A/N: Hey guys! This is my take on what could have happened after the last ep (4x06) with the stydia hug. Kinda au after that. I will be continuing the story, I'm liking how it's turning out.

As always, happy reading and please review!

"Lydia, Meredith's gone."

She hears the words and lets the information sink in. I drove another banshee to kill herself she thinks. Her mind racing, her face completely blank of every emotion but shock. She slowly pulls the phone away from her ear, not even realizing Parrish is still on the other end.

She slowly turns towards Stiles. While she's unable to string together coherent thoughts, her instincts push her to seek comfort in him.

Before she can even say anything he's reaching for her. One hand comes to her back to pull her closer, the other behind her head as he embraces her. She slowly brings her arms in, but his closeness and the shock cause her to release her grip on the phone and drop it on the floor.

She just stays there in his arms, unable to move. Her head rests against his shoulder, she can smell a mixture of sweat and his distinctive smell, something she's never been able to place her finger on. It reminds her of home somehow, like it's safe.

He rubs the back of her head, his fingers tangled it her strawberry blonde hair. He doesn't say anything, words won't help. He leans his head against hers, seeming to know that the contact is helping.

She starts to labour her breathing as she feels the shock wearing off, turning into despair and guilt. Tears threaten to spill over her eyelashes and she's thankful Stiles isn't able to see.

"I did this. I made her do this." She says, struggling to keep her voice steady.

Stiles pulls away from the embrace to look at her, taking her face in his hands. "Lydia, this isn't your fault." He can see the first tear escape from her and travel down her left cheek. He gently wipes it away.

"But if it weren't for me she wouldn't be dead." She protests. "I didn't shoot her but I loaded the gun."

He just shakes his head. "There was nothing you did or could've done differently to change this." He says reassuringly. "She knew she was on the list, it was just a matter of time."

She doesn't believe him, but she doesn't want to argue. "I know." she breathes out. She nods gingerly before bending down to pick up her phone. She sees Parrish has already disconnected the call, so she locks the screen and places it down on the bed.

She sits down beside her phone, the tears flowing freely now since one escaped. Stiles gently plops on the bed beside her, hating that she's crying but wanting to make sure she's alright.

She turns to look at him, and sees the concern on his face. She leans her head back on his shoulder and just lets the tears fall. While she soaks his shirt, he brings his arms around her again, his fingers drawing small circles on her back.

He slowly lays them flat on the bed side by side, her still crying and his arms still around her. They lay like that until she's worn herself out so much that she falls asleep.

Stiles gently gets up from the bed, turning out the light so he can sleep. He knows she's exhausted, so there's no point in moving her now, especially since she'd probably just start crying again if he woke her up.

He crawls back to his bed and lays down beside her, so that they are face to face. He can see mascara tracks down her cheeks, since the moon is just bright enough. Her hair is falling out of the updo it was in earlier, the red strands framing her face. He sighs and watches her sleep until his eyelids are heavy and he gives into them.

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When Lydia wakes up it's still dark. She opens her eyes, disoriented. Groggily she makes out Stiles' face, still directed at her. For a second she forgets the events from the day before and smiles to herself - but then it comes back to her and the weight is too much again. She sits up, reaching for her phone at the bottom of the bed.

She unlocks the phone so she can see the time; 3:18am. She sighs, wondering how she is going to get home since her ride is passed out.

She stands from the bed and walks towards Stiles' window. She can see the street from here; the only vehicle parked out front is the jeep. She wonders what the sheriff would say if he had found them as they were a few minutes ago.

She doesn't see any option other than to either go back to sleep or wake him up, but she doesn't want to do either. She sheds her white cover up from her body, and lays back down beside him, gazing at the lines of his face in the barely there moonlight.

He sighs in his sleep, and moves to bring his arm around her. She lets him, her decision made up for her.

She closes her eyes to try to fall back asleep, but she hears something.

"Lydia."

Her eyes snap open and there's no one but Stiles. She hears it again, barely a whisper coming from his lips.

"Lydia."

She gasps and realizes he is talking in his sleep, and most likely dreaming about her. She blushes even though no one can see, feeling like she's an intruder.

Stiles sighs and pulls her closer, and she snuggles into him, despite whatever he might be dreaming about. She lets her eyes close before she hears what he says next, barely audible.

"I love you."

Her heart stops, her mind reels. He is with Malia now, how can he be having a dream like that? But I kinda knew deep down he felt that way. she thinks, the last thought making her smile smugly. Oh god, do I feel that way?... Oh shit.

Unable to get away from Stiles (his cuddling her is like a death grip in his sleep), Lydia tries to shut out the thoughts. Surprisingly it eventually works, since she is still exhausted.

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When she wakes up again, Stiles is already awake and fully changed out of his clothes from the night before. He's still wearing jeans, but now he's wearing a red t shirt, and a black zip up hoodie. He's sitting on the bed, looking at her tentatively, as if unsure that if she wakes up the tears will immediately start. She looks at him and rolls her eyes.

She sits up and swings her legs over the side of the bed, and notices from the window that the sheriff is home.

She turns back to Stiles, a worried look on her face. "Does he know..?" She asks.

"Don't worry, I explained what happened. My dad was surprisingly cool about it." He reassures her.

"Okay. Good." She says stoically, not sure where to go from there.

"Let me drive you home now so you can get ready, I can't imagine you'd show up at school wearing that again." He laughs, running his hand up through his hair and standing from the bed.

He grabs her hand to lead her from his room, and the contact jolts her. He's done this before, it's not something new. But it feels different now.

"You okay?" He says, turning back to look at her. He obviously felt her jump slightly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just go."

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The drive to her house is short. Lydia looks out the window as she thinks about what she heard him say. I knew he liked be before, but now? Maybe I should just ask him about it. Stop it Lydia, that's a terrible idea. Oh well, here goes..

"Hey, did you know you talk in your sleep?" She asks, feeling that this is probably the best way to start.

"Um, yeah. I've done it since I was little, Scott used to have full conversations with me, usually not making any sense." He replies, confusion on his face. Then it dawns on him. "Why? What did I say?"

She looks over at him, and for a second she considers telling him the whole thing. But she decides against it, and says "Oh you were just mumbling about Malia. Nothing serious."

"Oh." He pauses. "I guess that makes sense."

She cocks an eyebrow and says "You guess? She is your girlfriend."

Stiles pulls the jeep into her driveway and puts it in park. He looks over at her and she feels this moment, like he knows what he said last night and he knows that she knows it too.

He leans over and says, "Yeah, but she isn't who I'm in love with". She gasps and he leans in closer, and presses his lips gently to hers. She goes still, like she's frozen. He moves his hands up to her face and cradles her cheek, drawing out the kiss. She finds herself and forces her lips to kiss back, responding enthusiastically. She licks the seam of his mouth and he lets her in, sighing as he does.

"Lyds, are you sure your okay?" He asks, snapping her out of the fantasy and back to reality. She realizes she's been staring, and she flushes slightly, unable to control it.

She finds her bearings and replies "Yeah, I'm sure. I'll see you at school."

She practically jumps out the side of his jeep and jogs to her front door, leaving a bewildered Stiles wondering What the fuck was that?