Chapter Text
Derek’s POV
I sat my back to Peter. It’s been a year, a year without him, without Stiles. “Are you sure you want to do this.” Peter asked as he attached the final of my mother’s claws, I nodded, “Yes. I need to try.” I heard Peter sigh and pain exploded at the base of my skull.
Memories flashed across my vision, as I relived moment after moment till Peter flew back severing the connection leaving me feeling empty again. Peter was breathing hard, “Did it work?” “No.” I got up slowly after answering. “I’m going out.” I pulled my jacket on, Stiles’s favorite. “Just don’t go there, Derek please, don’t do that to yourself.” I heard Peter say before I closed the door.
I walked through the Preserve slowly making my way to house. My house. During the packs senior year I had it rebuilt. Stiles lived there with me when he wasn’t away at collage. For the past year I’d been living at the loft again unable to look at the walls that held two of my families, both gone forever. I sat on the porch steps contemplating on whether or not to go to the cliffs again. I heard someone coming up the driveway and decided at the cliffs I’d at least be alone. As I walked away I heard Scott calling out for me. “Just leave me alone Scott.” I growled out walking away.
I don’t know how long I’d been walking around the Preserve but I was no longer going in the direction of the cliffs. I stopped short seeing the Nemeton. This wasn’t the first time the Nemeton had pulled me to it during my life, but what shocked me was there was a naked body curled up on the stump. The body was curled up in the fetal position the only movement was his breathing. It was impossibly familiar. There was no way it was who my mind was trying to tell me it was. Slowly I walked over to it unsure I called Scott. “Get everyone to the Nemeton now… and bring a blanket.” I told him without explaining and hung up. I shrugged my jacket off as I walked around the Nemeton to see his face. There was no possible way. I placed my jacket over the boy’s waist startling him awake, “Derek? Was I sleep walking again?” he asked. I just nodded. “I had a terrifying nightmare so I guess that makes sense. Are we at the Nemeton?” he looked where he was sitting I nodded again. “Sourwolf I know you’re the silent type but normally you’re a little more talkative and touchy when this happens all protective and cute.” He smiled at me, “Did I scare you that much?” his smile faltered at my nod. “Derek I’m sorry. He pulled me into a hug and I pulled into a bone crushing hug crying. “Der shh it’s okay I’m here.” He pulled away just enough so we were face to face. “Hey you.” I said smiling feeling liberated for the first time all year, he chuckled, “Hey you. Did you let the others know you found me?” he asked I just shrugged. “I just got you to speak ya caveman.” He kissed me making me hold him tighter, “Hey human needs to breathe.” He said a little breathless as he wrapped his arms around my neck. “Sorry.” I whispered and breathed in his scent exactly as I remembered it. I heard the pack coming and I just couldn’t bring myself to care, I simply glanced up from Stiles neck seeing the shock on their faces. I held my hand out for the blanket Scott was holding. In my peripheral vision I saw Stiles neck turning red as he realized he was naked, the dirt and mud usually happened when he went sleepwalking. “Well I certainly didn’t see this one coming.” Peter said and left dragging the pack away despite their protests. Lydia walked over and put the Camaro’s keys in my hand as Stiles wrapped the blanket around his waist and pulled the jacket on to stay warm. “When’d you cut your hair? Not that Short hair isn’t a good look on you.” Stiles cut himself off turning a deeper red as Lydia kissed his cheek. “It was spur of the moment.” She lied with an amused smile and led us to where the Camaro was parked, “I’ll catch a ride with Scott you two just head on home.”
I pulled into our garage Stiles jumped out and skipped through the door connecting the garage and the house. “Why’s the water not working Der?” Stiles asked as we entered the kitchen. “It’s off I was working on the pipe.” I lied. “What was your dream about?” he looked away, “We were at the cliffs fighting an omega, he threw me over the side I remember falling, darkness, and that’s it. Then you woke me up.” Stiles told me with a shrug opening the fridge. “Where’s all our food?” he turned to me. “Derek what’s going on?” his face worried now. “It wasn’t a dream.” I told him. “No! I can’t have been dead! I’m breathing and walking around aren’t I?” Stiles was freaking out he ran upstairs I chased after him he froze at the door to our room looking around everything looked exactly the same to him. After his death I had Scott empty the fridge and turn the water off, I’d bought an entire new wardrobe refusing to wear anything with Stiles scent on it. “See Everything is the same as last night.” Stiles said as he got dressed. “Last night we went to our dinner for date night then we came home had mind blowing sex and went to bed. I had a nightmare that sent me sleepwalking and you found me in the woods.” Stiles cradled my face in his hands, I did the same to him. “No Stiles. We went to bed and Scott called telling us that he’d caught an omega’s scent and needed my help. You came along because that’s just who you are and I love that about you, but I just wish I could have convinced you to stay home that night. We fought the omega and cornered him at the cliff’s. He ran for you and pulled you with him trying to escape. I ran at both of you and he threw both himself and you off the cliffs. I made my way down with Scott the omega was limping away and I slashed his throat then ran to you. I checked for a pulse and it confirmed that you died. The coroner said you felt nothing and died on impact.” I told him tears running down both our faces. “No. No I couldn’t have. It was just a nightmare.” He whispered. “That was a year ago today Stiles.” I told him I showed him the date on my phone. “My dad is he okay?” Stiles asked. “Yeah still Sherriff even won the re-election last month. I stayed with him for a while. I couldn’t be here your scent it’s ingrained in the walls. I kept him from going over the deep end and he did the same for me.” I told Stiles. “What do you mean he kept you from going over the deep end?” Stiles asked. “You are my world Stiles, I was ready to die. I did some stupid things. Your dad he’s the only reason I’m talking too you now.” I confessed to Stiles. Stiles pulled me into a tight hug. “How am I here though?” Stiles asked me. “I don’t know and right now I don’t care. Let’s just call it a miracle.” I told him the emptiness inside gone.