Isaac grins as Stiles parks his jeep behind Derek's shop and they all climb out. He stretches the kinks from the tiny backseat and grabs Danny's hand even as Danny reaches for him.
"So, you seriously think you'll knock Peter's socks off with this dessert then?" He questions Stiles as they walk in the back entrance. He sees Danny looking around curiously and remembers he hasn't been here before.
"I do, it's got elements that you don't usually find in a dessert, it's time-consuming to make and picky to get right, provided I manage, or we manage to get it right, he's going to be impressed." Stiles grins and Isaac grins back.
"Well, from what I've eaten of Peter's desserts, if you do it sounds incredible." Danny says as he steps up to a charcoal sketch hanging in the hallway. A small sticker on it with a price tells Isaac it's for sale.
"I haven't seen this before, you've been posing Stiles." Isaac says to him as Danny stares at it.
It's a nude sketch, Stiles reclining on something, knee up and covering his cock, but the pose is so careless that Isaac is left with the impression that it's not in any way deliberate.
There are a few more and a couple of paintings on the hallway as well and Isaac watches Danny look at them all carefully. Then he turned to Isaac, "Would you pose for Derek if he'd paint or sketch you?" He asked hesitantly. "For me, to take to MIT with me?" He went on as he turned back to another sketch of Stiles, this time leaning back on a chest, it cut off at their waists and Isaac could tell the body was Derek.
It was a beautiful sketch. Isaac knew Derek was a hell of an artist and not just of tattoos. He looked at the sketches again. Biting his lip he looked at Stiles who smiled and just nodded. "It's not a big deal man, he'd do it happily. And no, it wouldn't bother me." Stiles said, knowing instinctively that Isaac wondered if it would upset him. "He's actually doing a really cool one of my dad and me for me to give to him for Christmas. An oil painting."
That persuaded Isaac more than anything. He turned to Danny and dragged him in for a kiss. Pulling away he answered Danny, "If you ask Derek and he says yes, then yes I will." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Even a nude."
Stiles laughed as did Peter as he stepped out of the office he kept in the building. "Pornography boy? I'm scandalised." He laughed to let both Isaac and Danny know he wasn't and greeted them both.
They sat at the table in the lunch room, waiting for Derek to finish with his client. He came in a few minutes after ten and the four of them left together, Peter manning the shop for any drop-in clients.
Walking down the street to the café for breakfast, Isaac is pleased that Danny takes his hand and holds it. Derek and Stiles are openly affectionate with each other. Isaac watches Danny watch them but doesn't push in on his personal space.
Halfway through eating, Danny and Stiles' phones ping e-mail notifications from the school. Isaac looks at them as they open them. Stiles looks relieved but Danny looks a little shocked.
"What is it?" Derek asks. Stiles passes him his phone and he reads out loud which Isaac is thankful for.
"Beacon Hills High School is pleased to inform you you've reached your accredited qualification to graduate with this year's senior class…" He trailed off and looked at Stiles. "You're going to get a graduation?" He asked with a grin.
"Yeah Der, with my original class!" Stiles is ecstatic.
Danny is not. "I got the same, mine says the school has contacted MIT and they're happy to take me in the fall intake, they'll send a confirmation e-mail." He looked at Isaac, "We've only got the summer before I'm leaving."
Swallowing around the lump in his throat, Isaac smiled even though his eyes watered a little behind his sunglasses. "Guess we'd better make the most of it then huh?" He questioned quietly.
"Yeah, yeah." Danny is shell-shocked, Isaac can tell. He puts his phone away and takes Isaac's hand and heedless of being in public, brings it to his lips. "I miss you already." He whispered.
"Miss you too." Isaac says in return. He ignores his breakfast for the time being as he sips his coffee and thinks of how little time has left with Danny.
But then he grins, "You gonna buy me a corsage for prom then Danny?" He asks with a grin as he looks at Danny over the tops of his sunglasses, deliberately lightening the mood.
"Assuming I even go to prom Hale, assuming I even go." Danny answers as he starts eating his breakfast again.
"Danny boy, you have to go to prom, it's a fucking rite of passage and you know it, if Derek can come to spring formal with me, you can bet your sweet patootie he's coming to prom as are you and Isaac. Together." Stiles brooked no argument and Derek surprised them by nodding.
"He's right, it'd be a favour, it would be my first prom as well." He said quietly, making Isaac and Danny look at him.
Rolling his eyes, Danny gives in. "Fine, but I'm in charge of tux shopping, no questions asked." He stated.
"Think Peter will agree?" Derek asked Isaac with a raised brow.
"No, he'll probably insist on coming along." Isaac looked at Danny.
Danny remembered the brown leather pants that Peter had insisted Isaac buy and he knew that was okay "He should come along too then, I'm sure we'll agree actually." He said.
"Oh joy, Dad and Cora will be in an action movie coma by the time we get home from that jaunt." Stiles muttered and Isaac laughed as Danny looked at him.
"They both like action movies I take it?" He asked Isaac as they all began to eat their breakfast again.
"They do." Isaac confirmed.
"Jackson too, old school ones, Predator and stuff." Danny says. Isaac laughs a little.
"It's one of Cora's favourites." He says to Danny with a grin.
"Okay, okay." Danny breathed as he suddenly realised this time next year he'd be a college student at MIT and he'd be on the other side of the country in a completely different climate, with a complete different social group. And he'd be away from his parents.
But he'd be away from Isaac too. "So, you're okay to come to Jackson's still?" He asked Isaac, needing to spend as much time with him before he left as he possibly could.
"Sure, Cora and I will meet you there." Isaac said.
"Yes." Danny answered. The four of them finish breakfast, make plans to do it again next Saturday and talk in a vague fashion about Danny and Stiles graduating.
Stiles drops Isaac and Danny back at the apartment and Danny moves to the guest parking lot to go home. He doesn't want to, but he needs to. Isaac promises to bring his backpack with last nights clothes over to Jackson's to save him a trip upstairs.
He watches as Danny reverses out and toots the horn as he moves off.
Danny feels his heart quaking the further he gets away. He knows it's stupid, he will be seeing Isaac again in a few hours, but he also knows their time now has a limit, an end date.
He never thought he'd miss anything about Beacon Hills and now he knows he'll be leaving a piece of his heart behind. And not only with Isaac and Jackson, but with the Hale's and now Stiles as well.
Cursing his parents vilely he switched off his engine and went inside, up to his room to finish his homework. He and Jackson had chemistry to work on this afternoon and Isaac and Cora had mentioned an English assignment.
Danny's mobile rings reflecting the number he'd stored as 'Jackson's Dad'.
"Hello?" He answered, unsure if it would be Jackson or his father on the other end.
"Dude, you and your boyfriend and the girl staying for dinner?" It's Jackson.
"Yeah, Peter said they could stay to dinner." Danny remembered Cora asking Peter that morning as he'd eaten breakfast when Isaac and Stiles were running.
"Cool, they got any allergies or stuff?" Jackson continues.
"No, not that I know of, I can call them and check." Danny offers.
"It's cool dude, I'm sure mum can work around it." Jackson's mother liked to cook, but usually only had time on the weekend. They had a cook during the week.
"Okay, well I'm coming over on my own, can I come now? I've got news." Danny gives in. He wants to tell Jackson this face-to-face.
"Let me check with my dad." Danny listens as Jackson talks to his father in the background and returns to the phone. "He said that was fine, but just you early." Jackson sighs a little, but not much. Danny is fully aware he's actually enjoying being grounded given the shit he's copping at school.
"Cool, I'm on my way." Danny ends the call and grabs up his laptop and books. He looks around his room, realising that very soon he's going to need to look at what he wants to ship interstate and what he wants to leave behind or give away.
Shaking his head and shelving the thought for now, Danny looks at his bed. His queen size bed. Taking out his phone as he moves downstairs he texts Isaac.
'Stay at my place tonight? My bed is bigger…' He shoves his mobile in his laptop case and grabbing an apple to eat on the way, he leaves the kitchen light on as he locks the door and sets the alarm behind him after putting on the porch light too.
Parking on the street at Jackson's, Danny stops and stares at Isaac's old home. There is a for sale sign in the front yard covered by an under contract sign as well. That was good he guessed. Suddenly stopping he felt like an idiot.
Dropping his bags he grabbed his phone and called Isaac. "Hey." He picks up with a smile in his voice.
"Are you okay to come to Jackson's?" Danny asked without preamble. He jerked his hand wildly at Jackson as he came to the front door to call out to him. Motioning at Isaac's house Danny pulled a face.
Eyebrows rising, Jackson frowned as he walked down the steps, then his face cleared and he didn't say anything, just grabbed Danny's bags and held them, waiting to see if Danny would be staying.
"What? Why wouldn't I be?" Isaac asks him in a puzzled tone.
"Because he lives next door to your old house." Danny answers Isaac quickly.
"Oh, yeah I know. Its okay. Peter said it's got a contract on it which is even better." Isaac says, Danny hears background noise and then he continues. "Is that all you were checking on?"
"Yeah, so you're still good to come over?" Danny checks, trying not to sound like a worrywart.
"I promise Danny, we'll be there at three yeah?" Isaac says in an amused tone now.
"Three is fine, see you then." Danny hangs up and looks at Jackson. "He's okay with it."
Jackson nodded at Danny like he was crazy. "Yeah dude, I figured he wouldn't have offered to come over and hang out if he wasn't." Danny frowned at him.
"When did he say that? I don't remember him saying that." He walks inside with Jackson and closes the massive front door.
"Uh, we messaged on Facebook." Jackson said as he led the way to the conservatory. His parents being British, they were the only family in town to actually have a conservatory, though Jackson was the one who used it the most.
"You messaged on Facebook? You hate Facebook." Danny exclaimed. It was true. Jackson had a Facebook page, but he rarely updated it, he loved technology, but he surprisingly wasn't a fan of social media.
Most of his updates were done by Danny logging on and pretending to be him.
"Well, it allowed me to talk to him privately okay?" Jackson sounds defensive now. "Plus now Cora and I are friends too." He finished as he put Danny's bags on the glass-topped table.
"I thought you didn't have computer access?" Danny sits down, wondering vaguely if he's in shock.
"I asked my dad for special permission and he monitored my usage." Jackson said as he sat down and opened up his chemistry textbook. "Let's get this shit done. I hate chemistry."
It's the only class they have together given Danny's AP course load.
"Sure." Danny is still reeling from Jackson's revelations. Settling himself down though, they settle in to work. Mrs. Whittemore serves them a late lunch and they're finishing their chemistry and quizzing each other before deciding what to study next when the doorbell goes.
Jackson doesn't move knowing his father was in his office at the front of the house. A minute later Isaac and Cora come into the conservatory followed by Jackson's parents.
Jackson greets both Cora and Isaac with a nod. Isaac busses Danny's cheek as does Cora even though they'd only seen each other that morning. Danny was realising they were all a physically affectionate family. Isaac was eating that up with a spoon. And so was he now that he thought about it.
Derek was the only one who was physically restrained with anyone not family. Danny was grateful for that actually, he didn't need to spring an accidental boner. Derek's hotness factor was off the charts.
"Okay, house rules for the first time guests." Jackson's father speaks up. Isaac and Cora sit and look at him attentively making Danny proud. He knew Lydia had not gotten on with Mr. Whittemore
"Usually internet usage is not a problem, but given that Jackson is grounded and has had his personal privileges revoked as part of his punishment, we'll ask that you don't do any social media on your computers. We know your phones will have it, but we'd ask that you don't involve Jackson when you're on them."
Pausing he looked at his wife who took up the lecture. "Now, Isaac and Cora?" They nod. "You're both staying for dinner with Danny?" They nod again and Isaac takes out a container.
"Peter made these for everyone. He said something in there should appeal to most palates." He gave the box to Mrs. Whittemore who opened it and smiled.
"Oh I'm sure it will." She smacked her husband when he looked into the box and then tried to reach for something in there as well. "Dessert you." Jackson laughed a little and Danny grinned, glad to see Jackson laughing. It had been a long week what with his Lydia break-up and everything.
Leaving them to it, Jackson's parents went back inside with Mrs. Whittemore holding the box protectively from her husband. Danny watched them wistfully.
"So, how long are you actually grounded for and what other privileges have you lost?" Cora asked immediately of Jackson.
Sighing, Jackson ticked everything off on his fingers. "Grounded for another three weeks, possibly extended, depending on my attitude. No car, no cell, no mp4, no internet unless its for schoolwork. No video games, no movies without permission. I can only go to school, lacrosse and come home, no running errands. I can have Danny over and for some reason you two as well, but my parents set the time limit for you guys to be here. And, they'll keep an eye on us as well." Jackson recited it all by route and Cora and Isaac's eyes were wide in shock by the time he'd finished.
Danny laughed quietly at their faces. He was used to Jackson's parents. They decided on any punishment of Jackson together and when they did punish him, they tried to make sure it was a punishment he'd truly feel.
His parents had never punished him a day in his life, not that he'd done anything to be punished for. Mostly sick as a child and then trying too hard for approval from them that never came. Shaking off his melancholy mood, Danny watches as everyone settles down to work and he joins them.
They surface briefly when Mrs. Whittemore puts a jug iced tea down with glasses and some cheese and crackers. Its only when Isaac closes his textbook and shuts his laptop with a thunk that Danny surfaces too.
Cora had already shut her books he saw and moved to the banana lounge where she was reclining with ear buds in as she waited for them to finish their own school work.
Isaac grinned at him and went to join her leaving Danny with Jackson who was starting to show signs of finishing up as well. Danny waited patiently while he did and when he'd stacked his books and shut down his laptop he looked at him.
"I have news." He said.
Raising an eyebrow Jackson looked over at Isaac, "What? A miracle has occurred and your moppet is pregnant?" He asked with a grin knowing Danny would take the bait.
But he didn't, merely rolling his eyes. "I got an e-mail from the school this morning, I've got enough credits to graduate with the senior class this school year." He said quietly.
"With your original class then?" Danny nodded. "Cool dude, way to go. Congratulations." Jackson said as he stood. He stretched and then as Danny stood, moved around the table to hug him.
Danny hugged him back and laughed as Cora whistled at them.
"So when do you start at MIT then?" Jackson asked as he stepped back.
"In the fall intake." Danny answered.
"Guess we better make the most of summer then since I'll be starting senior year, I won't be able to come visit you too much your first year of college." Jackson says, knowing immediately that he'd be the one travelling.
"I'm grateful dude that you will come." Danny answered him. "And for helping move and get an apartment sorted too." He said knowing full well that while Jackson hadn't offered, that he would nevertheless help.
Just then, Mrs. Whittemore calls them in to dinner. While they all eat in the formal dining room, it's a lively meal. Danny knows it's not as relaxed as a meal at the Hale's would be, but it's still nice and he feels like he fits in here too.
The four of them settle down in the media room after dinner as the Whittemore's had extended Isaac and Cora's stay and the arguments over a movie begin. When they narrow it down to two, with Danny and Isaac wanting one and Jackson and Cora wanting another, Mr. Whittemore finally gets irritated at their noise level and tells them to flip a coin.
Which is how Danny comes to be sitting on Isaac's lap as they watch Predator. Isaac leans in and whispers, "I have to drive Cora home, but I can stay with you if you still want?"
Danny runs his hand over Isaac's thigh and nods. A slow burn settles in his groin and he shifts a little feeling a rising hardness underneath his ass.
Ignoring it though, he settles down, thankful that Isaac does the same. Rolling his eyes as both Cora and Jackson yell 'get to the chopper' with Arnie Danny feels Isaac grin against his shoulder.
When the movie is over, Jackson helps them take their stuff out to their cars and he surprises Danny by hugging him again and following up with hugging Isaac and even Cora.
Danny gets an idea. But he waits until Isaac and Cora have taken off before he voices it. "You got on with them okay." He said.
"Yeah, so?" Jackson sounded a little defensive which hadn't been Danny's intention.
"So I was wondering if maybe we should invite them both to the cabin this summer for a week? Think they'd be up for it?" He looks at Jackson, looking beyond the surface to see if he had any issue with it that he wasn't going to mention.
Nothing, he bit his lip and thought about it for a minute and then nodded. "I guess so, but she's gonna have to share a bedroom with me, I'm not that chivalrous." He said, knowing full well that Danny and Isaac would take the main bedroom leaving the other bedroom with the twin beds for he and Cora.
"I'm sure she's not that traditional." Danny laughs. "From what I've seen she'd just as likely say she's going to take the couch."
Jackson snorted and backed up his front path. "See you in school Monday dude, thanks for coming over."
"Hey Jackson?" Danny called him as he got to the top of his steps.
"Yeah?" Jackson called back, not moving.
"You did the right thing dude." Danny says no more, knowing that Jackson will understand what he was saying.
"Thanks Danny, you're a good friend." Jackson says as he tosses a wave and moves back inside his house. Danny watches until he shuts the front door before getting into his car and driving back home.
##########
A few weekends later Danny is out with the Hale's and Jackson who has finished being grounded. His father said he'd not shown any attitude and so he'd not extended it. But he was still restricted.
Not allowed to socialise too much or attend any of the end of year parties that were beginning to spring up all over the place. Danny watched him joking with Stiles and shook his head.
Six months ago, he would never have thought that Stiles and Jackson would crack a joke over anything, but it seemed that Stiles getting circumcised and then he and Isaac hooking up, combined with Jackson finally dumping Lydia had turned Jackson around.
But not too much, his innate arrogance was still there, always ready to pop out at inopportune times. Thankfully Isaac was as patient in dealing with it as Danny was. Or rather Jackson didn't hassle Isaac as much as he did anyone else for some reason.
Personally Danny thought Jackson liked arguing with Stiles. And Cora, they argued over the stupidest things, it was almost like foreplay. A shift inside Danny made him realise it was foreplay. He looked at Isaac wondering if he realised that too.
He'd have to remember to ask him later. But now, he felt like he was corralling a herd of six-year olds. Cora was sitting this one out, just watching and not commenting for which Danny was grateful. Peter was being useful, he had an eye for cut that Danny was envious of.
An ability to look at a tux and say without it being tried on whether it would suit. Danny gave up after he'd vetoed two tuxes he'd chosen for Isaac and he'd had him try them on anyway.
When they had a pile, Danny threw himself down beside Cora with a sigh as did Peter. "Good Lord, so much for the 'gay equals fashionista' stereotype." He moaned making Danny smile and agree as Cora laughed.
When Isaac stepped out in his fourth tux, Danny gasped and Cora sighed. Peter grinned. "That's a winner ladies and gentlemen. Derek, Stiles your turn." Isaac went to change back into his jeans and Derek walked out.
Danny nearly swallowed his tongue. He looked dangerous in the all black ensemble. And hot and sexy and it was suddenly very very easy to realise why Stiles had chosen him above anyone.
Cora wolf whistled and Danny couldn't help applauding, making Derek's cheekbones flush a little. He stood to the side however instead of going back inside and held out his hand, his leather wristband shooting out from the cuff as he imperiously clicked his fingers.
"Ass out here now, if I have to look like a penguin, you fucking do too."
"Oh now that was classy nephew, very classy." Peter said sarcastically and Danny agreed even as he laughed. Cora just rolled her eyes.
Stiles made Danny gasp. He was beautiful, just beautiful. Peter sighed and Cora shook her head as she rose up and walked to Derek. She whispered something in his ear making the tips of them turn red and then kissed Stiles before coming to sit back down again.
And Danny could see why Derek was so gone on Stiles, sure he'd had an awareness of him but Isaac had always held his heart in this town. Danny rubbed his heart now as he thought of leaving Isaac in a couple of short months.
It was what it was.
A wing tip shirt and a cravat, with a vest rounded out Stiles' tux. Danny had made them all wear vests. Jackson walked out as Derek and Stiles walked back into the dressing room to change.
Danny grinned as he heard a slight gasp from Cora. Being a good friend though, he ignored it. So innately at home in formal clothes, Jackson shot his cuffs – no buttons for him – exposing the disposable cufflinks his shirt had and then looked at himself in the mirror.
He raised an eyebrow at Danny and he nodded. Then he surprised the hell out of Danny by turning to Cora. "You like?" He questioned her.
She tilted her head to the side and considered Jackson for a few seconds before responding. "You need a coloured shirt." Jackson looked back at himself in the mirror as did Danny.
"You're right ma Cherie." Peter said quietly and damned if Danny didn't agree. He stood up and walked over to the formal shirts and flipped through them, coming to stop on a silver coloured one with a very faint polished cotton pewter fibre running through it.
Then he continued on. Stopping on a forest green one. Pulling it off the rack he looked over at Jackson. "Perfect." Peter concurred as he handed it over and Jackson went back in to change into it.
"Good call Cora." Danny said as he sat back down again.
"Thanks Danny. You guys are going to rock the formal." She said a little wistfully. Danny knew she hadn't been asked and wasn't going on her own.
"Not going with Erica?" He asked as he waited for Jackson to come back out. Isaac came out with the tux over his arm and Peter took it to the register.
"No, Boyd finally asked her out and it was to prom. It's okay, there is always next year." She stood as Jackson came back out. "That's perfect on you, what kinds of cufflinks to you have?" She asked as she moved forward and brushed at the shoulders, settling it properly on Jackson's body.
Danny watched Jackson look at Cora and then shoot his cuffs again. "What do you think I should wear, plain metal or stones?" He asked her curiously.
"Metal, platinum if you have it." Cora answered without hesitation making Jackson's eyebrows rise. Danny grinned and noticed Isaac looking at him and doing the same.
"Okay, so you want to come with me or are you set on staying home unless you get a proper date offer?" Danny gaped at Jackson's offer coming out of left field.
"You'd still have to pick me up, drop me off and get me flowers, I don't do corsages and I'm not cheap, I love tulips." Cora said after looking at Jackson with her head cocked to the side.
"Yeah yeah, you'll still be stuck taking on Lydia, just so you know." Jackson warned her and Danny grimaced. That was true, the one place they couldn't go with Cora was the restroom.
"Oh please, like that banshee bothers me." Isaac snorted in laughter suddenly as did Stiles and Derek making Danny and Jackson frown.
"What?" He asked at large.
"I'll tell you tonight." Isaac says to him as Derek and Stiles take their tuxes to the register to pay and Jackson goes back into change. Peter comes to sit down with them and they're talking idly when all of a sudden Stiles yells a yes and there in the middle of the floor of the men's boutique he literally jumps into Derek's arms.
"Yes." Cora exclaimed quietly as Peter and Isaac just stared.
Derek hugged Stiles to him, hands on his ass as Stiles dug in Derek's back pocket for his phone. Grabbing it, he kissed Derek enthusiastically as he flicked the screen and then put the phone to his ear.
"No Dad, it's me on Der's phone. We're getting married." And Danny's heart stopped before it started beating again ten to the dozen.
"Holy shit." He whispered.
Peter and Cora and Isaac are off the seats and over hugging Derek and Stiles madly.
Realising Jackson was now standing beside him, Danny glanced at him. "Derek proposed." He said.
"So I see." Jackson says neutrally. "Don't go getting any ideas, you have a plan, you need to stick to it dude, you won't be happy otherwise" He says quietly.
"I know, just makes me wonder what if is all." Danny grabs up his own tux and they move forward to pay and congratulate Derek and Stiles.