We didn't wake until later that morning. It was Saturday – Ella's day to take the morning shift of Life with a Baby. I sat up slowly, attempting to not wake the stone sculpture beside me. A hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me back into bed as I attempted to sneak out. "Don't go anywhere" he repeated the words I'd told him only a few hours ago. His eyes were still closed as the words were spoken.
"I was just heading for the shower" I defended myself.
"Don't. Go. Anywhere" he said slower. His eyes opened. "I have to take a shower, it's getting late" I whined.
"OK" he answered. I hurried to the shower and turn the tap on. The hot water felt good in the cold morning air. "What are you doing?" I laughed after slightly jumping at the arms that wrapped themselves around me.
"Well, it's getting late.. I'm taking a shower" he smiled. "You don't mind do you?" he asked indifferently.
"Not at all" I answered as I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck. His lips caught mine and I felt him growing against me. Everything from that point is still a little foggy to me.
"My car keys" Derek pulled back from the window. "They're in my jacket. Downstairs" he said.
"We can probably sneak you out, she's probably in the kitchen" I assured.
Derek was just about to grab his jacket when Ella approached us, "Don't you want breakfast, wolfy?"
Derek looked at me for help, but I shrugged hoping to turn invisible. "Yes, I would like some breakfast" Derek answered with sudden confidence.
"Great, we're having pancakes" Stiles popped out of the kitchen holding baby Charlie. Derek went from his previous confident state to a bright shade of embarrassment red.
"Stiles" he greeted taking a step into the kitchen.
"Hey, sourwolf, not too sour anymore huh?" I could hear Stiles whisper to Derek when I went to get extra plates. I heard a thud followed by Stiles' reaction. "Holy God, Derek" he said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"So we should probably talk" I said looking at Ella.
"Hey, what's to talk about?" she shrugged as she tried to repress a giggle.
"It's perfectly clear that you two are currently riding the hobby horse, and we're cool with it – but hey, better safe than sexy" Stiles playfully warned.
"What? Hobby horse? What the fuck kid?" I was surprised by Derek's reaction. "Who says stuff like that?" he asked rhetorically.
"Dude, your new gf made us watch that movie all the time. It's like the Bible for us, don't be dissing the lingo brother" Stiles answered in a manner of religious conviction. Derek glared at him in confusion.
"Don't tell me you haven't watched the Breakfast Club?" Stiles blurted. "Evy, this isn't acceptable, woman. You shouldn't be anywhere near this guy, he's no good" Stiles said.
"Stiles. Shut up" I said though the kid had a defendable point.
"What was that about?" Derek asked after the kids left the kitchen. "What's the Breakfast Club?" he asked.
"You're lucky you're pretty" I informed rolling my eyes.
"I'll stop by later?" Derek asked as he opened the front door.
"Yeah" I said looking over my shoulder to check if the coast was clear. I pulled his face close to mine and trapped his lips.
"Ella, could I have a word" I called to the living room.
"What's up?" she asked.
"Just because Derek spent the night here doesn't mean that the rules change" I informed confidently.
"What rules, Evy?" Ella laughed.
"No boys sleeping in your room" I said strictly. "You're seventeen" I answered her 'that's-so-unfair' look. "Besides, this is not some casual thing OK?" I defended myself.
"Oh? Didn't we just recently meet Derek?" she snapped back though her look was playful.
"That's different, we're.. it's not.. I can't.." how was I going to explain why I needed Derek in my life.
"No! Don't tell me! You haven't? Are you? Are you mates?" her eyes widened. " I mean I knew there was something, but this?" she stared in disbelief.
"We're not.. No, not yet" I said with my eyes glued at the floor.
"So you're going to be Mrs. Sourwolf?" Stiles asked from the hallway. "I couldn't help but overhear you" he smiled.
"Stiles. No. Nothing. Stop talking" I said dressing my smile in a strict warning look.
My phone buzzed. "Slap Stiles for me please. Thanks Evy. - Derek" I read as I heard Derek's car pull out.
"So where's the wedding bite?" Stiles asked playfully.
"I told you. We are not mated yet. And by the way, I never forced you to watch anything with me" I answered.
"Don't pull that shit on me, Derek is gone now. You made us watch it all the time when we were kids. And don't tell me that you're not the slightest disappointed that Derek had no idea the brat-pack existed" he continued.
"I don't watch it that much anymore. Some of us have grown up" I retorted. I could hear Ella laugh at my reply, but it was too early in the morning to start a Evy VS. Stella battle.
"So any progress on the Stiles situation?" I asked not so subtly after Stiles left. Ella seemed happier now than she did earlier.
"I don't know really.. He told me not to go out with any of the guys from school the other day. He said they weren't good enough for me" she smiled. "But I still don't think he gets it. I don't know. I've waited for that boy since I was 12. I don't know how much longer I can wait before losing my sanity" she sighed.
"I'm sure he'll come around. It takes time, I mean, he's not the brightest bulb.." I trailed off.
"Speaking of waiting.. How long before you seal the deal with loverwolf?" she asked. I frowned.
"No one is sealing anything yet. You have to remember that even if there's a supernatural force pulling me towards Derek, I was born human. I don't know. None of this is how I imagined it. Even if there's a future for me and Derek it'll never be what it's supposed to be" I looked down at the ground, disappointed of how shallow I could be, even when it came to fate.
"Evy, you can still have what you've always wanted. Besides you have Charlie – he's practically your son already" Ella comforted as she put her hand over my shoulder. For the first time in my life I felt ashamed of myself for wanting what I've always dreamt of.
"I know, and I love him like I would if he were mine" I felt even more ashamed for trying to defend myself, but Ella seemed to understand. After all, she knew me better than anyone.
"Evy, we both know that your soul purpose in life is being a mother. Maybe you could still have that. Maybe despite what we might think, Derek also wants what you want. And if not, it's not the end of the world. You don't have to end up with Derek. Don't give up your dream, sis" she said as she wiped away the tear running down my cheek.
"Urgh. Look at me. One night and I think we're paired for life" I said laughing at how ridiculous I sounded worrying about stuff that seemed years away. My heart nearly stopped as I heard an engine die. Was that Derek? Shit. Could he hear me? I ran to the mirror to check if my make-up was smeared.
"Hey Derek" I heard Ella greet as she called for me. "I'm going over to the Stilinsky's for a while. The sheriff is cooking and I need to be on stand-by if he burns anything" I heard her laugh as she left the house.
"Evy?" Derek called. I straightened myself out and went to greet him.
"Hey there sourwolf" I teased. I stopped a few feet away from him, not quite ready to play happy-go-lucky yet.
"Don't tell me Stiles has rubbed off on you" he laughed slightly annoyed at how easily I'd adapted to his nickname. "Hey, are you OK?" he looked slightly worried. I felt bad of how the worry in his eyes pleased me a little. I nodded as if nothing was on my mind. "Your heart is beating like crazy" he called my bluff. I didn't know how long I'd be able to hold it together.
"Derek, we need to talk" I said trying not to sound too sad. He followed me to the couch and picked up Charlie. It was going to be so hard trying to resist his charm, even harder when he was holding a huge part of my life in his hands.
"I know this mate-thing is a natural part of life for you. I mean you grew up knowing about all this and expecting it" I said not looking him in the eyes. "But it's different for me. I've seen many people close to me promise that they were meant to last forever, and then one day just leave. And I know that this probably sounds ridiculous, but I don't want to risk that. I can't just act like this supernatural part of it is supposed to convince me. This was not how it was supposed to happen" I started to defend myself. "Life was supposed to be more. You know, rings, and white dresses and…" I sounded so stupid. I must have said something too wrong, 'cause he once again gave me his puppy look.
"And..?" he asked. I started fidgeting with my nails. "And what, Evelyn?" he asked softly.
"And just more" I couldn't keep my tears prisoners anymore as I looked down at the baby. I knew Derek understood me as he too looked down at the baby.
"You want the whole family package.. Grandkids and stuff" he sounded a bit more aware of my previous statements. At this point I couldn't even keep my eyes open. I silently hoped that I could just rewind this entire evening, and start over without this sudden opinionated state of mind.
We sat in the couch for what seemed forever. And after those 2 minutes passed Derek placed a hand on my own. "I know you think I been ready for this my whole life. But I haven't. I didn't expect any of this. I didn't expect you. If you want to wait. We can wait. We can do it the real way. The dating and all" he smiled. "As for the rest… What makes you think my desires are any different than yours?" he asked softly. The next few hours flew by. My heart hadn't stopped racing, I wasn't sure whether that was because it hadn't recovered from the fear of Derek not wanting me anymore, or because he just told me that no matter what, he wanted me for life.
"I'll put Charlie to sleep" I said as I realized how the time had flown by. I needed an excuse to not be in the same room as him – the victory dance was really not something I wanted to break out publicly the second night of our relationship.
"So, we're together? Like going steady?" Derek asked seeming genuinely curious.
I laughed as I kissed him softly. "No one says 'going steady' anymore, Derek" I repeated what Ella had commented a few days earlier when I was trying to place her relationship to Stiles.
"Oh, I'm sure you still do" Derek replied as he playfully nibbled on my neck.
"Evyyyyyy!" I heard Ella call as the door shut behind her. "Evy! EVY!" she continued.
"Relax, Ella, I just got her to fall asleep" I heard Derek whisper as I slowly recovered from my nap.
"What's up, Ella? All good?" I asked groggily as I sat up straight.
"You know that situation we were talking about earlier. It's fixed. No more waiting" she beamed.
"That's great, honey. Congrats…" I said before really interpreting what she said. "Wait, what do you mean fixed? Which of the different waiting processes are fixed?" I raised an eyebrow, though internally I was praying with all my might that she meant the innocent waiting.
"Chillax, sis. We're not you and Derek now" she giggled. "Nothing is established. But there definitely was something" she smiled as she turned towards the stairs.
"Hey, Evy?" she asked.
"Yeah, things are established" I smiled answering her unspoken question.