CHAPTER TWO
.all roads, they lead me here. [Taylor Swift ft. Gary – The Last Time]
"I haven't seen you smile like this for months." Joan crossed her arms and smiled, "you really missed him, didn't you?"
"I did", Noah answered, still smiling. Having his son back home made him happy. He missed Stiles. The house was so quiet when he left for his apprenticeship with the FBI. The sheriff was still amazed by the fact that Raphael had made that happen. He always thought that Scott's father disliked the Stilinski family. And to be fair, he wouldn't be surprised about it. "I haven't seen him in forever."
"I know", Joan chuckled and uncrossed her arms. She slowly approached Noah and laid her hand on his shoulders, "but don't forget that he's not a boy anymore."
"Oh, that I know", Noah laughed and took her hand in his. His thumb went over the engagement ring she was wearing with pride. That she said yes shocked him still. He loved that woman. He didn't think that he'd be able to love another woman like he had loved Claudia. And he was right. The love he had for Claudia was something that he'd never feel again. A deep connection. Claudia would always have a special place in his heart. He was open about that. And Joan understood. She knew that the love Noah had for Claudia would never be the same as he had for her. And she was fine with it. Because she lived through a similar thing. She lost her love, the one person she had an unspeakable connection to. How did Noah call it? A tether connection. However, they both fell in love with each other. They loved and understood each other on a different level. They had a connection but they were both fine with being tethered to somebody else. It was no threat. It was their fire.
"You think they okay?", she sighed and her gaze went to the stairs, "it felt… weird."
"I hope so. I thought that Stiles would be happy to see Scott, to be honest. That's why I invited him." Noah didn't expect the reaction Stiles had. It felt cold. Disconnected. Untethered.
"They haven't seen each other for years. Maybe that's why it feels so weird. Even for us."
"Even for us? With the bunch of supernatural teenagers, we have running around here?", Noah chuckled and intertwined their fingers. He kissed her hand and she leaned against his shoulders, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Not teenagers. Men. You can't call your son and Scott teenagers anymore. They are in their mid-twenties. And your son can take over your station if he wanted to for a case. Definitely not teenagers anymore", Joan replied and closed her eyes.
"That wouldn't be so different than it was when he was a teenager. He always tried to take over and help me. Even before I knew. Maybe because I didn't know. We never really talked about that. It was a wild time."
Joan chuckled and looked him in the eyes. She gave him a small peck on the cheek. "Maybe you should do that. It was a long time ago and he grew up", she explained. Noah nodded. His fiancée was probably right. They had never talked about all the things that had happened. Not even after the Nogitsune, even though Noah knew that it still took a toll on his son. Sometimes he wondered, if he should have sent Stiles to a therapist. Because being possessed had some lingering effects. They all had seen it. Scott, Melissa, Malia and Lydia. They all saw that it had changed Stiles. Nobody ever addressed it.
"Did you ask him yet?", Joan wanted to know. Noah responded with a small shake of his head. "Why not?"
"I didn't want to ask him over the phone. This is a conversation I want to have face to face. Asking your son to be your best man at your second wedding should be done in person", the sheriff explained.
"Maybe you two need a day for yourself. I've a meeting with Melissa tomorrow for the last things we need to plan before the wedding. Take a day off at the station and do something with your son. I'm pretty sure he'd like to have some time with his old man, without the new fiancée and brother from another mother", she said and Noah nodded.
"Why are you always right?", he wanted to know and Joan laughed.
"I'm a woman. We're basically always right. And if we aren't, the rule #1 applies: we are always right."
"I'm gonna get the boys and let them set up the table. Even though they are not kids anymore, they can still do that", Noah said and gave Joan a small kiss. "Do you need help with dinner?"
"No, it's done already. I just put it in the oven to stay warm", she replied, "go get your sons."
"How did I get so lucky with you?" Noah smiled and kissed her again, "you sure you aren't an angel?"
"I am", she laughed. "Get them now, I'll prepare the dinner while the boys are setting the table."
Noah went upstairs and was surprised to hear nothing. No conversation. No movement. Just silence. Irritated, he peaked into Stiles room, where his son and Scott were both standing and looking at each other. He could clearly see the hurt in Scott's eyes but also the discomfort ins Stiles'. He knew his son and he was able to read his body language better than anyone.
"Hey, boys", Noah said, stepping into the room, "Joan is waiting with dinner downstairs. Could you set the table, Scott? That I can have a minute with my son?", he wanted to know and the werewolf nodded.
"Sure, no problem." With a glance at Stiles, Scott retreated from the room and when Scott was outside, Stiles let out the breath he was holding. Noah studied Stiles for a second. "You wanna talk about it?", he wanted to know and Stiles looked up.
"Not really", his son answered slowly, "but I know that I can't flee from it. I owe y'all that much at least."
"You don't owe us anything, especially not me. I didn't know Scott and you had a falling out", the older Stilinski answered and closed the distance between his son and him. He laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have invited him over if I'd known."
"Because we didn't have a falling out. We just… never stayed in contact. Which is mostly my fault", Stiles sighed, "which is why I need to sit through it. Scott deserves that. He didn't do anything wrong."
"But he didn't do everything right either", Noah concluded. Stiles' head snapped up, looking at his father with surprise. "Don't look so surprised, son. I love that boy, but I also know that he has made some mistakes in the past. We all did. After all, we're human."
"Some of us have to make mistakes. Some of us, are human", Stiles mumbled, remembering what he had yelled to Scott after Theo manipulated his best friend into thinking, that Stiles killed Donovan on purpose. "Yeah, I said something like that to him once. After Theo…"
"Scott told me. He also said to me that he knew that this was a breaking point in your friendship and it was never as it was before", the sheriff said.
"I know. But that's just how it is. We couldn't go back to how it was before, because before didn't work out. If it would've, Scott would've never believed Theo. So, it was okay. However, I still think that we should've talked about it", the young FBI-Agent explained and rubbed his eyes.
"It's never too late for that, son. But we haven't talked about a bunch of things either. So, humor me and block tomorrow for us? Joan is meeting with Melissa and I need to talk to you about some things and also ask you a question."
A small smile spread across Stiles' lips. "The answer is yes, dad."
Taken by surprise, Noah eyed his son confused. "Oh, don't look so surprised, dad", Stiles threw the words his father had said before back at him, "I know that you need a best man still. And I also have heard all the hints you've been dropping in our conversations over the phone."
Noah laughed loud and squeezed his son's shoulder, "I should've known better. You're in law enforcement after all. Thank you, Stiles. Really. But still, I need to talk with you. So, you're okay with having a good old father-son-day tomorrow?"
"Yeah", Stiles simply said and gave his father a small smile, "I love those days. Didn't think I'd miss them, you know, when I left. But I do", Stiles said with a sad tone in his voice.
Noah simply pulled his son into a hug. Stiles let out a small chuckle, embracing the hug again.
"Stiles! Noah!", they heard Joan yelling, ending the hug and gave each other a small smile, until they went down.
Dinner was okay. There was small talk, a few stories were shared, they've talked about different things and enjoyed each other's company. Even Stiles warmed up a bit, especially with Scott. He knew his first reaction was harsh, but he was overwhelmed with everything. He was still tired, but the anxiety quieted down a bit, as well as the pressure he had felt before.
"Hey, Scott", Stiles said, while they were cleaning up the table and did the dishes. Noah and Joan were in the living room already, enjoying a glass of whiskey and wine, while him and Scott volunteered to do them. "I am sorry."
"For what?", Scott asked confused, "you didn't do anything wrong."
"I know", Stiles sighed, "but I do owe you an apology. I'm sorry for pulling away. For not answering your text or calls. I've an explanation for all of it. But I'm not there yet. And today is not the best day for me to have this conversation. I am tired after all and I need to settle first."
"Okay", Scott replied, "then let me say something: it's okay. You don't need to explain anything, if you're not up for it."
"I appreciate it, but we both know that we need to talk about some things. Things we just ignored. I know that I said once that I am a fan of ignoring a problem until it eventually goes away, but life taught me different. You cannot ignore certain things and they need to be said. And for what I said earlier, about not wanting to talk or stay, I am sorry. Seeing you was unexpected and I couldn't handle it", Stiles pointed out, "so, since the wedding is in 6 days and I've a father-son-day tomorrow, how about we meet on Monday? Maybe even play a little bit lacrosse. I haven't played in ages, but if you're up for it?", he wanted to know and looked at Scott.
The alpha just nodded, still irritated about the behavior of his friend. "Yeah, why not. I'm friends with the new coach, so we could probably use the school's lacrosse field."
"Isn't the new coach your own beta?", Stiles snorted, while putting away the last plate, "kinda obvious that Liam will do anything you ask him to do."
"Touché", the werewolf laughed, "but he's not only my beta. He's my friend. Yours too."
"He's still friends with the douche?", Stiles grunted, "I still don't get that friendship."
"Neither do I, but Theo changed. We all did. I think Liam was and still is a good influence for him. And he helped us with small supernatural issues. Without killing anyone. Even Malia got used to him", Scott explained but Stiles just rolled his eyes.
"So, you're trusting him now?", he wanted to know and leaned against the counter, "he's pack now?"
"No." Scott said immediately, "he's an Omega. Not part of the pack and I am not trusting him fully. Even I can hold a grudge, especially with a guy who actually killed me. But we're friendly with each other. He has a job now; he's working at the hospital."
"I still hate that guy", Stiles snorted. "But I get it. We all changed. And I should probably give you my new phone number."
He held out his hands and it took Scott a minute to understand what he wanted, but the werewolf handed over his phone and Stiles put in his number. "Thanks. I should head to bed now. I meant when I said I'm tired."
"Sure", Scott replied, "thank you, though", he almost whispered, "for taking a step forward. I know it's not easy."
"If you say chemo signals, I'm going to strangle you", Stiles grunted, "ugh, I did not miss that."
"Sorry", Scott simply said, shrugging his shoulders, "it's a habit I can't shake. Anyway, tell Joan and your dad that I left. And we are going to meet on Monday?"
"We are", Stiles confirmed.
He walked Scott to the door. Awkwardly, they have been eyeing each other, until Stiles gave his old best friend a small hug. Baby steps.
It was all about making baby steps. Stiles watched Scott driving away, closed the door and said good night to his dad and Joan, until he let himself drop onto his bed. He was tired, emotionally as well. He had thought during dinner about the whole situation and came to the conclusion, that it wasn't fair how he treated his old friends. His family. His pack. It wasn't fair of him to cut the ties like that. In that moment it had felt right but deep down he always knew that it wasn't fair to anyone. Not even himself.
He had to fight his demons. His darkness. Running away from it had helped for a bit, but being a few hours back in Beacon Hills made him realize that it's not a solution. It was the cowardly way out. And while Stiles might not have supernatural strength, he wasn't a coward.
It was time to face the old demons, who had a hold over him still. Only then he would be able to close this chapter for good.
With that in mind he fell into a dreamless sleep.
I just truly hope that someone is interested in it. I know that there isn't much going on right now. However, it's all part of the story. And important. I disliked the movie, so damn much, which is why I want my own spin of what could've possibly been. I am going to use bits and pieces of the movie, but not much. That movie doesn't exist for me.