"Hey Mrs. McCall." Stiles nodded his head, letting out a wild grin, and waved with three fingers in a halfway salute. The woman raised an eyebrow and nodded at him.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned him, holding the folders in her hands a little tighter.

"What? Can't I say hi to my second mom?" Stiles joked out, and after her eyebrow raised a little higher, he let out a sigh. "You're eyebrow is going to be at your hairline if you continue doing that. I just, I needed some advice." He admitted, nervously tapping his fingers against his backpack's strap.

"And you couldn't come over when I was home?" Mrs. McCall relaxed her face and motioned for him to follow her.

"Not really," Stiles let out a laugh-like scoff. "Scott has super hearing and I really don't want him listening in to everything I say to everyone else. He already does that at school, even though he won't admit to it." Mrs. McCall sighed and nodded her head, waving her hand for him to follow. Making an immediate left, they made their way through the hospital hall, and ended up in an empty room. As soon as Mrs. McCall close the door behind her, she turned to look at him. Suddenly self-conscious, he looked around the room at all the art hanging on the wall. As patient as ever, Mrs. McCall took her time and waited for him to be alright and in the mood to explain what the sudden visit was about.

" I still love Derek." He blurted out, waving his hands wildly. " And then he was rambling. "I tried to not like him, and it's not that I don't like Malia, because I do, she can be a little crass sometimes, but she's upfront about things, expect that it's-"

"Not the same." Mrs. McCall calmly finished his sentence for him. Numbly, he nodded, letting his hands fall at his side. "Stiles, here. Sit down." Stiles complied and sat on the hospital bed, facing away from the door. "I could've told you that you still liked Derek." She admitted, and put her hand up when he opened his mouth to interrupt. "You don't get over what the two of you had, not that quick, and not that easily. Stiles…" Mrs. McCall trailed off with a mix of frustration and unsureness painted on her face. It looked like she was debating with herself on something, and patiently he waited to see what won out. A few seconds later, and Stiles got his answer.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but…" She trailed off again, but composed herself quickly and continued. "He wouldn't let himself heal after you left. The bones in his hands shattered and he gave the excuse of slamming a hammer on top of it, but he couldn't fool me. Maybe all the other doctors and nurses in this place, but not me. I know what punching a wall, in this case a rock is more likely, looked like and does to a hand." Her eyes darkened slightly and a sickened feeling crossed over Stiles and he realized she was remembering being married to that asshole. "You and me know fully well that he didn't even need to come to the hospital. He could've just let it heal with no medical record of it. But he came in and got a cast, a blue one at that, and then came to every check-up after that. That man love, and still does love, you. So much that he gave up on his supernatural healing over the guilt he felt after losing you." She watched as Stiles let different emotions cross his face at rapid fire.

"I knew a little." He admitted. "Lydia had told me some of it, but I didn't know how bad it was." Stiles glanced up at her in time to see her flinch. "What?" He demanded.

"There's a little more to it than that." She hesitantly said.

"What do you mean?" Swallowing, causing his Adam's apple to bob, he stared up at her.

"When I say he was a mess, I mean, he was a mess." She stressed the word out. "Lydia had taken him into her house to keep an eye on him. It got to the point where Lydia had to practically force-feed him because he was so depressed and refused to eat. He drank from time to time too, and I begged Lydia to take him to the hospital, but, I hate that she can be so convincing at times…" At that, Stiles let out a wry, broken laugh.

"Yeah, she's good at that." He shook his head and stared down at his hands. A quiet sigh happened and suddenly she was bending down in front of him, taking his hands into her own, and giving them a small squeeze to let him know she was there.

"What I'm trying to tell you here is that he wouldn't have done anything of the sort if he didn't care about you."

"I know." Stiles said softly. "What made him snap back?" To that, he received a shrug.

"I'm not sure. One week he looked like death warmed over, and the next he was back to looking like a normal 23-year-old man." She looked deeply into his eyes, and he turned to not see his reflection in then. At this point, he knew his eyes were red and his cheeks blotchy from crying. He never truly realized that at some level, he meant that much to Derek.

"I was bad too." Stiles whispered out, barely making a sound. "The first two weeks I was there, I cried a lot and got insanely drunk a few times. I'm still surprised my dad didn't allow the police there to arrest me. I honestly can't believe that we weren't kicked out. It got to the point that I almost killed myself from jumping into the ocean at dusk, which is how I met Keanu. He had jumped in and pulled me out. Someone, Akela, saw me jump in and there apparently had been a search party out for me among a few people because I wasn't responding to any calls or texts. But after that, I kind of just broke. When I got back to Danny's aunt's house, I was apologizing profusely. I just…" Closing his eyes, he didn't want to see her reaction to what he was saying.

"By the time my dad left, which was two days after the incident, I was getting better. Turns out that Keanu was part of the wolf pack there and they kind of adopted me. They became my pack while I was there. I mean, part of it was because my dad wanted to know I was safe, but they really did help me to get better. And Malia and I started dating practically a week before I came back home. I had my dad send me my old homework for the huge, end of the summer bonfire. Her number fell out of one of my papers and we started talking. Lydia knew about everything that was happening. Scott...I think he just wanted to give me some space so we didn't talk as often."

"You two are the only two people I know of that could go months without talking or seeing each other, and never miss a beat in your friendship when you get back together." Her voice sounded so far away, and yet so close and comforting. Giving out a soft sigh, Stiles turned back and faced her. Almost immediately, she moved to wipe the tears falling down his face. Sniffling, he let out a dry laugh.

"I'm such a girl right now." He joked, and she rolled her eyes at him, before standing up, putting her arms out, and signalling him to hug her. In a heartbeat, he wrapped his arms around her, snuggling into her shoulder. "Thanks, mom."

"You're welcome." Mrs. McCall rubbed circles on his back. "You can always come to me, you know that. Now…" She pulled away. "Go get him, and go be honest with Malia. She deserves to know just as much as you deserve to let the truth out. Okay?"

"Okay." He nodded his head.

"good, now get! I have patients that require my attention." With that, she was pushing him out the door and out of the hospital, shooing him the entire time.

So he lost his nerve the first few times he saw Malia. But it certainly didn't help that Malia was suddenly avoiding him. She would, in the one class he had with her, quickly partner up with another person whenever the project called for it. It caused a couple of confused looks between their classmates, but everyone shrugged it off. Thus when the opportunity came, he took it before he could chicken out at the last second.

In front of him, she was walking with her head focused on the direction in front. When he called out her name, Malia gave him a nervous side eye, before trying to hurry off. Running, leaving Scott behind, he easily caught up to her and grabbed the side of her arm. Yanking her arm gently as to not hurt hurt, it ensured his grip, and Stiles dragged Malia into a neighboring, empty classroom. This had to stop, whatever this was.

"What's going on, Malia? You just stopped talking to me, and don't even try to deny avoiding me at school. You switched seats so you wouldn't have to sit in front of me. Now please just tell me what's wrong." Stiles argued out, rounding on her as soon as he closed the door behind him before collapsing against the wooden door in an overwhelm of emotions.

"Stiles, I'm dating Isaac now." Malia blurted out. "I didn't know how to tell you." Despite the most of the strong feelings he had once thought he had felt for her were gone, his eyes still stung with tears. But he held them back. Personally, Stiles didn't know whether it was out of relief of not having to break the news himself, or if it was because of all the guilt he had felt for not liking her like he knew he should've. "And Stiles, please make-up with Derek."

"What do you mean?" He swallowed.

"The hotel. I could smell it on both of you, and to be honest, I kind of view you as more as a sibling." She admitted.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Stiles dubiously questioned.

"Because, Stiles, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, believe it or not. And I wasn't fully ready to let you go yet. I still felt insanely protective over you. But Derek kissing you made me think really hard about our relationship, and what I want for you and for myself." Malia admitted. "I think I jumped too quickly into this and I know I can be really pushy, so I'm sorry if that's part of the reason you said yes."

"It's not." Stiles interrupted, giving a soft smile at her. "Trust me, it's not why I said yes." Hesitantly, Malia nodded at him.

"Anyways, you need to go get your man, and I need to explore just a little more I think. I need to be able to know my options, and know what's out there." Malia finished strongly, before standing up from her seat beside him. She missed the flinch he gave at her wording but the point she meant to make still made it across. "Can we still be friends? Please?"

"Of course." Stiles reassured her. Satisfied with that, Malia nodded and walked out of the room, and out of the recently strained relationship they had been in. Almost immediately, Stiles could feel the effects. He was free. He didn't need to harbor guilt anymore of liking Derek. He didn't need to beat himself up about it for being more gay than straight. He didn't need to stay up late at night with thoughts about what Malia would say because he already has the answer. The air around him was suddenly filled with oxygen and he could breathe.

Sliding down the wall, he spread out but kept his legs in a pretzel formation, Stiles closed his eyes. He was free, which meant he was available.

Suddenly a sickened feeling hit him, and he forced himself to not double over. What if Derek didn't want him back? What if the kiss was just a ruse to break him and Malia up because he didn't want them to be happy? What if it was all just a game? What if- He forced his mind to stop. Any more and he'd be throwing up from nervousness or he'd induce an anxiety attack that was definitely not needed right now.

Letting a sound fall from his lips, Stiles shoved himself to his feet. Quite obviously now wasn't the time to go talk to Derek, not with his dad monitoring his school attendance no matter how much he swears he isn't. No, but it's a good time to talk to Scott. He winced at the thought, vividly remembering the moment at the motel when Scott yelled at him. So maybe he should wait until after school. Mentally, Stiles knows that Scott will understand, but in the instance that Scott's over-protectiveness kicks in, there's less of a scene made.

Giving out a sigh of relief, Stiles walked out of the room, only to walk smack dab into Lydia. She didn't even look surprised when she looked up at him.

"I take it you told her." It wasn't a question, a statement that left no room for argument was more like it. She gave him a look over, and before he could even confirm what she already knew, Lydia talked again. "Good." Then, turning on her heel (which it appeared to be a platform stiletto day), she walked away, her strawberry blonde curls bouncing with each step she took.

After that, it was just running into Scott that mattered. Astonishingly, this year left them with only lunch together, so if he couldn't find his best friend till then, at least they'll see each other eventually. By the time lunch had come around, he was nervous and had practiced what, and how, he was going to word everything. Quickly (not) moving through the hot lunch line, he hurriedly walked to the table, making his presence known by clearing his throat.

"Stiles! There you are." Scott stopped his peppering of kisses on Kira's cheeks. Stiles wrinkled his nose in mock disgust, because truthfully, it doesn't even bother him anymore with how often he sees them do it.

"Here I am. Listen, we need to talk. Meet up at your house after school?" When Stiles finished, Scott looked at him protectively.

"Does this have anything to do with Malia making out with Isaac? Because trust me, I never want to see that again and I'm happy they got busted."

"Dude, I see you two making out all the time." Stiles motioned to Kira and Scott. Kira looked at him proudly, with no shame at all, whereas Scott had blushed furiously. "And I didn't need the imagery bud o'mine, but kind of, yeah."

"Then of course. Come over for dinner. My mom's going to be home." Scott said in the most serious voice Stiles's thinks he's heard in a long time. Then Scott, being himself, reached out and patted Stiles's hand in a way that if no one knew they were best friends, would assume they were in love with each other. Laughing, Stiles drew his hand away and began eating. Soon after, the discussion dissolved into ranting about teachers and once Lydia joined in, the conversation took a turn towards fashion and which freshman she recently destroyed in a debate.

"Honey, I'm home!" Stiles's voice cracked as he walked into the house.

"I'm not your honey Stiles." Mrs. McCall's chastising voice responded from the kitchen. Grinning he threw his backpack down on the couch and walked in by her.

"Oh my god…" He breathed in the aroma that was wavering in the kitchen. "It smells so good in here ma…" She turned and looked at him, letting a small smile slip across her face and shaking her head in amusement. Stiles, being mindful of her being next to the stove, walked up right behind her and hugged her from the side.

"How was school? Didn't skip did you? I hope you know your dad complains to me all to time whenever you and Scott thinks it's a good idea to leave when you guys feel like it." Though he couldn't see her face, Stiles just knew her left eyebrow was raised in question.

"Me? Skip school?" He mocked hurt before actually answering her question. "It was boring. Not much happened. Although…" Stiles hummed. "This kid, Evan, put a whoopee cushion on Harris's chair. You should've seen his face! It was turning purple from anger or embarrassment. Best part too, is that the entire grade was mass texted a video of it happening."

"How'd you know it was Evan?"

"Idiot left his name on the thing. A year's worth of detention."

"Ouch." Mrs. McCall didn't sound too sympathetic on the manner. "Send me the video though? I'd love to see that man get a prank pulled on him."

"Sure thing, ma!" Stiles whipped out his cell phone.

"Stiles," the sound of Mrs. McCall's voice had him looking up at her.

"Yeah?"

"Are you...okay with calling me mom? I mean, you've been calling me it, but-"

"You're just as much a mother to me as she was. If it's making you uncomfortable, I can sto-"

"No, no!" She protested and her face relaxed into an easygoing smile. "I don't mind at all, and you're a second son to me anyways. Now shoo! Go find Scott. He should be upstairs, maybe in the shower. Hope you're okay with jambalaya for supper." Stiles didn't answer her as he grabbed his backpack off the couch and headed upstairs. He knew she knew he'd be fine with it.