SONG: I'm only one call away…I'll be there to save the day…Superman got nothing on me…I'm only one call away…When you're weak I'll be strong…I'm gonna keep holding on ~ One Call Away by Charlie Puth

Chapter 10

Stiles:

"I got an interesting call last night?" Scott said working the game controller like his life depended on it.

The original plan for tonight was a guy's night, Me, Scott, Isaac, Liam, and Mason; and the girls were having a girls night at Lydia's old place. She still has the key and its vacant and she has a pool. Though its November why they need a pool I don't know. I didn't ask though. Malia was looking forward to it. Ever since going dress shopping, she been more open. I am happy that she is interacting.

Isaac decided at the last minute to work with Argent, apparently, he loved learning about weapons and security, and I guess it gave them bonding time. Mason and Liam have a huge test they are studying for so that's their only plan this weekend. So that left just me and Scott, it's been a while since we spent time together just the two of us. I was relieved there were no residual effects to the drama we went through.

"I'm sure you get a lot of interesting calls. But what was special about this one?" I asked, throwing a right hook, and following with a flying kick.

"This one was from a filter less brown-haired beauty who was worried that she hurt you."

My hands stopped moving and I turned to look at him. He took that opportunity to dropkick my fighter.

"She called you? I told her I was fine. It was barely even a scratch."

"I know. And I told her that. I don't think it's that she didn't believe you, she just never thought she could actually hurt you." he said, sending icicles my way.

"She didn't. I didn't even feel it, or know it was there until she pointed it out." I said just as the game said, 'finish him.'

"Stiles. I know."

"Well, is she worried about anything else that I should probably know about?"

Scott got quiet. Glancing at him, he seemed to be very interested in picking a new player for the game.

"Scott? What did she say?"

"Okay, look she only called because she is scared of hurting you. And she was frazzled when she called. you know she tends to ramble when she's frazzled."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, knowing what was coming.

"Uh, huh, and what did she say in her frazzled rambling?"

"Well, she was worried, she kind of…"

"Just tell me."

"She was worried about how she would react during… you know."

See Stiles, you are way to perceptive for your own good.

"And what did you tell her?" my hands gripping the controller.

"Actually, I didn't have to tell her anything. Lydia was there."

"Oh God... tell me she didn't?" I sighed, closing my eyes.

"I don't think she meant to blurt it out."

"She never does. Most times I find it endearing."

"It's not that bad. She just wanted reassurance that things would go okay."

"And Lydia gave it to her."

"She just told her it wouldn't be a problem when the time comes."

"And she knows this how?" I glanced over at him, and he gave me a look. "Right, never mind. Anything else?"

"There was one other thing, but I think you need to talk to her about it."

"Is this other thing going to cause my brain to explode."

"No." he snorted. "It's a good thing, it's just something you should talk to her about."

"Okay."

I wasn't sure how to feel about this. On one hand I was angry that she said anything at all about it and that she didn't trust me when I told her I wasn't hurt. On the other hand, I am glad that she was reassured. My best friend, knowing me so well, knew what I was thinking.

"Don't be mad at her. She needed an impartial opinion on things. She's trying to protect you."

"I get that. But I wish she would have trusted me when I told her that she didn't hurt me. And I don't like that she went behind my back."

"You know that's not what this is. It's only been a little over a month since she's been human. Remember how I was when I first shifted, and I doubted everything. I was so worried about hurting Allison that I constantly went to Derek for help. It's the same thing. You helped a lot, and you were there for it all. But there are some things that only another shifter can help with."

"I know, I know. Doesn't make me feel any better about it."

"You know you don't have anything to be embarrassed about, right?"

"Then why am I?"

"Stiles, we've shared almost every personal detail of our lives with each, either talking about it or being there when it happened. Why would this be embarrassing? It's not something I didn't already know."

"Yeah, you knew it. Lydia didn't. Unless you told her."

"I didn't. Wait, are you embarrassed that Lydia knows you're a virgin?"

"Yes. No. It's not that. It's just private, something that I would hope would have stayed between me and her. You don't tell me every detail of yours and Lydia's personal life. I respect that because nobody should know, even me."

"Okay, that's understandable. Just try to keep in mind that she did this because she cares, and she is trying to protect you the best way she knows how."

"Fine. I hear what you're saying. I'll try to remember that when I talk to her."

My mind was not on the game anymore. I know I shouldn't be mad. In the scheme of things, it's not a really big deal. But to me it was. I know she sometimes can't help her rambling, but she usually keeps it to little things, funny things at which we can all just laugh. I should just let it go. But the way my mind works I can never just let anything go. Right now, I don't even know if I should bring it up with her. though I am curious as to what the other thing she learned was. But there is no way to bring that up without bringing this up. At this rate I'm going to give myself a migraine.

"Stiles, stop. It's not that big a deal. Not really. So, Lydia knows. I know. Hell Isaac, and Liam know. If you recall you mentioned it when we went back to the school after the locker incident. Don't obsess over the fact that other people know. It doesn't matter."

"I know alright. I know. I'm trying." I sighed.

"What's really going on? Because I know it's not just the fact that Lydia knows."

"I don't know."

"Is it your subconscious again. Finding reasons for you to hold back."

"No, that's not it. I don't think."

"Then what? Because if you are getting worked up over this one little thing..."

"I don't know. I just have this feeling I can't explain it."

"Okay, what kind of feeling?"

"I don't really know. Just a feeling."

"Don't borrow trouble on this Stiles. Things are good right now, for all of us. This feeling could be you overthinking things, as usual. Just let it go, at least for now. Don't find things to worry about."

"You're right." I said running a hand through my hair in frustration. I don't want to ruin this, what I have with her. if I keep thinking about possibilities that aren't even possibilities that's exactly what I would do.

"I'm going to order a pizza and lets just watch some TV or something. You are in no mood to play games right now."

I nodded and plopped down on the couch.

By the time the pizza came, Scott and I were in the midst of a series marathon, and I had all but forgotten, or tried to forget, the conversation. Scott perked up two episodes into the second season and without looking up I knew.

"I'm curious. Do your lips just like go through phantom limb syndrome when not attached to Lydia's?" I asked, working on my third slice of pizza. Ignoring me completely, he jumped up and opened the door before the girls could even knock. I heard a giggle as soon as he stepped out and already knew they were putting on yet another show. Allison and Malia came in cracking up about it. And just like that I forgot about being mad at her, mostly. she was stunning when she laughed like that.

"Hey, you girls have fun?"

Malia came over and sat right on my lap placing a smacking kiss on my lips.

"We had a blast. Right up until Scott Attacked Lydia on the porch." She answered taking the slice from my hand and polishing it off in three bites.

"Hungry?"

"Starving. The place Lydia took us to served raw fish. I didn't like it." She said around a mouth full of food, though she tried to cover it with her hand.

"Sushi. It's an acquired taste." I explained to her.

"Yeah, that's what Allison said. Do you like sushi?"

"I have not acquired that taste, no."

"You should have seen her face when she tried a rainbow roll." Allison laughed. "You were okay with the dragon roll though."

"Yes, because you said it was cooked and it had a sauce on it that was really good." Malia said.

Scott and Lydia walked back in looking tousled.

"You done mauling each other now?" I asked.

"Not even close." Lydia said looking up at her boyfriend. I did not want to see that look in her eyes or his.

"And that's our que to go. Allison, you need a ride?" I asked.

"Yeah, Lydia drove. See you at home." She said to Lydia. I don't think either of them heard us leave.

The drive to Allison's was filled with chatter between her and Malia about what they did today. I tried to take comfort in that. That she had fun and was really connecting with Allison and Lydia.

"What's wrong?" Malia asked when we had dropped Allison off and were heading to her house.

"Nothing, why?"

"You smell… not angry but something. I don't know what. So, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine. Everything is fine."

"No, it's not. I can tell. You're doing that finger tapping thing you do when your anxious or upset."

I immediately stopped tapping my thumb against the steering wheel.

"Malia-."

"Don't tell me everything is fine. I know you, Stiles."

I opened my mouth to… what? Deny? To tell the truth? Deflect?

"Stiles, pull over." She said angrily.

"What? Malia-."

"Pull over." She demanded. I pulled the jeep over and took a chance to look at her. yeah, she was pissed. Her eyes were glowing as she glared at me.

"We don't hide things remember. Now tell me."

I winced because I was hiding something from her. and maybe that's part of why I was upset. Yeah, I was upset she talked to Scott about something that we had already talked about. But also, wasn't I doing the same thing? Trying to protect her by not telling her something.

"Fine." I sighed. "I talked to Scott today and he… told me about the phone call."

Her glare toned down and her eyes were back to normal.

"He told you?" she whispered.

"Yeah, but I'm more wondering why you didn't and why you felt the need to get reassurance from him that I wasn't hurt. I told you when it happened, I was fine."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you believe me, Malia? Did I look like I was in pain?"

"No. I just… I was worried."

"About what?"

"I..." she looked to be struggling with the next words.

"If you're worried about telling me that you discussed our sex life, or non sex life, with Scott AND Lydia, yeah I know about that too."

She started twisting her hands in her lap and refused to look at me. closing my eyes, I took a minute to calm down. I didn't want to fight with her, and I didn't want to be angry about this. I rubbed at my temple to alleviate the headache that was trying to surface. Turning to her I grabbed her hands, stopping her fidgeting.

"Malia, look at me."

She turned and her eyes were brighter than they should be. Now I felt like crap.

"I'm sorry." I whispered cupping her cheek. "I'm trying to not be upset about this. It's just… why didn't you come to me? why didn't you trust me? if you had worries about hurting me during that, we could have talked about it. Figured it out together. That's what we are supposed to do."

"I do trust you."

"Then what is it? Because you took a private thing that should have been between us and asked other people about it."

"When I almost lost control just because I was feeling overwhelmed over a test it scared me. if I could lose control just from that then what would happen if we… when we…"

"I get that you were scared. I really do. I am too but not because I think you could hurt me, more because it will be the first time. Emotions, sensations, everything will be heightened. It could be overwhelming for both of us. But it's something we could work through."

She nodded.

"I need you to trust me. I need you to believe me when I tell you I'm fine. I love that you want to protect me, but you have to talk to me first when it comes to us before anyone else. He kind of blindsided me tonight when he told me. and he only told me because he was worried about you being worried."

"I'm sorry. No more secrets, I promise."

Kissing her forehead, I turned back around and restarted the jeep. Guilt started to gnaw at me. I was a hypocrite. I turned the jeep back off.

"In the spirit of being honest, there is something I have to tell you."

Malia:

I started blankly out the windshield as he explained what Scott told him and what he talked about with Peter at the lake house. I was numb but my mind was spinning.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked quietly.

"I was trying to find proof, confirm it before I told you."

"And did you?"

"No, I really have no idea how to get proof. I didn't want to put that on you until I knew for sure."

"So, you were trying to protect me."

"Yes." He whispered. I glared at him.

"But you were just mad at me for doing the same thing to you, trying to protect you."

"No, that's not why… I wasn't mad just frustrated that you went behind my back to talk to someone else about it."

"But you have been going behind my back this whole time, talking to other people about something that pertains to me without talking to me about it. That's a bit hypocritical isn't it?"

"It is and I am sorry about that. At the time I was only thinking that I didn't want to overwhelm you even more especially since you were already worried about the full moon. I didn't want to add extra stress onto you."

"Is that all the information you have?"

"Yes. I haven't been able to find anything else so far."

"I'm not sure how to process this." I told him. I wasn't angry, not really; I wasn't sad, I was just…confused and yeah, a bit overwhelmed. "Can you take me home?"

"Malia-."

"Please Stiles, I need to think. Can you just take me home?"

"Yeah." He said, starting the jeep. We drove the rest of the way in silence. When he parked in from of my house I got out.

"Malia-."

"Goodnight Stiles." I told him. I didn't look at him I just walked up the path to the porch and went inside.

"Hey honey, you're home. Did you have fun?" my dad said from the living room. Steeling myself I went in to greet him.

"Hey dad. Yeah, we had fun. Got some accessories for the dance."

"Good. Was that Stiles that dropped you off?"

"Yeah. I'm going to go to bed. It's been a long day and I'm exhausted."

"Okay." He turned to look at me, I don't know what my face showed but his brow creased in worry. "You alright?"

"Oh yeah. It was just a lot of socializing today; I'm still not used to it. I'm gonna go crash."

"Okay, night."

"Night dad."

Rushing to my room, I changed quickly, I would just have to shower in the morning, and crawled into bed, phone in hand. I typed Peter Hales name into the search engine and pulled up an image of him. I catalogued each facial feature trying to see any similarities.

Are you my father?