It had been almost a week, things in the pack beginning to piece back together. Stiles had stayed with Derek for two more nights after Ellie's death before he had to return home. None of them were use to the fact that Ellie really wasn't there anymore; twice Peter walked into the kitchen only for his eyes to drift to the empty room, his frown deepening. Stiles would catch Derek standing in front of Ellie's door, hand making a weak move for the handle, only to turn and walk back downstairs. Erica whined about not having another girl to back her up, but everyone could see how her eyes didn't match her grin. Even Stiles found himself running his hand across the hood of Ellie's Chevelle every time he passed by.

It was always the innocent ones, the fighters, the good guys, who got it in the end, huh?

Stiles went to the house everyday after school where he found Derek always waiting for him out front. Sometimes they'd go out to eat, or Stiles would attempt to cook something at the house. Now he was no Ellie, but he's had some practice over the years since his mom died; his dad and he had to eat something besides fast food. Then they'd watch crappy T.V, something Derek was slowly getting into as he yelled at the obnoxious housewives on the screen. Stiles had the deepest urge to video tape him and not only show the rest of the pack, but the whole town. Then he'd remind himself that Derek only showed this to Stiles, this side of him was for Stiles, and he wanted it to stay like that.

Today, Stiles' head was pillowed in Derek's lap, Derek tracing designs along Stiles' arm as he grumbled at the show. Right now it just so happened to be reruns of the show 'Big Brother'. "That girl's an idiot, that dude's completely lying to her. I can hear the guy's heart racing from here!" Derek growled.

Stiles couldn't help but laugh as he took the hand tracing against his skin and pulled it tighter around himself. "Can you really hear his heart?"

"No, but just his body language and that completely fake smirk give him away," Derek muttered.

"You mean like that time you tried to flirt with the receptionist at the station?" Stiles grinned. He received no comment to this. Stiles rolled over into his back so he could look up at the brooding werewolf. "Have you ever watched yourself try to flirt? It's kind of funny."

"How has it gone for you?" Derek grunted.

"Well your form of flirting towards me was painful, and broke personal space boundaries, but I'm not complaining. Just keep that form towards me, got it?" he said, eyebrows waggling.

This earned him a faint chuckle. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

"But I'm your idiot, so you're just going to have to get use to it," Stiles said proudly.

Derek bent down and kissed him, Stiles pressing into it with a grin. "I wouldn't have it any other way," Derek whispered before pulling back.

The front door opened then, neither of the boys paying attention. Peter had gone off doing-whatever the hell Peter does, nobody really cares enough to ask. "Anything exciting on the list of Peter duties today?" Stiles called.

They only received a snort for an answer. Must have been exciting. Suddenly Derek was sniffing the air, Stiles perking up as he watched him. "Apples and-and mint," he whispered.

Both of them bolted upright at that point, eyes staring in horror when they realized who was standing in the doorway. Covered in dirt, dried blood, and more dirt, was Ellie. One arm was still weakly clutching her stomach, her blue eyes narrowed at the two staring dumbly at her from the couch. "Well? Are you just going to sit there like gaping fish, or are you going to help-help me out here?" she snapped, voice hoarse.

Derek was at her side in seconds, quickly leading her to the closest chair and setting her down. "Good God, Ellie-what the hell happened? We thought you were dead!" Stiles exclaimed as Derek stood to grab a glass of water from the kitchen.

"Yeah," Ellie hissed, "so did I."

"Peter buried you, did the ritual and everything," Derek added, gently lifting the glass to Ellie's lips.

She finished it in seconds. "Yeah well, I'm glad he didn't have the heart to split me in half," she panted.

"Do you remember anything? I mean-it's been a whole week since you-since you keeled off," Stiles explained.

Ellie pursed her lips then, eyes staring at the floor as if to collect her thoughts. "I don't-I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up I was in a box. My stomach hadn't healed, but it had stopped bleeding at least. I was weak and tired and so damn sore, but I just wanted out of that stupid box. A box that Peter decided to cover in stupid wolfsbane mind you!" Ellie snorted.

"How did you get out then?" Stiles questioned.

"Wolfsbane has less of an effect on half-breeds," Derek explained.

"Hurts like a bitch, but won't melt my skin off when I touch it," Ellie clarified. "So it made it easier to bust out. Then, after digging my way through three feet of dirt, I managed to find my way back here. Although I think I caused a car accident…..I guess people aren't use to see a half-dead girl walking the streets, eh?"

"You walked all the way here!?" Stiles exclaimed.

"What else was I supposed to do? Fly? Peter didn't leave me a cell phone. I highly doubt he was thinking I'd pop back up like a fresh daisy while he was burying my dead body, Stiles," she snorted, immediately wincing as she clung to her stomach.

"We need to get you cleaned up. Who knows what kinds of things have started growing in that wound," Derek mumbled, pulling Ellie back into his arms before heading to the stairs.

Once Derek slipped Ellie from her jacket, boots, and jeans, leaving her in her bra and boy shorts, Stiles felt his breath catch. The bullet wound in her shoulder had healed, but the arrow wound with the chunk of wood still embedded in her side screamed with a bright red. The bruises had healed from the baseball bat, only black burn marks left over from where the battery had been attached to her skin. The biggest wound, Emmett's arm hole, was still tinted with blood and freshly opened skin. It looked like it had attempted to heal over the past few days, but it still looked ugly and mean.

Stiles helped clean Ellie up, washing the dirt and blood from her hair as Derek helped keep her standing. They gently scrubbed away the stale blood from her skin, removing the chunk of arrow rod, before Stiles slowly made his way around the gaping hole through her middle; it was a freaking miracle she was alive let alone walking! How the hell Emmett managed to miss her spine would always remain a mystery to him. After Derek medicated and bandaged her up, Stiles retrieving fresh clothes for her, they put her back into bed. "Promise you two will be here when I wake up, alright? I want-I want to make sure this isn't just some kind of sick dream," Ellie muttered.

Derek ruffled her hair before standing from the side of her bed. "We'll be here kid, promise," he said, Stiles nodding in agreement. They both waited until she finally fell asleep before leaving the room and making their way downstairs. "I still can't believe it."

"How is it even physically possibly?" Stiles mumbled. "Ellie died, she died, Derek. All of us saw it. You just can't pop back alive, can you?"

Derek chewed on his bottom lip briefly before shaking his head. "When Peter ran me through, I don't know if I died, but I woke up hours later. The only problem with this scenario is that Ellie's wound was critical, and considering she's a half-breed, there's no way she could have survived."

"It's a damn miracle then," Stiles beamed, Derek nodding in agreement before throwing his arm around Stiles shoulder and kissing his temple. Stiles let out a sigh as he pulled Derek to a stop in the hallway, pulling them flush chest to chest. "Now, we have one little issue to deal with."

Derek nuzzled himself against Stiles' neck, running his tongue along the shell of his ear. Stiles' grip tightened against the back of Derek's tank as he bit back a moan. "Mmmm, and what's that?"

"We have to tell the rest of the pack," Stiles mumbled, eyes glossing over.

"Now?" Derek hummed as he kissed against Stiles' jaw.

"Yes now you-nng-horny were," Stiles muttered as he regrettably pushed Derek back. "If they find out we waited, they'll rip both of our throats out." Derek let out an irritated groan as he dropped all of his weight onto Stiles who was barely able to catch him in time. "Come on Sour Wolf, let's go tell the kiddies."

Jackson and Lydia were the first to arrive, Peter and the others popping up mere minutes later. "Well, what was so important all of us had to show up here?" Peter demanded as he collapsed down into his lounge chair.

"Well, Derek and I have something important to show you," Stiles beamed.

"But you can't have a conniption, got it?" Derek added.

Lydia immediately sat up with a gasp and a huge smile that worried Stiles, who took a small step back. "Are you two getting married!?"

"What?!" Stiles flailed, Peter, Erica, and Jackson snorting.

"No," Derek said shortly.

"Well then what is so important that it couldn't wait till tomorrow?" Jackson demanded. "We're missing the Lacrosse meeting for this."

Derek made a move for the stairs, Stiles smiling brightly. "You can't freak out, ok? She's tired, and a little irritated, and weak, and probably does not want to be woken up right now."

"What did you get? A dog or something?" Scott questioned.

"I'm out if it's a freaking cat," Erica scowled.

"But I like cats," Isaac said timidly. "And dogs too. I hope it's a puppy."

"You're such a toddler, you know that right?" Erica teased, Isaac frowning. Scott gave his arm a sympathetic pat.

"Seriously you guys, you have to calm down. If you go all wolf on her, she will rip you all to shreds," Stiles muttered.

"It's not that stupid Argent bitch is it? If you're hoarding her ass, I will rip you to shreds," Erica growled as she jumped to her feet.

Boyd immediately pulled her back down. "No, I would not hoard Allison Argent in this house," Stiles ground out. Ok, maybe he was still a little sore at Allison for what she did, but who could blame him?

"Besides, the Argents left town after the attack. Chris almost lost an arm, and a lot of his men were ripped apart during the fight," Scott added. "He probably wants to lay low until the-ugh-the massacre is sorted through." Stiles nodded in agreement; some poor worker found the dead bodies around the sewer the next day and his dad had been working late for the past week trying to identify the shredded bodies.

"Good riddance," Erica snorted.

Suddenly all of them perked up, eyes wide in horror. Stiles turned to find Derek and Ellie making their way down the stairs, Derek's arm firm around her waist to keep her standing. Once they stepped down into the hallway, she gripped Derek's shirt with her free hand in an attempt to straighten her body all the way up. "Hey mutts," she smiled.

Silence blanketed the room them, Peter slowly standing from his chair. "Ellie?" he whispered.

"Holy shit! You're the living dead!" Erica gaped as she shot to her feet, Lydia squealing as she hid behind Jackson.

"Walking dead actually," Ellie shot back with a smirk.

"But how is this possible? You-you were dead, Ellie. I put you to rest myself, both Emmett and you," Peter said in disbelief.

"Yeah, thanks for that," Ellie muttered as she narrowed her eyes, Derek pinching her side in warning.

"When did you pop back up?" Jackson questioned.

"Yesterday I think. It took a long time to dig myself back up, so once I was back on the surface, I laid in the grass for awhile. After I had enough energy to walk, I started hiking my way back here," Ellie explained. "I think I made it back a few hours ago."

"You must have been a sight to see," Isaac grinned.

"Tell me about it," Stiles mumbled. "I'll probably hear stories from my dad later about the crazies calling them about a zombie girl."

Peter approached her then, Derek gently shifting behind her as Peter gently cupped her face. He then motioned for her stomach. When she lifted the bandage, they found blood had already begun to lightly seep through it. But the rest of her skin looked perfect again, even the arrow wound had sealed to a minor cut. "You really have come back from the dead," Peter smiled. "Not sure how the hell it happened, but you did it sweet-heart."

The rest of the pack stood after that, Erica being the first to bravely hug Ellie, Isaac right behind her. They then settled in the sitting room, Stiles and Derek pinning Ellie between them on the couch, and began to go over their week's events since Ellie's been gone. They told her about Stiles' dad investigating the sewer massacre, how the Argents bolted from town the same night of the attack, how many men they lost, and how what was left of the Alpha Pack seemed to have gone under ground.

They were back to normal, all of them laughing and teasing, telling old family stories. Stiles and Peter cooked dinner this time, Derek putting Ellie out of commission from the kitchen for at least a week. After eating, the pack slowly filed out. Ellie and Derek cleaned the kitchen, despite the alpha's orders. Peter retired to bed while Stiles moved out to the back porch to call his dad, asking if he could stay the night. He knew Derek would need the help with Ellie, whether or not he would admit this fact or not was a whole different story.

As soon as Stiles hung up his phone and pocketed it, the back door slid open. "Thought I'd find you out here," Ellie smiled as she stepped out onto the porch, Derek on her heels. "Did he give you the ok?"

"He did. I told him you were sick, and he gave me the go ahead," Stiles said, grasping Derek's arms as the alpha folded them around his shoulders. "How are you feeling?"

Ellie shrugged as she gently ran a hand over her stomach. "I'm just happy to be here. A little pain is worth it in my opinion."

"Can't help but agree with you there," Derek grunted. "It's a damn miracle if you ask me."

"But this also means we know a lot less about half-breeds than we thought. Obviously they're just as hard to kill as full-breeds," Ellie chuckled.

"Why don't you head up to the bathroom so we can redress your bandages?" Stiles suggested. "We haven't done them since your shower."

"If you want to suck face with alpha boy, all you need to do is ask," Ellie winked. Stiles gaped, Derek laughing into his hair as Ellie merely waved back at them. "Use protection!"

Stiles muttered a few obscenities into Derek's skin, not caring if the half-breed heard or not. "Today has been eventful," Derek said as he let his arm fall down to Stiles' waist so his chin could tuck into his shoulder.

"How are you doing?" Stiles whispered as he turned his head, nose brushing against Derek's cheek.

"Better than before," Derek said as he shifted so they were eye to eye. "Especially now."

Stiles kissed him, Derek flipping him so they were chest to chest with one swift motion. He could stay forever like this, wrapped up in Derek's warmth, kissing him until they were both breathless. Hell, Stiles was still half-convinced that this was all just a dream, too good to be true. He pressed into the kiss, shifted his body just right against Derek that made the larger man moan, which Stiles immediately gulped down eagerly. He made Derek feel like this. Stiles Stilinski, the awkwardest kid in Beacon Hills, was able to make Derek Hale, the hottest man in Beacon Hills, squirm. Plead. "Stiles," Derek panted before kissing the younger boy roughly again.

"Yes?" Stiles couldn't help but grin against him, hips rolling. Derek immediately pressed Stiles against the house, pinning his arms above his head. Just as they began to kiss again, tongue dancing and teeth lightly nipping at lips, the bathroom window slid open.

"Would you stop dry humping down there?" Ellie suddenly shouted before Derek could eat Stiles alive. "Come fix the living dead girl and then you can continue doing the deed!"

Derek growled as red eyes flashed up to the bathroom window she was yelling from. "I'm starting to wish you stayed dead!" he snapped.

"Liar!" Ellie called with a giggle before ducking back inside.

Derek snorted in annoyance, but Stiles released one hand to pull his attention back to him. "We have all night together, remember?" Stiles reminded him.

He grinned at this, nipping Stiles' bottom lip. "Then we have a lot to look forward to."

Stiles immediately pulled him back down into a sharp kiss, Derek's tongue immediately exploring. After almost a full minute, Stiles found the smallest ounce of strength to pull away. "Alright, you need to get upstairs now before I start ripping your clothes off," Stiles growled.

"Don't tempt me," Derek muttered. With a last chaste kiss, he ducked inside the house, shouting up at Ellie as he went.

Stiles however didn't follow, letting himself fall back against the house. This was his life, here with Derek and Ellie and the rest of the pack. With terrifying Alpha Packs, Hunter families beating him up, best friends dating Hunters trying to kill Derek and the pack, dead werewolves rising up again, and now being the mate to an alpha. This was his second family though, this was his life, these were the people he was going to try to protect human or not for as long as he could, no matter what.

And Stiles wouldn't have it any other way.

"Stiles! He's being mean to me!" Ellie suddenly whined out of the bathroom window again.

"Well, if you'd hold still then we wouldn't be having an issue right now," Derek growled after her.

"Stiiiiillllleeeeeessssss," Ellie whined as she dangled her head out the window.

"Don't lean like that! You're stomach is ripped apart enough!" Derek exclaimed as he grabbed her around the shoulders and pulled her back inside.

"Now I'm bleeding again."

"And whose fault is that?"

"Yours."

"Not even. Would you hold still?"

"Did you miss me Derek?"

"We're not having this conversation right now."

"Aw, you missed me."

"Stop moving! You already know the answer to your stupid question anyway."

"It's weird dying, isn't it? Didn't you die? You had to of died at least once. You're a crappy werewolf."

"I'm going to strangle you."

"LIES!"

"Hold still!"

"Stiles he's being mean again!"

"Would you shut them up Stiles? They'll start waking the dead with their arguing," Peter shouted from his room.

"I'm already awake!" Ellie piped up.

"Not you nitwit," Peter growled.

Stiles couldn't help but laugh as he opened the back door. "I'm coming, I'm coming."

Nope, Stiles wouldn't have his life any other way.