A/N: So it's been a month of me adulting O.0 and I finally found the time to finish this chapter so here you go, hope you guys like it! Let me know what you think.

We cast away priceless time in dreams, born of imagination, fed upon illusion, and put to death by reality.

- Judy Garland -

''What are you reading so intensely?'' William asks as he leans over Noah's shoulder to glimpse at the other deputy's computer screen.

Not paying the younger deputy any mind Noah continues reading the record displayed on his computer. ''Mmm.''

''What mmm?'' William asks as he reads the personal file open on Noah's computer, ''Malia Stitch?''

''Mhm'' Noah hums in confirmation, still not explaining anything.

Throwing his hands up into the air William surrenders his snooping efforts, flopping into his office chair. ''I give up, keep your secrets then.''

Noah speaks up when he feels William's eyes burning into his shoulder, ''Malia Stitch, 26 years old, stellar military record from what I was able to access anyways…''

''Able to access?'' William asks confused, usually military records are pretty easy to dig up especially for them as law enforcement.

''Her record is blacked out for the most part, insinuating-''

William excitedly cuts him off rolling his chair next to Noah's, whisper yelling ''Secret missions!''

''I was gonna say black ops but I guess they come down to the same thing. That or…'' Noah sighs hating the other option.

''Or?...'' William asks eagerly.

Noah eyes him before staring back at the screen, seeing her complicated family history, blacked out military record and photo again he whispers, ''Or she was a prisoner of war.''

Wide eyed William asks what he'd been afraid to ask, even more so now. ''You know her?''

Slowly Noah shakes his head, ''We've met a few times.''

Confused William pries further, he knows the deputy is happily married so what's the connection? ''Then why look up her records?''

''Because Mrs. Boyd tells me that Malia Stitch identified Johnathon Baylon for what he was mere hours before his death.'' Seeing William's confusion he elaborates, ''as we suspected he had his next victim already picked out, attempted to kidnap her actually. Miss Stitch got in between that, saving Alicia Boyd from a terrible fate and postponing Sara Blakes impending death.''

Nodding in understanding William turns to his mentor, ''A compelling story of possible motive and opportunity had he not been killed by a pack of coyotes…''

''Yeah, you're right. I just can't put my finger on it, something about it all just feels off. The fact that I haven't seen her around town all week also puts me on edge for some reason.'' Noah says, frowning as he tries in vain to figure out why he cares so much about this one vet.

He's helped out others before but never did he get as invested as now. Perhaps it's because she's still so young, seemingly carrying the world on her thin shoulders. Or maybe he's projecting, trying to help vets because no one ever helped his father with his issues which had dire consequences for him and his mother.

''You run into her alot before?'' he questions.

Noah responds firmly, ''A few times. I offered her some help, seeing as she seemed in need of some. I've done so before with vets over the years, most were simply passing through but she seemed to be staying in Beacon Hills, putting down roots.''

''She take it, the help?'' William asks, receiving a defeated shrug in return. ''Sounds like a proud woman who could use some inconspicuous support. You know we could use someone like her on the force from the sounds of it, she has a military background and that gut instinct the sheriff keeps boasting about... Surely his favorite deputy could convince him to hire a deputy in training?''

Nodding in thought, ''Give a man a fish and you feed him a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.'' he chuckles.

William shrugs smiling a bit, ''And if you're so worried why don't we pay her a housecall, it lists her address doesn't it?''

''Let's go teach Miss Stitch how to fish.''

….

''This isn't real…'' Malia whispers softly as she walks into the McCall home and sees everyone she loves, everyone she's lost, gathered around a huge table.

This isn't real, none of it is. She's just reliving the past and even worse imagining a different future. Her mind is playing tricks on her in the most cruel way possible. She needs to get out of here, there are things that she needs to do. Important things that she has yet-

A warm hand softly grasps her chin and pivots her head around, once again whatever hell she's trapped in cuts where it hurts most. ''But it could be. Lia all you have to do to be with us is stay… choose to stay with us.''

His brown eyes are as beautiful as she remembers. His voice filled with the same warmth and optimism she's become accustomed to, though the words he speaks are poisonous to her; to stay is to choose death.

''Would that be so terrible if you got to stay with us?'' he asks her softly.

To stay is to be with her family, a family she'll never see again if she decides to live… She looks around the table at all those she longs to be with. Staying would mean she'd no longer have to be alone, separated from the only family she's ever known.

Leaving… Leaving would mean erasing these people from the world, her world. They'd never be her family again.

''Malia, come join us!'' Lydia yells, waving excitedly at her from the table.

She smiles back as best she can as she sees the beaming smile on her friend's face. She's missed that smile, that kind of smile on any of her packmates… a genuinely happy, carefree smile.

''Join us kiddo, I brought your favorite! Freshly caught by an expert hunter.'' Henry says, proudly pointing at himself and the deer meat on the table.

''Ahem'' Peter interrupts, raising his eyebrows at Henry.

''Well I suppose it was more of a team effort.'' Henry chuckles, sheepishly. ''But i did shoot it!''

She lets out a wet laugh. Both her fathers getting along, well that was something she'd never expected. Looking around the table she soaks up the warmth, feeling at peace surrounded by her family. Relishing in Liam and Kira's laughter. Admiring the way Melissa and Chris whispered quietly to one another as if they were the only people in the room. What she wouldn't give for this to be her reality.

Breaden starts to get up from the table, ''Malia, you okay?''

Biting her lip she takes a step back realizing she's unconsciously moved closer towards the table, to what she desires most. But her desires, wants and wishes didn't get them anywhere during the war. To stay is to doom them all once more, to subject them to unimaginable suffering and inevitable death a second time. After all, it'd be naïve to act like Gerard was the only reason for the war.

''Lia, dear why don't you join us?'' Melissa calls out softly.

But oh how she longed to join them. To talk and laugh with them, to stay and bask in their presence forever. But all she can really do is look at them all and commit they're happy faces to memory.

Scott grabs both her hands, looking at her pleadingly. ''Stay,'' he begs her as Sascha and little Alexander run up, grasping her pants tightly.

With bated breath she looks at the two children she loves the most in the whole world and does the hardest thing she's ever done. She steps away from them, choosing to leave them behind.

''You-'' she whispers brokenly, ''you're not real.''

She listens with closed eyes as the heartbeats surrounding her disappear, taking with them the scents and warmth her loved ones brought with them everywhere they went.

Opening her eyes, she knows she's made the right choice. But as she lays there, alone in Adelaide house, a sharp pain hits her. A new depth of pain pierces her very soul as she realizes how truly alone she is in this world; she'll never be her parents' daughter, she'll never be part of the McCall pack, she'll never be Scott's wife or Lydia's best friend. In this world, this time, she's no one.

…..

''So this is it?'' Laura asks, eyeing the nervous social worker.

Nodding, Tessa rolls her eyes. Honestly they didn't need to send an army of lawyers to her door. All this hassle when the twins are obviously in great care.

''What did you say the foster parents' names were?'' Dean asks, eyeing the property with suspicion.

''Ava and-'' Tessa Collins started saying with an eager lilt in her voice.

Deucalion coldly cuts her off, ''Eli Jones.''

''Yes! Do you know them?'' she asks, oblivious to Deucalion's tone.

Making eye contact with Laura he nods slowly, ''We've met'' he says dispassionately, appearing very displeased at this revelation.

Approaching the house they observe the young social worker practically skipping to the jones' door with disgust.

''The Jones'?'' Laura questions, once the social worker is at a safe distance.

Deucalion slows his stride. ''I've had dealings with them in the past. A bloodthirsty bunch in my experience, Eli Jones, the alpha the worst of them.''

''You're leaving something out, I can tell.''

Clara walking besides Laura elaborates when Deucalion doesn't make a move to, ''There are rumors.''

''Unproven rumors.'' Dean interjects.

''Rumors,'' Clara reiterates, ''that their pack tortures and kills any omega that crosses into their territory. They're also rumored to be ruthless towards their own members, obey or die sorta thing. And most famously that Eli Jones orchestrated the death of his ex-lover's husband out if jealousy and when said ex-lover refused to get back together with him he murdered her aswell.''

''How much of these rumors do you suppose are true and not some hunters propaganda, Deucalion?'' Laura asks.

Throwing a reprimanding glance at Clara he answers, ''It is an open secret that the hunters don't care about and the wolves can't interfere with. Everyone knows they're guilty but as long as they don't kill humans and stick to killing omega's or their own members in their own territory our hands are tied.''

''Great, so why would the Jones' take in Malia's nephews…'' Laura asks before it dawns on her.

''The ex-lovers' children,'' Deucalion nods in confirmation.

''Whom they slaughtered the parents of…'' Dean mumbles.

Clara breathes heavily, ''And probably hate with a passion.''

Walking closer to the house Laura sighs, ''And they've been here for a week with an incompetent social worker. That's great, just great.''
….

''You sure no one moved her to the Hale house?'' Darius asks tentatively, as he, Talia and James stand in front of Adelaide house unable to hear any heartbeats inside the house.

Panic grips Talia as she too registers no heartbeats inside, she freezes in place her breathing becomes labored as she grapples with the implication of it all.

James squeezes Talia's hand, ''Stay. I'll go in.''

Talia and Darius stay outside as James approaches the house.

Expecting the worst James opens the front door, stepping into the hallway before slowly making his way to the stairs. Scaling the stairs he prepares himself for the worst, closing in on the bedroom he pauses before slowly pushing the squeaking door open. Once inside he lets out the breath he'd been holding.

''Talia?'' he says, knowing she can hear him.

''Is she?'' Talia asks, voice wavering as she steels herself for the news she's about to hear. Waiting to hear that her sister, a sister she never got to know is dead.

James smiles in relief, ''She's not here, Talia.''

''What?'' Talia asks looking at Darius for confirmation that she heard James right.

''She's flown the coop hon.'' James says, relief palpable in his voice. ''She's alive and on the move.''

Smiling in relief Talia steadies herself, turning to Darius as James comes back outside. ''Guess you'll have to wait a bit longer to meet her.''

…

After collecting herself Malia took stock of her situation. She was a bit weak, not too strange considering but it did pose a big problem seeing as she had no protection in this world. With no pack of her own she was for the lack of a better word, an omega.

Catching all the wolf scents in her house she quickly got dressed and grabbed a few important items such as her wallet and phone. Seeing the date on her cell phone was what really put her in a bad mood, a week had passed.

She hurried to the front door knowing exactly where she needed to go. How she would get there was still a bit of a question. She could run there but that would leave her with no way back. Hitchhiking wouldn't look particularly good in this situation, traveling by bus would be a hassle…

Throwing her door open she is suddenly face to face with Noah and another deputy. Freezing in place she wonders if she somehow left her human DNA at that perverts house.

Awkwardly Noah lowers his hand, which he was about to knock on the door with. ''Good afternoon miss Stitch.''

''Malia.'' She responds, tugging her jacket on. No way she left any of her human DNA at the scene, so why was he here and with another deputy no less?

''Malia,'' Noah reiterates, ''No need to worry you're not in any trouble, me and deputy Matthews have come here to… uhm well to-''

Malia cuts him off as she senses his struggle to articulate why he and his partner are here, at her doorstep. She offers him a crooked smile, ''Offer me more help?''

Some people never change and Noah Stilinski hadn't changed a bit, still one of the best men she's ever met.

''Well, yes.'' William adds, shifting nervously on his feet.

She looks the two up and down, gotta let someone in sometime… and to be honest she could really use some help. And Noah in any time was a sure bet.

''Okay thanks, you have a car right?'' Malia asks, peering around the two deputies.

Looking at one another Matthews and Stilinski nod, utterly confused by her quick acceptance.

William's eyes clearly trying to convey a 'Wth man? Thought you said it was difficult?'

While Noah's seemed to answer back with a flabbergasted shrug of, 'idk what to tell you, it was…'

''Great, could you maybe give me a ride to and from DoveValley? I was supposed to take custody of my nephews last week but i had a bit of an accident so the appointment got rescheduled and now i don't have a ride…'' She says, ignoring the mental conversation the two deputies appear to be having right in front of her.

''Sure, ofcourse.''

''We'd be happy to give you and your nephews a ride.''

They walk to the car together, Noah taking the driver's seat with William in the passenger seat while she hops into the back.

As Noah starts the car she can't help but ask, ''Just like that? You just invite some stranger into your car, what if I was some serial killer that preyed on sheriff deputies?''

Smiling Noah puts his sunglasses on, ''Are you a serial killer that's planning to kill us?''

''No, but I could've been.'' She sasses back, honestly people in this time trust strangers way too easily.

William shrugs, ''I think we could take you and if not, well… then my girlfriend would make it her mission to prosecute you.''

Her face scrunches up in disgust, ''Your plan B is to die and hope your lawyer girlfriend catches AND manages to prosecute me?'' She blinks, shaking her head in disbelief.

Noah chuckles but keeps his eyes on the road, missing the look of betrayal his partner shoots him.

''You laugh but in this scenario you die too, sheriff Stilinski.'' Malia says smirking, trying to put aside every other thought swirling through her head right now. This is familiar, this is normal- spitballing about all possible scenarios, preparing each other for anything and everything. It's right in her alley, this she can do.

''Actually I would live because the would be killer has misidentified me as a sheriff rather than a deputy meaning I didn't fit her victim demographic and thus escaped her wrath unscathed.'' Noah explains smiling smugly.

''Wrong. Your what's called collateral damage, can't leave any witnesses now can i?'' Malia retorts.

William laughs uproaringly, he thinks he's starting to understand his partner's obsession with this woman. She'd liven the station right up.

…

Ethan sat on the floor of their room twiddling his thumbs as his brother slept. Mrs Jones insisted they stay in their room unless she or Mr Jones said otherwise. When they were in their room they weren't allowed to talk- quiet time she called it. During this time they weren't even allowed to whisper for it would disturb Mr and Mrs Jones, and playing was prohibited too since they made far too much noise when they were playing.

Quiet time lasted long, especially since they weren't going to school anymore not since… Well the point was they hadn't gone to school in awhile. Not that school was much better, the subjects were difficult and they had to be quiet alot there too but at least they got to play and talk as well. And though he hated reading himself, he did love listening to Miss Kindle read out loud during lunchtime.

Looking at Aidens steadily rising and falling chest he wonders if they're going to be okay. Rubbing his side as he feels pain he knows isn't his own. Why did the Jones' hate noise so much? It didn't seem fair they had to be quiet all day while Mrs and Mr Jones got to make heaps of it. Aiden, braver than himself, had said as much. Mr Jones hadn't liked that at all and made it very clear how much he disliked it.

It wasn't the first time one of the Jones' had struck them that week but this time it felt different. It wasn't the usual slap or push, it felt like a precursor of what was to become their new normal.

Miss Collins had said that some aunt was going to take them in but he wasn't so sure. His mother had never spoken of any aunt and after cousin Felix, whom they did actually know had dumped them, he wasn't too optimistic. Though he wouldn't tell Aiden that, not that he'd spoken much with his brother or anyone really.

The reality wasn't lost on him that if this mysterious aunt didn't take them in that they'd be stuck with the Jones' and that was a prospect he'd rather avoid. Then again maybe it'd be better to stay, better the devil you know than the one you don't right? At least with the Jones' they knew what they were getting.

He straightens as the door creaks open, ''Get up brats, there's some people here and you better behave or else.'' Mrs. Jones hisses at them.

He sees Aiden stir and slowly get up, holding his side protectively.

''Ethan?'' Aiden whispers sleepily, swinging his legs over the bed.

''Yeah?''

Aiden looks over at his brother miserably, ''You think it's the pack again?'' he whispers.

Ethan Swallows, licking his lips nervously he shakes his head negatively. ''No, I don't think so.'' he says but they both know he doesn't mean it. It's more a prayer, a hopeful thought than an honest opinion.

Holding hands they slowly walk towards the doorway that's looking more and more like a black hole ready to swallow them whole, sending them towards hell once more.

…

To say the meeting was tense would be an understatement, it more so resembled a war council meeting discussing the fate of two high profile hostages.

''I don't know what to tell you… The agency has been very clear. You could come to see them, check on their wellbeing but I cannot release the twins into anyones custody besides miss Stitch'.'' The social worker explains again, sounding more annoyed and exasperated by the second.

Laura could strangle that bitch of a social worker, ''Check on their wellbeing? I don't know if you, with your expert eye, have spotted it yet but Ethan is holding his side like it's hurts like hell so why don't we see what's up about that?''

Giving Mr and Mrs Jones an apologetic smile, Miss Collins nods. ''If that's what it takes to reassure you then we'll do that but understand I will be noting your crude behavior in my report Miss Hale.''

The twins sit ramrod straight on the carpeted living room floor listening to the adults' conversation. Who were these people anyways?

''Ethan, Aiden come here.'' Mr Jones' booming voice calls out from the couch, or maybe it just sounds like that to them.

Quietly they shuffle over to the adults as Mr Jones approaches them with big steps, confidently pulling up the both boys' shirts.

He smiles condescendingly at the other wolves in the room, ''See? Nothing there.''

''Thank you Mr Jones. I think i speak for all of us when i say were very sorry to have doubted you.'' Miss Collins nods sympathetically.

Seething in her spot on the couch Laura is this close to tearing their throats out. The audacity of treating them like they're idiots, like they don't realize what has happened to the injuries previously there. But she can't, she can't do anything right now. Not in front of that moronic social worker and not without her mothers okay to start a war over this.

Smiling like the cat who caught the canary Mrs Jones gets up, ''Well it's about time for lunch, i hate to usher you out but you know…''

Deucalion contemplated many things during the conversation, one recurring thought was killing the Jones' and Miss Collins out right. Miss Collins didn't exactly deserve death for her ignorance but one can simply not afford to leave witnesses to such events. The only thing truly holding him back being the two boys, they needn't see such bloodshed. No, he'd have to return at a later time or catch the couple outside of the house.

Getting up the group begrudgingly moves towards the front door, taking with them any thought of rescue residing in Aiden and Ethan's minds.

When the front door opens no one moves to leave the house prompting the siblings to move closer in order to see. Standing in the door opening is a woman with brown eyes, brownish hair and possibly the most shocking words in the world.

''Hi, I'm Malia Stitch. I'm here to pick up my nephews, the agency told me you were here.'' Malia says smiling tightly as she replays the conversation she heard walking up and the implication of it all.

Laura, Deucalion, Dean and Clara stare at her in shocked silence as Ava Jones looks at her in disgust. Eli Jones' eyes glint with something unknown, something dangerous... Tessa Collins looks to be handling it the best, surprisingly. And by the time they've all come to front the shock Miss Collins has already herded the twins to their room to pack their few belongings.

Left alone with the wolves Malia nods towards Deucalion, ''Deucalion.''

''Malia.'' he breathes out, relief seeping into his voice. Her survival was welcome news.

''When did you wake up? Who came with you?'' Laura asks, eyes flitting over every part of Malia.

Smiling, she observes the cousin she'd never got to meet, the cousin Derek spoke of so often. She looked every bit a Hale, brown eyes, brown hair bordering on black, fair skinned and quite pretty.

Peering into the house she looks at the ticking clock, ''About 40 minutes ago, two friends of mine drove me.'' she answers.

Eli Jones looks her up and down like she's grade A meat before smirking cockily, ''You're young and pretty, why would you ruin your life by taking in those trouble makers? How about you just leave em with us, we have a great thing going with the boys.'' His eyes gliding over everything but her face as he continuous so sure of himself and her answer to his prepositions, ''You could always visit…''

''I think I'll pass.'' She responds in no uncertain terms.

Grasping her wrist Eli eyes her, poorly disguised rage and something nefarious simmering beneath the surface. ''Reconsider would you? You see my wife and I have gotten quite attached.''

Yanking her wrist back easily, she knows Eli is allowing her to do so. No doubt he could overpower her at this moment, the only thing stopping him? Deucalion and the beta's. As an omega she's fair game but that would result in a fight involving a Hale and an Edevane, harming either of them would be like declaring war.

She leans towards Eli Jones, slimy bastard. ''My friends, two deputies I met a while ago, great guys. You wouldn't know from looking at them but deputies have a surprising amount of fire power, enough to put down a pack of wolves if you would believe it.'' She laughs lightly as the social worker re-enters the scene, boys in tow. Her thinly veiled message was clear; I might not win the battle if attacked but I'll surely win the war as your bodies hit the ground beside mine.

After a short talk with the social worker and some paper signing she was officially the Guardian of Aiden and Ethan Moore. It was surprisingly easy to take the boys, ushering them to the car as Tessa; The most useless social worker in the world twirled her hair annoyingly at Mr Jones in a poor attempt to charm him. Useless… yet at this moment quite useful in her uselessness.

Loading the silent boys into the back of the squad car Malia turns back to Laura and Co. ''How about I stop by your house in the next couple of days, after the boys have settled in?''

Laura's eyes widen in surprise at the calm and exciting offer. She'd feared the rejection that might come, smiling tentatively as she nods. ''We'd very much like that.''

Malia nods at them once more before following the boys into the car.

Entering their own car everyone sits in silence for a second. ''Did that really just happen?'' Clara asks, flabbergasted.

Dean nods, ''Anyone else have the urge to tear out their tongues?''

''More like their throats…'' Deucalion admits, the Jones' really do bring out the worst in people.

''Forget about them, Malia's awake, she's alive and-'' Laura says excitedly. ''And she wants to meet us… She wants to meet us.'' she nods disbelievingly. ''I thought, since she avoided us so that she might hate us, you know? But she wants to meet.''

Deucalion nods before grabbing his cell phone and putting it to his ear listening as it rings once, twice-

''Deucalion, how'd it go with the social worker?'' Talia's voice sounds through the phone, slightly out of breath.

''Well enough, we haven't dropped any bodies so that is indeed quite the feat considering. Talia dear, did you perhaps lose something?'' Deucalion asks coyly.

Talia on the other end of the phone stopped moving through the reserve, ''Perhaps… I take it you found it?''

''She found us, and she'd like a couple of days alone with the children. She'll initiate contact in a few days if you'll allow it.''

A few beats of silence before an answer comes, ''If that's what she needs then so be it.''