Derek made a mental note to get a more child-friendly car right away. Cal was strapped in his car seat at the back of his FJ Cruiser. The car does look mighty fine to him—perfect for his lifestyle then—but his priorities have changed. He wants only the best, that is, the safest and most comfortable things in life for his son. Especially now that he's certain that he and Calvin will be spending a lot of time together.
Danger's still looming, and Derek can't help but feel worried, but relieved at the same time. It took a while, a lengthy argument, followed by a cold shoulder from Celine before he'd finally convinced her that she and Cal should stay with him. It was the thought of imminent danger to Cal that did the trick. With Araya's confidence gone that she can continue to keep his family under her wing, Celine realized that it's best if they live with him.
"Where are we going, Dad?" Cal asked.
He glanced at Cal from the mirror and smiled. "To you and your Mom's new home, buddy." From his peripheral vision, Derek saw Celine sigh, eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"The one you were talking about the other day?"
"Nope. It's a bigger place. I made sure you'll have lots of space to run around." Derek said with a chuckle to which Cal grinned. Then Calvin's attention was diverted to the greeneries of the Beacon Hills Preserve from his window.
"I know this is difficult for you, Celine. I don't know when or if you'll learn how to trust me. But please, do try. I only have the best intentions for you and Calvin, and your safety. And I'll do what it takes to help you recover your memories," he said in a low voice. He knows it won't be easy winning Celine's trust, at the very least, again. But he'd get there, Derek swore.
"I'm grateful that you're here for Calvin, Derek. I genuinely am. I… I just don't know what to believe in anymore. I don't know what's happening around me. I probably don't even know who I am at all," Celine said, trying to control an outburst of anger and frustration.
He could sense his wife's anguish. It would seem that she's not completely resistant to his presence; an instinctive part of her could tell that she could trust him her and Calvin's lives. But having to deal with so much uncertainty, and what could be more or less deception from Araya, he couldn't blame Celine for the less than warm reception.
"I understand, Celine. Everything will soon be fine, I promise."
Celine nodded, then met his eyes. "Thank you, Derek."
Derek smiled. (He'd actually wanted to grin, but helped himself because that would probably freak Celine out.) Ah, he's a Hale over heels when it involves his wife—then and now. Scott and his pack would probably roll their eyes and smirk at him when they see the other side of the grumpy-is-an-understatement Derek Hale.
After a few more minutes, Derek finally parked in front of a 2-storey house—a far cry from his loft and train warehouse he previously lived in. This one is of modern architecture with a manicured lawn, situated at one of the posh areas in Beacon Hills—just in the same place as the Argent's home when they first moved in town.
"Wow!" Calvin exclaimed in admiration. "Nice house."
"Glad you like it, Cal." Derek got off the car, and took Calvin from the backseat. He opened the door on Celine's side next, still carrying Calvin in his arms.
He looked at Celine tenderly. "It still needs a lot of work. There wasn't much time to get into the details of the furnishings, but we'd find the basic stuff that we need inside. Do add a personal touch, Celine. This will be your and Cal's new home."
"It's beautiful, Derek. Hmmm… I guess you have quite a few connections in real estate here and there. This, in a matter of a few days? Amazing," Celine remarked in a teasing tone.
Derek gave a bark of laughter. She's now a little less guarded, seems like his efforts to engage her in a conversation has been working. Admittedly though, it was a hell lot easier to acquire this new property than make Celine feel comfortable around him.
"Let's get inside." Derek could feel that good days are ahead for him, his wife, and son.
"Talia… You certainly deserve your reputation. A very powerful alpha, and quite a smart one, too. Years and years have passed, and I still couldn't figure the last piece of the puzzle" The man standing on the site of the burned Hale House didn't address anyone in particular.
A few days have passed since Talia's grandson had been reunited with his mother, as well as his father who knew of his existence only after the abduction. It took a lot of work just to check out whether it was the boy that inherited Talia's powers, but to no avail—for now.
It was only by chance that he saw Derek's wife in Mexico shortly after she arrived from overseas. He was surprised seeing her, as he thought he had killed her off in France years ago. But even more surprising was that she had a child in tow—a boy continuing the Hale blood line. Turns out, the other presence he could sense and just ignored at the time he attacked her in France before was a child in her womb—Derek's child.
For years, he entertained the possibility—albeit hesitant—that Talia may not have really passed on her much coveted alpha powers to someone from the next generation of Hales. He'd taken measures to confirm if it was Derek, Laura, or Cora. But it wasn't any of them. Then came the child which again sparked his interest.
Too bad it isn't affirmative that Talia's strength lives on through her descendant—yet. A child may be a werewolf by birth, but his powers may not come out as soon as he's born. It could actually take years. With a "stimulus" though such as the Nemeton—the reason why he'd brought the child to Beacon Hills—he could prematurely draw out werewolf abilities, starting with healing powers. But Derek's son didn't' heal.
Not a lot of werewolves are aware though that even his previous measures can't guarantee that the youngest is definitely not a werewolf. There's another possibility: that Derek's son might well be a very powerful werewolf—only that his abilities lie dormant for now.
It may take months, even years before he could again test out his other theory, and finally get on with his plans. "If he's really one of us, Talia, he'll be drawn to the Nemeton as much as I am. And his powers—drawn out in no time at all."
With Derek rebuilding his home in Beacon Hills, and the child kept near the Nemeton, it seems that everything's tipping on his favor. "Soon, Talia. Soon."
