Chapter Four
The doorbell rang and his heart leapt in his throat as he went to answer it, hyper aware of Stiles standing at his back, having grabbed their son when he went to stand.
On their porch stood two uniformed Beacon County officers wearing somber expressions.
"Hello, are you Ares Cisneros?"
"Yes Sir." He replied, heart pounding a rapid tattoo in his chest.
"Can we come in, Sir? It's about your mother and your sister."
*/*
This was all his fault.
Stiles bit back his own tears as he held his sobbing husband in his arms, his heart aching at the loss his mate had suffered.
Katerina and Esmeralda were dead.
Killed by a drunk driver on their way home from Esmeralda's school. Worse, they couldn't find Esmeralda's body, the child having been thrown through the windshield of the car and into the forest alongside the road. Stiles wanted to hope that meant she was still alive, but he couldn't bear feeding his beloved false hope. Not so soon after what had happened with the Nemeton and Stiles' own near death.
The driver had suffered serious wounds as well and had been announced DOA upon reaching the hospital.
All of this, all of it was his fault.
He was a poison, bringing death and chaos everywhere he went.
Perhaps that was why the nogitsune had left him alive.
A solemn tear escaped his eyes and his arms tightened around the larger man, who clutched him as if he were the only thing anchoring him to this earth.
And, in that moment, he knew that he was. Ares had been strong for them both for so long, and now it was his turn to be strong, to be there for his mate in any way he could, so he shoved his dark thoughts to back of his mind and focused all his energy on the man in his arms.
"I'll make the arrangements." He murmured softly, wanting to spare Ares the pain of doing so. He'd done the same thing for his father after his mother's death (With Melissa's help), and was well aware of how things worked in that department. His husband nodded, swallowing thickly.
"I can't. I-I-"
"Sh, it'll be okay. It'll hurt, god it will hurt forever. But you're so strong, Ares. Stronger than anyone I know, you will get through this. Me and Bazyli are with you every step of the way."
Ares nodded, burying his face in his lover's throat. "I love you. I love you so much. Don't leave me."
"I'm here." Stiles soothed, running a gentle hand through the older man's hair. "I'm right here."
*/*
"What the hell do you mean you won't be there?! Stiles, this is important!"
Derek snapped at his emissary who sighed tiredly, running his hand through his messy dark hair.
The teen had turned up at the loft, only three days before a very important pack meeting, smelling of tears and exhaustion, only to tell him he wouldn't be going. Derek had wanted to be worried but with the pixies roaming the woods killing unsuspecting hikers, he'd really needed his emissary present to help them strategize against the little bastards. He couldn't be focused on the younger man's emotional distress when lives were at stake.
Stiles sighed handing him a packet of papers, the printed words neat compared to the small red notes in the margins.
"Look, this is important, too. Here's everything you need to defeat the pixies, but right now, I have more to do than run with wolves, Derek. Especially not right now."
"What's so important that you would ignore this, Stiles?"
The boy sagged. "Someone close to me just died. I'm planning her and her daughter's funeral."
Derek froze, guilt flooding him at his former lover's words.
"Fuck, Stiles. I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
Stiles gave him a forced smile, one he had hated even when they were together because it meant the opposite of the words that always accompanied it.
"I'm fine."
"Liar." He replied and Stiles huffed a slight laugh.
"Yeah, well I can't afford not to be. I'll see you at next week's meeting, Derek."
The alpha reached forward and grabbed his wrist. "Get some rest, Stiles. Please?"
His emissary gently pulled his wrist away.
"I'll try." He responded, then he was gone.
Derek stared after him for a moment, then down at the notes in his hand.
Pixies first.
Then maybe he'd finally be able to figure out how to help Stiles.
*/*
It was a beautiful funeral.
Stiles had done an amazing job arranging everything in a way he knew his mother would love. The colors were lilac and black, a mix of her favorite color and the colors of mourning, a bouquet of white lilies draped over her pale purple casket. Esmerelda had been buried earlier that morning, her funeral just as beautiful and it just made it all sink in that this was real.
His mother was gone.
His baby sister, gone.
He'd never go watch his sister get married, never see her graduate high school.
He'd never get to hear her and Stiles sing together again, his mother playing piano as he accompanied her on his guitar.
He'd never watch them gush over Bazyli again, never listen to his mother sing old songs passed down through her family for generations, her cinnamon hot chocolate permeating the air.
They were really gone.
What was he going to do?
They began to lower the casket into the ground and Stiles tightened his grip on his hand, Noah squeezing his shoulder comfortingly.
It still hurt, but their gestures worked better than any of the platitudes the well-wishers kept giving him.
Bazyli cooed softly, looking up at him with wide amber eyes and he felt something in him strengthen.
He'd get through this.
He had to.
*/*
"Ma- ma."
Stiles froze where he'd been putting away his now nine-month old son's laundry, his head whipping around to meet his husband's proud gaze. The man smirked at him, while Bazyli grinned at him, staring back at him with eyes the same shade as his own.
Two months had passed since they'd lost Katerina and Esmeralda and the wound still ached fiercely. Ares was drinking more, though never around Bazyli, and they were arguing more. He'd never gone so far as to hit Stiles and they tried to make up before they went to bed, but he feared seeing his husband travel down the same path his father had gone down after his mother's death. Seeing the gleam of mischief and pride in his eyes as Bazyli spoke his first word, was like a balm, soothing that fear better than anything he could compare it with.
"Mama!" The infant repeated, clapping his little hands and Stiles smiled.
"That's right, little king. Say Daddy."
The babe stared at him confused.
"Mama!"
He shrugged helplessly at Ares who chuckled. "He's gonna be a mama's boy."
As if he'd understood his father's words, their son giggled and clapped.
"Mama! Mama!"
Feeling the grip on his heart loosen at the sight of his husband and son laughing, Stiles laughed as well, returning to his earlier task.
They'd be alright.
The strong arms wrapping around his waist and the little hands pressed against his chest only proved him right.
*/*
"Who is he?"
Peter smirked as Stiles froze at his question, the teen having been unaware of his presence until he'd spoken. The boy had been researching the latest monster of the week, texting steadily as he did so. He'd been there for five minutes just watching his face light up at every text and he couldn't help but be curious.
Unlike his nephew's ragtag gang of puppies, he'd been well aware of Derek and Stiles'…more than friendly relationship. He could see it in the way Derek's eyes lingered on the little human more than anyone else, could see the faded edges of heartbreak in the boy's eyes when ever Derek's libido attracted whatever psycho wanting to kill them this time. He'd noticed Stiles drifting away from the pack, balancing delicately on the outskirts of becoming an omega and how the pack neglected the human more often than not. Being nearly an omega himself, he couldn't do anything but try to bond with child and give him more reasons to stay with the pack. If it meant lending him an ear to listen or someone to lean on, he didn't mind.
Stiles was his favorite packmate anyways.
Topaz eyes narrowed at him, exhaustion radiating from him in waves and a vague hint of grief marring his scent.
"What do you want, Peter?"
Peter shrugged. "My dear nephew sent me to check in about the research and to see if you needed help."
Stiles snorted. "So, Derek is training the puppies and you got bored and came to bug me instead."
The beta grinned. "Knew you were the clever one. So, who is he?"
A light blush dusted itself across the teen's cheeks, lips curling into a warm but shy smile.
Peter had to blink twice. He'd never seen such an honest expression on Stiles' face before, not even when he and Derek were having their trysts. This was the expression of someone well and truly in love. An expression he remembered wearing before the fire as he thought of his beloved Irena.
It made something in his chest unfurl protectively.
Stiles was as close to a cub as he had at the moment and he would do anything to keep that look on his face. No matter who he to go through to do so.
"His name is Ares."
His eyebrow rose, lips twitching in amusement.
"Like the Grecian God of War?"
He nodded, something sad flashing in his eyes as the grief in his scent deepened. "His mother was very fond of Greek Mythology and according to her, Ares came into the word with a battle cry and the fiercest set of lungs she'd ever heard. The name was only fitting."
Unbidden, Peter's arms wrapped around his cub and he pulled him closer.
"Stop holding it in or it will consume you. Cry, it's alright." He murmured, repeating the same words the boy had told him shortly after his resurrection upon coming upon him in the aftermath of a nightmare about the fire. Like himself, he had a feeling that Stiles hadn't been grieving, just pushing it down to deal with everything else happening around him.
A sniffle left the teen, then a sob before he allowed himself to break completely. The sheriff appeared in the doorway, his own eyes dark and drawn in his own sadness but also the barest hint of relief.
"I-I don't know what to do. He's drinking more than I've ever seen him drink and I know, I know he would never hurt me or Bazyli but I'm afraid he'll hurt himself and it terrifies me. I wanna help but I don't know how."
Without prompting, the elder Stilinski joined their hug, stroking his son's hair gently.
"Just be there for him, like you have been. Remind him that you and Bazyli are still here and that he can lean on you for support just like you do him. Show him that you understand, that you care."
Slowly the boy's sobs slowed and his heartbeat started to even out until he was fast asleep in their hold. Settling him in the bed, Peter stood to leave only for the Sheriff to gesture for him to follow him downstairs for a cup of tea.
"Thank you." The man started. "It's the first time he's grieved properly since they got the news about Katerina and her daughter."
"Katerina?"
"Stiles' mother-in-law and Ares' mother. Her and her daughter were killed by a drunk driver a couple of months ago but with your pack's startling ability to attract trouble and helping his husband through his grief, he's had little time to grieve himself. So…thank you."
Peter nodded, before the sheriff's words fully registered in his mind and he choked on his tea.
"Husband?! Stiles is married?"
How long had he and Ares been dating if he hadn't even noticed that his cub had gotten married? Although it did explain why he'd been so happy after last summer.
"It'll be ten months in two weeks according to Mel. They got married the week before Stiles' junior year. Ares is a bit rough around the edges but he's a good man."
The beta stared at his cub's human father then sighed. "I assume, Stiles doesn't want the pack to know."
Noah nodded. "They have a son, Bazyli. Stiles is beyond terrified of anyone coming after the pack, anyone targeting him getting to his family, almost to the point that he was ready to give Ares full custody of Bazyli. Ares shut it down by agreeing to buy a house the next town over, and allowing Stiles to fortify and ward it to his heart's content, especially after that Nema-whatever agreed to protect it as well. Nothing can get near it without Stiles knowing."
Peter sighed, then gave a small smile. Stiles seemed to live to do the impossible, including but not limited to bringing back the dead and controlling the Nemeton and getting it to protect his secret family apparently. Somehow, he was less surprised than he should've been.
Draining the last of his tea, he stood.
"They'll find out nothing from me. But tell Stiles I do look forward to meeting his family soon."
Noah nodded, something indiscernible flashing in his blue-green eyes.
"Peter, I don't care how crazy you are. If you hurt my sons or my grandchild, I will kill you."
Peter smiled. "Stiles is family," He replied softly. "He's my anchor. I couldn't hurt the pup if I tried."
The sheriff nodded and watched the werewolf leave before sighing. Seems like Stiles wasn't the only one in their family attracted to broken and/or dangerous men.
Fuck his life.
*/*
"I wrote mom, Kat, and Esmeralda a song."
Ares stiffened at his husband's soft voice, fighting the urge to shift guiltily when amber eyes flitted over the still full glass of whiskey in front of him. He knew that his love was worried about him, especially with the loss of his family still so fresh, but he was fine. He knew his limits and he didn't plan to put Stiles through the trouble alcoholism would bring upon them, especially not with the Spark's past with it. So, while he did generally drink, he tended to do it away from home, especially as he packed up his mother's home, with the help of his father. Still seeing the very real sadness in his husband's eyes, he vowed to fight even harder to overcome the demons lurking in the shadows trying to pull him down the path.
Three sheets of music were placed in front of him and he looked up into warm eyes the color of the whiskey in his glass.
"Join me?"
He smiled wanly and nodded, and Stiles handed him his guitar from when it was in its stand across the room. Studying it for a moment, he began to play. The music was soothing, the chords a balm on his soul, especially when Stiles began to sing.
Never feared for anything, never chained but never free
I tried to heal the broken love with all I could
Lived a life so endlessly saw beyond what others see
I tried to heal the broken love with all I could
Will you stay
Will you stay away forever
How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book its burned
Place and time always on my mind
I have so much to say but you're so far away
Plans of what our futures hold
Foolish lies of growing old
It seems we're so invincible
The truth is so cold
A final song, a last request
A perfect chapter laid to rest
Now and then I try to find a place in my mind
Where you can stay you can stay awake forever
How do I live without the ones I love
Time still turns the pages of the book its burned
Place and time always on my mind
I have so much to say but you're so far away
Sleep tight, I'm not afraid
The ones that we love are here with me
Lay away a place for me 'cause as soon as I'm done
I'll be on my way to live eternally
How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book its burned
Place and time always on my mind
And the light you left remains but it's so hard to stay
When I have so much to say and you're so far away
I love you, you were ready
The pain is strong and urges rise
But I'll see you when He lets me
Your pain is gone, your hands are tied
So far away and I need you to know
So far away and I need you to- need you to know
He was crying by the end of it, they both were, but the heaviness in the air had lifted and for the first time since the police had showed up on their door step that horrible night…he could breathe.
TBC…
Song: So far away- Avenged Sevenfold