The Things We Learn

2

Derek looked at the cereal boxes in his hands, trying to decide which one to buy. Which one would the pack like better? Derek shrugged, throwing both into the basket. He sighed, continuing down the aisle. He did a mental checklist of the things he still needed to pick up, mapping out the quickest way to get them and get out.

He was just about to head over to the milk, when a high pitched squeal caught his attention. A bundle of brown crazy curls came tumbling at him, crashing into his legs. Derek didn't even have time to react.

"Derek!" Derek blinked, holding his arms out by his side.
"Uh..."
"I though I'd never see you again. But here you are, and I'm seeing you."
"Uh, ya... Hi." Jenna pulled back, smiling up at him.
"Hi Derek." Derek pulled her back, kneeling down in front of her.
"Sweetie, where is your father?"
"Jenna!" Jenna sighed at the call of her name.
"Right there." Jenna's exasperated reaction would have been comical in any other situation.

Stiles came jogging into the aisle, his worried eyes on Jenna. They flickered over to Derek though, looking more apprehensive. "Bo, come here princess." Jenna grumbled, walking over to her father.

Derek stood up, straightening out his leather jacket where Jenna ruffled it. "What have I told you about running off?" Jenna's shoulders sagged, letting out a large sigh.
"That it's dangerous and I'm not allowed to."
"Exactly. And the same goes to talking to strangers."
"But Derek isn't a stranger! He's my friend!"
"Sweetie-"
"No!" Jenna pushed away from her father, running back into Derek's legs. Derek instinctively put a hand on her back, looking at Stiles with worried eyes.

The father looked absolutely lost, and overwhelmed. Derek knelt in from of Jenna, the little girl pushing herself into his chest. Derek put an arm around her, her tiny body looking even smaller next to him.
"Jenna, your dad is right. You can't go running off, it's very unsafe. You got lucky, cause as strangers go, I'd like to think I'm not so bad. But there's a lot of bad people out there, and they're not going to help you find your dad."

"But you're not like that. I wouldn't have run off if I didn't see you."
"Okay. Well how about next time you ask your dad if you can come see me. Then you won't give him a heart attack, okay?" Jenna nodded, looking a little ashamed.
"Sorry Tatuś, I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to see Derek." Stiles looked a little better, even if he did keep eyeing Derek's arm around his daughter.

"Thank you, sweetie. Next time please ask."
"Yes, sir." Derek stood, Jenna still holding onto his leg. It didn't look like she was quite satisfied with her time with Derek yet, but Stiles still looked uneasy about Derek's presence.
"Sweatheart, I think your dad's got places to be. I don't want you guys held up on my account." Jenna shook her head, burrowing almost impossibly closer into Derek's bubble. "We've got nothing planned all day." Derek sighed, this was going to be difficult.
"Well I still think it's time to say goodbye." Derek could smell the hysterics before he could see it happening. She started squeezing Derek's legs tighter, her face getting red, and tears starting to form.

"No! I don't wanna say goodbye! No!" Derek stood with wide eyes, before finally kneeling so he was at Jenna's height. Stiles looked like he wanted to jump in, but they both knew it'd probably only make things worse.

Derek tried to signal to Stiles what he was about to do next, asking for permission. Stiles seemed to catch on, hesitating only slightly before nodding. Derek put a hand on Jenna's back, trying to pull her away from where she hid in his chest. "Okay, okay. We don't have to say goodbye yet. How about we finish our shopping together, okay?" Jenna paused her crying at that, sniffling a little.

"O-okay, that sounds good. Can I sit in your cart?" Derek gave her a small smile.
"As long as it's okay with your dad." Jenna turned to her dad, full force puppy dog eyes. Stiles still looked a little emotional from Jenna's outburst, but still managed a small laugh at her antics.
"Yes, its fine." Jenna cheered, Derek lifting her into the basket.

He pushed the cart over to Stiles, giving the man a small smile. Stiles returned it, but Derek could smell Stiles' concern still. Derek didn't think he was going to win Stiles over anytime soon.

"I left my cart over by the milk." Stiles pointed over his shoulder, in said direction. Derek nodded, pushing the cart.
"Perfect. I was just about to head that way."

Jenna rambled while they shopped, keeping a constant conversation going between her and Derek. Well, a one sided conversation, seeing as how Derek couldn't get a word in edge wise. The wolf shared an exasperated look with her father, not knowing what to do with all the words being thrown that him. Stiles just smirked, going about his shopping like he didn't notice anything. Derek playfully glared.

"Derek, did you eat lunch yet?" Derek startled out of his thoughts, returning his attention back to the little girl in his shopping cart.
"Uh, no."
"You should come eat lunch with us."
Stiles went to protest, but Derek got there first.
"I would love to, sweetie. But my family is expecting me back with the food."

Jenna pouted for a second, but seemed to get distracted by something else. "You have a family?"
"Bo, of course he has a family. Don't be intrusive." Jenna stuck her tongue out at her father, Stiles returning the gesture.

Derek laughed at their antics, shaking his head fondly. "Yes, I do have a family. And they take their food very seriously."
"What are they like?" Stiles looked like he wanted to combat Jenna's question again, but Derek just waved him off.
"They're a mess. They're loud, and obnoxious, and always in my business. But I love them."

Derek noticed Stiles was looking at him, but Derek couldn't decipher the expression on his face. "Can you come to lunch tomorrow?" Derek was again startled by her change in topic.

"Uh, I have work tomorrow, but I'm free the day after. If it's okay with your dad, of course." Both Jenna and Derek looked Stiles. The younger male looked uncomfortable under the attention, his eyes flickering back and forth between Jenna and Derek. Finally they landed on Derek, the two of them holding eye contact.

It was Derek's turn to feel uncomfortable under the scrutiny of Stiles' stare. Whatever Stiles was looking for, he must have found it. He slowly nodded, looking away from Derek.
"That's fine. We can meet at Mary's at twelve, that okay?"

Derek nodded, smiling minutely. "Ya, that's great." Jenna squealed, clapping her hands together.
"Yay!" Derek chuckled, ruffling her hair. She squealed again, pushing Derek's hands away. Her tiny glare was adorable, causing Derek to laugh again.

They finished their shopping, checking out. At the door, it was kind of awkward. Neither men knowing how to say goodbye. Jenna saved the day, of course. She threw herself at Derek's legs, something Derek was becoming alarmingly familiar with. "Bye Derek, see you on Saturday."

Derek patted her back, allowing himself a small smile. "See you then, sweetie." Derek looked up, sharing a look with her father. "Goodbye, Stiles." He gave Derek a friendly smile, one that Derek couldn't decide if it was genuine or not.
"Bye, Derek. C'mon Jenna, let's go put the groceries in the car and head home."

Jenna let go of Derek's legs, giving the wolf a final wave, before grabbing her father's hand in hers. Derek watched them walk away, a pulling in his chest. He shook his head, as if to shake off the feeling, and headed to his own car. Laura and Erica were going to have a field day with this.