'So tell me, how's Stiles? Really?' The Sheriff asked as he placed a plate of food in front of Derek. He took note of a baked potato, grilled lean meat and vegetables. The sheriff had the same on his plate. Stiles would probably ask him later when they talked.

'He's behaving himself. He works hard. He misses you.' Derek said slicing through the meat.

'I miss him. The house is lonely without him.' The Sheriff admitted. 'Don't tell him I said that.'

'I won't.' Derek said with a smile. 'This is good.' He poked his knife at the plate.

'Stiles liked to cook but I taught him. His mother was a great cook too. She was more interested in baking than meals though. I came home one day, around Christmas time and she'd taken a notion of baking cupcakes. Stiles was six or seven I think. The kitchen looked like, well, it looked like a Stiles bomb had hit it. There was icing everywhere, and frosting and these little silver balls that we kept finding for months afterwards. Turns out his mom let him taste the frosting and there were those e-numbers in the stuff. Kid went crazy! His mom too, she must have just lost it and joined in the fun. After he was in bed we were cleaning and laughing for hours. Never did get any cupcakes that year. Or for a few years afterwards.' The sheriff said. His eyes had glazed over with the memories.

Derek laughed along with the Sheriff imaging Stiles covered in icing as a kid. He wondered what Stiles would be like with their own kids.

'Will you want kids?' The Sheriff asked, reading Derek's mind.

'Yes. It's complicated but I want kids.' Derek said.

'Have you talked about it with Stiles?' The sheriff's tone was curious.

'Not really.' Derek admitted.

'But you two are getting married?' He confirmed raising an eyebrow.

'We will yes.' Derek said. The Sheriff nodded his understanding.

'And what if Stiles doesn't want kids?' The Sheriff asked.

'I know he wants a lot of people around him. He wants a family.' Derek said. 'A bigger family than he already has.'

'I suppose that's why you lot are all living together. How do you do it Derek? All those teenagers? My head would be turned. I mean I know you're still young yourself but to want to voluntarily live with those kids.' He shook his head.

'That's complicated too.' Derek said, biting his lip. He took a long gulp of his beer before settling back in his chair. He was glad that, despite popular belief, the Sheriff kept his firearm locked away when he was in the house. Years of living with Stiles meant he had to. He was also glad that he would get a head start and have the chance to run while the Sheriff got his gun.

'I'm a werewolf you see.' Derek told him. 'And that's my pack all living in that house.'

The Sheriff stared at Derek for a long time.

'Let me get this straight. You think you're a werewolf?'

'Yes.' Derek said firmly.

'And those kids are all werewolves?'

'No. some of them are.' Derek corrected.

'Is Stiles-'

'No.' Derek said immediately. Stiles had yet to ask for the bite. They hadn't even talked about it.

'Ok. I uh, well, am I dreaming?' The Sheriff asked.

'I'm real.' Derek said.

'So if you think you're a werewolf…'

'I am a werewolf.' Derek interrupted.

'What do werewolves do? What do you do?' The sheriff asked finally going back to his food. Derek lifted what was left of his meat and ate it from his fingers as he talked.

'At the minute, get headaches from sorting college kid's problems.' Derek said.

'Are you crazy?' The sheriff asked.

'I can prove it.' Derek said. The Sheriff just stared and Derek took that as his cue. He placed his right hand in the middle of the table and both men watched as Derek's hand shifted, fingers growing thicker and nails elongating. Hair sprouted down the back of his wrist, standing on end. 'The Hale's have always been werewolves. That's what happened a few years back. Remember my uncle's miraculous recovery, it was the wolf.' Derek said softly. His fangs were resting against his lips.

'I need a drink.' The Sheriff said. Derek stood immediately and grabbed two clean glasses and a bottle. He noticed his body had slipped back to normal. He poured a double measure in each. The Sheriff knocked his glass back.

'I don't honestly know if I should shoot you or have you committed. Or run away.' The Sheriff said after his third drink.

'Why don't you just believe me?' Derek said. The Sheriff laughed.

'You know this is typical. If there's one person out there who could get himself involved with werewolves its Stiles.' He said. 'If it wasn't for Stiles being, well, Stiles, I wouldn't believe you. I would shoot you.'

'We need to talk more, and I didn't plan on telling you tonight but I think it's important that you know about this part of my life and this part of Stiles's life.'

'Thank you for trusting me with this.' The Sheriff said waving his glass around the room. Derek slid the bottle out of his reach.

'Thank you for trusting me with your son.' Derek said softly.

'Ah, you can have him. More trouble than he's worth.' The Sheriff said laughing, Derek joined the laughter. They both knew he didn't mean it, that he would have no qualms about shooting Derek in the head if that's what needed to be done.

'Hey I know you have questions. Stiles still has a few books under his bed about this stuff you can read.' Derek said.

'That's not all that's under his bed.' The Sheriff said. Derek laughed and hoped to all his werewolf gods that the Sheriff didn't notice the red creeping onto his neck or the man would be crowing to Stiles about making his boyfriend blush. 'Well I'm going to hit the sheets early. We'll watch movies another time but I think I'd be asleep in five minutes if I sat down to watch something tonight son.'

'Ok night Sheriff.' Derek said softly.

'Hey, maybe someday you can call me dad. You know, when I get a bunch of grandkids.' The Sheriff said awkwardly.

'I'd like that.' Derek said. He tidied the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher as he thought about Stiles and the Sheriff and his pack. And the future. With kids. Lots of little mini Stiles' running around.

But they were thoughts for another time, because tomorrow he would be dealing with his past.

XXX

When Derek climbed the stairs slowly on Monday evening. The sheriff had carried on his wife's tradition of putting family portraits there. At the top was a picture of Stiles on his graduation day. Derek felt a small thrill to see another one beside it of the sheriff, Derek and Stiles all grinning at the camera. He wondered how he missed it the night before but reasoned it probably had something to do with the intense conversation he shared with the sheriff.

They had talked more this evening, and Derek had, as promised, left a few books on the counter. Derek answered questions about packs, and alphas and solved some of the murder mystery for the sheriff. He was exhausted after the day. He spent it trawling through the house hunting for surviving trinkets. He almost missed Stiles's Team Derek mug pushed into the back of the cupboard. He felt like he could sleep for a week but he had a restless energy. One that only Stiles could sooth. He needed his mate.

Being in Stiles's room alone and knowing he wouldn't be bursting through the door any minute was strange. The room was tidy now, it looked almost Stiles free. Derek stripped his clothes and got into bed. He lay for almost a minute before calling Stiles.

'Hey handsome.' Stiles answered.

'Hey. Everything ok?' Derek asked as he breathed in the scent on the pillow. There was a faint tinge of his mate resting there.

'Peachey.' Stiles said. Derek could hear the sounds of the television in the background.

'Where are you?' Derek asked scratching his belly.

'Living room. Where are you?' Stiles asked back. Derek could tell he was smiling.

'In your bed. Naked.'

'Sounds like a plan. Guy's I'm off to have me some hot phone sex, see you in the morning.' Stiles crowed leaping from the sofa and running upstairs. Derek could hear some of the pack groan in the background.

'You love torturing them.' Derek said with a laugh.

'They torture me.' Stiles said kicking the door closed and tripping out of his clothes. 'Right, I'm naked. Phone sex me.' Stiles said.

'Who says I wanted phone sex?' Derek teased.

'Bitch! Talk dirty to me already or I'll tell dad exactly what time you left here and got there at and he can work out how many speeding laws you broke on your way.' Stiles said. He sounded serious.

'You wouldn't.' Derek growled. 'You would have no one to fuck you then.'

'I'll find someone; there are plenty of hot guys here who watch me walk past them every day on my merry way.' Stiles said. 'I'll just tug on a red hoodie and go looking for the big bad wolf…'

'Stiles.' Derek sighed.

'What?'

'Shut up.'

'But we're on the phone. If I shut up it kind of defeats the purpose of calling me.' Stiles pointed out. Derek growled on the other end of the line. 'If it helps I've just poked the lube out of the drawer.'

'Horny bitch. Do you want it?' Derek asked, his own hand drifting lower.

'Always.' Stiles breathed.

'Touch your nipple ring.' Derek said. He heard Stiles sigh over the line.

'I've got you on speaker.' Stiles said as he twisted and tugged the little hoop through his nipple. 'Feels so good.'

'Just imagine me, holding your arms down as I suck and nibble and tease it.' Derek said. 'Are you hard?'

'Yes.' Stiles said.

'Don't touch your cock yet. Touch your balls.' Derek said. His voice was husky.

'Oh fuck.' Stiles whined. 'Wish you were here.'

'I am there. When we're mated our connection will intensify, we'll feel each other when we're turned on. We'll go into heat.' Derek said. His mind was drifting with the possibilities of what them being mated meant.

'Fuck.'

'Can you imagine that, me fucking you for days, always wanting you?' Derek wondered.

'Feel like that now.' Stiles said.

'Open yourself up for me. I love to watch you fuck yourself with your fingers.' Derek growled. Stiles always put on such a filthy show.

'What are you doing?' Stiles panted.

'Waiting for you, waiting to slip inside you, to turn you outside in.' Derek said.

'Oh god Derek. In me, I want you in me; I want you to fuck me.' Stiles begged.

'Imagine my cock, so full, so mine. You're mine.' Derek growled.

'I'm yours, always yours. So full, not enough I want you.'

'Jerk your cock for me baby, I want to hear you come for me.'

'Fuck Derek, I am, I'm going to come.' Stiles said, one hand frantically jerking his dick, three fingers of his other one buried in his ass. 'Please.'

'Yes. Come.' Derek said. He could feel his own orgasm building. He knew Stiles was close too by the little panting whines he was making. 'Oh fuck.' Derek groaned when he heard Stiles grunt, knew he was coming all over his belly.

Derek's own orgasm hit him, messing his fingers. He licked them clean as he listened to Stiles pant and heave. 'You ok?' He asked eventually.

'Yes babe I'm ok. I miss you.' Stiles voice was soft.

'I miss you too. I'll be home sooner than you think ok?' Derek promised.

'Derek I love you.' Stiles said.

'I know. I love you too.' Derek said.

'Don't hang up, not yet. Just,'

'I know.' Derek said. He didn't kill the call until Stiles was breathing evenly in his sleep.

XXX

The bed was big and lonely without Derek to cuddle into. Stiles was the first to admit he was a cuddler; he chased the heat all around the bed. Sometimes he would wake in the night to the feeling of Derek lifting him to make space. 'You had me on the edge.' He would say into his ear. Stiles would roll away and make himself as small as possible until Derek would get comfortable then he would sprawl himself over Derek, head tucked on a shoulder or bicep. 'Love you.' Stiles would say in his cutest voice.

But now there was no heat, no cuddly Derek and Stiles was all alone. He was nowhere near sleep when he heard someone banging the front door. He frowned and listened carefully as the door was yanked open and there was a conversation before Scott and Danny appeared in his room. 'When Derek's not here who does Alpha things?' Scott asked Stiles.

'I don't know.' Stiles said sitting up. He was wearing one of Derek's t-shirts.

'What's wrong?' Jackson asked walking into the room rubbing his eyes. 'What's all the banging, McCall lose his key again?'

'I'm here asswipe.' Scott snarled, shoving Jackson.

'So you are.' Jackson said shoving him back.

'Who acts as Alpha when Derek's not around?' Danny asked him in a hushed voice, ignoring their fighting.

'Stiles?' Jackson said.

'What! I'm not even a wolf.' Stiles hissed. Lydia walked barefoot into the room and sat on the bottom corner of the bed, pulling her feet up to tuck under her bum.

'What am I missing?' She asked Stiles. They all looked at her like she was carrying gold. 'What?'

'You fancy being Derek's second in command?' Jackson asked.

'Hell no.' She glared. Stiles rolled his eyes and reached for his phone. He tried to call Derek but it rang off. He looked at the clock. It was 2:47 am. He tried again but no answer.

'We'll vote. Scott go wake Allison.' Lydia said.

'Vote?' Danny said.

'Yes vote. Derek did tell us this pack was a democracy.' Lydia said. Allison came into the room glaring at being so rudely awakened.

'All in favour of me as Alpha.' Lydia said. Stiles stuck his hand up in the air. He was the only one.

'Oh hell no.' He muttered pulling his hand back.

'All in favour of Stiles.' She said. All hands went into the air.

Sighing Stiles got out of bed. 'What's the problem anyhow?' He said.

'Shauna is downstairs. She wants to move in. Says we can't turn her away because she has no pack and there's some law that says we can't abandon one of our own if they appeal for help.' Scott said in hushed tones.

'Fuck.' Stiles said heading to the door. 'Derek told me about that ages ago.' He muttered trotting down the stairs, Lydia on his heels. 'Hi Shauna!' He said with a big smile coming into the room. She was sitting at the table flicking through Lydia's class notes.

'Stiles.' She smirked looking him up and down. 'Where's Derek?'

'Not here.' Stiles said. 'Look if you need a place to sleep for a few nights then there's a spare bedroom.'

'I want protection of the pack.' She said crossing her legs. Stiles took a second to appreciate her legs. They were awesome legs and another time he would have allowed his mind to slip a step further and imagine them wrapped around him, but all he could think of right now was those legs around Derek so he took a deep breath and pushed the thought from his head. 'You can stay here. When Derek gets back I'm sure you'll sort everything out.' Stiles said turning. 'Lydia will show you one of the spare rooms.'

'Where is Derek?' She asked coyly.

'I am not obliged to disclose my Alpha's whereabouts to you.' Stiles said, his back stiffening.

'Is that because you don't know where he is or who he's fucking? You know most Alpha's have more than one partner, especially ones who choose men. It's not about sexuality with wolves, he's not attracted to you because you're a boy, it's your scent he finds so appealing. I can't imagine why. Those who do settle with males still breed with the females of the pack. It's their right. That's probably where he is right now.' She said.

'If you speak like that again I'll throw you out and to hell with wolf courtesy. I know where my mate is. Now I'm going to bed before I change my mind about you.' Stiles stomped up the stairs. He heard Lydia follow him and then he heard Shauna come up the stairs. He went into the bedroom and slammed the door ignoring the rest of the pack and falling into the sheets. Surprisingly he fell asleep.

He woke a few hours later to the feeling of a weight on top of him. He could feel stubble burning his neck as lips kissed his shoulders and collarbone. He was naked he realised, having been stripped in his sleep and Derek was naked too. Their legs were tangled together, one of Derek's thighs pressed in between Stiles. His cock was half hard and there was already a sticky mess between them. He put one hand up on the back of Derek's neck, the other on his shoulder. Derek was moving frantically, his fingers were bruising and desperate on Stiles's hips. He ground against him again and again, moving his hips at an erratic pace.

Stiles tried to detangle his legs so he could wrap them around Derek's hips but Derek was too far gone in his rutting to understand what Stiles wanted so he settled for pushing back against him awkwardly. Derek's lips found his in a needy kiss and Stiles let him take what he wanted, fought back when Derek eventually slowed, nipping and biting, trying to get a reaction. It worked. A big hand brushed down the side of his head and he could feel Derek's thumb rubbing his jaw, moving it whatever way he wanted so he could kiss and nibble the skin there.

Stiles felt it building in his belly and he pulled Derek's mouth to his for a wet sloppy kiss. Their cocks were crushed between them, Derek's full weight resting on Stiles. 'I…I…' He stuttered out.

'Shush. Hush.' Stiles told him wrapping his arms around his back. Derek grunted and came, shooting his sticky load between them. Stiles followed a few seconds after biting into Derek's shoulder. They collapsed together in a heap and Stiles felt something wet against his neck. He didn't move, stayed stock still until Derek was ready to move.

When Derek did push up a little Stiles gulped a big breath into his lungs before pressing a soft kiss to his favourite spot on Derek's chin. 'You ok?'

'It's away. It's all gone.' Derek said moving to sit against the headboard. Stiles gave him room, reaching for Derek's t-shirt to wipe them both clean. He pulled the duvet around them when he finished and leaned back beside his fiancée. 'I watched it all, the ball, and the bulldozer. I heard the timbre crack and fall away. I watched it crumble.' Derek said. Stiles laid his head on the broad shoulder. 'It's all gone Stiles.' He said.

'Let's go to sleep. You look worn out.' Stiles said. He couldn't imagine that place now, with no looming building.

'I am. I couldn't sleep in your bed. Not without you. It didn't feel right.' Derek said.

'How did you and dad get on?' Stiles asked coxing Derek onto his back. Stiles curled around him, resting his cheek on Derek's shoulder.

'We watched Bad Boys 2.' Derek said. Stiles chuckled, his dad loved that movie.

'The house may be gone Derek but you still have all those memories.' Stiles whispered softly. 'Any time you want to talk I-'

'I still have you.' Derek whispered pulling stiles impossibly closer. 'Mine.' Derek said. His tone was dark and Stiles felt a shiver run down his spine.

'Yours.' Stiles replied. He wrapped an arm over Derek's waist, his fingers brushing his ribs, curling around them. 'Mine.' He whispered.

'Yours.' Derek agreed.

XXX

Ok the next chapter is one of my favourite Stiles scenes I have ever written. Someone spikes his drink but it makes him crazy rather than hurting him in any way, and of course the pack is there to take care of him.

Also we find out what Derek plans to do all day every day!

What do you think so far? Any suggestions? Any ideas?