"Four months! Four months you've been sitting on this little scheme of yours and only now you decide to tell me!" Stiles Stilinski-Hale did not enjoy being surprised. He glared at the three people in front of him. Fully grown, and a good number of centuries older than him, yet they still managed to look like shamefaced children.

"We didn't want to worry you yet," ventured his husband. His voice was gruff in an attempt at calm solicitude.

"Oh, and the constant vampire death threats have been so very restful?" Stiles was having none of it. His voice was shrill enough to disturb Laura's cat, normally a most unflappable creature. The chubby pet opened one eye and yawned.

"But isn't it the most perfect solution, dearest?" asked Laura, petting the cat absently. The vampire's discomfort was the most manufactured of the three. There was a twinkle in her eyes, however downcast. It was the twinkle of someone about to get their own way.

Derek glared at Laura at the term of endearment, but didn't say anything, for which Stiles was grateful. He had other things to yell about. He didn't have time to argue about that right now too.

"To lose possession of my own child? Really, Derek, how could you agree to this? Without consulting me?"

"Stiles, did you miss the fact that the entire pack has been on constant bodyguard duty for the past four months? I'm not sure we can keep it up. I told you – no, I promised you – that I would protect your child. This is the only way I can ensure he's protected in the long term."

Stiles adored his husband. He was particularly fond of the way he strode about shirtless, but there were moments he didn't actually like him. Right now was definitely one of those moments.

"And how do you think we've felt being on the receiving end of such constant supervision? But Derek, adoption?" Stiles stood and began to pace about. For once, he was blind to the beauty of Laura's sitting room. I should have known better than to agree to a meeting here, he thought. Something bad always happens here.

"The queen thinks it's a good plan." That was Argent joining in. His was probably the most genuine regret. He was also the one truly responsible for this plot, unless Stiles was very wrong.

"Fucking great for her. Absolutely not – I refuse."

"Stiles, be reasonable." Derek was trying to wheedle. He wasn't very good at it.

"Reasonable? Fuck off."

Laura tried a new tactic. "I have already converted the room next to mine into a positively charming bedroom."

Stiles was really quite shocked to hear that. He paused in his wrath to blink at the vampire in surprise. "Not your second closet? Really?"

"Indeed. You see how seriously I am taking this. Connor is my child as well. I didn't even bitch about his name."

Stiles paused. He forgot that, sometimes. None of the Manhattan vampires believed the child was part vampire – or if they did, they assumed it would be sympathetic to werewolves in any case. The news that Laura was his mother had either been not believed or disregarded as unimportant. Stiles unfortunately sometimes made the same mistake.

He looked to Argent for assistance and tried to calm himself and behave as practically as possible. "This will stop the attacks?"

Argent nodded. "I believe so. I have not been able to consult with any queens outright. The hives refuse to admit to an extermination mandate and BUR has not yet determined how to prove the vampires are trying to kill him and you."

Stiles knew the Bureau of Unnatural Registry was handicapped by a combination of paperwork and proper appearances. Because they were the enforcing department of the FBI for America's supernatural and preternatural subjects, it had to seem at all times to be obeying its own laws, including those that guaranteed the packs and the hives some level of autonomy and self-governance.

Stiles straightened up and glared at Argent. "So then tell me how you came up with this. How do you know that this will stop them trying to murder us given that you haven't asked?"

Argent looked helplessly at his coconspirators. Derek, happy to not be on the end of the glare for once, slouched back in his chair. Laura merely continued to subtly grin unhelpfully.

Clearly surmising that he had been left out to dry, Argent took a deep breath. "How did you know it was my idea?"

Stiles crossed his arms over his chest. "Give me some credit."

Argent sighed. "Well, we know the vampires are afraid of what Connor could be when he turns seven. But I think they are smart enough to know that if raised with proper precautions, even the most natural-born predator will behave. It is vampire nature to believe that any vampire, even – not to insult you – Laura, will teach him the correct ethical code. Having a vampire raise the child will ensure he's kept away from antisupernatural elements. And you and Derek, of course. If they feel like they're in control, all the death threats should stop."

Stiles looked at Laura. "Do you agree?"

She nodded.

Argent continued. "She seemed the best solution."

Derek wrinkled his nose and huffed derisively.

Argent, Laura, and Stiles all pretended not to hear him.

"She is more powerful than any other rove in the area. She has a large number of drones. She is centrally located, and as potentate, she carries the authority of the government. Plus, she is his mother, whether the other vampire's acknowledge it or not. Few would dare interfere."

Laura tapped Argent playfully on the shoulder with one hand. "Chrissy, you flatterer."

Argent ignored this. "She is also your friend."

Laura looked up to her ceiling. "I have also implied that – whether they believe the child is mine or whether they care – because of a certain unmentionable incident, the hives owe me a debt of honor. My potentate predecessor may have taken matters into his own hands, but the fact remains that the hives should have exerted some control over his activities on their behalf. His kidnapping of my dear Scotty was inexcusable and they are very well aware. I hold a blood debt and intend to bite them back with this arrangement. I may not have wanted one, but they will not kill my child."

Stiles looked at his friend. Her posture was as relaxed and frivolous as ever, but there was a hardness about her mouth that suggested she meant was she was saying. "That's a rather serious statement, coming from you."

The vampire smiled briefly. "Better revel in it, Stiles dear. It will probably never occur again."

Stiles nibbled at his lower lip and went to sit down. "You're okay with this?" He looked at Derek.

Derek looked at him, suddenly very serious. "I'm taxing BUR and the pack to keep you both safe. I've even contemplated calling back any of our pack out on active duty for emergency leave." Damn him for looking so handsome when he was sincere. It quite undid Stiles's resolve. "Not that I would do it any differently. I think I'll get a lot of angry phone calls if I pull military strings in a personal matter. Well, more than I've already done over the potentate. We must be clever. They're older and craftier and they'll keep trying. I don't think we can continue like this for the rest of our child's life. But I'll try if you want me to."

And that was it. That was what all it took to convince Stiles. Derek calling the kid 'ours'. And to admit that he couldn't protect them. He knew it cost Derek a terrible price to admit to any kind of inability. He liked to think he was all-powerful.

Stiles nodded and turned to Laura. "Fine. If you intend to take him, then I'm moving in too."

Laura didn't miss a beat. She opened her arms wide as though to embrace him. "Of course. Welcome to the family. Or, well, even more to the family, I should say."

"You do realize I may have to take up in your other closet?"

"Sacrifices, sacrifices."

"What? Absolutely not." Derek stood and glared down at his husband.

Stiles got that look on his face. "I'm already here two nights a week for the Shadow Council. I'll come in on Wednesday and stay through to Monday. I'll spend the rest of the week at Newark."

Derek could do the math. "Two nights? You're only going to be home two nights?"

Stiles wouldn't budge. "You're in town on BUR business most evenings. You can see me then."

"Stiles," Derek said, definitely with a grown. "I refuse to petition for visiting rights with my own husband!"

"I really don't care. You're forcing me to choose!"

"Derek, Stiles?" Argent interjected.

They glared at him. They enjoyed arguing with each other almost as much as they enjoyed any other intimate activity.

Argent ignored this – far too used to the glares to care. "The house next door is up for rent. What if Newark were to take it on as a town residence? You and Stiles could keep a room here, but pretend to live next door. This would keep up the appearance of separation. Of course, parts of the month everyone would have to return to Newark for security purposes. But it should work, until the child's grown."

"Will the vampires object?" Stiles rather liked the idea. Newark Castle was a little too far outside Manhattan for his taste.

"I don't think so."

Laura was amused. "Chrissy, darling, so unprecedented – a wolf pack living directly next to a vampire. Oh! I adore this plan. Stiles, you must make over your town house to complement mine!"

Argent was a little more pragmatic. "Will it work?"

Laura beamed. "Of course!"

Stiles interjected. "And you wouldn't mind Derek and me here?"

"I suppose I could surrender another closet to the cause."

Stiles grinned.

"Whoever thought I would have a werewolf living in my closet?" A gleam entered Laura's eyes. "I suppose your pack must spend a great deal of time underdressed?"

Derek rolled his eyes – not looking particularly happy about the plan in any way – but said nothing. Argent was not above a little bribery. "Or not dressed at all."

"My drones will love it. They adore remarking on the neighbors."

Scott remained unmentioned, although everyone was thinking about him. Stiles, being Stiles, decided he would bring the taboo subject out into the open. "Scott is going to be pleased."

Silence met the statement.

Laura assumed a forced lightness of tone. "How is the newest member of the Newark Pack?"

In truth, Scott was not adjusted well. He still fought the change each month and refused to try shifting of his own volition. He obeyed Derek, but there was no joy in it. The result was he was having trouble learning any control and had to be locked away more often than not.

Derek only answered gruffly, "He is well enough."

Stiles frowned. Had he been alone with Laura, he might have said something more, but he didn't. If they did move into Laura's neighborhood, she would find out soon enough.

The ghost drifted. Floating between this world and death.

It was better – this was better, he had to believe – than nothingness. Even the madness was better.

But sometimes he was aware of it, the reality and the substantial world around it. There were parts of it missing. There were people acting indifferently or incorrect. There were new feelings that had no right to intrude. No right at all.

The ghost was certain, absolutely certain, that something must be done to stop it. But he was nothing more than a specter, and a mad one at that, drifting between undead and dead. What could he do? Who could he tell?