spamalot } { of date nights and baby snatchers

[impetere]

Stiles: [Dina's at school, and Stiles is taking Ben out to the Hale house for lunch with Talia while Cora goes off with the girls to relax. He hopes. He's worried, and he's at a loss, so he's following advice and going to talk to Talia about what he can do to help his wife]

Talia: [and will take Ben from him pretty much as soon as he arrives - standard operated procedure when you arrive at Talia's house with a baby: you hand it off to her as soon as possible] Hello, Stiles.

Stiles: [wait how did she] You move fast.

Talia: You should know better by now. [and she will make faces at the baby as she guides them over to the couch] How are things going?

Stiles: Alright, I guess. I mean, sleep deprived, behind in work, but alright.

Talia: Sounds about normal.

Stiles: For me. [goes to sit next to her] But I've done this dance before.

Talia: [glances over curiously] Are you worried about something?

Stiles: Someone. I don't think Cora's doing well with all of it. And I don't think I know how to help her without some guidance.

Talia: [takes a deep breath before nodding] The first child is always hard to sort through, emotionally. Add to the fact that lack of sleep can make our already heightened emotions even more unstable, and there's distance with our partner and it can be a rough road.

Stiles: Distance?

Talia: At the risk of making this awkward, werewolves are very ... affectionate creatures. A couple months may not seem like a long time for you, but for Cora, it feels you're a million miles away.

Stiles: [he sits back a moment] All she has to do is ask. I mean, it's not like I'm not there...


Talia: No, she knows. But she's also not always in the mood either, when she's been dealing with a finicky baby all day, chasing after a six year-old and all she wants to do is sleep. I'm not saying it's your fault, not at all. It's no one's fault. It's just an unfortunate side effect of dealing with a newborn.

Stiles: And of course, add in Cora's times she doesn't want to talk about her feelings. [he rubs at his neck] I mean, I get it. I've been denied affection too.

Talia: [she nods] She's just frustrated and tired and feeling lonely. And she knows that some of those are irrational because as you said - you're obviously right there. Which means she's less likely to talk about it because she feels like there's no reason for it.

Stiles: [leans back against the arm of the couch] And of course, she has been telling me I need to find time for Dina too because she's not doing well with not having my time either. There's only so many hours in the day though, Talia.

Talia: I know. Which is also probably part of the reason why she's not saying anything.

Stiles: [he thinks a moment] You... you wouldn't want to go back to that whole Friday night babysitting arrangement, would you? Probably not a lot of overnights while Ben is an infant. I think Dina misses you time too anyway...

Talia: [she glances over at him before shaking her head] I certainly wouldn't mind.

Stiles: I mean, she and I keep talking about getting back to our normal schedule. That is part of our old normal schedule.

Talia: [she nods with a small smile] I think that would be good for both of you.

Stiles: Good. You free this Friday?

Talia: [she nods once] Should be.

Stiles: Then I think I'm going to surprise her with just some dinner and a movie. Just us.

Talia: That sounds perfect.

Stiles: Anything else I should know, oh wise alpha?

Talia: [she smirks] I think you know the rest better than I do.

Stiles: I wasn't even going there!

Talia: [she laughs] I didn't mean it like that. Believe it or not, Stiles, there are some areas where you do know my daughter better than I do.

Stiles: Oh, I'm sure. [because now he's there]

Talia: [she laughs] Enjoy your time with your wife. You two have earned it.

Stiles: Thanks. [watches her a moment] I guess I'll go make lunch while you and Ben snuggle.

Talia: You don't have to. You can sit and talk unless you're absolutely starving. [she doesn't break eye contact with Ben the entire time]

Stiles: No, no I'm absolutely starving. But I can literally just grab an apple and be right back.

Talia: Alright. [she grins as she reaches one hand out to tickle Ben's belly and he bursts into giggles] We'll be here.

Stiles: [and he's up and grabbing an apple and a bottle of water and coming back to just enjoy time with Talia]

Talia: [yep, lots of fun baby time because she totally spoils her grandchildren]

Stiles: [and he just enjoys watching]

Talia: [And eventually she will reluctantly give him back when it's time for Stiles to head back home to his wife and daughter]

Stiles: You know, I love watching you with the kids. Makes me wish my mom was here to know them.

Talia: [she smiles softly, before giving his shoulder a squeeze] I do too. Not that I'm a fan of sharing but it would be nice to have met her all the same.

Stiles: [just gives a small smile] Well, one day in a long, long time from now... I'll invite her to a Hale family dinner upstairs.

Talia: [she nods] Sounds good.

Stiles: You ready to go home to mommy, Benji?

Ben: [babbles of baby noises]

Stiles: I will take that as a yes. I'll see you Friday then, Talia.

Talia: [she nods] See you then.

Stiles: [and home he goes, debating on if he should warn Cora, or surprise her on Friday]

Cora: [she will be home, with Dina, hovering behind the fridge as they try to figure out dinner]

Stiles: Honey, we're home.

Cora: [picks up her head with a smile] Hi!

Dina: Hi daddy! We're making dinner.

Stiles: Awesome. Do you need any help?

Dina: Nope. I'm doing it with just Mommy.

Cora: Well, we do need a tie breaker. [she looks over at Stiles] Tacos or chicken nuggets?

Stiles: [thinks a moment] Chicken tacos?

Cora: [considers] What do you think, Dina?

Dina: [nods] Yes.

Cora: [nods] Chicken tacos it is! [and with that she will start retrieving ingredients and handing them off to Dina to take to the counter]

Stiles: [and he will go and take the sleeping baby out of his car seat and put him in the nursery, and then come back to sit at the table and watch them] So, Dina sweetie, I was talking to grandma Talia and she misses you a lot.

Dina: I miss her too.

Stiles: Would you like to go back to having Friday nights with her?

Dina: Can I?

Cora: [glances back over her shoulder as she starts to cook the chicken. If they had more time she would have slow cooked it so it would shred, but due to time constraints they'll just have to deal with diced chicken] If you want and it's okay with my mom, sure. [what are you up to, husband?]

Dina: I want to. I really, really want to!

Stiles: Well then, starting this week you will get to go with her. It may not be a sleepover ever week, but she will pick you up from school and you'll stay at least through dinner time.

Dina: What about Ben?

Stiles: Ben too, most of the time. But your grandpa can keep him busy so you can have grandma time.

Dina: [big bright smile and goes to hug her dad] Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Cora: [smiles a bit at that but keeps her focus on cooking the chicken for now]

Dina: [and she will go back to doing what she was doing for Cora]

Stiles: [slides up behind Cora, hugging her from behind] And I'm reinstating Friday night date night.

Cora: [she leans into him, tipping her head back a bit to look at him] Yeah?

Stiles: Yup. Even if half the time it's just us passed out on the couch with a pizza night.

Cora: [her smile widens a bit and she nods] Sounds good.

Stiles: Good. [he kisses her, not wanting to distract her too much since, you know, cooking, but still]

Cora: [kisses him back, before turning her focus back to the chicken] Can you help her with the tomatoes so she doesn't get juice everywhere?

Stiles: Sure. [and off he goes to do that, and then dinner?]

Cora: [yep, and they eventually get Dina into bed and they will follow in suit like the tired parents they are, but before they pass out cold ...] So what inspired you to get date night back?

Stiles: [rolls onto his side to look at her] A couple of things. But mostly because I do miss having that bit of us time.

Cora: [is lying on her side next to him and she nods] Me too.

Stiles: I noticed you're been on a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster too learning to handle all of this, and I talked to your mom to see if there was anything on the wolf side I needed to know to help, and she made me realize it's been awhile since we've just been affectionate since we both pretty much pass out, and I know we both could use that as a way to relax and refocus ourselves.

Cora: [there's a part of her that knows he's right and a part of her that wishes he hadn't brought her mom into this (mostly the irrational one that chides at her for not being able to handle it) but most of it is just relieved that he's deciding to do something about it. She nods in agreement, before moving closer and kissing him softly] I love you.

Stiles: I love you too. [he kisses her back, pulling her close and holding her]

Cora: [curls into his side a bit and lets her head rest against his shoulder] I'm sorry I'm still not very good at talking about this.

Stiles: Cora, you've never been good at talking about your feelings. This is a constant since we started dating. [said affectionately]

Cora: [shakes her head] Yeah, I know. You just think I would have learned by now.

Stiles: Yeah, but it's a part of you, and I love you the way you are.

Cora: [she sighs and nods, before shifting to curl into him more] Still. Thank you.

Stiles: You're welcome. [snuggles in and kisses her neck]

Cora: [closes her eyes and relaxing against him] Pizza and the couch sounds very good for Friday, though.

Stiles: And we can totally have Spiderman on in the background.

Cora: [grins] Perfect.

Stiles: [smiles back, and with one final kiss, he's going to probably pass out now]

Cora: [yep, she's right there with him]