It still hurt… Derek sighed as he walked along the coastline that surrounded his childhood home. Looking into the water, imagining what could've been…
He was glad to be alive still and still have his Healing Touch but knowing that he would never become like the people he had grown up around.. Never experience the wonder and joy of being one with the sea..
That hurt.
Mother's going to be so heartbroken… and…. Goodness, this ability dies with me in this family… My kids will NEVER get to experience any of what I did growing up….
"Penny for your thoughts, Son?"
Jonathan appeared beside him, a concerned look on his face.
Derek sighed heavily. "I'm landlocked. I can't have anything I was supposed to have one day…"
Jonathan frowned, bringing an arm around him.
"I know it hurts… and if I had the power I would give it all back but… I'm just a Remembered…"
Derek leaned into him, bringing an arm around him in return. "And I'm not asking you to bring it back… As far as I know once it's gone, it's gone… It's never coming back… It just… Sucks. Mom… She's going to be devastated…"
"I'll… try to help however I can… You sure tonight would be a good idea to tell her I'm here?"
"Dad, she cries every time this date comes up. You really wanna put yourself through that for another year?"
"... No… and with this… She really does need me… doesn't she?"
Derek nodded. "If anything happened to me for good…"
"I know… I've kept her from having those thoughts as best as I could, but now… it's going to take more than influence to help."
"And I'd rather not have to convince my mom not to permanently leave land. She wouldn't be able to take staying with normal people after that."
"Right…" Jonathan looked to the distance, seeing someone approach. "Right on cue…" He shifted into an orb, hiding himself in Derek's coat pocket. "I'll be here when it's time."
"Right…" Derek smiled a bit as Lisbeth came into view. "Hey, Mom…"
"Hey sweetie…" Lisbeth picked up her pace, throwing her arms around her son. "Oh look at you…"
Derek smiled sheepishly, hugging her tightly.
"Back on my feet again."
Lisbeth smiled, brushing some of his hair out of his face. "Sorry I wasn't there… I'm pretty sure they're still annoyed with me…"
"Let's just call it karma." Derek chuckled. "I know they drove you nuts too."
Lisbeth giggled. "Ah I love that you got part of my devious side."
"Yeah…" Derek managed another chuckle before sadness came to his eyes. "Mom… there's… something I need to tell you…"
Concern came into her eyes as she pulled back a bit. "Alright… Let's hear it… A-Are you okay?"
"I am… for the most part…" Derek sighed. "Mom… some… things happened while I was asleep…"
"... Okay before this continues, do I need to find someone at Hope and run them over with my car? Because I have my keys on me and I can completely do it…"
"No… No no… Mom… you better sit down." Derek sat down on the sand, drawing in it a bit with his finger. "It's kind of a long story."
Lisbeth frowned sitting beside him, bringing her knees to her chest, resting her chin atop them. "Okay… Let's hear it sweetheart…"
Derek took a deep breath before starting to tell her of the events that he had been an angel for a few weeks and that he had had quite the out of body experience and then…Delano.
Derek found himself drawing a star in the sand.
"... Mom… I lost my heritage to that thing."
Lisbeth let out a loud gasp, horror coming to her eyes. "What…?" She asked before she shook her head furiously. "N-No, no…. That can't be… You're a late bloomer but that-that happens in some families…"
"I know… but it's never gonna happen…" Derek had a tear streak his face. "I saw it eat it my abilities right in front of me… I felt I lost part of myself… and I'm never getting it back."
Lisbeth threw her arms around him, a small sob escaping her. "Oh Derek… My little boy…. What in Titan's sea is wrong with this world? It keeps hurting you… You never did anything bad enough to warrant that!"
Derek hugged his mother tightly, keeping her close.
"I'm sorry…"
Lisbeth looked up at him shaking her head. "No… Don't be… I'm sorry I couldn't protect you…"
I failed as your mother… Again… I couldn't protect you from GUILT, I couldn't protect you from bio-terrorists holding you hostage… And now this…
Derek stroked her hair, noting Jonathan's orb was peaking out of his pocket.
"Mom… I don't want you to be sad… I know this news is hard to take but… there was at least one good thing that came of it."
Lisbeth took a shaky breath wiping her tears away quickly. "Y-Yeah…? I'm listening."
Derek looked down at his pocket, nodding, Jonathan's orb coming out.
"I told you I had two spirits helping me… This one wanted to speak to you personally."
Jonathan floated around before stopping right in front of Lisbeth, letting her eyes see the symbol on the Anchor Gear.
Lisbeth's eyes were wide in wonder as she brought a hand under the orb, feeling the warmth coming off of it.
"Amazing… H-Hello there…"
"Hello… Lisbeth."
That voice…! "... John..?" She asked softly her voice cracking… Eyes holding hope and sadness in them. "Is… that you?"
Derek stepped back, allowing Jonathan to take on his full form, a gentle smile on his face. He brought a hand to her cheek, wiping away some of her tears.
"I'm here…"
Lisbeth smiled warmly, leaning into his hand. "You're really here…" She murmured, before bringing her arms around him, kissing his cheek. "You're real… Oh my gosh JOHN!"
Jonathan held her close, hugging her tightly. He tipped her chin up, kissing her, holding it for a moment before pulling back, gazing into her eyes.
"Sorry it took me so long to come see you…"
Lisbeth chuckled a bit, touching her forehead to his… Savoring the moment.
"You big knucklehead… Never apologize to me unless you claimed something foolish… Okay?"
Jonathan nodded, kissing her again.
Lisbeth closed her eyes holding it, running her hand through his hair.
Derek kept quiet, smiling at seeing his mother happy once again. Seeing his father having joy in his eyes. They pulled back after a moment before looking to him. Jonathan extended an arm to him.
"Come here you."
Derek hurried over, hugging them both. Lisbeth smiled softly, stroking his hair, before kissing his head.
"My sweet boy… Thank you…"
"Anytime, Mother."
Jonathan kept his family close, letting his warmth sink into them.
"We'll make it through this."
Lisbeth kept her arms around both of them, sighing in relief. "You're both here and safe… That's all that matters…" She took one of Derek's hands into hers. "Now… There is something that is still yours… Correct?"
"Yeah… I still have my Healing Touch."
She smiled gently. "Then you still have a big part of your Heritage… I always knew you were special."
"Mother…"
"This was a gift originally created for the Merfolk… It was spread through lines as the ages went on… Your great grandfather was the last person in my side of the family to wield it…"
"And on the Stiles side, it was your great grandfather who was wielder of the Healing Touch from the heavens. Their powers, live in you."
Derek smiled, a look of relief in his eyes. "I'm still me…"
"And so much more my son." Lisbeth ruffled his hair lightly. "So messy still though!"
"Ack! Mom!"
"You get it from your dad I swear!"
Jonathan chuckled.
"Curse of the Stiles."
Lisbeth laughed hugging Derek…. Still messing up his hair more. "Rah! I shall tame this wild hair!"
"Mom! Come on! I'm 28!"
"Still our kid." Jonathan smirked. "No escaping that one, Derek."
Derek laughed, hugging his mother tightly. "Why would I want to? I got you both here…"
Lisbeth giggled before giving a dramatic sigh. "Now we have a bigger problem on our hands…"
"Taken care of Lisbeth." Jonathan got a sneaky look. "He has a girl."
"Oh I met the girl at the hospital." Lisbeth smirked. "I was going to ask when he's going to MARRY that girl so we can have grandkids!"
Derek turned bright red.
"... Can I get back to you in say three weeks?"
"... Oh my gosh did you buy a ring?" Jonathan gasped.
Derek grinned bringing a box out of his jean pocket. "Yes."
Lisbeth squealed. "Oh my gosh!"
"And all was right in the world." Jonathan laughed.
Lisbeth smiled laying her head on her husband's shoulder.
"In the world above and the sea below…"
Jonathan held his family close again.
"Joined together again, by the Earth."