Stiles woke alone. The sun was already up and by how heavy his body was Stiles guessed it was at least early afternoon. He lay still for a few moments, listening. The house was silent and eventually he pushed himself out of bed and stretched before dressing slowly. The drop cloths were gone as well as the painter's tape. The futon was in the box in the center of the room and Stiles was surprised to find Derek in the kitchen.
"Hey," he murmured.
"Good afternoon," Derek returned.
"Living room looks good," Stiles offered, hesitating in the doorway.
"Yeah," Derek agreed.
"You okay?" Derek turned sharply to look at him, eyebrows pinching together.
"What?"
"Are you okay?" Stiles repeated slower.
"I'm fine. Why?" Stiles shrugged.
"You let me sleep in I guess."
"Yeah well…I don't sleep much. Not fair to push that on you." Stiles had no idea what to say to that.
"What's the plan for today?" he questioned eventually.
"There's a gathering tonight," Derek murmured, "everyone celebrates the mating." There was a long pause as Stiles silently wondered what kind of things would happen at this gathering. "Did you want to go?" Derek asked haltingly.
"What exactly happens at these things?"
"It's mainly for the new members of the pack to meet everyone. Newly claimed mates will also tend to show off. There will be tons of food and some traditional dances by some of the more…enthusiastic members of the pack." Derek's dry tone revealed exactly what he thought of these dances and Stiles suddenly wanted to see them. He wondered if Derek and he could share a joke that wasn't aimed at one of them.
"Sounds interesting," Stiles offered neutrally.
"So we'll go," Derek said after another silent moment.

Stiles thought about making a date joke but reached on top of the fridge for his Pop-Tart instead, gasping when a huge clump of dust followed his hand down. "Guess I could clean that off," Derek said. Stiles just crossed to the trashcan he'd long ago pulled out from under the sink and dropped both the Pop-Tart and the dust bunny in.
"So what are we doing before the gathering?"
"I was gonna put the futon together. Did you want to help?" Stiles lifted one shoulder.
"Sure." It wasn't like there was anything else to do. Last time he'd gone wandering around the settlement had ended badly. Derek half gestured to the living room and Stiles turned around before stopping next to the box. Derek sliced the box open neatly before pulling up the flaps. Stiles pulled out the cushion, dropping it to the floor before flopping down on it and laughing.
"What are you doing?" Derek demanded lightly, half turning to him.
"Breaking this in, obviously," Stiles answered, fixing the hem of his shirt before grinning at him.
"What would I do without you?" Derek questioned.
"Eat raw bacon and ignore the advances of Chloe the waitress," Stiles answered easily. Derek snorted before bending to the box. He began pulling out the pieces and Stiles watched. "Things aren't weird right?" He hadn't meant to say that out loud. He was mostly sure he hadn't meant to say that out loud.
"Weird?" Derek questioned, examining a bag of bolts.
"Yeah," Stiles muttered, "just like…" he didn't want to say Derek was acting weird, "you're not glaring at me…"
"You're complaining that I'm being nice?"
"Whoa, okay slow down I did not say you were being nice. I said you weren't being as…snarky as usual."
"What the hell does snarky mean?" Derek demanded, dropping the bolts and pulling out pieces of what must have been the frame.
"Not knowing means you're ancient."

"You gonna tell me or not?" Stiles sighed and readjusted himself on the cushion.
"Snarky means short tempered or generally unpleasant to be around." Derek shook his head slowly.
"You're crazy."
"I'm taking that as a compliment. And you didn't answer my question."
"No things are not weird," Derek sighed, setting the box aside. "Maybe I'm just in a good mood."
"Oh. Are you?"
"I thought I was," Derek said, glancing to him quickly with a slight frown. Stiles just smiled, which he was sure was not the right response.
"Shutting up."
"Good," Derek grumbled.
"Shouldn't you read the instructions?" Stiles questioned, pushing himself up to his elbows.
"That can be your job," Derek said, pushing the box towards him. Stiles reached inside the box for the small pamphlet, flopping back on the cushion as he read it.
"Oh good," he let out, "there's pictures."
"Thrilling," Derek agreed. Eventually Stiles crawled over to help, separating pieces before beginning to put the frame together. They worked pretty well together when Stiles didn't talk so he tried to be on good behavior, as strange as it was for him. Finally they had a futon in front of them and Stiles hopped onto it, smiling as it held. "Something just fell off," Derek informed him.
"Hm?"
"Something just hit the floor," Derek said, craning his neck to look under the futon. Stiles slid off before crawling under the futon, coming back up with a nut.
"Got it," he smiled again. They turned the futon on its back and Derek put the nut back on, making sure it was tight. He pulled it back up and Stiles went to the side before flattening the futon into a bed. "Ha! Look at that. Perfect." He climbed back in and spread out. "This is pretty great. I can sleep here no problem."
"What are you talking about?" Derek questioned. "Get off my futon."
"What? You can have your bed back. Don't be stupid."
"Move it," Derek insisted, pushing at Stiles' knee. Stiles grumbled before climbing off.
"You're seriously insisting that I stay in your bed and you sleep on the futon?"
"I am," Derek exhaled, sitting on the edge and crossing his arms.

Instead of telling him how ridiculous that was Stiles rolled his eyes and went into the kitchen for food. He really should have eaten earlier and now his stomach was growling fiercely. He went through the cabinets quickly, dissatisfied with everything he found. Stiles wanted something hot and delicious but he also wanted it now. When Derek stepped into the kitchen Stiles was on the counter on his knees, peering into yet another cupboard, not that it would reveal something he hadn't already seen. "You want to go to the diner?" Stiles turned so fast he nearly fell off, only his grip on the door holding him up.
"What?"
"Diner," Derek said dryly, "food."
"But…what about-" he cut off, not wanting Derek to glare for the first time that day.
"It won't be a problem if I'm with you." Stiles' teeth tugged on his bottom lip.
"You sure?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yeah."
"Okay," Stiles wiggled back off the counter, "I'll go get my shoes then." Stiles took longer than necessary to put on his shoes, his stomach complaining the entire time. Why was Derek doing this? Because Stiles was hungry or because he wanted another chance at an alpha male show? Stiles grunted to himself and let his head fall into his hands. This was bullshit. Why could he never know what was going on? More than anything he couldn't figure out Derek. If he couldn't stand him why claim him? If he didn't want him why was he, sometimes, being nice to him? Was it an obligation to take care of his mate? Something wolfy inside him driving him? Or was maybe something else going on? Maybe Derek protested too much. Stiles rejected that thought almost immediately. Yeah right. Derek could hardly stand him and at night he dreamt of someone else. Sitting here going in circles wasn't helping anything. Stiles pushed off the bed and hurried down the stairs. Derek was waiting by the door, pulling it open for Stiles as he hit the bottom step. "Thanks," Stiles let out as he passed. Derek followed him and they set off towards the diner. Neither of them spoke and Stiles thought the silence was tense but he wasn't sure if it was because of him or Derek. Much like he didn't know anything anymore.

It wasn't until they stepped into the diner that Stiles thought this was officially a bad decision. His stomach twisted nastily as several heads swiveled towards them. Shane was behind the counter, smiling for only a second, people Stiles didn't recognize were on the other side of the counter on the stools and a few more people were scattered in booths around the room. He thought he saw the back of Aubrey's head and if it was her, her mate as well but he couldn't be sure and then Derek was ushering him towards a booth in the opposite direction. "I'm suddenly feeling like this maybe isn't such a great idea," Stiles muttered, trying to pull out of Derek's grasp.
"Why?" Derek grunted. "You're hungry," he added.
"Yeah but I mean-"
"What can I get you?" Shane asked, cutting them off. Stiles jerked towards him, eyes moving over him quickly. Shane looked okay, other than a huge black bracelet on his wrist.
"Hi," Stiles blurted. Shane offered him a quick smile.
"Hey Stiles."
"How are you?"
"Don't worry about me little man, I'm doing just fine. Now I know you're hungry cause you're always hungry so what do you want to eat?"
"Um…a burger I guess," Stiles exhaled, unable to keep from smiling even as he felt himself flush.
"Hale?" Shane questioned next.
"Same for me Shane thanks."
"No problem." Shane reached out to ruffle Stiles' hair, Stiles squawking and smacking at him, before turning to go.
"Rude," Stiles muttered, looking up to see Derek smirking. "What?" he demanded.
"You're such a kid," Derek announced.
"One he ruffled my hair and two you are ancient." Derek rolled his eyes.
"Only according to you." Shane delivered soda to Stiles and water to Derek before disappearing again. Stiles toyed with his cup as he tried to examine Derek subtly. Maybe he really was just in a good mood. Stiles wondered where it had come from.

The meal passed with relative ease and Stiles was surprised how nice Derek was to Shane. He even came back from the bathroom to see them speaking to each other without him even there. Maybe now that his territory had been marked Derek could ease up. Whatever it was Stiles was glad that there didn't seem to be any tension between them. He still really liked Shane and Derek still didn't have much of a reason to be getting all pissed off about the situation anyways. Plus Stiles wasn't romantically attached to either male so it was all ridiculous in the first place. He sighed internally at the thought. But it was okay because at least things seemed to be getting better with Derek. And really things could be worse because they'd already had sex and Stiles rarely even thought about that part of their relationship at all. But if Shane remembered almost claiming him then did Derek remember claiming him? Stiles almost choked on his drink at that thought. What was he just thinking about this situation being okay?
"What?" Derek questioned him.
"Huh? No nothing," Stiles barked, realizing his face was probably as red as a fire hydrant.
"Are you okay?"
"Perfectly fine," Stiles lied, lifting his cup and taking a large gulp before stuffing a fry in his mouth for good measure. "You should eat," he added, mouth full, "it's good."
"I am eating," Derek said, clearly amused. "Just at a normal speed." Stiles scoffed but swallowed before speaking again.
"Who wants to be normal?"
"I wouldn't know," Derek replied with a quick shake of his head.
"Exactly." Stiles grinned down at his plate before picking up his burger again. His mind started whirring with activity and Stiles wished he had a hope of controlling it. If Derek remembered the mating… "Wait so are you like…sentient when you're wolfy?" Derek blinked a few times.
"For the most part," he allowed, lips pursing in what might have been confusion.
"So do you um-remember where we…were?"
"Maybe we could talk about this another time?" Derek suggested tightly. Stiles had to drop his gaze to the table top.
"No I mean I just…I dropped something."
"Your phone was too damaged to bother with," Derek informed him after a moment.
"It wasn't that," Stiles insisted quietly.
"Oh."
"Not a big deal," Stiles mumbled. It was a big deal but it suddenly occurred to Stiles that Derek was right and they were in public where nearly everyone had flawless hearing. Maybe now was not the time to discuss their mating sex.

"What was it?" Derek questioned on the walk back and for a long moment Stiles didn't know what he was talking about.
"Oh," he exhaled as it occurred to him, "it was just…a little seashell." He didn't really feel like expanding on that so he didn't. Maybe he could have a mysterious silence for once.
"You wanted to go look for it?"
"Uh," no point lying, "yeah."
"It would take hours," Derek said, "probably." Stiles felt the disappointment wash through him, sloshing around in his stomach, and tried not to let it show on his face. "You'd probably get lost on your own," Derek continued. He had a point there and Stiles knew it.
"Yeah," he managed neutrally.
"I don't have to work on Friday," Derek said next. Stiles' surprise must have shown on his face because he continued, looking away. "It'll be dark soon and the gathering is tonight."
"Right," Stiles said quickly, "right of course. So Friday?" Derek nodded once and Stiles smiled slightly. Maybe they'd be able to find it, somehow.
"Friday," Derek agreed.
"Thank you," Stiles smiled around the words, the urge to hug Derek or just get closer to him somehow washing over him suddenly. He frowned to himself before shaking it off. He was grateful that was all. He could certainly be grateful without touching Derek. Where had that even come from seriously? Getting back to the house was a relief and Stiles hurried up the stairs to put walls between Derek and him. He could breathe again, just a bit, with his forehead pressing against the solid wood of the door. A tremor ran over him but he didn't even care. For the longest moment he simply appreciated being alone. Away from prying eyes. Away from Derek and the pressure over not knowing what he was doing or what was going on around him. After a few moments Stiles drifted backwards to the bed and sat down. It was another few moments before he laid back and let his eyes close.

Stiles only realized he'd fallen asleep when something nudged his knee. His eyes jerked open to see Derek, already back in the doorway.
"Everyone's heading down to the clearing," he murmured, "you wanna go?"
"Yeah," Stiles said quickly, voice still thick with sleep. He sat up and stretched his shoulders before yawning and rubbing his eye. "Okay," he exhaled, "I'm good." Derek looked skeptical but turned for the stairs anyways. Stiles stretched again before grabbing a hoodie and following. The walk was quiet and Stiles didn't mind, still trying to actually wake up his brain. As they got closer Stiles smelled smoke and only then noticed the orange glow ahead of them. He couldn't help his lips twisting at that. Campfire in the woods. "Are there gonna be s'mores?" he demanded. There was a brief pause before,
"Smells like it." Stiles grinned.
"Awesome." They grew closer and Stiles saw more and more silhouettes gathered ahead of them. "Is there anything I need to know? Like…is there anything I'm not supposed to do?" Derek squinted at him for a long moment and Stiles stumbled slightly, looking where he was going again.
"Don't throw yourself in the fire?" Derek suggested. Stiles rolled his eyes.
"I'm just asking alright?" he huffed, shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets.
"Well," Derek said slowly, "I've never been to one of these before so your guess is as good as mine."
"Never?" Stiles demanded, "How long have you lived here?"
"A few years," Derek returned. Stiles snuck another glance at him, but Derek was looking away.
"So how come you've never gone?"
"Never had a reason to." Stiles guessed, correctly, that that was the end of the conversation. He decided to just be on good behavior and try to see how the other humans were acting. But he didn't even know how many humans were still here. Aubrey and Taylor yeah but what about the rest of them? Had they been claimed? What about Logan? Surely he had been? If he had been claimed and Logan hadn't been Stiles was going to be pissed. Surely, fate couldn't be that cruel.

Fate was that cruel. Not only was Logan not among the people in the clearing, but as soon as they approached the fire a swell of people surged towards them. Apparently Derek coming was a big deal. And somehow, Stiles had become a celebrity here in the settlement. There were jokes about Derek's hermit status being revoked and even a few girls saying they wouldn't have wasted their time if he'd just told them he didn't swing that way. Stiles laughed at that and Derek looked every bit as uncomfortable as he had with Chloe. Apparently Derek didn't do well with flattery. It seemed like everyone wanted to meet Stiles and comment on how he must be something special for Derek to have claimed him. They were all perfectly polite but by the end of the first hour Stiles was gritting his teeth. He muttered quiet thanks before finally slipping away to where Taylor, Brennan, Aubrey and her mate sat.
"You look like you need this," Taylor said in greeting, offering him a beer. Stiles glanced around them quickly.
"I'm not…uh-"
"You think they're worried about that here?" Taylor questioned, laughing. That was all it took for Stiles to grab the beer and take several gulps in rapid succession. Taylor simply arched a brow at that.
"Thanks," he managed shakily, offering it to him. Stiles shoved his hands in his back pockets. "So…how are things?"
"Ah…good," Taylor murmured eventually, "pretty good yeah." Brennan smiled wide enough to show off dimples at that.
"Hale looks like he's getting skinned alive," Aubrey's mate offered. Stiles glanced behind them and it was true, Derek looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"You gonna go save him?" Brennan questioned. Stiles turned back to them.
"Nope." Aubrey's mate chuckled.
"We haven't officially met," he said, "I'm Chase."
"Stiles," he returned, offering his hand. Chase shook it before looking behind them again.
"I guess I'll take mercy on the poor bastard," he let out, shaking his head. He turned to Aubrey, "Want me to bring anything back?"
"I'm okay," she said softly, a smile that looked forced fitting over her lips.
"Okay," Chase murmured, clearly hesitating before he left, running a hand through his hair as he did.

Aubrey sighed quietly and glanced to the ground.
"So how are you and Hale getting along?" Brennan questioned, sipping from a beer as well. Stiles grimaced.
"Okay I guess. It'd be better if he didn't act like I was a fungus he stepped in." Stiles bit his lips once the words were out, aware that if he wanted Derek could be listening to this conversation.
"How so?" Stiles sighed.
"He's just made it perfectly clear that he regrets claiming me and I'm really not sure why he did in the first place. So now we're just stuck with each other and it kinda blows."
"He say why?" Another sigh.
"No. Before he even saw me he said he didn't want me."
"Hm," Brennan let out. "I'm gonna go get some food," he looked to Stiles, "you want some food? Let's go get food." It wasn't exactly subtle but it worked as Taylor snorted and waved them off.
"Uh. Okay." They walked away from Taylor and Aubrey, passing through several clumps of people on the way to the tables of food.
"Who do you have waiting for you at home?" Brennan questioned.
"Hm?" Stiles asked, barely dodging a person as they walked.
"You left someone behind," Brennan prompted again.
"My dad," Stiles said slowly. Brennan nodded.
"Hale probably doesn't want me telling you this," Stiles stole a glance to Derek, who at least wasn't watching them, apparently in conversation with Chase and two other people Stiles couldn't remember the names of. "But if he didn't even see you before he said that then it has nothing to do with you."
"I'm not following you," Stiles admitted.
"Some of us are luckier than others," Brennan hedged. "Taylor doesn't really have a family. Just a stepdad and some cousins. You have your father." Stiles squinted at him.
"You're trying to say Derek doesn't want me because he feels bad for taking me away from my father?"
"I'm not him," Brennan hedged again; "it's not my place anyways. I'm just telling you it's a possibility. It could just be that Derek doesn't want a mate period, for whatever reason is in his past." Laura. Stiles sighed. "I'm just saying it's a hell of a lot easier to look at Taylor knowing he's not missing anyone."

Stiles glanced to Derek again, relieved that he still wasn't looking at them. Maybe Derek didn't give a fuck where he was. But then again maybe Brennan was right.
"The lines of communication aren't exactly free flowing," Stiles huffed eventually. Brennan laughed, picking up a plate and moving along the table.
"Tell me about it. Took me over 48 hours to get 'okay' out of Taylor."
"If we locked him and Derek in a closet they'd probably both die before uttering a syllable." Brennan laughed again.
"You could be right." Stiles grabbed everything for s'mores and piled it on a plate. "You helped me out I'm just trying to return the favor."
"Well thanks," Stiles murmured eventually. "Actually," now or never, "I had some questions."
"Oh?" Brennan questioned, popping a chip in his mouth.
"Well this whole…thing happened with Shane," Brennan winced quickly, "and Derek said that he could have challenged Shane to a battle of rights or something? And I was basically just wondering if that was true and really like…what the normal protocol is for the whole thing." Brennan gestured to a couple logs being used as seats and Stiles followed him over.
"Okay so here's the thing," he said. "Werewolves operate on a different standard obviously. You all have been claimed and marked but it's not permanent. Not yet. At this point there's still danger to the relationship. One of the ways that we guard against that, or mark our territory, is scenting. It's instinctual not logical and you can't talk yourself out of it. The situation with Shane just…well it could have gone a lot worse. The fact that Derek scared Shane off during the claim only made it worse. To Derek's wolf, Shane was trying to cover you with his scent. Shane was trying to challenge his claim on you. Needless to say, that set him off. He could have killed Shane right in front of you and been well within his rights. Shane knew he was in the wrong, which is why he reported back to the council and why the situation is public knowledge. So to try and answer your question yes Derek could have challenged him and in direct transgressions that generally happens. Scenting is…I'm trying to think of the human equivalent and nothing comes to mind. I guess it would be similar to cheating." Stiles' eyes widened at that.
"So by taking Shane's hoodie I like…cheated on Derek?" Brennan shrugged one shoulder.
"But you didn't know Stiles. It's not your fault."
"But he doesn't even want me," Stiles protested weakly, guilt gnawing at his stomach.
"If he didn't want you," Brennan glanced back to Taylor, "he'd never have claimed you."

Stiles shoved a marshmallow into his mouth and bit into it viciously.
"That doesn't make sense," he mumbled.
"During the mating run instincts are higher and yeah we let our wolves out but we're not totally out of control. Whether Derek acknowledges it or not there is something that he wants out of you." Stiles snuck another glance to Derek and of course now he was looking. Stiles nearly choked on the piece of marshmallow he was trying to swallow.
"Um, thanks," he mumbled quickly, shooting off his seat and rushing back to Taylor and Aubrey. "Can we go for a walk and like have some human time?" he demanded breathlessly. Taylor glanced to the plate in his hands.
"You're not gonna make those?" Stiles shook his head jerkily, panic shooting through every nerve ending in his system. He was sure that Derek was going to come over, he probably wouldn't even make excuses before he did, he'd probably just walk away in the middle of a sentence.
"Sounds good to me," Aubrey said, "let's go." She hooked her arm through Taylor's and pulled him backwards. Stiles set his plate in the grass before following them.
"Thank god," Stiles let out as they entered the trees, "I just need some time to think."
"Not yet," Aubrey warned, ahead of him. Unsure what she meant Stiles shut up. They walked for a few minutes before stopping at the bank of a river. In the darkness it was the sound of rushing water that alerted Stiles. "Okay," Aubrey plopped down, "we should be good now if we're quiet." Taylor followed suit, still nursing his beer. Stiles dropped down and ran both hands over his head.
"This sucks," he let out. Aubrey laughed and he jerked up to look at her.
"You think you've got it bad?"
"Yeah," he allowed honestly.
"At least you can't get pregnant," she said bluntly. Stiles' jaw flapped open.
"You think you're preguh-" Taylor yelled, cutting off suddenly as Aubrey slapped a hand over his mouth.
"What about quiet didn't you understand?" she hissed.

"But it's only been like three days," Stiles objected quietly.
"Yeah," Taylor agreed quietly, "how would you know?"
"It's only a theory," Aubrey said, taking Taylor's beer before sighing and handing it back. "My hormones are all over the place and it should be just at the right time for me to be ovulating."
"Maybe you're just like…in shock?"
"I'm so horny I can barely keep my pants on," she specified. Stiles felt himself blush and Taylor looked away into the darkness. "I know, I know," Aubrey continued, "TMI, trust me I know but it's so fucking hard to keep my hands off him but I have to because if I'm not pregnant I can't get pregnant and I can't be stuck here!" She huffed out a long breath. "Please tell me you guys are having the same issue?"
"Uh, no," Taylor said after a long moment.
"Not even a little bit," Stiles allowed softly.
"Awesome." Stiles couldn't think of anything to say. Derek certainly didn't seem so bad now. What could he say really? At least your mate wants you? "I hate my life," Aubrey sighed after another moment. "I mean Chase is great, kind of perfect actually, but I can't be here- I just can't." She blew out a sigh and ran her hands through her hair rapidly. "I mean I might not be pregnant, it's way too early to tell but I just…have this feeling." She brought her knees towards her chest before tucking her face into the space created. "I can't be pregnant," she sighed again.
"When are you going to tell Chase?" Taylor questioned. Aubrey groaned. There was a long silence that Stiles was loath to try and fill.
"If I miss my period," she finally said, "then I'll tell him."
"Well this entire situation is just depressing," Stiles exhaled. Aubrey laughed softly.
"Yeah thanks captain obvious."
"Any time."
"Better back off Stiles. If she's pregnant she can't control her emotions." Aubrey gasped before her hand swung out, Taylor dodging easily enough.
"That's not funny," she exhaled, clearly trying not to laugh.
"Sure it isn't," Taylor answered, looping his arm over her shoulders. Aubrey sighed again and for several minutes they all sat in silence.
"I go to sleep every night hoping this is all some sort of nightmare. And then I feel terrible in the morning when I'm relieved that it isn't."
"This isn't what my nightmares look like," Taylor said, drinking from his beer again.

There was a beat of perfect silence and then as if Taylor realized he'd said something he hadn't meant to he drew away from Aubrey and stood.
"I'm gonna head back."
"I'll come with you," Aubrey offered. Taylor shook his head.
"Nah I'm just…gonna find Bren." He left, branches breaking quietly underfoot, leaving Aubrey and Stiles awkwardly sharing the same space. Aubrey huffed out an irritated breath,
"I feel like I'm always doing or saying the wrong thing here! I just want to go home."
"Tell me about it," Stiles grunted. "Living with Derek is like walking across a minefield but there's no explosion to let you know when you've actually stepped on something."
"You don't have to deal with Genevieve."
"Who's Genevieve?" Aubrey sighed again.
"She's a stuck up bitch who thought Chase was going to claim her. Well he didn't and now she's made it her mission to make me want to jump off a cliff. If she wasn't a werewolf…" she trailed off and sighed again. "I don't mean to be this negative I swear. Although it's actually kind of nice to not have to put on a happy face right now."
"It is nice," Stiles agreed. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, muscles leaking tension until his body sagged down. "I just want to go home. Derek wants me to go home. Waiting sucks."
"Think of it as a free vacation?" Stiles let out a quick laugh. "That's what I'm trying to do. Even though I'm half out of my mind worrying."
"Worrying?"
"My baby brother Cody. My dad works two jobs and he tries he really does but my mom is worthless and I usually take care of him. Now I'm not there."
"I'm sorry," Stiles offered. He really couldn't think of anything else to say. Aubrey shrugged and Stiles barely caught the motion. The forest seemed to be getting even darker than it had been.
"Free vacation right?" A sudden snarl broke into the conversation, so loud that Stiles flinched and looked around desperately. Aubrey was on her feet when he looked back and Stiles stumbled to follow suit.
"Did that come from the clearing?" he questioned.
"I think so, we'd better head back." Stiles thought they should head in the other direction but followed her anyways. No way was he letting a possibly pregnant girl wander into a werewolf fight on her own.

There were several more snarls and growls, maybe even a few whimpers but by the time they made it close enough to the fire to see the fight had apparently ended. Chase's hands were balled in fists by his sides, shoulders tensed and chest heaving. His hair looked like it had just been shoved off his face, maybe it had been. Stiles barely recognized Aiden across from him, cheek and shoulder bleeding.
"What happened?" Aubrey demanded, voice cutting through the wolves gathered. Aiden ducked his head and Chase relaxed instantly.
"Nothing, we're fine."
"Don't try and sell me that line of shit Chase."
"We're fine," Chase said, crossing to Aubrey and catching her by the shoulders, "tempers flared we had a little fight but now we're fine."
"Why are you fighting your friends?" she demanded. Stiles didn't hear Chase's reply because he was suddenly engulfed by Derek's chest.
"Oompf," Stiles let out, "hi?"
"You're okay?" Derek demanded, "I couldn't find you."
"Can't you like…track me by scent or something?" Derek pulled back enough for Stiles to see his wry smile.
"There's a lot of scents here cupcake." Stiles pulled a face.
"Cupcake again?"
"It suits you," Derek said, pinching his hip quickly, "you're soft." Stiles scowled at that.
"Gee thanks."
"I made your s'mores," Derek admitted after a moment, hands finally dropping away. That shouldn't have perked Stiles up but it did.
"Really?"
"I might have burned them," Derek added.
"There is no other way to make s'mores," Stiles told him. "Where are they?" He followed Derek to a few logs closer to the fire and Derek presented him with a plate of undoubtedly sloppy s'mores.

Stiles plopped down before picking up one of them and examining the white cracks in the charred exterior of the marshmallow. He hummed happily to himself, every single problem momentarily forgotten, before taking a bite. "Oh my god," he let out, "oh my god. This is amazing." He didn't even care that his mouth was full of food or that Derek was smirking at him. "No seriously," Stiles insisted, taking another bite and swirling his tongue through the charred and gooey marshmallow, "did you taste this?" he mumbled around the food. "Have you had some because here," he shoved the half eaten s'more in the direction of Derek's face before groaning again. Derek finally caught his hand, which Stiles wasn't aware had been moving, and took a bite, lips brushing the tips of Stiles' middle and ring finger. Heat shot over Stiles and he stilled suddenly, watching as Derek licked his lips and smiled, actually smiled.
"It is pretty good." Stiles swallowed thickly before nodding.
"Thirsty," he mumbled, abandoning the s'more on the plate and rushing towards the table with cups lined up on it. He shot a glance back to Derek as he reached it, finding the wolf watching him. Of course, Brennan's words came back to play in his head. Whether Derek acknowledges it or not there is something that he wants out of you.

A/N: This would have been done faster but…I've been infected by Kurtbastian (I am mostly ashamed of myself) and I've been reading rather than writing so…yeah. BUT here is an update. The general consensus seemed to be longer updates which I liked anyways so we'll stick to those.

Going to try and update my other fics but my brain has been living in this one so I will probably be working on it more than others.

Anyways.

Thank you.