Little one shot i've had in my head for quite awhile. I'm not sure if i'll do a second chapter and maybe third but it definitely won't be a proper fic, just a little one shot. I hope you like it :) Everyone's werewolves like on the show, Ashlee is human. Read and review!
Derek's p.o.v
I rub a hand down my face as Scott continues to tell me why Allison isn't dangerous. Then something breaks through his weak justifications. A heartbeat. Erratic and oddly familiar.
"Who is that?" I ask Scott with narrowed eyes. The scent, that heartbeat..it's all familiar. And I can't say why. That makes me uncomfortabe. That makes me uneasy. I don't like feeling uneasy.
"Who's who?" Scott asks, confused.
"Someone's here" I say. As if on cue, the person starts banging on the door. Scott realises what I meant now, moving for the door, I slip into an attack stance, bracing myself for the door to be opened. Whoever's behind it, i've known them at one time or another. But I can't put my finger on it exactly. That makes me nervous. Scott looks in the peephole. A big grin comes to his face. Before I can ask for an explanation, he opens the door. He immediantly gets an armsful of whoever this girl is. I feel my heart skid to a screeching stop when I see her eyes. Those familiar vibrant violet orbs, the ones the drew me into her that night. Then everything else slides into place, it's like smashing glass with how fast and sudden the realisation hits me.
It was the laugh first. I looked up from my drink and in the laugh's direction. Then that wide smile matched with bright purple eyes. The girl thanks the bartender for her drink once she's done laughing at the joke he must have made. She catches me staring and gives me a shy smile. I return it with a small smile of my own. I look back down at my drink. I'm not even sure why i'm here. I've never been much of a drinker because werewolves can't get drunk. I just decided to come down here tonight to spend some time by myself I guess, I didn't want to be bothered so I brought a beer. I look up, becoming pleasantly suprised when the girl from before is now filling the empty side of the booth.
"Anyone sitting here?" she asks me.
"You are" I say. She chuckles.
"What's someone like you doing here alone?" she asks me.
"Needed to get away" I shrug. "What's someone like you doing here at all?" I ask. She gives me a questioning look. "You don't seem like the bar type"
"I'm not, not really. I needed a drink, it's been a long day" she says.
"What's up?" I ask.
"Nothing of interest, family stuff, Daddy issues" she waves it off. I nod. She finishes her drink, looking a little uncomfortable that she revealed that. She chuckles awkwardly. "Sorry..I don't know why I told you that"
"It's okay" I say. She looks up at me with a small smile. "You want another drink?" I ask her, seeing her's is empty and mine now is too.
"Yeah, i'd like that" she smiles.
"Can I at least get a name before I buy you a drink?" I ask the girl. She smiles a little more, showing white teeth and small dimples in her cheeks.
"It's Ashlee" she says, locking eyes with me. "And can I at least get a name before you buy me a drink?" she asks cheekily.
"It's Derek" I say with a soft smile, signalling to the bartender.
"Well Derek" she says, popping the top of her beer once the waitress has put it down. "Here's to a better night than today's been"
"To a better night" I nod, the two of us clicking the neck of our beer bottles together.
And that heartbeat, the slightly erratic one that, now that I think about it, reminds me of Stiles in the sense that it's slightly out of place compared to everyone else's. That heartbeat, the one i'd fall asleep to right under my ear for 3 months. The heartbeat that filled the silence in my loft whenever she was over. Which, suprisingly, after that first night we spent together, ended up being every day for 3 months. And I loved that.
"I missed you" Scott says, pulling away from the girl i'd gotten so close to in those 3 months. She looks up and stops dead in her tracks when she sees me. "Ash, this is-"
"Derek" she finishes for him.
"Ashlee" I say. Scott looks between us, confused.
"Mommy?" my eyes widen at the tiny girl that walks out from behind Ash in a small fluffy purple onesie as she rubs her own tired eyes. Her tired green eyes.
"There she is" Scott smiles, crotching down to swoop the young girl off her feet and hug her. "Hey Lee" Scott smiles at her.
"Is that.." I trail off, not bring able to make myself say that word.
"This is my daughter, Leah" Ash tells me. I nod, finding my breath caught in my throat. This girl, the one that was so important to me..she's a mother. And her daughter is as beautiful as she is. Bright green eyes, straight raven hair that reaches her shoulders. High cheek-bones and full lips. She's even got the same crooked jawline that Scott and Ash have. It's perfect. She's perfect. Why am I saying this? Why does my wolf feel protective over the young girl?
"How do you two know each other?" Scott asks, looking between us with narrowed eyes. I open my mouth to tell him something other than the truth but she beats me to it.
"Derek was a bartender in the club I used to go to a few years back" she says, the lie rolling off her tounge so easily that Scott doesn't even catch the jump in her heartbeat.
"You worked in a bar?" Scott asks, looking at me in suprise.
"Yeah" I go along with the lie, Scott nodding slowly.
"Scott, why don't you put Leah down, it's getting late" Ash says, dismissing the boy. She's right though, it is getting late.
"Wait-" I try. I want to know more about Leah, my wolf's intrigued, i'm genuinely curious too.
"Now" she cuts me off, looking at Scott. Scott looks between us before doing as he's asked. "I'll be in to tuck you in in a minute Lee" she says to her daughter as the two walk away. Leah frowns at me over Scott's shoulder, I can tell she doesn't want me to be alone with her mother as she doesn't even know me. So why my wolf is dying to get to know her, to protect and watch over her..I have no idea. I mean..it's not like Leah's mine, right? Then why is my wolf acting this way? Ash waits until Scott's gone from the room before turning to me.
..
Ashlee's p.o.v
Derek and I stare at each other for a few long moments.
"You had a kid and you didn't tell me?" Derek asks me.
"She's 2. She wasn't in the picture until after we..stopped seeing each other" I say.
"I know that. But you didn't think to call or anything?"
"So you wanted me to call you to tell you I had a baby but you couldn't be bothered calling me?" I ask him with a scoff. "Is that right?"
"That's not what I meant" Derek sighs.
"Then what did you mean?" I ask him. I don't even give him the chance to answer. "I get it, you're suprised to see me again. Trust me, so am I. I didn't even know you knew my brother. It's a wolf thing, right?" I ask him. He nods. Yeah, I know all about the werewolf world thanks to Derek. I'm glad he was able to trust me enough to tell me about werewolves and his family. "But you don't have to act like you care just 'cause you and Scott know each other"
"It's not an act" he says. "And if I remember correctly, you were the one who just up and walked away from me, not the other way around" he says, keeping his voice down.
"I had my reasons-"
"What reasons? There was nothing wrong. We were fine, we were happy" he says.
"I don't have to explain myself" I say. "But that doesn't mean i'm not sorry for leaving because I am. I really am. I never wanted to hurt you. But it was easier this way, trust me, it was" I say.
"I don't believe that" Derek says. "And I don't think you do either"
"It doesn't matter. I said i'm sorry and I meant it. What's done is done" I say, turning away from him.
"Can you wait?"
"No. I have someone that needs me"
"Are you saying I didn't need you?" he asks, making me stop. I turn to look at him. "Is that what you think?"
"Well did you need me?" I ask.
"Yeah" he answers. "And you left me" I feel tears prick my eyes so I quickly turn away and go down to where Mom's setup a room for me and Leah. Derek doesn't follow me and i'm glad for that. I need some time to deal and figure all this out. I was never supposed to run into him again. I knew coming home ran that risk but I thought he might have moved on now..looks like he didn't.
..
Derek's p.o.v
I can't sleep. I can't even think clearly. I run through the woods, trying to tire myself out so I can at least get a few hours sleep. My wolf is pacing. Stressing. And I have no idea why. I know it's about Ash and Leah though. It's all I can think about. They are all I can think about. And there's something Ash isn't telling me. I know her. And she's holding something back, not only from me but from everyone. And I want to know what. Is Ash raising Leah on her own? Is there another man in the picture? Who's Leah's Dad? Why did she run from me? Why hasn't she called me? Why haven't I called her? What the hell happened between us to make her think running away was easier than staying? Yes, the first night we spent together..it was supposed to be a one night thing. But then it wasn't, then I got to know her and she got to know me and it turned into something more. I wouldn't say we were a couple because that never came up but we didn't need to label it. We were each other's and that was enough. But when I came home and she was gone..it did hurt me.
I'm so sorry Derek
It was never supposed to go like this
I wish you luck, I really do
-Ash
xx
Messy linked writing. That's what the small note inside the envelope left on my bed said. On our bed said. Because really, she spent more time at my house than her own. And I didn't mind one bit. That was all she wrote. All her clothes she had kept at the house, anything she owned was gone. So was she. The only thing she did leave, along with the note, was a small wolf teddy. I won it at the bowling alley when we went on our first date..well, that was our only date. After that night, once we knew it wasn't going to be just a one night thing, I took her out on a date. I wanted to show her i'm not the pig I was the night before. I don't 'love them and leave them'. In fact, we never slept together again during those 3 months. But we went on a date, it was out of both of our comfort zones but we did it to show we meant more to each other than a late night roll around in the sheets. After i'd won the wolf, I gave it to her like normal couple would I guess. She rolled her eyes and said it was stupid but still thanked me and kissed me, smiling widely with a light blush. But that's just how she is. She's snarky and quick-witted and I love those things about her. It's been close to 3 years and I still have feelings for her. And I think I care about what's going on with her 2 year old daughter as well. Wait..2 years old..we were together 3 years ago. Hold on..
..
Ashlee's p.o.v
I groan and pull myself out of bed when there's knocking on the front door. I look at my clock, it's after midnight. I quickly make my way to the door as Leah's sleeping and I don't want to wake her. Scott's at his girlfriend's and Mom's at work, they both wanted to give me some space to settle Leah and I in as well. I grab the bat by the door and open it. I sigh and throw the bat to the ground when I see it's Derek.
"Scott's at Allison's, he's not here" I say.
"I'm not here for Scott" he says, walking in.
"Of course, just come in" I say sarcastically. I shut the door behind him.
"We need to talk. Sit down with me?" Derek asks. I cautiously sit down across from him at the table. I watch him closely, unsure of what he's going to do. "I want to talk about you. And about Leah"
"No, she's none of your business" I say, shaking my head.
"I don't think that's true" he says. "You know that's not true"
"What does that mean?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.
"You know exactly what I mean" Derek says pointedly.
"You're insane" I say, realising what he's getting at. No, it's too late. Now's not the time.
"Am I?" he asks. "Because I know she didn't those green eyes from you and really, the timeline matches up to us-"
"She's not your's" I cut him off in a quiet whisper, scared i'll wake Leah.
"You know what I heard? Your heart skip over the word 'not'. You may be able to lie to Scott but you can't lie to me. And if that's my daughter in there, I deserve to know" Derek says, trying to keep himself calm.
"I don't care what you heard Derek. You haven't been around so it doesn't matter" I say, getting up. Derek shoots up, catching my arm.
"Wait. What does that mean? Does that mean she's mine?" he asks with wide eyes. My face falls, realising I let too much slip.
"Let me go" I say, feeling tears prick my eyes.
"Who's her father?" Derek asks, not letting me go.
"Derek. Stop, please" I plead.
"Who's her Dad Ash?" he asks again. "Tell me who her Dad is"
"N-no, I can't" I say, getting nervous. He's caught me out. And there's no escape.
"Tell me the truth. Is Leah mine?" he asks outright. I sigh and rub my hand down my face.
"Okay..yes" I say, tears welling up in my eyes. Derek's eyes widen in shock even though he had his suspicions. "Leah's your's" I tell him. Derek's face twists with anger and hurt.
"How could you keep this from me?!" he yells angerily.
"Keep your voice down" I warn him in a hushed whisper, glancing nervously at the bedroom door. "You'll wake Leah"
"I wouldn't want to wake our daughter" he sneers. I feel my jaw twitch angerily. I shove the older male away from me. I've always had a temper..okay, alot of temper.
"She may be biologically your's but she's been your daughter. She's been my daughter and that's how it's been for 2 years" I say possessively. Derek growls lowly, his fangs poking out from his lips. I know Derek would never hurt me but he is angry, his wolf won't be very happy either. "You were never there-"
"I didn't know!" he yells.
"I did this alone!"
"Did you?! 'Cause you're acting like there's someone else in picture! Someone you don't want me knowing about" he says.
"What are you talking about? There's noone else! There hasn't been anyone else since I left you!" I yell. "She's been the most important thing in my life since the second I found out I was pregnant you asshole!"
"Are you sure? Are you sure there's noone else that my daughter is calling her Daddy?!" I get so angry from his words that I actually hit him. He recovers right away, werewolf perk. It hurts me to hit him more than it does for him to be hit but I shove that away for now, i'm too angry to feel pain.
"I would never lie to her about that!" I shout.
"So when she asks, what do you tell her? Huh?! What do you say?"
"I don't lie!"
"What do you say-"
"I tell her he's not around! I tell her i'm sorry he's not here-"
"Do not put that on me!" he cuts me off angerily. "If you had told me, I would have made you stay! Remember, you ran away from me!"
"I was scared! I was friggin' terrified! I didn't think what we had was going to get as serious as it did, then I found out I was pregnant and I panicked, okay?! I freaked out! I didn't know what to do!" I yell, tears spilling down my cheeks.
"You should have told me! I could have been there for-for.."
"For what? For the birth? For the 2 years that I raised her by myself?!" I yell angerily. "I may have left Derek but don't act like you came after me! Don't act like you even tried to call and find me!"
"I had no idea! How was I supposed to know you were carrying my child? How was I supposed to know I was a father?! You said nothing! You left me a note and you left! You were just gone! And-and it hurt, okay?! It hurt me! And that's why I didn't come after you, I thought you wanted nothing to do with me anymore!" he admits. I look at him, suprised. "It wasn't just a one night thing, maybe the sex was, but we weren't. You can't tell me those 3 months we spent together meant nothing to you"
"It did mean something to me. It meant alot to me" I admit.
"It meant alot to me too" he says, voice calm again. I wipe my eyes with my sleeve and sigh heavily.
"What do you want from me Derek?" I ask him, letting my own voice become calm again too.
"I want to be a Dad to my daughter" he says.
"Do you?" I ask.
"Yes. And i'll always want to be. Always" he says.
"If we do this, there's no going back"
"I know that" he nods.
"I'm serious Derek. This isn't a walk in the park. It's a commitment, for life. I left because I didn't want to force you into this but you have to know if you do come into this, you can't ever come out of it. You gotta make alot of sacrifices" I say honestly.
"I know all about sacrifice" he says. I nod, thinking about his family.
"You say you want me to let you be her Dad?" I ask.
"Yeah, I do" he nods.
"I can see you want to be, I can. But I don't think you realise what you're asking of us. Yes, she's your daughter so you have a right but she hasn't known a Dad or any male authority figure in her entire life"
"Which is why she needs one" he says. He motions for me to sit again. I sniff back my tears and nod, sitting back down. He pulls a chair up to sit in front of me, looking at me. "I'm here, okay? And i'm ready"
"You're ready?" I ask skeptically. "I actually thought you were gonna pass out when I finally admitted she was your's" I say, chuckling dryly.
"Okay, i'm not ready. But I can be" he says. "I wanna be there for her, and for you. And I don't want you to have to do this alone anymore. Despite what you may think, I did care about you alot. I never stopped caring about you" he says. I can't help the tears that force their way to the front of my eyes and down my cheeks. "What's happening?" Derek asks with a worried frown. "Is this some post baby hormone thing?" he asks. I can tell he's shocked. I'm usually hard, he's only seen me cry once and he hated it. I laugh, actually laugh. He looks at me, confused.
"No Derek, that 'baby' is 2. It's a little late for that" I tell him. "I'm crying because despite what you may think, I still care about you too and I do have feelings and I do sometimes get upset" I say, amused.
"Well don't be upset. Please. You know how much I hate seeing you cry" he says.
"Little late for that too" I say with a hint of a sad smile.
"Have you ever been upset because of me?" he asks.
"Honestly?" I say. "I hated myself after that night we met and..you know. I was pissed at myself, that i'd let myself go so easily"
"Oh. Sorry" Derek says, burrowing his eyebrows.
"No, it's okay" I say, making him look back up at me. "Because the most amazing thing came out of it. Her. She came out of it" I say, tears welling up in my eyes again. "And she's the most important thing in my life so I should thank you. But I should also apologise for running off like I did. A note? Seriously? I couldn't even tell you to your face"
"I can forgive that because I get it" he says. He carefully takes both my hands in his. I look down at them and then back up to him. "You were scared"
"It wasn't just that" I say. He looks at me to go on and I sigh. "I was..I was falling in love with you and I didn't know what to do" I admit in a low whisper. Derek's eyes widen.
"You love me?" he asks me.
"I don't know. I-I think so" I say honestly. "Listen, I don't expect you to say it back. Hell, I don't expect you to even give a crap-"
"Why would you say that?" he asks.
"It's been almost 3 years Derek. What's stopping someone else, someone better, from coming along and picking up the pieces during that time?" I ask him.
"There's noone. There's been noone since you left" he says. He sighs. "I guess a small part of me..okay, a big part, was hoping one day you'd walk back through that door" he admits. "Because I think I was falling in love with you too" he says.
"I'm so sorry" I whisper, trying to hold back more tears.
"Don't apologise. That's not who you are" he says with a small smile. I chuckle. He knows me well. "Just let me be her Dad, okay? Give me a chance"
"Okay" I nod. We both turn towards the sound of soft footsteps.
"Mommy?" Leah asks, rubbing her tired eyes. I get up and go over to her, crotching down in front of her. Damn, we woke her.
"Hey baby, what are you doing up? You should be sleeping" I say softly.
"I heard yellin'. You were mad" she says, sleep laced in her voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you" I say.
"Why were you mad Mommy?" she asks. Leah looks past me and sees Derek. "Why is he here?" she asks, looking back at me. "Who is he?"
"Um.." I say. I turn to look at Derek. "Sweetie, I want you to meet somebody, alright? Come here" I say. She gives me her hand and I lead her over to Derek. "This is Derek. He's an old friend of mine" I say. Leah looks at him, still a little shy because of her young age and the current situation.
"Hi Derek" Leah says.
"Hi" Derek says softly. I turn Leah towards me and take a deep breath.
"Lee, remember when I said Daddy wasn't around?" I ask her and she nods. Derek looks at me with wide eyes. "Don't make me regret this Derek" I say.
"I won't, I swear" he says.
"Leah..this is your Daddy" I tell the young girl. The strangest thing happens. Leah looks between us. I swear she's even narrows her eyes like she's studying us.
"This is Daddy?" Leah asks.
"Yeah baby, this is your Daddy" I assure her. Leah looks straight at Derek and the man shifts nervously under her bright green gaze.
"You're my Daddy" Leah says to Derek, like she's handing him that title.
"Yeah, i'm your Daddy" Derek smiles, taking that title right away. He moves to crotch down in front of her. "Listen, i'm sorry I haven't been around, okay? It's been..hard, but i'm here now. I'll always be here" he assures her. I feel tears come over me again. I'm not one to cry but this is my daughter, this is different.
"Okay" Leah smiles, nodding her small black-haired hair. Derek looks up at me and I have to put a hand over my mouth to hold back a sob. Leah turns around and looks at me too.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" she asks. I smile through the tears.
"Nothing" I say, trying to sound reassuring. Leah frowns and walks over to me, hugging my legs. I try so hard not too, but I start crying..again. Derek stands up and comes over to me. His arms come around me and I curl into his chest.
"Hey. I'm here now, okay? Things are gonna be different, I promise" he whispers to me in a comforting tone. I nod and pull back to look at him. I know I probably shouldn't but I do it anyway. I lean in and softly kiss his lips. I quickly hide my face againist his chest again before he can react. I still care about him, alot. And he said it's the same for him. Maybe..maybe while we're doing this, trying to be a family, maybe me and him can go back to how we were. I hope we can. But I won't force him into anything, i'll understand if that's not what he wants. "Ash" Derek says. I look back up at him. I'm plesantly suprised to find his lips moving over mine softly. I smile, kissing him back. "I missed you so much" he says againist my lips before kissing me again.
"Ew!" we break apart, Leah looking grossed out. I chuckle, picking her up and hugging her tightly. Yeah, we're all going to be okay.
..
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Decided to do some family fluff as I don't do enough of it. Should I do a second chapter? Where they tell the family that Derek's the father? Maybe have some Dad/Mom/Daughter moments? Hmm? Favourite, follow and review!