"Okay everyone, here's the plan," Stiles said, distributing carts out to different pairs. "We stick together and stay on our best behavior. My dad isn't the sheriff here, so I don't think he'll have much pull if any of us end up arrested."
"What do you think is going to happen in here? It's Ikea, not a war zone," Erica snorted, leaning on the cart she and Boyd were going to share.
"Well, I know you all, so I think that's explanation enough," Stiles laughed, handing Lydia one of the paper maps and tiny pencils. "You find something you like that's kept in the warehouse, tell our secretary and she'll write it down."
"I prefer the term administrative assistant. I'm far more important than a lowly secretary," Lydia scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder with an arrogant huff.
"And why do we have to stay together? I have my own car and know how to get home," Jackson grumbled.
"We have the credit card," Stiles said, crossing his arms.
"I have multiple credit cards," Jackson shot back.
"Well then, because it's pack weekend! We're supposed to be spending time together and having fun dammit!" Stiles exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Why did you even come if you were just going to complain?" Scott asked, rolling his eyes.
"I didn't think I had a choice," Jackson growled.
"Ding ding, give the man a prize. You didn't have a choice, just like you don't now when I tell you that you have to stick with the group and have fun. The pack mom has spoken," Stiles declared, pointing in the direction of the arrows that would lead them into the belly of the beast.
"Come on, you can help me pick out a dresser," Isaac said, linking arms with Jackson and pulling him along. Only he and Lydia would be able to get away with a move like that.
"What's going on with him?" Allison asked Lydia as they made their way together with one of the carts.
"He won't talk to me about it, but he's been kind of tense for a while. I was hoping this weekend would help, but obviously he's just bringing everyone else's mood down with him," Lydia mumbled, trying to keep her voice from carrying to her boyfriend. Isaac was currently chatting his ear off, making him test out the softness of different couches.
"He's still expecting us to push him away. If we do it while he's being a dick, he can excuse it, but if he lets himself be vulnerable and we still push him away, it'll hurt too much," Stiles murmured. They all looked at him with varying levels of surprise.
"That actually makes sense," Scott said, nodding his head.
"Since when did you become all deep?" Erica asked.
"I always have been, you all just overlook it," Stiles smirked.
"I don't," Derek said, leaning over to kiss him on the temple. He knew how much Stiles helped him work things out, so it didn't surprise him to see his mate so in tune with the others. Derek had been standing back and watching all this, hesitant to step in and shut everything down as the Alpha. Sometimes the pack needed to figure things out amongst themselves without his command.
"Let's not worry about that now and try to make the most of the rest of this day," Stiles suggested, walking toward where Isaac was spinning Jackson around in a desk chair. Jackson's lips were pursed as if he was trying desperately not to smile. "If you're gonna puke, at least aim for a real trash can, not one of the display ones."
"I don't puke," Jackson insisted, motioning for Isaac to go faster. Isaac was more than happy to oblige. They had such a strange relationship.
"Why are we doing this?" Stiles asked, glancing around for any employees who might be getting annoyed by these antics.
"Just testing out the quality," Isaac shrugged, grinning at his spinning friend.
"I'm not sure if you understand what desk chairs are used for," Stiles chuckled, trying to read the tag attached as it kept moving past him.
"This one looks better," Scott called from the living room display across the aisle. Isaac slowed the spinning chair, putting his arm out to balance Jackson, even though he was pretending not to need it. They kind of looked like a boy helping an old woman cross the street.
"Maybe we can fill one of the empty bedrooms with bean bag chairs and just chill," Erica suggested, flopping down on a mushy gray sac and pulling Allison down with her.
"I've never met a group of people more serious about cuddling," Allison giggled, snuggling down in Erica's arms.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Erica purred, rubbing her cheek against Allison's. "So soft."
"Maybe we should save the rubbing for at home? The optics on this aren't the best," Stiles cringed, jutting his chin out at a middle aged man who just so happened to look really interested in that same bean bag chair. All the werewolves in the group growled, with Lydia having to hold Boyd firmly to her side to keep him from acting on just how little he appreciated someone leering at his mate. They could walk in on each other naked without batting an eye, but the second an outsider crossed any boundaries, all bets were off.
"Do we have a problem here?" Derek asked, stepping toward the man and making direct eye contact with him. Most people backed down when they were called out, not expecting attention being brought on them. The man turned tail and ran, just like Derek hoped he would. It would be setting a bad example if he was led out of an Ikea in handcuffs, after warning his pack to be good. Completely justified in this case, but still an unnecessary hassle. And Derek didn't want to leave without his dessert, after being stiffed out of his share of chocolate cake.
"Our heroes!" Erica exclaimed, bouncing up and throwing herself in Boyd's arms dramatically. Scott helped Allison up in a bit more of a subdued manner, leading her to look at a random coffee table.
"I think Scott was right about this chair," Isaac said, running his hand along the arm of the one Jackson was currently sitting on.
"Of course you'd like the one picked out by your Scotty," Jackson teased, shifting in the seat to test its comfort.
"Like I haven't gotten your input on every single one so far," Isaac scoffed, plopping down on Jackson's lap. Isaac wiggled a little before pulling a face. "Feels a little boney."
"My legs are not boney!" Jackson gasped, flicking Isaac's side. "Maybe it's your ass."
"Have you been checking out my ass?" Isaac gasped, wrapping his arms around Jackson's neck. "I'm telling Lydia!"
"Don't mind me. I'll sit back and watch," Lydia grinned.
"Watch what?" Jackson growled, but made no move to push Isaac away.
"Oh nothing, nothing at all," Lydia sighed longingly, biting at the end of her tiny pencil. "Should I make a note of this one?"
"For sure. It's definitely my favorite," Isaac giggled, resting his head on top of Jackson's. And if Jackson inhaled deeply and closed his eyes in contentment, that was their business.
"Have you looked at any of the desks to go with these chairs? Gotta make sure you can find one that can accommodate those long legs," Stiles reminded him.
"This one seems good enough," Isaac shrugged, knocking on the one next to him.
"But it's particle board," Derek moaned, eyeing the furniture with disgust.
"I don't want to hear it," Stiles scoffed, cocking his hands on his hips. "You had the chance to fill your house up with the fanciest wood furniture that you could find, but instead you bought nothing. You did this to yourself."
"I didn't know I had a time limit," Derek grumbled.
"Babe, always assume I expect expeditiousness," Stiles laughed, signalling for Lydia to write down the information. At Derek's muttered complaints, Stiles rolled his eyes. "How about this: if the furniture we get here can survive for say, six months, we'll replace it with something nicer. That way you'll see if getting something expensive will be worth the risk."
"Fine," Derek sighed, knowing that was the best offer he would get. He should've just ordered from that stupid catalog.
"Great. Now let's look at end tables," Stiles grinned. They made their way slowly through the top floor of the store, having to stop every few feet so someone could sit on something. They weren't even shopping for couches, but Isaac and Jackson felt the need to test them all. Well, more like Isaac with Jackson being dragged along for the ride. Derek followed along silently, eyeing the different displays with disdain. Somehow he and Jackson had switched moods.
"Where would this rug look good?" Scott wondered as he starfished on top of a lime green, shag monstrocity.
"In a dumpster," Derek cringed, vowing to rip that thing to pieces before it ever passed the threshold of his house.
"I gotta agree with Derek on this one, pal. That color is atrocious," Stiles laughed, running his fingers through the material. "Better go with the gray."
"I'm going to the bathroom," Derek sighed, stalking off in the direction of the signs.
"Papa's gotta pee. Everyone stay in this section of the store," Stiles announced, getting sounds of confirmation in return. That really didn't need to be broadcast, but nothing he could do about it now.
Derek did his business, taking a minute to stare at himself in the mirror to try to perk himself up. He may not want to be here, but that didn't mean he had to ruin everyone else's fun. As long as they were all enjoying themselves, he could too. Derek walked back in the direction he left everyone in, staring up at the signs to make sure he hadn't gotten turned around, when something small ran into his legs. He looked down, finding that mini Isaac lookalike from earlier staring up at him in fear.
"Hey kid, you okay?" Derek asked, trying to give him his best non-threatening smile. His normal smiles were usually either flirty or aggressive. Maybe the pack was right about him never smiling.
"Mommy?" the kid whimpered, blinking rapidly. Derek had to do something before this turned into a full blown meltdown. Could he run? Would anyone notice?
"Uh, I can help you find her," he said, looking around for the woman he saw earlier. Of course she was nowhere to be found. Derek would have to rely on other means. He sneakily stole a whiff above the kid, searching for the woman's scent. This was basic for him, so he caught it easily, and from there it was only one turn before he found the woman flipping through kitchen countertop samples.
"I think you lost something," Derek said casually, trying not to spook the woman. She looked up in surprise, then looked down to where he assumed her son was standing before. She seemed panicked for a moment before the boy bounced up on her other side, clutching her leg.
"Patrick! I told you not to move!" the woman scolded, looking back up at Derek with gratitude. "Thank you so much."
"It's no problem, really," Derek brushed off, using his flirty smile now. He wasn't interested in the woman at all, but this was the easiest role to slide into with most people. "I understand what it's like."
"You have kids?" she asked. Derek was about to say no, but he hesitated. He really didn't want to say he didn't have kids, because these days he felt like such a dad. But most people wouldn't understand it.
"Uh, kind of. It's complicated," Derek said, looking down at the familiar curls.
"Stepchildren?"
"No it's…" Derek trailed off, not really understanding why he was talking to this woman about anything, but not able to stop himself. "I have sort of a foster situation, for lack of a better term."
"Wow, that's so great," the woman said with a smile. "Most people your age don't do things like that."
"It was kind of strange circumstances, but now I can't imagine my life without the kid," Derek admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. How was this woman getting him to open up like this? Was she a witch?
"Are you planning on adopting?" she asked. And wasn't that the big question? Derek had been thinking about that more and more, but he knew it wouldn't be as easy as the guardianship. He didn't have an in with the right people for that one. But he had to admit, making Isaac a Hale sounded really nice.
"It's complicated," Derek sighed. Such an understatement, but fitting.
"Well, I'd say don't do it if you aren't sure, since that wouldn't be fair to either of you, but I don't get that kind of hesitation from you," the woman said, stooping down to pick up her little boy. Derek was about to ask her if she had experience with adoption when the focus of his own parental affections sprinted past him. He couldn't say anything, blinking in confusion as Isaac disappeared from sight for a few seconds before coming back the way he came.
"Forgot to write down a number!" Isaac chuckled, rushing back in the direction of the group. Derek stared after him, shaking his head slightly at his pup.
"Yeah, you're ready," the woman said with a knowing laugh.
"Pardon?"
"That was your kid, right?"
"How did you know?" Derek asked, trying to keep his suspiciousness in check. Most people wouldn't assume a teen who was only a few years younger than him would be his potential son.
"You look at him the same way I look at my Pat," she said simply, pressing a kiss to the top of her son's curls. Since when had he started flashing obvious dad eyes? Why hadn't anyone told him? Were other parents the only ones who noticed?
Derek waved goodbye to the pair, following Isaac's scent back to the rest of the group. Was talking to that woman a sign that he should look into taking those next steps? Stiles would say it was. He'd probably have a long list of reasons why it was a sign, down to the most minute details. Derek would have to discuss this with him later.
"About time you got back," Stiles groaned, watching Lydia and Boyd flick through shower curtains. "Did you blow out the toilet or something?"
"Dude, gross!" Scott moaned from where he was opening and closing cabinets with Erica and Allison.
"Just got held up," Derek brushed off, not wanting to bring up the talk with everyone around. "I saw Isaac run past. Where is he now?"
"He's down in another showroom with Jackson," Stiles said, walking in that direction. The rest of the pack stopped what they were doing to follow. They found the two wayward wolves a few seconds later in a mock living room with a giant sectional.
"That's so cute!" Allison cooed. She wasn't wrong. Jackson was sitting up on one corner of the couch with the top half of his body folded forward. Isaac was laying on the length with his head in Jackson's lap. How Isaac could fall asleep seconds after running through the store was a mystery, but there he was.
"I'm getting a picture," Stiles mumbled, pulling out his phone. The rest of them did the same, snapping photos from different angles. Jackson was going to pretend he hated it, but Derek made sure to make a note to print a copy for him to take home. And if this just became the new background on his phone, that was his business.