I don't own Teen Wolf. I could never handle the responsibility.

'Please Dad.' Boyd said turning his wide eyes up to his father, his hand tugging Derek's. 'I promise I'll help take care of him.'

Derek sighed and looked to where Stiles was holding Erica in his arms, her big eyes wet with tears. Isaac had drifted towards the counter again, his eyes locked on Mr Deaton.

'It is a lot of responsibility son.' Derek said turning to Boyd. 'It's not a pet for a cub to take care of.'

'I know, but I'll help out I promise I will.' Boyd pleaded. Derek knew his oldest was wise beyond his years, and he attributed that to Stiles. When Boyd had first been pressed into Stiles's waiting arms as a baby, Stiles had stood in the delivery suite smiling between Boyd and Derek, and made promises that Boyd would never lack for knowledge. With everything Stiles told the boy had come a quiet maturity too. Sometimes Derek wished he were more like the twins, wild and care free, other times he was glad of the intelligent mature conversations they shared in the early morning walking through the forests.

'If given the proper care he'll be an asset to your family and your pack Derek.' Deaton said, smiling fondly at Boyd. Derek sighed. This was supposed to be a trip to find a puppy or a kitten, a Shetland pony perhaps. 'And if I'm honest, he needs a proper family like yours, strong but fair parents, kind and considered but not afraid to discipline their pups.'

Erica whimpered and buried her face in Stiles's neck just as Isaac hissed and turned, wrapping his arms around Derek's knees. He looked up at his father and Derek ran his fingers through the mop of curly hair. 'Derek we have to think of security. It's not just us and our kids but our pack as well, Scott, Danny, Lydia, they all deserve this too.' Stiles said thoughtfully.

'Tell me more about him.' Derek sighed.

'He's very obedient, eager to please. He was abused and misused by his previous master, and the Argents put him to death because of it. I just don't have the time to devote to him, and I'm loathing returning him to Gerard Argent.' Deaton said. Derek looked to the young man in the corner; he couldn't be more than sixteen. His heart ached for this orphaned child, and he longed to add him to his family, the way he had when Boyd's mother had stumbled across his door step, when the twins were born months early because their parents were killed in cold blood because of hunters. That his kids were alive was a miracle, never mind whole and balanced as they were.

It was Stiles who deserved all the credit, Stiles who had put Derek back together again, then mourned Boyd's mother when Boyd was a month old, had nurtured Boyd, and then the twins. He was looking at the boy now with the same longing to fix him, to try to put him back together again.

'I think Stiles should be his master.' Derek decided.

'A wise choice.' Deaton smiled rows of white shiny teeth. He held his hand out, shaking Stiles's hand, gripping it close and whispering a spell. An inky smoke curled around their wrists, and Erica watched, her tears forgotten. Isaac reached a finger out to touch it but Derek pulled his hand away. Boyd just stood in silent understanding, and Derek knew his list of questions would be mighty.

'Is that it?' Stiles asked looking from Deaton to Derek, then to the boy in the corner.

'Yes.' Deaton smiled. 'Congratulations on owning your first Kanima. His name's Jackson. Now, I have a handbook in the back somewhere.' Deaton turned and headed towards his office. The boy in the corner looked up, but did move. Derek watched him cautiously. Their previous children had all been babies; this was the oldest addition to their rag tag family.

'Hi Jackson. Want to come over here and get to know us?' Stiles said softly. Jackson looked startled for a second as he rose to his feet, but Derek new that wasn't a command, that Stiles would never completely control Jackson like that. Jackson joined them, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. Derek ran through a mental list of what a sixteen year old boy needed in his head, but he knew his mate was already a hundred steps ahead of him. 'I'm Stiles and this is my Mate Derek. Our children are Boyd, Isaac and Erica. You can meet the rest of the pack at home.'

'Ok.' Jackson spoke softly.

'Welcome to the pack.' Derek said wrapping a hand around the back of Jackson's neck and smiling softly at him.

'I don't think you need this book.' Deaton said. 'If you do, I'll send it with Scott.'

'Thanks.' Stiles said. Derek ushered his family out the door, making a face at Erica over Stiles's shoulder, grinning when she laughed at him. Isaac was walking in front of his legs and Derek had to slow so as not to trip over him while Jackson hovered nervously at the back door of Stiles's cruiser.

'Don't worry Jackson.' Boyd said looking up into his new brother's face. 'I'll show you all the ropes.'

Jackson smiled and Derek shot Stiles a relieved look. 'Who's for pizza?' He asked as he helped Erica and Isaac climb into the back seat. The chorus of shouts in agreement almost deafened him and for a second he was glad to close the car door. Then they laughed inside and Derek had missed the joke, so he hurried to the driver's seat so not to miss any more precious family moments.