Stay with Me (Stalia)

Chapter 19

He hated Thursdays. Seriously it was the worst day of the week. Everyone just spent the entire day complaining about the fact that it wasn't Friday yet. He was drained from the week of school and Lacrosse practice and he still had one more day to go.

Stiles pulled his Jeep into the driveway and hopped out. He had plans to get some dinner and play video games to unwind from the day before starting his homework. With his backpack slung on one shoulder, he pushed open the door of his house. He was immediately hit with the heavenly scent of food.

Wait that was weird, his house never smelled like freshly cooked food.

"Stiles is that you?" He heard a female voice call. He knew that voice. He walked slowly towards the kitchen and peeked around the doorway. His heart leaped at the sight of the familiar woman.

"Mom?" He couldn't keep the shock and disbelief out of his voice.

"Oh, there you are honey, how was practice?" She was at the stove stirring something in a pot and didn't look up as he entered.

"Mom, how are you here?" He asked, ignoring her question.

"What are you talking about Stiles? I'm always here when you get home." She finally looked at him and he was pretty sure his heart stopped for a second. It was really her, she was really here with him. Stiles walked over to her and drew her into a tight hug. She laughed and hugged back. "Not that I'm complaining, but what's with the hug? Did you have a bad day?" She pulled back to look into his face.

"No more than usual, I just...needed a mom hug."

"Fair enough," She said and resumed their hug. Stiles buried his face in her neck and ignored the nagging feeling that this wasn't right. He didn't want to figure out what was wrong this time. He was always putting so much effort into figuring out what was wrong. He wasn't sure how, but he had his mom back, and for right now that was good enough for him.

*****

Malia kissed his hand and then held it against her cheek. She was grateful to feel that the warmth had returned to his hand. This was the first moment that she had gotten alone with Stiles since everything had happened. She mulled over what Melissa and the Doctor had told them, which wasn't a lot. They basically said that Stiles was remaining in his coma and they weren't sure why. There was something that was keeping him from waking up, but it was nothing medical.

"Come on Stiles, you've always been so strong and stubborn and a fighter. I need you to be a fighter now, you have to come back to me. Please, Stiles, you promised never to leave me. I know you are strong enough to beat whatever this is. Stay with me. Please, Stiles..." She had to stop talking because tears were threatening to spill over. She had already cried enough for a lifetime and she didn't want to ruin her precious moments with Stiles by dissolving into hysterics. So instead she scooted closer to the bed and rested her forehead on their intertwined hands.

She wasn't sure how long she stayed like that. She didn't really think about much, just tried to enjoy the simplicity of being alone with Stiles.

Eventually, she heard the door open and the Sheriff walked in. It broke her heart to see the hopeless look on his face. Malia knew how he felt, it was a form of torture to have Stiles back, but not really back. And according to the doctors they weren't sure if he would ever come back. The Sheriff stood next to her chair and put a hand on her shoulder. He didn't say anything, just squeezed lightly and stared at his son. Following her instincts Malia stood up and threw her arms around him, and he immediately returned the embrace. This was the only way that Malia felt she could fully communicate her feelings. She knew that any words of comfort would sound empty to his ears. Goodness knows she had heard her fair share of empty words and false hopes. But through the hug she could let the Sheriff know that she was there for both him and Stiles and that she would be no matter what. She could try to let him know how much both of the Stilinski men meant to her.

After a bit, they broke apart, both with tears in their eyes. The Sheriff smiled at Malia and cupped her cheek.

"Thank you, Malia," He said simply. She nodded in response and then left him alone with his son.

******

"Do we have to?" Malia whined and gave him her best puppy dog eyes.

"God you're cute, but yes we have to. Every person needs to watch The Notebook once in their life, just ask Lydia. Besides, maybe it will awaken your romantic side." Stiles reached over and playfully squeezed her nose. He loved Malia for the way she was, but a romantic gesture from her every once in a while would be appreciated. Especially since he himself was a hopeless romantic.

"Ugh fine," Malia said. Stiles gave a triumphant smile and put on the movie. Malia settled against him, she intertwined their hands and rested her head against his shoulder. Stiles always loved watching movies with her because it was one of the only times that she was ever content to just snuggle. Most other times she just wanted to rip his clothes off, not that he was ever complaining of course. But he couldn't deny the overwhelming feeling of content as they sat snuggled together.

"Who wants popcorn?" Stiles looked over to see his mom carrying a huge bowl of popcorn.

"Yes please," Stiles grinned and reached out to take the bowl.

"Oh, The Notebook, I love this one." his mom said as she sat on the arm of the couch, she sat for a few moments watching the movie before Stiles spoke,

"Mom, I love ya to pieces, but you're kinda cramping my style here."

"Let the boy spend some quality time watching a romantic movie with his girlfriend Claudia," Stiles' dad said walking into the room. "I think I can find something more interesting for us to do." He said as he walked over and planted a kiss on his wife's lips.

"Uck gross, please leave both of you! You're embarrassing me"  Stiles said, but he only half meant it. Sure his parents were very fond of PDA, but he was really lucky to have two parents who were still so in love after so many years of marriage.

"Alright we're leaving" his mom said as she allowed his dad to pull her out of the room by her hand. Stiles couldn't help but smile at the closed door.

"They're cute," Malia said

"Yeah, they are, now let's watch this movie." Stiles said turning back to the screen, but he didn't really focus on what was happening, he had already seen the movie so many times...

 

"Stiles, we both know you'll tell me one way or another, so why don't you make this easier on yourself."

"Why don't you go to hell" Stiles felt himself say.

"I do love the mouth on you, it makes you so much more fun to torture." The redhead sneered as he came towards Stiles with a pair of pliers. He grabbed one of Stiles' hand, Stiles tried desperately to fight him but he was tied up. The man took the thumb on Stiles hand and placed the pliers against his finger nail. Before Stiles could protest he gave a sharp tug and pulled Stiles' fingernail out. Stiles couldn't help but scream.

 

"Stiles!" He looked at Malia who was looking back at him with a concerned expression on her face. It took Stiles a few moments to realize he was sitting on the couch in his living room. He looked down at his hands and confirmed that all of his fingernails were still there.

"I must've fallen asleep." He said still looking around in a bit of a daze "Sorry."

"You were screaming."

"I had a bad dream, but it was nothing."

Stiles." She said in a tone that let him know she didn't believe him.

"Really it's nothing, I can't really remember what happened anyways. Let's just get back to the movie, I won't fall asleep this time I promise." Malia stared at him for a few seconds before apparently deciding to give it up, at least for the time being. She kissed his cheek and settled back against him. Stiles played idly with her hair as he tried to focus on the movie. He tried to forget his dream that had seemed more like a memory. But he had never been tortured by a ginger so it couldn't be a memory. It just seemed so real, the pain had seemed so real. But it wasn't real and it was best to forget it like he had told Malia he had. So he pushed those thoughts away and enjoyed the rest of the movie with his girlfriend.