Humming bird

Chapter 1

Tap… tap….tap…tap

"Derek…" Talia said in a tone of warning from the kitchen, the splashing of water signalling that she was washing the dishes.

"Sorry mum." Derek mumbled from his place in front of the window, a tiresome tone colouring his words as he waited for his friend to show, tapping the window as he did. He had been waiting for a full hour, his breath creating condensation on the window before he slowly wiped it away, a sloppy movement as the time stretched.

"What time was Bailey supposed to be here?"

Even though she was round the back of the house, he heard his mother as though she were beside him, being a werewolf was a life with perks even though he couldn't shift yet.

"Around one, its half two now mum..." Derek said, letting out a large breath before shuffling in his place… but then, he caught sight of her, stumbling out behind the trees. A thin looking girl, around seven years of age, the same as Derek, with dark red locks of hair falling around her face, pushed passed the shrubs and came into view. Any stranger would know there was something about the way this girl looked that was different. The fact that her hair was red and not ginger welcomed enough attention as it was but then, she also had this glow, a peaceful air around her that she fiercely protected. A way in which she walked showed gracefulness, soft and gentle but there was also her eyes, a startling green colour which could be seen from a mile away and although it showed beauty and kindness…it also made her seem aware, aware of pain and suffering, aware of the danger … it made her strong, and not someone you would meddle with. This was Bailey.

She had an uneasy expression on her face as she wiped at her eyes, he watched for a moment as she stood still, taking soothing breaths as she calmed herself down. Finally, she walked up to the porch and knocked on the door, Derek jumped up and ran out of the room, swinging around the door frame till he came face to face with the front door and pulled it open.

"You ok?" he asked, he knew she didn't like it when he knew she was upset but, he knew what it was like at her house.

Bailey gave him a dead pan expression, "hello to you too Derek." She replied, her freckled nose wrinkled as she shook her head and walked through the thresh hold.

Derek shut the door before turning and following Bailey down the corridor to the kitchen, giving her a hug from behind, "Your dad?"

Bailey's shoulders went slack for a moment, turning around, she buried her face in her best friends neck and hugged him back, "yeah… but that's all we are saying about it…thanks though." She let Derek go before heading into the kitchen, "hi Mrs Hale."

"Bailey, I love you like family…please do not call me Mrs Hale, it makes me feel very old." Talia spoke gently as she looked over at Bailey, a welcoming smile playing on her lips.

"Yes, sorry Mrs- Talia." Bailey stuttered as a blush formed over her cheeks, Derek sniggered before being elbowed in the stomach by Bailey. Talia just laughed as Derek dragged Bailey out of the kitchen and into the living room.

"What do you wanna do today?"

Bailey sat down on the couch, her hair bouncing around her and accidentally revealing a purple bruise on her forehead, "don't mind."

Derek walked towards her, "What's that?" he asked as he sat down on the couch beside her, his fingers rising timidly towards her fringe.

Bailey whipped her head away, "nothing." She tried to move but Derek gripped her wrist gently, "want to watch a movie?" She faked enthusiasm trying to distract Derek.

"Let me see."

"Derek…"

"Please?"

Bailey let her head fall, gaze resting on her lap as she stayed still for Derek to look at the damage. He brushed away her fringe to see the large purply- green bruise, "how did this happen?"

"I got in the way."

Derek didn't know what to say, he knew it was wrong what her father was doing, he had told his mother but he suspected she already knew…there was just nothing she could do. Bailey's father was very close friends with the Sheriff, Derek had heard his mother call him a corrupt man of the law on many occasions at home, saying that the deputy Stilinski should take his place.

Derek put his arm around Bailey's shoulders and pulled her towards him, comforting her in a simple yet warm embrace. A few moments later Derek retrieved a tape of a beloved child movie and stuck it in the VCR, quickly jumping back on the couch with Bailey as they settled down.

Before the movie had properly begun, a small girl around four years old rubbed her eyes as she walked into the room, "hey Cora." Bailey smiled, she had always craved the affection and connection of a younger sibling and Cora was basically that.

"BAILEY!" the little girl cheered as she ran and jumped up onto the couch, snuggling between the two.

"Cora-"Derek started but Bailey gave him a look explaining she was happy, she didn't mind. Derek smiled, his other friends hated it when Cora was around…saying they couldn't play proper games and so on. But Bailey always welcomed Derek's family, loved them probably as much as he did.

Laura came in next, five minutes into the movie and sat next to Bailey, greeting her with a one armed hug before she too settled down to watch the movie.

They laughed, giggled and explained some parts to Cora… the true feeling of family between them. Many days were spent like this; Bailey had grown up with the Hale's. Her mother, Jessica, had been best friends with Talia throughout all of school; their lives had always been intertwined, even after school, living down the road per say. Jessica had helped out as much as she could; she even helped build the house.

Talia had made sure their children knew each other, not thinking they would become best friends in the process but they had taken an immediate liking to each other. At first they were only baby's in cribs but soon enough, Derek had fluffy black hair sprouting from his head as he stayed as close as possible to the other baby girl with strikingly long red hair for only a year old. Then Derek was two years old and he made sure he either shared or gave all his toys to Bailey. They were inseparable, Bailey holding onto Derek when he cried and always staying close to him when there were other children around.

Finally the movie ended and Talia called for dinner, Cora jumped off of Derek and ran into the kitchen where her parents were. Laura finished her discussion with Bailey before following Cora into the kitchen leaving Derek and Bailey together.

"I love it here." Bailey sighed as she sat up.

"Maybe you could stay?" Derek said, sitting up next to her.

"I don't think that would make my dad happy."

Derek nodded his head, standing up, "come on, I think mum cooked burgers."

Bailey brightened up at that and walked with Derek into the kitchen through to the dining room where the rest of the Hale and extended Hale family sat around a large table. As she walked in Anthony, Derek's father, wrapped an arm around her and kissed her on the top of her head, "hey sweet heart."

"hey Mr- Antony."

Anthony raised an eyebrow, "I see Talia's had a word."

"hmmm." Bailey hummed in agreement causing Anthony to laugh at how old she sounded.

At the end of the day, as night started to fall, Derek and Laura walked Bailey back to her house, stopping behind a tree they could hide behind before hugging farewell and waiting for Bailey to disappear inside.

After ten minutes of walking back through the woods, Derek finally spoke up, "Laura…do you think one day, we'll be able to tell Bailey…about us."

Laura was silent for a moment, "yes…I do. I want to, everyone does but… we just can't risk it. You know that-"

"Yes I know that the sheriffs a hunter and if Baileys father found out would get us in trouble but-"

"No buts Derek, this is serious. One day we will but … aren't you afraid of how she will react?"

It was Derek's turn to be the quiet one now, "yes…but I feel like the longer I leave it, the worse she'll take it."

"Do you remember when you were smaller… and I used to chase you and Bailey around in half shift…"

"Yeah," Derek reminisced, a small smile on his face, "she laughed so much she couldn't run."

They were quiet once more, recalling past events in their minds.

"Derek, I promise…one day we'll tell her…just not any time soon."

A few weeks later, Bailey and her mother showed up outside of the Hales house.

"Hello Jessica!" Talia said, as she crushed Jessica in a hug, welcoming them inside, "is there anything I can get you?"

Jessica had tears in her eyes, hair similar to Bailey's falling in her face, "no…thank you, I uh-I need to talk to you," she looked back at Bailey for a moment before returning a worried and broken gaze to Talia, "it's important."

Talia put a hand on Jessica's shoulder as she turned to Bailey, "can you go find Derek and take him to the park for an hour or two?"

Bailey nodded and ran up to Derek's room, her heart rate was already scarily high as of earlier events. Pushing open the door, she found Derek on his bed reading a comic book which he immediately lost interest in when he realised her panicked state.

"Bailey, w-what is it?" he asked as he stumbled off his bed and ran over to her.

"M-mum s-said," she took a deep breath trying to calm down, "my mum is h-here to talk to y-your mum 'bout something, and we have to go to the park." Bailey finally got out as her breaths increased erratically.

Derek placed his hands on her arms and held her tightly, "Bailey, Bailey look at me. I'm here, its ok l-let's just go to the park ok?"

Bailey nodded as Derek led her downstairs, grabbing his hoodie on the way, passing the living room he caught part of the conversation.

"It's never going to change- Bailey's like me Talia, I can see it and I can't leave her with him-it has to be tonight-"

That was all he got before Talia shushed her, suspecting someone was listening. Derek didn't understand much of that… what did she mean? "like me" what was happening tonight?

All of these thoughts passed through himas he grabbed Baileys hand and ran towards the park, slowing down to walk after a few minutes as Bailey couldn't keep up.

Once they reached the park, Bailey explained everything, swinging on the swing, she recalled what had happened, "my parents got in a fight again, but it was bad, dad smashed everything, his face was so red … he tried to grab me but he kind of flinched away as soon as he touched me…then he went crazy Derek. Mum pushed him away from me and started screaming at him- I've never seen my mum so angry, she wouldn't let him near me. Then my dad storms out saying it isn't over yet or something…and then mum's pushing me out the house and we were running to yours then she says she needed to talk to your mum and- I don't understand Derek I-I –"Bailey was reduced to tears, her grip loosening on the swing as she let herself fall to the ground, landing on her knees as she struggled to breathe. Derek jumped off the swing and landed next to her, bringing her onto his lap as he hugged the life out of her, almost crying himself, he hated seeing her like this.

"It's gonna be fine, Bailey-I- please don't cry."

Bailey sniffled, wiping her tears away as she looked up at him, "S-sorry Derek."

"Why are you saying sorry" Derek asked, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face.

"I've been crying so much lately and I didn't stop to think how it was making you feel, I've just been selfish."

"What? No! No you haven't, Bailey you are my best friend…ok, you hear me? My best friend and I mean that. None of those other friends I have, you, you are who I care about so you cry all you want…you are not being selfish."

Bailey smiled, nodded and rested her head against Derek's chest, Derek looked up then, sensing someone else was near, his gaze rested upon an old woman. A scarf wrapped around her head as rather large sun glasses covered her eyes; she had a sweet smile on her shocked expression which Derek thought was quite a success to pull off.

Not liking the fact that they had an audience, Derek picked Bailey up bridal style and walked away from the park, finding they're old hang out by a small stream and large tree only a few minutes later. Sitting back down, Derek didn't let go of Bailey, simply sat on the bank and watched the water, the area in which they sat was surrounded by tall orange coloured flowers, Bailey's mother had called them Anisacanthus… a special type of flower apparently but either way, they always seemed to make Bailey happy…Derek remembered her saying how her grandfather would always bring one for her every time they met and at his funeral it was the only flower anyone brought, tradition for his memory.

Slowly, Bailey's heart rate went down and soon enough she was simply laying in her best friend's arms and watching the river, "I just feel – I feel like there's something mum isn't telling me, she said tonight it's all gonna end and- I just can't help but feel that she's been lying to me. I really hope not…that would be, that would like if you kept something from me…you know, it would hurt so bad."

Derek felt like someone had put a vice over his heart, an unbelievable wave of guilt washed over him…Derek struggled to find the words he wanted. Could he tell her now? Should he?

"Oh yeah by the way – I'm a werewolf…yeah, my whole family actually...nope- not recent, had it my whole life...Hmmm, yep - yeah I guess that kinda means I've lied to you my whole life but we're cool right?"

Derek hummed as he nodded his head, holding her tighter…he could just imagine what would happen if he told her…shed be crushed, wouldn't speak to him and probably feel betrayed.

Once he had calmed himself, Derek focused on reminding Bailey of all the good times she had had with him and his family…at school and a few with her mum. Once they had laughed themselves breathless, Derek and Bailey made their way home, talking the whole way back. Derek could tell she was nervous, nervous about going home so he did his best to distract her, made her laugh as much as possible and told her what had happened between Peter and his cousin…something about a girl and boundaries.

Once they finally made it back, they arrived just in time to see Bailey's mother leaving the house, receiving a hug from Talia before making her way down the porch steps. Her gaze landed on Derek and Bailey, walking over with a sad smile, she knelt down in front of them so that she was eye level, placing her hands on Derek's shoulders she spoke softly.

"Thank you Derek, for looking after Bailey…for being there for her when I couldn't but please promise me you'll always do that, promise me you'll never hurt her."

Derek was astounded, obviously he would never hurt her! Derek blinked away his wide eyes and nodded, "of course Mrs Rochilideat, I would never hurt Bailey." Derek was almost hurt himself that she had said that.

Bailey's mother nodded, pulling Derek into a hug and whispering something odd that made his brow furrow, confused but before Derek could question it, she had pulled away, taking Bailey with her.

After a few minutes of walking back through the woods, Bailey noticed something strange, "mum, where are we going? This isn't the way to the house."

"I know, but I want to show you something…" Bailey's mother spoke softly, a wise yet young tone in her voice as she held Bailey's hand and led her through the woods.

After what seemed like forever, Bailey's mother put a hand out to stop walking as she told Bailey to keep quiet. She crouched down and pulled back a large branch, revealing a small opening. Bailey gasped; it was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. The same orange flowers from the river bank grew in masses, bunches of them between shrubs of other smaller flowers. Colours were speckled everywhere, purple, white, orange, yellow, blue…it was although someone had flicked the end of their paint brush into the secret garden. Three larger trees loomed over creating a ceiling of petals and leaves …but this wasn't what made Baileys eyes widen and mouth drop, it was the amount of hummingbirds flying around, swooping from plant to plant as they fed from the nectar.

"It's beautiful…" Bailey whispered.

Her mother looked over at her, a proud expression worn as she took Baileys hand and led her further in until she was standing in the centre of the three trees. There was an overwhelming feeling in the air where she stood, something about this secret garden took a hold of her, gave her a strong sense of pride, she could feel it running through her veins. Bailey went to touch one of the flowers but before her fingers could graze the orange petal, a hummingbird landed on her index finger. It stayed there, perched on her knuckle as it inspected Bailey, it was so absurd, the way it looked at her, tilting its head in a curious way before flying off.

Just as Bailey was about to question her mother, how she found this place and why the birds were so brave and comfortable around them, she felt her mother's hands on her arms…once again kneeling before her as she did Derek.

"Bailey, do you trust me?", Bailey was confused for a moment but nodded none the less, "tonight, when we go home, you have to run inside, pack as much as you can and run…ok? You run straight to Derek's."

"But mum-"

"No buts, I'll be there ok. Just let me deal with your father, it's about time we left…he's dangerous, you remember that."

Bailey watched as her mother reached behind her own neck and unclasped her necklace, slowly turning it around and placing it around Baileys neck before clasping it back up.

"But mum grand-dad gave you that."

"I know…and now I'm giving it to you." Bailey looked down at the pendant, it was a birds skull made from silver, only the size of her thumb but the beak was long, obviously a hummingbird,"It's beautiful."

Bailey's mother smiled before embracing her in a tight hug. Bailey wrapped her small arms around her mother's neck as she felt her begin to shake with tears spilling from her eyes.

"Mum, what's wrong?"

Her mother breathed slow and deep as she calmed herself, "don't forget me…"

A/N

HI! So this is my first time writing a Teen Wolf fanfic and yeah I'm super nervous because there are so many amazing stories out there, hopefully this one is alright and people will want to keep reading. This first chapter is mainly an introduction to give you a feel of the relationship between Bailey and Derek's family and a small insight of her home life. I promise she's not going to be a damsel in distress or anything but I needed to give a clear start to show how the story leads. I've got more written and I know roughly where this story is going but things change all the time with me writing so…yeah. I think that's all I have to say, and please tell me what you think cause I have no idea how I've done x

THORina out ;)