I love you, Im sorry - Derek Hale

1

The atmosphere at the McCall house was calm in the early hours, a calmness Vivian clung to as she made her way downstairs. Life had settled into a routine, but beneath the surface, everything felt precarious. With the reappearance of her family, the Argents, and Derek forming a pack, Vivian knew things were far from stable in Beacon Hills. Her past and present were colliding, and for the sake of Alexis, she was determined to protect what they'd built.

Vivian poured herself a cup of coffee, her mind drifting to the events of the past few months. The revelation to Alexis that Derek was her father had stirred intense emotions in her daughter. Alexis had always called Derek by his name—Derek, and nothing more. The guarded distance was something Vivian understood well; she'd felt it herself after Derek had reappeared.

"Morning, Mom!" Alexis's voice broke through her thoughts. She bounded into the kitchen, her dark hair tied back, her gaze bright yet observant. Vivian felt her heart lift at the sight of her daughter's boundless energy. Alexis was resilient, more so than most kids her age, and had adjusted to the uncertainty with remarkable strength.

"Morning, sweetheart." Vivian offered her a warm smile. "Did you sleep okay?"

Alexis shrugged, grabbing a piece of toast. "Yeah. I kept thinking about that movie we watched last night. Do you think it was real? The part about werewolves, I mean."

Vivian's face softened, knowing exactly where Alexis's curiosity was coming from. "Well, not everything in movies is real, but there's often a little bit of truth in myths." She tucked a strand of hair behind Alexis's ear. "Sometimes, things we don't understand at first can turn out to be more real than we think."

Alexis gave her a thoughtful look, then shrugged. "I guess I understand that." She chewed her toast thoughtfully, and Vivian could tell the wheels were turning in her daughter's mind. Despite her questions, Alexis still hadn't asked to see Derek again since their difficult first meeting. But Vivian knew that her daughter would come to terms with it in her own time. Until then, Vivian would be there to help her through the confusion and emotions.

---

Later that afternoon, Vivian was sorting through some paperwork when she heard a knock at the door. Opening it, she found herself face-to-face with Derek. She froze, her mind flashing back to their last encounter. Despite the tension, she couldn't deny the familiarity that had grown between them again—a fragile truce based on shared history and unspoken promises to do better.

"Hey," Derek said, his voice low but steady.

"Hey," she replied, opening the door wider to let him in. "I didn't expect to see you today."

Derek gave a half-smile, looking almost sheepish. "I know. But I wanted to talk to you... about Alexis."

Vivian's eyes softened, though a hint of protectiveness flickered in her gaze. "She's doing okay," she reassured him. "She's... she's curious about you, even if she hasn't asked to see you yet."

Derek nodded, absorbing the information with a mixture of relief and hesitation. "That's... good. I don't want to rush anything. I just thought maybe... I don't know, maybe she'd want to talk."

Vivian hesitated, then gave a small nod. "I'll talk to her about it. She needs time, Derek. But I think... I think she'll come around." Her voice softened. "She's just like you in so many ways."

Derek's face softened as well, a mixture of surprise and emotion flickering across his features. "Thank you, Vivian," he said quietly. "For giving me this chance."

She gave him a tight but genuine smile, feeling the weight of everything they'd gone through settle between them. "We'll take it one step at a time."

---

That evening, Vivian brought up Derek's visit to Alexis in the gentlest way she could. They sat together on the couch, a warm blanket over them as they watched the last of the evening light fade outside.

"Lexi," Vivian began, her voice soft, "would you want to spend some time with Derek sometime soon?"

Alexis looked at her mother, surprise flashing across her face. She looked down, toying with the corner of the blanket. "I don't know, Mom. He left us before... what if he leaves again?"

Vivian wrapped an arm around her daughter, pulling her close. "I understand. And I know you don't trust him yet. But maybe... maybe getting to know him a little might make things clearer."

Alexis was quiet for a long time, her eyes faraway. Finally, she nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Okay. But only if you're there too."

Vivian felt a surge of relief and hugged Alexis tightly. "I'll be right there with you, sweetheart. You don't have to go through this alone."

And as they sat together, Vivian felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, with time, they could all heal the wounds of the past.