Derek and Stiles were sitting on Stiles's' couch. Stiles had his feet up on Derek's lap and Derek was leaning against the armrest. This was their first 'date' since they decided to try again. Stiles didn't know about the ring, ever present in Derek's pocket, and Derek wanted to keep it that way… for now. He didn't want to pressure Stiles into anything, and, knowing Stiles, a panic attack could be imminent. They were watching The Avengers, Stiles's choice, but Stiles couldn't focus on it. There was something on his mind that had been bugging him for a few days, but he didn't know how to bring it up to Derek. He finally decided to just go for it.

"Derek?" He asked quietly.

"Hm?" Derek grunted, eyes immediately focusing on Stiles.

"So I've been wondering…about that girl you were with the other night." Derek raised his eyebrow but didn't look otherwise concerned. That calmed Stiles down. At least Derek wasn't getting defensive.

"Her name's Lydia. I met her in Brooklyn at the museum." Derek started to chuckle. "She was lecturing a 90 year old woman about how the Phèdre painting wasn't 'A beautiful work of art but a beautiful depiction of love that should never be.' I started laughing and then she started to lecture me about art. We hit it off."

"Oh." Stiles replied. He didn't know how to react to that. What did he mean by hit it off?

"Hey, don't worry about it. We talked about you at least once every time we were together." Stiles looked up hopefully into Derek's eyes. "I told her stories about you. I showed her pictures. I even told her about-" the ring. Derek stopped himself from saying. "About the house." Stiles at up, looking at Derek contemplatively. After a few seconds he stood up. Derek's eyes widened, thinking that Stiles was going to walk away from him, but Stiles only sat down closer to Derek. He cuddled up to Derek and Derek wrapped his arms around him. "She wants to meet you." Derek said softly.

"Why would she want to meet me?" Stiles questioned.

"Well when we first met I wasn't exactly…amiable. I was kind of a jerk to everyone I met. She was the only one who stuck with me long enough for me to open up. She was my only friend out there. Whenever I was in a particularly bad mood she would always bring you up and laugh at me. She says she wants to meet the guy that could make my face light up like that." Stiles smiled and snuggled closer to Derek.

"She sounds awesome. I wanna meet her. Where is she?"

"That night after dinner she flew back to Brooklyn. She said there was obviously some stuff going down and she was going to let me deal with it without me worrying about her. She's really is kinda awesome." Derek's face suddenly became dark, his eyes going to Stiles's cheek.

"What?" Stiles's hand went to his cheek, his eyes widening.
"Jackson." Derek's voice was rough and Stiles could practically see the storm clouds roll through his head.

"Derek, don't." Stiles commanded. "Just let it go. It's not a big deal. Yeah, he hit me, but it doesn't matter. I haven't talked to him and I apparently 'humiliated' him so I doubt he's going to be talking to me any time soon. It's not like he scarred me for life or anything."

"I don't like the thought of him touching you at all. I want to rip his throat out, Stiles." Derek covered Stiles's hand with his own, his thumb stroking over Stiles's wrist. "You're dad would agree with me." Stiles's mouth dropped open in panic.

"No! Don't tell dad!" Derek sighed, resigned, and nodded.

"I won't for now. But if it happens again he's going to end up in a body bag." Stiles nodded.

"Well good thing it's not going to happen again because I don't want my boyfriend to end up in jail." Derek froze. His face cleared instantly and a grin broke out on his face. Stiles turned his head to look at him. "What?"

"Boyfriend?" Derek couldn't keep the hope out of his voice and grinned back at him.

"Well, duh!" He elbowed Derek's ribs and Derek was courteous enough to pretend it hurt. Derek's face was practically glowing and it made Stiles's heart beat faster. He shifted, swinging his leg around Derek's waist so he was straddling him. He brought his hands up to Derek's face and just held it. Derek's eyes were shining like sunlight reflecting off of water and he couldn't stop smiling. He was hardly ever so happy and it, in turn, made Stiles happy. He slowly leaned down and softly pressed his lips to Derek's. They hadn't kissed since that day they made up. Stiles had forgotten how their lips fit together perfectly. It made him feel warm and fuzzy, like sleeping in on a snowy day. Stiles whimpered when Derek's tongue swiped across his. Derek growled in response, his arms wrapping around Stiles's waist. He pulled Stiles close. They stayed like that for a long time, just kissing. They never took it further than that, even when they were dating. Not only was it illegal to do anything more, Stiles was a virgin and wasn't comfortable with doing anything yet. He had figured they would have plenty of time to do those things.

They were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't hear the front door open. John cleared his throat behind them. Stiles flailed, and if it weren't for Derek's arms around him he would have ended up on the floor. As soon as Stiles calmed down he scrambled off of Derek's lap.

"Uh…hey dad." He said sheepishly. "What's going on?" John rolled his eyes but there was a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. Derek got up after Stiles.

"I should probably get going." Derek said. "I have to work tomorrow." Stiles was a little disappointed until Derek leaned down and pecked his lips one more time. "Good night Stiles." Derek walked over to John and they shook hands before John pulled Derek into a hug, slapping his back playfully. Stiles grinned happily at the sight as Derek walked to the door. He waved one more time before walking out and closing the door behind him. Stiles turned to John. John laughed when he saw the dopy grin on Stiles's face.

"What?" Stiles asked. John shook his head.

"Nothing. I'm just glad to see you happy again." Stiles walked over to his father and hugged him.

"There's some left over Cheese Nip Chicken in the fridge. I didn't have time to make dinner." John raised his eyebrow. "Shut up dad! I'm going to bed." Stiles went through his pre-bedtime ritual more lighthearted than he had been in awhile. He finally went to sleep with a smile on his face.