Chapter Text
“I want one!” A high pitched voice screeched next to Derek's booth.
Derek looked over towards the noise. He didn't see anything at first. That's when he looked down. Beside him was a little girl in a Spiderman dress staring right at him.
"I want one of those." She said again, pointing at him. "Where'd you get it?"
Trying to see where she was pointing, Derek assumed it was for his coffee or pastry. He smiled softly at her, but she kept her tough girl face on.
"I asked the people at the counter. I'm sure if you ask your parents, they could ask and get some for you too." Derek answered. He looked around, trying to see if he could spot anyone who looked liked the girl's parents.
"No, not that stuff. That!" She stepped closer, leaning up on the table and pointed up at Derek. More specifically, she was pointing towards Derek's eyebrows. Though that couldn’t be right.
Derek couldn't help but laugh at the little girl. It wasn't the response she had been looking for, if her offended pout was anything to go by.
"How'd you get it? Have you always had it?" She asked curiously.
"Well, it's facial hair. It just grew like this."
"How can I-"
"Lily!" Both Derek and the girl, Lily was her name, turned to look in the direction the voice came from. He smelled the man before he saw him. Walking towards them was a tall young man with a lean build and wild, yet somehow tamed, brown hair. The man walked up to the table, trying and failing to look irritated with his daughter.
Once he was closer Derek could smell the young man's scent much better. It was a wonderful blend of warm bread and cinnamon. It was like home and safe and pack.
"I'm real sorry about her." He apologized. "She was supposed to find us a table while I ordered our food. But apparently she felt like being a little troublemaker."
Lily smiled up at her father, who only sighed as he ruffled her hair. "But I did find us a table!" She twirled around and stretched her arms out wide, presenting the table beside her. The table in which Derek was seated.
"Sweetie, kochanie, we can't sit here. This table is already taken." Her dad tried to reign her in.
Derek really wanted to know more about this man, so he couldn't let him slip away. "It's kind of busy in here. You're free to join me if you're alright with it."
"Really? Well, ok then, thanks!" He smiled, helping his daughter to the booth seat opposite to Derek. He then slid right beside her. "My name's Stiles. Yes, I go by that. It's a nickname that's much easier to pronounce than my real name."
"You're not going to even let me try and say it?" Derek chuckled.
"Hmm, not on the first meeting." He winked. "Like I was saying, I'm Stiles and this little troublemaker is Lily."
"I'm Derek. It's nice to meet you both."
Through the usual small talk questions you'd ask when meeting someone, Derek learned that Lily was five and that Stiles was her biological father. Her mother died a few months after Lily was born. Stiles was also incredibly single, as Lily made sure to let him know.
While Lily found new creative ways to eat her french fries, Stiles was quick to state how he wasn't a widower. Not in the traditional sense at least. Stiles hadn't been married to Lily's mother. Heather had been a close friend and she always wanted children. They had dated for a bit in high school but decided they were better at being best friends than a couple. Heather didn't want to wait around, for one day finding the perfect partner, to do the deed with. So Heather asked the one person she trusted to help her, and that was Stiles.
"Some would say I was probably crazy for it. That we were too young and should've waited and done things right or whatever. But neither of us were like that. We were smart and looked at it from all angles, all the pros and cons." Stiles spoke with ease, surely not the first, or last, time he'd tell this story. "I knew Heather would be a great parent and would be smart about everything. I also told her I would always be there to help her if she ever needed me."
"But then she passed away." Derek could only imagine how that felt. Losing someone you cared for.
"Then Heather passed away. She had no one other than me. So Lily fell to me, and I was more than happy to take her." Stiles pulled Lily into his side, surprising the child with his hug. "So it's just the two of us and my dad. Kind of hard to look for a partner when you're worrying about bedtimes, scrapped knees and getting to school on time."
Partner. Not wife or girlfriend. He said look for a partner. Derek couldn't help but silently thank whatever god was listening. His wolf was howling happily at the thought of seeing more of this man and his pup.
He had to think of a way to ask to see Stiles again. But he was yanked out of his thoughts when suddenly Lily hopped out of her seat. "I have to use the bathroom." She looked between the two men before landing back to Stiles. "Where can I go to the bathroom?"
Stiles twisted around in his seat, looking for any kind of sign that would help him answer that question. With everyone standing, moving around and trying to order, it was a little hard to see from his seat. He sighed as he looked down at Lily.
"I can wait here while you take her to use the restroom." Derek offered.
"Thanks. We'll be right back." Stiles got up and took Lily's hand, leading the search for the restroom.
While they were gone Derek was given plenty of time to think on things. Stiles was a kind and caring father. It was easy to see that in less than a minute watching Stiles and Lily interact. His whole being radiated warmth and nurturing, and it just made Derek more and more curious about the man.
It wasn't long until they returned to the table, Stiles wearing a sad smile. "I'm sorry but we have to go. It was, uh really nice to meet you Derek."
Before they could take another step, Derek quickly grabbed Stiles' hand. He couldn't let him slip away.
"I'm sorry but, sorry if I'm reading this all wrong, but do you think I could get your number?" Derek was totally blushing and he couldn't really care about that right now. Because he's pretty sure he sees a little pink on Stiles' cheeks too. "I'd really like to see you again. If that's alright."
Stiles stood frozen, only moving again after receiving a swift punch in the leg from Lily. "Yes! Totally! I would like that a lot, actually." Derek pulled out his cell and entered Stiles' number as he gave it.
"Awesome." Derek smiled again. He's probably smiled more today than ever before.
"Tataaaaaaaaaa."
"Right, right! We have to go." Stiles scooped Lily up into his arms. "If we're late to the movie, this one will never let me hear the end of it." Lily proceeded to stick her tongue out at Stiles, thus proving his point.
"Well, have fun." Derek said with a wave.
Stiles winked before he turned and left. Derek sat down again as he watched the family of two leave, noticing for the first time how Stiles' butt looked in a pair of jeans. Very nice.
Before they were out of sight, his eyes caught Lily, looking right at him with the biggest grin on her face.
He would definitely be seeing them again.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
???: Bluey is way more than just a kid's show
Hot Scruffy Guy: Who is this?
???: Sorry, it’s Stiles
The weird parent from McD
Hot Scruffy Guy: Oh! Didn't expect a text so soon.
Wait, there's a Bluey movie?
Cute Dad: No we went to see the newest Trolls movie
We're home now and watching Bluey
Hot Scruffy Guy: Oh gotcha.
Derek bit his lip as he thought about what he was about to text next. But thought fuck it.
Hot Scruffy Guy: Any exciting plans this weekend?
Cute Dad: What'd you have in mind? ;)
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Cute Dad: Lily won't stop asking about you
Hot Scruffy Guy: Makes sense.
According to her, I'm charming.
Cute Dad: Never said she was wrong :)
Cute Dad: Back to what I was trying to say
Would you like to come by for dinner and meet her?
Cute Dad: I mean I guess you’ve already met
But I thought it’d be nice for her to get to know you like I have
Cute Dad: She knows something’s going on
I'm not trying to force you or anything
Hot Scruffy Guy: Stiles.
I’d love to.
Cute Dad: Awesome <3
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Cute Dad: I'm super sorry I have to cancel
Lily has a fever
Hot Scruffy Guy: Is she alright?
Cute Dad: I don't think it's anything major
She’s being real crabby tho
Cute Dad: Sorry again
Hope you have a good night
Hot Scruffy Guy: I’m getting Motrin and ice cream.
ETA 30min.
Cute Dad: I don’t know what I did to deserve you
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Hot Scruffy Guy: I really hate to do this but it's my turn to cancel.
Cute Dad: It's ok
Is everything alright?
Hot Scruffy Guy: Yeah, just a bit of family emergency.
Nothing too major.
Cute Dad: Oh ok
Well I hope everyone is alright
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Hot Scruffy Guy: My family wants me to go to this music in the park concert thing with them.
Want to help me ditch them and go with me?
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
“Shit.” Stiles swore under his breath.
“You said a bad word!”
"Yes I did, kochanie." Stiles came over to the kitchen table, pressing a kiss to Lily's hair. "And I'm very sorry. Remember, never repeat any of the bad things Tata says." He looked down at his daughter's plate of pancakes, noticed she was more focused trying to cut them into funny shapes rather than eating them. "C'mon, finish eating while I call Derek. Then we have to get our butts to school."
"Ok!"
Stiles took a much needed deep breath before he dialed Derek's number and held the phone to his ear. On the third ring Derek picked up. "Kind of early here Stiles." His voice was filled with sleep.
"Sorry about that Der." Stiles apologized, but smiled at how cute a sleepy Derek sounded.
“No problem. What's up?" The sound of moving fabric, probably Derek moving to sit up in his bed. "If you're trying again to talk me into phone sex, then it's definitely too early for that."
"What? No, no no it's not that. Though I've not given up on that one." Stiles chuckled. "No, it's something else. Something kind of important. Uh, my babysitter called off. Apparently, she got food poisoning or something. Which sounds like a hangover honestly. Just tell me it's a hangover. I was in college once, I get it!"
"So that means..."
"Yeah. I'm so sorry Derek. It was supposed to be the two of us. But any of the people I could normally ask are all busy with their own stuff. Lily is super smart and all, but I can't..."
"Stiles don't be sorry. I know you can't leave her home alone. I get it."
Stiles laughed nervously. "Yeah. I'm just really sorry."
"I know... Hey Stiles, I have an idea."
"Yeah?" Stiles smiled as Lily showed him his clean plate before scurrying off to put her plate in the sink. She then zipped off to the living room to find her backpack.
"You could bring Lily with you. My family will be there too, remember? My sister will have her husband and kids. And I'm sure they'll be even more kids other than them. If Lily gets tired, we can leave early."
Stiles mulled it over in his head, watching Lily storm back in to toss her backpack at him and then tried to run to find her shoes. Before she could split, Stiles pulled her in. "Hey kochanie, want to go listen to music in the park tonight?
"Is it Taylor Swift?" She asked.
Stiles could hear the snort of a laugh from Derek through the phone. "Nope, no T. Swift. Just some local bands. There will also be food stands and maybe even some games."
Lily grabbed Stiles' hand and looked at him dead in the eye. "Good."
Oh she was so his child.
"Is Derek gonna be there?" She asked next.
"Well, I don't know. We can ask him. Derek, are you going to be there?" Stiles teased as he put the call on speaker and held it between himself and Lily.
"Of course I'll be there. It was my idea in the first place. Don't be an ass to your daughter, Stiles." Derek answered sternly.
"Remind me to warn you next time I put you on speaker."
"Like you haven't cursed in front of her before."
"He cursed before calling you!"
"Traitor." Stiles rolled his eyes, much to the five year old's enjoyment. "Guess we'll see you tonight then. Say bye to Derek." Lily gave the loudest bye possible before running off to find her shoes. "I no longer have ear drums."
Derek wondered what it meant that he could hear Stiles smiling through the phone.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Stiles, what the hell, this is so smart and adorable." Derek couldn't help but express this thought when first seeing Stiles. He knelt down and opened his arms to Lily for a hug. It was so hard not to coo over the cute large protective headphones that Lily had around her neck.
Stiles was trying, and failing, not to overthink the warm feeling in his stomach watching the man he was dating gush over his child. Lily had happily gone into Derek's arms and let the older man hold her.
Lily had this little thing of rubbing her cheeks against Derek's scruff whenever he would hold her. When it first happened Stiles apologized for the weird behavior but Derek told him it wasn't a problem. Unbeknownst to them, Derek liked it. They were scenting and neither of them had any idea. It made Derek's wolf extremely pleased.
"Hey there, Sourwolf."
"I wish you wouldn't call me that."
"Not my fault that I catch you with so many grumpy faces. I would call you Sourpuss, but you don't seem like a cat person to me." Stiles laughed. "Fine. Hey there, big guy."
"Hey to you too." Derek happily accepted the soft kiss Stiles gave to his unoccupied cheek. "I didn't know they had headphones like these. It's a smart idea."
"They're nothing fancy. Just spare hearing protection my dad had lying in the house." Stiles' dad was the sheriff and thus Stiles was no stranger to firearms. "These are actually a pair I used when I was smaller, we just personalized them a bit more to Lily's liking. I didn't know how loud it was going to be here. Better safe than sorry, y'know."
The shells of the ears were painted lavender, and there were fake flowers glued to the headband. The flowers were varying degrees of red and blue. "Well, they're very cute. You did a great job Lily." Derek complimented.
"Thanks Derek!"
Before they could get any further, a hand landed on Derek's shoulder, surprising him and making him almost jostle Lily. "Derek, is this the cute dad you keep telling us all about? And who is this little cutie?"
A beautiful woman stood behind Derek, laughing that she managed to get the drop on Derek. Which was really not good for the werewolf. But it was pretty loud here, so sue him for missing his older sister being a sneaky jerk.
"Laura! You-"
"You're pretty!" Lily shouted, smiling brightly. Laura looked at the girl and happily returned the smile.
"Thank you! I'm Laura, Derek's older sister. And who might you be?"
"I'm Lily!"
"Ah yes. The famous Lily. It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"
Stiles moved closer to Derek. "So, you talk about us huh?" He smirked. Derek rolled his eyes, turning back to his sister.
"Laura, did you ditch your family just to try and find me?" Derek accused.
"You have no proof of that." Laura totally ditched them.
"I can't believe you have a husband and kids. It continues to amaze me."
"Hi Laura, I'm Stiles." Stiles offered his hand, Laura more than happy to accept it.
"I've heard so much about you Stiles. And not just from Derek."
"Wait, what?"
"My husband Jordan works with your dad. He's a deputy down at the station." Stiles knew Jordan was married to a Laura, but he never thought it would be to Derek's Laura. He remembers seeing photos on Jordan's desk too, but for some reason didn't recognize her until now. "I always know a story is a good one when either of them mentions you. I can't imagine how many times we've barely missed each other at department events."
"Yeah, same." He chuckled, still deciding if this was better or worse.
"Are Mom and Dad here already?" Derek asked, shifting Lily on his side.
"They're here with the others. They got a spot saved for us and it's a pretty good one." Laura winked at Lily. "Hope you're ready to make some new friends." The tiny human was more than happy to meet new people, even more so, probably because this is Derek's family.
Stiles had honestly been a bit nervous when Derek first mentioned his family being here. Even if they were off on their own at this event, the prospect of possibly running into them scared him quite a bit. And of course, it was his luck that they ran into one of them almost immediately.
They were only two months into seeing each other, he didn't even know if they were really a couple or not, and he was meeting Derek's family. Yes they were dating, and do the kissing thing sometimes, but they hadn't talked labels. Stiles would love for this to turn into a really real thing, but he didn't want to get his hopes up in what Derek was thinking about them. Maybe him meeting Derek's family now, maybe he could suggest they have lunch or something with his dad to make things even.
Stiles was pulled from his thoughts when tiny hands entered his vision. "What?"
Lily reached out from Derek's arms and Stiles took her. "Tata, can we go sit with Laura and her family?" She asked sweetly.
"Uh, I don't see why not?" Stiles looked nervously at Derek, apologizing with his eyes. Derek was just looking at him with his usual handsome smile.
"Only if you're alright with it. I just wanted to be here with you." Derek came in close and stole a kiss on the lips. "We can always ditch them like in our original plan."
Laura led the way through the crowd. They bobbed and weaved through what felt like an endless amount of people, until they broke through to a wide area of grass. A bunch of different groups and families were spread around, all on blankets, chairs and whatever means they brought with them. Stiles swears he saw one person on a bean bag chair.
The Hale family were all settled upon two large picnic blankets. Between the blankets was a fairly large sized cooler filled with drinks. Seated upon them were Derek's mom and dad, Talia and Nathaniel, his uncle Peter, and his younger sister Cora. Jordan was also there with his and Laura's children, Matt and Jessie. When the two kids spotted Stiles, they erupted into excited screams and charged towards him.
"Oh shit." Stiles quickly put Lily down before being tackled. Lily watched her father go down, then grinned mischievously and joined in on the dog pile.
"Derek, why are my kids trying to kill your boyfriend?" Laura asked, as she and Derek watched the chaos unfold.
"He's not my boyfriend." Derek grumbled. They were dating, they were kissing, but they hadn't talked yet about being more.
"Yet. He's not your boyfriend yet." said Laura before they turned back to the ruckus. Stiles managed to push the kids off of him, at least enough to where he could sit up.
"Wow, you two tackle like a pair of linebackers. That's for damn sure." Jessie stole a seat in Stiles' lap while Matt and Lily both dangled off his back. "Nice to see Jordan is sharing his super solider serum with the minis."
"Good to see you too, Stiles." Jordan chuckled. "Remember you two. You break Stiles, you lose Stiles." He shook his head in amusement as his kids proceeded to try and talk to Stiles at the same time, asking any and all questions that came to mind. Jordan got up and walked over to Derek and Laura. "Stiles is a kindergarten teacher. Jessie had him last year, and Matt has him this year."
Matt was five just like Lily. Jessie is a little over a year older, so he already had his time with Stiles. Lily and Matt were in the same year and both in Stiles' class for this school year. Sometimes the parents feared that Lily would get some sort of special treatment with her dad being the teacher. But jokes on them, because Stiles treats all his students like they're his kids.
"Oh! He's Mr. S! Jordan always gets stuck with parent-teacher meetings, so I didn't know. Damn, your man is full of surprises Derek."
Derek and Stiles hadn't talked much about their jobs, at least nothing in great detail. Derek knew Stiles did something at the elementary school. He didn't know if it was something like a teacher or counselor or even administrative.
And then there's Derek. Stiles knew he had a job with a publishing company. He worked mainly from home but sometimes had to go down to the office.
As Derek watched the young man talk and interact with his family, how seamless and easy it was, he realized more and more how lost he was on the human.
And more and more, how he'll have to tell Stiles that he was a werewolf.