Just as a reminder to all of those who are reading: When the text is written in bold and italicized lettering "like this," that is the part of the conversation had in sign language.

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf. I also have no claim on any pop culture references that I may use throughout my writings. I only own my OCs. Enjoy the read.

(o.o)

Chapter 2.06

A few days had passed and Dad had to stop me in the kitchen before I ran off to school. He delivered probably the worst news possible and that was that my mother would be stopping by the house after school. She still had a couple of things to pick up that were hers. They also had to work on some things to see how the separation was going to work. I rolled my eyes at the idea but knew I had no say in whether or not she entered my house.

I trudged through the school day, Stiles questioning me often, wondering what was wrong. It was nice that he could tell something was going on with me and became curious. After assuring Stiles that it was nothing to do with him, I asked him not to worry about it. The problems that I was having with my mother weren't something I wanted extending to him anymore. Christine Parker stressed me out and the time I had with Stiles was exactly the opposite of that.

Stiles dropped me off at the house that afternoon, us having to push our normal after school study sessions. I would have this conversation with my parents and then go straight to his house.

When I opened the front door, I saw both of my parents sitting in the living room on opposite sides. I dropped my bag on the floor by the door, preparing to flee from the house the second Mom said something I didn't want to hear. I looked between them. "Don't you guys think we should have a lawyer here or something?"

Dad shook his head. "What we want to say needs to be discussed as a family. Your mother and I just got back from our lawyer's office."

I looked over at my mother. She was sitting up straight in her chair, refusing to look at me, but still held her head high. Of course, she would believe she'd done nothing wrong. "Okay."

Dad looked over at Mom. "Are you going to tell her?"

Mom's eyes darted to my dad, shooting him one of the calmest, lying looks I have ever seen on her face. "I'm getting an apartment close by. Two bedrooms, one of them is yours."

I shrugged. "I don't want it. I'm staying here with Dad. Right?" I asked, looking at my father.

Dad nodded, putting out his hand to calm me. "You are. We agreed that I would get primary custody, but you still have to visit with your mom."

My jaw dropped, though I shouldn't have been surprised. It wasn't like I could claim negligence with how she was towards me. In fact, she was over-indulging in her ability to be a mother.

Dad gave me a certain look that told me there would be no arguing about it. Something told me that he had already tried and came up unsuccessful.

I took a deep breath.

"Once a week, we will have dinner. And one day on the weekends you will stay over." Mom insisted.

The idea of being with her for even a minute longer made me absolutely sick. How could she want me around if she didn't want to see what I really was? "What about my life? My plans? My friends?"

"And I want to meet this boy and his family." She said as if I reminded her that he existed.

"No. Absolutely not."

"Yes. I will. If these are the people my daughter is spending her time with, I need to know that she is in good hands."

"Mom…" I started, trying to keep my calm. "His dad's the sheriff." I reminded her. "Or did you forget that his last name was Stilinski when you yelled at him that day of the bird incident?" I narrowed my eyes at her, waiting for an answer, but it never came. "I won't bring them into this."

Mom looked over at Dad, signaling him for help. I followed her line of sight with a raised brow.

Dad sighed, shaking his head. "Just dinner. We'll do dinner, something simple and easy. I'd like to spend more time with him as well. And get reacquainted with his father."

I thought about it, shaking my head with my eyes closed. It was going to kill me to agree with her, but I guess I had no choice. "Fine. Can I go to Stiles' now? We have homework."

Mom and Dad discussed it with a look before my dad nodded.

Great. Now to tell Stiles the good news.

(o.o)

Stiles' anxiety was at an all-time high at the thought of having dinner with my parents and his dad. I convinced him that it would be fine, though, in trying to, I was probably trying to convince myself as well. I couldn't admit to him how worried I was that this dinner wouldn't go smoothly. Still, I tried to make sure it was lowkey. Dad and I decided on grilling out and had gotten steak for everyone as well as potatoes and green beans for sides. It would be fun to enjoy the night on the patio, maybe even play some cornhole in the backyard.

However, when I came home that afternoon from school, everything was wrong. My mother was in the kitchen, working on some big, fancy dinner that you couldn't have even found on a Pinterest board. You might be able to find it in one of those old-school cookbooks that no one uses anymore because the ingredients are completely unhealthy, calling for forty cups of butter and a cup of salt. It didn't look appetizing at all and that was just by the picture.

Mom hadn't even started cooking yet and Stiles and his dad were dude to be in the house within the hour. It was early for dinner, but it was the only time the sheriff was able to find time in his busy schedule. Even when he got here he would still be on-call and could leave at a moment's notice.

I rolled my eyes at the sight of my mother with her apron and floury hands. I turned around, spotting my dad in the doorway. I looked at him and then back to my mother pointedly. I didn't even have to say anything to him for him to know that she was ruining this entire night. The other issue was that if we argued with her at all, that would also mess up dinner. I sighed, going upstairs to change out of my school clothes. I hadn't changed into anything fancy, just a nice sweater pair with my skinny jeans. By the time I freshened my make-up and wrote a little bit more in my journal (which quickly turned into a daily use one and not just for my Omen powers), I'd gotten a text from Stiles saying that they were walking over.

I took a deep breath and made my way downstairs. Dad was in the living room, looking over one of his designs on his iPad. "Has her food found its way into the oven yet?" I asked, with a snarl on my face.

Dad shrugged. "Probably not."

I rolled my eyes and went to the door deciding to wait on the porch for the two Stililnskis.

When the pair walked up the sidewalk, the sheriff waved to me once. He looked nice with his button-down shirt. It was then that I realized I hadn't ever seen him without his sheriff's uniform.

I smiled at him, meeting Stiles halfway. "Before we go in, I need to apologize in advance for anything that my mother says."

Stiles grabbed my hand in support.

Sheriff smiled. "I shouldn't be too bad, right?"

"You do remember that my mother blamed you for the birds that flew into our English class?"

"Right. Well, can't back out now, can we?"

I shook my head regretfully.

Sheriff's eyes looked up and behind me. He waved and smiled.

I turned around, spotting my mother who still wore her apron, gesturing us inside. I sighed.

The sheriff stepped around me, giving me a quick pat on my shoulder and joining my mother inside.

"You okay?" Stiles signed.

I looked up at him, "She changed the meal, and it hasn't even started cooking yet."

"So, no?"

I shook my head.

Stiles smiled at me, grabbing me around my shoulders by his arm. "It'll be okay." He led me inside.

"I hope so."

There were quick greetings made by the door before my mother ushered us all into the living room. I claimed the loveseat for me and Stiles while Mom and Dad took to the couch, sitting at opposite ends. The living chair was left for the sheriff and I thought that it was smart that he hadn't sat between my parents.

"Sorry about dinner not being ready quite yet. The book says cook-time was half an hour, but they don't account for prep time." My mother signed, trying to make a joke.

I rubbed my temple with my fingers. We had half an hour of talking before we could even eat. Oh, how I wish I had thought of appetizers.

(o.o)

The conversation had gone fairly easy. So far, nobody had said anything too extreme and my mother's fake smile stayed plastered on her face.

"How are things at work?" Mother asked of the sheriff. "Some strange things were going on with that coyote showing up at the school. Did you ever kill it?"

My eyes widened. There was a reason I never talked with her, but now I regretted it. She wouldn't have known that we weren't ever planning on killing the coyote but capturing it and changing it back into a human girl. Her bringing it up now would bring the supernatural into the conversation and that was a one I didn't want to have. I glanced over at the sheriff.

The man was looking back at me, confusion was written on his face. "I thought CJ would have told you. I mean since you all know." Sheriff said with a knowing look.

"Know? Know what?" Mom asked, looking over at me.

Ther sheriff looked like he had stuck his foot in his mouth.

I smiled at him from one corner of my mouth. "Don't worry, Sheriff. My mother knows what you're talking about." I looked at my mother. "The coyote in the school turned out to be a missing girl from eight years ago. Malia Tate. She's a werecoyote and had been stuck as once since the night of her accident. Surely you remember Carter and Derek trying to find her that night."

Mom's jaw dropped. "A werecoyote?"

The sheriff laughed. "Yeah, sometimes it's hard for me to believe, too."

I shook my head. "Unfortunately, my mother just refuses to believe any of it," I said, passing an annoyed smile in her direction. "Even with her daughter being an omen. Her dead son was one, too, but she still doesn't want to acknowledge the supernatural.

Mom glared at me. "Chandler," She said warningly.

"What, Mom?" I asked. "Am I wrong?

Dad sat forward in his spot, "Alright. Let's not have that discussion here, right? We've talked about this." Dad said, trying to ease the tension of the room.

Stiles reached his hand over and placed it on my knee, giving it a tight squeeze.

I looked down at his hand before grabbing it in mine and looking over at him. I gave him a quick smile.

Mom wildly waved her hands, trying to get my attention back to her.

I rolled my eyes and looked back at her questioningly.

"What are you doing?"

I furrowed my brow, lifting Stiles' hand inside mine. "Holding my boyfriend's hand?"

My mother's face twisted into something I hadn't seen before. Her nose got all wrinkled and her mouth changed to the size of a pea if it were even possible. She glanced at the sheriff before looking between me and Stiles. "Are you having sex?"

I burst into a laugh, unable to believe her strange accusation. She couldn't use signing the words as an excuse to discuss that with everyone here.

"Christine, what the hell?" My dad questioned.

I calmed my laugh and shook my head. "No, Mother. I'm not having sex."

Stiles' hand quickly left mine at my words and I looked over to see that his face had turned a beet red.

"But even if I was, it wouldn't be any of your business."

"Chandler June. I just don't understand you." My mother started on her rant. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to have a boyfriend. I especially don't think you need to be having any sleepovers."

I shrugged at her. "Dad said that it was okay. And so did the sheriff. So, what's your problem?" I hated that I was having this argument with my mother with both the sheriff and Stiles in the room. It wasn't fair to them. They only came for a dinner that my mother demanded we have.

Mom turned sharply to the sheriff. "You're okay with this?" She said, gesturing between me and Stiles.

The sheriff raised his hands in defense. "Uh, well, yeah. They're good kids."

"And your wife? What does she think of all of this? Why isn't she here?"

"Jesus Christ, Mom!" I shouted at her, trying to stop her from her interrogation.

Mom's head whipped back to me at my language. "Chandler!"

The sheriff raised a hand in my direction, calming me. He could handle himself. I knew that he could, but he shouldn't have had to. It was completely out of line for my mother to ask questions like that without knowing the whole story. The sheriff sat straighter in his chair, looking at my mother in the eye. "My wife passed away years ago. It's just me and Stiles now. And Stiles, well, he has his moments, but he's a smart guy. He knows that if he does...things that he needs to be safe." Sheriff nodded. "I trust him. And I trust CJ."

Mom shook her head, obviously embarrassed by how red her face had turned. "Sheriff, I'm sorry, but - "

"You know, I've gotten to know your daughter in the short time that I've known her. She's smart and a joy to be around. She's not afraid of anything and that's so admirable. CJ has a good head on her shoulders and I would know because I have spent my entire career trying to figure out who people really are."

I was watching my dad as he signed everything that the sheriff was saying for me.

Sheriff let out a sigh that I saw from the corner of my eye. "But the idea that I would toss Stiles aside because of something that he is, something that he couldn't help… Be it gay or bi, or a werewolf or an Omen, or whatever else…" The sheriff shook his head. "That idea makes me sick."

My eyes teared up as I watched my father interpret the sheriff's words. I covered my mouth with my hand, looking across the room at him.

Sheriff Stilinski met my eyes, but I could tell that he was still talking to my mother. "I'm sorry, but if you can't see who CJ really is, despite what she is, then you're missin' out."

I took a deep breath. This man, who I hardly knew, was sticking up for me. It was something that I always wished for. Someone who was outside of my family to see how my mother really was. To see how small-minded that she was.

Stiles grabbed my hand again, unafraid of my mother. Nothing she said anymore mattered. It wasn't just me and Dad as a witness to her ignorance.

Dad asked Mom to leave shortly after that. It had gotten so bad, so quick, and she'd proved that she couldn't be civil. With the sheriff being our guest for the night, she had no choice but to oblige or spend the night in handcuffs. I doubted that Dad would ever let it come to that, but still, the thought brought a quick smirk to my face.

Mom left after passing both me and my dad disapproving looks. I didn't need the look. I knew she wasn't happy.

I watched the front door closed and furrowed my brow. I sniffed the air and looked at Dad. "Is something burning?"

Dad quickly pushed himself off the couch and went into the kitchen.

I followed. The fancy dinner my mom had cooked was easily burned beyond repair. I sighed in relief. "I was not looking forward to pretending to like that," I said, earning a laugh from both of the Stilinskis. I looked at my dad. "Those steaks are still in the fridge, right?"

Dad dropped his shoulders. "Yes," he turned to the sheriff. "How do you feel about a steak, Sheriff?"

(o.o)

The dinner after Christine Parker had left the house had gone smoothly. It was enjoyable to be out in the backyard without a care in the world. After we ate, we all stayed outside with it being such a nice night.

Dad lit up the backyard with a small fire in the pit and Stiles and I played with my giant Jenga set until it got dark.

Once the stars showed in the sky, I laid a blanket down on the grass by the fire for me and Stiles. I'd wanted s'mores, and we made way too many. I was licking some marshmallow off of my fingers when both fathers came up behind us.

Stiles tapped my arm and pointed at them.

I turned around and waved.

"I'm gonna head out. Give you two a bit of time, but I want you home tonight." The sheriff said pointedly towards Stiles.

Stiles nodded at his dad.

I pushed myself off of the grass to stand in front of the sheriff. "Um, I just wanted to say thanks for the things that you said to my mother. It was all really nice and you didn't have to say them."

Sheriff shook his head, stopping me. "I did, and not a word of it was untrue. I'm just sorry that they have to be said in the first place."

I shrugged. "My mother is stubborn. Very old-fashioned and stuck in her ways." I cleared my throat and looked down for a moment. "Anyway, thanks for coming," I told him with a smile.

"Anytime. Especially if your dad is gonna cook a steak like that."

"They are really good, aren't they?"

Dad patted a hand on the sheriff's back. "C'mon, Noah, I'll walk you out."

Sheriff nodded again and the two older men disappeared from the backyard.

I sat again on the blanket, sitting closely to Stiles with my legs folded. I sighed.

Stiles tapped my arm again to gain my attention away from the fire. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

I laughed at him. "It was a trainwreck."

"Yeah, it was."

I stretched my neck out, feeling it pop a couple of times. "This is why I didn't want to bring you into it with her, you know? I feel like I should be cherishing my mom, especially after losing Carter. I've only got so many family members left."

"Yeah, but when she can't see what greatness is right in front of her, why would you want that around?"

I smiled up at Stiles. "Yeah, I guess."

Stiles wrapped an arm around my shoulders. We didn't talk. We just sat back and enjoyed the fire. It was nice and relaxing after a stressful day.