spamalot } { of fathers and sullen teenage daughers

[impetere]

[She tried to stick around as long as she could but eventually Cora snuck out her window and climbed into Stiles’s, where she prompted curled up into bed with him and went to sleep, Stiles curled around her. She stays that way until she hears the Sheriff coming up the stairs to check on him, after which she promptly goes to hide in Stiles’s closet so she doesn’t get him into trouble.]

Sheriff: [knocks and opens door. Stiles is in a very awkward position] Stiles. Stiles.

Stiles: Hmana wha? [blinks awake. He's alone. Why is he alone... oh] Hi Dad.

Sheriff: I'm heading out to work. I made you pancakes, and there's enough in case Scott shows up before you wander down. Need anything else?

Stiles: Nah, I'm good. [looks around the room] I'll bring you lunch?

Cora: [he's alone because his girlfriend is hiding in his closet which he .... really needs to clean]

Sheriff: Sure. I'll text you when I'm getting close to a break and we can meet at the park.

Stiles: [Cora was totally a figment of his imagination then. Yup.] Got it. [and thumping back into his pillow]

Cora: [she waits until five minutes after the sheriff's car leaves the driveway before she ventures out of the closet and making her way back to bed]

Stiles: [his eyes open and he jumps] Holy shit you were just in my dreams...

Cora: You weren't dreaming. [she smirks a bit] I just didn't want you to get into trouble.

Stiles: [blinks, then nods] Good plan. Very good plan. [pulls up the covers]

Cora: [curls back into him, but doesn't go to sleep right away. she's going to have to go home herself soon so that she doesn't get in trouble, but Malia knows where she is and said she would cover for her, so she has a little time. still, she shouldn't stay long] Thanks for letting me stay.

Stiles: You're my girl. Not gonna really kick you out. Plus you're really warm to sleep against. [snuggles up with]

Cora: [she smiles a bit at that, sitting in silence for a moment, her fingers playing with his hand] He's sick. That's why he came back.

Stiles: Your dad? I'm sorry, you know what's wrong?

Cora: [shakes her head] I haven't really talked to him yet. But I can smell it and Peter confirmed it.

Stiles: [hugs her] Maybe you should talk to him. Maybe it's not that bad? [his voice is soft though, because he's remembering his own time when he was eight and learning]

Cora: According to Peter, he had it before. I was too young to really remember. [cancer coming back doesn't really end well, at least that's what they say] They caught it early then because Derek noticed. There wasn't a wolf around to catch it this time.

Stiles: I'm so sorry, Cora.

Cora: I don't know what I'm supposed to do. [she doesn't really have an example to follow and she wishes she did. at least then she would have a place to start.]

Stiles: Well, what do you feel like doing?

Cora: [glances back at him, innocent eyed] Hiding here forever?

Stiles: [laughs] Your uncle would find you and put bars on my windows and yours.

Cora: [smiles a bit] I don't think your dad would like it either. [but if she could, she would]

Stiles: Want some pancakes? You know, before you go sneak home?

Cora: [she shakes her head] I should have it at home. [because she's going to have to deal with this eventually. but she's also not really moving]

Stiles: Okay. [he snuggles her a moment] Cora, can I say something you may hit me for?

Cora: I won't hit you.

Stiles: [bites his lip] I know you're mad at him, and you have every right to be. I remember how mad Scott was.... but if he's really sick, like the kind where you're going to lose him sick? Think about how you want to remember him. Because those last days are all you get to have when he's gone and you can't get another day with him ever again.

Cora: [her eyes fall a bit, focusing on his shirt. Her fingers pick at the material for a moment because she knows he's right (if anyone would know it would be Stiles) but all she has right now is that feeling of being left behind.] What if there isn't anything else? There's just this ... feeling like I'm an afterthought. He's sick again so now he wants to try and fix it. Or he's just there because Mom asked him to be.

Stiles: [shrugs] Maybe sometimes it takes something bad happening to remind you how stupid you were. Maybe that's what he's thinking?

Cora: [nods slowly] What if I do this, I let him be my dad and he dies anyway? [losing him to distance was hard enough. losing him to death would be ten times worse, especially after just getting him back]

Stiles: At least you had your dad back for a little bit. [gives her a small smile] Some people would do anything for that.

Cora: [she knows. and there's a part of her that recognizes that he wants that with her, but that part also just wants to keep away to spite him even if it hurts her in the end, but there's also a part of her that just wants her dad. and she hasn't felt it that strongly in a very long time. It had been a crushing desperate feeling in the first few months after he left, and now it's back, but it's more hopeful. She doesn't want to get her hopes up.] I still don't know what I'm supposed to do.

Stiles: Be mad at him. Tell him how he made you feel. Make him explain. Make him show you that he wants to fix it. But don't just push him away because you're afraid to lose him, or you will and then you're going to hate yourself.

Cora: [she takes a deep breath and she nods. this she can do. Maybe. She looks up at him again] Come over later? [She needs to do this morning on her own, she knows that, but later would be good. If anything else just to be a buffer, or an excuse for her to be elsewhere]

Stiles: Sure. I can bring Scott and lacrosse sticks and you can take turns trying to kill me with flying balls.

Cora: [she laughs a bit at that before nodding] Okay. Thank you.

Stiles: No problem. See you later. [bright grin]

Cora: [nods, leaning in to give him a quick kiss, before sliding on her shoes and back out the window she goes, heading home]

Stiles: [kisses her back, then heads down to eat his breakfast]

Cora: [and she makes her way back home and through her bedroom window, like she was never gone! Except she was and her mom probably knows, but she's not worried about that right now. She does at least have the decency to cover up the new scent of Stiles with more ... Stiles ie. grabbing his lacrosse hoodie that she may have stolen from him (whoops) like she slept in it, and making her way downstairs] Morning.

Talia: [Yep. she totally knows her daughter wasn't here last night, but she's not pushing it right now. At least she's coming down for food voluntarily] Morning. Hungry?

Cora: [nods in agreement before moving to take a seat at the table]

Thomas: [is moving around slowly in the bedroom, getting dressed after getting out of the shower. He's clueless that his daughter wasn't home all night.]

Cora: [she hopes it stays that way] Stiles and Scott might come over later.

Talia: [raises her eyebrows back at her] You all aren't sick of each other after spending a whole weekend together?

Cora: [smirks as she rests her chin on top of her arms] Apparently not.

Thomas: [is making his way downstairs, his knees not all that happy with the stairs, but he gets down them] Man, Tali, I forgot how good you can make a kitchen smell. [and he sees Cora, giving her a small, hesitant smile] Morning Angel. I... if you two ladies are talking, I can go into the living room...

Cora: [her eyes wander over to him and she sits up, back straightening against the chair as she crosses her arms in front of her chest on instinct. The nickname makes her way to close herself off because she hasn't heard anyone call her that in years, but she shakes her head] It's fine. [not the most friendly greeting, but it's not a no either]

Thomas: Okay then. [sits down across from her] Don't let me stop you two...

Talia: [she shakes her head] Cora was just letting me know that some of her friends may be coming over later.

Cora: [nods] Scott and Stiles.

Thomas: [thinks] Stiles is the boyfriend, and Scott is the new beta? Right?

Cora: [is a little surprised that he knows she has a boyfriend, but she nods] Yeah. That's them.

Thomas: Good. Mom told me about them. Sounds like you got yourself a good group of friends.

Cora: [nods again] Yeah. They're great. [she doesn't know what she'd do without them]

Thomas: [gives her a smile. He wants to know more about this Stiles, but he doesn't think he should ask, so he looks at Talia] So what's for breakfast?

Talia: Bacon and eggs. [she starts dishing out the plates, placing them down in front of them. Cora reaches for hers quickly, and starts eating, not really responding to the offered smile, mostly because she doesn't know how]

Thomas: [takes his, waiting for Talia to join them before he starts eating] So I know these old bones aren't all that good, but I can still work my way around a hammer and wrench. Anything in the house need fixing, Tali?

Talia: [leans back in her seat, fingers tapping lightly against her chin] I don't know. Peter's been keeping pretty on top of things.

Thomas: [chuckles] Peter Hale, doing manual labor. Never thought I'd see the day.

Talia: [she laughs] It's a way of keeping him busy, at any rate.

Thomas: Keep him outta trouble, more like it. Peter always found more ways to get into trouble than keep outta it. [laughs]

Cora: [cringes slightly at that, given recent events, but it's there for only a second]

Talia: I think he's grown out of it, lately. You'd be surprised.

Thomas: He looks good though. Not the young man who you'd get mad taking me out for drinks and pool after the kids were in bed.

Talia: [she nods] He's definitely not my kid brother anymore, that's for sure.

Thomas: Guess we all gotta grow up sometime.

Talia: Guess so.

Thomas: [looks over at Cora] Even the littlest ones. [there's a bit of sadness in that, but Thomas knows it's his own fault, and it's all over his face] You sure look like your mom, angel.

Cora: [gives a bit of a shrug as she pushes up the sleeves on Stiles's sweatshirt] That's what they tell me.

Thomas: All three of our kids got lucky and look like you, Tali. It's good. Just more beautiful faces out there in the world to be loved on.

Talia: Derek looks more like you these days. I can see it in his face.

Thomas: Poor boy. Good thing he's already got that girl then. What's her name again?

Cora: Fiona. [and that's ... all she has to contribute atm.]

Thomas: That's it. Now she went out to DC with him, right? Sounds like there's going to be a few weddings to play.

Cora: [her eyebrows go up a bit, confused]

Talia: [oh, right, she was with Laura so she didn't get told] Jason is going to be asking Laura to marry him.

Cora: What? When? [oh look! It's an emotion other than sullen teenager!]

Talia: Probably tonight after dinner.

Thomas: We're all under orders not to call her until tomorrow though. Jason's gone through a lot of trouble making sure he's got the event planned.

Cora: [shakes her head] I won't.

Thomas: It'll be nice. [nods to himself, then actually starts to eat his breakfast]

Cora: [goes back to eating hers, not really sure what to say. Eventually she just pushes away from the table] I'm going get a drink.

Thomas: Angel, could you bring out the orange juice while you're up?

Cora: [she tenses again, at the nickname, but she swallows it back before nodding] Sure.

Thomas: Thank you.

Cora: [she pulls the orange juice out of the fridge and places it out the counter, then while she's not looking] Can you not call me that?

Thomas: [looks at Talia a moment, then licks his lips and nods] Sure thing. Cora.

Talia: [her hand wanders across the table to find his, giving it a soft squeeze. She didn't say it would be easy]

Cora: [relaxes a bit at that, before nodding and returning to the table with the orange juice and a glass of water] Thank you.

Thomas: [squeezes back, then nods in a way, asking if it was time]

Talia: [nods in agreement. Now is as good a time as any.]

Thomas: So, Cora. I'm sure you've got some questions for me and why I'm back.

Cora: [takes a deep breath before looking up and nodding]

Thomas: Ask away then.

Cora: [oh. She wasn't expecting to ... actually have to ask questions. She leans back in her chair, tugging the sleeves of the sweatshirt back down again playing with the worn ends of the sleeves as she tries to think of the best first question to ask] Why are you here? Other than because Mom asked. [Because she knows enough to know that much. She's not specifying to be disrespectful to her mother, but she doesn't want that cop out of an answer]

Thomas: Well, I'm sure you can smell it like your brother and sister can. When you were little, you probably don't remember but I spent a few weeks away because I got sick. It was a cancer. Runs in my side of the family and nothing you'll ever have to worry about. But it's come back, worse than last time. It's going to require some hospital time, and I'm going to probably be weak for a while after. Mom and I talked, and she wanted me to come home so she could take care of me.

Cora: [yeah. she figured that much] So if you get better, are you going to leave again? [it comes out before she really realizes she's saying it but it's one of the things she's worried about]

Thomas: No. [he shook his head] I've... I've been thinking about it for a while, but you kids had all moved on, and I didn't want to hurt you again. I had made my mess and I had to live with it.

Cora: [she can't help the eye roll] If you were just going to come back then why did you even leave in the first place?

Thomas: [looks at Talia, squeezing her hand] Because I was an idiot, and thought you kids would be better off hating me for leaving, then risk you seeing me keep getting sick. You don't remember, but you used to get upset when I was sick to the point you'd have nightmares and we had to have you sleep at Peter's and Derek would get angry and in trouble. I was getting old, and I knew it would come back... and I couldn't keep hurting you kids like that.

Cora: And how does that make us different than any other kids ... ever? [really, she thinks this is a stupid reason] At least it would have felt like I had a dad.

Thomas: [nods to himself] I tried to keep in touch, but I was just a stubborn old man who thought I was doing the right thing.

Cora: [her eyes narrow a bit] How is leaving your family ever the right thing?

Thomas: It isn't, Cora. And it took me leaving and losing you to realize that.

Cora: [exhales with a huff] Well. Glad you know now.

Thomas: Cora, I'm not going to ask you to forgive me. I was wrong, and you should be mad as all hell at me for doing that to you. Not gonna pretend that. And I'm not here to try to be your daddy again. Mom tells me Peter's taken that role, and I'm taking not that from you. But I'm not leaving you again, and I just hope you'll give me a chance to know you again.

Cora: [she sets her jaw a bit, glancing from him to her mother, before finally coming back with] Whatever. [she then glances back to Talia and starts to pick up her plate] Can I be excused?

Talia: [sighs softly, before nodding] I'll let you know when Stiles gets here.

Cora: [and with that she's on her feet to put her dishes in the sink and then heading back upstairs and closing her door behind her]

Thomas: [leans back, rubbing a hand over his face] What did I say wrong, or did I just hit her level of patience?

Talia: [sighs softly] I think she just has a lot of emotions she doesn't really understand, and anger is easier.

Thomas: Maybe I should ask Peter to talk to her for me...

Talia: [she shakes her head] She'll go to him anyway. Just give her a little time to sort out what it is she's feeling.

Thomas: [nods] Wishing Derek was here right about now. He was always good at running interference.

Talia: I'm sure he'll talk to her too. Cora and Derek got to be very close.

Thomas: I just hope this isn't as bad as I fear, Tali. I need to at least make it right with her before God takes me off this place.

Talia: [she reaches over and gives his hand a squeeze] She just needs to adjust to the idea. Don't worry. Just let her figure some things out.

Thomas: Warn me if I'm pushing too hard, alright? Or not enough.

Talia: [she nods] I will.

Thomas: So, you cooked an amazing meal. I'll go do the dishes so you can relax.

Talia: [she smiles, giving his hand another squeeze] Thank you. I'll be in the living room.

Thomas: [stands up, then leans in to kiss her, then heads to the sink to start washing]