Chapter One: He's my best friend. He always has been.
Scott lay in bed breathing calmly in his sleep. He hadn't had a good rest for a while, usually he just huffed and puffed thinking about that monster inside him. Tonight though, he slept quietly in a dreamless sleep.

The True Alpha.

That's what everyone called him. Even Stiles said it. Sometimes Scott would have nightmares of monsters killing his classmates in school, or his mom, or his dad. By the time the dream ended he'd realize the monster was him, always him. Some nights he'd stay up thinking about Allison, Lydia, Isaac, Stiles-everyone at risk. The people in his life that were on the verge of a mental break down or constant threat of death kept increasing. And… Kira.

Scott jumped in his sleep at the sound of a thud on the porch roof. His eyes glowed red in his startled wake. He tried to suppress his power as he rose from his covers and crept closer to the window. Suddenly it flew open and a figure rolled into the room with some cursing.

"Stiles! What are you doing?!" Scott demanded in a hushed voice with his claws exposed.

Stiles looked up with a weary smile. At the sight of Scott's eyes he seemed a bit intimidated. "Scott, calm down, it's okay. We-we used to do this all the time before…" Stiles grimaced. "Scott, you're eyes are glowing, come on, you're okay, you can control it." Stiles looked down at Scott's hand gulping, but then back up at Scott in total confidence. "You're going to be alright."

Scott breathed out, closing his eyes, retracting his claws. "I'm so afraid I'm going to lose control one day. I keep dreaming about it." He sat on his bed weakly.

"Yeah, I know." Stiles said, sitting next to him.

"So what's up, why'd you come here?" Scott asked Stiles.

"I… I didn't want to sleep tonight so I… I kinda missed just coming into your room, pulling pranks, and going after my dad's late night cases."

"Scott chuckled, "Yeah, we were pretty dumb. We didn't even know werewolves were out there, we could have been killed." He said with a grin.

"I can't believe you're smiling at that-" Stiles said suppressing his own laughter.

"Shut up." They both went quite for a while, their smiles fading. "Why didn't you want to sleep?" Scott asked.

"Sleep just brings nightmares." He shrugged. "I wake up exhausted. I figure its better being exhausted without the vivid fear."

"Scott frowned reluctantly thinking about his one night of peaceful sleep being interrupted. He didn't say anything to Stiles though, who had enough to worry about. Scott put an arm around Stiles, "What are we gonna do?" His head hung on his shoulders. Stiles didn't say anything. "What…" Scott began, looking up at Stiles, "are we gonna do, huh?"

"Stiles was startled by the intensity in Scott's glossy eyes. His mouth hung open just a bit, trying to find words, anything to break the silence and bring back his breath. "I… I don't… I don't know." Stiles stammered. He looked down into his hands frustrated. "I used to…" he choked on his words, "I used to always know. Always." He thought about his sudden dyslexia, a small hope returned when he remembered being able to read the words in the rearview mirror. "I don't… I really don't know, but-" Stiles looked up at Scott now, "we'll get through this." Stiles said, putting his hand on Scott's knee. "We'll get through it." He said, patting it reassuringly.

"Scott smiled back trusting Stiles as he always had and probably always would. "You're my best friend, you know that?" Scott said.

"Stiles' heart skipped a beat as he watched his friend's face in the crescent moonlight.

"Yeah, always." He said back with a tired smile.

"You really should sleep though." Scott said, still smiling but obviously worried.

"Stiles shook his head, looking away and slouching a bit. Scott's hand fell back onto the bed as he lay down on it. His fingers went to his hair as he soothed himself quietly. A sigh came out of Stiles as he leaned back on the bed with Scott. Their feet both touched the ground where the moonlight came in. It stretched from their legs to the closed door of Scott's room.

"I wish… things would go back to normal. Us just sitting on the bench in lacrosse being stupid high schoolers." Scott said. Stiles' hands which were folded over his stomach rose with his deep breath.

"Yeah, the loss in our investment has kind of outweighed the gains." Stiles said, turning his head up at Scott.

"Ha, you sound like our economics class." Scott said, turning back to Stiles. Scott sighed, "I hope I don't flunk out of high school." He sighed looking back up at the ceiling.

"Yeah, me too, I can't even read properly."

"Yeah, and that panic attack you had last time really scared me."

"Yeah… sorry."

"No, it's fine, as long as you're okay. I don't mind." Scott said lifting his head to look Stiles in the eye. Stiles didn't look back but said thank you. Scott's head was still in the air as he searched his friend's eyes. He shifted so that he now lay on his side. "Stiles, seriously, I'd do it again and again for you. You're my-"

"-bestfriend." Stiles interrupted.

"Yeah." Scott said, a bit surprised, he lay back down.

"I wish we could run away…" Stiles said after some silence, "to a place where school didn't matter, fucking monster ki-" Stiles looked quickly up at Scott, "-I didn't mean monster-"

"No it's fine, I know you did. I mean, it makes sense you'd think of me that way." Scott said, eyes on the ceiling.

"No- I didn't mean- Scott I didn't-"

"Dude, it's okay." Scott said, looking down at Stiles, "It's okay."

Stiles turned away from Scott feeling a bit ashamed. "I just meant-"

"I know what you meant," Scott said earnestly, "it's okay. So where would we run away to?"

"Stiles looked up at Scott who was looking back up at the ceiling. "Uhm…" Stiles began, eyes fixed on Scott. He sucked up some air and looked up at the ceiling as well. "We could…"

"Go to the beach." Scott said.

"Stiles looked up at him. Scott was chuckling.

"Uh- yeah, we could go to the beach or-"

"-move to China."

"Uhm… ye-"

"Or Japan, watch out for their wasabi though, I had it the other night and it is hot." Scott tried not to laugh while remembering dinner with Kira.

"Hey this is my-"

"I thought it was guacamole." Scott started laughing softly. "So dumb…"

Stiles watched him grow sleepy. "Where'd you have sushi?" Stiles asked, edging himself closer.

"Uhm, Kira's house."

"Oh."

"Yeah I met her parents. I used chopsticks!" Looking up at Stiles, Scott laughed a little, "Well I tried to. I'm really bad at using them though."

"I'm not surprised." Stiles said falling back on the bed a bit disappointed.

"We ended up eating pizza."

"Failure huh?" Stiles asked uninterested.

"Well, the food was interesting, I just, well I'd never had raw fish before so… I don't know, I feel kind of bad now. I had a hard time swallowing."

Stiles chuckled thinking about that, looking up mischievously, "I bet they hate you now."

"What- no- why?" Scott stammered lifting his head to look at Stiles.

"Well, Asian food is a very important aspect of Asian life." Stiles said matter-of-factly looking away. "They probably think you're inferior for their daughter, you'll never date her." He said satisfied.

Scott didn't say anything as he hit his head back on the bed. "Damn."

Stiles' grin turned to a frown as his groan turned into, "ahhh I'm just kidding." Stiles said, turning on his side towards Scott. "They probably like you just fine." He tapped his finer on Scott's chest on "fine." He felt a bit guilty about what he said. He always tried to think about what's best for Scott. Suddenly he remembered when Scott had a full blown make out session with Lydia. Why am I thinking about that now! Stiles crossed his arms and fell back on his back.

"I think I like her."

He knew it was coming but it still nipped at his heart a bit. "Yeah, well she seems nice." Stiles felt himself grow tired, he forced his eyes shut hard as he concentrated on staying awake. "Ugh!" He said, sitting up and facing Scott, leaning over him a bit. "This conversation is boring, can we move onto something else? I'm falling asleep here!"

"Dude, shut up, my mom's sleeping!" Scott said sitting up and forcing Stiles to move back a bit.

Stiles struggled to keep his eyes up at Scott and not linger on his lips. "Right." He noticed the small space between them and leaned back a bit more. "Right, sorry."

The two of them sighed together for probably the tenth sigh that night. They chuckled at their unison. Stiles thought of Lydia while looking at the crescent light on the floor. "My dad, I think he believes all this crap, but… I don't know, it's hard for him. He can't really do anything about it. And he, I hate him having to come into my room when I can finally move from fucking sleep paralysis. I hate- I just- I feel so useless."

Scott listened in silence.

"Shit, talking about dads, what's up with yours?"

Scott rolled his neck with his hands extended behind him. "Ah, nothing. I wish he'd leave already, he's making things more complicated. And I see it stressing out my mom too. They hate each other, I don't know why they got together in the first place. At least they're civil about it." Scott groaned in frustration and rolled up behind Stiles. At this, Stiles leaned back on Scott's warm torso. Scott sprawled out a bit, relaxing and slowly breathing. Stile's looked down at Scott who looked surprisingly defenseless compared to his actual capabilities. He gazed lovingly at his best friend and let out a breath of air, leaning further into the giant pup behind him. His arms fell behind Scott's back and Stiles looked back at Scott again. He wanted to lean in, he wanted to-"Sometimes I feel so lucky having you as my best friend." Scott said.

Stiles stopped, breathless, surprised by his temptation. He jerked his head back and said "me too… me too bud." He let his hand go through Scott's hair while he watched the ceiling. Underneath him, he felt Scott push his back away a bit, moving his legs a little farther from Stiles. Stilinski took it as an excuse to move closer and slouch a bit more. As his side got closer to Scott's sweatpants, the werewolf pushed a bit farther away. Stiles looked at Scott a bit confused, but Scott had hidden his face under his arms like he was trying to sleep. Stiles blushed and looked away, letting go of Scott's hair and running his fingers through his own. How could Scott look adorable? He was a freaking werewolf! It was a bit unfair. Stiles pushed Scott who quickly rolled onto his stomach, not saying anything. Stiles rolled onto the bed next to him, also on his stomach. "Scott come on, don't go to sleep. Stay up with me." Scott moaned in protest. "Scott, come one, please?" Stiles felt a bit panicked, afraid that his nightmares would catch up with him.

"Stiles, shut up, it'll be okay, I'm here, come on." Scott pulled him closer by the waist. "Now go to sleep," he grumbled with closed eyes. His ears were red and his face was just a bit flushed. Stiles' eyes fluttered as he watched Scott, they were so close now. It wasn't like it was the first time Stilinski had slept over at Scott's house, they'd done it a lot more in the past, especially before Scott went wolf but…. Stiles' eyes calmed as he quietly watched Scott whose face continued to turn red. "Stiles…"

"… yeah?"

"Stop staring at me." Scott said, eyes still closed.

"Ah-ri-right, sorry, looking away now." Stiles turned his head to face the window, but didn't shift to his side. He didn't really want to give Scott an excuse to retract his arm. Oh come on Stiles thought as his face turned red. He pushed his crotch embarrassedly into the bed to make sure it couldn't be seen. You've slept with him before, why now? Thank god Stiles was lying down on his stomach and not his back. Stiles awkwardly looked back at Scott who was also laying on his stomach with his face red in the darkness. Stilinski stopped breathing at the soft tickle of Scott's exhale on his shoulder and neck.

"Sti-" Scott began.

"I'm not look-" Scott opened his eyes. They were dark and agitated, almost defensive. "Well I was going to close my e-" There was a flash of… an odd softness in Scott's eyes that startled Stiles' breathing. He quickly closed his eyes, but didn't turn away this time. Scott shifted and moved his arm. Stilinksi's eyebrows suppressed their disappointment as he clenched his jaw expecting Scott to pull away. Instead, Scott slid his hand up Stiles' back a bit so that he moved closer up. His breath was now on Stiles' chin and barely touched the human's exposed collarbone. Well Stiles wasn't going to be able to sleep now. When Scott sounded like he was asleep, Stiles opened his long lashes again and watched the crescent moonlight crawl on his face and disappear behind the forest. The room turned blue, orange, pink, as the sky turned to day. Stiles stayed up thinking of many things that night, but as morning sunk into the bedroom, his heavy eyes began to fall.

When Stiles finally slipped into sleep, Scott began to wake with morning light kissing his face. The first image he saw was Stiles. He let out a breath in expectant happiness. He didn't really want to get up and came closer to Stiles so that their noses were almost touching and lay on his side. He made sure to keep his waist away from Stiles again so his morning wood wouldn't wake him. Scott's shifting movements moved the bed making Stiles moan as his sleep tried to keep him. Scott lifted his head and watched his friend as he instinctively moved closer to Scott's warm body in his slumber. Stiles' hand flopped over Scott's back and grabbed his shirt. Scott didn't move, not even to breath. Finally Scott thought with a little sigh of relief, some peaceful sleep. He couldn't help but smile for his friend.

And then… of course… the alarm. Stiles shot up, still half asleep, "wh-what's happening."

"Nothing, it's my phone's alarm."

"Well it's fucking annoying." Stiles said grabbing the front of Scott's shirt and digging his head into his chest.

"Yeah-" Scott began before the both of them froze.

"It's because I just woke up." Stiles said, blushing.

"Yeah, mine too." Scott spat out. The both of them turned away before Scott climbed over Stiles to turn off the alarm clock. Stiles looked up at him as he did, expecting something different from Scott, and then cursing himself in his head for his imagination. Scott's mom opened the door just as Scott turned off the alarm. Scott froze with his body across Stiles, phone in his hand, and Stiles just kind of crawled up in a ball.

"Uhm… good morning Stiles, I didn't know you slept over last night."

The both of them sat up with their backs straight next to each other. "Good morning Mrs. McCall." Stiles replied, fully awake now. "I was uh- we- we had a research project to do, so I just came over to work on it with him."

"Ms. McCall, good to hear you boys are still doing homework. I was afraid I was going to have to have another talk with Scott… honestly I'd feel a bit guilty seeing what you two boys have been through." She said with a frown. "I'm glad you guys are still taking school seriously."

"Y-yeah, of course," Scott stammered in together with Stiles' "Yeah of- of course. Of course."

"Well, come on down boys, get ready then." She was about to close the door but suddenly stopped, "by the way, Scott, do you know what happened to Isaac? I don't think he came home last night." None of them knew about the mysterious attack that occurred earlier in the night.

"What-" Stiles began but then remembered that Isaac had been sleeping over at the McCall's since he didn't live with Derek or his late father anymore. He found himself wishing he could be the one that lived here with the McCalls.

"No, I don't." Scott said, still sitting on the bed.

"Well…" his mom said. Then her eyes grew wide, "Oh well, I guess teenagers do- uhm, well he probably," she waved her hand in front of her face, "uhm never mind, he, you don't have to tell me."

"What…?" Scott began as she left the room, turning to Stiles. "What's she thinking, he doesn't even talk to any girls besides…"

Oh great, he's only going to think about Allison now. Stiles tried to hide his involuntary rolling of the eyes by turning away. Stiles was a good friend and didn't think little of any of Scott's problem, but it was getting harder and harder to be okay with Scott's ex. His ability to control himself was becoming weaker everyday as he felt himself getting more unstable and he didn't really want Scott to get crushed over and over again by Allison when he already had so much to worry about. "Scott, just let it go." He said, not looking at him. It also just made him frustrated to think about Scott and any other girl more recently. Kira. Kira was good for him, he'd get over Allison and she'd make him happy. I make him happy too. Stiles thought, but then shook his head. We're best friends. I can't make it weird. That'd just be more stress to both of us. Make it wei-wait why would I make anything weird, it's not like I like him as more than a- He remembered the way his heart fluttered next to Scott last night.

Shocked he said, "Wow, I think I actually had some decent sleep last night."

Scott didn't say anything with his clenched fists and tight jaw. Stiles cocked his head back before rolling onto his feet. "Dude, let it go, she can date whoever-"

"She broke up with me because I was a werewolf, and now she's with another werewolf?!" He looked mad, but at least he wasn't turning wolf. In all honesty, he wasn't really all that mad about it, but for some reason he felt like he should be so he acted like he was.

"Don't worry about it, we don't even know what happened. Let's not jump to conclusions." Stiles said, leaning back and opening his arms, "okay? Don't worry, be happy!" He chuckled and slapped Scott's back. "Now come on, we're going to be l- oh shit, I've got to go home and change."

"I think you have some clothes here from when you used to sleep over more often."

"Oh yeah, I used to stash extra ones here 'cause I'd just randomly come over. Are my pajamas here too?" Stiles asked moving over to the closet towards his left before turning to face the wall.

"Yeah I think so."

"Uh…"

"What?" Scott asked, leaning over his legs and then pushing off them to stand. He ruffled his hair and pulled a towel from the floor onto his shoulder.

"I think I grew." Stiles said, looking over his shoulder at Scott with a dumb open-mouthed grin. "I don't think I'll fit in this anymore." He had a shirt outstretched in front of him. Looking back on it he said, "Well, I guess it'll be fine, just a little tight." He turned his head at it before rummaging around for some pants.

Scott sighed and went to take a shower. As he turned the knob on, he realized he'd forgotten to bring his clothes for the day. He headed back with a towel around his waist to his room. "Coming in." He announced as he did just that. Stiles looked over his shoulder and gave naked Scott a once over just before tripping backwards, pants around his waist and topless. "Ah, sorry."

"Nah, its fine." Stiles quickly threw his jeans over his pants and faced away from Scott.

Scott couldn't help but feel a bit of awkwardness in the air. He shook his head and ignored it, grabbing some clothes and looking back at Stiles' back. "Are those…" He began, looking at the bit of boxers poking out of Stiles' pants, "…mine?"

"Huh-what?" Stiles peeked from under the shirt he was trying to put on and quickly looked down at where Scott was looking. "Oh-uh yeah, well I didn't want to go commando- I mean, I'll wash them-"

Scott breathed out a laugh, "Never mind, just keep them."

"No I'll wash them, don't you trust my washing abilities?" Stiles asked, his head coming through the opening of his shirt.

"No, its fine just keep them." And with that Scott headed back into the shower.

When he came down stairs, Stiles was eating cereal. For an instant, Scott saw little Stiles there chewing loudly and laughing with his hyper morning energy. "'Sup" Stiles said to his best friend's entrance.

Scott breathed out "Nothing much, just got out of the shower. You know the rest."

"Ha right," Stiles said looking into his cereal. Mama McCall watched them with curious eyes as she pulled out some orange juice. "Alright boys, let's go, I don't want you guys to be late for school."

"We're not gonna be la-"

"Hey, you're the one who wanted to take a long shower, now come on, hurry up and eat your cereal."

The human got in his jeep and the werewolf hopped on his dirt bike, both feeling a little different than the day before.