Something Unpredictable but in the End It's Right:
"So, then Lydia gives the salesgirl this deadly look, like it would make the Nogitsune freeze in its tracks, and says in the sharpest tone I've ever heard, 'If I wanted in green, I would have gotten it in green'. And the girl just stands there, staring at us with her mouth open until we sauntered away, flipping our hair like in they do in the movies as we went." I relayed to Derek in an amused tone of voice from where I was perched on the kitchen counter, swinging my legs absently as I munched on the strawberries sitting next to me.
"Your imitation of Lydia is uncanny. Impressive." My boyfriend praised me with a faint half smile as he continued to mix the batter of the French toast I had requested in a very unique, very…indecent way this morning in bed. I raked my gaze over his shirtless form as I tugged at the hem of my pyjama shorts and I thanked God that he had decided to put on tracksuit pants when he got up because I would be distracted if he was cooking for me in his underwear.
"Thank you." I said simply as I preened at the mocking comment as though it was one of the highest order and I winked playfully as I bit into another strawberry. "Overall, it was a good afternoon. Between work, and training Liam, and well, you, and her working her ass off at that online college course, we haven't really had any Sophie-Lydia time in a while. At least not like we did before everything."
"I'm glad. I know you've been missing her lately."
"True, but Lyds and I will always end up being okay. We're going to have to separate a little when we go to college anyway. Maybe if we do it gradually instead going at it cold turkey, it won't hurt so much. The summer before freshman year, I spent a week with my grandmother, my dad's mother, and I wasn't allowed to call or email anyone, it felt like someone had carved my heart out with a blunt spoon. Just hacked away at my chest hour by hour, day by day until it was a hollow cavity. One of the worse times of my life."
I hadn't realised that a tear had slipped down my cheek while I was speaking until Derek moved to stand in between my legs and gently wiped the drop away with the pad of his thumb. I smiled shakily in reassurance as he studied my face with an almost blank expression but I recognised the concern behind his light green eyes.
My eyelids fluttered closed as I instinctively leaned into his touch, loving the way the slight callouses on his hands grazed my skin and I whimpered in the back of my throat as I opened my eyes with a content smile on my lips. "I'm fine. Promise."
"I hate seeing you cry." He murmured quietly as in a slightly strained voice and I turned my head to press a kiss to his palm as my chest ached at the sweet sentiment.
"I like knowing I can cry in front of you." I disagreed with a small grin as I scooted closer to the edge of the counter so that I could drape my arms around his neck and ended up with my legs wrapped around his waist. One of his hands settled on my hip as the other skirted over my bare thigh teasingly until it rested underneath my knee and I could feel the warmth radiating off of his abdominal muscles. "I like knowing that you won't judge me, that you'll wipe my tears away. Besides, since birth crying indicates that you're alive and after everything we've been through, it's nice to remember that."
"I guess you're right. It's nice to have that reminder every once in a while, because being with you? That's like heaven." He quipped seriously as he tugged me even closer to his body so that I was pressed up against his hard body and I startled gasp escaped me at the sudden movement.
"So cheesy." I murmured in mock disapproval as I made a 'tsk' sound with my tongue and he levelled me with a deadpan expression as I broke out in a bright grin, "I love it."
I punctuated my declaration with a fierce kiss as I slipped my hand up to the nape of his neck and he ran his tongue over the seam of my mouth, asking for permission as I parted my lips eagerly to allow him entrance. Pleasure shot through my core as I arched my back, desperate to feel more of him and he lifted my knee higher over his hip as he tangled his other hand in the brunette hair, angling my head up slightly in the process. A pleasure filled gasp escaped me when he removed his lips from mine and attached them to the underside of my jaw as I tilted my head to the side to give him better access. My hold on his dark hair tightened as I moaned his name under my breath and I felt his teeth graze my pulse point as he nipped his way down the column of my throat.
The sound of his cell phone beeping broke through lust filled haze as I tightened my hold on his hair in warning and his chuckle vibrated against my neck as I groaned loud before panting almost inaudibly, "Ignore it."
"Remember what happened last time we ignored a text?" he asked me breathlessly as he lifted his head to meet my eyes with a quirked eyebrow and I cringed at the memory of Scott and Stiles breaking into the loft, eyes wide with panic only to find us…indecently engaged.
"Urgh, fine." I complied with a pout on my lips as I pulled myself out of his embrace, scooting back on the counter as I ignored the sudden chill that ran over my skin when he moved away from me to answer his phone.
I absently nibbled on another strawberry while I swung my legs over the edge of the counter and I frowned a little in a mixture of curiosity and suspicion when he flashed a genuine smile at whatever someone sent him. I couldn't help the small spike of jealousy that coursed through me over the fact that someone else had made him smile but I knew that it was a ridiculous response and that Derek had every right to speak with whoever he wanted to.
"So, who are you texting with?" I asked in a forced casual voice as I looked down at the container of strawberries so that I didn't have to see his reaction to my question.
"Your mom." He replied easily as he typed something on his phone without looking up and I tilted my head to the side with an unamused expression as I quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Really? A 'your mom' joke?"
"No, I'm seriously texting your mom. See?"
I leaned forward with my eyes squinted at the screen as he held it out towards me and I gaped when I saw Melissa written in the contact information. His face twisted into a disgruntled scowl as I grabbed his wrist to pull him towards me and he shuffled forward even though he could've gotten out of my hold easily.
"'Thanks for that recipe. I tried it out the other night. Delicious.', 'No worries. I'm glad you liked it. I'm cooking Sophie that risotto tonight'. Oh, this one just came through! 'I can't believe you've never tried sushi. You're missing out'. You're trading recipes with my mother? When did this start?" I asked him dubiously with an intrigued frown as I released my hold on his wrist and he shrugged indifferently as he started texting a reply to my mother while wandering back over to the stove.
"We ran into each other at the store one day and got talking about the couscous I was buying, and then we started talking about you, and that led to talking about me, and then it just kind of spiralled." Derek answered casually as he put his phone down on the counter and then turned to face me with his lips pulled down in a small frown as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You don't have a problem with that, right?"
"No! No, not at all. I was just surprised, that's all. As long as you don't talk about our sex life, I'm good. I'm actually glad you and my mom get along so well." I told him honestly with a bright grin as I went back to munching on strawberries and he nodded once in acceptance as he turned back to finishing the French toast while I murmured under my breath, "Saves us a lot of awkward thanksgiving dinners in the future."
"Heard that!" he called over his shoulder without turning around and I cringed in embarrassment but I could hear the pleasure in his voice as I smiled sheepishly with my nose crunched up slightly.
"Whatever!" I responded childishly with a roll of my eyes as I stifled a grin at the thought of spending holidays with him in the future and I leaned back on my hands as a sly smile spread across my lips. "You know my mom is the easy one to win over, right? You want to impress me? Get John's approval."
"The sheriff doesn't approve of me?" Derek asked me curiously with his eyebrows furrowed as he flipped the French toast out of the pan and onto the plate in his hand as he turned off the flame.
"Oh, god, no!" I exclaimed mechanically without even thinking as I shook my head slightly but then I realised what I had said and my head jerked up as I looked over at my boyfriend with wide eyes. Derek stared at me with a wounded expression as he set the plate of French toast down on the counter and I winced slightly before I plastered a bright smile on my lips as I tried my best to look confused. "I mean, what? Why would you say such a thing? Oh, come on! You're seven years older than me, and been arrested for murder twice. I'm basically his only daughter. He has the right to be a little way of our relationship."
"I suppose you're right." He agreed reluctantly with sigh as though he actually bothered him that John didn't approve of our relationship and I reached over to rub his shoulder consolingly as I jumped down from the counter.
"If it's any consolation, I love you."
"Love you too. Now shut up and eat your breakfast."
"Yes, sir." I said with a grin as I accepted the plate of French toast dusted with icing sugar and strawberries on top that he handed me and I leaned up to kiss his cheek gratefully. I took my breakfast around the other side of the counter as I sat down on the stool and I started eating the French toast as I watched Derek pour us both two cups of coffee before sitting down next to me with his own breakfast.
There was something so domestic about eating breakfast side by side without speaking a word as Derek read the newspaper and I flipped through an online psychology journal on my phone. We didn't need words to fill the silence, we didn't need to speak in order for it not to feel awkward. The two of us were comfortable enough with each other that we could just be with one another. It was a nice concept. It was an even better reality.
"What's this?" I mumbled to myself when I caught sight of an official looking piece of paper hidden underneath a hard cover novel written in Spanish that Derek had been reading and I reached over to pull it free, my eyes going wide when I read the words 'Transfer Certificate of Title' at the top of the paper. "Derek, honey, something you want to tell me?"
"That depends. What do you know?" he asked warily as he put down the newspaper in his hands and I rolled my eyes at the question as I continued to read the property deed without looking at him.
"You brought a house?"
"Oh, that. Yeah. I brought a house."
I hummed sarcastically in the back of my throat at his vague answer as I continued to read the document and my eyes widened when I saw the address of the house he'd brought, causing my mouth to go dry as I exclaimed, "Oh, my God! Derek!"
"Okay, don't freak out. Please?" he asked desperately as I spun around to face him with a shocked look etched on my features and I shook my head without saying a word as I studied his pleading expression with wide eyes.
My mind was running wild with thoughts as I jumped up from my stool abruptly so that I didn't have to look at him while I was figuring out how the hell I was feeling about the latest incident. I ran a hand through my brunette hair as I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes as I paced in front of the breakfast bar and I crossed my arms over my chest protectively as I felt Derek's eyes on me, his gaze burning against my skin. I couldn't think of a viable reason why he had brought that property and I bit down on my lower lip as I spun around to face him with a blank expression.
"You're mad." Derek stated knowingly with a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair and I thought a moment but then nodded sagely in recognition when I realised what the strange ache in my chest was.
"Yes."
"Because I brought a house."
"No."
"Because I didn't tell you I brought a house?"
"No. It's your money you can buy whatever you want with it." I told him honestly with a dismissive wave of my hand as I tried to figure why exactly this was bothering me and I silently held up the document still in my hand as evidence. "It's because you brought this house. Why? Why would you buy Lydia's lake house?"
"Because of you." he answered simply with a shrug of his shoulders as he stood up from his stool and I crossed my arms over my stomach protectively as warmth spread through my chest. The love in his light green eyes nearly melted me on the spot as I relaxed my defensive stance and my lips uncontrollably twitched upwards into a small smile as he placed his hands on my upper arms. "I know how much you love that place. I can hear it in your voice when you talk about it."
"I also love Ryan Gosling but you don't go around buying him!" I exclaimed pathetically with a frown on my lips as I wrapped my arms around his waist and I leaned my forehead on his shoulder as he slipped his arms around my middle with a chuckle. "I love you, Der, but you can't just go around buying things because of me."
"I can if they'll make you happy." He argued seriously as he pulled back to cup my face in his hands, his expression completely blank except for the glint of adoration in his eyes and I gave him a deadpan look as I pursed my lips disapprovingly even though my heart swelled at his words. "Listen, it's not just for you, alright? It's for the pack. What other property is already set up with Mountain Ash baseboards? Or a room specifically for banshee predictions? Or a fortified basement for newly turned Betas? Or a forest surrounding it? It's perfect. If we ever need a safe house, outside of Beacon Hills, we'll have one. It's a logical financial decision."
"That's the only reason?" I asked him dubiously with an unamused expression on my face as I crossed my arms over my chest and he grinned shamelessly as he shrugged his shoulders dismissively.
"You love it, and I love you. That's reason enough."
"Loving me is not reason enough to buy property!"
"Sure it is."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"So, this is a bad time to tell you I also brought the property my old house was on?" he asked nonchalantly with a mock confused expression as he started walking backwards towards the kitchen and I gaped at him in shock with my mouth parted in surprise as he went to pour himself a refill of coffee.
"Wait, what?" I asked him in confusion as I followed him towards the kitchen with a frown pulling at the corners of my lips and he looked over at me as I grabbed my own empty coffee cup from the counter.
"I brought the property back from the state." Derek clarified for me as he poured coffee into my cup when I held it out towards him and I leaned back against the counter as he collected the dirty dishes we used for breakfast.
"And what are you planning on doing with the land?" I asked him with a forced casual tone because I had a feeling I knew where he was going with this conversation and I wasn't sure I was ready for it, but another part of me felt extremely giddy over the prospect.
"Nothing." He replied instantly without looking at me as he placed the cleared plates and dirty utensils in the sink for them to be cleaned, causing me to narrow my eyes at him suspiciously.
"Derek."
"Something."
"Derek."
"Rebuilding the house with my own design." He answered reluctantly in a quiet voice as he started filling the sink with hot water and I sighed inaudibly because that's what I thought he was going to say as I placed my half empty coffee mug down to the side.
"Have you started a draft blueprint?" I asked him supportively in a soft voice as I grabbed the dish towel from the counter and took the dripping wet plate from his hand. He glanced at me from the corner of my eye, probably checking to see if I was genuinely interested and I offered him a sincere smile as I dried the plate before setting it down in the strainer beside the sink.
"Yeah. Yeah, I started playing around with a few things." My boyfriend admitted with a small upturn of his lips as we continued to wash and dry the dishes while we spoke.
There was a spark in Derek's light green eyes whenever he spoke about architectural design and it always made my smile to see him so passionate about something. I had been surprised when he'd confided in me that he had studied architecture at NYU when he was living in New York after the fire but after listening to him speak about structural design, it made perfect sense to me.
"I'm glad to see you putting that architecture degree to good use." I teased him with a smirk as I nudged him with my hip and he levelled me with a deadpan glare but I could tell he was grateful I wasn't freaking out.
I let out a chuckle as I bit my lower lip to stop myself from grinning too widely when I thought about living in a house that Derek had designed specifically for us, for our future family. I could picture cooking meals together in the kitchen, playfully bickering over whose turn it was to do the dishes, or sitting together in our living room, a working wood fireplace blazing in the middle of winter as we curled on the couch together watching movies. If I listened closely, I could hear footsteps overhead as our imaginary children played, their laughter echoing off the walls and I couldn't help but smile at the scene I had envisioned for myself.
"Tell me about this house." I ordered in a mock stern voice as I gave Derek my full attention, turning my body slightly in his direction and a pleased grin lit up his whole face as he started explaining some of details of his partial design.