Come Back To Me

Ch. 14

DEREK POV

For the first time in a long time I shared a bed with Stiles. That night I felt the heat radiating off his body as he tossed and turned taking a long while to to get comfortable. My attempt to give him space faltered as I fought the urge to pull him into my arms, knowing good and well he'd be comfy there. He had fallen asleep long before me and for a moment I just watched. He was coming back to me, it was slow but I just knew my first love was still there.

The next morning I woke in a panic. Stiles was gone, the spot beside me cold and the sheets in disarray. And without helping it, I panicked. Moments like this my mind raced back to the last time I saw him, his face before he left my life and disappeared for what I thought would be forever.

Upon further investigation I'd discovered his bag still in the room, though his phone and shoes were gone. He couldn't have gone far.

"Der?" I had one foot in my pants, desperately in search for my phone when I heard his voice. Over my shoulder he'd been standing, waiting expectantly for an answer "What are you doing?"

The last thing I wanted was for Stiles to feel like I didn't trust him, especially after we had begun to get close again "I woke up with a cramp. Figured I'd stretch my legs" I felt guilty lying through my teeth. If he hadn't bought it he didn't show it. Instead of dwelling I continued slipping my clothes on "Wh-Where were you?"

"Just out on the terrace. I wanted to try and check on Lottie"

"This early?"

He shrugged finally moving further back into the room "You never know"

"So was she awake?"

"No, it was too early" a genuine chuckle escaped him as he tossed his phone into the sea of sheets. Sifting through his suitcase Stiles began throwing out pieces for his outfit that day. There wasn't too much thought as he stripped himself free of his pajama bottoms. It felt almost like an invasion watching him change for the first time in years. But I never really brought myself to look away.

The curves and blemishes of his body had just about all looked the same, just matured. With the exception of a medium sized scar that sat just a ways beneath his belly button, I'd never seen it before.

Curiosity had gotten the best of me and without thinking I was suddenly sat on the bed in front of him eyeing it even more closely "Enjoying yourself?" he joked.

"Did it hurt?"

"I'm sure it would have, but they make sure to drug you up before slicing you open" He noticed the unamused look on my face before going on "No, it didn't. The recovery was hard, with it just being me having to always get up and tote an eight pound baby around" He hadn't stopped me when I reached forward grazing my finger across the fading scar. At first he just watched me letting it happen, that was until I applied the slightest bit of pressure and he was slapping my hand away "That tickles"

"Sorry" I grinned, letting him hide it away with his shirt before plopping down beside me.

"So whats on the agenda for today?"

"Huh?"

"You seem to have the reigns on this weekend, I figured you'd have something planned"

I shrugged hopping he wouldn't care that i hadn't planned too far ahead "Play by ear"

"There's the man I know and love" he quickly pecked my cheek and disappeared into the bathroom. The ghost of his lips lingered there a while longer.

We managed a nice breakfast, one where we weren't awkwardly speaking around each other or depending on one person in particular to carry the conversation. He smiled and laughed and was there with me as opposed to when he had first returned home.

"Is this okay?" Stiles asked, caution in his voice as he focused his gaze on our interlocked fingers. I offered him a grin that only seemed to confuse him more "What's that smile for?"

" 'Maybe one day we can pick up where we left off' That's what you wrote to me in your letter"

His cheeks burned red. The look on his face faltered, seeming suddenly down  "You remembered that?"

"I've memorized every word of that letter" There was a sudden resistance in his hand like he wanted to pull away and burrow into himself at the thought of that letter and that time in his life. I tried not to let it last "Anyways, you said we'd pick up where we left off. Two years ago you would have snatched my hand in yours without any pause to it, and kicked my ass if I didn't let you"

It was small, and for a moment seemed as if was barely there, but he smiled again. He'd kept his grip to me and I to him.

We'd been walking the streets in a comfortable silence not looking for anything in particular. The scenery was simply nice to enjoy, Stiles on my side the sun in my face, just basking in the fresh air. Until there was a tug on my arm, I lost my footing but Stiles managed to keep me upright as he drug us into an antique store.

Stiles and his bright eyes had ran rapid as soon as we jingled passed the bell of the building. It smelled dusty and like there were moth balls lurking around every corner. But he was happy, and I had already lost his scent somewhere in the store so I let him roam.

Stiles had bounced all through out the store it was a miracle when I finally found him. He'd been tucked away in a corner fixated on something. The closer I got the more I realized something was off "Hey uh, babe you okay?" I tested the nickname again and he hadn't bat an eye as he looked up.

"Hmm? Yeah why?" and there it was. He looked me in the eye and those gorgeous amber eyes were now glowing an electrifying purple, sadly reminding me of the night he'd gone away.

Suddenly, without any thought I shielded his body with my own as I spoke lowly "Your eyes, they're purple"

"O-Oh shit umm here wait" he turned away from the population breathing deeply as he took his time to regain his composure until he was able to face me once again "Sorry"

"Something wrong?" The worries tone in my voice slowly diminished as he smiled up at me, i phased by the situation.

"Look at this"

He had a wooden jewelry box in his hands, made from redwood maybe. And on the top sat a symbol we'd both been all too familiar with "Like my tattoo"

"Like your tattoo" he smiled, running his skinny fingers over the triskele "Remember how happy you were when I told you I wanted to get a matching one?"

"You saw the needle and I ended up carrying you home" he starting giggling under his breath and again his eyes began to light up "Baby"

His laughter fell and he was able to turn it down faster this time. He looked up through his eyelashes, as he spoke almost apologetically "Yeah. Two years and I still haven't quite got the hang of keeping my emotions under control"

"I never wanted to ask you about it"

"After I left I swore I'd never practice magic again. Then Lottie came, I realized she had power too and that as much as it was apart of me it was apart of her. I wanted to at least control it, learn enough to teach her about it when the day comes"  When it came to his powers and just about anything supernatural I decided long ago that I wouldn't push. That part of his world had caused so much chaos so much hurt and havoc that I had no problem letting him return and talk about it when he was ready. Until then I was perfectly content just having him there with me.

"I'm beat. Wanna head back?"

He kept the object close to him, clearly set on buying it as he responded "I'd love too"