"Hey, how you holding up kiddo?" Julia asked her sister as she stood in the doorway to the living room of her apartment. Addie however was in a world of her own, completely spaced out she barely heard her sisters voice from where she sat solemnly, her chin resting upon her knee on the sofa.

"Hmm? Sorry Jules, what was that?" Addie shook her head and brought herself back to the room, adjusting the frames upon her nose and putting down the pen she'd been twirling round her fingers blankly for the past half hour.

"I asked how you were doing?" Julia repeated with an almost worried smile, moving from where she stood to sit at her sisters side, handing her one of the two bowls of ice-cream she was holding.

"I'm fine." Addie answered for what seemed like the millionth time in the past few days, nodding vigorously as if to convince herself. It was six days after the incident with Peter Hale and four days after she'd been released from the hospital. Since then she'd pretty much been on lock down at Julia and Michael's, on her fathers orders of course. Only until he found a suitable housekeeper to stay with her at the house while he was away. Quite frankly she couldn't blame him.

"I wish I believed you." Julia sighed, running a hand through her thick blonde hair that matched Addie's so well. "Have you heard from Stiles?"

"I don't want to talk about him." Addie spoke quietly, eyes on her spoon as she stirred her ice-cream until it became a creamy substance.

"Addie, obviously I don't know what's happened between you two, but what I do know is that Stiles is a good kid. A good kid who cares about you, and if he's done something then you have every right to be mad at him, but Addie people make mistakes, you shouldn't push him away for that." Julia looked over at her sister, who she hadn't seen this miserable in a very long time. "It's obvious that that boy loves you, and that you love him too. I don't think I've ever seen you as happy as you are when you're with him. Addie honey, I know you've had a really hard time of it this year and I won't pretend to understand any of it, other than losing mom. With school, with those girls that you thought were your friends, with everything weird that seems to be going on in this town. But when everything seemed to be going wrong you found something good, and my advice is to hold onto it as hard as you can."

"Thanks." Addie said quietly, a break in her voice that she couldn't quite hide. But when she looked up at her sister a moment later she had a smile on her face as she looked for a happier topic of conversation. "But hey, you're getting married tomorrow!" And with that a dazed smile crossed Julia's lips as she was reminded of her bride status, "Is it everything you ever dreamed it would be?"

"Well with the addition of an eight-month-old sidekick," Julia laughed as she placed a hand on her very swollen stomach, "Yes, yes it is."

"Aren't you nervous?" Addie asked curiously.

"Honey, I'm marrying my best friend. What have I got to be nervous about?"

- A Moment of Impact -

The ceremony was beautiful. On a brisk, but thankfully bone dry December day Julia Margaret Weaving and Michael Dyer became man and wife. For the first time in days, an entirely real smile was spread across Addie's face.

The reception was held in an obscenely large marquee which had been erected the night before in the back yard of the Weaving Family home. Handfuls of small round tables covered with white winter flowers and fairy lights surrounded the edges while in the middle sat a wooden makeshift dance floor full of the couples family and friends.

Sitting alone at a table on the edge of the dance floor with a glass of champagne was Addie, in her bridesmaid dress watching others laugh and spin around. Her dad spinning little Sophie round and round, her fellow bridesmaids Heidi and Nora swaying along to the music and finally Julia and Michael, off to the side, her on his knee as they hid at the side of the makeshift stage with buffet plates in their hands, laughing away as the ate and ate. So content doing even the simplest thing together that it made Addie smile.

"A young girl as pretty as yourself shouldn't be left sitting alone at a wedding," the old voice startled Addie from her own thoughts and she turned to find Michael's elderly grandfather at her side, Alfred. A kind, sweet old man she'd only met a handful of times before.

Addie laughed awkwardly, "Oh, I uh, my best friend was supposed to be here, but she um, she couldn't make it." Addie's gaze dropped to her lap. She and Lydia has been talking about this day since the engagement, she couldn't believe she wasn't here. Addie had visited her friend everyday in the hospital, and while she knew her friend would understand why she hadn't been today, she still felt guilty for skipping out. Lydia had awoken, but she was still being kept in for an extra few days.

"I heard about your friend dear, sorry." Alfred laid a comforting on her shoulder. "I was going to ask if there hadn't been any young gentlemen willing to accompany you this evening, however it appears that he has just arrived." Addie's eyebrows furrowed as she looked up to find Alfred's gaze falling behind her, "I'll let you go Adelaide dear."

Addie's wide gray eyes followed his gaze until she found a pair of heartbroken hazel eyes she would recognise in even the most crowded room. There, at the other side of the marquee, past tens of people, stood Stiles, sadness on his face and a look of almost hopelessness evident in his body language.

It was the slightly askew bow tie hat made her heart skip a beat.

Without her knowing, she was on her feet, and then she was walking forward. So was he. They walked with their eyes locked on each others and their hearts swelling until they met in the middle. In the middle of the crowd they stood a foot from each other, each waiting for the other to break the silence.

"You're here." Addie stated dumbly.

"Julia invited me." Stiles answered, his eyes searching every inch of her face, almost as if he were drinking it in after not seeing her in almost a week. It was difficult going from seeing someone everyday, to suddenly having them ripped away. "She called during the week."

Addie just nodded. She should have known. She really should of. She glanced around the marquee to find her sister and when she did she was met with a small smile and a knowing look before Julia went back to her conversation.

"Addie I-" Stiles reached out a hand and was about to take a step forward when he was interrupted.

"Stiles!" A small blur ran into his side and wrapped her short arms around the tops of his legs. Sophie grinned up at Stiles with wide eyes and a smile that stretched from ear-to-ear. She then proceeded to go on at a mile a minute, Addie only shook herself out of a state of shock at even seeing Stiles towards the end. "I'm so glad you're here! Don't you just love my dress, isn't it great? And what about Aunt Addie, isn't she just gorgeous?!"

"She looks beautiful." Stiles said, looking up from Sophie to her Aunt.

"You had seen the dress before." Addie deflected, remembering the time he'd walked in on her fitting, seeing the long, champagne dress that fell gracefully to the floor before.

"It's got nothing to do with the dress. I've seen the girl inside it a million times before and I still think it every time," he stated it ever so matter-of-factually that it almost took Addie aback. She opened her mouth to respond but nothing was coming out. Luckily Sophie had her back.

"Stiles will you dance with me? Please, please, pleeeease?!" Sophie begged, tugging on Stiles hand and trying to pull him towards the dance floor.

"Addie-" Stiles looked back at Addie, but he didn't really have a choice in the matter.

"You should go with her." Addie told him, however it was a moot point as it was then that there was mass glass clinking that signaled the toasts and speeches were to begin.

Addie retreated to her table, and semi-listened as her dad and then Michael's best man gave their speeches. Throughout she couldn't help but find her eyes drawn over to Stiles every couple of seconds. Each time his eyes were firmly fixed on her, making a blush creep up her neck.

Before she knew what was happening, a microphone was being shoved into her hand and it was her turn. She walked slowly towards the stage her mind alternating between a hundred miles an hour, and freezing completely. How was she supposed to make a speech congratulating her newly married sister when she had so much racing through her head? When Stiles was standing right there in the midst of the crowd for her to see, in his fitted gray tux and crooked bow tie?

"Uh, hi." Addie breathed out. "Most of you know me, and for those who don't I'm Addie Weaving, Julia's sister." Addie wished she'd drank more champagne before having to do this. She'd planned her speech, down to the last word, done all of the research possible online and on all of the wedding and bridesmaids websites. But now standing here in the moment, she realized that none of it was what she wanted to say. She had her own words to put across now.

"I'm not going to retell you the story of Michael and Julia's love, partly because it's theirs, but mostly because by being here today it means you've been there first hand to witness and be a part of their lives and the amazing family they have made. What I will tell you though, is what I have learned from them.

"I don't know much about love. I'm sixteen years old, I probably don't know anything about love. What I do know, what I've learned from them, is that love is nothing more than being there for someone. That person who is your best friend in the entire world." Addie's eyes couldn't help but land on Stiles, and this time they didn't leave. "It's having someone who you can count on no matter what, because they would never let you down. It's knowing someone better than you know yourself. When everything seems to be falling down around you there they are, protecting you from all that they can. It's not having to hide, being able to share your fears without judgment and knowing that they will always be there for you no matter what. That they'll love you not despite your flaws, but because of them and the person that they make up. And when you find something that rare, something as pure and perfect as that in an imperfect world? You hold on to it for dear life and you don't let it go."

Addie shook herself out of whatever trance she'd locked into and tore her tearing up eyes away from Stiles' strong, emotion filled gaze. "Over the past eight years, Julia and Michael have taught me that there is nothing greater in this world than falling in love with your best friend, and for that I am truly grateful." Addie tried to be as inconspicuous as possible as she sniffed, "So if you would all join me in raising a glass, to Julia and Michael. I know that I'm not the only one who can't wait to watch as the love grows between not only you both, but your growing family." Addie looked over at a grinning Sophie, towards Julia's large baby bump. "To Julia and Michael."

Glasses around the tent clinked as everyone repeated her final words. Addie took this moment to attempt her escape, making her way towards an exit point however, she was thwarted, locked into a hug by some drunken relative who didn't notice the two small tears that slid down her cheeks.

- A Moment of Impact -

For the next twenty minutes Addie was jostled from one guest to another, not getting a minute to herself. Or to Stiles. Stiles hung back watching as people approached her, each congratulating her on a beautiful speech and doting on what a lovely day it had been. He watched as she handled herself with grace, smiling at each who spoke to her, laughing politely and engaging in their conversation with whole hearted interest, only he knew her well enough to know how much she wanted an out.

That speech, it spoke volumes. It told him everything he needed to know and he knew that if he ever wanted to make things right, to make things work, this would be his last chance. He too knew the greatness of falling in love with his best friend, and there was no way in hell he was going to let it slip through his fingers. He knew what he needed to do.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I borrow Addie for a dance?" Stiles interrupted, Addie almost surprised at hid boldness, turned to him with wide eyes. The middle-aged lady she had been speaking with glanced between the two knowingly before smiling and gesturing for them to go ahead.

Stiles held out a hand for Addie to take, and tried not to let it hurt too much when she eyed it apprehensively. Addie looked from his hand up to his pleading eyes, "Ads please." How could she not? Silently she took his hand and Stiles felt a shot of hope shoot through him as he lead her to the center of the floor.

It was a slow song, and Addie tried her best not to melt into him the way she once would not have been able to control as she clasped her hands around his neck and tried to ignore the feeling of his warm hands on the bare skin of her back. She silently cursed the loose braided up-she wore for leaving the back of her neck bare as she swore the hairs were standing so straight they were visible.

"Stiles what are you doing here?" Addie sighed, not wanting to fall into him. They'd been here a thousand times and they did nothing but go round in circles. Nothing ever changed.

"Okay straight in with the big questions." Stiles laughed nervously, before shaking his head as if to get things together. "Well, um, firstly I never got a chance to give you this." Addie watched in confusion as Stiles reached into his suit jacket, pulled out an envelope and handed it to her.

"It's addressed to me?" Addie furrowed her brows in confusion. Stiles motioned for her to open it, and there standing in the middle of the dance floor she did. She didn't read the entire thing, but the opening line was enough. Miss Adelaide Weaving, we are writing to confirm that we have received your application to the Stanford School of Art Summer Program... the letter went on but Addie's brain stopped taking anything in. "My application? But the deadline was last month, I- I never finished my application? How did you-"

"I may have broken into your locker. And had a little help from Julia." Stiles admitted.

"Of course you stole my artwork." Addie deadpanned in disbelief. "You- You sent away my application?"

"I just think you should have the option Addie, your artwork is incredible and you deserve to do what makes you happy. I want you to be happy." Stiles looked her dead in the eye as he tried to convey just how much he meant this.

"Stiles." Addie said breathlessly, and god did that tear at his heart strings.

"I miss you Ads. I miss my best friend. And I-" Stiles admitted. "I am so in love with you that us being like this hurts. It hurts Addie."

"I miss you too Stiles, but what do you want me to say?" Addie began, but didn't get to finish. It had been a rhetorical question but Stiles answered anyway.

"Say that you love me too." Stiles interrupted, desperation in his voice and Addie felt his pain

"I do, you know I do." She was verging on hysterical now. Addie's throat tightened and she did all she could to hold herself together in this room full of people. "But we have had this conversation a million times and nothing ever changes. We can't keep going round in circles like this. I do, I love you too but I can't keep doing this Stiles, I can't. Nothing ever changes."

"But what if it did?" Stiles urged, taking her by both hands and leaning down and looking desperately into her wide gray eyes.

"What- what do you mean?" Addie was confused now? How could it change? He still had secrets he couldn't tell her and she had tried to be okay with that but she couldn't, not when it was affecting their lives this much.

"Addie you are the most important thing to me in this world, I'm not going to jeopardize us again, I can't and I won't. I will not lose you again." Stiles spoke intensely and almost a little erratically, almost as if he had all these words locked up in his head and he just needed to get the all out there now and not a moment later. "Scott has been telling me to tell you everything for weeks now, but I needed to protect you, I needed you safe. I would never of forgiven myself... But look what happened anyway that night in the forrest. I told him I was telling you everything, and I am. This has gone on far too long." Addie opened her mouth to speak but Stiles wasn't finished, "I don't care Addie, no more secrets. From this day on I promise you I will never be anything but completely honest with you. I know how important it is to you, so it's important me."

Addie didn't know what to say. They stood there in silence for a while, neither daring to speak as his words lay out between them.

Eventually It was she who broke the stalemate.

Like she always did when she didn't know how to tell Stiles how she felt, she showed him. Replacing her hands on the back of his neck she reached up on her tiptoes and brought her mouth up to meet his. They had had a few kisses before, but none of them had felt like this. Like pure love. Like coming home. Pure, honest and like it was something that really, truly was the proper beginning to them.

After a minute or two Addie slowly pulled back, resting her forehead against his. Both of their eyes still shut. "No more secrets?"

"No more. From now on nothing but honesty, even when you're wearing that ugly orange sweater you wear when it's freezing out." Stiles grinned. Addie leaned back and opened her eyes just to roll them, but she too shared in his grin.

"Hey it's comfortable." Addie defended the sweater she too knew was truly hideous. "Complete honesty," she mulled over the thought. "I like the sound of that." Addie smiled as she moved back into position so they could continue the slow dance they'd started. They were on a dance floor after all.

"Me too." Stiles agreed, placing a kiss on her forehead as they swayed from side to side. "Tomorrow we'll sit down and I will tell you everything. Scouts honor."

And he would. Stiles would tell Addie everything. From the first night in the forest, to the truth behind the night in the school, to what exactly had happened to Lydia and that night in the clearing. Addie Weaving lived in a world of black and white, with little room for areas of gray, but gray was something she was going to have to learn to see.

Yes Stiles would tell her everything. Tomorrow. Because for now they were just two teenagers in love who were slow dancing at a wedding.

- A Moment of Impact -

I can't believe that we're finished! Thank you so much for everyone who has stood by Addie and Stiles' story, and thank you all so much for your support over the past two years! I can't thank you enough!

Let me know our thoughts in the reviews or on tumblr!

The way I see it when Stiles tells Addie about the mythical side to their small town and the werewolves, I think she'll still stay very true to herself and who she is. She'll still believe that those who do wrong as werewolves, are still human enough to have to deal with the consequences of their actions, for example Peter and how he should be in the hands of the law. But like I said in the ending Addie still has room to grow, she is only sixteen afterall.

Unfortunately I don't have any plans for a sequel just now, I just see Addie and Stiles settling into their relationship and pretty much being steady as a rock and a very strong team despite everything that comes their way.

Thank you for everything :)

Love,

Em xxxxx