Through the years

21.

"C'mon~" Stiles whined as he dragged Derek towards the front door. "What's so bad about a few photos?" he asked, frustrated that the wolf refused to take pictures with him and the rest of the hales.

"I hate photos." 

"Oh don't be such a sourwolf." the brunette said as he rolled his eyes and successfully dragged the wolf to his family. 

They were all patiently waiting for them in front of the house, a camera placed before them on a tripod as they stood as a group. 

"Took you long enough." Cameron grumbled as his mother was getting something off of his face and brushing his hair a bit so that it would look a little less messy. 

Cameron didn't seem too pleased with what his mother was doing and huffed, pushing her hands off him and ruffling his hair again. Talia sighed in displeasure but allowed it either way as nothing and nobody was going to ruin this for her. 

"Where are you going?" Derek asked as Stiles left his side to stand behind the camera. 

"I want you guys to have a family photo." 

"But you're family, Stiles." Laura replied with a displeased frown as soon as she heard his words and they all nodded in agreement. 

Thinking back to the first day he arrived, Stiles sometimes grew emotional over how much closer they had grown together. He had been so lucky to be allowed to experience this and he was never going to take it for granted.

"That's so sweet." the brunette smiled wide at them. "But I still want you to have at least one without me in it." he insisted and even though they all argued with it, the picture was taken without the brunette. 

Stiles, once that was done and he was satisfied with the result, then set a timer on the camera and hurriedly joined the family for the next picture. 

The brunette stood next to Eviana, smiling wide as the sound of the picture being taken was heard. Laura was the one to set another timer next as it was her camera and everyone's places were switched. 

Cora was now up in Stiles' arms, Mia not wasting time and climbing in the brunette's arms as well. At that very moment, Stiles was thankful for the training Talia was putting him through every morning as he was able to lift both little girls with ease. 

Stiles was then placed between the twins for the next picture, his arms placed on both their shoulders as the three of them made funny faces for the camera. They laughed and Peter then held Stiles' neck under his arm, rubbing the brunette's scalp with his knuckles playfully as they laughed and another photo was snapped. 

Little groups were then made for different photos. 

Stiles had insisted that each group took one without him before taking one with him. They all complained about this again but did as told by the brunette anyway. 

Stiles then took one with Peter, Eviana and their children first. Then, it was one with Laura and Cora. One with Cameron and Caleb. One with Connor and Talia and finally, one with Derek.

As instructed by Laura herself, Derek and Stiles stood side by side, the wolf putting his hand on the brunette's shoulder before smiling for the picture. 

Laura gave them a thumbs up after checking the result and she took the camera off the tripod to check the other photos taken prior. Stiles turned to Derek and saw that he was in fact already looking at him. 

"What?" Stiles asked with a small smile and the wolf only shook his head in return to signal that it was nothing. 

The brunette raised a brow at that but remained silent, staring right back at Derek's deep eyes.