Title: Holidays Spoiler: This FF is going to go through all of the holidays, starting with Halloween. This first chapter deals with what happened between the finale and October. Chapter 2 will deal with October leading up to Halloween and Chapter 3 will be on Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer I have nothing to do with The Agency and receive no compensation

Chapter 2 New Beginnings

The next morning Stiles woke up and Terri wasn't there. He began to worry, then he smelled the coffee, he was just about to go see Terri in the kitchen when she walked in with two mugs of coffee. "Black with two sugars, right."

"How come you know me so well?"

"I actually have a present for you."

Stiles leaned over and kissed her. "I liked my present last night."

Terri smiled at him. "After you open your present." Before he could stop her Terri got up and ran to the closet. She took out a big, thin rectangle package.

"What is this?"

"Open it." Stiles opened it, he was shocked he just looked at her, as the tears welled up in his eyes. "Its Nice. See there's the boat, Recompanse, and behind it is the cafe, and the book store."

Stiles was amazed by the detail. "Terri, where..." before he finished asking she pointed to the artist's signature. Terri. "You painted this yourself? For me? I love it, I love you."

"Stiles," Terri said as she kissed him and laid the painting on the floor. "Stop talking."

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Helen and John arrived at Terri's place. Helen wanted to try to get Terri out of the house for a while. She thought shopping and lunch would be nice. John and Stiles had actually become close. Since Stiles was spending so much time at Terri's he moved his Satellite dish to her house. Stiles had gotten John interested in Rugby, he knew there was a big game between Dublin and London on and figured he could hang out with Stiles and watch the game.

Helen used her key to get in. "Helen we should ring the bell."

"Not at my own daughter's house." They walked in and Helen looked at the couch. Stiles usually just left his blankets sitting there. Two possible scenarios ran through Helen's mind. First Stiles and Terri had a big fight and he left her alone. Helen was furious. Then she thought of a much happier one. Stiles finally was learning to pick up after himself. The truth never even occurred to her.

John sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. Helen went upstairs to talk to Terri, she just opened the bedroom door and saw something no mother ever wants to see and she screamed.

Terri and Stiles scrambled to get the covers over themselves. John came running upstairs and just looked at all three of them. "Damn it Helen, I told you we should have called first or rang the bell." Stiles was surprised, he thought John would be more furious.

Stiles was beat red, they all just stared at each other until Terri finally said, "Do you mind letting us get dressed. We'll be down in a minute."

John and Helen walked downstairs. Helen was on a roll. "That man is no different than any other man. He's just like Jeff. I can't believe he was just using Terri. What are you going to do about this? Well John? Are you going to just let him do that to your daughter?"

"What do you expect me to do, get out the shotgun and make them get married? Terri is an adult, I don't have to agree with what she does. Just accept her and love her."

Terri and Stiles walked downstairs, more than a little embarrassed. "Mom, why didn't you ring the bell? Why didn't you knock before walking into our bedroom?" Stiles smiled our bedroom.

"Terri I'm your mother. I shouldn't have to knock before going into my single daughter's bedroom. There should not be a man in there. Unless you have something to tell me like you two eloped last night. John aren't you going to say something?"

"Helen you're not giving anybody a chance to say anything. Stiles why don't you and I go talk in the kitchen? Helen you and Terri should talk, but I'm telling you now, talk not accuse her or put her down. Helen we could have lost her four months ago. Don't you forget about that."

John and Stiles walked into the kitchen. "Mr. Fremont, I don't know."

"Stiles, Terri is an adult. She can make her own choices right or wrong. I won't condemn either of you. Helen, now that's another matter." Stiles smiled at him. "I do want to know, what your intentions are with Terri."

"Sir, I do love her. I've loved her since I met her a year ago. We've been through hell this year. I don't think we can go through harder times." John nodded. "I know you must be wondering about marriage. I just don't know. Terri and I haven't discussed it." Stiles wanted to explain. "She was afraid I wouldn't want her because of the scar."

"Does that bother you?"

"No. She's alive, I really don't give a damn about the scar." John smiled, he was content that Terri was happy and loved, that was all that mattered to him.

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Terri and Helen's discussion was not going quite as well. John and Stiles just looked at each other when the yelling got too loud. John walked out and tried to stop Helen from yelling. Stiles just walked out and put his arms around Terri. "John they need to get married. They can't just sleep together. Its wrong. I won't have my daughter living like that."

"Helen stop it. Do you want to lose Terri for good? She is 33 years old. If you try to run her life, she will run you out of it. I'm not about to lose my daughter because you can't let her live her life."

Terri was crying and Stiles was holding her, "It's going to be fine. Terri I promise."

"Look at them Helen. He loves her. He wants to take care of her. Let them work this out there own way."

"You approve?"

"No. I don't. I agree I don't think that they should be sleeping together until they are married, but Helen, I won't stop being Stiles' friend or loving my daughter because her opinion is different from mine."

"I can't deal with this right now. I'm going home to think about this." Helen kissed Terri on her head. "I'll call you later, Sweetie." She didn't say anything to Stiles, she just walked out. John kissed Terri and shook hands with Stiles before he left.

Terri just took Stiles by the hand and led him back upstairs. "Please just hold me." Stiles was more than happy to oblige.

************************************************************************** Mid October

Stiles hand was just about healed. The doctor was about to release him to got back to work. He went in for a meeting with Gage and Carl. "Look, I do want to come back, but Terri."

Carl looked at him. "Terri's not sure she trusts us again."

"Exactly. Look. Its not been that long that she has decided to trust me. I do believe the only reason she has is that I was almost killed in Iraq. I don't think she can understand why I want to come back to work."

Gage nodded. "Stiles, why don't you continue your leave until after the New Year. If Terri would listen to me, I would like a chance to explain."

"Sir, I don't know if she would. I'll talk to her. Thank you again Sir."

As Stiles walked out Jackson was in the hall. "Stiles when can you come back to work?"

"The Doc says now, but Gage gave me till the first of the year."

"How's Terri? I would like to come and see her. A lot of us would like to."

"I know Jackson. Its just, Terri's still not sure about things."

"I understand Stiles, it took her a long time to trust you. Look I'm planning on a Halloween party at my place. Here's an invitation for you and Terri. I hope you two will be there."

"I'll talk to her. Is Lex in today?"

"Yes." Jackson and Stiles shook hands as Stiles headed to talk to Lex.

It was strange for him walking into OTS and not seeing Terri there. "Hey Lex."

"Stiles. How's your hand? Are you coming back to work soon? How's Terri?" Lex was so excited he missed his best friend and he was worried about Terri and missed her too.

Joshua walked out of his office. "Lex give Mr. Stiles a break. One question at a time."

Stiles just looked at Joshua and ignored him. "The hand's fine. I'm not coming back until January. Terri's good physically. Emotionally she still feels betrayed. It took forever for her to trust me again." Joshua looked down and felt ashamed, he just turned and walked back into his office.

"He's really trying to make up for his mistakes Stiles."

"Terri almost sent me away because she thought I wouldn't love her with the scar, as long as that scar is there, I don't think she will be able to forgive him or Quinn. Quinn, by the way, any word on him?"

"No he is pretty much in hiding. Are you and Terri going to Jackson's party?"

"I don't know, I need to talk to Terri about it."

Stiles got home. "Where have you been, you're usually back from therapy before this."

"The doctor released me to go back to work." Terri got a funny look and her face, Stiles could tell she was upset. "I went to talk to Gage. He told me to take until January." Terri didn't say anything just nodded. "Terri, I told him I wasn't sure about coming back. He wants to talk to you."

"I don't have anything to say to anyone at the CIA."

"Terri, not even Jackson or Lex?" She looked at him as tears started to form. "I talked to them today. Jackson is having his annual Halloween Party. Last year's was great. It was right after I got back from Iraq."

"I don't want to even think about what could have happened to you in Iraq."

"Ok, but remember Joshua made us play that game where we had to pass the apples from under my chin to under yours." Terri laughed as she thought about that. Stiles holding her close as they tried to pass the apple. Then Terri remembered Joshua.

"Is Joshua going to be there?"

"I don't know."

"Stiles I'll think about it."

"What about talking to Gage?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'll talk to him."

Stiles kissed Terri. "I can't ask for anymore than that." Terri smiled at him. She still didn't know if she could trust Gage. She hated that Stiles was considering going back to work for them.