This will be a daily update until it reach the current timeline that I had written so far. So yeah, sorry again for forgetting to update for so long.
His uncle does not leave his side throughout the whole process of the funeral and Stiles is very grateful of his silent presence by his side. His uncle was there to support him when he stood on the podium to give the eulogy for his father, retelling the tale of his life with him and managing not to break when he spoke of how proud he is of his father, of them. Though he did fall into his uncle's embrace when his voice grew too thick with grief and started to crack mid-speech.
Stiles felt more than just drained when the familiar tune of his parents' favorite music was played through the speaker, lulling him into the field of precious of childhood memories. He could see it when he closed his eyes, see the memory of him and his parents dancing to the music during their lazy Sunday, hear his mother singing the lyric of the song while she cooked as his father joined in with his off tune singing while helping her and Stiles was banging the utensils against the counter to match the rhythm of the music.
The memories brought a fresh flow of tears to his eyes and his uncle did not say anything when he leaned close to the older man's side. The man just slung an around over his shoulders and pulled him closer in a show of silent support as both of them grieved for the one they lost. He held him through the slide presentation of his father's life and achievements. Stiles also did not say anything when video of parents' wedding comes up, he just clings to the man more desperately and his action was recuperated by his uncle with equal desperation.
They only have each other now Stiles is not ashamed to admit that he clung to his uncle like a lost child, which he still is in the eyes of many adults present today. He is just a child who had just lost both of his parents and had been there to witness his world falling apart around himself.
His uncle is there by his side when his father's last radio call was aired, hand holding him tight by the elbow in order to ground him to reality. Hearing his father's voice was like a punch to the gut because it makes all of this felt so surreal. Stiles remembered the many times he had been eavesdropping on the police department's radio call through the walkie-talkie that he had whisked from one of the deputies. He could still hear the steady tempo of his father's voice ringing in his ears and that is something that he would never be able to hear anymore when he snooped into the line.
Stiles did not remember much of the rush of events that followed it but he remembered the constant presence of his uncle by his side, warm and comforting in a way that reminded him of safety, something that he had not felt ever since Scott got bitten.
He sat silently in the car provided for the family members throughout whole the formal procession to the cemetery, eyes locked on the Sheriff cruiser that are leading the procession. The car held many memories of his father and it had been with him for so long that Stiles think it is a part of him. But he knew it would soon belong to the new Sheriff that would be elected not too long after this. The sensation on callous hand gripping his pulled his attention away from the cruiser and he turned to look at his uncle with glassy eyes.
All of this is just too much.
He could not bear to see the glaring reminder that his dad had passed away and all of this is done in order to honor his passing. This reminder just stabbed him deeper than the knowledge that he is now an orphan and it twisted in his chest painfully every time he saw things that reminded him of the man his father used to be.
But his uncle being here made it easier for him. It is just basically the same thing as when his mom had died. Stiles had clung to his father for the very much needed support and this time is no different when he clung for his uncle in hope of not to drown in grief. And his uncle seemed to have the same sentiment because the man only enveloped him a tight hug so that he would not drift away.
"Thank you."
Stiles managed to whisper it into the crisp suit that his uncle wore as he buried his face into the crook of the man's neck like he had done so many time before whilst growing up. Even if he had grown way taller than he had been when he was a child, being in the embrace of his loved one always managed to make him feel small and protected, as if the arms of his father and uncle could shield him from the cruelty of the world.
"You still have me, Stiles. I'm here."
His uncle whispered over his head and he could feel the warm press of his uncle's lips against his forehead as the calloused hand carded through his hair soothingly. Stiles closed his eyes to enjoy it because he needed it, crave for it. He needed the familiar touches to wash away the memory that his uncle's words had brought up.
His dad had said the same thing during his mother's funeral and now his uncle is saying it to him once again. It felt like a curse, a hot brand that reminded him that he is destined to lose the people that he loved. Stiles twisted his fingers into the fabric of the back of his uncle's suit and held onto him tightly.
"Don't leave me. Please."
He whispered with fervent desperation that left him breathless and his hands trembled from the sheer force of his fingers clutching tightly onto the fabric of the suit. His uncle shushed him and another kiss was pressed onto his forehead as the hand in his hair trailed down to rub soothing circles on his neck.
"I would never leave you Stiles. I promise."
The ride to cemetery was silent after that and Stiles did not pull away from the embrace until the car rolled to a halt. He just stayed snuggled in the warm arms as his uncle continued to sooth away the tension in his body by rubbing circles on the back of his neck. Stiles did not need him to whisper sweet nothing in his ear, he just need him to be close as he pressed his ear to his uncle's chest to hear his heartbeat.
Sometimes he wished he is a werewolf too so that he could hear the sound of the heartbeats of the people that he loves. Hearing their heartbeat was like a lullaby for him and more so after his mother's death. Stiles had spent many nights after her death curled over his father's chest so that he could hear his steady heartbeat, just so that he could erase the horrible sound of flat line his mother's heart monitor had made when she drew her last breath.
They exited the car and the shutters and flashes of many cameras went off as reporters crowded their way to them, no doubt trying to get as many details as possible for their news coverage since it is not every day a Full Honor funeral was held and not most Sheriff would only leave behind a seventeen years old son as the sole survivor of the family. It is just the perfect storyline for their coverage and Stiles is sure he would be all over the front page of the local news.
His uncle shielded him from most of the crowd as they forced their way through them and Stiles is definitely glad for the honor guards who rushed over to pave a path for them. He kept a tight grip on his uncle's hand as he tried to shut out the questions thrown his way by the reporters, especially when they inquired on how his father died.
The knowledge was not made public since it involves supernatural and only Stiles and his friends knew the truth behind it. The officials only knew that his father died from an ambush while on duty. They did not know that he was poisoned by a supernatural creature that are out to get his son.
Stiles kept his head down until they were escorted within the cemetery, where only the close family and the honor guards were allowed in for the burial. His uncle sat him down on the seat offered by one of the guard and Stiles watched as the man knelt in front of him with his hands cradled in between the age worn hands.
"You're going to make out of this fine Stiles. That wouldn't happen again, that I can guarantee."
Meeting his uncle's eyes, Stiles gave him a small nod of acquiescence and received an assuring squeeze to his hands. His uncle stayed like that as they waited for the rest of the procession to arrive and it did not take long for Stiles to be lost once again amidst the rushing events that followed after it.
The only reason why his hands was steady when receiving the folded flag that was used to be draped over his father's coffin was because of his uncle's presence behind him, the strong hand a steady company on the small of his back that managed to keep away the edge of a panic attack that he could feel rising from deep inside him.
He just gave Deputy Jordon Parrish, whom he had chosen to be the Pallbearer, a weak smile when the man squeezed his hands while handing over the folded flag. The sorrowful look in the Hellhound's eyes just reminded him that all of this is real because over the years, they had gotten close and Jordon had become like a brother to him, just as much as his father become like a father to the man.
They are two sons who had just lost the father that they loved and that is the reason why Stiles had chosen him to be the Pallbearer because he knew the man needed it, to give the man who had taken him in the honor he deserved.
Stiles cradled the folded flag close to his chest when the doves were released he definitely sobbed into it when the coffin is finally lowered into the ground. He cried until he cannot breathe anymore and sunk to the ground when his knees grew too weak to support his weight.
He did not remember what happened after that, only the blurry images of black suits and dresses as he was hugged by his friends. Each of them took turn to wrap their arms around him and Stiles was surprised that Lydia's mother actually hugged him too.
Stiles knew that his father was seeing her these past few months and he is definitely happy for his dad to finally get over the grief of losing his mom. This woman would have been his step mother if his father had managed to gather the courage to ask for her hand in a vow of matrimony and Lydia would have definitely become his sister, just like how he wanted it after they had decided they are better off having a bond of friendship instead of romance.
After taking turn to hug him, they proceed to put him in the center of a group hug with Lydia clutching to him with fierce desperation at the front and Scott holding him like he is the most fragile thing in the world from behind. Malia, Kira and Liam huddled in close to his sides, no doubt trying to coddle him from the pain he is currently emitting.
Stiles gripped on Scott's arms that wrapped around his chest and felt tears prickling his eyes once again. He wanted to rage at Scott, to blame him for everything since this would have not happened if Scott had simply believed him about Theo but he is just too tired of crying, of shifting the blames from one person to another.
He is just too tired of feeling empty, of losing.
He is tired of everything.
So he does what he does best, he held it in and allowed himself to silently cry over the loss of his father in the arms of his oldest friend while being surrounded by people who he loved.
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