Shout out to Bre and Shreya for reviewing! Glad you liked all the bonding last chapter :)
Ashlee's p.o.v
I wake up before Derek. As weird as it is, I don't wake him yet. I admire him for a few moments. He's been through so much and he's such a strong man. I really admire those things about him, that he's still so loyal to his family and his sister, to this pack. Not many people could stay standing like he has after all that. Clearly, I couldn't. I'm proud to call him 'the love of my life', whatever the proper title is. Let's just say, i'm proud to call him mine. I'm proud to say I have fallen in love with the 'big bad wolf'. I brush a thumb over his cheek and he stirs, eyes peeling open.
"Morning" he says, leaning into my touch.
"Morning" I say, giving him a small smile. He reaches up and brushes a thumb over my cheek back. He sits up and presses his lips to mine, kissing me softly.
"How are you feeling this morning?" he asks.
"Not the greatest" I answer honestly. "But i'm glad you came last night"
"Of course I came" he says. "I was worried"
"I'm sorry I took off, I just..I needed to get away from it all" I say.
"It's okay. I understand, we all do" he tells me. "What you did..shifting like that.."
"I know, I need to go back to Deaton today" I nod.
"I'll come with you" Derek says.
"Thanks" I smile softly. Someone knocks on my door.
"Ash, can we.." Mum trails off. "Sorry" she smiles sheepishly, realising i'm not the only one in my bed. We both sit up properly.
"It's okay" Derek assures her.
"I just wanted to have a quick word with you" Mum says to me. I nod and get out of bed, still in Lydia's clothes. I go to shut the door to give us and Derek some privacy but Mum stops me, opening it again and looking at Derek. "Thank you for looking out for my kids" she says gratefully. "And for being there for Ash. I know i've given you alot of grief but you're a good man and i'm glad she has you" Mum says. She smiles and shuts the door, leaving Derek shocked in the bedroom by himself.
"Thank you for that" I say to her once it's just us.
"It's the truth" she says. I smile at her, squeezing her hand. "After what happened..your father would really love to speak to you" she tells me.
"Oh..good" I say, frowning a little.
"Listen Ash, I know him and Scott have been fighting alot since he's been back and he hasn't made much of an effort with you but I talked to him. He's scared, he's scared you two hate him, that you want nothing to do with him..he's scared to try be your Dad again" she tells me.
"I'm angry at him, i'm upset but he'll always be my Dad and I won't ever throw that away, no matter how messed up things have gotten" I say honestly.
"That's my girl" Mum smiles proudly. "Do you think you could be free tonight so he can come over for dinner?" she asks. I nod.
"Yeah, Scott and I both can be"
"Good kids" she smiles. She kisses my forehead. "I have to head to work but i'll see you later on okay?"
"Okay Mum" I say.
"Bye sweetie"
"Bye" I wave out as she leaves out the door. I go back into the room and find Derek's made the bed and is now sitting on it. "Hey" I say.
"Hey" he says. "You okay?" he asks.
"Did you listen in?" I ask him.
"Course not, that was private" he says. I smile at his respect for my privacy.
"Dad's coming over for dinner tonight. All 4 of us are going to sit down as a family..it's..it's been a long time since we've done that" I tell him, sitting down next to him.
"Will you be okay?" he asks. I nod.
"He's my Dad..I gotta give him another chance"
"If you need me, just yell out and i'll come running okay?" he says.
"Thank you" I say, nodding. "How you holding up?" I ask him. I know they were important to him as well, even if he won't admit it.
"I have to admit, it sucks" he says. "Isaac text me, he's going to come by later on with Chris. They're leaving for France" Derek tells me. I frown but I understand.
"I get it" I nod. "Will you stay until then?" I ask him.
"I'll stay as long as you want me too" he tells me.
"What if I didn't want you to go? Ever?" I ask him. Derek's eyes flick between mine.
"Then I wouldn't" he says. "I'd stay with you, always" I smile and hug into his chest, his arms coming around my back.
..
Derek and I walk into the main room when we hear Scott talking to Isaac. Chris and Isaac are here.
"Hey" Chris smiles softly at Derek and I.
"Hey guys" I say. "So..you're leaving" I say.
"Yeah" Isaac nods, looking sad.
"You'll always have a place in the pack, both of you, remember that" Scott says. Both males smile.
"We can't stay long, our flight and everything" Isaac says.
"Okay, let's do this then" I say. Isaac goes to Derek first as if instinct. It's kind of heart-warming. I nod for Chris to go to Scott first.
"You're a good kid Scott, and you'll do this pack right" Chris says, hugging Scott. Scott hugs him back tightly.
"Thank you, for everything" Scott says. Chris claps him on the back and they pull back. Chris smiles at me, pulling me into a hug. I hug him back. Things may have been difficult between the pack and the Argents but Chris has always tried to do what's right. And that's hard when your family won't follow so I respect the man alot.
"Keep them out of trouble, yeah?" Chris says. I chuckle, nodding into his neck. "Derek and Scott are a handful but I don't doubt you can handle them" Chris chuckles.
"I can handle them" I agree, chuckling. We pull back. "Thank you Chris, seriously. I wish you luck, both of you" I say sincerely.
"Thank you, you all as well" Chris says. Isaac comes over from Derek, tears shining in the young beta's eyes. Chris goes over to Derek, they shake hands in a manly fashion. Scott hugs Isaac tightly. They've gotten close, almost like brothers, through all this so this isn't easy for either of them either. The two males don't say anything, just hug. Scott pulls back, giving Isaac a watery smile. Isaac smiles too, a tear rolling down his cheek. He quickly wipes it away, chuckling awkwardly. Chris comes back over to us. Isaac looks up at me.
"I'll miss you" he says quietly.
"I'll miss you too" I say, hugging him. He cautiously brings his arms around me, hugging me back. I know he feels nervous with Derek and Scott watching but I know he's not being pervy or anything. I will genuinely miss him and vice versa. I feel Isaac's body rake as he starts to cry. He may appear as a cocky douche but he's still a scared boy on the inside. "Hey, don't cry" I say quietly, rubbing his back. "It'll be fun. There's so much to do in France" I say, pulling back. He nods, smiling sadly. "There's heaps of girls in France" I say, making him chuckle. "See? You'll be fine" I assure him. He nods, snififng back the rest of his tears. I lean in and kiss his cheek lightly before stepping away from him and standing with Scott and Derek. It wasn't romantic at all but it just felt right to kiss him so I did. He did try to hook up with me for a long time after all. But I am fully committed to Derek so I stayed within the boundaries, and i'll be respectful of the fact that he's standing right there. Isaac gives me a soft smile.
"We should go" Chris says, bringing an arm around Isaac's shoulders. Isaac nods, wiping his eyes again. "Maybe we'll see you again" Chris says to us. We nod with smiles.
"And we'll drop by the hospital, so I can say bye to Melissa" Isaac says. "She's been..kind of like a Mom to me so she deserves that much" he says. I nod, smiling proudly at him. "Bye" Isaac says as him and Chris walk outside. Scott, Derek and I stand on the verandah, watching them get in Chris' car. We wave out as they drive off. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe they'll never come back? Maybe they'll be back in a month? A year? 5 years? Who knows? Scott brings an arm around my back, leaning on my shoulder. I brush his hair back and kiss his temple.
"They'll be okay" I tell him and he nods. I know Scott had a closer relationship with both males, it's hardest for him.
"I really hope so" Scott sighs.
"Come on, we should go inside, it's cold" I say.
"I uh..I might go for a walk" Scott says.
"You okay to go alone?" I ask him. He nods.
"Yeah, just need some air" he says. I nod in understanding.
"Call me if you need me" I say.
"I will" he says. He throws his hood over his head and puts his hands in his pockets, walking out the driveway. Derek and I go back inside. We go back to the couch, me curling up in Derek's lap again.
"You okay?" Derek asks me. I nod againist his chest.
"I will be" I answer. He brings his arms around me, holding me close. "We should go to Deaton's" I say.
"No, not yet" Derek says, stopping me. "Deaton won't mind waiting, just relax for a minute..it's been a long few days" Derek says softly. I nod, relaxing into him again.
"I'm so glad you're here" I sigh, nuzzling further into him.
"I'll always be here" he says, kissing my head. We fall into silence, filing through our heads and processing the last couple days' events while we hold each other close.
..
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This fic could be finishing very soon :( But I am working on a Take Two, i'll let you know when that's up. Should Ashlee tell her Dad she's dating Derek at the dinner? Hmm? Favourite, follow and review!