Malia:

After surreptitiously watching Scott and Stiles and getting poked multiple times by people wanting my attention, I made the excuse that I needed to get going because I need to get to work extra early tomorrow. While others nodded in understanding, Lydia smirked at me and said she would call me later.

I drove home, stopping once at the store for wine and ice cream because tonight was going to be one of those nights. My ex-boyfriend and my ex… lover, could I even call him that, were talking to each other. It wasn't really a surprise, they are as close as brothers. But I worried about what they talked about. I knew Scott wanted to talk about whatever was going on with Stiles. We all noticed how tense he was, and I know he father was really worried. But we all knew that he wouldn't talk about any of it until he was ready except if Scott got involved. Scott was always the only one that could really get Stiles to open up about things.

But would Scott tell him about us? Did he already? Those two don't have many secrets between them. How would Stiles react to the news? Would he be upset? Would he even care? We had been over long before Scott and I got together. Hell, he had been with Lydia and broken up with her by the time Scott and I got together. So, he shouldn't care. But what if he did?

I put my ice cream away as soon as I got back to my small one bedroom. Place my wine on ice and turned on the TV, setting it up to play 'The Wheels of Time' after my bath. I chose this apartment specifically for that tub. It came equipped with jets and after a hard day of being hunched over an engines and changing out oils on cars I needed something to help me relax. Sure sex would be the ideal way but I've been in a dry spell, for years now.

Sighing I sank into the hot soapy water, turned on the pulse setting and moaned as my muscles started to relax. I forced my mind away from where it tried to stray as often as possible. Maybe I should give dating a try again. Maybe I could find someone to erase the memory of Scott McCall. I snorted at my own thoughts. It was doubtful.

A knock on my door pulled me from my peace. More than likely it was my downstairs neighbor's visitors. She's in her 70s and confuses the apt numbers, hers being 203 and mine 302. I ignored it, they would usually end up calling her and getting the right one anyway. Another knock sounded.

"Wrong, apartment." I shouted loud enough to be heard. I really didn't want to have to get out of this tub. I was finally reaching close enough to that level of relaxed that I needed. And if I sink down far enough and position myself a certain way, I could get the jet to hit me right-.

"Malia, it's me." Scott's voice called out. And just like that, I am no longer relaxed. I sat up ramrod straight, splashing water over the side.

"Scott?" I yelled back.

"Yeah, can you open the door?"

I looked down at myself, naked and wet. The last time I had been naked and wet around Scott it was during shower sex. Which came after bed sex, but before wall sex.

"Uh, what do you want?"

"To talk. Can you just open the door? I'm starting to get looks from your neighbors."

I groaned, this could potentially end badly.

"One sec." I told him climbing out of the tub. I did a rush job of drying off as much as I possibly could. I threw on an old t-shirt that I can't even remember where I got it from. Did I steal it from Stiles? Possibly. Then tossed on a robe over it, cursing the fact that it was a short silk one. But tomorrow was laundry day so it's all I had at the moment. Rushing through the living room I threw open the door.

"Scott, what are you doing here? Why aren't you at your party?"

He didn't say anything just looked me over, growling lowly. Even though I had attempted to dry off I was still damp and with the cool breeze as soon as I opened my door I knew that my high beams were popping so to speak. Combine that with the scent he was throwing off right now and I started squirming as I stood there.

"Scott?" I called again trying to get his attention. He shook his head.

"Can I come in?" he asked. I moved back to let him in, pulling my robe tighter around me.

I leaned against the closed door watching him look around my place. It really wasn't much, small kitchen and living room. One hall leading to the bedroom and bathroom. It was the perfect size for me and close to work so I didn't have a long distance to travel.

"This is nice. I could do something like this, since it's only me. I don't need much room. But mom has it in her head that I need a house right now. Not so sure that's true but-."

"Scott, why are you here?" I asked to stop his rambling. He turned to look at me and started rubbing the back of his neck.

"I have no damned clue." He sighed. "I came over to talk but then you answered the door like that and now my brain can't function."

"I was taking a bath when you knocked."

"Shit." He whispered, his eyes glazing over slightly.

"I'll go change." I told him walking past him towards my room. He grabbed my arm.

"No, sorry. You don't have to change. This is your home and I wasn't expected. Can we just sit and talk, please?" he asked.

I nodded and folded myself in to a chair. I only had a couch and a chair and I really don't think sitting next to him will help. We sat in silence staring at my muted TV as it played promos for a show that neither of us probably were interested in, sneaking glances at each other until he let out a loud dramatic breath.

"This is ridiculous. Things should not be this awkward between us."

"No they shouldn't. I really hate it." I admitted.

"Me too. Why is it awkward though? When we decided to get together that night we promised each other we wouldn't let it interfere with our friendship."

"It hasn't. Not really. We've been able to talk over the last ten years without any weirdness."

"True, or at least not much weirdness. I think, for me, I'm just confused."

"About what?"

"Why did you leave that morning Malia, without so much as a goodbye?" he asked and I had been dreading that question for years now. I groaned.

"Why did you have to ask that?"

"Because I want an answer." He stated plainly.

"Yeah but…"

"Don't I deserve an answer? I've been wanting to know and understand since I woke up that morning to find you gone. No note or anything. And on top of that you weren't at the meet up with the rest of us to say goodbye. What happened? Did you have regrets?"

"No, no regrets." I adamantly told him.

"Then what? Because I don't get. We had an amazing night. We both went to sleep completely satisfied and exhausted."

"It was supposed to be a one nightstand." I told him, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, and we're supposed to be friends. What's your point?"

"One nightstands don't usually involve sleep overs and even if that happens it's usually customary to disappear the next morning." I explained matter-of-factly. He quirked a brow at me and his lip twitched upward.

"Is that the real reason, or just what you are using so you don't have to tell me what the actual problem was?" he snickered already knowing.

"You're a pain in the ass sometimes, you know that?"

"Actually I don't. That wasn't one we tried that night."

I threw one of the throw pillows at him, which he caught while laughing. I crossed my arms huffing and trying not to smile.

"Just tell me, why did you really leave?"

"I was embarrassed." I finally admitted.

"Okay, why?"

"Because, I really liked everything that we did."

"So did I." he grinned.

"I meant besides the sex. Though I really liked that." And if that wasn't the understatement of the century. "I mean… I wasn't use to being the one being held afterwards and the kissing before we fell asleep."

He nodded slowly.

"Did you not want me to hold you?"

"I don't know. I had never had it before. But I really liked it and then when I woke up the next morning you were still holding me and you looked so adorable sleeping," I smiled when he rolled his eyes. "and I just wanted to stay there like that for as long as possible. And then I started getting ideas which I shouldn't have had and I got embarrassed that the one night stand was…"

"Okay, I think I get it." He said. "I'm going to say this as nice a possible… you suck with emotions." He told me, grinning. I laughed shoving him with my foot.

"Shut up. I'm trying."

"I know and I appreciate it. But you shouldn't feel embarrassed about what you felt or thought or, even if for a split second, wanted."

"Yeah, but that's not what we agreed on."

"We were stupid." He shrugged. "We were 18 and horny and everything lined up for that moment for us both to get what we wanted right then. We didn't factor anything else into that night. Especially not feelings."

"Well apparently I'm not good with feelings." I rolled my eyes at him.

"No you're not. But apparently neither am I. I seem to have the opposite problem. You run from them and I tend to run towards them."

"You've thought about it too?"

"Every day since that night. And not just the sex, as fantastic as that was. But I've thought about how it felt holding you and kissing you as well. It made it really tough to have any kind of relationship with anyone."

"Did you try?"

"Yeah, a few years ago. Didn't work out. But she was human."

"Yeah, same for me except he was a shifter. But it just wasn't the same. Did we ruin each other for other people?"

"Maybe. I stopped trying after that fail."

"Me too. So, what are we going to do?"

"Don't know. Try again maybe."

"I am tired of trying again."

"Same, I've had three girlfriends in my life and all of them left, granted one died but still. Its hard to keep putting myself out there just to still end up alone. And it doesn't help that anyone I meet now I can't really be honest with them about what I am. After the Monroe thing it's hard to trust outsiders with this secret."

"Yes, that's how I feel. And even those that are apart of this world, its hard to let them in fully. We have all been through too much to trust so blindly anymore, Theo is proof of that."

"Yeah, don't remind me of that. I still have the scars from when he killed me."

I growled remembering that time and remembering when he betrayed me to my mother, almost getting me killed.

"Hey." Scott called to get my attention. "It's okay. we survived we are all here and doing well."

"You're right." I said taking a deep breath. "But if I ever see that little shit stain again I might have to give him a few scars."

He laughed, hard, dimples peaking out. he really should not be this handsome, its really distracting.

"Really though, what are we going to do? Because being alone for the rest of my life because of trust issues, doesn't sound like something I want to do."

"Me either." He sighed then got this contemplative look on his face.

"What is that face for. It worries me."

"My face worries you?" he quirked a brow.

"When it looks like that it does. It means your thinking things. What are you thinking?"

"You sure you want to know?"

"Is it a possible solution to our identical problem?"

"Maybe, a few actually."

"Oh, we have options. Okay, what are they?"

"Okay, the first is kind of out of left field." He smirked and I rolled my eyes at him.

"We already know we are compatible in that area. We could be friends with benefits. We both at least get a release and if either of find someone we want to give things a go with we can end it and stay friends only."

I thought about that. It would be mutually beneficial without tying either of us down. But…

"Is that a smart idea?"

"Not even a little bit. We have already proven that we can't be us and have sex as well. But it was worth throwing out there as an option because we both know how good it would be. Besides, ever since I saw you earlier today I have been at half mass."

I licked my lips remembering him, flaccid, half mass and fully standing at attention and how all those stages were impression to even see. I felt myself clench just remembering helping him go from half to full. The taste, the feel, the…

Growling. I blinked as saw Scotts eyes were red.

"You're killing me Malia."

It was on the tip of my tongue to repeat what I said to him the last time he said that to me. he smirked as if he was thinking it too.

"Okay, sorry. What's the next option?"

"We stay just friends and attempt to date outside of our circle. It's a crap shoot that anything would work out, but we could at least try it and that way our friendship stays intact and hopefully the awkwardness fades, and we can just be us again."

"as much as I love the idea that our friendship stays intact I hate the idea of trying to date. I'm not really a people person. Dating means people."

"Yeah, and I hate the idea of hiding who I am from whoever I end up with. It can cause complications and a whole list of other issues."

"Okay, so that one is an automatic veto, what's next?"

Getting up he kneeled in front of my chair and took my hand.

"The last one involves us."

My hand squeezed his wondering where he was going.

"Honestly, I have always been attracted to you. But when you came onto the scene I was still reeling over Allison dying and you were adjusting. And then you were dating Stiles and Kira came into the picture. By the time both those relationships ended we had so much going on and we were preparing to leave Beacon Hills. Then would not have been a good time to even consider starting something. I wasn't kidding when I told you, that night, that I had fantasies about you. I did, still do." He admitted with an embarrassed shrug.

"But now we are both in the same place, at the same time and we are both single. I think that we should try to see if we are compatible in more then just sex."

"You want to date? But isn't that what people do to get to know each other? We already know each other."

"Do we? It's been ten years since we have been around each other. We're not teens anymore. We've grown up. Some things could have changed, tastes, likes, dislikes. Think of it more like a rediscovery instead of dating. Let's spend some time together just the two of us and see if something clicks outside of the bedroom."

"I'm pretty sure things clicked in the bathroom as well." I grinned at him. he chuckled, shaking his head.

"You're diverting."

"I'm sorry. I'm just. That option scares me."

"Why?"

"Because the last friend that I dated and ended up in a relationship with was in love with another girl practically the whole time. I don't want to be a place holder or substitute again."

"Okay first you were never a place holder or substitute. Stiles genuinely cared for you, and I know that if circumstances hadn't broken you two up then you would have lasted longer then you did. But shit happened. Second, do you really think I would do that to you?"

"No, not intentionally. But both Allison and Kira… Allison died its not like you two decided to break up-."

"Yes we did. Allison and I broke up months prior to her death. She was actually dating someone else when she died. I was still reeling from it because she was my first girlfriend, the first person I was in love with, and she died so suddenly. I missed her but that was 11 years ago. Kira," he sighed. "No, we didn't officially call it quits but it was a given. As far as I know she's still out in the desert trying to control her fox. But I haven't really thought about her in ages. You are who I've been thinking about for the last 10 years."

"me too. Do you really think we can make a go of this?"

"I think we should give it a shot."

"what if it doesn't work out?"

"Then it doesn't. neither of can guarantee forever, we've both been through a lot. But we're friends first. we can go back to that."

I gnawed on my lip thinking about it. even understanding what he said the thought still scared me. What happened with Stiles kind of put me off dating people that I actually know but I had no desire to date anyone else either. And Scott is one of the best people I know, and I do really like him. I would like to see if I'm attracted to more then just his body. But if things didn't work out with us I don't know how I could go back to just being his friend. Stiles and I make it work but we are not as close as we were when we were dating, even back then. I grew Closer to Scott during the whole 'town wanting to burn us at the stake' thing. There were times during that it was just the two of us facing enemies. If I lose his friendship I don't know what I would do.

He waited patiently for me to decide. His thumb rubbing gently against the back of my hand. Brown eyes watching me closely but there was no impatience, and he wasn't going to try to push for one decision or the other. That's what I liked about him. He presented the options and let you decide in your own time.

"I… I really want to say yes."

"But…"

"Can I take some time to think about it? I just don't want to make the wrong decision and then we both end up regretting things."

"I understand that. Take your time, think it over and when you're ready, let me know. you know where to find me." he said standing. I stood too keeping his hand as he walked to the door.

"You don't have to leave. We can hang out and watch TV or something."

Hand on the knob he turned back to me, giving me another once over.

"Are you wearing underwear?"

Smirking I shook my head.

"Then I definitely need to leave. But before I go." he yanked me to him and kissed me, groaning against my lips. Hands on my ass, pulling me against him where I could feel my not so little friend pressed against me. this time he was the one to end our kiss my biting on my lip. Yes, those feelings were still strong between us, I could feel the energy surrounding us and I craved more but I still pulled away. Even though it was painful to do so.

"Yep, leaving now. Think I need to stop by the store and grab some lotion." He said opening the door. I cracked up as the door closed behind him.