Stiles didn't know how they did it, but they successfully made it through his first week of work without a hitch. He enjoyed coming home every afternoon to find Derek and Sophie on the porch waiting for him. Not to mention that work was going splendidly.
Derek had put out some feelers into the werewolf community, asking around to see if anyone who was pregnant had gone missing. They hadn't heard anything back yet, but as they spent more time with Sophie, they fell a little more in love with her.
It had only been a week and already, Stiles couldn't imagine days without her. Every afternoon, Stiles would lay with her on the living room floor, during tummy time. He would entice her with her favorite toy, a little stuffed polar bear that Derek had brought home for her.
Stiles would play with her for hours, having a job that he could leave when he clocked out did wonders for that. These days, Derek was the cook in the family, allowing Stiles to have his time with her. He appreciated that.
That afternoon in particular, Stiles sat on the couch, holding a sleeping Sophie. Even when she was sleeping it was so difficult to put her down. She had that sweet new baby smell, a combination of cotton and baby shampoo. It was addictive.
Derek joined him in the living room a short while later, carrying a book with him. When Stiles glanced at it the title read 'What to Expect When You're Expecting'. It confused Stiles, because they obviously weren't expecting per say.
"What are you reading?" Stiles asked curiously.
"I figured that the book might have some tidbits of knowledge about after the baby is born," Derek said as he sat down next to Stiles.
Where Stiles used the internet to find his information, Derek preferred to read it through books. They were very similar in many ways. While in others they were night and day.
"Share if you find anything useful?" Stiles asked and Derek nodded.
They sat there for a long while, Derek reading and Stiles memorizing Sophie's face. Not too long after that, Sophie began to nuzzle and whine into Stiles' chest and he took that to mean she was hungry. He got up with her to fix her bottle.
When he got back, Derek had taken the corner spot on the couch, leaving Stiles to choose either the opposite side or to cozy up to him. Stiles smirked and sat so that their sides lined up perfectly. His new favorite hobby was to make Derek nervous.
Derek however, was used to Stiles' antics and threw an arm around his shoulders, never once looking up from the page he was on. It was Stiles' turn to be nervous apparently. He shook his head as Sophie ate with gusto. She was a very gutsy baby.
Soon after Stiles had burped her, she settled for watching Stiles' face as he made funny faces at her. She giggled as he wriggled his eyebrows, reaching up to touch his chin. Scott came through the front door, calling out a greeting. "In here Scottie," Stiles called back.
His friend walked into the living room and smiled when he saw that Sophie was awake. He came over to sit down on the couch, reaching to take her from Stiles. "It's uncle Scott's turn," Scott said as he nuzzled her cheek.
Sophie squealed, little hands going up to grasp at Scott's hair. He babbled back at her as she told him about her day. It was the sweetest thing that Stiles had ever seen.
Scott was surprisingly good with her. Stiles had observed how the kids each interacted with Sophie. Erica and Scott specifically were naturals. Isaac was good with her though he seemed a little nervous at times. Boyd wasn't standoffish about her, but Stiles knew that he made an effort. Jackson and Lydia had been on a trip, so Stiles was curious to see how they were with her upon their return.
And then there was Derek, who was by far the best with her. He treated her like she was his own, it made Stiles' heart warm.
"How was your day Scott?" Stiles asked, watching as he reluctantly pulled his eyes from her.
"It was good, we casted this one dogs leg. It was cool to do, but I felt bad for the dog, his name was Ernie," Scott said, "I've been using my stethoscope at work."
Derek hummed, still not looking away from the book. He rubbed Scott's shoulder though, making Scott smile.
"How's your job going?" Scott asked.
"It's going good, a lot of grabbing coffee and helping keep the filing in order," Stiles described and Scott nodded, nudging Stiles' shoulder.
"You're enjoying it though?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm excited for when they have me help with research," Stiles said.
"That's good," Scott said, bouncing Sophie in his lap. "You know what we should do?"
Stiles asked curiously, "What's that?"
"We should take her to the park," Scott said, "You know? And maybe take a picnic."
Stiles smiled, "She's a little too small for the slide."
"Not with me holding her," Scott said with a grin, "She just needs a little help is all."
Stiles laughed, "What do you think Derek? We all go for a picnic tomorrow?"
Derek finally looked up from the page he was on, "That would be nice." Stiles could tell that it brought Derek joy when the pups initiated pack time.
"You hear that Erica?!" Stiles yelled up the stairs.
"Sounds good to us!" She yelled from up in her room. Stiles grinned.
"Where's Isaac?" Scott asked.
"He's out interviewing for a job," Derek said.
"Oh, that's good, what's the job?" Stiles asked, only just now learning about it.
"A library assistant, just something part-time to help with his University," Derek said, flipping to the next page. "I told him that he didn't need to worry about that, but he takes after you."
Stiles couldn't help but huff a laugh. Much to Sophie's amusement, who squealed and clapped her hands. "That's right sweet girl, and you'll take after me too," Stiles said while taking her little hand in his.
"God, I hope not," Derek smirked and Stiles elbowed him in the ribs.
"I'll have you know that I'm the smartest, brightest, and best out of all of us, she would be so lucky," Stiles said and Derek's smirk melted into a fond smile.
"Yes, she would," Derek said, leaning forward to peck Stiles lips.
Scott gagged, "Not in front of the baby, Jesus."
At that, Stiles really laid one on Derek, who couldn't resist pulling Stiles closer. "Alright that's it, we're leaving," Scott said, standing with Sophie cradled carefully in his arms.
Stiles pouted, making grabby hands, "Don't take her!"
Scott laughed, "She's mine until dinner!" He cackled evilly as he left the room, taking Sophie with him.
Stiles leaned further into Derek, knowing that Scott would take care of her. If there was one thing that Stiles could be honest about, it's that he could trust the pack with her.
"Well," Stiles said, "That leaves the two of us."
Derek hummed as he went back to his reading. Stiles laughed, "Well, the one of us." Derek chuckled, thumbing to another page.
"Anything interesting so far?" Stiles leaned to look at the page.
"If you were three months pregnant, the baby would be the size of a lemon," Derek said and Stiles raised his eyebrows.
"Who said I'd be the one to be pregnant?" Stiles joked and Derek laughed.
"That's fair," Derek said, finally bookmarking the page by folding the corner of the page.
Stiles gasped, "How could you?"
Derek looked at him confused, "What?"
"You desecrated a book!" Stiles said, taking the book and trying to smooth the page back out, "Haven't you heard of using the receipt?"
Derek laughed again, "It's just a book, Stiles."
Stiles threw up his hands, "Just a book he says!"
Derek shoved Stiles over on the couch, fingers digging into his sides. His laughter came out in a stutter. Hands immediately going to grab Derek's hands, "Don't do that!"
"Do what?" Derek asked, fingers tracing up Stiles ribs.
"Tickle me!" Stiles cried out, giggles getting more frantic.
"If you say so," Derek said, really digging in making Stiles squeal. He lightened up, watching Stiles try to catch his breath.
"That was mean," Stiles hiccuped.
"If you say so," Derek said, setting the book on the coffee table.
"I do," Stiles said, sitting up and leaning into Derek's personal space. He reached out, making Derek flinch. "What are you afraid of?"
Derek's face went red, "Nothing."
Stiles smirked, "Good." He kissed Derek again, hands reaching out to pull him closer.
Derek slid over easily, taking Stiles in his arms. They made out, in long opened mouth kisses. Until Stiles gently pushed Derek away. "If we keep going, I won't be able to stop myself," Stiles confessed.
Derek smiled, "What if I didn't want you to stop?"
Stiles blushed, "The kids are here."
"So?" Derek said, "You just have to be quiet."
The way Derek said it, the way he looked at him, it was all Stiles could do to not fall apart.
"Alright, upstairs?" He asked and Derek proceeded to lift him from the couch. For all the world knew, Derek could have been carrying a sack of potatoes for all the strain carrying Stiles put on him. It made Stiles' blood run hot.
Derek kicked the bedroom door closed behind him and they fell into bed. Just a moment later they were disturbed, by Scott knocking on the door. Stiles watched Derek open the door from under the covers. He handed Derek a crying Sophie.
"I think she needs a change, and I'm not qualified," Scott said, nose wrinkled.
"I'll teach you," Derek said, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
Stiles laid there, contemplating his life, how everything seemed to be going in their favor. Even with the addition of Sophie in the house, it was like she belonged. When Derek didn't come back after a few minutes, Stiles went down to the kitchen.
He cooked them some dinner, a simple hamburger helper style meal. As he was stirring the food, arms wrapped around his waist. Derek's lips brushed his ear, "I had hoped you'd be waiting for me."
"Alas, it'll have to wait," Stiles joked, leaning back into his arms.
"Apparently," Derek said, kissed his neck and then went to set the table.
Before they could eat, Scott brought Sophie down, who was hungry again. Stiles watched as he gave her a bottle. "Slow down Sophie," Scott laughed.
"She's a drinker, that's for sure," Stiles said, "She could win the olympic gold for quickest to guzzle a bottle."
"That doesn't bode well," Derek said, fixing himself a plate.
Stiles rolled his eyes, "She'll be fine Derek, alcohol won't even affect her."
"That's true," Scott said, blissfully unaware of Stiles' teasing.
Derek and Stiles shared a look as Erica and Boyd came down. Erica fawned appropriately over Sophie, giving her forehead a little smooch. Scott shooed her away, claiming that it was still his turn.
Erica sighed and gave it up in favor of eating dinner. She joined Boyd at the table. "Thank you for dinner, Stiles," She called over, making yummy noises as she ate.
"You're welcome," Stiles said, digging into his own food. He left the pot simmering on the stove so that when Scott was ready to eat, he could have it warm.
When Sophie was finished with her bottle she was a little fussy, but Scott propped her up against his chest and patted her back just like Stiles had shown him. A few moments later, she burped and spit up down the back of Scott's shirt.
Erica laughed as Scott made a big show of disgust. "Oh my god, I didn't know they could do that," He said, handing Sophie to Stiles quickly. He stripped off his shirt, throwing it into the laundry room before jogging upstairs to get cleaned up.
"He didn't have to be so mean, did he, sweet girl?" Stiles asked Sophie, holding her upright on his lap. She cooed, batting her little hands on the table top. "She is such a good baby, Derek. We've been blessed."
Derek nodded, "She's a gift."
Stiles couldn't have agreed more, "Is that right Sophie? Are you a present? Where's your bow?" He lifted her to sit on the table.
Sophie squealed, babbling cutely back to him. "It's not fair that she's so cute, she's gonna be a heartbreaker," Erica said.
Stiles covered Sophie's ears, aghast, "She isn't even 6 months old!"
Erica shrugged, "I'm just saying she's beautiful."
"And she won't be allowed to date until she's thirty," Stiles insisted.
Erica grinned, "I'll help her sneak her boyfriends in."
"You will not!" Derek said, trying to end the conversation, "She's still a baby, can we focus on, I don't know, maybe walking first? Or her first words?"
Stiles and Erica shared an amused look. "Alright, Daddy," Stiles said with a mischievous glance Derek's way.
The tips of his ears turned red as Erica cackled with glee, "What does that make you Stiles? Momma?"
"If that's what Sophie wants to call me, fine by me," Stiles said, not embarrassed in the slightest.
They were talking as if they were going to have Sophie forever, but Stiles knew that eventually they would find her family, and that they'd have to give her back. There was something about that that he didn't want to think about just yet.