A Traveling Love

Chapter Three

(Past tense)

"I wish we could just stay in bed all day," Stiles whispered.

"You know I can't," Derek replied, scratching his now bald head.

Stiles sighed as he thought about Derek going away. It was horrifying. Being so far away from the one he truly love. And to top it off Derek was risking his life. He was scared beyond his mind.

"You need to be safe out there," Stiles worried.

"Of course I will be," Derek replied, threading his fingers with Stiles'.

Roxy was at the end of the bed, winning. Her owners were distressed, so something must be wrong. She just didn't know what.

Stiles slipped back into unconsciousness along with Derek. This would not be the last time they slept together.

-

The ride to the airport was awful. Stiles had no fingernails left to bite and Derek's head was slightly red from scratch marks. They were scared. Both of them. Derek of leaving Stiles and Stiles of Derek leaving him, but forever this time.

They walked into the lobby holding hands and were met with a few sneers. Derek was in his uniform and Stiles in cargo pants and a t-shirt.

The two hugged but Stiles didn't let go when Derek did. "Come on, Stiles. I need to go." The rest if the soldiers were lining up but Stiles wouldn't let go.

"I love you," he said into Derek's shoulder. "Don't die, because if you die I will go crazy, and that's a threat. You need write me, like all of the time. Tell me how your doing, stuff like that. Just tell me you're okay." Stiles took a step back and this time it was Derek that hugged him. "I love you too. I will write you like crazy. And I won't die. I promise not to die. I would never leave you like that. I promise."

Stiles nodded and they stepped back again. "Don't say goodbye," he warned.

"I'll see you later then," Derek replied.

"See ya," Stiles said back.

He watched as Derek walked to line. Right before he boarded the plane an waved one last time.

-

War was different than Derek had thought it would be. Training was hard but easy compared to what came next. It was scary. To know you could die. The drill Sargent had literally drilled into everyone's head that they were not to be scared because fighting for their country was honorable- the right thing to do. But it was hard to remember words spoken so long ago as bullets ripped through the air.

War was hard. Although he did feel like he was honoring his country, he still felt scared.

But the letters helped. He got one each week. All from Stiles. They told of life back home, how Roxy missed him, and how much Stiles loved him. They were the brighter part of his day.

He would always write back, but sometimes it didn't feels like enough. He wanted to hold Stiles. Wanted to talk to him face to face. And most of all, he wanted to kiss him. Kiss Stiles until they both became disoriented. The kind of kiss that had you gasping for air from the lack of oxygen. He wanted to be there for him.

-

Stiles was lonely. He never thought it would be like this. The bed was always cold, the couch always to plush. It just didn't feel right. Nothing felt right since Derek had left. Even the dog was sad.