thepicketfencecliche | spamalot } { of sisters and hard choices

Cora: [is carrying the boxes of pizza as she and Laura make their way to Derek's apartment. They don't trust him to cook. Pizza is the best for all concerned, but be warned that there are a lot of meat. Because your sister is a megacarnivore.]

Derek: [hears them outside the door and goes to open it. He's spent a good part of the day helping Fiona clean up her apartment again, but he got home long enough to shower before they got there. And wow, those pizzas remind him that he's starving]

Cora: [grins at him, the first time she'd see him since everything was crazy between him being passed out and her staying at Stiles's] We come bearing dinner.

Derek: Good, because I have nothing here to eat so I was going to suggest we order out anyway. Come in.

Cora: [the two of them come inside, Laura heading for the couch and Cora turning back to her brother with a shrug] Where are we eating?

Derek: Set it up in the living room. I'll grab plates and napkins. What do you two want to drink?

Cora: [nods and goes to join Laura on the couch, placing the pizza boxes on the table] Got any soda?

Laura: Got any beer?

Derek: Yes and Yes. [and he grabs two beers and a soda and bring them over with the plates and napkins, then sits in the chair across from them] You two been doing good?

Cora: [nods as she grabs a plate and a slice of pizza] Yep. Better than it has been lately.

Derek: Mom said you were staying with the Sheriff and Stiles while the vent work was completed?

Cora: [she nods] He was really nice about it. It was good to have a break.

Derek: Peter still taking it hard?

Cora: [looks down at her pizza before nodding] Mom is trying but there's only so much she can do on her own.

Derek: He's not talking to me at all, or taking my calls. [He pulls out a slice]

Laura: [shakes her head] I think it's going to take a little time.

Derek: I think he blames me.

Cora: I think he blames himself more.

Derek: [Starts for his second piece - he was hungry! - as he thinks a moment] After Virginia left him, he went through a period like this. It wasn't until he found out about Malia that he came out of it

Laura: Malia's been pretty much glued to his side. I don't know if that's helping or making things worse.

Derek: I don't either. That was the first time Malia's ever been in real danger too.

Laura: [nods slowly] I think he'll be okay once Mom gets him to talk about it, but until then? He's just ... hurting. And trying to pretend that he's not.

Derek: And Peter doesn't like to show when he's hurt. He never has.

Cora: [doesn't even matter if they can feel it. They're just supposed to ignore it, and Cora can't, not when it's pack, but she doesn't know what else to do] I guess we just have to wait it out.

Derek: [nods, then looks up at them] Well, I actually asked you both over here because I have something I need to discuss with you.

Laura: [both of them look at each other and raise an eyebrow before turning back to him] Oh?

Derek: Yeah, I talked with Mom the other day. I didn't understand why I was taken for this ritual that the Darach was doing, and Fiona and mom figured it out. [and he explains to them what they had talked about with the ritual]

Cora: [as he talks both of them look progressively more worried, and when he's finished, Cora isn't really sure what to say] What are you going to do?

Derek: Well, Fiona is going to stick with me, no matter what. But... [he reaches for another slice] I actually got accepted into Georgetown University's master program on a full ride.

Laura: [her face brightens because hey, that's awesome] Derek, that's great!

Cora: [looking slightly less enthused because she's trying to keep the disappointment off her face. She knows that it's a big deal. That it's a good thing. But Georgetown is also really far away. So much farther than Berkeley was.] It is. Congrats.

Derek: I wasn't going to take it originally, just wanting to see if I could get in. But with everything now, being far away from the nematon will keep the rest of you safe from whatever someone may do with it.

Laura: If you're worried about the pack, I can be here. I'm mostly just working on my thesis at this point, I don't need to be on campus much. Jason and I will figure it out.

Cora: [just sort of stays silent, not really sure what she's supposed to say to that, her fingers picking at the topping on her pizza]

Derek: Well, the pack, yeah, but not everyone. I'm worried about leaving both of you.

Laura: [waves a hand] We'll be fine. We'll miss you, but there's Skype and cell phones. We'll manage.

Cora: [trying not to be disappointed. be the supportive sister.] Yeah. It'll be fine.

Derek: [no, he knows that voice, Cora, and he looks at you now] Cora?

Laura: [glances between them for a moment, before sighing and getting up] I'm gonna go check in with Jason. I'll be outside.

Cora: [shifts uncomfortably as Laura leaves, before leaning back against the couch] It's just really far away.

Derek: [goes to take Laura's place on the couch] I know. That's why I wasn't going to go. But they have the best program for what I want to do, so I wanted to try. I thought if I didn't get in... I wouldn't have that regret of not trying.

Cora: No, I'm not upset you got in. [she's still really proud of him. It's just the missing him part that's going to be rough. She puts her plate down on the table before turning to face him, crossing her legs Indian style in front of her] Do you want to go? Before all this crap started and if everything was okay and normal - would you have gone?

Derek: I want to go. But I wasn't going to. Because I don't want to be that far from you. But you're only going to be here another year and then you'll be off to college too... and right now, I think I need to be away. Not because I want to, but need to.

Cora: [okay, that doesn't make her feel completely better, but she doesn't want to stop him from doing what he feels he needs to do. She wants him here, but she doesn't want to be the reason why he's constantly worried if he's a danger to the pack] Then you should go.

Derek: Are you sure?

Cora: [she nods] I'll miss you, but I'll be okay.

Derek: And hey, I could put in a few good words if you want to come to Georgetown for undergrad

Cora: [there a small hmmm and a small smile] That's true. I haven't even started looking at colleges yet.

Derek: And you take after your big siblings, so you can get in wherever you want.

Cora: I don't even know where to start. [she doesn't even know what she wants to study. It just seems like too much to think about now.]

Derek: Laura and I will help you with it. Okay?

Cora: [she nods. she knows they will. then she gives him a small smile] We're supposed to be talking about you, not me.

Derek: [nods] I'm only going to go if you're going to be okay, pup. I know you took it hard when I was in Berkeley, and I know I promised I was sticking around now, but I just... right now I don't know what to do, and this is the only thing that feels right and safe.

Cora: I'll be okay. [if he stayed here because of her and got hurt as a result, she'd never forgive herself for it, even if it wasn't really her fault] If you need to go, then go.

Derek: And Fiona will be there to take care of me. So I won't be alone. She has family nearby.

Cora: [she nods] That's good.

Derek: So you'll be okay?

Cora: Yeah. I'll be okay. [she smirks] And hey. No overprotective big brother means lots of quality time with my boyfriend. [teasing. mostly.]

Derek: I'll make sure I leave an impression then, and instructions for Jason.

Cora: I don't think Jason will take up your responsibilities for you.

Derek: You never know.

Cora: [glances over to Laura as she comes back in the room] Do you think Jason would take time out of his busy schedule as a doctor to intimidate my boyfriend in Derek's place?

Laura: [pauses, considering for a moment, before shaking her head] Nope. He will make sure she has condoms though, so at least you know they're being safe. [if there's one thing that Cora will defer to Laura for it's teasing Derek.]

Derek: [just gives Laura a look because] No, okay screw it I'll go intimidate Jason before I leave.

Laura: [laughs] Relax, Derek. Stiles isn't getting anywhere anytime soon. He's still terrified of Peter.

Cora: [eyeroll. Because really no one has a say in this but her and Stiles but whatever. It doesn't matter because they're not ready for that anyway]

Derek: Isaac is the one who needs to worry about Peter. [gives Cora a look] And just no.

Cora: [eyebrow raise because again. you don't have a say in that Derek]

Derek: [both his go up because he may not, but he was protective of his baby sister]

Cora: [yes, well, you're going to Georgetown. And with that, she's going to get up] I'm getting another soda.

Laura: [sighs as she takes Cora's seat] She's a teenager. She's going to do it eventually.

Derek: I know. I just... she's still my little pup, you know? Following me everywhere, trying to get my attention and sneaking into my bed at night. [steals a look over at her] I miss that sometimes.

Laura: I know. But she's not a kid anymore. Eventually we're going to have to stop treating her like she is one.

Derek: Maybe it'll be good for her for me to be gone. So I don't mess things up for her.

Laura: [she gives him a look] You wouldn't be messing things up. But a little distance might not be a bad thing. For both of you.

Derek: Did it work for you?

Laura: [she pauses for a moment, before shrugging] Well, you two latched onto each other pretty firmly. It's hard to tell sometimes. [she feels like the odd sibling out sometimes, but she wouldn't want to take that away from them for anything]

Derek: You mean you didn't miss me trying to embarrass you at every moment I had, all because I didn't want you playing with anyone else but me?

Laura: Mmmm. No, that I definitely didn't miss. [she smirks] It gave Jason a chance to play with me instead.

Derek: [wrinkles his nose] Thanks, didn't need that image.

Laura: [she grins a bit, before leaning over and kissing his forehead] We will be fine. We will have each other, and if anything this will give us a chance to get closer without you being in the way. [and she means that fondly]

Derek: Plotting against me... not really making me want to leave... [leans into his big sister]

Laura: [slides her arms around him] Derek, sweetie, we've been plotting against you since Cora could talk.

Derek: I knew I wanted mom to give me another brother for a reason.

Cora: [comes back with her soda] Sorry to disappoint you.

Derek: [waits for her to put the soda down before pulling Cora into his lap, going to tickle her] Good thing I like you the way you are then.

Cora: [there's a shriek as she's pulled into his lap, trying to squirm away from him]

Derek: [is leaning back against Laura, pinning her in the process while keeping Cora in his grasp]

Laura: [excuse you, that does not work because by pinning her it means she can get at his ribs, while Cora tries to wrench away from him]

Derek: [laughing, trying to hold onto Cora while wiggling himself now]

Cora: [eventually his fingers slip and she darts across the couch to the chair Derek was sitting in before]

Derek: [and he's left to the mercy of his older sister who is stronger than him]

Laura: [yep. she's going to just pin him to the couch and raise an eyebrow] Even when you're taller than me, I'm still have got this little brother.

Derek: [looks up at his sister and sighs, trying to wiggle out]

Laura: [pulls back and resettles back into her seat, picking up her pizza again] So you're really gonna go, huh?

Derek: [pulls himself back up, reaching for his beer that was in front of Cora] I think so. And if it doesn't work, it's not like I can't just come home.

Laura: Exactly. [she nudges his shoulder a bit with hers] I'm proud of you, Derek.

Derek: [smiles at her, because like Cora likes Derek doting on him, Derek does love Laura's affection even if as the boy he doesn't show it as much] Thanks, sis.

Laura: [takes another bite of her pizza before] So we don't have to be back at the house for a couple hours. What do you wanna do?

Derek: I think I have the old scrabble board around here somewhere.

Cora: I think I've gotten better at that. [she grins]

Derek: Then I won't play easy on either of you.

Laura: Good.