puppy love } { of meeting grandfathers and space dinosaurs

[impetere]

Cora: [so she stumbles in late that night exhausted, and basically just makes her way right to the couch and collapsing into it. no one was in it, so no one should be disturbed, but Stiles probably heard the door]

Stiles: [he had, and he had been taking a shower because he and Ben had made a mess making dinner and then Ben stayed up late asking all the questions ever about his Grandpa Noah and then Stiles was finally able to clean it all up and by then he was a mess so he had hand washed his and pants in the sink and tossed it into the dryer while he was showering and that would be why he is coming out of her bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and another around his shoulders as he dries his hair. He's on guard though, just in case the door wasn't opened by a Hale. But he sees her on the couch and nods] So that was you coming in.

Cora: [sighs as she sits up to look at him and ... startles when he's not wearing clothing] Yes. And you're naked.

Stiles: Not completely. Sorry, we were making cookies and the bag of flour exploded all over. I got the kitchen cleaned up after Ben finally went to sleep, and I needed a shower. Hope you don't mind. [and he is going to just head for the dryer where his clothing is]

Cora: No, it's fine. Just wasn't what I was expecting.

Stiles: Sorry. I was trying to be done before you got home but Ben kept asking questions about Dad so he can be ready for Saturday.

Cora: Yeah, he's been excited all week. [and Cora's trying not to think about how much Stiles has filled out since she last saw him and how attractive that is and how it's been a really long time since she's actually been with anyone, but her tired brain is thinking of all of those things, so she just closes her eyes and leans back against the couch]

Stiles: [and it's a good thing she closes her eyes. He takes a look back at her to verify she's not looking before dropping the towel on his back where it hid a few scars on his ribs and back that came as a mix between training and missions. He then pulls his jeans on] But hey, you have cookies in the cookie jar, plus another Ziploc bag in the freezer with more dough to just defrost and bake.

Cora: Awesome. Because what Ben always needs is more sugar. [teasing]

Stiles: He crashes hard once it's worn off though.

Cora: That is true.

Stiles: [and he will hang the big towel up, wandering into the living room with the small towel rubbing his hair dry, showing how now that it had some length, it had a wavy soft curliness to it.] You need me to make you something to eat before I go?

Cora: [she shakes her head] I'm honestly just going to shower and pass out. I'm exhausted.

Stiles: I think I saved you some hot water.

Cora: Awesome. Thank you. [and she will open her eyes to smile at him] Your dad excited for this weekend?

Stiles: He is. I think he's got a suitcase full or presents or something at this point. Making up for lost time.

Cora: [nods for a moment and her face falls a bit, because she still feels terrible about taking that from him] You guys still want me there on Saturday? [she wants to see the sheriff, but she still isn't sure he wants to see her]

Stiles: As long as you want to be. It may be your only day off until Thanksgiving so if you want some you time, it's the way to get it.

Cora: No, I want to see him. [there's a beat] I just wasn't sure if he wanted to see me, all things considered.

Stiles: [crosses his arms, leaning against the couch arm] You think he's going to be pissed at you like I was.

Cora: I think he already is pissed at me like you were.

Stiles: [shakes his head] Trust me, the anger is not aimed at you. And he's had time to get used to the situation.

Cora: [she nods, though she's not going to fully believe that until she actually sees him and he sees her] Okay.

Stiles: If nothing else, the dropbox of photos and videos did a lot to soothe over his anger.

Cora: [and that relaxes her a little more] Good. I documented pretty much everything I could.

Stiles: And we appreciated that. At least we got to see it, even if we couldn't be there. [he looked to the almost closed bedroom door] Well, I should probably get going once I find where I put my boots.

Cora: [she nods] We'll see you guys Saturday?

Stiles: Yup, see you then. [and he's about to leave and stops] Oh, I forgot. Um...you remember Deputy Parrish?

Cora: Deputy Parrish who my sister was sleeping with Deputy Parrish? [sorry, Parrish, that's how you're remembered in the Hale family]

Stiles: Yeah. [rubs the back of his neck] Well my dad's pretty much adopted Parrish since he got divorce two years ago. He took over the guest room and well, with Dad having been asked to retire, and Parrish didn't win the election to Sheriff - he's coming out with Dad to look at job opportunities out here to maybe move with Dad. He doesn't have kids so he doesn't need to stay in the hills.

Cora: ... So he's coming to dinner?

Stiles: I'm supposed to ask you to ask your sister if she's okay with it. Otherwise Dad will just bring him back leftovers.

Cora: I will ask her tomorrow. But ... I don't think it'll be? She always makes too much anyway.

Stiles: He just doesn't want to make it awkward.

Cora: Which is fair. [there's a beat] Maybe while the sheriff is with us, he and Laura could meet up and get the awkward out of the way?

Stiles: I'll give you a copy of the motel they are staying at. So she doesn't have to reveal to him where the house is.

Cora: Or you could just give him her number. I'll text it to you and you could forward it to him. [will she ambush her sister with this? Yes, yes she will.]

Stiles: Sure. I can do that.

Cora: [nods and she'll go to text him Laura's contact info]

Stiles: [and there are his boots and he is going to lean over to tie them. Sorry Cora, those jeans are tight]

Cora: [fuck you, libido, fuck you]

Stiles: [and he will stand up and reach for his jacket.] So I'll see you Saturday.

Cora: See you then. [time to go take a cold shower]

Stiles: [yup. a shower smelling very much like him. So sorry]

Cora: [yeah, well ... she doesn't live with werewolves anymore. At least there's that. >.>]

Stiles: [but yeah, so Saturday he will be with his Dad at the diner near Cora's place that Stiles and Ben go to for milkshakes. They are catching up over breakfast and coffee, and while Noah doesn't know what his son does for a living, he knows it's with a company he can't really ask so he just lives with the fact his son works for a letter agency as an analyst and hopes it's true]

Cora: [and Cora will make her way in, holding Ben by the hand and waving when she sees them]

Stiles: [and he will get up and smile, motioning for them to come over]

Sheriff: [and he will turn around to look over the top of the booth to see them, giving Cora a smile and a nod]

Ben: [and he will let go of Cora's hand and run to his dad, who hugs him and puts him on his hip, and then looks at Noah] Are you my grandpa?

Cora: [and she will just hang back, letting them have their moment]

Stiles: [and he will introduce Ben to his father, and Ben will eventually crawl into the booth and sit up on his knees and talk to Noah. He will feel his phone vibrate in his pocket and sigh softly] I'll be right back. [and as he heads towards the restroom, he will pause by Cora] Go talk to him. He's not going to bite, I promise.

Cora: [she gives him a small smile, before making her way closer, and sliding into the side of the booth opposite the sheriff] Hey, Sheriff.

Sheriff: Hi, Cora. And it's Noah now. Or will be come January when the new Sheriff officially takes over.

Cora: [and she can't help but wrinkle her nose a bit at that, not that it's bad to call him by his name but ... she's been addressing him as the sheriff for a very long time] That's so strange to think about. You'll have to forgive me if I slip every once in a while.

Sheriff: That's fine. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be calling Parrish deputy for the rest of his life.

Cora: [she smiles a bit at that] Some habits are hard to break.

Ben: If you're a sheriff, do you get to ride a horse? All good sheriffs got to have a horse.

Sheriff: [smiles] No, I have a truck. We had to give up horses a while ago. They kept eating all the paperwork.

Cora: I'm sure there are still sheriffs with horses somewhere, kiddo, but not in Beacon Hills.

Ben: But how do you lasso a bad guy from a truck?

Cora: Very carefully.

Sheriff: I usually let my deputies handle the lassoing.

Ben: But that's not fun. You should do the lassoing!

Cora: Well, the deputies are never going to learn how to do it themselves if the sheriff does all the lassoing for them.

Ben: But the deputies are supposed to watch the jail and make sure the bad guys don't escape.

Cora: They do that too. But doing that doesn't mean they can't catch bad guys on occasion.

Sheriff: In fact, they do a lot of that. There's enough bad guys to go around.

Ben: [huffs] But it's not supposed to work like that.

Cora: [she laughs softly] Not everything works like it does in the movies, kiddo.

Ben: [pouts]

Sheriff: [laughs] Your dad makes the same face when I tell him things like that.

Cora: Though I'm sure your grandpa has some cool, six year-old appropriate catching bad guys stories he can tell you that actually happened.

Sheriff: Of course I do. [and he's going to start on one]

Stiles: [and yeah, it's about 10 minutes before he returns, having pretty much told the CIA that he JUST got back from a mission and that he is on leave and has his son and father in town and he can't pack up again without blowing his cover. They relented, but they aren't happy and he knows he'll pay for it later but he won't budge on his priorities]

Cora: [glances up as Stiles comes back and gives him a small smile] Everything okay?

Stiles: [slides in next to his dad after reaching for his food from in front of Ben] Yeah, it's good. I just had a difficult client who needed a reminder that I'm on vacation and to use my backup.

Cora: At least you're in demand?

Stiles: [smirks a bit] Yeah, there's that. Let's me know I'm not losing my job anytime soon.

Cora: [is about to say something else before her phone goes off with a beep and she glances down at the text message on her screen. And she smirks, and puts her phone away] So. What are we going to do today?

Sheriff: Well, Stiles has been telling me all about some of these museums downtown. I thought we could perhaps go look at one or two of them?

Stiles: The Air and Space Museum is pretty awesome.

Cora: Sure. What do you think, Benny?

Ben: Can we also go to the dinosaur one?

Sheriff: Of course we can. [grins]

Cora: Sounds like a plan. Let's do it.

Sheriff: You two want to get anything to go?

Stiles: [finishing up his meal quickly]

Cora: No, we're okay. We were loaded with pancakes before we left the house, so we should be good for a while.

Ben: Aunt Laura made me pancakes with blueberries in them today!

Cora: [slight hesitation because she knows Laura is a sore subject with the Stilinskis] Of which he ate many.

Sheriff: Enough to become a blueberry himself? [he's going to be good. Thomas will end up getting the brunt of it]

Ben: [laughs] Noooooo. That can't happen.

Cora: Are you sure?

Stiles: It happened to Violet Beauregard.

Ben: [his eyes widen] Really?

Cora: Swelled up into a balloon too.

Stiles: They had to squeeze all the juice out of her so she would look like a normal kid again, but her face was blue forever.

Ben: Wow.

Sheriff: [has his eyebrows raised at the parents]

Cora: [don't judge her, she likes to tease him about things that didn't actually happen and see how long it takes Ben to figure it out. the fact that he comes from a family of werewolves probably doesn't help matters, but the sheriff doesn't know that] C'mon. We should get walking if we're going to make it to the museums before it gets too crowded.

Sheriff: You kids head outside. I'll pay the bill.

Stiles: Dad...

Sheriff: Get moving, Stiles.

Stiles: [sighs and gets up, reaching for his jacket] I'll get lunch then.

Cora: [holds out her hand to Ben as she starts to slide out of the booth]

Ben: [and he will go with his mother and father to wait at the door, trying to peer in at the claw machine to see if there is anything good in it]

Stiles: [looks at Cora] So, you decide if you're sticking around with the guys, or you going to have a me day while we're hitting the Smithsonians?

Cora: [to be fair, she feels better about her standing with the sheriff already, and would like to stay, but at the same time, this isn't about her] Hey, Benny. You want me to stick around, or do you want some alone time with your dad and grandpa?

Ben: You don't wanna see the dinosaurs?

Cora: I love the dinosaurs, but I wanted to see if you might just want some guy time.

Ben: [looks at his dad and then mom] Will you be okay if you go alone?

Cora: [crouches down so that she's more eye level with him] Yeah, I'll be okay. I can watch all those gross kissing shows you don't like. [smiles softly] You have fun with your grandpa and your dad, and I can meet up with you guys for dinner. Sound good?

Ben: As long as you won't be lonely. [and he will go to hug her]

Cora: [hugs him tight and rubs his back] I won't be lonely. I promise. [and she pulls back and kisses his temple] Be good for your grandpa, okay?

Ben: I will.

Stiles: We won't completely corrupt him. At least in just a day.

Cora: [she laughs as she pulls back] I'd hope not.

Sheriff: [and he will join them, picking Ben up from behind and putting his grandson on his shoulders as Ben laughs in glee] We ready to go?

Cora: [nods as she straightens and steps back] I'm actually going to skip the museums today. But Stiles knows how to reach me around dinner time and I'll meet up with you guys then.

Sheriff: If you're sure.

Cora: I'm sure. I've had him all to myself for a while, you guys should get a turn too.

Sheriff: Alright. So what are we going to first, Ben? Spaceships or dinosaurs?

Ben: DINOSAURS!

Stiles: [and as the two of them leave, Stiles will look at Cora and smile] I'll send you pictures for your album.

Cora: [smiles and nods in return] Thank you. [and she will head back to her apartment for an afternoon with the TV and ... probably naps. and deals with her sister who is so very not happy with her]

Stiles: [and she will get hilarious pictures of Stilinski men with crazy museum props]

Cora: [which are perfect additions to the collection and she is pleased to see.]

Stiles: [and then of course one of Noah and Ben passed out on a blanket on the Mall with empty food truck containers around them for lunch]

Cora: [and that just makes her smile, and she texts back] Having fun, I see.

Stiles: [who is sunning himself on the mall with his aviators on] Yup. We did everything but let Ben scale the T-Rex.

Cora: Probably for the best. Did you hit the air and space museum too?

Stiles: We're doing that once they wake up.

Cora: Good. I'm sure he'll have lots of stories to tell me when you guys get back.

Stiles: We were thinking of Johnny Rockets for dinner. Would that work for you?

Cora: Sure, that's perfect. Just text me when you're heading over and I'll meet you there.

Stiles: Will do.

Cora: [and she will go back to her Saturday afternoon until she gets said text and heads over to the restaurant, looking for the boys as she heads inside]

Ben: Momma! [waves from where he has a paper hat on and spinning on a stool while they wait for her before getting a booth]

Cora: [she grins as she makes her way closer] Hey, kiddo. You have a good time today?

Ben: [still spinning] Best. Day. EVER!

Stiles: He may have just downed a thing of astronaut ice cream.

Cora: [sighs and goes to stop him from spinning to look at her] Then let's not spin too much so we don't throw up all over their nice floors, okay, Benny?

Ben: [weaves a bit back and forth] But it's fun!

Stiles: Yeah, but your mother's right. No throwing up in the restaurant.

Cora: Why don't you tell me about everything you saw instead?

Ben: [and he is going to list EVERYTHING in that when does he breathe way]

Sheriff: [chuckling, ribbing Stiles because that is totally Stiles]

Cora: [and she just listens to all of it, asking appropriate questions when given the room to, and just being a generally attentive mom]

Sheriff: [and they will get brought to a table halfway through it because it was TWO museums mom and spaceships and dinosaurs and dinosaurs flying in spaceships are his new thing]

Cora: That sounds awesome, kiddo. [she slides into the booth next to him, so that Stiles and his dad can sit across from them] I'm glad you had a good time.

Stiles: He also got a small pile of souvenirs to redecorate his room. [looks at his dad]

Sheriff: Six years worth of birthdays and Christmases. Plus he really wanted them.

Cora: [she laughs] We're not that far from here, if you want to come back with us and help him set them up.

Sheriff: I'd love to. I've got them all in the rental car.

Ben: I got a T-Rex in a SPACESUIT.

Cora: [her eyes go wide] Wow! That sounds awesome.

Ben: Want to know his name?

Cora: Yeah, I would love to.

Ben: Ty Rover - First Dino of Mars!

Cora: [she laughs] That is perfect.

Stiles: He came up with it himself.

Sheriff: And he was so proud too.

Cora: I love it, kiddo. You did good.

Ben: [bright grins]

Cora: [ruffles his hair gently] I'm glad you had a good day.

Stiles: So what did you end up doing?

Cora: Just hung out, really. Talked to my sister a bit.

Stiles: I'm glad you got a day to yourself though. It'll make your next few days easier.

Cora: Nothing can make the next few days easier, other than making it easier to look forward to the long holiday up at the house.

Sheriff: Well, Parrish and I are heading back on Friday morning.

Cora: Oh, I thought you were staying the weekend.

Sheriff: Originally I was, but Parrish has to work Saturday...

Stiles: And I am going to have to go off and deal with that impatient client on Sunday morning.

Cora: [oh. well, that's a let down. she pauses before glancing over to Ben] Do you want to take him for Thursday night into Friday, then? So you guys can have as much time together before you leave.

Sheriff: We could. I didn't think Ben was doing sleepovers yet.

Stiles: First time for everything.

Cora: [she glances to her son] Hey kiddo. What do you think about going home with your dad after Thanksgiving and staying at his house?

Ben: Where would I sleep?

Stiles: You'd get my bed.

Ben: And where would you sleep?

Stiles: On the couch if you don't want to share the bed.

Ben: [bites his lips, unsure]

Cora: You don't have to if you don't want to. I can come home and you can sleep in your room instead if that'll be better.

Stiles: Yeah, if you're not ready, you don't have to.

Ben: [looks at his mom] If I can't fall asleep, would you come get me?

Cora: Yeah, of course, kiddo.

Ben: [thinks] Okay. But I can't sleep without my blanket.

Cora: I will make sure you have it packed, I promise.

Stiles: And I know how to make pancakes so breakfast can happen.

Cora: And your Uncle Scott will be there. He's pretty great, I think you'll like him. And my friend Lydia will be there too.

Ben: I have an Uncle Scott?

Stiles: Theoretically. He's pretty much like my brother, so you can call him Uncle Scott.

Cora: I don't think he'd mind. He's a really nice guy. He's a vet, like Grandpa Thomas.

Ben: Does he work with Grandpa?

Cora: No, he works with a different clinic, here in DC.

Stiles: We didn't know your grandpa was here when we moved here. If we had, maybe he would work for him.

Cora: But he's a really good guy, and you'll like him a lot.

Stiles: He's been looking forward to meeting you.

Ben: He has?

Stiles: Yup.

Cora: You will have a really good time. I know it.

Stiles: And if you can't sleep, your mom can come over and join us, ok?

Cora: [she smiles and gives him a squeeze] Good. This'll be fun.

Stiles: [and they will just keep talk about museums and other things through dinner]

Cora: [and they will head back to the apartment to set up all of Ben's new stuff]

Sheriff: [and he's going to sit in the room and listen to Ben tell him where everything he owns came from, and then get him to read him stories because that's what grandpas do]

Stiles: [collapses on the couch] I don't remember being this energetic at that age.

Cora: [she laughs as she goes to sit next to him] Doesn't help that he might wind up being like me. We have energy to burn.

Stiles: Are you telling me to enjoy this now because it can get worse?

Cora: Oh yeah. The first year or so after he turns is going to be great as he learns to get a handle on his emotions.

Stiles: I'm going to cross my fingers and pray for him to be human.

Cora: You do that.

Stiles: I'm sorry that Dad's week got cut short. But he's looking forward to watching him after school this week.

Cora: Good, I'm glad. And if he actually moves out here, he's more than welcome to drop by whenever. The only night Ben isn't here is Friday.

Stiles: Malia's not going to know what to do with all this free time.

Cora: Oh, it's the week before Thanksgiving. I'm pretty sure she'll be drinking.

Stiles: Does it even affect her?

Cora: If she drinks it fast enough? But otherwise not really. She likes to dance more than anything, and drinking comes with dancing.

Stiles: Well, it's a better like that running around like a coyote.

Cora: True. She misses that sometimes, though.

Stiles: Think she can learn how to shift between the two?

Cora: Most werecoyotes can. That's their thing. She'll get it eventually, she just needs to get a better handle on her anchor.

Stiles: Oh. Well, that's good. Maybe once she's through her teen years it'll happen.

Cora: Maybe. We'll have to wait and see.

Stiles: [and he is going to yawn, exhausted. He didn't get a lawn nap]

Cora: [smiles softly] You guys can crash here if you want.

Stiles: I don't know. But a nap might be good.

Cora: Sure. [and she'll shift off the couch to give him some room to stretch out] I'll make some coffee for when you wake up.

Stiles: Thanks. [and he's going to take his boots off and stretch out on the couch. He'll shift to sleep on his side, hand tucked under the pillow and relaxing as he drifts off]

Cora: [and she will head into the kitchen to make coffee for both Stiles and the sheriff]

Sheriff: [and he's going to end up falling asleep with Ben with a book open in his lap, child curled up into his side]

Cora: [and she will just let them all sleep, and head to bed herself]