Chapter Text
Sophia and Daniel brought little Talia into the kitchen. Before she could even step inside, Danny scooped Talia up and whisked her away to the other side of the island. Sophia sighed and plopped down at the island, right next to her father. He had a cup of coffee in hand and a plate of toast and sliced fruit that Danny had just set down for him. Danny gave Sophia a smile as he moved Talia to his hip, then started brewing coffee for her too.
"Papi," she said, turning to her father.
Derek turned to her and said, “Sophia. Light of my life, you only call me that when you've done something really bad, or you want something. Talia keeps you so busy you don't have time to get into trouble, so what do you want?”
"Lies and slanderous accusations!" she said, making a good impression of Stiles.
"See, now I know you want something because you're imitating Daddy,” Derek replied just as Stiles came into the room.
"I didn't do it, and if I did, then nobody saw me. Now what do you want?" Stiles asked as he dropped into the chair on the other side of Derek.
"You're horrible parents," she said in mock outrage.
"Lies and slanderous accusations," Derek and Stiles replied in unison.
"I rest my case." Sophia shook her head. "Now, Papi and Daddy Dearest, I wanted to ask about doing something for Halloween. Talia is a toddler, and we haven't really celebrated anything for the others. Life has been so busy the last few years that it would be nice to do something big, like a costume party or something.”
Derek looked at Stiles, and a big smile appeared on both their faces. "That's a great idea," Derek said. "What do you have in mind?”
"Well, Daniel and I were talking about how much fun Halloween was when we were kids. We celebrated Día de Muertos when Mom and I lived in Mexico, and it was always fun. Daniel did the traditional Halloween thing, trolling the neighborhood for candy when he was a kid. Having a big event like a costume party for the whole pack sounds like a lot of fun. We could kind of combine both into something special.”
"Great idea, but..." Stiles exclaimed before Derek cut him off.
"But," Derek said with a pause, “I have requirements."
“Requirements?” Sophia asked indignantly. “What do you mean, requirements? It's a Halloween party?”
"Make it a community event. The coffee shop can host it and be the center of activity. Ask Isaac and Liam about using Dunbar's for something, like a little haunted house for the younger kids. Make it a block party, with food, music, and try to involve all the businesses on the block. Make it a fundraiser. I'm sure Aunt Lydia would be happy to help you plan it.”
"I just wanted a Halloween party for the kids. What have I gotten myself into?" Sophia asked, looking at Daniel.
"And," Derek said, holding up his index finger as a nail slowly extended from the tip, "only Scott, Raven, and I get to be werewolves.”
"What? Why?”
"Alpha's privilege," Derek said, flashing his red eyes at his daughter.
"Fine," she said with a mock pout. "We weren't planning on dressing as werewolves anyway.”
"What did you have in mind, daughter of my heart?" Stiles asked.
"Magenta and Riff Raff," Sophia replied with a smile.
"Perfect! You've got the hair for it. I can be Dr. Frank-N-Furter!" Stiles exclaimed.
"Daniel, you know this has the possibility of getting really weird for you. Are you up to this?”
"My self-denial tells me that everyone will be wearing a costume. If I don't think otherwise, I'll never know what's real and what isn’t."
"Fair enough," Stiles said.
"One more thing," Derek said.
Sophia rolled her eyes and asked with a sigh, "What now?”
"You're going to perform something.”
“Papi..."
"Not negotiable," Derek said as he turned back to the counter and picked up his coffee.
"Fine," Sophia said. "I'll suffer through it, I'm sure.”
"Oh come on, Sophia. You're an amazing singer, and you know it," Daniel said.
"Whose side are you on?" she asked him.
"I've got an even better idea. You're both going to perform," Derek said with a smirk.
"Daddy!" Sophia whined, looking at Stiles, while Daniel sputtered and asked, “What?"
"Don't look at me," Stiles said. "You got yourself into this, and you don't get to whine like a child when you have a toddler of your own.”
Danny handed Talia back to Sophia and slid a cup of coffee to her as he started on one for Daniel.
"What about you, Uncle Danny? Are you going to help me?" Sophia asked.
"Are you kidding? I'm going to be Rocky and dance in my gold lamé undies right in front of Sophia's," Danny said as he gave a full body shimmy.
"Traitor," Sophia said, squinting at him before turning on her smile.
"Don't look at me. It's going to be a great time, and you know it," Danny said. "Now what are we going to do with this little one? Oh, I know. I saw a kid in a spider outfit walking down Bourbon Street in New Orleans once. Eight little arms and legs. She will be the cutest thing ever.”
"What was a child doing walking down Bourbon Street in a spider costume?" Derek asked.
"Being the center of attention and the life of the party," Danny replied. "You should have seen the angels. Two very tall, muscular men, one black, one white, wearing nothing but stiletto heels, a thong, and wings. That was a great trip.”
"This is going to be a family event, Danny. Not some debauched New Orleans party," Derek said.
"Don't be a prude, Derek. We've all heard you howling, and it wasn't at the full moon," Danny said, giving Sophia a wink.
Derek's ears turned red as Stiles cackled. "He's got you there, Sourwolf.”
"I'm leaving before this conversation gets any worse," Derek said, standing up with his coffee and toast. "Sophia, call Lydia this morning. She'll help you get this organized properly.”
"And the fundraiser?" Sophia called after him.
Derek paused in the doorway. "The Children's Placement Services office that opened across the street from Beacon Hills Memorial." He looked at Stiles, something unspoken passing between them. "It's important.”
After Derek left, Sophia turned to Stiles. "The adoption agency?”
“It was started by the social worker who helped us adopt Mario, Felix, and Ana. They are just starting to expand down the West Coast. This is the first office in California, and they need funding. They help find homes for kids with special needs. Our kid of special needs.” He met her eyes.
Sophia understood immediately. The organization wasn't just any adoption agency—it specialized in placing supernatural children with families who could help them navigate their abilities. It had helped Derek and Stiles adopt their last three children, connecting them with kids who needed parents who understood the supernatural world.
"Then we'll make sure they get all the funding they need," Sophia said firmly.
Stiles grinned. "That's my girl.”