A/N:

Sorry for the slight delay in the update! I've had a bit of a pet disaster, my snake got put down and I've been a bit too sad to do any writing. However, I am back and it's actually helping a lot to distract me, so yay! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one :) Stay Classy, Icepoppy

Stiles looked around the pristine room, letting his large bag fall to the ground. "Are you serious?" He turned to face Natalie Martin, who was just smiling at him encouragingly. In order to pay all of the various bills he was crumbling under, he had made the tough decision to sell the house. Unable to let it go, he had put most of his dad's stuff in storage, selling the rest of the furniture to pay off his debts. Lydia had been sitting beside him when he signed the paper work. The moment he had taken his pen off the paper, he had been distraught. He knew it was his only option, that it was for the best. However it still hurt him that he was being forced to give up the house where he grew up. The place where his mother and father had lived happily, once upon a time. Seeing him so upset, Lydia had excused them from the room, guiding Stiles out into the hall. That was when she suggested he move into the Martin household. Apparently they had a guest bedroom that never got used, and he would be welcome to have it. Although shocked at first, Stiles agreed happily, glad to have somewhere other than Scott's floor to stay.

However, now that he was actually standing in the room, he couldn't believe it. Looking back around the place once more, he added, "Like, seriously serious?" It was beautiful. Twice the size of his room at home, and decorated with a far greater sense of style. The bed was large and covered in pillows, an en suite stood off to the left, there was a writing desk and a massive wardrobe. In the corner there was a large plush sofa, seated comfortably next to a small bookshelf containing some of his belongings. In the centre of the room was his investigation board. Lydia must have been sneaking all this in behind his back, making the room truly feel like it belonged to him. Awestruck, he just stood in the doorway, afraid to dirty the white carpet with his feet.

Coming up behind him, Natalie squeezed his arm reassuringly, "Yes I'm serious Stiles. Lydia redecorated the whole room just for you. Now, you get settled in, and if you need anything, and I mean anything at all, don't be afraid to give me a shout." With that, Lydia's mother gave him one last cheery smile before leaving, closing the door behind her. Once he was alone in the room, Stiles let himself get caught up in the newness of it all. Like an awestruck child, he made his way slowly through the room, inspecting each and every new detail. Smiling, he noticed all the little touches that were so Lydia, like the blue lights around the mirror, or the framed posters of abstract movies that they had watched together. When he saw the bedside table, he couldn't help but let out a little happy laugh. She had perfectly arranged a variety of Star Wars memorabilia, as well as a small blue model Jeep in the middle of it all. Kneeling down to get a better look, he geeked out over all the little details. She had gotten everything just right.

Smile growing larger by the second, he moved to the other side of the bed. On this table, sat a few framed pictures. The first, was the drawing of the tree that she had let him keep. Beside that was a photo of the two of them on their first official date; he had driven her all the way out to a beautiful beach, and had a whole picnic set up for them to share. The photo was a selfie she had taken when he was giving her a piggy back out in the water. They were both laughing, beaming at the camera as they got sprayed by the salty water. Chuckling at the memory, he turned his gaze to the last picture. His heart froze. It was the image from his father's office, of the family picnic years before everything had gone wrong. His mother, his father, and a small, innocent, happy Stiles that hadn't been through everything that haunted him these days. The sight of it brought tears to his eyes, and he sniffed loudly, wiping his cheek on the cuff of his hoodie. Turning around he spotted Lydia in the doorway.

When she saw his red face and streaming eyes, she rushed over to him. "Oh no, Stiles I'm sorry. It's not right is it? Oh were the photo's to much? I shouldn't have just assumed-"

"It's perfect." His voice cracked slightly when he cut her off, but his smile was genuine.

"Really?" She looked up at him with her bright green hopeful eyes.

Smiling, he pulled her into a tight hug, "Of course it is. You did it after all. I can't imagine anything better."

Laughing with relief, Lydia hugged him back. The pair stood for quite some time, hugging, rocking back and forth slightly in the middle of the room. Eventually Lydia pulled away, looking up at her precious friend. Eyes flicking back and forth between his own, she studied him for a while, taking in his appearance. The eyes that she loved so much were as strange as ever, a warm caramel brown with a slightly darker outer ring. Long curly eyelashes fanned out above them, twitching every time he blinked. She took in his scattering of moles, and the odd shape of his lips. When she looked to his eyebrows, she found them raised in confusion. "Hey, uh... Lydia? Whatcha doin?"

Pressing her lips together in embarrassment, she looked down. After letting the silence surround them for a moment, she finally spoke up. "Making sure I remember everything. Every detail of this moment. Because it's one of my favourites so far, and I don't want to forget it." Sparing a glance up at him, she was shocked to find him forcing down a set of the giggles. Insulted, she spoke up indignantly, "What's so funny?"

Letting out a calming breath, he smiled cheekily at her. "I was just thinking about what Sophmore Stiles would have done if you'd said that to him."

The image that sprung to mind –one of Stiles jumping and flailing in jubilation- spurred a burst of laughter from her too. "Oh my god I think you would've fainted!"

Taking a step back he stood tall, trying his best to look indignant, "Stiles Stilinski does a lot of things, but he does not faint!"

Snorting with laughter, Lydia began to make a list on her fingers, "How about the time when Scott got his tattoo, or maybe when the Nogitsune died, or how about that time you saw me naked?"

Rushing forwards he grabbed her hands, trying to halt the rapidly increasing count. "Okay okay you can stop there!" She wriggled her hands underneath his grip for a moment before giving up with a little puff. Now that they were closer, he rested his forehead on hers. Closing his eyes, he sighed. Suddenly, the mood in the room darkened significantly, and Lydia stepped back, looking at him with concern.

"Stiles? What's the matter?"

Finding it too difficult to look at her, he chose instead to move to the window, staring out at the scenery. Sighing, he spoke up, "Lydia, how can you stand to love me?"

"What?"

"I'm a monster Lydia. I've done so many terrible things. I've hurt so many innocent people. How could you possibly love a monster like me?" He turned to her, pained expression distorting his usually cheery face.

Taken aback, she thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. Slowly, she walked towards him until they were eye to eye in front of the window. "Stiles, do you want to know what I see when I look at you?" He mouthed silently before falling still, giving her a quick nod. "I see Stiles Stilinski. The only boy who ever actually loved me. I see the boy who saw straight through me, and knew instantly who I really was. I see the boy who looked after me, and comforted me, who told me I look beautiful when I cry. I see the boy who helped Scott when he got bitten, I see the boy who won the Lacrosse game. The boy who saved Derek, and Cora, and Scott, Melissa, Chris, Alison, Isaac, Liam, Malia, Kira and me. Many times. The guy who was willing to get shot in the head rather than give up his friends to an assassin. The one who works tirelessly to figure things out, so that we can save people. The guy who checked himself into a mental asylum because he was afraid of hurting his friends. Stiles, who went through the werewolf transformation, and let some crazy scientists perform cruel experiments on him just to be sure that the pack was safe. A man so ridden with guilt over all the things he was forced to do, that he can't see the hero that he actually is. I see Stiles Stilinski, with all his demons and scars, and I love him so much it actually scares me just a little bit. I see a hero."

Blinking, he stared at her, shock plastered on his face. Watching him, she saw the cogs turning in his head, trying to process everything she had said. She wished so badly that he would realise what a hero he was, that he would accept that, and forgive himself for the things that were beyond his control. Looking at him, she knew he would never fully forgive himself, but she hoped that perhaps this would be a start. She smiled at him encouragingly, and he wriggled his nose, clearing his throat before mumbling, "I'm not a hero."

Grabbing his hand, she swung it about lazily, mimicking his actions from back in the ambulance, "Your my hero." She made sure to say it exactly the way he had, leaning forwards as she teased him.

This gained a laugh from Stiles, and she threw her arms up in the air, doing a little dance, "Victory!"

Staring incredulously at his girlfriend, Stiles laughed, "Alright okay, you win. What exactly have you won?"

"I got you to smile, so I win." She poked him in the side, and he jumped, laughing as he pushed her hands away.

"Alright! Ah stop, okay I'm laughing! Ahah Lydia come on I said you win!" He tried to wriggle out of her reach but she hugged him round his middle, tickling him relentlessly.

"So what's my prize?"

Squirming desperately, he managed to speak between his fits of giggles, "Let me go and I'll tell you!"

She paused in her attack momentarily, eyeing him suspiciously, "I... didn't actually expect a prize. You have my attention."

Shuffling around to face her whilst still in her bear grip, her grinned at her. "Well you'll only find out if you let me go." Squinting at him, she pursed her lips, trying to come to a decision. Stay like this and tickle Stiles more, or find out what sort of prize he was planning on giving her. When she didn't respond, he quirked his head to the side, mischievous grin on his face. "Well?"

Speaking slowly, Lydia replied, "I think... that... I'm... gonna let you go." She released him and he jumped away from her, eyeing her suspiciously, wary of surprise attacks. "Now," she beckoned with her hand, "Pay up. What's my prize?"

Stepping back hastily he reasoned with her, "Now to be honest, I don't actually have a prize-" she lunged forwards, ready to tickle him again. Quickly, he jumped out of the way, putting the investigation board between them. "-But! Maybe, we can, come to, some, sort of, agreement?" His words were separated by his movements left and right as Lydia tried to decide which way to chase him around the board. Eventually she chose left and he darted right, hurrying towards the edge of the bed. As she advanced towards him he clambered backwards, climbing over the bed in his attempt to escape. "I can think of something! It'll be great, I swear." His foot got snagged in the sheets and he got stuck halfway over the bed. Tugging away at it he tried his best to untangle himself. However, before he knew it Lydia had jumped on top of him, poking and tickling and offering no sign of easing up any time soon.

Laughing desperately he tried to get her off. Squirming this way and that, he eventually managed to throw her balance. Seizing the opportunity, he rolled over so that he was above her, pinning her hands down so that she couldn't tickle him anymore. They were both out of breath and panting from the play fighting. It was at this moment that Natalie decided to walk through the door. Entering the room and seeing Stiles on top of her daughter on the bed, she gave a high pitched, "Oh!" of shock before excusing herself and closing the door quickly. Horrified at what she must be thinking, Stiles jumped up running towards the door. Grabbing the handle he swung it open, calling out to Lydia's mom:

"Ms Martin! It's not what you think. We were just- it's not- aand you're gone." Sagging with a mixture of embarrassment and relief at not having to explain himself just yet, he turned to look at Lydia. She smiled and he ran his hand through his hair. "Why is it that adults always walk in when I'm doing something perfectly innocent that looks really dodgy?"

She laughed and leaned against the door frame, raising her eyebrow at him, "Oh, so this happens often does it?"

"Well, not often. But it happened when I was dating Malia. Before she got proper control over the change and we still had to chain her up at the full moon? Yeah I was making sure the cuffs fit while we were in my room. Dad walked in, saw us, looked concerned and then decided to not ask any questions." He laughed at the memory, and Lydia joined in.

Smiling at him, she said, "Well, it's six o'clock, which means time for family dinner. Ready to go have a nice chat with Mommy Martin?" His face paled at the thought, causing Lydia to laugh. Grabbing him by the hand, she pulled, leading him down stairs towards the dining room.