Chapter Text
It’s midday and Derek hasn’t heard from Stiles at all. He doesn’t want to worried but he’d sent a text that morning and never received a response. He thinks maybe he’ll go down to the station and surprise him but he doesn’t want to overdo it and scare him off. He glances up when Laura knocks on his door. “Derek, lobby now.”
“Whaaa?”
“And get your shit! You’re done today!” She calls over her shoulder when she leaves.
He grabs his jacket and keys as is met with a white rose shoved under his nose and an envelope thrust into his hand when he enters the lobby. Cora stands off to the side, giggling.
“What is this?” He rips open the envelope. Inside is a clue, a riddle leading him to the zoo? He looks at his sisters. “I don’t understand.”
“Seriously?! Dude! It’s a scavenger hunt!” Cora beams at him. “Go, go, go!”
“I think it signifies a beginning, a fresh start.” Laura says, nodding down to the flower, as she ushers him out of the building. “Go.”
He has butterflies in his stomach when he approaches the gate. The clue leads him to the wolf enclosure. He’s greeted by Kira when another white rose and envelope are given to him by Scott. They smile but say nothing as they turn to leave.
He wants to watch the wolves for a while, but he has a nervous energy and wants to see what’s next. The clue directs him to the art gallery. There’s not a specific exhibit listed, but his feet carry him to his favorite, the fox sculpture. Another rose and envelope, given to him by Malia this time.
And that’s how it continues, a new rose and envelope, revealing to him his destination. Next was the beach, then a new restaurant, as well as the conservatory, and finally to Stiles’ house. He sees a path lit, sprinkled with white rose petals, leading him to the backyard. He hears gentle music as he rounds the house and sees a gazebo tucked through the trees, lit with white christmas lights. As he approaches he sees Stiles standing in the center with another white rose.
“Hi.” Stiles whispers as Derek approaches him.
“Hi.”
They each share a small smile as Stiles hands Derek the rose. “I see you found the place.” He takes Derek’s hand. “I was nervous about the first few. That you wouldn’t-”
“What? Remember? Stiles I’ll always remember… our first date, our first kiss, our first ‘I love you’s’, I just didn’t understand the rest?”
“Our future. I hope. A first date? A second?”
“And this?”
“Our forever. Eventually, I hope…” Stiles steps closer and puts his hands on Derek’s forearms as Derek holds his hips. “Der, I have loved you since I was 12 years old and you stepped into my life. I realized I was IN love with you when I was 14 and you told Lydia she was stupid for not going out with me because of how awesome I was.” They chuckle at the memory. “I never thought I would get to have you, but somehow, I got lucky. That was the best day of my life. You were standing there, vulnerable again, I swear it’s like my damn kryptonite, heh, but when you told me you liked me- I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy.” His thumbs rub circles into Derek’s arms, he frowns slightly. “I- I will never be able to make up for how I hurt you. I-”
Derek hears a sniffle. “Sti-”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you. I must have been a fucking saint in some past life… All I know, is that if you give me a chance, I’ll do anything, everything to prove to you how much I love you and want you.”
“Stiles. We were young. We were stupid. It doesn’t justify anything. But it happened. I don’t want to dwell, I never did. I just wanted to move on. And I did. I forgive you Stiles. I’m not saying that I excuse what you did, that it’s okay. Just that I’m not going to dangle the past over our heads like blackmail. It’s done. We’re older, we’ve matured. You’ve matured. I don’t want us to dwell on the past. Please.”
Derek searches Stiles’ eyes. He sees hope. “Then in that case… Derek. Sebastian. Hale.” He peppers Derek’s face with a kiss after each name, left cheek, right cheek, forehead. He brings Derek’s face in, just centimeters from his own. “Will you go out with me?”
Derek presses his lips against Stiles’ and whispers ‘yes’ into the kiss.
~~~~~
Derek wakes from the bed he shares with his boyfriend. He looks down at the expanse of pale skin strewn with moles. Sometimes he likes to trace patterns against his skin. He brushes the hair away from Stiles’ eyes and smiles to himself.
He remembers a conversation he had with Jordan after breaking up with Braeden.
“I don’t understand why you split though.”
“She doesn’t want a future. To get married. She doesn’t want to be in love.”
“And you do? After what happened with that guy, Biles?”
“His name is Stiles, Jordan, you know that.”
“He broke your heart, he doesn’t get enough respect for name recognition.”
Derek chuckles at his friend. “I want that though. To be in love.”
“But I saw you. You were so hurt. Why do that again? The possibility of pain. Why go through that.”
“For love, Jordan. For love.”
“Yeah but is it worth it?”
“It’s always worth it.”
Derek reaches over and opens his nightstand. He pulls out a little black box and opens it. He feels Stiles shift beside him. “Der? What’s...”
Derek looks down into the questioning look on his lovers face. “Forever.”
“Forever.”