Chapter 4:

Stiles was enjoying a peaceful meal with the Hale family, since ignoring the burning holes Peter was drilling through his head was pretty easy.

The sound of breathing, chewing and clanging cutlery were the only ones for a while. Very domesticated. Until Peter decided to open his mouth that is. "It really is lovely of my sister to look after strays, isn't it?" He addressed the table while sending a not-so-subtle glare at Stiles.

Stiles smiled with fake awe. "It so good to see you appreciate Talia putting up with you, Peter!" He exclaimed, false cheer heavy in his voice.

Peter's face dropped faster than Lydia typing a pissed text. A couple of snorts and stifled laughter danced through the air as a faint growl drifted across the table, accompanied by glowing eyes, before Talia gave a quiet warning of; "Boys. Behave."

Stiles smiled at her brightly, before going back to finish off his food.

"So," Alex started. "From what I've heard, is it safe to assume you time traveled from the future, Stiles?" He asked, straight face and enquiring eyes. Stiles choked on the juice he just took a sip from.

"Wha-" He coughed, and agitated sort of pain in his throat. He cleared it. "What the hell, dude!?" He yelped, one hand under his throat and eyes watery. "You can't just ask that!" I exclaimed.

"Why not?" Alex tilted his head, oblivious to the looks he was receiving from everyone at the table.

"Isn't it, like, I don't know… Super personal!?" Stiles said incredulously.

"Is it?" Alex raised his brows in question. "My mistake, then. Sorry." He smiled so calmly and obliviously, Stiles began to question the man's sanity.

Stiles sat there gaping at him, he also came to realise he'd probably be doing so a lot from now on. Derek cleared his throat.

"Soo…" Stiles turned to face the boy, happy for a distraction from the way-to-calm man. "I guess we're really good friends in the future then?" He asked. "You know, cause of the shirt." He gestured.

"You tolerate me." Stiles shrugged. "I stole this after having a shower, because you said I smelled, so." He finished at Derek's furrowed brows. Laura snorted.

"Should we expect a lot of shirt stealing then?" She questioned, amusement glowing through her words.

Stiles chuckled. "Nah, just Derek's." He teased with a wink. She smiled back at him

A guffawing laugh shocked Stiles momentarily as Alex took them all in. Talia just watched them with an expression between how-is-this-my-life, amusement and fondness… basically the default expression of all mothers. Cora hadn't even been paying that much attention, too busy stealing food from Derek's plate when he wasn't watching, Paige was being a deep-in-thought withdrawn, and Peter was still pouting.

It was then that Stiles realised. "You're all just plain crazy, aren't you?" He questioned with tired amusement. The only response he got were various types of grins. He chuckled as he plopped his head into his hand resting on the table. "Jesus… My life."

There was a nagging feeling in the back of Stiles' mind. It had been there a while, but kept getting stronger the more the afternoon moved on into evening, the Hale family relatively peaceful and no one asking questions. This in and of itself set off alarms for Stiles. Why were they so accepting of this? Isn't this supposed to be the most suspicious this going on right now? Stiles looked around from his seat in the living room, taking in the Hale domesticity, and Paige, who still had a look of deep thought.

Stiles… An ethereal voice glimmered through his mind. He snapped his head up, heart racing as he looked around the room. Derek looked up from doing his homework on the other side of the sofa, worried eyes watching him. Stiles gave him a shaky smile. I helped them to accept you and your circumstances. You needed a place to stay after all. Nortia told him

What!? Stiles thought to her angrily. You can't just mess with people like that! It's not right!

There was a moment of chastised silence before she replied, her words echoing with a quietly defiant guilt, and a gentleness Stiles had come to associate to her mental voice. I was only trying to help. They have other concerns to focus on right now, and worrying about you being an enemy could've made things worse than you remember. Stiles pictured her floating around in darkness, a glowing light, as she spoke without moving her mouth. Her eyes sad, yet optimistic, a slight tightness to her lips and eyes, where her guilt lay buried. Stiles sighed and closed his eyes, his mental image becoming stronger.

I'm sorry. He told her. It's just the thought of someone or something controlling someone else… Here he paused, not entirely sure what he was trying to say, before settling on what would be easily comprehended. It just sets me off. Thank you, Nortia. He pictured her smiling.

Of course, Stiles. He felt as her presence seemed to fade away from him completely, before opening his eyes and turning to Derek.

"What year is it, anyway?" He asked.

When Derek looked up, he looked amused, but didn't act on it. "2002." He answered. Derek's bright expression faltered as he took in Stiles' reaction.

Stiles felt the news of the year like a punch to the gut. It was the year before his mother would be admitted into the hospital because of the speed by which the Frontotemporal Dementia killed her. He could see Derek's lips moving, but he couldn't make out what he was saying. There was a flood of gushing blood echoing round his head, his vision began to tunnel, and that was when he realised he'd begun to hyperventilate. He'd begun to panic, and now he couldn't stop. The helplessness and desperation had hold of him. All he could hear were whooshes as his heart furiously pumped his blood. His gasping breaths providing less oxygen then they were supposed to. He was sure everyone was panicking as a result of his own, but the only clear sight he had was Derek's eyes, the rest of him blurring.

There was a warm touch to the side of his neck, and another on his wrist. Derek's soft, warm hand pulled Stiles forward, trapping one hand over his chest, where he could feel to beating of Derek's heart. A steady, calming rhythm. The thumb of the hand on his neck rubbed gentle lines, as if the strokes alone could slow the blood flow.

"Stiles… okay." He heard faintly, a garbled noise, drowning in his panic. "It is okay, Stiles. You are okay." Derek told him deliberately, staring directly into his eyes, confidence radiating from him as Stiles' breathing evened out, and his heart rate gradually slowed until it beat in time to Derek's. "You back now?" Derek inquired after a few more minutes of soft assurances.

"Yeah." Stiles gulped. "Yeah, I'm here. I'm fine." Stiles nodded, eyes hooded slightly.

"Wanna tell me what that was about?" Derek needled. "Did the time travel thing just hit you, or..?" He trailed off.

Stiles' eyes flicked around the room, noticing it had emptied of all occupants, most likely as Talia's order. "My mum…" Stiles haltingly said. "My mum'll go into hospital next year, and then she'll…" Stiles took a deep breath in. "I was there when she died." Stiles told Derek, eyes filling with tears. "I held her hand, but I couldn't, I couldn't stop it." A sob broke free from Stiles' lips and Derek pulled him forwards, crushing Stiles' hand between their chests as one arm wrapped itself around his back and the other cradled his head into Derek's neck.

They stayed that way for a while, Derek holding Stiles as he cried. Grieved for a woman that wasn't dead yet, but would be in the next two years.