***WARNING: SUPER LONG AUTHOR'S NOTE BECAUSE I'M A DORK. Firstly, thank you to those who followed and favorited this story. I didn't think that that would happen a day after I posted the first chapter (or at all). As I stated in the previous chapter, this will be AU. I should elaborate, eh? Well, to put it simply, The Hales are still alive; there was no fire, Peter didn't turn psycho, etcetera. My version of 'Teen Wolf' is different than the storyline. Derek's mom and the rest of his family are still alive, and have bitten Scott (and, eventually, Jackson, Isaac, Erica, and Boyd) in order to expand their pack. Talia was the one to bite him, not Peter. The Argents still exist, but they're not as cruel as in the show (I know, I know, how disappointing). Kate and Derek DID date in the past, though, but she only broke his heart and fucked him over. Peter is only an average, snarky asshole, not deranged or murderous. Talia is still the alpha (woo, badass Momma Hale!). Derek is also twenty so as to go with my plot.

These may seem like spoilers, but it's just so you don't become confused. Lydia is still a banshee, and all of the other characters will eventually show up, too, but I will most likely have my own take on them. This is my story, and although the characters aren't mine, their personalities could be in order to fit my story. OH, AND ANOTHER THING! I plan on posting songs for each chapter that I think will fit with what's going on. So, I don't own those, wither. Carry on reading, my dearies. – Emily***

Chapter Two: Cancer Sucks

Song: 'Satellite Heart', by Anya Marina

One of the shitty things about cancer is that it not only messes with your physical health, but with your mental and emotional health, too. I have my good days and my bad days. Today, Friday, January 28th, is an in-between day. The sky is overcast, with only some sun peeking out through the clouds occasionally. It's forty degrees Fahrenheit, but it's still cold because I shaved my head two days prior. I'm taking my weekly walk on Maisley Trail in the forest on the outskirts of Beacon Hills. My other doctor, Lisa Wetley said that exercise will help when I'm not feeling all too great, and will ease the soreness in my body.

My Harry Potter hoodie and black beanie aren't doing much to keep me warm, but my mind is elsewhere. I stare down at the muddy ground, my feet suctioning into the moss and muck because of the rain that passed through earlier. Without these walks, I would probably lose my sanity in that hospital. I'm thinking about a lot of things, but werewolves and the Hales are what keep crossing my mind. Stiles had met them a few days after they told me of Scott's change, but I hadn't met any of them. Sure, I see them around town on occasion, but we haven't been properly introduced.

I don't think I'd really want to meet them. Sure, it'd be cool to ask questions, but I don't know how they would react to knowing Scott told another person besides Stiles about them. They probably already know, but I don't want to risk it. Scott and Stiles' visits are filled with news on Scott's progress, seeing as he has to learn control, and a bunch of random snippets about the Hales. Apparently, Derek hardly ever smiles, Laura likes to tease the younger pack members (Stiles had been initiated into the pack, too. I found that endearing when I was told, and had busted his balls endlessly), and the Argents are werewolf hunters who haven't given the Hale Pack trouble in a while.

This caused quite a riff with Scott; he obviously likes Allison, and the whole situation is very cliché and "Romeo and Juliet"-esque, but I don't bother sticking my nose in someone else's business. I feel bad for the two, but I've never been in a relationship before, seeing as my life is being run by sickness. Not that it bothers me any; I need to focus on myself and keeping Spencer happy. And my parents, Scott, and Stiles, of course.

My mind is too focused on my thoughts and my blaring music from my headphones that I don't notice the two, tall people standing in my path. I pick my head up just in time to see fucking Derek and Laura Hale standing in front of me. I stop abruptly, and a sound similar to (but definitely not) a squeak escapes my mouth. Derek is glowering, and Laura is straight faced. I recognize them because I've seen them at the super market or local gas stations before.

I look back and forth between them; I'm practically dwarfed by them, seeing as I'm five foot, Laura has a good foot on me, and Derek is about two feet taller than me. He's very muscular and broody-looking, exactly how Stiles described him. "Sour Wolf," he calls the Hale boy. Or, should I say, man. Oh, a man, he certainly is. I'd be more intimidated by him if I wasn't so attracted to him. Jesus H. Christ, no one should be allowed to be that hot. I'm shaken from my thoughts once more when I hear a rumbling voice.

"What are you doing here?" Derek asks accusingly. My attraction is replaced by annoyance. See, with me, as I have been through hell and high water, and nothing really scares me anymore. Death, injury, or asshole wolves included. I scoff slightly. "I'm walking. Ever heard of it?" Ah, sweet sarcasm – another coping mechanism of mine. It doesn't always help in certain situations. Laura chuckles a bit, and the glare Derek throws at her doesn't seem to stop her. His gaze shifts down to me again. "Listen, these woods are dangerous. Why don't you head back to your home and not get attacked by a wild animal and killed, huh?" Fighting fire with fire, huh, Sour Wolf (I can see why Stiles calls him that now)?

"This is the only time I have to myself, buddy, so unless you want to put a nature preserve in the damn hospital, then I suggest that you fuck off. How would you like it if the only air you breathed smelled of chemicals and strangers' urine? I bet that'd suck, with your wolf nose and all." Shit. No. I shouldn't have said that. But, alas, I did. And I'm an idiot, because Derek and Laura are staring at me with wide eyes and slack jaws.

"What the f-" Derek is interrupted by a voice coming from behind me. "Derek, Laura, why are you bothering this sweet young lady? She doesn't seem to be meaning any harm." I turn around to see the Alpha of the Hale Pack herself, Talia Hale. She smiles warmly at me; she's only five-foot-five, so I'm less intimidated by her. I manage to smile back, but I'm still worried because I just let them know that I know their secret and I'm probably in big trouble.

Derek looks like his tail would be tucked in between his legs if he had one, which he probably does because, hello, wolf, and Laura looks indifferent. It's not like she did anything wrong, only follow Derek for the trip. Talia places her hand on my shoulder, making my attention return to her. "Hello, sweetie, I'm Talia Hale. You must be Spencer Chase. Scott and Stiles have told us quite a lot about you. I'm sorry for my son's inconsideration. You'd think at twenty he'd learn (A/N I'm making Derek's age twenty because it's less pedophile-like)." Talia said kindly, her voice joking. Derek grumbles behind me, and I turn to raise my eyebrows at him.

"You're Spencer? Damn, those two kids never shut up about you. Way to go, Der, mentioning death and being attacked and shit." Laura says to me then Derek, who only rolls his eyes. "Well, how should I know who she is? I've never seen her." "The bald head and the smell of hospital on me didn't ring a bell? Funny, that's what most people first notice." My words are thick with "Ha-ha, you got in trouble with the two main women in your family. Good luck getting out of that," which Derek definitely catches.

"Come, let's go back to the house. You can meet the rest of the Pack." Talia doesn't seem bothered by the fact that I know what they are, she only takes me by the elbow and leads me off of Maisley Trail and into the forest. Unless, she isn't bringing me to their house, and instead is going to kill me and eat me so no one will find my body. The thought is swept from my mind when she gives me a smile too sweet to be that of a killer, and I hear Derek and Laura teasing and shoving each other behind me.

My thoughts of sadness and self-wallow are forgotten as we finally approach a house big enough to hold at least twenty people. My eyes widen and my mouth is open wide. Derek comes near my right side. "Don't catch any flies." There's that snarky lilt to his voice again. I snap my mouth shut and flick his back while he's in front of me. He only looks down at me with that brooding look.

I feel comfortable with the Hales; the whole family seems so kind and welcoming that I don't even care that they're wolves who could most likely kill me if they want to. Talia brings out iced to the large, open living room where everyone is sitting, besides Cora, who attends the high school with Scott, Stiles, and I. Peter, Talia's brother, has his eyes stuck to me, almost as if he can see straight through me. "You're Spencer." He says. It's a statement, but I shake my head yes anyway. His eyes roam up and down my body, and although he doesn't see threatening, I still shift uncomfortably.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet the girl who is talked about in this house like she's already a part of the Pack. Nice to meet you." Peter's hand is big and warm around mine, and all nervousness that was in my body was gone. "Nice to meet you, too. Scott and Stiles have to me some about you guys, too. Though I doubt they talk about me that much." I say with a slight smirk. Laura snorts again. "Yeah, okay. They always talk about you. How strong and smart and awesome you are. I can definitely see it." She says, laying across an armchair. She seems pretty awesome, too. I can see her and I becoming close. "So, they told you about us when?" Talia asks, patting the seat next to her on the couch for me to sit.

I hesitate a bit before answering. "Um, about, ten days ago, maybe?" I say, not really knowing if I was throwing the two under the bus. She only nods, seeming impressed. "Hm, that's not as soon as I thought. The way the talk about you, you seem to be their other best friend so I figured they'd tell you sooner." I don't take offense to her words. "Yeah, well I'm kind of going through a lot at the moment so I can see why they didn't." They all look confused at this. Didn't Scott and Stiles tell them? I answer the unasked question. "Uh, I'm out of remission, and haven't been in tip-top shape recently." My voice is strong, but I bite my lip, not knowing how these people, who are basically strangers but don't feel like it at all, would react.

Derek, surprisingly, is the first to speak after a few beats. "They didn't tell us that. I mean, they told us about the cancer but not…." His sentence was left unfinished, and I simply nod. "Yeah, they're like that, not really the gossip types. But I'm sure Cora would've known because it's all over school." Unless, of course, Cora isn't the gossip type, either, which wouldn't surprise me. The faces of the Hales are slightly sad, but not pitying, and I'm grateful for that.

Talia offers to drive me back to the hospital, and I accept. I wave to the others, and my gaze lingers on Derek. He's leaning against the railing of the front porch. Scott and Stiles said that he doesn't talk much, and when he doesn't it's only to be sarcastic. Sure, he was sort of an asshole, but so was I sometimes, so I was used to it. Talia asks about my family, my treatments, my doctors, during the long ride back to the hospital. She's so sincere that I answer everything honestly and whole-heartedly. I tell her of my parents' divorce, how they never had another kid because of my diagnosis, how I only speak to a few people besides Scott and Stiles.

We pull up to the hospital just as my phone rings. I see that the caller I.D. reads "Mommy 3" so I answer. "Hey, mom. I just got back, what's up?" My voice is calm and it doesn't sound like I was winded at all. "Hey, buttercup, where were ya? You were gone longer than usual." Her voice is calm, too. I guess she's finally learning to be less worried about me. "Um, I met Mrs. Hale and her two kids, Derek and Laura. You know of them, right?" Please don't freak out. I hear her suck in a breath. I guess I spoke too soon. "Yes, I know of them. How did you meet them? Was there any trouble?" "No, mom, no trouble. They were walking the opposite way of Maisley Trail and we bumped into each other. Mrs. Hale just offered me a ride home. That's all." I rolled my eyes, thankful we were speaking over the phone and not face-to-face.

I saw Talia smile out of the corner of my eye. "Look, ma, I'm heading back in now. See you soon." I hung up before she could reply. I turned to Talia. "I can relate to her; and not only am I a mother, I'm an Alpha. I become worried about my pups." I smile at her words. "That's really cute. Derek lets you call him that?" I ask whilst laughing, and she join in. "I'm his mom, he has to." We laugh harder. I bid her a goodbye, and she promises me that we'll see one another again soon.

I nod at the secretary as I walk into Beacon Hills Hospital. I see Melissa and stroll over to her with my hands in my hoodie pocket. She throws her arms up when she sees me. "Your mother was freaking out, Spence. You were gone for quite some time." She says in a reprimanding voice. God, so many overbearing moms around here. "I know, Momma McCall. Is my dad still here?" I ask as we walk to the elevators. She only nods as we enter and start moving up to the Cancer Wing. "He wasn't as worried," is all she says.

I enter my hospital room where my parents are, and my mom immediately motions for me to sit and eat my soup. "So, you met the Hales. Are they nice?" my mom asks. I nod as I sip the broth. "What did you talk about?" she tries to make it sound casual, but I hear the worry in her voice. "Just how everything was going. Don't worry, they weren't judgmental or anything." I reassure her, and she nods.

I look at the clock on the wall and see that school is almost over. Stiles and Scott said they'd come to visit after and maybe watch some movies on my laptop for a bit. I can't wait for them to ask question about my meeting with the Hales. And I also can't wait to bust their asses about being called "pups" by Talia.