It wasn't losing Paige nor being betrayed by Kate that turned him to the Derek that he is today. And more than his family's death, it was Celine's death that rendered him even more broken, hopeless, and eternally unhappy.

Years after his mother and sisters died, she came into his life- cliche as it may sound, but Derek'd describe it as "like an angel sent by the heavens" (not that he'd really believed in God, heaven-hell, or angels). Brooding and mysterious, his life made a 360 turnabout with her in his life—only to go back to the Derek that Scott and everyone else know of.

Fast forward to today, as if life hadn't made its sickest joke yet on Derek yet, Celine makes a comeback- sans any and every memory of him and their life together, but with a werewolf kid in tow who's undeniably his. Now, how does he win back a family (of his own) that he never knew he'd lost to begin with? Factor in the all-too-natural supernatural nuances at Beacon Hills he has no other choice but to deal with.

Prologue

"Welcome home, Derek." Her back was turned from him as she was busy running the software on her research data, yet she'd sensed that he was home.

Home. It brought an immense feeling of warmth and belongingness to him, after years of practically being the one of the last few Hales standing

"How'd you know?" he asked, smiling. "I was careful not to make any noise. I wanted to surprise you."

She stood up, and wrapped her arms around his waist just as he'd got to her. "Oh, I may not have werewolf senses like you. I'm not sure why and how, but I can definitely feel when you're somewhere near, staring at me so intently," she teased.

He gave out a hearty laugh and hungrily kissed her. Sometimes, he can't help but feel scared at how much love and passion she brings out in him. He can't help but fear that she might get hurt—like everyone else around him. Don't go there, Derek, he said to himself.

"You look so tired." There's that worried look in her face again, one of the many things he loves about her. He nodded. "Too tired to join me for a nice, warm bath? After dinner, hmmm? " Then there's that playfully seductive look in her face.

He, of all things, is not a saint. He grabbed her waist not too gently. "You, little siren. We'll have dinner—after that nice, warm bath." With his hands now all over her body, dinner would have to wait for a couple of hours to happen.

Her head rested on his chest, and his arms around her under the sheets—Derek thought they could stay like this for hours—forever, even. Earlier in their relationship, Celine would always wake to find him having nightmares, tossing and turning, and eventually waking up startled, half-turned. More than once, he'd nearly hurt her with his claws that he'd suggested they sleep on separate rooms.

Celine would have none of it though. She'd so patiently stood by his side, cradling him in her bosom for hours and hours after he'd wake from nightmares of his family's death. More than anything else, it was the guilt that's been eating him, that he contributed to the Hale family tragedy. Months into the marriage and he'd learned to somehow forgive himself, and be happy again—all because of Celine.

She's probably seen the worst of him—broken and unbelievably negative about anything and everything about life. More than once, his signature glare landed on her (to which she'd just tilt her head or raise a brow). The biggest mystery to him (and even his sister Laura) is how she had ever put up with his grumpiness for the past two years—and to top that, loved and accepted him for all that he is.

His arms tightened around her. "I hate that you'd be gone for the next couple of days," he groaned. Celine's set to attend and present at a research conference in France, and will be gone for almost a week. He always dread those days when she has to be away due to her work as an academic and a researcher.

"Believe me, I hate it to be away from you even more. But I couldn't say no to the organizer who has been my mentor before," she said, lovingly brushing his cheeks with her fingers. "It's just for a few days. And you get to visit and catch up with Laura while I'm away."

He smiled. "Yeah. Maybe it's not really so bad," he conceded. After the Hale house fire, he and Laura lived outside of Beacon Hills. They'd stayed in New York where they were completing their degrees—the reason they were spared from the fire. It was also in New York where he'd met Celine. After a few months though, they'd left for Washington when he asked her to marry him.

"Please send my greetings to Laura. Argh. I'm so tempted to get on a plane to New York instead—with you," she sighed. "I hope to visit her really soon."

"Laura would love that." His sister really does love her.

"After this conference, I'd be travelling less so I won't have to be away from you often. And so we can get on with our plan of having kids."

He tenderly reached for and kissed her lips. "I absolutely love the idea." She didn't really need to work since he can provide for her needs—old Hale money and his earnings from making the stock market his playground. But as they'd argued over and over, she's passionate with teaching and research—things that she wants to do for herself.

A family of his own. He just realized how much he's been yearning for a family over the years. But with Celine, he no longer looks back with much pain, but only looks forward to what await him and her.

"Derek…" Laura held his shoulder as he was kneeling in front of a grave—Celine's grave.

For the second time, he felt robbed of his happiness. This time, there's so much pain that he's grown numb of it. He knows there's pain—with that big gaping hole in his heart. He'd ceased to live; he only breathes and exists.

Celine died in a vehicular accident in France a week ago. He didn't even get the chance to beg for her life; he'd only been asked to identify if the charred body was indeed hers. With tests done, and articles of clothing identified (or what were left of them), along with their wedding band—his fate was sealed.

His wife is gone. And so is his happiness.

Chapter One

"Derek has a wife?!" Scott and Stiles sure couldn't contain their surprise.

"Derek was married?" And this was from Peter.

All the others in the room—Isaac, Allison, Lydia, Malia, Cora, and Kira—were better at containing their surprise at Dr. Deaton's revelation.

"Are you sure about that?" Lydia pouted in amazement.

"How on earth did you get hold of such information about my nephew?" Disbelief was also written all over Peter's face. He, too, couldn't imagine Derek offering the Hale name to a woman—despite him witnessing Derek's most notable relationships.

Stiles was more hyperactive than he usually is. "Oh my God. Oh my God! There's someone walking on earth by the name of Mrs. Derek Hale?!"

"Doc?" Scott was waiting for Dr. Deaton's confirmation.

"I was waiting for your reactions to tone down a little," replied Dr. Deaton, though he himself wasn't quite sure that he'd believe what he just said real soon. "To answer your questions, yes. Derek had been married, about four years ago. It was Laura who told me about it in one of her visits here in Beacon Hills from New York."

"I guess only sister Laura knew about it, with Peter still nursing his injuries then," she glanced at her uncle to which Peter only rolled his eyes. "But where is she now?" Cora evidently grew more puzzled with the knot on her forehead.

Dr. Deaton sighed. "They'd been married for almost two years when Derek's wife met an accident in France—which ultimately killed her. She was there to present at a research conference." There was a collective gasp from the ladies in the room.

"Oh God," was all Allison could manage to say.

"The late Mrs. Derek Hale goes by the name of 'Celine'. I didn't have the chance to meet her nor Derek at the time they were married, but Laura spoke fondly of her. She was a university instructor and researcher—quite well-known in her field. She's a very smart and beautiful lady, a few years younger than Derek."

"Are we talking about Celine Caldwell here?" Lydia was incredulous. Deaton nodded. "Oh my god." Lydia's eyes widened. "She's a freaking genius in her field as a social scientist."

"You know her?" asked Malia.

"Well, only from reading her works and materials about her. She is indeed smart and beautiful—and looks very classy. Now that I remember it, I did stumble upon some of her readings where she used 'Celine Hale'."

"And now, I'm thinking the angry, bitter Derek is caused by the death of his wife, and not exactly by the Hale house fire," said Peter in his usual smug self.

Scott seemed to have remembered what started the conversation. "But Doc, how does this figure out with Derek missing again?" There was the sense of urgency in Scott's voice.

Deaton spoke. "It's that time of the year again."

Stiles interjected. "His wife's death anniversary."

"Yes. She's buried in Washington, the place where they spent time together as a couple, so Derek may be staying there for a while," explained Deaton in his usual calm demeanor. "He's probably gone for a while not to hide and heal, nor due to another abduction, but just to remember his wife."

"I don't think Derek has ever forgotten her. Not with the teacher, not with Braeden." The certainty in Cora's voice tells them she's worried about her brother—with him not being okay, ever.

Dr. Deaton was right after all. Derek is indeed in Washington—in the house he'd bought for Celine when they got married. His wife's death carries with it a lot of both beautiful and painful memories. But never, not even once, did he try to forget her and every single detail about her, no matter how painful it gets. Hence, he didn't give up their home in Washington even after he moved back to Beacon Hills.

He pays a caretaker to visit the house once a week to make sure it's well-maintained. Everything's the way how she left it, except for him, of course. The house is full of memories of her, and of their life together—things he just couldn't let go, not now, not ever.

Surprisingly, he's not overcome with a heavy feeling every time he steps into the house. It's quite the opposite; it's a place where he'd find peace. The Hale Residence at Washington has been his refuge over the years; always the place where he can hide and heal (just like what he did after Boyd's death when he left Beacon Hills for a couple of days).

"It's been three years now, love," he whispered as he stared in her photo. It was a close up shot of Celine with a big, charming smile, and twinkling eyes, so full of life.

And the Derek that was staring at her was a man whose eyes were lonely and sad. Scott and the gang, and everyone else who knew him have gotten used to the Derek who's cold, bitter, and angry, but not the lonely and sad man that he really is. It's that side of him, and his life with Celine that he'd always treasure, and probably keep from everyone's knowledge.

Ah, the happiest days of his life. Oftentimes, he feels guilty for getting into relationships with other women like Jennifer and Braeden. Part of him is saying he should try being with someone, but another part of him is screaming that he shouldn't because of Celine. He has to admit that his relationships with women after Celine were more because of his physical needs, and nothing beyond that.

At this time of the year, his longing for Celine grows even more. He's perennially left wondering how his life would have turned out should Celine still be alive. He would've been probably back in Beacon Hills for good—but with his life partner and friend. He would probably spend a lot of time not with kids like Scott and his pack, but a kid: his and Celine's child. And every day of his life, he would be probably waking up and sleeping with a smile plastered on his face. If only Celine were alive.

"Nonsense," said Araya with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I cannot leave Mexico for good, and live with you in London."

"But, grandmother, I can better look after you if we're together. You don't want us to live here with you. The next best choice is you moving with me and my son in London," argues the young lady, gorgeous in her naturally tan skin and dark, straight hair.

Araya glanced at the little boy of about two sleeping peacefully on her bed. "It's more than enough that I see you and Calvin every once in a while. Your life's in London; mine's in here. Severo is with me, so you do not have to worry." Araya wished she could convince her sooner than later—and send her back to London with her son within the day, if that was very much possible.

They'd both glanced at the talkie as it buzzed. "The guest you're expecting is here, Madame," informed the man from the other end.

"Send her to my room." Araya smiled at the lady. "Hija, por favor. I just need to attend to an important matter with this guest. Maybe you and Calvin can better rest in your room."

She smiled back. "Of course, grandmother." She then went to scoop her sleeping son in her arms.

Just as she was to reach for the door knob, the door swung, revealing Araya's guest. She acknowledged Braeden's arrival with a smile.

"I'll see you and your son come dinner time, Celine." Plastered on Araya's face was a mysterious smile, with her eyes on Braeden who's looking intently at the young boy. "Can I offer you any refreshment, Braeden?"