Stiles followed Lydia into the kitchen to find her rifling through his cupboards looking for something to eat, or at the very least, a take out menu. Stiles stands in the doorway for a while just watching his best friend, not sure what to make of her or her intentions for the night.

She was on her tiptoes trying to reach something from the top shelf of a cupboard. Despite all her efforts, she couldn't reach. She could hear Stiles quietly laughing to himself behind her. She turned around so fast Stiles stood bolt upright. Lydia pursed her lips into a thin line planning, calculation what she was going to do next.

"Stiiieeelllsss" she teased calling him to her swaying on the spot.

"Lydddiiiaaa" he teased back crossing his arms over his chest. Whatever game she was playing, she wasn't going to win.

"mind helping, I just want the mac 'n' cheese box" she pleads. When he doesn't move she proceeds to pout and bat her eyelashes.

"What are you doing?" he asked with amusement all over his face.

"Just get the damn box Stilinski" she orders standing up straighter with more conviction in her voice. Talking sweetly might have worked with others, and been her main source of manipulation before, but it didn't work on Stiles, especially since she's not offering him sex in return for what she wants.

"Better" he states before crossing the kitchen to get the box with no trouble at all.

They made the food in relative silence, but with more hand touching than mac 'n' cheese probably requires, but theirs no complaining on their part. They sat back on the couch with the food and ate watching the TV. When finished, Stiles took the plates back out to the kitchen, and when he re-entered the living room, he found Lydia sprawled out all over the couch.

Knowing protesting would cause more of the weird chaos that had happened since she arrived, he sat down on the floor in front of her resting his back against the couch.

This was the not reaction Lydia was looking for. Without getting off of the couch, Lydia leaned over the back in search of her bag, once it was in grasp, she dug around inside in search of her phone. She pulled it out to text the one person who caused all of this.

Well I practically threw myself at him and he's watching TV, thanks for that! – Lydia

What do you mean you threw yourself at him! I thought you said you were just friends and would only ever be friends, you said you wouldn't make a move. What happened? – Alison

Alison had been a huge supporter of Stiles and Lydia getting together from the first time she met them. In the beginning, she would actively try and set them up, getting them to go to the formal together, constantly talking about Stiles to Lydia, getting her to open up to him, but after a while, she started to loose hope, and then Stiles started dating Malia, but when that ended, Alison was fully back to shipping Stydia as she put it that Lydia was starting to believe it herself, even if she hadn't been willing to admit it.

Well after you pulled up three houses from Stiles' and kicked me out in the pouring rain and wouldn't let me back in, I said Fuck it and have been acting weird since, I don't really know what I'm doing and Stiles isn't helping. – Lydia

What exactly happened? – Alison

Lydia went on to tell her every single detail from her bizarre entrance fuelled by her anger towards Alison, the stupid cover story for suddenly being there as when the rain clears Stiles will realise that Lydia's car isn't on his road but is actually at her house, how she felt she had nothing to loose by going for it and then being thrown by Stiles' reactions. Yes she kept changing her mind between making a move and staying as friends all night, but Stiles could have made up his mind, why was he just sitting there letting her go crazy?

He did what on your leg?! – Alison

I know, it felt so right, so that's why I went for it, but after sitting on his lap I froze, he seemed so shocked I didn't know what to do, and then when getting food I acted like I used to when I wanted Jackson to do something for me. I don't know why I just can't think straight around him. I haven't been alone with him since before her and its throwing me off. – Lydia

I thought Lydia Martin is never off her game? Just relax and be honest. Your sending signals all over the place, no wonder he's not responding, your confusing the poor boy and one thing we know about Stiles is that he doesn't do well with mixed signals, especially from girls. – Alison

You're right. I'm just going to talk to him, okay, here I go, wish me luck! – Lydia

Good Luck – Alison.

Lydia took a few deep breaths and composed herself. What was she doing? Was she going to go for it or just try and blame her weird behaviour on Stress? After all Banshee powers are far more tiring than Stiles knows.

She thought through the night so far logically, or as best she could, and came up with nothing, which just frustrated her more. She sat up crossing her legs beneath her.

"Stiles?" she asked, much softer than before.

"Yeah?" He turned around to face her at this. She was looking so innocent. Her hair had dried enough to be wild around her face and cascade around the sweatshirt. He missed seeing her like this. This was his favourite version of Lydia. The one only a select few get to see, and he feels honoured to be one of them. He hasn't seen this Lydia in so long.

"Can we talk?" she asked gesturing for him to join her on the couch.

He moved rather awkwardly since he'd decided not to take his eyes off of hers for fear this Lydia might disappear.

"Anything" he states.

"I miss you"

It's not enough. She feels its not enough, but she can't get anything else out. Not until she has figured out what he is thinking.

"I haven't gone anywhere"

Why did he say that? He knew what she meant. He should have been there for her when Aiden died. She had Alison yes, but that wasn't the point. She needed him. He wasn't there, he was off with Malia.

"You know exactly what I mean."

"I know. I'm sorry. I know that's not enough. It never will be, but it's all I've got. I didn't mean to leave you, but it was my fault. I know you don't believe that, but I do."

He can't look at her anymore. His eyes are fixed on his hands. The ones he used to count his fingers on, trying to figure out if it was real or a dream. He had five fingers this time. It was real. This was a long time coming, and it couldn't be forgotten. They needed to deal with it if they were to ever move on.

"You didn't kill Aiden, Stiles."

"He was fighting for you, because you were fighting for me."

"It wasn't like that. He-"

"Yes it was" Stiles interrupted. He needed to say this before he lost his nerve. "He loved you. He loved you so much that he would fight for my life. Someone he didn't even know very well just because it mattered to you. He didn't loose his life fighting for me, he lost it fighting for you, and you had to feel all of that guilt. You had to do all of it alone, and because of what? Because I didn't have full control of my mind. I still felt everything he felt. I still did everything he did. It was my fault."

"And that's something I couldn't understand is it? You think I don't know what made him fight that night? I have had to live with that for months. I know you felt it was your fault, but guess what Stiles, I have something in my head that means I keep finding dead bodies, and no matter how hard I try I don't seem to be able to get to them before they die. The closest I came was with you. My grandmother could predict people's deaths, I may be starting to get there but for ages I just kept finding corpses. I know exactly what it feels like to have someone else's blood on your hands for no fault of your own but taking all the guilt. I've done it."

Stiles' head shot up at this. Lydia has never told anyone how she first felt about being a banshee. He didn't realise how it made her feel. He saw the tears welling up in her eyes as she does everything she can to hold them back.

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"You weren't there to tell."

Stiles couldn't reply. He felt his throat go raw and his cheeks become soaked. All he could do was look at her.

"That's why you went to Malia wasn't it? Because she thought she'd killed her family, so she'd understand better than me."

"Don't bring Malia into this. This isn't her fault."

Stiles didn't feel like he could defend himself, he didn't feel like he deserved defending.

"But it has everything to do with her. My boyfriend died. Yes, I had Alison, but seeing her with Isaac didn't make it any easier, same with Scott and Kira. They were all so close I just didn't feel comfortable telling them everything. I needed you, but you were off with Malia."

Stiles stayed silent. He wanted nothing more than to wrap Lydia up in his arms and hold her until she didn't hurt anymore, but that is exactly why he couldn't. He didn't deserve to have what he wanted.

"When did you stop loving me?" she asked.

"WHAT?" Stiles practically barked at her. He couldn't believe she could ever think he would stop loving her.

"You must have stopped, otherwise you wouldn't have dated her. When did you stop?"

"Lydia I have never stopped loving you. I have loved you since the third grade and when I met you it only got stronger. I have loved you through all the guys you've dated and all the fights and arguments we've had. I loved you the whole time I was with Malia. That's why she left me. She could take being with me while I was still in love with you. I'll always be in love with you."

Lydia didn't know what to say. She'd bared her sole to Stiles, she shared everything that was weighing down on her chest, and just when she thought that was it, she and Stiles were officially done, he still loves her. Through everything, he loves her.

They both stared at each other for the second time that night with tears still streaming down both of their faces neither knowing what to do next.

Lydia took Stiles' hands in hers slowly, tentatively, not wanting to do anything to make it worse. She brought his hands up to her lips and presses them against her. When she moves them away a few seconds later, she's regained enough composure to try speaking again, and stiles' tears had slowed down.

"Don't ever leave me again. I love you too."

Stiles couldn't take it anymore. He just needed her. Without hesitating, he pulled her forward wrapping his arms around her. He just held her, and she held him back.