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John watched as Stiles and Derek worked together as they prepared dinner. Well, Stiles likely had done most of the work for the food that was in the oven, but Derek helped with the side dishes. They worked together easily.
Evidently, Eli had never had gołąbki -- polish cabbage rolls -- and Stiles had decided that horrendous oversight had to be rectified.
"Your Pops would be heartbroken if he wasn't invited," Stiles had said, so John had cheerfully agreed to come to dinner.
The kitchen smelled amazing, the smell of cabbage, beef, and tomato sauce permeated the air.
"Smells okay," Eli said cautiously.
"Well, if nothing else, it's hamburger and cabbage," John said. "Can hardly go wrong with that."
Stiles whirled and pointed his knife at John. "You know perfectly well it's more than that!" he protested.
"Well, we know that," John replied calmly. "But for Eli, it's a new thing. So you have to make it make sense."
Stiles considered, then nodded.
John turned to Eli. "Gołąbki is something Stiles' mom used to make, for special occasions. She loved to make it, and I think that love made it taste even better."
"Oh," Eli looked thoughtful. He looked at John for a moment. "Can you tell me about her?"
Stiles looked up, wide-eyed. John ignored him.
"Her name was Claudia..." John started. He told Eli how they met, how they settled in Beacon Hills, and about raising Stiles.
"Hey! Not fair!" Stiles protested as John told stories about Stiles' youthful escapades.
But John could see Derek listening carefully to the stories of the Stilinski family. Stories Stiles likely had not told anyone.
John helped Eli set the table and they were soon sitting down to eat.
Eli took a forkful of the gołąbki and chewed thoughtfully. Then nodded. "You were right, Pops. They do taste like love."