AUTHOR'S NOTE: Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a fun night.. and I just want to thank those who left a review. No matter if it's positive or negative, all reviews are welcome :)
It had been two days since Miriam was laid to rest and five days that the Hale Pack hadn't left the Stilinski home. School was a must for the Seniors who stayed under John's roof and while the kids were at school, John was always kept company by Derek. Of course John thought it was a little weird that the Derek Hale was constantly asking if he needed anything but every time he opened his mouth to question it, he could practically hear his wife's voice telling him to let Derek be.
"Let the kids be there for you, love. Trust me when I say that the kids will take care of you if you let them."
So it didn't matter that John had arrested Derek in the past or that he was constantly a suspect for anything fishy that happened in his town. He let Derek be, let his son's friends be, and took it all one day at a time.
Two weeks after Miriam's burial, John had decided to go back to work. He was still allowed a week of vacation to grieve but he needed to get out of the house that held loads of memories of his wife. Stiles was also a constant reminder of Miriam, his soft facial features a dead on resemblance of his Mom, but John couldn't push his only son away. As much as it hurt to look at Stiles and see Miriam, John couldn't find it in himself to make his son hurt any worse than he already was.
So when John gets home one night from work, he's not surprised to see everyone in his living room, the only available spot for him to sit being between Erica and Lydia who oddly warmed up to him a great deal more since his wife's death. Jackson, Danny, and Boyd are all tangles of limbs on the love seat together while Isaac is laying on the floor beside Derek, and Stiles on the opposite side of Derek curled by his side. Allison and Scott are also on the floor opposite Derek, Stiles, and Isaac.
Although John isn't surprised, the entire Pack is when they find the Sheriff holding a plush toy in his hands.
"Uh, Dad. What's with the toy wolf?" Stiles' eyes flicker down to the gray and white wolf with electric blue eyes that his Dad is holding.
John strips out of his jacket, gun holster, and other accessories before plopping himself down on the couch between the two girls, one of who curls up next to his side without touching him, and looks the toy wolf dead in the eyes. "I saw it at the store." He shrugs. "Something was just nagging me to purchase it."
"Uh-huh." Stiles hummed. "But why a wolf?"
Everyone remains quiet as their gazes occasionally flicker to the toy that Mr. Stilinski won't give up. "It reminds me of your Mom." John finally blurts out. Now he has the whole Pack's attention. "That day in the Hospital, she called you lot her little wolf pack." John sounds so heartbroken that the mood in the room instantly shifts. "And then after she passed away, I heard it."
"Heard what?" Scott gulped from his spot on the floor where Allison has her head in his lap. From the frantic gaze flickering that was going on between the Pack, he knew exactly what John was about to say.
"The wolves howling. I-It has to be a coincidence, I know it does, but wolves haven't been in Beacon Hills for nearly forty-three years." John sadly sighs. "Those howls sounded haunting in a way. It was almost as if they could feel our pain. As if they knew that Miriam was no longer with us."
The entire Pack is fighting back tears, even Derek who was known as McBroody between his female pack mates. They don't say anything, the silence being broken as Allison, Lydia, and Erica made their way into the kitchen to get started on the night's dinner.
It was two days later that John approached Derek Hale when they were alone. A forgotten football game played on the TV while John thought of how to approach said male. After finally working up the courage, John tossed a sealed envelope into Derek's lap with his name written on it in loopy cursive.
"I found this at the bottom of her drawer." John grunted before going to the kitchen to make himself lunch.
Derek eyed the envelope in his lap before picking it up and examining the handwriting. He knew who John was referring to by the her comment but he couldn't fathom why Miriam would leave him a letter. An extremely bulky letter by the looks of it as well. Seeing that John was going to eat his very leafy sandwich in the kitchen, 'cause Stiles had him on a diet, Derek decided to read the letter there in the living room. Opening up the envelope, the scent of Miriam wafted up and he had to clench his teeth so he didn't frown in sadness or break down. Inside was not only a letter addressed to him but another envelope that was addressed to John as well. Thinking that Miriam had a good excuse for giving him her husband's letter, he read his before informing John that there was something for him.
Derek,
I hope this letter finds you and that John hasn't opened it, or Stiles, because then there would be some serious explaining to do.
First of all, I just want to tell you what an amazing person you are. People don't give you enough credit for what you did for Isaac when he had nowhere to go. They only focus on your past and while you had nothing to do with the crimes that were committed, people still see you as a suspect. But they're wrong. You, Derek Hale, put up a front but I see right through it. You're an amazing young adult and an excellent Alpha. You take care of your Pack and make sure that they have everything they need. Don't think for a second that I didn't know you were the one to give a hefty investment towards your Pack's college funds.
Second of all, if I may give you a little advice..? Go for it!
Every one of your Pack members are happily in a relationship or happily single except for two; you and Stiles. Again, don't for a second think that I never saw the stolen glances or secret touches that lingered a little too long to be considered friendly. Stiles might have had everyone fooled about his undying love for Lydia but I know my son better than he knew himself. You're a werewolf for crying out loud! Use your nose, son! Stiles might have found Ms. Martin attractive for years but that's as far as it went. And you, ha, my son is definitely in love with you. Just don't tell him I told you before he got the chance to. Life is too short to sit around and wait for things to fall in place all on their own. Take charge and go for it! You won't be disappointed.
And last of all, the reason for a letter addressed to John being found in your envelope is because I want you to tell him. Tell him everything that I know and make him understand that things in Beacon Hills are not what they seem. Don't scare him though! Let him know that you and the Pack are capable of taking care of yourselves and that if push comes to shove, you can take care of the entire town if need be. Now just because I want this, it doesn't mean that you have to do anything. I'm leaving this decision up to you and if you decide it is a good idea to tell him, just give him his letter I left in your possession. I've already gone through the trouble to tell him everything I know so you don't have to give him a heart-attack if one of you decides to wolf out to prove your story. If you decided against telling him, then just burn his letter.
Take care of my son, Derek. Look after John. And don't let the pups get too out of control. Your family would have been proud of the Alpha you've become.. I know I am.
Always, Mom.
Derek didn't know that he had tears dripping from his chin or that he was smiling like a loon until John cleared his throat and quirked an eyebrow at him. Glancing at the letter in his possession, he gently placed his letter back into the envelope before scrambling to his feet. "I, uh, I need to speak with Stiles." And without waiting for an answer or explaining further, Derek was out the front door and running to his car.
This was a tough decision to make and if he was truly thinking about telling John everything, he needed Stiles' opinion on the matter since it was his Dad after all.
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It's nearing the end of the lunch period when Stiles is dumping the trash from his tray that he catches sight of Derek standing outside the opened doors. With a quick gesture of the head to come here, Stiles is obediently walking out to see what his Alpha needed.
"What's up, sourwolf?" Stiles greets him with the nickname he dubbed him with long ago. With the obvious hated nickname being thrown around once again, Derek knows that Stiles is starting to get better now.
Although just because Stiles is getting better, it doesn't mean he has to like the nickname. So with a scowl, Derek rolls his eyes. "I need your opinion on something." Stiles' eyes light up, most likely a witty retort on the tip of his tongue but Derek's next words halt him. "Your Mom left me a letter."
Derek could practically feel how Stiles' heart falls into his stomach at the mention of his Mom. "What'd she have to say?"
"She wants your Dad to know everything." He simply responds with his hands shoved deep in his jean pockets, his gaze now studying the tile of the school hallway.
"Everything, every-"
"Everything." Derek deadpans. "She wants me to finally introduce him to the supernatural world and show him that he doesn't need to worry about us. That we're capable of protecting ourselves, protecting each other, and protecting the town."
"But wouldn't that only stress him out more?" Stiles squeaks. The thought of his Dad's world colliding with his world is slightly off-putting.
Derek merely shrugs. "One would think."
Stiles is now pacing back and forth in front of Derek, his teeth nibbling on his thumb nail. "Shit, shit, shit. What do we do?! On one hand, Mom has a point but on the other, I don't want to send him to an early grave!" Derek would have laughed at Stiles' antics if it weren't for the seriousness of the situation. "Did she say anything else?" Stiles is now standing still in front of him, toe to toe.
Derek gulps because, yeah, Miriam did say something else but he doesn't know exactly how to approach the subject. His adam's apple bobs as he swallows thickly, his eyes boring into the honey irises of the boy in front of him. "Uh, yeah. Sort of." He gulps yet again. Damn his mouth for suddenly going dry and the frantically beating heart in front of him that suddenly skipped a beat or two as he licked his own lips.
"Well, what'd she say?" Stiles demands, his eyes flickering from Derek's eyes and down to his lips every other second.
Summoning all his courage, 'cause he's an alpha werewolf for fuck's sake and he shouldn't be afraid of feelings, he hooks his thumbs in his pockets and stares Stiles in the eyes as a crooked smirk takes over his lips. "She said to go for it."
And his smirk widens as he hears Stiles' heart skip yet another beat. "G-go for wh-"
"Us." Derek grunts before his arm swings out, his hand gripping the back of Stiles' neck and crushing their lips together. For a split second, Stiles is frozen in place but then lips are moving in sync, Stiles' teeth are nipping at Derek's bottom lip, and Derek's tongue is seeking entrance. With fingers woven into the hair of the back of Derek's head, and hands gripping Stiles' hips, both are unaware of anyone approaching until it's too late.
With a wolf-whistle piercing the air, Stiles and Derek break apart, Stiles panting for air and cheeks flushed red. "It's about damn time." Erica winks at them as she passes by, Isaac trying his best to stifle his laughter as he follows his fellow pack-mate down the hall.
Three hours later found the entire Hale Pack scrambling through the front door of Hale Manor, each and every one of them wondering where Stiles and Derek had disappeared off to after lunch once Erica told them all the good news. But who could blame Stiles for wanting to catch up on lost time and make with the sexy kisses in a completely empty house? Although their alone time wasn't only filled with stolen kisses. No, it was also filled with Stiles reading his Mom's letter she had left for Derek. There was blushing on his part when he read the part about his Mom knowing of his attraction towards Lydia and that it was just that; an attraction. And that she picked up on all the looks and lingering touches between him and Derek.
So when the Pack stumbles into the house, it's to find Stiles draped over Derek's lap as he continues to read the letter yet again. Erica pouts because she hadn't caught them kissing again while Isaac, Danny, and Boyd look like Christmas had come early. Everyone else just laughed and smiled, happy that the two of them were no longer dancing around one another.
Derek comes right out with it, telling his Pack of Miriam's last wish and is surprised when no-one fights him on it. For the most part everyone keeps silents and nods along, agreeing that it's time for John to find out. Jackson is the only one who sighs out loud in relief, claiming that it's about damn time because he was starting to think that John thought there was something going on between all of them. Like a romantic thing. The Pack couldn't help it though, the wolves were very touchy feely with one another and weren't afraid to drape themselves over someone of the same sex or someone else's significant other if it meant they got the comfort they were seeking.
Everyone is laughing, being carefree when Derek and Stiles sneak out and head back over to Stiles' place. Stiles is a nervous wreck the entire ride over, his left knee bouncing up and down causing Derek to reach over and give his knee a comforting squeeze. It only works for a few seconds, once Derek puts his hand back on the wheel that Stiles' leg is bouncing again. They don't speak, the music spilling softly from the speakers filling in the silence.
All too soon, the Camaro is parked by the curb in front of Stiles' childhood home and Derek could feel the anxiety rolling off his companion. The doors open and close once they each get out, Stiles coming around to Derek's side and waiting for Derek to walk in first. Without making too much of a big deal, Derek reaches down and takes Stiles' hand in his own and gives him a reassuring squeeze while Stiles entwines their fingers and pulls him along with him up to the front door.
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John is sitting at the kitchen table, files scattered in front of him as he tries to figure out which cases should be closed since there hasn't been any activity within the last six months. He hears the front door open then close and braces himself for his son's extreme bubbly personality. When his name isn't hollered, he becomes worried. Stiles always calls out when getting home. Always.
After a few moments of silence, John calls out instead when his son doesn't appear to be looking for him. "Stiles?" He could hear whispering coming from the living room, though he can't make out what they're saying or who his son is talking to. It's only seconds later that Derek Hale appears through the door, his son sheepishly following behind. "What's going on?"
"We need to tell you something!" Stiles immediately blurts out.
Derek sighs, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose as the Sheriff eyes them in interest. Without saying a word, Derek pulls out an envelope from the inside of the jacket and hands it over. When the envelope leaves his hands, Derek could hear the frantic beating heart of John. "H-how?"
"It was in my letter." Derek answers him. "I didn't read it but I know what that letter contains and Miriam wanted my permission before you found out."
This snaps John out of his daze as he was staring at his name written in his late wife's handwriting. "Find out what?" His gaze curiously flickers between Derek and Stiles. "And why was your permission needed?"
"It's.. stuff." Stiles grumbles. "Stuff about us that Mom knew and she didn't want you know."
"Stuff that we didn't want you to know." Derek corrected. "It's.. complicated." He finishes.
Taking his time to study the two in front of him, John shrugs. "Okayyy."
He moves to open the envelope but Stiles leaps at him. "Wait! Don't read it just yet." He pleads. "W-wait until we're gone. After you read the letter, call me up so we can sit and discuss everything."
John goes to respond but Stiles has already gripped Derek's wrist and is pulling him out of sight. He waits until he hears the car doors slam before carefully opening the letter and reading what his wife had left him.
Uh-oh. How's Mr. Stilinski going to take it?