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It was hot.
It was humid.
And Derek was extra tired that day.
He’d been at work all day after a sleepless night without Stiles next to him in bed and he’d almost forgotten he was supposed to meet her at the beach. Luckily, his husband knew him better than himself and sent him a reminder text from across the country. Not that Derek would ever admit it, but he’d already been halfway home when he turned around right at the interstate ramp.
He parked the car, shut the engine off and got out, the sea breeze immediately started ruffling his gel-stiff hair. His eyes squinted at the force of it, forcing him to grab his sunglasses from the cup holder before locking the car.
Next, his ears picked up the constant whooshing of the air. Not for the first time, he wondered if it were possible to bring those new earplugs to the beach to enjoy the water sounds without the wind sounds. He’d have to remember to ask Stiles, he’d for sure know.
Then came the smell. It was fresh and not as strong as he’d remembered this close to the ocean. It still smelled vaguely like fish, salt and heat, a hint of all the beachgoers’ sweat and sunscreen lingering underneath it all. He didn’t really mind it anymore. He’d been there enough times to learn to ignore the various degrees of human stench his werewolf nose could pick up.
Lastly, his skin felt the bursts of air hitting his body – his day-old t-shirt slid this and that way against his chest, billowing while imprisoned by its own hasty and cheap stitching. He’d need to remember to put a spare one in his car like Stiles had suggested numerous times.
After taking stock of all the new input around him, Derek started moving closer to the concrete ramp that sloped down to the sand. It should have been dull and gray, but someone had decided to decorate it with some kind of engraved natural design – leaves, shrubs, branches, bushes and little italics quotes in the local people’s language. He appreciated the thoughtfulness of it all despite it being drastically insignificant in the face of centuries of the oppression, genocidal tendencies and general sabotage Native Peoples had to endure. He unconsciously grimaced.
Once on top of the ramp, he started making his descent, taking in his surroundings once again. His nature couldn’t help it: the wind gradually picked up as the waves languidly lapped at the shore. They left behind a sheen of water upon which the setting sun had started reflecting its light, blinding anyone reckless enough to look at it too long; Derek included. On the water surface, smooth-looking patches of reflected light glared as well to unsuspecting onlookers. They also contrasted highly with the rough surface of the water in constant motion, waves always rolling, one on top of the other. The whole scene depicted a somewhat magical image of the deep dark ocean waters conflicting with the delicate light hues of the absconding sun in the sky. Derek wished he could take a mental picture of the scenery to always go back to in his memories.
Almost at the bottom of it, her scent hit him with a gust of wind and immediately disappeared. His head shot up, eyes adjusting to the sunlight again, searching. He didn’t see her in his proximity.
His feet landed in the sand, and he made quick work of his shoes, placing his mismatched gray and black socks in them. Stiles didn’t really care for pairing socks when folding laundry, if they were in the socks’ drawer, it meant they had no holes and were ready to be worn, regardless of color. Derek had gotten used to it; in the end a man had to pick his battles. When he took a couple of steps forward, he realized how warm and soft the grains of sand felt under his soles. It made his shoulders relax a fraction; not enough to unwind, though – he still had to find her.
Luckily, there weren’t many people at the beach despite it being close to sunset. The fact that it was the middle of the week was probably the cause. Derek started scanning his surroundings with a hand across his brow to see better against the blinding, gorgeous dusk.
Another waft of her scent came with the wind and he finally headed north. He’d try to call her but there was always spotty reception in this part of town. It always got him frustrated how long it took him and Stiles to find her, but usually his husband’s chattering would distract him, and his loud voice would attract her attention, making it easier to find each other. His inability to scent her properly played a big part in his frustration and Stiles always tried to make him feel better about – it wasn’t his fault, after all.
Not for the first time that day, he wished Stiles had ditched his work convention and come, too. They only had a few years left in the workforce before they could finally enjoy their retired lives together, so it wouldn’t be that detrimental to his husband’s career, but alas.
Finally, a silhouette moved against the sun in front of Derek, getting closer. Even if the wind hadn’t changed again and sent her familiar, happy scent towards him, he would have still recognized her. He would recognize her anywhere.
“Daddy!”
“Hi, baby.”
She launched herself against his strong and welcoming chest, his arms wrapping around her solid frame as his sunglasses slid a little on his face. He nosed the side of her head, kissing it lightly and she giggled in delight. He’d been doing it ever since she’d been a pup and he was never going to stop. Her hair was flying everywhere with the wind, and he caressed her scalp gently, trying to rule it down. He really wanted to see her face. He missed her. His shoulders finally dropped once they let go of their embrace and he could see her trusting, joyous eyes. He felt his next exhale take with it all his tension.
“I’m kind of mad that Papa couldn’t make it”, she pouted, “It’s not like I’m always in town.”
Derek knew. He knew and he’s told Stiles so, but the man had said it was important that he went to his convention. He wouldn’t throw his husband under the bus.
“You know he wanted to come, he just couldn’t get out of it.”
She didn’t look convinced but let it go.
“Come, I’ve already secured us the best spot!”
She excitedly grabbed his wrist and turned around, tugging him towards a lonely blanket in the middle of the almost-deserted beach. Derek wanted to laugh but knew from firsthand experience that it would only bring griping his way. Whenever she got excited about something, anyone could tell she was Stiles’ daughter – they both took serious offence to whomever made fun of their excitement.
He slowly lowered himself on the blanket while his daughter kept a watchful eye on him.
“I’m not old yet”, he grumbled without looking at her, “Besides, I’m a werewolf, I don’t age like Papa I’m–”
“–more graceful”, she interrupted him with her spoofing and a smile, “Yeah, yeah. I know.”
Derek ignored her but for a raised eyebrow. He fixed the glasses on his face, then laid his legs out and leaned back on his arms, getting comfortable. She sat next to him and scooted closer until she was plastered to his side, uncaring of the heat of the day still wafting up from the warm sand below. He couldn’t say he minded either. He’d always found happiness in being a comforting presence for his family.
They sat there quietly, watching Earth’s ball of fire sink under the horizon and lighting the whole sky up. It was Derek’s favorite part of the day; especially after a hard, long workday. At some point, she had leant her head on his shoulder, and his arm secured her body against his. Her soft breaths finally calmed his restless heart and soothed that primal part of him that missed his husband, his mate. He longed for his family to be together and knew that in that regard their daughter felt the same.
She never said anything, didn’t really have to, but he could feel in the relieved, rhythmic thumping of her heart that she had been stressed, plagued by anxiety and worry, longing, and a bit homesick, if his ear wasn’t mistaken. It rarely ever was.
She was just like him – never said anything while trying to carry the weight of the world alone. It had taken Derek years to finally let Stiles and their pack in, let himself be helped. When he had, he'd vowed to never let anyone go through the same ordeal alone. That promise had gained a lot more meaning once they’d had a pup.
It was the reason why Derek, Stiles and their daughter had sunset family dates. It was a chance to spend time together since she lived a bit far and appease both her inner wolf and Derek’s that the distance from the pack was temporary and always amenable. They both knew that they’d have to bump up their next scheduled hang-out, so that she could spend time with her Papa, too. Stiles needed the time together as well.
Derek tried to convey all this and more in the soft caresses and circles his hand was drawing on her back and side. She understood and a soft, content sigh was all they needed to communicate.
From afar, their intwined bodies sitting on that lonesome blanket on the beach cast a cute mountain-looking shadow on the sand. The rainbow-like hues of the sky and the cresting waves on the shore a perfect backdrop for their almost-complete family.