spamalot } { of full moons and switching back

[impetere]

Stiles: [growling, fangs out and eyes glowing] Stay away from me....

Talia: [eyes glow right back, and she closes the door behind him] Stiles, I'm your alpha. I'm not going to hurt you.

Peter: [goes to take sentry duty to keep the right people in and out, put focusing on the room]

Stiles: [he pulls back a bit more, the beast inside of him conflicted. Wanting to lash out at the world that hurts him, but it was his alpha and that kept him from leaping]

Talia: [she takes a few steps closer, reaching out her hand for him] It's okay, Stiles.

Stiles: [snarls in warning, his hands that were covering his ears flex a bit more, claws scratching at his scalp] It's not okay. It's never okay. Just stay... stay away from me.

Talia: I'm not leaving you alone. I'm your alpha. You're part of my pack that means you never walk alone.

Stiles: [he scrunched his eyes shut, shaking his head] I just want this gone, I don't want it Talia, I can't control it and it hurts.

Talia: You can control it. I know you can. [she crouches down in front of him] Find that anchor, Stiles. Something that grounds you. Something that you aren't you without.

Stiles: [growls, digging the claws in deeper, curling up more] I... can't... think.

Talia: Don't let the wolf own you, Stiles. [she does her best to hold his focus] Think of Dina. Think of how she makes you feel. How you are around her.

Stiles: [there's no answer but a deep, dark snarl]

Talia: Stiles. [there's a bit of warning in her voice] If you can't stop the anger, then use the anger. Take the emotion and tie your humanity to it. Get angry enough at your lack of control and take it back.

Stiles: [he growls, and then he turns to punch at the wall, the fear bleeding to anger again as he tried]

Talia: Come on, Stiles. You can do this. Take control. For every time you've had it taken from you, don't lose it now.

Stiles: [he planted his hands to the wall, teeth bared as he tried, and finally a howl just ripped out of his throat as he fought the wolf inside of him]

Talia: That's it. Keep going. You can do it.

Stiles: [he put his forehead against the wall, panting and his hands shaking, eyes closed, and slowly he shifted back into looking like himself]

Talia: [smiles a bit as he does, and while normally there would be a reassuring hand on the shoulder here, she didn't think that would be best] Good. Good, Stiles.

Stiles: [he turns to look at her, giving her a small smile, and then his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out as the spell took hold of him]

Talia: [and she's going to use those werewolf reflexes to catch him, easing him gently onto the floor]

Cora: [meanwhile Cora is going to jerk awake from Scott's shoulder, sucking in a sharp breath and her eyes glowing gold]

Scott: [blinks, looking over at Cora] Oh wow, um, you're back to normal.

Cora: [nods a bit, before starting to push up to her feet, but as she does, her vision swims, causing her to drop back down again] Okay, that wasn't awesome.

Scott: [catches her] Maybe it takes a moment to readjust... Peter! Peter the spell's doing its thing....

Peter: [hears it and leans into the door] Tali?

Talia: He's unconscious. But human from what I can tell, and otherwise fine.

Peter: [opens the door, going in and kneeling beside them] Cora's got her wolf back. Do you want to check on her? I can take care of him now.

Talia: [nods and starts to make her way upstairs] Take him to the guest room for the night. He shouldn't have to take this back to his room.

Cora: [leans into Scott a bit before turning into him a little more and inhaling deeply] I have never been so happy to be able to smell you.

Scott: Hey, be careful with that nose. Allison finds out and I can't be held responsible. [but he's grinning because he's so glad to have her back to normal too]

Peter: I'll check and see if he has any injuries that aren't healing and clean them up as well. [pulls Stiles into his arms, carefully picking up the unconscious boy and standing up to take him upstairs]

Talia: [nods as she gets upstairs, moving towards her daughter and looking her over] How are you feeling?

Cora: Aside from a little vertigo, I'm awesome? Everything feels back to normal.

Talia: Well, don't push it tonight. You should get some rest.

Cora: What about Stiles?

Scott: Yeah, is he okay?

Peter: [appears a moment later, moving towards the guest room] He's just fine, just wore himself out.

Cora: [a lot of concerned face, before glancing back towards her mother]

Talia: [takes a deep breath before nodding] Go. It's not like you won't sneak back down there anyway.

Cora: [gives her a smile and gets to her feet - slowly this time - and then following after Peter]

Talia: [to Scott] Spending the night?

Scott: Allison and Lydia were having a girl’s night while mom and John have the grandkids. I may as well.

Talia: I'll get you a pillow and a blanket, then.

Scott: Thanks. Can I help with anything? [since he will wait until after Peter leaves before checking on the others]

Peter: [laying Stiles down carefully on the bed, his fingers moving through Stiles' hair trying to look at his head and see if there are cuts in there where the dried blood was still evident]

Talia: [shakes her head] Peter's got it. You need the rest too.

Cora: [lingers in the doorway, waiting for Peter finish. She could smell his fear, his anger that's lingering on his skin and she wants to go to him, but she'll wait until Peter's sure he's okay]

Peter: [chuckles as he goes to get Stiles a change of clothes] You don't have to hover, Cora. You should be resting.

Cora: [slightly sheepish] I just didn't want to get in your way. [because she's going to rest right there]

Peter: He's going to be very sore in the morning. [working on getting Stiles changed] Can you get me the first aid kit from the bathroom?

Cora: [she nods before going to do just that, coming back and handing it back to him]

Peter: [goes to clean up the few scratches that were at the edge of Stiles' hairline] He got his control back before the spell ended, you know.

Cora: [sits on the edge of the bed, her hand finding his and curling around his fingers] I knew he could do it. He didn't believe me.

Peter: I think it may benefit you both to look into his fear at his lack of control in life. [he looks down at Stiles a moment, carefully pushing back the hair from his forehead] Sometimes when you work to put everyone else's happiness first, you believe you're happy and in control, but in reality, you're still sacrificing everything for them and in effect, giving all the control of your life to them.

Cora: [she brushes her fingers against his, before looking down] Part of the reason why we broke up.

Peter: It's ironic how you two have completely changed places in life over the last few years. [he moves to sit on the bed next to Cora] You know, when you and Stiles first started dating, he was always good at just knowing how to dig into that head of yours and help guide you out of it.

Cora: Yeah, he was. I wish I was better at helping him.

Peter: You have the power to do it, Cora. You just need to confidence that he used to have in doing it. Even if Stiles was completely wrong - and he was so many times - he still believed in himself and everything he said. You need to have that confidence with him too. Even if you don't know what's going to happen, just believe in it anyway.

Cora: [sighs softly] Things can be so delicate with him sometimes. I don't want to say the wrong thing.

Peter: Saying the wrong things has to happen. That's how you find the ways to help him. You can't protect him from what the Graysons did to him - that's already happened. You need to help him realize what's holding him back still and to help guide him to heal from it.

Cora: [nods a bit, one hand moving up to brush against his forehead] I know. I just don't like hurting him like that.

Peter: I know you don't. But you're not hurting him, you're helping him grow. And that comes with growing pains.

Cora: [she glances back at Peter for a moment, before nodding and shifting so that she's lying next to him]

Peter: [leans down and kisses Cora's cheek] Call one of us if you need us.

Cora: [nods in agreement, waiting until Peter's gone before curling in to Stiles, taking in the scent and feel of him against her and sighing contently]

Stiles: [after a bit of complete stillness, Stiles finally groaned a bit and shifted to curl a bit more into her]

Cora: [she smiles softly at that, shifting her arms so that she's cradling him against her]

Stiles: [a few more minutes and his brown eyes blink open sleepily, looking over at her] Cora?

Cora: [moves her hand to brush against his face softly as she nods] Hi.

Stiles: Hey. [he shifts a bit, then groans again] God, I feel like I was hit by a truck.

Cora: Yeah, you're going to be sore. Especially without the healing. But a good hot shower should help.

Stiles: ... That means I'm human again?

Cora: [she nods, before her eyes flash gold briefly] We're all back to normal.

Stiles: Oh thank god. [sighs and curls more into her] You can keep it.

Cora: [her fingers come up to run through his hair] I intend to.

Stiles: I didn't hurt anyone, right?

Cora: [shakes her head] Nope. Everyone's just fine.

Stiles: Good. Good.

Cora: Peter said you managed to get control in the end, though.

Stiles: [he thinks, then nods his head] Barely. But yeah, your mom helped.

Cora: Good. [she pauses for a moment, curling her fingers in his hair] How're you doing?

Stiles: I feel drained. Exhausted.

Cora: You should get some sleep.

Stiles: [nods] I will. Is... will you stay?

Cora: [she nods, giving him a small smile] I'm not going anywhere.

Stiles: Good. Good. [his eyes drift closed]

Cora: [she slides her fingers through his hair, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his forehead] Just sleep. I'll be here when you wake up.

Stiles: Okay. [and nope, he's out again]

Cora: [she'll stay up for a while, but eventually the closeness and the comfort of really being with him again will ease her off to sleep as well]

Scott: [and halfway through the night he's going to sneak into the room and see both of them, and he's going to just resettle onto the floor and fall back asleep there]

Cora: [barely even notices, just content and tangled up in Stiles]

Peter: [ducks his head in to check on them all an hour after, shakes his head, and then comes back out amused at the threesome]

Talia: [glances over and raises an eyebrow] Something funny?

Peter: Just the three of them. Still falling into old habits when it comes to one of them being hurt.

Talia: Some things never change.

Peter: No, they don't, and it's refreshing to see.

Talia: It is.

Peter: [goes to sit next to her, silent and putting his hand on top of hers] Another beta successfully gaining control under your tutelage.

Talia: [gives his hand a squeeze] After so many, it shouldn't be surprising.

Peter: No, but you're still very impressive to watch. Trust me, I'm your brother.

Talia: I'll take your word for it.

Peter: Good. Not that you don't have a few more betas coming up in a few years to help.

Talia: [deep breath] All at once, too.

Peter: Yes, within a few years of each other, depending on how they pan out. Ryan, Noah, and any other little McCall puppies, plus Malia and Isaac's brood, and if and when Cora and Stiles start... plus Derek's little home for abandoned wolf pups.

Talia: [she nods] Some will have it easier than others.

Peter: As all betas do. However, it is probably time I let you know there may be one more beta added to that generation.

Talia: [eyebrows raise]

Peter: [smiles] There is no guarantee, but it is something one does want to have with a mate.

Talia: [the surprised look melts only slightly when she smiles] Are you sure about this? We're not exactly spring chickens anymore.

Peter: Speak for yourself, sister. I am your baby brother, remember? [grins]

Talia: Have you talked to Malia about this?

Peter: [nods] I actually asked if she was okay with it first. I wouldn't want to do something that would make her uncomfortable, after all.

Talia: [she nods] Then good. I'm happy for you.

Peter: Thank you. At least this time, I know what I'm getting myself into.

Talia: The second one is usually easier.

Peter: I hope so. Not that Malia wasn't hard to raise, but it will be nice to have Nadia there to share this with.

Talia: I'm sure it will.

Peter: I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't scared.

Talia: I think you'll be fine, Peter.

Peter: I'm sure I will be, but it's still scary trying to plan this.

Talia: Why's that?

Peter: Just... as you said, we aren't as young as we once were. And with all of the kids starting their families, it's just... awkward.

Talia: [waves a hand] They'll get over it.

Peter: [nods] I figured as much.

Talia: Really, Peter. This is good.

Peter: I know. And I'm looking forward to it. I miss having a little one in my house too.

Talia: [she nods for a moment] I think we all do.

Peter: I will make sure to come over just as often as I did with Malia back in the days when I was flailing about not knowing a single thing about fatherhood.

Talia: [she laughs at that] I appreciate that.

Peter: [squeezes her hand again] Though you will at least be spared my aversion to diaper changes. I've gotten over that particular issue.

Talia: I'd hoped as much.

Peter: [looks back at the guest room] I can stay up and listen to the kids for the night if you want to get some sleep.

Talia: [she shakes her head] I think we'll be fine. You should go home.

Peter: You sure?

Talia: [she nods] Positive. Go home to your mate.

Peter: [smiles and gets up, kissing his sister on the top of her head] Call if you need me.

Talia: [nods and leans back into the couch to settle in for the night]

Stiles: [about three hours after he had fallen asleep, he starts to make the bad whimpering noises of his getting caught up in a nightmare.]

Cora: [with her hearing back she stirs easily, catching on with what's happening and shaking him hard] Stiles! Stiles wake up!

Scott: [stirs as well, crawling to the side of the bed to check on them both]

Stiles: [ shakes his head, trying to pull away in his sleep a moment, and then snaps awake, eyes wide and panting]

Cora: [her hands come up to cup the sides of his face, bringing his eyes to her gently] Look at me. Look at me. It's just a nightmare. You're okay.

Stiles: [blinks, nodding a moment and looking at her] Just a nightmare.

Scott: You two okay?

Cora: [her eyes soften a bit as she looks at him, but she doesn't look away when she addresses Scott] Yeah, we're fine.

Stiles: [bites his lower lip] Yeah, I'm fine. You guys can go back to sleep.

Cora: [yeah, that's not going to happen. At least not right away. She'll just keep watching him, fingers brushing gently against the side of his face]

Scott: [nope, not believing you at all, and he's really tempted to crawl into bed with both of you, but it's Cora's mate first, so he will stay down until he's invited in] You wanna talk about it?

Stiles: Not really. [he leans into Cora's gentle petting though]

Cora: [she keeps going, using her touch to soothe him and hopefully coax him back to sleep]

Stiles: [eventually he is going to drift back to sleep]

Cora: [shifts so that he's cradled against her, before glancing back to Scott] He's had a rough night. I'm not surprised.

Scott: That's why I came in here. I figured he could use all the support he could soak up.

Cora: [she nods] I'm sure he appreciates it, even if it didn't seem like it.

Scott: Yeah, he's been closing off again because of the whole wolf thing. I'm glad it's over.

Cora: The wolf was rough on him. Dealing with a lot of the instincts we have ... he wasn't ready for it.

Scott: Well, it took me a long time to figure it out, but maybe it's just easier to deal with it as a teenager when things are already all crazy hormone wise.

Cora: Maybe. I don't know. But I do know it's intense. We never really talked about how intense it was for me.

Scott: He saw a lot of it with me. But that was a long time ago now. And Stiles... [he huffs] I dunno, I think he thought he would suppress it like he does everything else these days.

Cora: [she nods] I know he does. But you can't just force things out of him. Sometimes you need to let him come to you.

Scott: I just try to treat him like I always have.

Cora: [there's a pause] But he's not the same, Scott.

Scott: I know. Trust me, I do. I just felt that if I treated him like everything had changed, then there would be no way to get him back. I know it's not the same, but I just don't know what else I can do.

Cora: [she shifts a bit, turning so that she's facing Scott more] Scott, the old Stiles ... he's not coming back, not completely. He has to learn to be okay with the person he is now. How can he do that if you won't let him change? [she pauses before reaching for his hand] He doesn't want to lose you. But he can't have you if you're trying to not lose the person he used to be.

Scott: [nods and squeezes her hand] I hate her so much, Cora. I swear, if she had been there the day I picked him up...

Cora: She better never show her face here again.

Scott: I'll hold her down and you hit her? [small smile]

Cora: [she laughs softly and nods] Sounds good.

Scott: [nods, looking at Stiles] I guess I'll have to figure something out.

Cora: [she nods a bit, before moving her hand back to Stiles's shoulder] Just ... get to know him again. You'll fall into the rest. You're still Scott and Stiles, you've just changed a little.

Scott: [nods] I'm not really all that good at change, you know.

Cora: I know. But you're not the same guy you were when he left either.

Scott: ..... Well, pretty much? I mean, I'm a father and husband now, but I'm still the same guy.

Cora: Father and husband are big things.

Scott: Yeah, but that stuff's easy.

Cora: Maybe. But it's still different.

Scott: [shrugs] But nothing like what he went through. I mean, Allison's family has got issues when it comes to me, but I can't imagine actually living through that on a day to day basis. I just thought not talking about it and just trying to be who he knows I am to him would have been the right play.