Stiles kicked off his shoes and threw his backpack next to the door. He headed into the kitchen where he knew his mom would be making dinner. Practice always made him incredibly hungry and he was glad for a home cooked meal every night.
"Hey honey, how was school today?" She said the moment he plopped into a chair.
"Coach was on a warpath today, both in class and on the field. Greenberg answered a question wrong and Coach tore him apart. I thought Greenberg was gonna cry. I mean the kid's an idiot but he didn't deserve that." Stiles said as his mom placed a cut up apple and peanut butter in front of him to tide him over until dinner.
"Sounds like coach was having a bad day, maybe his mom forgot to pack his lunch." Stiles snickered at the immaturity of his mother's joke. They had the same sense of humor and Stiles laughed harder around her than anyone else.
"Well let's hope she remembers it tomorrow, I don't want to do that many suicides ever again." Stiles munched happily on the apple. "So how was your day at school mom?" It was a daily routine that Stiles quite enjoyed. He would come back each night and he and his mom would swap war stories. She never failed to come back with a hilarious story about what one of her first graders had done that day.
On nights when he dad didn't have to work late, he would join them for dinner and add to the collection of hilarious stories. Other than the supernatural killings, Beacon Hills crime was usually fairly minor stuff done by fairly stupid people thus lending itself to some funny stories.
Of course some days one of them would have a bad day and didn't have any funny stories to tell. So instead the other two would listen to what was wrong and offer comfort, or if the person didn't feel like talking they other two would simply distract them with random talk.
All in all, it was a good life.
*****
Malia and Scott found themselves in the Stilinski's backyard.
"That's it Stiles, you're getting the hang of it." They heard the Sheriff say encouragingly. They had entered a scene of familial bliss. The Sheriff was teaching a young Stiles, maybe 5 or 6, how to play baseball and Claudia Stilinski was sitting in a chair near them reading. At one point, Stiles got frustrated at his ability to catch and threw his glove down. His mother looked up as his father walked over to him and knelt in front of the boy.
"I'll never be able to catch the ball Dad," Stiles said miserably.
"Son, have you ever heard of the saying, 'Rome wasn't built in a day'?" Malia watched in amusement as the young boy shook his head, looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Looks like Stiles had always been a bit dramatic. "Well, Rome was a great Empire, but it wasn't always that way. It took a lot of hard work and a long time to build it up."
"So you're saying that it will take time and hard work for me to be good at baseball?" Stiles said. Malia could practically see the wheels turning in his head. It looks like Stiles had always been clever and quick as well.
"Exactly, you can't expect to be good at it right away. Practice makes perfect."
"Another saying?" Young Stiles put an impressive amount of sass behind the words.
"You got it kid" The Sheriff ruffled his hair.
"Hey, who's ready for an ice cream break?" Claudia spoke up, "We've got stuff for sundaes!"
"Me!" both the Sheriff and Stiles said in unison.
"First one there gets an extra scoop!" Claudia yelled and all three of them sprinted into the house. When they had disappeared inside Malia turned her attention to Scott. He was staring at the closed door, his face a mix of emotions.
"I forgot how happy and carefree Stiles used to be. He pretends and acts like he still is, but it's not as genuine. I think he's been acting for so long that he almost believes it." Scott says the words slowly, a far-off look in his eyes. Malia isn't quite sure how to respond. Luckily she doesn't have to, Scott grabs her hand and wordlessly pulls her to the door. He stops with his hand on the knob and looks at her. She nods at him as understanding passes between them. They have to keep moving, no matter what, they have to continue. Stiles can't wait much longer.
*****
Scott and Malia go through the door and find themselves on a playground. The day was warm and sunny and there are children running everywhere. She turned to Scott for guidance and found him staring at a swing set on the far side of the playground. Two boys who looked to be about 9 or 10 sat there gently swinging back and forth. There was no mistaking who they were, the two dark haired, dark eyed boys seemed to be wrapped up in their own world.
"Stiles and I used to come here all the time, it was the playground where we met." Scott smiled reminiscently. "We used to come up with huge elaborate fantasy worlds where we were knights or kings or wizards. We would spend hours on those swings discussing every little detail of our latest world."
"That sounds incredible," Malia said watching young Stiles make arm gestures so big that he nearly fell off of the swing.
"It was, we used our worlds to escape from reality. My dad's drinking and him leaving, his mom's sickness and death, the bullies at school. We imagined better worlds, perfect worlds where both of our families could live in peace." Scott moves to walk over to the swings, but Malia grabbed his arm.
"Look I know it's tempting to stay and relive childhood memories but we have to find our Stiles, and he isn't here." To her relief Scott nodded and they started walking in the opposite direction.
*****
The third memory they pass through is Stiles helping a kid in his class with a history question. He looked to be middle school age.
"How do you remember all of this stuff?" The boy asks when Stiles finishes listing off a bunch of names and dates.
"I don't know, it comes pretty naturally. It's interesting to me so I remember it."
"Well, you are pretty good at teaching it too. I might be able to actually pass this class with you helping me." The boy gave Stiles a smile. Stiles hesitated for a second but eventually returned it with a proud look in his eyes.
"I remember this day...I never knew what happened, but one day in 6th grade Stiles suddenly changed, it was the first time since his mom died that he seemed like he had hope for a better future. Like he knew he could heal and be able to move past his mom's death."
"And you think this is the moment that did it?" Malia questioned. It was a nice moment but it seemed fairly simple.
"Yes, his mom was a teacher. She taught in the elementary school."
"So when the boy said that he was good at teaching..."
"It must've made him think of his mom, but for some reason this time it didn't make him close in on himself like it had previously"
"When he said he was good at teaching it was like he was telling him that he was like his mom and that flared up a sense of pride inside Stiles. I could see it in his eyes." Malia explained, realizing why it was such a turning point. Scott pondered that for a moment, connecting the dots in his head.
"So maybe he decided that he should start living his life in a way that would make his mom proud."
"Something like that. Now come on, we have to go." Malia said. Scott nodded and they walked out the classroom door.
*****
They continued to walk through Stiles memories, in each one Stiles was a bit older. They finally got to a memory of a pack movie night that had happened just a little before the Omegas had come to town.
"We're not going to see him get tortured are we? I don't think I could handle that." Malia paused in front of the loft door.
"I don't think so, have you noticed what all of these memories have in common? They are all happy."
"You're right" Malia said thinking about it, "I didn't realize that. What do you think it means?"
"I'm not sure, but I think when we walk through this door we will find our Stiles. This is his last really good memory before it all happened."
"Then let's go get Stiles."
YOU ARE READING
Stay with Me (Stalia)
FanficAfter the events in Mexico, the pack is taking a well-needed break. They are even starting to feel a bit more like normal teenagers. They know it won't last and are trying to enjoy it while it does. When they hear about 3 omegas wandering the preser...