Scott is trying to cope with the love-affair between Stiles and Derek. His mom isn't making it easy for him. melissa proves to be a a good helper and she obviously has a soft spot for Derek. Love and Strawberries.

Sorry about the delay. Christmas and New years and inventory and volunteer-work took a toll on me. I'm back to writing, but there could be a few weeks before I'm totally back on track. There is an end to this, but it's not around the corner. To my followers: Hang in there. More drama ahead. More smut, more fluff, more females taking charge.

The cockiness Stiles expressed after he heard the story they cooked together about what happened on Sunday, was slightly annoying. Scott tried to remind him that it wasn't the exact truth, but Stiles was obviously not interested in the truth anymore.

"This is the official facts about what went down, right?" Stiles cocked his head and stared at his friend. "This is what everybody believes to be the truth. They think I'm a hero. That I saved Allison by myself."

Stiles looked pale and fragile against the while linens on the hospital bed, but a mischievous grin on his face disturbed the image somewhat. "Thank you, Scott. For making me a hero." A sigh escaped before he continued. "I felt like a fool, though. I thought I messed it all up. I couldn't remember much."

When a tear suddenly ran down his friend's cheek, Scott got surprised. "What? Are you crying? Why?" He scooted the chair a little closer to the bed and grabbed Stiles' hand. Stiles sniffled a little. "I couldn't remember if anyone survived. I was sure I was dying too." His voice was trembling. "I thought... I worried that I'd made everything worse and that I got you killed."

Scott tried to sooth his friend. "You shouldn't have been there, but I'm glad you came." He stroke the back of Stiles' hand. "And you know, me and Allison are back together. You are partially responsible for that too." He could feel that he was blushing. "We worried about you and had to comfort each other." He cocked his brow. "You know what I mean?"

-o-o-o-o-o-

Stiles knew exactly what he meant. His werewolf friend and his mate were back together, and had sealed the relationship with fornication. He was happy for them. Thinking about Derek, he wished that Scott could be equally happy that he'd found someone too; that he had a boyfriend – a lover – for the first time in his life.

"Um, Scott? I'm sorry I didn't tell you about... you know, Derek." He looked down a little ashamed. "I should have trusted you. I should have..." Scott's facial expression made him stop. His friend looked pained, but then his features softened. "I understand why you didn't. It was surprising and disturbing, and I still don't know what to think."

Scott got up from the chair and started pacing. "You put yourself in harms way because of him. I can't help but blame him for your injuries." He stopped in front of the window and stared out. "He's an Alpha. He's unpredictable. I'm worried that he's just using you."

Stiles sighed heavily and whimpered a little when he felt the pain in his chest from the inhale. "He's not. He.., I love him." He waited for Scott to protest and possibly freak out a little, but his friend just kept staring into the darkness outside. "Yeah, you kind of told me already but, Stiles. He was, is, your first, you're just confused. I think you're just confused."

With a huff Scott turned to him again. "You can do better. Derek is, is damaged. I worry that you'll only get hurt." Even after sleeping for so long, Stiles felt tired. He didn't want to argue with his best friend, but he had to say something. "I don't know anything about the future. I don't know if this is it. I just know that I'm in love now and I'm happy."

He leaned back and closed his eyes. "We are happy. I just wish we didn't have to be so secretive about it. It's annoying." He didn't notice that the door had opened, and startled when he heard a small cough. Both him and Scott flipped their heads around and stared at Mrs McCall. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you, but we have to leave." She was not in her nurse's uniform, so Stiles knew she was not working. "I've run my errands and if you don't want to walk home, you have to come now." She looked at Scott and following her line of view, Stiles had to laugh from the expression on his friend's face.

It took a few seconds before he understood why Scott looked so horrified. "MOM! It was a private conversation. You can't just... What you heard, it wasn't..." Scott peeked at Stiles and rolled his eyes. He mouthed a 'I'm sorry' before he again turned to his mom. Melissa just shrugged. With a soft smile, she changed her gaze from her son and looked at Stiles. "It's okay, I know. They are together I guess, and I won't tell anyone."

She opened the door wider and stepped aside. "Visiting hours are really over, and you are in the clear, so having guests now is really not allowed, but I..." Derek came up behind her and peeked over her shoulder. "He asked nicely and I managed to bend the rules." She practically pushed Derek through the door as she gestured for Scott to come.

Her son's wide eyes and flabbergasted look made Stiles chuckle a little. Then he turned to Mrs McCall. "Thank you Mom... I mean Ma'am." She shook her head. "Ma'am? That makes me feel old, you know you don't have to pretend to be so polite with me, I know you too well, but you're welcome." She gave him a soft smile before they both turned to the two wolves.

There seemed to be a staring contest between Scott and Derek before the Alpha stepped forward. "Scott, I promise, I will never hurt him. He can make his own choices." Stiles felt slightly annoyed. He felt completely overlooked and figured he had to remind them who was supposed to be the center of attention. "Hey! I'm here and I don't want this silly little combat. I want you two to get along."

Scott averted his gaze from Derek and shook his head a little. "Sorry Stiles. I'll try. Derek I, I know you, I think, or I thought I knew you. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you've changed." He walked over to the bed and gave Stiles a hug. "I'll try." He repeated as he joined his mom by the door. Melissa waved before she practically dragged her son out of the room.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"You're awake. That's nice." Derek sat down on the chair next to the bed. Stiles didn't say anything at first. He just smiled widely, and there seemed to be a sparkle in his eyes. Derek suspected that it was just excess water that created this effect, and wondered if Stiles was about to cry.

Eventually, the guy cleared his throat and reached his hand out to Derek. "I'm a little exhausted, but yeah, awake." Derek grabbed the hand and lifted it to his lips. "It's okay, right? That I came now. I mean... I can just watch you sleep." He kissed the fingertips. "Did that more or less the whole day today."

Stiles eyes widened a little. "You were here? Oh, yeah, you were here. I remember now. Vaguely." He gazed out into the air. "I'm sorry. I was so doped up earlier, but I know. I remember." He moved his hand in Derek's grip and clenched his finger around the Alpha's. This time he managed to do it. It wasn't like earlier, when he had no strength. "I'm gonna try to stay awake for you this time."

Derek leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Don't worry about it. You need the sleep. This time I brought reading material." He let go of Stiles' hand and reached for his bag. "Can you eat?" Looking at Stiles, he felt instantly embarrassed. What he was about to pull out of the bag was making him very self-conscious. The little basket of strawberries felt heavy in his hand. There was an odd intimacy in bringing strawberries, and Derek wondered what Stiles would think about it. He didn't want to be perceived as a softie, but they had looked so delicious at the store and he couldn't resist.

"Strawberries? I love strawberries." Stiles grabbed Derek's hand holding the basket and pulled it closer to himself. "I love you so much and I think... maybe you love me too? I dreamed that you told me... did you?"

Derek turned his head down for a split second. He understood that Stiles hadn't been alert enough this morning. He wondered if he should repeat himself or just hope that Stiles would just instantly fall asleep again.

Watching as Stiles popped a berry into his mouth, Derek lifted his hand and stroke Stiles cheek. "I might have. Possibly." He closed his eyes and sighed as he felt Stiles' hand cover his own. "Derek, don't be silly." He struggled a little because he was still chewing strawberries. "Honesty is a virtue. Can you please... I know what you said. I just want you to admit it." He swallowed and gave Derek a mischievous grin. "You thought I was sleeping, it doesn't count."

Stiles grabbed another strawberry, and took a bite from it before he reached his hand out and nudged the other half against Derek's lip. He opened his mouth and let Stiles feed him the piece letting his tongue brush the fingertips holding it. A soft moan escaped Stiles, and Derek couldn't help smiling a little as he concentrated his gaze on his own knee. "I do, I love you. Satisfied? Will you stop nagging me about it now?"

Was that a whimper? Derek lifted his head in surprise. Stiles seemed to be fighting not to cry, his eyes clenched shut. "Are you okay?" Derek grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. Stiles nodded. "I'm fine," he hitched out, "better than fine." With a sigh, he lifted his hand to his eyes and wiped them. "Sorry, I'm just... I'm happy and I'm tired and...strawberries, and I'm in pain, and you love me."

-o-o-o-o-

"Mom! Mom? I... What?" Scott did his best to contain himself until they came outside, but then, he almost exploded. "You can't be serious? Derek... and Stiles. You can't possibly support that?" He walked backwards towards his mom's car staring intently into her eyes. When he stumbled on the curb, he had to grab on to her sleeve to keep himself upright.

His mom stood firm as he collected himself. Then, she smiled at him and shook her head. "I don't understand all this werewolf stuff. I try, I really try. I try to treat you as normal human beings even though..." She walked around to the other side of the car, and gestured for Scott to get in on the passenger side. "If you have human emotions I have to assume that Derek has them too. Derek cares for Stiles. Really."

Scott got into the car, and waited as his mom started it before he turned to her. "You don't know him. He's damaged goods. He wouldn't know love if it hit him in the face. I'm trying to believe but... how can you be so casual about this?"

It took a while before his mom replied. She was busy maneuvering the car out of the parking-lot. "Stiles is young, you all are. If he thinks he's in love... well, if." She paused for a second. "People can fall in love several times, I was young once. You think it's forever, but things change. This is now and we shouldn't question it."

Scott looked down on his lap and took a deep breath. "Not for us, not wolves. If Derek takes Stiles as his, his mate..." He had to turn away when he felt a blush coming on. "It's different for us."

Melissa huffed and rolled her eyes. "Different? Yeah, but Stiles is not a wolf. He's just a normal boy. He could just be going trough a phase. Derek is handsome and that body..." She shrugged, as Scott flipped his head around and stared at her. "MOM! Don't even... How can you? It's embarrassing."

A little chuckle came out before his mom gave him a lopsided smile. "Relax. I'm old enough to be his mother, but I have eyes and I am a woman." She patted her sons arm. "Bottom line is, I can understand if Stiles fell for him." Pulling into their driveway, she looked at Scott again. "I thought he was straight though, I thought they both were, but it's, it's, I don't know... If they like each other... If they are in love... well, deal with it."

Scott jumped out of the car and as he stomped towards the door he threw his hands out. "It's like I don't know you. This you are okay with, but me and Allison... you frown upon." He dug into his pocked for the key. "What's up with that?"

His mom had caught up with him as he unlocked the door. "She's an Argent and you are a werewolf, go figure. I'm a little worried." She handed Scott two shopping bags before Scott opened the door. "A little help, please." She was about to go back to the car to pick up the rest when she cocked her head and patted her son's cheek. "And I'm still way to young to become a grandmother. That is definitely not anything Mr Stilinski needs to worry about at the moment."

Scott almost ran inside to avoid the look on his mom's face. It was just way too embarrassing. How could she? The fact that she knew that he and Allison wasn't just playing cards and doing homework together, didn't mean that she could just say it out loud like that; and hinting to Stiles and Derek having sex was even more disturbing; not to mention her description of Derek's body. Scott was appalled by his own mom's dirty thoughts.

Mrs McCall came through the door only seconds later. She was carrying a couple more bags, and was laughing as she set them on the table. "Tsk, get over it. Do you really think grown-ups are that stupid? We know stuff. We know what you guys are doing, because we've been there... done that."

That was it. He was not going to listen to her anymore. Scott had put away some of the groceries, but now he left it for his mom and rushed upstairs to his room. He dug out his phone and called Allison. He needed some sanity in his life again. A trigger-happy werewolf hunter was perfect therapy for his disturbed mind.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The strawberries didn't sit well. Stiles felt a little nauseous after pretty much devouring the contents of that little basket all by himself. He'd tried to get Derek to eat some, but the wolf had only had a couple. Stiles hadn't eaten much for almost two days, and should probably have chosen something else to still the hunger.

He was pretty sure that the concussion was partly to blame for not feeling so good at the moment, but he still didn't want to tell Derek.

Fighting the urge to puke was a little easier when he held onto Derek's hand. The wolf – his wolf – was slumped down on the seat next to the bed. He was obviously tired, but kept caressing Stiles' fingers while he, with the other hand, flipped through a magazine.

They hadn't really said much after Derek's declaration of love. Stiles had polished off the strawberries and feeling extremely full, he leaned back and rested. If he could just doze off a bit while the nausea went away, it would be good. He really didn't want to go to sleep though. Having Derek there, knowing that they had the same feelings for each other, was really too good to be true.

After all those vivid scary nightmares he'd had lately, he actually feared that this too was only a dream. In spite of the discomfort, he didn't want to wake up from this dream. He wanted to hang in there to make sure that Derek didn't suddenly vanish.

Eventually, he had to cave in. It was not sleep that took him; Stiles' bladder was suddenly - and without warning - screaming for attention. He didn't want to have to call a nurse's assistant. He decided to try to get to the bathroom instead of having to suffer through the humiliation of having someone sticking his dick into one of those plastic urinal-things.

Derek managed to find a wheelchair outside the room and without hesitation, he lifted Stiles off the bed and into the chair. The bathroom was just across the hall and with werewolf speed, Derek maneuvered them in there without being spotted.

While Stiles struggled to get his butt on the toilet, Derek moved away to give him some privacy. He knew he could have used some help, but was happy to do this himself.

Of course they got caught. The nurse that caught them getting back to the room was not happy to discover that he had a visitor so late at night. On the other hand, the fact that he'd been able to get out of bed was perceived as a positive thing.

"You have to leave." She addressed Derek but then turned to Stiles. "I'm glad to see that you out of bed. It means that you can probably go home tomorrow."

After convincing her to leave them alone for a few minutes, Derek lifted Stiles back onto the bed and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll see you around. Call me." Stiles eased his arms around Derek's neck and pulled him closer. "I want to kiss you but my breath would probably kill you," he chuckled a little, "or maybe not, you'll probably heal from that too, but still."