The ride home was made in silence and Scott forced himself to keep his eyes on the road as he was driving. Isaac's nerves were frayed enough as it was and he didn't need to see Scott taking risks with his son's life, no matter how little a quick glance would affect things. He hoped being around family again would help Isaac get past what happened, but only time would tell.

When they finally pulled back up to the house, Isaac slowly climbed out with Julian. He looked dead on his feet by this point. Derek pulled up a few seconds later, assuring them that he could bring in the groceries and to head on inside. Isaac schooled his features before Scott opened the door, trying to give off the impression that he felt better than he actually did. It didn't work.

"Daddy!" Celine squealed as soon as they walked in. Isaac smiled stooping down to pick up his daughter as she ran into his arms.

"Hey baby girl, did you have fun?" Isaac asked, holding both of his kids close.

"Yep! Pop Pop and his friend did a puzzle with me. I got to do the last piece!" Celine bragged.

"Amazing," Isaac grinned, kissing her on the cheek. He was putting on a pretty good show for the moment, but Scott could see through it.

"Did you get everything you needed?" Allison asked, walking over and pecking him on the lips. "Terrorize the butcher?"

"He tried to convince me to go with the top round instead of the brisket," Isaac grumbled.

"The audacity," Allison gasped, carefully pulling Julian into her arms. Isaac stiffened a bit, but didn't fight it. Allison noticed though. "I think it's time for a nap."

"Alright," Isaac mumbled, shifting Celine around now that he had both arms free.

"And maybe you'd like to join them?" Allison suggested.

"I've got to get started on dinner soon, unless we want to eat at midnight," Isaac argued.

"Dinner isn't important," Allison sighed, looking at her husband with affection. "Hey dad!"

"Yeah?" Chris asked, walking into the kitchen with Scott's mom.

"Do you mind getting the kids ready for their nap? We'll be up in a few minutes," Allison requested, handing Julian off to him.

"No problem," Chris agreed, waiting patiently for Isaac to set Celine down so she could join him. Isaac finally did after hesitating a few moments and giving her another kiss on top of her head. She bounced off with her grandpa, Scott's mom joining them to give the parents a bit of privacy. Scott thought about leaving too, but he felt like he couldn't. He needed to make sure Isaac didn't downplay what he was feeling with Allison.

"I know you haven't been sleeping," Allison said, wrapping Isaac up in a hug. He melted down into her, resting his cheek on her head.

"I feel like if I let my guard down, I won't be ready if anything happens," Isaac whispered.

"I know, but hurting yourself won't help anyone. Your kids need you healthy," Allison said softly. "You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"Doesn't really feel like it at the moment," Isaac sniffled.

"Do you think suppressing your emotions makes you strong? Because if so, you're wrong," Derek said, walking into the house with all the bags. "I'm pretty much the poster child for what can happen if you don't let yourself feel things. It's not a road you want to go down."

"You don't seem so bad now."

"Exactly. I finally stopped pretending I was too tough to care about things and let myself open up. It was hard, but worth it. You're already so much further than I am. Don't let yourself backslide."

"I'll admit, it is still pretty weird seeing you smile so much," Isaac said with a small grin.

"And it has been amazing seeing you smile at your family," Derek replied. "Do what you have to do to keep that feeling." Isaac sighed, finally submitting to all of their words.

"Will you stay with me? Just until I fall asleep?" Isaac asked quietly.

"Of course," Allison replied, rubbing her hands up and down his arms.

"Want me to sit outside the room, just in case?" Derek offered.

"You really don't need to do that," Isaac scoffed, rolling his eyes to cover his embarrassment.

"I didn't offer because I needed to, I offered because I wanted to," Derek shrugged.

"Thank you, but I think I'll be okay."

"Come on, I bet Dad has the kids ready," Allison said, pulling Isaac toward the stairs.

"If they wake up and I don't, please wake me up. If I wake up and they're not there-"

"Of course," Allison promised, finally disappearing up the stairs with Isaac. Scott and Derek looked at each other for a moment, having a silent conversation. They would support Isaac with whatever he needed, no matter how long it took.

They took the next little bit of time to put all the groceries away. Chris and his mom had come down as soon as Allison and Isaac had gone up, heading out to Chris' apartment. He was going to be staying over for a few days and wanted to get some clothes and things to be more comfortable. They were also going to grab lunch and dinner for everyone, so Isaac wouldn't feel obligated to cook for the rest of the night. Operation Let Isaac Rest was in full effect.

"He's out," Allison said, coming down the stairs about twenty minutes later.

"How did it go?" Scott asked, offering her a bottle of water.

"He resisted at first, but he's powerless when you lay a baby on his chest," Allison chuckled, accepting the drink and sitting down at the table.

"I think I'll go hang out upstairs," Derek said, chuckling at their quizzical looks. "Sometimes it helped keep Isaac settled at night when he heard my heartbeat. I know I haven't been his Alpha in a long time, but our wolves might still recognize each other."

"I don't remember him having nightmares when he lived here," Scott said, before Derek gave him a pointed look. "Oh."

"And it'll give you two a chance to catch up," Derek said, not waiting around for a reply before he went up the stairs. Scott turned his attention back to Allison, who was staring at him with a fond look in her eyes.

"This is weird," Scott admitted, grinning at her giggle.

"I imagine it is. I've known I was alive this whole time, but it's got to be very strange for all of you," Allison sighed. "I do have a bit of regret for not letting you guys know."

"You did what you thought was right and it obviously worked out, so don't worry about it. While I would've loved not having to mourn you, I think losing you did teach me some things. Like to appreciate the people I love and not be afraid to tell them," Scott replied.

"We've really grown up, haven't we?" Allison asked wistfully.

"Some a lot more than others," Scott chuckled, tipping his head toward her. "What's it like having two out of your six planned kids already?"

"Oh jeez," Allison groaned. "Isaac would have a dozen if he could. I think he was even disappointed when he found out werewolves don't have litters."

"That's a relief."

"You're telling me," Allison scoffed. "It was enough of a shock coming back to life and finding out I was going to be a mother. That was about all I could handle."

"I can imagine. If Malia got pregnant right now, I don't know what I would do. And that's without the dying."

"I'm sure Isaac would be more than happy to raise it. It might be a good way to satisfy his yearning for a big family without having to get pregnant so much," Allison laughed.

"I'm happy to see him get the family he always deserved," Scott said softly. "You know, at first I didn't really understand the two of you together. You seemed so different and maybe there was a little jealousy lingering, but now I get it."

"You do?"

"You guys care about each other. Anytime Isaac talks about you or the kids, he just has this look on his face that exudes love. And you're so good with him, giving him the space and opportunity to not be okay, but support him until he is. It's an easy partnership, in a way I'm not sure we ever were."

"I thought we were good together. I really did love you," Allison pointed out.

"I loved you too. Probably still do, deep down. But it's different and that's okay. Our relationship had that passion that I think was helped by us coming from such different worlds. And having to fight against what everyone else wanted was dangerous and exciting. But in the end, when we could've been together without protest, we weren't. And I think that was the right call."

"It didn't feel like it at the time, even though I was the one who broke us up. But I understand what you're saying," Allison said, reaching across the table to grab his hand. "We got each other ready for what was next."

"We taught each other how to love. And what was important in a partner," Scott said, linking their fingers. "I think we've both found it."

"Sounds like things are pretty serious with Malia. Are you thinking about taking the next step?"

"Actually, no. It's been pretty nice just being happy and not worrying about the future," Scott admitted. "We've discussed a little about what our plans are for after we finish school, but for now we're just having fun. That doesn't mean we aren't fully committed to each other, we just don't feel the need to rush. Although, I'm sure if I asked her right now to go out and get married, she'd be down for it. She's spontaneous and game for anything."

"I love that for you. You need someone who will push you out of your comfort zone," Allison grinned, squeezing his hand. "Other than Stiles."

They sat and talked for a couple more hours, bringing each other up to date on their lives. It was nice and easy, like meeting up with an old friend, which it pretty much was. There was no awkward ex stuff, just two people who cared about each other, only in a different way now. And Scott couldn't ask for anything better.