Not sure how I feel about this chapter but it needed to happen, so here it is. Sorry if it's a little short...

-Daft

Two weeks had passed since his night with Peter, and Chris hadn't tried to contact him again. Peter had stayed all night, and in the morning, he left with only a kiss goodbye. They hadn't seen each other since, but today, Chris was meeting with the Hale men and their pack to make an official truce. They would be at the Argent house within the hour and Chris was anxious. Nothing made Chris Argent anxious.

He paced around, trying to calm his nerves. All he could think of was seeing Peter. Which, really, shouldn't have bothered him so much. They were both responsible adults that should have been able to handle their situation. But for Chris, their situation was very stressful. He finally settled at his workbench in the garage and thought things out. He was anxious because he would see Peter. But why? Because he was uncertain. Of what? Of what Peter meant to him and what he meant to Peter. But it was just one night. Yes, one night, long after the many other nights he'd spent with Peter. What if he was overreacting, and Peter didn't feel the same? But then again, what did Chris feel anyway? Attraction? Of course. Want? Maybe. No, definitely want. But what did he want? The physical aspect, or did he want the same bond back that they had built before Kate ruined them? Chris didn't want to think about it, after all. He decided it would work itself out.

But there was something else bothering him. Oh, yeah. He was alone. He was a hunter, having a meeting with six werewolves, who had no reason to trust him, and he was doing it alone. At least if he found himself to be in danger, Allison wouldn't be there to get hurt. He'd sent her to stay with Lydia while he met with the pack- though, she didn't know that part. He hadn't told her anything yet. But after years of not telling her things that she really should know, he wasn't quite sure how to bring it up. 'Allison, honey, I'm declaring a truce with the werewolf who caused your mother's death- which, by the way, no longer bothers me. Oh, and I'm sleeping with the one who killed your aunt. You know, the one that died and used your friend's fragile mental state to make his come back.' That would go over well.

He had let go all of his employed hunters, telling them that, since the deaths the family had suffered, he needed a break from the chaos. Knowing that this truce, if it all went as planned, would mean that he wouldn't need them, and it was better not to have extra people around to bother him or ask questions. After the truce became official, any werewolves that needed killing would be taken care of by the Hale pack and himself, in cooperation. He hoped.

He was lost in thought when he heard the door to the garage open behind him and Chris instinctively grabbed the nearest gun and turned around, already taking aim. Derek stood at the door, hands raised in a gesture of peace. Chris sighed in relief, raising the weapon in a harmless manner and then setting it back on the work table in front of him before standing. He found it a bit unsettling that Derek had gone through his house to get to the garage, but brushed it off. There was nothing really normal about this, so he would just have to accept the strange things that were going to happen. Including the occasional werewolf in his house.

Chris spoke first, and couldn't help but feel that it was only because Derek let him. "Where are the others?"

"Outside, waiting for our O.K to come in."

Chris nodded. He decided he'd take the first step in developing a level of trust. "Let them in the back and meet me in the basement. There's no one else here." he felt he should add that, even though they would have already known, being able to scan the house for heartbeats. Derek nodded and left to do as he was asked while Chris made his way to the basement. He was really hoping Derek didn't smell the fear on him, but he was sure that he had.

He took a deep, shaky breath when he got to the basement. He knew that this was where Gerard had held and tortured two of Derek's Betas, but he'd already removed all of the werewolf-torturing devices and replaced them with a wooden table in the center of the room large enough for a pack to stand- or sit at, if they preferred- for meetings such as this. There were no weapons, either. He was prepared to show just how much he was willing to trust this pack, and God did he hope it was reciprocated. It would only take one of their Betas right now to kill him, and he knew that.

Chris took one final deep breath when he heard footsteps upstairs, steeling himself for the meeting. Derek was the first to come down the stairs, followed by Isaac, Erica, Boyd, Jackson, and then Peter as they all stood around the table. Chris' heart skipped a beat when his eyes met Peter's, which were drilling holes in his very soul.

Derek looks at Peter, then at Chris. He knows. Of course he knows. Two weeks ago Peter disappeared for a night and returned to the pack reeking of Argent and sex. Chris just hoped the others were still none the wiser.

Chris finally locks eyes with Derek, who begins. "Why are we here, exactly, Argent?" A complete change from the Derek he'd just seen in his garage. He was in front of his pack now, he needed to be assertive and strong. Chris understood.

Chris looked around to each member of the pack. Boyd and Erica were nervous, Isaac was distant, Jackson was looking at his Alpha. Chris avoided looking at Peter again, though he knew the man was staring at him. "I want a truce." he said, returning to Derek. "A real one. As long as you refrain from killing civilians and confront me when there's an issue, we can work together. It'd be mutually beneficial. And I wont come after your pack."

Derek looked skeptical. "Why would you want to be our ally?"

"Because I no longer think you're a threat. The truce will end if that changes."

Derek nodded slowly, thinking it over. "What about your wife?"

"I don't blame you for her death. I know you were just looking after your own, and what she did was wrong and completely went against the code. Besides that, you didn't kill her. She was the one who made the final decision." he knew his heart was being listened to, and he was not going to lie. It hurt him a little to realize that that was really what he thought about his wife.

"And what about the other hunters?"

"Fired."

"Your daughter?"

"No longer a threat to you. Her training will continue, but only to help your pack- so long as the truce lasts- and defend herself."

Derek nods again. "And Scott?"

"He's safe as long as he doesn't do anything stupid."

The four Betas all chimed in at the same time, "Scott's always stupid." then smile at one another, amused.

Chris, Derek, and Peter all nod in agreement. "Okay, as long as he doesn't hurt anyone." Chris corrected.

Derek looks to his pack, meeting each member's eyes before asking them, "All in favor of a truce?"

Peter was the first to raise his hand, setting an example for the Betas, who each hesitantly did the same. "Okay. Truce." Derek states. "Now what do you want to know?"

"Anything that I don't already." Chris answers, and for the first time, he's noticing he's considerably less nervous now.

Derek looked to Peter, who nods, and Derek spoke. "There's an Alpha Pack in town. They're lying low for now, but they've made themselves known and threatened my pack. We'll need your help to bring them down, and that should be our main priority right now."

"Agreed. Do we outnumber them?" Chris had known there were more wolves, but wasn't expecting an Alpha Pack. He decided that, yes, this truce could be very much helpful for the both of them.

Derek nods, "I think so."

"And Gerard? Do you know anything about him?" Chris isn't sure he wants an answer to that, but asks anyway, knowing he'd have to face it sooner or later.

Peter answers for him. "Dead." he states flatly.

Chris turns to him, ignoring the tension. "You're sure?" Peter nods and Chris leaves it at that, not wanting to know the details, then turns to Derek who confirms with a nod of his own. "Good." Gerard may have been Chris' father, but he was an evil man who had never shown his children any love, or werewolves any mercy.

"Are we done here?" Derek asks, a little twitchy.

Chris nods. "If that's all you have to tell me, then yes." That was it. Short, sweet, and to the point. And Chris even lived through it.

Derek sends the Betas up the stairs, telling them to wait out back. Peter, Derek and Chris are left. Chris' heartbeat picks up a little and he bites the inside of his cheek. He'd thought this meeting was over.

"You're sure about this truce?" Derek asks. "Directly or indirectly, we've helped to tear your family apart."

Chris responded without hesitation. "And mine's done the same to yours. I just think it's time the fighting stops before someone I really care about gets hurt." when Chris says that he thinks of both Allison and Peter, which is an unsettling thought for him, so he pushes it aside.

Derek looks at him, a bit confused, and points to Peter. "He killed your sister. You're okay with that?"

Chris looks at Peter, who is showing no signs of regret, but instead looks like he is waiting for an answer. Chris nods, turning back to Derek, considering how he was going to say what he needed to while still being truthful. "I was prepared to do the same when she took aim at Scott. That was one boy, who I don't even like. After what she did... I feel it was justified. Honestly, she was barely my sister when she died. Gerard had been poisoning her for years until she was just as empty inside as he was. Besides that, the Argents have a unique perspective of right and wrong and the proper consequences." Truthfully, Chris didn't like to think of what Peter had done. He knew it was something that Peter had to do, and somehow, he was okay with it. He knew if he had really tried he could have prevented her death. He had tried. Mostly. It was difficult for him to think that maybe she did deserve it and that she really wasn't his sister anymore by that point. He wondered if it was wrong of him to feel relieved when she had died. He left those bits out of his explanation, though.

Derek nods slowly, considering. He could understand. He'd killed his own uncle for the things that he'd done, and it hadn't bothered him much. He could see how deaths that were well deserved might not weigh as heavily on the heart. Even if he didn't trust Chris, he'd give him this chance. "Alright. Let us know if anything comes up." he said, turning to leave.
"Wait." Chris says. Derek faces him once again and is met with Chris' out-stretched hand. They shake on their truce and Chris nods at him. Derek gives Peter a look that Chris can't read and then he's gone.

Chris just stares at the spot where Derek was standing, not yet ready to face Peter again. As if he thought that Peter wouldn't be able to see him if he just held very still. But he knows his plan failed when he can feel Peter getting closer. He doesn't stop until his mouth is by Chris' ear. "Don't be nervous." he says.

Chris turns around and looks him in the eye. Their faces are only a foot apart, the toes of their shoes almost touching. Chris is the first to speak, asserting himself. "What do you want?" he asks, and his voice is more rough than he had intended. But it doesn't seem to bother Peter.

"I was just wondering if the other night was just a one night stand." he paused. "Wait. Is it possible to have a one night stand with someone you've slept with before?" he asks, wearing an expression of mock thought.

Chris is used to Peter's attitude, even though he hasn't dealt with it for years. Actually, he had kind of missed it. "Is it possible for you to not be an asshole?"

Peter looked offended, "Is it possible for you to be nice to me?" He's almost teasing Chris now, giving him that innocent sly little smirk he wears so well. Chris tries not to smile. He really does. But the corner of his mouth twitches up anyway and Peter knows he's got him. "But really. If it was a one-time deal, just say so and I'll be good. I promise." the smirk is still there, challenging Chris, who looked at Peter thoughtfully.

He must have taken too long to answer, because Peter moved in, placing a hand on either side of his hunter's face, pulling him in, and Chris' hands flew up to grab the wolf's wrists, then Peter's lips were on his. The kiss was firm, but dry and Peter was dominating and overpowering, moving Chris back until the hunter's rear bumped the table. Chris broke the kiss, sighing in defeat, lowering his hands with Peter's and leaning on the table. There was no refusing Peter after that and, he figured, he may as well embrace it- whatever it was. "Does the pack know?"

Peter shook his head. "Only Derek." he answered, taking Chris' hands in his own and stroking them just a little.

Chris scoffed. "Yeah? And what's he think?" He gave the wolf's hands a gentle squeeze.

"That it's a bad idea, you're going to kill me, and I'm putting the pack in danger. The usual negative bullshit." he said matter of factly.

"So much for trusting each other."

"You said truce. Not trust." Peter reminded him.

Chris nodded and reached up, letting go of he rough hands and grabbing two fists full of Peter's jacket and dragging him forward to rest his head on his chest. Peter just let him and watched. "Why did you really want the truce?"

Chris hesitated before answering honestly. "I meant it when I said I didn't want anyone else to get hurt. And when I said that I didn't think your pack was a threat anymore. We'll make better allies than enemies. Especially now that there's a stronger pack in your territory." He was burying his face in Peter's chest now, and placed his hands on the wolf's hips. It was strangely intimate for such not-sexy talk.

Peter raised his hands and ran his fingers through Chris' hair, stepping closer. "I think you did good. Derek needs allies right now, and I know you do, too. You really can trust him, you know. He's not a bad guy. He's just a little... moody."

Chris huffed out a laugh, shaking his head where it rested against the other's torso. "I thought as much."

It was quiet for a minute until Peter had to bring up the very last thing Chris wanted to think about. "So... When are you going to tell Allison?"

So maybe it's a lot short. That's okay. I'm not sure how many chapters I'm gonna shoot for here but I think I'll try and stretch it out and make a decent-length fic. Sorry for any mistakes there might be- I changed/edited/added a few things and it's 1 a.m so there may have been some errors...

Anyway, tell me what you thought!

-Daft

The more reviews the quicker chapters go up (hopefully)