The pack was sitting around Derek's front porch steps when Stiles pulled up in his Jeep. They were lounging around, sweating from the training that Derek had just put them through. Derek did not seem to be around which was fine with Stiles, the man made him feel nervous.

Stiles plastered false cheer on his face and walked over to sit next to Scott.

"Hey buddy," Stiles greeted, bumping elbows with him, "how ya doin'?" Scott turned and smiled at Stiles. He had a sweet expression on his face, like an adorable puppy.

"Hey Stiles, I am exhausted from training, but doing good," he paused and added, "Glad it's Friday,"

"Yes! Me too!" Stiles exclaimed momentarily distracted, "Two whole days without Harris! Man, he was a hard ass this week,"

"Uum," paused Scott, "isn't he always?" and laughed, elbowing Stiles in the ribs.

"Yeah, I guess, he just seemed extra hard this week. But, ahhhh," sighing, he stretched his legs out and put his hands behind his neck, "we are free men this weekend,"

"What are you doin' this weekend?" implored Scott

"Eh? Uh, well," shit, he supposed he should just tell him. Stiles pulled his legs back in and resumed sitting with his body hunched over, "I think I'm gonna go to Matt's funeral..." Stiles felt Scott stiffen beside him and he rushed to finish, "and then I thought we could hang out, play some Wii and maybe study together," Stiles fidgeted with his fingers, twisting them and clenching them. He didn't look at Scott directly but he could see him out of the corner of his eye. Scott was not the first to respond and Stiles jumped when Isaac spoke up instead.

"Why would you go to his funeral?" Isaac asked seriously. Stiles looked up from his hands in surprise, everyone was watching him.

"Um, well, I, uh, thought I should, uh, go since he went to our school," he lied, stuttering through his explanation as he tried to calm his nerves.

"But he was a jerk!" Scott blurted out, "You would go? Even after what he did to you?! What he did to me? What he did to Derek? My mom?! Your DAD?!" Scott did have many excellent points but Stiles was determined.

"Uh, yes! I know he was a jerk! Actually, he was a real monster!" The wolves flinched at that word but Stiles continued, "I know what he did was bad, really bad Scott, but I need to go!" He was angry that Scott was making such a big deal. Matt was dead after all, but then again, that's what was bothering him but he wouldn't tell Scott that. Scott stood up in frustration, pacing in front of the steps.

"Tell me why Stiles!"

"I just... I just," Stiles was losing steam. Scott was right, it was insane to go to Matt's funereal but Stiles could never tell him the real reason, " I just need to go Scott, you wouldn't understand," he said in a drained voice and he curled his body into himself more. With his elbows on his knees, he ran his fingers through his hair, trying to calm down.

A noise made Stiles look up. All the wolves were looking toward to door of the Hale house. Derek Hale stood in the doorway, stillness cloaking his body and for an instant, Stiles saw him as ordinary humans saw him. He looked tall but he really was no taller than Stiles, but he held a presence about him that made him seem taller. His shoulders were broad and his whole body was filled out with muscle. He had thick, dark hair and a square jaw line, covered in stubble. He was certainly worth looking at.

Derek flicked his eyes over his pack and with a quick jerk of his head, the wolves stood up and moved into the house, leaving Stiles alone with him. Stiles' anxiety level raised almost immediately. Although he could admit Derek was a very handsome man, he also knew he was a very dangerous man. The rest of the pack was inside the house but most likely not out of hearing range. He supposed that if Derek was really threatening him or hurting him, Scott would come out and protect him. God, sometimes it felt good to know that Scott was a werewolf. He could certainly hold his own. But what was the reason for Derek to want to be alone with him? He pondered this for a moment until Derek moved down the steps to stand in front of him.

Derek stood with his arms crossed over his chest. His shirt pulled over his muscles and created a very imposing effect. Stiles' eye's stalled for a moment, tracing Derek's hard lines over his chest. His eyes trailed up to his mouth then flicked his eyes to meet Derek's eyes. He flushed crimson, realizing that Derek was watching him check him out. He quickly looked away, face burning.

"Why are you going to Matt's funereal?" Derek demanded, frowning.

"Uh, I, uh, well, I, uh," stammered Stiles, so nervous he couldn't think. He could feel Derek's eyes on him and it was freaking him out. He swallowed and tried again, "I, uh, I want to go," he sounded strangled. His eyes flicked back to Derek. Derek shifted his body forward and Stiles flinched, pulling his body back and involuntarily closing his eyes, thinking Derek was going to hit him. His heart raced but when he didn't feel a hit, he slowly and carefully opened his eyes again. He only saw that Derek had been moving to sit next to Stiles on the steps. When Stiles had flinched, Derek froze, staring at the boy with wide eyes.

Stiles was panting for breath, chest heaving as he struggled to breathe. His hands gripped his thighs.

As if he didn't want to frighten a scared animal, Derek slowly and carefully moved to sit next to Stiles on the steps. He sat next to Stiles, close enough that Stiles could feel the other man's body heat. As Derek leaned his elbows on his knees, he turned his head to look at Stiles who was still trying to calm down. He didn't know why Stiles' heart had begun racing in his chest. He had flinched away like he was going to hit him but Derek thought Stiles knew that he was part of the pack. He would never purposefully try to hurt or scare Stiles. He cared for him, all his pack members really, even though he didn't show it.

As Stiles slowed his breath and calmed down, he turned and looked to Derek. When Derek decided that Stiles' heart was beating at a more average pace, he spoke.

"Why do you want to go to Matt's funeral?" He asked quietly.

"I thought it would be the right thing to do," Stiles whispered in response. Derek growled at the stupid answer because he could hear Stiles' heart pause, he was lying to him.

"Don't lie to me," he ground out, watching Stiles fidget next to him. When Stiles just looked away, Derek growled again in frustration. "Fine, whatever. Go to the god damned funeral, I don't care," spat Derek, standing up to leave.

But Stiles, without thinking, reached out and grabbed the other man's hand. Derek turned to snarl at Stiles but when he saw his face, he stopped. Stiles had his eyes open wide and looked incredibly vulnerable. Derek's wolf whined, wanting to protect and comfort the pup.

"I am so afraid Derek," Stiles managed to whisper. Afraid of him? Derek thought. "I haven't slept well since the night at the police station..." Oh, thought Derek, afraid of what had happened. He sat back down and stilled his body, listening to the kid. "I wake up at night to noises and shadows, I keep thinking Matt is out to get me... that he's coming to kill me, or my dad... or Scott," he paused again, "... or you," he whispered. "I've been so scared," he swallowed and looked over to Derek.

Derek was watching him with a frown. Not an unhappy frown, but a confused frown.

Stiles continued, it felt good to talk about it, "I just want to see him in his coffin, I want to the stupid lid close and watch him be put in the ground. I want to know that he's really dead. I want to know that I'm safe,"

Derek watched Stiles and listened to his heart. All truths.

"Okay," Derek said in a measured voice, "but I'm going with you," Stiles jerked his head up and stared at the man sitting next to him. "Really?" Implored Stiles, eyes wide. Derek only nodded in response.

Stiles gasped and leaned forward for a hug. Derek jerked away so Stiles just opted for an awkward pat on the back instead. Derek gave him a look and he pulled his hand back into the safety of his own lap.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow then," Derek said and stood up, disappearing into the house.

Stiles sat for a moment, kind of dazed, What just happened?