Chapter Text
After they told the sheriff of Stiles’ pregnancy, and after it has sunk in that yes, sheriff, you will be a granddad, the sheriff started to spout things about safe sex, and using condoms, and For God’s sake, Stiles, you’re dating a werewolf! You should’ve known better! which simply succeeded on making Stiles roll his eyes while Derek listened attentively to his mate’s father. Everything the sheriff said basically translated into ‘I told you so’s’, even though Derek was pretty sure that the ‘use protection’ warning from the sheriff back then started out as a joke to make him and Stiles uncomfortable, since, werewolf and virgin. You know who is who.
Everything was peaceful as the start of a new semester came.
Isaac, Scott and Allison decided to go to the community college in Beacon Hills after they graduated high school. Allison was needed by her father, being only the two hunters left, to do the things the wolves were restrained to do, and took Education as her course, majoring on teaching primary level. Scott didn’t want to leave his job as Dr. Deaton’s assistant and decided to take Veterinary while Isaac simply didn’t want to leave and took Literature, Major in Western Literature. Lydia went to MIT with Danny; Lydia took Chemical Engineering while Danny took Computer Science. Jackson decided that he wanted to go to college on the following semester so they had Danny change his identity into Jackson Hale, a distant cousin of Derek’s. He would be applying somewhere in California but far enough that no one would be suspicious to see the announced dead Jackson Whittemore walking around. It was a really good thing that Danny was let in on the secret during the alpha pack debacle.
Stiles was successfully enrolled online and has been reading in advance during the final week of summer. Derek finally had the courage to ask Stiles to move in with him in the renovated Hale house since he was there most of the time anyway. The sheriff gave them his blessings with the compromise that he could visit any time he wanted, which was okay with Derek. He gave the sheriff a key to the house.
So, yes, everything was fine as Stiles grew bigger with their cub. A pair of steady heartbeat was what Derek fell asleep to every night when Stiles has moved in.
Derek was on the front porch while his mate slept on their bed. It was still early, but his family has always been early risers. They liked watching the sun come out of the horizon and the chill bite of dawn. He has his eyes closed as he listened to the forest around him, taking in everything. He can hear his uncle’s footsteps approach the front door, then the sound of said door open and close. Peter walked towards him, slowly, then sat down beside him. They were silent for a while until Derek finally opened his eyes and broke the silence.
“He’s not Anthony, you know.” Peter just remained silent, but Derek knew his uncle needed some time to think.
Finally, Peter inhaled deeply, held the breath in, and slowly released the air he held for a short while. “I know.” Derek looked at his uncle, waiting for him to continue. Peter finally turned his head to look at his nephew. “But there’s nothing wrong with treating him like he is.”
Derek felt the guilt he hasn’t felt in a while. “Uncle…”
“Derek.” Peter cut off firmly. He seemed to know that his nephew was going back to having a guilt-trip. “It wasn’t your fault. You were a kid and she took advantage of you.”
“I should have never been that stupid.” Derek bit out, hating himself even more no matter how much Stiles and the pack reassured him that he wasn’t at fault. Everyone except Peter, Stiles and Lydia, were quite surprised to find out that Kate somehow used him as a bridge to destroy the Hale house. But everyone except for Peter did all the reassurances.
“Have you ever thought that maybe it was supposed to happen?” Peter asked in a quiet but firm voice. Derek took in a deep breath. “Maybe Kate was supposed to use you and kill everyone so that I could go feral in time, kill my own niece,” there was venom with the way he said those words because just like Derek, there was guilt in him but not in the way Derek had the guilt destroy him, “bite Scott so that Stiles could run with us? So that you can learn from a mistake and actually trust the wolf inside you?”
His uncle was right. Despite his wolf being a big part of him since he was young, he never depended on instinct. He believed in using his head, what his intelligence could do. Derek was by no means stupid, being third best in class, but he was never instinctual until recently. He trusted the instinct to stay and help Scott. He trusted the instinct to build a new pack to depend Beacon Hills because it has always been in the Hale pack’s protection. He trusted his instinct to mate with Stiles.
“Maybe. I just.” Derek sighed and closed his eyes for a while. When he opened them, he continued in a soft voice, “I never thought my intellect would be my downfall. In my head, Kate would make an amazing mate because she was smart, strong, and handled herself well. She didn’t need constant protection. My wolf hated her, though.” He looked at his uncle to see his reaction. Peter simply tilted his head to one side and nodded, urging him to tell him more. Derek looked away and sighed softly. “I pushed the wolf aside, thinking using my head would be the best decision. And that led to my whole family being burned.” Derek clenched his jaw as he recalled the smell of fire and bodies burning, the screams he could still hear whenever his eyes closed. He and Laura got there too late from school despite the fact that they ran as quickly as they could.
“But you learned your lesson, didn’t you?” Peter asked quietly after a long silence.
“Yeah.” Derek huffed softly.
“And now you can become a better alpha.” Peter reassured. The silence went on for a while, just the sounds of the various animals could be heard.
“Do you know why your dad became the alpha and not Matt, who was the oldest among us, Hale brothers?” Peter asked after a while. Derek looked at his uncle and shook his head. “Because Matt was more on using his brain, not instinct. The only time he used his instinct was when he chose a mate because even his head had to agree that Sarah would be perfect for him.
“Your dad has always been instinctual, he trusted his wolf more than anything else, leading him to just decisions. Matt knew this, that’s why he never fought for the role of an alpha when our father passed away. That was why the Hale pack continued to flourish, despite the death of the best alpha it ever had.
“The same thing happened for you and Laura. If you were the instinctual one, you would have been trained to become the alpha, not Laura. It just so happen that Laura was the oldest descendant of the current alpha.” Peter explained to his nephew, his only living family member by blood.
Derek didn’t know what to say, so he simply remained quiet. After a few more silent moments passed, Derek muttered a soft, “Thanks.” When his uncle made a noise of confusion, he elaborated. “For not blaming me.”
“Thank you, for letting me in your pack.” Peter replied. Derek could hear the omitted words—even though I killed your sister. He couldn’t really blame his uncle for killing what his feral mind saw as threat. And now that they were past everything that happened, Derek really believed that everything would be okay.
0===0
Derek stood by Isaac’s door as he watched Stiles comfort the younger werewolf. Isaac still tended to have nightmares, even after years of being a werewolf and knowing that his father would not be able to hurt him anymore. Then Erica and Boyd’s death were additional nightmares to him because he was the one who found their bodies, mutilated beyond recognition if one could not scent them. Only Stiles’ presence and comfort could calm him down, help him momentarily forget his nightmares, his fears.
Stiles was stroking Isaac’s hair softly as he sang in a quiet voice. His voice has always comforted the little pup, and that never ceased to amaze Derek. He knew his mate would make an amazing father for their incoming cub.
But only love can say—try again or walk away
Isaac sighed in contentment as he snuggled closer to Stiles, tightening his grip on his alpha’s mate. Derek can see the small smile on his mate’s face as he continued to stroke Isaac’s head.
But I believe for you and me
The sun will shine one day
So I’ll just play my part
And pray you’ll have a change of heart
Stiles wriggled slightly, trying to get comfortable due to his already growing baby bump. Isaac didn’t seem to be bothered by the movement at all.
But I can’t make you see it through
That’s something only love can do
As Derek watched his mate comfort Isaac, he couldn’t help but fall in love with him a little more. After everything settled, just a little more than two years ago, Stiles turned out to be really good with the pack, the pups and Derek was grateful for that; to find a mate so suiting to lead a pack with him, to care for the pack. He was glad he finally learned to follow his wolf’s instincts.
I know if I could find the words
To touch you deep inside
You'd give our dream just one more chance
Don't let this be our good-bye
As Stiles finished the song and Isaac finally fell asleep, Derek finally walked inside the room sat by Stiles’ other side. He ran a hand from the pup’s forehead and through his hair. It was always a relief to still see the innocent boy he first saw.
Derek wrapped his arms around Stiles and kissed his temple and decided that it wouldn’t hurt to sleep on Isaac’s bed.
0===0
Derek can see that Stiles was getting more and more agitated as is due date got closer. He knew his mate didn’t particularly like feeling worthless, that was why he stopped coddling him too much the moment Stiles snapped at him.
(“For fuck’s sake, Derek! I’m pregnant, not disabled! I don’t need you to baby me too much.”)
He watched how Isaac would assist Stiles going up and down the stairs and everywhere else he would go if he was not at school. Stiles was letting it slip because Isaac was obviously the favorite one, and it was obvious to Derek.
Scott was a whole other thing. Whenever he visited, he would give Stiles dozens of lectures of what he should and should not eat. He gave everything Stiles needed; from the remote to his phone (which was on the bedside table, by the bed, where Stiles was sitting on).
Allison (probably from being female), was somewhat like Scott but more subtle. She never babied Stiles too much which was an obviously an okay to Stiles’ book, Derek can tell. Allison obviously knew that Stiles hated being a damsel in distress, that’s why she let him choose which moment he wanted to be coddled.
Derek, at first, thought that he was going against all of his instincts to provide for his mate. But, as it turned out, the wolf knew just what his mate needed, that was why he stopped coddling his mate too much, knowing that it distressed the younger man.
The older ones—namely the Sheriff, Chris, Melissa, and Peter—simply let the pack take care of Stiles. They didn’t really want to deal with an emotionally unstable, pregnant (male!) teenager. Peter was amused, the Sheriff was nervous, Chris didn’t have much of a reaction, while Melissa waited excitedly for the due date. But for now, Derek just had to keep his mate’s temper under control so that he would not snap at Isaac and Scott. Most probably at Scott.
0===0
Derek and Stiles were watching some crappy TV show while Peter went out to buy some more things for the baby. (Seriously, though, Derek wondered when his uncle will stop buying various stuff for the baby. He wasn’t even the father.) Stiles was curled up against Derek’s side, arms wrapped around his mate’s middle while Derek’s own arm was wrapped over his shoulders.
Stiles was getting clingy as his due date approached and Derek understood that because his mate needed him. It was basically instinct to a werewolf’s pregnant mate (especially an alpha’s) to seek his/her mate. The only problem was that Stiles being clingy felt like Stiles being sexy. Or seductive. Or anything else synonymous to that term. But he didn’t really want to have sex because he preferred Derek being inside him rather than just getting each other off. There are times that Derek wondered if it was really Stiles who was the teenager and not him, at the moment.
Derek was turned on, he was not afraid to admit that, but he couldn’t make love to his mate because Stiles was so close to his due date that it was possible for the baby to come any day now and Stiles didn’t want to so much for the time being. Stiles’ mouth—his teeth and tongue, fuck!—was driving Derek insane. He was rock hard and he couldn’t do anything about it. Stiles would get pissed off at him if he tried to do anything (which has usually led to Derek wondering who was really the alpha between him and Stiles).
As Derek tried his best not to moan and just focus on the TV, Stiles’ mouth on his neck suddenly stopped. He could feel his mate tensing just the slightest bit and looked at him. Stiles’ brows were furrowed but his eyes were wide. Suddenly, Stiles gasped loudly, and it was far from a pleasured one.
“Hey, you okay?” Derek asked softly and turned his body to fully face his mate, erection slowly being forgotten. Stiles groaned and a pained expression crossed his face, sending warning bells to Derek. “Are you hurt anywhere?” He roamed his hands over Stiles, looking for the cause of his mate’s distress.
“Derek.” Stiles gasped.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Stiles groaned once more. Derek waited for a short while for a response. He knew Stiles didn’t want him to be too overprotective.
“Derek, Derek I think the baby’s coming.” Stiles said with panic in his eyes.
“What?” Derek asked dumbly, blinking once, twice, thrice.
Stiles pulled the front off his shirt and said with a growl through gritted teeth, “I’m going into labor. Call Alan and Melissa.” He didn’t even know his mate could actually growl like that. “Derek.” Stiles growled once more, snapping Derek out of his trance.
Derek shot up and grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter (how did it get there?!), calling Melissa first, who promised to be there quickly. It was a good thing she took a week of leave from the hospital to be able to assist on delivering the baby. After calling her, he called Deaton next, who assured to be there as soon as possible. Derek then called the sheriff, a snap decision he made. As he talked, he could hear the sheriff moving around, obviously rushing to get to the Hale house. He decided to simply text Scott, Isaac, Allison, Peter, and Chris that Stiles was finally going into labor and get to the Hale house as soon as class was over for the first three. He then informed Lydia, Jackson, and Danny that the baby was coming.
“Derek!” He heard Stiles scream from the living room. He rushed to his mate and let his phone drop on the counter once more. For some reason, he has never felt more thrilled and tensed at the same time. He was so excited to see their cubs but so afraid for his mate’s wellbeing.
“What do you need?” Derek asked as kneeled down in front of his mate and rubbed Stiles’ swollen belly while one hand cupped Stiles’ face.
“Deaton and Ms. McCall.” Stiles gasped as he tried (and unfortunately failed) to labor his breathing.
“They’re on their way.” Derek replied, not really knowing what to do.
“Fuck!” Stiles growled once more as another wave of pain shot through him. That was when Peter came rushing through the door, dropping some bags by the door. Derek didn’t really know how his uncle got home that fast.
“Let’s take him to of one the guest bedrooms.” Peter said, out of breath, as he moved to hook one of Stiles’ arms around his neck, urging Derek to do the same. They haven’t even taken five steps when Stiles moaned in pain, making Derek panic even more. “Will you let Derek carry you?” Peter asked Stiles softly. Stiles simply nodded. Peter looked at Derek, nodding at him once.
Derek bent down and put an arm under Stiles’ knees and carried him bridal style. He and Peter rushed to one of the guest bedrooms downstairs then slowly and gently put Stiles down the bed. Stiles was starting to sweat. As Derek was about to turn and ask his uncle to get a washcloth, Peter was already carrying one. Derek nodded his thanks and started dabbing the cloth on his mate’s face.
Derek didn’t know how much time has passed, but he can now here the distinct rumble of the sheriff’s cruiser, a few more moments, Melissa and Deaton’s cars were heard. Derek, knowing that they were close, relaxed a little. As the sheriff parked in the driveway, Chris’ car was finally heard.
Peter seemed to have let the sheriff in, because the next thing Derek knew, the sheriff was standing by the doorway, staring at his son.
“How’s he holding up?” Derek heard him ask. Just when he was about to respond, Peter snorted before he answered, “Not very good.” The sheriff sighed softly and walked towards him. He felt the sheriff’s hand land on his shoulder, taking his attention away from his mate. Derek had no idea how he looked like, but the sheriff chuckled softly and said, “Breathe, Derek. He’ll be fine.” He then realized that the sheriff was actually asking about him, not Stiles. Derek nodded jerkily and looked back at his mate.
A few more moments passed, Deaton and Melissa finally came in. they were setting up some hospital equipments that Derek vaguely recalled when he studied in Med school in New York back then. He knew how woman pregnancy worked and when it came to humans. But he didn’t know how male pregnancy did, especially if the child’s a werewolf. His mother explained enough that it was very different from the way human females deliver their children.
Deaton, though, seemed to really know what he was about to do. Melissa was taught of what she had to do a few months back to assist Deaton.
“Derek, I need you to leave for a while. You won’t be in control of your wolf once Stiles go in to labor.” Deaton explained calmly as he put a surgical cap on. Derek didn’t even realize that he and Melissa were now wearing lab coats. Derek nodded reluctantly and stood up. The sheriff ushered him out with a hand on his shoulder. Peter was asked to stay to assist for a while; removing Stiles’ clothes and then lifting him up for cleaner sheets to be placed under him. Both Deaton and Melissa sterilized their hands then put some surgical gloves on as Derek watched from outside for a short while. When Peter was finally told to go out as well, he pulled the door shut behind him. He squeezed Derek’s other shoulder, the one where the sheriff’s wasn’t placed and gave him a small smile.
“Let’s go outside. You might lose yourself the moment you smell the blood.” Peter advised, taking his nephew with him and leaving the sheriff behind. Derek was very reluctant to go, but he knew how werewolves tend to lose themselves whenever their mates were in distress; giving birth or not.
As Peter ushered Derek out the front door, Chris was just getting out of his car. “How’s Stiles?” He asked as he approached the two Hale men. Chris has somehow gotten fond of Stiles, seeing him as the son he never had.
“He’s good. They just sedated him before we left.” Peter replied as he kept a hand on Derek’s shoulder, keeping him grounded. “You might need to get inside. The sheriff’s alone in there, might need someone to talk to.” Chris nodded.
Peter took Derek for a run. He didn’t know how long he and his uncle have been running but, when they got back inside, he could hear Deaton saying that the baby’s head was out. Derek rushed towards the guest room Stiles was in, he could saw the sheriff and Chris talking to each other. Isaac was there as well, his class being done around half an hour ago, leaning against the wall and looking slightly agitated.
Derek walked in front of the door, waiting for his cub, their cub. Just then, the wail of a baby was heard. Derek’s heart almost skipped a beat and he quickly got inside. Stiles was still asleep as Deaton Melissa stitched him up. Deaton was cleaning their cub.
After Stiles was stitched up and cleaned, and the cub cleaned and wrapped in a white cloth, Deaton walked over to him as he walked towards the doctor, meeting him halfway, and handed the little cub to him. Derek took his child gently, cradling the little cub against his chest. He smiled softly, quite in disbelief, wondering how he got such a perfect mate and a perfect little cub.
“What would name him?” Deaton finally asked as Derek swayed from left to right.
Him. Derek looked up, his smile widening a little. “Greg Martin.” He replied then looked back down at their little boy.
He felt the sheriff squeeze his shoulder. He looked up and saw that the sheriff had a small smile on his face, knowing where Derek and Stiles got the name.
Stiles started moaning softly, hopefully waking up. As his mates chocolate brown orbs was seen, Derek realized that he wanted to give Stiles, much, much more. Right then and there, he decided to ask Stiles the question that was very important to humans.
“We better leave them for the mean time.” Peter said, ushering them out of the room. The sheriff gave Derek’s shoulder one final squeeze then shut the door behind him after they left.
Derek walked towards his mate, who was now waking up. Stiles smiled at him when he saw him, cradling their little boy in his arms. “Greg or Krissy?” Stiles asked. He made the nickname Krissy up on his fifth month of pregnancy.
“Greg.” Derek said with a smile and laid in bed beside his mate, his upper back resting by the headboard.
Stiles smiled and Derek lowered their little boy so Stiles could see him. “Hey, sweetheart.” Stiles started quietly. “I’m your other daddy. I carried you inside me for nine months.” He stroked the baby boy’s head gently, making him yawn widely. Both Derek and Stiles chuckled softly. “Has he opened his eyes yet?” Stiles asked softly, probably due to the medication.
“Not yet. But,” Derek started and bent his head to look at the small slits of their child’s barely half open eyes. “it looks bluish with some grey, just like mine was. His eyes would probably be green with some shades, if that’s the case.” He explained and looked back down at his mate. Stiles has a soft smile on his face as he stared at him. “What?” Derek asked with a soft scowl.
“Nothing. I just forget sometimes that you went to normal college and actually went to med school.” Stiles replied, his smile still intact.
“Well.” Derek shrugged then leaned down to give Stiles’ lips a soft peck. “Marry me.” Derek whispered against his lips. Derek’s eyes were closed he could feel Stiles’ lips beaming against his.
“Yes.”