oneshots || ENG thiam

Everything's Gonna Be Fine, I Promise.

Theo hasn't been the same after the hunt for Monroe came to an end. At first he couldn't wait, he was imagining the perfect, steady life with occasional supernatural cases occuring, but not this.

Monroe was killed. Accidentally, because capturing her took a bad twist and she ended up dead. Maybe it's for the better. Theo thought. But he didn't expect what came after.

Beacon Hills became a safe place for living again (at least for some time), most of the evil forces were eliminated. With that, Scott and the older pack members left town and head off to colleges and universities. The town wasn't the same anymore.
On the other hand, Theo could finally start living a normal life with his boyfriend Liam. Those two formed a close bond, realizing that they had feelings for one another a long time ago before Monroe even appeared in Beacon Hills. They rented a small apartment close to the suburbs and Liam got accepted to a college in a town right next to Beacon Hills.

On one hand Theo was really happy he wasn't going to lose Liam too, especially after being thankful for every second they got to spend together without fear of losing each other. But still... even though everything was perfect, normal and perfectly normal, Theo had a feeling that something wasn't right. Something was missing but he didn't know what.

Liam has been noticing Theo's strange behavior for the few past weeks. Theo was always zoned out, barely hearing what Liam was saying to him. He seemed to be thinking about something, but as if he didn't know what.

"Baby?" One day Liam had just enough of it. He had to figure out what was wrong with his boyfriend. He approached him slowly. Theo was laying on their bed, fingers intertwined on his chest and staring at the ceiling. "Hmm?" Theo just hummed and didn't even look at Liam who just sat down on the bed's edge. "Theo, love, you really think I'm stupid? I can see you not being in your skin lately. Wanna tell me what's wrong? I'm getting worried about you." Liam furrowed his eyebrows and placed his palm over Theo's hands.
The older boy sighed deeply, looked at Liam and sat up.

"The thing is, I don't even know, Li. It's strange. The hunt is over, almost everybody left and we're forced to live completely different lives. Everything seems so weird. It's so normal that... that it's not normal, you know?" Theo seemed confused. As if he was in an alternate universe and Liam understood him. He had the same feeling for a while, but was probably better at getting used to it. Maybe because Liam knew how to live normally, casually. He lived like that for most of his life before he got bitten by Scott. But Theo? Theo hardly had any glimpses of what normal was. He was encountered by the Dread Doctors at a very young age, manipulated into killing his sister and taking her heart and he didn't even remember his parents or how they died. And suddenly he was forced to live a life he had no clue about how to live. Liam felt sorry for him.

"Hey, I know it's weird love. Don't worry. We all feel only one emotion at a time, remember?" Liam smiled encouragingly at Theo and stroked his cheek with his thumb. That's what Theo said to him once. Theo had to chuckle. "I know, babywolf. Thanks. I'm just having a hard time coping I guess. But I don't know how to get rid of it." "We'll figure something out. No worries, love."

And Liam did figure it out. It had cost him a few nights without sleep but now he knew what he had to do. Theo had a place to stay. Not a pickup truck, but an actual apartment with a shower and a bed. He had a loving boyfriend who would kill and die for him. And he also had a family in Liam. But what Theo never had was a different kind of love. A one that's not human.

"Babe! Come on, get your sexy ass in the car already!" Liam yelled from the parking space under their apartment where the truck was parked. Liam was sitting in the driver's seat and was holding the car horn down with his elbow until Theo appeared in the front door. "Jesus Christ Liam, stop that! And get the hell outta my seat!" Theo growled but a laugh escaped his lips in the end. "No can do. I'm driving. Now sit down and stop ranting."
Theo had to obey. When Liam had a plan, no one could talk him out of it.

"Okay, mom! Sheesh," Theo rolled his eyes and buckled the seatbelt. "Will you at least tell me where ayou're taking me?" "Hmm... nope." "Yeah, exactly what I thought."

The engine stopped running and the boys got out of the car. "Where are-" "Ta-daaah!" Liam was grinning happily as Theo's eyes read the sign hung on the big building in front of them. "A shelter?" Theo was slightly confused. "Yeah, now come on!" Liam started to pull his boyfriend inside towards the gate.

"Liam! Like if you wanted to get rid of me, you could've just broken up with me. This is rude!"

"Hello boys, how can I help you? A tall brunette lady smiled at the two werewolves pleasantly. "My boyfriend really needs a dog," Liam started explaining. "Do I?" "Oh, does he?" The lady joined in with a giggle. "Yeah. He hasn't been feeling well lately. He needs a dog to cheer him up." "Li, I certainly do not need a dog to cheer me up. I'm sure of that. I'd know if I needed a dog." Theo was getting very sceptical to Liam's crazy idea.

"Well at least since you're here, you can take a look, what do you say? Our animals just love visitors. Plus, our labrador Jenna just gave birth to a group of puppies three weeks ago. They're really adorable." The polite woman nodded her head towards a big cage in the back.

"Oh my god," Theo gasped and Liam was unsure if the gasp was in horror or excitement. There were a lot of puppies. "They are adorable." Theo mumbled, but forgot that Liam had supernatural hearing. A big victory smile formed on the younger boys' face. He was sure they won't be leaving without one of those puppies.

The lady was standing a few steps behind them. And as if she knew, after a moment of silence she dared to ask: "Would you like to go inside and pet them?" Theo turned to face her, eyes sparkling with child-like excitement. "Hell yeah." Liam burst out into laughter.

A few moments later, the bad boy and hardcore chimera Theodore Raeken was laying on the ground surrounded by puppies wheezing from excitement. "Oh my god Liam! Look at them, they're so adorable! Let's take them all!" Theo laughed and played with the small dogs. "Whoa there cowboy! Didn't you just say that you don't need a dog?" "Guess I changed my mind."
And that was it. The smile. Liam hasn't seen that smile for so long. This was the Theo he knew, the one he missed.

"Li, babe, look at them! They're precious!" "Of course I'm looking, love," Liam mumbled and successfully managed to take a secret snapshot of his boyfriend overwhelmed in an avalanche of puppies. "This one," Theo suddenly said and grabbed a brown puppy which was jumping around Theo excitedly. "Why?" Liam wondered. "He reminds me of you babe. You do the same when I get back from work." Theo laughed and stood up, holding a wild puppy, which was licking Theo's face agressively and wiggling his small tail.

"Great choice!" The lady smiled, "It's a boy, how would you like to name him?" Theo gazed upon Liam who was standing right behind him. "Go ahead, love. He's yours. Pick him a name, love."
"Ace."

After that, Liam got his old boyfriend back. Since Ace came home with them, their life changed. Theo was happier, not only did he have Liam who loved him with all his heart, but now there was a small dog too, who didn't have a clue about all the terrible things Theo had done in his life and decided to love him from all his small puppy heart. And Theo started to realize that.
"Thanks, darling. I never would've thought that this would work." Theo smiled happily and pulled his boyfriend into a loving kiss. "You're welcome, babe. The sight of you was breaking my heart. I'm glad that my old Theo is back." Liam pressed his forehead against Theo's, closing his eyes to enjoy the moment.

"Me too, Li. Me too."