Through the years

62.

It hadn't been planned at all.

They had all finished eating dinner and had watched the end of the movie peacefully.

But then Liam decided to put on some music as background noise while they all talked quietly. It was the third song -or had it been the fifth?- that switched the mood. Allison and Lydia had jumped up with loud cheering and had excitedly brought Malia, Hayden, Erika, Kira and Melissa to the improvised dancefloor. 

Seeing this, the rest of them were quick to follow with happy smiles and had joined the girls on the dancefloor to jump around and shout the lyrics to the popular pop song they all knew by heart. Stiles had been dragged there by his father with whom he danced happily. He had been reluctant at first, he wasn't really in the mood to dance like that but seeing his father have fun while he made awkward dad dance moves had lifted up his mood and he followed along his father's dance moves much to Noah's delight. 

It lasted for a couple of songs, all of them shouting the lyrics and jumping around, having the most fun they had in a while. They weren't thinking of anything. They were just enjoying the moment. And it felt good. But after a few songs, the vibe changed as the song switched to a slow, romantic one. 

Consequently, they all agreed it was time to take a break as they all panted heavily and went back to the couch to sit down and have a drink. Only Stiles remained standing alone in the middle of the living room. He made eye contact with Derek who had sternly refused to join them and dance like a fool, and Stiles headed his way much to everyone's curiosity. Derek looked at him confusedly until the brunette outstretched his hand out for him to take. 

"I remember telling you that I'd get your older self to dance with me." Stiles said and it took a few seconds for Derek to understand what he meant. Because Stiles had, in fact, told young Derek Hale these words as they were dancing around the Hale house living room with the Hales. 

"Is that really necessary?" Derek said as he wasn't the same Derek Hale anymore. He wasn't the same Derek who loved to have fun dancing around the living room and making jokes and laughing loudly and doing stupid things just to watch Stiles throw his head back in laughter. He wasn't that Derek Hale anymore. It wasn't that he didn't want to do those things, he just wasn't used to doing them anymore. 

He was too tired to do those things. 

"Yes, it is." Stiles replied as he waited patiently for his mate to take his hand. "C'mon, love. I want to dance with you." the brunette said and he didn't really need to say more for Derek to take a hold of Stiles' hand and follow him as Stiles dragged the alpha to the dancefloor. 

And so, the rest of the pack remained seated, watching with soft smiles on their faces as the couple slow-danced together around the living room for the first time. Peter and Cora kept sharing happy looks, watching the two of them and remembering the good times they used to have all together. And so, as the song ended and another slow one began, Peter and Cora stood up and walked to the dancefloor and started dancing together. 

"I don't have to stand on your feet anymore." Cora commented with a small laugh and Peter smiled widely. 

"You'll always be the family's little baby." Peter chuckled and Cora shook her head but couldn't wipe the smile off her face even for a second as she and her uncle danced around the room. 

Stiles' head was hidden in the crook of his mate's neck as Derek's cheek rested against his head gently. It felt incredibly comfortable. Stiles felt safe in his arms, he felt as though he could stay like this for the rest of his life. He was happy. But then he looked up and noticed that they weren't the only ones dancing anymore, everyone was. And he realised that he wasn't the only one who was happy. They all were because they had each other to share moments like these with.