Emotional Tethers

Chapter 15 - Staying The Night

Stiles and Lydia were fast asleep. Lydia didn't want to be alone at home, so she had decided to spend the night at Stiles. Since his son was a lot more at ease knowing the girl was safe, Noah had allowed it. Lydia had a peaceful sleep. She felt safe and for the first time in weeks, she was able to fall asleep with ease. But things were very different for Stiles, rolling around in the bed.

"Stiles, you're never having the girl."

It was Jackson speaking. He held onto Lydia, her skin turning purple from the grab.

"Just let her go, you're hurting her," Stiles said, panicking.

"Hurting? You want me to hurt her? Okay, fine," Jackson said as he threw Lydia across the lacrosse field, causing her to hit the metal behind her.

"Lydia!" Stiles said, running to her.

Blood was coming out all over her body. From her head to her arms, even her legs. Stiles gently took Lydia in his arms while he felt her breathing getting heavier and heavier.

"No, Lydia. Lydia, stay with me," Stiles said while Lydia looked at him.

"It's okay," Lydia said as Scott ran up to them.

"Lydia! I called an ambulance and security took Jackson," Scott said.

He gently placed his hand on Lydias arm, but nothing happened. He looked at Stiles concerned while he looked at Lydia.

"I can't take your pain," Scott said as Stiles looked at Lydia tears in his eyes.

"It doesn't hurt," Lydia said.

"No," Stiles said.

"It's okay. It's perfect. I'm in the arms Of my first love. The person I've loved. The person I will always love. I love you, Stiles," Lydia said gasping for air.

"Stiles Stilinski," she said gently caressing his cheeks.

"No," Stiles said tears streaming down his face.

He couldn't lose her. He didn't want to.

"I'll be okay. I'm going to see Ally," Lydia said as Scott exhaled.

"Lydia, I..."

"Promise me you're going to live your life, Stiles. Go and live it. Go to college. Become a deputy. Continue solving riddles and catching the bad guys," Lydia said.

"Not without you," Stiles said.

Lydia took his hand as she placed something in it. She pulled herself slightly up, her lips meeting with Stiles, as she softly kissed him. She fell down, slowly, back into his arms. Scott heard her heart stop while he looked at Stiles, who pressed his lips against her forehead.

"No!" Stiles yelled as he jumped up, suddenly awake.

"Are you okay? Stiles," Lydia said as she got up gently brushing her hand over his shoulder as she placed her other hand on his arm.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm okay," Stiles said brushing his hand over hers.

"Are you okay?" he asked suddenly concerned about her.

He knew in that moment that he didnt want to lose her. There was no way that he could lose her. Lydia gently smiled at him as she kissed his cheek.

"I'm okay. What happened?" Lydia asked.

"Night thriller," Stiles said, trying to come up with something.

"A nightmare?" Lydia asked as Stiles nodded.

"It felt too real though," Stiles said exhaling.

"Come on. Let's go back to sleep," Lydia said as she laid back down.

Stiles laid his head on the pillow while he looked at Lydia. How her hair fell against the white pillowcase while her breathing was even. She opened her eyes to look at him, and suddenly Stiles smiled at her. The singular thought that he lost her, even if it was only a dream, made his realize something that he should have noticed a long time ago. He brushed his hand over her curls as she was the one who smiled this time. He pressed his lips against her forehead as she laid down on his chest, his arms wrapped around her body.

Stiles looked at Lydia. They hadn't discussed what he told her, nor did she say anything back to him. Scott had pressured him for so long to be honest about what he was truly feeling that it didn't feel like it was him talking anymore. It felt like his conscious talking. Like he had to feel guilty about it. But he didn't know if Lydia felt the same way than he. And he didn't want to ruin their friendship. Not when it had barely begun.

Stiles exhaled. His heart was racing from the nightmare, and he wished that Lydia didn't hear it. He hoped she would push it aside and not ask him about it. He felt as she moved and looked up at him. He looked at her smiling while she thought for a moment. She wanted to ask him about the dream. She wanted to reassure him that everything would be okay. But she didn't even know what to tell him. She just looked at him smiling, laying her head back down on his chest, while she closed her eyes.

The look somehow gave Stiles the reinsurance that he needed. He smiled at the girl, placing his hand on her back, as he finally drifted off to sleep knowing that she was completely fine and safe in his arms.