Disclaimer: I own nothing involving Teen Wolf, its characters or their representation. And I have nothing to offer if you sue me, so don't try.

AN: I'm not really sure where this story is going, if anywhere, let me know what you think. If I get a good response I'll keep going.

Chapter 1

The sky had been dark for hours by the time Stiles pulled his SUV into his father's driveway; both kids had fallen into a deep sleep over an hour ago. Their long journey had been exhausting and Stiles was more than ready to sleep for days, he dreaded bringing the kids in and getting them ready for bed but didn't want to leave that burden on his father when they he'd already done so much. Looking into the rearview mirror Stiles caught sight of the dark bags under his eyes, they'd been there for months and he knew they'd be there longer. He'd stared at his reflection long enough for his Dad to come to the car window and knock, the concern etched on his face made Stiles lift one corner of his mouth in a fake smile, he pretended not to notice the grimace it caused and climbed out of the car.

"Hey Dad." He greeted sinking into his Dads outreached arms. His Dad tightened his arms around his only child. The Sheriff had never seen his son look so defeated.

"How was the ride kiddo?" Despite being a 28 year old father of 2 Stiles still loved it when his Dad called him kiddo.

"We hit more traffic than I expected but it was fine, they both knocked out a while ago. I'm sorry; I know you wanted to see them." He apologized looking into the back seat to see both of his children breathing deeply. His Dad released his hold to open the backdoor of the car to begin unbuckling his 4 year old Grand Daughter from her booster seat.

"It's fine; we'll have plenty of time together." He said lifting her into his arms and gently closing the door behind him. "Do you have their overnight stuff or should we come back for the boxes?" He asked looking into the trunk full of moving boxes.

"I have a bag packed for tonight, I'll grab it." Stiles pulled the duffle out of the car before gently pulling his nearly 2 year old son out of his car seat. It had been almost a year since Stiles had been back to his childhood home and he drank in the sight before following his Dad into the old house and up the stairs to the guest bedroom. It didn't take long for Stiles to change the toddler into a fresh diaper and pajamas before tucking him into the bed he would be sharing with his sister. He repeated the process, taking his daughter to the bathroom and changing her clothes while his Dad went to make coffee, after both his kids were in bed he pulled the guard rails to ensure their safety and bid them goodnight.

Stiles felt his father's evaluating stare as he sat down at the kitchen island.

"I'm fine." He said reaching warm mug; he cradled it in his hands without taking a sip.

"You're not fine. You look like hell."

"I know. It was a long ride." Stiles had abandoned his home with his children in tow, making the move from Portland back to his hometown of Beacon Hills in 8 hours. In the last 7 months his entire life had turned upside down. After Lizzie died he'd tried to stay put, he tried to offer the stability his children needed but it wasn't long before it became too much. Memories of his dead wife followed him around until he thought he was losing his mind and he knew he had to leave. So he'd quit his job, hired a relator to sell their house and called his Dad begging to move back home. The begging was unnecessary, his Dad had offered numerous times since his wife's passing.

"Well, I'm glad you're home." The Sheriff dropped 2 slices of bread into the toaster. His son had always been on the skinny side of lean but now he looked absolutely gaunt. He wondered blindly when he'd last eaten and worried that if he didn't eat something before bed he might actually starve to death. Stiles was staring at a picture that sat on the wall, he and Lizzie on their wedding day, he didn't notice the food placed in front of him until his Dad shook his shoulder.

"Sorry." He said looking at the toast on the table in front of him. "I'm not hungry." He pushed the plate away. "I'm going to bed." Was his only reply before retreating up the stairs to his bedroom.

Stiles fell onto the mattress but knew that sleep wouldn't come. It had been so long since he'd last slept through night, his mind too busy thinking about his wife, his best friend, the love of his life. And also their children, he worried constantly about their safety, most nights he passed the time sitting on their bedroom floor just watching them breathe before his body would shut down and demand a few hours of restless sleep.

He found consciousness the next morning when his daughter's foot landed on his back as she climbed out of bed. She bent down and poked his face with a slim finger.

"Hi Daddy."

"Hi Harper." He said poking her in the stomach causing a giggle to erupt.

"Uh oh. Did we wake up your brother?" He placed Harper into his lap and looked over to see his son rubbing his face as he rolled onto his stomach to push himself up.

"Good morning Little Liam." He said stretching to pull his son onto his lap. He sat for a moment just breathing in the scent of baby shampoo and powder before beginning another day.

"I'll bet Papa isn't up yet, why don't we make him some breakfast before he has to go to work?" Harper's blond curls popped out of his lap, she'd been dying to see her Grandpa ever since Stiles mentioned moving back to Beacon Hills.

"Hold on Road Runner, let's get a clean diaper on your brother first." He laid his son along the bed stopping before unbuttoning his pajama bottoms. "I think it's your turn, isn't it?" He smiled as she jumped away, not daring to be on the backside of her brothers dirty diaper.

The experienced father changed his son quickly and soon all three were in the kitchen, Liam playing with blocks on the floor and Harper 'helping' her Dad scramble the eggs.

"Well look what we have here!" The Sheriff greeted, Harper bounced off the chair she'd been sitting on and jumped into the arms of her Papa who spun her around with a smile. Even though she looked like just like Lizzie she had Stiles personality to a T. Even after the devastating loss of her mother she was often too loud, too talkative and too smart for her own good. Just like Stiles had always been. Liam, even at such a young age, was much quieter in nature, happy to sit and play by himself as well as others. He sat on the edges of most situations, watching curiously in his own toddler way.

"You're awake! We made you breakfast before work!" She pointed to a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, he'd expected a lecture about cholesterol but Stiles just pushed the plate towards his father and added a glass of orange juice. The Sheriff dropped Harper back into her seat and picked up her brother who clapped him on the cheeks with a drooling grin.

"I'll take him so you can eat before work." Stiles said reaching for his son.

"No, you sit and eat, I'm off for the rest of the week." Stiles took Liam out of his father's hands anyway. The toddler, now sitting in his own fathers lap pulled the plate towards him and began munching on the scrambled eggs within his reach.

"Is that why you're looking so skinny? Is this chubster eating all your food?" He asked in jest, Liam hadn't quiet lost all of his baby fat yet and his Papa would be sad to see it go. He loved chubby babies.

"I'll eat when he's done. You didn't have to take time off for us. It's not like we're going anywhere anytime soon."

"I wanted to spend time with you all, help you get settled in."

"There's not much to settle. I just have the boxes in the car, a moving company is delivering some stuff next week and the rest is going into storage in Portland."

"What about the kids things? Toys? Liam's high chair? His crib?"

"Some stuff is being delivered with the truck, I forgot about the crib. I don't really use the high chair anymore though." Stiles mumbled, he knew his father would realize that he'd been holding his son to feed him and knew he was going to put a stop to it.

"How about we unpack the car after breakfast and I'll watch these two while you go out and buy whatever we're going to need immediately." Even though his father phrased it as a question Stiles knew it wasn't. He nodded defeated.

After breakfast was finished and everybody was dressed Stiles and the Sheriff brought the boxes into the house. It didn't take long for the Sheriff to push his son out of the door to replenish the furniture that had been left behind. Stiles took longer than his father had expected to say goodbye to his children despite such a short departure yet he'd flipped his father a brief wave before heading out of the door. Once he got to the car and closed the door he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He thought he'd feel better after he left his marital home, left his wife's haunting memories behind but somehow he'd only felt worse.

"Pull your shit together Stiles." He told his reflection before pulling out of the driveway.

Chapter 2.