"Marriage was the thing, or rather, a wedding was, with its formal neatness of virtue rewarded, the thrill of its pageantry and banqueting, and dizzy promise of lifelong union."-Ian McEwan, Atonement

The streets were littered with golden leaves and the sun was setting on another autumn day in Beacon Hills.

Lydia sat inside Café Nuray, watching young people dressed in pea coats and boots walking outside the café. The place had opened only two years ago but the warm yellow lighting and brick walls gave off the illusion that it had been here for decades.

A server with a sleeve of tattoos and a beard handed her her coffee and chocolate muffin but she only nodded thank you and kept staring at the door. Finally, it opened and in walked a pretty brunette with dimples in her cheeks.

She looked around the room as she took off her scarf and when the two women locked eyes the brunette beamed. Lydia could feel her heart swelling as she got up from the table and practically ran to Allison, wrapping her arms around her best friend. It had been five years since the two had seen each other, five years since Lydia had left Beacon Hills for M.I.T.

Now, she was back in a town that had seemed to change so much. It seemed bigger and busier and for once, nothing was trying to kill her.

"I missed you." Allison breathed into her neck and though Lydia wouldn't admit it, she knew she had stained Allison's sweater with a few of her tears.

They walked back to the table and instantly began catching up. Within the hour, they scarcely realized that they hadn't since each other for years.

"I can't believe it!" Lydia said. "How did he propose?"

Allison blushed and looked down at her latte. "He took me into the woods."

"Don't start your proposal story like that. It sounds like a setup for a horror movie."

"It was actually super romantic. He had strung up fairy lights that were powered by this little generator and set up a picnic. We had champagne and these great sandwiches he made. At midnight, he proposed."

Lydia let out a small squeal of delight but then quickly grew serious.

"Let me see your hand."

"Oh, he hasn't given me a ring."

Lydia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean hasn't given you a ring? Call the wedding off immediately."

"He gave me this instead."

Allison tugged down her sweater to reveal a small, silver pendant. On the pendant was an image of a set of claws holding an arrow.

"Fonctionne avec les loups?" Lydia said, squinting at the lettering that circled the pendant. "Something with wolves?"

"It means runs with wolves."

Lydia sat back in her seat and gave her friend a small smile.

"Well, I suppose he's not a complete idiot."

"What about you?" Allison said, tucking the pendant back into her sweater.

"Oh come on Allison, it's obvious I'm not a complete idiot."

"That's not what I meant. Are you dating anyone?"

Lydia shrugged, looking down at her fingernails. "No, MIT is full of nerds and boys who think they're smarter than you. They seem to forget we got into the same school. You should hear my mom though."

"Why?"

"Every time she hears how it's just me alone in my apartment, she threatens to fly over and live with me. She's afraid I'm getting stressed and neurotic."

"Damn it." Allison said and Lydia narrowed her eyes.

"What?"

"I was gonna ask you to be my maid of honor but since you're already so stressed…"

Lydia looked up at Allison, disbelief written all over her face.

"Are you serious?"

Allison laughed. "Of course I am. If anyone can keep this wedding from being a disaster, it's Lydia Martin."

Lydia let out a happy squeal of joy and reached around the table to give Allison another strong hug.

Cora winced as the blowtorch singed her skin. The porcelain felt cool on under her clawed hands and she grabbed the edge of the bathtub so she wouldn't fall over from the heat. Her entire right arm was covered in tattoos but the pain was nearly unbearable every single time.

After a few minutes, Erica turned off the blowtorch and looked at Cora. She had gone pale and beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

"I'm done." Erica said, looking at her handiwork.

A circle with three jagged, vertical lines through it decorated a tiny patch just above Cora's elbow.

"Thanks." Cora breathed out, leaning back in her chair.

"I can't believe your boss is okay with this." her roommate told her, putting away the blowtorch and taking out a strip of gauze.

"Well, I cover it up at the restaurant. It's only when I work at the bar. Tattoos help with me looking tough."

"I thought the whole being a werewolf thing would cover that." Erica told her, wrapped the gauze around her elbow.

Cora shrugged. "Funny enough, I haven't tried mauling a patron yet."

Erica put away the blowtorch away under the sink and leaned against it.

"Did you hear? Lydia's back in town."

Cora got up from the edge of the bathtub and ran her fingers absentmindedly over the gauze.

"For the wedding?"

Erica nodded.

"Isn't it months away?"

"Yeah, she's here to help with all the bridal stuff."

Erica closed the cabinet door and left to the living room.

Cora stood in front of the mirror, wondering if Lydia had changed from when they last saw each other. Cora hadn't seen much of the pack besides Erica and Boyd and she could still picture her pouting lips and bright red hair if she thought about it long enough. She tried never to think about it long enough.

Cora herself had changed and the reflection in the mirror told her the same story. She was leaner and the undercut she had a few months ago was beginning to grow in. Her right arm was a sleeve of artwork done by both Boyd and Erica. She wore beanies most of the time and occasionally, she decorated her face with an eyebrow and lip piercing.

Cora walked out into the living room to find Erica sprawled out on the couch already asleep. A nearly full cup of wine was resting on the two crates they used in lieu of a coffee table. Cora shook her head and draped a blanket over her roommate. She turned off the lights, grabbed her jacket and helmet, and headed out the door.

The bar wasn't very busy when Cora arrived and she had no trouble finding a place to park her motorcycle. She grinned at the thought of her manager's face when she clocked in early. Cora was never early.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Danielle said as soon as Cora walked in.

"What are you talking about? I'm scheduled from 7 to close."

"Yeah, I'm not debating that. Did you check the schedule for where you're working?"

Cora turned her head to see another bartender pouring a drink. She slumped against the shelves of liquor and looked at Danielle.

"Shit."

"Shit's right. You're over at Mِíon ."

Cora nodded, not even bothering to complain about the drive over. She took a few steps out into the night air and had another idea.

She went back into the bar and into the little lounge where their lockers were. She grabbed her black button up and headed back out the door. The cold September air bit into her lungs and she smiled at the feeling.

When she was sure no one was around, Cora transformed. She could feel her muscles stretching put didn't bother bringing out her claws. She broke into a sprint that rivaled the speed of her motorcycle and was over at the restaurant in fifteen minutes.

Cora walked in through the kitchen in the middle of the dinner rush. Steam and heat greeted her as she walked towards the bar.

"Your tie!" a server whose name was either Paul or Pete yelped at her. She looked down at her black button up which was decidedly tieless.

"Shit."

Without another word, she took off Paul or Pete's tie and looped it around her neck. It wasn't classy but no one would notice besides her.

"That's mine." Paul or Pete whined.

"Funny." Cora said, half way out the door. "It's around my neck."

The restaurant was a lot busier than the bar, crowded with men in suits and ties and women in skirts and high heels. She headed over to the bar and as soon as she turned her back, the snapping of fingers greeted her ears.

"Gin. Straight." a man with a square jaw and a face like toast told her.

Cora prepared the man's drink and he left without a word of thank you and Cora got to work, cleaning the shelves and organizing the drinks. The work was menial and dull so she let her mind wander and the soft music from the pianist helped her with the first few hours of her shift.

"I've never heard it." Natalie told Lydia as she drove.

"How have you not heard of it?"

"Beacon Hills is a big town!"

"You've lived here for decades." Lydia argued with her mom. "And you never even drove by it?"

"I look at the street when I drive. Not at the names of restaurants."

"It's the only good restaurant Beacon Hills has!"

Natalie watched the window and snapped her fingers.

"Oh, Mِíon ! I remember. We had a birthday brunch with your cousin a few years ago at Mِíon ."

Lydia stayed silent, concentrating on the streetlights.

"It was a beautiful, beautiful place, Lydia. But all she was worried about was the food. She had to make sure everything was organic and gluten free for the baby."

"I still can't believe they named her Kaylie." Lydia said. "Poor kid."

"She wants to see you." Natalie said.

"She doesn't even know how to pronounce your name."

"I meant Louise, Lydia. And Robbi wants to see you too."

"I'm regretfully busy."

"They're family, Lydia. Families important."

"So what? I doubt you'd be arguing about family values if Louise turned out to be a serial killer."

Natalie sighed but Lydia knew she was going to talk about it again, later, when Lydia was tired and her defenses were low.

"I'm happy your home, sweetie. I missed you." Natalie told her daughter, reaching over and squeezing her shoulder.

Lydia smiled. "Mom, we Skype every week."

"That doesn't matter. I can't hug you over Skype. Besides, you don't tell me anything except how school is going."

"There's nothing else to tell."

"Really?"

Lydia looked over at her mom who was staring at her, eyebrows raised.

"Yes really."

"No one taking up your time over at M.I.T?"

"Mom, the mere fact that I go to M.I.T means I don't have time for a relationship."

"Oh come on Lydia, you spend so much time in class, you really need to find someone-"

"Mom, we've had this conversation dozens of times."

"I'm just saying, too much pressure isn't healthy and if you maybe go out on a few dates…"

"Mom I don't think-"

"Seriously Lydia, I have half a mind to take you out and bring you back here. BHCC isn't so bad…"

"Mom, if you really think I'm going to go to BHCC-"

"Well, maybe instead of being locked in your apartment you could find someone and…"

"There is someone!" Lydia blurted out and Natalie fell silent. She looked at the street they were on and wished the speed limit was 3,000 instead of 30.

"There is?" Natalie drawled out, a hint of her Southern upbringing coming out in her drawl.

Lydia sighed. "Yes there is."

"Well, what's his name?"

She shook her head and refused to answer and thankfully, it was right then that they pulled up into the parking lot. While Lydia got out of the car, she created a fake student with a fake life and fake name that also studied at M.I.T. She was preparing for the onslaught of her mother's questions.

Mِíon was crowded but they managed to get a good table. Just as they were sitting down, she heard a very familiar voice call out from behind her.

She turned around to see Stiles, wearing a dinner jacket, tie, and baggy maroon pants. Even now, the boy couldn't dress himself. Malia was right beside him wearing an elegant white dress and small diamond studs. She looked like she belonged.

"It is you!" Stiles said, weaving his way through the tables to get to her. Lydia hugged her and smelled the scent of Old Spice and sweat that was so familiar with Stiles. She then hugged Malia who still smelled like the woods.

"I can't believe it!" Natalie said, hugging the two. "It's like a little reunion. Did you already get a table?"

"Yeah, it's back there." Stiles said. He had always been close with Natalie but Malia looked uncomfortable.

"Why don't you sit with us?" Natalie asked, gesturing to their table.

Lydia turned around and gave her mom a look but Natalie didn't understand.

"Mom, are you sure? I think Malia and Stiles are on a date."

"Nah, we don't mind." Stiles said, sitting down and taking a breadstick.

"Terrific." Lydia replied through gritted teeth.

"So, Malia, where are you going to school?" Natalie asked, half an hour, later when the topic of the wedding had dried up.

"Ummm…actually I work as a camp coordinator." Malia told her and Natalie nodded.

"Year round?"

"Yeah, year round."

"I'm going to school Ms. Martin." Stiles said, mouthful of steak.

"I know! Lydia told me. Criminal justice just like your father."

Stiles nodded. "It's a lot more work than I thought."

Lydia was about to say something when she caught sight of a familiar brunette. She turned around again towards the bar but the brunette was gone.

When she had tuned back into the conversation, her mom was still praising Stiles.

"I have to say, I'm really impressed at you kids. You both really know how to juggle. At your age, I could never concentrate at both school and relationships."

"Well, I've never really been good at that." Lydia told her mom.

"Are you serious?" Stiles interrupted. "You had the highest GPA in school! And you were always dating someone."

"That's not true!" Lydia argued.

"Yes it is!"

"I didn't date anyone senior year!"

Stiles sat back in his chair, shutting up.

Lydia rolled her eyes. "I need to go to the bathroom."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Cora growled, wiping the stain off her shirt. Paul or Pete had been bringing an order of some sort of fish smothered in mustard when Cora had been coming back from break. The collision involved a lot of sauce and a lot of swearing.

"S-s-sorry, Cora." Paul or Pete stuttered out, taking a few steps backwards.

"Shut the fuck up and cover for me." Cora said, heading towards the backdoor.

"I don't know how to bartend!" Paul or Pete shouted after her.

"You seem like a quick learner." Cora said, heading out the door.

The alley behind Mِíon didn't smell great but there were a few crates towards the brick wall and Cora walked up to them. She slumped down on the crate and took out the carton of cigarettes she would only smoke when she got stressed. As she was about to light one, her ears picked up the sounds of footsteps from behind the dumpsters. She stiffened and stood up, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

She slowly walked towards the dumpster and leaped around it, trying to surprise whatever was trying to attack her. She was expecting a rat or a rabid dog. What she wasn't expecting was a very terrified redhead. The flask she had been holding clattered to the ground in between them.

"Lydia?" Cora said, torn between anger at her and disbelief. She hadn't seen Lydia in years and now, the redhead was standing there, in all her short skirt, red lipstick glory. It took longer for Lydia to recognize Cora. Cora was amazed how quickly Lydia transformed from terror to annoyance.

"There's no getting rid of you Hales, is there?"

"What are you doing here?" Cora asked. She turned around and headed back towards the crates, and waited for Lydia to follow her.

"If you must know, I'm here with my mother and Stiles."

"He's finally meeting the family?" Cora asked, tucking the pack of cigarettes back into her pocket.

"No, he's here with Malia."

"You in town for the wedding?" Cora asked leaning her head back to look at her.

Lydia hadn't changed much. The air of "better than you" still clung around her. She just seemed more tired.

"I'm the maid of honor actually."

"That's a big deal. The whole town's talking about it. Not about you, I mean about the wedding."

Lydia looked around, as if just now realizing that they were in a dark alley and she could barely see Cora.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm the bartender."

"And I take it you pour drinks for the rats?" Lydia said, looking around at the dumpsters in disgust. Cora rolled her eyes.

"I'm on break."

"Hmm…very scenic."

"Lydia?" the voice called out from behind her. Cora watched as a women with hair a few shades darker than Lydia's walked quickly towards them, followed by Stiles.

"Mom? Why are you here?"

"Well, you said you were going to the bathroom but you were gone for a long time."

Her mom's eyes widened as Cora stood up, wiping off the remnants of the stain off her button-up.

"Oh, now I see…"

Lydia squinted, looking back and forth between Cora and her mom. It was Stiles who blurted it out.

"You're dating Cora Hale?!"

"What?" Cora said flatly.

"Mom, I-"

"No, it's fine, honey, it's perfectly understandable now why you were always so secretive…"

"Mom, you're not listening-"

"I wish you just told me. I mean we're not in the dark ages, I don't know why you'd think I'd have a problem with you dating a girl and-"

Cora tried to interrupt the argument several times, while Stiles looked on in amusement. Eventually she just walked away and was nearly out of the alley when the rapid sound of heels clicking on the ground caught up with her.

"Wait, Cora-"

"I didn't know we were dating." Cora told Lydia, a hint of a smile on her face. Lydia was not in the mood.

"We're not."

"Then why does your mom think we are?'

Lydia sighed. "She's just been so worried about how I'm so stressed out in school and that I'm getting lonely…"

Cora snorted. "And so you lied that you're dating someone to get her off your back."

"Yeah."

"But why me?"

"It wasn't you. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Story of my life." Cora said, leaning against the wall.

"What did she say when you told her you were wrong?"

Lydia made an apologetic face. "I didn't."

Cora blinked. "What?"

"I didn't tell her that she was wrong."

"She actually think's we're dating?" Cora asked, looking back at the alley where Stiles and Natalie were talking.

Lydia nodded and Cora shook her head.

"Fuck no."

She started to walk back to Natalie and tell her how wrong she was but Lydia stopped her. Her warm hand grabbed Cora's wrist and she turned around.

"You can't tell her the truth." Lydia whispered.

"Why the fuck not?"

"Because she worries about me and she'll make me move back to Beacon Hills if she thinks that I'm unhappy in Massachusetts."

"But you're Lydia Martin. No one can tell you what to do."

Lydia looked back at her mom. "Natalie Martin can."

"Look, I don't give a shit if she makes you live in your old bedroom for the rest of your life. I'm not gonna play the part of your girlfriend just to make your mom happy. Up until fifteen minutes ago, we hadn't seen each other for years. Besides, Martin, I remember the times we've had before you left. They weren't exactly pleasant."

Lydia sighed. "Alright, what do you want?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Another leather jacket, a pair of black boots, what?"

"This isn't a negotiation. This is a denial. I'm not fake dating you!"

"Trouble in paradise?" Stiles shouted out and Cora raised her hand to give him the finger. Lydia wrapped her hand around Cora's fist before she could do anything vulgar.

"Please, it's only for a few months."

"You've got to be joking. A few months? I've got better things to do."

Lydia took a step back, offended. "Like you could do any better than this."

Cora crossed her arms. "No. I'm not gonna do it. Find a way out of it. Pretend we got in a fight and you dumped me. Or better yet, tell her I dumped you."

"Please, Cora. I just need my mom thinking that I'm not lonely. Ease her mind."

"Hey loneliness isn't so bad, you get used to it."

Lydia pouted but Cora shook her head, adamant. It didn't help Cora's resolve that she could see the freckles dotting Lydia's cheeks.

Lydia began to slowly walk back and Cora knew she was going to hate herself for what she was about to do.

"Lydia!"

Lydia stopped but didn't turn around.

"You said you were going to give me something in return?"

Lydia nodded, her back still facing Cora.

"Well, I haven't thought of what it is yet, but…"

Lydia turned around.

"But…" Lydia slowly said, smiling.

"And I know I'm gonna regret this."

"But…"

Cora sighed. "I'll do it."