A/N: Two updates in one day? I'm feeling bad about leaving everyone hanging for so long! Enjoy some lovely Stydia awkwardness.


"Stiles, you're an apprenticed cobbler, aren't you?" Mrs. Martin asked, taking a small bite of roast beef. "I think I've seen you when I've gone down to the shop."

Stiles nodded, his mouth full of food. He awkwardly motioned with his hands until he'd finished chewing, and then responded, "Yes."

"Jackson's working in a newspaper in Boston," Lydia boasted. "He's going to be a sports reporter. Isn't that exciting?"

Stiles frowned, laughing cynically. "Well, one might say that cobbling is a bit more helpful than sports reporting, but, you know, I'm sure it's not everybody. We need reporters, after all. Just not as much as shoes."

The sheriff snorted, trying to cover it up by finishing his wine. "This is absolutely delicious," he said quickly, pointing at it. "Where'd you pick this up?"

"Jackson got it for us in Boston," Mrs. Martin said graciously. "He's a lovely boy."

"Of course he did," Stiles grumbled, and Scott elbowed him harshly to shut up.

"I love the pot roast," Mrs. McCall told her. "I think it will go wonderfully with the pie I brought."

"We're being treated to one of your famous apple pies?" Mrs. Martin smiled. "How kind of you, Mrs. McCall."

"Well, just think of it as thank you for inviting us to this lovely dinner," she replied, taking a sip of the wine. "Your home is gorgeous, by the way."

They were seated in the main dining room, and it was a sight to behold. The Martins had totally renovated it when they'd first come to town, repainting the entire interior and exterior and importing furniture and art from around the world. Scott had spent the last half hour staring at a swirly painting from France.

"Thank you," Lydia said quickly. Scott noticed her mother look away quickly, as though upset.

Scott could guess why. Lydia's dad was the one who'd engineered all of these changes and renovations, but he'd died two years ago of some strange fever. The town knew everyone was counting on Lydia to marry into another wealthy family to keep her mother afloat.

"How about that pie?" the sheriff said loudly, grabbing the cutting knife and getting everyone slices. The happy chatter resumed quickly, and even Stiles and Lydia seemed to be getting along well.

"Shall we retire to the sitting room?" Mrs. Martin suggested, wiping her mouth with a napkin and standing. They followed her through several lavish hallways before stopping in a large, open room with a few chairs around its edges, leaving the center open.

"Lydia, sweetheart, why don't you show our guests the new dance you learned this week?" Mrs. Martin urged, taking a seat on a dark velvet chaise lounge. "I'm sure they'd love it."

"I'll be your partner," Stiles said quickly, as Scott took a seat next to his mother, who looked excited to watch.

Lydia almost seemed to roll her eyes, but gestured impatiently for Stiles to join her. Though there wasn't any music, she began to step and sway back and forth, muttering comments to Stiles.

"Stop stepping on my feet," she whispered.

"I'm trying, but you keep leading!"

"Of course I'm leading, I'm showing them the dance," she hissed, a smile on her face as she twirled in a circle and returned to Stiles.

"But I'm supposed to lead, Lydia, I'm a man," Stiles explained, as Lydia dipped backward.

When she came back up, she spun away, smirking, and curtsied to the crowd, met with polite but boisterous applause "You wish," she murmured, taking a seat primly by her mother and clasping her hands in her lap.

Mrs. McCall and Mrs. Martin were just beginning to talk about their secret ingredients in cooking when Lydia began to fan herself. "Oh, my, I just need some water. I'm a bit faint from all that spinning." She stood, swaying, and Scott quickly rose, taking her arm.

"I'll take you to the kitchen," he said awkwardly, leading her out of the room.

"What did you learn?" she asked, once they were out of sight.

"I didn't hear anything else from Sheriff Stilinski, but I did see something in his notes. They found another body in the woods. They don't know who it is yet, but it's Laura Hale."

"How do you know?" she demanded.

"I'd rather not say," he told her elusively. "What about you? What do you know about Peter?"

"Katie told me that Sarah was raving about some man from Boston," she whispered confidentially. "I think that's where Peter lives."

"We should check it out," he urged. "Maybe we can find him."

"In all of Boston, are you crazy?" she laughed. "That city's not the size of Beacon Hills, sweetie. I think I won't be making that trip until we know a little bit more about what's going on. Did the same man who killed Sarah kill Laura Hale?"

"Yes, I think so," he nodded. "I'm pretty sure."

"Since you won't tell me how you know, then I'll have to take your word for it," she said, pursing her lips and fanning her face. "But trust me, Scott, if you're not right, I'm going to be very angry."

"I know," he said. "I'm right, I promise, but I don't think you'd believe me. This guy was the same person who attacked me, too."

"You seem to know an awful lot for someone who's telling me they don't know what's going on," she accused. "Next time you go on one of these investigative journeys, I want in."

"Lydia, I don't understand," Scott finally said. "Why are you suddenly so interested in finding out what happened?"

"I don't like mysteries that I don't know the answer to, Scott. Do you remember anything about Peter? What he looked like when he attacked you?"

He was a werewolf, Scott thought unhelpfully. "No, not really. It was too dark."

"When you have a clue what he looks like, tell me," she ordered. "We're going to Boston."

"Just us?" he asked, confused and a bit worried that Stiles would literally murder him.

"No, of course not," she snapped. "I'm going with Jackson, and you're going with Allison. Two gentlemen escorting two ladies to town will totally get rid of their suspicion."

"Allison? What makes you think she even wants to go with me?" Scott asked, dumbfounded.

"She told me so, you idiot. Boys. Pay more attention sometime, sweetie." She shook her head and took his arm, fanning herself again as they re-entered the sitting room with innocent smiles on their faces.


A/N: How do you guys like the Scott/Lydia duo? I'm loving this new, badass Lydia, but let me know if you're not feeling their budding friendship.