Shortly after Stiles had kicked Lydia out of his house, his dad walked in to see his son laying on the couch tears streaming down his face.
"Stiles what's wrong?"
"Its all my fault dad. I left him just like his dad did, how could I do that to him?"
"Stiles what are you talking about?"
"Scott dad, I left him without so much as a goodbye. I didn't contact him for 6 months."
"Stiles you may have left but you are back now. You are here and I am sure Scott cares more about that then you leaving. You came back. Do you want me to order some dinner?"
"No, I am just gonna go up to my room and go to bed." Stiles got up and dragged himself to his room.
"He's right Stiles, I am just glad that you came home. I admit at first I was hurt that you just left but I understand why you did it." Scott was sitting on Stiles computer chair as he walked into his room. Stiles ran over to Scott and wrapped his arms around him and started sobbing in his shoulder.
"I am so sorry Scott. I didn't even think about you when I left. I just wanted to get as far away from Derek and Danny as possible. I am sorry I left you, I won't ever do it again."
"Stiles, I got it. I am not mad at you. I am at Derek and I told him that I never want to see him again. Everyone is trying to get you to just roll over and forgive him. I'm not! I am here for you Stiles, you were/are my family before them. Its me and you through thick and thin."
"I am glad to hear that. We have a little problem though...I kind of promised Derek that I would go to the next family day."
"That's okay I got it covered."
"How?" Just then Scott yelled down to Mr. Stilinski.
"Hey Mr. Stilinski, wanna go camping this weekend? Just the three of us like old times."
"Oh hey Scott, I didn't know you were here. Camping this weekend, sure I would love to. You sticking around for dinner?"
"Yes!" The three men all walked down to the living room and turned a ball game to wait for the food to arrive. Once it did Stiles got up and paid for it, bringing the food into the living room. This right here was what felt right, this was family.
The rest of the week Scott and Stiles where always together. Allison had tried calling Scott but he got fed up with hearing his phone ring he just shut the thing off. He needed to spend time with his brother, his real family and as far as he was concerned if Allison couldn't see why Scott didn't want to talk to her. She wanted to be on Derek's side, well that was just fine. Sides him and Stiles had two years to catch up on.
Friday morning the boys where woken up at 6am by Stiles dad. He always liked to get an early start. They had packed the car the night before so they got up, had breakfast and where out of the house by 7am. Both boys let out a sigh of relief when they had reached the point of no service on their phones. Now they could truly enjoy a weekend without having to worry about the pack finding them.
Meanwhile at Derek's apartment the pack was gathered around trying to figure out how to get the missing two members back. Derek couldn't stop pacing back and forth and his emotions where driving the rest crazy.
"Why won't they answer any of us? Where the hell are they?" Derek roared.
"Derek you gotta calm down. You are upsetting everyone." Danny tried getting his attention. Derek just kept pacing.
"Allison why haven't you talked to Scott? He is your mate, you two are always together. Where is he? Where is Stiles?"
"I don't know, he hasn't answered any of my calls or text all week and now his phone is off, so is Stiles."
"Well they gotta be back by Sunday right. Stiles promised to come." Lydia said.
"I think we may have gone at this the wrong way. We have under estimated just how much we hurt them. Its my fault Stiles left and I understand why Scott hates me. I don't blame him, hell I hate me too. They aren't coming back. Scott told me that he didn't ever want to see me and this is them proving that they have a bond much stronger then what we have. Its always been just the two of them and they are showing us that they can survive on their own." Derek stalked off to his room and slammed the door. Everyone else just sat there trying to figure out how they could fix this. They couldn't lose Scott and Stiles, it was to much the first time. They would do whatever they could to show them that they all needed each other.
Sunday came around and the pack was still at Derek's trying to get their alpha to come out of his room. It was all happening again when Stiles first left. This time they weren't going to stand bye and let him destroy himself, he had to much to live for, he couldn't just waste away in his room. By mid afternoon he came out of his room and demanded everyone leave his house. At first everyone was hesitant to leave him but he pulled rank and everyone slowly left the house. By early evening Danny was pissed. Derek was not going to do this again, he needed him, their son needed him and the pack needed him.
When Scott and Stiles pulled up to Stiles driveway they where greeted with Danny sitting on his porch.
"What the hell are you doing here Danny?" Scott got right in his face.
"You guys are really messed up. Scott not talking to Allison all week and just taking off. And Stiles we have been through this before. Aren't you done running?"
"I wasn't running. I just caught up with the most important person in my life. I am trying here Danny, I really am but making up to Scott was what I needed to fix first. Its not gonna be a magical fix between Derek and I. I can't just up and forgive him. What the hell do you all want from me? What you two did is not a simple 'oh I forgive you'. Bryce is here forever. I have to see him everyday and its a reminder of what happened, 'look Stiles the one you love fucked someone else and had a child' 'look Stiles he doesn't really care for you.' So if you could kindly leave my property."
"I am not asking you to forgive, but don't go making promises if you aren't going to keep them." With that Danny left the two standing there.
"Scott I know I am suppose to be mad and I shouldn't give in, but maybe it would be easier to just let it all go. I mean you know that's whats gonna happen anyways. Derek isn't going to stop coming around begging me for forgivness and there is only so many times I can listen to him say he is sorry. I should just get over it."
"Stiles I can't tell you what to do, you are the one that has to make that choice. I will back you up no matter what you decied to do."
"Thanks Scott, you staying here tonight?"
"No, I am going to go talk with Allison. I need to beg her forgiveness for ignoring her all week."
"Good luck." With that Stiles went up to his room, grabbed some clean clothes and took a long shower. 30 minutes later after finally feeling like he had gotten all the dirt and sweat off of him he walked back into his room.
"Dammit Derek stop scaring me!"
"Sorry, I just wanted to check on you since no one heard from you all week. I'll just leave now." Derek turned towards the window and with one foot out, Stiles came over and grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't go just yet. I am sorry I wasn't there today but after everyone came and bombarded me with all the pain I had cause over the past two years I freaked. This week I have finally understood that I am not the only one hurting, me leaving has upset everyone. I am trying here Derek I really am. I try and move past it and just when I think I am, it all comes back to me. I don't know how to move on." Stiles had tears in his eyes as he looked up to Derek begging him silently to some how take all of this away.
"We can get through this together Stiles. Come with me."
"Where?"
"Just trust me." Derek held out his hand hoping with all hope that Stiles would take it, thinking if he did that maybe what he said would be true, they would get through this together. Stiles looked down at his hand, took a deep breath and took his outstretched hand. Derek lead Stiles out of the house and down the street to his car. They drove in silence for ten minutes neither letting the others hand go. Just when the silence was getting to Stiles Derek pulled to their destination.
"What are we doing here?" Stiles looked at Derek with confusion written on his face.
"I want to show you something. Come on." Derek opened his car door and got out. Stiles hesitated for just a moment then he too hopped out of the car. He ran to catch up with Derek.
"Derek really what could you possibly have to show me here? Its your burnt down house. I can't believe you burnt this place down again, after all our hard work."
"Yea well all I could do was smell you every where, then one day I woke up and your scent was gone and well I went a little crazy." Derek was making his way into the house but Stiles stayed on the porch. He couldn't manage to take those finale steps into the house. It hurt to think he cause all of this. It was his fault Derek had once again lost his house. Sensing Stiles panic Derek turned around and grabbed his hand.
"Its not your fault. Come on." Derek pulled Stiles into the front room of the house and what Stiles saw took his breath away. The downstairs had been cleaned out, gutted and was being rebuilt.
"Derek...what is all of this?"
"When you came back I started rebuilding our home. I needed to fix this and rebuilding the house seemed like the best thing. I need to show I can provided for my family, for my mate, so this is the first step. Slowly rebuilding this will maybe help rebuild ourselves." Derek turned to face Stiles, he could see the tears in his eyes and could feel they were not tear of sadness. Derek felt a seance of pride that maybe just maybe they where moving in the right direction. They could get through this, together!