derek started to walk towards the living room only to stop when Stiles grabbed his right sleeve in his left hand, and stopped him. Derek turned to look at Stiles and frowned when he saw how pale the teen was. The younger man was shivering and he looked like he was on the brink of a panic attack.
Derek took Stiles' hand in his left to make him let go of his sleeve, before he entwined their fingers and smiled at Stiles reassuringly. "It'll be alright," he said and led Stiles into the living room. Almost immediately everyone stood up and looked at them.
"Stiles..." John moved forward only to stop when Stiles took a step behind Derek. A small whimper escaped the teen, but it was loud enough for everyone to catch it. "Stiles?" John called for his son softly when Derek nodded at him.
John could hear his son's heart beating quickly. He could smell his son's fear, and the thought that Stiles felt that because he was afraid of him, his own father, broke John's heart.
"Stiles, please look at me," John begged, and Stiles only pushed himself closer to Derek, burying his face between Derek's shoulder blades.
Isaac, Lydia and Jackson exchanged confused glances.
They have never seen Stiles acting like that.
Never.
Deaton looked at the Alpha Pack, and found them looking at Stiles with understanding in their eyes.
Peter felt sorry for Stiles. He didn't even want to know what the Demon put the young man through.
This was the child that stood against Peter when he was at his worst. This was the child that looked Peter in the eyes, called him names and refused the Bite because Stiles didn't want to be like Peter. And now, that same child that had so much life in him hid behind Derek as though the world was after him.
"Stiles, please… Please, look at me," John implored softly. His voice was wavering and his heart was breaking more with each second.
"I can't…" Stiles gasped and let go of Derek. "I can't do this – I – I can't!"
"Stiles!" John cried out when Stiles turned on his heel and ran out of the house and into the woods.
John stood rooted to his spot, shock written clearly on his face, until it melted into heartbreak. "He ran from me."
"No." John looked at Derek, and his Alpha bowed his head with an air of sadness around him. "He ran from what the Demon put him through." He moved to the side, leaving the doorway open. "Go after him. He needs you."
"What if I hurt him?" John asked weakly.
Derek snorted and smirked. "Despite everything, your son is stronger than he looks. I'll tell you everything he's lived through later. Go. He needs you."
John gulped, but nodded and straightened never the less. "We'll come back," he said and ran after Stiles.
"You could have gone after him just as easily, you know?" Lydia commented and Derek looked at her, shaking his head.
"Stiles has been forced to watch the Demon torture his father, and he could do nothing to stop it. He thinks his father hates him. He fears to see John's reaction. It's best John deals with it right away," Derek explained and Lydia snorted.
"He's always been an emotional wreck," she muttered and Derek snorted.
"Which one of us isn't?" he asked and no one in the room could oppose him.
cut
Stiles ran until his legs betrayed him. He hid behind the closest tree, bent his knees, hugged his legs to his chest, and buried his face in his crossed forearms. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. His heart was beating loudly in his ears.
He was losing it.
He couldn't fight the panic that ensnared his mind.
He thought he heard someone call for him.
He thought he felt someone touch him.
He thought he…
"Stiles, please; please, son. Calm down."
Stiles' breath hitched in his throat and he started choking.
"Stiles!"
He felt someone move him. A heartbeat that was not his broke the rhythm of his quickly beating heart. Familiar, loving arms wrapped themselves around him. A familiar scent tickled his nose.
"Breathe with me, Genim."
His father's voice broke through the haze and Stiles realized he was crying.
"Dad…"
"Hush, son. Calm down. Your heart's gonna give up on you, kiddo. Breathe."
Stiles closed his eyes and concentrated on the steady breathing of his father. He felt his heartbeat against his back.
His father held him to his chest lovingly.
He wasn't screaming at him.
He was running from him.
He didn't – He didn't hate him.
"I couldn't never hate you, son," John spoke against Stiles' ear and kissed his temple, and Stiles realized he had spoken his thoughts out loud. "I know it wasn't you. Derek and Peter explained everything to me. The Alpha Pack told me everything I need to know, but what I need right now is for you to calm down and believe me when I tell you that I love you, that I could never hate you, and that I never - not once - thought that what happened to me was your doing. A son doesn't feed his father rabbit food to keep him alive for as long as possible just to make a pin cushion out of him."
Stiles let go of a hysterical laugh, and John chuckled.
"I'm so sorry, dad," Stiles choked out. "I never wanted this. I never wanted you to find out like this. I never wanted…"
"No one ever wants for bad things to happen," John said. He relaxed a bit when he felt Stiles slowly ease back into John's loving hold.
John leaned back against the tree and pulled Stiles along. His son shifted around a bit until he lied on his side with his head on John's chest, right over his heart, and John smiled. Last time he held Stiles like this was after Claudia died. He missed it. He missed his little boy.
"I'm sorry, dad," Stiles whispered.
"No, Stiles. I'm sorry."
Stiles tensed up at that.
"I'm sorry for seeing the signs of danger. I'm sorry for ignoring the fact that I knew. I knew you were a part of something dangerous, but I didn't do anything about it. I'm sorry for not forcing you to tell me about – about werewolves and – and Kanima – and all those scary things you had to face on your own."
"I didn't," Stiles whispered brokenly. He nuzzled closer to his dad and wrapped his right arm around John's waist, soaking in his dad's warmth. "I didn't face all of it alone. Derek was there. He may not have been there for me, exactly," John chuckled, knowing what Stiles meant, "but he was always there to save me, or at least try to save me."
"He's a good kid," John said and Stiles looked up at him in shock. "That's better," John whispered and caressed Stiles' cheek with the back of his left hand. "I was wondering when you'd finally look at me."
Stiles gulped as tears came to his eyes again. "I'm really sorry, dad! I'm sorry for constantly making you worry about me! I'm sorry for being a bad son! I'll try- I'll really try! I'll…"
"Stiles..."
"I'll – I'll stop hanging out with Derek and everyone –and I'll –I'll go to school all the time and…"
"Stiles, please…"
"I promise! Just don't hate me, dad! Please, just don't…"
"Stiles!" John snapped and hugged his son tightly. "Stiles, I'll never hate you. Damn it, kid, you'll make your heart stop. Please, calm down! I swear, everything's alright..."
"But you're a werewolf now," Stiles spoke weakly and John snorted.
"So what? I'm alive. I have a chance to be with my son for one heck of a longer time now. And I can go back to eating meat!" that shocked a laugh out of Stiles and John grinned. "That's what I want to see," he said and Stiles finally started to calm down. "Yes. I'm a werewolf now. And no, I don't want you to stop hanging out with Derek, Isaac, Jackson and Lydia. I have a feeling that with despite all of their problems they'll prove to be better friends than Scott once you get to know each other."
Stiles' eyes filled with sadness and John sighed.
"You're my son, Stiles, and I only want what's best for you, even if it means you dating an older man, who's an Alpha Werewolf." John shivered at that and Stiles laughed quietly. "If it means that you'll be happy and safe then that's all I can ask for."
Stiles nodded and hugged his dad. "Thank you, dad. And I'm really sorry. I'm really sorry for everything."
John sighed and hugged his son as tightly as he could without hurting him. "It's alright, son. Everything's alright."
cut
Everyone stood up when they heard the front door open, and Derek walked into the hallway to see John carrying a sleeping Stiles in his arms.
"He exhausted himself," John explained and Derek nodded. He walked over and raised his arms.
Both knew that they had quite an audience, but neither one cared.
John looked Derek in the eyes and frowned. "You listen to me very carefully," he warned. "I know you're my Alpha now, and that I respond to you, but you hurt him - you break his heart - and they'll find your body in so many pieces they won't be able to identify you, do I make myself clear?"
Derek nodded. "I'll sooner hurt myself than hurt him. I swear on my life."
John nodded and allowed Derek to take Stiles from him. "Take him to your room. Let him rest," John said and looked at their audience. "Now, can anyone tell me if there's something to eat in this house or do I have to go and hunt down a rabbit."
Peter chuckled and walked over to him. "I'm feeling quite pekish myself," he drawled and led John into the kitchen.
"You children should go and rest as well. We will talk tomorrow," Deucalion said and the teens looked at the Alpha Pack.
"You aren't here to hurt us, are you?" Isaac asked and Kali smiled at him.
"I know we haven't left a good first impression," she said. "We aren't here to harm you. We came because we heard of the troubles that hit this small town. We heard there's a new Alpha here, and that he is quite young. If Derek agrees to it, we will remain here to teach him and you how to be a proper Pack, although by what I see, you are doing a pretty good job."
"If we were doing a good job, Stiles wouldn't have been possessed," Lydia murmured, wrapping her arms around her waist and swallowing audibly. "He wouldn't have been forced to live through that."
"Everyone makes mistakes." The teens looked at Deucalion. "You are all young. It is good that you have Peter and John among you now. You have a lot to learn still, but everything will be alright for as long as you remember that you are a family now."
"Deucalion is right," Deaton said and looked at Isaac. "I must go now. I expect you at the clinic tomorrow afternoon, Isaac. You're welcome to come as well, Jackson. Now that Scott's away, Isaac will need help around the clinic and you might learn something interesting as well."
Jackson smiled and nodded. "I'll come."
Lydia smiled at her boyfriend approvingly while Deaton nodded before he bowed at the Alpha Pack. "See you then," the Veterinarian greeted and left.
"Let's all retire for tonight," Deucalion suggested.
"I think I'll go for a run first," Aiden said and Ethan nodded.
"I'll join you." The two left after they waved at the others.
"Deucalion, how long do you think we will stay?" Ennis asked.
"You must return to your Pack?" Deucalion questioned and Ennis nodded.
"My Mate Calica could give birth at any time. I must be with her at that moment."
Deucalion laughed warmly and clapped Ennis' back.
"You can go immediately if you so wish."
Ennis hummed and looked up for a second.
"What is he…"
"Derek can hear us," Jackson whispered to Lydia. "He just told Ennis that he and his Pack are welcome here at any time and asked Ennis if he should come down to greet him."
"There is no need to come down, Alpha Hale," Ennis said. "Take good care of your Mate and Pack." Ennis looked at Deucalion and Kali. "Fare well. We'll meet again soon."
"I must say that's quite useful," Lydia muttered once Ennis was gone, and the werewolves laughed.
"Not when you live in a house full of teenagers, or newlyweds." They looked at Peter who stood in the doorway with John who was biting into a huge sandwich.
"Isn't that a bit unhealthy?" Lydia asked when she saw all the meat in the sandwich.
"Cut me some slack. I hadn't eaten anything unhealthy in years," John muttered and winced. Lydia looked at Jackson and Isaac when they snickered, while the adults looked fondly at John.
"Stiles is awake. Derek's told Stiles what his dad's eating, and Stiles said that just because John's a werewolf now doesn't mean he can pig out," Isaac whispered to Lydia while John winced.
"He'll never let me enjoy myself," he mourned and Deucalion laughed.
"Your son loves you dearly, John. It is commendable that he worries about you so much."
John smiled around a bite. "I know. I just wish he doesn't worry that much." He finished his sandwich. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to bed. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a long day since I hadn't been to the station for two days." He winced. "God, sometimes I hate my job," he muttered while every laughed. "Good night everyone," with that he left up the stairs.
"Good night." Peter followed after John and everyone nodded at him.
"Do you want me to take you home?" Jackson asked Lydia and she shrugged.
"No. I can stay one more night."
"Rest well, children, Deucalion said and Kali smiled at them as they walked up the stairs.
"Good night, the three said.
"Hey, guys?" Isaac called out, and the two looked at him. "Do you think now that Derek and Stiles are officially together, and he'll become Derek's Mate sooner or later, he'll make that chocolate pie for us that Scott mentioned?"
Jackson rolled his eyes while Lydia giggled. In the next moment Isaac grinned and Jackson shook his head with an expression of weakly concealed fondness.
"Will he?" Lydia asked.
"Tomorrow for dinner," Jackson said and Lydia hned.
"Seems I'm staying tomorrow night as well."
cut
Stiles sighed and looked at Derek. They were lying on Derek's bed facing each other. Stiles smiled when Derek entwined their hands between them and moved a bit closer so that he could rest his forehead against Stiles'.
"I'm sorry for everything I put you through, Derek finally said and Stiles frowned.
"Derek, you didn't…"
"I did. There's no sense denying it, Derek interrupted him and looked deep in Stiles' honey eyes. "All your doubts, all your insecurities… I may not be the only one at fault, but I am to blame."
"Derek, everything that Demon said…"
"He spoke of your fears, Stiles." Derek cut him off again and Stiles looked at their joined hands. "He spoke of your doubts, your thoughts. He was right about one thing. Our actions, our mistakes - my mistakes led you to doubting yourself. My actions brought you to thinking I didn't want you in my Pack. My own doubts stopped me from offering you something I knew you wanted, no matter how much you've denied it; no matter how much you stuck to Scott's side." Stiles swallowed and tried to let go of Derek's hand. "Don't…" Derek pleaded. "I know I don't deserve this but…"
"Why wouldn't you, Derek? If anyone's the undeserving one, it's me." Stiles spoke up finally and Derek shook his head.
"Stiles, the reason I didn't offer you the Bite was because I never thought you needed to get better in any way." Stiles' eyes widened and he looked in Derek's hazel orbs, his own filled with shock. "Jackson asked for the Bite because he wanted to prove he was better than anyone, that he didn't need anyone. Erica, Isaac, Boyd… They all wanted attention. They wanted to be stronger, healthier, better. You? You are strong without being a werewolf, Stiles. You don't need to be a werewolf to be better than most humans I've met."
Stiles' breath hitched in his throat and tears gathered in his eyes. "I thought…"
"It's not that I didn't want you to be in my Pack," Derek whispered, for the first time in his life not feeling like he should keep his mouth shut. Words came to him easier than ever before, and for the first time in a long, long while Derek didn't feel like there was a weight on his tongue keeping him quiet. "I thought you were too good for it. I thought you were better off not dealing with me."
"Shouldn't I be the judge of that?" Stiles murmured, not looking away from Derek. "I thought you didn't want me because I was human, because I was weak. I thought you never offered the Bite because you didn't want anything to do with stupid, hyperactive, hyperaware, too-curious-for-his-own-good…"
"Stop right there," Derek cut him off and Stiles' breath hitched in his throat. "You have ADHD. It's normal that you're hyperactive and hyperaware. I don't even want to know what goes through your head most of the time, because I think I'd faint from information overload."
Stiles snickered a bit. "Did you just make a joke?"
"Stiles..."
"Shutting up." Stiles bit into his bottom lip, and Derek sighed and rolled his eyes, not failing to see the corners of Stiles' lush, perfect lips tilting up as the teen struggled to suppress laughter.
"Your problem isn't 'not being good enough'," Derek whispered, keeping his gaze locked onto Stiles'. "You've always been too good - too good for me, too good for this Pack I've made and managed to destroy."
"You didn't destroy anything, Derek. Erica and Boyd, they – they chose their own destiny. They could have returned when Chris set the three of us free, but they didn't. You told them - I know you've told them what happens to Omegas. If my problem is being too good, your problem is that you always, always try too hard to do everything on your own. You're not invincible, Derek. You're a werewolf, yes, but you're also only human," Stiles smirked, "and I think someone told me once that werewolves work best in Packs."
Derek's lips tilted up into a small smile and he raised his left hand to caress Stiles' cheek lovingly. "A Pack must have a good leader," he spoke in a tight voice and Stiles sighed, raising his hand to covered Derek's, and give it a reassuring squeeze.
"You are a good leader," Stiles insisted quietly, his gaze imploring Derek to believe him. "You've managed to save me from a Demon. You've organized your Pack quickly, and you all performed your plan without fail."
Derek smiled because of Stiles' words. "It happened that way because it was you in question, Stiles."
Stiles' eyes shone with specks of doubt, and Derek leaned closer. He stole a light kiss from Stiles before pulled the teen closer, Derek's heartbeat stuttering when Stiles tucked his head under Derek's chin.
"I'm going to say this as many times as you need to hear it," Derek whispered in Stiles' hair. He felt Stiles' arms wrap themselves around him and Derek placed his left hand on Stiles' hip. "We need you. I need you. And I'll never, never let you go."
Stiles buried his face in Derek's neck and flattened their bodies together. "Again," he mumbled and Derek smiled.
"I need you, Stiles," Derek answered in a whisper.
"Again," Stiles spoke and his voice sounded a bit stronger.
Derek buried his face in Stiles' neck and hugged him tightly. "I need you."
Stiles raised his head and nudged Derek's shoulder with his nose. Derek looked into Stiles' eyes and shivered when Stiles cupped his face, fingers caressing the scrappy beard covering Derek's cheeks.
"Again," Stiles whispered and Derek shivered when Stiles' eyes darkened with passion.
"I love you."
Stiles kissed him hard and Derek bit back a moan. He rolled onto Stiles and the younger teen's breath hitched in his throat.
"I love you," Derek whispered and kissed down Stiles' neck. "I'll always need you..."
"Derek..."
"I'll always want you."
"Oh my god..."
"I'll always love you."
"Derek!"
"Always."
cut
When John walked into the kitchen the next morning he stopped in the doorway and gaped.
Stiles was already there with Ethan and Aiden, and the twins were laughing their hearts out while Stiles flipped pancakes left, right and center with a smile tilting those beautiful lips.
"You, John, have a son that deserves a fricking medal!" Ethan hollered, holding onto his stomach.
Stiles looked at his dad and winked before he went back to cooking.
"Yeah? Not that I don't agree, but may I know why?" John asked and took a seat at the table.
"He actually managed to make an Alpha…" Ethan started.
"Who he's not mated to…" Aided jumped in.
"Who's one pretty scary son of a gun when he wants to be…"
"Go and buy blueberries and chocolate chips…"
"At 6 in the morning…"
"Because he wanted to make pancakes for breakfast!" the two finished together and John thanked god for that, because his neck started to hurt.
Stiles snickered and placed a plate in front of his dad. "Good morning, dad. Dig in," he said and went back to making pancakes.
"Morning," John answered distractedly, still trying to wrap his mind around what the twins had said. "How did you manage that?" he asked and moaned after putting a piece of the delicious treat into his mouth. "Delicious."
Stiles blushed, but before he managed to answer Isaac walked into the room with Jackson and Lydia in tow. "How did he manage to do what?" Isaac asked.
"Allow me," John spoke up before Ethan and Aiden could. "Stiles has somehow managed to make our dear Alpha go to the store at 6 in the morning to buy blueberries and chocolate chips."
"Go, Stiles!" Isaac cheered and grinned when he received an extra large pile of chocolate chip pancakes. Stiles winked at Isaac and passed him some chocolate sauce as well.
"God. How can you eat that?" Lydia groused and smiled at Stiles thankfully when he offered her a plate with few pancakes without syrup, and fresh blueberries on the side. "Thank you, Stiles."
Jackson nodded at Stiles in thanks when the human handed Jackson a plate of blueberry pancakes covered in maple syrup before the first Beta joined the others at the table without a word.
"Whatever you did, can you do it again tomorrow?" Isaac asked and Stiles blushed to the roots of his hair.
"Can he do what tomorrow?" Peter asked and jumped in his place when Stiles thrust a plate of pancakes in front of him while Peter rounded the table to take a seat.
"I thought you werewolves had super-hearing," Stiles grumbled.
"We tend to ignore all sounds if we don't feel endangered. It becomes distracting," Peter said. "Especially if you're trying to sleep – AUCH!" he cried out when Stiles slapped the back of his head. "What was that for?!"
"For being a pervert!" Stiles snapped and everyone laughed at Peter.
"I didn't say anything!"
"You implied plenty!"
"It's not my fault Derek's room is right next door to mine!"
"Then move to a different room! As a matter of fact, move out altogether!"
"You don't mean that!"
"I sure do!"
"But I'm good now!"
"You're still the biggest pervert I know!"
Derek chuckled from his place in the doorway and everyone looked at him. Kali and Deucalion were behind Derek and the three were observing the bunch around the table with expressions of fond amusement.
"Morning," Derek said and walked into the kitchen. He rounded the table and kissed Stiles lightly before he took a plate and leaned against a kitchen cabinet because there was no place at the table anymore.
Deucalion and Kali followed after Derek and leaned against cabinets as well when Stiles offered them breakfast.
"This is great," Derek said and Stiles beamed at him.
"Told you it would pay off."
Derek snorted and smiled at Stiles with his mouth full.
"That's it. He smiled. Pay up," Ethan said and showed his right hand to his twin.
"His mouth's full! You can't know if he smiled or not!" Aiden cried out.
"He smiled," Ethan grinned. "Pay up."
Everyone raised eyebrows at the two while Kali and Deucalion rolled their eyes.
"Did you two make a bet?" Isaac asked.
"Yeah!" Aiden grinned. "I said that Derek can't actually smile. He can smirk, scowl, frown, pout, grin, glare and sneer, but he can't smile."
"And I said that dear Alpha Hale would smile for real if he only got laid once in a while," Ethan added, making Stiles, Derek and John choke on their bites.
"WHAT?!" John snapped.
"Dad, don't!"
"Ethan! Aiden! That was way out of line," Kali chastised and the twins shrugged.
"I was right, wasn't I?" Ethan said and Stiles glared at him.
"I was wrong. You're a worse pervert than Peter," Stiles muttered.
"Why thank you," Peter grinned.
"That doesn't mean you aren't moving to another room," Stiles was quick to answer.
"But I just managed to decorate this one!" Peter whined.
"You're moving," Derek stated firmly and Peter looked at his nephew with puppy dog eyes.
"Wait. Does that mean Stiles is moving in for real?" Isaac asked and everyone looked at him.
"Dad's Pack now," Stiles said and looked at Derek. "And Derek and I are together. If he doesn't m…"
"I don't," Derek interrupted Stiles and quickly finished his breakfast. "Mind, that is," he added after he swallowed.
"Why?" John asked Isaac and the teen blushed.
"Because – because when Stiles is around it feels like we're a real family," Isaac explained sheepishly.
Jackson looked at Lydia and she smiled at her boyfriend when he squeezed her hand on the table. John and Peter exchanged a small, knowing glance, and Stiles looked at Derek with wide eyes.
Derek smiled at Stiles and shrugged. "I told you so," he said, and Stiles turned around with his head bowed to finish making pancakes.
"Does anyone want more?" he asked, and if anyone noticed the tightness of his voice and the tears in his eyes (and they did) they didn't comment on it.
Kali and Deucalion exchanged a small, pleased smile.
The Hale Pack still had a lot to learn, but what they found here differed greatly from what they thought they'd find.
The Hale Pack was still very young and very inexperienced, and even though they still had a long way to go before they could call themselves a real Pack, they've come a long way from being just a bunch of mismatched misfits they thought they'd find, and the Alphas knew that the Hale Pack would eventually make it.
"Wait a second. Derek, does this mean you've had sex with my son?"
"DAD!"
A long way indeed.
cut
THE END
cut
I hope you liked it!
Please leave a review!