The entirety of the walk back to Derek's home was filled with conversation. Derek would ask a question, Stiles would usually answer, Scott filling in information when needed. They discussed Alphas, hunters, the existence of other mythical creatures (Stiles was adamant that unicorns were real, but Scott had his doubts), and every other question Derek thought of. He couldn't remember holding a conversation this long in years. And damn, that Stiles kid had a mouth on him. Every once in a while, he'd make a joke, laugh quietly, then look at Derek in a way that reminded him so much of Laura that he'd had to bite his lip and turn away.

When they finally arrived at the house, Derek handed Stiles a pair of sweats and directed him to the bathroom to clean up the blood that was beginning to dry on his arms and chest.

Scott and Derek sat on opposite ends of Derek's couch. Without Stiles there to make conversation, the pair fell silent. Derek tapped his fingers on his leg, searching for something to say.

"So," Derek began, "It's just the two of you, then? In your pack? I figured a pack would be bigger than that."

"Oh. Um, well, yeah. Stiles' mom used to be the Alpha. His dad didn't want to take the bite, but Stiles didn't have a choice. He was born that way." Scott answered quietly.

"What happened to Stiles' mom?" Derek asked in a low voice, already knowing the answer.

"Hunters broke into their home when he was 12. They tried to kill all of them, even his dad. Sheriff got them eventually, but not before…" Scott trailed off, a significant silence following him. He eventually continued. "Do you know Sheriff Stilinski?"

Derek thought of the days after the fire, in a crowded, too-loud police station, an officer asking him questions, showing him pictures, giving him hot coffee and condolences.

"Yes. I know Sheriff Stilinski."

Scott must have noticed Derek's change in mood, because he quickly snapped his mouth shut and turned away, murmuring a soft "oh" to himself.

Derek shook off the memories, shoving them down. He could deal with those later. He needed a subject change.

"So, were you born a werewolf too?" Derek asked half-heartedly.

"Nope!" a voice supplied from behind him. Derek turned. Stiles had apparently finished getting dressed and cleaning himself up, and in this light, he looked a great deal less menacing. Actually, he didn't look menacing at all. If anything, he looked… cute? Derek cringed internally at the word, but it was true. Big golden eyes, a smattering of freckles, a button nose, and Derek be damned if Stiles didn't have the smile of an elated 4-year-old. The smile accompanied Stiles onto the couch, where he sat between Derek and Scott.

"Scott was hit by a car riding his bike a few years back and it was pretty clear he wouldn't make it to a hospital, so I asked him if he would let me save him, knowing what it would do to him. So I gave him the bite!" Stiles gave another infantile smile, throwing an arm around his friend. "And ever since then it's just been us versus the world, Batman and Robin takin' on every Joker that comes into town!" He turned to Derek. "Unless, of course, you want to join us?"

"No." Derek said, looking to his feet. "It's too dangerous. At this point, the harm outweighs the benefit. I value my life too much to put that kind of pressure on it without any necessity."

A silence sat among the trio for a few moments before Stiles broke it, throwing a slap on Derek's shoulder.

"Well, that's fine, man. It's whatever. Offer's always going to be open. But that doesn't mean we can't hang out, right? 'Cause I like you, man. And we need a badass in out circle of friends or we'll all die virgins… That was a joke, big guy. Do you have those where you come from?"

"I don't hang out." Derek said, ignoring the rest of Stiles' comments.

"What, you just stay here in the middle of the woods by yourself all day?" Stiles wondered with a laugh.

"More or less." Derek replied, face set in stone once again.

"Wow," Stiles said, "Well, that's incredibly depressing. That settles it. Friday night Scott and I are going to come over here and watch a movie with you and you are going to like it!"

Derek let out a sigh. He was never going to get rid of these guys, was he?

"Fine. But I pick the movie."


AN: Hey, guys. Just to clarify a few things:

-Yeah, I changed a few minor things around, but I figured no big deal because it's a pretty big AU anyway.

-The fire was two years before.

-Stiles is 17, Derek is 20.

-We're also suspending some belief for the moment and assuming that the house was at least partially rebuilt and has running water/electricity etc.

-Stiles is the Alpha, has been since age 12. Which is, wow, kind of hard to believe, but again: fiction. Suspension of belief.

That's all I can think of right now. I'll probably remember something else by the time the next chapter goes up. Let me know what you guys think so far!