A/N: Sorry for the wait! Real life has a way of getting in the way. sure hope it was worth the wait! and thank you for your continued support.
"RUN!" Lydia screamed. The tide was clearly not going their way she'd just seen Derek crash into the wall on the other side of the gym his signature leather jacket a shredded mess barely hanging off him.
"Go!" he called out to everyone as they hustled out of gym running out of different doors. Oh yeah the holidays were always so much fun.
They'd been ambushed at the dance. A dance that no one had wanted to go to but she, Lydia Martin, had insisted and now here they were once again all scattered through the halls running for their lives through the school corridors. This was starting to become habit and maybe, more practical shoes, would be a wise choice at some point.
Lydia sighed as she rested for a minute behind a row of lockers; Allison had dragged her towards her locker saying something about supplies. Who keeps weapons in their closet not that she was one to judge considering the two ready to throw malatov cocktails she kept in her bag. Of course she'd left said bag on a chair when a certain someone had finally made his way over to where she was sitting. So there, she was waiting for Allison and remembering that just minutes before she'd been in Derek Hale's arms.
"Oh come on…" she cajoled. " one little bitty turn around the floor isn't going to kill you…" standing up from her seat, tugging on one of his hands as she motioned towards the dance floor.
"Fine." He said begrudgingly, but the way he put his hand at the small of her back as he led her to the dance floor made Lydia wonder just how put upon he really was by the prospect of dancing with her.
She was snapped out of her reverie by approaching growls but luckily flashing burst of light from Allison's arrows went whizzing by at the same time as Allison reached out her had to her and they both ran.
There was a reason she shopped early for her best friend she more then deserved it.
Derek couldn't believe he allowed Cora to talk him into hosting the gift exchange at the Loft. But when she looked at him with those big brown eyes… Derek knew when he was out maneuvered. Not to mention that she'd somehow gotten him into participating… at least he didn't mind whom he end up having to gift. He thought as he leaned against the windowpane remembering a certain dance…
She'd teased him unto the dance floor not that he minded. Of course it wouldn't do to admit that not when he was pretty sure she'd only asked him to dance cause he was the only able bodied male not dancing. Even Stiles had a date after all. But again it just felt good to hold her, the sent of gardenia infused perfume and Lydia overwhelming his senses.
"It looks like we will be getting some snow after all." Stiles voice burst through his memories causing him to turn towards the sound. They were all walking in Cora and Lydia leading the way with bags of supplies in their hands.
"Who else is feeling the sudden urge to sing White Christmas?" Stiles asked the group.
"No one. Stiles. absolutely no one." Lydia responded a jaunty swing to her step as she snatched the bag full of decorations out of his hands. And was that Boyd, Scott, and Isaac under that Christmas tree.
"A Christmas Tree? Cora!" Derek barked barely containing his alpha growl.
"It was my idea. Now go help the boys." Lydia said as she strolled by him with Allison in tow holding garland in his hand. She was lucky she smelled so good.
So here he a couple of hours later not understanding how he'd let Cora talk him into this… there were decorations everywhere it looked like Christmas had thrown up in his Loft.
What was he thinking? Why… he thought as he hid. Yes hid. He was hiding in his own home from all the revelry and good cheer. He hated Christmas. He heard Cora laugh at something Stiles said or was it Scott. It didn't really matter just her laughter was enough to help him remember why.
"She's loving this you know." Lydia spoke from behind where he stood on the balcony.
"Lydia…" he said without looking back he knew it was her they'd gotten close since their drunken bonding and well… she smelled like heaven to him he just wasn't sure how to step out of… what was it Cora had said. Oh yeah the friend zone.
"Also I think as your younger sister she enjoys anything even more if it takes you out of your comfort zone." She laughed. It was a beautiful sound. They'd become friends her and his sister, and ok Allison too. They did girlie things and he'd walk into his home to them having taken it over yet again. He didn't mind and they new it no matter how much he growled at them to clean up after themselves.
But well he didn't think of Lydia as just his little sister's friend… she was something more… more to him and maybe tonight she'd know that as well. He thought as he patted the inside pocket of his jacket.
"Come on broody time to exchange gifts. Stiles is chomping at the bit apparently his is the best gift EVER." She rolled her eyes and pulled him in by the sleeve.
"Urghh... you all so don't get the point of Kris Kringle you're supposed to guess whom your gifts are from not just writing it down!" Stiles protested yet again as Allison squeed over her gift from Cora. And Cora clutched her gift from Isaac. Something that seemed to make Stiles a bit grouchy Lydia guessed. Hmmm.. she'd never considered that.
Scott had already opened his gift from Stiles and promptly named it the best gift ever with a wink at everyone else. Boyd quietly inhaled his from Allison… really? Lydia thought another thing she'd never considered as she saw Isaac lovingly stroke his gift from Scott, yeah that one she'd seen coming.
"Ok so whose left?" Isaac asked abruptly as if he could read Lydia's mind.
"To Derek from Me!" Lydia bounced up and handed him a large bag full of tissue paper.
Derek tired to hide his smile at how adorable she looked in her excitement to give him his gift.
Derek pulled it out and it was his leather jacket well not his leather jacket cause his was destroyed earlier that week but almost an exact replica of it. Derek was speechless.
"Try it on," she cajoled with Cora also nudging him.
"Put it on Derek!" Cora said a huge smile on her face as she turned and winked at Lydia she was clearly in on this in some way.
Derek stood up taking of the jacket he had on he put on the leather. It fit him perfectly. It had been a long time since Derek had gotten a gift and never one this thoughtful.
"Thank you." He said quietly has he reached down to pick up the unwrapped box for the inside pocket of his discarded jacket.
"Here." He thrust it at Lydia. " I don't wrap." He said gruffly.
Lydia was stunned. She could hear her own words echo in her mind as she opened the box
"Now me…. I'm expensive…. That platinum bracelet with the emeralds and diamonds set in now that's my idea of a gift."
Lydia couldn't believe it… not just that he'd bought it for her but that he'd listened to her. She really shouldn't be surprised since their drinking escapade a couple of weeks back she'd learned Derek Hale was a great listener. But she'd been worried with how she was friend's with his little sister, that she'd be put in the dreaded zone.
Well this wasn't a strictly friends sort of gift and it deserved a more then friends thank you.
Clutching the bracelet in her hands, she leapt right into his arms planting a kiss squarely on his mouth.
Derek couldn't wipe the smile off his face, as Lydia smiled back holding out her arm, "well aren't going to put it on." She finally smirked up at him a glint her eye.
"Definitely." He said as he reached for the gift to do just that.
An "ahhh helllllll….", could be heard uttered by Stiles in the background.
A/N: The world of the 'A Gift' continues after all Lydia made some interesting observations during that gift exchange.
