A/N: So because Jeff Davis is a plonk, the timing in Teen Wolf is confusing to me so I've taken a few liberties timeline wise. There will be Stydia in later chapters with mentions throughout but the first few chapters focus on Stilinski family feels. I am still working on At Last I See the Light but I've hit a bit of a wall so enjoy my other insipiration.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or Teen Wolf brand that is all Jeff's as if I owned it the timeline would make sense.


"Honey we need to talk." Five words that every person dreads hearing, but none more than Stiles Stilinski.

It was his mother that greeted him on the playground that frosty December day, the young boy groaning as she lifted him in her arms and kissed his cheek. With quick hands and a grimace, he wiped away the 'gross icky red stuff' she insisted on wearing purely to torture him, insisting she lower him because Scott was watching and it wasn't cool to be kissed.

The car ride was as usual, Stiles talking excitedly about the games he and Scott had played, the things Miss Edison had taught him and finally the new girl. A girl. A subject he hadn't cared much for up to this point, which is why Claudia was so surprised by his desperation. Apparently this girl was different. She made his heart race and his palms sweat, not like the cooty filled creatures he usually played with. It was icky and wonderful all in one according to the second grader, a feeling Claudia was more than familiar with and one Stiles didn't understand yet.

"...And Jackson called her ginger and pulled her hair but I know it s'not, it's strawberry blonde." His words were rushed, stringing together and his excitement levels high when he thought of the pretty girl. "She reads big kid books, and she's really good at math. I wanna be friends with her but she's all gooey eyed over stupid Jackson." Even with his disdain for the situation, he was still excited.

That was until they got home, when he saw his dads cruiser on the driveway, something that only happened when he was let home early which usually meant one thing, he was hurt. Stiles stumbled forward, rushing into the house and running around the various rooms, looking for his dad, wanting to make sure he was okay, that his super hero dad wasn't hurt.

John could hear the commotion, seeing the relief in his sons eyes when he walked into the living room. He welcomed the boy into his arms, catching Claudia's eyes as she watched the two, whispering hellos and asking about school, all the while knowing what was coming, that the relief would be gone soon.

"Honey, we need to talk." Her voice was solemn, a tone unrecognizable from his mother. She was the one who would sneak him cupcakes when his father said no sweets, or would give him his favourite toy when he was on time out, she never used the stern tone on him, not ever. So as the words rang out around the room, he froze in his fathers arms.

"Talk about what mom? I cleaned my room like you said, and I apologised to Jackson for calling him names. Plus I took that test at the doctors. Did I fail it?" Taking note of the look between his mother and father, he gave a loud dramatic gulp, squirming as his mother took a seat on the other side of the young boy.

He was willing to curl into her light touch, feeling tears welling almost instantly as his mother hesitated, her own eyes full of unshed tears.

"Sweetie. You remember, when we took you to see the doctor? And mommy went to do a test while daddy stayed with you?" Claudia was greeted with a small nod from the eight year old, the boy already sniffling, waiting to be yelled at. "Well, mommy got her results, and mommy is really pretty poorly."

Just like that, Stiles' world changed. He was no longer about to be yelled at but he was facing something much, much worse. "Did the doctor give you a shot? What about Scotty? His mom can make you better right? She's a genius."

Claudia held her son tight, hating that she had to do this but they had agreed, no giving him false hope.

"There isn't a shot for this sweetheart, mommy isn't going to get better, but it's okay, we still have some time." The tears had spilled now, Claudia holding Stiles close as the essence of her grief spilled down, landing in his already messy hair. "It's okay baby, mommy will be here, it's okay."

They stayed like that for hours, Stiles sobbing into his mother's chest as her silent tears streaked her cheeks, John watching stone faced, wishing it wasn't happening, wishing his son didn't have to hear those words ever again. He had promised Claudia, no more pain their son would be happy and that meant staying strong, no matter how much it hurt.