** Only six chapters left then I post Stiles and Malia's story. Here's a taste of it in this chapter. Enjoy! **

SONG: Though your dreams be tossed and blown…Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart…And you'll never walk alone…You'll never walk alone ~ You'll Never Walk Alone by Josh Groban

Chapter 24

Lydia:

It's been about three weeks since the accident. The first week Scott had to be forced to leave my side every night with the promise of calls if even the tiniest of things happened from Argent. I stayed in the hospital 3 days and whenever he wasn't at school, practice or work he was with me. He also brought my mother back and forth, which she appreciated. I went back to school that next week and he met me after every class, carried my books and gave me a kiss before going to his own that we didn't share. He was so attentive that I was getting jealous looks from other girls. I could only grin like a Cheshire cat. Yes, I have the best boyfriend.

Every night no matter what he came and laid with me, and we talked, made out a bit but couldn't really get carried away. He finally told me about Stiles and Malia, and I was ecstatic for him.

I had my check up for my ribs yesterday and Dr. Geyer said they are healing nicely. He wants me to wear the wrapping one more week, only removing it to shower. I have to go next week for another x-ray to see if they are healed enough that I can go without it. I will be so happy to not feel like a mummy anymore.

Mom and I sat down and talked about a week after everything, and I told her to accept the job, but I couldn't go with her. It was a hard conversation and we both cried but it was the right decision, I think. I didn't want to leave Beacon Hills, not right now and I don't know if that only because of Scott or if it's a combination of Scott, my friends and the Nematon which drawn supernatural creatures to it like a… beacon actually.

We didn't pack up the house, deciding to not put the house on the market right now or to rent it out. We would keep it as is and reassess when it got closer to her 18-month contracts end and she knew if she would stay or come back. She just packed necessities that she could take with her coming back for more if she needed. She also took Prada with her. there was no way for me to keep her living with Argent and Allison. That made me cry more. But she promised to bring her with her when she visited.

Greenberg had been quiet lately but that could be because I was never alone, and I mean never. I was only ever alone in the bathroom or sleeping. I didn't complain, everyone was worried. Mom had signed a form to get consent for Argent to make medical and other decisions for me why I was under his care so anything that related to the case went through him which he then relayed to the rest of us. There wasn't much progress, there were posters up around town and online looking for him.

Right now, we are sitting in the courtyard before classes waiting for Stiles, who was driving Malia in for her first day. She hadn't met the rest of yet only Scott. Scott told me he and Stiles had been helping Malia with her control. He said she still had moments but that they were working on it, but she should be okay to start school now. Well, I guess she met Isaac in the woods, but I don't think she really paid attention to him. I guess that tends to happen when you are shifting from one species to another.

All the wolves perked up and zeroed in on Stiles walking up with a pretty brunette. wide brown eyes nervously watching us as Stiles lead her over, whispering all the while. Scott chuckled and Liam and Isaac snickered, hearing every word and with Stiles that could be anything. She had her hand clasped in his and by her white knuckles I could tell it was tight. Suddenly she let go and gave him an apologetic look. I can probably guess what he whispered now.

"Guys, this is Malia." Stiles introduced, placing a hand on her back. She gave a nervous wave at us.

"Going in order, you already know Scott." Stiles said, pointing to us. "Sitting on his lap because of the lack of seats available, is-."

"Lydia. Right. Scott's current girlfriend and… you're something. That was way too long and exaggerated an explanation you gave. You're right. She is really pretty." Malia finished.

I gave an awkward wave and saw Scott's lips quirk as he raised his brow at Stiles. Stiles ignored that but he was turning red.

"Then we have Allison."

"Right his ex and a hunter. She's dating who again?" Malia asked.

"That would be Isaac." Stiles pointed out them sitting similarly to me and Scott.

"Oh, the pain in the ass?" She asked, as if remembering.

"Seriously Stiles." Isaac said. The rest of us were laughing too hard to say anything, including Allison.

"Stiles was right, this is a teen drama waiting to happen." She tried to whisper, looking at the four of us and then Stiles.

"Moving on, we have the last of the group, Mason and Liam."

"Which one of you is the beta?" she asked, and Liam raised his hand.

"Stiles is right you are adorable, like a puppy." Malia nodded and we were laughing again. Liam's mouth dropped open.

"Okay, so remember when we had that talk about not having to say everything you think aloud or repeat what others tell you. This would be one of those times." He explained to her as his neck turned an even darker shade of red.

"But he does look like Captain America and Superman had a baby. He's cute." She said.

"No, just no. that is not what I said. They aren't even in the same universe. We talked-. Okay, let's forget that right now. We'll go over it again later."

"Do we have to? We've done it three times. I don't get it. I mean they are all superheroes right. Does it matter what universe either of them belongs too."

"Yes, it does. It matters very much." Stiles insisted.

Scott had to grip my hips to keep me from falling off his lap, Isaac and Allison were buried in each other's necks and I'm pretty sure I heard Allison snort. Mason was falling over onto Liam who still had his mouth hanging open. The only one keeping any semblance of control was Scott who just sucked his teeth and grinned.

"As much as I am enjoying this because an embarrassed Stiles is always a thing of beauty. How are you doing Malia?" Scott asked, his voice quivering slightly in amusement.

"I'm good, I think. Yeah, good. Just a bit overwhelmed with all this. Can't I just go back to my den? This human thing is complicated. How many superheroes and villains am I supposed to remember again?" she asked anxiously.

"None."

"All of them."

Scott and Stiles said simultaneously.

"That information is only important to Stiles. No one else is going to give you a power point presentation or quiz you on superheroes, I promise."

"He did that to you to?" she asked. I had to turn away, burying my head in his neck. His hand stroked my back as he answered.

"When we were ten."

"Did you pass the quiz?"

"I did, but I cheated." He said.

"Wait, you cheated? How?" Stiles asked.

"Can you show me?" Malia asked, pleadingly.

"No, there will be no more cheating. Scott, you're retaking that quiz. I refuse to have my best friend be ignorant of which people belong in which universe."

I looked up to see Scott wink at Malia.

"Anyway, how's your control?" Scott asked getting back on task.

"I think it's okay. I've been meditating and practicing my breathing."

"Good, that helps. Let any of us know if you have any issues. I think you have at least one class with at least one of us or close enough," he said point to the four of us and Stiles. "Isaac and I will keep an ear out for you, okay?"

"Thanks."

"No problem." He said with a dimpled smile.

"Let's go get your schedule and I'll show you around before we have to go to class." Stiles said wrapping an arm around her waist. She gave him a sweet smile and nodded. Waving goodbye to us.

I sat up straighter as they walked back towards the school.

"What is it?" Scott asked.

"I just got a feeling." I whispered, catching everyone's attention.

"What kind of feeling?" Allison asked.

"Nothing bad. Just about Malia. I think… she's going to be important to someone and not just Stiles." Feeling a sensation that I couldn't describe wash over me. I couldn't place it, not yet but it didn't feel malicious. Shaking it off, I turned to Scott and his concerned look. "It's not a bad feeling, I promise."

"Let's get to class." Isaac said, placing Allison on her feet and hopping up.

"You sure?" Scott asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'll tell you if it changes, stop worrying please." I said cupping his jaw.

"Okay."

"You were really good with her. I can tell she trusts you, just like Liam." I told him.

"I just want to help."

"You do." I gave him a kiss, he smiled against my lips.

"Come on guys, before you're late." Isaac called back. We got up lacing fingers and hurrying to catch up to them.

"Do I really look like an adorable puppy?" Liam asked. Scott snorted and I giggled.

"You do, so much so that I wanted to pinch your adorable cheeks when I first really met you." Allison said teasingly.

Liam dropped his head and groaned. Mason, his best friend, laughed.

"Your wolf makes you less adorable, if that helps." Scott said.

"No, it really doesn't." Isaac and Mason said together. Liam groaned again.

Scott:

It had been quiet lately and that worried me. I had a feeling he was planning something, but we couldn't find the bastard. It felt like he was lulling us into a false sense of security and then he would pop up. I couldn't be lulled not in this case. I was too tense for that. But Lydia was taking the breather to just be happy. She says she's not worried anymore because she has me.

I was watching the clock waiting for closing so I could go over there. Isaac and I were at work. We had worked out a schedule for us both. I worked Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He worked Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Wednesday overlapped because for some reason people always scheduled appointments for then so we were open later than usual. Just as I check the clock again I heard the bell tinkle at the entrance. Deaton, who had just been reviewing some charts, went to see who came in while Isaac and I took inventory.

"Hello, can I help you?" Deaton said to the new person.

"Hi. Uhm, is Scott here?"

I put down the clipboard and went out front after hearing Liam's voice, Isaac right behind me.

"Liam? Everything okay?" I asked.

"Ah, you're Liam, the beta. It's good to finally meet you." Deaton said, opening the gate to let him pass. He had some kind of protection in place where he had to invite a supernatural in or they couldn't pass through. I think its mountain ash, but I never asked.

"Liam, this is Dr. Deaton, he's the one I told you about." I told him.

"Oh, nice to meet you. Scott talks about you a lot." Liam greeted with a wave.

"He does the same with you. Come on back."

Liam nodded and crossed through. I waved him back to the exam room.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Liam opened his mouth to speak and then closed it and started to pace, something I think he picked up from me. Isaac, Deaton, and I watched him as his agitation grew. Finally, I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"Liam, talk to me. What's wrong?"

He blew out a loud breath and looked up at me.

"It's my dad. He's asking questions."

"What kinds of questions?"

"About you and Lydia and everyone. And me. He remembers what you did to help Lydia in the hospital, and it got him curious."

I groaned and closed my eyes.

"I'm sorry, I forgot he was there at the time."

"He's heard the rumors around town about wild animal attacks and human sacrifices. People seeing glowing eyes and loud growling from the woods. He even heard about the kanima situation thought he just heard a giant snake like creature." Liam said fidgeting.

"Damn." Isaac groaned.

"Yeah, so he was doing his own research and I think he might have seen one of Mason's note pads on my desk when Mason was over to help study. We told him it was for an English project, but I don't know if he believes me. He asked why you, a junior, felt the need to befriend me, a freshman, and why your whole group just kind of took me and Mason in. I tried to brush it off and tell him it's just because you're the captain and was taking me under your wing, which isn't far from the truth but…"

"Yeah," I sighed. "I get it. Okay, if he's just curious and doesn't really know anything then this could blow over as wild stories and coincidences. But I don't think that's why you are so nervous right now. So, tell me, what's really going on?" I asked.

"I… I don't want to lie to him anymore. But I'm scared to tell him the truth. After what happened at my last school I don't want him to see me…"

"As a monster." I finished. He nodded at his shoes. "Liam, look at me."

He looked up at me, looking as freaked out as he did with his first full moon last year.

"We talked about this. You're not a monster."

"I know, I'm a werewolf. And I don't see myself that way, not anymore. But he might. I don't want that. I couldn't take it if my dad looked at me differently.

"I felt the same way before my mother found out about me." I told him.

"Really?"

"Of course. It's a scary thing, to have someone you love, look at you differently or see you as something else."

"What happened when she found out?"

"I won't lie, she was scared for a while. We didn't talk for weeks after she learned." He face crumpled. "But she came around. After she had time to process the information and after I sat her down and talked to her about everything, she became my biggest supporter. She doesn't completely understand it all, but it's not something that someone who's not really a part of it can understand. Remember how you were when you first learned and experienced it. It was still something you had to adjust too. This kind of information pretty much blows your whole belief system wide open."

"What do I do?" he asked pleadingly.

"If you want him to know… then we will sit him down and explain it all to him. I'll do it with you so you're not alone. He may be shocked, and it may take him a while to adjust but I promise he will not hate you or think badly of you."

"How do you know?"

"I've seen him when he comes to watch you at practice. Your father is so proud of you, you can practically smell it coming off him in waves. He loves you he's not going to hate you or stay upset for long. It's just an adjustment to what he thinks he knows. That's all. And you can always use more support." I told him.

"Does he know just how good he is at this leading thing?" I heard Deaton whisper to Isaac.

"No freaking clue." Isaac responded.

I rolled my eyes at both of them before returning my attention back to Liam who was staring down again in contemplation. He looked up with a determined look on his face.

"I want to tell him."

"Okay, both of your parents or just your dad?" I asked.

"No, just my dad. My mom wouldn't… she isn't… she wouldn't understand." He shook his head.

"It's okay, Lydia's mom is the same way. Tell you what we will do. How about this Saturday, you and your dad come to my house? I'll see if I can get my mom to sit in to help and maybe Argent too."

"Mr. Argent." Isaac corrected. I turned my head to him.

"Is he here?"

"How do you know he isn't listening to us right now? I swear he knows things he shouldn't sometimes." Isaac whispered conspiratorially. Deaton snickered beside him.

"That's usually you're doing."

"The man has an arsenal and wolfsbane on demand." Isaac said.

"Anyway, see if your dad can come Saturday. We'll sit him down and explain everything okay." I said, ignoring Isaacs panic.

"Thank you." Liam said as he relaxed.

"No problem. How did you get here anyway, did you run?"

He shrugged but I know that's exactly what he did.

"I'll take him home. Isaac can finish inventory tomorrow." Deaton said.

"Yeah, no problem." Isaac said.

"Liam." Deaton called. Liam looked over to him.

"Just know that you are welcome here anytime, alright. If you ever need help and can't reach Scott, you can come here. Scott will make sure you have my number."

"Dr. Deaton is the best contact to have, especially if you get hurt." I told him.

"Okay, yeah. Thank you."

"No problem. Let's get out of here guys." Deaton said, ushering us off.

Isaac and I got to Lydia and Allison's and were greeted in usual fashion. Even from the living room, where he couldn't see us, he gave Isaac a warning. Isaac turned to me and mouthed 'told you,' as he placed Allison back on her feet. I snorted and pulled Lydia into the living room.

"Hi Mr. Argent." I greeted sitting and pulling Lydia down with me.

"Scott. Isaac." He greeted back when Isaac walked in right after me. "How was work boys?"

"Interesting." Isaac said.

"How so?"

"First, do you have any plans on Saturday?" I asked him.

"Not really. I have a date Saturday night. But I'm free all day why?" he asked. I pointed a finger at Isaac just as he opened his mouth.

"One word, just one, from you and I make good on that promise to remove your tongue." I told him. Lydia and Allison both giggled and Argent smiled. "Anyway…"

I explained everything that happened with Liam and how I had hoped having both him and my mom there to help him understand from a parent's perspective would be good.

"That's actually a really good idea. I don't mind helping with that. Just tell me the time."

"Okay, I'll check with Liam tomorrow and let you know. Thanks for this."

"No problem. That's good thinking Scott. I think the universe chose right when they made you a true alpha."

I ducked my head, I never thought I would hear something like that from a hunter who used to hate my guts.

"Everyone keeps telling him how good a leader he is, but he doesn't see it." Isaac said. His eyes closed as he laid his head on Allison's lap, her fingers in his hair.

"No good leaders does. You boys staying long?"

"No." I said at the same time Isaac said yes.

"My mother has been on us to be home at a reasonable time. And since the full moon is coming up soon and we are going to the lake house again we should get home soon." I explained looking at Isaac. He pouted.

"Sometimes having a good parent suck." He sighed. I knew he was kidding; I could smell the gratefulness that she cared enough to scold him.

"In that case. Isaac, come with me, I want to show you something. Allison, are you coming?" Argent said getting up.

"If it's what I think it is, then yes. I have to see this." She grinned evilly at her boyfriend shoving his head off her lap and standing.

"Is this going to end with me full of holes? Because I am currently very happy with the number that I have now." Isaac said, letting Allison pull him up and out the door. Argent chuckled shaking his head as he followed.

"Want to go to my room?" Lydia asked.

"No," I told her standing. I pulled out my phone and put on a song had heard earlier that made me think of her and turned the volume up.

"Come here." I said holding out my hand for her. She smiled and placed hers in mine letting me pull her up and into my arms.

This is my love song to you…let every woman know I'm yours…

Holding her close I pressed my forehead to hers and danced her around the room.

'You're such a romantic, Scott McCall." She breathed.

"I can't help it. This song made me think of you and all I wanted to do was dance with you."

"I'll dance with you anytime."

"Does that include at school?"

"What?" she asked pulling her head back.

"Do you want to go to homecoming with me?" I asked. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds.

"Yes, I would love to. Is that why you did this?" she tilted her head up.

"No, I had planned to ask you anyway. this just gave me an excuse to hold you as close as possible."

"You don't need an excuse to do that."

Kissing her, I wrapped my arms tighter around her.