Isaac informed me about the stipulations Derek put in place before he agreed to bite him. The first is that Isaac is to be careful with his newfound powers, be responsible with them and all the secrecy stuff. The second condition, supposed to tell my father everything that the older Lahey had done over the years. He would stay with his alpha, whether at my house or the pack house once it had been established, once his father was arrested.
He'd blossomed after the bite, becoming more confident and willing to interact with me. I theorized it's because even though I'm not technically, one hundred percent pregnant yet, I still smell like Derek.
Much to Scott's disgust and dismay.
Derek and I were going to tell my dad tonight about the baby. We agreed this was the easiest news because my dad expected me to have a version of this conversation with him and it would be better to save the werewolf conversation for either tomorrow or next week. The gap between would make sure he had time to digest and come to terms with both pieces of news. My dad had somewhat warmed up to the alpha once he was cleared of the murder charges. He had accepted that the information about Derek killing the janitor, the guy at the video store or the bus driver was wrong and Kate was the actual bad guy in this story since she caused the Hale fire. He apologized in person to the alpha for the arrests and the manhunt, but he would need time to warm up to the alpha on a more personal level as the baby's father. I don't think he would try to forbid me from seeing Derek, given how we're going to have to work together for this, but he won't be pleased that Derek snuck into my room twice to have sex with me. Okay, so maybe we'll leave that part out and say it was the one time. It would be safest for everyone.
I also had something to talk to Derek and my dad about, outside of the baby news.
I cooked dinner, healthy for all because I didn't want to take any chances of screwing up my diet. I threw in some bacon on the side for dad and Derek, because they deserved the treat for the talks to come after dad got off work.
Derek is better than a doorbell, truly he is. He had set the table and paced, although he refused to admit it, through the house. He preferred to call it securing the house and checking what child proofing needed to be done. He paused his pacing mid step, his back tensing up ever so slightly and his head tilting to the side the tiniest degree. I wouldn't have caught it at all if I hadn't been watching him wear a path in the hard wood.
Dad called out a greeting to me as soon as he walked in, removing his shoes and jacket inside the door, stowing his gun away in the safe he installed in his office after I was born, as was his habit when he's home.
"Something smells great, kid." He complimented, his voice coming closer.
"I made bacon." I laughed, knowing that's what he sniffed out and was the most excited about. "Don't get used to it, old man. Think of it as a one time peace offering, then it's back to rabbit food for both of us."
My dad's eyes were drawn to Derek, who stood stiffly beside the dining room table in his signature leather jacket, Henley and jeans. He didn't narrow his eyes or change his posture, but I had the feeling he was suspicious the moment he saw Derek in our dining room. They shook hands politely, exchanged pleasantries that may or may not have been completely empty. It was too early to tell at this point.
"I assume you're joining us for dinner, since you're already here?" Dad raised an eyebrow at the alpha, a technique I recognized.
"Yes, sir." He replied politely. The only sign I noticed that he was uncomfortable was how tightly he clenched his free fist under the table. The rest of his body language was carefully relaxed and open toward my father. "Stiles invited me."
Dad hummed in interest.
"We have been spending time together recently, since the air had been cleared on a lot of things. At first, to show her that I held no hard feelings about the misunderstanding and false accusation Scott leveled against me during the attack at the school. However, we started talking outside of the initial show of faith conversations we had in the beginning. She . . . . I suppose you can say she became a friend to me, a . . . rock for me during all this." Derek's expression was open and earnest, sucking me in like it encompassed my father's attention. "In turn, she confided in me that she was thinking about having procedures done to help her achieve her goal to have children, but was concerned about covering the costs if more than one was required."
"That's a lovely story, but I don't see what that has to do with you joining us for dinner tonight. Unless you offered to pay for the procedures or ask for my blessing for something?" Dad was stiffer in his chair, his uniform and his body language made it clear he would switch personas in the drop of a hat, if need be.
"Funny you should say that, daddy-o." I say cheekily, in an effort to break the tension. "Derek and I are having a baby. Congratulations, it's an embryo!"
The jazz hands I'd thrown in for dramatic effect were completely ignored, which was rude.
The table went dead silent.
"I'm sorry, I must have crud lodged in my ears, or it might just be old age. Did you say that you-my underage sixteen year old daughter and Derek Hale-a twenty four year old man are having a baby?" Dad's tone was hard, it was he tone he used when he was working hard to get to the facts in an investigation or interrogation.
Derek was stiff as a board at this point, but he didn't verbally fight back. I squeezed his hand in comfort and support, because honestly he was doing awesome under my father's glare. "Yes, sir. I offered Stiles my assistance and in return I asked only that she let me be involved in the child's life. I'm sure you're aware that Laura and Peter were my only remaining family, but both of them are dead now."
"You expect me to condone this?" My dad asked incredulously.
"I understand your concerns, sir. Stiles is younger than me and legally underage for any type of sexual relationship. In situations like this, an older man has the power in this dynamic and more than I'd care to admit to take advantage of the girls in this scenario." The alpha swallowed, a brief flash of pain and grief crossed his face. "Sir, I swear to you on my mother's grave that I never took advantage of your daughter, nor will I. I have come to respect her a great deal during our friendship and only wanted to help her achieve her dreams of becoming a mother."
My dad was quiet, his eyes glazed and distant. He twisted his wedding ring, an unconscious motion I'd identified when he was thinking of my mother.
Derek and I were silent, waiting for my dad to say something, anything.
"I would appreciate a minute alone with my daughter, Hale." His tone was even and his face didn't give anything away.
The alpha nodded, leaving the room.
I resisted the urge to squirm under my father's steady stare, biting my lip nervously. I wanted him to be okay with this. I wanted him in my life as long as he physically could be.
"I don't like this, I won't lie to you and say I do, but I won't stop you. We've talked about this extensively, but I have to admit I never thought it'd be this soon, kid." He sighed, his eyes sad as he looked at his ring. "Your mother-it was hard for her when the doctor told her you would be our only child and explained why we had such a difficult time before your mom got pregnant with you. I know how much you want this, you've made a point to never let me forget it. I also know that logically and medically the longer you wait, the more trouble you will have. So, if you're absolutely certain this is the way you want to go about having this baby, I'll support you in every way I can."
Tears pricked my eyes and a lump formed in my throat. I will only partly blame hormones of the growing baby, talking about mom is still hard after nearly six years. I wiggled into his arms for a hug, because he always gives the best hugs. Ever.
"Alright, kid, enough of that." He nudged me gently, his voice rougher a bit more hoarse. "Let's wrap this up, I'm starving."
I laughed, wiping away stray tears.
We headed for the living room, where Derek had no doubt retreated to. He was the picture of discomfort on our worn tan couch, his leg bouncing a couple of times before aborting the motion. He stood when he saw us enter the room, his expression apprehensive.
Dad took pity on him first.
"I'll support her decision and will refrain from shooting you or arresting you because it will upset Stiles. However, make no mistake, Hale." He leaned closer, so their eyes met and held. "If I get so much as a smoke signal that you've hurt my girl in any way, or you're not treating her right. . . . . I will shoot you on the spot. Are we clear?"
Derek swallowed, his mouth ticking in the corners. "Yes, sir."
I wallowed in between embarrassment and pride. A bright blush burned my cheeks.
The rest of dinner was alternating moments of quiet and awkward, stilted small talk. Derek made a show of leaving out the front door as soon as the plates were cleared and the dishwasher started, but I had the niggling inkling that he would be sneaking in through my bedroom window in less than an hour. If that.
Which meant this was my chance.
"Dad, you remember Isaac Lahey from school?" I asked tentatively, feeling him out. I wasn't sure exactly if they had already talked, but if I stopped after this one question no harm would be done.
Dad sighed. "Stiles."
I unconsciously hunched my shoulders. "I know I don't exactly have proof, that's not where I'm going with this. I just-if he does come to you-I was going to ask if he could stay in the spare room until everything is sorted out. We've been getting along well and he's a really sweet guy, he wouldn't cause any problems while he was here. Promise."
"I won't say anything, because of right now, there's nothing to say." He rubbed a hand over his face. "You've told me your suspicions, but without proof or the boy coming forward, my hands are tied in all capacities."
I deflated. I had hoped that Isaac had already met my dad at the station.
"If, that's if he does come forward, I will consider letting him stay here until more suitable arrangements can be made for him." He continued, pushing the start button on the dish washer.
I squealed, hugging him enthusiastically.
"I'm going to finish some homework while this is running and then go to bed." I kissed his cheek and did not practically skip up the stairs, no matter what my dad will say tomorrow if anyone asked.
I blew through my homework in record time and, as predicted, Derek Hale was laying on my bed when I returned from a bathroom trip.
"I think it's safe to declare that your father hates me." He said in lieu of a traditional greeting.
I giggled, biting back a grin as I sat next to him. "He doesn't hate you, he's being protective. There's a difference."
His glower was unimpressed.
"If he did hate you, he could have arrested you or shot you without hearing us out." I reason evenly, unconvinced that my dad hates him. Dislike him, yes? Full on hate, nah. "His deputies are loyal to him and wouldn't question it, so if his resolve was strong enough he would do it and not lose a night's sleep over it. The thing is, though, my dad is a fair man and he brings that to his job. He doesn't judge people prematurely or let any personal feelings or opinions muddle doing the right thing. So, all in all, he doesn't like you, but unless you give him a legitimate reason to arrest or shoot you, he won't."
"Easy for you to say, you're his kid." He grumbles, glaring at the wall.
"Did you honestly break in my bedroom to discuss all the ways my father supposedly hates you? Or is there another reason?" I sass, I really was starting to get tired and we weren't getting anywhere in this discussion. If he's only here to gripe and grumble about my dad, he could exit the way he came in.
"No. Earlier tonight you were mumbling to yourself about Peter." His green eyes caught mine in the dimmed light of my room.
I froze like a deer.
Ah, crap. I didn't realize he was in hearing range.
"I realize that-how that sounds and I can explain that." I swallowed nervously. He could have a multitude of reactions when he hears what I'm about to tell him. "With everything going on I haven't told you. . . I want to rectify that. When Peter kidnapped me during the dance to track you, we had conversation in between his psycho homicidal tendencies, disgust at Scott's sappiness and general creeper wolf vibes. He mostly talked at me, because I held no interest in playing to his tune. He told me his theories about Kate."
"He knew about Kate?" There was a pained tint to his voice, his face cycled through a variety of emotions. I couldn't imagine how complicated and difficult this was for him. Peter told me a story about how close they were when Derek was younger, but I hadn't put any stock in it until now.
"He told me his theory." I stressed, running a hand over his back in the only form of comfort I could think to give him. "I don't think he held any ill will against you personally. Kate took advantage of you when you were my age, give or take a year and you suffered for that betrayal. You lost . . . so much because you trusted someone outside of your family, someone you thought that you loved and who loved you. He railed against her, but never spoke badly about you."
His shoulders were slumped, his body shaking with silent sobs.
"I want you to understand that first, it wasn't your fault. She is the monster, the villain, not you. Second, our situation is different and you are nothing like that bitch, may she rot in Hell." I kissed his cheek, not commenting on the wetness on his cheek or the taste of salt on my lips.
"You're so young, Stiles, you don't know that you won't find someone better for you." He sounded so raw, so tired.
"You're right." I conceded. "I don't love you, but I could. I could also find someone else that I fall in love with. Tonight, I want to fall asleep in your arms. We can deal with tomorrow and the days after as they come."
He didn't reply, kicking off his shoes and stripping out of his jeans. I lay with my head on his heart, soaking in his body heat and squeezing him as tight as I could to reassure us both. I was here, I would be here as long as he would let me.
