Hey guys! I am back with a new chapter! Please let me know how you like the story!

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He had been walking for so long, his heart rate hadn't slowed at all since he left Lydia.

His mind kept making up scenarios as to what could be happening to her and it was physically causing him pain. He knew he shouldn't be doing that to himself but he couldn't help it. He missed her already. He was so worried.

He had seen trees and grass, basically everything green for what must have been miles. His feet felt so heavy, wanting him to stop but he was determined to get to his friends as fast as possible. Except he had no idea where he was, until he saw the small run down Beacon Hills sign that they always passed to get into town.

Not too far away from it was the abandoned warehouse Scott found Lydia when this whole mess started and he suddenly got a boost of energy and his pace picked up as he knew exactly where to go from there.

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When Scott and Malia had pulled up that day to Derek's house, the unfamiliar smell he picked up on disappeared fast. As if Scott and the others arriving scared them off. Yet that smell never left Derek's mind, it was odd and he wanted to be aware of everything he could especially because of Stiles and Lydia still missing.

He had informed Scott and the others of the hiding intruder that had to have been close by, and told them to keep an eye out. They decided to camp out at Derek's house since, knowing that staying together was their best bet at keeping safe.

It had been days since then and everyone had grown more frustrated if that was even possible. Scott had been beating himself up over his missing friends and everyone could tell. Malia's mind was running a mile a minute trying to think about everything she had witnessed in the woods and areas searched trying to find something that could help. They felt hopeless. They had nothing.

No clue, no lead, and still no Stiles and Lydia.

Malia had gone back several times to look through the woods despite Derek and Scott telling her not to. She was determined but that determination started to fade and it was replaced with discouragement instead.

Derek's house had gotten quiet too, everyone in their heads thinking.

That was until they heard heavy footsteps on the wood porch that led to the front door. Derek and Scott jumped up immediately hearing the sound, Derek urged him to remain quiet keeping in mind the unfamiliar scent he picked up earlier.

Scott turned to walk towards the door but Derek stopped him, not wanting him to engage with whoever it was. Scott continued to push against Derek making his way past his arms. "Scott wait!" Derek whispered trying to get his attention. Scott had a determine dlook on his face.

It was no use and Scott unlocked and opened the front door revealing an exhausted and filthy Stiles standing at the doorstep. Everyone froze with shock at seeing Stiles until Scott ran and threw his arms around him. It took a second but Stiles returned the hug letting his eyes close at the familiarity, at the feeling of his brother being there right in front of him. For a second in the bunker he didn't know whether he was gonna get to see any of the pack ever again.

"Scotty." That's all he could say as he struggled to keep standing, his feet wanting to give out from the many miles he had walked to get back.

Scott felt how weak Stiles was in his arms and pulled from his embrace immediately leading him inside. Stiles caught everyone's glance as Scott led him to the couch. Derek, Malia, and Kira all there.

When his eyes met Malia's he couldn't read her, he couldn't tell if she was happy to see him or mad. Either way he knew he would have to talk to her about everything, but right now he needed to tell them what happened.

As soon as his body hit the couch he wanted to groan from relief but refrained, not wanting anyone to worry. Everyone else had filed around him on the couch ready to hear what he had to say. He was suddenly overwhelmed with what he had to explain, and Lydia was filling his mind. The moment he saw everyone was great but it would have been better is she was there with him.

"Stiles hey what happened?" Scott was sitting right next to him which was encouraging but Stiles was still at a lost of words. He knew that he needed to tell them because it was urgent, but the weight of everything that happened hit him all at once.

"Take your time. I'll get you some water." Derek ran off to the kitchen. Stiles nodding after him.

When he returned Stiles gulped the water down so fast, he wanted more. His throat was finally relieved which gave him the courage to finally speak up.

"Uh hey", Stiles said shakily. Everyone chuckled at his response but remained quiet urging him on. He began to explain what happened from the very beginning of that horrible day, leaving out no details. It was like he was reliving it all again, "and then I got out."

It got quiet after he explained, "and Lydia is still there."

He felt Scott's hand grab his shoulder as he played with his fingers while waiting for them to respond.

Scott shook him a bit trying to get his attention, "You did the right thing Stiles, we are just glad you're back."

Stiles turned and met his eyes, "Yeah but she isn't."

Silence. No one knew what to say. How do you comfort someone who had to leave someone very important to them and to everyone behind.

"I need a minute." Stiles got up and excused himself, finding himself gravitating to the porch he just stumbled on to get inside the house. He needed fresh air, and that way he could give them time to make a plan now knowing the general location of where Lydia would be.

His legs still being weak made it a slow journey to the steps but he finally sat down getting a few deep breaths in. He heard the door open and shut behind him not bothering to look cause he knew who it would be that followed him out.

"I would have thought you would have had enough fresh air from your long trip back." Malia stood behind him, nervous to move to see his face.

He chuckled, "Obviously not enough." He began to play with his fingers again nervous as well.

Malia finally convinced herself to sit besides him, and moved her hand over his to stop his fidgeting. "Are you okay?"

He sighed moving to meet her eyes and place his hand on top of hers, "Ask me when we get Lydia back."

Malia nodded looking down at her feet, for some reason she was struggling to hold his gaze. She had a question she was dying to ask him, and she had been preparing herself but for some reason now that he was here she was having a hard time.

It remained quiet between them as their hands remained intertwined giving them both a sense of comfort.

"How come you didn't wait?"

This got Stiles attention and he turned furrowing hir brows in confusion, "What?"

"You didn't wait for me. I told you to wait so you wouldn't get hurt by going after Lydia, but you left anyways." It clicked in Stiles head finally what she meant and a blanket of guilt covered him. He knew it wasn't because of her, it was about Lydia and he didn't know how to explain it without hurting her.

"I didn't mean to do that on purpose, there was just no way I was gonna let her go by herself. I just reacted."

Malia shifted, "Why?" Her voice staying quiet.

"What do you mean?"

She looked up to him and searched his eyes, and instead of asking again she already got her answer. The normal smell of anxiety and nervousness that always followed Stiles was immediately replaced with guilt. Her eyes filled with unshed tears at the answer he had given her without even knowing. He just reacted, and his first reaction was to protect Lydia. He didn't even think he just did it, and Malia finally understood.

She couldn't lie, she knew that Stiles and Lydia had always had the strongest bond in the pack. So she wasn't completely surprised when she smelled the mix of guilt and love that came off him.

Stiles eyes saw the change in her face but he still held her eyes, his hand tightening over hers. "I'm sorry Malia."

She shook her head wiping her tears not wanting him to see, "Don't be, you love her. You can't help that."

His heartbeat began to pick up at what she said, love was a strong word and yet he knew Malia was right. After all the years of being around Lydia from the beginning of high school, everything he had felt had just deepened and he couldn't imagine his life without Lydia.

He moved his hand to her cheek moving her face to face him, wiping her tears. "I never meant to hurt you. I love you too."

She smiled weakly back at him, moving her hand over his on her face. "I know you do, just not the way you love her."

Stiles heart began to hurt as he saw the pain that filled her face, and the fact that he was causing it killed him. He didn't know what to do, for once in his life he felt he couldn't comfort her the way she needed. It wouldn't be fair. He felt terrible but relieved that he could finally be honest with himself and Malia.

"Hey we are gonna be okay. This doesn't change anything for the pack or for us. I will always care about you Stiles."

"Me too."

Stiles removed their hands from her face, moving in to place a chaste kiss against her cheek. She sighed at the touch and moved her head down to his shoulder wanting to sit with him there a little bit longer.

Just the two of them, before the real chaos would begin.