Chapter 14
Friday goes by in a blur.
In the morning, Lydia drops Ariel off at the preschool and then comes back home to pick up Stiles and take him to his first physical therapy session, and while he's there Lydia busies herself with phone calls concerning work. Needless to say, by the end of the session Stiles is completely beat and sore as hell and ends up swallowing his pride and confessing to Lydia that maybe they should've brought the wheelchair, that's he's not feeling too comfortable in walking back to her car – which she had parked 2 blocks away from the clinic, out of luck in finding a better spot - and that he might need a minute or two to gather some strength to do so.
Thankfully for him, Lydia had assumed as much and had put the chair in her car without him knowing so that he couldn't protest against it, and Lydia promptly makes a run to the vehicle to get it for him. By the time they get home and are finished with lunch, Stiles falls on the bed sound asleep for the entirety of the afternoon. Lydia leaves him a note letting him know that she'll be at her doctor's appointment in case he wakes up in the meantime to find that she's gone, but by the time that Lydia returns with Ariel already in tow, Stiles is still passed out.
Lydia doesn't want to wake him up because he looks too tired. Even Ariel seems to notice it and chooses to keep her mom company in the kitchen instead of checking on Stiles constantly like she's grown used to do as of late. And unfortunately for Stiles, when he wakes up the little girl is gone.
His chapped lips fall into a pout. "I really wanted to see her," he mutters almost breathlessly, inhaling and exhaling ever so shortly because of the pain and on top of that, if he's being honest, he's almost fighting back tears and he's not even sure why.
It nearly aches Lydia physically just to look at his saddened expression, pure heartbreak plastered on his features. "I'm really sorry, Stiles," she murmurs, sitting down with him at the table again and handing him another glass of water to keep him hydrated. Both girls had tried waking him up several times by the end of the afternoon to no avail. He'd stir a bit, moan and whine in pain, so Lydia ended up having to convince Ariel to go without saying goodbye to Stiles. Both girls are just as gloomy about it as he is. "But you'll see her tomorrow. She still wants to surprise you, don't worry."
Stiles only woke up an hour ago and he's still weary. He's using the wheelchair again, sharing dinner with Lydia at around 9 at night. "But I- I had promised her I'd go trick or treating with her and now I'm not even seeing her tonight…"
It's Halloween and everyone was supposed to stop by Lydia's house around seven to pick up Ariel while bringing all the kids in costumes for Stiles to see, since Stiles is usually the one who has the most fun with the kids this time of the year. The little girl was supposed to go with the others trick or treating while Lydia was gonna stay behind with Stiles, but because Stiles ended up being completely knocked out, Lydia asked Liam to pick up her daughter by himself instead, so that no one would disturb Stiles' much needed rest. Liam – who formed a connection with the little redhead almost immediately and who Lydia trusts her daughter with every day of the week – is supposed to bring her back by eleven, eleven thirty depending on how much fun the kids are having, but due to Stiles' pain medication, he'll be asleep again by then. It only bothers him more.
Lydia places her hand on top of his, squeezing lightly in understanding. "I really am sorry, Stiles. You wouldn't awake. Even Ariel eventually gave up, saying that you were like Sleeping Beauty, you know, in an eternal sleep and all," she chuckles, trying to lighten up his mood.
"So I'm a princess now, is that it?" he asks, frowning at first but a smile easily making his way to his lips at the thought of the little girl saying something like that.
"A bit of a damsel in distress, I'd say," Lydia muses. "You just need your rest, so lets finish up here and go to bed and you'll see her tomorrow. She'll spoil you and probably won't leave your side anyway," she remarks honestly, knowing for a fact that that's what's going to happen. At that, Stiles grins and Lydia swears his eyes lit up.
They stay in comfortable silence for a bit finishing their meal but Lydia has to scold him and stomp her foot when – while he's watching her wash the dishes and, yet again, feeling guilty for the whole situation – Stiles suggests that maybe he could skip his meds for the night to wait for Ariel to come home.
"No way, Stiles. You are gonna take them." Lydia shifts her gaze from him to the pills that are in front of him with a stern look on her face. "You have to."
"It's just this one time, Lyds," Stiles pouts. "I'm not in that much pain," he argues, trying to win over her. Like he ever could.
"Are you kidding? Stiles, you just had your first session today. You literally slept the whole afternoon out of pain and tiredness-"
"And now I'm rested."
"Hardly," she retorts, noticing his shortness of breath and the small - but still there - bags under his eyes. "I get that you want to stay awake for her, Stiles, I do, but I can't let you do that."
"But I'd promised her, Lyds. And you're staying up to wait for her and to make sure that she gets home okay. I should too," he states firmly, not really aware of what he's absently implying.
Lydia does, though, and his words will echo in her mind for days but for now she chooses to give him a pass. Drying her hands, Lydia makes her way back to him and bends down to kiss him gently, her fingers brushing his jaw tenderly as their breaths catch in their throats. It still feels new to them that with their newly established relationship they can kiss anytime they want now. Well, when they're alone anyway. "Please, Stiles. Just take your meds and lets go to bed, okay?" she pleads, more concerned for his well-being than anything else. She knows he's about to give in but his lips still fall into a pout in defeat. She smiles softly. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."
Much to his dismay, it takes Stiles much longer to get to bed than it did when he woke up just over an hour ago. Apparently, his nap didn't do much to help with his pain and he hates that Lydia turned out to be right, and feels even worse when the painkillers start kicking in once more and by 10:30 he's asleep once more.
Lydia sits on the bed beside him leaning against the headboard, watching Stiles with worried eyes as he quickly drifts off into a dreamless sleep. His hurt hand, still too bruised for her liking, is absently grasping hers like he needs her there, like he needs someone to hold on to, and so Lydia's mind starts to wander.
She still grabs a book to distract herself until her daughter is brought home but it doesn't do her any good; her thoughts keep drifting to his words, to the way he said them, to what he actually meant even if in truth Lydia believes that Stiles would never mean it in a bad way. "But I'd promised her, Lyds. And you're staying up to wait for her and to make sure that she gets home okay. I should too..."
She had never meant for Stiles to feel like he has to take care of them, neither Lydia nor Ariel. Certainly not when he can't even take care of himself much like now, but even so. Lydia doesn't want Stiles to feel like he has any sort of obligation to them, a sense of duty. Thankfully, Lydia ends up not giving it too much attention that night and forgetting it altogether when her daughter is brought home at 11:30, the little redhead asleep in Liam's arms. Thanking Liam and inviting him for lunch the next day, the boy leaves and Lydia puts her daughter to sleep easily, going to bed herself around midnight without any more doubtful thoughts crossing her mind for the time being.
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That night, Stiles and Lydia wake up at almost 3 in the morning to an agonizing scream that makes them jolt right out of bed in an instant, the strange sound making Stiles' blood boil with the adrenaline. Stiles whines in pain at his own sudden movement because for a moment there he forgot that he can't move that fast while he's hurt, and before he can even do anything else about it, Lydia is out the door muttering to Stiles that "I'll go, just stay there."
Stiles' heart almost jumps right out of his chest in fear. The little girl is crying - he can hear her in the distance - and he wants nothing but to go to her and see what's going on but it takes so long for him to get off of the bed that by the time that Lydia is back, Stiles isn't even properly sitting yet. Lydia is holding a much calmer Ariel on her arms, the girl hiding on the crook of her mom's neck and sobbing quietly, even though Stiles can hear her like if she was right next to him. "Hey, don't get up," Lydia murmurs to him, her tone hushed not to scare her daughter more.
"What happened?" he whispers back.
Lydia gives him a small smile, her free hand rubbing up and down the sleepy girl's back. "Someone just had a nightmare. I guess she encountered too many creatures of the night while trick or treating." Stiles smiles as well. "She usually sleeps with me when she has a nightmare, so I guess I'll just sleep with her tonight…?" Lydia explains, uncertain of what to do next.
"And where do you usually do that? In her room?" Stiles is sure that Lydia is trying to look out for him. There's no way she can sleep in such a small bed like Ariel's.
"No, hmm…" Lydia gulps visibly, knowing he can see right through her. "Here. I just don't want you getting hurt."
Stiles refrains from rolling his eyes because he immediately notices how Lydia tenses, how she looks a little uncomfortable with the whole situation, and then it hits him that maybe she has never shared a bed with her daughter and someone else, maybe just her mom. Certainly not with a guy, which just makes everything more personal, more intimate. "If you want to stay here, I don't mind. She won't hurt me," he offers, leaving the decision to Lydia. It's her daughter, her house, her bed. It's not like he has a say in it, unfortunately.
Lydia ponders briefly, opting for leaving it to Ariel. Whatever has the girl more comfortable is fine with Lydia. "Do you want to stay with Stiles tonight or do you want to go back to your room, honey?" she whispers in the girl's ear, low enough that Stiles can't hear them. The little redhead nuzzles against Lydia's shoulder muttering something unintelligible that to Lydia sounds like 'Stiles' as she keeps sobbing softly, hugging her mom a little tighter.
The strawberry blonde shortens the distance between both girls and the bed where her boyfriend scoots over a little, making more space for them. Ariel barely has her eyes open, drowsy with tiredness and fear, innocence on her cute features making Stiles unable to hide a smile. When Ariel settles in the middle of the bed and Lydia climbs in right after her pulling her little girl against her chest, Stiles reaches out to hold Ariel's hand.
"Hey, munchkin. What were you dreaming about?" he asks in a hum, his thumb brushing against her little hand slowly.
Ariel's eyes widen, fully realizing that Stiles is not only there but awake. Her small hand grasps his firmly. "Werewolves," she murmurs, pouting adorably as tears well on her eyes.
"Werewolves?" he asks, biting his lower lip not to smile like Lydia is doing behind her daughter. "And were there many of them?"
Ariel nods, snuggling more into Lydia. "They were scary."
Her lower lip quivers and Stiles moves his hurt hand slowly to caress her cheek. "You're okay now. It was just a bad dream, sweetie." She relaxes into his touch instantly, closing her eyes. "We're here. We won't let them hurt you."
They stay in silence after that, both Stiles and Lydia eyeing the little redhead as she falls asleep in between them before falling asleep themselves, and even if Lydia - deep down and unsure of the exact reason why - is starting to think that there's something that's bothering her, she has to admit that nothing has ever felt so right.
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It's been five weeks and a half since his accident and Stiles' health has improved greatly. His knee didn't need surgery after all and he can walk almost properly now; his physical therapy sessions are about to end, actually. Things at home… Well, not his home, but things have been good. He and Lydia managed to keep their relationship a secret from Ariel up until now as they've been waiting for the right moment to tell her about it, mostly because they're not sure how to do it since Stiles will be returning to his own house in less than a week, hopefully fully recovered by then. Ariel coming home to find Stiles, Lydia or both there is something that the little girl couldn't be happier about and routines were created effortlessly, naturally even.
As for Stiles and Lydia as a couple, the only way things could be better is if they'd had sex yet, but they agreed on waiting until Stiles is completely healed, with any luck by Lydia's birthday in just a few days, sticking with their plan as they can. They have definitely been grabbier, though. The more they can't move things forward intimately the more they want to, and so sometimes Lydia almost has to run to pick up her daughter from preschool because she's too entertained making out with Stiles, and the same goes for him and his doctor's appointments. For the first time in a long time in both their lives, things seem to be going right for a change, so that's why Stiles is so hurt by her words.
He's not sure what happened. Things were going just fine between them. Hell, they were going great and now he's on his side of her bed and Lydia on hers with as much space between them as possible, and Stiles is positive that they've both been pretending to be asleep for the last two hours.
He didn't mean for their conversation to go how it went. In all honesty, he didn't even think much of it and next thing he knows the words are coming out of her mouth harsher than Lydia intended and from the look on her face, Stiles can't help but believe that they hurt her as much as they hurt him. "She's not your daughter".
He gets what she means and he's well aware of the fact that Ariel is not his. In fact, every time he thinks about it, he hopes that she would be but it will never be the case and he's made his peace with that; there's nothing he can do to change it. Stiles can understand why Lydia would be upset that he'd want to spend more time with the girl when it's not like he's supposed to, but Lydia should comprehend his side as well. He knows that she just needs to be reassured that taking care of her little girl never felt like an obligation to him, never will. So when he brought up the subject of starting to assemble a dollhouse they'd have to do together from scratch – an idea that occurred to him, Scott and his dad and that, if successful, they could consider as a new product for their shop – Lydia's words cut him like glass and left him cold, still in place and wordless, result of too many little things she'd seen throughout the last month and that, in all honesty, mean nothing. She's just scared for the future because of how much her little girl depends on him. And deep down Stiles knows that, but it doesn't make Lydia's words hurt any less.
Stiles exhales sharply, finally deciding on putting an end to their pretend sleep to talk about it because he hates this. It's not like they're really mad at each other but it's the first time something like this has happened between them and god, he wishes it'll never happen again. They haven't talked most of the afternoon and he's jittery, incredibly nervous and feels like there's not enough air for him to breathe. He's about to turn around to face her when he senses her getting up from the bed and walking away from him and to the hallway, and he swears he hears her let out a sob and his heart breaks. Why would she even be crying?
Lydia doesn't look back to know that he's watching her and Stiles is left alone in her bedroom for a moment, lost in thought, until eventually he gathers the courage to get up to find her.