The Way It Was// Stalia

Chapter One

*Sequel to Dangerously*
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"Mom's coming home today," Stiles said as he put sandwiches into a hamper to take to the woods.

"Is she having a picnic with us?" His five year old daughter reached up to sneak a sandwich.

"Hey, I can see that," Stiles gently pushed the five year old's hands out the way. "And Mommy might join us, I'm not sure."

"Is she out on hunting duties again?" Mackenzie asked, her large brown eyes starring up at her father.

"Yep, she is but she'll be on her way," Stiles laughed and ruffled the girls hair.

Deaton had complicated things. Nobody had even been sure what would happen to Mackenzie, but what they found out was that in order for the child to not obtain any were-coyote powers, her mother would have to fully transform every full moon.

Stiles finished throwing food into a bag then grabbed Mackenzie and made for the door.

"I want Mom!" Mackenzie started to kick up a fuss when she realised her mom wasn't back.

"She'll be here, I promise you," Stiles attempted to force Mackenzie to walk down the street but she refused. "Okay, I'm gonna have to do this the hard way."

He slung the girl over his shoulders and started swaying side to side. This immediately brought Mackenzie into a fit of giggles as she bobbed about with her dad.

A few minutes later, Stiles felt arms wrap around his waist and then Malia's familiar voice whisper in his ear.

"Mommy!" Mackenzie screamed. Stiles let her down and she jumped into her mother's arms.

"Hi trouble!" Malia laughed, embracing her daughter and taking over shoulder-lifting duties.

"I told you mommy would be here," Stiles winked.

"You're magic, daddy," Mackenzie said softly.

"At least someone thinks so," Stiles shot a playful look in Malia's direction.

She rolled her eyes and smiled wide. "Stiles, losing a sock and finding out you put it on the other foot is not magic."

"What if I telepathically put it there?" Stiles suggested, trying to stick up for himself.

"Well you didn't... So shut up," Malia teased.

She had a lot of stuff to tell Stiles that she couldn't say in front of their daughter. As they reached the clearing for the woods, Malia handed Mackenzie the picnic blanket and told her to go find a space for their picnic.

She went running off with the blanket draped over her shoulders like a cape, squealing about being superwoman.

"Are you okay?" Stiles gave Malia a concerned look and took her hand.

"I'm fine, I just miss you guys when I have to go and it can get a little intense out there," Malia hung her head.

"At least it's only for three days."

"Yep, and it's worth it. It's so much easier these days with Mackenzie"

The two both looked at their daughter as she lay the blanket down, and hopped around with the biggest grin on her face, setting down cutlery and boxes of food.

"Thank you so very much, this all looks wonderful. Did you make all this, little miss?" Malia played along.

"No, daddy did. You silly mommy I'm just a little girl," Mackenzie scrunched up and giggled, finding her mother's comments hysterically funny.