Chapter 4

Isaac:

It was a couple of hours before I got to Allison's place. I had stopped off at the store to pick up a few things. By the time I arrived she was sound asleep. Argent let me in, but he looked saddened and distressed himself. I wanted to ask if he was okay, but he didn't really look like he wanted to talk about it.

I headed back to her room and climbed into bed wrapping my arms around her.

"Isaac." She sighed snuggling in closer.

"I'm here. Just get some rest." I told her before closing my eyes as well. I didn't realize how tired I was until then. I've been concentrating so much of my time and energy on her and making her feel better that I hadn't been sleeping well at all.

I woke up to the sounds of voices in the living room and my girlfriend staring up at me smiling. It wasn't her normal smile but it was closer then it had been for weeks now.

"Hey." I breathed, hugging her tighter against me.

"Hey. When did you get here?"

"Not sure. You're dad said you had just gone to sleep when I arrived. How are you feeling?"

"I actually feel a bit better. Talking to my dad helped. I should have done it a long time ago. But I'm glad I did. I know you said I don-."

"Stop. There is nothing to apologize for. Alli, I get why you are having a hard time with this. I wish I could have spared you these feelings, this pain. If I could go back…"

"No, don't. I understand why you didn't and I love you for it. But you have to know that you were infinitely more important to me then she was. I never blamed you for any of what happened. I just… I hate that it had to come to that. I hate that she turned into a monster."

"I know, but try not to focus on what she became. Focus on what she was to you before she changed. That woman you can still keep alive regardless of what happened. Your happiest memories of her are all that matters."

"I'm so lucky to have you. I love you, so much Isaac."

"I love you too and I'm the lucky one. I really don't deserve yo-."

She stopped me with a kiss, a deep lingering searing kiss that have been sparce lately. I pulled her in closer wanting to deepen it but she pulled away.

"Shut up. Just be happy you have me." she smiled.

"I'm definitely happy about that." I told her, kissing her again.

"Good. Now let's go find something to eat because I'm starving." She said as she tried to climb over me. I stopped her midway pulling her against me, relishing her giggle as I did. "Isaac, come on. We have to get up."

"But I'm more comfortable right here." I whined playfully.

"I'm sure you are." She laughed.

"I think you both could be more comfortable upright, in the living room." Argent's voice startled us, well me, from the doorway. Both he and Allison laughed as I twisted her off of me and sat up ramrod straight.

"Uh yeah. We'll be right there." I told him. He chuckled heading back down the hall.

"How the hell does he do that? Is he just floating down the hall or something?" I asked. For some reason he always finds a way to sneak up on us, he's like a freaking ninja.

"No, you were just preoccupied." She teased, getting up and offering a hand.

"Well, I blame you. If you weren't so damn beautiful…"

"You are such a cheese."

"You bri-." I was interrupted by my phone buzzing. I pulled it out seeing the same number that has been calling me for weeks now. I denied the call and put my phone away again.

"You're mom again?" she asked. I nodded with a sigh. "Is she still calling once a week?"

"No, she's moved it up to twice a week now. I know I need to talk to her but I just… I don't want to talk to her."

Allison took a seat on my lap wrapping arms around my neck.

"I'm happy now. I have friends and family and I feel settled and… safe for the first time in what feels like forever. Talking to her feels like I would just be dredging up the past again. I don't want to go back to that place. I don't want to feel like that again. I don't want to go through that all again."

"I know baby. But sooner or later you are going to have to talk to her. Even if it's just to yell at her. It might be good for you to close that chapter."

"I know and you're right. I'm just trying not to right now. There's so much going on and… maybe I am putting it off a little too much. I just need a bit more time before I confront her."

"Well, whenever you decide to do it, I will be right by your side. You are not doing this alone." She promised.

I couldn't not kiss her after that. She was always exactly what I needed at any given point in time. I hated that we waited so long to finally get together. I know we were both hesitant because of Scott, but we both knew he wouldn't mind in the least. Especially after his feelings for Lydia came to light.

She told me that she held back because she felt guilty about wanting to be with me after breaking up with him because of the whole wolf thing. I was hesitant because I found a home with Scott and Melissa. They have been so great to me and I felt like it would be a betrayal to him to go after his ex. We really should have known better.

"Isaac." Argent called out from the front.

"Is he psychic?" I asked, breaking away from her. She laughed, throwing her head back, dimples on full display. "Come one before he finds some way to disappear me and make it look like an accident."

Allison:

It had to be a hundred degrees by the time we pulled into the parking lot at the beach. It was just me and Lydia driving in together. Isaac and Scott were helping his mom with something before they met up with everyone. So far we were the first to arrive.

"I don't know if this is a good idea. Is this a good idea?" I asked Lydia, feeling nervous. I hadn't seen anyone since my meltdown yesterday and I was worried about how they would act towards me.

"This is a great idea. We are going to lounge on the beach and get some sun. Play in the water like we are five years old again and watch as Corey tries to drown Theo, for the umpteenth time."

I laughed at that. Corey has been pretend drowning Theo since the lake house. Liam usually has to remind him that Theo still needs to breathe. I loved their relationship, Theo and Corey. They were so happy to be together and free that it radiated from them like sunbeams.

"Do you think it's weird that, besides Theo and Corey, the rest of us are only children?"

"A little. But we kind of all just became each other's siblings it seems. I mean Scott and Stiles have known each other since they were in diapers. Isaac is technically Scott's brother, foster but still. Mason and Liam are the same as Stiles and Scott. You and I, well you're closest to me than anyone, except Scott. Malia is that one sister we have that has no filter. I think it's great that we built this family we have now."

"Same. I love that I have you all, especially Isaac. But I guess that's why I am nervous about today. I just don't want to lose any more family."

"You won't." she assured me grabbing my hands. "No one blames you or judges you for what you did. I'm pretty sure that if it wouldn't be totally inappropriate Corey would just hug the stuffing out of you."

"Yeah, you're probably right. And I honestly don't blame him. He out of everyone, well besides Derek and Peter, suffered the most thanks to her and my grandfather."

"Allison, stop worrying. They all love you. It's going to be fine and today is going to be great. I promise."

"Yeah, you're right. And here comes Stiles and Malia." I said looking out the window to see the jeep pull up. How that thing is still running is beyond me.

"Hey guys." I greeted getting out of the car. It didn't come off as easy going as I had hoped but I just got smiles in return.

"Hey, are we ready to get sunburned?" Stiles asked.

"If you had put on sunscreen you wouldn't be worried about getting burned, now would you?" Lydia questioned with a perfectly arched brow in his direction.

"Oh, we started to but then Stiles-." Malia started only for Stiles to place a hand over her mouth.

"We were running late and didn't get a chance. But we'll do that once we are settled." He finished for her. Lydia and I both snickered. This was so normal for them that it was hilarious. Malia still rambled, not as badly as when she first returned to human but it was still a thing for her. Stiles usually has to stop her and then ends up explaining why.

A horn beeping had us all turning to see Mason pulling in with Corey, Theo and Liam, the latter making out in his backseat. As soon as they parked, Corey turned in his seat with a… Bottle? And sprayed Theo and Liam.

"Wait, did he just spray them… like they were misbehaving pets?" I asked watching as Liam and Theo sprung apart and glared at Corey while Mason cracked up in the driver seat.

"I believe that he did. God, I love that kid." Stiles said.

Mason and Corey were still laughing as we unloaded and carried everything down to the beach, setting up towels and umbrellas. And just like the first time we came a few months ago the strip show brought stares. Since Scott and Isaac weren't here yet it was mostly just Stiles staring at Malia and Liam and Theo drooling over each other. Lydia, Malia and I were still surprised by Theo regardless. Though today the highlight was Mason and Corey. Mason stared unblinkingly at Corey who was blushing profusely while throwing glances at Mason.

After everyone was oiled up, Liam paying his usual attention to Theo's abs, everyone hit the water. I sat on my towel just watching. I was feeling good today but last night was rough. I was still having nightmares about Kate and I was still warring between hating her and missing her, but I was trying to shake it off. I tried to remember what my dad told me yesterday, 'you can hate who she became and the things she did without hating her. Don't lose those happy memories of her or your mother. It's okay to still love the person you knew and was close too'.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't see Liam run up to me, only felt the sprinkles of water as he shook himself off before taking a seat next to me.

"What are you doing?" I laughed.

"You looked hot. Figured I would cool you down some." He shrugged with an adorable grin on his face.

"I'm sure." I snorted.

"How are you doing?" he asked, bumping his shoulder against mine.

"I'm okay, I guess." I shrugged. He nodded then yawned widely.

"Sorry, didn't get a lot of sleep last night." He admitted.

"Oh, did you go streaking the streets again?" I teased.

"It was one time." He said rolling his eyes making me crack up.

"So why no sleep? Were you up on the phone with Theo all night?"

"Ha, I wish… I was only on with him half the night." He said smiling. I giggled shaking my head. "Nah, nightmares. They come and they go but last night wasn't in my favor." He shrugged.

"So you're still having nightmares about…" I didn't finish. We both did things that night that neither of us are fond of remembering.

"Yep. Not all the time but they still happen. Usually start with me being put in the mask to the moment I realized what I did. Sometimes I dream about what would have happened if Scott wasn't able to save him and sometimes it's what happens if he did save him but Theo couldn't forgive me."

"You know that would have never happened, him not forgiving you."

"Yeah, I know and he reminds me of that every time I talk to him about it. But it's still a thought in the back of my mind. I still sometimes look at him or look at the spot where I… well I still see it. I still feel it. I still kick myself over it, almost hate myself over it. Even though he's fine. He's alive and happy and he's learning how to hold his breath longer." He said pointing to the water where Corey was once again trying to drown him.

"Corey, he still needs to breathe." Liam shouted. I could practically hear Corey groan as he let him up to be tackled into the water by Theo. "I swear they are like ten year olds sometimes."

"They are. But it's nice to see and so entertaining." I agreed.

"It is. Seeing him like that, it helps combat the feelings on what could have happened. I doubt there will come a time where I don't think about it at all but slowly it's starting to become just a memory that I don't dwell on. It's only really after a dream that I start thinking the 'what ifs', you know."

"Yeah… I know." I whispered.

"What happened to you… it's no more your fault then what I did to Theo. Neither of us had a choice when it came down to it. Kate was in my head, she was controlling my actions. She did the same to you. You may not have been in a mask but she was still controlling your actions. She forced your hand Allison. It was either stand there and watch the love of your life, your mate, die or eliminate the threat." He said looking me in the eye.

"I know. And that's what I keep telling myself. But it's more than that."

"Yeah, I know. She was your aunt." He nodded with a sympathetic smile. "You know about the drama with my mom. we are slowly getting back to a good relationship, but no matter how much she is trying and no matter the progress we have made in the last few weeks, I can't stop thinking about how she acted about me and Theo and me and my issues. I hate that everything made me see her in a new light. I want to remember my mom as we were before, the mom that raised me, the one that married my dad and we were happy. But I'm still… hesitant to let her in fully again." He sighed and I felt for him.

"It's not on the same scale as what you are going through but still. Once you see another side of someone, especially someone you love, it's hard to un-see it. It's hard to… put the picture back in focus of what it was before. I love my mom, but I am still struggling to fully trust her again. I think that the more you love someone the harder it is to forgive them when they have disappointed you so thoroughly."

Sweeping some hair from my face I nodded but he was right in everything he said.

"Look Allison. What happened to you was shitty. It never should have happened. None of what any of us went through that night and even before should have happened. I'm sorry you lost so much family in such a short time, but you're not short on family. None of us are. And…" he said looking behind us. I turned to see Scott and Isaac making their way over to us laughing and joking. I smiled watching my boyfriend, his smile bright. "I'm going to give you the same advice Scott gave me last week at the lake house. 'Let that image remind you that he's okay. That's all that matters'."

"Thanks." I told him. He nodded happily. "You are the best most adorable little brother ever." I said wrapping him up in a hug. He laughed and whined at the same time.

"I am not a puppy!" he pouted.

"But you're so cute." I squealed placing a smacking kiss on his cheek.

"Stop trying to steal my boyfriend." Theo called from the water. Liam laughed and got up running towards the water and Theo.

"What was that about?" Isaac asked sitting behind me and pulling me back against his chest. Scott ran straight to Lydia and picked her up before diving under.

"Nothing. Just Liam being the best little brother ever." I told him, smiling up at him.

"You sound like you're feeling better."

"I am. After talking with Derek, my dad and Liam, I do feel better. I'm not 100% but I'm okay. And I have you, so what more could I ask for."

"I know I got everything I need, right here." He said with a kiss.