Authors Note: Okay so this is it. The final chapter. I have to say that I am sad to see the story end, but I just don't feel as though there is anything left for the story of Derek and Abby. This was always meat to be the end. I just didn't see it coming 37 chapters later. You all have been amazing for following along, and for those who reviewed you all rocked.

Six Months Later

Things for the Hale household were tense those first couple of months. The true magnatidue of Peter's actions caused a ripple of hatred. It was only natural for Abby to hate Peter, and no one could fault her for this feelings. However, as the Alpha, Derek not only an obligation to his mate to his pack as a whole. There had to be reprocusions for Peter, naturally, but this would have to be handle delicately so that Abby could get justice as well. Derek knew what Abby wanted. She wanted slice Peter's throat open, but Derek couldn't kill his uncle nor could he total exile him from the pack. So they came up with an agreement. Peter was to be excluded from all Hale business holdings. His interest would be transferred to Isaac on his twenty fifth birthday until then Derek would act on his behalf. It was a fair compromise it removed whatever power Peter had. It was one of the worst punishments that he could get. It meant that he had no power or standing in the pack. With Derek acting for Isaac before Isaac became a man meant that Peter couldn't act through Isaac.

Peter and Abby barely spoke those first few months, well it was more like Abby barely spoke to Peter. Peter tried to apologize and explain himself to Abby several times. Really anything to make amends with her, but Abby wasn't hearing any of it. And she was insistent that he have no contact with Cullen, but over time her heart soften and she allowed the man into her and her child's life. She was built to hold that much hate in her heart. So she forgave him. While she may have given the two of them would never be anything more then people who shared people that they loved.

One Year Later

Derek couldn't believe how quickly things changed for him, and then how they changed just as quickly again. It seemed like only yesterday that Abby fell into his life, they started seeing each other, then everything fell apart when she found out his secrets, and finally Abby was turned. Yet a year later Derek found himself mated, married, and now rocking his first child to sleep in his arms. Cullen Andrew Hale came screaming into the world less then a week ago weighting 8 pounds and he was twelve inches. He was the spitting image of his father, and Derek couldn't be prouder. Thats how Derek found himself wiping the sleep from his eyes as he padded his way to his sons room.

"Hey there champ. You hungry?" Derek gently lifted the crying infant from his crib cradling him close to his chest. "Lets get you a bottle so that we don't wake mommy." Derek grabbed one of the pre-made bottles and sat in the rocking chair. He chuckled to himself as he watched his son attack his baby bottle as his older cousins would attack a steak. If this was an indication of the future then he was going to eat them out of house and home just like Isaac and Scott. Once Cullen had his fill of his late night snack Derek burped him and replaced the bottled with a pacifier. The great and powerful Derek Hale sat rocking his infant son, and he wouldn't have any other way. "You are so loved, do you know how many people love you little man? Mommy and Daddy love you, Uncle Scott loves you, Uncle Peter and Aunt Mel love you, so do your cousins Stiles, Isaac and Jennifer (Melissa's and Peter's daughter), and your Grandpa John. No one will love you more then mommy an daddy though. I am going to make sure that you have a good life, and I will always protect you and mommy." Derek kissed his son's head and continued to gently rock him.

Abby stood at the door to her infants room and listened as Derek spoke to Cullen. She was all to aware of the ever persistent fear that resided in Derek. The tragedies of his past seemed to intensify with the birth of their son. Abby compared Derek's need to protect to her desire to nest. Over all it was sweet, but she did worry for her husband and mate. "And mommy is going to make sure that Daddy doesn't worry himself into an early grave."

"Hey I didn't want to wake you go back to sleep." Derek leaned his face up to accept the kiss that Abby gave him on his lips.

"And miss spending time with this little guy? Now stop hogging him Hale and fork him over." Abby playfully demanded as she held out her arms for her son. Derek had been great

"Seriously babe go back to bed I got him."

"Derek come on we talked about this. As long as I am not working I am on midnight feeding and poop duty. Now baby me!" Abby softy removed Cullen from Derek's arms.

"I just don't want to put him down. I'm so afraid I'm going to blink and he's going to be a man, and I would have missed out on everything." Derek rubbed one of his hands over his son's head.

"Derek, sweetheart, that's have every parent feels." Abby tried to calm her husband by rubbing his forehead bring him down so that his head was resting in the crook of her neck. "Please relax. I don't want you worrying to the point that you miss out on all of the good stuff. I'll tell you what. I'll bring him back with us to bad if you promise me that you will try and relax?"

Derek rubbed his nose singling that he agreed with Abby's proposal. Abby giggled at Derek's actions. Sometimes he reminded her of a pup. For Derek, thought, some of his best nights were when he had his mate and his pup next him.

Derek and Abby would welcome two pups into their own private pack another boy, Bowen, and a baby girl Aubrey. The danger that Derek was always fearful of never came and with each passing year he worried less and less. He enjoyed watching his children grew, and he enjoyed it even more his pups started having pups. Through all the pain and torment Derek finally got peace.

Three Years Later

Derek gave Stiles the bit on his eighteenth birthday and Stiles proved to be an exceptional wolf. He had control that Derek had never seen from a wolf that was bitten and not born a werwolf. Derek chalked it up to Stiles being raised around wolves most of his life. Once he graduated high school he got accepted into MIT surprisingly he was not alone when he got there. Lydia to had gotten accepted into MIT and the two of the were shocked to run into each other during freshman orientation. The two of them had unconsciously clung to one another. Lydia could always be found lounging around in one of Stiles tee shirts or sweat shirts, and Stiles could be seen in Lydia's room whenever he had a break from classes. It was Derek who pointed out to him that Lydia was his mate. It got to the point that when they were refereed to it was always as StilesandLydia as if they were one person. Their roommates found them adorable.

Derek had figured it out when the family had gone to see Stiles up at school. He had observed them together. It was never more obvious when Lydia's parent's had bailed on her for family weekend and she was going to be all alone. Stiles had made sure that she was included in everything that the Hales did. The way that Stiles was around her, and not like the awkward teen that followed her around when they were kids, no these were the actions a mature wolf looking out for his mate making sure she was taken care of and protected. Add to the fact that she smelled like him and it was obvious to both human and wolf.

"I don't understand you said that she was going to be my mate?" Stiles was shocked when Derek clued him into what was happening.

"Correction I said I couldn't promise that she would be your mate. I guess as either as a human or wolf you will always be drawn to Lydia." Derek patted Stiles on the shoulder. The teen was still in shock at the revelation.

"How come I'm not all nutty around like you and Scott were?" Stiles asked before he realized the words left his mouth. "Not that you were nutty or anything." Stiles tried to back track so that he didn't offend his alpha.

Derek glared and then rolled his eyes at his youngest beta. "Maybe it's because your doing the duties of a mate. You're taking care of her in the way she needs right now by providing her support and comfort. Your wolf is satisfied. Look you don't need to do anything or to freak out. I just thought you would like to know."

"I don't understand though. I haven't gone into rut or felt the effects of a mating season." Stiles was trying to understand what was happening to him. This was not how he pictured his mating. He thought that it would be intense that he would recognize his mate and then immediately be drawn to her.

"She doesn't need a lover right now Stiles. She just needs someone to be there for her, and you're that person. You also have to consider that you aren't a hormonal sixteen year old boy. You can control yourself better." Derek said that last part with a laugh. He could only image what Stiles first mating season would have been like if it had happened when he was still a hormonal teenage boy.

Derek left Stiles with a lot to think about. He didn't know how to act around Lydia now. They had entered into this stable friendship that he was afraid to ruin. Scott had been the one to tell him to man up and to simply ask her out. Surprisingly that worked and with in a few months time they were a couple.

Lydia took to the news of Stiles fury little problem much better then anyone ever expected. In fact, she even joked that him being bitten explained how he became so buff over night. They had a wonderful marriage and a true partnership. It broke their hearts when they found out that Lydia would never be able to bear children. Stiles even went to Derek begging him to turn in hopes that the bite would heal her. Sadly Lydia being turned would not help with her ability to have children. Stiles had to sit by and watch as his mate became broken. Luckily they were blessed with two babies that they adopted. The first was Meagan. Her mother was a young girl who was raped by her boyfriend who she didn't know was a wolf. Through connections, that Derek had, they young women allowed them to adopt Meagan. She was simply to young to be a mother herself. She never knew that her rapist was a werewolf or that her baby would be one. It was better this way. She had enough to deal with. They pack was thrilled for the young couple. Little Meagan had every grandfather wrapped around her little finger the minute he laid eyes on her, and Derek claimed her as pack right away. A few years after they welcomed Meagan into their home they decided they were ready for another child, and that was how they got little Toby. Unlike his sister Toby was born pure human. Stiles and Lydia went through the proper channels of an adoption agency. Like his father Toby received the bite on his eighteenth birthday.

Five Years Later

Predictably Scott purposed to Alison once they both graduated college; that was the easy part. Telling her his fury little secret and the war that once took place between their two families was another story. There were of course some tears, and a lot of anger. Alison even left Scott for awhile, but surprisingly it was Alison's own father who was able to calm his daughter down.

Chris was startled to find his daughter hold up in her room under her old comforter crying her eyes out. He was even more started to hear her chocked out confession for the reason for her tears.

"You have to understand what it was like back then. What it was like growing up with your grandfather. He had a way of making people follow his every command like it came from the bible." Chris sat his daughter down. It was a shock for him to come home and find his daughter hysterical in tears shaking. It was also a shock when she started to spout about werewolves. "Your Aunt Kate and I lived to please him. And no one wanted his approval more then your Aunt Kate. No one knew what she was up because if I had I would have done my best to try and stop her. We had a code back then; only to kill the ones we could prove were guilty. What she did was unconscionable. She had hired arsonist, and blackmailed the local chemistry teacher into helping her burn the Hale's alive. She almost killed every single one of them. Derek was out of the house, and Isaac and Scott were staying with the Stilinski's. Peter was the only one saved from the fire. Not everyone in that house were werewolves nor were they adults. Some of them were children. Do you wanna know what your grandfather did when she told him? He congratulated her. I was sickened. I truly believed that we were protectors but after that I lost my stomach for it. We were no better then the wolves. Who were we to impose our way onto them? The alpha's had their own way of dealing with the occasional rabied wolf."

"Why didn't you fight back? Try to avenge our family?" Alison sobbed harder as Chris held her closer.

"What good would that have done? Derek earned his revenge. Unlike your aunt he didn't go after anyone who wasn't responsible. He spared you which was a lot more then your Aunt Kate would have done. So when he came to me with his terms I took them. I was tired of fighting, and of all the blood shed. I just wanted to raise you in peace." Chris kissed the top of his daughter's head the same why he would have done when she was a child and had a nightmare.

"Do you forgive him?" Alison managed to get out.

"Forgiveness is not the word I would use. I would say we have more of an understanding to stay out of the others way. The both of us have seen and done too much to truly be able to forgive." Chris took Alison face in his hands so that she was looking directly into his eyes. "I want you to hear me. I do not want this to become your burdened. We all mistakes, and we all caused each other a lot of pain. But that's not on you or Scott. I will give Derek this much credit he never put his hate on Scott nor did he try and stop Scott from seeing you. Do you love him? Because if you can answer yes to that question then you hold on to him. Most people spend their loves looking for someone to love."

Chris Argent only wanted two things in life. The first was his daughters happiness and the second was peace. Both of those things could be achieved with Scott Hale. Chris did not want to see his daughter go down the same destructive road as her aunt. So he told her everything. He told her how Kate had seduced Derek with the purpose of finding out all about his family. How she broke the code when she killed the wolves with no proof of guilt. He didn't blame Derek for taking his revenge, nor was he happy about it. To simply put it he could understand what he did. He wanted his daughter happy, and Scott made her happy. She would be safe with Scott, and he could provide her with a good life. It was just want any father would want for his daughter.

Alison waisted no time in returning to Scott and ran into his arms that same teary eyed and sobbing. "I am so sorry. I shouldn't have ran off. I should have listened more."

"Ah Alison baby no." Scott was quick to cut her off. He was just so glad that she was back, and the way he saw it there was no need for her to apologize. He wiped her eyes with the sleeve of his shirt and help her close as he peppered kisses in her hair. "I should have been honest with you from the beginning. I was just so afraid that you would leave. We can make this work baby. I promise we are going to have a good life."

There wedding was beautiful and grand. Derek served as Scott's best man with Lydia as Alison's made of honor. Isaac and Abby walked together as a groomsman and bridesmaid. Little Cullen and Jennifer were the ring bearer and flower girl respectively.

Alison and Scott would welcome four daughters before Scott had the beloved son that he prayed for. Living in a house with five other women made him feel like he was out number, and frankly teenage girls were strange. Boys were much easier; at least that's what Scott thought. He loved his daughters though each and every one of them. He was so grateful that they all turned out to be strong and beautiful like their mother. Scott taught his son lacrosse and football, and made sure that his son had a father that would teach him how to be a wolf. Chris was a very present grandfather and he made sure that he was very active in his grandchildren's lives even though they were all born wolves. He even taught them archery, and took great enjoyment out of the looks that he received from Scott and Derek.

Seven Years Later

It was at Scott and Alison's wedding where Isaac met his mate Cora. Cora was from another pack that was invited to witness the nuptials. It was love at first sniff. It was almost comical watching Isaac follow her around all night tripping over his own two feet and stuttering when he tried to speak to her. If it was for Derek Isaac wouldn't have spoken two words to her all night.

Isaac's issue came not with the telling of his furry little monthly problem but with getting Cora released from her pack so that she could officially become a member of Derek's. Kali was a tough alpha with a pack that most consisted of females. And Cora was one of her best wolves. Kali had a special attachment to Cora. She found her when she was nothing more then a pup of two or three. Her pack had been slaughtered by hunters and she was the lone survivor. Kali had taken her in and raised her like a daughter. Naturally she as reluctant to let her go. But after some heavy negotiation Isaac was allowed to officially make a claim to Cora.

"I fail to see how I benefit from releasing Cora into your pack. I'll lose one of my best wolves." Kali was a hard women. She had a reputation for being hard.

"Do you want an unhappy wolf in your pack?" Derek was quick to point out that Cora wasn't opposed to change. "Isaac's a Hale and an heir. You know our laws, and by our laws he can not leave. However, I do recognize that this is a hardship for you. I am willing to make amends. However you see fit." That was the best solution that Derek could come up with, and it work because Kali agreed to release Cora.

"Let's just say I am going to need some of the muscle and intimidation that only Derek Hale can provided. I am having an issue with a very persistent Alpha." Kali lamented. While Kali may have been tough as nails that didn't stop other Alpha's from trying to encroach on her pack. She was a women and most thought her to be weak.

"Of course whatever assistance that we can provide." Derek understood perfectly what Kali wanted. Aligning herself with the Hales would up her status, and make her more legitimate as an Alpha. With the backing of the Hale's whatever Alpha that was bothering her would run off quickly with their tail between their legs.

Cora and Isaac were as different as night and day. Where Isaac was calm and quiet Cora was loud and blunt. She made Isaac stronger, and he brought peace to her life, and gave her the family that she had longed for. They were the ying to the others yang. Cora was also a very positive addition to the pack. As a mate to Isaac she helped him make the decisions that fell on him. With Cora whispering in his ear it meant that Peter wouldn't be able to influence his son.

Cora and Isaac had twin boys. Michael and Jacob. Both of whom resembled their father. Isaac was pleased that they got their back bone of their mother. He absolutely loved being a father. He even coached the boys in lacrosse along with Scott and Stiles.

Derek's pack slow grew and before he realized it his pack had tripled in size. The Hale manor was filled again. On any given one could hear the laughter of children playing and the chatter of the adults who were watching them. And he finally got back what the fire had stolen from him: a pack and more importantly a family.