After the funeral, the week went by in a blur, Dean was low key nervous until Sam left town, and then the anxiety started to spike more and more, as Stiles' Birthday neared. To be fair everyone was getting nervous, because the Sheriff wasn't allowed to work his all nighter before Stiles birthday, like usual, so the Hales and Dean saw that his neglect started well before Stiles' birthday. It was like Stiles didn't even exist, Noah stared right through him. Stiles though kept his smile fixed on his face, willing to pretend until the bitter end. Dean took him to the Hales that night, it felt wrong leaving his uncle in that house alone, but Dean wasn't sure his uncle was aware of them at all at this point. Stiles, Dean, and Peter stayed in the cabin—Erik's family was staying for another week. Dean and Peter kept Stiles between them as he cried himself to sleep. Both knowing that the illusion was shattering, there were too many parallels for it to hold.
"We don't know if he is remembering everything or not, Little Star." Dean tried to placate his too smart brother.
"He never, not seen me before."
Dean thought over the years, and Stiles was right, Noah always zoned out, but never completely ignored the world like this. Dean really hoped that this would once again be the case the next day.
#
Dean found that Peter was already gone when he woke up, and Dean waited the absolute last minute before carrying a sleeping stiles into the house, not wanting him to wake up alone, but also wanting to treat today as normal. First on the totally normal day was breakfast, Dean put Stiles on the couch, and made Derek sit with him. Dean found Peter preparing the ingredients for waffles, and even a few items for later.
"How is he?"
"Asleep"
Peter started frying things up, while Dean manned the Waffle maker. About a half hour later, Dean woke up Stiles as Peter finished up breakfast " Hey buddy" Dean rubbed Stiles' back, and Derek watched on worried.
"Was it all a bad dream?" Stiles asked as he curled up even smaller.
"Sorry bud, it's happening." Stiles huffed and Derek grabbed his hand and looked rather confused after a while.
"I hate this." Stiles squeezed Derek's hand and sat up.
"Yeah it sucks, but what doesn't suck is fresh waffles and I even bought an entire jug of chocolate milk just for you." Dean picked up stiles who just hung in deans arms like a rag doll, Dean took him to the bathroom and washed his face, and hands. Dean looked in the mirror worriedly at Derek's reflection who was still looking at his hands like they weren't a part of his body. "Alright, go on into the kitchen Peter has your plate ready…probably." Dean was fairly certain Peter was able to get it ready by the time Stiles made it to the Kitchen
Dean watched as Stiles walked away quickly making sure he didn't run into anything. "Hey, what's up?" Dean poked Derek out of his trance.
"It didn't work, my hands didn't take Stiles pain away." Derek was still staring at his hands "am I sick?"
"Dean closed his eyes and pulled Derek into a hug. " No, you're not broken, or sick."
"Then why couldn't I help Little Star?" Derek mumbled into Dean's chest clenching his shirt.
"There are some pains you can't ever take away, Stiles isn't physically hurt, and you can't take away the pain that is unique to Stiles."
"but I remember it worked with you, when you were sad I took your pain away, sure I took the pain from your shoulder but that was only minor I took a lot more pain then that, and then when Big Derek died it worked then too " Dean smiled at Talia, as she passed them before answering.
"Do you know everything that happened the day before my aunt died?" Dean felt Derek shake his head no. "Well yes I was hurting like stiles is now, but I also just beat up an angel, and let me tell you, hitting an angel is like punching a wall." Dean laughed "and with big Derek, and Jaqueline, I was on a hunt, when Peter phoned with the news. I just found and fought an A type werewolf I also didn't sleep all night before I drove here" Dean let go of Derek before cupping his face making sure Derek was really listening "I hope you never know that unique pain, but if you do, know that just someone being there helps with that kind of pain. No one can take it away, but you can make it more bearable." Dean kissed Derek on the head. "You are such a good boy Derek, always so worried about others, but promise me that you will accept help as well." Dean let go of Derek when the kid agreed "come on we have a birthday to celebrate." Dean let Derek take the lead into the kitchen.
Talia thanked him as he walked by, by dragging a hand along his shoulder as he passed. Dean was happy to see that Cora was distracting Stiles with games to play with Jackson tomorrow. Dean made sure everyone had enough food, and that Pavel even had his rice cereal with black berry jelly in it, saying it's a birthday party, everyone deserves a bit of sugar, and it's healthy ish, the pack picked the berries themselves. Nick laughed at Val trying desperately to take it away from Dean, but Dean just dragged Pavel's highchair to beside him and stuck a spoon full into the kid's mouth before letting him play with it. Val slumped in her chair.
"You're taking care of him when he crashes you monster."
"Nope, Stiles and I are going to hike in the wood, but I could take him with us, if you want."
"We will just let him roll around in the yard." Val sat up, and glared at Dean.
"Why are we going for a hike?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Stiles mumbled a sorry "and we are going for a hike because." Dean shrugged.
"You know that a surprise party usually works better if I didn't know about it."
"Eh you don't know what colours the balloons will be. And I am not making your cake today, Nick is."
"Does Nick know how to use an oven?" Stiles looked horrified at that thought that Dean wasn't making his cake.
"I am very handy in the Kitchen, if it was Val baking then we all would be worried." Nick ducked as Val went to hit him.
"That's true, she tried to cook once and burnt the pot to the element." Dean laughed at a blushing Val. "It's why we renovated the kitchen a few years ago."
"And ate take out for a month." Erik piped in.
"I said I was sorry, I just wanted to impress Nick, you know that was the first time he met me, and the pack."
"I was impressed enough to marry you." Nick kissed Val's cheek.
"You had too, It's in our contract "Val could barely hold the grin off her face so she tilted her head away.
"No it's not. Kochanie" Nick got Val's attention again by grabbing her hand, "you can help with the cake, and we will impress them all."
"Alright, I will clean up in here." Peter announced then stage whispered to Stiles "Don't worry I will go bribe the bakery to make a cake for you today." Val stuck her tongue out at Peter as she pulled a very sticky and purple Pavel out of the highchair. "Love you Val." Peter yelled at her as she walked to the bathroom. "But seriously I will get cake from that specialty bakery downtown and we will eat it in the Cabin" Peter winked at a giggling Stiles Because Val started yelling at Peter so Stiles could hear her.
With a smiling Stiles Dean toted him out to the Cabin to get dressed. Ready to go Peter brought out water, and a snack for them. "Be safe, Howl if you need us, or scream whatever you humans do." Peter waved them off as they made their way to the back yard and into the preserve.
The walk was quiet, and peaceful, Dean just breathed in the fresh air, and Stiles meandered here and there picking up random things and discarding them a little later. Dean was waiting for Stiles to get bored, he was pretty much circling a little clearing, Stiles hadn't really noticed yet.
"Dean, why are we hiking, usually we sleep in and have breakfast, and a late lunch for my birthday?" Dean looked at his brother, and decided it was a good enough time as any to go rest in the clearing.
"Just wanted to talk without any prying ears, and noses, and whatever else Werewolves have to get all up in our personal space." Dean led Stiles to a fallen log in the clearing, he is sure Peter fell it himself, this was their date place when they were younger.
"But you haven't really said anything since we left?" Stiles wandered around the clearing, after Dean sat down.
"Would you have listened?" dean asked as he pulled out their food.
"Maybe, I don't know?" Stiles stopped and sat on the log as well. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Your mom, and how long it might take for here to get back up here."
"Do you really think she is still alive after I—" Stiles tailed off.
"Yeah Pete checked the room sulphur is a good sign of her leaving Meat Suit." Dean looked around, "now I know nothing of how demons get out of hell, nor have a seen any aside from your mother, well there is yellow eyes as well, but I think that it will take a while"
"Why do you think she will want to come back up here?"
"Well you obviously, she does love you Little Star, and also it's hell who doesn't want to escape hell."
Stiles frowned and kicked up the dirt "you told me this already"
"I… "Dean sighed "Stiles, you stole a lot of power, and you have been doing it a little bit every year since you were born. I just, something always happens around you on your birthday. I just wanted it to be us if it did happen." Dean was never known for his subtlety.
"Are you worried about Baby Pavel?"
"Yeah, kinda." Dean looked away from his brother guiltily. "All the wolves have an aversion to your— you-ness." Dean looked up "and Pavel is still so young, sorry"
"Oh." Stiles breathes in, he's not at all offended, he understands—Cora says she is allergic to him, especially recently , says the electric smell has gotten worse. Stiles get up and walked around the log inspecting everything around him, and Dean watched and followed his every move. Stiles tilted his head and read "P.H. + D.W."
Dean blushed, "I was 19 and madly in love." Happy that the serious moment is over, for now.
"You are still madly in love Dee" Stiles grinned. "So, what is being made at the house?" Stiles traced the carving with his fingers, and Dean watched fascinated as Stiles carved a perfect heart around the initials with his fingertips.
"I don't know, all I know is that Nikodem has wanted to prepare everything for your birthday since you spoke to him in Polish." Dean watched Stiles freeze, Dean was worried until Stiles spoke.
"Really, do you think he is making that really good Cheese cake, the one with the fruit and jelly on it? Mummy only made that a few times. You remember it right Dee" Stiles was hopping around now. "I hope he made it did you see it in the fridge this morning Dee. "
"Sorry kiddo, I wasn't allowed in the fridge, but it would be a safe bet that he did, if neither of us were allowed in there." Dean grinned, "That also means the Val was bluffing about helping with the cooking."
"I don't know Dee Val makes a mean cereal, like she uses the good stuff—Lucky Charms."
Dean laughed out loud, realizing it has been a while since he felt this comfortable. Finishing up their snack Dean Let Stiles run around the clearing for a bit chasing bugs, and little snakes. All too soon they packed up and headed back to the house for their late lunch.
With Stiles on his back Dean walked slowly back to the House, just enjoying the quiet moment before they had to return to reality. So yes Dean walked a little slower than Normal, and allowed Stile to chatter on and on about the plants around him, and what he wants for the New Year, and plans to hang out and play with Jackson and Cora equally. Dean just grins at his brother as he describes their trio—see Dee like I am the glue and they are rubber, they bounce off each other but they stick to me. It's how we work. Deans slows even more before they reach the house, he's not sure if he's hoping the Sheriff is at the house or not. He left a note telling his uncle of the plans, and can only hope for the best.