Chapter 7:
The talk was short. Stiles explained who he was, "Stiles Stilinkski, son of the future Sheriff. Nice to meet you. Again." What he was doing there, "I've been given a chance to change one thing that happened during my existence to improve my 'fate'." And why. "Apparently Goddesses do make mistakes. Sometimes."
Derek got upset and left the room when Stiles regaled them with the tale of saving Paige, only for it to turn out to have made his fate worse, what with the Hale Pack actually being wiped of all but Peter, that time around. Once again leaving him in a comatose state, only this time with the power of an Alpha stewing and festering, waiting to be released. Driving the man even further into Crazy Ville than the first time.
In turn, Talia told Stiles what had happened, and was currently happening in her present. It was only after Talia explained about the disaster of a meeting between Deucalian and Gerard that Stiles realised what an opportunity he had missed. He could have saved Deucalian from being blinded, physically, morally and as a visionary. Which would also prevent Jennifer turning to the Dark Side. And it had only been a short time after Paige. Maybe if I had stayed a little longer… Stiles pushed the thought away.
Stiles also discovered that his mother had already succumbed to her Frontotemporal Dementia months earlier. Talia must have been able to detect the change in his chemo signals, as she looked at him sadly. "I believe that was all." She said gently. "We can discuss what we need to do from now on tomorrow."
Stiles nodded absently. "Yeah…"
Talia stood from her seat and walked round to stand beside Stiles, offering him her hand. She tugged him softly from his seat and drew him into a hug. "I am sorry for your loss, Stiles."
Stiles raised his hands from where they hung to grip the sides of her shirt gently. He didn't know what to say, he never had. So many people had told him they were 'sorry for his loss', but he hadn't known what he was supposed to do with that. 'Sorry' wouldn't bring her back. In the end, the only thing that had helped any, was a couple movie nights at the McCall residence. Melissa had insisted that both he and his father spend a few nights there. Most likely to keep an eye on the two of them, make sure they didn't spiral into depression most likely.
Talia pulled back and gripped his shoulders instead, squeezing softly. Stiles felt as the background throb of pain from Scott's bite lessened, and a tightness he didn't realise was wrapped around his chest loosened as feint black veins slid up her arms. He dropped his grip from her sides with a sigh. "Why don't you head up to bed now?" She suggested quietly, earnestly. "You'll be sharing with Derek."
Stiles nodded, taking a step back. Talia's hands fell from his shoulders. "'Night." He bid as he turned.
Her call of "Goodnight, Stiles." drifted after him as he left her office and climbed the stairs at a somber pace. He stopped outside of Derek's door, hesitated, then tapped twice with a single finger.
The door was pulled open by a grouchy looking Derek. Stiles felt himself calm completely as he took in the pair of familiar, grumpy blue eyes. "Hey." Derek grunted, stepping to the side so that Stiles could enter.
Stiles' eyes roved the room, landing on the bed covered in light blue and cream covers. "Your bed's bigger." He commented, walking a few steps forwards before sitting on the edge of it.
"So we could share." Derek answered gruffly, shutting the door behind him. Derek ran a hand through his hair, causing the black shirt to ride up slightly, and pale skin shone above the grey sweats that swung low over his hips. "You have a bag of stuff in the corner." Derek said, pointing with the hand not tangled into his thick tresses.
"Thanks." Stiles nodded, straightening up and heading over to it. He crouched down to rummage through, the sounds of soft feet padding across the floor before a weight settled onto the bed reached Stiles' ears. Grabbing Derek's shirt and his own sweats from the bag, Stiles walked through the other door, and into the adjoining bathroom. A shock of pain flew through him as he changed tops. An involuntary hiss passed his lips.
The adrenaline had long since faded, leaving him droopy eyed and exhausted. The pain leaching Talia had performed had made a huge difference, before he moved enough to agitate the wound again. He sighed, before inevitably poking the skin around the damage. A sharp breath in and hum were the only outward signs he gave of pain. Stiles finished changing and left the bathroom once more.
Derek was sitting up in his bed. Stiles noted how he had taken the side closest to the door, even though Stiles knew he preferred to sleep on the right, not the left. Overprotective and paranoid no matter the time period, apparently. Stiles smirked. The smirk dropped when he realised Derek was giving him the patented I'm-pretending-I'm-annoyed-but-I'm-actually-worried look. And thus begin his transformation Stiles thought to himself. "I'm fine." Stiles told him, ignoring the startled nostril flare and miniscule widening of eyes. He had experience reading Derek through minute muscle twitching and various levels of (mostly) faked annoyance. "Just a little sore."
Derek's eyes narrowed as he watched Stiles approach the bed before climbing in and laying down. With a roll of his eyes, Derek turned off the bedside lamp and shuffled down into the blankets. The room was quiet for a moment more, before Derek spoke up. "I miss her."
"I know." Stiles said.
"Does it get better?" Derek asked. "Does it go away?"
"No." Stiles shook his head slowly. "But it does get more manageable."
"You miss your mother." It was a question.
"Yeah, I do." Stiles agreed breathlessly. "And it's like I've lost her all over again. But that's so stupid."
"It's not." Derek said. There was another moment of silence before the slide of a hand over the bed disturbed it. Derek wrapped his hand around Stiles', and Stiles linked their fingers together. "'Night, Stiles."
"'Night Derek." Stiles fell asleep to the comfort of another person as Derek leached the pain away, bit by bit. Derek followed him into dreamland soon after. Not once did they release one another's hand.
Just like the first time Stiles went back, he and Derek were allowed to sleep in till lunch. Little Cora cracked open the door to Derek's room and peaked in, hands still holding the handle. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes as she watched the two boys. She sniffed. With a smile she pushed the door open completely and ran inside, jumping onto the bed. "Wake up!" She yelped. "Wake up, wake up!" She continued to call as she bounced on the bed before freezing.
Derek sat bolt upright, untangling his hand from Stiles so he could grab Cora. "Cora! Stop!" He growled urgently. "Stiles is hurt." But the damage had been done.
Stiles groaned as he rolled onto his side. He held a hand against the bite mark on his shoulder, and clenched his jaw shut. Derek and Cora watched as Stiles took a pained breath in, before releasing it slowly and looking back to the siblings. "Hey Cora." He greeted, forcing a smile onto his face. "'Morning."
Derek reached out, touching Stiles' arm with the tips of his fingers. Black veins shaded into view as he began drawing out Stiles' pain. After a moment, Cora reached out too, a look of concentration on her face. No black veins appeared on her, and with a huff of defeat, she sat back again, crossed her arms and pouted. Gradually, the marks of leached veins faded and the pain dispersed. Derek gave Cora a look.
"Sorry…" She said, eyes squinted and head tilted back.
"No worries." Stiles replied, smiling more naturally.
"Lunch is ready!" Cora grinned, jumping off the bed and running back out the door, presumably to go eat lunch.
Derek ran a hand over his face and then through his hair with a sigh.
"Thanks." Stiles spoke up. Derek looked at him. "For the pain drain. Thanks for that."
"No problem." Derek stretched and hummed. "Let's go eat." With that, he got up and headed for the door.
"Shouldn't we get ready first?" Stiles asked, stopping Derek in his track.
"Nah." Derek continued walking. "We can do that after food. Come on."
"'Nah' he says." Stiles mutters, watching after Derek. "I can't believe he said 'nah'. Trippy." He shook his head and rolled out of bed to follow after Derek. Stiles yawned as he left the room.
Stiles walked into the kitchen to see everyone sat around the table. "Hey." Stiles waved awkwardly from the doorway.
The Hale family each gave various versions of greetings as Talia waved him forwards. "Have a seat, Stiles."
"Thanks." Stiles replied, sitting down next to Derek. "Looks good." He told her with a smile.
"I can't take the credit." Talia grinned. "My wonderful husband was the cook this time."
Alex beamed proudly as the other members of the family laughed.
"It's one of the few things dad can actually do." Derek smirked.
"Derek Hale!" Alex cried. "I can do plenty, thank you very much!"
"Sure, dad." Laura grinned. "Whatever you say."
"Whatever you say." Cora parroted.
"Not you too, Cora!" Alex exclaimed. "All my kids have turned against me." He bemoaned.
Stiles laughed at the conversation taking place. He exchanged a grin with Derek as they started in on their food.
"Tastes good, too." Stiles told Alex after the first bite.
"I have a new favourite." He proclaimed loudly. "I don't need the rest of you, I have Stiles now."
"Dad!" The siblings cried indignantly as Peter snorted and Talia watched on in amusement.
"Oh!" Alex blinked. "I haven't introduced myself, have I?" He turned to Stiles and held a hand out. "Alexander Hale, human." He grinned.
Stiles reached out to shake his outstretched palm. "Stiles Stilinski, also human."
