I Would Fake Forever With You(Sterek)

I love you

Stiles glanced around the table fondly. Dinner was going well. Everyone loved Derek just like Stiles knew they would. Derek seemed to fall in nicely with his friends and even his dad. It was nice to know that when he did tell everyone, they would already be accepting of Derek.

"Dinner was great, Lydia. Thank you," Derek smiled at the red head.

"I'm glad you were able to make it. I know your family is in town so," She returned the smile.

"They left today actually," Derek shifted nervously. Stiles saw the guilt creeping in.

"Hey, remember what we talked about," Stiles whispered, leaning over. His hand landing on Derek's forearm.

Derek nodded, a sad smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah."

Stiles feeling everyone's eyes on him, pulled his hand away quickly. He cleared his throat, "Lydia, you made cake, right?" Stiles gestured towards the kitchen before standing.

He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. He felt sick.

"Hey, son, you alright?" Noah asked, walking in behind him.

Stiles whirled around, putting on a large smile. "Yeah."

"I'm sure it's hard, this is the first real get together you've done without Theo," Noah put a comforting hand on Stiles' shoulder.

Stiles' teeth sunk into his bottom lip. He glanced over the counter towards the dining room to see Derek watching him with concerned eyes.

"I'm okay, really," Stiles dropped his gaze back to his father.

"It's okay to miss him," Noah reassured his son, making Stiles' guilt grow.

"I'm gonna get some air," Stiles pushed past his dad and towards the front door.

Noah sighed, but let Stiles walk out.

"Is he okay?" Scott asked Noah when he returned.

"I brought up Theo," Noah shrugged, his own expression laced with guilt.

Derek pushed away from the table then.

Stiles ran his hands through his hair, he felt horrible.

"Stiles?" the door opened, and Derek stepped out, a look of concern covering his face.

"I can't do this, Derek," Stiles shook his head.

"Do what?"

"This," Stiles gestured, between himself and Derek.

Derek frowned, trying to ignore the nervous flip of his stomach. "Us?" His tone sounded weak and fragile.

"The pretending. I've never lied to my dad, not about things that matter. I lied to him about thing like who broke the lamp with a baseball bat, or who's house I was staying at when I didn't get home until late. I'm always honest with him where it matters, and right now..." Stiles' eyes watered with tears of frustration.

"Hey, hey, look at me," Derek put his hands on Stiles' shoulders, "If this is too hard, I can leave."

"No, you don't get it," Stiles pulled away from Derek. "I've already screwed this up. I've already introduced you to everyone. I've already committed to this," he flailed his hands around wildly as he spoke.

Derek didn't respond. He didn't know how.

"I can't lie to my dad, to Scott, to Allison. They're my family. I don't want to have to lie to them. I want this to work."

"I do too," Derek agreed, taking a step forward. He wanted to comfort his boyfriend, but he didn't know how.

Stiles started to pace the walkway. "But what if it doesn't? What if we're rushing things? What if we're just caught up in the newness of it all? I can't get hurt again. I can't hurt them again. We should have thought this through. I got so wrapped up that I didn't think. I mean what if this ends horribly? What if this isn't as great as it seems? What if it's too good to be true? I don't want that. I love you, but what if you don't love me back? What if I'm in too deep? What if-"

Derek grabbed Stiles' arm then, forcing them face to face. "You love me?" he asked, eyes searching Stiles' face for any doubt.

Stiles' eyes widened as he processed what he'd just said. He stared with a gaping expression, unable to respond.

Derek's hand came up to Stiles' face, his thumb brushing along his jaw. "I love you, Stiles. You don't have to worry about that. I'm so beyond in love with you that I didn't even know I could love someone this much."

A breath, Stiles didn't realize he'd been holding, was punched from his chest. His shoulders slumped in relief. "I love you too, Derek. More than I've ever loved anyone. In fact, it makes me question what I thought love really was." He dropped his eyes, an embarrassed smile on his mouth.

"If you were afraid to tell your dad because you're afraid that this isn't real, I can assure you, this is very real for me. I don't date lightly, you know that," Derek lifted Stiles' chin, so their eyes met once again.

Stiles leaned in pressing a hard kiss to Derek's lips. "You know I've been trying to tell you I love you all day but every time I went to say it, I couldn't get it out. I guess I was afraid it was one sided. Thank you for loving me."

Derek closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to Stiles'.

Everyone at the table stopped talking when Stiles and Derek came around the corner holding hands.

Noah's brows rose in question, but he said nothing.

Stiles cleared his throat. "So I umm...I haven't been entirely honest with you guys..." he glanced at Derek who gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Derek and I are dating."

"Damn, you were right, Sheriff," Jackson shook his head, pulling out his wallet and handing him ten dollars.

Noah winked, "Keep the money," he stood up and made his way to Stiles who braced anxiously, refusing to let go of Derek's hand.

"Welcome to the family, son," Noah said before pulling Derek into a hug.

Derek's throat tightened as he hugged back.

"You knew?" Stiles blinked at his father.

Noah pulled back from hugging Derek and looked at Stiles. "Son, I'm the sheriff, who do you think taught you most of your detective skills?"

"Why didn't you say anything?" Stiles frowned.

"I knew you'd tell me when you were ready," Noah clasped a hand on Stiles' shoulder. "You seem happy. Happier than I've seen you in a long time. I'm guessing I have him to thank for that."

Derek couldn't help but smile.

"Oh you have no idea. Derek surprised Stiles by taking him to lunch the other day. It was so adorable," Lydia gushed.

"You knew?" Jackson gave his girlfriend with a betrayed look.

"Stiles asked me not to tell," She shrugged.

Scott, Allison, Kira and Boyd jumped into asking how they met and when they started dating.

Stiles felt relieved to be able to answer them honestly.

He tossed a glance at Derek who mouthed a simple 'I love you'. A wave of giddiness washed over Stiles. Maybe this time he finally got it right.

*AN*
Okay this is the last chapter.
I will be posting an epilogue chapter though so technically there's one more!😊