The Hell You Came From [Derek/FemStiles]

Home Now

“Yeah.” Laura sighs (upon hearing that neither Stiles nor Derek were at Stiles’ home this afternoon.) “Thanks, anyway, Scott. I’ll keep–“

Laura’s eyes widen as soon as that fresh whiff of her brother’s familiar scent hits her nose. “Hey, don’t worry. He and Stiles just turned up here. I’ll give you a text in a bit.”

Laura smiles amusedly at his reply. “Yeah, I’ll let her know.”

Immediately after hanging up, Laura shoves her phone into her jacket pocket and stalks over to her bedroom window.

Sure enough, she sees her brother and Stiles slowly making their way up to the house. She arches a brow when she sees her brother wearing what looks like Betty Boop pants and literally nothing else.

She opens her window, scenting them both and rolling her eyes when all she smells in anxiousness.

“Hey, asshole!” Laura leans out of her bedroom window, smirks down at her brother when he glares up at her.

“Where the hell have you been?!” She barks playfully down at him.

Before Derek can open his mouth to reply, the front door opens and his eyes widen at the sight of his mother.

Though, when he takes a moment to calm himself and properly takes her expression in, she looks deeply relieved, and wholly happy.

“Oh, Derek, you little shit, if I wasn’t so relieved that you’re OK, you would be in a lot of trouble right now!” Talia doesn’t waste a moment, rushes over to pull her son into a tight hug.

Despite all his fighting, Derek finds his bottom lip trembling as he wraps his arms around her and buries his nose into the crook of her neck. He fights back a sob, steeling himself for Stiles’ sake.

(He doesn’t want to alarm her. He wants her to feel safe with him. He needs to be strong for her.)

Talia pulls him closer, one hand gripping the ball of his shoulder and the other gently running fingers through his hair.

Stiles gulps silently, face softening as she stares at Derek. Her heart hurts just looking at him.

She still wonders where the hell he came from...

(Because there’s definitely a lot more to his story with this psychotic sounding Kate person.)

Talia offers the girl a friendly smile before gently gripping her the back of her son’s neck. She pulls him back to slowly face her, offers him an encouraging smile as her eyes flicker in a motioning way to the girl.

Talia grins knowingly when his cheeks flood with pink and a tiny smile tugs at the ends of his lips.

“Derek, who’s your pretty friend??” Laura asks with a sickly sweet tone and an all too clear teasing smirk.

Stiles flushes slightly.

(She can’t help it; the woman is stunning. Just like her brother.)

(His mother, too.)

(Stiles feels slightly inferior standing next to them...)

Derek fights the urge to shoot his sister another glare.

Stiles flushes even harder under all three of their gazes then.

Especially Derek’s as he turns back around to face her and stares at her like his mother and sister aren’t even standing there waiting patiently.

Stiles chuckles nervously when he doesn’t budge. She glances up at his sister, sends her a smile and a little wave before stepping slowly up to Talia Hale, herself.

Stiles may also feel slightly awestruck in this woman’s presence. She certainly can feel the power she exudes. (It’s downright incredible.)

Derek quickly composes himself just in time to slip a hand into Stiles’ hand and turn back to his mother. “Mom, Laura, this is Stiles.”

Stiles blinks as he looks at her, smiles rather proudly and says, “She’s the one who’s been keeping safe.”

Stiles blushes again, smiles sheepishly as her eyes drift back to Talia. “He’s technically been keeping me safe, but OK...” She tries not to wince at how lame and awkward she both looks and sounds.

Derek simply grins, practically beams at her.

Stiles’ heart jumps at the beautiful sight.

(She doesn’t think she’ll ever get over how pretty he really is.)

(Both as he is now, and as the wolf.)

“Ugh. I’m gonna barf.” Laura mutters under her breath.

Though, the young she wolf can’t help throwing a smirk at her little brother–who glares up at her before she’s slipping back into her bedroom and closing the window.

Thankfully for Derek, Stiles doesn’t hear her words.

Talia, on the other hand, fights the roll of her eyes at her daughter, and instead, shows the girl a big warm and welcoming smile. “Thank you for bringing him back, Stiles.”

“Of course.” Stiles whispers softly as the Alpha She Wolf moves towards her with open arms.

Stiles timidly embraces her back, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

Talia pulls back, smile softening as she looks over the girl’s face. “My, my, you really do look just like Claudia did at this age.”

Derek stares curiously between the two now.

(He barely remembers Stiles. He doesn’t know why.)

(He feels like he should remember a sweet face like hers...)

Stiles lets out a slightly breathless chuckle. “I, um... I’ve always wanted to ask you about her, but I...well, I mean, you’re thee Talia Hale, and I know you’re always busy with important stuff, so–“

“Stiles.” Talia smiles even softer, holds the girl’s hands in her own and tells her, “You have always been welcome in my home. Both you and your father know this.” She smiles fondly as she says, “Claudia always said you were too smart for magic; that you always sought out the truest solutions, rather than the easy way out. It’s why she always encouraged you to do your own thing, rather than just follow in her footsteps. And you have done just that, haven’t you?”

Talia smirks knowingly, but looks so proud as she asks, “Did I hear correctly that you’ve just graduated, six months ago, from Stanford?”

Derek’s eyes widen in amazement at that.

(He knows she’s wicked smart, but he doesn’t remember her mentioning anything about that.)

Stiles catches his expression, making her blush even more terribly; making her feel even more embarrassed by the attention. “Well, I... I mean, yeah, but...there were also thirteen other students who graduated three years early.”

Derek’s eyes widen even more, his lips tugging into a wide and definitely proud grin.

Talia chuckles at her modesty. “True. But there was only one that graduated on her own full merits, rather than their rich parents...”

Stiles opens her mouth to counter that statement...until she finds she has nothing in the think-tank. “Also, true.” She mumbles pathetically instead.

Derek smirks, fights back a chuckle.

Talia rolls her eyes, leaving one hand latched onto Stiles’ hand as she turns and grabs one of Derek’s hands, too. “Pack introductions and dinner first.” Talia tells them with a happy smile, holding both their hands close to her heart as she tugs them towards the house with her.

“But what about–“

“Derek, darling–“ Talia sends him a reassuring and wholly motherly smile (that Stiles finds herself staring at with soft longing) and tells him, ”–everything is going to be OK. You’re home now. That’s all that matters. We will deal with whatever it is. We always do.”

And while Stiles already finds herself believing entirely, Derek forces himself to nod and hope that his mother is right, like she always is.