A/N: I hope everyone is loving this story as much as I am writing it. Few things to chat about before we continue. Number one, this is the last randomized update. From now on chapters will be posted on Monday's before Teen Wolf (and after the finale, it will be anytime Monday before 9pm central.) Number two, Most of the fic is already written, but i do appreciate feedback so don't hesitate to leave some. Number three, I would like to thank my excellent beta Laura for being my sounding board on this, and my friend Cassie for convincing me to post it here as well as AO3. And finally number four, you can find me on tumblr as martin-stilinski24, if you ever want to just chat.
ENJOY! P.S. I own nothing.
Chapter Three- God Bless the Broken Road
Scott would have stopped regardless of whose car had been parked at the side of the road, but the familiar glint off the hood, and the license plate told him it was Mr. Argent's. After everything that had happen in the last decade he couldn't just leave the man stranded.
"Hey Chris, need a jump-" He paused when Allison rounded the side of the vehicle, a nervous smile on her face. "You are not your father."
"Not the last time I checked, no." she replied. "Hey Scott."
"I didn't know you were back, or that you were even coming back." He made it around the side of his car as Allison leaned against her front bumper.
"I know," she nodded. "I'm-"
"So, you need a jump or what?" he cut her off, before she could bring up senior year. He'd been thinking about that enough lately.
"I think it's the starter actually. My dad really needs to trade up already," she joked with a grin. "I would have called Triple A, but my phone's dead."
"So you got out of your car to will it back to life?"
"Stranger things have happened it Beacon Hills."
"Want a lift?" he asked, as he slid his phone from his pocket. "You could call a tow truck on the way."
It took her a few moments to respond, but then she moved from the bumper, and pulled her bag from the car.
"Thanks," was all she said as she climbed into his passenger side. Scott got in handing her his phone.
He waited until she finished calling a tow truck, and then her father before he spoke.
"It's good to see you Allison," he tried to keep his focus on the road. He didn't know how much attention might spook her.
He could see her smile out of the corner of his eye. "So how's your life Scott?"
"Honestly?"
"Can you really be anything but?"
"I guess not," he replied. "It's okay. I'm not gonna lie, I'm still not over it. I don't think any of us are, or ever will be. But I'm getting there."
"Anyone special helping in that department?"
"This is dangerous territory," he noted taking a turn towards her dad's place.
"Oh come on, we've been apart long enough. It's not like I'm going to get jealous."
He glanced over to her and she laughed.
"Fine," he grinned. "Cora and I have been seeing each other for a few months now."
She gave him a quizzical look and Scott raised a brow.
"That wasn't jealousy, that was a 'how has Derek not killed you' look."
"He's been a bit preoccupied," they pulled to a stop in front of her building and Allison had a sad smile on her face, but she didn't leave yet.
"If I ask you something will you tell me the truth?" She made sure to meet his eyes fully.
"Of course."
"Is Isaac okay? I mean like 'happy' okay?" he could see small tears forming at the corner of her eyes. "Sorry, it's not fair of me to ask you that."
"He misses you," Scott answered before she could bolt. "He hides it, probably better than anyone could, but he does. I know he hangs with your dad a lot. He thinks no one knows, but I figured it out a while back. I think he needed that bond to feel close to you."
She nodded taking a deep breath before hoping out of the car. "Thank you."
"Allison," he called and she turned back. "We're having a welcome home dinner for Lydia and Stiles tonight. Everyone would love to see you. You don't need to be a stranger anymore."
"What time?" she asked a smile peeking through the eye roll.
"Seven," he called back. "Tell Chris he's invited too." And then he pulled away feeling like his pack was nearly whole again.
"So of course I told him that he'd have to redo the whole back wall," Elenore finished in a huff. "I mean eggshell in the foyer and the library would have been a travesty."
Lydia nodded with a smirk and watched as Lynn checked her phone again. Her sister had been fidgeting since she sat down.
"Lynnette," Elenore scolded, and her sister jumped. "The least you could do is feign interest in our time together."
"Mom, I'm sorry. I just have to be home before three," she replied taking another drink of her water. "I have a meeting I cannot miss."
"Well you could have just said so, I understand the importance of work," their mother stood from the table. "Let me just say a quick word to Margret Brenner, while you two flag down the check. And no paying either of you. It's on me."
As soon as she was out of earshot Lydia leaned closer. "Okay what is your deal? I called you to see if I could stop by real quick before lunch and you shot me down, now you're itching to get out of here. You and Derek got a hot date?"
"Can you keep a secret?" Lynn whispered with a smile.
"If this is about your sex life, I really don't want to hear it."
Lynn tossed her napkin at Lydia, but she just waved it off before it hit her. "I'm serious okay. This is huge and I don't want Mom to know yet, at least until things become more permanent."
"I promise, now dish."
"Derek and I are taking in our first foster kid today."
"Lynn, that's amazing, and really something you should tell Mom."
"And have her make a snide comment on us taking in a delinquent? I don't think I'm ready for that argument today of all days. Promise me you'll keep quiet about this."
"I already said yes," Lydia rolled her eyes. "Can I at least say I'm happy for you two?"
Lynn smiled with a nod. Lydia squealed with a small clap. At least some things were on the right track towards normal, even if her life wasn't one of them.
Stiles had managed to get Tori and Britt down for a nap, shortly after feeding them some lunch. He was settling down on to the couch when the front door swung open.
"Hey," his father greeted him setting his stuff by the front door. "Melissa here?"
"Nope, must have got caught up at the store," Stiles replied leaning his head against the back of the couch. "Tori and Britt are down for the count. Is it customary for three story books to be read before heads hit the pillow?"
"Ah no, you got duped," John smirked. "So, you gonna stand and give me a hello or just sit there?"
"Well, your kids wore me out so I think I'll keep my seat. But hey."
John rolled his eyes grabbing the seat next to him. "How was the drive?"
"Not bad, traffic was a little backed up on the highway." He shrugged, hating how uncomfortable this felt. He and John had always been able to talk, until werewolves happened to their lives.
"About that thing we talked about last week-"
John ran his fingers across the scruff at the edge of his face "Right that thing. You sure about this?"
"Dad, I've wanted this for a long time. It feels right."
John nodded motioning for Stiles to follow him. They made their way up the stairs and along the hall until they reached the master bedroom.
Once in John went to his wall safe spinning the combination into place.
"Is it still 10-16-69?"
John eyed him with a smirk. "And just how do you know the combination to my safe?"
"Come on Dad, the first year the Mets won the World Series? You once told me that it was the third most important day in history."
"And here you're wasting all that investigative potential on mythology studies."
Stiles snorted a laugh as he surveyed the room. Not much had changed in the few years he'd been gone, though Melissa's influence was heavily present everywhere he looked. Then his eyes fell on a framed photo hanging on the middle wall. It was taken the last time he'd been home, a couple of summers ago, in between two internships he'd been doing to up his GPA. Melissa had just told them she was expecting Britt. He remembered it so vividly. Tori parked on the couch between him and Scott as their parents embraced. It was a great moment. One of the happiest they'd had together since before senior year. Melissa had insisted on a picture of the five of them, while John noted it was technically six. His father cleared his throat bringing Stiles' attention back to the room.
John held a small cherry stained box in his hand, the hinges faded to a coppery gold. "I knew this day would come eventually. Just kinda hoped it was still a few years off."
"Dad, I'm almost twenty-five."
John shook his head with a groan. "Don't say that, you're ten and all you want for Christmas is a model rocket."
They both laughed as Stiles reached for the box. His father placed a hand on his shoulder before speaking. "Your mom, she'd be proud. Of everything you've done, of the person you are. She'd want you to know you've done good kid."
"I know Dad," Stiles replied taking the box in his hand. "Let's just hope Lydia says yes, or this whole heart-to-heart was for nothing."
"I'm willing to bet she's gonna say yes. God help her though," John smirked as he left.
"Ha, you're so funny," Stiles rolled his eyes as he followed his father out. Now all he had to do was wait for the perfect time.
Derek hated feeling nervous. And he could count on one hand the amount of times he'd let himself be like this. The last had been when he asked Lynn to marry him. He never had a stable relationship. Paige had died in his arms, Kate was a psycho out to murder his entire family, and Jennifer had been driven evil by the actions of others long before he'd met her. Lynn was better for him. It's not just that she wasn't evil, which he had to admit was a major plus. But she challenged him, made him want to view the world in completely new ways.
At first she hated him. Giving him a cold stare that he'd soon find out was a long running trait in the Martin women. She didn't buy into his charm. Most women fawned when he'd smile their way but not Lynn. It was the most refreshing thing about her. Of course that meant he had to try harder. The hardest he'd ever worked for anything, and eventually just when he was about to give up entirely, she gave him an in. It still wasn't easy, but a relationship's not supposed to always be easy, you're supposed to be able to work together to smooth out the roughness.
After losing his family he'd never been certain he'd ever want kids of his own, but with Lynn he wanted everything. He wanted to give her a house filled with them. Unfortunately, the doctors said that wasn't possible for them. But they tried. Every treatment, every injection. And nothing took.
That's why he was nervous, waiting for Isaac to bring the kid over, okay teenager technically. But he had reason to be. When you spent years convinced the universe was against you ever raising a kid, the prospect of one being dropped off on your door step was a tad intimidating. From what Isaac told him that morning on the phone, this kid had already had a shitty life. A mom who ran out on him and a dad who beat him for one drunken reason or another. The last thing he needed was Derek screwing him up further. But he had to try, for Lynn, and for the kid too.
The doorbell rang and Lynn skidded into the entry way looking terrified. "What if he hates us?"
"Then he'd be like every red blooded American teen, and we won't have to worry if he needs therapy," Derek smirked as he reached for the door. Lynn tugged at his ear eliciting a small growl. It was Derek's only really weakness when it came to his wife. He was obviously much stronger than her, not to mention taller, but the second she pulled his ear lobe he'd agree to anything. It just felt too damn weird.
"Behave," he whispered as he pulled the door open.
Isaac stood there with a smile, a teen beside him. The kid's eyes shifted around, his face tilted towards the ground. Derek sighed. This was going to be harder than Lynn thought. He could just feel it now.
"Hey guys, mind if we come in?" Lynn shook her head leading them into the living room.
"So this is Jess," Isaac stated dropping a duffle near the door. "Jess this is Derek and Lynn."
"Hey," Jess nodded, still avoiding eye contact. "Nice house."
"Thank you," Lynn replied, meeting Derek's eyes. He knew that look, that was the 'open your mouth now or you'll regret it later' look.
"Yea, it was my families, well the original house burned down years ago, but same spot and design," Derek knew he was floundering but the kid smirked anyway. "Kitchen's right through there. If you're hungry or want a drink, whenever."
"I could use some water," Jess noted moving towards the hall. "Isaac about my da-"
"He's not going to be an issue this time. I've talked to the sheriff and a judge. He's not allowed to petition for custody again. And I wouldn't have put you here unless I knew he couldn't get to you."
Jess looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he just nodded leaving the three of them.
"His dad did that to him?" He could see the purpling of the bruising on the boy's face and arms. And it took all his strength not to find the guy and take him out.
"Yes," Isaac replied. "And no I will not tell you where he is at the moment. Mostly because I kinda want this guy to pay for his crimes, not be another unexplained animal attack in the woods. Seriously Derek let the system handle this."
"Is there anything we should know about him?" Lynn cut him off, placing a reassuring hand to his shoulder. "Allergies? Is he on any medication?"
Isaac nodded pulling a bottle from his pocket. "He's on these for the pain. And the doctor wants to see him again next week for another rib x-ray. He's not allergic to anything, but according to his file he hates fish and lima beans."
"Who doesn't," Lynn joked and both men cracked a smile. Jess had wandered back in by then, a bottle of water in his hand. Lynn smiled at him. "How bout I give you a tour of the place?"
"Sure," he nodded following her up the stairs.
Derek turned back to Isaac, the younger man sighed leaning against the door frame.
"You okay?" Derek asked.
"Nothing a long vacation couldn't handle," Isaac rubbed his eyes, and Derek noticed how tried he truly looked.
"Maybe you should take one then?"
"And leave all those kids to fend for themselves? Nah, besides, something tells me this town's about to get interesting again," Isaac smiled as he moved towards the door.
"What aren't you telling me?" Derek reached for his arm holding him in place. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Derek raised a brow urging him to get past the lying stage. "Fine, but it's just a feeling. And well Stiles said he had a nightmare, or vision, or whatever. Not to mention Allison's back in town. It's just things feel like their falling into place. And not in a good harmonious way."
Derek nodded glancing up at the stairs. He could make out Lynn and Jess laughing at something, not surprised in the least his wife got the boy to open up. "You'll let me know, if it progresses from feeling to something solid enough to punch?"
"Come on Derek, we both know if something bad comes to town it'll find a way to you at some point."
Derek smirked pushing Isaac towards the door. "Okay, time to go."
"I'll bring the paperwork by tomorrow for you guys to sign. I assume you two aren't going to the welcome back dinner tonight?"
"Probably not, bringing our new foster kid into a room full of supernatural references sounds like a bad course of action. Don't you think?"
"Good point," Isaac bit his cheek walking out the door, but turned back one last time. "There's no one else I'd trust with Jess more than the two of you. So keep him safe okay?"
"We will." He'd done wrong by Isaac when he first turned him, actually by all of his betas, including Cora at times. But maybe he could make it up to him now.
