Archive of Our Own ^beta

Of all the things he’s seen and faced in his life, Stiles Stilinski standing in the middle of the living room, glaring at the decorative pillows Cora insists give his living room 'character' with his arms crossed doesn’t even rank among the oddest.

It’s still just a little concerning.

“Are you okay?” Derek asks, stepping further into the room. “What did the pillow do to you?”

Stiles finally stops scowling at the pillow, sighing as he glances over at him. “I’m fighting back my natural good-manners-bred-instincts to clean up this room and fluff the pillows because guests are coming, which contrast strongly with my natural distaste for Andrea and my love - and talent - for annoying and displeasing her.”

“I vote for annoying and displeasing her.”

Stiles snorts, rolling his eyes as he sits back on the couch.

“You are a terrible influence.”

“Nobody will ever believe you,” Derek says, picking up Ellie’s abandoned Squirtle plushie from the floor. “And if you don’t want to see her...”

He lets the sentence drift, unfinished, but the meaning behind it perfectly clear.

Stiles rolls his eyes again, trying to look chastising.

“Again: you are a terrible influence.”

A shrug. “Worth a shot.”

Derek understands, to a degree, why the Wiotr-Newton family/pack coming to visit is important. Asia and Stiles are friends, and Andrea and Aleksander are biologically related to the twins.

Maintaining a civil relationship with them is important, and part of that civil relationship rests on Derek’s ability to stop himself from ripping apart the Wiotrs for disappointing or upsetting Stiles in any way.

It also means that when they come back from their stupid holiday in Poland and say they want to come see Stiles, his new place, and the twins, Derek’s supposed to let this happen.

It doesn’t mean he has to like it though; he’s had that confirmed.

He can dislike it however much he likes it, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t already on their way – in fact, Derek is pretty sure it’s their car he’s hearing approach.

Two warm hands cup his face, and his eyes fix on Stiles’ ‘severe’ expression as he watches him.

“No claws and no fangs,” he says. “Asia will be heartbroken if something happens to Alek, and I’m sure there is someone out there in the world who’d care if something happened to ex-not-mother-in-law.”

“I won’t let them disrespect you,” Derek warns, eyes narrowed slightly.

Stiles has never been a pushover, or one to allow others to trample all over him.

Even when fighting back against hunters with more experience, or creatures who could kill him in seconds, Stiles has always given back as well as he had taken it.

And it’s not like he just lets Andrea Wiotr get away with her commentary, much of which Derek doesn’t even understand. He can tells from the chemosignals and the expressions on his face, that Stiles’ tongue is as sharp as ever.

It’s just... there a lot of times in which Stiles decides to ‘pick his battles’, when it comes to her. Which really just means Stiles letting Aleksander or Asia convince him to let whatever Andrea's said go, or him physically biting his tongue to stop from raising to whatever bait she’s set.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Clearly, Stiles has grown, and matured.

Things are different than they were when he was a teen, and the stakes are higher, in his opinion.

Derek doesn’t mind that.

He minds the freedom Andrea Wiotr thinks she has to go around insulting him without fearing reprisal.

He won’t allow that.

He’s an alpha, unlike Aleksander, he’s a Hale, and Stiles is his mate.

A random beta wolf is not going to disrespect his mate in front of him.

“I won’t attack her,” he says. “But if she goes for you, I will go for her. I don’t care how old she is, you’re my mate, and I’m the alpha.”

There’s a pleased look on Stiles’ face at his words, though he tries to force down his smile.

“‘I’m the alpha’,” he mocks, kissing the disgruntled look off Derek’s face. “Alright, Mr Bigshot. Just don’t go for her throat in the living room, blood is a biohazard and while the twins will alibi you, it will make Alek cry, and I can’t stand him crying.”

“I don’t care about Aleksander,” Derek says, not pouting or changing his tone of voice at all. He says it completely neutrally, but if anything, this makes Stiles’ smile widen.

“Your dislike for him is so stupid and hilarious,” he says, shaking his head. “Don’t worry. Once you meet him, you will realise how non threatening he is.” He presses another kiss on Derek’s lips, and then turns around, looking around the room. “Now, Teo has been quiet for a while, and that means nothing good in my book...”

“She’s trying to use to potty by herself,” Derek offers, which makes Stiles’ eyes widen in panic before he rushes in direction of the kitchen.

Derek sits down with Ellie, who seems very concentrated on a weird sensory toy Jackson had gifted them for Christmas.

“It’s not stupid or hilarious,” he tells her, just in case. He can’t have the twins thinking less of him. “And I am not threatened by Aleksander. He’s not a match for me in any way. I just don’t like him or respect him, and don’t want to like him or respect him. You know?”

Ellie hands him a wooden ball without looking at him, muttering something in her toddler language that only Stiles and sometimes Isaac seem able to ever translate.

Derek decides to believe that this is her agreeing with him.

Stiles is still in the bathroom with Teo when the doorbell finally rings, a few minutes later.

Derek had heard their car’s steadily approach, but had hoped Stiles would be done so that he wouldn’t be the first person who greeted them when they got there.

Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.

“Doo’!” Ellie calls, jumping to her feet, toys immediately forgotten. She looks at Derek hopefully. “De’ek doo’.”

“Yeah, I heard it,” he says, feeling a swell of warmth despite everything when Ellie immediately takes his hand in hers.

It seems impossible how much he already cares and loves these little girls. As they are part Stiles, however, he also thinks it was inevitable.

“Let’s go see who it is.”

The first person he sees when he opens the door, is Aleksander.

He’s standing right front and centre, and Derek’s first thought is that he’s taller than he had been expecting. He’s taller than Derek or Stiles, with shaggy blond hair pulled back in a small ponytail.

He’s smiling.

And he’s wearing a hat.

Derek hates him a little bit more.

“He– babygirl!”

“Daddy!” Ellie calls, releasing Derek to launch herself at Aleksander, the joy emanating from her almost palpable. 

“My baby,” he says, picking her right up in his arms and peppering her face with kisses. “Where have you been! I missed you, look at you! You’ve gotten so big, oh my god!”

At least he looks genuinely happy to see her, Derek concedes.

He focuses on the blonde woman standing next to him, a child in her arms, and a pleasant smile on her face, that widens when Derek’s eyes fix on her.

“Come on in,” he says, opening the door further. “Welcome.”

“Thank you, Derek,” Asia says. Aleksander walks in first, still babbling right along with Ellie, and when they move, they reveal the last person in their party: Andrea Wiotr.

Had Derek not known the things he knows about former Mrs Wiotr, he might have been taken in by her looks.

She looks like a young grandmother, with an old lady smile on her lips, but still able to stand and move easily enough. With her shorter stature, grey streaked brown hair, and green eyes she doesn’t look much like her son.

She sells harmless very well.

Unfortunately for her, Derek knows better.

“Mrs Wiotr,” he greets, moving to let her past.

“Oh please, Mr Hale,” she says, with a wide smile. “I knew your mother. Call me Andrea, everyone does.”

Actually, Stiles does everything in his power to avoid calling her by her first name, but Derek chooses not to tell her that.

She probably already knows.

So he nods, and because Stiles is coming out of the bathroom and he’s asked him to be nice, “Then call me, Derek.”

He does not like how pleased she looks about this.

He also does not like how she immediately switches to Polish upon walking in the living room and seeing Stiles and Teo come in.

“Ah, Alina,” she says, beaming at Teo and opening her arms. She says something else, and the little girl smiles, running to hug her with a call of ‘Babcia’.

Stiles makes a face, at that, but immediately smiles when he sees Asia coming towards him, her son in her arms.

Derek chooses to stand there for a few moments, watching the little family reunion a little awkwardly. He’s most of all observing Alek, and the way he interacts with his daughters, while also keeping an eye on Andrea.

According to Lydia and Stiles and the little comments he had overheard, Alek is a loving father, who loves and cares about the twins.

It’s clear from the way he beams and covers them in kisses, how adoring he looks with both of them in his arms once Teo is released by Andrea. 

It’s equally apparent in the way the girls react to him, giggling and shrieking, nothing but love and happiness apparent in their scents.

His problem is that he’s not as present as he should be. As he could be.

Because he decided to go and make himself a brand new family while the one he had with Stiles had not even finished fully forming.

Because Derek’s not an idiot. Stiles might have been really careful about things he said, but Derek’s not dumb.

And he might not understand toddler aging all that well, but the twins are not that much older than their half brother. He doubts there’s a year of difference in their ages.

Which, considering the twins weren’t born at the time Asia and Stiles were introduced paints a very clear and unpleasant picture.

Andrea says something in Polish to her son, and a little hesitantly and with a lot of parting kisses, Alek finally releases the girls to his mother.

Derek is pleased for a half a second before, like a hound trained on doing everything that might upset Derek, Aleksander zeroes on Stiles, who’s unfortunately busy cooing with Asia over Antoni Jr.

A moment later, Stiles lets out a startled screech as Aleksander wraps his arms around his waist and lifts him off the ground, turning in circles with him.

“Oh my god, you cretin, what are you doing!”

“Sti, Sti, Sti!” Aleksander says, continuing to spin him around. “I missed you–”

“Put me down, you weirdo! Aleksander-!” 

“You’re so mean ,” the wolf complains, even as he finally lowers him down. Stiles immediately smacks him for his trouble, which cannot have hurt him all that much, but makes him pout. “Ow.”

“I– oh,” Stiles startles, noticing how close Derek is now to them, though the wolf’s attention is on Aleksander only. “You’ve met Derek.”

“Not properly,” Alek says, smiling as he turns to face him. He releases Stiles, who moves towards Asia and Antoni Jr again, and offers his hand to Derek. “Nice to meet you. Alek Wiotr.”

Derek considers for a moment ignoring the handshake and just staring him down until he starts to feel self conscious or threatened.

He knows he has no reason to be jealous, and that Stiles and Aleksander, at the end of the day, will be in each other’s life for as long as they share ‘custody’ of the twins. He knows Stiles has no romantic feelings for the wolf, anymore, and Aleksander’s scent does not betray any lingering attraction or romantic feeling for Stiles.

He still does not like how comfortable the man is with touching and interacting with Stiles.

At all.

“Derek Hale,” he says, taking Aleksander’s hand and squeezing it.

Not enough to break his bones, or genuinely hurt him, mind you.

Just enough to make him gasp in surprise and make him realise that Derek is strong enough to break him in two if he so wished.

It makes Aleksander look a little paler for sure when Derek finally releases his hand, turning around as Andrea says something in Polish.

Considering the fact that she is holding her coat out for Stiles to take with an expectant expression on her face, Derek can guess what is being said, and steps in front of Stiles before he can move or answer.

“Oh,” he says, with a pleasant smile that totally does not show his fangs. “You can hang your coat near the doors – I thought you saw it on your way in.”

“Didn’t notice,” Asia says, while Andrea looks at Derek a little taken aback. “Sti, can you hold Antoni for a sec? He missed you.”

“Of course he did,” Stiles says, tickling the little boy’s chin. “I’m his favourite.”

“Lies and slander,” Aleksander says, handing his coat to his mother like a spoiled child as he sits down on the couch. Even the twins at least try to put their stuff away themselves, instead of giving it to Stiles or anyone else. “I’m everyone’s favourite, aren’t I, Ellie?”

Andrea Wiotr doesn’t even complain about her son’s antics. She just shoots Stiles a look that Derek does not like one bit, before walking away with her coat and her son’s, huffing and puffing as she does so.

Neither Ellie nor Teo respond to this, too busy with the various toys on the floor that they are taking turns showing to their father.

Stiles shoots Aleksander a winning look, which causes the blond to pout, before he turns his attention to Antoni Jr, who keeps smiling a big gummy smile whenever Stiles’ attention is back on him.

He looks really good.

“Wow, is this your place, Sti?” Asia asks, as she and Andrea re-emerge in the living room. “Or is it yours, Derek?”

“Stiles’ place,” Derek says, sitting down on the loveseat farthest away from them, immediately pleased when Stiles settles on its arm. “I live less than three minutes from here.”

Andrea says something then, in Polish, that has Aleksander cringing ever so slightly, a strangely vindicated expression on her face. Stiles does not seem at all perturbed by what she says, though.

He glances up and smirks, shooting an answer in a pleasant enough tone that still has the older woman’s smile disappearring.

Asia shares a commiserating expression with Derek, just as Stiles turns to him, all self satisfied.

“Andrea wanted to know why we weren’t living together,” he explains. 

From the smug look on his face and Andrea’s own expression, it’s pretty clear that it’s not exactly what Andrea was wondering, but Derek takes it anyway.

“I tried,” he says, placing an arm around Stiles’ waist. “If it was up to me, we’d be living together already. But I know Stiles, so I gave him a choice and fixed up both my house and this place, so that he could decide what he wanted.”

“Damn,” Asia says, Aleksander also looking surprised beside her. “That must have costed some serious money.”

Derek shrugs, glancing over at Stiles with a small smile.

“He’s worth it,” he says.

Both Asia and Aleksander loudly ‘aw’ at this – which Derek isn’t sure he likes – while Andrea’s nose twists in clear dissatisfaction.

Even though Stiles makes a big show of ducking his head and looking ‘embarrassed’, Derek has a feeling that he’s seen his not-mother-in-law’s reaction and is rejoicing in it.

So much for trying to be nice.

“Daddy, cheese.”

“Cheese,” Alek says, immediately posing for Ellie. “Is that your camera? Sick!”

“De’ek p’sent,” she explains, turning to Andrea. “Babcia cheese.”

“Cheese,” she says, immediately smiling for the girl. 

“You got it for them?” Aleksander asks.

Derek turns away from Ellie, and for the first time there is a note of something challenging in Aleksander’s voice.

It is not necessarily aggressive, but the stupid grin on his face has disappeared, and he’s looking at Derek with a much more serious expression.

Derek spares a glance to Stiles, who has shifted on the ground with Asia, as they free Antoni Jr from the extra layer of clothing he’s wearing, before turning back to Aleksander.

“Christmas present.”

“Oh,” Aleksander says, still observing him carefully. “I thought you and Stiles randomly met at the airport.”

What is it to him how and where he and Stiles met? Either way, the two of them are not together, so there is no cheating involved. In fact, considering Aleksander’s relationship with Asia, it shouldn’t matter to him at all what Stiles does, and with whom.

So why does it look like it does?

Everything inside of Derek is completely against treating Aleksander with any kind of kindness or respect. Even though the man is no threat, a part of him really wants to force him to submit here and now, in front of his mother, his children, his mate, and Stiles.

But Stiles would have a problem with Derek attacking him ‘unprovoked’.

And, equally importantly, it would confuse and upset Ellie and Teo.

“We did,” he replies, keeping his tone amicable. “Stiles invited me for Christmas the day before. So, I went to the closest mall I could find and found a gift I hoped they’d like. I did bring the receipt with me in case Stiles was against it or something.”

“Oh,” Aleksander says, brows scrunching up together. “That’s... really nice.”

“They’re Stiles’ daughters,” he says, shrugging and pretending the inflection was completely accidental. Alek’s lips still tighten, which again, Derek pretends not to notice. “They deserve the best, just like he does.”

Aleksander stares at him for two whole seconds before his lips lift into a less stupid and much more honest smile.

“They do,” he agrees, eyes shifting from Derek to Stiles. “He does.”

Derek does not know what to do with that.

Andrea and Teo fix the issue for him, as Teo shoves the Squirtle plush toy in her father’s face. Ellie immediately screeches in protest, which has Andrea saying something clearly in biting in Polish.

Stiles’ shoulders stiffen slightly, but it’s Ellie, surprisingly, who clears things up for Derek.

“No messy,” she says, turning to her grandma. “Play.”

“Anna,” Andrea starts, brows furrowed.

“If this is about the toys on the ground,” Derek says, turning a smile in the older woman’s direction, “We just think it’s a waste to clear the floor from toys while the girls are still playing. They’re just going to get more toys and making the entire place more messy.” He turns to Ellie, picking up one of her cars from the floor. “Right, Ellie?”

“Ca’,” she says, eyes lighting up. She climbs from her father’s lap, Squirtle forgotten, as she accepts the car, which she brandishes in Derek’s face. “V’oom v’oom!”

“Vroom, vroom,” he agrees, incapable of not smiling back when she beams at him. Then he glances at Andrea, who’s frowning, looking a little uncomfortable in her sit. “Kids, right?”

“Right,” she says, blinking a couple of times, clearly taken aback. She glances at Stiles again, and her expression grows even more pinched.

Before she can possibly try to complain about something else, Aleksander speaks up, Teo perched on his lap with Squirtle in her hands.

“So, Derek, how did you and Stiles meet?” He shifts as if trying to keep his mother out of Derek’s line of sight, that earlier dumb smile back in his face. “Stiles was so secretive about his life in Beacon Hills.”

“Secretive would mean hiding,” Stiles points out, shooting him a look. “You were just nosy about stuff I did not want to talk about.”

Aleksander pouts at Derek. “Can you believe he refused to tell me if he had a boyfriend back in Beacon Hills? He– wait!” His eyes widen. “Are you the boyfriend back in Beacon Hills?”

“Situationship,” Asia and Stiles say at the same time.

It’s not the first time Derek has heard that word used to describe the relationship between him and Stiles back then, but he’s still confused.

Aleksander isn’t, though, which is irritating.

“Co to jest ‘situationship’?” Andrea asks, looking between the three of them in annoyed confusion.

“It’s basically a relationship without any clear label, denomination or defined boundaries,” Asia explains. 

“How’s that a relationship?”

“It’s not,” Stiles says. “Hence the situationship. In my case, Derek and I were never together for a range of different reasons. But there was always something... undefined between us.”

“That’s so cute,” Asia says, ignoring Stiles’ eye roll.

“I knew Stiles was it from the moment we ran into each other in the woods,” Derek volunteers. He can tell the others are all looking at him, but he’s only looking at the back of Stiles’ head as the man is trying to keep Ellie from accidentally feeding Antoni Jr the car in her hand. “I looked at him and knew he was my mate before he even spoke.”

“But you didn’t get together,” Andrea says, sounding confused. “Why?”

Derek checks to see if Stiles is against him explaining, and when the man does not say anything, he continues.

“My sister, Laura, had just died,” he explains. “She was my alpha.” Winces all around. “Whoever had stolen her alpha spark, had bitten Stiles’ friend, creating a new and completely unaware teenage werewolf against his will. Stiles’ dad was the Sheriff of Beacon Hills convinced I was the one who killed my sister. The Argents were back in town.” He shakes his head. “It was never the time.”

“So it is true, then?” Andrea asks, after a few moments of silence. Derek glances at her, and she’s watching him carefully, gaze pondering. “All of the stories about what happened in Beacon Hills?”

“A lot of stuff happened in Beacon Hills,” Derek says, glancing over at Stiles. He simply looks confused. “But if Stiles said it did, then it did.”

“I never asked Stiles about Beacon Hills,” she says, shaking her hand dismissively. “He did not want to think about it. I mean the kanima, and the wolf who was once an alpha and who was once dead, and the alpha pack that was defeated...?”

Even though it was a throwaway comment, Derek does not miss the hidden kindness in those words.

Stiles did not want to think abou Beacon Hills, and thus she had never questioned him about what happened there.

That is... surprisingly kind of her.

“The kanima is now a werewolf and a friend,” Derek says, instead of bringing attention to that. “The wolf is also real. The alpha pack was defeated, but we didn’t kill them all. Ethan and Deucalion are both still alive, and I believe allies of the McCall pack.” Definitely not allies of his or Stiles’ pack. He still can’t believe Scott forgave the twins after what they did to Boyd and Erica. “The darach was killed by my uncle, in the end, but we all helped. The... demon was eventually defeated. As for the rest, it would have happened after we left, so I can’t confirm or deny.”

“Wow,” Aleksander says, glancing at Stiles. “No wonder you guys didn’t sit down and talk about your relationship. You were running for your lives the entire two years you were together in Beacon Hills!”

“Why do you think I was so sceptical about another werewolf pack?” Stiles asks, unimpressed.

“Honestly?” Aleksander shrugs. “I thought you had commitment issues.”

“What?!”

“I personally still think that,” Asia says.

Stiles looks even more offended. “What the hell! I don’t have commitment issues!”

Derek secretly agrees with them, but he knows better than to say that anywhere near Andrea’s ears.

After all, Stiles had jumped in the relationship with as much excitement and affection as Derek had, and yet was skittish about the idea of moving together with him. 

Sabrina and Lydia said it was ‘normal’, but everyone else agreed with Derek, including apparently Aleksander and Asia, who’s agreement he did not necessarily want. What did that say?

“I’m only keeping quiet out of respect for your new relationship and our daughters,” Aleksander says, “But if I started listing all of the reasons as to why you have commitment issues, we’d be here until tomorrow.”

“You are rude,” Stiles protests, glaring at him.

In response Aleksander has the audacity to wink at him.

The only reason Derek does not growl, is that Andrea decides to speak up then, quick words in Polish clearly directed at Stiles.

Any apparent understanding that might have passed between them earlier disappears, as Stiles rolls his eyes pointedly. Aleksander cringes, but instead of saying something, he turns to Ellie, acting as if he hasn’t heard anything that was just said.

It’s Asia, surprisingly, who speaks up.

“Something about offering water?” she asks, looking between Stiles and Andrea with wide eyed innocence that Derek is starting to no longer trust or believe. She smiles at him when she notices his expression. “I’m trying to learn Polish.” And back to Andrea. “Was I right? What was that, mamo?” 

“Water?” Derek asks, putting a hand on Stiles’ shoulder and standing up instead. “Is that what you would like? We also have some juices, or tea?”

“I’d love some soda, if you have it,” Aleksander says, with that stupid smile on his face once more. “Mamuscia, water or tea?”

She does not look happy about any of this.

But Stiles is once more sitting on the ground, pointedly not looking at her, so she forces a smile for Derek.

“Water, please. Thank you.”

“No problem. Oh, and Andrea?” Tension seem to return into the room, thick enough that you could cut it with a knife. Stiles is shooting Derek a look that Derek ignores, continuing to smile pleasantly at the older woman. “I know that you’re used to Polish, but could you maybe speak in English here, for my and Asia’s sake? My Polish is not even at basic level, but I can still hope you with all your queries. I know this place better than Stiles does, after all.”

He is being perfectly polite, when all he wants to really do is growl and force her to submit, earlier ‘kindness’ forgotten, but everyone in the room seems very tense nonetheless.

Only the three kids remain unbothered, Antoni Jr giving chase to Teo and her toy car via crawling while Ellie attempts once more to re-capture her father’s attention.

Everyone else is looking between Derek’s smile and the tense expression on Andrea’s face.

“I prefer to speak Polish to those who understand it,” Andrea finally says, sitting ramrod straight on the couch. “To ensure my grandkids and my family don’t forget the language.”

All eyes go from her to Derek.

He doesn’t let his smile drop.

“I just like to know what’s being said to my mate,” he says. “Or about him.”

All eyes go from him to Andrea.

She does not say anything. Her lips twitch a couple of times, and then she finally forces a smile on her face that has even Ellie looking at her like she thinks she’s sick.

She gives the tiniest of nods.

“Thank you,” Derek says, and with that, he steps into the kitchen. 

He keeps an ear out for any Polish whisper Andrea might try to breathe in Stiles’ direction, even as he quickly gathers the drinks, but Stiles and Asia don’t give her the chance to bitch, with the blonde announcing that Antoni Jr needs a change.

By the time Derek returns with the tray, the trio plus a helpful Ellie have disappeared from the kitchen, leaving Teo to entertain her slightly awkward father and grandmother.

Or maybe just grandmother, considering Aleksander lights up when he sees him.

Seriously, what sort of relationship does the man think he and Derek have/are going to have?

“Thanks,” he says, picking up his soda. “I love soda. Though, you know what I miss? This very specific brand of beer they make in Poland that works on werewolves.” He sighs dreamily. “I brought some back – let me know if you and your pack want to try some.”

Derek would love to tell him that no one wants to try his shitty beer.

Unfortunately, Derek loves Stiles very much, and Stiles loves making Derek’s life difficult.

“Sure,” he says. “Cora enjoys drinking.”

“I don’t drink all that often but back in college–” Aleksander paused, giving his mother a side look. She appears to be listening very intently to what Teo is telling her about the doll she got from Isaac. “Er. Stiles and I went to a couple of supernatural parties. They had cool drinks.”

And Derek is back to disliking him.

“It’s really strong, though,” Aleksander continues, somehow impervious to Derek’s expression and thoughts of bloody murder. “Humans wouldn’t be able to take it.”

“My pack is mostly wolves,” Derek says, and this does bring Andrea’s attention back on him.

“Mieczyslaw doesn’t want the bite, you know,” she says, lips pursed slightly.

“I’m sorry?”

“Mieczyslaw,” she repeats. “He doesn’t want the bite. He said he’ll never want it.” She shakes her head. “It’s not very–”

“I’ve known Stiles since he was sixteen,” Derek interrupts, temper flaring a little. Aleksander looks between the two of them like a cornered rabbit, while Teo trots off possibly in search of Stiles or her sister. 

Good.

“He knows me even better than I know him. So, ignoring for a moment that his decision to take the bite is between him and me, what makes you think that I’ve known him for this long, known he was my mate for just as long, and somehow never thought of asking him whether he wants the bite?”

“I am simply worried about you, Derek,” she says, leaning forward in her chair. Aleksander continues to look between the two of them without saying anything. “You’re the alpha – a Hale alpha. As the alpha mate, it’s his–”

“It’s his choice,” Derek says, a hint of a growl in his voice at this. “And if he chooses to remain human forever, that is also his choice.”

Now her disapproval is clear.

“Humans are liability.”

Derek’s growl is loud, as he finds himself on his feet.

Aleksander flinches away from the sound, baring his neck in submission ever so slightly, while his mother remains where she is, eyes flashing golden.

“Stiles survived a demonic possession.” He says, teeth bared. “He learnt to manipulate mountain ash after a single ‘believe in yourself’ explanation. He figured out Scott was a werewolf and how to control his shift without any other supernatural beings' help. He saved my life and that of my betas multiple times. He did that as a human with no knowledge of his spark when he wasn’t even old enough to vote, let alone drink.

“He is the strongest person in any room, at any time. And even if he wasn’t, even if he was nothing but a human, it wouldn’t matter.” He glares at the woman. “The Hale pack has always had human members – my cousins were human – and I would have loved him as my mate however he came. He could have been a succubus shifter and I would have loved him anyway.”

It didn’t even matter that Stiles and Derek had discussed the bite already. That Stiles had very real reasons to fear whether the bite would take, with his history, and whether it would work.

Derek still remembers those nights before he left for Colombia, where he found Stiles standing in front of a mirror, clawing at his own skin because his body was not his body. Because the Nogitsune had taken his real body, and he had ended up with a different one, a brand new one that he hadn't been born into.

Stiles has a spark inside of him, and he had a Nogitsune inside of him, and a history of abusing Adderall, and dementia and alcoholism running in the family and god knows what else.

He has earned the right to be wary about the bite. He has earned the right to never want the bite.

And Derek loves and respects him enough, that he does not care what Stiles' final decision is: he's willing to respect it no matter what.

So how dare Andrea malign him for it? Try to judge him for it?

Derek has had Peter look into the Wiotr pack. Look into the previous alpha and the current one, and what sort of life Aleksander and his mother have lived.

They would not have lasted a week in Stiles' shoes.

They would have died trying to deal with Peter.

Stiles had survived Peter, had survived the Argents, had survived the kanima, had survived the darach, had survived the alpha pack, and had survived the Nogitsune.

Werewolves, hunters, hellhounds, banshees, werecoyotes, kitsunes and demons: not one of them had managed to best him.

And Andrea Wiotr thinks she can judge him for what he wants or doesn't want to do with his body?

Andrea Wiotr, who hasn't dealt with so much as a struggle for the alpha spark in her life, wants to call Stiles a liability?

"You have no idea of how strong, how powerful Stiles really is," he tells her, holding back another snarl. "And you have no idea of how lucky you are for that."

Andrea meets his gaze evenly, eyes now going back to their pale colour.

She doesn’t say anything and, after a couple more seconds, drops his gaze.

Derek doesn’t sit down or look away from her, anger still thrumming in his veins.

How can she even think about Stiles in that way? How can she, after seeing him around her family for so long, after all of the amazing feats Stiles had completed still have the audacity to call him weak?

To call him a liability?

Surely Stiles wouldn’t be that angry if he ripped her throat out for the insult.

He knows that there are some packs out there who would have. Packs where killing is a suitable response to having the alpha mate disrespected by an outsider.

If he tells Stiles that this is the Hale way too...

Problem is, Stiles always knows too much.

He probably knows more about the Hale ways than even Derek does, at times.

Stiles, unfortunately, always knows everything.

Aleksander clears his throat, cringing when Derek’s eyes fix on him.

Still, he speaks.

“I, for one, am really glad that Stiles has you,” he offers. He glances at his mother, who’s ignoring them both, and rolls his eyes, before turning back to Derek. “Stiles has a big heart. He has a lot of love, and he deserves the same love he gives. He’s got...” His expression twists into one that’s a little sad. “He’s got a lot of hurts. I probably don’t even know the half of them. And god knows he’d never tell. Except... you.” Another pensive look that almost doesn’t make Derek want to punch him. “I’m glad he’s got you, now. And that you’ve got him, too.”

It’s a nice sentiment, and that’s the only reason Derek doesn’t say ‘he’s always had me, and I’ve always had him. Even when you thought he was yours, he was always mine’.

“‘Unch!” Ellie calls, running in the living room, Teo on her tail. “Tata said ‘unch time!”

Okay, almost the only reason.

He's doing his best, okay?

Any appreciation or thankfulness Derek might have felt towards Aleksander vanishes the second lunch is ready to be served.

Aleksander saunters in the kitchen, complimenting the lasagna as he does so, and sits down at the table.

Asia has Antoni Jr in her arms, as she washes his hands.

Andrea is investigating the dining room and (quietly, thank god) judging the kitchen.

And Stiles is doing his little trick with Ellie and Teo, where he puts the bib on Ellie while placing Teo on her high chair.

When he had seen him deal with the twins at Christmas, part of Derek had been in awe at how he dealt with the situation quickly and without much effort.

The other part had been confused as to why, with Derek and John Stilinski standing right there, Stiles had not asked for help.

Looking at Aleksander and his mother, Derek understands.

Neither of them is doing anything. And yet, neither of them offers to help.

Asia at least has the excuse of having Antoni Jr. Derek was at the end of the procession, carrying the tray of drinks and glasses.

And yet, neither of them had even thought to offer Stiles a hand.

And considering Stiles’ routine...

It pisses him off.

It pisses him off a lot.

And while Derek is not necessarily petty, his uncle is Peter Hale and his sister is Cora Hale.

He knows how to be petty.

“That smells so good,” Aleksander says, eyes fixed on the lasagna as he sits down beside his mother.

Andrea wanted to play the part of a respectable beta from a respectable pack, from werewolf supremacism to etiquette?

Derek knows all about etiquette and proper werewolf traditions.

While their power had diminished with his family’s death, there was a reason every werewolf in the country had mourned Talia Hale.

During a meal, it was expected of the alpha to dish up the food for everyone. First, they would serve themselves, with the biggest portion possible.

Then, if they had an alpha guest, they came next. Then, the alpha guest’s mate.

If there wasn’t an alpha among the guests, then the alpha would serve whoever stood as alpha among the group that had come to see them, and if they had a mate, them too.

Then, the alpha’s own mate, before allowing the other betas – his and the guest's – to serve themselves.

He had seen his mother do this plenty of times before.

As soon as Stiles sits down, Derek starts, picking up the middle serving of the lasagna – which is always the gooiest and better tasting part, Derek knows this very well – and places it on a plate.

Then, he places the plate in front of Stiles.

“Oh, thank you,” the man says, glancing away from where Ellie has shoved her entire hand in her lasagna – foregoing the fork – to smile at him.

Derek smiles back, ignoring the very scandalized vibes he can feel sent his way from Andrea.

The next serving, he places in front of himself, just a little larger than the others'.

And then, Derek fills up another plate, and places it in front of Asia.

He had been wondering if Asia was a bitten wolf or had been born in a pack, but considering her very surprised expression as she glances between Derek, her plate, and her mother in law, he has his answer.

“Thank you,” she says, shifting her son and his bottle in her arms. Her confusion remains for a moment, before her lips twitch as she tries to suppress a smile. “Very kind of you, Derek.”

“You have your hands full,” he says, shrugging.

And then he puts the spatula down, and gives Aleksander and Andrea a kind smile.

“Here.”

She stares at him with the sort of intensity that might have burnt a weaker wolf – like her son, Aleksander –  to a crisp, but Derek pretends not to notice.

Aleksander looks a little awkward next to her, but then hunger wins over the awkwardness as he reaches for the spatula.

Andrea smacks his hand away before he can touch the piece, and he, this grown ass werewolf, proceeds to pout, as she starts plating herself first.

Derek is disgusted.

“This is so good,” Asia loudly says, covering her half full mouth with a hand. “I need the recipe for this.”

“I di– Ellie,” Stiles interrupts himself with a groan, staring at the food the girl has plastered all over her hair. “Food is for eating, baby, not to cover yourself with.”

She blinks her big eyes at him.

“Hai’.”

“Yeah, you got lasagna in your hair. You– Teo, no!”

Teo yes, apparently, because a second later Teo has added her own mince and tomato sauce to her sister’s hair. She even has the audacity to giggle.

“Hai’!”

“Maybe they don’t like it?” Aleksander offers, a tissue in his hands.

Stiles waves the tissue off, a deadpan look on his face.

“It’s lasagna,” he points out. “It’s good lasagna. And they love lasagna.”

“La’nya,” Teo agrees. “Yum-yum.”

“I don’t know about good,” Andrea says, nose twisting a little. “It’s too salty. Are you just going to leave them covered in tomato sauce?”

“They’ll take a bath after, trying to clean her hair now is going to make them think this is all a game.”

“It is pretty funny.”

“Alek.”

He raises his hands up in surrender, a little grin on his face, and Stiles rolls his eyes before turning to Andrea.

“And it’s not salty,” he adds. “This tastes incredible.”

“It does,” Asia agrees. “I need the recipe.”

“She needs the recipe,” Aleksander agrees. “Because if I can have this at home... I swear...” He trails off, mock growling and pretending to claw at her, which has her chuckling and blushing like a schoolgirl.

Uh. 

Maybe the two of them are made for each other.

“I think it’s salty,” Andrea repeats, stubbornly. “Next time, Mieczyslaw, avoid so much salt.”

Oh.

“I didn’t–”

“He didn’t make this,” Derek says, feeling more than a little smug as he says so. “Keith did.” A pause. “Keith Palmer. Former wolf of the Shaw pack.” He keeps his smile. “He and his sister are now part of my pack.”

She looks like she has just bit into the most sour of lemons, and Derek does not miss the way Stiles covers his mouth to hide the smug little smile on her face.

“Well, I think it’s delicious,” Alek says, taking another mouthful. “It reminds me of Aunt Alicja’s.”

Another name beginning with the letter ‘A’.

Derek is not sure he is impressed by the commitment to the bit or wary about what secret new mental illness this branch of the family might have passed on Teo and Ellie.

“You met your aunt?” Stiles asks, a half smile on his face. “How did it go?”

Alek makes a face, while Asia giggles, hand covering her mouth.

It makes Stiles’ grin grow.

“Oh?”

“Shut up, Stiles,” Alek says, with no heat. Derek’s nose twitches just slightly, but he keeps himself from reacting. 

“But speaking of Poland,” Asia says, giving Stiles a loaded look. He nods at her, and then they both look over at Alek and his mother. “I thought about it, honey, but... With my family all on this side of the pond, and Antoni so young, I don’t think I am ready to a move to a whole new country, where I will be supposed to learn a brand new language and assimilate to a brand new culture. I mean,” she continues, ignoring his attempt at interrupting her, “I quite enjoyed our holiday, and it would be nice to go back. But I stuck out like a sore thumb the entire time. Everyone seemed able to magically detect that I was a tourist the second I got there, and it was altogether quite odd.

“Plus, I would hate to separate Antoni from his sisters this young.”

“They are so young,” Stiles agrees, speaking over Alek’s attempts to. “The girls and Antoni are half siblings, at the end of the day, and being all wolves, they need to strengthen their bond. Between you moving out, and me all but moving in with Derek, and the fact that Derek is both an alpha and my mate...” He shakes his head, ‘sadly’. “That is a lot of changes. And I’ve read the research on how too much change and too much instability can hurt a child.”

“So have I,” Asia agrees, with the same ‘oh so sad’ expression.

They go on like that for about ten minutes, during which Derek understands why Asia and Stiles had schemed to be with each other when they broke the news to Aleksander.

They can both talk circles around a topic like nobody’s business.

By the time they are done, Aleksander has long since stopped trying to voice his opinion, a resigned expression on his face.

Derek is more surprised that Andrea did not interrupt them.

She remained stone faced throughout the entire thing, except at one point where he could have sworn she had been trying to hold back laughter.

But he had probably imagined it.

“This wuzetka is quite good,” she says, after dessert has been served. She glances up at Derek. “It is the perfect consistency, and not too sweet at all. My compliments to Keith.”

“Oh,” Derek says, and he can’t stop the smile from appearing on his face. “That actually Stiles made. He thought you’d like it.”

“I’m glad I was right,” Stiles says, beaming at her.

The woman looks between Stiles, Derek, and the fork in her hand like she wants to kill herself.

Yeah, Derek probably imagined her earlier amusement.

Andrea and Asia volunteer themselves to give the twins a bath, while Antoni jr is asleep in the living room, and Stiles and Aleksander deal with the dishes.

Derek ends up clearing up the dining room and the living room, and by the time he’s done straightening up everything, Andrea is done with Ellie and in the middle of dressing her back up.

Derek checks once more that everyone is busy, before sliding into the twins’ room, closing the door behind him.

She barely glances at him, attention on Ellie.

That’s fine.

“Stiles is the most important person in my life,” he starts, staring at the back of her head. “I am not lying, joking or exaggerating when I say he’s the love of my life. Always has been, always will be.

“You know what a mate means to a werewolf. You know what a mate means to an alpha werewolf. And I know you’re not stupid enough to think that the fact that you are the girls’ grandmother will stop me if Stiles’ happiness is at stake.”

She doesn’t turn around, but she has stopped moving.

“You are here because Stiles wants you here. Because Stiles thinks the girls need their father, and their stepmother, and their grandmother. You are alive only because Stiles doesn’t want you dead just yet.

“I let it slide today,” he continues. “Your little comments. Your arrogance. Your taunts. Your disrespect.” He lets the growl sit in his throat, loud but not too scary, because Ellie is here. “Do any of this again, make Stiles feel like less again, disrespect my mate again? And your son won’t even have enough pieces left of you to bury.”

He lets the threat hang there, between the two of them until he hears the door of the bathroom open, Asia and Teo talking as they step out.

“Am I clear?”

Only then does Andrea turn around.

She doesn’t look scared. She doesn’t even look cowed, or afraid.

She looks as stoic as ever, as she looks him up and down – not disrespectfully.

More... considering.

“Mhm,” she says. “Cieszę się, że ma ciebie.”

Derek frowns. “What?”

“Cieszę się, że ma ciebie,” she repeats. She inclines her head. “Understood, Alpha Hale.”

It still feels weird being called that, but he doesn’t let it show.

He just nods as Asia walks in, towelling Teo as she does so.

She blinks, looking between the two of them in surprise.

“Er... everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Andrea says, patting the second set of clothing she has pulled out. “Come put these on Alina before she catches a cold.”

Derek takes that as his cue to head back downstairs.

Now that everything is clean and he’s said his piece, he can’t help but focus on the conversation in the kitchen, which he had been doing his best to respectfully ignore.

It’s not like he’s jealous or worried about Stiles and Aleksander rekindling their relationship, or anything.

Aleksander is all around pathetic, but it's clear he cares for Stiles as a friend, and vice versa.

But considering the man’s mother... he is wary.

And... inquisitive.

“-I considered it,” he hears Aleksander say. “But you know. It’s a small car.”

“I don’t know actually. I’m not a car guy.”

“Well, it is. It’s technically a five seater, but it looks really small. I’m thinking something bigger, like a mom car of some sort. An eight seater?”

“Are you and Asia planning on repopulating the Earth?”

“I have three kids, none of them over the age of two, and I’m not even thirty yet,” Alek says, audibly shuddering. “I mean, I love all of you, but... let’s calm down for a couple of years.”

“Then why do you need a truck?”

“Not a truck. Just something big enough for me, Asia, Antoni jr, the twins, mom, you, and Derek.”

A long silence, where Derek does not need to see Stiles’ face to know it’s one of pure and complete judgment.

He knows this because his is currently sporting the same look.

“What?”

“If you think you, me, Derek and your mother can coexist for more than 5 minutes in a car together, you are insane.”

“Hey! You guys would do it for me.”

“You think Derek would do it for you?”

“Well, no. I’ve been feeling something like the slightest sparks of tension between the two of us. Don’t know if it’s from me or from him.”

Derek is shocked that after the afternoon they have spent together, Aleksander is still not sure of whether Derek dislikes him or not.

He had thought he had been making awkwardly clear and that the man-child was just pretending not to notice.

He once more wonders how Stiles and him managed to stay together for so long.

Then he remembers Scott McCall.

“You don’t like Derek?” Stiles sounds surprised by this.

“No, I like him,” Alek denies. Not a skip in his heart rate, Derek’s unsure whether he’s horrified or just surprised. “But, I don’t know. I’m a bit jealous.”

“Jealous?” More surprise from Stiles. “Over... me?”

A scoff. “Sti, you’re not that pretty.” A slapping sound followed by a squawk. “Hey! You’re so violent.”

“Keep talking.”

“Ugh.” A pause. “The girls really love him.”

“He’s really good with them,” Stiles offers, voice neutral enough. “He had a lot of little cousins and siblings, and he’s always had the biggest of hearts.”

“That’s nice.”

For once, he doesn’t sound like he means those words.

“Aleksander...?”

“I know we will get along,” the wolf says. Wrong, Derek thinks. “And I’m glad he treats them well. I’ve heard tales of werewolves who... don’t react as well. He’s basically your Asia, and I’m glad our daughters will have the two of us, but also two step parents who will love them with all their hearts. And if he has as much love for Antoni Jr as you do, our family will only be the better for them.”

A deep sigh.

“But there will always be a part of me who will be a little jealous over seeing either of the girls go to him instead of going to me. I think that’s still fair, right?”

“Oh. Wrong.”

“What?” Alek says, echoing Derek’s own thoughts.

He’d have assumed Stiles would agree with him.

It was the one thing Derek wouldn’t begrudge Alek for, the one thing he feels the most nervous about: overstepping where he doesn't have the right.

“I said wrong,” Stiles repeats. “It’s not fair for you to be upset about this.”

“My feelings about being replaced aren’t valid?” Alek asks, sounding hurt.

“They’re not,” Stiles says, voice uncompromising. “Not when you left them to move in with Asia and never even thought to bring them with you. Not when you realised I wasn’t coming to Poland and didn’t even consider that you could take your daughters on holiday with you and take care of them during the trip. Not when I moved to a whole new town, and you didn’t even consider changing our agreement when it comes to who takes care of the girls and when.”

“Sti–”

“No, Alek. Look, I don’t begrudge you leaving. If Derek had shown up earlier, I would have probably done something very similar. 

“But I will not ignore the fact that you only consider them your daughters when you have them in your line of sight. That you are completely fine playing the fun parent on the weekend and on the holidays, and leave them for me to raise them the rest of the time.”

“I love them,” Alek protests. His voice is weak.

Stiles’ voice softens. “I don’t doubt that. You’re still shit at showing it, though.”

A laugh that sounds a little wrecked.

After a few seconds, he speaks up again.

“I just... You and mom hate each other. And I know you’re a man, but you’re still... you have a maternal bond with them. I know you would never let them out of your sight for long period of times, and I know... well, I thought the same would be the case for them. I know, it sounds like excuses,” he hastily adds. “But I genuinely thought... that since I was the one moving away, and you worked from home... I don’t know. I thought this was the best way for things to go. Without going through the courts and causing a rift in our relationship.”

“A rift?”

“Asia.”

“Alek–”

“You know I love you, right?” he asks, interrupting him. “That even though Asia will forever have my heart, and dying would be better than losing her, a part of me still cares deeply for you. Still loves you. You know that, right?”

“I know,” Stiles says, sounding almost fond. “And I ca–”

Derek decides to walk into the kitchen at that moment, loudly opening the door.

Aleksander – the weaker wolf with the weaker hearing – startles, not having heard him approach. Stiles can’t have heard him either, but he looks less surprised and more vaguely amused to see him there.

Derek feigns surprised at seeing them both there.

“Oh. You guys done washing up?”

“Uh, yeah,” Alek says, ‘casually’ wiping his eyes while Stiles rolls his eyes at Derek. Rude. “Cool plates. And cutlery. Love the soap.”

Derek stares at him.

Alek shakes himself, and glances at Stiles for a second. When Stiles nods, he smiles just a little bit.

“I’ll do better,” he vows. “I promise.”

“I will hold you to that,” Stiles warns.

Alek salutes, which earns him an eye roll, and then proceeds out of the kitchen.

Then Stiles glances at Derek.

“Really.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Derek sniffs, grabbing an object at random. “I was just looking for something... this.”

“You’re so unsubtle,” Stiles says, doing his best to look stern even though his lips twitches. “You were looking for a pen? In the kitchen?”

“This is my favourite pen.”

“You’re so–”

“Stiles! Need a hand up here!”

He shoots Derek another look full of judgement, before walking out.

“Coming!”

They don’t stay long after that.

They have an explanation for this, but honestly Derek stopped listening the second Aleksander glanced at his watch and made a comment about how late it was getting.

Even though they ended up staying a good thirty minutes after the initial announcement.

Either way, they left, and Derek was only too happy to close the door behind them as they stepped outside, remaining at the window while Stiles and the twins waved from the porch.

“Bye,” he hear Stiles call, Teo waving at his side. “Bye bye!”

“Bye bye, daddy!”

“Bye, bye!”

The twins demanded to stand there waving for a good minute, before the cold air managed to send them back into the house.

“I’m not doing that again,” Derek says, as he hears Stiles closing the door. “I did my best but I will not–”

There are two soft lips pressed against his before he could finish his sentence.

Derek does not mind so much, wrapping his arms around Stiles as he tried to manoeuvre the man in a more comfortable kissing position.

“I love you,” Stiles says, leaning away from his lips to pepper kisses all over his face, arms around his neck. “Have I told you that already? Cause I do. I really really love you.”

“We–”

“I mean, I don’t need help or protection,” he continues. “Not when it comes to Andrea or Alek. I can handle myself around the two of them – Andrea is more bark than bite. But that doesn’t mean it’s fun, and Lydia and Danny might have been onto something because there is apparently nothing I find sexier than you passive aggressively telling Andrea to re-route any complaints she might have against me towards you instead. And don’t think I don’t know you and her had some sort of talk that I wasn’t privy to. She has never been so nice and polite towards me without me having something that she wanted.” His eyes are sparkling, and he looks immensely amused. “I don’t know what you did, but you know what? Keep at it. Keep it up. Keep going. There was no blood or injury in the house, so I approve and I support.”

Derek raises an eyebrow, hands on each side of Stiles' hips. “I thought you told me to be nice.”

“Your version of nice works too.” His smile turns a little more cheeky. “Good enough to warrant a treat, I would say.”

“Oh?”

“Oh. What do you–”

“Tata!”  

Stiles groans, letting his head drop against Derek’s shoulder.

“There, there,” Derek says, patting him on the back and trying not to laugh. “Come on.”

“We should have put them in that car with Alek,” Stiles complains, not lifting his head. “I bet he wouldn’t have noticed until it was too late.”

It’s probably just a joke, but it reminds Derek of Stiles and Aleksander's discussion in the kitchen. Of Alek’s behaviour with the twins, and of the fact that while they were happy to see him coming, neither of them had teared up when he had left.

“Come on,” he says, standing up and lifting Stiles in his arms as he does so, ignoring the man’s shrieks. “Let’s go see what they’re up to. Ellie is trying to stop Teo from doing something. Oh.” He looks down at him. “What does, uh... ‘che she-she, za my chai bye’?”

“What?”

“Shee shee my chai bye’?” He puts Stiles down when he starts squirming in his arms. “I think that’s what she said. It’s polish, I think?”

Stiles frowns, confused, mouthing the words to himself. Then, “Cieszę się, że ma ciebie?”

“Maybe yes,” Derek nods. “I think that’s it. What does it mean?”

“Are you sure?” Stiles asks, still confused. “‘Cieszę się, że ma ciebie’, means ‘I'm glad he has you’. Who said that?”

Andrea said that to Derek, after he had threatened her.

Hadn’t she?

Had he heard her wrong or was she... trying to show that she cared about Stiles?

All of a sudden?

That didn’t sound right.

Then again, a lot of things about the old woman didn’t make much sense.

“Der-?”

Derek blinks, and then just shakes his head.

“Ellie is convincing Teo to wash their dolls’ hair in the toilet.”

Stiles is out of there faster than Derek can blink.

He doesn't think he has managed to understand Andrea all that well.

Either way, he's glad she and her son are now gone.

He has a feeling she would have had a lot to say about Ellie's new plan to wash her sister's hair in the toilet.