Sterek: What's Best For Everyone Chap22

Scott left around seven after hours of playing video games and wolf hunts that left the living room looking like a bomb had hit it. Leah had wiped the floor with them both during a two hour marathon of Mario Kart. Though Stiles had a sneaking suspicion that Scott had thrown the game. - He certainly knew he had. It was always fun to see Leah’s victory dancing, where she waved her butt in front of Scott’s face while swinging her arms around her head like a helicopter. He wasn’t sure which of the girls had taught her the move but it always had him and Scott in fits of laughter.

With Scott gone, Stiles spent the next hour rushing around the house making sure everything was ready for his guest. Leah sat on the floor watching him with a face like she’s been forced to suck on a lemon. He did his best to ignore her but it was hard, she had a secret passage to his heart and thereby his guilt. He knew she didn’t want Ray there, didn’t like her, but he did so she was going to have to suck it up and deal. He glanced over to her again as he set the couch cushions to rights. She met his gaze like only a Hale could and he rolled his eyes when she huffed at him.

"You know we could always cancel tonight…." he murmured, watching her out of the corner of his eyes, noting the way her face lit up hopefully. "…and you could go to bed now." he smirked as he’d said it, because she was a Hale and there was only one way to deal with any of that family.

"No!" she shouted.

"Then stop with the temper tantrum. Ray’s going to be here soon and you’re going to be nice to her." he stated, turning to meet the little girls green eyes firmly. "Understand."

Leah’s bottom lip trembled but she nodded pathetically, sniffling as she did so. Stiles opened his mouth to say something else. - Though he wasn’t sure what. - When his phone rang. Fishing it out of his pocked as Dancing in the Moonlight filled the room. "Hey Derek. Cutting it close aren’t you?"

"Sorry. Lost track of time. Is she still up."

Stiles looked at Leah who was scrambling to her feet and rushing towards him. "Yeah."

"What’s she done?" Derek asked instantly.

"What? Nothing….how did…? Never mind. It’s nothing. We’ve come to an understanding….Right Lee?"

Leah pouted up at him and nodded.

"Here she is." Stiles handed the phone down to Leah, who rushing to the couch.

"Daddy!" she squealed.

Stiles watched her jabber away with her dad for a few moments, his chest filling with that warmth he’d become so used to, before heading off to the kitchen to prepare the popcorn and snacks. He strolled back into the living room five minutes later to see Leah had hung up the phone and was sat on the couch quietly waiting for him, holding the DVD box out. Stiles set the food stuff on the coffee table and rolled his eyes as he took The Jungle Book from Leah’s small hands and headed for the TV. Glancing at the clock above the fireplace as he went. If Ray was on time she should be there in a few minutes.

In hindsight he probably should have known something was up. Especially after the dramatics that mornings. But as usual he fooled himself into thinking that Leah had finally come around to the inevitable. Or maybe Derek had talked her round and told her to be nice to Ray. He had just put the DVD in ready when the doorbell rang. Straightening Stiles fiddled with his shirt, sent Leah a pointed ‘you better behave’ look then rushed off to answer the door. Grinning from ear to ear as Ray stood in the evening darkness looking gorgeous and smiling back at him.

"Hey. I’m not early right?"

"Just in time." He nodded enthusiastically. "I just put the movie in and the popcorns waiting." he stepped back, waving an arm for her to come in.

Ray crossed the threshold and pressed an open mouth ‘hello’ kiss to Stiles lips. "So what are we watching?"

"The Jungle Book." Stiles smiled apologetically.

"Wow. Classic. I like it." she nodded, heading for the lounge, cautiously. She paused on the threshold as Stiles slammed the door closed and rushed after her.

"Lee, say hi to Ray."

"Hi." the little girl smiled sweetly and he felt himself relax. Mistake.

Stiles waved an arm at the couch for Ray to take a seat while he grabbed them some drinks. "What would you like?"

"Coke." Ray replied warmly.

"Juice."

When he came back out, Ray was sat on one end of the couch, Leah next to her. Stiles grinned, watching for a moment before stepping forward to hand Ray and Leah their drinks. "Lee, do you want me to put the cushion on the floor like you usually do?"

"Nope. Fine." she smiled, taking her drink and wiggling in closer to Ray.

"Okay." he sighed, meeting Ray’s gaze. He guessed he really shouldn’t complain. He had wanted Leah to give his girlfriend a break, get to know and like her, and it seemed that just what was happening. "So. Ready for the movie?"

"Sure."

"Yep."

Stiles settled down on the other side of Leah and grabbed the remote, hitting the play button before settling back against the couch cushions to watch The Jungle Book for like the billionth time. Seriously he really hated his dad for introducing Leah to the damn movie.

They were barely half hour in when the doorbell went. Stiles frowned over at Ray who’d been watching the movie with Leah pressed up to her side, the little girl sing along very loudly. Getting to his feet, Stiles made his way to the door unsure who it could possibly be. - Though he probably should have known. He blamed it on his Disney fried brain when he yanked open the door to see Derek stood there, one hand thrust deep into his jacket pocket while the other hand clutched onto a red blanket.

"What are you doing here?" Stiles whispered, glancing over his shoulder to the living room where he could hear the voices of Mowgli and Baloo.

Derek followed his gaze and inhale, his back instantly stiffening. "Oh…I….I’m sorry. Leah said she wanted her blanket. That she couldn’t sleep without it." he thrust the large red fabric at him. "So here." he turned to leave. His heart racing and his body beginning to hum. He closed his eyes and reached for control, but having the stranger's scent - no matter out subtle. - clinging to the air made it impossible. He clenched his jaw and inhaled, taking the steps to his car.

"Daddy!" Squealed Leah behind him.

Derek stopped and turned to take in his little girl standing beside Stiles, looking at him with wide happy eyes. "Hey sweetheart. I brought your blanket."

"We watching Jungle Book. Come watch Daddy."

Derek noted Stiles stiffening beside Leah, his eyes flickering over his shoulder. "Not tonight Leah. Stiles has a friend over. I’ll see you…."

"Pweeeezzzz!" she whined. "’iles, tell Daddy to come watch Mowgil." she looked up at Stiles with watery eyes and a trembling lower lip and Stiles knew. He knew the little madam had planned it. He was going to kill Lydia. - And Peter. They were terrible, terrible influences on her.

"Lee….maybe your Dad has something else to do." he said as gently as he could.

Leah looked at Derek, big fat tears welling in her eyes. "Daddy?" she sniffled.

Derek looked up at Stiles pleadingly, swallowing hard, his hands buried deeper than a grave in his pockets. "I….sweetheart…." he said in a thick, wary voice. "….If you want to come home…."

"No. Come watch Mowgli." she insisted, sniffling more.

Stiles knew the battle was lost. If Derek left now, Leah would be impossible for the rest of the night. Sure he could always let Derek take her home, but he really didn’t want to lose the rest of the weekend. They’d made plans. But if he invited him in it was going to be awkward. Sighing, he combed his fingers through his hair. "Just come in." he gave up, stepping back from the door and waving an arm.

"I….I don’t want to interrupt, Stiles." Derek said firmly. "I’ll go. She’ll be fine." he turned to leave.

"Daddy!" Leah squealed.

"Derek. For gods sake. Get your were…..ass in here. We’re missing the movie." not that he cared.

Derek looked back at him uncertainly, his eye flickering between Stiles and Leah. "I…" he nodded finally and returned to the door. Miraculously Leah’s tears and trembling lower lip vanished and she spun on her heels and ran back into the living room.

"You know she did this on purpose, right?" Stiles grumbled as Derek stepped inside and he threw the door closed with a frustrated bang.

Derek looked at him. "I’m sorry."

"Whatever." Stiles huffed, marching back to the living. He wasn’t surprised to see Leah pressed once more into the side of Ray, leaving a wide open space for him and knowing Lee, Derek. "Sorry." he murmured to Ray as he retook his seat. Her confused look cleared as Derek stepped awkwardly into the room. "You remember Derek." he introduced with a tired voice.

"Huh…yeah. Hi." Ray smiled.

Derek nodded awkwardly, moving to take a seat on his father’s chair.

"Lee invited him to watch the Jungle Book with us." Stiles said in answer to Ray unasked question, an apology in his eyes.

"Oh. Huh…" Ray looked down at Leah who was watching her dad.

"No Daddy. Here." she said firmly. Reaching for the popcorn Ray had on her lap.

Derek looked from Stiles to Ray. "I’ll be fine here, sweetheart."

"Pweezzz!"

"Derek just sit the hell down." Stiles snapped, shifting closer to the arm of the couch where Leah pushed him to make room for Derek. "Can you take that thing off." he grumbled, eyeing the leather jacket.

Derek stood and shrugged it off before throwing it over the back of the couch and retaking his seat, sending an apologetic look Stiles way that the teenager looking determined not to accept.

The next ninety minuets were the most awkward and uncomfortable of Stiles young life. It wasn’t just the fact that he was sat on the same couch as his girlfriend and the guy he had a huge crush on, it was that he was pressed up against Derek, shoulder to knee. Over the course of the movie he’d been getting closer and closer. Stiles had stared at him for a long moment the first time he shifted against his side only to find Derek’s gaze fixed on the scene while Leah pressed into the man’s side. By the end of the film, Leah was practically on Derek’s lap, who in turn was practically in his, while Ray said alone at the other end of the couch. This was absolutely not what he’d expected for their night.

The instant the credits began to roll Ray was on her feet. "I better be going. Thanks for inviting me. - Leah. Derek." she nodded with a tight force smile as she headed for the door.

"Huh, wait up." Stiles said, scrambling to get out of his seat, shoving at Derek’s large bicep to get him to move. He chased after Ray the instant he was free, catching up with her in the drive. "Hey. Look I’m sorry. I didn’t know she’d invited him. I swear." he panted, skidding to a halt as she turned to stare at him.

"Stiles." Ray sighed sadly. "I’m not sure we should keep doing this. I mean you're clearly still hung up on him."

"What? No. I’m….it’s cool. I’m not. He’s….."

"You’re taking care of his kid."

"Well yeah, but that’s not because of Derek. That’s got nothing to do with….any of that. I love Leah. I took care of her for almost two moments while Derek was out of town. We bonded."

"Yeah and she’s made that perfectly clear."

"Okay so I know she’s kinda….well intimidating. Its kinda hereditary." he shrugged. "But she’s just not used to strangers and….."

"You wants you and Derek to be together." Ray stated matter-of-factly.

Stiles gapped. "I…how…?"

"My cousin. When her parents broke up she tried every trick in the book to get them back together." Ray smiled softly. "And that….." she pointed at the house. "….was one of them."

Stiles flushed; his heart pounding. "She’s young. Naive. She doesn’t understand why it’s not going to happen." he said in a rush, his fingers combing though his hair. "Just because some kid in her school has two dads she thinks its simple. Black and white. But it ain’t." he shook his head.

"It could be." Ray whispered. "If you want it?"

Stiles met her gaze. "I…." he shook his head. "Its not just down to me through is it?" his shoulders slumped.

"Stiles…."

"Look. I’m heading off to college. It would be stupid to start anything serious." he said firmly. "I just want to get through senior year with as little stress and as much…..fun…." he stared at her meaningfully. "….as possibly. - And h...that..." he nodded to the house. "…isn’t conducive to either of those things."

Ray chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. "I don’t know Stiles. When we agreed to do this, I hadn’t counted on having to deal with all the Step-Mom levels of hostility."

"There won’t be." Stiles said quickly. "No Step-Mom-ness. I promise. We’ll….I’ll talk to Leah. Make it clear that me and her dad are never going to happen."

"You should never say never." Ray sighed with a small smile.

Stiles grinned. "Are we good?"

Ray sighed, chewing her lips again for a few minutes. "We’re good." she nodded.

"Awesome." Stiles grinned, closing the gap between them and taking her face in his hands. He kissed her gentle and slow for a few minutes, her fingers threading through his hair as his hands tugged on her hips, pulling her closer.

"I better go." Ray said finally pulling away and taking a step back.

"You want me to drive you?"

"Nah, got my car." she thumbed over to the silver Ford.

"Nice."

Ray raised a brow at him, before turning towards the beat up Jeep. "At least it runs." she laughed.

"Hey, my baby runs. She’s smooth as silk." Stiles defended.

"Whatever you say." she stepped forward to press a final fleeting kiss to Stiles lips, pulling back to see him making ‘Gasping Fish Mouth’ at her. Laughing she turned to leave.

"Movies. Friday." Stiles called out. "No Disney."

"Deal. See ya Monday hot-stuff." she winked.

Stiles stood in the drive watching Ray get into her car and drive away before turning reluctantly back to the house.

He stepped over the threshold to the sound of Derek and Leah talking in hushed voice, the familiar sound of the Jungle Book sing-a-long extras in the back ground. Steeling himself he marching into the room, straight to the television and switched it off, before turning to Leah with his arms folding over his chest in a way that would have either made his dad proud or laugh. "Alright young lady, games up. I know you did that on purpose."

Leah looked up at him with wide eyed innocence. "Huh?"

"Don’t huh me." he said firmly. "You told your dad you needed your blanket so he’d come over, even though you can sleep perfectly fine without it." he frowned. "I know what your game is and it ain’t going to work. You hear me. I know your friend Kenny has two daddy’s and you for some ridiculous reason think me and your dad are going to get together and live happily ever after like some god-damn Disney movie….." he was ranting; his tone high and frustrated, and out of control.

"Stiles." Derek interrupted, his brow knitted tightly.

"But it ain’t happening. Okay. I don’t even like you dad. I have a girlfriend. A nice girlfriend who likes me and you made her uncomfortable all night. And your dad’s with your mom and your going to live with them and I’m leaving soon so you better…."

"Stiles!" Derek yelled angrily, shooting to his feet with a growl.

Stiles gave a startled jerk, his eyes going wide as he took in the scene, Derek staring at him furiously while Leah sat whimpering on the couch, big fat tears slipping down her cheeks. "Oh my god. Lee! I….I’m sorry. I didn’t…." he looked desperately to Derek who was still glaring at him. "I didn’t mean to….I just…." he shook his head, tears burning behind his eyes as he watching Leah cry on the couch. He hadn’t meant…..he shook his head.

"Daddy." Leah whispered wetly.

Derek turned his angry green eyes away from Stiles to look at his daughter, crouching down in front of her. "Sweetheart?"

"Can I come home now?" she said quietly, her gaze avoiding Stiles.

It was like a physical punch. His heart stopped. He couldn’t breath as he watched Derek nod, wrapping his arms around Leah’s waist and lifting her off the couch. he grabbed for his jacket "Lee. I…."

"I’ll collect her things….later. Goodnight Stiles." Derek said firmly, turning to leave.

Stiles rushed after them. "Wait. Lee, I thought we….Lee?" she wouldn’t look at him, her face buried in the curve of her dad’s neck. Stiles could hear her sniffling miserably. "I’m sorry."

Derek yanked open the door silently and marched out. Leaving it hanging open as he took the porch steps. Stiles hovered in the doorway, tears rolling down his cheeks as he watched Derek secure Leah into his car before heading for the driver’s seat. Pulling open the door, the man paused, lifting his gaze to meet Stiles. The air Stiles had fought to get into his lung evaporated at the sight of Derek’s blank emotionless face. Then Derek was gone. In the blink of an eye he was in the car and driving away with Leah. Stiles felt his insides crumple in on themselves and he staggered back into the house blindly. Pushing the door closed and falling heavily back against the wall, slipping to the floor as his knees gave beneath him and a sob shook him to the core.

"Derek?" Alex frowned as he walked into the house with Leah in his arms, her head once again turned into his chest. "Is everything alright?"

"No." he headed straight for the steps.

"Derek?"

"I’ve got to put Leah to bed. - I’ll explain….later."

Derek took the stairs two at a time and carried Leah straight to her room. She sniffled as she raised her head to look at him.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah." he said softly, his lips brushing against her forehead.

"Can I sweep with you?"

Derek sucked in a breath and changed direction, heading towards the bedroom. He pushed the door open with his foot and marching to the bed. Depositing Leah in the middle as he pulled off her socks and jeans. Alex had taken the room down the hall, on the other side of Leah’s. They’d spent the whole day getting it ready and moving what few things Alex had brought with her into the new room. Dropping Leah’s clothes to the ground till she was laying there only in her underwear and her t-shirt he stepped back. "I’ll just go get your nightdress, okay. Stay there." he pointed a finger and smiled sadly as she nodded.

He rushed into Leah’s room and fought to control the way his body reacted to the faint scent of Stiles that lingered. He swallowed hard as he yanked open the dresser drawers. He couldn’t believe the way Stiles had yelled at Leah. The anger on his face. He’d seen Stiles angry, of course he had, but he’d never thought he’d take out that anger and frustration out on a little girl. On his little girl. It hadn’t help that he could still remember the conversation he’d overheard between Stiles and his girlfriend. He’s heard every word and every hidden meaning. When Stiles had walked back into the house Derek had already decided to cut his loses and confess. Tell him that the whole thing with Alex was a scam, that it wasn’t working because he’d somehow, for no logical reason, fallen for the hyper-active teenager. But then Stiles had started shouting, ranting at Leah for a silly childish prank that once upon a time Stiles would have laughed at. Would probably been proud of. - But that was before.

Derek yanked out a yellow nightdress and thrust the drawer closed, making the dresser shaking with the force of it. Then Stiles had told Leah he was leaving and Derek had heard the way his little girl’s heart had broken. It had taken all his control not to rip Stiles throat out. Literally this time. But then maybe it was for the best. Maybe this was the push they’d needed to put some distance between them. Maybe it was time Stiles took a step back. Out of danger. Out of the pack. Derek braced his hands on the edge of the dresser and sucked in a deep breath, his head hanging low. This is what you wanted. He told himself. You wanted him gone. Wanted him out of the way. You should be happy. Yeah. He should. So why did it feel like his heart had been ripped out of his chest?