Chapter Text
“So where to?” asks Derek as Stiles slides into the passenger seat of the camaro. He spent the day, or the afternoon to be more accurate since the morning was nearly wasted with the entire pack sleeping in then going to breakfast, talking with his betas. Derek and Scott worked out a training program for everyone, from basic fighting technique to territorial laws. It felt like the beginning of a good partnership.
“Head towards the northeast side of the preserve please,” says Stiles. There’s a distinct scent of self-satisfaction radiating from the teen.
“Anywhere specific?”
“As close as you can get to that small pond.”
Derek nods his assent and drives. It’s quiet as they drive, something that a while ago Derek wouldn’t have thought possible with Stiles. But now he knows better.
He knows that Stiles actually prefers silence to words. Oh Stiles can talk, enjoys conversation more than most people. But Derek’s noticed that Stiles is also very good at sensing other people’s discomfort and talking to cover that up. There aren’t many people who are happy to simply sit and enjoy someone’s company.
So when he gets these moments with Stiles, Derek chooses to relish them. He slides one hand onto Stiles’ leg, tracing small circles with his thumb.
Stiles has a hand on the back of Derek’s neck. It’s only a few minutes until both are making their circles in sync with each other. They fell into the rhythm easily, a realization that makes Derek smile a little.
“What?” asks Stiles softly, catching the movement.
“I’m just happy,” answers Derek.
“Mmm. Me too.”
Derek manages to get about a quarter mile away from the pond, any further and they’ll be pushing the car out of a ditch. Stiles seems to be perfectly okay with this, since his smile brightens and his usual bouncy energy is back full force.
Stiles links his fingers through Derek’s and tugs him along.
They walk for maybe five minutes, taking longer because of the snow, and then as they emerge from the tree line Derek stops.
Normally, Beacon Hills gets a light dusting of snow. The Sheriff’s storm last night had caused more snow to fall but it was being called a weather anomaly or something. Derek’s been to the pond in the winter on runs or perimeter watches. The edges sometimes freeze but for the most part, it stays in liquid form.
Not today. Today the pond is frozen solid. There’s snow all around and frost patterns glisten from the tree tops. It looks like a wonderland. Sitting on the edge of the ice, closest to the two of them, are two pairs of ice skates.
“Stiles?” questions Derek, unable to look away from the sight.
Stiles squeezes Derek’s hand a little tighter. “I know Christmas is tough with all the memories. Doing something with the apartment felt too much like pushing. But I remembered something you said about you and Laura, and how you missed it…”
“Ice-skating at Rockefeller Center,” interjects Derek.
“Yeah. So I asked my dad last night, that’s what I was writing, to help me out. He and Eira used a little winter magic for us.” Stiles looks over at Derek, a flare of nervousness apparent. “Is it okay?”
Derek can’t help himself. He pulls Stiles close and kisses him as though he can’t think of anything he’d rather be doing. “It’s perfect.”
~
They spend the evening laughing and talking and skating. Derek thinks it feels like they’ve been dating for years, and he wishes momentarily that it were true. But then he knows in his heart that someday it will be and he doesn’t want to miss all of these first moments with the two of them.
At one point Stiles produces a thermos of hot chocolate that they pass between each other.
Derek is happy. Without fear of what might happen next, or losing someone. He’s simply content to be here with Stiles.
~
It’s when they’re lying in a snow drift much later, staring at the stars, that Derek realizes he has one more question.
“Stiles?”
“Hmm?”
“Why is this so easy?”
“Did you want it to be difficult?”
“No,” answers Derek. “I just…all the trouble and us fighting and arguing constantly and then we somehow became friends…it seems kind of strange that we could fall so perfectly together in just one date.”
Stiles props himself up on one arm and leans over to look at Derek. One hand traces along Derek’s jaw line. “Maybe it was always easy. But we’re the type of people to expect everything to be difficult, so we caused all the problems.”
Derek gazes at Stiles thoughtfully and can tell he’s not lying or unsure. “I don’t want to cause problems anymore,” he says, reaching a hand around to cup the back of Stiles’ neck.
“Good,” Stiles whispers as he bends the last few inches to lightly kiss Derek.
Derek kisses back gently, before opening up his arm so Stiles can cuddle closer. He pulls the boy he loves in close, kisses Stiles’ head as he snuggles up.
“Stiles,” he says quietly, watching the stars above them.
“Yeah,” breathes Stiles, just as content.
“Merry Christmas.”