Both Stiles and Jackson were rudely awoken when his bedroom door swung open.
"Dad?" Stiles crowed, falling out of bed and regaining his feet too quickly. The sheriff looked at them both before turning away.
"Glad to see you're alive Son. Looks like we need to have a talk." Stiles' eyes rounded.
"What? No-okay no. This is really not what it looks like and how did you even find me?"
"Scott." Stiles winced at his father's tone before slapping a hand to his forehead. His best friend folded like a house of cards, every time.
"Dad I swear-"
"Just get dressed." Stiles blinked.
"I am dressed." His father turned back, as if verifying for himself.
"Oh," he exhaled, "so you're not…gay then?"
"Oh my god Dad you can't just ask me like that!" Stiles yelped.
"Why not?" the sheriff demanded.
"I don't know! Because you're supposed to be sensitive about it or something!"
"So you are gay?" His father's eyebrows shot up and Stiles covered his face with both hands.
"Dad please," he mumbled.
"Uhhhh…bisexual?"
"Stop!" Stiles yelled. He covered his ears purely on reflex. "Dear god stop. I am not ready to have this discussion and you do not want to hear the answer anyways." His father didn't argue and Stiles' heart sank slightly. He turned to Jackson. "You okay?" Jackson bit his lip before nodding.
"Yeah. I'm…" he sighed, "just go." He waved towards the door. Stiles stared at him before crossing his arms.
"Really?" he demanded.
"I'm better," Jackson murmured, "really." Stiles nodded before glancing back to his father and gathering his shoes.

His father was perfectly silent in the car and Stiles couldn't help his knee shaking. This was not how he wanted his father to find out that he was not still in love with Lydia Martin. Not in the least. And when his father found out about Peter…he nearly retched. Would he ever be able to tell his father about Peter? There was no way he'd approve. And Stiles couldn't not be with Peter. He couldn't. It wasn't just breathless sappy love. He was his mate. Stiles needed him. God he didn't want to have to choose between them. His throat closed over and his eyes fluttered shut as he tried to breathe. He couldn't have a panic attack right now. The car lurched to a halt in the driveway and his father cut the engine but didn't move. After several painful moments his father shifted, turning towards him. Stiles could hardly look at him, he blinked rapidly.
"Dad," he hazarded, voice wavering.
"Son," his father returned, forehead creasing.
"Just-hold on a sec okay?" Stiles took a deep breath. "I-" he paused, blushing. "I love you. You just need to-"
"Stiles," he cut him off, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You're my son. That's what matters."
"You don't care that I'm-not straight?" he demanded before clapping a hand over his mouth. His father sighed before smiling wryly.
"If you love Jackson Whittemore…then you love him." Stiles winced.
"Oh god, Dad no. Just…no." His father paused again.
"Uh…Scott?" His mouth fell open.
"Ew! Dad! No!" He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please stop guessing. Let's just take this one step at a time okay?" His father nodded, looking at least a bit relieved.
"Alright." He pulled Stiles into an awkward hug, both arms wrapping around him somehow. "You can tell me things," he murmured, "don't make me the enemy." Stiles smiled slowly.
"Okay."

His dad let him escape to his room without anymore earth shattering revelations. Stiles did a double take seeing Derek sitting in his computer chair. "What are you doing here?" he demanded on a whisper. Derek flipped his chemistry book closed before glancing to him.
"Hunters remember? Peter wants us paired up." Stiles slapped his forehead.
"No. No, no. No." Derek rolled his eyes.
"Alpha's orders."
"No. You can't be here," Stiles protested.
"Well I couldn't exactly stay with Jackson," Derek snapped, looking away.
"No," Stiles repeated, "my dad just caught me in bed with Jackson!" Derek looked amused for a split second before scowling again.
"Yeah we heard."
"Yeah well what you didn't hear is that he knows I'm gay and I'm not seeing Jackson or Scott."
"So?" Stiles gave it a moment to sink in, throwing his hands out in exasperation. Derek stared at him, brows quirked.
"So…if you're hanging around who do you think he's going to think it is?"
"Oh," he let out after another moment.
"Oh," Stiles echoed mockingly.
"Stiles who are you talking to?"
"Hide!" Stiles hissed, pointing to the closet. "I'll talk to you later," he called louder, opening his computer only to close it. He pulled open the door, smiling.
"Web chat," he offered.
"Fast web chat," his father observed.
"Short and sweet," Stiles returned before frowning at the implications he'd just made.
"Is it a secret?"
"Uh…not if you don't ask…" He held up both hands in surrender.
"Fine, fine. Just wanted to make sure you don't have any plans for dinner. You, me, and the grill."
"Sounds fantastic," Stiles let out. His father nodded.
"Good."

Stiles flopped onto his bed and exhaled slowly.
"Not a word Stilinski," Derek growled, slipping out of his closet and shoving the door shut behind him.
"Yeah I live my whole life just to mock you."
"Those are all words."
"I'm not gonna make any closet jokes," Stiles mumbled, "it'd only be good if you weren't actually gay."
"You're still talking."
"Shut up Derek. You can't do anything and we both know it." Derek crossed to the computer chair again and sank into it. Stiles needed a moment to remember that Derek had to listen to him now. He smiled slightly. "You're so much better when you don't talk," he added.
"Right back at you Stilinski." Stiles slid his phone from his pocket before dialing Peter.
"Hey," he greeted softly. Stiles sighed before smiling again, relaxing immediately.
"Hey."
"How are you?"
"I'm okay."
"Your father?" Stiles sighed again.
"Okay for now. Jackson?"
"I'm fine," Jackson called.
"What about Scott?"
"He doesn't want our help," Peter murmured. Stiles rolled his eyes quickly.
"No. Of course not."
"Just stay with Derek alright?"
"Yeah yeah." He slid a glance to Derek before turning away. "I wish it was you." Peter laughed.
"Hunters first Stiles. Hunters first."
"Yeah I know," he paused, licking his lips, "but still…I wish it was you."

Peter laughed again and Stiles let his eyes close.
"It's not a good idea. We'd both be distracted."
"I'm aware," Stiles agreed dryly. "You don't always have to be so damned reasonable Peter."
"Fine," Peter agreed and Stiles could hear his smile, "if it weren't for the fact that you and I being together right now would be a very, very bad idea, I'd wish it was me too."
"Alright alright, knock it off," Jackson complained. Stiles smiled again.
"Talk to you soon?"
"Yeah." Stiles ran a hand over his head. "Hey," Peter added, "I love you."
"I love you too." He stared at the ceiling for a moment. "We're going to be okay, right?"
"I'll protect you."
"Damn it," he half laughed, "just say we're gonna be okay."
"We're gonna be okay."
"See? That wasn't hard."
"Get off the phone before something is."
"Oh my god," Stiles snickered, "you are not funny."
"I'm not joking." Stiles cut off, sucking in a breath.
"I can't decide if that's worse or not."
"Jackson's turning green," Peter offered, "I'm hanging up." Stiles didn't let himself look at Derek.
"Yeah okay," he agreed. He ended the call and dropped his phone to the bed, closing his eyes.

It was quiet for a long time. Stiles was surprised when Derek spoke.
"Hunters without rules are the worst of all."
"Hunters like these," Stiles supplied, glancing to him finally. Derek nodded before looking to the floor.
"Yes."
"Are you scared?" Derek was slow to meet his eyes, mouth a thin line. He seemed to debate heavily before one word slid free of his mouth.
"Yeah." There was a beat, Stiles tried to swallow and failed miserably. "You should be too."

A/N: You guys. I am so so so just so sorry. I really truly am. For many reasons. 1: it's been too damn long 2: this note is gonna be nonsensical 3: this was like a filler chapter, because I'm not ready to introduce the hunters yet :/ 4: it just really has been an insane amount of time

So I'm really sorry. There were like three other things I wanted to tell you but I've forgotten. Sorry about that too. Um…if you need to bug me (feel free) hitting up my tumblr is more likely to get a response, I'm on there everyday.

Thanks so much. I really have no words.

*hugs*