Teen Wolf Fic - Battered and Broken (R) 12/12 COMPLETE
Masterpost - contains all story information
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11
Battered And Broken
by Moonbeam (luvsbitca)
Part 12
/ / / Lydia \ \ \
The sheriff had called them all and asked them to come over for lunch on Sunday. Tom had spent the morning making his famous brownies, one of Stiles’ favourites and basically the only thing Tom knew how to bake. They headed to the sheriff’s house just before lunch to find Derek already there, not that Lydia was at all surprised about that since she was certain that the alpha hadn’t left the house since Sarah had been caught. The tentative way Derek had been dealing with Stiles and their relationship before that had fallen at the sheer force of will that Stiles had exerted since. Stiles had been dragging Derek out of the house, going to lunch, dinner, going to the park or for walks. Stiles appeared to be doing everything he could to date Derek while the alpha just followed along looking confused.
Lydia wasn’t sure who found it more amusing, her or the sheriff who seemed to be enjoying the way his son was leading the alpha wolf around with determination. Lydia knew that the older man was less pleased about the fact he kept catching the two of them making out but he couldn’t say much when everyone knew that Stiles would be the one instigating it; after all everyone knew that Derek was a little stunted in the relationship department and would follow wherever Stiles lead. Lydia figured he’d catch up eventually.
Derek was cleaning the barbeque, scraping it down while watching Stiles as the human threw out a plastic tablecloth and started putting out the plates and cutlery. Lydia walked into the backyard without a knock having spent enough time here that she was comfortable. The sheriff had been just as awkward back then when he walked in on Stiles and Lydia making out as he was now with Derek and Stiles. Lydia walked into the backyard and rested her hand on Stiles’ shoulder, he turned around and hugged her with a grin and a smacking kiss to her cheek before he pulled away to grin at Tom and take the brownies away.
“Thanks Tom these are brilliant,” Tom preened a little under Stiles’ enthusiasm and Lydia knew it was why Stiles had done it. Tom had left his town and friends for Lydia and Stiles had been making sure he felt a part of the pack and their world since they had moved to Beacon Hills. The whole pack had been helping, had invited Tom to the pub or to sports or anything else that was going, including the occasional lacrosse match of their old team, but Lydia had a feeling that Stiles had lead the charge much like he had that first day when he had threatened Tom in the same minute he’d invited him to a pack outing.
“How can I help?” Tom asked the two men in the backyard even as Stiles and Lydia went inside to put the brownies away.
Stiles moved to the bench where all the makings of a salad were set out ready to be cut. “Will you peel the carrots?”
Lydia nodded and moved over to the sink next to him. They made the salad in silence even as Scott arrived with Jenny who was staying with him while she decided what she was going to do now. Melissa, Daniel and Chloe walking in a few minutes later just as Stiles was sliding the salad into the fridge.
Danny and Jackson didn’t arrive until they had already put the meat on the hot barbeque both looking like they had dressed in a rush. Lydia was happy for them both, they deserved their happiness but they both needed to get over this rush of need because even after they had obviously showered the scent of sex clung to them as they sat too close to one another on the other side of the table. Lydia knew that once Stiles and Derek had finished physically healing they would be just as bad, probably worse since it would all be completely new to them and Derek had a fair amount of pent up need from not having had sex in about ten years. Maybe she and Tom should take a holiday and come back when they were both done. Then she remembered with a smile why that wasn’t really an option.
The meat was cooking, the sheriff standing at the barbeque having waved Derek back to sit down when Stiles stood up and looked around the people at the table.
“Now you are probably wondering why I called you all here today, I would like to name the murderer,” Stiles started and watched for the laugh from Melissa before he continued. “I went to the doctor earlier in the week and have some good news, my ribs and skull are healing really well but the really good news is that my hearing is coming back.”
Lydia could hear the noise all around her but she couldn’t think to move, she felt stuck to her seat. She had been hopeful, every damned minute since she’d found him bloody and broken and laying under Derek’s motionless body she had also been so fucking terrified for him. She logically knew that there were millions of deaf people in the world and if Stiles was one of them he would be fine because he had managed to cope with werewolf best friends and mixed blooded shifter girlfriends and being the sheriff’s kid in a small town and his mum’s death but she didn’t want him to have to deal with it. There was a tiny, selfish part that hoped he would be okay for her sake as well because she hadn’t been able to do anything to save him and she had never, ever wanted him hurt. She could see other members of the pack moving, crowding around Stiles who was still talking even if she’d stopped listening. Stiles was looking at her though, then his eyes flicked off to the side and without her even thinking about it Lydia’s eyes followed his. Derek looked surprised, a little too pale and he was staring at Stiles like he couldn’t decide if he should be happy or not.
Stiles took a step towards Derek but before he could get out of his circle of well-wishers Lydia was up and dragging Derek inside.
“Okay fearless leader what the hell is wrong?” Lydia asked once there were inside.
“Nothing is wrong.” Derek said looking like he was about to walk out.
“Then why don’t you look happy about Stiles getting his hearing back?”
“I am happy, well not happy.” Derek said sounding confused.
“Then what are you?”
“Should I be happy or…never mind. I’m going back outside.” Derek turned to walk away.
Lydia watched him for a moment and thought about what he’d said and worked it out just as he was about to leave the room. “He knows you don’t care if he’s deaf or not Derek just be happy for him.” Derek still had his back to her but he nodded before he left the house.
Lydia took the time to scribble a note onto a scrap of paper before she went outside to give Stiles her own hug. She slipped the note into his hand as she pulled away. Lydia knew he’d read it when he got a chance and it would help explain why Derek was standing just a little separate from everyone else. She could tell when he’d read it because he was suddenly sitting next to Derek and whispering into the air as though he wasn’t surrounded by werewolves who could hear him if they wanted to.
“It’s okay to be happy I’m getting my hearing back,” Stiles said so quietly Lydia wasn’t sure anyone but she and Derek could hear him. “I’m happy about it.”
Derek nodded but didn’t say anything.
“Dork,” Stiles breathed out and grabbed Derek’s hand. “I’m not going anywhere and I know you aren’t either so just relax and be happy…and stop my dad from burning the sausages.”
Derek was up and out of the seat immediately but didn’t move away until he’d pressed a kiss to Stiles’ lips. Lydia smiled at them, she knew Stiles would end up sorting everything out with Derek and slowly but surely would lead him out of the little bubble of repression and isolation he had been living in. Lydia was, in a not at all vindictive way, looking forward to watching it even knowing that she would be responsible for half the whining that would invariably come when Derek cocked things up again. She and Scott were going to get Stiles, and by extension Derek, through this though. They already had a game plan.
When lunch was over Lydia dragged Stiles off to the side and out of the backyard so that they could walk around the park next to Stiles’ dad’s house. They walked for a while with Lydia’s arm curled into the bend of his until Lydia finally took a deep breath and pushed him down onto a bench. She sat next to him, cupped her hands over his good ear and told him her secret.
Stiles pulled away surprised and then beamed at her. “You’re pregnant?”
Lydia nodded. His voice was too loud and the old woman walking her tiny dog turned to stare at them but Lydia didn’t care; that was why she’d dragged him out to the park.
“Oh Lydia,” Stiles wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. Lydia hugged him back and for a while they just sat there.
After a while she pulled back and looked at him, he was still smiling at her.
She curved her hand around his ear again and spoke, he could hear loud things at the moment but she wanted him to hear everything she said without having to struggle. “We haven’t told anyone, I haven’t reached the end of my first trimester yet.”
“When did you find out?”
“The night Sarah attacked me, one of the blood tests they ran while they were checking me out had some indicators and so they ran the test.”
“But everything is okay?”
Lydia nodded. “I’m fine, everything looks normal for the baby, we had a scan in case and we heard the heartbeat. It was pretty awesome.”
“I’m so happy for you babe,” Stiles said hugging her again.
Lydia kissed him on the head and they sat together on the bench for a while before heading back to the sheriff’s house.
/ / / Scott \ \ \
Jenny was waiting for him when he came home from work, there was a bag by the door and Scott looked at her with surprise.
“What’s going on?”
Jenny shrugged. “I’m going, I’ve been here for too long.”
“It’s fine, I’m happy to have you. Do you know what you’re going to do?”
“I’m going to see my aunt. I’m not sure what I’m going to do after that but my old boss did like me and hopefully he would be willing to give me a reference. I’ll go back to working as a medical secretary. It will be a bit of a change from hunting werewolves but I don’t want to go back to that.”
Scott nodded. He was disappointed she was going it had been nice to have someone else around. The rest of the pack had paired off and ever since Stiles had started getting his hearing back, meaning his father could return to work, they had all been quite wrapped up in their own relationships. It had been nice to spend time with someone who didn’t have half their mind on their partner and honestly Tom and Lydia were the worst which made no sense since they had been together for years. Not that it was just that he missed his pack, Jenny was smart and funny and even though she was hurting and trying to cope with Ben’s lose she had become a fast and good friend. He didn’t want her to go.
“We’ll keep in touch,” Jenny said.
Scott nodded. “Of course, you’re welcome back anytime.”
Jenny smiled at him and he knew that she had enjoyed her time here with the pack as well. He couldn’t say all werewolves were good people but he hoped that the fact she knew him and his pack had given her a different perspective.
The doorbell rang behind him and Scott turned to open the door. Stiles was standing on the other side looking a little lost.
“Stiles?” Scott asked, it had been a few of weeks since Stiles had started getting his hearing back and they were all still talking loudly when speaking to him. Scott knew that Stiles could tell they were doing it and it annoyed him but the fact he could hear was enough to stop him from being always separate so he took the yelling in stride.
“I’ve just been to see Dr Kirk.”
“Where is Derek?”
“Last minute problem I went alone.”
“Why?” Scott asked pulling Stiles into the room with him.
“The doctor said that the latest scan showed him what was wrong with my right ear,” Stiles said ignoring the question. “They hadn’t been able to see it before due to the other damage.”
“Stiles,” Scott said pushing him into a chair. “You’re worrying me.”
Stiles very rarely acted like this, like he wasn’t even aware of what was happening around him. Scott had only seen him this way once and honestly, given the topic, he was worried something had gone really wrong.
“The damage to my ear drum isn’t healing the way they would like and it looks as though I will never regain my full ability to hear from my right ear,” Stiles said. Scott sat next to him and gripped his hand tight. “Dr Kirk has taken a small sample and is testing for infection or anything else that could be slowing the healing process but I could tell from the way he said it.”
Scott didn’t say anything; Stiles hadn’t come here for reassurances, at least not yet, or for Scott to say anything at all really. Stiles had come because Scott was his oldest friend and if he could tell anyone about this it was Scott who had been there for almost everything Stiles had ever gone through. Stiles knew, as Scott would if things were reversed, that he could say almost anything to Scott and Scott would simply listen until it was time to comfort.
“He said that if the hearing doesn’t come back fully then a hearing aid might help as it would make the higher register sounds louder which would allow my ear drum to pick them up…maybe.”
Scott knew Jenny had left when Stiles started talking but he hadn’t given much thought to where she might have gone until she ducked back in with a plate full of cups. He looked at her strangely but he didn’t have any trays so he could appreciate the improvisation. Scott could smell whiskey, water, vodka and orange juice. The last option was the only one that surprised him but with a smile she rested a hand on Stiles’ shoulder before turning from the room. As she took a step away the doorbell rang and rang and rang. Stiles let Scott go after the second moment of continuous sound and Scott jumped up to answer the door.
“Is Stiles here?” Derek demanded as he tried to shove his way in through Scott’s door.
“What?” Scott asked.
“The sheriff just called me to ask how Stiles’ appointment went since he couldn’t get a hold of his son.” Derek said getting past Scott in his surprise, he continued into the house talking over his shoulder. “I was awfully surprised as I was told that Stiles was going with his father.”
“Oh.” Scott said closing the door and following the alpha into the lounge room. Jenny was sitting next to Stiles on the couch looking surprised and worried at Derek’s forceful entry.
“I wanted to go alone,” Stiles started before Derek had a chance to speak.
“Why?” Jenny’s voice was calm and startling in the tense room. Scott was glad she was the one who asked.
“I was getting my test results back today. I wanted to go alone.”
Derek looked thunderous but he managed to hold himself in place when he spoke. “That is exactly why you should have let someone go with you.”
“I needed to do this alone whatever the outcome might be.”
“Stiles-” Derek started but Stiles held up his hand to stop him.
“I knew it was going to be bad news alright, I knew that something wasn’t right because my hearing had been getting more and more lopsided as time has progressed. I knew and I wanted to be alone when I found out. I have been looked after and babysat since the explosion but this I had to do on my own.”
Derek’s anger seemed to float away as Stiles spoke. “Okay.”
“Thank you,” Stiles said quietly before he looked past Scott and through the door. “Hi Dad.”
Scott spun surprised to find Mr Stilinski in the doorway. Seconds later he was startled to find a hand on his arm. Jenny stood next to him and spoke quietly. “I’ll go tomorrow.”
Scott nodded and she slipped from the room as Stiles’ dad stepped in completely and Derek slid onto the couch next to Stiles.
“What did the doctor say,” the sheriff asked sitting down in one of the seats.
When Scott could see that the space on the other side of Stiles was free he sat down and wasn’t surprised to feel his best friend’s hand curl into his own. Both he and Stiles ignored the low, quiet growl from Derek.
Stiles started speaking. “My ear drum is healed but the damage was more severe than they were able to predict and Dr Kirk said that I will probably never get back full hearing in my right ear. He is checking again for any signs of infection or anything else that could slow my healing down but I know that they won’t find anything. I might be able to hear better using a hearing aid but I won’t be able to hear on my own.”
“Okay,” the sheriff said. “Will you get any more of your hearing back?”
“There is still improvement over my last check-up. My left side is almost fully back and until my hearing plateaus Dr Kirk said he won’t know for sure but the right ear should have healed faster and been able to hear more than the left. On the plus side he said I could start doing a little more strenuous exercise.”
Scott squeezed Stiles’ hand without saying a thing knowing Stiles would understand that it was Scott’s way of making a joke about Derek finally getting some. Stiles smirked at him but didn’t say a word about it.
“Okay,” Stiles’ father said again. “You should have said you wanted to go alone.”
Stiles dropped his head. “I-”
His father cut him off. “I know I’ve been there since it happened but you are all the family I have left Stiles I’m not going to be anywhere else.”
“I don’t want you to be,” Stiles said. “I’d do the same but I just needed to do this by myself, I needed to hear the prognosis myself before anyone else. I needed to deal with it myself before anyone else.”
The sheriff nodded. “I understand.”
“Do you?” Stiles sounded so small and worried.
“Of course I do. You’ve had to be dependent on people lately when you have been doing things for yourself, looking after yourself - beyond what most people would have to, given the whole werewolf thing - for years. It can be stifling and on top of that you’ve been dealing with the idea of everything changing. I understand the desire to stand up alone again now that you can I just wish you had said something.”
“I didn’t want to argue with anyone about it and I didn’t want to make you feel bad because I appreciate everything you have done.”
Stiles’ father stood up and yanked Stiles up so he was standing as well before wrapping him in a hug. Scott pretended he couldn’t hear any of the things that the sheriff said to his son. They were words of comfort and reassurance, they were the types of things a parent said to their child to remind them they were loved and that no matter what could ever occur they would be forever and the things that had led to this moment could and would be forgiven.
Scott watched Derek from the corner of his eye and could see the way that the alpha stiffened just a little, Scott wondered if it was because he no longer had someone to offer the type of comfort that only a good parent could provide or the fact he hadn’t been the person that Stiles went to for comfort. Scott assumed it was the first since Derek had been carefully distant at times when Scott, or any of the other members of the pack, had endeavoured to spend time with Stiles like they had before the explosion. Scott knew he and Lydia were the ones that spent the most time with Stiles, they both had pasts with Stiles that differed from the rest of the pack. Lydia and Stiles had defied everyone’s expectations by being able to become friends after dating and somehow become closer than they ever had been without any relapses or the resentment that Scott had seen in other couples. Scott still suspected that somewhere along the line they had fallen into bed with one another again but Stiles had been denying it for years. Regardless, Scott and Lydia were the closest to Stiles and Derek had appeared so far to be aware of the fact that Stiles had always been a hugely social creature. Scott wished that Derek had a little family left to give him the kinds of love and support that Scott got from his mum, had always received from her.
Eventually Stiles and his dad pulled away from one another and Stiles sat down between Derek and Scott.
“So,” the sheriff started. “Knowing what you know now what do you want to do?”
“Move home,” Stiles said. “The doctor said I can go back to work, I will call my boss and see if he is happy for me to come back without full hearing but it shouldn’t be a problem since I can hear a lot.”
“Can you wait until the weekend or do you want to go tonight?”
“The weekend is fine,” Stiles said. “I just want to look after myself.”
Stiles’ dad nodded. “Okay.”
“Really?”
“It was always your choice Stiles. You don’t need to ask me.”
Derek moved suddenly and finally spoke. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“I am,” Stiles said with more conviction that he’d used with his father. “On Saturday I’m moving back to my place.”
“We should have a party,” Scott said trying to be positive.
Stiles turned to him and smiled. “Definitely, and Jenny is going to have to stay until after the party then.”
Scott frowned at him. “How did you know?”
“Bag by the door.”
Scott smiled at him. “I’m surprised you noticed that.”
Stiles shrugged at him.
“Okay,” the sheriff stood up. “Are you staying with Scott?”
Stiles smiled at his dad carefully, Scott knew that Stiles shouldn’t be alone tonight and regardless of how shattered he’d been when he left work he was happy to spend the night with Stiles, and Jenny, if it would help.
“You need to go back to work.” Stiles said.
“I don’t need to but as you said you want to do this your way so what do you want?”
“I want.” Stiles said. “I want to not think about it anymore. I thought about it at the doctors and I thought about it when I drove home now I am just sick of thinking about it.”
“Okay,” Scott said standing up. “Jenny.”
The woman popped back in through the door. “Yeah?”
“We’re buying Chinese and having a Star Wars marathon, you want to join?”
Jenny beamed at him. “Only if you are talking about the original ones.”
“Han shot first,” Scott and Stiles answered immediately.
“What?” Derek said while Stiles’ father, who had introduced them both to the movies, smiled at them.
“Have you never seen the movies?” Stiles asked turning to Derek suddenly.
“I did,” Derek said with a shrug. “When I was about ten.”
Stiles turned to Scott. “He doesn’t sound suitably impressed.”
Derek shrugged. “It was okay.”
“I’m not sure you can date him,” Jenny said and turned from the room. “Couldn’t love someone who doesn’t respect Star Wars.” She stopped and turned around as though she had just thought of something. “Derek, how do you feel about Firefly?”
Derek frowned at her.
“Yeah,” she said as she walked down the hallway loud enough for them all to hear her. “You’ll have to train him.”
Stiles laughed at her comment while Derek glared at her back. “What is she talking about?”
The sheriff clapped the werewolf on the shoulder. “You have a lot to learn son. Walk me out Stiles.”
Stiles stood up and walked out. “Invite the others Scott.”
Scott waited until Stiles was out of earshot before speaking. “Stiles likes Stat Wars, so go in with an open mind and you should expect to be watching a lot more sci-fi stuff.”
Derek nodded. “Give me a list and I’ll watch them.”
“Not how it works Derek, you’ll have to watch them with Stiles but I will give you the list.”
Derek nodded so Scott pulled his phone out and messaged Lydia, Danny and Jackson.
/ / / / /
On Saturday they moved Stiles back into his own place, which really didn’t require the whole pack but they came anyway and moved the few things that had migrated to the sheriff’s house. When they were done they all made their own pizzas and hung out for the rest of the afternoon. Scott was surprised when Derek was the first to leave as it got dark but Scott assumed it was because everyone wanted Stiles to have a little space if that was what he needed. Scott and the sheriff left last and neither of them could miss the look of joyful relief as Stiles shut the door behind everyone.
/ / / / /
On Sunday Stiles came to Scott’s house at ten with croissants.
“Jenny’s going this morning isn’t she?” Stiles asked when Scott handed him coffee and they sat down to eat.
“She certainly is,” Jenny said coming inside.
“I got you a chocolate one,” Stiles said. “If you don’t want it I’ll eat it.”
Jenny laughed. “Hands off sweetheart.”
Stiles handed it over. “Do you really have to go?”
Jenny nodded. “I have to, just like you had to go home.”
Stiles nodded and they sat for a while chatting before Jenny stood and checked to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.
“I’m going to go now, still have a drive ahead of me.”
Scott nodded and grabbed her bags, though he knew one of them was Ben’s, to take out to the car. She turned around and gave him an awkward hug. Stiles’ hug was much more natural but Scott wasn’t surprised since Stiles had a tendency to be freer with his physical affection than most people Scott knew.
“You have to keep in touch,” Stiles said. “You have to let us know what’s you’re up to and how you are. If Callum finds you give us a call.”
Jenny smiled. “I will.”
“Good,” Scott said. “I’m going to miss having you around.”
“I’m going to miss your really geeky references,” she said with a smile. “Thank you for all of your help.”
“Anytime,” Scott said with a smile. “You need anything my spare room isn’t going anywhere.”
“Will I have to move all your washing and sports stuff again?” Jenny asked with a smirk.
“Oh just leave already, you are such a pain in the arse.”
Jenny smiled at him and said goodbye before she got into her brand new second hand car and drove away.
“You need a new type,” Stiles said as he and Scott watched Jenny drive away.
“You are so full of crap.”
“I get to pick your next girlfriend is all I’m saying.”
“I’ve seen your taste and I just don’t swing that way.”
Stiles laughed. “You remember Amanda?”
Scott smirked at him. “She was hot.”
“I know. She’s coming to town next month for a visit.”
“Oh Derek is going to be so fucking jealous. It’s going to be hilarious.”
Stiles slapped Scott. “If you aren’t nice to me I won’t invite you out for a drink with her.”
“Sloppy seconds ain’t my style.”
“And just because Chloe loves ‘Grease’ doesn’t mean you need to quote the movie.”
“It’s a good movie.”
Stiles loved Chloe but she loved anything where they sang regardless of the quality. “Yeah it’s not too bad, makes me feel less manly to be able to quote it though.”
“Would you believe that it is a brilliant pick up line?”
“So is doing the lift from ‘Dirty Dancing’ but I doubt that is a good idea anyway.”
“Yeah, introduce me to her.”
“If you treat her like crap I’ll be mad.”
“If she never speaks to you again Derek will buy me a car.”
Stiles laughed and had to stop with a gasp as he clutched his side.
“Inside,” Scott said sobering quickly.
“It’s fine,” Stiles said even as he allowed the hand on his lower back to lead him inside. “My ribs are still tender occasionally.”
“Mmmhmmm.”
Stiles was silent for a moment.
“So is Amanda still hot?” Scott asked when they were inside.
Stiles pushed Scott’s head away and refused to answer.
/ / / Epilogue \ \ \
“Okay,” Dr Kirk said. “I want you to tell me when it starts to get quieter.”
Stiles nodded and listened as the doctor fiddled with his hearing aid while a set of beeps sounded around the room.
“Okay it’s started getting quieter.”
“Excellent,” Dr Kirk said. “This time tell me how it is in relation to the last one.”
“Louder. Louder. The same.”
The doctor pulled away and stared at him. “Really?”
Stiles nodded.
“Okay, next one.”
“Louder. Quieter.”
“Okay,” the doctor made one last adjustment and walked back to his desk. “That was the middle frequency that you were having issues hearing and the best pitch. This should bring those sounds up to a volume you will be able to hear. How do you feel about how you make adjustments?”
“Good,” Stiles said. They had talked about it for a while before Dr Kirk had set the in canal hearing aid up for him. “Plus, I have the booklet.”
Dr Kirk nodded. “Excellent. We will have another appointment next week and after that you should be okay, we’ll have another in six months just to ensure that everything is progressing as it should be but this will allow you to live a mostly normal life. There might be some interference from conflicting sounds and you’ll have to get used to it but it will make it easier to hear.”
Stiles nodded. “But over time my hearing will get worse.”
Dr Kirk nodded. “It will get worse as you get older and it will deteriorate faster than other people.”
Stiles nodded, he knew it was going to get worse and eventually he’d be beyond the help of even Dr Kirk, with any luck by then Stiles would have become more comfortable with the idea of not being able to hear around a pack of werewolves.
/ / / / /
Stiles walked up to Derek door and knocked. The door opened seconds later, Derek standing on the other said looking worried.
“What’s wrong?” Derek asked scratching behind his ear.
“Will you bite me?” Stiles asked.
Derek grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside. “What are you talking about?”
“Will you bite me? I’d been waiting for you to ask but you hadn’t.”
“You have never wanted to be a werewolf. Why are you asking now? Why not when you were injured?”
Stiles paced around the living room, he could see Derek frowning at him the longer Stiles was silent.
“Why do you want to be a werewolf?” Derek asked finally.
Stiles stopped and walked over to Derek. “I’m…”
Derek threw his arm around Stiles and pulled him back until they were both resting comfortably on the couch. “It’s almost 3am.”
“I’m scared,” Stiles said finally when the coldness in the air had seeped into the side not warmed by Derek and the werewolf was almost snoring next to him.
The words woke Derek up and he tightened the arm he had around Stiles. “Of what?”
“Of losing my hearing again one day.”
“Why?”
Stiles closed his eyes and buried his head into Derek’s neck hoping that the werewolf would be able to hear him anyway. “If I hadn’t have got it back I think I would have been okay but it’s scary Derek. I was cut off from so much. I felt like I had a wall between me and the rest of the pack…no, between me and everyone.”
Derek kissed the parts of Stiles that he could reach.
“Dr Kirk said that it would get progressively worse, I know everyone’s hearing gets worse as they get older but mine will get worse faster.”
Derek nodded against Stiles’ skin.
“I don’t want to go back to being deaf Derek.”
“Okay,” Derek said quietly. Stiles rearranged himself so he could see Derek as the other man spoke while still being as wrapped together as they had been before. “I will bite you if you want, you only ever had to ask, but do you want to be a werewolf?”
Stiles looked at Derek not sure what to say.
“You tell me you want to be one,” Derek continued when Stiles didn’t speak. “And I will bite you this second but if you wouldn’t be asking if you weren’t going to lose your hearing one day then stop and think about it. Take a week, take a year and when you are sure that you would ask regardless then come to me and I will bite you.”
“Is that why you never asked me in the hospital?”
“It’s up to you what you want to do Stiles. Believe me I wanted to bite you, I didn’t want you to have to go through any of it but you were never sure if you wanted it. Peter asked you years ago and you said no and maybe you were lying but if you had really wanted it you would have said yes because if you could keep Scott away from him you could sure as hell keep yourself away from him. You know I have only ever turned people who have wanted it, Lydia and Scott had no choice and it’s harder to deal with when you don’t make the decision yourself, when that choice is taken away from you.”
Stiles nodded.
“So, you tell me that you want this, that you want to be a werewolf until the day you die and I will happily bite you or we go on the way we have been and when it becomes an issue we deal with it.”
Stiles looked at Derek for a second. “That was almost verbose.”
Derek shrugged. “I can talk when I need to.”
Stiles nodded and curled himself back into Derek’s body. “I’ll wait and think about it.”
Derek kissed the spot behind Stiles’ ear which was now exposed to him with a smile.
Just as Derek was beginning to suspect Stiles was about to fall asleep the human twisted in his hold and kissed him. The kiss was frantic and sloppy in complete opposition to the moments before, Derek tried to keep up, tried to slow him down as Stiles licked into his mouth and asked for…demanded more. Derek started to pull away but Stiles held him tighter and slid one hand under the soft hem of Derek’s top. Derek was a little confused, Stiles had been settled, Derek had managed to find the words to make the human feel better but the way that Stiles was kissing him now made him wonder if he’d done the job he thought he had at all.
“Stiles,” Derek panted out as Stiles moved from his lips down the column of his neck.
“Derek,” Stiles bit down on Derek’s neck. “Take me upstairs.”
“I thought you were feeling better,” Derek said fighting the desire to just take Stiles upstairs; he’d been going at whatever pace Stiles wanted but Derek wanted all the time not just the hours they would spend together and he definitely could not get enough of this. He hadn’t been able to get enough of this from the moment things between them had started.
“I am but I just want this.”
“What is this?” Derek asked even as he slid his hand up under Stiles clothes to the cool skin underneath.
“Reassurance,” Stiles pulled away and looked at him pleadingly. “Please, I…I need this.”
Derek nodded and pulled Stiles up the stairs.
/ / / / /
Lydia laughed at the look on Derek’s face when he walked into the lounge room.
“Hey Derek,” Stiles threw over his shoulder not taking his focus away from Lydia’s ever expanding belly.
“What are you doing?” Derek asked.
Lydia looked down at Stiles who had both arms wrapped around her with his hands and face lying against her stomach.
“I’m trying to feel the baby move,” Stiles said as though it was completely normal.
“He’s been trying to feel the baby for the last twenty minutes,” Tom said handing Lydia a glass of water.
“The baby will move for me.”
Lydia laughed and petted Stiles’ head. “It’s not that they are not moving for you it’s just-”
“That I am the only one who hasn’t felt the baby.” Stiles said before focussing on Lydia’s abdomen again. “Little Baby Bradley, I am Stiles, you will love me, please move.”
The smile on Stiles face ten minutes later when the baby kicked his ear was enough to make Lydia cry. But that wasn’t particularly hard at the moment.
/ / / / /
Derek growled in his ear and used the arm he’d had flung over Stiles all night to pull him closer. “No.”
“I have to go to work.” Stiles reminded him.
“No.” Derek said into his neck.
Stiles laughed. “Let me go and I might come over for dinner tonight.”
“I’ll let you go if you will definitely come.”
Stiles paused for a second as though that hadn’t been his intention all along. “I suppose.”
Derek finally lifted himself up and then dropped on top of Stiles kissing him. Stiles wrapped his arms around Derek really glad for the fact he set his alarm thirty minutes early when he slept over at Derek’s.
/ / / / /
“So…” Stiles said watching Scott read his emails.
“What?”
Stiles grinned at Scott’s annoyance. “Did Jenny email you?”
“She doesn’t email me all the time.”
Stiles laughed. “She totally emailed you.”
“Fuck off.”
Stiles beamed at him. “Awww little wolfy has a crush.”
“I do not have a crush.”
“Then what would you call that look on your face whenever she emails? Or the way you fumble your phone when she actually calls you.”
Scott coloured.
“Ha!”
“It is not a crush, we’re friends and she’s seeing someone in New Orleans.”
Stiles slapped himself on the forehead and sighed. “Dickhead.”
When Scott got up to get them a drink Stiles pulled out his phone and sent an email to Jenny.
Hey
Scott and I were thinking of heading down next month to see you. Will you have some time?
Stiles
Stiles got a reply within ten minutes and told Scott they were going for a visit. Scott looked a mixture of nervous and excited, Stiles was going to have so much fun in New Orleans…he shouldn’t invite Lydia; he really did want this to work out of Scott.
/ / / / /
“It’s not a wedding,” Jackson said looking around the room.
Danny’s mum rolled her eyes at him. “You’re getting married it’s a wedding.”
“I’m going to wear white even if you have already had the milk,” Danny said with a grin as he drank some more of his beer. “Because I look fu-really hot in white.”
Stiles laughed out loud and could feel the motion of Derek doing so silently next to him. “It’s a wedding Jackson, deal with it.”
“No!” Jackson said looking a little terrified. “If it’s a wedding my mother will be unbearable.”
Danny’s mother turned to glare at Jackson. “You and Danny are our only children you will allow us to throw you a wedding and you will love it, do you understand?”
Jackson nodded slowly looking terrified. “I do, sorry.”
Danny’s mum relaxed back and smiled at Jackson.
Derek buried his head in Stiles’ neck.
Later that night when Derek was curled around him still panting he poked Stiles. “Vegas.”
“What?” Stiles said trying to work out what he was talking about.
“If we ever get married it’ll have to be Vegas.”
Stiles nodded and started to pull away. Derek tightened his arm. “Stay.”
“Bathroom,” Stiles said before pulling away completely and going into the bathroom. He turned the water on hot and as he brushed his teeth using his toothbrush with his toothpaste he could see his shaver and deodorant thrown onto the counter. He’d stopped using a toiletries bag months ago, his shampoo and body wash was in the shower as he stepped inside and under the spray he knew that when he got out of the shower he’d have to go to the chest of drawers for his sleeping pants since Derek had made him come all over the ones he’d been wearing this morning. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in his bed at his place and really didn’t mind. He could hear Derek make some noise as he walked into the bathroom knowing that Stiles had taken his hearing aid out. Stiles smiled into the water as he stepped under it and felt the cold air of the door opening behind him.
They took turns kissing under the hot spray until they were both clean. Derek pulled Stiles into bed still naked and curled around his back. Derek made sure his mouth was closer to Stiles’ good ear in bed, he always did. Just like he always walked on that side of Stiles or sat on that side when they were watching TV or eating dinner. Just like he always tightened his arm around Stiles whenever he went to leave the bed and said ‘stay’ in that way that sounded like an order but felt like a question. Just like Derek always asked, Stiles always said yes. He didn’t care if they were being needy or possessive or anything else because Stiles loved waking up next to Derek who seemed to enjoy it just as much.
/ / / / /
“Uncle Stiles,” Lydia said when he perched next to her on the hospital bed. “This is your niece Emma.”
Stiles slid his arms beneath the tightly wrapped bundle in Lydia’s arms before lifting the baby to his chest. She was tiny and pink with a tuff of light hair and the cutest little pout Stiles had ever seen. He loved her immediately.
“She is perfect,” Stiles said kissing her forehead.
Lydia smiled at him. “She is.”
Stiles looked at her, she was paler than normal and looked tired but her eyes were glued to her daughter and she had a smile on her face. “Uncle Stiles you say?”
“Tom has two brothers and a sister but I don’t have any siblings so I’m going to go with Uncle Stiles.”
“Excellent,” Stiles turned back to Emma in his arms and smiled down at her. “I’m going to be a better uncle than all your other ones and you’ll like me best because I am amazing.”
Emma yawned at him in response.
“Such a reaction from someone so young,” Stiles said with a sigh. The door opened behind him and he turned. “Emma, this is your Uncle Derek, he’s a grump but if you’re as cute as I think you’re going to be you’ll have him wrapped around your little finger.”
Derek rolled his eyes at Stiles. “She looks like you,” Derek said to Lydia but he stepped back as Stiles tried to hand Emma over.
“You don’t want to hold her?” Stiles asked.
Derek shook his head. “Kids don’t like me.”
Stiles rolled his eyes and went to perch on the edge of Lydia’s bed. “He’s scared of your twelve hour old daughter.”
“Yep,” Lydia said with a yawn.
“Why don’t you sleep babe?” Stiles asked. “Me and Emma can do some bonding.”
Lydia nodded at him slowly. “Okay.”
Stiles pressed a kiss to her head before going and sitting on the chair with Emma cuddled into his chest. Derek sat on the arm of the chair but refused to do more than run a finger down the curl of hair on her head.
An hour later Tom walked into the hospital looking ragged even though he’d been sent home to sleep. He looked at Lydia and smiled when he saw she was sleeping. Tom grabbed the other chair and moved it over to sit next to Stiles and his daughter.
“I don’t want to hand her over,” Stiles whispered to Tom.
Tom nodded. “I know the feeling, there’s no rush.”
Stiles smiled and went back to staring at Emma. “I am going to be such a good uncle.”
/ / / / /
Stiles came home from work on a Wednesday to find his couch in Derek’s living room. He walked into the kitchen and found Derek’s dining table replaced by the little one he’d found at a yard sale while he’d been at university and had spent a weekend sanding down and sealing because he’d thought it would be fun. He loved that table. He had a suspicion about what Derek had spent his day doing so he opened one of the cupboards and found his collection of painfully bright mugs sitting in the cupboard.
“Derek!”
Stiles started up the stairs, he ducked into the empty bedroom at the other end of the house from Derek’s room and found his bed there with the rest of his things from his room.
“Derek?”
Stiles stopped and listened for a moment; he couldn’t always hear things far away unless he was silent himself. He could hear something from Derek’s bedroom.
Stiles walked into the room and found Derek shoving things into the cupboard. He spun and looked at Stiles when he heard the door open.
“What are you doing?” Derek shoved the shirt into the cupboard and closed the door.
“Putting some clothes away.”
“And my couch is downstairs because…?”
Derek let out a breath. “I moved it there.”
“Without asking me?”
Derek shrugged. “You are living here, I figured your stuff should be here with you.”
Stiles curled his hand into a fist and let out a deep breath.
“We can move it all back if you want,” Derek said looking dejectedly down at the floor.
“You missed a really important step in all this.”
Derek nodded. “You’re annoyed.”
Stiles watched Derek.
“I should have asked if you wanted to move in?”
Stiles nodded at Derek.
“You live here.”
Stiles turned around to bite down on his lip to hold in the smile. “Yeah, I do basically live here but you really should have asked me.”
Derek stepped over and pressed his body against Stiles’ back. “Stiles would you like to move in with me?”
Stiles nodded. “I would.”
“Would you like to move in with me today?”
Stiles bit down on his tongue to hold in the laugh. “Well I think that is out of my hands at this point.”
“I didn’t get rid of anything,” Derek said. “What I didn’t put out I have in the basement.”
Stiles nodded. “What if I didn’t want to move in here?”
Derek stiffened at his back. “Where do you want to live? You spend all your time here, I assumed.”
“Yes you did,” Stiles said. “It’s not okay to just assume that I want to live with you Derek, you have to ask.”
Derek nodded against his neck.
“Okay,” Stiles said. “I’ll think of something as punishment,” Derek licked the spot behind his ear. “Punishment Derek not sex. For now show me what you have put out.”
Derek nodded and grabbed Stiles’ hand to pull him through the house and show him where he’d put all of Stiles’ things.
The End
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Thank you so much for reading, I would really like to know what you think. Comments are encouragement!