Flashback

"Are you sure that you're ready for this?" Stiles said from the bed.

Derek was getting dressed "Stiles I know what I want and it's you. I love you more than anything and I only want to be with you."

"But this is a big step Derek. Committing yourself to one person for the rest of your life. I just don't think you're ready." Stiles said looking down.

Derek walked over to the bed and sat next to Stiles. "Stiles I'm not going to change my mind. I don't want to be with anyone else." He kissed Stiles on the cheek. "You don't have anything to worry about."

End

Derek sat at the bar with his third beer. It's been three weeks since he talked to Stiles and he missed him. "Can I get a beer?" Derek heard someone say from next to him. "I didn't know you were back." He said.

Jackson smiled "how's it going?"

"I'm pretty sure you heard about me and Stiles?" Derek said looking over at him.

Jackson nodded "Yeah."

"How is he doing?" Derek asked.

"He found his own place a week ago." Jackson said "He felt like he was intruding on me and Danny even though we told him a hundred times that it was okay. We still talk to him though."

"What's wrong with me?" Derek asked.

"What do you mean?" Jackson said taking a swig of his beer.

"I love Stiles but I just can't see myself with just him I love my independence and I'm not ready to give that up but Stiles is my life. Derek looked over at Jackson. "What am I suppose to do now?"

"Look I know that you love Stiles but you have to figure out what you want. Do you want to be with Stiles or not. If so then something her to chance."

Derek looked down "I know."

"You need to talk to him too." Jackson said "Maybe it might help." His phone vibrated and he answered it. "Hey Danny what's up….Alright I'm on my way." He hung up the phone. "I have to go." He patted Derek on the shoulder. "I'll talk to you later."

Derek watched him go then someone caught his eye. A short blond that looked a lot like Stiles. Looking away he drunk down the rest of his beer. He looked back when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Hi." The man said.

"Hey." Derek said back.

The man sat down next to him. "My name is Chris." He held out his hand.

Derek shook it. "Derek."

Chris sighed "So what's a good looking guy like you doing sitting here alone."

Derek smiled "Just trying to a lot off my mind."

"Well maybe I can help." Chris said "Why don't we go back to my place?"

Derek looked over at the man. "Yeah why not."

OOO

Flashback

Stiles was sitting on the couch when Derek plopped down next to him. "What is it?" He said smiling.

Derek looked down "What do you think about having an open relationship?"

Stiles smile faded "What?"

"It won't mean anything." Derek said quickly. "I love you and you love me but we'll just be with others."

Stiles shook his head and stood up. "I knew you weren't ready for comment."

Derek stood as well. "I am Stiles you know that I love you but I just-"

Stiles looked down "Fine."

"What?" Derek said.

"If it means so much to you we can have an open relationship." Stiles lied. This was killing him inside but he didn't want to lose Derek.

Derek just stared at him. "Are you sure?"

Stiles nodded "Yeah I'm sure." He looked away from Derek. "I have to go to the bathroom." He said walking off.

END

OOO

Stiles was just getting home from work when his phone rang. Not bothering to answer it he sat it on the table. He moved into a one bedroom apartment in a quiet neighborhood. It was almost seven o'clock and he was tired. He sat down on the couch and took off his shoes. Lying down he soon nodded off to sleep.

Not long later he heard knocking at his door. He groaned and went to answer it. "Derek?"

"Hey Stiles" Derek said looking down.

"How did you know where I stayed?"

"I called Jackson." Derek said still looking down at his feet.

Stiles let go of the door. "Have you been drinking Derek?"

Derek nodded "But only a few. I had a bad night and I just wanted to see a friendly face."

Stiles sighed. "Come on in?"

Derek finally looked up at Stiles. "You don't mind?"

Even though Stiles was tired he could never say no to Derek. "No, come on in."

Derek walked into the house. "I know you probably don't want to see me but I haven't seen you in three weeks and I just had to come see you."

Stiles shut the door and crossed his arms over his chest. "It's okay um doing you want to talk or something?"

Derek sat on the couch. "I just came from this guy Chris place."

Stiles sat on the arm of the chair. "Good for you but why are you telling me this?"

Derek shook his head "Because I couldn't go through with it. Once I got there and we started kissing all I thought about was you." He looked up at Stiles. "I'm sorry for everything Stiles. You've been the love of my life since you were in high school and that's never going to change."

"What are you saying Derek?" Stiles asked.

"Can you ever forgive me?" Derek asked getting up.

"Of course I forgive you and I still love you but I don't think we should get back together." Stiles said. "Not until I know that you're ready to commit."

Derek walked over to Stiles. "I am Stiles."

Stiles shook his head. "I don't think you are and I don't want to get cheated on in the future. Derek I'm giving you this time to do what you want."

"I have done that and I'm tired of being with other people every other night." Derek took Stiles hand. "There is only one person who I want to wake up to see every morning and that's you."

"You should get some sleep." Stiles said moving away from Derek.

"But Stiles-" Derek started to say.

"It's late and I'm tired. We can talk tomorrow since I don't have to work. You can sleep on the couch." He walked off to his bedroom.

Derek sat back down on the couch. Somehow he had to get Stiles back. Stiles was everything to him and now that he didn't have him anymore he realized just how much Stiles meant to him.

A/N Sorry it took so long. Next chapter will be up soon.