A/N: Sorry for the delay in the update. I lost a lot of chapters that I had written ready to post and have had to re-write them, it's taken a while for me to get over it and find the momentum to re-write. Hope you enjoy! X
Present ...
When the Sheriff returned home, Stiles and Derek headed downstairs to the kitchen where they found him making a pot of coffee. "Hey." Stiles said heading over to the cupboard, he pulled it open and surveyed its contents. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Derek self consciously tug at his shirt and run his fingers through his hair, worried it would be obvious what he and Stiles had been up to just a few moments before. It was a good job Derek had supernaturally enhanced hearing, he'd heard the police cruiser before it had even pulled into the driveway.
"Hey kid, you still up?" The Sheriff asked glancing at the clock - it was just after two in the morning. "Derek!" The Sheriff exclaimed, distracted he saw the young Hale leaning against the frame of the kitchen door. "It's good to see you home, where have you been?"
"Around." Derek replied with a shrug. "I heard about what happened at the school, another mountain lion attack?" he asked.
The Sheriff nodded and just sighed wearily, the situation was really starting to stress him out - everyone was demanded answers from him, and a solution, both of which he didn't have. "It's good to see you home son." he said patting Derek on the shoulder as he passed to grab himself a coffee.
Derek glanced at Stiles who beamed at him. "Told you." he whispered.
Derek touched his fingers lightly as he passed him and smiled in return - he was glad the Sheriff had put no thought whatsoever into what Scott had said about him being involved in the Janitors murder. Derek poured himself a coffee and sat down at the table opposite the Sheriff.
Stiles pulled himself up so he was sitting on the counter top and listened to them talk about the recent murders whilst munching his way through a packet of biscuits. Derek was subtly trying to get as much information out of the Sheriff as he could just in case he let slip anything that could help. The Sheriff was tired, but not enough to reveal anything he knew he shouldn't.
"Nice try." Stiles said with a smirk when his father had retreated to his room for the night.
Derek stood up, headed over to the counter and topped up his coffee. "Worth a shot." he replied. "I think I'll head out and have a scout around."
"Okay." Stiles nodded, he knew Derek wouldn't be able to rest properly until this was over - it was lucky that werewolves could run on very little ship for longer periods of time that your average human. "Be careful out there." he said knowing Kate was probably still sniffing around and even though Derek wasn't her main priority at the moment, he knew the hunter wouldn't let an opportunity to take Derek down go if one presented itself.
Derek smiled reassuringly, he crossed the kitchen and pressed a kiss to Stiles's lips. "Get yourself to bed, you look exhausted." he said stroking a finger over the dark circles under his eyes.
Stiles smiled at him. "Well I would have been asleep ages ago if it weren't for a certain werewolf distracting me." he said poking Derek in the chest.
"Ah so it's my fault then?" Derek replied his hands resting on the counter top either side of where Stiles was sitting.
"Completely and utterly." Stiles said with a nod.
Their eyes lingered on each other's for a fraction too long. Before he had a chance to let himself doubt his actions, Stiles lopped his arms around the Derek's neck and pulled the supernatural into a kiss.
Derek's eyes fell closed and he couldn't help but kiss him back despite a little voice in the back of his head telling him that the Sheriff could catch them at any moment. Ignoring these thoughts, Derek pressed closer to Stiles. He found the younger teens knees in the way and pushed them apart with a rough hand. Derek sank against him, kissing him with a sense of urgency he'd never known before.
Stiles leant back, placing a hand behind him on the counter top to brace himself, one arm still slung around the werewolf's neck and one leg locking around the back of his to keep him close. The kiss deepened and Stiles moaned at the scrape of Derek's stubble which sent a jolt of excitement shooting down his spine. He pressed his body against the solid muscle of Derek's keenly - wanting every inch of his body connected with his.
Stiles sighed happily as Derek's lips left his and wandered down to his neck, his fingers teased through the werewolf's dark hair and tightened encouragingly when Derek's lips reached the base of his neck and he sucked on his pulse point. "Hmm ... yeah that feels good." he moaned encouragingly, unconsciously rolling his hips against the werewolf.
His words of encouragement betrayed him however and Derek seemed to snap to his sense and broke away abruptly.
Stiles whined in disappointment, he opened his eyes and was stunned to see Derek's eyes had set a solid blue and his teeth had grown to sharp points. He could tell he'd heard something by the twitch of his extended ears and watched as he glanced up at the ceiling. "You'd hear him if he came down." Stiles whispered knowing Derek had heard movement from his father's room.
"Not if I was lost in the moment." Derek replied with a shy smile as his eyes reverted to their usual colour and his teeth shrank down. Stiles couldn't help but smile - something inside him tingled pleasantly when he realised the weight of the meaning behind these words. If Derek had noticed his physical transformation he didn't say anything and Stiles didn't dare mention it because he was worried it would frighten Derek off.
The heated atmosphere that had built between them had dissipated, and although disappointed, they both knew it was probably for the best. Derek stepped back and tore his eyes away from Stiles's before he gave into temptation again. He straightened his shirt and ran a nervous hand through his hair. "It's not just that though." he added. "I don't want to rush this."
Stiles pouted slightly. "It feels like we've been waiting forever to get together Derek."
"I know." Derek agreed with a nod - God if only Stiles knew, he thought. "But I'd at least like to take you out, I don't want you to think I'm not serious about this. Us."
"Are you saying you want to take me on a date?" Stiles asked unable to hide the great big grin that crossed his face as he asked the question.
Derek coloured a little but nodded. "I guess I am. So what do you say?"
Stiles's eyebrows rose. "Well I guess I'd have to think about it ..." he teased as he tapped his chin thoughtfully.
Derek knew Stiles was only playing around. "Well I'll let you sleep on it then." he said with a smile. He crossed the kitchen, grabbed his jacket and pulled it on. "You can let me know tomorrow."
Stiles just rolled his eyes at Derek - they both knew what his answer would be.
"Don't wait up for me, I'll see you in the morning." Derek told him.
Stiles nodded, he slid off the kitchen counter and walked with Derek over to the back door. They shared a brief kiss before Derek disappeared out into the night.
Stiles closed the door and leant against it, he sighed happily and couldn't help but smile - Derek really wanted to be with him! He still couldn't quite believe it.
Stiles drifted upstairs to his room and flopped down on his bed for the second time that night. However this time he felt completely different, his whole body buzzed with excitement and felt happier than he had in a long time.
Things were good. Really good.
Stiles wished he could tell someone - anyone - but he couldn't. There was no one for him to tell, and it was at times like these that he wished his mother was still alive. Would she approve he found himself wondering. He liked to think so, he was sure she would just want him to be happy.
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Past ...
When Derek arrived back at the Hale house after walking Kate home he was surprised that his mother and sister still hadn't returned; it could only mean that they were having difficulty tracking Peter and Lucas. His uncle and brother were deliberately hiding from them, masking their scents. What were they up to?
Derek let himself into the house and checked on Cora who was still sound asleep, he headed back to his room but felt far too unsettled to sleep. As he lay back on his bed he thought about Kate, he had been convinced that she was unaware of what her family did but now he wasn't so sure. What if she did know? What if she was using him just like he was using her?
Derek's heartbeat quickened at the possibility of being drawn into a trap laid out by the Argents. He knew he had to break things off with Kate, he couldn't take the risk now there was a trace of doubt in his mind whether he could trust her.
Derek racked his brains, thinking about every interaction he'd had with Kate in the short time he'd known her - had he given anything away that could put his family at risk? He didn't think so, and tried to let this thought comfort him.
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Present ...
Stiles could tell something was preying on Derek's mind; they were sitting at the breakfast counter the following morning, Stiles was finishing off his homework at the same time as trying to eat his cereal and Derek was flipping through the newspaper. The werewolf was far too quiet for Stiles's liking, even for Derek's standards. He thought at first that perhaps it was because his father was milling around the kitchen, as if even a look or a word exchanged between them would give their change in relationship away, but even after the Sheriff had left for work Derek's mood hadn't lifted.
Stiles mindlessly chatted away to him, trying to coax him into conversation. Derek just nodded here and there as he spoke but Stiles could tell he wasn't really listening. He wasn't reading the newspaper he had his eyes fixed on either, he just seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
"Right I'll be off then." Stiles said picking his bag up off the counter top. "Will I see you later?" he asked as he swung his bag onto his shoulder. Derek just nodded, his eyes not lifting from the newspaper. "Okay ... well have a good day." Stiles replied flatly. Was it something he had done? How could it be? Everything had been fine when they'd parted the previous evening.
As he was about to leave the kitchen, Derek quickly grabbed Stiles by the elbow, stopping him in his tracks. He turned to Derek and paused ... waiting for him to say something. Derek's hand slid down from his elbow and closed around his wrist. Stiles could sense he was worried, that he didn't want to let him go. "What is it ...?" he asked unsurely. Derek's eyes finally came to rest on his for the first time that morning. Stiles was instantly reassured ... Derek didn't look angry or upset with him, so clearly it wasn't anything he'd done. But he did look worried. "Der?" Stiles asked.
"Just ..." Derek stopped and sighed. "Just be careful around Scott today." he said his fingers brushing over his wrist as he let him go.
Stiles knew now what had been on Derek's mind, the moon would be out in full tonight and he was worried that Scott would lose control like last time. "I'll be fine." he assured him. "I'll let you know if there is the slightest hint of any trouble." he added as he hiked his school bag up onto his shoulder. "Seriously Der - don't worry."
"As if I could stop myself." Derek said with a sigh, his fingers scrunching tightly around the newspaper. His protective urges were even greater now the full moon was on top of them, he was struggling to fight the wolf battling with his emotions.
Stiles laid his hand over Derek's causing the werewolf to release the paper, his wolf settled instantly at his mate's touch and Derek let out he breath he'd been holding. Stiles leant down and pressed a kiss to his lips, pacifying him even more than he thought possible. "I'll be on my guard." he promised.
Derek nodded, he slid his arms around Stiles's slim waist and pulled him in close. Because Stiles was standing, and he sitting, he found his face buried against his chest. Derek didn't care, and just breathed the comforting scent of his mate in. He wasn't sure if it was the full moon or the fact they were not together ... or a combination of both ... but he found himself more worried, more paranoid, and even more desperate to cling to Stiles and not let go. "Just don't be blind when it comes to Scott, I know you trust him but this is only his second full moon." he mumbled.
Stiles couldn't help but chuckle as his voice vibrated against him, tickling him. He drew back, cupped Derek's face with his palms and pressed another kiss to his lips. "I've got to go or I'll be late." he told him. "That means you will have to let go of me." he added with a smile when Derek didn't budge.
Derek sighed and reluctantly let him go, Stiles gave him another reassuring smile before he headed off.
Derek just sighed heavily - Stiles might trust Scott but he sure as hell didn't.
Especially now he knew what the Alpha wanted.
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Past ...
Stiles groaned as he lifted his head and opened his eyes; his head was pounding and his whole body ached.
"Finally! Wakey wakey handsome."
Stiles frowned and moaned in protest when the side of his face was patted rather roughly by a cold hand. "Whaa ...what's going on?" he asked not knowing where he was.
Stiles's eyes widened as the fogginess clouding his brain suddenly lifted and he took in where he was; he had woken to find himself in a dark room. Squinting, Stiles could make out school desks around him. A classroom, he realised.
Stiles tried to move but found himself tied to a chair by ropes bound to him so tightly that they cut into his skin every time he tried to free himself. "What's going on?" he asked twisting his head from side to side to try and catch a glimpse of the person he could sense standing behind him. Stiles swallowed hard. "My dad is the Sheriff - he'll -"
The person behind him snorted and then laughed. "He's completely out of it Stiles, passed out in his armchair from too much drink."
Stiles's heart stilled when he realised that he recognised the voice the words belonged to. "Kate." he hissed, rocking from side to side to try and loosen the ropes but it was to no avail. "What's this all about?"
Kate circled the room until she appeared in front of Stiles. Stiles glared up at her, she was smiling at him broadly. "You said Derek was in trouble." Stiles said finally remembering what had happened earlier. It was after midnight and Kate had come to his house and hammered on his door.
Stiles was awake, still having trouble sleeping, he knew his father would be too out of it answer the door and so headed down himself. He had been more than a little surprised to find Kate standing on his doorstep, breathless from running and looking panic stricken. Kate had told him that Derek was in trouble and needed him. Stiles didn't doubt her for a second and didn't hesitate to agree to go with her.
Stiles had just bent down to put on his shoes when he was struck over the back of the head with something cold and heavy.
The next thing he knew he'd woken up tied to a chair in the school - how long he'd been out he did not know.
Kate laughed. "Yeah I knew that would get your attention." he said picking idly at her long finger nails. "You've got a little thing for him haven't you?" she said with a sneer. "A crush? Aw how sweet!" she drawled.
Stiles swallowed hard and desperately tried to ignore the red heat spreading across his face. "What do you want with me?" he demanded.
"Oh sweetie no." Kate said with a shake of her blond head. "It's not you, it's Derek. You're just the bait." she explained.
Stiles stared up at her. "You're his girlfriend, what do you need me for?" he asked.
Kate rolled her eyes. "Come on Stiles, we both know Derek isn't interested in me." she said in a bored voice. "He made that pretty obvious ..." she added with a sigh, she wasn't used to feeling rejected from members of the opposite sex. "But even so I thought I had earned his trust, turns out I was wrong. I saw doubt in his eyes tonight. He doesn't trust me enough to tell me the truth, so I had to think of another way to get it out of him."
"Truth about what?" Stiles asked now completely lost.
Kate shook her head. "Let's wait for Derek to join us before we talk about that huh?" she smiled as she handed a mobile phone to him. Stiles quickly realised it was his own phone. "Call him, say exactly what I tell you to say. If you dare try to warn him I'll put an arrow in your chest." she said grabbing a crossbow from one of the school desks and pointing it directly at Stiles. "Don't think I won't." she warned him.
Stiles swallowed hard. Just the look in Kate's manic eyes, shred any doubt he had.