ANOTHER STORY ANOTHER TIME

CHAPTER SIX * THE PACK

Stiles looked at Ethan as the two men started down the hallway towards the stairs. Stiles was scared, he had no reason to be, but his nerves caused him to stop in his tracks. Ethan stopped with Stiles and questioned,

 "Sti what's wrong, these are your friends Bud!" Stiles kneeled to one knee, 

"Ethan, they have moved on, who am I to come change all that?" Ethan reached up and touched Stiles's head with his thumb in front of his ear, and the fingers wrapping around the back. "Trust me Stiles they will want this change, you were very important and very much loved my friend." Ethan stood and extended his hand to help Stiles stand up.

As the two men started down the stairs the doorbell rang, "Its open!" the two people outside heard Alec yell. The door opened and a familiar strawberry blond was standing turned around with several boxes of pizza. As the young lady turned around still holding the pizzas, she glances up at the two soldiers standing at the top of the stairs. She stares and slowly as her mind started to apprehend who she was seeing, she dropped the pizzas on the floor. She stood there unable to move, until her body started to shake uncontrollably.

"OH MY GOD!" she whispered. Jordan took his hands and placed them on her shoulders to help steady her. Stiles slowly took a step down, but each step he took the more Lydia slid down Jordan's legs. Jordan looked at the rough edge soldier in front of him, he was overwhelmed by the different scars Stiles had and he found himself softly touching the scar on Stiles's eye.

 "Stiles" He whispered as Stiles stood next to him. At this point Ethan started down the steps. Stiles kneeled to enter Lydia's space, he moved his right hand to cup Lydia's cheek, she grabbed his hand with both of hers and leaned into it, her tears were running down her face. Parrish placed his hands under her arm.

 "Come on Lyd's, stand up!" Before she was completely up, she threw her arms around Stiles burying her face in his shoulder. For the first time Stiles noticed he could smell her happiness mixed with anxiety and he also realized this was a friend he missed, who he loved and was very happy to see. Jordan had kept his hands on Lydia's shoulder the entire time, as she lifted her head, she noticed Ethan had been standing behind Stiles. She moved to hug Ethan as Jordan stepped in to hug Stiles. Grabbing his head with both his hands, with his thumbs by both his eyes, "My God Stiles I, I am so happy to see you, I am so proud of you, but when we didn't hear from you, we feared the worst!" Hugging Stiles again Jordan smiled, "I'm sure your father must be so happy!" Stiles, who was looking in Jordans eyes now looked down towards the floor and very sad, "Wait, what, you haven't visited your dad yet?"

Lydia interrupted in typical Lydia fashion! 

"Goodness you boys look hot in your uniforms!" She giggled. Ethan at this point had picked up the pizza off the floor and had a slice dangling out of his mouth. Lydia got behind him and started pushing him towards the kitchen, "Okay Ethan, I see you still have your appetite?" Ethan mumbled back, "What?, We haven't eaten all day!"

Stiles was the last to enter the kitchen. He scanned the room seeing familiar faces and unfamiliar ones. The first eyes he caught were Liam's. Liam had just grabbed a piece of pizza when he noticed Ethan standing there in a uniform, he looked and there was another uniformed person next to him. He stared into Stiles eyes and like with Lydia; it took a couple of seconds to believe what he was seeing. In haste he jumped up and as fast as he could to get by the others.

 "Stiles ..." was all he could say as he grabbed him in a bear hug, and he stood there never wanting to let go.

 "Liam you look so grown up, my God, I almost didn't recognize you!" Stiles cried as he spoke, Stiles thought to himself, yeah when he was younger, he loathed him for being a Sup., but they had grown into great friends before he left.