Archive of Our Own

“Stilinski!”

“We can’t get him on comms!”

“He’s over here!”

“Secure them to the prisoner convoy, we’ll deal with them once we get back to base, our main focus is to get our guys and get the fuck out of here.”

“Stilinski, don’t move. If you can hear me, do not move.”

“How the fuck are we supposed to get him out of here?”

“Yea, we need a med evac at our current location.”

“Hang in there Stilinski.”

—-----------------------------------------
Everything felt cold. The doctors had already come in and done their tests and given comments. Nothing was broken, he was just a huge bruise. Which, to be honest, was incredible, so incredible in fact, that his team leader made the doctors repeat all the findings. Bruised ribs, pelvic bone, bruised kidney and liver and not to mention his neck looks like someone held the rope to it too long. Which in reality, they did. But they found him under a pile of rubble, and he looked so bad they didn’t think he’d make it. Getting the side eye from his whole field team was getting annoying so Stiles closed his eyes.

The next time he woke up, he was alone. He blinked, trying to find out what woke him up. Watching the doctor talk to a nurse in the doorway answered that question. Stiles cleared his throat, god he could use some water. Pushing against the bed he used it as leverage to help himself into a sitting position, or a slouch, whatever one would call whatever the fuck he was doing, it just felt better than laying down. Looking around the room a bit as he stretched his neck side to side he saw his go bag on the chair near the window, that was good to know because he didn’t know how much longer he could stand to be in this hospital or any hospital for that matter.

Stiles' attention was brought back to the doctor, he watched him and the nurse approach his bed. He could already tell it was bad news, the doctor had his professional face on and the nurse was fiddling with his IV and not meeting his eyes. Stiles sighed, bringing his hand to rub his thumb against his temple,

“Just tell me, I don’t have the patience to listen to whatever you had planned,” Stiles said in a tone that screamed of aggravation.

Stiles watched the doctor look down at the file he was holding and nod, “Mr. Stilinski when you came in you presented with many issues, many of which we were able to mend. Your team was indeed worried about you as they said you had been in a terrible accident and with the lack of broken bones, we wanted to make sure the bruising you had didn’t also mean you had internal bleeding. We took many blood samples to ensure everything was working properly as well,” he paused and looked at Stiles head-on, “It was there that we noticed your blood cells weren’t acting correctly. We had our lab analyze your blood cultures more thoroughly and there is no easy way to say this but Mr. Stilinski it seems you have acute myeloid leukemia, or, AML. This is a cancer of the blood and it seems it has been progressing rapidly for quite some time in your body, the fact that you haven’t been hospitalized before is incredibly rare.” Brochures are what come out of the folder and into Stiles's lap, all different but all painting the same picture, his survival rate wasn’t expected to be long.

Stiles pursed his lips and tapped his long fingers against the pages in his lap, nodding his head to an unknown tune, “Sooo, how long?” his eyes flicked up at the doctor, face impassive as he waited.

“Mr. Stilinski there is no real way to tell how long you have. There are many avenues you can go, chemotherapy is one, we can target cells directly-”

“I’m not doing any of that, I just need a time frame, please don’t make me ask again.” he held the doctor's gaze with his own. He had been known in the bureau for his dead stare, his partner Evans always told him he creeped everyone out. So of course he used it to his advantage whenever he could, and he guesses he could thank the nogitsune for it, for all intent and purposes it was the exact face he remembers staring back at him in the mirror when he was screaming inside his own mind and could only stare through those dead eyes. He saw the doctor gulp and he knew he had him.

“My professional opinion is that you consult the options we have here for you, I am double board certified in emergency medicine and oncology, and I can assist you-” the doctor paused as Stiles raised and shook it back and forth, indicating he didn’t care, with an aggrieved sigh the doctor spoke again, sounding like someone was forcing the words out of him, “I’d give you about 2 months, 3 months tops.” The doctor continued to prattle on about chemo and other options to extend his lifespan but he ignored him as he started to map out what he had to do.

He knew he had to get home to California, and had to see his dad once more. He volleyed with the idea of staying in Beacon Hills with his old man but he wouldn’t put his dad through that a second time. He’d go, pack some things and tell him he was going somewhere and just wanted to see him before he left the country. He had to make sure he was okay. The FBI made them write their wills and Stiles didn’t have much to be left to anyone, so that would all be finalized. Once he’s done that he can figure out his next move but first the text he needs to send.

Looking up from his lap, he hadn’t even noticed that he was looking down or that the doctor and nurse had left. Swinging his legs over the bed he took a second, to just- be. Swallowing down whatever emotion was trying to claw its way up he stood, holding onto the bed just in case but his legs felt fine. Walking over to his go-bag he opens it up and takes out his extra set of clothes, bringing that and his phone to the adjoined bathroom, he starts the shower. Pressing his passcode and opening his phone he scrolls through his contacts before stopping at the one he needed. Opening up the text thread he smirked.

Mischief: Hey, could I snag a cabin out there for a month or two?

Bear: What’s the FBI gotta do out here?

Mischief: Not the FBI, just me. Need some time away.

Bear: Ohhhh so now you want to take my advice and take a vacation? Oh so now I’m beautiful?

Mischief: I know you get more comedy than George Lopez’s old stand-up.

Bear: It’s a classic pendejo!

Mischief: Mira, don’t spanish me!

Bear: Ha! No te voy a hablar en ingles cuando llegues aqui, solo espanol!

Mischief: -_- porque me haces estoy, ya tu sabes que puedo hablar hija de tu buena madre!

Bear: Hijo de TU buena madre!

Mischief: They were good women.

Bear: OMG Stfu. When do you arrive? Do you need me to pick your white ass up?

Mischief: YOU'RE WHITE!

Bear: Nah, only on the outside, the inside is what counts here stupid. Snd me your flight info dumbass. I gotta go help with the hellions. Oh! Bring me some NY Bagels okay? ALOT! And Puertorican & Cuban bread! BOTH! You know they’re different. Kay thanks byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee <3 u!

Stiles shook his head and locked his phone, he’d set up his plane tickets while he waited for his flight to Beacon Hills. Stepping into the shower he sighed out loud, letting the hot water drum against his body, wincing when it hit where he was bruised. He washed up and just stood there as his emotions steamrolled him. He could imagine that the tears falling were water droplets and that the reason he could barely breathe was that his ribs were bruised but he knew this was the only time he’d be able to do it.

Stepping out of the shower, he dried himself and followed his quick skincare routine before getting dressed and packing up. Stepping out into the room he snagged his go bag and placed everything inside, he stared at the brochures trying to decide if he should take one, he chose the one about what to eat and change in his diet. Zipping up his bag and punching his arms through the coat that was left for him, he went out to get discharged. He wished he had his service weapon but it was probably at Federal Plaza on his desk. He scrubbed his hand through his hair as he watched the nurse give him weird looks as she shuffled to get his discharge papers together. He gave his classic NYC smile (a pressed lip grimace) and followed her instruction, going to the discharge window, knowing his bill was covered, and signing the slip of paper before walking out. It was advised but he wasn’t staying at that hospital one more minute.

He took the deepest breath his ribs and lungs would allow before hailing a cab and heading straight to the office. He went through the whole situation of having to tell his boss he was taking leave for 3 months. His superior's face was laughable but Stiles couldn’t find it in him to laugh, technically he wanted to quit but he couldn’t do that. They knew him too well, knew he loved what he did. It would raise too much suspicion, but asking to take leave after almost dying but miraculously surviving? Yea that’s an easy case of I need to make sure I live before I come back to work. Getting everything squared away he leaves the office and heads straight to his apartment.

Dumping his go bag on the floor and taking off his coat, throwing it on the back on his loveseat, he locks the door then goes to his hallway closet to take out his suitcase, the fancy one Peter got him for his 25th birthday last year that he’s never used. Picking it up he walks a few steps and dumps it on his bed. One good thing about living in a small NYC studio? Not much to clean and not many places to lose things, so he knows where everything is. Granted he’s never in his apartment, he’s a field agent so he’s always on assignment. Packing is easy, light clothes for his final destination and a warm outfit for the one day he’d be in Beacon Hills. Once that’s done, he packs his electronics. Laptop, iPad, headphones, external screen and his occult notebook (people would call this a grimoire but he isn't a druid or a witch and the last time he checked with Deaton, the druid said he didn’t have much of a spark). He grabbed his favorite henley, (read: Derek’s henley that he left here when he first helped Stiles move into this apartment) pulling it over the shirt he had on before putting on his coat. Snapping the handle up for the luggage, he unlocked his door and walked through, leaving the luggage in the hallway, he went back in and made sure he didn’t leave anything plugged in and got everything. Wallet, keys, phone, airpods, badge. Closing the door, he found himself in profound wonder at the chipped paint on the outside of his door. He had asked his landlord to paint over it, guess he’d never see what color he’d be chosen to endure. His landlord had a weird thing of painting everyone's doors a different color, his neighbors a hot pink, he dug it though, easy for someone like him to keep track of the people that live in his building anyway. Shaking his head, he finished locking up and then headed out to catch a cab to JFK.

Finding a flight that left NYC to Cali was easy, In early November most people are finalizing their trip plans to fly mid-November, so that made it easy and his badge made everything else easier. He still had to go through the same protocol for firearms but once he was past the gate and sitting at the bar waiting for his flight he felt a bit better. Felt even better with his whiskey neat, he savored it for the 30 minutes he had to wait for his flight. A flight that he slept straight through thanks to the leftover pain medicine in his system and his shot of whiskey. He’d have to remember to stop to get his prescription filled before he heads out again. Stiles landed in California at about 7 pm, he went through TSA guidelines to retrieve his firearm and then straight out to get a ride to the station. He knew his father's schedule like the back of his hand and he knew he was on shift until 10 pm that night. Which would give him time to say goodbye in his own way, run errands in the morning, and head back out tomorrow night. He had already booked his departing flight as he sat waiting for his rental to be brought to the front, he wouldn’t change his mind and stay.

The element of surprise wasn’t going to be held against Stiles, his father was used to it by now. The last time he was here was last month, if anything he tried to come every 2 to 3 months to visit. Most of the pack lived elsewhere, Derek and Peter had stayed, which had shocked Stiles but he could guess they just got tired of not having a solid place to call home. He knows Derek opened the Hale Auto Shop and Peter worked in investments, he could almost smell the shadiness but he left it alone because they were happy. Lydia lived out in London with Jackson and Ethan, not together but just as a small pack. Scott and his small pack still lived here as well but Stiles barely spoke to him. After the showdown with Gerard and Monroe and how they almost destroyed the world’s Nematons, things never really stitched themselves back the same. Stiles was the one that figured out how they were going to do it and got in touch with a coven that could help him. They basically amped up all the Nematons at once, like an EMP and when it blew, it killed most of the hunters that were near them. The pack had to finish most of them off but of course, Scott let Monroe go since Gerard was already dead. Stiles was the one that had to take her head on a couple of years later in an actual mission he was in the field for. Stiles took a knife to his side and she took one to her head, fair trade in his book. And with that Stiles believed he severed the trust Scott had in him. What burned that bridge was Stiles helping Derek that same year collect an Alpha’s power so he could survive a deadly wound during a fight they had found themselves shoved into because Scott didn’t know how to be suspicious of anyone. So all in all, Stiles was set, saying hi and bye to his dad like he always did before heading out of the country. He would try to avoid BH Hales and drop by on Deaton once because he accepted he was dying but he still had to try everything that non-traditional medicine could offer.

The three-hour drive to Beacon Hills was enough time for him to calm down. Entering the town he could still feel a heaviness, and he doesn’t think that can ever go away, too many bad things happened for the environment not to scream bad touch. Driving through the roads of his hometown always made his imagination wonder what his life would be like had he never made Scott follow him into the woods but there was no point anymore, it happened, life went on, and here he is about to die from a human ass disease. He let out a large yawn as he parked his car on the street he went to and dropped off his prescription at the drugstore, they had a “dropbox” so they’d get to it in the morning, before heading back towards where he parked his car in front of the station, appreciating for once how small the center of town was at times.

Bypassing the car he headed straight inside, smiling at the receptionist before heading straight back to his fathers’ office. He missed seeing Parrish but he went on his own journey a year or so ago, last Stiles heard he was in Europe, no questions as to why so close to Lydia, they all knew they were going to end up together sooner rather than later. Knocking on the door, Stiles leaned against the door jam, watching his fathers look through case files,

“Shouldn’t you be packing up already, old man?” Stiles brought his hand up to cover the laugh that spilled out as he watched his dad flail and then glare at him.

“Stiles! Dammit!” Noah glared as he shuffled around and closed up folders and whatnot.

“Pops, c'mon, you’re an officer of the law, shouldn’t you become immune to me sneaking up on you?” Stiles laughed again before pushing off the door jam to walk into the office and sit in the chair opposite his dad’s chair, trying not to be obvious in looking at his dad, but he was trying to memorize things. Like his dad's smile, or how his nose crinkles when he tries to glare and how he still hides his case files from him, even though Stiles is an FBI agent.

“Stiles!” the shout made him jump, he hadn’t noticed that he spaced out.

“Sorry dad, the flight was long and I’m still trying to get acclimated.”

“How long are you here for?”

“Just overnight, my flight overseas is in the late afternoon.” Stiles scrubbed at his head before standing up, following his father who was packing up to head home.

“You know I appreciate you coming here before your trips.” Noah shrugged on his coat, picking up a small trapper with the current files he was investigating before walking over to the door and opening it, “I know how stressful this work can be and it makes me feel better about not seeing you months on end. How long is this assignment?”

Walking over Stiles ducked under the arm that was held out, resting his cheek against his dad's shoulder in a semblance of a hug before walking ahead and waiting for him to lock up, “Unsure, I’ll get my assignment once I get on the plane.”

“Oh fancy, flying private?” Noah walked out, waving a hand up as he left the station, Stiles right behind him.

“Yea, so I can imagine it’s going to be a shit show.” Stiles was internally cringing. Lying to his dad was something he hadn’t done since he was a teenager and lied about werewolves, this hurt him on a deeper level than he thought it would.

“Alright well son, I have a double tomorrow, so let’s head home, get some sleep, and then you can come by the station to say before you get out yea?”

Stiles nodded, clapping his dad on the shoulder as he passed him by to go to his rental.

They drove back, Stiles following his father. Once they arrived he brought his suitcase with him, it had his outfit for tomorrow and he wanted to pack some things from his room for his trip. It was a quiet affair as they entered the house. His dad hugged him goodnight and then left Stiles standing in the hallway, in front of his door, and all he wanted to do was break down but he wouldn’t. With a deep breath, he opened his childhood room, which had grown a bit with him from each time he came to visit. Less mess and more case files and books. He flopped himself on the new mattress he had bought two years ago because he couldn’t deal with that broken spring anymore.

The next day came with rain, because of course it came with rain. Stiles didn’t even remember going to sleep but he guesses he did. Getting himself ready for the day he notices his dad must have left early but left him coffee in the pot and some toast. Smiling he takes the cup and breaks back upstairs while he finishes packing what he wanted to take with him. Once he’s packed he looks around his room and it’s almost like when he left his apartment except this is where he spent most of his life. But he couldn’t cry, he had to go see Deaton, he was going to stop by the auto shop and leave Derek and Peter some of the vault books he had borrowed over the years.

His first stop was the auto shop because it was on the way to Deaton's, turning into their drive-up he parked and proceeded to stack box boxes he had and lug them to the office they had off to the side. He knew Derek was here but he didn’t want to deal with it, tapping the door open with his foot, he shook his head because how many times did he tell Derek to at least lock the office? Huffing he sat them on a chair against the wall, rubbing his hands against his jeans he looked over at the desk and chuckled to himself, looking at the array of pictures Derek had on his desk, varying from just ones with Stiles and Derek, to Derek with Cora and her pack, to Peter, Derek, and Stiles to just landscapes. It’s a big change from the Derek Hale he met. The cough is what alerted him to someone else being there, it made him flinch because this is what he didn’t want, dammit he should have just mailed the fucking books. Licking his bottom lip before rubbing at it with his hand, he turned around and was struck again with how much you could love a person but still let them go and, the number of times he tried to convince himself to tell Derek today was the day he was happy he never did. He could never have done what he was planning on doing had he been with Derek.

“I still opt to get you all bells,” Stiles said, crossing his arms and stepping forward, hoping Derek would let him through the doorway but of course, he wouldn’t.

“You also told me to get a lock on this door, what you failed to mention was it was because you were going to break in. Do I need to call Noah?” If Stiles could take a picture right now he would because Derek looked perfect. No product in his hair, so it was fluffy, he had on the soft gray sweater that Stiles had sent him for his birthday last year and his classic jeans and boots combo, but it was past that, it was how happy and at ease, he looked. He had tons of pictures of Derek on his phone but this one would be the best he thinks.

“I’m not stealing anything, Sourwolf, I was just dropping off the vault books I had in my room. I thought it was high time I gave em’ back.” Stiles shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair, musing it up before shoving his hands in his pockets. He made the mistake of looking Derek in the eyes, a bad move because red eyes stared back at him. Derek’s face was impassive but still, that stare questioned him on a level no one else could.

“You’ve had those books for years, what makes you want to give them back now?” Derek asked him, but all Stiles could concentrate on was how the Alpha was moving closer to him. His eyes closed involuntarily as Derek gently grabbed the back of his neck, Stiles knew it was scenting, he hadn’t been scented in a while and while it was never spoken out loud, everyone knew that Stiles was in the Hale Pack and not the McCall Pack. He could also feel the pain drain, so Derek knew under his clothes he was a big bruise but Stiles was happy it wasn’t mentioned. Ever since he started with the FBI he advised them he would sometimes come home with bruises, it was just like when he fought monsters. He licked his lips again before looking back at Derek, who was of course closer now, so he had to angle his head a bit to look up.

“My dad said since I wasn’t moving back, he wanted to redo the room.” he shrugged again and looked away from Derek. Making his legs move was a problem but they finally got the idea, and he moved out of Derek’s orbit. His goal? The door. But before he could make it out Derek grabbed his hand.

“Why are you in such a rush to leave?” with a tug on his hand Derek added, “Come have breakfast with me at the diner.” And Stiles really didn’t want to look back but he did. He knew he shouldn’t have because the hopeful look on Derek’s face, the small smile, and soft eyes killed him.

“Can’t Der, I have a flight in a couple of hours. I have to stop by Deaton’s and then head out.” Derek let his hand go but started to follow him out to the car and it felt like the toast and coffee he had only an hour ago were trying to claw their way out of his body.

“Alright, but next time we’re having breakfast as a pack. I miss having you around.” Stiles nodded and went to open the door to his car but his body was dragged into a hug and he couldn’t not hug back. Wrapping his arms around Derek felt like home and hell all in one because he didn’t want to leave him. He let his thumb rub against the back of Derek's neck before pushing away. Smiling up at the man, Stiles stepped back.

“You got it..” biting the corner of his lip “next time.” With that Stiles climbed into the car but not without looking back at Derek again and the face the Alpha had on, it almost made him confess but he didn’t. He started the car up and headed to Deaton’s place.

Arriving, he headed straight to the back entrance, one he still had a key. Letting himself in, he could hear Deaton was alone.

“Hello, Mr. Stilinski.” he heard the vet call out and rolled his eyes. Stiles never liked the guy but he had helped them before.

“Hey Deaton, you got a minute?” he walked into the room he heard Deaton speak from. He watched the vet with a kitten before he could pet it though it was placed into a cage and only then did the vet look at him.

“What can I help you with Mr. Stilinski?” Stiles walked over to the bookshelf before turning around.

“I need you to read me and let me know if there’s anything magical I could do.” He didn’t explain because he didn’t want to make it easy on the vet. He always got the feeling that the vet hated him, he definitely knew he hated Derek and that automatically placed him in the ‘no-trust-book’ for Stiles but he was the closest magical person he knew so here he was.

“Ah so you are aware. I had gathered something was going on the last time you were here but didn’t have the chance to speak to you.” Deaton meant when he was here for the last monster about 6 months ago where Stiles had to drag Derek and Peter away from the vet and the McCall pack before they killed all of them for placing the Hales in a fight they wanted nothing to do with.

“So is there anything?” he asked but he knew what the vet was going to say.

“No, I’m sorry Mr. Stilinski. Have you asked your Alpha for the bite?” Stiles rolled his eyes because they knew even though he had no desire to ask Derek or let him know he was sick, the vet knew the bite would kill him. After the nogitsune and everything his body went through, they knew it wouldn’t accept a wolf, that’s what the test Deaton did years back proved.

“No, I don’t need to tell you not to say anything do I?” Stiles asked, using that same dead stare he was mocked for in the field. He watched Deaton nod and that was enough. Nodding mostly to himself he let himself out of the office with a wave as he exited. Well, that was that.

Stiles headed over to the pharmacy first and picked up the prescription that would last him 3 months for pain before heading back to the station. He stood outside for a second before shaking his head and going inside. Luckily his dad was talking to the receptionist.

“Hey pops, I came to say bye before I head out,” Stiles said as he let his dad drag him into a hug. He held on probably longer than was normal but first Derek and now his Dad it was a bit too much and his dad couldn’t smell emotions. With a pat on the back, he knew his dad was done with the hug and if he held on longer there would be questions he didn’t want to answer.

“You alright son?” Noah asked and Stiles nodded with a smile, “Well, have a safe flight and call me once your case is over yea?” Watching his dad smile made him smile harder and he nodded. Waving at the receptionist before looking back at his dad once more, he walked out and headed to the car.

He drove to the airport and handed the rental in before checking in. Waiting at the gate is what he hated most, so he took out his phone and sent out the arrival text information.

Mischief: I arrive at 2am; SJO Flight 1417, Terminal B. shutting my phone off <3 you.

The flight wasn’t anything to rave about, he took a pain pill so he was out of it and once he arrived he was happy he didn’t have to go to baggage claim just straight out to the entrance where the evil in the package of a short brunette met him.

“Oh my god Cora, Jesus, you forget your strength and I am literally a huge bruise right now, let me go carajo!” Stiles laughed though and hugged the she-wolf back. He was happy he had stopped in the bathroom to change into a t-shirt and his shorts because it was hot as balls out here, at least to him.

“Whatever! You don’t get to go 3 years without seeing me and then not expect me to hug the shit outta you! And what do you mean a big bruise?” He slapped her hand away when she lifted his shirt while they walked to her car. “Who did that to you?”

“It was a field op, we got the bad guys. Don’t worry, angry-wolf.” he said as he patted her on the head, jumping back when she snapped her jaws at him with a laugh. Shoving his luggage into the trunk he took the passenger seat. “So you got me a fancy cabin with a butler and everything?”

Cora rolled her eyes as she put the car into gear and started the drive to her pack's land, “Tu te piensas pero bien grande, un jefe, eh? You fucking wish pendejo. There's a guest room that’s on the beach where we’re setting you up. It’s basically one room with a bathroom, the shower is half outside, half inside but don't worry, no one can see your precious bitties.” Stiles laughed along with Cora. He watched the landscape as they drove, he didn’t even notice he was sleeping until he was waking up in one of the most beautiful places he’d seen in a while. Yawning, he stretched, angry but not really that Cora let him sleep in the car and then left him in it. Such a Hale.

Stepping out of the car, he scrambled to the trunk to get his bag but it was gone. Fuck. He had his bug spray in there, looking around he could see mosquitos but they weren’t attacking him.

“No te van a atacar, hay magia aquí.” Stiles turned to see a small older woman, with a warm smile and presence, standing by the car, barefoot.

“Ay bueno, eh, el español no es cien por ciento pero practico mucho.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair and smiled impishly at her, glad when she laughed with him and beckoned him with her hand.

“Ven, que la loquita te dejo dormir. Ya están en la casa preparando para desayunar.”

Stiles walked toward her and allowed her to take his hand arm, she had strength for such an older woman but when he looked down at her bright blue wolf eyes looked back at him and then he felt the pain drain, “No no esta bien senora, no me duele tanto para eso.” Stiles waved a hand a bit, he didn’t want to get used to it, maybe in his last days but not now.

“Esta bien pero dime si te duele, ok?” Stiles smiled and nodded, placing a hand over her smaller one that was holding onto his arm. He smiled as they reached the home and it was beautiful. It was much larger than he expected but he could see smaller buildings and homes around, the land they were on seemed like it stretched for miles.

“Nana! Yo iba a ir a buscarlo, no tenías que ir.” Cora said as she walked toward them in a different outfit that she had picked him up in. She had jeans on before, and here she wore a soft blue dress, barefoot as well.

“Aha, no, lo que quieres decir es que te deje con Marco Antonio y no sabes dónde poner la cara.” Stiles laughed when Cora gave the woman a pout and then jumped out of the way when the older woman growled and went to tickle her. "Bienvenidos a nuestro hogar Travieso.” With that the older woman walked into the house, Stiles could hear her calling out to different people, it made him smile before looking at Cora.

“Who was she talking about?” He raised an eyebrow, laughing when Cora just grumbled and pushed him inside and into a chair at a massive table. He had never seen a pack this big, the dining room had two large tables and smaller tables for the pups. He watched as Cora placed a plate in front of him and one for herself before sitting next to him. It didn’t get quiet per se but a lot of the commotion stopped when an older couple came into the room. Stiles knew that this was the Alpha pair, you could feel the power surging from them. When they came to the front of the table he was sitting he flinched when their eyes bore into him. He bent his head but not all the way because he was visiting not accepting them as his Alpha. He had an Alpha and Derek was the only one he ever showed his neck to. Which he guessed was the right thing because they both smiled big.

“Queremos dar la bienvenida a nuestro invitado Travieso que es de California. Tiene un Alpha ya y no está aquí para quedarse para siempre, pero por el tiempo que decida quedarse debe ser tratado con respeto. ¿Entendiste?” The Alpha had a booming voice but it wasn’t one that instilled fear, it was more of a warm presence that was to be respected. The pack as a whole let out a “Si!” and that was that. The Alpha pair sat and started to eat and the noise started back up. Stiles turned to Cora and she was already stuffing her face, shaking his head, he served himself. They were having a form of breakfast tacos and he was here for it. He ate until he couldn’t anymore and of course, that’s when Cora wanted to introduce everyone to him.

He met the Alpha pair, Ramon y Araceli Mora. He had already met Nana and when he asked her name she informed him very politely, “Si me llamas de nombre de parto la cara,” and with that, she was known to him as Nana and he could see why the Hales and the Mora pack were close. He met lots of the elders and younger people in the pack and lastly the pups whom he fell in love with of course and they were with him. He even got to hold the 6-month-old Luciana. That’s how he fell asleep on the couch, with her in his arms and Eduardo, a 5-year-old, against his side. He woke with a start when he felt someone taking the baby and found himself face to face with Sebastian, Eduardo, and Luciana’s father. He had his fangs out, probably because Stiles wasn’t letting go of the baby, but once he was awake enough he loosened his arms and Sebastian went back to smiling and walking away with his kids.

“Getting attached is the way to go if you want to be accepted.” He heard Cora call out to him. Turning his head, he let out a jaw-cracking yawn before standing up and stretching. “You want to see your room?” Stiles nodded and followed her out of the house, looking around as he did, watching how the pack interacted. Laughing and roughhousing, waving to them with smiles as they passed to leave.

“I can see why you didn’t stay in Beacon Hills.” Stiles never blamed Cora, she had a different 6 years than Derek and Peter but he was always sad that all the Hales were separated in a way.

“Derek and Peter are my family Stiles, they’ll always be my familial pack but the Moras helped me and it’s just so free of the malice of that dark ass town.” He watched as she shuddered a bit.

“Wait, why do they call me Mischief?” He just noticed that everyone he had met called him Travieso and he didn’t think anything of it until now.

“Hahahahaha! I told them too. That doesn’t mean I have to.” He glared at the back of her head. Stiles followed her down a path, down some steps on the side of the cliff that he was thankful had a rope to a little house-like place on the sand. “Ta-da, here we are.”

Stiles stepped past here, seeing his luggage and gun bag on the bed. It was (https://gyazo.com/a2dd4029a3cfcec9ad59d4fb7bf8eaa9) very cute, basically a one-room home but he was in love. “Thanks for this Coraline.” he laughed when she punched him in the arm, he deserved it but it was worth it.

“Alright well, I’ll leave you to it. Someone will come by to get you for dinner, but you’re more than welcome to come to hang out at the pack house anytime, day or night.” And with a wave, she walked away and left him to his own devices.

Stiles unpacked his meager belongings and then decided to take a shower. It was cool to take a shower and touch leaves if he wanted but he was very happy Cora didn’t lie about no one being able to see his body while in it.

And the days continued like that. Stiles swam in the ocean, played with the pups of the pack, rocked Luciana to sleep and indulged in everything the pack had to offer, from stories to food. He loved it here. He had asked Cora not to tell anyone that he was here because he wanted a vacation from everything including home. She swore she wouldn’t and she was good for her word so he didn’t have to worry about that. He loved that he wasn’t pasty white anymore, he had some color. Nana liked to call him her ‘blanquito con sabor’, some of the pups called Siles because they heard Cora calling him Stiles but couldn’t get the T right for it. Costa Rica was the right decision, he felt freer than he had ever felt, and not to jinx himself but he felt the best he ever has, so much so that he hadn’t even used his pain medication. But, every now and then the sadness of his short life ahead.

After 30 days of being there, he decided to write his letters. He wrote a letter to everyone, including Scott. Although the letter to Scott was more of a ‘fuck you’ than a goodbye. He would have thought that the letter to his father would be what broke him but the letter to Derek is what made him bawl like a baby. Tears dripped onto the paper so much he had to wait for it to try to continue writing. He set them aside on his nightstand with his gun and left them there to be found once he was gone. It was the day that he decided to go with the adults into town because he wanted to make the pack some pierogis but he didn’t have the ingredients. He was gone for most of the day and once he came back he knew something was wrong. They entered the house and it was somber, Cora had red eyes and a letter in her hand and he was angry because she had gone through his things but he mainly felt like his vacation had ended.

“I was going to tell you, I just- I wanted to enjoy this a bit more.” He stood still when she came for him, she slapped him and then hugged him, crying. He hugged her back and looked around, he saw a woman with Nana looking pensive, only standing when Nana tapped her hand and shooed her his way. The woman was taller and you could just tell she wasn’t a wolf.

“Déjame verlo lobita.” The woman gently moved Cora from his arms to another wolf who wrapped himself around her. The male wolf kissed Cora’s temple and hugged her close, Marco Antonio the wolf she wouldn’t let Stiles meet. It made him smile because he knew the wolf loved Cora by the way he held and looked at her and that’s all he ever wanted for the Hales. To be loved and happy. Turning his attention to the woman in front of him.

“I have blood cancer, it’s terminal, there’s nothing to see. I already checked with the druid back home.” Stiles said it with finality that made Cora hiccup as she started to cry more.

“Déjame hacer lo que tengo que hacer y después me dices lo que ese mamaguebo de un druid te dijo, ok?” Stiles lifted his eyebrows, he wanted to laugh because he already liked this woman.

“Okay, que necesitas de mi?” Stiles asked, lifting his arms when she moved them. She tried to watch what she was doing but she was moving around him, and when she came to a full stop in front of him, her eyes were white.

“Que te calles.” With that she started to chant and he could see a shimmering essence leave her and enter him, he felt fine, just itchy. This went on for quite some time before her eyes came back to the normal green and she smiled at him, hitting on the shoulder before laughing. “I want to meet his druid, so I can slap him until he no longer can speak eh!”
Stiles was dumbfounded, he didn’t understand what was going on and it had nothing to do with the language. His brows furrowed as he looked around and then to her, “Why, what- que pasa, que vistes?” He asked as someone led him to a couch to sit on.

“Mi nombre es Magaly, y soy magia, curandera, lo que me quieres llamar. Pero lo que te puedo decir es que tu no te vas a morir sin embargo vas a vivir mucho, pero muchos años. Porque tu niño travieso, es magia pero natural.” She booped his nose before laughing and looking around. Another man came forward, smiling at the woman and sitting behind her.

“Hi, I’m German, her son. I know you speak Spanish but I think it’s better if I explain. What she’s saying is that you are a Spark, magic in its natural element, unlike us, who need spells, and elements to make our magic work. I could see what she saw when she was checking you. Your cells, like blood cells, probably looked messed up to a human doctor because your spark was developing. It’s creating barriers and all sorts of things. Haven’t you felt stronger lately?”

Stiles sat there, he felt like if he took a breath he would wake up and this would be a dream.
“So you mean to say that, I’m fine? I’m a spark and anyone who was magical would be able to see?”

German nodded, “Well yea, wolves not really until you fully manifest but yes magical beings like me and my mom and your druid back home would be able to analyze and see. Our magic calls to yours, because it’s like you are a beacon. So yes you are alive and not dying, yay!” Stiles laughed when German said ‘yay’ because he lifted his arms and did jazz hands and then the pups started doing it.

Stiles couldn’t stop laughing, laughing so much he hadn’t noticed a presence behind him until he felt a hand on the back of his neck that caused tingles up and down his spine. He let his head fall forward and mouth drop open at the rightness. “Alpha..” he mumbled as he breathed deeply before his eyes snapped open, “Derek!”

The hand on his neck didn’t let go, if anything it got tighter, “You came here and didn’t tell me?” Stiles winced because he was trying to save Derek's pain and he must have said that out loud because Derek answered, “Do you think if your connection snapped when you were across the world dying it would be less painful?!”

“Derek, let up man, he was just trying-”

“No, do not tell me how to treat my m- pack when they do something so stupid.” Stiles flinched because he knew Cora was trying to defend him but Derek was right. He didn’t have time to be happy that he was alive and he was magic, he had to soothe Derek before he flipped shit. Cora didn’t know how bad Derek could get and it wasn’t that he was a bad Alpha. On the contrary, he was one of the best, it's just his wolf was a lot stronger than any other wolf Stiles had seen since his journey with the supernatural, and when it was angry and Derek was angry, anyone in its way could and would be torn to pieces, Stiles had seen it happen.
Turning slowly in the Alpha’s arm, Stiles kept his throat bared. “I’m sorry.” his eyes fell shut again when he felt Derek snuffle at his neck before leaving a kiss at the same spot, which, was new, but he couldn’t focus on that, he had to get Derek out of this room. “Alpha, can we speak about this in my room, please?” Stiles can also see out of the corner of his eye how Cora is looking at them, he doesn’t like it, and he also doesn’t like the glint of her fucking eyes. He starts to push Derek and sighs as he is allowed. “C'mon it’s this way.” He doesn't try to look at anyone else and is so relieved when Derek lifts his face from his neck and starts walking next to him, with an arm around his waist but Stiles would take it.

Once they got to his bungalow Derek pushed him up against the wall and it made Stiles laugh, “Back to this again?”

“You lied to me. You came to see me and left books and you looked me in the eye and told me ‘next time’.” Stiles had never seen Derek so angry before so he kept his comments to himself. “You knew there wouldn’t be a next time and you-” Stiles started to cry because he couldn’t hear the break in Derek’s voice and not feel anything, he tried to turn his face away but Derek forced his head back, “No! No, you’re going to look at me. Do you know what it felt like when Cora told me you had a letter for me, that she read the letter you left for her and she told me you were dying?!” Derek shook him but his back never hit the wall because the Alpha grabbed his face and held it, thumbs rubbing Stiles's cheeks, “You broke me, Stiles, without being there, without telling me first. I’m yours- your Alpha. Am I not enough, am I that bad that you couldn’t tell me? You came all the way out here to be with another pack?” The whole time Derek was screaming at him he held his face, Stiles couldn’t look away from the tears in the Alpha’s eyes and how they trailed down his face.

Stiles shook his head as much as he could, “I wasn’t trying to hurt you, I just thought it would be easier Derek. I couldn’t go through it. I came here so I could be as far away from you and dad as possible, it was selfish but I- I didn’t.” He couldn’t finish because he was crying so much, he hadn’t allowed himself to cry very often and when he did, he usually stopped himself, it was only when he wrote Derek’s letter and now that he felt his heart was being ripped out of him. He was still watching Derek so he saw when the Alpha’s face moved closer, felt when his lips kissed away the tears before leaning their foreheads together.

“Never again, Mieczyslaw. You don’t run from me, you run to me. Always.” The Alpha kissed his forehead before looking him in the eyes, “Do you understand me?” Stiles nodded and the Alpha answered with his own nod, “Good, now. Since you aren’t dying, I can do this.” Stiles didn’t know what to expect but he didn’t expect Derek to kiss him. It was the lightest of touches, it made his eyes snap to the Alphas, he could see the question in them.

“Let me.” Stiles laughed before leaning up and kissing the Alpha with a bit more force. He smiled into the kiss, his arms wrapping themselves around Derek’s shoulders as she felt wandering hands against his back and face. Leaning back for air, he smiled, feeling carefree, “How did you even get here that fast?” He huffed at the Alpha rolling his eyes before he felt him bend down, that made his eyes go wide because “No!” he screamed before Derek picked him up. He couldn’t really be mad when Derek was laughing. Grabbing his face, Stiles leaned down and bit his bottom lip before kissing him again. That’s how they enjoyed that night, kissing and catching up. In the morning, Stiles was awake before Derek, which was weird but he had been barely sleeping and now he was waking up with the love of his life wrapped around him like a koala. He wasn’t dying. And he was magic. What are the fucking odds? Slim, that’s what he could tell you.

“Stop thinking, it’s too early.” Stiles laughed which made Derek wrap around him tighter. He ran his fingers through the inky black hair, marveling at how soft it was. “So what do you think about Colombia?” Stiles squinted his eyes. He’d been thinking about that too. Apparently, that’s where Derek had been when Cora called him. Derek, Peter, and his dad were in Colombia because a cousin had called and needed their help. Stiles didn’t even know that they had family there but apparently, they were a bunch of mutts (Stiles laughed too hard at that) and the pack's bloodlines ran from Norway, Ireland, and Colombia. Which makes sense, it’s just the Hales were predominantly in the U.S. And apparently, the Alpha wanted to move there, to help fix the family pack there, since most of the wolves were teenagers and young adults, with the only Alpha being Derek’s older uncle who is in his 70’s. Technically wolves could live a bit longer but his uncle had lost his mate a few years back and has been on a steady decline. Usually, Peter kept in touch but with the fire and everything after that, everything fell apart.

“I think we should do it. Dad is still over there with Peter, right? So we can go there and talk it out with them and maybe Jackson, Ethan and Lydia can come too.” Stiles liked that idea and they were only 1.5 hours away from Cora so it was easy to visit whenever they wanted. “Then we can have the mating ceremony once everyone is situated.” Stiles could have laughed but he kept it in because Derek was in the process of getting up and fell off the bed when he heard what Stiles said. Stiles could hear groaning.

“Where did you hear that?”

“You talk in your sleep.” Stiles heard the thump which meant a head hitting the floor.

“That’s not how I wanted you to find out.” Stiles crawled over and leaned over the bed to look down at his Alpha with a toothy smile.

“But I like the way you told me. You licked a stripe up my neck, bit it and said ‘mine, my mate. Very caveman. I was thin-” Stiles squealed as Derek jumped up and attacked him with kisses. This was the happiest Stiles had ever been and he doesn’t see his life going downhill from here, only up.

—----------------

“Oh my god. I’m actually dying. I know it.” Stiles paced back and forth in the exam room as he watched Derek walk through the door. “You told me to tell you and this is me telling you.” Stiles had been in pain, he couldn’t keep anything down and his body felt alien. He wasn’t in pain but it just felt too much. So he decided to come to Magaly’s office that she had near the Mora pack’s land. He called Derek on the way and since they were visiting for the Navidad the Alpha got there in no time.

“Okay baby, I need you to calm down. You smell fine, I don’t smell any sickness. Maybe it’s just nerves, with the spark testing that happened yesterday.” That’s another thing Stiles has been tested on every year since he found out he was a spark and he just kept getting stronger which the magical community here loved and celebrated because he could help them and he loved it honestly. That’s what he did mainly, help packs and the magical community here keep their lands protected. This is his third year and Magaly, who was one of the testing witches, had a weird face yesterday, so maybe he was freaked out and this was his brain tricking him. Derek wrapped him in a hug and that helped, ever since they’d been mated close proximity always helped him.

The door opened and Magaly came in with a smile so automatically Stiles was at ease, “So what is it, gas?” he asked in a joking manner.

“No no, no es gas, es un bebe!” Magaly squealed before hugging the Alpha and Stiles both.

Stiles and Derek squinted but the Alpha spoke first, “Me quieres decir eso otra vez, porque creo que dijiste bebe, y se que puede actuar como uno pero no es.” Derek laughed as Stiles hit him.

Magaly took Stiles hand and tugged him out the room, where Derek followed. She brought them to a different examination room with an ultrasound machine. She pushed Stiles into the chair and lifted his shirt, which earned her a growl from Derek.

“Deja eso Alfa, que es para que veas!” Derek stopped growling and held onto Stiles hand. They looked at each other because they weren’t stupid they understood what she meant but there was no way, he was a guy. No female reproductive parts. Magaly squirted the cold gel on Stiles stomach which made him giggle. What didn’t make him giggle was when she used the ultrasound probe on his stomach and pointed at the screen to a blob and said, “See! Bebe! Tu spark sabía que querías un bebe y te lo dio!” She was all smiles as she printed them a couple pictures and left them alone because they hadn’t spoken a word.

“Un bebe, a baby. You gave us a baby?” Derek was speaking slowly as he stared at Stiles with wonder and love. “How?”

“I guess my spark really wanted me to be happy.” Stiles was still in wonder and laughed when Derek leaned down and kissed his stomach before coming up and kissing him.

“We’re gonna have a baby, the first Hale pup.” Derek kissed him again and again and again.

Stiles touched his stomach and felt Derek cover the hand with his own, he brought his other hand to the back of Derek’s head and brought him down so that their foreheads touched, “This means I get what I said. I want lots of babies Derek!” he laughed when the Alpha rolled his eyes but smiled and nodded.

“Whatever you want, baby.”

The End