A/N: Guys, I'm seriously SO sorry it's been so long! I've had a serious issue with writer's block pertaining to this story so I had to put it on the back burner for a little while. Inspiration struck me a couple of days while I was looking at my projects, trying to get in the mood to write. I hope this means I'm back with this story, but I can't promise anything. Thank you for being so patient with me, though.

Things went back to normal when they arrived in Beacon Hills four days later. They probably could've made it sooner than that, but they were stopping every so often, at Stiles' insistence. He was still really worried about Lydia pushing herself too much, even though Lydia had repeatedly told him that it was nothing to worry about. She had been pregnant before and Kristy turned out just fine, didn't she?

When they got back into Beacon Hills that Friday, the first place they went was to Scott and Allison's. Stiles and Lydia had checked in with Scott and/or Allison daily, checking in on Kristy and making sure everything was okay there. Stiles had the brief worry that the alpha pack would come back, although Lydia had no idea why they would. In fact, Lydia was pretty sure that they would disband, considering both Aiden and Deucalion were dead.

When Lydia stepped into the apartment, she saw boxes everywhere. She looked at Allison questioningly, who was sitting on the couch, sorting through books.

"Hey," Allison said, standing to come over to her friend. She gave Lydia a hug and then said, "Kristy's sleeping right now. She and Mel were watching cartoons, but they both conked out."

"What's going on, Ally?" Lydia asked, motioning to the mess around them.

"Oh," Allison said. "We're moving."

"Really?" Lydia asked.

"Yeah. Scott and Melissa came to an agreement over the house. She doesn't really live there anymore, anyway, she's just been using the space for storage. It's stuff that Scott can go through when he's got the time."

"I bet you're excited to get out of here," Lydia commented. Allison had told her more than once that she hated the small apartment she shared with Scott and Melanie.

"Yeah," Allison said. "We've acquired so much stuff since we've lived here, though. I mean, we've lived here since before Mel was born, so this is just four years of clutter. It'll be a lot to go through."

"Well, if you need any help with anything, let me know. I'm good at organization."

"You always have been," Allison commented. Lydia just nodded.

Allison directed Lydia over to the couch and cleared her off a spot, "So tell me about Boston. How was your trip?"

"It was fine," Lydia said. "Nothing really extraordinary happened. I thought I was going to strangle Stiles, though."

Allison laughed, "I'm pretty sure everyone's felt like that at one time or another."

"He's seriously being overprotective of me. And I get it, he loves me and want what's best. I get that. But he's going to drive me crazy. Not to mention he keeps waiting for me to just pack up and leave."

Allison licked her lips before saying, "Hey, Lyds? Has he mentioned any of his exes?"

"Exes?" Lydia asked. "No, it never came up."

"Ask him about them sometime. Then you'll understand why he's acting this way."

"What's going on, Ally?" Lydia asked.

"Well, he had a string of back luck with a lot of people," Allison said. "He dated in college. We all went to Berkeley, you know, and he had a few crushes and everything, but everybody who wanted to be with him didn't want him for him, you know? He even had a few people in college who wanted to get to Scott, and they figured that Stiles was the best way. He's been used so many times that he doesn't really trust very easily."

"He trusted me," Lydia said.

"Yeah, because we know you, Lyds. And the fact that Erica –" Allison started, but caught herself. She snapped her mouth shut, but Lydia knew that Allison was starting to say something.

"What are you not telling me, Ally?" Lydia asked slowly. "You're keeping something from me."

"Look, you're not supposed to know this," Allison said, watching her friend closely, "but Stiles kinda kept tabs on you while you still lived in Boston. He and Erica would Skype almost weekly and talk about everything. He knew it all – when you were pregnant, when Aiden stopped coming around, all of it. The only thing he really was surprised about was the fact that you showed up in town. Erica didn't tell him that she was trying to talk you into coming here."

"He knew everything?" Lydia asked. She was starting to get a little upset with Stiles. Well, upset was a mild term for what she was feeling – she was pissed. And she felt like she had every right to be, considering nobody let her know that Stiles was keeping tabs on her.

"Hey, he worried about you, Lydia," is what Allison decided to go with, even though she knew her friend was a little too upset to listen to reason. "And besides that, he didn't know everything. It was more like idle gossip. You know, like when you get together with an old friend and you talk about what everyone you went to high school with is up to now. They really just talked about it in passing."

"And how do you know about it?"

Allison shrugged, "Stiles is Scott's best friend. I mean, they talk about a lot of things they don't think I know about, but Stiles has always sucked at keeping secrets. That much hasn't changed."

Lydia shrugged, "I guess. I mean, I'm probably going to talk to him about that, though."

"Look, Lyds," Allison said, watching her best friend intently, "don't make too big of a deal out of this, okay? Stiles was trying to protect you. He's loved you for a long time and he worries."

Lydia nodded, "Sure, I guess." She knew she could let it go. As she thought it over, she figured that he was just looking out for her. And that was okay with her. It actually kind of flattered her that someone cared about her so much they were looking out for her, even if it felt a little stalkerish.

"I wanna go talk to Erica," Lydia announced suddenly. Erica and Boyd had left Boston a couple of days before Lydia and Stiles had, and probably got back to Beacon Hills way before Lydia and Stiles did. "Just to check in, to talk to her for a little while. Can I leave Kristy here and you can call me or text me when she wakes up? I don't want to wake her up, so I'll come get her when she's awake."

"Sure," Allison said. "And don't be too hard on Erica and Stiles. They were just looking out for you."

Lydia sighed as she stood, "I'll think about it, Ally, but I can't make any promises."

-x-

Erica had been relaxing, trying to get rid of all the stress that was plaguing her body, when Lydia knocked on the front door. Boyd and Erica were staying with her parents until they got a place of their own. They knew a lot of people who would give them a place to stay if they really wanted it, but she hadn't actually spent any real time with her parents in six years, and it felt good to just be with them.

When Lydia opened the door and saw Erica lying on the couch, a pillow over her face, she sighed. "Erica," she said tentatively, and Erica lifted the pillow so she could see her. Lydia looked…upset.

"Hey Lyds," Erica said brightly. She knew something was wrong with Lydia, she could tell by the overwhelming bitterness of her scent, but decided to wait for Lydia to spill. She knew Lydia'd say what was wrong eventually – Lydia wasn't one to keep things bottled up. If she had a problem with someone, she let them know it and didn't feel bad about it. "When'd you get in?"

"About an hour ago," Lydia answered. "Stiles went to visit Melissa and the sheriff, and I went over and talked to Ally. We had an interesting conversation."

"Okay…" Erica's voice trailed off. "What was it?"

Lydia came over to sit down on the couch beside Erica. Erica put her feet on Lydia's lap and Lydia said, "Were you ever gonna tell e that you were snitching on me to Stiles this whole time?"

"I don't know what you mean," Erica said.

"Don't do that to me, Eri, don't pretend. I don't like it. I thought we were friends. But Allison told me that Stiles kept tabs on me and you helped him."

Erica sighed, "Okay, yeah, I did, but there was a reason, Lyds. Stiles worried about you, and he and I had grown close. After he helped rescue me, Boyd and Cora, he and I had a friendship. And I would do anything for pack – you know that. He worried about you and asked me if I'd keep tabs on you. Y'know, whenever anything important happened. You weren't talking to anyone but Allison and he wanted to make sure that you were safe."

"I'm not sure if I should be mad about this or not," Lydia said, sighing. She ran a hand over her face before continuing, "Like, I wanna be. I wanna be so pissed at you and Stiles for keeping tabs on me, but does it make any sense for me to say I get why you did it?"

Erica shook her head, "We've all grown up in the last six years, Lyds. I think you understand our motives. And Stiles loves you. I mean, he's always loved you, but he really wants what's best for you. I used to talk to him about Kristy and just gush to him about how much I adore that little girl, and so he's seen pictures and listened to me just go on and on about her."

Lydia sighed, "I'm not mad, Eri, not really. I just…I feel things for Stiles. Things that scare me."

Erica sat up, taking her feet off Lydia's lap and put an arm around her friend. "Tell me," she said.

"What, are you my therapist now?" Lydia let out a laugh.

"Hey," Erica said. "You and I have bitched to each other about everything else since we became friends. I've counseled you and you've counseled me. So tell me what you feel for Stiles. Talk it out with me – it might make you feel better."

"I guess," Lydia said. "But first – you got coffee? I need coffee."

"Yeah. I'll make some."

Lydia followed Erica into the kitchen, where Erica stood until the coffee brewed. Lydia took her mug of coffee over to the dining room table, where she and Erica sat down to talk. Erica watched her closely.

"So Stiles and I love each other," Lydia said, and Erica nodded. Patient wasn't ever a word that Lydia thought would apply to Erica Reyes, but honestly, it really did. Erica was more patient than Lydia ever would have thought she was. "That much isn't news. I mean, we've said it and everything. And we've been talking about houses."

"Houses?" Erica was clearly confused. Lydia nodded.

"Yeah," she said. "I mean, I need a place here in Beacon Hills to live, and Stiles only has a two bedroom apartment. I've got twins on the way, Eri, I need something bigger than a two bedroom apartment. I told Stiles I'd get my own place if that's what he wants, but he wants to share space. Which is totally cool with me, you know, we've been living together for almost six months and everything's been going well. So I told him we could look into buying a house together. I mean, I've got that money that my dad left me, and he makes a good amount with his business. My credit is immaculate and his is pretty good, too. We should be able to get a loan, no problem."

"Okay," Erica said. "So what exactly are you feeling, Lyds?"

"I…I feel like I wanna spend the rest of my life with him, Eri, and it's insane."

"How's that insane?"

"Because we've only been dating a couple of months. I can't just go up to him and say, 'Hey, wanna get married?' even though we've only been on one date and have been roommates for almost six months. I know we're, like, steady or whatever you want to call it, but I don't want to rush into anything and I don't think that Stiles does, either."

"Marriage is a big step," Erica said. "Do you remember when Boyd and I got married?"

Of course Lydia did. It wasn't a big wedding, so the pack didn't come out; Boyd and Erica had just gotten married at City Hall and Lydia was there as a witness. It was before Kristy was born and Erica and Lydia had just gotten to be friends. Lydia also remembered that Erica was a basket case.

"You were a mess," Lydia said. "You were so scared you were practically shaking."

"That's right," Erica said. "I was fucking terrified. Remember all the times you had to talk me down? And what did you tell me?"

"I told you to make a list. Pros and cons. If the pros outweighed the cons, then you should do it."

"And I did," Erica said. "And the pros did outweigh the cons, and we've been happily married for almost four years. And I love Boyd more and more every day." Erica sighed. "Look, Lyds, what I'm trying to tell you is that if this thing you have with Stiles is meant to last, then it will. The two of you go well together, and you act like a married couple already. So if he asks, when he asks, you need to put a lot of thought into it, because I know that you care about him tremendously, and I know he cares about you, too."

Lydia licked her lips before taking a sip of her coffee. She sighed, "Are you sure?"

"I'm dead sure," Erica said, not a hint of hesitation in her voice at all. "If it's meant to be, it will be."

"Don't think I haven't forgotten about you and Stiles conspiring about me behind my back," Lydia said. "Because I haven't."

"I know you, Lyds," Erica said, grinning. "I know you're gonna remember that until the end of time."