''What's this?'' her father said. On top of the stairs, she could see her dad's back and the face of someone she had never seen before. It was past bedtime but she had heard the bell ring and since that never happened, curiosity had pulled her out of bed. Trying hard not to make a sound, the two year old took a step down to see more. Her wolf hearing told her Derek was up too. He crawled next to her and together, they watched the scene downstairs.
Their father was holding a basket but she was too far away to see what was in it.
''Please, I've got no other option.'' The stranger said. She seemed on the verge of crying but something stopped her.
He shook his head. ''I can barely manage taking care of Malia.'' The lone man tried to hand the basket back to the woman but she took a step back.
''I know you can do this, I trust you.'' After that, she left and her father was left alone with whatever it was he was holding. Malia and Derek quickly ran upstairs, back into their beds and pretended to be asleep. A few minutes later, Malia heard noise coming from the attic. What was her father doing there? As curiosity took over, she glanced in the hallway, and saw Derek curious as well. He just shrugged, like he also didn't know what was going on.
A weird smell filled her nostrils, it came from downstairs. It was a scent she had never smelled in this house before. Derek noticed it as well and pointed his ears. There was still someone, betrayed by a little heartbeat. Right at that moment, her father cursed but Malia didn't know the word. Her eleven year old brother quickly ran up and a few seconds after, he and her dad came down, carrying her old crib. ''The two of you should be asleep.'' The man said and tried to smile but it looked rather sad.
''Dad?'' Malia said. She was wearing her favourite pyjamas, the soft pink ones and she looked so cute in them.
''Put your socks on and come downstairs, all right?'' He patted her head quickly before telling Derek to watch out behind him as they carried the crib further down.
''What's his name?'' Derek asked. The little baby was covered in blankets and slept peacefully. Malia didn't get it, she didn't understand who this boy was, why he was here and where he came from.
''She didn't say. You know a nice one?'' At this, he looked at his youngest child, who was only looking confused at the baby. Her brother was looking at her as well but she didn't get why, was she supposed to say something? The only things she could say were short words and halve sentences, not much more. She didn't mind though, talking seemed like giving away her thoughts, which she wanted to keep private.
In the meantime, the baby had woken up and instead of crying, he smiled.
''Can we call him smiles? You know, 'cause he smiles.'' Derek suggested.
Their father smirked. ''No, he's not a dog. We need a decent name.''
''I like Smales.'' Malia interfered. It sounded funny.
Derek shook his head. ''It's Smiles, like styles or miles.''
''Stiles?'' She asked. Why did they suddenly have four names?
Her brother sighed and gave up but their father had finally found the answer.
''That's it! We'll call him Stiles. You guys agree?''
Derek grinned and poked the little bundle of joy.
Malia nodded and yawned, it was very late and she had been awoken very abruptly. This made her father realise how late it indeed was and quickly put the children back to bed.
It was Stiles sixth birthday and he was beginning to understand the ability of Derek and Malia, the former sixteen years old, the latter seven. Since they didn't know his exact date of birth, their father had chosen the day he had appeared in their lives, the date of him getting his name. They mostly called the young boy's birthday his 'Nameday', it felt more accurate. So when he got old enough to understand what he was watching, he of course had a lot of questions about the werewolves and why couldn't he himself change?
Derek often brought friends home, but Malia and Stiles never got to hang out with them. Too sad though, they were often bored when their dad was working almost every shift there was to be able to pay for everything. One night, after their bedtimes, Stiles and Malia crawled out of bed and sneaked to Derek's room. They knew Isaac and Erica were there, they were almost every night. At first, Malia thought Erica was her brothers new girlfriend, he had had one before. But that night, they realised they had been so wrong. Stiles quietly opened Derek's door which by surprise wasn't locked. No one was there, the window open and the bed unmade. Some chips lay on the floor and the PlayStation was still on.
''Where are they?'' Malia asked her brother who just shrugged. She sniffed the air and could easily part the three scents but Derek's was most present. The smell lead to the window, it was very dark outside but her wolf sight made her see twice as good.
''They're outside.'' Malia ran downstairs but the front door was locked and the keys hung too high for them to reach.
''The basement!'' She bolted down the stairs without thinking and only noticed at the bottom Stiles hadn't followed her. At the top, he put the lights on and took one step down, carefully placing his feet.
''C'mon, there's nothing here to be afraid off.'' Malia cried. She started looking for something to climb on so they'd be able to get to the little window above. Her first thought was to take the ladder but that would scare Stiles even more so she grabbed a high chair and pulled it to the wall. After Stiles finally descended, he jumped up the chair and climbed through the little window right after Malia.
''Malia? Where are you?'' He squinted his eyes to see better in the dark but it was no use. A small cry escaped his mouth when a hand grabbed him and pulled him further into the woods.
''They're not far away, I can hear them.'' The two ran through the woods, Malia sure of her steps, Stiles just hoping he wouldn't bump into a tree. Until his sister suddenly stopped and told her brother to be quiet.
''Why? What's wrong?'' He asked, looking around.
And then he heard a growl, from behind him. Another one in front of him. He peed his pants, he couldn't help it.
The wolves shifted back to their human forms and Isaac was hysterically laughing. Derek gave him a smack on his head, Erica shot him a quick mad glance before taking Stiles hand to walk back to the house. Malia had to laugh as well, she could smell the pee in Stiles's pants.
''Don't you dare laugh.'' Derek growled at her. ''What on earth are you doing here?''
Malia looked down at her feet and wondered if she could run away. It was worth the shot, better try and run than face a mad Derek. So she quickly turned around to run but bumped into Isaac.
''Go away!'' She yelled at him but he gave her a strict look. Damn it.
He took her by the arm and started walking.
''I know it was you, Stiles would never run out. You two should be in bed.'' Derek hissed as he walked next to them. As if one older brother wasn't enough, Isaac behaved like one as well. It was very annoying. ''I don't want to sleep, I'm not tired.''
''That's no excuse. I'm going to tell dad tomorrow. ''
''No! You can't tell dad.'' Malia said. Why was Derek so mad? Nothing had happened.
''It's so annoying to have these little kids running around, following you all the time.'' Derek was talking to Isaac now, she could tell from the way his voice changed, like he only used a 'children's-voice' to her and Stiles.
Isaac snorted. ''Tell me about it, Brandon is a pain in the ass. I always have to babysit and stay home for him. And now these two little brats aren't making it easy either.''
As to prove his point, he shook Malia a little but hard enough to feel her bones tremble.
''I hate you.'' She said and tried to loosen Isaac's grip on her ut made it only worse.
Once home, Stiles sat at the counter, chocolate milk in his hands and another pyjama on. Erica was standing in front of him, smiling at the six-year old.
''Erica, you cannot reward him for sneaking out.'' Isaac said and Derek just raised an eyebrow at her.
Very fair, Malia thought, here she was, dragged home and shouted at while Stiles was just being spoiled.
''He was so scared, he doesn't have wolf senses, it's different.'' Her hand stroked Stiles's hair who could only smirk at Malia. Derek took Stiles offf the counter and put him on the ground.
''Listen to me very closely. You never ever go out at night without an adult again, understood? Not even at daylight. '' The little ones both nodded their heads but couldn't help to ask why.
Derek looked them in the eyes and shot them one of his serious glances where after he and Isaac started growling very loudly. The two screamed and Stiles was on the verge of tears until Erica took him in her arms, Malia clamping to her leg.
''That's just cruel.'' Erica said. She put the two to bed and told them their brother was right, even though he was mean. After a pinky promise never to do such a thing again, they both peacefully fell asleep.
