Stiles had been in the airport for five hours.

Nothing but explanations and updates and conversations he was fazing out because truthfully, he was numb. He was numb to sitting in a plain room with a detective and an officer explaining to Stiles what exactly happened to Lydia. He didn't want to know.

He didn't want to be told how Lydia died. That's the last thing he wanted. He didn't want the images of her drowning in his mind. The thought of her crying, terrified, panicking, afraid, on her own. God, it made him feel sick.

He was finally let go, being told that his father was waiting outside for him. That was all Stiles wanted right now. His father. But half of him didn't want to make eye contact with the sheriff, because Stiles knew that he'll start crying and crying made it final and real. He didn't want it to be real.

He didn't even remember walking through the airport and to the exit. He was barely aware of the families, parents, daughters, sons, partners around him that were crying for their losses. Stiles couldn't reciprocate, he was too stunned and exhausted. It was a similar feeling to when he was recovering from the nogitsune, just ten times worse.

The automatic doors in front of Stiles opened, immediately revealing his father. His heart plummeted and he could feel his bottom lip wobble. His father had been crying, visibly and he locked eyes with Stiles before leaving his car and rushing towards his son.

Stiles shook his head, the tears stinging the back of his eyes. A lump formed in his throat and he couldn't help it. He had to cry. Lydia was dead.

"Stiles." The sheriff choked out before pulling Stiles into the tightest hug he could give his son. Stiles reacted straight away, throwing his arms around his father before breaking out into sobs.

Mr Stilinski began crying as he grabbed the back of Stiles neck to bring him closer, if that was possible. He wanted to fix his son's broken heart, he wanted to bring poor Lydia back. She didn't deserve the cruel end to her life.

"Dad..." Stiles cried, closing his eyes tightly as he buried his face into his father's shoulder. "I hurt. So much."

The Sheriff pulled his eyebrows together in pain and guilt towards his son. Stiles didn't deserve this, either. "I know, son. I know."

"I-I-I can't beli-ieve it. She's gone." Stiles' sobs were getting louder as the reality repeatedly punched him in the chest. "She's not coming back."

"I'm so sorry." The Sheriff almost gasped as the situation became more real to him, too. The emotion in his son's voice was too painful to listen to. He pulled away from the hug and held onto Stiles' shoulders. "You shouldn't be here any longer. Let's get you home."

Stiles nodded through tears, looking around at the gloomy airport before his father lead him to the passenger side of his police car. The door opened and then he was inside, his actions now a blur. Nothing was real any more. Nothing felt clear, as if his life was now all a dream. He leaned against the window and looked out at the sky, watching a plane take off into the clouds above. Reality kicked him in the gut again. He began to shake, closing his eyes. He thought back to Lydia's leaving party, their conversation by the pool. It brought goosebumps to his arms.

"You're not planning on drowning me, are you, Stiles?" Lydia smirked as they sat down next to the blue water.

Stiles chuckled and rolled his eyes. "No...I just, wanted to tell you something."

Lydia cocked her head. "What is it?"

"This...us, Lydia." Stiles swallowed. "What happened at prom. I just want to make sure it wasn't a one time thing-"

Lydia shook her head quickly. "It wasn't."

Stiles felt his shoulders relax as he looked at the strawberry-blonde beauty. "It wasn't?"

"No, Stiles. I wouldn't have done it if it was just a thing. I'd never do that to you." Lydia was honest, placing a hand over Stiles'.

"O-okay." Stiles nodded, looking at the reflection of the moon bouncing off of the water. "So...what now?"

Lydia nodded understandingly. She'd been thinking the same thing and she'd thought ahead of what to say to Stiles. "I can't expect you to wait for me."

Stiles chuckled before entwining his fingers with the hand that was rested upon his. "Lydia, I've done my fair share of waiting. I can most definitely wait another eight months."

Lydia looked up at him with glassy eyes. "But, why? All that time wasted on me-"

"Lyds, you're totally and completely worth it."

Lydia blinked, resisting the urge to cry. She had done that more than she'd hoped tonight.

"It's you, Lydia." Stiles smiled, bringing her hand to his lips before planting a sweet, innocent kiss onto her skin. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched the honesty in Stiles' actions blossom from him.

"You're unbelievable." She whispered. "We'll make it work, I promise-"

"I know we will. I have faith in us, Lydia. I've had faith since the third grade." Stiles' winked, watching a warm smile spread across her features. "I don't think you realise how long I've wanted this to happen. And now it has...y-you've made me the most happiest I've ever been."

Lydia felt a tear roll down her face as she repeated Stiles' words in her mind. She imagined him and Malia a few months back before they broke it off. He seemed so happy, and the fact that she had made that happiness even deeper, it was the nicest feeling in the world.

"Stiles, I was so stupid. So, so stupid." Lydia shook her head before wiping away the tear with her free hand. "All this time, you were there. The same Stiles that's in front of me right now. And I just couldn't see it. I wasted so much time and for that I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Lydia." Stiles shook his head with a frown. "It sounds corny and if we weren't having such a deep conversation right now you would be laughing at me after saying it, but I believe in fate. And timing."

Lydia smirked before letting him continue.

"There's a time and a place for everything. Maybe our time and place wasn't when I had that creepy crush on you. Maybe our time and place is now. And I think it couldn't have been more perfect, even if you are going away for eight months. It's beautiful, because this last year has been made for us to grow closer, learn more about each other and now look. We're best friends."

Lydia grinned at the brown-eyed boy. "That's a very good theory. I like that theory."

Stiles smiled. "Me too."

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you for such a long period of time." Lydia shook her head, peering in Stiles' brown orbs. "I mean, who's going to eat all of my cereal and make holes in all my sweaters?"

Stiles smirked before tapping Lydia's nose. He got to his feet and pulled Lydia up with him. He looked down at her with amazement before lightly running his fingers through her hair. "The wait will be worth it."

Lydia smiled as Stiles placed a kiss on her forehead. She leaned into his chest and closed her eyes.

"And it's not as if I don't replace the cereal after eating it."

"Stiles, you end up eating the whole box straight after replacing it."

"Stiles?"

His eyes drifted open to the sound of his father's voice travelling into his ears. He sat up and looked out of the window, seeing his house in front of them. He was oblivious to begin with, his flash back still fresh in his mind. Then he remembered the worst and everything came crashing down inside of him. He closed his eyes in pain.

"Why didn't I tell her..."

"Son?" The sheriff leaned through the door of the driver's seat, waiting for Stiles to repeat himself.

"Dad, why am I such an idiot?" Stiles opened his eyes with a fresh batch of tears falling down his face. "Why didn't I tell her?"

"Stiles, hey. Look at me." The sheriff frowned. "Tell her what?"

"I should of told her that I was in love with her." Stiles shook his head, anger quickly filling him like thick lava. "She died not knowing that I loved her."

The sheriff swallowed. "Stiles, don't do this now-"

"She was the love of my life and she had no idea." Stiles shook, the panic rising in him as he desperately begged for her to come back. "Oh, god. Dad, I can't do this."

The sheriff quickly closed his door and rushed around to Stiles' side, opening the door as his son cried into his hands, shaking his head frantically.

"I can't live my life without her."