When they got home, Allie jumped out of the car first, excitedly chatting about her day at Scott and Kira's. Stiles couldn't really tell what activities went together but he nodded and made agreeable sounds in all the right places..

"Allie, I have something for you but you need to unpack your bag first, okay?" Stiles said as he unlocked the front door.

"Okay. I'll be really quick." She ran upstairs and Stiles could hear her rushing around in her room. He went into his study and put the letter from Malia in his drawer, keeping the one for Allie out on the desk. "Where are you dad?"

"In the study." It was only a moment before Allie appeared in the doorway.

"You said you have something for me?"

"I do, come here." Stiles patted his knee and Allie scrambled up to sit in his lap. "Now, you remember the stories I've told you about your mom?"

"Yeah. She left when I was little."

"She did. Well, because she's been gone so long, I didn't think I'd ever hear from her again. Your Uncle Scott and I searched for her for a very long time."

"But you didn't find her?"

"No. Part of the reason I work at my job now is because I keep hoping I'll find her."

"Why are you telling me?" Allie looked really confused by now.

"Because at work today, I got a letter. I opened it at Uncle Scott's house. It was from your mom. She wrote a very long letter just before she left, explaining why she left. And there's a letter for you too. She was very clear that she wanted you to read it before I did."

"But what if I get stuck on the tricky words?"

"How about you sit over on the couch and read it and I'll sit here so I can help you if you get stuck? Does that sound good?"

"Okay." Stiles handed her the letter addressed to her and she went over to the little couch in the corner of the room and began to read. For her age, she was a very good reader and she managed to get through most of it by herself, only asking for Stiles' help once or twice.

My Dear Allie,

How I would love to see you now. You'll be almost eight by the time you read this. I know you probably won't remember me, you barely recognise me now. Your dad has been the one who looks after you the most since you were born.

I am writing this letter to you because I want you to know I always have and always will love you, no matter what happens now or in the future. I think of you every day and at night, you're in my dreams.

I guess I just want you to be able to forgive me for making you grow up without a mom. As far as I know, your Aunt Kira and Uncle Scott would probably have been a big part of your life, especially since I haven't been around. I hope that one day we can meet again and I can see how much you have grown.

Remember, I will always love you Allie.

Love, Mom

xxx

"Daddy, do you think we'll ever see mommy again?" Allie looked up when she finished.

"I don't know, honey. Do remember me telling you about when I met your mom? How she'd been missing for nearly nine years and your Uncle Scott, our friends and I saved her?"

"Yes."

"I think maybe she's gone like that again. Maybe we will find her."

"I hope so. I want to meet her." Stiles smiled and gestured her over. When she was close, he pulled her into a tight hug.

"I know you do. I want to see her again too."

Two weeks passed and Stiles almost forgot about the letter from Malia. Of course, it was always there in the corner of his mind but the search for possible fae still hiding in Beacon Hills and work took up most of his time.

So, when there was a knock on the door late one night after Allie had gone to bed, Stiles was very confused. He put down the dishes he'd been washing and hurried to the front door, drying his hands on a tea-towel as he went.

On the doorstep were Scott and Liam, both bouncing on their toes, ready to go.

"What are you guys doing?" Stiles asked.

"We've got a trail." Liam informed him

"Trail? On the fae?"

"No. Not fae, but something equally as exciting." Scott said and Stiles frowned.

"I can't go now. Allie's in bed."

"Just bring her to the car, we'll drop her off with Kira on the way. Trust me, you'll want to see this."

Sighing, Stiles tossed the tea-towel aside and hurried up the stairs to Allie's bedroom where he gently picked her up, being sure not to wake her and positioned her so her head rested on his shoulder. Then he grabbed her pillow, she had picked up his same need for having her own pillow to sleep, and went back downstairs.

"She's so cute when she's sleeping." Liam said.

"Yeah. It's when she wakes up that she's a terror." Stiles knew that his daughter had Liam totally wrapped around her little finger. If she ever wanted anything, all she had to do was ask him and he would do it, no questions asked.

"No she's not. She just plays up for you because you don't spoil her like I do." Stiles rolled his eyes and followed the other two out to Liam's car, gently lying Allie on the back seat. Scott and Liam climbed into the two front seats, leaving Stiles to sit in the back with Allie's head resting on his lap. She stirred a little when the car started up but the soothing motion of Stiles rubbing her hair sent her back to sleep.

"So are either of you going to tell me where you're taking me?"

"Nope. You'll see when we get there." Scott said with a smile, glancing back at his friend in the rear-view mirror.

"Fine." Stiles watched out the window until they got to Scott and Kira's place where he carefully picked up Allie again and carried her into the living room, laying her on the couch. Scott scribbled a quick note to Kira in case she got up and found the little girl there and then the three men were off, following some trail that Stiles had no clue about. They took a really circular route to wherever they were going before they ended up in the Beacon Hills Reserve and Stiles couldn't hold it in any longer. "Okay, seriously. Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see. It's just a bit further. Trust us. You'll love it."

"Yeah, you guys drag me out of my warm house, into the freezing woods at almost midnight, I'm sure I'll love it."

"Not your best, dude." Scott said.

"I'm freezing my ass off here, you try coming up with something." The two werewolves just laughed and began to walk off, leaving Stiles no choice but to follow them.

Despite having lived in Beacon Hills all his life and spending a lot of time during high school running around in these woods, Stiles had no idea where they were. He supposed that was part of the reason for the circular route in the car. However, when they came to what looked like a crater in the middle of a clearing, other things around him became clear and he realised where he was.

"The car wreck? Guys, why did you bring me here?" Stiles looked down towards where he knew the car that had served as Malia's home for years would be.

"Just wait a moment." Scott said and Stiles turned to look at him. He appeared to be scrabbling around in the fallen leaves for something while Liam was doing the same thing a few feet away.

"What the hell are you two doing? I know you're werewolves and all but, seriously? Digging in the dirt?"

"Shh." Liam hissed. Giving in, Stiles sat down on the ground, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against a large boulder. He literally sat there, twiddling his thumbs, for almost half an hour before anything happened.

At first Stiles thought it was just wind rustling the leaves but when the sounds became distinctly different, he picked up heavy breathing and slow, deliberate footsteps. Nearby, Scott and Liam had given up scrabbling in the dirt and were simply sitting, staring up at the sky. By now, Stiles was completely confused as he looked around, trying to find the source of the footsteps, seeing as none of the three men in the clearing were walking.