Chapter Twenty Four: Forever

The Hale siblings found themselves sitting alone on the front porch of the Hale house, watching the wind stir the grass and listening to the world slowly wake up. Each day seemed to move more slowly now, or maybe they were slowing down enough to enjoy them.

Cora was leaning her shoulder against Derek's, her long dark hair hanging down to obscure part of her face. Out of habit, her fingers plucked at her bracelet.

Unconsciously, Derek was rubbing a forefinger and thumb against the obsidian necklace Lyra had given him a while back.

"What do you think it means?" Cora asked, finally breaking the silence.

Derek sighed. He had been telling her about the dreams- visions?- he had had of their mother in her wolf form, and what she had said. "I'm not sure."

"Have you told Deaton?"

"No."

"Have you told Lyra?"

Derek hesitated. "No."

Cora frowned. "Why not?"

"Because..." Derek trailed off, dropping the necklace back underneath his shirt to run a hand through his hair. It needed a cut.

"Didn't she have dreams like that?" Cora pointed out. "Right before she found out..." It was her turn to trail off, her expression twisting into a grimace.

"She said when she talked to Deaton about it, it was the wolf's way of telling her, to protect her," Derek said softly, even as his chest ached.

"So do you think it could be Mom's wolf doing the same thing?"

"But how?" Derek asked, his brows furrowing.

"I don't know. Ask the emissary."

Derek released a long breath.

Cora looked at him. "I don't think it matters though," she said after a moment, looking thoughtfully out into the woods.

"What do you mean?"

Cora shrugged. "I guess I think some things don't need answers. If it is Mom, somehow, someway, then why question it?"

Ooo0ooO

A trio was also sitting around, quietly talking amongst themselves. Stiles, Scott, and Isaac were all sitting in the middle of the abandoned football field, enjoying the cool weather and the silence.

"So when are you going back to Colorado?" Scott asked Isaac.

The lanky boy leaned back on his hands, gazing up at the sky. "After the barbecue. Sam and the gang can hold down the fort, but Abby doesn't like to stay away for too long, even if she won't admit it."

"Even with such pleasant company?" Stiles teased, giving Isaac a knowing look.

Isaac smirked. "She likes seeing her sister, you idiot. Plus, her and Derek are real tight nowadays. I just follow her because-,"

"You're whipped?" Stiles supplied.

Isaac punched him in the arm, grinning when the other guy yelped. "I'm not whipped. I asked her out, remember?"

"After asking for her sister's permission," Stiles grumbled before scooting away to avoid another blow.

"Lyra is like my sister," Isaac said, rolling his eyes. "And Abby is her sister. It seemed right."

"I get you, man," Scott said with a nod. "But what would you have done if Lyra hadn't been cool with it?"

"I don't think she was at first," Isaac admitted. "Not one hundred percent."

"Man, I don't know how you got away with dating Cora then Abby..."

"I didn't date Cora! We're just friends. Her and Boyd-,"

The conversation came to a complete halt.

Isaac sat up, yanking at the grass. It felt like the ghosts of those they had lost where suddenly looming over them. Boyd, Matt...

Scott cleared his throat. "The barbecue is going to start soon," he said, breaking the tension.

The boys all got up together, brushing grass off of their pants and shirts. Isaac looked up when he heard a familiar call and saw Lydia walking towards them with Malia, Kira, and lastly, Allison. He grinned at the latter.

The group all greeted Allison warmly, asking her how college was, and doing the same with Lydia, even though she visited more often.

"Lyra is going to freak," Stiles said, throwing a friendly arm across Allison's shoulders.

Lydia laughed. "She acts like she hasn't seen us for years."

"Yeah, but it's-,'

"Lyra," they all said in unison."

"We know," Allison laughed.

Ooo0ooO

The cemetery was always quiet, and today was no exception. Even the birds didn't sing here.

Kneeling in the grass, Lyra brushed a hand across the cold headstone that marked where her best friend was buried. Part of her wondered if she had made the right choice, burying him here instead of under the tree grove in Colorado, but she felt Matt would understand and would want to be close to her, even now.

She placed down some flowers, simple white ones tied together with fern, and brushed her hands against her thighs.

Then she sat there, absorbing the quiet. One hand pressed itself against the damp grass, as though it could reach through the earth to press itself against Matt's chest, to feel the heart that would no longer beat.

A familiar sadness crept up inside her, and she did not try and stop it. She felt it, allowed it to wash over her, even as she remembered what he was like, when they were kids, and before he had died.

The memories helped ebb the sadness away until she smiled, holding onto the image of him as a gangly teen then him as a tall, handsome adult with that ridiculous scarf he wore to hide the claw marks on his throat.

Sighing, she stood, brushing the grass from her knees. "Love you, Matty," she said softly.

When she turned, she stopped with a small gasp.

At the gates stood a small group of young adults, all of whom looked very familiar, all of whom were watching her with smiles. One broke away and walked towards her.

"Miss us?" Allison asked, opening her arms so she could hug Lyra first.

Lyra laughed, holding her close, watching as the others approached.

"I figured you would be here," Isaac explained, reaching out to tug her hair gently.

Lyra just smiled at him, moving to hug Lydia. When she pulled back, she touched the red head's cheek with a warm familiarity, and grinned. "Is it time?"

"Let's get this party started!" Stiles shouted, his voice echoing, causing some nearby birds to take flight.

Lydia patted his arm consolingly while the others laughed at his sheepish expression.

Ooo0ooO

When the group reached the Hale house, Cora and Derek had already finished with putting up some lights and the backyard was set up with tables and chairs for all the guests.

Lyra kissed Derek in greeting, smiling when he pulled a blade of grass from her hair.

Cora went over to the others, chatting with them. She explained that Abby and Max would be coming later, since they were with the others that were staying at the cottage. It seemed that the Colorado pack would be growing, since all except Victoria would be going back with Abby and Isaac after tonight.

Scott didn't seem to mind, happy that they wanted the fresh start and was happy to give them the choice. He didn't want anyone to feel tied down to the Triskelion pack, no matter how big or small, or how powerful.

When Abby and Max did show up, Cora took the time to introduce her girlfriend to those who didn't know her. Abby was all smiles, and they were not alone. The sheriff, Chris Argent, and Melissa tagged along at her heels, and immediately went to greet Lyra, who was thrilled.

Lyra ended up sitting between Derek and Chris, who had Allison on his other side. He seemed very pleased to have his daughter back for this gathering and Lyra didn't mind that he talked to her for most of the time.

"So I guess I should get used to this kind of thing, huh?" Derek asked, gesturing to the crowd.

Lyra grinned, moving closer so she was pressed against his side. "I guess so, Alpha Derek. I mean, they are family."

Derek seemed to hesitant about something. "Speaking of family," he began in a nearly cautious tone.

But Lyra understood him, and took his hand. "We can talk about it later."

"So you're not...?"

She smiled, this time more softly. "No. I think I'm ready to talk about it again."

Derek pulled her close, kissing her temple.

They both watched the others talk and laugh, while Derek played with Lyra's hair and she plucked at the buttons of his shirt, both of them perfectly content.

"I can get used to this forever," she said after some time, lifting her violet eyes towards him.

Derek kissed her. "Me too."

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

Author's Note:We got another chapter before a multi-chapter epilogue, folks!

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