Erik ran up to the house, barely registering the fact that he was not close to out of breath and had made the trip in record time. His hearing, always excellent, was now feeding him a telephone conversation his father was having with Grandpa Stilinski.
"Yeah, Dad. The kids are fine, you know they can't get sick. We're giving them the 'Talk' today when they all get home. Derek's been all over me about it, and I can't blame him…I think I may have screwed up holding it back for so long. Erik's been showing some signs, and Laurie's been really aggressive lately…moreso than usual. You know, I just wanted to let them have fun and be kids without all of this horror movie stuff. Yes, I remember how difficult it was being a teenager, it wasn't that long ago, Dad. You did a great job with me, and I don't think I ever told you how much I love and appreciate everything you did for me."
Stiles was quiet for a second, and Erik was surprised to hear his father crying.
"Dad… I am so scared they're going to hate us… hate me. These kids are my whole life, I would go crazy if anything ever happened to them. They've gotten so big, and I just can't ground them or take them out for ice cream anymore…Laurie is so bonded to Derek, they are exactly alike except for the hyperactive part, it's a good thing Derek's perpetually 25 …Erik, well he's 'research guy', like I was, but Christ knows what he's researching, he keeps to himself. I wish he'd just have a hidden porn collection like I did…oh, sorry Dad, I forgot what that did to you when you found it…well I don't go snooping in my son's room like some people! Dad… I feel like I'm losing them, that I don't understand them and…that I can't protect them. I would give my life for them to be happy…and Derek, well you could imagine what he'd do for them. I don't know. All I know is that I love them so much it hurts."
Silence for about three minutes.
"Yeah, I guess that's what it means to be a parent. No, I wouldn't give it up no matter how crazy it makes me. I feel like they're the best thing Derek and I ever did. Thanks for listening, Dad. I love you. Bye."
Erik peeked in the window and watched his father rest his face in his hands. Then he grabbed a tissue, wiped his eyes, and walked off into the kitchen.
Erik sat on their porch swing and contemplated what he had just heard.
#1. The parental units were about to lay a bombshell on them.
#2. It was serious enough for his father to have a nervous breakdown over it.
#3. Erik had no desire to be a parent anytime soon.
#4. Whatever was going to happen…he needed to let his father know he was doing a great job.
Erik felt a little guilty about that last part. They didn't know it, but he spent long hours on the phone with his 'Aunt' Lydia, discussing topics ranging from philosophy to quantum physics. She was the only person in their extended family that could keep up with his intellect…Erik just sort of…took his parents for granted, behaving as if they had nothing to offer him besides food and shelter, and maybe money when he needed it. Guilt ate away at him…he felt like a spoiled child. He couldn't remember the last instance of quality time they had together…and when they never pushed the matter, he assumed they were satisfied with the status quo. His parents loved each other, and loved their children…he and Laurie were very lucky compared to some other kids at school. He resolved to turn over a new leaf and be a better son, no matter what news they had to tell him.
Erik unlocked the door with his key. "Pop! I'm home!"
He kicked his shoes into the hall closet in unconscious imitation of Derek and walked into the kitchen. Stiles was pretending to be busy pulling out ingredients for cooking (and from the haphazard collection of items, it would likely have been the last thing they ate), all the while dabbing at his eyes to hide evidence of his tears. Erik cursed himself for not giving him few more minutes. He decided he would pretend not to notice. He seemed to be good at that.
"I thought I'd make cookies tonight for after dinner, what kind do you want?" Stiles asked, holding a box of rat poison and a bottle of ammonia.
"Um, the non-poisonous kind?" Erik said, half-alarmed.
Stiles looked at the items he was holding and quickly stowed them away. Erik noticed for the first time the slight graying of hair at his father's temples, and it made him uneasy.
"Oh, I wasn't going to make cookies with these; that would be silly…and highly criminal…um, grab some fresh fruit before you go hide in your room, I'm not sure what time your Dad will be home."
"I'm okay. Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Science Museum with me this weekend. There's a new exhibit I want to see-"
"What? A Museum? With me? You want to spend time with me?"
The guilt monster in Erik's gut took another chomp at the look of sheer happiness on his father's face.
"Yeah, I know it's probably boring, so we don't have to stay long-"
"No, no I'd love. I used to like Science. I made a volcano once…that didn't work out so well, your grandfather had to repaint the whole kitchen…ummm, your Dad and I have to have a chat with you kids tonight, and you might not want to…oh, nevermind. One thing at a time. Yes, I'd like to go. We'll make a day of it!"
Erik was a little dazed at this ramble, and recalled his Dad's stories of Pop's legendary ADHD. He wondered if Pop were having a relapse.
Erik took a deep breath.
"Um…Dad hinted that there was something serious you had to tell us. I want you to know that no matter what it is…I'll always love you guys."
Erik gave his stunned father an awkward hug before heading to his room. He glanced back to see him still standing there speechless.
Laurie was in his room, listening to his CD's since her player was broken. She took off the headphones when he came in. He threw himself on his bed, while she plopped into his giant bean bag he used for playing video games.
"Jimmy Porlock and his two goons tried to jump me after school." he told her.
Color slammed into her face. "That creep! He waited until you were at school alone! When I get my hands on him on Wednesday…"
Erik laughed. "It's okay…I kind of…wiped the floor with them. All of them!"
Laurie goggled at him for a second, and then a huge smile broke out on her face.
"Awesome! Way to go! Tell me all the details!" She looked positively bloodthirsty.
He gave her the run down, and she gave him an appraising look.
"Really? You did that? Bro, not that I'm doubting you or anything…"
"I know how it sounds, I'm well aware I inherited Pop's body type. But if any of those three are even in school on Monday, I'll eat my books!"
"I so wish I could have seen it…or helped…" a growl came into her voice at the end.
"I think it has something to do with this big secret they've been keeping. Has Pop mentioned anything?"
"Just that it was serious and we would find out after dinner."
"Are you worried?" he asked.
"No, not really. Why? Are you?"
Erik gave her some of the highlights of the conversation he overheard between their father and grandfather. She was silent for a few minutes.
"I guess we do give them a hard time. Dad and I get along great even though we argue a lot, and I love Pop, it's just that we're so different. I know he gets upset when I visit Aunt Allison for training lessons, and that he wishes he could do that stuff with me…but he's the world's biggest klutz!"
"Yeah, same with me and Aunt Lydia. And I don't even get along with Dad that well, I mean he loves me I'm sure, but he's always giving me these quizzical looks, like he wonders what planet I'm from. Well, let's make an effort…I've got to do some major bonding with Dad and we both need to let Pop know we appreciate him."
"Pop will be easy, he'd be overjoyed if we all went to the doctor and got painful shots together. You'll have your work cut out for you with Dad. He's…much more…"
"Yeah, he is."
The sound of the front door slamming let them know that their Dad was home. The kids gave them a few minutes of privacy, then went out to greet him.
Laurie tackled her father and gave him a quick hug and kiss.
"Hey, Dad." Said Erik.
"Hey, Son." Derek replied.
"Um…." Erik held his arms out for a hug.
Derek stared at him for a moment in shock, then gave him a stiff and brief squeeze before putting his jacket in the closet.
"Nice job." Laurie whispered.
"Shut up." Erik muttered.
They finished their meal of steak and Stiles' famous home fried potatoes (although he ate just a salad and some steamed vegetables. He fretted constantly about developing a paunch.)
The kids cleared the dishes away while the two parents exchanged some kind of wordless communication that consisted of intense staring at each other. When the kids sat back down, Stiles was the first one to speak.
"So, um, your Dad and I feel that you kids should know something… about our family. We're not like other families…"
"We know we have two fathers, Pop." said Erik.
"Yeah, but besides that. We…I mean your father is, different. So are your Uncles and Aunts, and cousins Christine and Dylan. So are you."
"It sounds like we're all the same if it's that many people." Laurie said, looking confused.
"Well, it's all of us, I mean all of you all being different from all of us, I mean all of them…oh, God. Derek, help me out." Stiles covered his face with his hands.
"What your Pop means to say is that we aren't…exactly human."
Laurie's eyes were wide. Erik kept blinking his eyes and looking back and forth between them.
"Spit it out, Dad. What the heck are we?" Laurie said a little loudly.
"Kids, you have nothing to be afraid of, no matter what happens-" Stiles began.
"Dad!" Laurie Glared at Derek.
"We're a family of werewolves." Derek said bluntly.
"Are you guys on crack?" Laurie exclaimed.
"Laurie…" began Erik.
"Quiet, Erik! I need to hear our parents tell us what drugs they're on! Is this some sort of practical joke?"
"Laurie! I think they're telling the truth! It explains what happened to me today!"
Now both parents stared at their son. "What happened today?" they asked at the same time. The kids looked at how worried their parents were, and suddenly all doubt fled from their minds.
Erik gave them a brief summary of his encounter. Stiles moaned and got up, needing something to drink. He came back with a JOLT! Cola, which he downed without blinking.
"Did you…change at all, son? More importantly did they see you? And most importantly…are you all right?" asked Derek.
"Maybe a little, I don't know. I kind of thought my eyes were glowing a little. I took them all out pretty quickly, so I don't think they saw anything. And I'm okay, thanks for asking."
"So we're going to change into monsters some time soon?" asked Laurie quietly.
"We…aren't…monsters. Actions are what make monsters. Your Uncle Chris had a sister that did terrible terrible things, and she was human…but more of a monster than any of us will ever be. One day, I'll tell you all of that stuff, but for now you kids need to know because any day now you will be able to shift into your full Beta forms-"
"Beta forms?" exclaimed Erik incredulously. "As in there's an Alpha form?"
Derek nodded, smiling slightly. "That's right, son. I'm the Alpha of the whole Pack. I can transform further than anyone else."
"I want to see!" said Laurie, folding her arms.
"Laurie, it would rip my clothes to shreds, and I would do a lot of damage to our house. I can show you a little though."
Derek closed his eyes, and opened them a few seconds later to reveal glowing crimson orbs.
"Whoa!" screamed Laurie, leaping backwards. "Okay, I've had enough of this crap. I'm going to my room." She sounded near tears.
Erik looked after her and back at his parents. Stiles looked stricken, but Derek looked like he had his heart ripped out.
"Dad, Pop…it's a bit much, but I can deal. And I understand why you kept it a secret. I appreciate you giving us the chance to have a normal childhood."
Stiles eyes were wet, while Derek just kept staring at the ceiling, as if trying to control himself.
Erik stood and gave Stiles a firm hug. When he went over to Derek, his Dad grabbed him and squeezed him tight, in contrast to the awkward hug from before.
"I'll be okay. Seriously. I have a lot of questions, but let's save that for tomorrow. I'll try to talk to Laurie." He went down the hall and turned back briefly.
"I love you guys."
He went to his sister's room.
"Erik took it way better than I hoped." Stiles said.
"And Laurie took it so much worse than I expected. I really thought she'd just be like 'Awesome!' and we'd go running through the woods together. And I really underestimated our son." Derek said quietly.
"I can see it from his point of view…in a way. He's always been the quiet bookish type…this must be like discovering a superpower for him. Laurie…she liked things exactly as they were. This can only complicate her life."
Derek hugged him, and went upstairs to get changed.
The doorbell rang, and Stiles got up to answer it.
{}{}{}{}
Erik closed the door behind him and looked at his sister sprawled on her bed. Tears stained her cheeks.
"Hey." He said quietly.
"Go away." She said irritably.
"I'm like a nasty skin disorder, I keep coming back."
Laurie chuckled despite herself.
"C'mon, Laurie. No family is perfect."
"I guess you won't need me to handle the bullies for you anymore."
Erik laughed. "I'm sure you'll still be twice as strong as me. I'll always need you around."
"Jesus, Erik. How can you take this so calmly? What kind of life can we have living like this? It's like we're cursed."
"I don't see it that way. I never told you this…but I didn't like how other kids saw me. Weak, nerdy, geeky. This is such an improvement for me…kind of Badass actually." He gave her an awkward grin. She burst out laughing.
"You. Badass. Yeah, you'd need to be a werewolf to get a label like that. Well I'm very happy for you, bro. But I feel like my life is over."
They both jumped when they heard the gunshot.
They tore down the hall towards the dining room. Stiles lay on the floor, blood spreading outward from his body and across the floor.
"POP!" shrieked Laurie. Erik was paralyzed with fear.
Hank Porlock stood there, his face red with fury with a smoking shotgun in his hands. When he saw the kids, he swung the shotgun around towards them.
"Put my kid in the hospital, will ya? You little freak, I'm gonna blow your whole family away-"
He fell silent at the sound of a monstrous bestial roar from the top of the stairs. With a thump that made the entire house shake, the three watched an enormous anthropomorphic wolf land at the bottom of the stairs. Its eyes glowed like the fires of hell, the mouth full of razor sharp fangs open wide and dripping saliva onto the floor. The kids looked at their father, and wondered that they weren't terrified…some inner sense told them that they had nothing to fear from him; that no matter how enraged he was, he would never…could never hurt them.
Hank Porlock, as massively drunk as he had to be to go through with this, suddenly felt all the liquid courage evaporate from his body in mere seconds. One look at the beast was all that was necessary to let him know he was a dead man. Hank turned tail and ran. The beast fell to all fours and was about to bound after him when another shot rang out and they heard Hank's body thump heavily to the porch. The beast gave a dismissive sniff then, and turned to the body of its mate. A low moan-growl emerged from its throat, and it nudged the unmoving body softly. It gave out a loud mournful howl that seemed to reverberate through the entire world. All across Beacon Hills, those individuals who were members of the Hale Pack all looked up, eyes shifting through a myriad of colors while dread filled their hearts.
Erik broke from his paralysis first and rushed over to them. The beast did not growl or attack, but simply looked at the crying boy with glowing red (and incredibly lost) eyes.
From outside they heard "We need an ambulance, right now. Two gunshot victims."
Grandpa Stilinski walked in, holstering his police issue revolver.
He looked at his son and just fell to his knees.
"Derek? You know what you have to do." he said, not taking his eyes off of Stiles
The beast growled at him, then picked up one arm with its jaws and with unbelievable gentleness broke the skin with its fangs. Then it walked away and slowly began to change back to human form as they watched.
A naked Derek Hale sat on the floor, knees gripped tightly to his chest and shrieked as despair tried to tear his body in half.
{}{}{}{}
After Stiles was stabilized and on complete life support, the family was allowed to visit him. The four took seats in the corners of the room as if forming a protective ring around him.
"I heard about the Porlock kid winding up in the hospital with a concussion, and swung by Hank's place. When I saw his truck gone, I hauled ass over to you. I guess I was just a minute too late." the ex-Sheriff said brokenly. Although he was retired, he had taken a desk job with the force investigating insurance fraud and getting a moderate salary to supplement his hefty pension. He was still allowed to carry a badge and gun, as well as his police cruiser once the SHERIFF decals had been replaced.
Laurie and Erik were quiet, unable to speak. Derek didn't move until the rest of the Pack arrived. They crowded into the room, against the squawking orders of a nurse that Steven spoke to quietly before sending her away. He gestured to the kids to follow him outside.
"Hank Porlock is dead. Jimmy will be placed with his mother back in Florida once he recovers, he has no family here. My report will say quite truthfully that he came at me with a loaded shotgun. You two can stay with me at my house. If you want, I can send someone to pick up anything you might need."
"Is he going to be all right?" asked Laurie. She started crying again, as she had been doing on and off since they left with the ambulance.
"I don't know. Derek told me a long time ago, even before they were together, that he was afraid to bite Stiles, because not everyone turns. Some people just die. He said he couldn't live with himself if that happened. He was only just realizing what his feelings were about him. I approved of his choice, but Stiles' chances are a lot worse in this condition. Kids, I don't want to give you any false hope. It doesn't look good."
"Grandpa, there's got to be something we can do." Erik said brokenly. He cursed himself again for wasting so much time with his books when he could have been getting to know the father that was about to be taken from him…the father who by his own admission would gladly die for them.
"The Pack is doing everything they can. I got them the privacy they needed. They're going to shift and surround him, and hope that whatever power makes you all what you are is enough to save him. Werewolves have fantastic healing ability…I've seen it over the years enough times to know…and you heal faster the more of you there are around. If you kids could shift already, I'd have you in there with them. They…they aren't sure there's enough of them to help him. Then there's the other matter."
"What's that?" asked Erik.
"Your Dad. He…won't last long without Stiles."
"What?" screamed Laurie.
"Werewolves mate for life. They're…bound together. If one of them dies..."
"Oh, holy freaking crap!" Laurie walked away before circling back.
Erik looked stricken.
"Kids, if that happens…one of you will likely become the new Alpha."
"Okay, Grandpa? Let's give the mind-blowing revelations a rest for tonight."
Erik went and looked through the window into Stiles' room. He looked around at the shifted forms of those he had called Aunt or Uncle his whole life, and wondered that he had never questioned that form of address when it was obvious they weren't related by blood. Laurie joined him staring at what she knew to be her own future. The eyes were the most amazing thing. Uncle Scott, Uncle Danny and Aunt Allison's were a golden amber, while Uncle Jackson, Uncle Ted and Aunt Lydia's were a bright blue. Derek's, of course, were crimson.
"Laurie…I'm going to try to shift. I think you should too. If we can, we'll go in there and maybe it'll help Pop."
"Erik…I don't want to!" She bit her lip, looking at Derek's face which was etched with concern. "But… I guess we have to. C'mon. Let's use that bathroom over there."
Locking the door behind them, they both squeezed their eyes shut and willed themselves to shift.
Nothing happened.
They looked at each other confused.
"Why isn't it working?" Laurie tried hard not to sound relieved.
"I think we have to be emotional, or pissed off or something. Dad was pretty pissed when he changed, and I was pissed at Jimmy freaking Porlock…" Erik's voice devolved into a growl at the end, startling them both.
"Your eyes glowed for a second! Just like Uncle Scott's!" exclaimed Laurie.
"Yeah, it's definitely wired into the sympathetic nervous system, probably triggered by neurotransmitters like adrenalin or norepinephrine." Erik said quietly.
Laurie punched him in the arm. "Stop talking like a lab geek! No one has any idea what that means." Her eyes seemed to glint a bright blue.
"Don't call me a geek!" Erik growled, shoving her back.
"Make me stop, little brother! Or are you going to run off crying?" she pushed harder, and he banged into the wall of the little room.
"You think I can't stop you? Watch this!" Erik shoved with all his might. Laurie slammed into the wall hard enough to crack the tiles. She actually growled, and fangs pushed through her gums. The glint turned into a steady blue glow as her ears developed points.
Laurie grabbed her brother by the shirt front and lifted him in the air as his hands sprouted sharp claws and his eyes glowed with amber fire.
"I think…we should go help Pop." He growled at her.
Laurie blinked a few times, then let him down. She clawed open the door, and the two walked calmly past their grandfather who nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw them.
The Pack were stunned to see the two youngest members in a full-blown Beta shift, but quickly welcomed them among the group. The kids felt almost plugged into something then. The Beta shift had been on the point of melting away once they controlled their anger, but now it was sustained by the presence of the others in the room. Derek looked at them, an expression of unmistakable pride sweeping across his face before the grief returned. Looking in the window, Steven sighed, resigning himself to a long night on an uncomfortable chair.
{}{}{}{}
The kids awoke to find themselves bathed in sunlight, and all traces of the Beta shift gone from their features. The Pack elders were gone, and Derek was snoring gently in his chair. But the best thing of all was the fact that Pop was awake.
"Hey kids." he said groggily.
"POP!" they shouted, running to him and gently hugging him. Their shout woke Derek, who leapt from the chair and in a blur of movement was suddenly covering Stiles' mouth in a kiss fit for a Big Red commercial.
"Uggghhhhh!" said Erik jokingly. Derek grabbed the two kids and nearly crushed their rib cages as he gave them each a fierce kiss on the tops of their heads.
"I saw what you kids did. You may have just saved your Pop's life."
Laurie was crying again, but Erik…Erik was feeling an almost odd happiness. He never felt closer to any of them than he did right at that moment, and he was glad that for all their differences, they all had at least one thing in common…a family that would support each other no matter what. Well, make that two things in common.
Grandpa Stilinski came in then, leading to another round of hugs.
"Kids, give me a minute alone with your parents, would you?" he asked gently.
They nodded and walked out the door, looking back at the adults curiously.
After they told Stiles what happened, he looked grim and wished despite everything that all of it could have been avoided.
Derek took Steven's hand in both of his own.
"Thank you. You shot that prick before I could tear him apart, and saved our family from another wave of Hunters coming after us for breaking the treaty. If I'd gotten my teeth into him, there wouldn't even have been a body to find."
Steven looked surprised.
"That's very generous of you to say Derek, and I wish I could take credit for the sentiment, but damned Hunters were the last thing on my mind. If I'd been one of you, I would have torn him apart myself and sent a full confession to them, daring them to make an issue out of it. I did it… so that the kids wouldn't have to see their father take a life…you had every right to, but they're going to have enough on their plates without dealing with that. I know you'll teach them right, Derek. Especially now that you have a full partner in crime to help you out. I'll take the kids for the day. You two spend some time together." The Sheriff walked out, and the kids came in to say goodbye one more time. When the two were alone, Derek looked at his mate closely, noticing all of the subtle changes that had taken place. The tell-tale gray was gone, and Stiles looked almost like a teenager again. Although pale, he was stronger than ever, and proved it when he suddenly manhandled Derek onto the bed next to him.
Stiles' eyes glowed amber as he looked into Derek's, and whispered four little words that promised to change the entire dynamic of their relationship.
"You are soooo fucked!"
"Promises, promises." Derek whispered into his mouth before kissing him again.