A/N: Hey guys, this is my first fic so bear with me! Any help, reviews, critics welcomed! Thanks - Diamond.
Stiles sat and spoke with Scott for hours, they caught up on everything from Scott's job (mechanic ) to Jackson and Isaac (it was a thing apparently but Stiles would have to see it before he believed it.) Scott asked about Stiles work and home and if he was seeing anyone (he wasn't). The biggest shock was Derek, he'd actually got his shit together and looked after the lot of them. He'd opened an auto shop and taken Scott under his wing, Boyd ran the place after taking some classes in business and accounting and Erica did everything from receptionist to washing cars (he beat that'd draw the customers in.)
Stiles voiced that it was weird that they'd all stayed so close after high school but Scott protested looking hurt for the first time since they'd started talking "That's what packs do, Stiles."
After agreeing he'd see Scott at the wedding in two days he'd left and picked up Chinese for dinner on his way home. Sitting on his couch for the first time since his he'd been home for his father's funeral brought back memories for Stiles, specifically the last time he was sitting on the couch.
It was dark and he was sick of putting on a brave face all day for his friends, he had no-one now, it'd been years since he'd had the pack and now he didn't even have his family. Stiles had sent everyone home, and slumped down on the couch, closing his eyes and sighing.
"I'm so sorry Stiles." A voice came from the other side of the room and Stiles was too exhausted to even jump.
"Nice to see you're still the master of creeping Derek." Stiles didn't even look up, just let the tears stream down his face. Stiles knew that if anyone would understand what he was going through it was Derek, he'd seen him at the cemetery on mother's day a few times, maybe now he'd start seeing him on father's day too. God, that thought was morbid.
"Look, I don't want to intrude, I just thought you'd want to know that your father's death, it was natural. I mean... it wasn't because of anything to do with werewolves. He was a good man Stiles. The town will miss him. The pack will miss him."
Stiles honestly hadn't even considered it. "Thank-you. You're not intruding. With your excellent creeping skills I can barely even tell you're there." He tried to smile and met Derek's eyes for the first time.
Derek must have taken pity on him because the next words out of his mouth were "look, have you got food? I'll make us dinner."
Stiles sat there stunned as Derek entered his kitchen and proceeded to throw together a stir fry, which was the best thing Stiles had eaten all week.
Derek didn't say much the whole night, just sat with Stiles as he cried and waited. Around midnight Derek got up and pulled Stiles from the couch.
He held Stiles hand and walked them from the lounge to Stiles bedroom and then gently pushed Stiles onto his bed. Before he could react, Derek climbed behind Stiles, pulled him close, so he was the little spoon in this new situation, and growled in his ear.
"Sleep now kid." Derek just sounds like normal Derek, no pity, no expectations, not even concern. Just normal.
In that moment Stiles is glad he has had someone to look after him today. He settles closer into Derek's chest, lulled to sleep by the warm breath on his shoulder.
Stiles had been surprised at Derek that weekend, he had stuck around to help him sort out his father's things, sort out the insurance, there had been enough money to pay off the mortgage and pay for his father's funeral but not a lot left after that, but Stiles wasn't worried. He could look after himself now. Derek had cooked for him the whole weekend, kept visitors away when he didn't want to see anyone and pulled him into a rough embrace in bed every night. Stiles didn't think it meant anything, Derek just knew what it was like to be without a family.
The morning Stiles was set to leave Derek sat down with Stiles at the table.
"You did the right thing Stiles."
"Ah what?" Stiles was intrigued.
"Pulling away. Leaving the pack. It was the right thing to do." Derek's face was passive as if he wasn't sure how Stiles would react to his words.
"I know, I'm human, I'd only get hurt right? I could never really be a part of the pack." Stiles couldn't help how bitter the words came out.
"Of course you were part of the pack Stiles. But you didn't want the bite. We were constantly worried about you; it would be so easy for one of us to kill you."
"Yeah well. Seems a bit useless now I'm a cop, I get shot at on a regular basis. But hey, they never even tried to keep in touch so, I guess I wasn't that good of a friend after all."
Derek sighed, opened his mouth like he was going to say something more, then shook his head, making up his mind that he wasn't going to say it.
"Look Derek, thank-you for this weekend. I really mean it. But don't talk to me about the pack OK? You don't need me, you don' want me. So I'm going back to Boston, and you can all go back to your lives without me."
Derek reached out and grabbed Stiles hand, "Alright, I won't talk pack but just know, if you ever want to... if you ever need someone, I'll come if you call."
Stiles was surprised, his hand warm in Derek's. "I... OK." It was all he could manage.
He left Beacon Hills an hour later with the intention of never coming back.
He never called Derek, even when he needed someone. But some nights when he was so alone he imagined Derek was there behind him, warm breath on his neck, hand sneaking under his shirt in the night so his fingers could trace patterns on his soft skin.
It wasn't like Stiles was always alone. He had had several relationships, a couple of them quite serious.
When he first got to the police academy there was a sweet girl by the name of Kayla. Stiles fell for her thick ash blonde hair, her cheeky smile and the way she never judged anyone. Stiles was surprised she fell for him back, when she could so clearly pick and choose who she wanted. But apparently she had a thing for nerds. They finally kissed while watching the Star Wars movies one night and Stiles had thought it was forever.
Next was Daniel, his first foray into men. Daniel was kind and patient. He was a baker and never seemed to get sick of Stiles pop culture references, even though he didn't get half of them. They broke up when Stiles got back from his Dad's funeral. Stiles couldn't seem to get someone else out of his head.
After that was a series of one night stands. By the fifth Stiles realized he wasn't going to fill the void inside with sex. He kept trying anyway.
Stiles had briefly dated a sassy brunette called Cara before he got the wedding invite. He thought they both realized they weren't "the one" but apparently it still hurt to be told that.
So he came home alone. Stiles waited up 'til midnight, not quite sure what he was waiting for. When he gave up and went up to his bedroom, Stiles couldn't help but unlock
the window before he stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed.
It was around 3am when he felt a gust of cold wind, and a body made of fire curled around him.
"Unlocking the window is not calling Stiles." Derek muttered against his shoulder.
"I'm sleeping sourwolf."
"You want me to leave?"
Stiles didn't say anything in reply, just reached back to grab a hand to hold against his chest.
Derek pulled him in close and sighed. "I would have been here sooner if I'd realized how worked up you were."
"Still sleeping." Stiles rolled over and nuzzled into the warmth of Derek's, surprisingly naked, chest.
Stiles fell back asleep quickly, which was a shame because if he were awake he would have felt Derek nuzzle into his neck and breathe a sigh of relief. He would have felt Derek run a hand through his hair and press a kiss to his forehead before closing his eyes to sleep.
