Chapter Text
Derek walked barefoot down the steps from his bed into the makeshift living room a towel wrapped around his neck that he absentmindedly ran through his still wet hair. It was still early and since nothing of urgency had sprung up, he’d been thinking of doing something normal for a change like maybe make himself some coffee. Derek headed to the kitchen, his jeans riding low on his hips, partially buttoned, if you could call it that. He was almost near the kitchen when he heard her...Scented her... Lydia.
Lydia stood outside the loft door lips pursed. She tapped her finger against her thigh lightly brushing against the material of her dress. She should just knock, it's not like she'd never been there before, but this was different. Lydia rolled her eyes at herself, dropped her keys into her purse and straightened her body. She curled her hand into a fist, reached out and hesitated.
Derek looked towards the door. He straightened up walking back towards the living room. What was she waiting for he wondered. He could scent her anxiety coming through what she normally smelled like causing him to call out gruffly, "Are you going to come in or not?"
Lydia arched an eyebrow at the sound of his voice traveling through the door and she stepped forward tugging open the heavy door, heels clicking against the floor as she stepped inside the apartment. "I was trying to be polite," she commented sliding the door shut behind her and then glancing back over at Derek.
"Though I suppose I forgot my target audience and his utter lack of manners," she quipped even as her gaze traveled over his body taking in his wet hair and shirtless torso. The angles of his muscles and chiseled abdominal muscles weren't a surprise. Derek was attractive. It was a fact she’d come to terms with one of the first times she’d met him. Lydia's gaze flickered back up to his face. "Am I interrupting bathing time?" She joked.
Derek saw her red high heels first, how did she walk in those things always a persistent thought in his mind. Not that he objected to them, they accentuated her shapely legs nicely. It wasn’t like he hadn’t noticed her over the years. It would be difficult not to, Lydia Martin was a force to be reckoned with. His eyes roved up her curvy little body noting her obscenely short dress. Derek didn’t fail to notice her gaze on his chest as she made her snide comments and he had to hold back a smirk.
When would she remember that as a wolf he could hear her heart accelerate when she looked at him? He almost wished he could pick up the gauntlet she'd just thrown down with that last remark. But he wasn't going to go there with her. It never ended well. "What do you want Lydia?" He responded curtly as he walked just passed the door and reached for a discarded shirt that was hanging on the back of an errant chair and put it on.
Lydia tilted her head to the side and arched an eyebrow at his curt response. "I've got some information that I thought would be of interest to you." She responded as she walked further into the apartment moving right past him and heading for the couch. She dropped her purse and sat down, crossing her legs as she waited for him to follow her knowing he would eventually.
Derek sighed and followed after her. Begrudging respect that she knew he'd follow. He pulled up a chair in front of her and straddled it, his hand accidentally brushing against Lydia's calf in the process. He felt his eyes flash blue and quickly lowered his gaze hoping she hadn't noticed the effect she had on his wolf. Strengthening himself up as he folded his forearms on the back of the chair his normal gruff persona in place once again he spoke bluntly, "What is it you think you know that I don't?"
Lydia glanced at him amusement in her gaze as she ignored her body’s physical reaction to the feel of his slightly callused hand brushing against her skin. It had been over three months since she’d had any kind of physical contact with a man. Her body was bound to react to the caress. "Quite a bit actually, but currently I'm referring to something about your uncle." She told him resting her hands on her knees as she tried to fight the tension in her body.
"A while back he sought me out through my mother at school so I came here to see him because he said he could help me learn how to control the whole banshee thing." Lydia said as she met Derek's gave giving him a moment to process that.
"Well," Derek said while and leaning forward slightly, “You should know better than to trust anything that comes out of Peter's mouth. I assume this has something to do with the memory my mother kept from him?" It made sense now why he'd walked in weeks ago to find his uncle in an uncharacteristic rage and the lingering scent of Lydia in the air. Peter didn't normally show his emotions; cool and calculating was his modus operandi. A small smirk formed on his lips at the slight rounding of her olive green eyes. Apparently he wasn’t as uninformed as she had thought.
Lydia hadn't expected him to know about that, but it did make things easier. She gave a roll of her eyes before sighing. "No one said I trusted him, but he was the only one offering and after everything I missed, well it seemed like the best plan." She explained. Lydia still hadn't exactly forgiven herself for not realizing Stiles was in trouble. "He has a daughter," she admitted not bothering to beat around the bush.
"Ok. That I didn't know. All my mom alluded to was that the secret involved family and Peter couldn't know." Derek wondered how Lydia had gotten the specifics from Talia. "How exactly did you find out?" Derek hesitated. "Did...You actually speak to my mother too?"
Lydia frowned, “I’m not sure,” she admitted honestly. “I had her claws and then,” she paused hesitating, “I was trying to listen and Peter was fighting with,” her voice stopped, heart clenching tightly. “He was fighting with Allison.” She told him trying to push aside the way her gut twisted at the mention of her best friend’s name.
“I got angry and threw the claws, they sailed across the air and slammed into the wall and then…I heard it. Whispers, more than one and then one solid voice,” Lydia explained. “She told me he had a daughter named Malia Tate.”
Derek heard the catch in Lydia's voice at the mention of Allison's name. She'd lost a sister he understood that...He went to reach out for her hand. "Lydia, I'm sorr..." He stopped abruptly at the hard look in her eyes. She didn't want condolences he understood that. So instead Derek pulled back and stood up starting to pace.
"Well that explains why Malia smells like family and why I found my mother's nails embedded in the wall. It takes a lot of strength to do that." Derek stopped his pacing suddenly staring at her curiously.
Lydia pursed her lips. “I was angry. Sorry about the claws.” She commented glancing down and brushing some imaginary dust off the skirt of her dress. “Now we get to the part why I came here,” she looked up, “I told Peter about Malia,” something she still felt guilty about. “Scott and I needed Peter’s help and he said he’d only help if I told him who his daughter was.”
She said it so fast Derek wasn't sure he heard her correctly. But when she looked up at him, the guilt written clearly on her face he knew he’d heard her right. That was when his cordiality flew out the window. "You did what?" He snapped.
Lydia winced at the force of his words, but she didn’t cower before him. That wasn’t in her nature. She simply straightened her shoulders and glared at Derek. “I told him her name.” she repeated. “Scott and I were trying to save Stiles,” she told him pointedly, “We didn’t have a lot of options at the time. This was too important,” Lydia paused pursing her lips.
“It didn’t think it would be an issue because Malia wasn’t here, she’d left town after giving Kira and Scott the sword she and Stiles found at Eichen House. But, today was my first day back at school and she was there.” Two months had passed and her first day back at school since everything had been stranger than she imagined without Allison there.
Derek took a deep breath and walked back to the chair once again sitting down.
"Fine I get it. Does Malia know? She needs to be told before he tells her. Because I can guarantee he'll do it in a way that paints himself as a martyr and my mother and the rest of us as villains.”
He sighed, things with Peter were complicated. "Also..." Derek paused. He didn't know how to ask this but he needed to know. "Did she say anything else? Anything about me?"
Lydia watched Derek for a minute before shaking her head. “Nothing about you,” she replied, “And no I haven’t told Malia. I came here because I figured Peter would be up to something now that he knew and she was in town.” She explained. “And you needed to know.”
Derek released the breath he'd been holding at her words, his eyes revealing nothing of the inner turmoil at his mother not having more to say to him other than protecting Beacon Hills and how their family had always been the ones to do it. Standing up once again he moved the chair out of Lydia's way, not waiting for Lydia to move, Derek started for the door. "Then let's go find Malia and tell her before Peter does. And maybe call Stiles, it seems like she's at ease when he's around and she's going to need that with the news we’re about to give her."
Lydia hadn’t expected him to want jump right into action at her words, though she should have known better. Derek didn’t seem to be the type who lingered and planned. Not usually. She stood lifting her purse over her shoulder and pursing her lips as she followed behind him out of the apartment and towards the elevator, her pace slow. “She’s with Stiles,” Lydia commented lightly. “I saw them leave together after school.”
"Well that makes things easier." Derek shrugged as he lifted the gate to the elevator and then closed it once they were both inside the metal box. He pressed the button to the basement and waited. He didn't say another word until he opened the gates and headed towards his Camaro. It was time to go back to using it; it wasn't like he had a pack of betas to take care of anymore. "Get in, I'm driving." He opened the car door ushering her in.
Lydia frowned, "I have a car of my own you realize," she said even as he nudged her into the car. Lydia slid easily into the passenger seat the smell of leather reaching her nose. She shifted, the skirt of her dress rising with the movement. She glanced up at Derek from the door. "And for future reference I'm not cattle, do not herd me." Lydia told him haughtily resting her purse on her lap.
"Of course, Princess," Derek mock bowed as he closed the car door and made his way around the back towards the driver’s side. Damn it all if he didn't have to fight to hide the smile that kept trying to creep up around her.
Lydia ‘hmphed’ as Derek got into the car sending him a warning glare. "Do you even know where you're going?" She asked with an arched brow. "You're not exactly besties with Stiles," she commented brushing her straightened hair over her shoulder.
Derek rolled his eyes at her as he turned the ignition. The Camaro roared to life much like her owner at the feel and smell of the leather all around him. He glanced over at the pretty little redhead at his right who he admitted if only to himself looked just perfect seated at his side.
"Where to then?" He asked as he put the car in drive and headed out of the building into the fading day.
Lydia glanced out her window with a sigh. "Make a left out of the parking garage and head out onto featherbed lane. Take it to the end, right on Main Street and I'll tell you the rest when we get to that point." She said simply as she leaned back against the leather. "And make sure you don't drive like some wild maniac. I've survived one too many catastrophes’s to die in a fiery car crash," she commanded lightly expecting him to listen.
Derek knew he should restrain himself, act like an adult. But he couldn't help himself, she brought out the teenage boy in him that had died far too soon. He kind of enjoyed annoying her. So, with a smirk firmly placed on his lips he gunned it, the tires skidding as he took the first turn. Her shriek of outrage was well worth the earache.
Lydia's hands jerked out, one gripping the passenger side door and the other reflexively curling around Derek's forearm, nails clipping his skin gently as her heartbeat sped up. "Are you out of your mind?" She asked sharply her gaze wandering over to his face. "I am precious cargo Wolf Boy and you better treat me as such. One more sharp turn and your ass is going to meet my stiletto." She threatened despite the exhilaration running through her. Fast cars and good looking men were absolutely two of Lydia's biggest weaknesses.
"What? What was that? I'm temporarily deaf in that ear." Not even bothering to hide the face splitting grin he wore as he made the next sharp turn. "I've always had a fondness for stilettos."
Lydia squinted at the grin on his face and ignored the stiletto comment though a snarky remark was on the tip of her tongue. "You're pushing your luck Hale. I might be tiny, but I am a force to be reckoned with," she snapped releasing his arm and glancing forward her stomach contracting with excitement. Maybe secretly she sort of enjoyed the thrill of speeding down an empty road, but Derek didn't need to know that. "And to think I thought you were slightly more mature then a teenage boy," she said as she let her hand fall from the door as well not wanting to show any weakness. It wasn't like she'd never been in a car moving too fast; after all she did date Jackson.
The car stopped abruptly as Derek leaned toward her, using his imposing size to its full advantage. "Oh trust me. I'm a man full grown, Martin." He leaned back to face the road and he heard her heart skip a beat. She was no more immune to him than he was to her. "And we are on Main Street."
Lydia swallowed hard and turned her head glancing at the street sign. She was not going to let him intimidate her…or get to her in any other way either. "I'm sure you like to tell yourself that," she commented. "Make a right at the stop sign go down to Beatrice and make a left. Stiles' house is the forth on the right." she told him glancing down at her nails, her tone bored.
Derek had to admire her bravado he thought as he took off again. "Wait. Stilinski's house? You could've just said that you know." He said turning to glare at her.
Lydia glared right back at him. "I did. Besides, if you knew where you were going you would have realized we're only a couple of minutes from his house." She told him pointedly. "Now be a good wolf and keep driving." She said while reaching into her purse and searching for her lip gloss.
She was right, but he'd be damned if he'd admit that he'd been too distracted by, well by her to realize where he was going.
"Freshening up to make sure Stilinski remembers what he's missing now that he's with my cousin." He felt her stiffen more than saw it. That had come out meaner than he'd intended.
Lydia turned her head and glanced at Derek. “Stiles and I were never anything more than friends.” She said her body tense. “And trust me, if I wanted Stiles, he’d be mine whether your cousin was here or not. I’m Lydia Martin; I always get what I want.” She told him before curling her fingers around her lip gloss and taking it out of her purse as she looked away from him. Lydia wasn’t sure why, but Derek thinking she was that shallow…or still that shallow kind of hurt.
Derek felt terrible. He didn't know what to say but he could scent the hurt coming off her in waves. He parked the Camaro in front of Stiles’ house and immediately went to open the door for her. At least he could try to remember the manners his mother and Laura always tried to teach him.
"Trust me I pity the idiot who ever tries to keep you from what you truly want." He said as he closed the car door behind her. If the bounce in her step as she made her way to house was any indication maybe he'd manage to soothe the hurt he'd caused or maybe Lydia just had a natural bounce to her step, which Derek wouldn’t be surprised by.
Lydia paused in front of the door gripping her purse tightly in her hand. Her free hand shot out and rang the bell, her gaze drifting back over to Derek. “Have you ever been here before?” She asked her tone indifferent.
The snark was back and he found it oddly comforting. "Of course I've been here before. Just not through the front door," Derek finished with a shrug as the door was pulled open.
Stiles glanced between Derek and Lydia eyebrow arched. “Sour Wolf, Lyds…what’s going on? Everything okay?” He asked as he opened the door wider for them slightly confused as to what they were doing together.
"I got all the shells out this time, Stiles." Malia called out cheerfully as she stepped out of Stiles kitchen wearing nothing but his t-shirt holding a bowl in her hands. "Hi." She said shyly toward Lydia and she thought his name was Derek.
"Oh we definitely need to talk, Stilinski," Derek all but growled causing Malia to drop the bowl and flash blue eyes at him.
Lydia sighed, “Let’s not get into a supernatural smack down people; we’ve got other issues to deal with at the moment.” Lydia slid by Stiles, stepping over the mess of the broken bowl, “You should probably get some paper towels for that sweetheart.”
Stiles blinked not surprised that Lydia walked in like she owned the place; she’d been spending a lot of time at his house recently, well before the Nogitsune. “Uh I’ll grab some paper towel,” he said squeezing Malia’s arm gently and walking around her.
Lydia glanced back at Derek, “Well get your ass in here and knock it off with the growling, behave or I’ll have to smack you with a newspaper,” she told him, smirking, humor in her gaze.
Derek grumbled under his breath "Thank you," glad that Lydia had been there to defuse the potentially disastrous confrontation.
Malia was confused by what just happened, but she liked Lydia and did as she said going to help Stiles with the mess on the floor. She still kept a wary eye on Derek though. Stiles had said they were all friends and Malia didn't understand where the hostility had come from.
Derek walked past the two cleaning up the mess on the floor and followed Lydia into the living room. He leaned down to whisper in Lydia's ear knowing Malia was probably listening, but it didn't matter, "Sometimes the wolf gets away from me. Maybe you should take the lead from here." If Derek had learned anything in the last year or so it was that he didn't always know best.
Malia turned curious eyes on the striking pair standing in the living room. She studied them briefly wondering why they gave off such intense vibes and if they were connected in some way.
"So, are they mates?" Malia asked turning to Stiles not bothering to whisper. Stiles’ wide-eyed gaze accompanied by Lydia's snort and Derek's cough probably meant she'd said something inappropriate again.
Stiles sent Derek and Lydia an apologetic look. "No they're..." He paused searching for the right words. Derek and Lydia didn't exactly spend a lot of time together. He wasn’t even sure if they were friendly, "pack." He said simply, "We all are." He told her with a smile.
Lydia arched an eyebrow. "I suppose that's true." She had no idea why Malia thought she and Derek were mates…that was just silly. She sat on the couch and glanced at the three of them. "Well, come on sit down. I've got news."
Derek followed Lydia's example even if he was slightly irritated at how easily she got past Malia’s words. Was she his mate? Is that why the scent of her called to him? "Yes. Lydia's got extremely interesting news." He ground out exasperated at all these unexpected questions and feelings. He took a seat right next to her taking up as much space as possible. He was going to be the only one uncomfortable.
Malia was beyond confused she knew that social cues were a new thing for her but she knew mates when she scented them. "But..." She went to tug on Stiles sleeve as he moved to take a seat as well.
Lydia glanced at Derek, the irritation clear in his voice. She arched an eyebrow at him, not sure what had suddenly turned him so sour. "What?"
Was Lydia seriously asking him what? Derek thought looking at her incredulously. "You just..." Stopping himself unsure of what he wanted to say or even if he should. So instead he did what he did best, "Can the two of you just sit down." Derek addressed Stiles and Malia. "Trust me delaying this isn't going to make it any easier."
Stiles looked away from Derek and Lydia and glanced at Malia, brows furrowed. He placed a hand at the small of her back, "What's wrong?" He could see the confusion on her face and he wasn't sure what was wrong.
"It's just you said they weren't... But they are." Malia whispered into Stiles. He was deliciously warm always.
Stiles hesitated at Malia's words not really sure what to make of them. He didn't know what she was feeling or smelling, but he was pretty sure nothing was going on with them. He pressed a hand against her lower back guiding her into the living room, "Well talk about it later okay?" He said with a small reassuring smile knowing that even if they were whispering Derek could hear them.
Lydia kept her gaze on Derek for a minute before shifting it to Malia and Stiles once they sat down. "I'm here-" she paused, "We're here because now that you're back in town there's something I thought you should know," she explained trying not to get distracted by the feel of Derek's gaze on her. She had no idea why he seemed annoyed, but the fact that something was bothering him unsettled her and that was weird. Since when did she start caring what was bothering Derek? It wasn't like they were all that close.
Stiles frowned, "What's going on?" He asked trying not to worry too much but after everything they'd been through over the past six months it was hard not to.
Lydia pursed her lips. "Peter knows about Malia," she told them without preamble her gaze drifting to Malia. "Peter is Derek's uncle and your...biological father." She told her softly.
Malia knew she was adopted it had never been a secret. She remembered how her parents always told her that she was their special girl that they'd wanted her to be a part of their lives so badly they'd gone out to find her. And that while her little sister had been the happiest of surprises she was never to forget how much they'd wanted her.
She felt the tears gathering in her eyes threatening to fall and anger took their place. "I already have a father who loves me I don't need another one who clearly wanted nothing to do with me."
Derek saw Lydia about to say something to the clearly agitated girl. But he knew what her anger hid; he put a hand on Lydia's knee, halting her words. "Trust me we aren't trying to replace your dad." He let out a deep sigh. "It's more of a warning. My uncle is a complicated man and I've got...Well let's just say there’s a lot of water under that particular bridge. But he is family one of the few I have left. He's not all bad but he's also never to be trusted." He stopped at the feel of Lydia's hand on his shoulder, didn't know what else to say anyway.
Lydia dropped her hand when Derek paused and pursed her lips. “I don’t know if I’d agree with Peter not being so bad,” especially after what he’d done to her. She still had nightmares every once in a while, “But I’m telling you because the fact that he wanted to know means he’s probably going to seek you out and I didn’t want you to be blindsided.” She told her not wanting to upset her more, but knowing she needed to know.
Stiles rested a hand above Malia’s knee and squeezed it gently. “How did Peter find out?” he asked with a frown. He didn’t like Peter, Stiles was pretty sure he never would.
Lydia hesitated. “I told him.”
Derek could see Stiles gearing up for a meltdown and he held up a hand immediately stopping him. "Before you start freaking out asking how she could do such a thing. I'd like you to remember you were possessed at the time and we had very limited options when it came to who we could turn to, to save you."
"Hey!" Malia shouted out suddenly, she could feel the guilt that rolled off of Stiles at the mention of the Nogitsune stuff. She'd been around for more than one nightmare. "He doesn't need you throwing that in his face!" She glared at Derek who was her cousin now?
"I wasn't throwing it in his face." Derek shouted back. "I was stopping him from being an ass to Lydia about what she did to help him." He pointed from Lydia to Stiles.
Lydia sighed pinching the bridge of her nose and then resting a hand on Derek’s leg. “Both of you stop yelling, you’re giving me a headache,” she glanced to Stiles and her expression softened. She didn’t want there to be any bad blood between them. He was one of her best friends and considering how Allison was no long there, she needed his friendship.
“No one blames Stiles for what the Nogitsune did,” she said her tone soothing, “But the only way to save Stiles was to go into his mind and pull him out and Peter was the only person able to help us and he wouldn’t do it without your name.” Lydia paused choosing her next words carefully.
“I have nothing against you Malia, but at the time my choice was between Stiles and a stranger. And I’m sorry, but I’d choose Stiles every time.” She admitted quietly. “I didn’t think you were coming back so I didn’t think Peter would be an issue. I’m sorry about that, but I don’t regret it because Stiles is alive and here because of it.” She told her simply. “Which I’m sure you’re glad about too.”
Stiles pursed his lips and glanced between Lydia and Derek, “For the record I was going to freak out about Peter knowing, not about Lydia. I know she wouldn’t hurt any of us on purpose, give me little credit,” he said to Derek with a frown as he ran his hand over Malia’s back.
"Sorry." Both Malia and Derek muttered at the same time. They both looked up at each other hesitant smiles pulling at their lips.
Derek nodded at Stiles as way of acknowledging his rash judgment. "As Lydia said the options were limited...I also feel like you should know that he didn't know about you, didn't remember. My mother took the memory away from him. I'm not saying this so you'll be sympathetic towards him," Derek glanced over at Lydia, her feelings for his uncle very clear and understandable, "But because your family and pack now and you deserve all the facts."
Malia sighed this was a lot to take in, "Thanks Lydia. Of course I understand what you did and why. And I just...What am I supposed to do with this information now?" Malia glanced back between Lydia and Derek her gaze finally settling on Stiles.
Stiles rubbed her back, “You’re going to take some time and think about what you want to do. No one here is going to pressure you,” he said pointedly glancing back at Lydia and Derek to make sure they understood that.
Lydia rolled her eyes. “Relax. I’m merely the messenger. You can do nothing with this information and it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. I just felt like I owed you an explanation, that’s all.”
Derek nodded, "What she said and with that we’ll let you be for now." Derek moved to rise using his hand on Lydia's lower back to usher her up and out as well. She gave him a dirty look but got up anyone. Derek bit his inner cheek to keep from laughing.
"They are definitely mates!" Malia exclaimed excitedly to Stiles as the door shut behind Derek.
"Just like you’re mine!" Her smile faltering a bit at Stiles look of shock and was that horror.
Stiles scratched the back of his neck and let out a nervous chuckle, “You’re kind of adorable,” he commented, “I’m not entirely sure what you mean by mates,” he admitted honestly. “But Derek and Lydia don’t have the same kind of relationship that you and I do.” He pointed out with a soft smile as he reached out a hand and nodded towards the kitchen.
Malia couldn't get enough of that smile. She took Stiles’ hand and headed back into the kitchen so he could finish teaching her how to make an omelet. "Maybe not yet." She said softly as she followed.
______
"So, where to now Princess?" Derek asked as he opened the passenger side door for the clearly irritated redhead.
Lydia glared over her shoulder at him. “What did I tell you about herding me around like cattle?” She asked with an arched eyebrow even as she slid into his car again with a huff. “Where else? Back to your place. That’s where my car is,” she said simply as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. Lydia wasn’t exactly annoyed with Derek she was mostly just trying to figure him out.
Derek closed the door with a sigh and walked around his car once again, getting in, starting the car and pulling away from the curb. They drove silently for several minutes, but the closer Derek got to his loft the more the realization hit him that he liked being around Lydia Martin and he wanted to spend more time with her. "I was about to make coffee when you walked in." He suddenly blurted out to her.
Lydia blinked and turned her head so she was glancing at Derek. “…Okay?” She replied confused as she watched him for a minute. “Is that your way of asking me if I’d like to get some coffee?” She asked after a minute, eyebrow arched.
The car suddenly jerked to a stop in front of the local coffee shop, which Lydia hadn’t even realized they’d been so close to. Then again she hadn’t been paying attention.
“Sure if you want." He quickly made his way out of the car and to the entrance suddenly making an about face realizing he left Lydia in the car. God he was bad at this.
Lydia sat in the car staring out the Window as Derek walked back to the car. She was so confused, which honestly didn't happen very often. Derek was acting weird, well weirder than usual, not that she really knew what he acted like normally.
He'd never shown much interest in her before other than a accusing her of things. So the fact that he wanted to now unnerved her. Not necessarily in a bad way, but definitely making her more aware of him. She pushed open the door right as he got back to the car.
Derek caught the door as she pushed it open. What was he doing? Keep it together Hale, he urged himself. "I figured we might want to discuss what just happened. And I have actually been throwing out some feelers regarding the whole Banshee thing..." Was he babbling? Derek clamped his mouth shut as he helped Lydia out of the car before closing the door and starting to walk towards the coffee shop.
Lydia glanced at Derek surprise on her face as he held open the door to the coffee shop for her, “You’ve been looking into the whole banshee thing?” She asked softly, not sure why the fact that he’d gone out of his way to look into that for her made her heart warm slightly.
She seemed so surprised that someone would care to look into it that Derek felt a sudden urge to knock Scott and Stiles' heads together. But in lieu of that that he gruffly replied, "It's not a big deal. I mean don't get too excited. It's just some old contacts from New York sending me some old books to look through. We can go over them together if you want." Oh god there he was offering to spend even more time with her.
Lydia arched an amused eyebrow, “That wasn’t me excited,” she commented off handedly, “When I’m excited, you’ll know,” she said meeting his gaze briefly as they stepped towards the small line inside the coffee shop.
“That was me being surprised that you cared enough to do that I mean,” she paused, “We’ve never really talked all that much and the few times we have I got the distinct impression you didn’t care for me all that much.” She explained, gripping her purse tightly. “But if you don’t mind me looking through them with you, then I guess I could,” she told him sending him a sideways glance and half a smile.
Derek was a bit dazed by that smile, it was a real one not the practiced ones she gave others and it was dazzling even at half-mast. He wondered briefly what it must be like when it was full. He coughed slightly, "Uh yeah I don't--sorry. Occasionally my social graces are a bit lacking. " He rambled on, "I actually think you're really brave and well I've been curious myself as to how at 5 foot nothing you carried 6 feet and 185 pounds of werewolf through the woods in stilettos..."
His words were interrupted by the woman in front of them. "So what can I get you two?" The barista asked saving Derek the embarrassment he was now feeling at the look on Lydia's face when he called her brave. God, he was terrible at this.
Lydia held Derek’s gaze for another second before turning to the barista and ordering her usual. After Derek ordered she reached into her purse to pull out her wallet. “I’ve got this,” she said paying before he could even reach into his pocket. She left the change in the tip jar and then the woman ushered them down the counter.
Lydia studied Derek’s face for a minute before biting her bottom lip. “You’re an enigma.” She commented, her tone light.
Derek raised an eyebrow as he waited for their coffees and once they were ready grabbed both and turned to find a table for them to sit at. He placed the coffees down and then pulled out one of the chairs for Lydia while speaking. "Thanks I think?"
Lydia chuckled softly as she sat in the seat he pulled out. “I haven’t decided if it’s a compliment yet,” she said amused as she lifted her coffee and took a long sip, keeping her eyes on Derek.
Derek fought the urge to squirm under her gaze. She was a beautiful woman and much like him she was used to the attention that being attractive brought.
"Ok well, let me know when you decide then." He sat in the seat across from her. The table was small and getting his legs comfortably underneath it was proving to be difficult. He heard her chuckle at his predicament and a lopsided grin came out unbidden in her direction.
“Too big for our little human tables huh?” She asked, her voice low, humor in her gaze as she easily crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair with a smirk. “It seems being 5’2” has its perks,” she joked.
"It certainly does." He said giving her a slow once over from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. When he finally stopped at her eye level he couldn't resist a wink.
Lydia felt her entire body warm, her heartbeat picking up speed slightly, but she kept her demeanor unaffected. She arched a brow once again, tapping her nails on the coffee cup, “See something you like?” She inquired tilting her head to the side.
Derek loved her ability to stay calm in every situation, she had to know that he could hear her heartbeat pick up speed, but she still kept her cool. "I'd say we both do." He responded leaning in letting his fingers brush slightly against hers when he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey what are you guys doing here?" Scott asked lightly as he paused at their table.
Lydia glanced up at the sound of Scott’s voice, her hand pulling back from Derek as she gripped her coffee. She gave him a slight smile, “Hey Scott,” she motioned to her cup, “Doing what most people do at coffee shops,” she joked lightly.
"Ah yeah, but,” Scott paused, “Together?" He asked the curiosity clear in his eyes as he glanced at Lydia while scratching the back of his head.
Derek suddenly reached over and pointed to a third chair, "We might as well tell him now," he said to Lydia before glancing back at Scott. "Sit."
Scott arched an eyebrow confusion filling his face as he sat down in the chair Derek had motioned to. “Tell me what?”
Lydia arched an eyebrow, “Yeah, tell Scott what?” She asked not sure why her heartbeat had picked up speed. What exactly was it that Derek wanted to tell Scott?
"About Malia?" He said sounding mildly confused at the rapid increase in her heartbeat, not sure what she’d been thinking. What else would he want to tell Scott?
"What about her?" Scott asked even more at a lost as he looked from Derek’s cool expression to Lydia listening to her rapidly beating heart that seemed to slow down at his words.
“Right, obviously.” Lydia brought her coffee to her mouth and took a long sip. She put the cup down, her composure back as she glanced at Scott. “Long story short, Malia is Peter’s daughter, he knows, so we warned her and Stiles. The end.” She said lifting the coffee back up to her lips.
Derek raised an eyebrow at Lydia’s rapid fire cliff-notes version of what had happened and nearly choked on his own tongue to keep from laughing at Scott dumbfounded expression.
"Wait, what? How?" Scott asked incredulously because clearly stumbling upon Derek and Lydia on a coffee date wasn't startling enough. But then Scott paused remembering something that happened right after they’d gotten Stiles back. He met Lydia’s gaze. “This is what Peter was talking about, wasn’t it? What he was asking for after we helped Stiles?”
Lydia pursed her lips and glanced down at her coffee. “Yes,” she admitted. “It was the only way he’d help us Scott and as guilty as I feel now that Malia is back, I don’t regret it.” She told him honestly.
Scott’s expression softened and he rested a hand over hers squeezing it gently. “We’ll figure it out,” he said not wanting Lydia to feel bad. None of them had been thinking that clearly at that point and then with loosing Allison, well it was hard.” His chest tightened and he glanced at Derek. “Have you seen Peter at all?”
It took Derek a minute to concentrate on Scott's question, he was too absorbed with why Scott's hand over Lydia's offering friendly comfort was making him want to rip said appendage off her hand. He coughed to hide a growl building in his throat earning an odd look from Scott. Lydia thankfully seemed oblivious to the exchange.
Derek shrugged in response, "I don't know. Haven't seen him and after learning this information, I can't help but think he's up to something. And knowing him he's been planning it from the moment he got my cousin's name."
Lydia pursed her lips, “I hate to say it, but I agree with him.” She said her voice low as she leaned into them. “Peter is manipulative and a lot more dangerous than we give him credit for.” She angled her head to the side glancing between the wolves in front of her. “You should have seen him when I first told him about having a kid; I don’t even want to think what he would have done to get that information had I been by myself when I sought him out.”
Scott’s frown deepened, “When did you seek him out?” He asked feeling slightly guilty that there was apparently so much he didn’t know. He glanced at Derek, “You went with her?”
Derek looked at Scott aghast that Lydia would go confront his uncle without Scott or himself present. Thinking of all the ways that Peter could've hurt her.
"What the hell were you thinking? Seeking out my uncle without one of us there?" He all but shouted at Lydia as he gestured between himself and Scott.
Lydia arched an eyebrow a slight glare forming on her on her face. “Keep your voice down,” she said leaning into the table, “And I wasn’t alone.” She pressed her lips together, “Allison came with me.” Lydia told them softly, not meeting either of their gazes and instead glancing at her coffee. “Besides, I told you that earlier Derek.”
Scott’s chest tightened at the mention of Allison’s name. He reached out to Lydia again and rested a hand on her arm, squeezing it gently before letting it go. “I’m sorry you guys had to do that without one of us,” he added.
Derek also reached out his hand softly turning Lydia's over and stroking the inside of her wrist with his thumb. "I'm sorry, I forgot. And just so you know you can always call me."
Derek spoke so softly almost like his words were a vow. It broke Scott out of his grief briefly, causing him to look at Derek holding Lydia's hand. His curiosity piqued when he saw the looks they were exchanging. He hadn’t expected that. Scott hadn’t even realized Derek and Lydia were that close. But he knew that look. He knew what it felt like; he'd had it and lost it forever with Allison.
Lydia’s expression softened, the slow motion of his thumb against her skin both calming her and making her heartbeat pick up speed. “I know now.” She commented lightly, “But I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself too.” Lydia added pointedly though her voice was soft.
Derek smiled back at her.
Scott could tell they'd forgotten all about him and it wasn’t slightly amusing. He coughed breaking their daze, "So...Pack meeting?" He asked.
Lydia looked away from Derek and glanced at Scott, “I guess.” She said pursing her lips, “Though at this point the only person who doesn’t know is Kira and you can probably tell her. We just came from talking to Stiles and Malia,” she explained gently pulling her hand back from Derek so she could focus on Scott’s words even as she wondered when Derek’s touch had suddenly become so distracting.
Derek instantly felt the loss of Lydia's hand in his, when had her nearness become so vital?
"Lydia makes a valid point. Unless what you really want to discuss is what to do about Peter."
"Well... As much as I don't want to add any more stress onto the pile Malia’s dealing with, I know she’s still adjusting to life as a human," Scott finished on a whisper, "We really do need to know how best to handle this and I think it's best to do so as a pack."
Lydia nodded, “Whatever you want to do. I say we give it a day though, let this all sink in for her before we have a meeting. And I vote death by being buried alive,” she quipped taking a sip of her coffee.
"I'll dig." Derek replied as he drank some of his coffee and promptly spit it out straight in Scott’s direction.
"Hey!" Scott scrunched his nose and grabbed a napkin so his could wipe up the mess while frowning in Derek’s direction.
"What the hell did you get me?" Derek asked with a grimace.
Lydia smirked, “I got you a nonfat lavender latte with extra foam. I thought it might calm you down a bit you seem so tense,” she told him amused. “Don’t like it?”
"Don't--" Derek barely choked out making a face and trying to get the flavor off his tongue, "Don't like it? Are you trying to kill me woman?" he growled at her, even while enjoying her obvious amusement at his expense.
Scott meanwhile shook his head at their antics and stood up, "Well I'm gonna head out now as your brand of foreplay is not something I need to witness.” He told them pointedly. “Tomorrow at Derek's loft after school," Scott walked away shaking his head. Derek and Lydia, hell stranger things had happened. He shook his head and laughed inwardly, a smile pulling at his lips. He couldn't wait to see Stiles' reaction to his theories.
Derek just watched Scott's retreating back a look of shock on his face, "Did he just say foreplay?" he glanced back at Lydia.
Lydia opened her mouth, her chest warming. “Scott’s crazy,” she said brushing his words off with a wave even as her heartbeat picked up speed. Foreplay? This was definitely not foreplay. She and Derek…there was no her and Derek. Foreplay implied there would we more than foreplay later and there certainly wasn’t going to be that…because she and Derek were barely friends.
Sure he was attractive, incredibly attractive. Lydia shifted in her seat. “And don’t growl at me, I’m not afraid of your little displays of wolfie testosterone,” she said quietly so she could ignore her physical reaction to her inner thoughts.
Derek pursed his lips. Or maybe Scott was just more insightful then they liked to give him credit for, Derek thought before glancing at Lydia. "Definitely crazy and I'm glad you’re not." He said simply as he rose to walk over to the counter.
Lydia frowned. She placed her cup down on the table and got up following Derek over to the counter. She reached out hesitantly and ran a hand down his arm to get his attention. “Whatcha doin?” She asked lightly.
"Can I get a hot chocolate and a banana chocolate muffin?" Derek felt the slight brush of Lydia's hand on his arm deep down. "Oh I'm just..." He turned to answer her question when he looked at her smiling eyes and barely contained laughter and knew without a doubt that she'd overheard his order.
Lydia bit her lip. She leaned into him so her mouth was near his ear, “Is the big bad wolf ordering hot chocolate and a muffin?” She asked amused as she shifted back. “You order like a 5-year-old Hale. That’s sort of adorable,” Lydia told him with an amused chuckle.
Derek eyed her slightly, "I love chocolate." He said with an indignant tone. Trying to control the pout that was threatening to form on his mouth and further give credence to her comment about him being a 5-year-old.
Lydia smirked, “I’m a lover of chocolate myself so you’ll have to share that muffin with me.” She told him matter-of-factly as she glanced down at her nails.
Derek arched an amused eyebrow at her before glancing back at the barista whose gaze was roaming over him. He smiled, "Cut the muffin in half please and if you’ve got two forks, that’d be great." Derek requested before glancing over at Lydia. "Chocolate is best when it's shared after all..." He smirked back at her.
Lydia could think of many ways to share chocolate, not all of which were PG thoughts so she kept them to herself and filed them away under ‘don’t ever go there’. “Agreed, though I wouldn’t have taken you for a chocolate lover,” Lydia met his gaze, “I wonder what else I don’t know about you.”
At Lydia’s last words Derek was having a hard time remembering why he shouldn't go there. Reminding himself that if he did he'd end up wrecking what could, it seems, be a beautiful friendship. But…flirting was just a little harmless fun.
"I am a man of many hidden layers and talents," he winked as they once again sat down to enjoy their muffin, forks both reaching in at the same time, knuckles brushing. A smile formed on his face unbidden.
Lydia’s teeth sank into her bottom lip when her fingers brushed his and she barely paused before breaking off a piece of the muffin with her fork and bringing it back to her mouth as she glanced up and caught his gaze. “I’ll bet,” she said right before sliding the fork into her mouth and then pulling it back out slowly, clean.
Derek shifted slightly in his seat while watching Lydia remove the fork from her mouth. It seemed little red wanted to play.
Lydia could see him watching her and she put the fork down and leaned forward in her seat. “You’ve got this odd look on your face, what’s that all about?” Lydia asked lightly.
"You ever heard the story of what happens to little girls who play with big bad wolves?" He asked as he leaned into her, his eyes flashing a bit of blue.
A slow smirk spread across Lydia’s face, a hint of excitement filling her at his playfulness. She’d never actually seen that side of Derek before, but she liked it. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not a little girl then huh? I run with wolves’ sweetheart, those baby blues don’t scare me,” she responded softly. “Is that your way of telling me you’re the big bad wolf?” She asked teasingly.
He'd never been able to show his true self with a woman before. And that's what Lydia Martin definitely was. Flashing a toothy grin, he chuckled suddenly.
"I like you Lydia Martin. And the answer is yes." He said as he stroked the top of her hand with the pad thumb briefly.
Lydia inhaled deeply as his finger moved against her skin, her body reacting to his touch in an unexpected way. Her heartbeat picked up speed and she felt her stomach flutter slightly. His laughter was unexpected and kind of beautiful, not that she planned on admitting that. Lydia swallowed hard, keeping her voice calm and light.
“You like me, do you?” She inquired glancing away from Derek briefly before catching his gaze again, the smile on his lips making his entire demeanor seem softer. “Maybe I like big bad wolves,” she teased with a smirk.
"Then I guess I'm in luck," he said loving how she tried to keep her voice cool even as he could sense the effect he was having on her.
Lydia studied Derek for a long minute. “You should take me back to your place.” She said lightly while holding his gaze.
"You--What?" Derek choked out in a hushed whisper all cool completely disappearing. "My place?"
Lydia bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at his almost comically wide eyes. “Yes, my car is there and it’s getting late, I have things to do.” She said amused by the shock coloring his features. Mischief filled her gaze, “What exactly did you think I meant?” She asked with an arched eyebrow, humor sparkling in her eyes signaling she knew exactly what he thought she meant.
Derek cleared his throat; he'd walked right into that one, "Ok you got me. I'm man enough to admit that.” He told her good humor sparkling in his eyes as he shook his head. “Let's go." He stood picking up their garbage and tossing it into the bin before walking back over to the table and pulling out her chair for her. When she rose he rested his hand on her lower back guiding her out of the coffee shop and wondering why he’d never spent any time with her before, because really he actually kind of enjoyed it.