Stiles grabbed Baby's hand as soon as they were out of class. Baby didn't protest, merely followed along with Stiles and Scott to their lockers. Stiles looked at the lock and sighed before reluctantly letting go again to open it. "Maybe we need a little more time to get back to normal", Scott suggested.

"Yeah try not to forget that we hit the reset button on a supernatural beacon for supernatural creatures", Stiles retorted.

"They've started arriving already", Baby offered. He leaned against the lockers and watched as Stiles fiddled with his lock. "When I was out hunting the other night, I could smell their traces on the air. Don't worry", he added as Scott raised his head. "Nothing too dangerous yet. I doubt they'll do anything to call attention to themselves".

Scott nodded. "Let me know it that changes".

Baby mock saluted with a grin. "Yes mr alpha sir". Stiles smiled slightly as Scott rolled his eyes. Both of them used to Baby's jokes by now.

"I doubt that things are ever going to go back to normal", Stiles snapped. Scott sighed.

"Yeah".

Stiles froze suddenly, shaking the lock. Baby felt the shift in mood and leaned over to see what was wrong. There didn't appear to be anything. The lock looked normal but Stiles was staring at it as if unseeing. "Stiles?" He asked. Stiles jolted. He dropped the lock and turned with shaking hands.

"Babe. Hands. I need to touch you". He grabbed Baby's hands and held them closely between his. Baby watched as he drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second before looking at the lock again. Stiles sighed in relief.

"Stiles", Scott muttered as he leaned heavily on the lockers. Something was wrong with him too. Baby watched as Scott's eyes began to glow. The red bright. Stiles saw it too.

"Dude, your eyes. They're starting to glow. Scott stop it".

Scott began to panic. His pulse quickened and he pressed a hand over his face to hide his eyes. "I can't control it".

"Shit", Baby huffed. "Come on, this classroom's free". Together, they both ushered Scott into the empty room. As soon as the door closed, Scott was stripping off his jacket and stumbling away between the desks.

"Get back. I don't know what's going to happen. Get back", he growled. Baby held Stiles back and they both watched as Scott began to change. Scott snarled and pressed his claws into the palm of his hands as his ears began to turn to points and his teeth began to sharpen. He was breathing heavily, blood pouring down his wrists as he fought to control it. After a few seconds, he seemed to force the Wolf back. He sank to the floor and sighed in relief.

Baby and Stiles knelt down at Scott's side. "Pain makes you human", Scott panted. His hands covered in blood. Baby rummaged in his bag for some tissues and handed them over.

"I normally like the smell of blood", he commented. "But Wolf blood is just disgusting". Scott chuckled slightly and began to clean it up.

"Scott", Stiles sighed. "This isn't just in our heads. This is real. And it's starting to get bad for me too. I'm not just having nightmares, I'm having these dreams where I have to literally scream myself awake. And sometimes I'm not even sure I've I'm ever actually waking up". He was twisting his hands worriedly as he spoke.

"What do you mean?" Scott mumbled.

Stiles glanced down then back up. "You know how you can tell if you're dreaming, you can't read in dreams. More and more the last few days I've been having trouble reading. It's like I can't see the words, can't put the letters in order".

"Even now?" Baby asked. Stiles stood up and looked round the classroom.

"I can't read a thing", he whispered. "Baby can I have your hand, please". His voice caught on the last word and Baby wordlessly interlocked their hands again. Stiles took a shuddering breath and sighed. "The only way I can tell this is real is because you're cold".

"I'm always cold", Baby said in confusion. Stiles turned to him with dark eyes.

"No. In my dreams, when you touch me, it's warm. You're warm in my dreams".

"Okay", Scott pushed himself to his feet. "So just stay together all day". Stiles sighed and gripped Baby's hand tighter.

"Hey", Baby murmured reassuringly. "I don't mind being your personal buddy all day, just to make sure you don't get lost".

Stiles snorted and a genuine grin tugged at his lips. Baby gave a mental celebration. "We're dating, I'm pretty sure that means that we're personal buddies anyway".

——

It was later that evening, after take out and two Star Wars movies (new hope and rise of the Jedi), when stiles spoke up. The two of them were curled up together on the leather sofa in Baby's sitting room as the credits played across the tv. Stiles was draped over Baby's chest, head on his shoulder as Baby ran his hands through his hair in soothing motions. A fluffy blue blanket covered them and their tangled legs. "What time is it?" He mumbled.

Baby paused the movie and checked Stiles' phone. "Eight in the evening. Oh and there's a text here from your dad asking you if you could bring the flowers down to the station".

Stiles groaned. "Oh yeah. He must have forgotten". He began pushing himself upright. Baby following so that Stiles could keep their hands linked.

"What are the flowers for?"

"It's my mom's anniversary tomorrow and we always bring her flowers".

"Oh. That's nice", Baby commented. Stiles paused.

"You are probably the first person not to offer an apology about it. It's", he thought for the word. "Refreshing".

Baby shrugged, untangling the blanket from them with his free hand. "We are literally surrounded by death all the time. Me apologising for you mom's death is not going to bring her back. I know that well enough". Stiles nodded and stood, pulling Baby after him. He looked round the room. The glass coffee table was covered in pizza boxes and empty bowl that had been full of popcorn. The rest of the room was gloomy, the sun having gone down over an hour ago.

"Would you mind coming to the station with me?" He asked softly. Baby nodded and gave him a warm smile, squeezing his hand.

"Could I just grab a drink first?"

Stiles rolled his eyes. "You are not bringing your little blood thermos to a police station".

"It's in a thermos", Baby grinned in reply. "It's not like they can see what's inside".

"What if someone picks it up thinking it's coffee, I've seen that happen before", Stiles suggested. He poked Baby in the ribs. "Once my dad stole my thermos of soup, thinking it was coffee. He got a horrible shock".

Baby laughed as Stiles let go of his hands to loop his arms around his waist. "Okay, I won't put the thermos down. I'll watch over it". He rested his head on Stiles' shoulder as they hugged for a moment. Both just soaking in each other's presence.

Stiles twisted his head to kiss Baby's cheek. "I'm glad you're here", he mumbled. Baby felt himself flush. It was the closest either of them had probably come to a confession. Sure they liked each other. They went on dates and held hands, kissed each other's cheek. But they hadn't done more than that. They had never even said that they liked each other yet and they had been dating for almost three weeks.

Some part of baby was worried by that. Maybe Lydia was right and they were moving too slowly. Maybe Stiles didn't want to actually kiss him. Maybe he was put off by Baby being a vampire. Maybe- His thoughts were interrupted by Stiles' sigh. He removed his arms and reminded their hands. "Come on Vampy", he smiled. "Let's go and get you your sippy cup of blood and grab you some clothes. You're staying at my house tonight".

"Are you sure?" Baby asked.

"Yeah", Stiles nodded. "Not to do anything. I just want to wake up tomorrow and know that I'm actually awake". Baby frowned at the reminder of Stiles' mental state.

"Okay. I'll be your teddy bear and chase the nightmares away". The look Stiles gave him was soft a vulnerable. Baby kissed him on the corner of the mouth and turned towards his kitchen.

"If I'm staying tonight then I need a big thermos. I'm hungry".

Unedited