Disclaimer: Neither Acherona nor trulywicked have any claim on Teen Wolf or any characters or locations thereof.

Warnings: Angst, male pregnancy, children in peril, bad words and homosexual and death.

NEVER SAVE A FAERY

Chapter Ten.

The next day Stiles still had an alpha attachment while he sat on the couch across from his Dad to face the parental music and tell the Sheriff what had happened. He rubbed his belly in slow circles, "And we went to sleep. My body had pretty much made the executive decision that it was time to clock out for the night."

John was sitting very, very still as he listen to what had happened. What might have happened to his son and grandchildren? He knew it wouldn't make a difference and nothing would be better if he flew off the rails, ranting and screaming.

"Okay, so what are planning to do to make sure nothing like this can happen again?" He rested his chin on his fingertips and looked over at Stiles and Derek.

"The plan right now is to talk to Periwinkle about erasing the knowledge of how the twins came to be from anyone outside the actual pack. I'm a spark so the general assumption of most magically versed people is going to be that I monkeyed with my own innards." Stiles rested his head on Derek's shoulder, relieved that his Dad didn't seem on the verge of a heart attack.

"Right, that's a good place to start." John nodded. "And although the leak was a little closer to home than we'd like, we'd better go though all those sources with a fine tooth comb"

"Already on it deputy." Derek said to the sheriff and pushed over some notes to show they'd gotten started.

Stiles mostly tuned the ensuing conversation out, hand resting on his stomach, mind plucking away at a hundred strands. "You never liked him," it was blurted out without his bidding, falling from his mouth before he even knew he'd opened it. "Chris, you never liked him," he looked at his Dad.

John startled and dropped the paper he'd been holding onto the table top. "No kiddo, I didn't." He scratched the hair by his ear. "I had no idea he was an evil psycho, I just thought he was a slimy son of a bitch who thought himself above the law because of his gun firm."

"Yeah but still, the Sheriff instincts are rarely wrong about such rabid dislike," Stiles murmured, "The other people you don't particularly like usually get a fading sort of glare before it's a brief look of disgust and you move on but this was almost Rafael McCall levels of loathing."

"It's not some sort of radar. I just don't like douches, not even douches who hide behind a smile." John shrugged. "I wish it was some kind of superpower, that way I could have stopped any of this from happening."

"Never said they were super powered instincts," Stiles said with a smile, "But they are good ones." He closed his eyes again, "And I'm not sure knowing beforehand would have been much better because Peter was after Chris...God I think forever." It made him sad and angry that Chris had used that.

"Peter always wanted Chris, always, the same way I love you." Derek's voice was a whisper. "They had a ...fling I suppose you can call it when they were young. I think Chris broke Peter's heart when he married Victoria."

Stiles leaned closer, lifting a hand up to Derek's hair, threading fingers through it, and pet soothingly, "He probably did and I hate that," he hissed, "I hate that no matter what we would have lost Peter."

"When you get right down to it," Isaac's voice came gentle from the doorway where he stood with his exam bag, "This was the best end Peter could hope for, dying for pack, for family."

Derek nodded. "Peter was a manipulative asshole and he would roll over in his grave if we remembered him as anything but. He did love his family though and he would have done anything for you Stiles. I think he saw you as the closest thing he would ever come to a child of his own."

Isaac snickered at the way John puffed up a little at that and set his doctor's bag down on the coffee table.

Stiles huffed out a soft laugh, "I told him I was a little pissed he wouldn't be around to teach the twins how to drive you demented. Crazy bastard smiled at least," he eyed Isaac and sighed, "Check up?"

"Yup. We can all hear them but indulge my paranoia."

Derek reached out and took Stiles' hand as Stiles rolled his shirt up so Isaac could get to the extended stomach properly. "I think all of us happily indulge you when it comes to the little ones."

"Don't know about that," Isaac started with a stethoscope, "Stiles looks more than a little grumpy."

"I am more than a little grumpy but not because you want to run through a check up." Stiles admitted.

"What's the matter kiddo?" John didn't care that Stiles was more than grown and that he was about to become a grandfather. Stiles would always be his baby boy.

Derek gave Stiles a concerned look too, wondering if there was something in particular that made his made feel grumpy.

"it's just the need for an extra check up."

Isaac nodded in understanding and brought out a handheld miniature ultrasound, "That the twins were in danger in the first place. Pisses you off."

"Big time."

Derek rubbed his thumb across the back of Stiles' hand, understanding him completely. It was a good reason to be angry. Derek still couldn't sleep after Stiles had been taken, even though Stiles was back, Derek felt like he had to hold vigil.

"Well I can tell you that all our ears are completely right," Isaac finished with the ultrasound and tucked it away, "The twins are both fine and so is the womb and placenta."

Since John was the only one who couldn't rely on his ears to tell that the babies were alright let out a breath of relief.

"It's still good to hear, thank you for checking Isaac." Derek nodded at his beta and kept his hold on Stiles' hand.

Stiles murmured a thank you to Isaac as well and squeezed Derek's hand, "Okay so that's everything pressing for now right?"

Derek nodded. "I don't have anything else that's pressing." He agreed. Right now he just wanted peace and quiet.

None in the pack was exactly in a holiday spirit after everything that happened but they still had the kids to think about so they had to keep spirits up for the little ones.

"Then bellow for Cora and let's have a mini pile while we watch John McClane kick ass," Stiles said.

Isaac got up, "I have to go finish my Christmas shopping," his nose wrinkled. "You staying here and joining the mini pile John?"

"I would love to but I am afraid I can't, I have the evening shift." John got up and squeezed Stiles' shoulder. "Be on touch okay kiddo?"

"Don't know how else to be. You'll be hearing from me," Stiles pat his Dad's forearm as Cora came in to join him and Derek on the couch.

"Yippie kay ey." Cora called happily and snuggled down to next to Stiles. "Though I still root for Alan Rickman, I could get an orgasm just from his voice."

Derek looked pained. "There are things you don't have to share Cora.

John snickered and left the house to get to work, happy his son was in safe hands.

~oOo~

Christmas and New Years came and went with a little lost shine but everyone was managing and slowly healing from the Yule incident and the loss of a pack member. Stiles could barely sleep he was so uncomfortable, absolutely ready to pop and maybe getting a little crabby because Isaac refused to schedule the C-section any earlier than the twenty-seventh. So when he finally managed to drop off in the early hours between night and dawn but then was woken by feeling Derek staring at him he growled and kicked at his mate, "For God's sake if you can't just snuggle down and sleep go for a run because you're keeping me up."

"I can't." It pained Derek to admit it. "I am sorry but I can't leave." It felt like as if Derek took his eyes off of Stiles he might vanish. He knew he was being a pain in the ass but he couldn't help it. As soon as he closed his eyes the fears and nightmares came.

Stiles growled again, "If you don't let me sleep one way or another I'm going to literally kick you out of the house until you run it off. Grab Boyd, have him do Second in command things to wear you out, but let me fucking sleep." Yes he was being bitchy and maybe a little uncaring but this couldn't go on. Derek needed to be able to let go and Stiles fucking needed his sleep.

Letting out a growl of frustration of his own, Derek got out of bed and slammed out of the bedroom. He would get Cora to watch over Stiles from the hallway before he went to rouse Boyd, dodging Erica's claws for waking them up.

Boyd just yawned, kissed Erica on the cheek, then joined Derek, nudging his alpha into the woods for a light run so he could wake up, "The sleeping issue rear its head?"

"What sleep?" A werewolf could go longer without rest but it was becoming an issue, Derek was an alpha and without sleep he was getting crabby. His reaction time slowing.

"Answers that question," Boyd waited several beats, "Is it lingering reaction from the kidnapping or worry because we haven't found a faery yet?"

"A little of both." Derek increased the speed as they run. "Mostly the not finding a faery I believe. How can we know this won't happen again before we do?" Their lives would always be dangerous, there was no getting away from that but Derek hated not having done all he could.

"Well as long as Stiles is inside the wards I don't see how it could. No one we don't let in can get past them," Boyd made a neat flip over a log, "and there's no one in the pack who'd ever hurt Stiles. But logic doesn't do anything for worry when it's your mate and kids." He knew that very well.

"Especially not since the threat came from inside last time." Derek agreed, his blood rushing as he ran. He knew no one in his pack would betray them, he knew that but that didn't do anything to soothe his fears. "If I can't chill out I think Stiles might do something violent soon."

"Probably," Boyd agreed, lips curling in amusement and memory, "Erica clawed me but good when I was hovering and worrying when she was pregnant with Helena and she wasn't confined to bed rest."

"Erica claws people if she's got a hangnail." Derek dodged a low hanging branch and watched a spooked owl fly away. "I adore your mate but she's got a temper on her."

"Yeah but not like that. Erica did serious damage that time. So I imagine Stiles might just hex you into a toad or something until he's feeling better if you don't settle it down. Which would be toad-dom until he delivers."

"I want to calm down, I do. Even I can tell how annoying and stressful I am being but I don't know how to stop." Derek slowed down as they hit a clearing, the moon wasn't full but it still provided plenty of light. "Spar with me?"

"Su-" Boyd cocked his head, eyes tracking back and forth, "Wait do you hear that?"

Derek nodded as he strained his ears. It was a very upset voice and he moved toward it, finding a tiny little thing struggling not to be taken by the owl they had just seen. Derek shooed it away and took in the rumpled appearance of the little faery.

"Periwinkle?" Boyd's brows crawled up his forehead.

The tiny faery blinked out from behind her hands, "Oh! You're Kindness' raft brother." Then she looked at Derek, "and you his mate. Thank you for saving me. I owe you a boon."

"And I owe you one I think." Derek looked at the little faery again. "You've got a pendant for trouble don't you?" He already knew what he wanted the boon to be but he didn't just want to claim a boon and leave, his mama had raised him better than that.

She fluttered her wings and landed on his hand, "The cause of my troubles lie in being a night bloom faery. Tis my job to make the moonflowers and jasmine bloom and root. It's a very perilous occupation. The last ten thousand of my predecessors lasted naught but a month in their role."

"That's no good." Derek furrowed his brow. "Can you not perform your duties from a solitary spot? We have wards that would protect you and your sisters and a lush garden."

"Tis very kind of you to ask but our raft cares for all the flora and fauna of this territory," she pat his thumb with a cheerful smile, "Tis our natural life. And I am lucky enough to have been saved twice since taking on the role, why I am very nearly ancient among the tiny night fae!"

Derek smiled at her, it was impossible not to when she had such joy for life. And she really was adorable. "You do your job wonderfully and I hope we can be around to save you many more times if it should be needed." He gently held her as he finally asked his boon, that no one would know that Stiles children were faery born, telling her what had happened.

Her little wings flutter in outrage over someone attacking Kindness and the babes in such a way, "Fools trying to manipulate a prophecy," she muttered under her breath in what was probably very foul faery language before flitting up and kissing the tip of his nose, "It shall be done. It may take three moon rises for all who may know to be affected but it will be done."

"Thank you my lady." Derek bowed his head to her. "You are as kind as you are beautiful." He sent her the first real, heartfelt smile he had smiled since the kidnapping and Peter's death. "We would feel lucky if you would visit and bless our little ones when they arrive."

Her laugh tinkled out cheerfully, "Of course! Our Queen herself has already expressed a wish to greet Kindness and Guardian's babes."

"It would be a great honor." Derek inclined his head again. "Now be careful, watch out for owls and other dangers. Remember that our garden and home is always open to you."

"Thank you Guardian. Blessed Be," and with that she flit away and disappeared into the night.

Boyd slid a look over at Derek, waited a little bit, then started laughing, deep from the belly.

"What?" Derek quirked a brow, giving his second in command an innocent and questioning look.

"You get kicked out of bed because of your worry keeping Stiles awake and only you would come across the perfect solution." Boyd continued to chuckle.

"It was just luck." Derek shrugged. "Good luck but just luck all the same." He rolled his shoulders. "Let's head back though, I want to tell Stiles." Even if his sweetheart would be cranky to be woken up again.

"Luck? Or fate?" Boyd said just to be a little shit before taking off to return to his own sweetheart.

Derek growled playfully and took off too, he might be sleep deprived but there was no way he was going to let Boyd beat him.

Boyd pushed Derek on the run back so his alpha would actually get some sleep before Stiles did actually turn him into a toad. When he reached his and Erica's house he just waved goodnight and went inside to curl up around his mate.

"Hope you straightened Mr. Alpha out, otherwise I will have to kick his ass for taking away my foot warmer." Erica mumbled and pushed her cold feet against Boyd's legs.

Derek snuck inside and headed upstairs, creeping into their bedroom and the bed where Stiles lay.

"Did you run it out?" Stiles' voice was quiet and tired. He hadn't been able to get back to sleep without Derek there.

"Not really, but I did run into a friend of yours. Periwinkle." Derek crawled into bed and wrapped his arms around Stiles, nuzzling him apologetically.

Stiles had started to shoot to a sitting position but settled back into Derek's hold, "How did that go?"

"Well I think, I saved her from getting eaten by an owl." Derek pressed a kiss to Stiles' neck. "In three nights, no one outside our pack will be able to know that our children are faery born. She also sends her love to Kindness."

Stiles melted in relief, "Thank God," then he looked over his shoulder at Derek, "Think you can sleep now?"

"Yeah, yeah I think I might." Derek already felt more relaxed, a large part from the run and Boyd challenging him to wear him out. "I am sorry for how I have been acting."

Long fingers slid between Derek's over his belly and Stiles snuggled as far back into his mate as he could, "I understand and probably wouldn't be too bothered normally but," he tapped The Belly, "I'm uncomfortable, hormonal, and sleep deprived so I am exceptionally bitchy. You're forgiven, because I'll probably be apologizing a lot after I'm not pregnant or recovering from delivery anymore."

"You don't have anything to apologize for so I don't see why that should happen." Derek kissed Stiles again and snuggled down in bed. He heard Cora go back to her room as well and reminded himself that he would thank his sister for keeping guard when morning came.

"You are a fluff wolf," it was said with rich affection but dogging it was exhaustion and it ended on a yawn.

"Go to sleep, you're becoming delirious." Derek pulled the blankets up over both of them. "I am feral and fierce, nothing fluffy about me."

"Big, fluffy, bad wolf, don't worry," it was soft, edging toward a whisper as he tumbled into sleep, "secret's safe with me."

"Good." Derek let out a breath and closed his eyes, finally not seeing horrors and threats the second he did. He fell asleep with Stiles in his arms.

To Be Continued…