Through the years

58.

After watching those videos, Malia had to excuse herself to go and calm down. Her tears wouldn't stop rolling down her cheeks as she sobbed and she hated to feel the eyes on her when she felt so vulnerable. Peter had followed her and even though it was awkward at first, when Malia felt the arms of her father around her, holding her close and protectively like she'd dreamed of for so long now, the young woman could help but melt into the embrace and feel a bond creeping inside the back of their minds between the two of them. 

Once they had calmed down and walked back into the living room, they heard that the pack was talking about the hale pack, asking questions and seeking to know more about them. Peter couldn't hold back a smile at that as he felt happy that his family wouldn't be forgotten anytime soon thanks to Stiles. Peter and Malia sat back down on the couch and listened to what was being said. Stiles was mostly the one answering all of their questions even though Derek and Cora would add a comment or two whenever they felt like it. 

"Well, I don't know about you guys," Lydia spoke up with a smirk which made Derek narrow his eyes at her. "but I really want to know more about that." she said as she gestured between Stiles and Derek. 

"What do you want to know?" Stiles asked with a sigh and he could see the delight in her eyes. She was enjoying herself and as he glanced at Erika, he could see that she was giddy to know more as well. 

"I don't know, like, what made you fall for each other?" she asked innocently and Stiles glanced at Derek before scratching the back of his head awkwardly. Nobody spoke for a few seconds and he could see that Lydia wouldn't back down from it. He knew her enough to know that much. 

"His confidence." It was Derek who had answered first and Stiles snapped his head to him, eyes wide in surprise but also curiosity and a hint of shyness. 

"Stiles and confidence don't really go together." Allison commented in surprise. The rest of the pack didn’t say anything but they all agreed with the huntress. ‘Awkward’ was the word that fitted Stiles the most in their opinion. The brunette had never held confidence per say. Of course there had been moments in the past where he held some type of confidence but these moments were always too brief to be noticed and truly remembered. Hearing Derek say that meant that Stiles had held himself with confidence full on display and for a noticeable amount of time. Something which was truly hard to imagine for the pack. Not after so many years spent in Stiles’ company. 

"That's because you don't know him like I do." Derek retorted and involuntarily made his mate flustered at his reply.

"And you?" Lydia turned to a silent Stiles. "You're awfully quiet."

"I'd rather not answer the question." 

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice." Lydia smiled a little too widely and Stiles could feel himself shrinking under her intense glare. There was clearly no getting out of this situation. 

"I don't..I'm not sure." he stuttered nervously. 

"You don't know what made you fall in love with your own boyfriend?" Lydia asked with an arched brow in suspicion. She obviously wasn’t buying any of it. 

"It's just..I don't...everything, okay?" Stiles stammered before finally spitting out the truth and looked down at his hands. "It was every little thing he'd do. Everything about him would captivate me and I couldn't stop thinking about him. There, now you know, happy?" he said with a little frustrated frown on his face and when he didn't get an answer, the brunette looked up only to see that they were all staring at him in astonishment. 

"Yeah, I still don't get it." Peter said, breaking the silence. "I mean, look at this bitch, there really isn't much to like." 

"Shut up." Derek snapped with a glare while Peter sent him a cocky smirk.