Forever My Gem

15-20

Stiles is grinning.

"I don't know what you mean," Derek lies. He knows Stiles can tell when he lies.
"Gran told me about soulmates. It just makes sense that it's you. And judging by your reaction you already knew," Stiles huffs.
"Gem, I-"

"Happy birthday to you!" Claudia and John come in singing, grinning at their son and probably future son in law.

Derek stays the whole day, just avoids Stiles' questions until the end of the day. When he hugs him close and nuzzles him gently Stiles lifts his head.
"So..."
"Stiles I've held your hand all your life and probably kept you from doing a lot of stuff you wanted to. I'm gonna leave for a little while, so you can live like a normal teenager."
"No, Der, you can't do that!"
"You can still call and text me whenever you want obviously. I don't want to either, Gem," Derek sighs.
"So don't we can work it out- I'll wait-"
"No. you need to have a normal life without the older creepy guy looming over you. I love you, Genim."
"I love you, Derek," Stiles sniffles and let's go when Derek pulls away to leave.

---

Derek stays at his university more, comes home on the weekends but doesn't really see Stiles.

The younger boy is actually doing as he's told for once and making more friends. He still texts Derek everyday and there are no hard feelings no matter how much he misses him.

Stiles spends a lot of time with Scott, Alison and Lydia. Scott is a werewolf but Alison and Lydia are human. Stiles is told that he cannot use his magic outside of the family unless he really needs to.

Derek makes friends with some of the other students on his course, Erica, Boyd, Isaac and Jackson. Erica and Boyd are both weres, Jackson wants the bite and Isaac is happy as a human, though he says he may want it when he's older.

They all get along well, but nothing could beat Stiles and Derek when they're together. Stiles rings Derek when he's sad because his voice calms him down, or when he can't sleep.

"Der," Stiles sighs.
"Hey, Gem. How are you?"
"Someone pushed me in the corridor today. They saw me fix my pants when I ripped them and freaked out. I know people know about the supernatural but it's mainly werewolves they know about. Everybody was staring at me," Stiles tells him over the phone.
"You ripped your pants?" Derek chuckles, hoping to lighten up the mood. Stiles laughs a little but it's humourless.

"I hate being different," Stiles sniffles. Derek gnaws at his lip, wishing he was there to hold him.
"Hey, you're amazing. Just because they're boring as everyone else," Derek soothes. "They're jealous. What you can do is incredible."
"Like- I know I'm lucky and it a really useful thing. But it's just another thing that makes me odd. I'm lanky and pale and gangly and- I'm ugly and no one likes me. And I'm a freak who has magic."

He's now full on sobbing down the phone, trying to breath properly. His Mum pops her head in, smiling sadly at him as she sits beside him and pulls him to her side.

John follows her in, squishing Stiles in between them. He kisses his head gently.

"I think you're beautiful. I've never seen anybody that even compares to you. And I know it's tough, but it's not long until you'll be gone and training to be in the force."
"You're supposed to think that, its fate or whatever," Stiles shrugs.
"Fate means we're meant to be together, doesn't guarantee attraction. And I do think you're attractive, just a bit too young right now. It's always been that way. God, you don't remember how I reacted when you were born," Derek admits. He feels his cheeks heat up at the mention of that but if it helps he'll tell him.