Derek hadn't even been gone one day and Stiles was already at her wits end.
The pups had gotten home from school and it was raining.
So, Scott and Jackson went outside to rough house in the mud, while Isaac and Erica watched a movie, and Allison and Lydia did homework.
All went well, until the two boys completely ignored her order to hose off outside before coming in and tromped through the house, muddier than hogs. Then they had a wrestling match in the living room, knocking poor Isaac down, causing the five year old to cry, he refused to let Stiles hold him and ran to Allison instead.
By the time the boys wrestling match ended, they had managed to break a coffee table, dirty the carpets, and tear a curtain down with the curtain rod still attached.
She had to threaten to call Derek before any of them calmed down, then she made the guilty party help clean up before sending them up to wash.
Jackson gave her dirty looks all the way.
Then she made them spend the remainder of the night doing their homework if they had it.
Supper went even worse, none of the pups would eat what she cooked, saying they weren't hungry. Then she caught them sneaking up stuff to make sandwiches.
All in all, it was a completely horrible day, and going to bed without Derek by her side made it even worse.
They spoke for an hour over the phone but it wasn't the same as their nightly conversations, curled up together as they slowly fell asleep.
Stiles didn't mention the kids awful behavior, but Derek knew something was off.
He promised that as soon as he finished helping Cora with whatever it was she was doing, he would come home.
So Stiles laid down, dressed in one of Derek's t-shirts so she could breathe his calming scent, tears slowly trickling down her face.
"Stiles." A tiny hushed voice whispered.
She sat up and blinked. "Isaac? Sweetheart is that you?" She asked.
"Uh huh." He murmured.
"Come on in." Stiles said, flicking on the light.
The young werewolf walked over and crawled on the bed.
"What's the matter?" She asked.
"I had a nightmare." He said with a tiny whimper.
Isaac had been through too much, his father had abused him and belittled him until he was savagely murdered, in which Isaac witnessed.
Derek found him only a month after they met a year ago and poor Isaac was plagued with miserable nightmares of his dad.
But he always woke up Derek, always. Then again, Derek wasn't here.
So Stiles must've been better than nothing.
"Stiles, are you crying?" Isaac asked.
She blinked and felt a tear trickle down her cheek.
Before she could wipe it away Isaac crawled into her lap skittishly then wiped the tear away with his small chubby hand.
"Did we make you cry?" He asked quietly.
"No." Stiles said.
"I just miss your dad." She admitted.
Isaac nodded understandingly, then wrapped his thin arms around her neck and pressed his head against her chest.
More tears filled her eyes as she returned the hug.
It was the first time any of Derek's kids hugged her.
"I miss him, too." He said, a tiny whimper in his tone.
She rubbed the nape of his neck. A comforting action that her mother use to use on her. "Would you like to sleep with me tonight, Isaac?" She asked. "That way neither of us have to feel lonely."
Isaac lifted his head briefly and nodded.
She smiled and shut off the light.
Isaac still clung to her tightly, so she just laid down on her back with the boy on her stomach.
He nuzzled into her chest and let out a happy sigh. "I like the sound of your heart, Stiles. It's so nice and calm." He murmured before falling into a deep sleep.
She smiled and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight, Isaac." She said. "Goodnight, Derek." She whispered into the darkness.