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Ah, the holidays! A time for family, festivities, and all that warm, fuzzy stuff. You've got Thanksgiving in November, Christmas in December, and of course, New Year's Eve. Everyone was scrambling—shopping for gifts, prepping massive feasts, determined to have the best time possible. Everyone except the poor souls stuck in a New York airport, staring out at a sky blacker than a banshee's wail. People like, say, Stiles Stilinski.
“Are you sure you can’t stay a few more days?” Jackson’s voice on the phone was practically begging. “I got that stupid PlayStation 5 just for you. Now it’s just gonna collect dust.”
It was still mind-boggling how they’d become friends. After Jackson finally faced his own self-loathing and insecurities, he realized how much damage they were doing to him, things started to change. Therapy helped him come to terms with his adoption, and eventually, he and Stiles actually talked. They bonded over shared childhood traumas, of all things. Now, after all these years, they were practically inseparable.
“Dad needs me back home,” Stiles sighed, running a hand through his perpetually messy hair. “It’s crazy at the precinct during the holidays. He needs all hands on deck. Besides, it's your turn to visit.”
“ I haven´t forgotten. See you then, I… you know.” Stiles smiled at the phone.
“Come on, you can say it.” He encouraged his friend.
After a few silent beats Jackson ended the phone call with his favorite phrase: “ I love you, dorkface.”
Stiles sighted and kept staring at the sky, he had used his vacation days before the holiday rush, a sacrifice only one of the three single guys at the Sheriff’s Department would make. It meant the others could spend time with their families. Besides, Stiles was looking forward to spending the holidays with his number one person: his dad. Forget fancy dinners at home; they’d be chowing down on curly fries and veggie burgers in the cruiser, dealing with drunk drivers and responding to whatever crazy calls Beacon Hills threw their way.
"Attention passengers from flight UA123, scheduled to depart for Sacramento International Airport (SMF) in California. We regret to inform you that due to inclement weather conditions in the Sacramento area, we are experiencing a delay in our departure.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority, and we are closely monitoring the weather situation in Sacramento. We anticipate a delay of approximately two hours. We are now estimating a departure time of 11:00 AM Eastern Time.
In the meantime, we encourage you to relax in the gate area. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We appreciate you choosing United Airlines."
Stiles’s luck, as usual, was impeccable. He was on a mission to find a vending machine, ready to buy his weight in junk food, when he spotted his target. But standing in front of it was a man in an expensive, deep blue suit that fitted his broad shoulders perfectly. He was clearly struggling to find coins in his wallet.
“Hey man, I got you,” Stiles offered, hurrying over.
He wasn’t prepared for the stranger to be ridiculously handsome, with thick eyebrows and a perfectly trimmed beard. A quick glance placed him in his late twenties, early thirties -no ring on his finger, no tan line where one might have been. Stiles’s cop brain supplied way too much information sometimes.
“Oh, um… thanks,” the man’s voice was softer than he expected.
Stiles had struggled with self-esteem and his sexuality in high school, and his college dating life had been…unsuccessful. He was “too much,” some had said. Over the years, he’d learned to be more subtle, to control his reactions, to dial down his signature Stilinski exuberance -especially as a deputy, so he kept his eyes glued to the vending machine’s selection, desperately trying not to stare.
“No problem.” He shrugged and scratched his beard. He let it grow to try and look his age, people kept treating him like a teen sometimes when he shaved and being an officer of the law that didn't help.
Biting his need to keep the conversation going, he chose his snacks and drinks and settled into one of the plastic chairs, trying to get as comfortable as possible. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the blue-suited man sit down a couple of chairs away.
Then, an attractive blonde woman in her mid-twenties, wearing tight clothes, and a lot of cleavage sat next to the man and began hitting on him, aggressively. The way he hunched his shoulders and tried to subtly move away made it clear the attention was unwelcome. He looked genuinely uncomfortable, and Stiles’s protective instincts kicked in.
“Babe, look at this reel! This cat looks just like you when you’re pissed,” Stiles exclaimed loudly, taking advantage of the man shifting closer. He shoved his phone in his face, an arm on the back of his chair and glared at the blonde. “I think your mom would love it too. Why don’t you send it to her?” he added, not breaking eye contact.
The blonde huffed and stalked off. Stiles then discreetly moved back, giving the man some space.
“Thank you, again,” the man said softly. Stiles turned and got caught in the man’s multicolored eyes, sparkling under the fluorescent lights. “Um… yeah, don’t mention it.”
The guy smiled softly and extended his hand. “I’m Derek.”
He wiped his hand on his jeans before shaking it, “Stiles.” He introduced himself and faced the inevitable question: “what is a Stiles? ” One thing led to another and they ended up playing cards and chatting about why they were in New York.
He tried to keep tabs on Derek's body language, if he was being polite or actually wanted to socialize. It seemed the man was not comfortable nor used to establishing conversation with random people but he was making an effort.
Stiles explained he was visiting his friend Jackson, a lawyer trying to make it on his own away from his parents' influence. “They’re good now, Jackson and his dad, but he's a proud guy. He wants to prove he’s more than his last name.”
Derek nodded in approval and Stiles felt proud of his friend as well.
Then it was time for Derek to share, Stiles was patient, waited for every word the man seemed to struggle to find, but one came easier than the next and by the end of the game he knew Derek was there for a job meeting. “Hopefully, I’ll get to spend some time back home after this.”
“You travel a lot for work?”
“Recently, yeah. The project I was working on kind of… took on a life of its own.” Derek peek at his new hand, placing the cards where he wanted before continuing speaking. Stiles was left admiring his thick fingers, wondering how they’ll feel against his skin. “I’ve been in New York more than Beacon Hills for the last couple of years.”
“I’m from Beacon Hills too,” Stiles said, surprised. “My dad’s waiting for me in Sacramento. If you need a ride…”
Derek shook his head, with a small smile. “My sister are picking me up. Thanks for the offer, though.”
They had a good time. Stiles tried to ignore his growing attraction and definitely tried not to win every hand of cards, Derek's eyebrows were very communicative and it made it easy to read him. The few times he did lose were because of the unwelcome fantasies that popped into his head, trigger by Derek's fingers, thighs, shoulders, forearms, anything really.
“Attention passengers for flight UA123…” This time, the announcement was good news: boarding was about to begin. They said goodbye at the check-in line, Stiles desperately needed to use the restroom, and he was pleasantly surprised when a stewardess told him he’d been upgraded. He found himself in first class…next to Derek.
“I just…you helped me out a lot today,” Derek said, looking slightly shy and uncomfortable.
“Hey, I’m not complaining,” Stiles grinned, as if he would say no to first class.
They settled in, joking around. The more comfortable he got the more he let down his walls and the same seemed to apply to his handsome new friends. After Derek shared a bit about his many siblings Stiles spoke about Scott.
“I´m an only child but ever since I can remember Scott´s been there. I´m the proud uncle of the number one most cute and adorable kid in the whole wide world.” Stiles showed Derek pictures with his niece to provide the evidence of his facts.
At some point, Stiles fell asleep and Derek had to woke him up when they landed. Stiles’s brain was foggy, and he blushed furiously, words escaping him.
“Let me guess, a caffeine kind of guy, huh?” Derek teased.
They headed to baggage claim, the casual conversation flowing easily and that´s when Derek mentioned his family’s constant prodding about his single status. "Yeah, I know the feeling," Stiles replied with a wry smile. "I’ve lost count of the times I’ve told Scott that not everyone finds their soulmate at sixteen."
As they shared stories, Derek revealed his family dynamics. He had one older sister and four younger siblings: Cora, Brandon, and the twins, Jack and Ron. The names sounded familiar to Stiles, a vague memory stirring in the back of his mind. But he kept getting distracted by Derek's beautiful everything.
As they were about to leave, Derek confessed, "Truthfully, I can't complain. I've got the cutest nieces and nephews, number two through five in the world."
Stiles raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "What about number one?"
Derek's expression softened. "I heard number one was already taken."
Stiles' heart pounded in his chest. "Dude," he breathed, his voice barely a whisper, "If you were into guys, I'd be asking you to marry me right now."
Derek's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Marry?"
Stiles chuckled. "Hey, don't judge. My grandpa met my grandma at eighteen, proposed a month later. My dad met my mom his first day on the force—arrested her, actually. Engaged three weeks later. Men in my family don't mess around. Once we find 'the one,' we put a ring on it."
Derek smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes and a blush on his cute ears. “So, you’re trying to break the record? Engaged the day we met, married by Christmas? I do like the idea of a Christmas-themed wedding but since the 25th is also my birthday, I'd prefer our anniversary to be on another day.”.
Stiles laughed, his heart soaring at Derek flirting back. "A Christmas baby? God, you need to stop being so cute and perfect, or I'm going to propose again, very loudly, in the middle of this airport."
Derek chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "How romantic."
Stiles' heart raced, he needed to stop or his hopes would be too high too soon. "Very. I learned all my romantic moves from rom-com movies. Declaring my undying love for you in an airport guarantees a happy ending.”
As they neared the exit, Derek paused. "I am, by the way," he muttered.
Their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them and Stiles' breath caught in his throat. "Wow," he whispered, a hopeful smile spreading across his face.
Derek returned the smile, the shy blush coloring his cheeks now too. "Wow, indeed."
"Can I have your number?" Stiles asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Derek nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. They exchanged numbers between shaky fingers and shy gazes.
A loud honk interrupted the intimate moment and when Stiles turned to see a familiar red sports car, in front of the glass double door, everything clicked. Laura, Cora, Brandon, Jack, and Ron Hale. "Oh, fuck, you're a Hale," Stiles groaned, a mixture of amusement and dread washed over him.
Derek's expression turned serious. "Is that bad?"
Stiles chuckled. "Your family hates me. I'm like your mom's worst nightmare."
Derek frowned. "How do you know them?"
"Dude, I'm a deputy, and you must be the only Hale in the county without a speeding ticket."
"Well, yeah…” Then it seemed to click on his mind too. “Oh, you’re Stilinski." Derek chuckled and shook his head. The way he didn't run away made Stiles relaxed a bit. “I did tell you my siblings were a handful.”
Stiles grinned, hope bubbling inside again. “Deputy Stiles Stilinski at your service. So, how much do you want to see your siblings suffer?"
Derek grinned back. "Is it wrong to say a lot?"
"Nope, that makes me like you more." Stiles winked. "Give me five, then walk up to me, put your hand on my shoulder—or waist, if you’re comfortable—and call me ‘babe.’ You’re going to have a hell of a time." Stiles started walking towards the exit, then paused, turning back with a cheeky grin. “You can put your hand wherever, by the way. I wouldn’t mind.”
Derek blushed, but the mischievous glint in his eyes betrayed his excitement.
As he exited the airport, Laura, Brandon, and Cora were waiting, their expressions turning from surprise to annoyance when they saw Stiles.
"Well, hello there," Stiles greeted them with a fake smile, the one he used when he was at work. "Miss Cora, I'm sure you're excited, but please remember that you're not the only one here, and the honking can annoy the rest."
Cora slither half of her body out the window, feet on the driver's seat, just to roll her eyes at him, her teenage attitude resurfacing. “Please Stilinski, we are the same age. Could you stop taking the fun out of everything?”
Laura forced a polite smile, but her eyes held a warning. Brandon sighed, resigned to the chaos.
Just then, Derek stepped closer to Stiles, his hand resting gently on Stiles's lower back. "Sorry, babe. I had to answer that call," he said, his voice soft and intimate.
The Hales' reactions were priceless. Confusion, shock, and horror flashed across their faces. Stiles couldn't suppress a grin. This was going to be fun.
“No worries, babe . I was just saying hi to your siblings.”
“Wait, wait, what is going on here?” Brandon asked but Stiles couldn't be bothered to look away from Derek´s face. His eyes were sparkling and it reminded him of the starry sky, the sight made his heart speed up and the world out of focus.
“What's going on?” All too soon the Sheriff arrived, and in a split second of unspoken communication, he followed Stiles’s lead. “Hope I wasn't late.”
“Hey dad! We just landed, don't worry.” Stiles sneaked an arm around Derek´s waist and grinned.
“Nice to see you again, son. Thank you for taking care of Stiles during the trip.” He shook Derek´s hand with a smile but changed his demeanor when he said hi to the other Hales. They loved to complain to the Sheriff about how one particular deputy seemed to be following them around town just to find an excuse to make them tickets.
“Nice to see you again sir, and again I´m sorry for my family.”
“Well, we´ve gotta go.” Stiles smiled at Derek before placing a sweet kiss on his cheek. “See you soon, babe .”
-.-
Derek jumped into the car, grinning, tuning out his siblings' arguments about how he could do better than Deputy Stiles Stilinski. He wholeheartedly disagreed. For years, he thought this part of himself was dead and buried, but meeting Stiles had been almost magical. After his traumatic experience dating women, he focused on his work and his hobby, so much so that his hobby became his work too. He didn't have time to date or meet people outside of work, and none sparked any interest until this random stranger gave him spare change to buy himself a soda. Kind, was the first word that came to mind when he met Stiles, and it had been a long time since anyone had shown him such genuine, disinterested kindness. It was refreshing.
Then, that woman made Derek uncomfortable, and there was Stiles again, his knight in shining armor, rescuing him from the unwanted advance. Stiles proved to be patient when Derek struggled to find words, never pushing him. Little by little, Derek found himself wanting to know more, to spend time with this amazing person with eyes like molten gold, messy brown hair, and an unkempt beard.
During the flight, after Stiles fell asleep, Derek couldn't help but stare, attractive was a word he never thought would use to describe a guy. However, there was something about this man that made Derek yearn, made him question himself and a part of him he never paid too much attention to.
After 9 hours of flight and introspection Derek discovered he wouldn't mind dating a guy if that guy was someone like Stiles, or Stiles. But the question remained: Was he ready to take the chance?
-.-
The entire ride back to Beacon Hills, Stiles bombarded his dad with details about his stay in New York. "Can you believe Jackson?" he exclaimed, seeking his father's attention.
"Mhm," was the only response he received. Stiles knew he was stalling, and his dad knew he was stalling too.
"Anyway," Stiles continued, "I ended up taking a cab to the airport because I didn't want to see him cry. He misses me too much."
The silence that followed was agonizing. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Stiles confessed. He told his dad everything, about Derek, their airport encounter, and how he'd ended up pretending to be his boyfriend.
To Stiles' surprise, instead of reprimanding him, the Sheriff erupted in laughter. "He might as well come over and greet his future father-in-law," he chuckled.
Stiles rolled his eyes. "Dad, I'm not proposing yet."
"You already did, kiddo," his father teased.
"Dad, I'm twenty-four. I'm not a 'kiddo' anymore," Stiles retorted playfully.
"You'll always be my kiddo," his dad replied, a warm smile gracing his face.
-.-
Nothing could have prepared Derek for the chaos his little skit with Stiles caused at home. Cora burst through the door, breathlessly announcing to their mother and anyone within earshot that Derek was dating Deputy Stiles Stilinski. He rolled his eyes at her dramatic flair and retreated to his room, needing a moment to simply breathe after being away for so long.
The first text message he received from Stiles was a simple question about his trip, asking if he'd arrived back safely. Derek's heart fluttered while he answered. When he finally rejoined his family downstairs, a genuine smile played on his lips, excitement bubbling up at the thought of his upcoming date with Stiles.
The moment he entered the living room he sensed an undercurrent of tension that made his smile slip away. "Good evening, everyone," he greeted, feeling oddly scrutinized.
"Derek, is it true you're dating again?" his mother inquired, rising to her feet. "Um... well, yes," he confirmed, intending to tell them eventually anyway.
His mother gave him a brief hug. "I'm truly happy for you, dear. It's just... your sister mentioned-"
"Are you really dating the only deputy in town who doesn't take bribes?" Peter interjected.
Derek frowned. "I sincerely hope not."
Aunt Felicia hushed her husband. "Of course not, it's just... other deputies have been kind enough to overlook certain... um, 'mistakes'."
Laura let out a boisterous laugh. "Mistakes? Like the time Stilinski caught you and Uncle Peter having sex in the back of the Corvette?"
Talia and Brandon groaned in unison, while the rest of his siblings giggled uncontrollably, and Nana dramatically clapped her hands over her ears. "T.M.I," she declared, "or whatever you kids say these days."
"Anyway," his mother returned her attention to Derek. "I'm truly happy that you're finally putting yourself out there after all these years."
Derek raised an eyebrow, sensing the inevitable 'but' looming.
"But it's the deputy who always seems to stop us at the most inconvenient times," Ron complained.
Jake chimed in, "Or finds us parked in the ´wrong places´, or whatever." he had the audacity to air quote.
"Stilinski is a hypocrite," declared Cora, "I went to high school with him, and he was a total troublemaker. Now he acts all high and mighty."
The evening unfolded with a litany of grievances against Deputy Stilinski, as recounted by his family. Ironically, Derek found himself liking Stiles even more for not tolerating their antics. He couldn't help but grin as he texted Stiles throughout the meal, updating him on the hilarious, yet somewhat concerning family dinner.
-.-
Stiles was so excited that he completely ignored his dad's knowing glances, continuously rereading the last text messages:
Stiles: it's the best coffee in town.
Derek: I knew you were a coffee guy.
Standing outside Howling Coffee, he tried to calm his racing heart. It felt like ages since his last date, probably freshman year of college and he forgot how to behave, what to do or say. Then Derek arrived and Stiles's mind momentarily short-circuited as he took in the vision of the man standing before him with his dark jeans and - oh, fuck- a leather jacket. He was breathtaking.
"Hi," Derek greeted with a shy dip of his chin.
Stiles realized his mouth was hanging open and scrambled to regain his composure. "Hi," he stammered, then, in a moment of impulsive boldness, leaned forward and kissed Derek's cheek.
Immediately, he recoiled, his brain finally catching up with his actions. "Sorry, I meant to say hello. I-" He gesticulated wildly, but Derek gently grasped his hand, calming his nerves. "I... um... I didn't have time to shave." Fuck his lack of brain to mouth filter.
Derek smiled sweetly. "I think it looks good."
Stiles blushed, his pulse quickening. "I think you look really handsome."
They entered the bustling coffee shop, and the room seemed to fall silent. For a fleeting moment, all Stiles could hear was the soft music playing in the background.
"Why is everyone staring?" he whispered into Derek´s ear. Then, the clatter of something falling to the floor broke the silence, and the murmurs of conversation resumed.
Derek shrugged, his grip tightening on Stiles's hand, almost afraid he would let go because of the obvious staring. But Derek didn't know Stiles yet, he would never let go of that warm hand giving the chance.
Derek led him to a corner table where a single chair sat beside a sign that read: Reserved for the Boss in bold red letters. Stiles had noticed it every time he came here, always empty. "This one is always reserved," he commented, still flushed.
"I know. Inside joke." Derek moved the chair for Stiles to sit.
Stiles removed his coat and settled into the chair. "Wait, so you're the boss?"
"No."
"Yes." A blonde woman in a pantsuit approached, carrying another chair. Stiles recognized Erica Reyes from high school. "When you said you'd be coming in today, I thought you missed us."
"I was going to say hello at your office. Surprised Boyd let you out." They shared a warm hug before Derek removed his leather jacket. And, oh god , thumbholes. His maroon Henley had thumbholes! Stiles desperately wanted to hug, he looked so soft and warm.
Being too engrossed in admiring Derek, Stiles had missed part of their exchange. "I just can't believe it. I mean, you're Stiles Stilinski." Erica stared between them, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"And you're Erica Reyes?" Stiles was at a loss for where this conversation was going. "Yes, but he's Derek Hale." The blond huffed.
"Ouch," Stiles muttered, his self-esteem taking a minor hit. Erica rolled her eyes. "Derek Hale doesn't date. He's married to his job."
"Erica," Derek sighed, covering his face with his hands. "Please don't ruin our date."
Erica cackled. "You got it, boss. I'll send our best waiter over for you and Mr. Stilinski." She made a little salute.
"Don't call me boss," Derek grumbled, but Erica was already gone.
"So," Stiles tapped his fingers on the table. "You own this place?"
Derek crossed his arms and leaned against the table, their proximity making Stiles's breath catch in his throat. "Not exactly."
He explained how he'd funded the coffee shop upon returning to Beacon Hills from college and hired his younger sister. He hadn't anticipated its success, but it had thrived, leading him to hire Erica, Boyd and the man who approached their table, introducing himself as their waiter for the evening.
"This is Isaac Lahey, and he's not a waiter. We don't have waiters. He's the baker."
Isaac smirked. "Not tonight. This is a special occasion."
"Anyway," Derek continued, "I co-own the place with Boyd, Isaac, and Erica now."
They spent a delightful evening, chatting about their families. Erica made a brief reappearance to recount an embarrassingly amusing anecdote about Derek or how much fun Boyd -her husband now- was missing for not being there. Isaac on the other hand seized every opportunity to inquire about how Stiles and Derek had met. It was clear that these people loved Derek dearly.
As the date drew to a close, Derek extended an invitation to thanksgiving dinner.
Stiles wanted so much to say yes but it was impossible. "I have the night shift all week.”
The young deputy could feel everyone's eyes on him when Derek took his hand again.“What about a late lunch after thanksgiving?"
They were walking out of the coffee House. "Are you sure you want me there?" Stiles asked, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
"Very," Derek assured him.
"Then you've got yourself a date, Mr. Hale," Stiles replied, a smile finally breaking through his nerves. He kissed Derek´s cheek and left towards his car feeling light like a feather.
It felt just like his mom used to tell her stories of how she met dad and he knew it sounded crazy when he told Jackson and Scott, but he knew, he felt it deep in his gut.
-.-
"So, how are things with my future son in law?" The Sheriff asked while drinking his hot cocoa. They had been out answering an 11-81 Accident with minor injuries and Stiles almost froze to death.
The young deputy sighed into his drink, happy to be holding a hot beverage. "I'm a bit worried about tomorrow."
"Son, we know how troublesome that family is. Especially Peter."
"I would say Felicia."
"Same thing. Just… be careful tomorrow. I remember how much your mom’s tata hated me but her dziadek and babcia were very supportive. If someone in the family doesn't like you it can put your relationship through some hardship.”
"Dad, you're supposed to encourage me. This," he pointed between them. "Not helping."
But his dad smiled. "You already have him, which is the most important thing."
-.-
The day after Thanksgiving, Stiles arrived looking remarkably different, the sight took Derek´s breath away. Shaven, Stiles had shaved. His face now revealed a constellation of charming moles scattered across, one particularly prominent near his mouth. Derek couldn't resist, leaning in to gently kiss it.
"Hey, I can get used to this," Stiles grinned.
Derek smiled shyly. "You clean up nice."
"Thank you. I'm meeting my boyfriend's family today."
Derek's eyebrows rose in amusement. "Is that true? And here I was thinking about asking you out." Stiles stepped inside to take his coat off, his broad shoulders framed by the button down he was wearing and Derek couldn´t stop himself from wondering what it´ll feel like to take it off.
"No can do, I'm taken. I would actually be engaged if he had answered my proposal."
"That was not a proposal." He never would have thought he was the kind of guy to get turned on by banter, but here he was wanting to take Stiles upstairs after one date. Two if he counted the time they spent in the airport and he did count it, every single second with Stiles was precious.
Stiles let out an over-exaggerated gasp and slapped one hand to his chest. "Oh, excuse me. I distinctly remember the words 'marry me' being uttered. Quite loudly, I might add. I would remember since I was the one who said them."
He should really put an end to this, instead he stepped closer, chest almost touching, his hands finding rest on Stiles hips. "That was more of a… warning of a proposal."
Stiles rolled his eyes, but his blush betrayed his nervousness. "Potatoes, potatoes." It felt as if Derek's hands were meant to be placed there.
A series of exaggerated gagging noises erupted behind them and Derek squeezed Stiles hips before letting go. Derek recognized the sound as belonging to one of the twins, or possibly both.
“Come on, time to meet your boyfriend’s family.” Derek offered a hand to Stiles, the affirmation of their status hanging in the air.
Stiles looked from the hands to Derek's eyes and smiled softly. “Lead the way,” He took the offered hand, long fingers curling ground his. “Boyfriend.”
..
To be honest, his family made a valiant effort to be polite at first, but their snarky remarks soon surfaced when little Julia -Peter and Felicia’s youngest- ran towards the dining room.
"Wow, slow down honey, you wouldn't want Deputy Stilinski here to give you a ticket, would you?" Uncle Peter said, and the playful jab hung heavy in the air.
Stiles' grasp on Derek's hands tightened and for a moment he was afraid this wouldn't work, that his family would be too much for him. However, when he looked at him, Stiles was biting his bottom lip, a hit of amusement sparkling in his bright brown eyes. “You can talk back.” He whispered in Stiles' ear.
The young deputy spoke then. "Peter is right, you all know speeding is a serious offense. I could write you a citation right here at the dinner table." He winked at Derek, who stifled a chuckle.
“Please sit here,” Talia made a show of pointing at the chair next to the one Derek usually sat on. At least his mom seemed to be on his side. “We know how much you hate when someone is in the wrong spot.”
Derek almost choked on his own spit. Having his mom blessing the rest of the Hales took any chance they got and the rest of the meal became a delightful, and slightly terrifying game of verbal sparring.
At one point Laura commented on Felicia and Peter´s indiscretion and the Aunt was quick to retort, "At least I don't have a record as long as your shopping list."
Stiles, ever the instigator, couldn't help but chime in, "Speaking of lists, I think I saw your name on the 'frequent flyers' list at the Sheriff's station."
The ensuing chaos was glorious and Derek couldn't stop smirking. Insults flew back and forth, punctuated by groans, laughter, and the occasional muttered curse. Through it all, Derek watched Stiles with a growing sense of awe. He was witty, sharp, and unapologetically himself, even when surrounded by his family's barbs.
At Cora´s comment about speeding Stiles responded “Maybe if you don't drive like you are in a fast and the furious movie I won't have to pull you over every day I´m on street duty.”
“We all drive sports cars.” Jack rolled his eyes. “Yeah, they were designed to be fast.” Ron added.
“Do you have a say in this?” Stiles asked Derek but it was Laura who answered. “Oh, Derek drives like a grandma, so he doesn't count.”
Stiles bit his lip and looked at Derek under his lashes, “Is it wrong of me to say that it turns me on?”
Derek laughed out loud trying to hide his blush. “I still can't believe the only reason we haven't met before is because I know how to read a stop sign.”
Laura rolled her eyes. “We all know how to read them, dear bear. You are the only one that stops on a deserted road.”
“It 's the law!” Derek argued passionatly and was left out of breath by Stiles' next comment.
“I think I'm in love with you.” It was obvious it was accidental by the deputy´s surprised expression.
Someone at the end of the table groaned. “This is gonna give me diabetes.” his grandma´s voice sounded fond.
Derek squeezed Stiles´s hand over the tablet and smiled. “You are just shocked by the contrast. This family is so dismissive of the law I must look like a saint.”
“You know, if you keep this up I will have to ask you to marry me, again.”
Laura stood from her chair while Cora choked next to him. “What?” But Derek couldn't care to look away from Stiles. “That was not a proposal.”
Stiles smiled sheepishly, “Yes, it was.” And Derek´s heart melted with so much warmth, it was imposible to deny how fast he was falling.
The chaos continued for a while longer until Stiles had to leave to get some rest before his shift.
“Thank you for coming.” Derek leaned closer, lips brushing against Stiles´s.
“Thank you for having me.” the young deputy breathed before they kissed. It was warm and soft and Derek held Stiles on his arms for long minutes, exploring each other's mouths.
The sounds Stiles made was making it hard for Derek to let him go. “When can I see you again?”
“Tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after.” Stiles planted a wet kiss with every word, and made Derek laugh.
“I like that plan. Text me when you finish your shift. I can make you breakfast.”
“Oh, god marry me.” Stiles blurted again and Derek can't help but to kiss him again.
It should be scary, it should feel like too much too soon, and yet he can´t wait to hear those words again and again until he finds the courage to answer.
-.-
They spent Christmas together at the Hale house, the Sheriff was invited too of course. There were gifts exchanged and kids running around the Christmas tree and a memorable moment when Stiles kissed Derek under the mistletoe in front of everyone, they got groans and whistles as a response.
The couple couldn't be apart until New Year's Eve, where Stiles, after a particularly heated game of charades -which involved a lot of exaggerated acting and a surprisingly accurate rendition of Derek shaving- blurted out "Marry me," again just after the noise went down, everyone heard, and Derek, still slightly breathless from the laughing, smiled hugely and said, "Okay, yes."
They received the new year engaged while their families toast for their uncertain future, except for the Sheriff who knew by experience their future was going to be bright and happy.
It was crazy, because it was crazy. But they did. A month and a half after they met they got engaged, and Derek would forever tease him about having proposed just a few hours after they met. Stiles would argue that is the Stilinski way paraphrasing Beyonce “If you know it, put a ring to it.”
Even twenty years in, they raised a glass to the day they met, the day their lives had irrevocably changed, all thanks to a delayed flight and a vending machine.