Sterek - What's Best For Everyone...chap30

“This really happened?” Stiles whispered, not that he really needed to. It was a dream, memory, whatever.

“Yes.”

“You were here?”

“Yes.” Derek nodded, his gaze fixed on his younger self cradling a terrified Stiles.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone? I told everyone and they thought I was lying! - They said it was the trauma! But you were here! You saw!” Stiles yelled, shoving Derek’s shoulder.

“Because…” Derek said slowly, turning to meet the boy’s furious gaze. “I didn’t remember. - Not until just now.”

“What? How could you not remember?” Stiles yelled.

“You didn’t know I was here either!” Derek snapped back defensively.

“I was six for fuck sake, and this was the worst night of my life. I had no idea who you were! And everyone was telling me I was imagining it, I figured I’d imagine you too! And it's not like we ever crossed paths.”

Derek shook his head. “In a few minutes the pack will rush the school. They’ll find us here. - In order to protect the pack, my mom will drag me away.” he murmured regretfully.

A noise from the door had them both turning to see a tall dark haired woman standing. The surrounding wall and door were different, Stiles instantly noted. Not the pale cream of the school walls but a deep blue. He turned his head to look around and found they were standing in what he could only assume was Derek’s bedroom, judging from the basketball and music posters on the wall, the trophies on the shelved, and the teenager curled up in a ball on the bed.

“Derek?”

“Make it stop.” the teenager moaned painfully.

Stiles turned to look at the older version of Derek and found him staring at the himself with a look of agony on his face. The sight had Stiles chest aching. He turned back to see the woman, obviously Talia Hale - Derek's mom, walk into the room and over to her son’s bed. Lowering herself down gently next to him.

“I know it hurts my darling.”

Derek drew himself tighter into the ball.

“Look at me.”

Young Derek shook his head, burying his face deeper into the pillow. “Make it stop.”

“I can’t do that. I wish I could, believe me. - But…Derek what your feeling. It’s a great gift. Very few find their true mate.”

Stiles sucked in a deep breath, his head snapping around to seek out the older man’s eyes, but Derek refused to look at him.

“I don’t want it. I don’t want any of this!”

“You think that now” she whispered softly. Her fingers brushing though his hair. “But someday….”

The teenager’s head snapped around to glare at his mother, his eyes burning brilliant blue. “No. Never. - I don‘t want a mate. I don‘t want him! - I just want it to go away.”

Talia cupped her son’s cheek. “Derek…” she whispered. “I can’t….”

Stiles didn’t stay around to listen to any more, didn’t need to hear how Derek never wanted him. He rushed towards the door, grateful that stepping through brought him back to the woods. He walked through the tree not caring where he was going, or whether Derek was following him. In fact he didn’t want the man to be there. He wanted to be alone.

“Stiles!”

Apparently Derek didn’t get the memo. His large strong hand closed around Stiles bicep and tugged him to a halt. Forcing him to turn.

“I get it okay!” Stiles snapped. “You don’t want me! And I don’t blame you. Really. I get it. Why would you?”

“Stiles!” Derek snapped with a growl.

“No. It’s fine. You didn’t ask for any of this, and more than….”

Derek’s mouth cut him off. Silencing the teenager. When he pulled back Stiles was staring up at him with wide confused eyes. “I was sixteen Stiles. Sixteen!” Derek snapped. “And I’d found out that my mate wasn’t only a boy but a boy ten years younger than me. I watched my girlfriend get ripped to pieces, calling for my help, and instead of going to save her, I was drawn to protect a kid I didn’t even know. Do you have any idea what that felt like? Do you? - And what made it worse was that from the moment I wrapped by arms around you, offering you comfort and protection, I felt everything you felt. - My eyes.” he paused to take a deep breath. “Betas eyes are gold Stiles. Like Scott and Isaac, I had golden eyes before that night.”

Stiles frowned.

“Loss changes them, Stiles.”

“Paige?”

Derek shook his head, exhaling. “No idiot. You.”

“I wasn’t….”

“It was your loss, moron. Did you miss the part about me feeling your pain?”

Stiles stood there gaping up at Derek liked he’d woken to find himself in the twilight zone. “I…but….” he shook his head. “You feel my….pain?”

Derek racked his hand through his hair. “I couldn’t handle it. I was only sixteen Stiles. I couldn’t deal with that kind of….stuff. So my mom…fixed it. Temporarily.”

“How?”

“She erased the memory of that night. You. The Alpha. - I remembered that Paige had been killed by the rogue Alpha. I knew my family had hunted him down, but I didn’t remember actually being there. It was meant to be a temporary solution. Until we were both old enough to deal with what it meant. - But then…..”

“The fire.” Stiles whispered quietly.

Derek nodded. “Once she was dead there was no way for me to get the memory back. No one but my mom knew about….” he waved his hand between them. “So I went to New York with Laura, you grew up not knowing anything about….me?”

“I wouldn’t say that. I knew who you were.” Stiles smiled sadly.

“That probably would have been it. I would have met someone else. So would you and neither of us would have known anything about….any of this. - But….Peter drew Laura back, I followed and found you.”

“You make it sound so romantic.” Stiles teased lightly.

“Hardly.” Derek snorted. “I still didn’t remember….that.” he waved back to where they’d come from. “All I knew was that you were this annoying kid I just couldn’t seem to shake….”

“I don’t know, I remember a fair amount of shaking. And throwing. - Oh, lets not forget the slamming and head injuries.”

Derek couldn’t help by smile. “I couldn’t help myself.” he shrugged. “I had these feelings I didn’t understand for a teenager.” he sobered slightly. “A teenager a few years younger than I was when…..Kate….”

“You’re not Kate. Don’t you….”

Derek staggered back, as if something had hit him square in the chest. “If I hadn’t made my mom….” he swallowed. “If I hadn’t been so weak, so scared of what I was feeling I would never have….” he lent back against a tree, inhaling quick shallow breaths. “I would never have fallen for Kate’s lies. I wouldn’t have fallen for Kali’s either. My family, Erica. They would….”

“Oh no you don’t.” Stiles snapped, marching towards him. Cupping his face in both hands. “You don’t get to play the self-blame-game again. You were sixteen! You said so yourself. And Kate. Kali. They would have found a way to get to the pack whether it was through you or not. Your not to blame Derek. You’ve got to start believing that.”

Derek lifted his gaze to stare into Stiles warm brown eyes. So filled with trust and belief that Derek found himself breathless. He brought his hand up to stroke gently at the boy’s soft cheek. They stood there in silence for a few minutes, just watching one another. Sharing something neither of them could really name. - Of course then Stiles had to go and ruin it.

“There’s one thing I don’t get.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “I guess it was too much to hope that you’d actually learnt to shut up. - What?”

Stiles narrowed his eyes at the man for a long moment before continuing. “Your mom knew about this….bond thing.”

“Yes.”

“And well, she seemed kind….happy about it.” he frowned deeply.

“She was.”

“But why? I mean, didn’t she know it was….well, dangerous. That it was going to….well that I could….That you could end up going crazy and killing us all?”

Derek's eyes widened. “What? Who told you….?”

“Aeryn. She said that you could go crazy if we did this and then I changed my mind. Not that I would but…. She said it was safer for everyone that I leave now before we….” he flushed. “I was just saying goodbye when…” he waved a hand around. “…I end up in here.”

Derek gaped at him for a few minutes. “She told you….” he shook his head. “You know why Aeryn’s an alpha?”

“Because she’s…..” he shrugged. “I never got how that whole thing worked. Did she kill the previous alpha like you killed Peter?”

“No. The previous alpha was her twin brother.”

“And he died?”

“He went crazy when his mate left him. He was hunted down and killed leaving a trail of bodies from New York to California.”

Stiles swallowed, his eyes locked on Derek’s. “You mean…..that….alpha was….” he nodded slowly. "It was another of those memories my mom took. Aeryn came to Beacon Hills when her brother....when Mom captured him." he shook his head, as if trying to sort his thoughts out. "She blamed the mate bond."

“Oh god, so….” Stiles took a step back from Derek. Then another. Putting as much space between them as he could.

Derek stepped forward. “Stiles, it wasn’t the bond, she was just....” he knew he’d never be able to explain it. Probably because he’d never really understood it himself. So instead he snatched Stiles wrist and began to drag him through the woods, his mind fixed on a particular place and time. On a particular person. If he couldn’t explain it, then maybe his mother could.

It didn’t take them long to locate the Hale house. Stiles complaining every step of the way of course, but Derek simply ignored him. He’d finally come to terms with who he was. What he wanted. He wasn’t going to let Aeryn’s family history ruin it for him now. He tightened his fingers around Stiles wrist and dragged him up the porch steps and into the house.

It was filled with warms. The whole family was gathered in the lounge, a fire burning in the grate, more for effect than warmth. His mother was sat on a large couch, Laura curled into her side, while little Cora sat on her lap, looking up at the woman with wide excited eyes. In front of the window, knees drawn to his chest, head rolling back against the frame, sat a young Derek. Maybe a year or so older than the last time Stiles had seen him.

“What’s going on?” Stiles frowned, looking around the room.

“Shhh. You need to listen.” he insisted, finally dropping Stiles wrist and stepping back to lean against the frame of the door.

“Mommy, tell about true mates.” Cora pleaded.

“Oh for the love of god must we. Seriously Talia, if I have to hear that nonsense again….”

“You wait Peter. One day you’ll find yours and then you’ll be sorry.” Talia laughed, pulling her little girl tighter into her chest. Her eyes seeking out the silent form of Derek across the room. “A true mate is the most precious gift a werewolf will ever receive. More so than the power that comes with being what we are. They carry with them a strength of will that calls to you, a call stronger than that of your own pack. A true mate bows to no one. Least of all you….” Talia said softly, her eyes still settled on Derek. The teenager turning to shoot his mother a disbelieving look. “It is rare for a werewolf to find such a mate, which make their bond even more of a miracle.”

“And what if your so-called true mate doesn‘t want you?” Derek said, staring at his mom. “What then, huh? - What if he‘s out of your reach?”

Stiles glanced over at Derek, his heart pounding in his chest.

“If he does not want you.” Talia said softly, her eyes locked with her son’s. “Then you must find the strength to let him go.”

“And if….you can’t? If the pull is too strong?”

Talia’s eyes softened sadly. “Then you must be prepared to die. - But only a selfish wolf would cling onto the one it loves against his will.”

“I may have forgotten about the school…” Derek murmured from behind Stiles, causing him to spin and face the man. “…But I still felt the pull to you.” he sighed pitifully. “Can you imagine how I felt? You were a kid, seven, eight years old while I’m…” he waved his hand at his eighteen year old self. “I thought I was….wrong. That I was some kind of monster.”

Stiles frowned, taking a step towards him. “You’re not a monster Derek. You didn’t ask for this….” he waved between them. “Any more than I did.”

Derek sighed once more, dropping his gaze to the floor. “I know.”

Stiles took another step forward, breaking into the man’s personal space. “But then no one chooses who to love.” he whispered softly.

Derek’s head snapped up to stare at the teenager, shock, surprise and hope in his warm green eyes.

“Look man. Apparently we’ve been dancing around this for years. At least if you listen to the others. And well….this place is making it pretty clear what we’ve been wanting all this for a long time. And it seems even the fates themselves had decided we make a pretty awesome pair. - God….”

“What?” Derek frowned with concern.

“Even Matt knew.” Stiles feigned a shiver at the thought of the crazed killer seeing what both he and Derek were too blind or maybe just too damn stubborn to see.

Derek’s lip quivered. “So…?”

“So, maybe and I can’t believe I’m saying this, well I can because I want to but I never thought I would because this is possibly the most surreal thing in my entire life and my life has werewolves, banshees and all manner of insane shit in it but maybe we should you know…..listen.” he sucked in a sharp breath. “You know. If you wan…..”

Derek’s lips crashed down on Stiles, his hands cupping the younger man’s face, dragging him in to deepen the kiss. Delving in as if starving for it. Which of course he was. He’d been needing to do this for longer than he’d even remembered. He pulled away just enough to look into Stiles flushed red face and inhale a quick breath before he was throwing himself back in for more. Staggering forward to press Stiles into the opposite doorframe.

“Ah….Der….” Stiles mumbled, pulling away enough to talk. “I know this….isn’t real, but it’s totally creepy to be making out while your mom and sister are just there.”

Derek smiled against his lips. “They're not real.”

“I know that. Didn’t I say I knew that? But its still creepy and well….as much as I totally want to do this….I want….Derek can we maybe finished this in the real world.”

Derek’s eyes flickered from the teenagers brown eyes to his bruised lips and slowly drew in a deep breath, dropping his hands reluctantly. “Okay. I guess….lets find….I’m giving it another twenty minutes, your being warned. And if we haven’t found our way out by then I don’t care where we are, or who’s around….” he growled, his eyes flashing for the first time in hours. Making Stiles heart stop in his chest.

“Huh….you know your eyes just…” he took a cautious step back. “Are you….my Derek or crazy werewolf Derek?”

“Both.” a voice from behind them said, causing them to spin.

Naked wolf Derek was stood there, eyes blazing as he stared at them, a smirk on his face that screamed predator. “That’s it Derek. Take him.”

“I won’t take anything.” Derek snapped back at the wolf, his eyes flaring to life.

The wolf growled impatiently. “You need him. We need him.”

Derek stood his ground; body defensively placed between Stiles and his wolf. His jaw tight and his posture ready to fight.

“Fine, if you won’t take him.” the wolf snarled. “I will.”

Stiles stepped forward, just as naked wolf Derek did. Putting himself between the pair. His feet braced evenly apart and his arms hanging loosely at his side. His fingers curled up into tight fists. “No!” he stated firmly. A moment later his finger came up to point directly in naked Derek’s face. “I’m not yours, you can’t have me. You don’t own me.” he said firm, as if talking to a wayward child or a bad pet. “I own you. You will listen to me! Back off! Now!”

The wolf paused, looking from his other self to Stiles. His eyes flashing brilliant red.

“I said, move!” Stiles yelled.

Derek watching in amazement as his other self took a step back. "Stiles?"

“Good. Now shut the hell up and listen. I’m staying, not because you want me, but because I want to. I’ve always wanted to. College? That was my dad’s dream. All I’ve ever wanted to do was stay here and protect my family. My pack. Do what my dad does.”

Naked Derek smiled wolfishly, his head tilted arrogantly to the side.

“Oh don’t go giving me that look.” he pointed. “Like you’ve won, because you haven’t. Not even close. - I’m not yours to start being all possessive and creepy over. You hear me. I haven’t taken that shit in three years, I’m not going to start just because we’re going to be having sex….” he paused, taking a quick breath before glancing over his shoulder. “There’s going to be sex right, because man it’s not healthy to be a virgin at my age.”

Derek frowned. “Your still…?” he swallowed. “What about…Ray?”

Stiles turned his back on the wolf. “Well huh….we got kinda close….” A growl behind him had Stiles shooting a warning look over his shoulder. When the wolf fell silent he turned back to Derek. “Anyway….well…I just couldn’t….” his face reddened as he dropped his gaze to his feet. “My back, you know.”

Derek inhaled sharply.

“What was I meant to say? About that. It’s not like I could just tell her the truth. ‘Oh, the scars? Sure I was attacked by a werewolf who was under the influence of Jedi-mind-control courtesy of his sister and girlfriend.’ Yeah, that would have sound great. - And well….I also…” Stiles swallowed hard, his hands burying themselves deep in his pockets. “I might have kept thinking about…..you and that ripped body of yours.” he smirked to his shoes.

Another growl filled the silence but when Stiles lifted his head to scold the wolf he quickly realised the sound had come for Derek.

“We need to get out of here!” Derek growled, taking a step into Stiles personal space and brushing his nose along the boy’s neck. His fingers curling around Stiles hips, pulling him tight against Derek’s ‘ripped’ body. “Now!”

Stiles breath fled his lungs. “Fuck. Where’s the exit sign when you need it? - You know, in consideration maybe….” he licked his lips. “You think there’s anyone in the library?”

Derek released a strangled desperate noise as he took Stiles mouth once again. Devouring him almost violently. Stiles fingers curling in and tugging at Derek hair while his body curved, melding itself to the werewolf.

“Daddy!”

Stiles frowned, pulling back a little to look around him. “Did you hear that?”

Derek stared, following Stiles line of sight. “What?”

“I thought I heard…..”

“Daddy!”

“You heard that right?”

Derek straightened. “Yeah. Leah.”

“Where’s it coming from?”

“Daddy, you and ‘iles gonna wake up now. Pweeazzze Daddy. Wake up.” the voice whimpered. "I'm 'ared Daddy."

Stiles heart leapt into his throat. “We need to get out of here.”

Derek took his wrist, dragging him out of the lounge. It wasn’t until Stiles was being forced through the doorway that he realised Derek’s naked wolf self was gone.

“Where’s…..”

“Stiles, come on. We need to get back to Leah.” Derek snapped, turning to flash red alpha eyes at him.

“Hey, the only flash you’re allowed to do from now one is the naked kind.”

“Shut up Stiles.” Derek snapped gruffly, dragging the boy after him.

Derek dragged the teenager up the stairs of the house and down the corridor to the door to what was now his bedroom. With Stiles wrist still in his left hand, his right hovered over the handle.

“Daddy.”

“Are we just going to stand here all night?” Stiles snapped.

“What if….what if this isn’t the exit?” he sighed uncertainly.

Stiles started up at him. “Then we’ll just have to keep looking. But we won’t know it you open the god damn door. So open it Wolfman.”