The summer had begun to wind to a close. Though it was still a good few weeks until school started, Stiles was thinking about going back to Beacon Hills High and how it would epically suck. But whatever. He still had time to enjoy the lazy days. Like today.

He looked over to Derek on his bed. He was reading some green book. Wearing a absurdly tight gray henley and super tight jeans that just … oh lordy. Isaac was laying on the floor in front of the window, like a cat in the late afternoon sun, and Peter—for some reason—was perched on the staircase. Probably playing angry birds.

It was an addicting game, he had to admit, but seriously, Peter shouldn't be so normal.

Stiles didn't know why he was hanging out here over with what remained of the Hale pack, without Scott, but it felt right. Well, except Uncle McCreeper who always felt wrong.

Stiles played on his phone. He'd texted Scott earlier—knowing his poor friend was having Allison withdrawals made him more sympathetic but still, Scott shouldn't be a moper. It wasn't him.

-Yo. Scotty-o. What it do bro? S.

-Stiles, not now. I can't talk. Sc.

-Ok. What's up? mom stuff? S.

-yeah. hey, i'll see you later, k? Sc.

-kk. ttyl scotty. S.

Stiles flipped his phone in his hands. He really wanted to just straddle Derek's lap and make out with him for the rest of the evening, maybe even get some sexytimes in there, but no, Creepy Uncle was hanging out along with the wayward Lost Boy.

Could he figure something out? Magic was out of the question, not with Peter around to sniff him out. Well again. There was a reason for erasing his memories in the first place and Stiles was not about to let Peter in on the secret again. No way.

He felt so awkward sitting there, waiting for something to happen.

-dereeeeeeeek. S.

Derek looked up. Stiles pointed to his phone and mimed typing. Derek rolled his eyes.

-what. D

-why are they still here? S.

-because they haven't left yet. D.

-can you make them go? please? tired of sitting here dying of boredom. S.

-you can go if you want. I'm not making you stay here. D.

-i knowwwwww. ugh. fine. but you'd better come after me. S.

-k bye. D.

-heartless! so heartless. S.

-:) D.

Stiles stretched and got up. "Suppose I should go get my dad something to eat," he said to no one in particular. Mildly truthful statement.

Peter glanced up, but Isaac didn't even bother to move. Stiles left the loft and bounded down the stairs to his Jeep. Apparently today was the "not hunting for Erica and Boyd" day everyone had once a week. After a few weeks of trails leading nowhere, Stiles thought they'd give up, but Derek was relentless in trying to find his packmates. Even Stiles, with his access to the nexus couldn't get a good hold on them more than enough to know they were still alive.

Climbing into the giant blue death trap—as his dad liked to call it—Stiles sighed. He'd forgotten and just showed up at the loft like normal only to find a few werewolves more than he'd expected.

And that was never a good thing. Especially if Peter was around.

Stiles started the car and threw it into gear, driving off toward the station to check in with his dad. It'd been a quiet summer so far, for which Stiles was grateful. He felt like he could breathe again, with a lot of the strains of being the Inspector slowing down along with reduced stress from school.

Glorious, glorious summer. If he could even get Derek away for more than a few hours. He needed … something.

Pulling up to a fast food joint, he ordered his dad a salad, and curly fries for himself. He wasn't exactly hungry—but could anyone resist the allure of curly fries? He drove the short distance to the station, and dropped off the salad at the front desk. He didn't feel like talking to his dad. Not when Derek and Scott both were basically ignoring him.

He checked his phone when he got back into the Jeep: nothing. He shrugged, and drove home. Well, at least home he could do something productive, like nap. Summer was the best time for napping and storing sleep for the following school year. Or catching up on sleep. Whichever it happened to be, he didn't care. Sleep was sleep.

The house was quiet. Even the neighborhood was quiet. Perhaps everyone had decided that napping was a great idea. Well, he did have the best ideas in the world, didn't he?

He bolted up the stairs and flopped onto his bed, arms and legs spread out and falling over the sides. Closing his eyes, he gave in to the sleepy feeling. Napping was something he'd miss once school started.

The moment he started drifting off, a light, insistent tapping at the window pulled him from the fluffy embrace.

Scott was at the window. Stiles tried to hold back his disappointment. Derek would have been a much more welcome sight—especially since his dad was gone.

Opening the window he said, "What's up, Scott?"

"Did you forget?" Scott sounded breathless. "Please tell me you didn't forget."

Stiles frantically searched through his mind. But he couldn't remember anything. What had he forgotten? Had the alpha pack made a move? Or some other supernatural situation taken control? A quick check: the nexus was stable, for now.

"Oh my god, you forget! Stiles! How could you?"

"What?" His heart rate was climbing? "What did I forget?"

"It's my mom's birthday today!"

Stiles closed his eyes. That was right. Shit. How could he have forgotten?

"Right. So why didn't you just text me?"

"I did!" Scott pushed Stiles aside. "I'm here to pick up her surprise present."

"You put it in my room?"

Scott shrugged. "You're not here most of the time, and she would never think to check your room."

Digging around, Scott triumphantly pulled out a small box. Stiles had seen it and wondered if it was a left over present for Lydia, but decided to leave it where it was. No sense when he was pretty much married to Derek.

"I wondered what that was doing with my jeans." Stiles scratched his grown out hair. "What is it?"

"A pair of nice earrings. Gold and sapphire. I wanted to get her something nice. I can afford it! Stiles, stop looking at me like that. You know Deaton gave me a raise again."

"I know, it's just, what about that bike you've been looking at?"

Scott shrugged. "I can get it next paycheck. I'll have it before school starts. I've been saving up."

"So, you're throwing a surprise party?"

Scott nodded. "It'll be a few people from her work, your dad, you, me. Isaac wanted to come along, and I suppose that means Derek will be there. And Lydia said she'd come—if she could make time. Danny said he'd make an appearance."

"Whoa. Think that's a good idea with my dad and all the wolves in the same place?"

Scott shrugged. "He doesn't seem to have a problem with Isaac or Derek any more, despite their past encounters with the law."

"Yeah. A true testament to my dad's big heart and his adherence to the law."

"Come on, Stiles! Let's go. We need to pick up the cake still. And I can't just run around town with a cake."

Stiles groaned. "What if I had plans?"

"To what, nap?"

"Napping is a legitimate way to spend one's time, Scott."

Scott threw Stiles his keys. "Come on. We are going. Before she gets home from work!"

"Alright, alright. You are not driving my baby, no matter how much puppy face you give me."

"Awesome!" Scott grabbed a hold of Stiles and practically dragged him down the stairs and out the door.

Stiles was silent most of the way to the bakery, with Scott yammering on and on about his mom's birthday and all the plans he'd made. They hadn't seen much of each other over the summer, due to Scott being busy with the Scott McCall Improvement Project or whatever it had been named.

"Left here, it's on the right," Scott said.

Stiles pulled over, probably not totally legal, for Scott to jump out and grab the cake for the party—due to start in 30 mins. It would take almost 15 to get there and then Scott had to finished throwing up a few things to make sure it would be surprise enough.

Stiles sent a text to Derek while waiting for Scott.

-surprise party for scott's mom? S.

-you do have a terrible memory. yes. D.

-i'll blame you. scott said you are going? S.

-why sound so surprised? you'll be there, so I'll be there. besides, didn't you tell me to be nicer to scott? D.

-fine i did. also told scott to be nicer. you two should be friends. cuz i say so. S.

-see you later then. D.

-kk. S.

Stiles leaned against his door and stared into the bakery. Scott was probably flirting or something. It didn't take this long to pick up a cake. Stiles would take a power nap then. A couple minutes. No such luck. Scott climbed in with a giant pink box, easily too much cake for anyone. It barely fit inside the cramped Jeep.

"Scott, what is that?"

"My mom's cake."

"It looks like it could feed a hundred people." Stiles shifted the car and drove toward Scott's house. "Like seriously. It barely fits."

Scott shrugged. "I know. But hey, it's a special birthday for her. I wanted to be nice."

"Special?"

"She's turning 40 and I can finally do something for her."

Stiles wanted to hit his own head on his steering wheel. Derek must have sucked up all his memory because he should have known! Damn, Stiles, get it together.

"So, are you having a hundred people over?" Stiles asked.

"No, like 30 maybe? The cake is supposed to feed about 40-50 people, so we'll have leftovers."

"Isn't she on some diet thing?"

Scott looked kicked. "Sorta, but hey, if she wants I'll give it out to everyone. Why you gotta bring me down?"

"I guess I'm just in shock that my best friend in the whole world pulled this off without my mastermind to help."

"Part of the improvements."

"Good, good." Stiles nodded. They pulled up to Scott's house.

"Hey, could you park down the street? Your Jeep is a dead giveaway that you're here. I don't want her to be suspicious at all."

Stiles nodded. "Sure thing buddy. I'll be inside in a bit."

Scott grabbed the cake and practically ran inside. Stiles, poked along on the street, looking for a place to park. There were more cars on the street than normal—and Stiles thought that Scott was doing a good job of holding a surprise party.

After he parked and began walking toward the house, he smiled. The improvements were good. He approved.

He entered the back door, finding Scott frantically running around the kitchen trying to prepare for everything. Stiles spotted Derek standing in the corner looking totally unimpressed. Not that unusual. Isaac was running around as well, putting things into place. Several nurses Stiles recognized from the hospital were gossiping with each other. A few people he didn't know at all were conversing in another corner.

Stiles' dad waved to him from the doorway to the living room. A few people from the sheriff's department were here as well, it looked like. Stiles didn't know everyone, which was strange as Beacon Hills wasn't exactly the biggest place.

He noticed Lydia playing with her curls talking to one of the deputies along with Danny. Stiles shook his head.

"Oh my god!" Scott said, stopping in his tracks. "She's here! Everyone, hide, quick!"

Stiles looked around and let himself be maneuvered by someone's hand—Scott's? no, Derek's. How the couch could hide him, Derek and Isaac, Stiles would never know. Not like any of them were particularly small. Stiles tensed when he heard the doorknob squeak open. Then he saw Scott jump up and everyone else appear out of nowhere.

"Surprise!"

"Jesus!" She clutched her purse to her. "Scott! Damn. You scared me. What's all this? Stiles' idea?"

Stiles shook his head, but grinned anyway. Mastermind strikes again by not being the mastermind.

"Happy birthday, mom!"

She shook her head. "Oh baby boy. Thank you. Next time? No surprise."

Scott ran to give her a hug and pulled her toward the kitchen to show her something—probably more people. Stiles stood there, until Derek pushed him toward where the party was.

Miss McCall was talking to a few of her colleagues. Scott was doing something with the cake (which looked really good) and talking to Isaac.

"Stiles, are you sure you had nothing to do with this?" Melissa said. "'Cause if you do, I'll have to kill you."

"Me?" he said. "Nope. Nothing whatsoever. It's all Scott's fault."

"Derek, right?" she said. "Well, thanks for coming to celebrate me getting old."

Derek laughed. "You're welcome, and no, you don't look a day over 25."

She blushed. "Why, thank you."

Derek gave his most charming smile. Stiles wanted to roll his eyes so hard, but he couldn't.

"Happy birthday," Stiles' dad said.

"Thank you, Sheriff." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "Your son said he had nothing to do with this. True?"

"Scott was the one who called me." He smiled, big. God, it was sickening to see his own dad flirt. Even if it was with Miss McCall. Even if it meant he might be brothers with Scott. Which meant he should tell Scott about Derek. Maybe ….

"Derek, Stiles, if you'll excuse us. Sheriff, I'd like to introduce you to some of my coworkers—" she said as she walked off.

"Well, she seems happy." Derek clapped Stiles' shoulder. "Good thing, or Scott would be dead."

"What?" Scott said, appearing out of nowhere. "You think she wants to kill me?"

Stiles shrugged. "Probably. That's the feeling kids are supposed to instill in their parents. It's our sacred duty, Scott. Did you miss the handbook?"

"Hey, you are the one who said I should be nicer to my mom."

"And you are, aren't you?" Derek said. "Then you are doing fine."

Scott stiffened, then seemed to accept the compliment from Derek. Those two needed to work out the rest of their tension left over from the whole Gerard thing. That might make revealing his relationship to his best friend much easier.

"Oh, right. We have to sing!" Scott dashed off, and lit the candles that were on the cake. "Everyone? Time to sing."

Melissa sighed, but seemed to hold it together.

"Happy birthday to you." they sang. "Happy birthday, dear Melissa. Happy birthday to you!"

"Thanks, everyone, for coming. I appreciate it, even if my son might not make it to my next birthday."

Scott blushed. "Love you too, Mom."

Unconsciously, Stiles leaned against Derek—correcting himself after a moment. Oh well. People talking drew Stiles attention. It was good to see most of the crew here. He knew Derek still missed Erica and Boyd. Jackson had left for the summer, as had Allison. Only Scott, Lydia, Danny, Derek, Isaac, and himself really remained. It felt so different without everyone. Would life be the same?

Stiles took a deep breath, and plunged his mind into the nexus to touch on everyone.

Images floated into his vision of those present and a few of those not.

He opened his eyes, and absorbed the happy faces surrounding him. If the visions he'd seen were true or even remotely going to happen, then it would be a rough year ahead for him and his friends. Bravely, he put on a smile. There was no sense in being sad in such a happy moment, right? No sense except this might be the last time this group of people would be happy together—even if they didn't know it.

Derek leaned in to whisper to him, "Stiles, it's okay to feel the sorrow at the fleeting moment. But enjoy the happiness now before it is pulled from under you. Trust me."

Stiles nodded. "Something bad is coming."

Derek placed a hand on his shoulder and Stiles felt the tension drain from him. He didn't want to ruin this for Scott or Miss McCall. He put on a smile and decided to charm the room—if he could. Today was not the end, tomorrow was not the end.

And so today he would be strong. Strong for Derek, strong for Scott, strong for his father. Tomorrow … tomorrow he could worry.

Notes: Thank you so much for joining me on this crazy journey! I hope you enjoyed reading this. Come yell at me on tumblr (hbrooks01) or find me on the sterek chat.