TW: underaged drinking

~~~~~

Stiles decided to wait until after his birthday, as Derek suggested. Secretly, Derek was glad, despite the all-too-frequent conversations about Scott. But those slowly disappeared as they neared Stiles' birthday.

Isaac came round to Stiles' house four days before his birthday, and the day after Kira had shown up, to explain that they'd had a long conversation with the end results being that Isaac needed more time, that, though he understood to an extent, he wouldn't forgive her. Not yet. But she could join The Pack again, if she wanted, and if the rest of The Pack were okay with it. Kira respected that but said she wouldn't be giving up anytime soon. Stiles had been proud of Isaac and it seemed like Isaac was, too.

The next day, Stiles started opening up more about the time he'd spent inside his head. Just little things: who he saw, how he could barely (if at all) remember what had happened in the moment before, that he'd thought it was real. He cried despite himself, struggling through each sentence. But when Derek told him he didn't need to force himself to talk, Stiles had said that he wanted Derek to know. Needed Derek to know. Derek hurt for him, held him as they slept, quietened any recurring images.

Two days from Stiles' birthday, he told Derek a little more, and every time he spoke he became more himself. Less restrained. More carefree. Watching him unfold, hearing what had happened inside of his nightmare, made Derek glad to be there, glad that Stiles Stilinski, of all people, was his mate. Glad that he would be able to help Stiles through this as Stiles (and The Pack) had helped him. Because he wanted to be everything Stiles deserved, and he felt like the luckiest guy alive to be able to get the chance to try.

Derek knew it wouldn't be as simple as a few conversations to make Stiles feel okay again, no matter how long they were or how late into the night they took them, because Derek understood nightmares. He understood the pain they can cause, even if he'd never had one that lasted as long as Stiles' had, or one brought on by anything like what Stiles went through, he did understand. He'd dealt with his own nightmare – while awake and while asleep – and he knew how important it was not to push too hard, but to always be there. By Stiles' side. Ready to listen.

Stiles talked about a lot of things often, and it took Derek a while to learn to tell the cries for help from the genuine rambling, he was still learning, but he was getting there. Slowly. As was Stiles.

~~~~~

Derek spent most of his time at the Stilinski house, The Pack filtered in and out whenever they felt like it and Stiles settled further into his life.

Lydia arranged Stiles' birthday party, obviously, with some help from Peter. She decorated the loft, made sure everyone had presents and could come, while Peter organised the music and catering. Unsurprisingly, he procured them alcohol, and even some that would work on the Were's of The Pack (which Derek wasn't particularly pleased about, but they promised not to get too drunk and it was "only one night" as Peter had said so he let it slide; they were due a day or two of just being normal). And when it came time for Stiles to go over to the loft, Lydia dressed him up again. This time in dark blue jeans, an almost-black blazer jacket, and a white v-neck t-shirt. She tried to get Derek to let her dress him again but he refused, she had pouted but gotten over it quickly and moved on to harassing Isaac.

Stiles had asked her why she was so passionate about having everything be perfect and she had just smiled and told him that he deserved it. Derek had to agree, Stiles had been through a lot, he should get to have a good birthday. A normal eighteenth birthday.

~~~~~

When Stiles arrived he was greeted with slaps on the back and cheering. It was rather quickly decided that it was time for presents. He got a few books from Mason and Jackson, some clothes from Lydia, a leather bracelet from Derek with two small charms: a triskelion and a crescent moon. Stiles had been grateful for each of them, and even more so when he had found out that the rest of The Pack had chipped in with Peter to help fix up his jeep. It was more duct tape than it was jeep at this point. Although he did refuse the paint job, saying that "the colour is fine, the paint is still almost all there".

Derek loved the smile that never faltered or fell from Stiles' face, lighting up all of his features. He loved that Stiles was genuinely happy, his mate was smiling truthfully. It felt wonderful; knowing that he had helped Stiles get the day that he deserved.

Then they started eating cake and drinking. Derek had to remind them to not drink too much. Stiles had been happy to oblige, as he didn't really want to get drunk. But the Weres that hadn't been able to drink since their change were a little more reluctant despite their earlier promise.

It wasn't long before Lydia was suggesting truth or dare.

"Come on, Derek, you have to join in." She stated, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

"No." Derek shook his head and stood up from the couch, "You can, I'm not playing."

"Please, babe, for me?" Stiles grabbed his hand, pulled him down next to where he was sitting in a circle on the floor with the others and smiled at him in that private way. It had Derek groaning and rolling his eyes.

"You're a dick. Fine, I'll play."

Stiles beamed, leaning into Derek's side, "I know I am, but you adore me anyways. Now, who first?"

The game went on for a couple of hours. They found out a lot of things about each Pack member that Derek really did not want to know. And the dares were probably equally as bad. Lydia seemed to enjoy daring different people to kiss, Stiles took delight in daring people to do things that would annoy the rest of The Pack, a lot of rather disgusting drinks were mixed and drunk. Erica loved that she managed to convince Stiles to trade clothes with her for four rounds. Stiles didn't seem even remotely bothered to be sat in a crop top and mini skirt which led to Erica doubling down and daring him to wear it for the rest of the night... He still wasn't bothered.

It was almost like the events of the past couple of months had never happened. Derek would give anything if it meant that Stiles could stay in this moment – this peace – forever. But the night came to an end, Stiles and Erica traded clothes again, and The Pack started to leave.

"Tonight was fun," Stiles said after everyone had left.

"It was. You look exhausted." Derek wrapped his arms around Stiles' waist.

Stiles laughed, "don't act like you aren't. We should go to bed."

"Have you told your dad that you're staying over?"

"Yeah, he's got the late shift anyway."

Derek smiled at Stiles, kissing him gently then letting him go. He watched him for a long moment before actually following him upstairs for bed.

~~~~~

Derek wandered downstairs after waking up alone, following the smell of pancakes, maple syrup and coffee. "Morning, Der!" Stiles grinned as he handed Derek a cup of fresh coffee.

Derek raised an eyebrow, "You're very awake."

"Yep, I've had probably too much coffee and I'm looking forward to diving into those books I got yesterday. How are you this morning?"

"You don't have a headache?" Derek ignored Stiles' question but he didn't have anything to hide; he was okay. Better than, thanks to yesterday.

"I really didn't drink much at all. Pancakes?"

"Um, sure." Derek could sense the anticipation that Stiles was feeling, he knew that they would be having another conversation about Scott soon and neither of them were looking forward to it. They couldn't put it off forever. But Derek could let Stiles have as long as he needed before he brought it up.

~~~~~

That, apparently, wasn't long. Only a few hours later Stiles called him over from where he was sitting on Derek's couch. "So, Scott..." Stiles drummed his fingers on the cover of the book he had been reading.

"What about him?" Derek asked, barely holding his disdain for the man away from his words. This was important to Stiles, for more reasons than Derek understood as well as reasons he understood all too well.

"You know what. I've thought about it, a lot. I know that it's stupid and I know he doesn't deserve it, but I need to talk to him otherwise I think I'll regret it or something." Stiles refused to look at him.

Derek nodded sharply, "Okay." Though he may not like it one bit, this was something Stiles felt he had to do and there was no way he would stop him.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. But I am coming with you." As much as he trusted Stiles he did not trust Scott. He knew Stiles could hold his own against Scott in a verbal fight but if it got physical... Stiles wasn't a vampire any more but Scott was still a werewolf. And The Pack could handle themselves now, he didn't need to be there to keep an eye on them anymore. So, he was free to go with Stiles, not only to protect him, because he really did have a habit of getting himself into bad situations, but also to support him despite his hatred for everything Scott stood for.

"You want to? I mean, I wanted to ask you to come but I didn't think you would want to since you obviously don't want me to talk to him. I understand and all but I--"

Derek cut Stiles off, "Yes, I want to come. No, I don't like Scott but you want to fix things so I'll stand by you."

"Dude, you can't be all sappy on me like that without warning."

Derek frowned, "I'm fairly sure you've managed to make me say things that are more... 'sappy' before."

Stiles laughed loudly, "Jesus, darling, you make it sound like such a hardship."

Rolling his eyes, Derek pulled Stiles close enough to kiss him. "Then quit complaining. I'll ask Kira where he is and we'll go tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," Stiles closed the gap.