Signature-STYDIA AU

When Hope Is Lost

At the moment, it was Noah and Natalie versus Lydia. They were arguing over Stiles, of course. "Lydia, you need to stop this! It pains me to say this but you need to let go of him. He would want you to move on. It's been five months when are you going to realize," Noah paused, not finding the strength to continue. He had lost hope.

Noah and Natalie tag teamed once they had been informed about Lydia's investigation. Lydia was ambushed by both her mother and father-in-law, as a result of Claudia accidentally telling her grandparents what Lydia was up to. In Claudia's defense, she didn't realize that Lydia didn't want them to know.  Besides, the truth slipped out of Claudia when Noah and Natalia were growing suspicious about Lydia's behavior. Her grandparents had an inkling that Claudia knew what her mother was up to because she stopped asking where her dad was, so they decided to bribe their granddaughter with ice cream to get her to spill. Just like Stiles, Claudia couldn't refuse ice cream.

"I'm not giving up on him!" Lydia started to tear up, she had to clear her voice before continuing. "I can't give up on my family!"

He moved closer to Lydia, "he wouldn't want you to live like this."

"Honey, Noah is right. It's not healthy to be wasting your time trying to figure out what happened. That's what the police are for. He would want you to be happy and spend time with your children," Natalie tried to reason with her. At times, Natalie would admire her daughter's determination and stubbornness, but this was certainly not one of those times. After being swept by her emotions, Lydia's stubbornness held the reins. She wasn't ready to climb off of the horse, she was ready to ride off into the unknown until she found him. Lydia had practically become the poster child for the saying, "people do crazy things for love."

"But mom, I'm so close I can feel it. Matt knows this guy who gave him the police report and some other information about his disappearance. I'm going to find him!" Unlike her friends who had recently lost faith as well, Lydia strapped her hope close to her heart.

Noah was fuming with anger. "No, Lydia, you're not! You're going to drop this and you're going to forget about him because he's not coming back! Let him go! You're never going to see him again, your kids aren't, and I'll never either!" That was the point where Noah was officially shattered into millions of pieces and no glue could seal him back together.  Ever since his son went missing, Noah's heart slowly began to chip.  His son was his life, his legacy, his greatest gift, so not knowing where or how Stiles was, was his biggest heartbreak.  His heart ached more than the day that he had lost his wife.  Parents shouldn't have to be standing at their child's funeral, it should be the other way around.  However, alive or dead Noah knew his son wasn't coming back.  He was hopeless.

Noah's rosy cheeks were becoming chilled by the tears he was shedding. Natalie was rubbing his back to console him as the two had become close friends over the past few months.

"I can't let go! I've known him since I was ten! He's the only person in the world who understands me. I love him! He loves me! He loves his family!  His friends! He wouldn't let go if it was one of our children, his friends, me, or you, so I'm not going to let go of him!" This was the first verbal war that was fought between father-in-law and daughter-in-law. It was loud and definitely not them. They always had a peaceful relationship where they would both playfully josh Stiles. Of course, Stiles would blush out of embarrassment or furrow his brows in annoyance. Lydia sighed, rubbing her temple. "I can't believe you've given up."

Lydia left the room frustrated, afraid, and now doubtful. She entered her bedroom where she invaded Stiles' drawer to find his sweatshirt. She put it on because she always felt warm and safe.  The sweatshirt reminded her of how he made her feel. Lydia inhaled the scent as the maroon material was masked in his signature cologne and the ginger scents that she forced him to put in each of his drawers.