Nursing the Sourwolf Out Of His Bad Habits

9. The reunion

Stiles decided to ignore "the problem" until eventually it went away. Maybe he didn't even hear right, maybe that's not even what Derek said...

After all, Derek was completely wasted last night, he couldn't possibly remember anything... He was so stoned that he only woke up after Stiles threw cold water all over him! He surely doesn't remember that either, otherwise he would have already ripped Stiles' throat out with his teeth! Right...?! Right... 

Stiles couldn't say if it was that or maybe Derek just decided to drop it, but when the Alpha came back he started giving directives to prepare for the pack reunion that was to happen in a few hours. Stiles prepared dinner and put everything on the table (with juice and non alcoholic cocktails!) while Derek did some laundry, cleaning and he brought cushions and blankets in the living room. 

Malia was never confortable on a chair and not even on the couch, she always threw a blanket on the floor and rested her back against the couch. The others started on chairs or the couch, but slid off and joined her little by little. Only Lydia reigned on the couch like the queen she was, refusing to get her beautiful self on the floor.

The pack was soon to be here and everything was ready so that they could spend a nice, relaxing, fun evening (probably night...) together. Stiles threw himself on the couch with an exhausted sight. "I hope they will all appreciate our efforts... "

Derek joined him humming with an obvious doubtful pair of brows "Don't get your hopes too high, they will just wildly devour dinner and drinks before settle for a movie while loudly express their enthousiasme and/or discontent about college, lovelife, adulting... " 

Derek closed his eyes, took a deep breath and leaned his head back, resting it on the back of the couch. Oh dear God... that exposed neck again... Was he doing this on purpose?! Stiles was grateful the Alpha had his eyes closed because apparently his own eyes were stuck and glued and drawn to that... mmmhhhh... "heavenly looking Derek"... and his mind couldn't come up with the slightest reply to Derek's remark that could help filling out the silence that was slowly but surely starting to get awkward. 

And that's when Stiles fully understood the expression "saved by the bell", the ring at the door literally saving him from a most humiliating scene on the lines of "licking Derek's exposed neck" or "kissing Derek's slightly opened lips" or "let his hand wonder through the damn tempting V of Derek's shirt".

Derek opened his eyes and took another deep breath, morally preparing to welcome the pack. He glanced at Stiles searching for an encouragement or a supporting smile, but the human's eyes widened, looking terrorized. Why would Stiles be terrorized by the pack flooding the house? It's not like he was the one having a humiliating secret that he was hoping to keep a secret to the pack and also hoping to figure out a way to deal with it once Stiles will go back to college! "I can handle this Stiles, just...don't go too far..." 

"Yeah... I know, big guy... And I won't. No worries" Stiles seemed to shake himself out of that terror as Derek went to open the door.

They both expected the pack to come one by one or in pairs, throughout the evening, but ALL of them literally burst  in the house as soon as Derek half opened the door. He was so surprised, he stepped back and he tried to blend into the wall (Corey's ability would come in handy right now!!!) as the noisy (let's try and call them) young adults greeted him and (uggghhhh) hugged (?!) him before jumping on Stiles. 

Derek stood there as struck by lightening (lucky him Kira wasn't there!) still trying to figure out how to react to all this physical display of affection. After a few moments, when all the pack members were in and already away from him, busy with Stiles, the Alpha pulled himself together, closed the door and joined everyone in the living room.

Derek shared a knowing look with Stiles when everyone gathered around the table and started sharing salmon toasts, deer/tomato/sweet pepper skewers, roast potatoes, pickles, and all the other goodies Stiles had so well prepared. Only one thing was missing and it didn't take long for Scott to mention it.

"Dude, you forgot the wine!" he turned to Derek who looked like a rabbit caught in the lights of a car in the middle of the night. "It's ok, I'll get it." Scott stood to go to the kitchen and bring the beverage.

"We actually didn't take any..." Stiles cut Scott's enthousiasme before he actually left the table.

"Why not?!" Scott gave Stiles his big eyes of surprise, then he turned to Derek "Come on, Derek, we're in college now! And it's the holidays!"

"It's not like it would have some effect on you..." Stiles cut Scott again, since Derek looked like he forgot how to talk or breathe for that matter.

Scott smiled or more like smirked and pulled a little flat bottle with some blue liquid out of the front pocket of his shirt. "I have just what we need for that" he said proudly and shook the bottle in Stiles' direction. Everyone cheered and Scott turned to Derek again, with his best puppy eyes (and we all know just how good he is at showing puppy eyes...) "Come on Derek, tell me you have something to go with this delicious meal ..."

Derek's eyes were stuck on the blue bottle as he swallowed and shifted uneasily on the couch. Stiles knew the Alpha's mind was racing to those whiskey bottles that he had well stashed in the cupboard and he was about to crack, so he took the reins once again "Not this time Scotty... We didn't think of it." he shrugged then turned towards his plate, one hand reaching for a new skewer and the other one reassuringly patting Derek's knee next to him while praying God that Scott and the others will just drop it. Just this once... 

And they did... Not without some disapproving mumbles about bringing the alcohol themselves next time, but they finally got back to eating and chatting and as expected choosing a movie and spreading on the floor, enjoying being together again.

Derek kept his comfortable place in his favorite armchair and when Stiles crouched next to him he gave him a thankful look that was worth a thousand words. Stiles only smiled and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "I think you're safe for now. My dad just called freaking out 'cause I wasn't home last night or all day today... I will go back home for the night before he reports me as a missing person. I can...come back in the morning before everyone wakes up...if you want me to..." he said with a questioning look and uncertainty in his voice.

"I'll be ok. Thank you Stiles. Go spend some time with your dad, I don't want him to think I kidnapped his heavenly son!" Derek said emphasizing "heavenly" and with a devilish smile that made Stiles blush up to the tip of his ears.

He tried to put himself together and not draw any attention from the betas that seemed concentrated on the movie "We'll... talk in the... morning... Probably... " Stiles stumbled on his words, mentally adding 'If I'm not dead of humiliation by then...'

"Yeah..." Derek chuckled, that smirk plastered on his lips and his eyes following Stiles as he clumsily walked among the members of the pack, saying good bye to everyone, but glancing towards Derek every now and then, when he thought he wasn't looking, obviously doing his best to escape the Alpha's visual range as fast as possible.