Chapter Text
Stiles had to admit that the very idea that his father could date someone like Talia Hale irritated him. To actually see the couple together was a completely new level of weird. Jesus! It was more than strange to watch his father being nervous and in love like a teenager.
Of course, Stiles knew it was basically his own fault. He had told his father over and over that it was time to move on. The sheriff often seemed so alone when Stiles was out with his friends and in about a year Stiles would leave for college.
His father would bury himself in his work and eat far too unhealthily. Stiles understood that it wasn't easy after his mother died. No one falls out of love just because the other person isn't around any more. But his mother had died ten years ago and even if Stiles still missed her like crazy life went on. Even though he had photos to refresh his memory when her face seemed to fade, he had no chance to remember her voice. Stiles remembered that she loved to read books to him when he was little.
Somewhere he had once read that the first memory that faded from a person was their voice. But Stiles also knew that this was the course of time and that she would want Stiles and his Dad to move on. And after all those years the Sheriff had earned a little love. But Talia Hale? No kidding? It wasn't that Stiles didn't like the woman, but his brain just refused to see the two of them as a couple. This was not even because Talia Hale was a werewolf and his father, just like Stiles himself, was human.
Talia Hale was a beautiful woman. Definitely beautiful enough to get any man's attention. So it was no surprise to Stiles that his father liked her. But she was the exact opposite of Stiles' mother and he wondered how on earth the Sherif could fall in love with two such different women. Or maybe that was exactly what Stiles' father wanted. A new life with a woman who in no way reminded him of what he had lost. In some weird way, it would make sense. Nevertheless. Stiles wasn't sure what to make of it. But his father seemed happier than he had been for ages.
"Are you okay, Stiles?" the Sherif asked.
"Yeah. It's a bit weird to meet the Hales for dinner but I will get used to it, I think." Stiles answered.
"You're so quiet, and you can't normally stop talking. Is it because of Mom?" John Stilinski asked and Stiles sensed the insecurity in his father's voice.
He had no right to make his Dad feel bad because he was happy after all these years.
"No, I know Mom would want you to be happy. It's just... this is new... for the last ten years, it was you and me. I guess I just have to get used to it," Stiles replied.
"Thank you, Son. I know this is new for you but believe me, it's new for me too. I never thought a woman like Talia could be interested in someone like me," the Sherif said.
"Hey, don't talk like that Dad. You are awesome! She should be very grateful that you are interested in her", Stiles declared and his father chuckled.
"Thank you Stiles!" the Sherif announced in a fond voice. "By the way, you will get to know all members of the Hale family. Her daughter Laura, her son Derek and even her brother Peter."
Damn it! He would meet Derek Hale today. Fuck! He was so not prepared for this. Derek was supposed to be in New York at College.
Derek Hale was the reason he discovered that he was not only attracted to girls but also boys. A fact he became all too aware of when he had to change in the locker room next to Derek Hale and his friends after Lacross practise.
Stiles was also on the lacrosse team for Scott's sake, although he was so bad at the game that he was only sitting on the bench during their games anyway. But even if he didn't care about the sport, the prospect of catching a glimpse of Derek's naked torso made up for everything. He didn't even feel guilty. It wasn't his fault that Derek Hale looked like a Greek god.
It was just unfair. Stiles knew that the werewolf could certainly smell what his sight was doing to Stiles.
Derek was three years older than Stiles and therefore he graduated two years ago. So Stiles didn't meet him very often.
Even though he was sad at first that he wouldn't see the werewolf every day at school, Stiles knew it was time to let go of his little crush. It was just stupid to pine after someone for years. But Stiles never was able to get the werewolf out of his head.
Of course there were other people he found attractive. He was only human after all. He would have had to be blind not to see how handsome Danny Mahealani was. And his making-out-session with Malia Tate at Scott's birthday party last year was also very hot. But despite all of this, he couldn't forget Derek and all his efforts to leave this stupid crush behind him finally melt into thin air when he ran into Derek again somewhere in town by accident. Not that the werewolf would recognize him or greet him. Next fall, Stiles would leave for college. At least then it would be time not to pine over someone who didn't even know that he existed.
The fact that he would meet Derek tonight would destroy all his attempts to get over the attractive werewolf again. Fuck!
What had he done in his past life to deserve this?
The only good thing was that Stiles had created a scent-neutralizing lotion about a year ago. Scott had often complained that he would get whiplash by Stiles' quick change of his feelings. He couldn't do anything about the fact that werewolves were able to hear his heartbeat, but he could prevent them from more or less reading his thoughts because they could smell his feelings. With a mixture of vinegar extract and bay leaves, he succeeded in creating a salve that made it impossible for werewolves to smell him.
It would already be embarrassing enough that Stiles' pulse would quicken just by thinking about Derek Hale, but at least nobody would be able to smell his arousal tonight.
The Sherif cleared his throat.
"Stiles before we arrive at the Hale house, I have to tell you that this family dinner isn't only to get to know each other better. Talia... Talia and I want to move in together. I know this might seem a bit rushed for you but we both know that life is short and we don't want to waste time."
Stiles felt like he couldn't breathe.
"What..." Stiles stammered.
"Talia and I decided not to wait any longer. We want to marry as soon as possible. And after the marriage, we want to move to a new house. I know our house is your home, Stiles. It's the place where you grew up, where you remember your mom, but that's exactly the reason why we want to move", his father explained and looked at him pleadingly.
What the fuck?
"You mean... you mean that Talia is going to become my stepmom and Derek... Derek Hale will become my stepbrother?"
Stiles heard his voice squeaking but seriously? Derek fucking Hale would be his stepbrother soon? Fuck his life!