Chapter Text
Stiles couldn’t believe it. Of all the places, his dad was moving him to Beacon Hills. It was one of the worst places in California. He knows because he checked. He didn’t understand. Not when his father explained he had gotten the job as Sheriff, nor when he explained it was a slow enough town that it would help Stiles with his ADHD. Stiles shook his head. Nothing helped with his ADHD. That’s why his doctor had to up his Adderall dosage before they left.
Noah glanced over at his son in the passenger seat, who was fiddling with a Rubik's cube. “Hey, I know you’re not happy about this, kiddo, but trust me, it’ll help us both. And did I tell you that your mom used to live in Beacon Hills?”
Stiles eyed his dad. His father barely ever talked about his mother. Stiles knew his dad was probably just trying to get a rise out of him, but honestly, he was too tired.
“We stayed here throughout our marriage but it was when she got pregnant with you she decided she wanted to leave.”
“Probably because she knew it was a hell-hole to live in,” Stiles grumbled.
Noah sighed, “Stiles... look, let’s give it a year, okay? If it still doesn’t work, we’ll move back to New York, okay?”
Stiles was quiet for sometime but then he eventually nodded. “Okay.”
***
“God, I can’t wait until I can see my feet again and all this pain goes away.” Laura sat on the couch, rubbing her belly as she and Derek watched television.
Derek frowned as he looked at his older sister. “You sure everything’s okay?”
“Yes. I had an appointment yesterday with my regular obstetrician and one today with Deaton. They both say the pup is doing fine. The aches and pains are normal, especially because of how far along I am.”
Derek chewed on his bottom lip. He worried about his sister. He couldn’t help it. Derek and Laura were the only two survivors of the Hale fire. Well, technically, their Uncle Peter had survived, but eventually he had succumbed to his wounds and died. Now Laura was the alpha, just like Talia had wanted. And she became the alpha of a small pack which included four other werewolves all bitten by his sister, a banshee and a kanima. But Laura was family.
Laura smiled at her brother. “Hey, I promise we’ll be fine, okay? Just a few more weeks.”
Derek placed a hand on his sister’s belly, feeling his niece kick. “We’ll have a new member to our pack and I’ll finally get to meet my adorable niece.”
Laura smiled and looked at her brother before shifting in her seat and reached for the remote before turning the television off. “Derek.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to talk to you about something important.”
Derek sighed, “Laura…”
“No Derek. I need you to listen to me.” She flashed her red eyes at him.
Automatically, he flashed his blue ones at her. Laura nodded and took his hand before giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Listen, I need you to promise me that if anything happens to me, you raise this baby as your own.”
“Laura, how could you ask that of me? Besides, you know I will.”
“You know as well as I do, Damien hasn’t given up. He will come after me.”
Derek snarled, “And I’ll protect you.”
“I know, little brother, but just in case. I don’t want anything bad happening to my daughter. Please promise me. Promise me you’ll look after her and give her the best care.”
Derek kissed his sister’s forehead. “I promise.”
Laura smiled, “Thank you,” she said, starting to lean back against him when she sat up suddenly. Her eyes were red, and she gave a low snarl.
“What is it?” Derek started bracing himself for a fight.
“Newcomers.”
“Is it Damien?”
Laura was quiet for a moment as she listened. Derek listened as well, but it didn’t sound like anyone they needed to be worried about. After a moment, she shook her head.
“No. Just a man and his son.”
“Good.” Derek retracted his claws. “Humans?”
Laura nodded, leaning against her brother.
***
The weekend was majorly spent with the Stilinskis unpacking their belongings. They moved into a small two-story house about a couple of miles from the Beacon Hills Preserve. The first floor was equipped with a decent style kitchen/dining room, a fair sized living room and a half bathroom. The second floor comprised three bedrooms, one of which Noah turned into a home office and a full bathroom. To help appease his son a little, Noah even let Stiles have the bigger bedroom. Saturday late afternoon all the major stuff was unpacked and situated.
"Wanna take a drive around town? Maybe get some takeout?" Noah asked as they sat on the couch. "I'll even let you drive."
During the move, Noah had hitched Stiles' jeep to his car.
Stiles looked up at his father, "If that's your way of trying to get on my good side it's not working. You're supposed to be eating healthier, remember?" Stiles groaned. "I mean come on, who the hell up and moves cross country in the middle of the school year?"
Noah sighed, "Stiles... I'm trying here. Look, I don’t like this anymore than you do but it'll be good for the both of us."
Stiles wiped a hand over his face. He knew his dad was trying, and he was being an insufferable dick.
"Fine. But we're taking my jeep and you're not going to complain about what I give you."
"As long as it's not rabbit food."
Stiles' face twisted in that way it did when he was trying not to laugh, "It's called vegetables. You know, the things that make you strong?"
Noah closed his eyes and sighed, "Fine."
The Stilinski boys drove around town, letting Noah get reacquainted with the town and let Stiles get acquainted. Noah showed his son where the Sheriff's department was located, as well as his new school. On the way home, they picked up some tacos and ate in silence.
"I'm heading to bed," Stiles said, clearing his plate.
Noah didn't say a word until Stiles started for the stairs, "It'll get better Stiles. I promise."
Stiles looked at him, "Night Dad."