The words ring in Stile's ears. Did she really just say that?
"Daddy?" Little Laura looks up at him. "Daddy, don't wolf out on me. I didn't mean to say anything wrong."
Stiles snaps out of his thoughts. "Oh, oh no, honey. You didn't say anything wrong." He hugs her and squeezes her tight. "How does Daddy smell different?"
"Just different. When the bad guy shot Grandpa in the leg, we were in the hospital."
"Yeah, I remember." Of course he remembers. That was a horrible day, a horrible week. The bullet didn't do much damage, but just seeing his dad like that…
"… Like her."
"What?"
"Daddy, you're not listening." She huffs just like her dad.
"I'm listening. I'm listening."
"The lady! The nurse with the big belly. You smell like her."
Stiles' face turns red. He knew that's what she was talking about, but hearing her say it out loud makes it real. Come to think of it, he had felt a little off lately, but when isn't he a little off? Is Derek going to be happy? Is it going to be as freaking painful as last time?
"Oh wow."
"Daddy, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, sweetheart." He kisses her forehead. "Promise me something. Don't tell anyone that I smell different, okay?"
"I promise I won't, Daddy." She looks at him with her big brown eyes and holds out her pinky finger. Stiles shakes it with his own.
"Go pick up your toys," he says as he gently swats her on the back, "or Aunt Lydia won't take you shopping." Laura runs up to her room with all the gracefulness of a penguin on ice skates. Stiles grins and blushes, finally realizing what he looks like when he runs around. He catches himself with his hand resting on his stomach. He swallows hard and walks into the living room. He doesn't know whether to be happy or horrified. He has wanted another child for two years, but now that it's happening… Now that it's happening, he feels really nervous.
He waits a couple days to tell anybody just in case it was all a mistake, but by Thursday he knows it's true. Really, he's surprised no one said anything about it. His scent is clearly different. Surely, Derek has noticed the change. Maybe they're all just used to it from last time.
Stiles decides to wait until the next night to announce the exciting news. Yes, he's finally decided that it is exciting news. How could it not be? The Hale house will have a new pup again.
They're having a welcome home/ Happy Anniversary party for Scott and Allison. Everyone will be there. The McCalls have been on a second honeymoon for the past three weeks. The whole pack chipped in to make it happen. An all expense paid trip to Hawaii. They wanted their fifth anniversary to be better than their first honeymoon. Really, they had no idea that secluded cabin had been on another pack's territory. Let's just say, it all ended well… eventually.
Stiles still isn't quite sure why they're having a party, though. Why should they celebrate Scott and Allison being together for five years? He's put up with him for much longer than that and never got a party for it. Not even a cake. Oh well, he's just happy to get to see his friend again.
All his plans go down the drain as soon as the pair walks through the door. He smells it on her instantly. Looks like there will be two new members to the pack in a little less than nine months.
Stiles pushes his feelings aside, after all that's what he does best, and joins the pack in congratulating them.