Hey loyal fans. Sorry for the delay. This chapter was pain in the butt to write. I'll try better next time. No promises.

The plan for Friday night was for Stiles, Scott, Jackson, Danny, and Izzy to go out and bowl, eat, and enjoy the night.

Stiles was about to head out when he heard his father on the phone.

Marion said, "I'm going to have to cancel. The babysitter just called, she's got a stomach bug."

The sheriff said, disappointed, "It's ok. We'll go out another time."

Stiles said, "I'll babysit."

The sheriff said, surprised but happy, "Wait. My son would be willing to babysit. He's 16."

Marion asked, "Are you sure? Just send him over to my house. The address is 729 Chestnut Drive."

Stan said, "Of course. See you in half an hour."

Marion said, "See ya." She then hung up.

Mr Stilinski then asked, "Are you sure about this? Weren't you supposed to go out with the guys tonight?"

Stiles said, "Yeah, but that's not important. Actually, this is better. We were going to have an odd number, which would make bowling more difficult. Anyways, family comes first. I've got to go babysit. Have fun tonight."

Mr Stilinski was proud of his son. He was willing to do something for his father instead of spending time with his friends.

Stiles got in his baby blue Jeep and called Scott.

Scott said, "What's up, Stiles?"

Stiles said, "I can't come tonight. I'm babysitting for my dad's date."

Scott said, "Dude? You were looking forward to this."

Stiles said, "I know. But family comes first. Mom wanted him in a relationship. I'm going to help in any way I can."

Scott said, "Still not convinced you spoke to your mother."

Stiles said, incredulously, "We are werewolves and you doubt the ability to talk from beyond the grave? Seriously, that's just arbitrary scepticism."

Scott said, "Now is all there is. I believe this because if not, we would have a very pissed off werewolf Alpha ghost after us right now."

Stiles shook his head and said, "I'm waiting for the day we run into a ghost."

Scott responded, "I'll pay you 20 bucks on that day."

Stiles replied, "I a wait that day. I've gotta go. See you tomorrow."

Scott replied, "Bye."

Stiles pulled up to the Cooper residence. It was a small house, one story, brick, probably 50 years old, in relatively good condition, white shutters, grey roof, the yard needed mowing but not badly, several trees that might be good for climbing, the yard looked like it was more play area than garden, wooden door with small stained glass piece in the top.

Stiles walked up and rang the doorbell. A 5' 3" early 40s woman with dark brown hair, tan-ish skin, and brown eyes in a nice, but not overdone green dress opened the door.

Stiles said, "Hello, I'm Stiles Stilinski. I've come to babysit your son."

Mrs Cooper said, "Come in. COOPER, COME MEET THE BABYSITTER!"

A curly redhead with green eyes and freckles came running in. He was about 3 and ½ feet tall, which put him most likely at 5, maybe 6, he was called Cooper, so he probably had a terrible first name unless Marion had reverted to her maiden name, in which case he was named for her maiden name, no father in the picture, was it divorce or dead?

Stiles said to Cooper, "I'm no babysitter. Sitting on babies is weird. I'm Stiles. I just came to play with you. Do you want to play?"

Cooper giggled at the joke and said, "Yes, Let's play, Stiles!"

Stiles said, "I'll come play in one second. Let me talk to Mommy for a minute."

Cooper said, "Okay. I'll go get my toys!"

Mrs Cooper said, "You're good with kids."

Stiles said, "Any instructions?"

Marion replied, "Bed at 9, no later. He hasn't eaten; he'll probably get hungry in about half an hour. I left money for pizza on the counter. Bath by 8; make sure he actually gets in. You don't have to watch him in the tub, just listen for him splashing. I should be back by 11. We have cookies for dessert, he gets 5. Make sure he brushes his teeth."

Stiles said, "Got it. You go enjoy time with my dad."

Marion Cooper left to go on her first date in 6 years.

As Stiles was preparing to play with a young kid, the majority of the pack prepared to bowl. Danny wasn't even sure if he could bowl at the same level as three werewolves. Maybe he should suck, so that Izzy could beat him.

The bowling started. Danny wasn't bad, Jackson was ok, and Scott was decent.

Then Izzy went up. He focused, trying not to worry about failure, thinking back to what Derek had told him.

Jackson saw something new, something he hadn't expected. As Isaac prepared to bowl, a look of peace crossed his face. No fear, no stress, nothing. It was the first time they had seen him without stress.

While Scott wasn't as observant as Jackson was, he was better at trusting his senses. He smelled the calm, or at least the lack of fear, coming off of Isaac. He had never not smelled Isaac afraid. He had assumed it was his scent. The fear cleared away, leaving a peace the Pack wasn't sure Isaac could even feel before that moment.

With that peace, Izzy scored a strike.

Stiles and Cooper (Stiles was still unsure if it was his first or last name) were playing with Legos. Stiles was secretly very excited. He loved Legos. He kept his in the attic. He hadn't had time recently to pull them down (what with people trying to kill him, nearly dying, then catching up on schoolwork, having a girlfriend, and helping with pack stuff). Stiles and Cooper were building a Pyramid. Stiles was going to slowly get him up to being able to build more complex buildings.

They ordered pizza and ate dinner.

The Sheriff was having a better time than he had had in years. Marion Cooper was a nice woman, with a great attitude.

The Sheriff, were else to take the conversation, asked, "How old is your son?"

Marion said, "Cooper's five."

Stan asked, "Bad first name?"

Marion replied, "Yes. He's Cú Chulainn (pronounced Cuhullin) Cooper, by insistence of his father."

Stan asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer, "And his father?"

Mrs Cooper replied, "He died on his way to the hospital trying to see Cooper for the first time."

Stan said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pried."

Marion replied, "If anything, you just proved you haven't. You easily could have found out any information you wanted with a police check. Which reminds me, how did you know I had a son? I never mentioned him."

Stan said, "I heard him in the background of our first phone call, when I accepted the date." It was only barely a lie. Stiles had heard it with wolf hearing.

Marion replied, laughingly, "Always Sheriff, aren't you? Noticing the minute details, the ones others would miss. Any other things you noticed?"

Stan said, "Um, well you only recently, as in the last month or so stopped wearing your wedding ring. You are a little nervous, so probably your first date in a while. Um, nothing else really."

Marion sat, a little surprised. She then said after a minute, "Not bad. I may have spoken to some girlfriends about you. I know enough to say I'm sorry for all you've been through."

Stan smiled lightly and said, "Thank you."

Cooper was going to take a bath. Or so he said. Water was most definitely in the tub, but no soap, and more importantly, no little boys. Stiles yelled, "Get in the tub. Use soap. Don't try to fool me."

Cooper made a grumbling noise that Stiles couldn't quite understand due to the splashing of the water. He decided not to try.

Stiles said, "Soap as well!"

Cooper was amazed by Stiles. He was fun, and he could tell what he was doing better than his mommy. Cooper did what he was told because he realized he couldn't get away with anything.

Stiles was very much enjoying his wolf powers tonight. Not only did his wolf enjoy pups (human or wolf, who knew?) but on some level, he was pretty sure Cooper was submitting to him. Younger children tended to do that. They were more in touch with their senses than most adults were. They could sense the animal with in him, know that as long as given the proper respect that it wouldn't hurt it, know that if nice that same animal would protect it. He felt a connection to this kid. He had more than a light suspicion that he would soon be… well that was thinking a bit far ahead for Stiles. What he was sure about was that he was almost as protective of this boy he had known for only a few hours as he was for any member of the pack.

Cooper finished bathing, and so Stiles decided that he would tell him a story in preparation for bed.

Izzy was unexpectedly good at bowling. Since he had found a fragment of peace, he bowled a perfect game. Jackson's jaw dropped as the bowl was finished. He said, "300, Isaac? You are better than Lydia when she tries."

Izzy said shyly, "I was j-just lucky."

Scott, the second place bowler, said, "I got 4 strikes, those were luck. You got 12 perfect strikes. That is not luck. That is a talent."

Danny, who came in third, asked jokingly, "What other talents do you have hidden away?"

Izzy, looking anxious from all the attention, said, "N-none, I'm not really sp-special."

Jackson, Danny, and Scott said all together, "Yes, you are!" They then looked at each other and laughed.

Danny said, "Pack sync is a bit weird. Especially for me, since I'm not even a wolf."

Izzy thought more of a wolf than I'll ever be.

Stiles tucked Cooper into bed. Cooper asked, "Can you read me a story?"

Stiles said, "I think I'll just tell you a story from my memory."

Cooper said, "Ok. What's it about?"

Stiles said, "Once upon a time, there was a great big forest, where many people resided. Two great friends lived in this forest. They were named… Stan Calling and Genim Bolinski. They didn't believe in things like magic or monsters. Then they met an evil... sorcerer named… Pietro. He was looking for revenge against the family Silver for… making his dogs sick. Well, Stan got in his way, and got cursed to become like a dog."

Cooper giggled and said, "That's a silly curse. He should at least become a wolf. At least that way he will be scary."

Stiles said, "You're right, Stan totally got cursed to become a wolf. The only way to break the curse was to… turn Pietro into a Mountain Ash Tree. So they got together a group of friends: Ally Silver, archer extraordinaire; Jack White, great warrior; and Rick Rain, magical sorcerer. They gathered to do great battle against the Dark Sorcerer Pietro. They managed to stop Pietro, transform him into a tree, and save the forest from his evil magic."

Cooper asked, "Was Stan's curse broken?"

Stiles said, "No, but he used the power of the curse to protect the forest."

Cooper than curled up in bed and said, "Good night, Stiles."

Stiles said, "Good night, little man."

A while later, Marion came home. She smelled… happy, peaceful, mildly aroused, worn out…MILDLY AROUSED? The sheriff was only mildly on her so, thank God, no sex.

Stiles asked, "How was your evening, Mrs Cooper?"

Marion replied, "Nice. How much do I owe you?"

Stiles said, "Nothing."

Marion said, "I took your Friday night. You deserve some money."

Stiles said, "A) I had a ton of fun with Cooper. I rarely am allowed to be so child-like. B) I'm going to count it as a favour to my father. Which I still probably still owe him any way for, well, a lot of stuff."

Marion said, "Are you sure?"

Stiles said, "Yes, I'm sure. Call me next time you need a babysitter. I loved spending time with Cooper."

With that, Stiles left to go home.

The following morning, at the Cooper residence, Marion asked, "How did you like Stiles?"

Cooper responded, "He was a funner than Lucy. We played, and ate pizza and then he told me a story that I never heard before about sorcerers and curses and heroes. When can he come back to play?"

Marion responded, "We'll see."

What do you think of Marion and Cooper? Another pack meeting up next.