Archive of Our Own ^beta

The air was cool against his lips as Stiles sat in the dark, the only thing lighting their surroundings being the moon that was high in the sky and the bonfire blazing in front of them. The full moon would be a in few days and he couldn't wait for Derek to shift and run, letting himself free on their property.

Seeing him like that made Stiles feel like something right was happening in the world when all the darkness threatened to steal away any slice of happiness they had. But it hadn't been like that for at least a year now, even if Stiles felt like he was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. For something or someone to show up and take everything away.

He shifted when Derek came back and sat down behind him, blanket in hand.

“You know that you keep me warm enough and we have a fire, right?” Stiles asked with a chuckle.

“Well, you never know. I know you’ve been cold lately and I want to make sure you don't get sick. I still wish you’d get the bite, sometimes,” Derek replied as he scooted up behind Stiles, while Stiles settled between Derek’s legs and leaned back against him.

“Maybe someday. And you know I’ll only get it from you, right?” Stiles wouldn't have it any other way. He didn't trust anyone else to give him the bite and Stiles didn't want to be bound to anyone other than Derek, ever.

“I know. And I wouldn't want it any other way.” Derek opened the blanket and laid it over Stiles, tucking it around them. Stiles knew that soon enough he would be boiling under the blanket with Derek’s heat radiating off of him like it always did.

Stiles smiled, closing his eyes, and breathed deeply. He smoothed his hands over Derek’s arms as Derek hugged him close to his chest. He relished moments like this, feeling Derek’s love through their matebond. If they could stay locked away from the rest of the world forever, Stiles would do just that. It felt like they had over the last year.

“Beautiful night,” Derek said quietly as if he were afraid to break the fragileness of the moment.

“Not more beautiful than you,” Stiles teased as he opened his eyes and leaned sideways enough to look at Derek. He loved seeing Derek’s cheeks flush at something so simple as calling him beautiful.

“The full moon is soon,” Derek added, but Stiles wouldn't let him change the subject that easily.

“And you’ll be beautiful then too when you’re in full-shift running under the moonlight.” The tips of Derek’s ears were red and Stiles knew it wasn't from the cold. He really didn't know how to take a compliment, even if they were mated and practically married at this point.

“You really think that?” Derek asked softly.

“Of course. Why wouldn't I think that? You know I love your wolf. I love you in all of your forms.” Stiles leaned up to kiss Derek on the cheek, turning his head as Derek buried his face against Stiles’ neck with one of those happy rumbles that Stiles always teased Derek about because it sounded like he was purring.

“Thank you, for everything,” came Derek’s voice, muffled against Stiles’ neck.

They were words that Stiles had heard on more than one occasion and he kept reminding Derek he had nothing to thank him for, but he knew where Derek was coming from. And without each other, Stiles didn't think he’d have anything to be thankful for either.

“I love you.” Stiles’ hand moved out from under the blanket and threaded through Derek’s hair, scratching gently at his scalp. “Forever. You know that, right?”

“I know… and I’ll love you the same. Forever. Remember, that’s the whole point.” Derek pressed a kiss against Stiles’ mating bite and it sent warmth radiating through his chest as he felt the truth of Derek’s words there.

“Yeah, it is.” It wasn't the first time they’d made that promise, but Stiles knew they both needed the reminder sometimes. And he was more than happy to give it to Derek whenever either of them needed it.

Sometimes Stiles thought about what their lives might be like if it wasn't just the two of them. If they’d ever have kids or get married officially. He was happy with how things were now and he had no wants or needs that were being unmet, but he felt that they had so much love to share that he wanted more.

It was selfish, he knew, but Stiles couldn't help but want. “Do you ever think of having kids?”

The question would likely seem abrupt to Derek, but Stiles didn't think it would be an issue talking about it. Derek hmm’d against his neck and drew away to press a kiss to Stiles’ temple.

“I guess that was something I never thought about… after everything, I didn't think that was in the cards for me. But I never thought I’d have you either. Have this. Be happy.” Derek’s words sunk inside of Stiles and he wished more than once he could erase Derek’s past and take away all his pain. It was easier now, but he knew it was still painful.

“But now?” Stiles prompted, wondering if there was more.

“Now…” Derek was quiet as he pressed his lips against Stiles’ temple again, breathing deeply and running his nose through Stiles’ hair.

“Maybe… I think there’s a lot of stuff we’d have to do to have kids. We’d have to get a bigger house, for one,” Derek added with a chuckle. “But someday. If we’re adopting it’ll be a long process. Years.”

Years. Stiles had never thought about that. But he guessed Derek was right. They couldn't just pick up an abandoned werewolf kid somewhere and claim them as theirs. They still lived in the human world where laws ruled everything. There were legal things they’d have to do in order to have kids.

“Maybe we can get someone to have a baby for us. Like a surrogate. I wouldn't care if it were you or me that were the biological father.” It was something that Stiles hadn’t really thought of before…getting someone to have a child for him, but whatever got them a child that was theirs, he would be all for it.

“Maybe…” Derek replied and nuzzled the side of Stiles’ head. “We could look into companies that facilitate those services unless you have someone in mind.”

Stiles thought about the women in his life…Lydia and Allison. He wasn't sure that either of them would want to birth a kid for them but he supposed he wouldn’t know until he asked. “We should look into the services, I think. Just so we know what we’re getting into and how much it’s going to cost.”

“Cost isn’t an issue. If that’s what you want and what we decide to do as a couple, then I’ll pay for it,” Derek replied, running his hands along Stiles’ arms as he held him.

Stiles always forgot about Derek’s inheritance, or maybe neither of them wanted to think about it because it always seemed like it was blood money. Thankfully Derek made his own money renting out space in his building.

Money was something they’d never have to worry about even without Derek’s inheritance. Stiles tried to tell himself that he shouldn't feel bad about the money. Derek had always told him whatever was his, was also Stiles’ because they were mates.

“Something to think about,” Stiles replied softly, turning his head enough to kiss Derek gently, then nuzzling against him more.

“Yeah… we have time.”

It was something that Stiles never thought they’d have. Time.

Time together, time to grow, and time to have a future.

He smiled and closed his eyes, letting the moonlight shine down upon them and the fire warm his skin as he rested in Derek’s arms.

Derek was right. They had time.