Stiles tugged at a shopping cart once they'd entered the store. The end cart shook rebelliously and didn't budge. Stiles pulled harder to no effect. Derek watched the struggle for a moment before sweeping Stiles aside and jerking the cart roughly away from the others.
"I would have gotten it," Stiles objected. Derek nodded at him skeptically and Stiles returned the gesture with an exaggerated sneer. "All right, you start on the shopping and I'll get the keys." He handed Derek a folded piece of notebook paper. Derek unfolded it and eyed the first few items – shower curtains, towels, bath mat, bathroom set…
"Shouldn't we get these things together?" Derek asked. Stiles pulled his head back in a gesture of surprise and incredulity then leaned heavily over Derek's shoulder to read the list.
"Nah, you'll be fine," Stiles answered, clapping Derek on the back. He started off to the hardware section but didn't get too far before Derek called after him,
"What if you don't like what I pick?" Stiles turned around, walking backwards.
"I like you, don't I? Just pick some! And nothing black, it's depressing!" he shouted before stumbling, turning, and disappearing behind shelves. Derek scowled darkly, let out a huff, and began wheeling the cart toward house wares.
Stiles smiled brightly as he pulled his key from his pocket and slapped it down on the counter of the key making stations.
"I need five copies of this key please," he said, sliding it toward the man working there. The employee looked at him bored.
"You know the point of a lock is to keep people out, right?" the guy said snottily.
"Hah, hah," Stiles replied sarcastically. "I have a big family dumbass, make the keys." The man shot him a dirty look and started making the copies. Stiles was so happy to receive them that he forgot to stay mad at the worker and smiled widely as he turned to look for Derek.
He found him staring at shower curtains with a perplexed expression and fought back a laugh. He threw an arm around Derek's shoulders as he leaned in to pick up a curtain with a forest pattern the werewolf had obviously been eyeing. Derek flinched, so absorbed in the decision he hadn't noticed Stiles approaching.
"A little piece of home, huh?" Stiles said, grabbing a clear plastic curtain as well and tossing both into the cart. Derek looked at him as if he'd expected Stiles to argue the decision. Stiles just spun on his heel to look at the assortment of soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, and various other bathroom sundries on the opposite shelf. Derek wrapped his arms around Stiles from behind and nuzzled at his neck, breathing deeply. Stiles leaned back into him for a moment.
"As much as I love the cuddling and sniffing thing, I'd really like your help shopping right now," Stiles said reluctantly. Derek nipped playfully at his neck before pulling away. He grabbed a set of matching items that maintained the forest theme. Derek arched an eyebrow at Stiles and set the objects in the basket when the younger man nodded.
They continued in that fashion, picking up items and agreeing on what they both liked before putting them in the cart. There were only a few hang ups where they struggled to find common ground. Soon the basket was filled with household items they didn't have already that they would definitely need soon.
"That's everything," Derek said finally, looking over the list one more time to be sure.
"We'll have to come back and get groceries later," Stiles said, surveying the full cart. He fidgeted slightly. "Uh, did you want to pick up some condoms while we're here?" he asked with an obvious nervousness. Derek looked at him, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Because you seemed to be out."
"I have some," Derek said, crowding Stiles against the cart.
"Really? You, uh, didn't have one last night."
"They're in my glove box. I wasn't about to go get one," he growled seductively.
"Very responsible of you," Stiles breathed.
"I'm clean," Derek mumbled before kissing Stiles deeply. The younger man jumped and pushed him away when he felt Derek's full weight pressing against him.
"No you're not! You are a dirty, dirty man! We're in a store for god's sake!" Stiles looked around frantically. He waved hesitantly at a scandalized looking woman. "Lech," Stiles shot at Derek as he hunched his shoulders and started toward the checkouts. Derek chuckled lightly and pushed the cart after him.
The whole pack stood in their living room a while later. They all looked at least mildly put upon and half of them seemed ready to bolt at the first opportunity.
"Why are we here? Is something wrong?" Scott asked. Stiles beamed at him, the perfect image of a kid in a candy store.
"Nothing's wrong," Derek said calmly. "Stiles has something he wants to give you." Stiles pulled out the first key and handed it to Boyd.
"One for you," Stiles said gleefully. Boyd took the key with a calm smile. Stiles moved on to Erica. "One for you." She curled her fingers around the key, her ring and pinky fingers sliding lightly across Stiles' fingers.
"Is this an invitation to watch?" she asked in her seductive and sarcastic tone. Stiles' jaw dropped.
"Be good," Derek said calmly, the slightest hint of amusement in his voice. Stiles closed his mouth, cleared his throat, and moved on to Isaac. He held up the third key, smiling brightly.
"For you." Isaac gave him a sharp, discerning look, nodded, and took the key silently. Stiles moved to Scott. He brandished the key like a sword. "You, guard this key with your life. Do not ever, ever leave it lying around. Especially when the Argents are within a hundred miles of its location. If I ever come home to find Chris Argent in my living room I will kill you. And Derek," he said, gesturing spastically at the alpha, "will eat your corpse." Derek gave Scott a cold stare as if to enforce the idea.
"Okay, okay. I'll be careful!" Scott replied defensively. He pulled the key from Stiles' fingers while Stiles stared him down. The last key was for Stiles' father, he would drop it off when he went for a visit.
"You can all come over whenever you want but, uh, I can't promise we won't be occupied," Stiles said. Scott made a face and Erica smirked. "All right, we have furniture to buy. Isaac, you're coming with. Anyone else who wants to join us is welcome."
"Why me?" Isaac asked defensively.
"Because you're probably going to sleep on the couch the most so you get to pick it out," Stiles answered matter-of-factly. They all wandered out of the house and Derek locked it behind them. Stiles was pulling out the keys to the jeep when Erica clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll take Boyd's, more room," she said. Stiles looked at Boyd who nodded quietly and climbed into the SUV. Stiles was a little sad to see Derek take shotgun, sadder when he was pushed into the middle between Isaac and Erica.
"What about Scott?" Stiles asked, noticing his best friend was the only one missing. Isaac shrugged and Erica tossed her head in the direction Scott was headed. "Hey Scott!" Stiles called.
"I'm good man!" Scott called back.
"He just doesn't want to shop for Derek's bed," Erica said casually.
"You just want to," Boyd countered. Isaac snickered and Erica gave him a teasing punch in the shoulder.
"Okay, we need a couch, a dining set, and furniture for Derek's room." Stiles said when they'd entered the furniture warehouse.
"Can you afford all of that?" Boyd asked. Stiles ran a hand across the top of his head and shifted guiltily.
"We'll be fine," Derek answered decisively.
"How much money do you have?" Stiles asked incredulously.
"I have a large inheritance and money saved from New York," Derek replied calmly. "But I should probably get a job after this," he added after a moment.
"So what's first?" Isaac asked. Stiles got the impression he was trying to change the subject.
"Couch." Stiles answered. They wandered to the living room furniture.
They mostly stayed in a close group, so when Isaac wandered away while Erica and Boyd argued over a suede couch, Stiles took notice. He watched the werewolf walk quietly toward a large black couch. Isaac ran a hand over the back of the couch as he stepped around it. He disappeared from Stiles' sight as he flopped low onto the sofa. When he didn't get up after a minute Stiles tapped Derek's arm and headed in that direction. When he got closer Stiles could tell the couch was made of leather. Isaac's eyes flicked up at him when he reached it but he didn't move. Stiles sat down next to him and let out a satisfied groan as he sank into it comfortably. Derek came to stand in front of them with his arms crossed over his chest. Erica crashed agilely beside Stiles, having hopped over the back of the sofa. Boyd just leaned down, resting his strong forearms on the cushion behind Stiles.
"Is this it then?" Derek asked, watching them all settle comfortably on the couch.
"Absolutely," Erica purred.
"It's your jacket in couch form," Stiles said. He realized that was probably the reason Isaac had been drawn to it. 'Because Derek is his home,' Stiles thought.
"I thought black was depressing?" Derek teased.
"I like black," Isaac said coolly.
"I like this couch," Boyd chimed in.
"All right," Derek said, grabbing a tag for when they were ready. They got up reluctantly. They picked out a dining set with a warm oak finish and high backed chairs without much fuss and then they were on to the bedroom set.
"You should get a big bed," Erica declared. "Since there'll be two of you in it. Three if baby Isaac wants to snuggle with Mommy and Daddy." Isaac rolled his eyes in response.
"We're not sharing a room," Derek said flatly. She just smirked at him.
"It might be easier though, for next time," Stiles said, thinking out loud. The pack sort of paused, surprised at how casual he'd been.
"Is that an invitation?" Derek said predatorily.
"I don't need to hear this," Boyd said, walking off. Isaac and Erica followed him. Stiles let them get a little way away before wrapping his arms around Derek's waist and kissing him lightly.
"It's a promise," Stiles answered, waggling his eyebrows suggestively before pulling away to join the others. Derek followed with a smile. They found a king with a sturdy wood frame and Derek declared them done.
"Whoa, hold on. A bed does not a bedroom make," Stiles objected. "You still need a nightstand and a dresser."
"I don't need them, just the bed is fine," Derek replied.
"No, no it's not," Stiles reaffirmed.
"I don't need a dresser, I can keep my clothes in my duffle like I always have," Derek said. There was finality in his tone and he turned away from Stiles, leading the pack toward the store front.
"So you can run away again?" Stiles asked darkly. Derek froze and spun around in the same manner he would if Stiles had been a hunter with a crossbow. They stared each other down for a moment. Then Stiles grabbed the tags for the furniture that matched the bed and pushed them roughly into Derek's hands.
"We're getting them," he said firmly and Derek didn't argue.
There was a tension among the pack now. It didn't stop them from going to the store together. By the time they got back to the house they were beginning to feel more at ease again. They didn't leave when the groceries were brought in either. The three betas sat on the floor of the empty living room, chatting quietly. Stiles set about cooking while Derek watched him, leaning silently against the counter.
"I'm not going to run away," Derek said after a while.
"I know. I just… can you just humor me by putting your clothes in the dresser? I'll feel… safer if you aren't already packed."
"I can do that."
"Okay," Stiles said, letting out a sigh of relief. Derek watched him a while longer, preparing a ridiculous quantity of food. Eventually he let out a weary sigh.
"I didn't know they'd stay," he said apologetically.
"I did. Their home has a house now, they might never leave again," Stiles replied. "But that's okay; I like them here with us. Our pack." He paused after a moment and drew up sharply. He turned toward the living room and called out, "Hey Erica! Call Scott and tell him to get his ass over here! And tell him to bring Allison!" He looked cautiously at Derek, asking if that was okay. Derek nodded.
"Our pack," he said contentedly.
Author's Notes:
1) I'm sorry if the quality on this chapter isn't as good. I needed to have this chapter before I could move on but it's still more or less filler.
2) This is the point at which I stop trying to account for changes in canon. 208 Raving just exploded so many things that I'm done trying to keep up and guess in advance. Sorry.