Author's note: OMG, it's been so long! I'm so, so sorry! But guys, the semester is coming to an end and I just have SO. MANY. THINGS. TO. DO. it's exausting! D; I wonder why I decided to go back to college.

Okay, this chapter was supposed to be longer (I miss Lydia, I want to write more Lydia!), but it's been so, so long since I last posted, I wanted to give you guys something. So Scout's promise here: more Lydia coming next. And I hope next is soon, but that I can't promise - again with the busy life of the end of semester.

I'm really sorry I couldn't post last week :( Hope everyone like the new chapter and please review? Pretty please? Thank you ^^

Chapter ten: Hot blood

"Purify the colors, purify my mind
and spread the ashes of the colors over this heart of mine!"
Arcade Fire

The hot water was comforting, but Malia didn't need it much when Stiles was with her, one hand on the small of her back, the other exploring her skin as if he didn't know it by heart. She couldn't say much – she enjoyed to do the same and wondered if she'd ever get tired of him.

"GET OUT OF THE SHOWER, YOU TWO." They heard the Sheriff shout, knocking at the door insistently. "NOW."

They laughed and turned off the water. The rumors around town were that the Sheriff's love life was a bit complicated and it was driving him nuts. Apparently, he had way too many options to handle. Malia cupped Stiles' cheeks with her hands and they got back to kissing for a few more minutes. Definitely not getting tired of him yet.

-X-

"You don't get very cold lately, do you?" Stiles wondered when they were back in his room. Malia was wearing only one of his shirts and underwear and he still had just the towel on, another one in his hand rubbing his hair. She turned to him and leaned on his bookshelf.

"Well, not when I'm with you." She said sexily, but the statement didn't make him easy. Instead, Stiles felt a little worried.

"What do you mean, like I'm your personal heater or something?"

Malia realized that he got nervous and walked towards him.

"No." she replied, then added. "Sort off."

He held his breath, suddenly very conscious that that conversation could lead to some twisted ways and wondered if he was ready for it. He didn't want to think that the last three and a half months were just a matter of comfort, even though Malia was the reason he was sane, the reason he hadn't lost it after the nogitsune was gone. He couldn't afford to think that their relationship didn't have the same meaning for her, because he had gave up on the fifteen years plan to conquer Lydia Martin after Malia had appeared in his life, and the possibility of all of it being in vain – especially now that he felt more like investing on the friendship with Lyds and the couple thing with Mal – was too depressing.

Sensing that his mind was working on full speed, Malia touched Stiles' face, trying to calm him down, and when she spoke her voice was soft and calm.

"Hey, it's not like I've got you because you warm me, it's not what I meant." He looked in her eyes. She was very close. "I'm warm because I've got you. I don't know how to explain it, Sti, I was too young last time I was human and it's been a long time. All I know is that I have this feeling when we're together and something a lot stronger when we're apart and I think I'm falling in love with you, I think it's it."

Stiles stopped breathing one more time, now completely shocked. He was expecting something physical coming from her, because Malia was all about actions, but what he got was emotional, it was a piece of her hard to come up. He needed a moment to let the information sink in, the look in her dark eyes intense, waiting for his statement. After the needed moment, he smiled and cupped her cheek with his right hand.

"Oh God, good." He finally said, sighing relieved. "I thought I was getting… well, doesn't matter. Good." He struggled to come up with the right words. "Good." He said again and her eyes started to get all teary, a sign that he had to actually say something soon, because she was getting nervous. "Because I think I'm falling in love with you too."

Malia sighed, a huge weight removed from her shoulders, and embraced him, hiding her face on his chest. She took a deep breath, memorizing his scent one more time; his arms around her felt so familiar, so comfortable.

"I said I'd do it, didn't I?" Stiles continued. "I said I'd survive and we'd be together and I'd love you if I could. And I can. And you make me good the way I make you warm, I think. I think we keep each other sane."

She just nodded, her head rested on his shoulder. He was so much better with words than she was and he said it all.

They stood like that for a few minutes, just holding each other, until it felt right to let it go.

"I'm gonna go fix us something to eat." Malia announced after she kissed his neck. Stiles held her hand for a second longer before releasing it.

"All right, I'll be there in a minute."

She left the room all smiley and Stiles turned to his closet to fish some clothes. He put on some boxers, Bermuda and was halfway putting his tee on when he sensed a change in the room. He smoothed the tee slowly, wondering if it was a good idea to turn around, and even if it wasn't, he reached for a taser hidden through his clothes before actually turning.

"Bu."

The first thing Stiles saw was the eyes with that grumpiness of his and he actually jumped in surprise, even though the tone of his voice was dull.

Derek raised an eyebrow. He had crossed his arms standing just inside Stiles' window, and he looked way better than the last time Stiles had seen him.

"Jesus Christ, I thought you were done with this creeping up other people's window thing." Stiles complained, putting the taser back in its place. Derek said nothing. "Nice to see you alive."

"Is it, really?" the werewolf said skeptical. "It didn't look so when you stabbed me."

"Is not like it really was me, was it?" Stiles replied. He hated the nogitsune subject so much he could taste it in his tongue. "I can't beat your ass the way he did in a normal day."

"That's true, glad you know."

Stiles rolled his eyes.

"You've been back for how long?" he asked and Derek shrugged.

"Couple of weeks."

"And just felt like passing by?" he mocked and heard a little growl coming from the other guy. "So nice of you, Derek."

Derek was about to reply – probably something very rude – when they were interrupted by Malia, who entered the room walking straight to Stiles with a spoon.

"Tell me if that's enough cheese." She was saying, referring to mass of white cream that was in the spoon, but she soon noticed that there was someone else in the room and hissed at the stranger, her eyes blue. Sometimes she used to forget that werewolves weren't the enemy, but that guy seemed extremely suspicious. And he hissed back, showing his fangs. Stiles just rolled his eyes and took the spoon from her hands.

"Who the hell are you?" both Malia and Derek said at the same time.

"That's perfect cheese, Mal." Stiles said, still chewing. The girl knew how to cook, but she was also focused on defending him. He put a hand on her shoulder and swallowed before talking again. "It's okay, Mal, he's friend."

"Who said so?" she replied, her eyes still on Derek and still blue.

Stiles brushed her hair from her shoulder, which made her turn and face him.

"I said so."

She wasn't very convinced, but her body relaxed a bit, eyes back to its dark color and Derek did the same. They crossed their arms equally and entered in a staring competition. Stiles rolled his eyes.

"So who the hell are you?" Malia asked one more time.

"I can ask you the same thing." Derek replied annoyed.

No one answered and Stiles looked from one to another waiting. He had to admit that the situation was comic, but also would have to interfere before things got ugly. Derek and Malia were known for having a thing for the violent way of getting answers.

"Gosh, seriously?" Stiles suddenly said, changing the focus to him. "You guys really can't see the resemblance?" they raised an eyebrow each. "You Hale are so alike, it's ridiculous. Mal, this is Derek, Derek, this is your cousin Malia."

"I don't have a cousin." Derek snapped, while Malia's expression softened, her body really relaxing this time. She had heard about him, he really was friend. "My family is dead."

"Uh, not your whole family." Stiles reminded him. "And you do have a cousin. Malia is Peter's daughter."

Malia made a face, not really happy about the whole Peter thing messing with her life and Derek finally uncrossed his arms, seeming more confused than alert this time.

"I didn't know Peter had a daughter."

Stiles laughed humorlessly.

"None of us did, including him, until five months ago or something. Your mother wiped the memory from everyone several years ago."

"Why would she do that?"

"Who cares?" Malia said, flipping the hair out of her shoulder. "The real question is: how did you get in here?"

"Through the window." Derek answered as if it was obvious.

"And you always do this creeping up windows thing?" he didn't answer. "That's just plain weird."

Derek frowned and Stiles sighed. Oh God, no.

"Hey…" the werewolf started, as if he had just remembered something. "Aren't you the coyote that Scott forced back human, but wants to pee and poop in the woods forever?"

Malia's eyes flashed blue again.

"Weren't you supposed to be dead?"

"Weren't your father supposed to be dead?"

"Weren't you supposed to be somewhere else?"

"Weren't you supposed to wear pants?"

"I don't like clothes." Malia said at the same time Stiles said "She doesn't like clothes."

"Oh, yeah, the coyote living in the woods thing. Hey, Stiles, you managed to find someone just as irritating as you!"

"She's your blood, you know?" Stiles defended her. "Same heated temper, same bossy attitude."

"I'm not bossy." Malia protested and Stiles smiled at her.

"Of course you're not, baby."

"Don't you condescend me and don't call me baby."

He cocked his head, as if it answered things. Derek looked from one to another.

"I am bossy." He assumed. It wasn't news. Malia just shook her head.

"Look, I have things to cook." She took the spoon from Stiles hand and looked at Derek. "You know, Peter is a sicko, but he never scared me to death appearing in my room. What you do is so creepy-like, you should rethink it." Derek was about to answer, but she continued. "You can stay for dinner, though, I think." And she left the room.

Derek looked to the spot where she was a few seconds more, frowning, then looked at Stiles.

"Is she really Peter's daughter?"

"Do you really need any proof more? She's a pure blood Hale."

"I guess she looks like it." The werewolf agreed, every signal of alert leaving his body.

"What made you show up, after all?" Stiles tried one more time and Derek got distracted in his own thoughts, seemed unable to look at the other boy.

"The last full moon, a few days ago." He started, a bit unsure. "Something happened."

Stiles nodded.

"What exactly?"

Derek seemed not sure if he could put it in words and took his time to do so.

"I got visitors. Elementals. They had this way to say things… and they told me to come back and find you and Scott, told me I had people to protect. I think they were talking about her." He cocked his head in the direction Malia went. Stiles shook his head.

"I doubt it's about her, she's a tough cookie."

"Cora is though too and you know what happened to her."

He had a point and Stiles was about to agree when they heard a honk. He wasn't expecting anyone and they heard Malia footsteps approaching in a little run.

"Oh, my God, she really was right in the corner!" the coyote girl said entering the room in a hurry. She turned 360 degrees and found her pair of black All Stars, quickly putting it on. "Some people are just so literal."

"Who are you talking about?" Stiles asked while Malia removed the shirt and searched for something in the closet.

Derek took a moment to actually look around Stiles room and noticed the small details that proved the boy had a girl practically living with him – girl's clothes and girl's things all around and the board by his bed had a lot of pictures of the two of them.

"Lydia." Malia asked. "She texted me like thirdy seconds ago saying I was going to go out with her and she was by the corner already to pick me up and I was like "okay, plenty of time to finish a sandwich" but she really was by the corner!"

"Sounds like something Lydia would do." Derek commented. Malia still was searching whatever she was searching in the closet.

"Jesus Christ, Stiles, we really need to clean this thing, I can't fin-Oh." Stiles had simply fished the first piece of fabric that looked more hers than his – a black dress with details in blue - and held it in front of her. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome." He said and she immediately put it on, running to the bathroom. Lydia honked one more time.

"ARG, HOLD ON!" They heard Malia kind of shout and supposed she was brushing her teeth.

They stood there in awkward silence and twenty seconds later she was back in the room, grabbing her stuff.

"How do I look?" she asked Stiles.

"Perfect." He answered effortlessly and Malia smiled, pausing for a while.

"Oh, and I didn't even have to try!"

He laughed before she pulled him by the shirt and kissed him briefly.

"See you later at Lyds."

"Okay. Wait, why there?" he asked, Malia already was downstairs.

"Check your phone!"

He looked at his phone resting peacefully in his bed and they heard the car pulling off the front of the house, then Stiles looked at Derek again.

"Tell me more about your elementals experience." He demanded and Derek sighed, taking a sit. It was kind of a long story.

A/N: Thank you for reading, it means a lot! And your review means bonus points! haha Please review? See you! x