Stiles groaned and brought a hand over his face. He fell asleep again. His body rocked gently as Derek carried him over all sorts of plants and roots Stiles was no longer able to see.
"You probably shouldn't stay up so late reading," Derek offered, ducking his head, a quick exhale sliding over Stiles' cheek. Stiles worked not to shiver.
"Not my fault," he argued, "Anna Karenina is a classic."
"Doesn't she throw herself in front of a train?" Derek questioned.
"No," Stiles squawked, "what? How do you know that?"
"It's one of my father's favorites."
"Well I haven't finished it yet," Stiles let out after an awkward silence.
"How many books are you reading right now anyways?"
"Um…" Stiles tried to tally in his head, "six? I feel like I'm forgetting one." Derek chuckled, vibrating Stiles' ribs. Stiles nearly shivered again. Derek reached the edge of the trees and set him on his feet before offering the Sherlock Holmes novel he'd been reading. It had been a week and every day Derek didn't have to work they went out to the woods to look. They'd both discovered rather quickly that Stiles wasn't very adept at searching. So now he brought books and read aloud. Only he hadn't meant to fall asleep. The first time he hadn't woken up until he was already tucked in bed. Now that had been awkward.

He sighed and scratched at the back of his neck as he followed along behind Derek. "Maybe it's about time to call it?"
"Hm?"
"Just…we haven't found it yet," Stiles added, frowning. "Maybe we won't."
"We can go out some more," Derek held the door for him, "it's not like we have anything better to do."
"Okay," Stiles agreed softly, "thanks." He yawned deeply at the base of the stairs before moving towards them. "Well goodnight," he offered.
"You're not going to read anymore?" Derek questioned. Stiles paused on the second step.
"Not tonight."
"Fine," Derek agreed, pulling the book from his hand.
"Hey," Stiles protested, eyes widening.
"What? He was just about to reveal who did it. I wanna know."
"Well you're gonna read it without me?" Stiles demanded.
"You're going to bed," Derek tossed over his shoulder, crossing to the futon and kicking off his shoes.
"Not cool," Stiles turned and followed him. Derek arched an eyebrow as Stiles plopped down next to him before splaying out, one leg falling behind Derek and one threading into his lap. "Okay," he said, closing his eyes, "now you read to me."
"Comfortable?" Derek questioned.
"Yup."
"I'm glad," Derek exhaled dryly. Stiles just smiled as he cracked open the book.

It was the fourth time they slept together, two had been for scenting purposes. Unlike all the others though Derek was still tangled up with him when Stiles woke up.
"Mm Saturday good," Stiles let out before snuggling back into Derek. Derek's arm shifted slightly before curling around him again and Stiles felt himself smile. He laid half asleep for a long time. Eventually his body forced him from bed and Stiles was surprised to see Derek still on the futon when he returned from the bathroom. He smiled and shook his head slightly. Stiles' stomach grumbled next and he moved for the door as he stifled a small yawn. He wandered down the dirt street in his bare feet, stretching out his arms as he walked.
"Stiles," Shane greeted easily as he stepped in, "you gonna stop avoiding me now?" Stiles stuck out his tongue quickly.
"Haven't been avoiding you. Been reading." Shane laughed at him quickly.
"Good to know I guess." He set his hands on his hips. "So what can I get you?"
"Mm, pancakes," Stiles said, settling on a stool and leaning on the counter, "and bacon."
"Coming right up."
"Oh," Stiles remembered suddenly, "to go."
"Two orders?" Shane questioned next.
"Mmhmm."
"Alright little man," Shane agreed, chuckling. Stiles smiled to himself and closed his eyes. It wasn't very long before Shane set down two takeout boxes in front of him.
"There you go. I'd better see you again soon."
"I'll see what I can do," Stiles teased, sticking out his tongue again.
"Uh huh," Shane smiled again, shaking his head. "Get outta here." Stiles saluted before gathering the boxes and making his way back to Derek's house.

"I know you're awake," Stiles told Derek just inside the door. "There is no way I'm up before you." Derek didn't move, though his lips curled just slightly. "I brought breakfast," he said as he crossed into the kitchen. "Properly cooked bacon." The first box revealed bacon and little containers of syrup and butter. Stiles grabbed two strips of bacon, biting into one as he looked back to Derek. "Seriously?" he questioned, chewing. He wandered forward, dangling the other strip of bacon over Derek's nose. Derek moved too fast, biting into the bacon and pulling it from Stiles' hand before sitting up. Stiles rolled his eyes. "You're not funny," he told him, willing his heart to slow back down.
"Maybe I just didn't feel like getting up," Derek murmured.
"Since when?" Derek shrugged.
"I was comfortable."
"Well you can get comfortable in the kitchen." Derek followed him eventually, lifting an eyebrow at Stiles dipping chunks of pancake in syrup. "I know you are not judging me raw bacon." Derek just shook his head.
"You're ridiculous." He pulled himself onto the counter and grabbed a pancake before biting into it. Stiles moved to the opposite wall, leaning against it. "So what do you want to do today?" Derek questioned, tongue flicking over his lips.
"Mmm…don't know," Stiles admitted, "I guess I shouldn't spend another day curled up reading."
"Why not?"
"I'm going to get fat," Stiles announced with a fake pout, pushing out his stomach and looking down to it.
"What you want to work out?"
"With a werewolf?" Stiles questioned, eyes widening even as he frowned. "Yeah that will be a confidence builder," he said dryly. Derek smirked.
"I'll go easy on you."

Stiles collapsed in an open patch of grass, tossing a hand over his eyes and panting.
"I hate you," he complained. Derek just laughed at him.
"Rest for three minutes and then we're going again."
"You realize this is like…three lacrosse practices right?"
"You play lacrosse?" Derek questioned then. Stiles groaned.
"Sort of," he admitted, squinting up at the werewolf. "I'm mostly a benchwarmer."
"So you don't play lacrosse."
"Hey I'm on the team," Stiles huffed.
"But not first string." Stiles rolled his eyes and groaned again. He sat up before hissing out a breath and realizing that was a bad idea.
"First line and no…I'm not." He drew the line at admitting he was pretty much the joke of the team. At least Scott had asthma to defend him.
"You wanna be?" Stiles shrugged.
"It'd be nice to not be a total screw up," he admitted, half to himself.
"Alright. Get up then."

It was scary how easy they fell into routine. When Derek was gone Stiles read. When Derek was there they ate, worked out, or Stiles read again. Once in a blue moon Derek would read but Stiles tried not to think too much about that. His voice could be entirely too pleasant. Another week and a half passed with little change. Stiles saw Taylor and Shane, even Brennan once or twice. But mostly it was Derek. Stiles probably should have minded that more than he did but…he and Derek were friends now. At least, he thought they were. It seemed like they were. Derek didn't really glare at him anymore. If he did it was broken by a smile. The best part was that Stiles was actually working towards something now rather than just being stuck here. It was good. Maybe by the time he left he'd be able to make first line. He could dream. A knock at the door surprised him and Stiles jerked up before slowly putting his book face down on the futon. Taylor and Aubrey were behind the door and Aubrey's eyes were red.
"Shit," Stiles exhaled. Taylor rolled his eyes and pushed Stiles out of the way before guiding Aubrey in. "Um do you want…water or something?" he questioned haltingly as Aubrey sat down gingerly. She just shook her head slowly in response. "So you're pregnant," Stiles said eventually. Aubrey's face crumpled before she nodded. "And you haven't told Chase?"
"No," she answered quietly.
"Okay…" Stiles drifted off slowly, wondering why they had come to him. Aubrey tugged a hand through her hair.
"I just need somewhere people won't be looking for me right now."
"Am I that transparent?" Stiles questioned weakly.
"It's okay," Aubrey exhaled, "I wouldn't expect you to show up on my doorstep in the middle of a crisis either."
"Well…how are things with Chase?" Aubrey lifted one shoulder.
"He's perfect. Hale?" Stiles felt himself blush and it froze him. Why was he blushing?
"We're okay."
"You're the talk of the town," Taylor said from the doorway of the kitchen. Stiles spun and gaped at him.
"What?" he yelped.

There was a beat of silence.
"Hale smiles now," Taylor added.
"He does not," Stiles snapped, frowning when Taylor only smiled at him.
"He does," Aubrey agreed. "Shane and Aiden think it's adorable." Stiles thought back. Derek had been smiling a lot more. But so what? It's not like it meant anything.
"Does everyone talk about us?"
"Well now the drama with Genevieve is over…partly," Aubrey said, rubbing at her nose, "so yeah."
"The drama with Genevieve?" Stiles echoed eager for a change of topic.
"Aiden said he wasn't going to defend her anymore. No one else was stepping up to the plate so she has to behave now."
"You lost me," Stiles admitted.
"At the gathering. Apparently Genevieve said some unflattering things. Not surprising. Well Chase snapped at her and Aiden tackled him. Then they wrestled around a bit while Genevieve turned tail and ran."
"Aiden was defending her because?" Aubrey frowned then.
"He loves her." Stiles let that sit for a moment, frowning again.
"So why aren't they…?"
"Aiden tried," Aubrey said softly, "Genevieve wanted Chase."
"Oh," Stiles let out after a moment. "Awkward."
"But now everyone can focus on you and Hale's smiles." Stiles shot a glare at Taylor before huffing out a breath.
"I'm funny damn it."
"You're not that funny." Stiles jaw flapped open.
"I thought I liked you," he exhaled.
"You do like me and you know who likes you? Derek."

Stiles was blushing again and this was getting ridiculous.
"He does not. Shut up."
"Does too," Taylor sang before stepping to the futon and sitting next to Aubrey.
"Does not," Stiles repeated, "we talked about it and we're trying just to be friends okay?"
"Methinks he doth protest too much," Aubrey stage whispered to Taylor.
"I will kick you both out," Stiles huffed.
"Look there's no point denying it," Aubrey told him. "You wouldn't be so worked up if you didn't like him too." God he was blushing again. This was not happening.
"No." He shook his head for emphasis. "No okay? Yeah we're getting along and it's been good okay but nothing has been going on. No. We're just…roommates. We're Laverne and Shirley okay?" Aubrey tilted her head and Taylor smirked at him.
"Laverne and Shirley? Weren't they supposed to be gay for each other?"
"What? No!" Stiles turned from both of them, plopping on the stairs and crossing his arms. "There is something wrong with both of you. So, so wrong."
"We're not the ones in denial," Taylor told him.
"We can't be in denial," Aubrey added dryly.
"I'm not in denial!" Stiles insisted. "There is nothing going on because in a little over two months I'm going home so just stop it!" He stopped just short at covering his ears, crossing his arms again and leaning over his knees instead. Taylor pushed off the couch and crossed to him slowly. He leaned against the banister, looking down at Stiles.
"Look it's not going to help you if a month down the road your little denial boat crashes and burns okay? You've been spending almost all your time with him Stiles."
"I can't like him," Stiles mumbled sadly.
"Yeah well Aubrey couldn't be pregnant either."
"He doesn't want a mate. And Chase will be thrilled I'm sure."
"You have to accept it and try to deal with it Stiles. Especially with the full moon coming." Stiles groaned and buried his face in his arms.
"Okay you know what? Quiet game or I really will kick you out."

Taylor sighed and pushed back off the banister.
"Actually I should go," Aubrey said. "Chase will be back soon."
"You want to tell him alone?" Aubrey sighed before chewing on her lip.
"Not really…but it doesn't seem like the kind of thing you're supposed to do in public."
"You know everyone will know within seconds anyways," Stiles offered, "apparently they all have a thing for gossip here."
"I don't know…" Stiles pushed himself off the stairs.
"We're all gonna stick together okay?" Taylor questioned. "You have to tell him and we're gonna be there when you do." We?
"Really?" Aubrey questioned and it sounded like she was about to cry. Stiles felt himself wince. How was he supposed to say no to a pregnant woman? What if she had puppies? He pasted on a smile and tried to sound reassuring.
"Yup, we'll be with you."
"Okay," she agreed, face scrunching up.
"Why don't we go to the diner? You hungry?" Taylor asked. She nodded, dabbing at her eyes.
"Starving." Taylor just smiled at her; apparently he already knew the answer.
"Alright," he said, "then let's go."
"Thanks Taylor," Aubrey said softly, after a moment she looked to Stiles, "you too Stiles."
"No problem," he exhaled.
"Hey I'm not doing it for nothing; I expect to be this kid's godfather." Aubrey laughed at that.
"You're impossible."

They didn't talk about it. They ordered food and made small talk and when Chase and Brennan came in together, silence abruptly fell.
"You weren't at home," Chase said, approaching slowly. Brennan followed behind him, eyes locked on Taylor. Taylor offered a small smile before tilting his head to the left a bit. Relief flashed over Brennan's face and he smiled too. Stiles' eyebrows pushed up. Apparently they had very good nonverbal communication. He wasn't jealous. He wasn't going to let himself be jealous.
"We're…celebrating," Aubrey said haltingly.
"Your heart's racing," Chase informed her on a whisper, lips pursing slightly.
"Y-Yeah." She took a deep breath before meeting his eyes again. "I um," she paused, taking another breath, "okay. Wow. I'm…pregnant." It was absolutely silent in the diner for exactly four seconds before the door clicked shut, Derek freezing there as nearly everyone turned to him.
"What?" Chase questioned, breathless. Stiles managed to pull his eyes of Derek in time to see Aubrey offer a watery smile. "Pregnant?" he exhaled, reaching out to touch her, pausing and letting his fingertips graze against where her hands were balled in her lap. Chase finally smiled, so wide it showed off nearly all of his teeth. He bolted forward to kiss her forehead before drawing back slightly. "You'll stay?" he questioned then, "You'll stay with me?" Aubrey was crying then but she nodded jerkily.
"Mmhmm." Chase let out a noise that sounded like a swallowed howl.
"I love you." Aubrey pushed off her stool and threw her arms around his neck.
"I love you too," she answered before curling into his chest. Stiles shook his head slightly even as he smiled. She'd been so upset just a few weeks ago. Maybe that's what love did to people. His smile fell off and, unwillingly, he looked to Derek again. Derek was watching him and Stiles wasn't surprised. All in all, he didn't know how to feel about that. Sure that his exit wouldn't be noticed Stiles slid from the stool and made his way to Derek. Derek didn't say a word, simply pushing back out the door. Biting at his lip, too many thoughts buzzing through his brain, Stiles followed.

They didn't speak on the walk and Stiles wasn't sure but he thought that Derek was unhappy, somehow. This worried him for a number of reasons. Derek's expression was unreadable so for him to be unhappy and for Stiles to know he was unhappy…well that was creepy. He didn't want some form of nonverbal communication like Taylor and Brennan had. He didn't. They didn't talk and they didn't know each other that well and he was perfectly fine with that. They got along. They did not make goo goo eyes or have silent conversations. Secondly why should Stiles be worried if he was? He hadn't done anything wrong. But he wasn't worried for himself and that was maybe the worst of all. He didn't want Derek to be upset purely because he didn't want Derek to be upset. That didn't really sit well with Stiles. He was mostly sure that it shouldn't sit well with him anyways. Derek opened the door for him and Stiles passed him cautiously, blowing out a sigh and groaning when he saw his book closed on the floor.
"They lost my damn place!" he complained too loudly, tossing a hand in the air. "They come busting in here and complain all over me and throw my book on the floor when I was having a perfectly okay day reading. Damn it!" He cut off, spinning on one heel as Derek chuckled.
"So you were dragged against your will to the diner by Taylor and Aubrey? By your hair no doubt." Stiles glared at him for a moment before bending for his book and flopping down.
"You heard," he exhaled. "You can't say no to pregnant people okay? They've got hormones and cravings and they cry Derek. They cry." Derek hung his jacket on the banister before joining him and taking the book.
"You finally dropped the Sensei crap," he commented as he opened the book and began flicking through the pages. Stiles was distracted for a moment, watching his long fingers against the pale pages. He frowned when he realized Derek was right. He still hardly ever referred to him by name and it felt like he'd crossed a line. He ducked his head as he blushed.
"Momentarily discontinued. Not dropped," he insisted.
"They're in a coffee shop," Derek murmured, "sound familiar?"
"I was past that," Stiles sighed, "here let me," he reached for the book, their hands tangling together for just a split second. Stiles nearly dropped the book, wholly unprepared for the flash of heat over his skin. He flipped through the pages quickly, eyes moving back and forth too quickly to actually take in any of the words. "Here," he said, finally settling on a random page, "I was here."
"Okay," Derek agreed easily. He took the book back carefully and after another moment began to read. Stiles leaned his elbow on the arm rest and tried to calm himself back down. Nothing was going on. Nothing he stressed. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

But it wasn't nothing. It was so much not nothing that Stiles couldn't sleep that night. He flopped over for maybe the eightieth time before tossing the cover back and getting out of bed. He went down the stairs slowly and examined Derek's sleeping form for a few moments before going to the kitchen for a drink. Derek groaned quietly as he passed and Stiles froze just inside the doorway. Derek rolled over and he sighed to himself before moving again. He'd just set the glass back down inside the sink when Derek spoke. "Laura." The word was quiet, urgent. Stiles frowned. Oh. He'd forgotten about the nightmares. He turned back to Derek, wondering if he'd been having them still. "Laura," Derek repeated, shifting slightly on the futon. That was all it took. Stiles moved forward and climbed carefully into the bed, finding Derek's hand blindly and wrapping his own around it.
"It's okay," he whispered. Derek shifted closer, falling silent. Stiles knew he should wait until Derek seemed calm and then he should go. Still his eyelids were heavy and he just kept promising himself in a minute. One of his last thoughts was that this was sort of nice.

Stiles woke when the bed moved suddenly and he blinked rapidly, half sitting up. He wasn't in bed. He was downstairs. The futon hadn't moved either. Derek had moved.
"Um," Derek let out, looking away. Shit Stiles had fallen asleep on him. Stiles tried to get out of bed too fast, ending up on the floor. He shook himself and stood.
"Sorry?" he tried, wincing.
"Did something…happen?" Derek questioned haltingly, brow furrowed as he stared up at him.
"No," Stiles lied. "I just…uh…" he hadn't come up with a story yet. He moved into the kitchen as a distraction.
"You're lying," Derek called after him before he'd come up with anything. Stiles bit at his lip.
"Am not," he lied again.
"I can hear your heart," Derek told him then. Stiles frowned; trying desperately to remember if that had been mentioned. He was pretty sure it hadn't. "You wanna try the truth?"
"I don't think you want to talk about this," Stiles tried then, rubbing his eyes hard, "you think you want to talk about this but you don't want to talk about this."
"No I just need to know what happened," Derek got off the futon then, following him, "because if you wanted to sleep with me, if your body was urging you to, I need to know." Stiles busied himself filling up the same glass from last night.
"That's not what happened." He frowned to himself as he took a gulp. He hadn't been able to sleep but that wasn't what happened. Was it? "Is that something that happens?" he questioned.
"It can," Derek said, "but what did?"
"You sure you want to talk about this?" Stiles hedged. Derek nodded once before spinning his hand in a continue motion.

Stiles glanced down to the worn tile beneath his toes. "You know you have nightmares right? I mean of course you know you do but basically…I came down for a drink and you were having one and it worked before so I-"
"What do you mean it worked before?" Derek snapped, cutting him off. Shit he was pissed. Verging on Baked Alaska and it had been so long since Stiles had seen the expression he'd nearly forgotten all about it.
"Well the uh-when we-the first time we slept together," Stiles stuttered. "I just kind of…talked to you and managed to calm you down and so I figured if I could help you I would I mean-yeah."
"You thought that was a good idea?" Derek gritted, eyes flaring lighter as he glared at him.
"Yes?" Stiles chickened out and let it turn into a question.
"Damn it," Derek let out. "You've been bonding with me and I didn't even know!"
"Bonding?" Derek just shook his head.
"I don't want to talk about this."
"What? You said you did and you can't just say something like that and then walk away." Derek obviously disagreed because he turned and left the kitchen, shaking his head still.
"Bonding you idiot!" Derek snarled, rounding on him as he tried to follow. "We are mates in case you forgot and there are things that are going to draw us closer together. You comforting me when I'm upset is one of them!" Stiles stumbled backwards, nearly falling.
"But you…comforted me," he added weakly.
"Yes when you were conscious and aware of what was going on I did and only when you needed it."
"I thought you did need it," Stiles protested again.
"I was doing just fine on my own!" Derek yelled.
"Yeah all of your relationships are clearly flourishing," Stiles bit before he could stop it. Derek's glare only intensified and Stiles suddenly felt very much like cowering in the kitchen. His mouth clearly hadn't caught up with his brain because it just kept going. "Have you even had a relationship since Laura?"
"What did you just say?" Derek questioned quietly, the glare wiped off his face. Stiles never wished he could yank words back into his mouth more in his life.
"That's what you say," he murmured, looking down again. "You just keep saying 'Laura' over and over." Derek shifted and the silence was suddenly pressing. "Who was she?" Another long moment of silence passed before Stiles risked a glance up. Derek actually looked wounded. His eyes met Stiles' and his expression closed off.

"Stop talking," he snapped, turning away again.
"We need to talk about this," Stiles argued.
"Stop talking," Derek growled again.
"Derek," Stiles breathed slowly, "who was she?"
"Stiles. Do you ever shut your goddamn mouth?" Derek demanded. Stiles blinked at the back of his head with wide eyes. Derek had never actually used his name before. Never. He was too shocked to respond and Derek walked away, jacket slithering from the banister just before the door slammed. It was a long time before Stiles moved, muscles stiff with inactivity when he finally did. He wasn't sure what to do with himself. He wandered through the house several times, waiting for Derek to return. Not that he had any idea what he would say when Derek did get back. He was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when he remembered that it was Sunday and Derek had class. Probably too much to hope for that the Tai Chi would calm him down. Stiles brought both hands over his eyes before sighing. He'd need to apologize. He knew that. It wasn't like he'd known what bonding was, or that he was doing it. But then the whole Laura thing. He gritted his teeth and tried to remind himself that he had no right to ask. He didn't like that thought at all. For the first time in a while Stiles thought he might be in over his head. He might be in way over his head.

Derek didn't come back that night. He wasn't back when Stiles woke on Monday either. Stiles wandered through the house several times again before taking a stack of books upstairs with a sigh. He didn't know what else to do. Derek had to come back; it was just a matter of when. Stiles didn't want to risk venturing out. The last thing he needed was the entire settlement talking about them fighting now. The thought made him grimace. Derek smiles now. What the fuck was that even supposed to mean to him? Jesus. So they got along. So maybe Derek wasn't so angry all the time. That didn't mean anything. Except the more he tried to tell himself that, the more it felt like a lie. If everyone was talking about it then that probably meant that it was something. Stiles sighed yet again and let his book drop down. He thought that he mostly already knew that. He thought back to Taylor saying he was in a little boat of denial and maybe that wasn't so far off the mark either. It was too late to go back now and suddenly Stiles was sinking backwards into all the memories of the past few weeks. Yeah it had been weird and awkward as hell but then they actually talked and…it worked. It was scary how well it worked. But then they fought again. He pinched the bridge of his nose. And the full moon was happening. Stiles wasn't even sure if it was tonight or tomorrow. He wondered if that was why Derek still hadn't returned. Was he purposely staying away so they didn't sleep together again? Was that why they had fought? Maybe the full moon was kicking everything up a notch for Derek. Stiles wondered if Derek would have told him if it had. He had no idea. Maybe they had just fought because that was what they were always going to do. Maybe they were too different. Maybe the past two weeks had just been…a fluke. Stiles huffed out another agitated breath. All he could do was wait for Derek to come back so he did. He waited and waited. The full moon came and passed. Derek didn't return.

A/N: I know you guys were expecting smut on the full moon. I was too. BUT. Some things just fell into place in the plot.

I also just really didn't want fight and then smut and it doesn't fit what I'm moving into anyways.

Also, you will note that it was very summarized at the end I know. It's going to be okay I promise.

Thank you.