The Wolf Pit was known by most of New York as a dive. An underground club with loud music and cheap drinks. Most of the average New Yorkers that partied there had no idea that a good sixty percent of the clientele were werewolves. The place was run by the Monroe pack and as long as there was no trouble any wolf could drink there. Derek had worked their through college right up until his return to Beacon Hills, and honestly he'd loved it.

"Derek? - Derek Hale, my bloody god!" yelled a scruffy looking man from behind the bar.

"Hey Henry." Derek smiled. "How you been?"

"Me, so-so. You know. - What about you? Haven't seen you in like forever. Heard you're returned to the homestead. How's that work out for you?"

Derek flashed his red eyes at his old friend.

"Oh." Henry's face fell. "Sorry man." he sighed.

Derek nodded his thanks and leant on the bar.

"So what can I do for Alpha Hale?" Henry smiled, quickly recovering from the sorrow.

"I'm looking for Alex Yalin."

Henry frowned. "Alex? Wow that's so weird, she was in here just last week, hadn't seen her in years either."

"You know where she is?" Derek asked, straightening.

"No man, sorry. You know Alex, only hangs around to get drunk and hook-up then you don't see her for days, depending on who she leaves with."

Derek frowned, he remembered that all to well. His hook-up with Alex had been a mistake from the first instant to the last. - In all honestly he had no idea why he'd gone there. Though it might have had something to do with being the anniversary of the fire and him being more than a little drunk. The only good thing to come out of that whole mess was Leah.

"Well well well, if it isn't Derek Hale." announced a deep seductive English accent behind him.

Derek turned with a warm smile as a woman with long black hair descended the stairs. He pushed himself away from the bar and strolled over to her. "Hey, Aeryn."

She smiled up at him, pressing her palm to his face, before bring it back to slap him hard.

Derek's eyes flared and he dropped his gaze instantly cowering before the older more powerful alpha.

"That's for leaving me without my most popular bartender without so much as a word of goodbye."

He looked guiltily up through his lashes. "I…I'm sorry."

The smile was back on her face but it was a sad one now. "So am I Sweetheart. About Laura." she took his hand and lead him to one of the flash leather couches in the corner. "Henry, my usual and a beer for Derek." she called, before taking her seat.

Aeryn Monroe came from one of the largest and most powerful pack-line's in the world and that power flowed off her in waves. She'd always been kind of a surrogate mother to Derek over the years, despite only being ten years his senior. She just had a way on knowing what the hell was going through his head, even when he didn't want her to.

"Thanks Henry." Aeryn smiled up as the drinks were placed in front of them. "You can go now." she added when the werewolf made no move to leave.

Derek couldn't help but laugh, and it felt strange. He rarely laughed anymore, not really. Except for when Stiles said something that struck his funny bone and he wasn't able to stop it from slipping free.

"So?" Aeryn pressed taking a sip of her drink. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for Alex Yalin."

"Why? I didn't realise you two were…."

"Once. - Then she left a kid on my doorstep a month ago and vanished."

"Yours?"

Derek nodded.

"You sure? - Don't look at me like that, she wouldn't be the first bitch to pass off someone else's pup as an Alphas. It happens more than you realise."

"She's mine. I'm sure."

"DNA sure?"

Derek shook his head.

Aeryn huffed. "You know a bond isn't always reliable Derek."

He didn't reply. Maybe he just wanted Leah to be his.

"Fine. - So why are you looking for Alex, if she clearly doesn't want the pup?"

"Her name's Leah." Derek insisted. "And she's human, not werewolf."

"Oh." Aeryn said with surprise. "That's…..answer my question."

"She needs her mom."

Aeryn frowned for a long moment, reading Derek like a book. "Jesus Derek, you can't just bind yourself to a one night stand just because you have a kid."

"She needs her mom, and you know an Alpha is stronger with a mate."

"A mom isn't always the woman that gave birth Derek. If Alex's left her, Leah, with you she clearly doesn't want her, and considering her pack-line I'm not surprised."

"Meaning?"

Aeryn shook her head. "You said she's human right?"

Derek nodded.

"The Yalin pack don't except humans, not by birth or otherwise."

Derek frowned. "But she's her daughter."

"Doesn't matter."

"She's three Aeryn, If Alex didn't want her why hand her over now?"

Aeryn shrugged. "Maybe she was waiting to see if she developed. It's not unheard of for a wolf to be born seemingly human only to develop their abilities later on."

"So when Leah showed no sign of being a wolf she just abandoned her?"

Aeryn shrugged sadly. "Believe me, if you'd ever met the Yalin alpha, you…."

"I have. I hadn't even notice the lack of humans." he sighed. "But that doesn't chance anything. If Alex agrees to become my mate, then she'll be my pack not Yalin and we have humans."

Aeryn stared at him, looking deep into his eyes. "And what's the girlfriend say about your plans to marry another woman?"

"I don't have a girlfriend."

Aeryn's brows drew tight together. "Really?" her nose wrinkled a little and her ear seemed to twitch. "No one?"

Derek wasn't lying. "I don't have a girlfriend."

A single perfect brow rose. "Huh, well that makes sense."

Derek's eyes met hers. "What does."

"You never really did seem to be very interested in the girls that hit on you here. I admit I put it down to your history…."

Derek had told Aeryn about Kate and the fire years ago, mainly because he'd needed to tell someone before he lost his mind. She'd been surprisingly understanding and forgiving, telling him that he should speak to Laura about what had happened but he hadn't been able to bring himself to follow that advice and now it was too late.

"….now I see it was more complex."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Derek said harshly and Aeryn smirked.

"Really, cause your heart's saying you do. - You know it's not forbidden, we're all still human, Derek. Partly. Okay so maybe there are a few packs out there that look down on it but in general no one cares."

Derek glared, his eyes unconsciously flashing red and he tightened his jaw. "There is nothing…..I'm not…." he shook his head.

"So what's his name?"

Derek instantly felt the fight leave him and the answer forming on his lips before he was able to stop it. If it wasn't for the fact that he was an alpha, he would have sworn she'd compelled him to tell her. "Stiles. - Stiles Stilinski."

Aeryn laughed. "Stiles? What the hell kind of name is that?"

Derek shrugged miserably. "But we're not….I'm not…" he dropped his head into his hands with a groan. "I don't know what I am, or what's going on. Everything was fine three days ago, now suddenly he's all I seem to think about."

Aeryn watched him intensely, her back curved into the couch.

"He's just a kid Aeryn." Derek said firmly, raising his gaze to meet hers. "He's not even eighteen yet. He's a senior in high school. I can't even think of….." he shook his head. "He'll be heading off to college next year."

"And?"

"And, he deserve to be away from this…" he waved his hand. "…my world. He's already put his life on the line enough for me and my pack. I won't let him waste his future."

A slow smile spread over Aeryn's face. "You sure this isn't a guilt thing?"

"No. This is a he's too good to be dragged down by me thing."

"Don't you think he deserves a say in that?"

Derek frowned for a long moment before shaking his head.

"So your just going to marry Alex, assuming she agrees and what, forget about him?"

"I…I've gone almost three years without a thought about him, I can do the rest of my life."

"That's crap and you know it. - You've clearly thought about him more than enough over the years Derek. You don't just turn around after three days and announce your in love with someone…"

"I never said I was in love!"

"Yeah you did, in everything you've just said to me. And clearly you've felt this way for a while if I picked up on it the moment I set eyes on you. So you were either too stubborn or blind or just plain noble to admit it to yourself."

"This is a moot point anyway." Derek huffed. "Cause Stiles doesn't feel that way about me."

Aeryn glared with narrow eyes. "You know you can't lie for shit with me Derek."

"I'm not lying. It's just a fascination. He's weird like that."

Aeryn groaned warily, finishing her drink while still glaring at him. "So just out of interest." she said, slowly lowering her glass. "Who's looking after your daughter while your here chasing after Alex."

Derek dropped his gaze to his hands.

"Huh. Fascination. I see." Aeryn nodded.

"It's a favour."

"And how long as he been doing this favour?"

Derek swallowed. "A….almost a month."

"Derek, get the hell out of my bar and don't come back unless it's with some fucking balls." Aeryn snapped, gracefully getting to her feet.

"What?"

"I don't have time for your foolish ballshit. This kid obviously cares a lot about you, I don't know any other seventeen year old that would take care of a what….three year old? while her dad's out of town for a month. So if your so damn determined to throw all that down the shit-shot and marry that racist bitch then you can get the hell out of my sight!"

"Aeryn?"

"No. - As for said bitch, she's staying in Brooklyn, above O'Reilly's bar." with that she spun of her expensive heels and marched away.

Derek sat for a few minutes staring after her before pushing himself out of his seat. He didn't care what Aeryn said, he was doing the right thing. Leah needed her mother, and Stiles needed a chance to get away from the madness and danger. What Derek might want wasn't important. He rushed out of the club, slamming the door of the Camaro as he settled in the drivers seat. "A mom isn't always the woman that gave birth" Aeryn's voice taunted as he started the engine. "Kenny has two daddy's. I want two daddy's." He clenched his jaw at the sound of Leah's whining voice and pulled away from the curb. He was doing the right thing. For everyone. He owed Stiles that much.

~What's Best For Everyone, Isn't What's Easy~

O'Reilly's Bar was your typical Irish ran New York pub. Derek parked his car on the curb and climbed out, eyeing the place before heading around the back. He climbed the back stairs and let his sense lead the way to a third floor apartment. He stared at the door for a few long moment, his head spinning. "…we miss you man." his stomach tightened and he closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. This is for the best. Stiles wasn't really interested in him. It was just an infatuation. Derek wasn't an idiot, he'd smelt the arousal seeping from Stiles through the years, but he was a teenager, it didn't mean anything. He'd be attracted to a garbage truck in the right circumstances. It wasn't anything serious. It wasn't enough to throw his future away for. - It wasn't enough to risk Leah's future for.

Derek raised his hand and knocked. The door opened instantly to reveal a half dressed beta with ruffled hair and at least three days worth of growth on his face.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever gonna fucking knock." the guy scoffed. "What you want?"

Derek flashed red eyes at him. It really wasn't necessary in all honesty, the guy would be able to tell he was an alpha without his show of strength but he was not in the mood to ignore his lack of respect. "Where's Alex Yalin?" he asked, even though he knew she was in the apartment. He could smell her.

There was a huffed sigh from behind the guy, and then there she was, standing in only a pair of panties staring at him challengingly. Her long dark blonde hair hanging down her back. Derek stared her down, not even reacting to her nakedness.

"Derek." Alex nodded.

"Get lost." Derek growled at the guy stood in front of him. "Now."

The guy glanced back at Alex.

"Go get a drink. I'm fine."

The guy looked reluctant, but another red-eyed glare from Derek had him grabbing his shirt and rushing out of the flat. Derek stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind him. When he turned back Alex was pulling on a grey t-shirt that fell to mid thigh.

"So what do you want?"

"You need to come care for your daughter."

Alex scoffed. "And why would I do that. - She'd your kid Derek, you take care of her."

"You can't just abandon her." he snapped angrily.

"People abandon children all the time. It's not like I drowned her. I left her in the care of her father." Alex stated matter-of-factly, turning and strolling to a dresser to pour herself a drink.

"Because she's human?"

Alex shrugged. "What would I want with a human kid?"

Derek growled low in his throat at her coldness. "You don't care at all?"

"Not really no."

Derek glared, his fingers curling into fists inside his jacket pockets. "Because your pack doesn't except humans?"

Alex turned and met his gaze. "Human's are more trouble than their worth. All they do is put the pack in danger. - But I wouldn't expect you to understand, your very pro-human aren't you? How many do you have?"

"Six."

Alex huffed, shrugging her shoulder. "See. And how many times have they almost gotten you or a pack member killed."

Derek clenched his jaw. "They've save us more often than not."

Alex dropped down on the end of the bed with a laugh. "Sure." she slowly sipped at her drink, her eyes on Derek.

"So does your pack just accept pure blood?"

Alex frowned. "No. Bitten is just as good as born. They've at least got the ability to protect themselves and the pack."

Derek nodded understandingly. "Then why not just bite Leah?"

Alex froze, her gaze locked with Derek hard green eyes, a satisfied look in their depths, like he'd somehow figured something out. "There are laws Derek."

"You could have waited till she was old enough?"

Alex shot to her feet, marching furiously over to the window. "That would mean caring for her until then. - What do you want Derek?"

He stared at her, determined not to let it drop. "Come back with me Alex."

The woman turned slowly to look at him. "What?"

Derek swallowed. This was for Leah, and maybe himself. "Become my mate." he said coolly, his back painfully straight and his gut twisted in tight knots.

The room was filled with Alex's laughter, leaving Derek stood silent and bemused. His nails biting into his palms.

"You can't be serious?"

"I am."

Alex turned to fully face him, her eyes wide with surprise. "God you are." she gasped. "Why the hell would I do that?"

Derek narrowed his gaze at Alex. "So you can care for your daughter."

Alex rolled her eyes and headed back to the dresser and another drink. "Why don't you go find yourself a nice human mate to take care of her?"

"Because you're her mother."

Alex scoffed. "And I gave her up."

"Because you had to." Derek said confidently. "Because of your pack. You become my mate, you'll be part of my pack."

Alex laughed again. "And why the hell would I want to do that?"

"So…..You really don't want to see her again? You don't want to be her mother?" he asked calmly, his eyes trained on hers. "You don't want to be matriarch to your own pack?"

Alex shook her head. "No. I really don't."

Derek finally dropped her gaze with a wary sigh. "So what are you gonna to do? Slut around New York until you get pregnant again and hope that the next kid isn't a failer?" he tone was completely matter-of-fact calm, but even a stranger could have heard the pure loathing beneath the words.

Alex raised her hand to strike at him, only to find her wrist caught in a hard grip and crimson eyes glaring at her.

"I'll give you some time to think about my offer. I'm staying here." he pulled out a piece of paper with the address of his cheap hotel on it. "I'll be in town for the next few days, when you change your mind. - It really would be best for everyone Alex." without giving her a final look Derek yanked opened the apartment door and stormed out of the room before he gave into the small voice in his head and rescinded the offer.

A/N: For anyone who's interested I actually have Leah's drawing of the pack. You can find the link on my profile.