Epilogue

Derek and Stiles wanted their first Christmas in their new house to be a quiet affair but somehow it had got out of hand. Their new house is a modestly sized two bed room house on the edge of the nature preserve. Derek had agreed immediately when Stiles had asked him to move to Beacon Hills after they graduated. Derek had nowhere he could call home anymore and Cora was away at college most of the time. The spare bedroom was for her whenever she needed a place to stay.

After Derek had helped the Sheriff unload the extra chairs from the truck he circled his arms around Stiles as he set the table and squeezed him tightly.

"I can't believe this is our first Christmas in our new house." Derek said.

"Feels like only yesterday we made our first road trip together to Beacon Hills." Stiles reminisced.

…

The long journey back to Beacon Hills seemed to take no time at all in each other's company. They reminisced about Christmas pasts, listened to the radio and held hands the whole time. As they started to get nearer their destination Derek became visibly more anxious, jiggling his leg and growing more a more quiet.

"Would you please relax! You're making my ADHD bad!" Stiles tried to give Derek a reassuring grin.

"I want your dad to like me, and as you have pointed out on several occasions, I don't make the best first impression" Derek sighed.

"He will love you, sure he is a bit overprotective and carries a gun at all times. But I'm sure it will be fine." Stiles squeezed Derek's hand reassuringly.

Derek tugged his hair in despair and turned back to look out the window.

They pulled into Stiles' driveway and started to unload the bags the Sheriff came out the house to help. He pulled Stiles into a tight hug then stepped forward hand outstretched to Derek.

"You must be Derek…" The Sheriff said shaking Derek's hand rather firmly and looking at him in an appraising manner.

"Pleased to meet you sir." Derek replied nervously.

"I've heard a lot about you Derek, this one never shuts up about you." Sheriff said ruffling Stiles hair affectionately.

"Daaad" Stiles whined.

"Dinners in the oven so why don't you boys dump your stuff up in Stiles' room and get washed up." Sheriff said.

They were almost at the door when the Sheriff shouted "There's not time for any funny business Stiles."

Stiles groaned loudly.

Stiles took Derek 'sightseeing' around Beacon Hills. Derek loved the nature trails on the preserve and made it his routine to run there twice a day.

They did all the traditional Christmas stuff like bake cookies, decorate the tree and ate their own bodyweight in chocolate. Stiles was ridiculously excited and it was rubbing off on Derek too. He was especially excited to see Cora again as he hadn't seen her since the summer. They were meeting her at the airport, her flight from New York got in at 6pm. When she spotted Stiles and Derek waiting for her, she broke into a run but instead of jumping into Derek's arms she hugged Stiles tightly first.

"Thank you for bringing my brother back to me." She whispered in Stiles' ear her eyes shining with tears. The she turned to Derek and pulled him into a bone crushing hug. And with the Stiles and Cora became best friends, bonding over trading embarrassing stories about Derek, much to his disgust.

Waking up on Christmas morning snuggled next to Stiles was the best feeling in the world. He didn't have long to enjoy it before Stiles was waking up and bouncing on the bed with excitement. Derek huffed at being pulled out of the warm bed but it was worth it to see Stiles' and Cora's excited faces at seeing all the presents under the tree.

Stiles had protested loudly when the Sheriff made them have breakfast before presents.

When it was at long last present time, Stiles was moved to tears when he unwrapped Derek's gift. A triscale necklace.

"I know how much you love my tattoo…" Derek shared a private smile with Stiles.

Stiles' gift to Derek was a watch, he had had engraved on the back 'In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.' It was Stiles favourite quote and as a philosophy major he knew a lot! Derek was over the moon. Cora couldn't stop ahhhing at their cuteness at first then finally told them to pack it is as their love was sickening!

True to his word Stiles had cooked for an army. After they had stuffed themselves silly, they retired to the living room to watch movies. Later they had more food and played board games. After quite a few drinks the sheriff proclaimed Cora was like the daughter he never had and that he already considered them the Stilinski-Hale family!

"I think you have won over my dad." Stiles laughed shutting the door to his room later that night.

They were both falling asleep downstairs cuddled up together on the couch. Finally they made their excuses and escaped for some time alone.

"I had such a good day, thank you. I thought I would feel sad but..."

"But what Derek?" Stiles asked taking his hand.

"It's such a cliché but being with you makes me feel new again."

Stiles couldn't find the words to answer that so he just tried to poor all his feelings into their kiss. They held each other for what seemed like hours, kissing with familiar passion but without the urgency they had become accustomed too. They finally feel asleep in each other's arms.

On New Year's Eve they waved a tearful good bye to Cora at the airport. They would be returning to college themselves in a couple of days but Stiles had one last surprise up his sleeve.

The jeep was already loaded up so they took the jeep to the highest point in Beacon Hills. There was a flat rock up there that was perfect for them to sit on and watch the New Year fireworks. Stiles had packed the trucks with blankets which they now snuggled up in. They counted down at midnight and kissed as the fireworks started.

…

Now their Christmases were a lot busier. This year they had the Sheriff, Scott and his mom Melissa. Cora and her boyfriend Boyd and Isaac round for Christmas dinner. The talked to Erica on Skype who had decided to spend Christmas with her family, but promised she would come to visit in the new year. Stiles used the number of extra guests as an excuse to go even more mad on the cooking, this year roping Derek into being his Sous chef. Derek couldn't be happier as he watched his family tucking into dinner, laughing and sharing stories in their new house.