Chapter Text
"You said she'd be better soon." Claud said accusingly as he sat across from Derek who was rocking one of the twins in his arms.
Derek sighed then kissed the top of Arya's head. Though she was asleep, being away from her sister made her whimper every so often. Keeping an ear out he can hear as Stiles sings to Laura upstairs in the twin's room. "She will get better, bud. Tata's up there now singing to her so she can sleep and rest. Listen..." Derek paused as both of them listened to Stiles sing. Claud was still learning to hone his senses, and this was good practice.
Still, the little pup was upset that one of his sisters wasn't feeling good. With a heavy pout he complained once more, "Why's it takin' so long?"
"We've talked about this, Claud. Laura's not like you and me and Arya. She's like Tata. While we can't get sick, she can."
"...is she gonna die?" Claud asked in a hush tone laced with sadness.
Derek can't deny the way his chest ached painfully at the words. He had been extremely protective and paranoid when it was just Claud. That didn't go away when the twins were born. Much less when his little, human princess was upstairs with a slight fever and cough. Stiles reassured him that she wasn't in danger. To appease him and his wolf they even invited Melissa to stop by and check on her as well. She gave them instructions on what to do, nothing Stiles hadn't already been doing, and told them if it didn't go away in the time allotted, to bring her to the hospital. But she was alright and in good hands. It didn't make the unease go away though. He was too alert and paranoid to rest properly knowing one of his pups was in discomfort.
"No. Auntie Melissa came by remember? She said Tata was doing everything right and Laura will get better. You trust Tata, right?"
Claud nodded furiously, but his brows still furrowed in discontent and worry. An action that Stiles refers to as 'So Derek.'
"Can't you just take it away? Like when I fells off the swing?" Claud asked.
"If I could, I would. But it doesn't work like that..." though he has done it every few hours just to feel useful and help his baby sleep.
"I no like this daddy!" Claud protested loudly which caused Arya to wake up and whimper, now noticing more so that her sister wasn't near. Derek shh'ed and rocked her while Claud ran and got her pacifier from the baby bag. He placed it in her mouth and nuzzled his nose in the nook of her neck. The familiar scent of a sibling calming her down some. "Sorry, Arya..."
Derek smiled as his son, and leaned down to kiss his forehead and then doing the same to Arya's.
"Why can'ts Arya and I be with Laura?" Claud asked.
"Because she's running a fever. With how warm we naturally are it would make her uncomfortable and fussy." Derek explained.
"...I really don't like this. Can Laura just be like us, daddy?" Claud asked.
Derek smiled lightly, "She's perfect just the way she is, bud. You just need to be patient. But...why don't we call Uncle Scott and see if he wants to come over with Auntie Melissa and check in again, kay?"
Claud perked up and nodded happily. Scott had taken over Deaton's clinic as head veterinarian, and whenever anyone in the pack is injured, Scott comes in to help Stiles who is Pack Emissary. But Claud identified Scott as being the 'family doctor' because Scott's the one who wears the lab coat, and thinks the McCalls as doctors because of Melissa's job too.
Derek waited as Claud grabbed his phone and brought it to him. Dialing the number he waited for Scott to pick up before handing the phone over to his three year old.
"UNCA SCOTT!"
"BUDDY!"
"SH!" Derek hissed as Arya whimpered in his hold.
Claud covered his mouth with his little hand and then 'whispered', "Sorry daddy!" Then he turned his attention back to the phone, "Unca Scott, can yous come over with Auntie Missa?"
"What's wrong? Is Laura okay?" Scott asked in a panic. He was as much of a worrywart as Derek about his kids. Granted he was Claud's godfather, and he took that title as seriously, if not more so, than his Alpha status.
"She's still not bedder," Claud pouted and spoke in that toddler English of his. "It's been too long Unca Scott!"
"Awe buddy...I know it sucks, but it's normal. She's human, remember?"
Claud gave a dramatic sigh, "Daddy and Tata keep sayin' that too..."
Derek heard Scott chuckle on the other side, "That's cos that's how things just are. Mom's working, but I'll stop over later, okay? There's something I need to talk with your dad about."
Derek motioned for Claud to hand over the phone. Claud did and then ran upstairs before Derek could tell him not to. Readjusting Arya on his chest he placed the phone to his ear and asked, "Everything alright?"
"Hey man. Yeah, yeah...just...Deaton's worried we're running low on herbs for some potions." Scott said in an uneasy voice.
Derek raised an eyebrow, not really understanding why Scott was nervous. "And?"
"Well...Stiles is pregnant, and so is Malia. And who knows who else will be in the coming months. Because most of these pregnancies involves Were's of some kind...and Stiles's particular situation, those potions and herbs are key to the pregnancy's success." Scott explained.
Derek's back stiffened as he remembered Deaton telling them the danger's both Stiles and the children would be in if Stiles went through the pregnancy. How the chances were high of losing the baby, and the risk to Stiles's life wasn't minor either after a certain month. But Stiles wouldn't think of getting rid of their baby, no matter the danger. Derek had been very torn. He wanted a family with Stiles, having a biological family was a pipe dream that somehow became real. But at the risk of losing Stiles? He couldn't fathom losing Stiles. He told himself he'd respect Stiles' choice and assured him that he wouldn't be angry, regardless of the choice and that they still had adoption as an option.
Stiles though reminded him just how clever he was. With his knowledge of magic and herbs, plus his own creativity, he and Deaton created various potions that helped bring a Werebaby to term.
"Right...so, we need more." Derek nodded.
"Yeah. Some of the things aren't too difficult to find locally but..."
"But?"
"But some's going to involve some travel..."
"Travel where?" Derek asked skeptically.
"Uh...we'll talk later. Gotta go!"
"Wait- Scott!" but it was too late. Though something told him he knew where Scott was going to say.
He looked down at Arya who had fallen asleep again while clutching onto his shirt. Smiling at his pup, he laid down on the couch and closed his eyes. Listening to the noises of the house, the heartbeats of his loved ones, he was lulled into a light sleep.
(Link to pic in case pic is unavailable)
Derek woke up when Arya was lifted from his chest. His eyes flashed for a moment before he saw Stiles. His eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and he smiled up at his pregnant mate.
"How's Laura?" Derek asked in a groggy voice. Yawning as he stretched.
"Fever finally broke, but the cough is still there. Not as bad as before, thank god. I think she'll rest" Stiles said as he plopped down next to him, careful of Arya. Derek pulled them close to him, scent marking Stiles's neck.
"Claud?" he asked as he tried to get a time off of the wall clock.
"He watched over her for about twenty minutes before I convinced him to hop into bed himself." Stiles replied.
"He's just going to keep getting up to check on her, you know that right?" Derek murmured against Stiles's shoulder.
Stiles 'hm'd' as he leaned into Derek's hold, "I know...he's such a good older brother. But I hate that it's going to mess up his sleeping schedule."
"Scott stop by?" Derek asked after a moment.
"He got caught up at work. Said he'll stop by later." Stiles replied before stifling a yawn.
Derek kissed his cheek, "Let's get this one to her crib and you into bed. You're about to fall over."
"Will you be there with me, Sourwolf?" Stiles asked using the name that was now a term of endearment.
"Until Scott gets here, then I'll see what he has to say, then come right back to you."
"Promise?" Stiles asked as his eyes began to droop.
"Swear." Derek swore as he took Arya from Stiles and led them to the nursery. They caught Claud there, staring at Laura through the bars of her crib. They tucked in Arya and said goodnight to the twins, then headed towards Claud's room where they tucked him in.
Derek held Stiles close as they got into their own bed. He was tired from handling Arya and Claud downstairs for as long as he could, and Stiles was tired from caring of a sick Laura since the moment she was sick. Though Arya and Claud couldn't get sick, Laura was extra sensitive and fussy, and needed her space to get better.
Everything will be better once Laura gets better.
Derek knew she would in no time, Stiles had been tending to her after all.
He closed his eyes and slept for a while longer before Scott knocked on their door.
(Link to pic in case pic is unavailable )
They hated it.
All of them.
But they knew it was needed.
The lives of their children wasn't something they were willing to risk. And they could deal with a few days of being away from each other if that meant their unborn child would arrive to them safely.
They still hated it.
Lydia and Kira kept Stiles company while helping him with the kids. Stiles was only four months pregnant so though the bump he was sporting wasn't huge, it was apparent, but he still could do things. But having extra set of hands while his mate was away was a blessing he would never not be grateful for.
They talked names for the new baby, schools for Claud, and maybe daycare to help introduce him to other children.
Days passed and Stiles hated every moment Derek was away. He supposed it was the mate bond on overdrive with him being pregnant that was making him super duper extra angsty.
It was late when Scott called him asking him to come outside. Laura was better. Both her and Arya were sound asleep and have been since seven. Claud gets up every so often asking him when Derek will be back, but he was asleep too. Stiles? Stiles was a ball of nerves and angst. Why did Scott call him? Why not Derek?
He got his answer as he stepped outside.
Though he didn't have werewolf eyesight he had a working streetlamp that allowed him to see Derek learning against Scott's car. Not just any Derek. But a De-Aged Derek looking confused for a moment, but then stiffened and zoomed his eyes on him. Even from where he stood, Stiles couldn't see any form of recognition and knew it was like last time. De-aged and no memory passed a certain point.
He turned to Scott with an angry glare and eyes glistening, "What the hell?"
"Okay, I know you're upset..."
"Upset? Upset? No, Scott, we're sort of passed upset!"
"It was an accident...but look, we'll fix it. We did it before, we'll do it again." Scott tried to sooth his best friend. "This time I was honest from the get-go. He knows everything."
"Everything?" Stiles demanded.
Scott gave a pointed look to Stiles, Stiles's stomach, and the house before nodding, "Everything."
Stiles took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. When the moment passed he looked at Scott with serious eyes, "He can't stay here..."
"What?" Scott asked, confused.
"Scott, it's hurting me, that he'll look at me and not remember anything. If it's exactly like last time he still loves Kate! Maybe...maybe if it was just us, I could go through this, but it's not just me. I'm not going to put my kids through that...he can't stay here, Scotty..."
Scott pulled him in for a hug. "Okay...okay, yeah, didn't think of that. I'll...he'll crash with me and Kira until all this gets sorted. And it will." Scott promised.
Stiles gave him one last hug before going back inside.
Scott let out a breath and ran his hand through his hair before heading back to the car. "Come on, you're staying with me."
"What? No!"
"Derek..."
"No! My mate is here. My pregnant mate! I'm not leaving. You said I could stay here." Derek stood his ground as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Derek, please. It's been a long trip. We could both use come rest. We'll figure things out, get you to normal, then you can come home." Scott said tiredly.
"No!"
"Derek!" Scott's eyes flashed red, using his Alpha voice. Derek lowered his head in submission at it. Scott felt guilty immediately and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Why doesn't he want me?" Derek asked after a moment.
"It's not that..."
"Am I not good enough like this?" Derek asked, ignoring Scott.
"No. I mean yes. I mean...Argh! Okay...listen, it's not you, or him. It's Claud really."
Anger rose in Derek and his eyes flashed and brows furrowed, "Who's Claud?"
"Easy there....Claud's your son. Your three year old, very clever son. Stiles doesn't want to hurt him by letting you see him but not remember him. Claud loves you too much for him not to be hurt if you do see him like this. Understand?"
Derek's eyes were widened wide and he seemed to be somewhere far away and not listening to Scott.
"Son? How...how many kids do I have?" Derek asked.
"Well...Stiles is carrying your fourth. You have twins girls too." Scott replied.
Derek's eyes widened even more and he shook his head and planted his feet firmly on the ground, "I'm not leaving. No way...I...I need to be here. With them!"
Scott hated using his Alpha authority but wasn't afraid to when needed. He flashed his eyes and ordered Derek to get in the car. He did so eventually, but now without a whimper. He gave another whimpering whine as Scott drove away from the house.
It really shouldn't be surprised when he went to check on Derek about an hour later, to find him gone. He cursed under his breath, but was way too tired to go get him. He figured(and hoped) Stiles had the temperament to deal with this until a decent hour...and after a few hours of sleep and maybe some much needed coffee.
He knew he'll get hell for disobeying his Alpha's orders, but damn it all! He had a family! After his apparently was murdered by someone he thought he loved...he eventually found his mate and had a family.
He ran back to the house, found a window that wasn't locked and snuck inside. He closed his eyes and let the aromas fill his scenes.
It was divine.
It smelled like mate, like cubs, like his.
He passed by photos and saw who he assumed was his older self, in various situations that involved his mate, his pack, and his kids. He whimpered slightly at not being able to remember any of those memories. His chest ached because of it, and it didn't help that their mate bond was still very strong.
"What are you doing here?"
Derek jumped a little before he turned to stare at his mate. He looked at him with wide, sad, and maybe a bit pathetic set of eyes as he begged with another whimper, "Please don't kick me out."
(Link to pic in case pic is unavailable)
My Facebook page for a place where you can get updates notices, ideas I'm thinking of, have a way of contacting me in case you have a request you may want written out by me. You can also follow me on twitter @_The_Young_Wolf