Diana sat in her bedroom, the Econ homework spread about her on her circular woven rug before her desk. A ringing began in her ears. She shook it off and tried to focus again.
Thump, thump, thump.
She groaned in frustration, flounced to her feet and flung open the door. There was nobody there. Confused she sat back down, just as she had began to focus again the thumping returned only this time it sounded more like her Aunt was playing techno downstairs really, really loudly. Even more confused she tried to ignore it but the music got louder and louder.
Diana closed her eyes rubbing her now aching temples.
"Diana?!"
Her eyes sprang open only to squint in the flashing lights and gloom. Stiles stood before her his face slackjawed with shock.
"Stiles?!" She shouted over the bass. "What the hell? Where am I?" She looked about her at the writhing mass of just men.
"A club. What are you wearing?" Stiles shouted back catching her attention away from a rippling set of washboard abs. She looked down at herself, she'd taken a shower and thinking that she wasn't going to be going out again had changed into her pyjamas, a mint green button up top and shorts set that was framed with cream lace.
She was also slightly translucent.
"Oh shit." She swore flopping her arms down to her legs in exasperation. "I'm not really here." She shouted back to him.
"I think you are actually." Stiles countered gesturing to her.
"No, I'm sat in front of my Econ homework in my bedroom. You wished I was here right?"
"What?" Stiles shouted over the music, Diana leant in
"Did you wish I was here?" She shouted again, Stiles nodded yes.
"So I'm here. My powers are going haywire these days. I can't seem to get a handle on it."
"What can I do?" Stiles asked shouting still over the music.
"Stop wanting me to be here!" She shouted back.
"I don't know how!" He shrugged; suddenly the people around them began screaming and pushing. Diana tried to look about them to see what was going on but they were buffeted outside. Diana couldn't feel anyone passing through her non corporeal form but it seemed to freak Stiles out a bit if his face was anything to go by.
Eventually they got outside to the parking lot, and made their way off to the side hoping that nobody would question why a teenage girl was stood there in her pyjamas with no shoes on.
Stiles pulled out his phone then took off running towards the back of the building; of course Diana was pulled along too coming to a stop to find Scott crouched over the passed out bloody body of Jackson.
"What do we do with him now?" Scott asked.
Stiles looked between him and Diana who was just a little way behind him and rubbed his short hair.
"I've an idea but it's really dumb and you're not gonna like it." He gestured to Diana about not liking it.
"Wait, Diana?" Scott asked confused, "How the hell did you get here?"
"I have no idea." Diana laughed pushing back her auburn locks.
They loaded Jackson into Stiles' Jeep throwing a blanket over his very naked body.
"I gotta go check on Danny." Scott insisted, "See if he saw anything."
Diana nodded, "See if he's okay though." She said worried. EMTs had turned up and begun loading the fallen men into the backs of ambulances.
"You still haven't figured out a way to not want me here have you?" Diana asked rounding on Stiles as Scott ran back inside the building.
"Nope." Stiles said popping the P. Diana smiled ruefully,
"I suppose I should be flattered, but this really isn't getting my Econ homework done."
"Ha!" Stiles barked out, "Nor mine." He shook his head, "This is so messed up."
"I know." Diana sighed. They watched Scott run back to the Jeep, their attention caught.
"Couldn't get anything out of Danny." Scott dismissed as he sat down.
"Right can we just get the hell out of here now before one of my dad's deputies sees me or Di?"
He began to turn the Jeep's engine over, just as the Sherriff's squad car screamed into the parking lot before the Jeep.
"Oh my god! Oh my god?" Stiles exclaimed flapping his hands "Could this get any worse?"
Diana looked down at her hand clutching the back of the seat Scott was in. She held it up to the flashing blue light. Through her hand she could see Scott's head.
"Bye guys." She said slipping away.
"Huh, what?" Stiles looked back at her just in time to see her fade away completely.
He sighed. On the one hand he was relieved not to get her into trouble but on the other he missed her. That feeling took him by surprise. Quickly he shook it off and stepped out to talk to his dad.
Diana meanwhile looked back at her corporal form and let out a whooping laugh. She was back! No harm no foul, everything just where she left it. Including the lack of answers in her Econ homework. Letting out a disgusted noise she picked her pen back up again and carried on with what she was doing before being interrupted.
The next day came and Stiles didn't show.
Where are you? You said you'd pick me up. Diana asked as time ticked away to making her late.
Ah crap. We have Jackson in a police van in the woods. Stiles said feeling the disappointment tempered with understanding in their bond.
I'll text Lydia.
Sorry. Stiles apologised but Diana didn't say anything in response.
Eventually it was her Uncle who dropped her off at school.
"Hey Diana?" He said as they pulled up outside the school. "I know you're friends with Jackson Whittmore so I'm not gonna sugar coat this, his parents have spoken to the sheriff and have reported him missing. You haven't got any idea where he is do you?"
Diana paused for a long moment.
"I tell you, you've got to promise me that you won't pass it on." Diana bargained.
"I can't do that Di, and you know it." He sighed, "If you can't tell me where he is can you at least tell me he's safe?"
"Safe is relative." Diana mumbled, "He is a Kanima, we're looking for his master but until we have them the plan, that seemed to have been made in two minutes, was to keep him out of action until we do."
"I see what you mean about safe being relative." Simon nodded.
"So he'll be alive and okay until then." Diana said watching people flood into the school building.
"I suppose that's all we can hope for. It in no way makes this right, and I genuinely hate that you have to get mixed up in this Diana, I really do, but the boy, Stiles? That his name?" Diana nodded, "Stiles seems to be neck deep in Were crap so you don't look to have any choice."
"I know that if I get over my head then I come to you and Heather." Diana said carefully.
"Damn straight you do." Simon smoothed back Diana's hair, "You're the only thing I have left of my sister. I don't want to lose you too."
"I don't want you to lose me either." Diana smiled and her Uncle laughed, shoving her out the car lightly.
"Go learn something, see if you can't teach the Sheriff's boy a thing or two." Diana laughed and ran off into the building.
She watched his car pull away and shook her head; this was all going way too far. They were teenagers for goodness sake; they should be doing normal things, complaining about homework and Mr Harris, not kidnapping classmates and talking about murderers.
Where, exactly, do you have Jackson?
About a mile from the edge of the woods. Why? Stiles replied instantly.
Because you are have school work, the same classes as I do actually so if there is nothing to do I will just feed you the lecture. I will feed it you even if you do actually have something to do.
No, no Diana you don't…
Well now I do because you've kidnapped one of my friends. Diana shot back; she could feel Stiles' indignation about her being Jackson's friend.
In truth he was the only other orphan that she knew, sure there were single parents and absent parents like Lydia's but then there were those who really were on their own. Like her, like Jackson. Only Diana had the luxury of twelve years with her parents before they were brutally murdered but then again, they were brutally murdered so she had never been fully sure who was luckier in that respect.
She opened her locker stowing the books she would need later but were too heavy to cart about all morning. Stiffening she felt eyes on her back and turned slowly. Instead of eyes however there was a security camera pointed directly at her locker bank, subsequently directly at her.
She let out a little growl of frustration and slammed her door. The Argent's were a never ending pain in her ass.
This feeling deepened in English class when Victoria Argent strode into their class room.
"I'm afraid your teacher was feeling ill today." She began, "and had to leave early." She smiled and shrugged unassumingly, she leant back against the teacher's desk at the front of the room. "So, unfortunately you're stuck with me as a substitute. Can anyone catch me up to speed on where we are?" She looked about the room for volunteers. Diana sat back and thumbed the ring on the middle finger of her left hand, a large moonstone.
Whoa, you okay?
No. Argents are frigging everywhere, one's teaching English. Diana groused.
Wanna trade, you babysit Jackson and I take English with the hunter? Stiles offered mockingly.
Not on your life! You may have a rather lax attitude towards attendance but I don't, that stuff goes on your permanent record you know.
Really?
Yeah Stiles, of course it does. Diana laughed back smirking at her text book.
The rest of the day passed quickly with Diana glaring at the cameras that seemed to track her every move.
Eventually the final bell rang and Alison appeared looking shaken at her locker.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, you okay?" Diana asked stowing her heavier text books in her locker.
"Ye-yeah I'm fine. You heading out to the woods?" She asked playing with her scarf in her hands.
Diana narrowed her eyes not buying it.
"I'll give you a lift; you can ask what you really want then." She said lightly while donning her coat. It was a camel coloured wool coat that fell to her hips and was the warmest coat she had.
"So," Alison began eventually when they were half way to the woods. "You're a Witch."
"That is correct." Diana nodded. Alison nodded too,
"Broomsticks, or…" She let hang in the air.
"No flying broomsticks, it's not like Harry Potter. Can't just wave a stick about and call it magic." Diana laughed.
"So where does the magic come from?" Alison asked her curiosity shining through, she leant a little closer.
"Well, there is energy all around so it comes from that. No offence but I don't know how comfortable I am with spilling all my secrets to a girl who is technically a hunter." Diana said gently. Alison immediately backed off,
"Oh, yeah, no I totally get it."
"Also your Grandfather did kill my parents so there's that too." Diana shrugged. "You seem okay though, I mean Lydia likes you and she's usually a really good judge of character.
Alison smiled but fell silent and they spent the rest of the short journey in silence.
When they pulled up to where Stiles had stashed the police van they saw him leaning against it texting.
Diana pulled out her phone as they wandered over to where the other teen was completely missing Alison making Stiles jump so much that he fell back onto the van, her attention too caught in the texts from her Aunt and Uncle.
[To Diana, From Heather]
[You're Uncle has been invited to a conference in Sacramento and needs me with him, it should only be a couple days but it's over the full moon. Will you be alright on your own or should we ask Derek to look in on you?]
[Also, don't forget that March 21st is the investiture of baby Margery and you said you would stand as her guarantor. We should be back by then.]
[To Diana From Simon]
[Got called away to a thing for work. I've asked Derek to look in on you]
Diana groaned looking up to see a panicked Stiles holding the phone in his hand like it was covered in something deadly.
Alison looked back at her.
"Jackson's parents have gone to the police." She said back to her. Diana locked eyes with Stiles.
Oh shit. She said.
Stiles dove inside the van switching on the radio.
"All available units proceed to Beacon Hills preserve, as instructed. Proceed with caution until Sheriff Stalinski's arrival."
"We've gotta go. Now." Diana said Stiles nodded rapidly.
"Go home, I don't want you mixed up in any of this." He insisted putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her back to her black Audi A1.
"Hey!" She protested.
"No I'm serious, you're my out remember?" He said squeezing her shoulders a little. Diana rolled her eyes,
Fine but we're talking later. She said to him as she walked back to her car.
"I'd expect nothing else." Stiles called back waving to her with a goofy smile. He watched her go then pulled out the phone and dialling Jackson's mother.
"Where're we going?" Alison asked rubbing her hands together in the van trying to get some warmth back in them.
"Somewhere very far from this." He replied dropping the phone out of the window and driving quickly away.
They drove deeper into the woods eventually coming to the ridge that overlooked the town. The two sat in the van looking out the windshield wondering what to say.
"So you and Diana?" Alison prompted. Stiles blushed,
"Wha-what about me, me and Diana? She said anything?" He stammered.
"No, all I know now is that she's a Witch." She shrugged. Stiles looked relieved then concerned like he had been put into a risky situation.
"Yeah, magical Witch with spells and ancestry." Stiles said, he smiled to himself a little then thinking of how her ancestor had mistaken him for Diana's husband.
"Isn't she dangerous though?" Alison asked carefully. Stiles shrugged,
"I mean sure she can be, like the other night, she astral projected to right next to me." He laughed, "She was still in her pyjamas."
Alison laughed a little at that,
"No what I mean is, could she ever lose control? You hang around her a lot Stiles, what if something goes wrong?"
"Nah, nothing's gonna go wrong. It's Di, she's always in complete control." He said with unwavering faith.
"What if it does though?" Alison pressed.
"No, no you don't understand, she has to be in complete control of herself or her magic won't work." Stiles said emphatically, "That's why she couldn't do anything the night of the school attack, she was really scared and upset, so, no magic."
Alison looked surprised. Then after a while asked,
"So Salem is not something to talk about I take it."
Stiles paused looking focused on something in the distance,
"No, no she's not comfortable talking about that." Stiles said with the surety of a man recently told a new fact. "Wow, yeah she's really not comfortable talking about that."
He rubbed his head sheepishly.
"What is going on with you two? Lydia said that before I arrived you two never spoke." Alison asked. Stiles shrugged,
"I mean, I guess I was never in her orbit. So we just never knew each other." He said nervously, Alison raised an eyebrow.
"I may not have been here as long as you have but even I know that's not true."
"She never had cause to notice me okay? I don't know if you've noticed but her and Lydia are the two most beautiful girls in the town. Like Lydia, she's perfect, and beautiful and smart but Diana is all of that and more, I never saw it before but there's this energy about her that's…" Stiles fumbled for the word.
"Magical?" Diana supplied. Stiles laughed and agreed.
"I guess with everything that's going on a Witch just can't ignore it. Upsetting the balance." Stiles said casually.
"Been reading up on Witches?" Alison teased. Stiles smiled sheepishly.
"That obvious?" she asked.
"No, I'm sure she regards your new found curiosity with fondness. You do seem to have stolen into her heart rather quickly."
"You think?"
"Oh, for sure." Alison agreed.
They fell silent for a moment as Stiles looked like he was thinking.
"You wouldn't happen to know the History chapter we were supposed to do would you?" He asked eventually.
Alison looked confused for a moment but said,
"Chapter 7 the lead to the revolution. Why?"
"No reason, was just wondering." Stiles said quickly.
He was saved from answering any of the questions Alison wanted to ask by Scott appearing through the tree line.
The two climbed out of the van to greet him.
"I've got bad news." Scott greeted, "If Jackson is the Kanima then he's defiantly not gonna remember stealing Danny's tablet."
"Why would he steal the ting if he doesn't already know what's on it?" Stiles propositioned,
"What if someone else took it?" Alison asked,
"Then someone else could know what he is." Stiles shot back.
"Could mean someone's protecting him." Scott realised.
"Diana, your friend is here!"
Diana looked up from the heavy leather bound book on her lap cocking her head. Nobody had said they were coming over.
She made her way down the stairs cautiously peering over to see the door. She sped up when she realised who it was.
"What can I do for you Lydia?" She smiled pulling the girl inside.
Lydia looked about for the other Prestons' before whispering,
"I'm seeing someone."
"Great, come up to my room and you can tell me all about it." Diana said overly brightly thinking this would be a normal per werewolf chat.
"No you don't get it." Lydia said shakily as she shut Diana's door. "A full grown man, he's everywhere."
Diana looked concerned now,
"A man?"
"The one who attacked me. Peter Hale." Lydia lay out.
Diana took a deep breath, her eyes flicking to her covered mirror.
"Lydia, Peter Hale is my Godfather, he was really good friends with my mother." Diana said carefully, "Is he here?"
Lydia looked around carefully as if expecting the ghost to jump out at her.
Eventually she shook her head no.
Diana hummed no less concerned.
"Right." Her accent making the consonants crisp. "I need you to tell me when this started happening, psychic abilities don't just manifest out of the blue."
"I did wander off, as you so Britishly put it, from the hospital." Lydia sassed back, "I just…" Lydia began, then snapped her attention back to Diana as if she had been shocked.
"What?"
"Nothing." Lydia shut down.
"Lyds I'm the last in a line of Witches, if you need to talk about something a little to the left of normal I'm your gal." Diana laughed.
"Yeah I guess you are." The lighter haired girl sat herself down on Diana's deeply floral bed spread. "I mean you do seem to like hanging about with that Stiles boy."
"Hey, he's not that bad."
"He really is, he's a major dork." Lydia said in an educational manner.
Diana shrugged,
"He might be, but that's not necessarily a bad thing."
Lydia just rolled her eyes and leant back.
I can't find Lydia. Her house is empty and her car's gone. Stiles' panicked voice blasted into her mind.
"You okay?" Lydia queried when Diana winced at the sudden intrusion.
"I'm fine." Diana hissed rubbing her temple.
She's with me, volume next time please.
Oh great, okay. Diana filled with a sense of relief that defiantly was not hers. I'll just head back to the van then.
Okay.
"You seem to be doing that a lot these days." Lydia said tersely,
"What?"
"Looking like you're checking out mentally, like you're not really here."
Diana's mind instantly flashed back to the night she accidentally astral projected. "Ha, yeah. I guess I am."
"Any idea as to what I am yet, or why I keep seeing your Godfather?"
"No, but I will try to find out for you." Diana said then looked towards her wardrobe. "You're still doing your birthday right? Because I have this dress that I am just dying to wear."
Stiles knocked on the rear window of the car scaring the inhabitants.
"Guys might wanna come take a look at this." Stile said a little annoyed. He waited a moment for the two to get dressed again then lead them over to the back of the van. The open and empty van.
"I have to tell my father." Alison said blankly. Scott looked shell shocked and walked a little way off from the van.
Everything alright? Diana asked Stiles,
Not now, Jackson's gone.
Oh crap. Diana swore. Stiles didn't see it but Diana pelted down the stairs to the living room where her Aunt and Uncle were cuddled on the sofa watching Dancing with the Stars enjoying a quiet night before their trip away.
"I need you to warn the Sherriff. Jackson's lose." She said panicking. Simon pulled out his phone and a few swipes later pressed it to his ear.
"Hey, Noah. No, no, everything's fine." Simon laughed, "No, your son isn't bothering my niece. Although she has just told me something rather important. Please don't ask me how I know but the Whittmore kid, well he should be turning up soon. No, Diana had nothing to do with it. But I just want you to know that no matter how bad it might get the Mayors' office is behind you one hundred percent." Simon nodded to Diana, "Of course, you too Noah."
"Thank you." Diana breathed.
"Now, you going to tell us what that was about?" Simon asked, his tome booked no argument or augmentation from the truth.
"Scott and Stiles had Jackson tied up in a police van in the woods because he's a Kanima."
Heather looked up at Simon from her position on his chest,
"Thank you for telling us Diana." Simon said. Diana took that as her queue to leave making a swift exit out of the living room where a quiet argument over the timing of their trip and if it was the wisest thing to leave Diana for the week had begun to take place.
Back at the ridge the decision was made. They were going to tell their parents about the situation.
Later that evening Diana had seen Lydia back home with as much explanation as she could give at that time, which was to say, not very much. She was sat with her Aunt and Uncle when her Uncles phone rang as well as the house phone in the kitchen. Heather picked up the house phone as Simon answered his mobile.
"Hello Noah."
"Hello? David, hi, how's things?"
Simon made eye contact with Diana on the same sofa as him.
"He turned up?" Diana froze, it was a long moment before he said, "No worries we'll be right there."
"Oh you know he's just left for the station now David, so he should be with you in just a moment." Heather's voice sounded from the kitchen.
Simon hung up then pointed the phone at his niece.
"Get your shoes on, if I have to play piggy in the middle because of your soul bond then you should too. Learn the consequences of your actions."
Diana sheepishly nodded and quickly donning her footwear was on the way to the station in the front seat of her Uncle's car. He radiated annoyance.
"You know your Aunt and I are very aware that we are not your parents, never could be, sure as hell don't want to be. And while on the whole you're a good kid, you do well at school; you study magic brilliantly and handle your power with grace that does not mean that you do not need us to be your guardians, so next time something big like this happens you will tell either myself or Heather about it."
Diana agreed quietly.
By the time they arrived at the station Scott and Stiles had been shunted into an interrogation room while David was shouting at the Sheriff.
"You find the boys; I am going to see what I can do about this." He gestured to the extremely annoyed lawyer.
"Okay."
She watched as her Uncle strode into the office and calmed the situation down; he exuded charm and charisma to where both parties thought that he was on their side. In reality he was there because the Sheriff's son stealing a police vehicle and kidnapping the son of one of the town's most prominent members reflected badly on everyone. He was also there because he wanted Diana to be happy and safe. The easiest way to do that in this situation was to ensure that Stiles' dad still had a job.
Diana leant against the wall outside the door watching her Uncle use his mother's powers. He favoured her greatly in looks; he had Charlotte Preston's angular facial features and her appealing smile. It was no great surprise therefore when he favoured her magic too.
When her Uncle came back out Scott's mother had arrived and they were ready to be read their 'sentencing' which was actually just a reading of a restraining order against the pair on behalf of Jackson.
She grabbed him when they emerged from the interrogation room.
"You know it is astounding at times how badly your plans go." She sassed, Stiles looked deflated.
"Why are you here Di? Not that I'm not glad you are, but why?"
"I told my Uncle about what was going on." She said quietly as a deputy passed by.
"Good job you did, he talked them down from involving the school, Jackson's dad was pushing for expulsion."
"I would have been surprised if he didn't." Diana shrugged, "You're in deep trouble Stiles. I doubt your dad will want you on your own now."
"No he does not." Simon said clapping his large hand on Stiles' shoulder, "When he is not at home you will be with either Diana or myself. The only time you will not be is if you are with your father here, at the station."
"Really?" Stiles looked from Diana to her Uncle and back to his dad who looked disappointed in the doorway.
"Mr Preston has agreed to help me out on this; you clearly are not to be trusted on your own." Noah shrugged.
"It was a practical joke dad, come on." Stiles protested weakly looking contrite.
"The theft of a public vehicle and the kidnapping of one of its most prominent citizens is not a joke Stiles." Noah said tiredly.
"If I take Diana anywhere am I kidnapping her too?" Stiles shot back gesturing to the girl who was stood next to him boredly looking about at the station.
Simon sighed,
"Speaking from personal experience Stiles I very much doubt you could make Diana do anything that she does not want to do." Diana smiled sweetly at everyone who was now looking at her.
"No I don't think you could. However we should probably be going home, it is a school night after all." She said bouncing on her toes.
"You are absolutely right, how about Stiles stays with us tonight Noah? I'm sure you've got a lot of work to do."
"That would be great, thank you Simon."
Diana wandered ahead as Stiles was steered out of the building by her Uncle. When they were loaded into the car, Diana and Stiles sat in the back each staring away and not saying anything.
They swung by Stiles' house where he collected his school things and some clothes for the next day then back in the car and off to the Preston house.
"You really fucked up here man I'm not going to lie." Simon sighed when they left his house.
"Yeah I know, shouldn't have kidnapped Jackson." Stiles said rolling his eyes.
"No! Well I mean yeah, obviously. But I mean you should have brought someone else in, like me or Heather. A Kanima is not a joke, something like that is dangerous, you needed more than a police van to hold it young man. A tank would have been better, an enchanted basement would have been best." Simon said shaking his head.
"Wait, what?" Stiles demanded looking between Diana and Simon.
"All I'm saying is that this could have been handled a hell of a lot better, you need to think things through before you go after these kinds of creatures." Simon shrugged, "Heather and I are also very disappointed that you didn't trust us with this Di."
Diana shrunk a little lower in her seat.
Stiles stared at her confused, and then it slowly dawned on him, her Uncle was a Freeze, he would have known about this stuff all along.
"You, you'd have helped us?" Stiles asked carefully.
"Well, probably not. I mean reversing a Kanima can get pretty complex so we would most likely have talked to the Hales about killing it." Simon said bluntly. He was only ever blunt with those that he trusted.
They pulled into the drive then.
"Oop look at that, we're home. Now it's been a long night and is getting pretty late so you two just go on off to bed now. School in the morning." Simon pulled open Diana's door and pointed inside.
He caught Stiles just before he got to the porch steps.
"A word, if you don't mind."
Stiles paled slightly but after the night he'd had he doubted that it would get much worse.
"Sure."
"I'll be brief. We know about the bond you and Diana have, she told us. She's been telling us everything all along. Now she's said that she's put some pretty heavy duty protective spells on you but that does not mean that you're immortal. In fact you are very, very mortal. Right about now though, the only thing that you have got going for you is that you're not a Freeze like me, Freezes your age are reckless and cruel. But you've got to start thinking. You're running with wolves and at times it's really not pretty, my sister did the exact same thing with Peter Hale. Hell it's part of what got her killed. Witches are supposed to keep to themselves, not interfere with humans or Weres we attract too much attention if we do so I am counting on you to think and to stay alive."
"Y-yes sir." Stiles nodded. Simon considered him for a tense moment,
"Good, now go to bed. We won't be here in the morning so you get yourselves to school on time."
Diana looked up as a confused looking Stiles appeared in her bedroom doorway.
"You okay?" She straightened standing before him in her pyjamas. They were different from the other night but a similar style; only these ones were white and covered in vines. It still took a moment for Sties to tear his eyes away from her legs.
"I think I just got a warning from your Uncle." He said slowly.
"Ugh, they've gone all protective because they're on a trip tomorrow and over the full moon. They'll calm down." Diana dismissed bending to pick up some sheets of papyrus from the floor.
"It was more a warning to be careful and think things through more." Sties said back stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Well you definitely need to do that." Diana laughed. Stiles leant against the door frame and looked at the young woman in front of him.
Maybe Isaac is right.
"Isaac is never right, but what has he gotten you thinking that he's right about?" Diana asked not looking at the boy behind her, she was bust organising her desk.
"That you would never look my way." Stiles shrugged with a self-depreciating smile.
Diana spun round, "What?" she demanded.
"The other day in Chemistry when they were threatening Lydia, Isaac said that you would never look my way." Stiles said after a moment of Diana staring at him. "That you were too much for me, not in my league was the words he used."
"Well, that's just crap Stiles and you know it. Now we've gotta go to bed." She laughed and flicked her hand to shoo him from the doorway. He was in the room just next door so he would be close by is anything was to go wrong, but with a house as warded as the Preston's it wasn't likely to.
"Honestly don't take it seriously; he was just trying to get into your head. Goodnight soul buddy." Diana soothed with a kind smile. He did feel a little like she was trying to shut him up and had a sneaking suspicion that Isaac would always be a little right.
Stiles trouped off to his guest bedroom, did the nightly routine then tried to sleep. He had his pillow but found it very hard to drop off so instead he lay there listening to the settling of the huge house.
He heard a suspiciously loud creak that seemed to be from just outside his room. He lay perfectly still. Stiles heard it again. This time with breathing and footsteps as the door to his room swung open slowly. He could just make out a figure silently approaching him in the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains.
"Stiles." Diana hissed shoving his shoulder gently, "Scooch over."
Stiles immediately did as he was told, then watched in amazement as Diana slipped under the covers to lie next to him. The boy had no idea how to act when she reached over and pulled his arm around her over the covers snuggling down into the bed. The scent of her shampoo now being all he could smell, her warmth radiating through the small space to him.
"Go to sleep, I could hear you thinking through the wall." She said quietly. Stiles took a second to commit this moment to his memory and pulled her a little closer to him with the arm that lay clutched in her left hand over her middle. He was filled suddenly with a deep sense of completeness and contentment as if all he would ever need was held in his arms right then and fell into a deep restful sleep.
