Sterek Week 2016 || Day 2 || Kids || The Laser Tag Party
There aren’t many things that Derek isn’t willing to do for his daughter. Christie is his heart. Eight years old and already with enough self-determination to be arguing with people twice her age. Her smile lights Derek up every time, and even when she’s yelling at him or avoiding him because he packed her an apple instead of an orange for lunch, he would drop anything for her.
That said, Derek does have a small list of things he’d like to be able to trade out. If he wasn’t a single father, he’d foster the following onto his partner:
Accompanying Christie to movie marathons that last over 12 hours
Learning the cha-cha so they can dance together at the school disco
Laser-tag and bowling parties
That’s it. That’s his list. It’s small, and at the end of the day, Derek doesn’t really mind.
Right now, however, standing in the main entrance of the local laser tag, waiting for a dozen kids to show up for the birthday party for a kid in Christie’s class, Derek can’t help but fantasise about his half-finished paperback and comfortable living room at home. And an advil. Not five minutes being here and he’s alright convinced his ears have started ringing from the decibel of the kids’ screams.
“Is the birthday boy here yet?” Derek asks Christie when she comes over to him after greeting her friends.
“Nope. But Dean’s always last. They’ll get here, daddy.” Christie pats as high up on his arms as she can reach.
Her words don’t reassure Derek much. If it was Christie birthday party, he would make sure they were there at least fifteen minutes before the party was meant to start. Half an hour to be sure. It’s not exactly the best form to be showing up late to your own birthday party.
All the other parents have dropped off their kids and escaped.
It’s probably not fair of Derek to think of it as escaping, actually. After all, he volunteered to be here. Well, he volunteered after Christie dropped hints. Well, not hints so much as she just asked him outright.
Each printed invite – adorned with clip-art of laser guns, birthday cakes, presents, and a few lightsabers – also came with a request to the parents.
To the parent/care giver. In order to meet the requirements of the venue, two adults need to be present to oversee the party. I would really appreciate if you would be able to donate a few hours of your time to help me oversee the party for Dean. When you RSVP, please let me know either way. Thank you, Stiles.
Derek wasn’t going to offer until Christie said she’d like to have him there and then, what was he to do. Say no? Impossible.
So he texted the number at the bottom of the card.
Hello. Christie Hale would love to come to Dean’s birthday party. Thank you for inviting her. Also, I am available to help out on the day. My name is Derek. Please feel free to contact me using this number.
He got a response within the hour.
Hi Derek. Dean’s looking forward to having Christie there. I am definitely looking forward to having some help for his party. There shouldn’t be much to it, just turn up. Thank you so much. Stiles.
They hadn’t texted then until yesterday, where Stiles just sent a quick text reminding Derek and checking he was still on board. He was.
Now he’s waiting in the foyer, looking at his watch, and forming a worsening impression of Stiles, a man he’s never met. It’s poor form, Derek is aware, so he tries to talk himself out of it.
He doesn’t have to for long because the birthday boy arrives.
“Dean!” Christie squeals, running over to a slight, brown haired boy who’s just run in from the carpark. She doesn’t hesitate to wrap him in a hug and soon the other kids are following. Derek smiles at them, glad as always to see Christie getting along with her friends.
While all the kids are in the huddle, a man walks through the automatic doors, laden down with several plastic bags in one hand, and a cake container in the other. This must be Stiles.
Derek steps around the kids, who are now jumping up and down, and introduces himself.
“Stiles?”
“Yes, that’s me. Hi. Derek Hale?”
“Yes. Do you want me to take anything?”
Stiles sighs out with obvious relief. “Please. Thank you. Can you grab the cake?”
Derek takes it out of Stiles’ hands and Stiles smiles at him in relief. He feels a little twang in his gut and forces himself not to acknowledge what it means.
Stiles switches the bags up so they’re divided evenly. “Sorry I’m late. I had planned to get here early but then Dean couldn’t find his lucky socks. Turns out they were in the wash so I had to hand wash them, then unearth the hair dryer, and anyway. Sorry. And thank you again for agreeing to help me out, Derek. Have you let them know we’re here?”
Derek shakes his head. “I was just waiting for you.”
“Okay. Well I’m going to go let them know, I’ll be back in a sec.”
Derek watches Stiles head over to the reception desk, feeling a little overwhelmed. For one, that was a lot of words in a very short amount of time. Thank goodness he’s had practice with nieces and nephews. And two, Stiles is his type. Full stop. Right on the money. From his height, to his shoulder width, to his moles, to his thick hair. He has a sudden unexplainable thought about Christie’s intentions with bringing him here, before he realises, she’s eight years old, and she’s not Laura.
Stiles is back by then, plastic bags missing. He pats Derek on the shoulder as he walks past, then claps loudly for the kids’ attention.
“Right. Hello kiddies. My name is Stiles. I’m Dean’s dad. Are you all excited to play some laser tag?”
The kids jump and scream some more. It doesn’t seem to faze Stiles at all, while Derek just wishes harder for that advil.
“Well okay then, follow me. We’re all going to put our stuff in the party room, and then we’ll get ready for round one. Oh! Hang on a moment.” Stiles turns around and beckons Derek over. When Derek’s standing beside him he claps his hand on his shoulder again. This time, it stays there. “This is Derek. He’s—“
“My dad!!” Christie shouts. The kids giggle around her.
“Correct. This is Christie’s dad. He’s here to help out too. No-one knock him over because he’s holding the birthday cake and that’d be sad. Let’s go.”
Stiles leads them all into a room that while fairly plain itself, has been decorate to a sickening level. Streamers, banners, bunches of helium filled balloon, and gaudy plastic tablecloths on the large table in the middle. There’s a second table off to the side which Stiles directs presents too, and bags under.
“Were you planning on going in, or did you want to just sit out here?” Stiles asks Derek quietly while the kids put their stuff away.
“Oh, I don’t really mind. I assume they needed us in there with them.”
“So did I, but apparently not. So, do you want to be shot at by eight year old’s, or did you want to do your own thing out here?”
“I didn’t bring a book or anything.”
“Well I can stay out here with you. We can have some actually adult conversation that uses big words like ‘auto-dependency’ and ‘reticence’ and ‘congeniality’.”
Derek surprises himself by laughing, egged on by Stiles’ comic eyebrow wiggle. “Adult conversation sounds great, actually.”
Stiles nods and smiles, clapping him once again on the shoulder, before he chorales the kids off with him to head to their first round.
Derek stays back in the room and tidies up the mess of bags and presents that the kids have left, finishing before Stiles comes back. He checks his phone while he waits, responding to a text Laura had sent him yesterday, and then adding a video snapchat of the room to his story.
Stiles catches him at it.
“Did not realise you would be up with social media and apps.” Derek jumps a little. “Sorry, sorry. I’m back,” Stiles says unnecessarily.
“That’s alright.”
“They should be about half an hour.”
Derek puts his phone back into his pocket and then there’s an awkward silence. Derek’s not that great at filling those, and apparently, the only conversation starters his brain can think of right now involved asking Stiles if he’s single, or asking Stiles out. Neither of those he wants to follow through with, so he bites his tongue, hoping Stiles will start the conversation.
Stiles pulls out a chair from the table and sits down on it, then beckons Derek to do the same. Derek sits across from him. Put their same configuration in a different setting and it could almost be a first date. But Derek’s getting way ahead of himself here. Even though it has been a while since he’s spent one-on-one time with an adult that wasn’t for work, that is not what this is. He’s only here as a favour and because Christie asked him to. And that’s another reason not to rush right there.
“So what are you up to, Derek?” Stiles asks.
“Today? Or in life?” Derek asks.
Stiles laughs easily with his head thrown back. “I meant more like in life. Job, hobbies, stuff like that.”
“Alright then. I’m a public servant. I work with city planning to assess new architectural projects for their feasibility and sustainability.”
Stiles nods slowly. “And outside of work?”
“Not much. Fathering takes up most of that time. I usually do whatever Christie wants to do.”
“I get that. I do have me time, but there is also a lot of me and Dean time. God that sounds like I hate it, doesn’t it?” Stiles runs his hands through his hair. “That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s alright. I get it. You put them first because you want to, not because you have to.”
“Yeah, exactly.” Stiles smiles, relieved.
“What about you, then?”
Stiles leans back in the chair, relaxing into the conversation. “I’m an assistant manager at a kitchenware store. Sounds kinda lame, I know, but I really love working there.”
“I don’t think it’s lame.”
Stiles furrows his brow as he looks over Derek, as though unsure whether he’s telling the truth of not.
“I get great discounts.”
“Okay.”
“I get say over what hours I work.”
“Okay.”
“I get to—“
“Stiles,” Derek stops him. “It’s really fine that you work in retail.”
“Okay, okay. Sometimes I tell people that, and they just get these judgemental eyes. I can see them looking at me, and guessing how old I am, and if I’m with Dean it’s just twenty times worse.”
Stiles looks like he’s running over one of the encounters in his head. Derek tries to move the conversation on.
“I have to say I’m amazed that you let Dean have a laser-tag party.”
“Tell me about it,” Stiles says with a groan. “But he’s been asking for months.”
“Well, I know Christie was very excited when she got the invite. Did Dean make those himself?”
“Yeah, he’s a computer whiz.” Stiles says it with fondness. “I’d like to say he gets it from me, but it’s been years since my graphic design days.”
“You did graphic design?” Derek asks, interested.
“Took an actual course at college and everything. But then, you know, Dean. Though I did a bit of freelance work for a while.”
Derek nods, wanting to ask about Dean, but not feeling close enough yet to do so. He’s saved the trouble of coming up with something else to ask when the kids stream back in.
Christie comes straight up to him and jumps onto his lap. Derek fears for the plastic chair he’s sitting on but thankfully it holds.
“Dad, look at this.” She waves a sheet of paper way too close to his face. “I came sixth out of all the people in there. And there was a whole group of teenagers with us.”
“That’s amazing,” Derek says, proud. He kisses Christie on her forehead then lifts her so he can move off the seat. “I’ve got to help Stiles put out some food for everyone.”
“’Kay.”
The speed at which the kids demolish the food is phenomenal. Derek swears he didn’t eat as fast when he was a teenager. He sees Stiles looking over it with a slightly panicked look, so he makes his way over.
“You alright?”
“Not sure I brought enough food. It’s just another few plates of sausage rolls and the cake.”
“Yeah but it’s—“ Stiles cuts himself off, then sighs and mumbles, “it’s just so expensive. I brought all this with me because it worked out cheaper.”
Derek frowns. He knows that it can be tough with all the bread-winning duties solely on your shoulders for you and your kid, but you shouldn’t have to feel like Stiles is obviously feeling.
This time, Derek’s the one to put his hand on Stiles’ shoulder. “Hey, I can get something sorted, if you want? It won’t cost a thing.”
“Derek, that would be—are you sure? I didn’t bring you here to take advantage of your pantry or your wallet or anything.”
“It’s no problem, seriously. Will you let me?”
Stiles bits his lip and looks over to the kids. Derek can see his eyes land on Dean and he knows Stiles is going to say yes.
“Sure. Go for it.”
“Thank you. I’m just going to make a call.”
Derek walks all the way to carpark outside before he pulls out his phone to call Laura.
“Hey, Derek, how’s the party going?”
“Good. That’s why I’m calling though.”
“What is it?” Laura’s voice immediately drops in pitch—her serious voice.
“It’s not that big of a thing, but the kids have eaten everything already, and Stiles—the father of the birthday boy—he was really freaking out about it, so I thought, would you be able to just get some stuff together quickly?”
“Oh, phew! Okay, I was thinking major crisis. I mean, not that no food at a kids party isn’t a crisis, but—“
“Laura?”
“Yeah, yeah, Derek. I’ve got it. I can meet you there in about forty minutes. Sound good?”
“Yes. Thank you so much.”
“You got it. Go tell that Stiles guy not to panic. I’m coming to save his ass.”
“I won’t use those words but I will let him know. Thank you.”
When Derek gets back inside the kids are already completing their second round and Stiles is pacing the room, biting at his nails. When he sees Derek come in he drops his hand.
“Sorry, bad habit.”
“My dad does it all the time too.”
“How’d it go?”
“My sister, Laura, is going to get some stuff together. She should be here in about forty minutes.”
Stiles visibly deflates and closes his eyes for a few seconds.
“Did you… do you want me to leave for a bit?”
Stiles smiles at Derek and shake his head. “Don’t worry about it. I just get panicked pretty easily. But this helps. Okay.” Stiles claps his hands together. “Moving on. Tell me about something you did this week?”
The more Derek talks with Stiles, the more his brain starts nagging him that, ‘hey, this really could be a date’. Derek’s strangely thankful when the kids interrupt their discussion about movie franchises, and hurriedly takes out his phone to check in with Laura, while Stiles lets the kid have at the few plates of food left.
“Laura should be here any minute,” Derek tells Stiles when he comes over. “I’m going to wait out the front.”
Laura’s succeeding at balancing several Tupperware contains in her arms as she weaves through cars in the lot. Derek jogs over and takes the top few so she can actually see where she’s going.
“Derek. Hey. Still going well?”
“Kids are really enjoying themselves, but I tell you, my ears are ringing from the noise.”
Laura laughs at him. “Still can’t believe you agreed to this.”
They reach the room where the party is happening and Stiles looks up in obvious relief and smiles at Derek. Derek smiles back and lifts the food up to show him.
“Well. That changes things,” Laura says, looking from Derek to Stiles.
Derek looks at Laura.
“A conversation for later. Where’s this all going?”
The food gets divided, some for now and some for later, and Stiles comes over to introduce himself.
“Thank you so much, Laura.”
“Totally not a worry. I co-own a café, so this kind of thing is my shtick.”
Derek looks between Stiles and Laura, wondering why it feels like they’re sizing each other up.
“Anyway, Stiles. I’m gonna jet. Just make sure those containers get back to me eventually.”
“Sure. Thanks again.”
Derek leads Laura back out to the parking lot after she gives him a look. She can find her car herself so he doesn’t know what it’s about.
“You good?” Derek asks once they’re out the front.
“Peachy. Can we talk later? Tonight, maybe?”
“Sure,” Derek says, relived Laura isn’t in the midst of some kind of personal drama. “About what.”
“About why you’re doing a massive favour for this man.”
Derek frowns. “Laura, it’s not—it’s not like that.” It is though, Derek’s just trying not to think of that.
Laura raises an eyebrow at Derek and he tries to keep a poker face. Eventually she sighs and looks away.
“My bad. Sorry for misreading. Maybe think about it, though? I’ll call you tonight.”
Derek watches her leave and thinks that, once again, Laura is right on the money about his romantic inclinations.
The kids have already eaten their way through most of Laura’s food and are suiting up for the final round of laser tag when Derek goes back in. Surprisingly, Stiles is also putting on a pack.
“Hey, Derek. Wasn’t sure when you’d be back so I thought I’d go in with the party-goers for this round.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Good, because there’s a spot for you.” Stiles hands Derek a pack and Derek sighs before reaching out for it. He was never going to escape, was he.
Christie sees him clipping his on. “Daddy! You’re playing with us. I’m so excited. Which team are you on?”
Derek checks the colour labelled on his chest. “Blue team.”
“That’s with me.” Derek high-five’s Christie’s outstretched hand. “We’ve won every round except the second, so you better not make us lose.”
Derek thinks back to the last time he played a game of laser tag. He honestly can’t remember aside from the fact it was in early high school.
“I’ll try my best.”
Christie goes over to the rest of her teammates and Derek sidles back to Stiles, the only other adult suited up to play.
“Looking a little lost there, Derek,” Stiles teases.
“I can’t remember how to play.”
“Point and shoot, basically. If you get hit your pack will power down for a few seconds and you aren’t supposed to move while it does.”
Derek nods. “Are there bases or something? I seem to remember them.”
“Yeah. One for each team. They get you more points but normally people are organised enough to leave someone guarding them.”
A buzzer sounds and all the kids scramble to stand behind the line at the entrance to the laser tag section.
Derek turns to Stiles. “Which team are you on?”
“Green. Eat my dust, Derek.” Stiles winks at Derek then strides off into the complex with the second buzzer sounds. Derek swallows and follows afterwards, reminding himself that while he and Stiles will be in a dark space together for the next half hour, there are also dozens of impressionable children around, one of which is his own daughter.
Christie’s team wins again, which Derek can safely say he did not help with whatsoever.
He managed to run into Stiles only twice and each time they shot simultaneously, and ended up standing together waiting for their packs to reload. Stiles, it turns out, is a fan of smack talk. Kid appropriate and otherwise.
They do the birthday cake when they return to the room, and then the kids fall silent for almost an entire minute while everyone eats. It’s bliss, and Derek catches Stiles’ eyes over the kids and they share a knowing smile that makes Derek feel like part of a team which doesn’t actually exist. Yet, his brain tacks on hopefully.
One by one, kids are collected by their parents and taken home, until it’s just Stiles, Derek, Christie and Dean left.
Derek fishes some tokens out of his pocket that he’d purchased early.
“Christie.” He beckons her over then drops them into her hand. “You and Dean go and play in the arcade for a bit while Stiles and I clean up. Don’t go anywhere but the arcade. You got it?”
Christie nods enthusiastically. “Dean!” she yells over her shoulder. “We got arcade tokens!”
“No running,” Stiles pleads as Dean and Christie dash out together. “Worth a try.”
Stiles looks exhausted from the day, but no less attractive for it. Which is a thought Derek was trying to keep under wraps, and a thought that had gotten less good at staying under there after seeing Stiles flushed from laser tag and grinning happily at having taken out first spot in the individual points tally.
Derek sighs and picks up a garbage bag to distract himself. Stiles follows suit. They tidy in comfortable silence, but Derek can tell Stiles is mulling something over.
“You really didn’t have to stay for clear-up. I could’ve handled it.” Stiles adds another few plastic cups to his rubbish bag.
“It’s fine. I’m sure you’d do the same for me.” How Derek feels confident enough to make that claim about Stiles after only having known him a few hours he’s not sure. But he can tell it’s true.
Derek gathers some of the stray serviettes and puts them into his own bag. He hasn’t longed for his couch or his paperback since… well since Stiles. The thought comes with the not unpleasant twang in his gut he’d felt earlier in the day.
“Um, Derek.” Derek turns to look at Stiles, who’s biting at his thumb with some force. “Before we get the kids, could I… could I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Derek agrees, a little concerned as to where this is going.
“Okay.” Stiles takes a deep breath and drops his hand. “I know we don’t really know each other, and we haven’t talked much beyond party-related things and small talk, but I—I think I could really—“
Stiles is working himself into a panic again, Derek can tell. He drops his bag, walks over, and stops in front of Stiles, reaching out slowly so Stiles can stop him if he wants. He doesn’t stop Derek.
Derek puts his hands on Stiles’ arms and rubs up and down.
“You’re already doing it,” Stiles whispers.
Derek doesn’t press to know what it is he’s doing, besides the obvious. He has a feeling he wasn’t actually meant to hear Stiles’ last words.
Stiles looks into Derek’s eyes and says, “I think I could really use someone like you in my life.”
Derek stills. It’s exactly the thought he’s been trying not to have all day. Now it’s laid before him on a silver platter.
“Did I overstep?” Stiles asks in a small voice. “I’m sorry.”
“No, Stiles.” Derek steps in closer, face an inch from Stiles. “I was just thinking that I’d been having the same thought.”
“Really?”
“Really really.”
Stiles cocks his head. “You realise you just quoted Shrek, yes?”
“Not intentionally. It’s one of the more bearable kid’s movies though.”
Stiles laughs.
“Tell me about it. Great soundtrack too. I put my copy on all the time.”
“I’ve got a copy too.”
“Well no point us both having one.” Stiles’ eyes widen and he steps away from Derek’s embrace. “Wo boy, sorry. That was taking things way too far.”
Derek smiles at Stiles. “I don’t mind. Maybe a few dates first though?”
For Sterek week’s Kid theme, a small ‘deleted scene’ from my most recent fic, Raised by Wolves and Other Beasts! I think it stands alone pretty well, too, though :)
“Uugghh,” Stiles groans, toppling sideways into his and Derek’s bed. He feels like a whale, even though he isn’t quite six months along yet. It’s the hormones, he’s sure of it, packing on fat in places it doesn’t belong - maybe, possibly, aided by his intense and frequent cravings for the unhealthiest kind of frozen burritos.
Maybe. Possibly.
His husband, who’d followed him into the bedroom, sits quietly at the foot of the bed and gamely massages his swollen feet and ankles. He’s been game about the whole thing, really, though he had to have been pretty damn glad to see the end of Stiles’ morning sickness. That hadn’t been fun for anyone. It’s hard to believe that there’s a whole other trimester of this to survive, Stiles thinks bitterly.
“My feet hurt, and I’m fat, and I regret everything,” he whines piteously into the pillows. “This was a terrible decision, and I want to take it back.”
Derek’s hands slow and then stop entirely. Stiles levers his head and shoulders up to glare; He’s the one carrying this bowling ball of a child-to-be around 24-7, the least Derek can do is give him foot rubs. It’s part of the deal: utter spoiling in return for baby.
Stiles’ glare, however, drops away entirely when he realizes how stricken Derek looks.
“Okay,” Derek says softly, “That’s… it’s your choice. Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you. If you don’t want to be pregnant anymore, we can find a…”
“Oh my God,” Stiles snaps, equal parts guilty and irritated. “I’m just bitching. Like, normal levels of woe-is-me whining, that’s all. I don’t actually want to take it back, Derek. Jeeze.”
Derek’s shoulders sag down as he heaves a huge, relieved breath. “Oh. Oh, good.” But he still looks a little wrecked.
“C’mere,” Stiles says, softer, patting the sheets behind him awkwardly. “Be my big spoon.”
Derek stretches out next to him and noses at the nape of his neck, half scenting and half kissing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overreact. You can complain if you want.”
“I know, I know,” Stiles says. “I get that you’re trying to be supportive. And I know it’s a weird situation, what with me being a dude when dudes are not usually pregnant, but... I’m fine with it. I already told you that.” He scoots his butt back, playfully bumping into Derek’s crotch. “So, you can stop treating me like I’m breakable, okay? I officially give you permission.”
“Alright, alright,” Derek grouches, but Stiles can hear how it comes through a smile.
They lay there quietly as the sun angles farther down, Derek breathing in Stiles’ scent and running a hand up his side every now and again. Stiles closes his eyes and presses his own hands to his rounded stomach, trying to imagine a baby-shaped little life curled up in there.
“We still haven’t picked a name,” he says.
“Mm,” Derek acknowledges. They’d talked briefly about Talia or Claudia, but not with much conviction. Starting a family when so few of their own relatives are left to see it is reminder enough, honestly. They want something unburdened with sorrows for their daughter. “How about Gourmet Ole? If you are what you eat, our kid’s going to be 80% burrito.”
“No-o, that’s awful, stop,” Stiles scoffs, fighting back a laugh. “We can name her Derekina, after her papa.”
“No,” Derek says flatly.
“Derekette?”
“Ha. Ha.”
Stiles hums in fake disappointment, then gazes pensively out the window. He can see the branches of the oak tree in the back sway in the wind, casting fleeting shadows on the bedroom wall. Stiles imagined, even when they first bought the place, that kids would love climbing in that tree.
“What do you think about Emily?”
Even after all this time, Stiles he feels a little shy being honest, without any sarcasm or jokes to hide behind if Derek thinks the suggestion is dumb. At the same time, there’s nobody but Derek who he’d want to feel this vulnerable around. The trust between them is, he knows, unshakable.
“I like it,” Derek says after a moment, almost surprised. “Does it mean something special, or is it after anyone?”
Stiles shrugs. “I just think it sounds nice,” he admits.
“Emily,” Derek repeats pensively.
“Oh shit,” Stiles says, jerking in surprise. “Derek!”
Derek lets his hand be grabbed and positioned on Stiles’ belly. They both wait with baited breath until…
“Holy wow,” Derek says when the baby kicks again under his palm. Stiles is too gleeful to even seriously consider mocking him for what a ridiculous sentence that is.
They stay frozen there for another minute, but the baby doesn’t kick again - not yet. Suddenly, though, it seems real. The little lump of DNA inside him is actually becoming a real, live person. A kid, their kid. Stiles laughs a little, rolling onto his back so he can look Derek in the face.
“So it’s Emily for sure, then,” Stiles says slyly. “Right?”
Derek beams down at him, lit golden by the afternoon sun like every happily ever after promised in a fairytale, and says, “Emily, for sure.”
( Raised by Wolves and Other Beasts is on AO3, but is significantly less fluffy than you may have been led to believe from this ‘deleted scene’ so plz check the tags!)
Stiles drummed his fingers against the steering wheel of their sedan, a nervous tick he hadn’t been able to get rid of from his teenage years. Today was going to be one of those days that challenged him as a parent.
“Are you mad at me Tata?” A little voice asked from the back seat.
“I’m not mad at you baby,” Stiles replied, “We’ll talk more when we get home, right now I only have what Ms. McAllister told me on the phone.”
“She as mad at me,” Allison said quietly, looking down at her shoes.
“She was probably more surprised than mad,” Stiles reasoned with his seven year old. “You remember when dad and Aiden jumped out at me the other day and I yelled real loud?”
“Yeah,” Ali said, not connecting the two.
“That’s cause I was scared,” Stiles reminded her, “So when Ms. McAllister shouted it’s probably because one of you was hurt, and she cared about you both so that scared her.”
“Tommy Mason’s a butt-head,” Ali pouted.
“Do we call people names in this family?” Stiles asked pointedly.
“You call daddy ‘sour wolf’ all the time,” Sli countered.
Stiles suppressed the use to curse his daughter’s attentiveness, she got that from both of them. “There’s a difference between being mean and having a nick name, you know that ladybug.” Ali’s eyes shifted to the side they way they always did when she was trying to avoid something. “Now, I don’t know why you and Tommy had trouble today, but we’re taking about it once we get home ok?”
“Ok,” Ali agreed, sighing dramatically as she stared out the window. Stiles silently prayed to anyone listening for guidance at the same time cursing that his daughter seemed to inherit most of his personality. This had to be payback for all the times he snuck out of the house and trouble he caused his father.
<keep reading>
As it turned out, it was a good thing Stiles had waited until they got home before his his daughter’s side of the story. Tony had been teasing Scott’s daughter, so Allison and asked him to stop, and his response had been to push her down. She had tried to get a playground monitor, but Tommy had pushed her down again and thrown a rock at Erica. Allison explained that Tommy had been physically aggressive three times and Erica had to see the nurse - that was the reason she kicked him in the nose. If Stiles had been near the school when he’d heard that, there would have been many things said to their principle that were not for little ears to hear.
“You promise you’re not mad?” Allison asked.
“I’m proud that you gave him three chances,” Stiles said, “And I’m proud to hear your first instinct was to go to an adult. I’ll talk with Ms. McAllister tomorrow. For now, let’s have some peanut butter sandwiches and play some Mario Kart. Go wash up for me.”
“Ok,” Allison smiled, bounding off towards the kitchen.
Stiles picked up his phone to call Derek, “And what the hell and I going to tell you my love?” In the end he made sure the baby was asleep in the car before he told Derek the whole story. He didn’t want their infant son learning fun new words, or for Derek to crash the car into the Mason’s house wolfed out and ready for revenge. Thankfully the other man had to pick up Aiden and go to the store so he did not have time to give Ms. McAllister a piece of his mind the same afternoon. Stiles was honestly not sure which parent of the two would be worse on the woman, going to speak to her together was probably out of the question if they wanted their children to stay enrolled in the same school.
“Hey Tata!” Aiden called as he bounded through the door, his spiderman backpack bouncing higher than he was. “Allison was sooooo awesome today, she kicked Tommy in the face!”
“We do not celebrate violence,” Stiles reminded gently, helping Aiden take off his shoes. “Go play with your sister while I talk with your dad ok? We’ll get a snack in a few minutes.”
“Did that boy really push her down?” Derek asked, his hands full of groceries and Sam asleep in his baby bjorn.
“Tommy hurt Erica and Allison came to her defense,” Stiles replied, “She tried to get an adult but he pusher her, she gave him three changes and then she kicked him in the nose.”
“At least part of what we told her stick,” Derek sighed, still rocking from foot to foot so Sam kept sleeping against his chest. “So what are we going to do about this?”
“I already did what I thought was right, what do you want to do?” Stiles deadpanned.
“Your decision was to bring her home and play video games?” Derek asked quietly.
“What am I supposed to do? Tell her not to defend herself when someone hits her?” Stiles asked back just as gently, taking Sam out of the carrier so Derek could get himself settled. His son stirred but quickly settled back down and breathed evenly against his throat, Stiles pressed a kiss against his downy hair. “What would you have done?”
“I got her chocolate ice cream and strawberries,” Derek confessed, holding up the grocery bag still in his hand. “Guess I better put it away before it becomes chocolate soup.”
Stiles sighed and leaned forward into Derek’s arms, taking comfort as they wrapped around him. “Didn’t think we’d ever have to worry about this.”
Derek kissed the top of Sam’s head and left to slide the ice cream into the freezer, returning to wrap his arms around both Stiles and Sam. “No, I did not imagine we would have to fight our daughter’s suspension because she fought back against a bully. Nor did I imagine the self control it would take not to attack a child to attacked my own. My mother spoke of the l love for an injured child, but I never imagined.”
“I know my love,” Stiles replied, reaching up for a kiss.
“I want to lock her up and never let her leave,” Derek said, petting Sam’s head just as the baby started to stir from his sleep.
Stiles kissed his husband again with a gentle smile. “Well, think it’s time to start on the next, at least then we have one chance of getting it right.”
“We should,” Derek agreed, “I want Sam to have a sibling he’s close to with the first ones being twins.”
“That’d be nice” Stiles agreed, petting Sam’s feet as they started to kick.
“Ah…babababa,” Sam babbled as he was waking.
“There’s the little talker,” Derek smiled, lifting the little man out of Stiels’ arms for a kiss. “You ready to get something to eat little one?”
“Tata,” Sam declared, his lip puling down into a screwed up frown as he turned his little head.
“Did he just…?” Stiles started, surprised by the baby’s first words.
“TATA!” Sam shouted, kicking his feet into the air.
“Really?” Derek asked, staring at his son. “That bad? Is my beard itchy or something?”
“My smart little man,” Stiles said, standing just beside Derek so Sam should see them both. “You were just wondering where I was, you still love your papa.”
“Tata!” Sam said gleefully, resulting in a dual quirk of the lips as Derek handed the child off to get dinner started for the other two.
Sam went off as usual at 2 a.m., his little voice carrying over the baby monitor. “Tata!”
“Sam’s calling,” Derek said sleepily, always alert when one of his children was in need.
“Your turn,” Stiles replied quietly, way to comfortable and sexed out to move.
“He’s not calling for me,” Derek pointed out, already half under his pillow.
“Tata!” The little voice cried again.
“Just pray I didn’t knock you up again tonight,” Stiles groused as he climbed out of bed, searching for his discarded boxers. “I’m training the next one to say your name first. These kids are lucky we make cute babies.”
“You’re a cute baby,” Derek snarked, snuggling into the warm spot Stiles left behind. Stiles replied with a light smack to Derek’s ass on his way out the door to see what their youngest needed.
The End
Snuck some referenced mpreg Derek in there, no reasons required!
I decided to do a de-aged Derek fic, simply because these are some of my favorite fics to read and I think that there should be more of them.
———-
Derek’s laughter takes Stiles by surprise, it’s so light and full; he almost drops the bowl of mac and cheese he’s carrying for the werewolf when he hears it. The witch had been hoping to turn him into something monstrous when she cast the spell on Derek, expecting that he would become too dangerous for the pack to protect. Stiles could have laughed at her attempt. The spell was crafted to reveal Derek’s true nature, the one that was hidden deep inside, and to bring it to the surface, transforming him into whatever shape it took. She had been hoping that he was an angry monster inside, but Stiles knew better. Derek wasn’t a monster. Nothing about him was ever monstrous.
Of course, he hadn’t really expected this outcome either.
Derek smiles over at Stiles when he sets the bowl in front of him at the kitchen table. At five years old, Derek needs to sit on a phonebook to be able to reach. “Stiles, Miss Erica says that I’m the cutest person in the whole world!”
Stiles ruffles his hair and winks over at Erica, who’s sitting beside Derek at the table with a soft expression. “Well, Miss Erica is right about that.”
His eyes widen. “You think so too, Stiles!” His cheeks and the tips of his ears turn red. “Thank you.”
Erica coos at his blush and pinches his cheek. When Stiles sits at the table, Derek scrambles across the surface to sit on his lap. Erica coos again.
“Thank you for the mac and cheese,” little Derek says, looking up at Stiles with earnest eyes. “It’s my favorite.”
Stiles swallows around the lump in his throat, formed with how easy it is for Derek to talk about himself when he’s just a kid, and replies, “Sure thing. Anything for you, buddy.” And well, if that doesn’t come out truer than he meant it to be. Erica gives him a sad look and rises, promising that she’ll be outside waiting to play with Derek when he finishes his food. Derek gasps a little when she says that, and starts shoveling the pasta into his mouth, blushing again when Stiles tells him to be careful so he doesn’t choke.
Stiles never expected that deep inside Derek would be an innocent and optimistic kid, but he guesses that it makes sense. At sixteen his innocence was stripped away from him, and from that point on he was forced to grow up too fast. It makes sense that inside he longs for that innocence back, that hopeful nature and easygoing acceptance of the world.
But it making sense doesn’t make seeing Derek’s open expression and bright eyes any easier. It should, because he’s a cute kid with wild ideas and a big heart. But seeing him so open just reminds Stiles of everything that Derek has lost.
Two little hands press against Stiles’ cheeks, snapping him out of his thoughts. “What’s up, buddy,” he asks when he sees Derek’s frown.
The young boys’ eyes flash alpha red. “You smell sad again, Stiles. What’s wrong?”
Stiles smiles softly and ruffles his hair again. “Nothing’s wrong, big guy. Don’t worry about it.”
Derek pouts. “I’m your alpha,” he whines. “You’re supposed to tell me things.”
That makes Stiles laugh, which seem to perk the werewolf up. “I’m okay, I promise. Now, if you’re finished, you should go out and play with Erica before it gets to dark.”
Gasping again at the thought of missing playtime, Derek scrambles off his lap and outside. After a few minutes listening to the young man laugh through the open door, Stiles picks up the phone and dials Lydia’s phone number. She picks up on the first ring.
“Hey.” Her voice is soft, comforting. “How are you holding up?” She’s also the only person who not only knows about his mountain sized crush on Derek, but also about how hard it is to see him so open.
“I’m okay. Derek’s a really cute kid, even though he tries to use his power as an alpha to get more dessert to extra play time.”
She laughs. “Deaton said it should wear off soon. It was only powerful enough to last a few days, and it’s already day three, so he should be back to normal soon.”
Stiles presses his forehead against the table. “I hope so. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like how lovable young Derek is, but I miss my broody alpha, you know?”
She sighs. “Yeah, I know, Stiles. Do you want one of us to come and get him for the night? To give you some space?”
He shakes his head, even though she can’t see it. “I’ve got it. You’ve heard what he said, I’m his favorite.”
Lydia laughs. “Yeah I know. You’re never going to stop rubbing that in, are you?”
That perks Stiles up, easing some of the pressure in his chest. “Not a chance. And I’m not going to ever let him forget it either.”
“Call me if you need anything, okay? And Stiles, don’t worry too much, okay. Derek is doing good. He may not be as open when he’s grown up, but he’s doing so much better.”
He sighs, knowing that she’s right. “Yeah, I know. Thanks, Lyds. That’s what I needed.”
After he lets her go, he takes Derek’s bowl and cleans it out. Then he joins Erica and Derek outside, watching as she chases him around in his beta form. Scott, Isaac, Boyd, and Jackson are hunting for the witch, so it’s mainly been Erica and Stiles looking after Derek. Lydia and Allison stopped by earlier that day, but when Derek told Allison that he looked up to her and loved her, Lydia had to lead Allison out because she was choked up with tears. Within the three days that Derek has been young, he has managed to make everyone tear up because he’s so open and earnest about how much he cares about them. Erica broke down when he called her beautiful and she ended up hugging the young boy for fifteen minutes before she calmed down.
Needless to say, Stiles isn’t the only one overwhelmed by how warm younger Derek is.
Derek presses his body against Stiles’ legs, smiling up at him. There’s dirt smudged across his cheek and his shirt is ripped, but he looks so happy. “Stiles, did you see how I caught Miss Erica! She’s so fast and cool, but I caught her!”
Stiles lifts him into his arms and grins. “That’s because you’re fast and cool too!”
Derek smiles brightly and nuzzles against his cheek. He presses a yawn into Stiles’ neck. “Thanks, Stiles.”
“I think somebody is ready for bed.” Derek’s halfhearted head shake is not enough to stop Stiles from telling Erica, “I think it's time he gets some sleep.”
Derek sighs deeply and looks across the lawn at where Erica is coming to meet them. “Kisses," he tells her, puckering his lips. Erica smiles softly and let him press a kiss to both of her cheeks before planting one on his forehead. “Goodnight buddy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Promise,” he asks around another yawn.
Erica nods. “I promise.” She kisses Stiles’ cheek before heading out for patrol. “I’ll be back soon.”
He just nods at her and carries Derek inside. The renovated Hale house is big enough for everyone to have their own room even though not a lot of the pack live at the house full time. Even though he tried to get Derek to sleep in his own bed the first night after the spell, the young boy had complained that it was too cold. So, Stiles tucked him into his bed and called it a night. Derek has refused to sleep anywhere else.
Stiles cleans Derek up before helping him into his pajamas and tucking him in. “Kisses,” the werewolf demands before Stiles can turn off the light and disappear. Obediently, Stiles lets Derek kiss both of his cheeks and then his nose. “You’ll be here tomorrow too, right?” Derek’s voice wavers when he asks, making his fear of being alone, his fear of being abandoned evident.
Stiles kisses his forehead softly. “Yeah buddy, I’ll be right downstairs when you wake up. I promise.”
Derek’s half asleep when he says, “okay,” into his pillow. Stiles leaves the room with a sad smile, and goes downstairs to sleep on the couch.
———-
A warm hand on his cheek wakes Stiles up. He jolts forward, ready to defend himself if need be. His reaction makes Derek smile, soft and fond. It makes Stiles jolt again.
“You’re back, you’re you,” he whispers into the early morning air. Nothing feels real when Derek uses the hand on his face to pull Stiles forward so that he can nuzzle his nose against his cheek.
“You took care of me,” Derek whispers back. It makes Stiles scoff.
“Of course I did, dude. I would do anything for you.” It feels risky to say it, exciting. But the words just come out. He can feel Derek smile against his cheek.
“I know.” He pulls back just enough to meet Stiles’ gaze. “I heard you yesterday, talking to Lydia. You’re worried about me not being happy, but I am. You make me happy, Stiles. You helped me bring this pack together, helped me grow into this role, and every day you make it better for me. You make it worth being in this town, being back here.” Stiles swallows, choked up. “You make me happy.”
“Derek, I-.” Before he can say more, Derek pulls Stiles’ forward and presses their lips together, holding him close and keeping him warm. In the back of his head, Stiles wonders if he should send the witch a gift basket. Then he gets caught up having Derek so close, and he stops thinking altogether.
Sterek Week Day 2: Kids! Writer!Derek and Coffeeshop Owner/Baker!Stiles as single dads AU:
Derek didn’t have time to deal with any romance nonsense. Between his writing career and his daughter, his focus was limited.
“It’s not a date. A romantic date anyways, it’s a play date. His kid is Jesse’s age and the sweetest boy. If you get bored, you can just go wander off or something.” Laura had told him, crossing her arms over his chest. “You’ve been holed up in your study lately, so I think Jesse would be up for some time with you and a new friend too.”
And that’s how they ended up in front of a random house. Derek sighed and glanced at his phone, the GPS helpfully chiming in that they’d arrived at their destination.
Second day of the Sterek Week 2016! Its still 25 here, so Im not late.
Today: Kids.
You can find it on AO3 too.
The little devil
Kids. Babies. Toddlers specifically. Derek hate them. They make noise all the time, their hands are sticky with disgusting and unknown things. When his family was alive, he was on babysitting duty more times than he was comfortable with. People think they are cute but they not. They are too dependent, you need to watch over them all the time. So, when he is in front of the door at the Stilinski house, he is very, very confused by the little voice coming from inside.
The Sheriff open the door, full in his uniform. He is surprised to see him but not in a bad way. With the Sheriff knowing about werewolf and when the pack went to college, Derek and the Sheriff had time to bond.
“Hi Derek. Come in, I have to go to work but Stiles is in the kitchen.”
“Okay sir!” Derek raise his voice so the Sheriff can hear him.
“It’s John and you know it!” Is the only answer he has.
Derek smiles and goes to the kitchen. He finds Stiles, trying to feed a little girl. Brown hair, whisky colored eyes, smelling like cherry, grass, and Stiles’ scent.
Stiles and the other finished college the year before. Most of them are working now, some are out of state (Like Lydia, who is working at the fucking NASA) and some are taking a “time off”. And by some he means Stiles. He said a while ago he needed a break from obligations. John wasn’t happy about that but now he loves having his son at home all the time.
Derek was busy rebuilding the Hale house while the pack was away. With the house done, he is looking for a job. John suggested so many times that he should become a deputy. Stiles says every time his dad mention it that if Derek took the job, he would work as receptionist at the station to keep an eye on both of them. Derek finds it annoying. (He totally loves the idea of working with Stiles.)
But back at the kitchen, Stiles is smiling at the little girl.
“Who is she?”
“Derek! This is Izzy. Izzy, say hi to uncle Derek!”
“’ek!” babbles the girl, Izzy apparently.
“Okay. Who is she again?”
Stiles ignores him, puts the kid on his hip and walks towards the living. After being relaxed on the couch, kid playing with a toy, he explains.
“She is my cousin. My uncle, my dad’s younger brother, is having his honey moon because when he married, my aunt was pregnant with this little princess. We are taking care of her for two weeks”
“Why isn’t she with them?”
Stiles shrugs. Derek is standing there, watching the baby without knowing what to do.
“You can sit here, you know? She doesn’t bite”
“I doubt it” But Derek sits there, next to Stiles. If he sits too much close than necessary is just because the baby is taking all the space at the other side.
“What are you here?”
“Oh, I came to talk to your dad but he was leaving”
“What do you wanted to talk about?”
Izzy start to climb Stiles. Derek growls at her causing the baby cheer.
“I’m going to take the job. But I want to do the right way, going to the academy and all”
“NO. F… WAY!” Stiles exclaims, whispering the “fucking” while covering Izzy’s ears.
“Really? She is a…thing. She doesn’t understand what are you saying”
“She is too delicate to hear bad words” Stiles fakes indignation. “And she is not a thing!” he adds with indignation.
As on clue, Izzy climbs past Stiles and try to touch Derek.
“I’m going. Good luck with the mini devil”
“Oh, no no no. You are staying until my dad is back.”
xXx
Derek doesn’t know why he agreed. He is holding a baby while Stiles is in the bathroom. A baby who is touching his face with sticky hands.
“Stiles!! She need a change! Or a bath! She smells!!”
And from there, everything is worse.
xXx
Stiles decides he is helping him with the bath. The little devil splashes water all over Derek. He flashes his eyes at her. Stiles punches him in the arm for scaring her. Except Izzy laughs. Stiles gives Derek one of his shirts to change.
“Your shirts still don’t fit”
“Just put the shit on”
xXx
Izzy bits him when Stiles insists that he needs to play with her. Derek growls at her. Stiles laughs this time.
“Stop. It hurts”
“Oh, shut up, you already heal. Is a baby tooth. You survived alpha wounds and you complain about a baby?”
“She is…uneducated”
Derek points his finger to her and she sucks it. She fucking sucks his finger.
“Don’t say a word”
Stiles has the decency to shut tp.
xXx
Stiles decides they need to watch a Disney movie.
“She doesn’t know what’s going on. Why we are watching this?”
“She will remember and she will have sweet dreams tonight”
Izzy is on top of Derek, barely watching the TV, more interesting on the pattern on Derek’s…well Stiles’ shirt. He doesn’t move her.
xXx
“I need to go to the bathroom”
“Again?”
“Yes. Again.”
Derek whines internally. He is holding her because Stiles doesn’t want to left her on the couch. He is holding her from far away. Is not ten seconds and she start to cry, mumbling something that sounds like “’Tiles”.
“Hurry up Stiles!” He screams on the bathroom direction.
“I’m pooping here!” Stiles screams back.
When Stiles comes back, he founds Derek in beta form, hair on his face and Izzy tugging said hair. And Derek is actually smiling at her.
xXx
Derek notices how Stiles smell happy around her. He can’t help but ask.
“Do you have kids on your own?”
“Yeah, I love babies and kids in general. But is something I have to talk with my future partner”
He saves the information for future references.
xXx
Izzy is taking a nap, while Derek and Stiles watch an action movie.
“I saw you smiling at Izzy. Like three times when you weren’t paying attention to me”
“Don’t know what you are talking about”
“You like her”
“I don’t”
“Yeah, you don’t. The big bad alpha is falling for a Stilinski!”
Derek blushes. At the same time, Izzy wakes up and starts making noises from his crib.
“I got her” he says just to avoid say something stupid.
“See? You like her!”
Derek never answer but yeah, Izzy stole his heart in a very small amount of time. “Like your cousin”, he thinks.
xXx
The Sheriff calls to see how he is doing. Stiles tell him about Derek’s presence. Derek is left with a bottle and a baby. He manages, though. Izzy is comfortable on his arms, sucking the bottle with an adorable sound. She reminds him how Stiles usually plays with a straw when he’s is drinking.
xXx
Stiles goes to the bathroom again. He is taking time, and Derek doesn’t want to know what he’s is doing in there. Instead, he starts talking to Izzy.
“You know, if you are just ten percent like you cousin, you would be and awesome human. He is annoying like hell and he never shut up, but he is loyal to his friends, and a good son. He is so smart and braver than any human I know. And he is not…ugly. He is handsome and you have his perfect eyes too. See? You will be great”
Derek kiss her on the head. She makes a happy noise and says a sleepy “Tiles”.
“I like him too.” Derek kiss her again and she snuggles more into him.
xXx
“Hey”. His heart is racing. Derek turns his head and see Stiles looking at him. “I heard you”
“I didn’t hear you. I was…”
“You like me like me? Like, like me? Or it’s just me hoping and making a big mistake? Because in case you didn’t notice before, I’m so in love with you since forever. Literally. Years. But you are not saying anything so I assume you meant like him as a friend and now I babbling”
“I’m processing what you said. Years?”
“That’s what you get? Yes, Derek, years. How can you didn’t know? Everybody in Beacon Hills know by now”
“I…”
Izzy moved a little. Derek accommodate her before speak again.
“I’d kiss you so bad but I have a baby sleeping on me”
“What?”
Derek smiles at him. With the most beautiful smile that Stiles ever see.
xXx
The Sheriff arrives home and find quite a scene. A son, sleeping on top of a guy. Said guy, being Derek Hale. A baby crawling on the carpet with a Disney movie on the background.
It’s Sterek Week! And the prompt for day two was Kids, so why not go all out and go for some accidental child acquisition!
I hereby present 2k of complete and utter fluff!
Thursday night there’s a disturbance in the force.
Or rather, Derek has a feeling, and Stiles delights in claiming that he’s force sensitive. Particularly because Derek hates that. Vocally.
So Derek has a feeling that something is happening in the preserve and obviously decides to investigate it himself without calling in the cavalry. Stiles had really thought they’d fixed that particular problem. Derek had more or less patiently sat through Stiles’ presentation - including powerpoint slides and handouts, this was important after all! - and agreed that he’d call them if something was wrong from now on. He certainly hadn’t disagreed when Stiles had said that!
Oh well, at least he’s calling Stiles now. Better late than never, right?
“So walk me through this again,” Stiles says while trying to get dressed without dropping his phone. “You felt a disturbance in the force and went to check it out. It obviously wasn’t a deadly threat - which yay, that makes it 55 consecutive days now! - or you wouldn’t be calling me right now. But it must be something, otherwise you wouldn’t be calling me right now either. Tell me the truth: have you been kidnapped by a bunch of wererabbits? Who have no concept of technology and thus made the mistake of letting you keep your phone?”
“What?!” Derek sounds completely baffled, which Stiles is slightly disappointed about. He’d thought Derek had gotten used to his brand of special by now - that wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever said by far! And werebunnies were a genuine concern! Oops, Derek’s still talking: “What are you - no, you know what, I’m not even going to ask. And stop calling it the force, Stiles! I’m calling because -”
A pitiful wail interrupts him and Stiles actually lets his phone drop this time.
By the time he has it pressed against his ear again the wail has only gotten louder - and polyphonic? Derek is desperately trying to shush the wailers, but with only moderate success.
“What, no, who did you find, Derek?” he asks slowly and gets a growl as a reply.
“Just bring the Jeep, will you? The Camaro isn’t big enough. And if you’ve got any booster seats, bring them.”
And with that he hangs up.
~*~
When Stiles finally parks next to the Camaro in the preserve - he had to access the gps of Derek’s phone first to even know where exactly he was going because the dick wouldn’t even tell him that much - he has gone through at least fifty different possible situations, and yes, werebunnies are still an option. But he still isn’t prepared for what awaits him - of course he’d considered kids, regular kids and kids of the wolfy variant, those were options one and two, but he hadn’t considered what that would mean.
What it means is Derek Hale in a thumbhole sweater - bad enough on its own - holding a tiny baby with a death grip on said sweater, alternately gnawing on Derek’s finger with its baby fangs and flashing its golden baby eyes at Derek in response to Derek flashing his red alpha eyes at the baby. There’s also a toddler wrapped around his leg who is staring up at Stiles with huge golden eyes. She is wearing batman pyjamas and fluffy red iron man slippers which is almost unbearably cute, but just almost, whereas Derek and baby wolf are completely unbearably cute, so Stiles decides for the sake of his sanity to focus on her.
Dropping to his knees in front of Derek - and woah, bad imagery when surrounded by three wolves, especially when two of them are under five and in distress - Stiles puts out a hand and says:
“Hi, I’m Stiles and I love your pyjamas!”
She ducks her head and then lets go of Derek’s leg long enough to firmly shake Stiles’ hand.
“I’m Milly and I like your shirt!”
Stiles melts. He looks down to check what he’s wearing and sees that it’s his Superman shirt.
“We are matching! Who do you like best? Don’t tell Superman, but I actually like Batman better,” he whispers conspiratorially and is rewarded with Milly letting go of Derek completely to lean forward and whisper back: “Me too.”
Stiles holds out a hand for a high five and is delighted when Milly hits it with her tiny fist without hesitation. He lets out a soft oomph and shakes his hand - only half in jest, Milly is small, but she’s still a werewolf and packs a remarkable punch. At least Stiles’ antics make her giggle. When he holds out a hand to her next, she takes it and lets him pick her up and sit her on his hip. She immediately nuzzles into his neck and Stiles automatically presses a kiss to the top of her head.
When he looks up Derek is staring at him with an expression of what Stiles would call awe on anyone else. Before Stiles can try to figure out what it means on Derek’s face - because why would Derek look at Stiles with awe? For picking up a child? - Derek has schooled his face again. He’s still letting the baby gnaw on his finger. Stiles resolutely looks away from him before he does something that he’d regret later. His eyes fall on the jeep again and he suddenly remembers what he came for in the first place.
“What do you say we get you and the little one out of here?” he says to Milly, adding as an afterthought: “What’s the little one’s name by the way? The big, silent one that’s holding the little one is Derek by the way.”
“Hi Derek,” Milly says, waving shyly. Stiles coos and then almost coos again when Derek waves back. “That’s Jamie,” she continues, “he’s my brother.”
“Hey Jamie!” Stiles says and offers a finger for Jamie to grab and possibly shake if he wants to. Jamie wants to bite it instead. Stiles yelps and snatches his hand backwards, jostling Milly in the process, who thankfully just giggles and doesn’t start crying again.
“Oh yes, laugh it up,” he grumps and playfully bares his teeth at Milly, who bares her little fangs right back at him. Stiles pokes her nose with his just-bitten finger, making her eyes cross, and flicks her forehead very gently when she giggles again. When it’s just followed by another giggle he can’t resist pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. She’s just. So. Cute.
“Can we go now?” Derek says, sounding like a hoarse twelve year old who wants to go home to sulk in his room. Stiles takes the high road and doesn’t point it out. Going by the flush high on Derek’s cheeks, he already knows how he sounded anyways. After clearing his throat, his voice sounds extra deep and gruff: “They shouldn’t be out in the cold this long.”
“Alright, come on then,” Stiles says, turning towards his Jeep. He’s got his old booster seat strapped in on the back seat and it should work fine for Milly. They’ve kept it for the occasional situation where his dad has to drive a child around in his cruiser and it’s coming in very handy right now. Unfortunately they no longer have a proper baby seat, so Derek will have to keep holding Jamie, but it should work for the short drive to Stiles’ house.
Derek however doesn’t seem to realise what the plan is, because he’s just opening the Camaro’s driver’s door, Jamie still cradled in his right arm.
“What do you think you are doing?” Stiles demands and Derek turns slowly towards him, eyebrows rising high. The blush is still clearly visible though, so Stiles is not really feeling any intimidation.
“Getting them somewhere warm?” Derek retorts and Stiles vehemently shakes his head.
“Oh no, you don’t. What were you going to do, keep hold of Jamie with one hand and drive with the other? You’ll get into the jeep, and let me drive. You can get the Camaro later; it’s not as though anyone’s going to go looking for it here in the middle of the forest, so it should be save for the night.”
He doesn’t wait for Derek to reply - they both know he’s right, so what’s the point - but instead puts Milly into the booster seat, checking that it’s installed correctly and that she’s comfortable but safe. When he is done with that, he finds that Derek is already sitting in the passenger seat, Jamie bouncing on his knees. Stiles has to bite his lip to try to control the grin that’s spreading across his face nevertheless. This is just. Too. Cute.
~*~
The drive home is uneventful. Stiles drives extra carefully, very aware of whom he’s ferrying around. They might all be werewolves, but Stiles is still not taking any chances. He lets them into the house, glad that his dad has the night shift, so that they don’t need to worry about waking him up. He offers some food to Milly, but she claims she’s not hungry. Jamie isn’t crying, so Stiles assumes he’s not hungry either. Stiles probably wouldn’t have anything suitable for him anyways, which is something he needs to change at the earliest tomorrow. But for now he just gets a new toothbrush for Milly, who claims that she can do it all on her own, but lets Stiles help in the end after all, and puts both of the werewolf children to bed. Derek has checked Jamie’s diaper in the meantime, but it doesn’t seem to need changing yet. Stiles adds diapers to his mental list of things they need to get first thing tomorrow morning.
They try to put them into the guest room at first, but Milly complains about the smell and Jamie starts whining. Derek eventually picks him up again and strides out of the room. Stiles grabs Milly and hurries after him, wondering what he’s planning to do now. Rent out Stiles’ room apparently, as he’s setting down Jamie on Stiles’ bed right now. Milly squirms until Stiles puts her down and then climbs onto Stiles’ bed herself, crawling under the comforter and curling around Jamie. She’s asleep in seconds. Jamie keeps fussing a little longer, until Derek pulls off his sweater and puts it on the bed in front of Jamie. His tiny fists grab it immediately and drag it close to his face. One more snuffle and he’s asleep as well. Stiles carefully tucks the blanket in around them and presses a kiss each to their foreheads.
When he straightens up, an arm wraps around his waist and turns him until he’s face to face with Derek, who is looking at him in what’s definitely awe again. Before Stiles can ask what’s going on, Derek darts in and presses a lingering kiss to his lips. It’s over before Stiles can properly return the kiss and he pouts when Derek takes a step back. His arm stays wrapped around Stiles’ waist though.
“What was that for?” he asks, careful to keep his voice as quiet as possible.
“Just,” Derek shrugs, blush flaring up again, “you, kids, you know.”
“Oh,” Stiles breathes and then steps closer again, until he’s pressed to Derek from head to toe. Then he cups his face with one hand, thumb stroking over Derek’s hot cheek and tugs him into another, longer kiss. His other hand slips into Derek’s hair, tugging until Derek tilts his head slightly, their mouths fitting together even better. Eventually the need for air - and to take this away from two sleeping werewolf children - makes him break the kiss. Derek is deliciously flushed, even his ears red and hot under Stiles’ curious fingers.
“And what was that for?” Derek whispers, lips brushing against Stiles’ teasingly. Stiles grins and presses another quick kiss to those oh so kissable lips before replying:
