The Hale pack, plus Nate, sat at the table, passing the food around. Allison was the first to speak. "Stiles, what have you been up to all these years?"
Everyone's head snapped up, looking between Allison and Stiles. Stiles laid his fork on the table, staring at every one. Everyone went silent.
"You know, just doing my thing. I wondered around, found another house, but didn't like being alone, so I found this nice retirement home about ten years ago and have been living there ever since."
"A retirement home?" Scott choked on his food.
"Yes, Scott, a retirement home, there are plenty activities there to keep me busy."
"You, you just don't seem like the type…"
"Well, what can I say? When you're left alone for thirty years, you change."
Trying to change the topic quickly, Lydia spoke up. "Stiles, we never introduced you to your nieces and nephews. Sitting by Jackson is Cole and sitting to my right is Willow." The two nodded at Stiles, Stiles doing the same back.
"This here is Bryn and that's her sister over there, Sky." The two sisters nodded, getting the same from Stiles.
"Well that's not awkward at all." Scott said, looking down at his plate.
"What do you expect Scott? No one has seen me in thirty years and the newest members don't know me."
Lydia spoke up again, trying to change the topic, but it didn't work, Stiles started on a rampage.
"Thirty years I have waited for you guys, thirty years! You all want to act as if nothing has changed, but in reality, everything has changed! I'm not the same guy I was back then. I had to learn how to be on my own after you all left. Do you know what that is like? One day I'm surrounded by all of you and the next, you all just disappear, leaving me to fend for myself. What would have happened if another pack came into the area and found me, huh? What would you guys do then? What would you do if they killed me?"
"Stiles…"
"No, let me finish. You all left me, heartbroken and worried all those years; not sending me any news about your whereabouts or if you guys were ok. I got nothing." Stiles turned to Derek. "And you, you could have sent for me. I was willing to take the bite but you were too afraid. I knew what I was getting myself into when everything first happened. Don't you think I was in more danger being a human than you turning me? To you, I was too fragile to run with the pack and train with them, but I managed to tuff it out, a little scratch never hurt anyone."
"Stiles."
"No, no more excuses Derek, you left me, thirty years you left me. It's going to take a long time before things go back to how they were all those years ago. Nate, come on, let's go."
Stiles walked over towards the front door, reaching out to grab the door knob.
"Stiles, where are you going?"
"Back home? Where else would I go?"
"Here."
"Why would I stay here?" Stiles shouted.
Derek looked dumbfounded. "Why wouldn't you stay here? You belong here, with us, with me."
"It's been thirty years Derek; do you know what being separated for thirty years was like for me?"
"That's why I want you to stay, I can't loose you again." Derek was pleading with his eyes, begging Stiles not to leave.
"Everyone left me Derek, I know that it was because of the other packs in the area, but you could have sent someone or something to me, letting me know where to go to be with the pack. Did you not just pay attention at what I said in there?"
"Yes, I did, but, it was too dangerous Stiles."
"Don't give me 'it was too dangerous' shit, I chose this life, I knew the risks, you should have sent for me, but instead, you left me, thirty years you left me!" Stiles started to break down, falling to the floor, hands covering his face as he sobbed. Derek knelt down beside him, pulling him close. "You don't know what it was like Derek, all those years. Waiting, not knowing if you or the others were ok."
"But we're here now. We're not going to leave you again."
"Dad?" Grace was at the other end of the hallway, looking at her two dads, Evan was right behind her. Seeing their dads on the ground, crying, they made their way to them, kneeling beside Derek and Stiles.
"I'm just gonna… yeah…" Nate left, trying not to disturb the family moment.
Stiles looked up, blinking away tears. It was the first time that he was able to get a closer look at his two children. Grace looked just like his mother, long curly brunette hair, covering brown pools. Then there was Evan, he looked so much like Derek; the dark hair and those light blue eyes that would turn into electricity.
For the first time, the newly reunited family embraced each other. The group got off of the floor, making their way to the living room to catch up.
"…so then, then he slammed Scott and Jackson both into the tree! Their faces were priceless!"
"Sounds like you guys had fun."
"Sometimes, most of the time we were battling the other packs 'til the wee hours of the morning; we almost lost dad."
"What?"
"Thanks Evan. Stiles it was nothing, just some of the local hunters…"
"DEREK! They could have killed you!"
"But, they didn't, Allison called her father and he came and helped us." 'Shit'
"He went to you guys?"
"Not exactly… I mean we called him for help and he…" Stiles shot Derek a 'don't lie to me look' "ok, yeah he came to us to help." Derek hung his head low in shame.
Stiles stood, Derek following his action. "I-I think it's time for bed." Stiles walked out of the room, walked up the stairs and went to a room. The house shook from the slamming of the door, also awaking the others, who went to bed after Stiles' rampage.
Doors could be heard opening as the Pack walked down stairs to find their alpha.
"What's going on?" Allison asked sleepily. Scott and the others were following behind her.
"Pack meeting. Now." Derek said through gritted teeth as the others piled into the living room, waiting for their alpha to speak.
"We have to make Stiles feel as part of the pack again."
"He's always been a part of the pack…" Scott replies.
"Yes, but he doesn't feel like it, we have to do something."
"Turn him." Lydia blurted out. Derek's eyes flashed red.
"What!"
"Turn. Him. It's the only way. Allison and I were with him for a few years before we left. He wants to be turned Derek."
"It'll kill him; his body won't be strong enough now to live through the bite."
"That's what you said last time, it needs to be done, our pack won't be the same if we just allow him to stay human and die way before us."
"Lydia has a point. If you don't turn Stiles now, and he dies because of his age, our pack will suffer; it suffered all those years being away from him." Allison spoke up.
Derek looked to his children. "Dad, you have to do it, we have to make up for lost time and we'll have centuries to do so." Grace was the voice of reason, always thinking ahead.
"Grace is right dad."
Tears were threatening to fall, but Derek nodded in agreement. The Pack stood, walking towards Derek, touching him to have some contact, showing their support of the decision.
Derek left the room, going to the stairs and started walking up them to the room where Stiles was asleep. Derek opened the door, looking in.
Stiles was asleep on the mattress in the middle of the room; the blinds of the window gently blowing in the wind and the moonlight caressing Stiles' cheek. Derek walked over towards the bed, sitting on the edge and turning to look at the older man Stiles had become. The alpha brought his hand up, stroking Stiles' cheek lovingly; Stiles fell into the touch.
"I love you so much Stiles." Derek whispers, leaning down to kiss Stiles' forehead. 'Derek' could be heard leaving the man's lips. Derek continues to stroke Stiles' cheek. Sleepily, brown eyes open, staring into the eyes that he loves so much, that he missed all those years.
"Hey" Derek mouths.
"Hey." Stiles replies.
"Stiles…"
"I'm sorry about earlier. It's, it's just th-"
"I know." Stiles smiles, lifting himself up to eye level with his mate. Stiles brings their lips together. They part only touching foreheads, the two men stare tenderly at each other.
"I love you." Derek whispers over Stiles' lips.
Stiles has waited to hear those words for an eternity. "I love you too." He whispers back, taking Derek's lips again.
After a few moments, the kiss was broken, the reunited lovers once more looking into each other's eyes.
"Stiles, I love you so much and I should have done this a long time ago, but I was afraid, afraid of loosing you." Stiles was listening to each word, knowing where Derek was going, but wanted him to say it out loud. "Stiles, if, if you still want, I mean..." Derek paused, sighing. "I'll give you the bite."
Stiles averted his eyes, smiling. "So you're into old wrinkly men then?" Derek laughs, bringing his arms around Stiles, pulling him closer.
The door to the room was nudged opened; Grace and Evan poking their heads in. Derek and Stiles smiled at their kids. Stiles nodded his head, allowing them to come into the room. Grace and Evan jumped on the bed, snuggling close to their two fathers. Stiles, Derek, Evan and Grace fell asleep together in a dog pile, feeling complete for the first time in over three decades.
The early morning light kissed the faces of the sleeping beings. Derek was the first one up. He carefully got off of the bed, heading down the hallway to check on the rest of his pack. Derek opened the door leading to Scott and Allison's room first. He smiled seeing the beta half way off the bed, a pool of drool surrounding his face. Allison was on the other side of the bed, deep in sleep, a true sleeping beauty. Next, Derek made his way to Lydia and Jackson's room. Jackson was lying on his stomach with Lydia lying on top of him.
Danny had a room all to himself. The tan teen had fallen asleep on the floor with pillows and blankets thrown about the room carelessly.
Derek closed the door, going to the room that belonged to the youngest members. Sky, Bryn, Willow and Cole were also in a dog pile.
Derek closed the door behind him, making his way to the stairs. Once downstairs, Derek wanted to go for a run, but after fighting side-by-side with his pack, he decided that he would wait until they all could go together, even Stiles.
The alpha decided that today would be the day that he would turn Stiles, since it was also the full moon. He would have the pack prepare a feast and celebrate not only the reunion of the pack but Stiles becoming more like them.