new york wolves } { of christmas traditions and working out frustration

[beanchaointe]

Stiles: [driving, since his jeep was kept in Beacon Hills still] I wasn't going to ask, but I'm pretty certain Scott just covered his bedroom ceiling in mistletoe.

Lydia: Good plan. I know it certainly wasn't for us.

Stiles: Yeah, pretty sure that ship's sailed at this point.

Lydia: I'm sure they'll have a very merry Christmas.

Stiles: Oh, I'm sure.

Lydia: [nods as she looks out the window, before letting her hands wander down over the Jeep] I can't believe you still have this car.

Stiles: Dad keeps it in the garage. I don't need a car in New York, after all.

Lydia: Never thought about upgrading?

Stiles: Nope. This is my baby, why would I?

Lydia: Most boys would probably look for a better baby.

Stiles: Nah, this one's perfect the way she is. We have history, and she's very dependable.

Lydia: Well, whatever works for you.

Stiles: Not everything is about being bigger and better, newer and fancier.

Lydia: Oh really? Then what is it about?

Stiles: Finding things that you can rely on. Find meaning. Making what you have count, and cherishing it for what it is, not what it does for you.

Lydia: [nods slowly] Not bad.

Stiles: When you're given a death sentence, you learn to reevaluate your life.

Lydia: And did you find it? Meaning?

Stiles: I thought I did. I thought I had it all figured out. [his eyes look up at the moon and he sighs] And then I fucked it all up.

Lydia: [pauses, considering for a moment, between rolling her head to look at him] Want to talk about it?

Stiles: Not really.

Lydia: Have you talked to ... anybody about it?

Stiles: Nope.

Lydia: I might be able to help.

Stiles: Not interested. [and he's pulling up next to her place and putting the jeep in park]

Lydia: Fair enough. [she picks up her bag and presents and then glances back to him with a small smile] Want to come in for a bit? My mom won't be home for a couple hours.

Stiles: [he looks up at the sky, feeling the wolf under his skin clawing at him. He was hoping to get a run in at the preserve to try and sate it] I could stay for a bit if you don't want to be alone.

Lydia: [she's embarrassed to ask, really, but] ... Just in case? [she hasn't had an episode in months, but she doesn't want to start now]

Stiles: [he sighs, and nods] Alright, just for a bit.

Lydia: [there's a small smile before she nods] Thank you.

Stiles: [and he will get out of the jeep, hands in his pockets as he walks around waiting for her to get out. She lost door opening privileges and she's not helpless]

Lydia: [she already has the door open by the time he gets there and she slides down onto the sidewalk, closing the door behind her] So do you and your dad have any plans?

Stiles: Not really. Breakfast, watching Christmas Story, and ordering Chinese food probably.

Lydia: Sounds nice.

Stiles: What about you guys?

Lydia: Brunch with my mom's side of the family and dinner with my dads. [she pauses to put the key in the door before opening it for him] Typical divorced child holiday.

Stiles: [he would point out the whole at least she still had them both, but he didn't] So busy.

Lydia: [she nods, and no she's not ungrateful] They learned early on that trying to stomach each other, even just for one day for my benefit was a bad idea. So busy holiday instead of ... bracing for nuclear warfare.

Stiles: I'm surprised they didn't just split up today and tomorrow instead.

Lydia: No, that would involve my dad and his new family shortening their vacation in Aspen. Can't have that. [she makes her way inside and places her things down by the door] Not that I really care. I chose to live with my mom for a reason.

Stiles: Sounds like he's still up for best father award. [sarcasm]

Lydia: Oh yeah. A plaque and everything. [she flops down on the couch, gesturing for him to sit next to her if he wants]

Stiles: [he's going to, but keeping some distance.] So... you want to see if there's some mindless Christmas movie on?

Lydia: [nods, before glancing around to look for the remote] I'm sure we can find something.

Stiles: Mind if I get some water?

Lydia: [shakes her head] Go ahead. Kitchen's in the same place.

Stiles: [and he's going to get up and go to get a bottle of water from the fridge, and a second one for her in case she's thirsty as he comes back] Find anything.

Lydia: [glances up with a smile as she reaches for the second bottle] Charlie Brown?

Stiles: Yeah, that's a good one. [flops down next to her. Watching the television was easier than talking]

Lydia: [it is. and she'll just sit there and sip her water, absently focusing on the TV and not the man on the couch next to her]

Stiles: [and he's going to be fine at first, but his leg is going to just start to bounce after a bit, his mind wondering just what the Hales were doing. What Cora was doing right now...]

Lydia: [catches the movement, and then turning her attention back to the screen] Anxious about something?

Stiles: [puts his hand on his leg to stop it bouncing] I'm fine, just thinking.

Lydia: Right. That stuff you don't want to talk about. [she doesn't mean for it to sound sarcastic but it's Lydia so she can't help it sometimes]

Stiles: That would be the stuff. [and you wonder why he doesn't want to talk about it]

Lydia: [yes, well, she can't help herself sometimes] You know they say that bottling anxiety increases your risk for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Stiles: Neither of which are going to be the things that kill me.

Lydia: Is that so?

Stiles: Pretty sure I've got bigger problems.

Lydia: So you're banking on your failing brain beating you to the heart attack?

Stiles: Pretty much.

Lydia: Good luck with that.

Stiles: Hey, you don't get to make judgments on how I live my life, Lydia. You gave up that right when you walked away when I needed you. [he sighs and goes to get up, feeling that anger rising a bit too easily] I'm gonna go home.

Lydia: [closes her eyes as she lets her head thump against the couch] No, I'm sorry. I'm not ... damnit. [she doesn't want to be alone. She really doesn't want to be alone because when she's alone she almost feels like if she's waiting for the noises and sounds and voices to start reappearing] Please don't go.

Stiles: Why, so you can sit here and either berate me for my choices, or try to get me to talk about shit you wouldn't even begin to understand? [he's angrier than she's probably used to seeing him be, a slight growl in his voice that never used to be there when he was upset]

Lydia: I wasn't trying to ... [she huffs for a moment, crossing her arms in front of her chest. It's just as easy for him to rile her up as it is for her to do it to him. Fighting was one of the things they were good at. Fighting and competition is what they were at the end of the day but that doesn't mean that Lydia didn't also care about him, even if she wasn't the best at showing it] Do you think it's any easier for me?! I can't talk to Allison because all I get from her is worry and pity and all my friends at Northwestern think I'm some kind of mental case. I'm just sick of people treating me like I'm going to break and you're the only person anywhere who doesn't look at me like I'm fragile.

Stiles: [he just sets his jaw and sighs, yelling at himself because he know what that felt like, which is the reason why he wasn't doing that to her. But she could talk to him about what was bothering her, and her fears. He couldn't. The whole "being a werewolf" was a secret that he couldn't trust to everyone he cared about because of the problems that came with it. Finally, he just snorted] They obviously don't know you well enough. Everyone here knows Lydia Martin's the girl who can handle anything she's given with enough time and a healthy budget. [the anger faded a bit]

Lydia: [she laughs softly, at that, not entirely happy because most days she isn't sure she's handling this as well as she'd like to project. Not being able to trust your own senses isn't really a comforting thing. But she takes down some of her defensive stance with his anger fading] Clearly. [her shoulders relax some] I just ... being alone sort of ... makes me second guess everything I'm hearing and seeing and if you're here, even if you hate me, at least I know when I hear something whether or not it's just me. And I don't want you to hate me or make you think I'm ... [she purses her lips] I just don't know how I'm supposed to be around you anymore, so I ... default to what I know best.

Stiles: Yeah, which makes you wonder how healthy our relationship actually was to begin with if the best way we can handle each other is sarcasm and criticism.

Lydia: It was at least a step up from me and Jackson?

Stiles: Still don't know what you saw in him to begin with.

Lydia: He wasn't always like that. At least not to me. [but she is not here to talk about Jackson Whittemore] Look, I'm pretty sure as far as normal people's standards go we kind of sucked as a couple. But I think we were sort of good at being friends once.

Stiles: [nods] Yeah, we were. But I'm not the same guy anymore. Literally.

Lydia: Neither am I.

Stiles: It's just going to take me some time, alright? I'm still working on trying not to think about how much you hurt me every time I look at you. I'll get there, I just... [licks his lips, fidgeting a bit as he clamped down at the wolf trying to rise up again] It's a lot of anger to get past.

Lydia: Then maybe you should just ... let it out. [she gestures in front of her with her arms] Let me have it. God knows I deserve it and you never did.

Stiles: [laughs, a bit harshly] It's not as easy as that. I wish the hell it was.

Lydia: Would it at least be a start?

Stiles: [deep breath.] Fine. [thinks, because while he wants to rip her to shreds with his feelings, he's not that kind of guy. Even if there is a part that wants to be that guy]

Lydia: [will basically just stand there and brace herself for impact, because she's prepared for him to rip her to shreds. She knows she deserves it and maybe without this thing in between them they actually stand a chance at moving forward]

Stiles: What hurts the most was ever since we met... I've been in love with you. And you never even noticed me like that. Hell, you barely noticed me at all most of our childhood until Jackson started to give you shit. And so here I am, holding your hand while you cry over his ass, and treating you like a queen and the most important person in my life, and the one time, the one fucken time I needed you to be there for me, you bail on me because it isn't what you want in your life. You think I wanted this shit? You think I woke up one day saying "hey, you know, life sucks, let's just go out in a painful way and let my brain deteriorate and make Lydia be there for me?" Because I didn't. It came out of nowhere and it hurt and then to have you throw all the affection and love I gave to you back in my face like it was nothing to you on top of that... I'm surprised I didn't slit my wrists that night. I was pretty damn close to it. Only reason I didn't is because Scott refused to leave me alone for a week to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. But I bet you didn't know that, or care since I didn't even see you again until last week.

Lydia: [her eyes drop to the ground as she finishes and she shakes her head] I didn't. [a beat] And I'm not going to give you any excuses either. I did the wrong thing because I was scared and it was the easy way out. I said I'm sorry before and I'm saying it again now and I can't even say it's because I didn't love you because I did. [she glances up for a moment and gives a bit of a laugh] Oddly enough, it was because I did. I was a scared, dumb eighteen year-old and I reacted with my gut instead of thinking it through.

Stiles: Yeah, but I was a scared, dumb eighteen year old who was told I wasn't going to get to live to see my twenty first birthday. [there's a harsh little laugh] And you never once bothered to even check and see if I was still alive, did you? You say you loved me, but it was like you just disappeared from my life. Eighteen months, Lydia. Not even a phone call or an email. I mean, at this point I don't even remember why I loved you in the first place anymore. All that is gone, and that's why I can't believe that you really ever even loved me at all when you say that. [and the fact he was currently reliving it all with Cora again wasn't helping him any]

Lydia: And what would I have said, Stiles? Oh hey, it's me! The girl who ripped your heart out. Just wanted to check in and see if you were still alive. [she exhales slowly] I had my mom ask your dad once how you were doing. Didn't feel right asking him myself. He said you were in New York, and you were making friends and it seemed like you were happy. I figured it was probably for the best if I didn't make a reappearance. Too little too late and all of that.

Stiles: No, more of a "hey Stiles, I'm sorry I hurt you and I knew I was wrong, and wanted to see if you were okay" would be nice. But of course, that would be admitting you were wrong and that's something Lydia Martin never admits to

Lydia: I just did! Five minutes ago! And you know what, not long after that I was dealing with my own brain being out to get me and the cops thinking I was some kind of serial killer, so sorry if you weren't my first thought while I was trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with me.

Stiles: See, and here you are, tuning it back on poor little me. This is supposed to be me getting out MY anger.

Lydia: [huffs for a moment as she buries her face in her hands dropping back down onto the couch for a moment as she tries to compose herself again] You're right. I'm sorry. [for a lot of things. She pauses, before taking a breath] Would you have really wanted to have heard from me? During any of that, would it have actually changed anything? Or would you have deleted the email the second you saw it?

Stiles: Yes, because you made me feel like I was a worthless piece of trash you just threw away and forgot. I felt cheap and used and I was dying and I just wanted people to be there for me and to make amends. [there are tears in his eyes that he pushes away angrily]

Lydia: [she looks down at her hands, picking at her fingers for a moment, before she says softly, quietly] I couldn't watch you be not you. I wasn't strong enough for that. [and she thought it was better to run in the beginning than in the end, when he was gone and she already knew what Stiles-not-Being-Stiles looked like]

Stiles: Well, for the record - the Stiles you knew is gone. After everything I've gone through, I'm not him, and I never will be. So you want to try and be friends again, fine. We can try - [and there's are verbal quotes on that word] - but I promise you, you may not like everything you see. There are reasons I'm here and not in New York right now, ones you don't get to know. [his hand is twitching hard, the energy built up in him needing to be released] And right now this is probably the worst day to make me do this.

Lydia: I think I can handle it. There may be things you don't like about the new me either. [but she can figure it out. she'll do better this time, if he'll give her the chance to try. really try. But at least everything there is out in the open. She glances down at her watch and there's still an hour until her mom gets back and while she doesn't want to be alone she doesn't want him to feel like he's a prisoner here either] You can go, if you want. I'll figure it out.

Stiles: No, I said I'd stay I just.... now I'm angry and worked up and I have no way to burn off this adrenaline.

Lydia: [sighs as she gets up, a bit of irritation there because she's giving him what he wanted - the ability to leave] And I'm releasing you from the obligation. If you don't want to be here, go.

Stiles: [but now he would be doing what she was telling him to do and grr] So what, you're letting me go because you don't want to listen anymore. Fine. Same as always. [and he'll turn and head for the door]

Lydia: [and now she's pissed even more] Damnit, Stiles! There's no way I can make you happy in this is there? I tell you to tear me apart, and you get pissed when I respond, I let you leave, and now you're mad because I'm giving you what you wanted. Do you have any idea how insane that is?

Stiles: What makes you think there's any way anyone can make me happy right now? [enjoy that big clue in his problems Lydia]

Lydia: [oh, yeah, she's going to take it. There's a look in her eye that probably made most people run in fear in high school because in a fight she's like a dog with a bone once she latches on to something] Oh ho - this isn't all about me, is it? You're just using me as a convenient dumping ground because I let you.

Stiles: Did I mention anyone else? No. This is you and me. Things that YOU did effect me after you're long gone.

Lydia: Oh, please you don't have to mention it. It's written all over your face. You've been sulky and sullen ever since you got back and that poor excuse of a hygiene choice - [she holds up a finger as she moves closer and circles it around his face to indicate the beard] - has nothing to do with me. You may be keeping it just to annoy me because I told you to get rid of it but I didn't cause it. So let's see if we can figure out what it is. [she moves her finger to tap against her chin] Failing classes? Get kicked out of some geeky little club? [he should have slammed her earlier because he should have known it would come back around to him, and Lydia Martin wouldn't pull her punches. Especially when she's pissed off in her own right] Girlfriend dump you?

Stiles: [and she will be rewarded with a growl, but that growl is really not something that she has heard from her]

Lydia: [no, it's not, but she's an idiot so she doesn't stop, she just digs those hooks in tighter, now that she has something to pull on] Yep. Definitely a girlfriend. Poor Stiles. I guess that some guys really do have all the luck. What was it - did she decide she could do better?

Stiles: [the look was getting dangerous as the wolf in him rose in response to the talk about Cora, and he stalked a step closer]

Lydia: [she doesn't back down. She never backs down. She's Lydia Martin and even though the look he's giving her right now is extremely unsettling she's not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he's scaring her] I guess that's your loss. [there's a beat as she feigns not knowing any better] Oh, wait - is that phrase supposed to be her loss? I always get those two confused.

Stiles: [no, that is him pushing her back against the wall, a very dangerous look in his eyes that are just a hair from starting to glow with the rise of emotions he was not doing a good job keeping clamped down on] Shut. Up. Now.

Lydia: [her back hits the wall and he can probably hear her heartbeat start to rise, picking up just a few extra beats per minute, but her face remains cool and calm. She doesn't give, and just leans in to challenge him right back] Make me.

Stiles: [there's a growl, and then old habits just take over because this is actually not the first time they've been in this position. Which would be why he's leaning down and kissing her hard & angry]

Lydia: [the kiss catches her by surprise at first, because what was that she was just saying about them sucking romantically? But after the initial moments of surprise have passed, the wall of loneliness and longing and want hits her hard and she gives in - or more accurately gives back. She meets him for the hard and angry every step of the way as one hand comes up to rest against the back of his neck, using it to pull him in closer]

Stiles: [his lonlieness, the lack of having had any affection for weeks now, the pain inside of him from being apart from Cora for so long... it was all overwhelming and that was why he didn't back away and instead pushed forward, pinning her to the wall and lifting her to get her legs around his waist as all the pent up energy found it's source of being released and fueled the fire in him as he deepened the kiss, fingers digging into her legs as he ground against her]

Lydia: [she uses her legs to tug him in closer as she's lifted meeting him for every motion and every choice. Lydia doesn't give the way Cora does - she's used to having to take what she wants, more often than not, and needing to provide instruction to make sure it's done properly. But Stiles is taking charge far more than he did when they were together so it was more like a battle for dominance than their encounters before, and she doesn't intend on giving in any more than he is]

Stiles: [his brain is turning off and giving way to his new instincts, and he's rough and firm - no longer the soft gentle touches of a worshiping lover. He is all but clawing her shirt up and off so that he could attack her breasts with first his hands, then his mouth]

Lydia: [when he breaks the kiss she takes gasping breaths over the top of his head, eyes darting to the front door and back to what they're doing before her eyes close for a moment and she places a hand against his shoulder] Upstairs ... we should ... upstairs.

Stiles: [it's enough of a break for his mind to catch up to him, enough for him to look at the door and nod. He knows he needs to stop - he shouldn't be doing this. He was cheating on Cora and that just added to the hurt in him, but he needs the affection so badly. He nods, letting her go and bending down to grab her top.]

Lydia: [she settles onto her feet before taking his hand and pulling him back through the house - not that he doesn't know the way but it's her way of giving him a chance to back out and say no if that's what he wants. She can see the indecision there and she doesn't want to be something he regrets even more than he already does. So once they're in the quiet of her bedroom, with the door closed behind them and she's climbing back into his lap, she'll ask again] Are you sure about this?

Stiles: [he shook his head, not looking at her, but in his own spiral of thoughts] I'm not sure about anything, anymore. I just want to not think.

Lydia: [she nods. Well that she can do. So she won't give him a chance to second guess himself and just lean in to kiss him again, the same level of hard and hungry that they had been using before and pushing him backwards onto the bed under her]

Stiles: [it only takes him a minute to be back in the moment, surrendering to the wolf and it's needs. Of course, that also means Lydia doesn't get to be on top for once, and he is going to flip them once he's back in the heat of the moment, his feet kicking off his sneakers before pushing himself further up the bed to grind down against her]

Lydia: [This is Lydia. Even if she isn't on top she's going to try and top from the bottom, trying to use what little leverage she has from this position to pull him in closer and put him where she wants him. She's all for a battle of wills because that is what they're best at too. Only this way is a lot more of a fun way to do it. Her hands move to tug at his shirt to get it off him, letting her nails drag down his back as they moved to the waistband of his pants]

Stiles: [his hands are going to grab hers, pinning them to the bed by her head after his shirt is off. He isn't ready for that yet, and there's a small snarl as his wolf is trying to assert his dominance here]

Lydia: [okay, that is new. She tries to push back against him to get her hands free, but when he doesn't seem to want to give that up she gives in - only a little and only for now - to wait patiently until he's ready to let her go. Her hips just press up into his instead, meeting his grinding with some of her own]

Stiles: [he's just kissing along her jaw, and then skips to her breasts again. He doesn't kiss her neck - he's not drawn there with her - and his hips grind roughly against hers. As he sucks on her breasts, she will feel his teeth dragging more than he probably used to, and if she has the ability to focus, she may notice that they are a bit sharper than she remembers]

Lydia: [she's not really paying that close attention, so as long as he's not drawing blood, she can handle a few hickeys. She continues to meet the slow grind of his hips as his ministrations draw more sounds from her now that her mouth isn't blocked by his own]

Stiles: [he probably won't leave marks. He's not claiming her. But as he can smell her need grow he's going to let her arms go because he needs them to get her pants off as he kisses her stomach. He will pull the pants off first, then her panties before diving between her legs to take in her scent. It's not Cora, and his wolf knows it. It's not as sweet or tempting to him, but it will do for now. But the craving, the urge to devour and to make sure he's pleasing her isn't nearly as strong]

Lydia: [she's not really dwelling on the details of it, not wanting to think about it just as much as he does. She lifts her hips to meet the press of his tongue, her fingers sliding into his hair to guide him just to where she wants him so that they both get what they're looking for out of this as quickly as possible]

Stiles: [the taste is wrong, and he's not going to stay there too long, no matter what Lydia's hands are guiding him to do. He's going to at least work himself out of his pants first, and then shirt as he pulls back to kneel on the bed. By the way, Lydia, your ex is now ripped. Enjoy the new werewolf genetics]

Lydia: [oh, she will. Thank you very much, werewolf genetics. And while he's doing that, she's going to reach behind her to find the drawer with her condoms in it and fish one out for him, handing it over as she pulls him in closer again]

Stiles: [he will take it, but he's going to grab her and turn her around onto all fours. Something in him can't do missionary with her because he doesn't want to be able to see her face right now as he does this. Part of it is what he doesn't want her to see her eyes because he knows they will flash as he gets closer, but it's not Cora's face beneath him and so he doesn't want to see any face]

Lydia: [this is not particularly Lydia's favorite position, but given what they were fighting about before it happened, she can understand the reasoning for it. Once he moves her she takes a second to brace herself against the bed, squaring her hips so that she can take his weight as he pushes into her and not find herself falling off the bed in the process]

Stiles: [and he's going to press up into her, one hand going to the headboard and the other to wrap around her and rub her clit as he really just starts to ride her hard]

Lydia: [she's pretty much reduced to hanging on for the ride, though between the press of his fingers against her clit and the pace it doesn't take long for her to start to feel that pressure building. One hand moves to the headboard to brace herself more and keep her head from smacking into it, but it's not long before her orgasm hits her hard and fast]

Stiles: [he isn't that far behind, his hand on the headboard going to grab her hair a bit as he reaches his peak, feeling his shift try to break through and clamping down on it as he finishes, panting hard against her back as he finally comes down from it, his wolf sated for now]

Lydia: [she doesn't fight him as he pulls her hair but she doesn't particularly like that either. Thankfully it doesn't last long and she lets her head and shoulders drop some as they finish, letting her head rest against her pillows as she takes a moment to catch her breath and wait for him to pull off her]

Stiles: [he pulls back, and as his mind catches up he knows what he really did and hates himself, pushing himself off and away from her, going to reach for his clothes]

Lydia: [she shifts and turns to face him, sliding under the covers to cover herself but not willing to disappear from view quite so easily] You can stay if you want. [she doesn't expect him to, but she figures the offer is there if he doesn't want to be alone.]

Stiles: [he shakes his head as he pulls his shirt back on, and lifts his head a bit as he hears a car pulling into the driveway] No, I should go. Your mom's home anyway. You should be okay now. [working on his shoes]

Lydia: Okay. [she doesn't push, just lets him go] I'll see you around. [probably the next time Allison and Scott force the four of them to hang out together]

Stiles: [and not wanting to do the walk of shame in front of her mother, he's going to sneak out the window once he hears her inside. But he will stop and crouch down and look at her a moment, sympathetic eyes] Hey Lydia?

Lydia: [pauses for a moment, before glancing back to him] Yeah?

Stiles: No matter what anyone says... just remember to keep telling yourself that you're not crazy. Your brain is just working in a different pattern than others, and you can't control that. You just have to adjust, and not let it drive you crazy.

Lydia: [she looks up at him for a moment, face flickering with the emotions that normally stay lurking behind the mask and her eyes go a bit glossy as she nods. She'll remember. Or she'll at least try. It's frustrating and she just wants things to go back to the way they were, but she's dealt with her brain being different before. She's sure she could do it again] Thanks.

Stiles: If you need someone to talk to, my number hasn't changed. [he taps the windowsill a bit] Merry Christmas. [and with that he will easily drop down to the ground and head to the jeep]

Lydia: [she'll watch him go, and will wait until she hears his footsteps on the ground before she speaks, thinking he's out of earshot] Merry Christmas, Stiles.

Stiles: [there is a brief second of a smile as he hears that, and then he drives to the preserve to take that run and get out the frustration at himself the only way he knows how. He can smell Satomi's pack, and he keeps himself out of their territory]

Lydia: [is just going to take a shower and pass out worn out and exhausted and needing the emotional recharge before she is forced to face her family tomorrow]

Stiles: [and once he's done running himself to exhaustion and maybe punching a tree a few times, he'll head home to shower and just crash into his bed]

Alexis: [and early(ish) the next morning Stiles’ computer will start ringing. GET UP STILINSKI YOU HAVE A CHRISTMAS SKYPE DATE.]

Stiles: [and he groans, looking at the time. Hell, his Dad isn't even home yet. He sighs and reaches for the laptop and flips it open. Have an exhausted, scruffy Stiles staring at you over his pillow] Time zones, Alexis. Time zones.

Alexis: Please it is nine AM your time. I waited as long as humanly possible. [she's sprawled out on her bed, chin resting on her arm with a grin] Merry Christmas!

Stiles: [he sighs because it's humanly impossible to be mad at Alexis. Hal and Stiles had learned that fact early on.] Merry Christmas. Santa treat you good?

Alexis: He did. He sprung for a train ticket and hotel room for Boston after New Year's. [a beat] Which is going to be a surprise so don't say anything to Hal.

Stiles: Lips are sealed.

Alexis: You're the best. [she grins at him before shifting and resting her chin in her hand] So how're you doing?

Stiles: Full moon was last night. I feel like I got hit by a truck.

Alexis: [sympathetic face] Do you have to do crazy family stuff today?

Stiles: Nope. Just me and my dad, some takeout and the Christmas Story. Plus he'll need to sleep somewhere along the way since he's working nights last night and tonight.

Alexis: That's good. You can take some time to recover and sleep once you're done talking to me.

Stiles: Yes, because you require a lot of energy to interact with. [smirks, readjusting his hands under his chin on the pillow]

Alexis: Well, I do prefer you at least being conscious.

Stiles: Then I'm going to need coffee. [he goes to get up, disconnecting the laptop from the charging cord and going to head downstairs with the laptop. He's in flannel pj's and completely scruffy]

Alexis: [perks up a bit] This is your house? You should give me a tour!

Stiles: Coffee first. [he's fumbling to flip the laptop into the tablet form as he jogs down the stairs] So what are your plans for the day?

Alexis: The usual. Grams was here for brunch and presents and then we're heading over to the Hales for Christmas dinner. [there's a beat and she cringes] Sorry.

Stiles: [his shoulders drop and he just nods a bit, putting the tablet down] No, it's fine. Your families are close, after all.

Alexis: Yeah, but I know things are rough right now. I didn't mean to rub your face in it.

Stiles: You weren't. I mean, life goes on, right?

Alexis: Yeah. [a pause] Have you talked to her, since everything went down?

Stiles: Not since I told her what I did. She left and later Laura told me she didn't want me around so I'm just giving her space.

Alexis: [she nods. and she makes a face] I haven't seen much of her. She's been hanging out with Malia's friends a lot.

Stiles: Maybe she doesn't want to put you and Hal in the middle of things. [he knows the kind of people Malia hangs out with, and well, that doesn't really make him comfortable]

Alexis: I guess not. It just ... sucks. I miss both of you.

Stiles: Yeah, well I miss you too, Alexis. But I knew what I was risking, trying to keep her safe.

Alexis: [there's a pause for a moment] For you. But did you think about what you risked for her?

Stiles: Beyond the fact I lied to her and she would never be able to trust me again, and that I put her siblings at risk?

Alexis: Yeah. Her siblings after her entire family was murdered in a fire when she was a kid?

Stiles: Yeah, but the people I was trying to get out of their collective lives once and for all so that they wouldn't be hunted anymore.

Alexis: I think she knows that, and she understands that. But the way you did it ... I don't know.

Stiles: Like I said, dug my grave, and laying in it.

Alexis: [sighs softly] I just hate that you both are miserable.

Stiles: I just need time to figure out how I can start fixing it. I know I need to earn back a lot trust, and maybe I don't deserve it, but I'm going to try. I just don't know how.

Alexis: I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.

Stiles: I hope so. I need her back, Alexis.

Alexis: She needs you too. She's not the same without you.

Stiles: [sighs, sitting and wrapping his hands around the coffee cup now that it's made] I know you haven't seen her a lot, but... but how is she?

Alexis: [she makes a face as she rests her chin on her hand] A lot like she was when I first met her. Withdrawn, quiet. Focusing on school and spending a lot of time at home.

Stiles: [looks sad at that]

Alexis: [shrugs slightly] It's her go-to when she's upset. Kind of like protecting herself from the world, you know?

Stiles: Yeah, trust me, I know. She wasn't the only one like that.

Alexis: [she nods] I just have to work on pulling her back again. It is my sworn duty as best friend.

Stiles: If there's any info I can feed you that would help... I want her to at least be happy if she doesn't want to be with me.

Alexis: If I need a hand, I will let you know.

Stiles: [nods] Alright. [rubs at his eyes] Can we talk about something else now?

Alexis: Yes. Absolutely.

Stiles: [downs his coffee] You wanted a house tour, right?

Alexis: Yes! Show me around.

Stiles: [and he will give it to her, showing her all around the small three bedroom, two bath two story house in the hills, finishing back in his bedroom]

Alexis: It looks like a nice place. I'm sorry I can't see it in person.

Stiles: Well.... you could?

Alexis: I could?

Stiles: I was going to ask if maybe you and Hal would like to come out to LA for spring break? I'm sure I could convince Dad to let you guys have the spare room as long as you two don't like, sex it up when he's home.

Alexis: I think we can manage that. That sounds like it'll be fun!

Stiles: Great. Cause by then I'll really be missing you guys.

Alexis: [she blinks for a moment and her face falls a bit] So you're not coming back, then?

Stiles: I don't know yet, but I've e-mailed the school to find out if I could take a sabbatical. I just... when I come back I want to have a game plan on how to fix it. I don't think I'll have one by the 10th.

Alexis: [nods and swallows] Okay. Then yeah, I will definitely see if we can get out there for spring break. And you can always Skype.

Stiles: Yeah, I know. And hey, you guys can meet my other best friend, Scott. I think he and his girlfriend are getting close in the put a ring on it way.

Alexis: Good for him.

Stiles: You two think you can behave while I'm gone?

Alexis: I think I can keep Hal in line.

Stiles: Yeah, pretty sure you've become a pro at that.

Alexis: And I intend to stay that way.

Stiles: He has no clue, does he? Are you going to fill him in on your evil plans before you have him at the altar?

Alexis: Nope. Much easier to just lead him along quietly until I have him safely ensnared.

Stiles: I still call dibs on best man. Even if it's a crazy night in Vegas, I’ll find the Elvis costume.

Alexis: If it comes to that, you'll be the first phone call.

Stiles: Good. [and he's smiling at that, happy for the familiar banter]

Alexis: [smiles back because it's good to see him smile] Just ... stay safe out there, okay? I want to make sure you're in one piece when we come out there for Spring Break.

Stiles: I will. And I'll be back for summer semester. Think I can crash with you guys for the summer so I can take classes to catch up? I still want to graduate with you guys on time.

Alexis: Yeah! Actually, Hal and I were talking about getting an apartment next year if you want to move in with us maybe?

Stiles: Really? Yeah, no I'm totally down with that. I can see if I can get the stipend for my room and board to help pay for rent. I know that's an option.

Alexis: Yeah, that'd be great. I'll ask Hal about it when I talk to him later.

Stiles: Cool. I was gonna text him tonight, so I'll see if he brings it up.

Alexis: Good.

Stiles: Just... take care of her for me, alright? [back on that topic]

Alexis: [she nods with a small smile] I will. Just until you can get back here and do it yourself.

Stiles: Deal. [hears his door open and smirks] Dad's home. Next week, maybe a little later in the morning?

Alexis: [laughs] Deal. I'll see you then. Tell your dad Merry Christmas for me.

Stiles: I will. Same to yours. [he waves, and then hangs up and goes down to start his Christmas with his father]

Alexis: [and she will hang up and get ready to call her boyfriend next for a little Skype Christmas time with him too]

Hal: [and he's grabbing his phone and heading to the kitchen while his family is playing Matt's newest video game together] Hey beautiful. Merry Christmas!

Alexis: Merry Christmas. How is everybody?

Hal: Doing good. Matt got everything he wanted, Ben is ignoring the rest of us for a book, and Mom and Dad are wearing their ugliest Christmas sweaters. Just another Christmas with the Masons.

Alexis: [she grins] Sounds like fun. Grams made Bloody Marys and Dad is playing with his new toys. [there's a beat as she listens to the sounds coming from the TV] I think my dad got the same video game Matt did.

Hal: I wouldn't be surprised. It was the gift everyone was asking for.

Alexis: Well, is he enjoying it at least?

Hal: [leans in to look at where Tom and Matt are playing while Rebecca is reading over Ben's shoulder] Yeah, he is.

Alexis: Good. [there's a deep breath] So I talked to Stiles.

Hal: Oh? Yeah, he and I were going to chat tonight after dinner. How's he doing?

Alexis: I think he's doing better being home and seeing his dad. But he's still pretty depressed.

Hal: Well, I didn't think it was going to be an easy fix, but if he's doing a bit better, that's a step in the right direction.

Alexis: Yeah. [a beat] I don't think he's coming back next semester. He doesn't want to come back until he' sure he has a plan to fix it.

Hal: Do you think he has a chance at fixing it? I mean, he pretty much made it so that he was selling his pack out.

Alexis: I don't know. But I know that Cora is missing him just as much.

Hal: Locking them in a room until they talk it out is a valid option, right?

Alexis: Not if Stiles is in Beacon Hills.

Hal: And Cora won't go out there, not after what happened to her family.

Alexis: So ... I guess we'll have to wait for Stiles to come back for the summer semester. [a beat] Oh! He's game to move in with us if we decide to get an apartment next year.

Hal: I'm still game for it. I'll just have to find a job to pay for my part. It'll make things easier having him in too.

Alexis: [nods] So I'll start looking for two bedrooms. I'm sure we'll be able to find something reasonable. One of my dad's ex-wives handles real estate.

Hal: Ex-wife before or after your mom?

Alexis: After. My mom was the first.

Hal: Ah. Okay, well I'll just leave that detail to you.

Alexis: Good. [a beat] You may have to meet my mom one day. I'm sorry in advance.

Hal: I'm sure I will survive.

Alexis: Thankfully she only shows up like ... once or twice every couple years.

Hal: Yeah, mine aren't nearly that hands off.

Alexis: They're great though.

Hal: Yeah, well that's because they love you.

Alexis: Good. Because I plan on sticking around.

Hal: Well, I would hope so. I like you sticking around.

Alexis: Good. [she takes a deep breath because she's going to surprise him but ...] So do you have any plans for after the new year?

Hal: Well, I think my Dad is set on having us all stay up until midnight.

Alexis: I mean like ... the week after.

Hal: Probably just getting ready to head back to New York... why?

Alexis: Because my dad may have gotten me a train ticket and a hotel room for a week in Boston.

Hal: ...... Are you kidding me? [excited voice]

Alexis: Nope. I'm pretty sure he expects us to do actual sightseeing and the hotel room is only so we don't impose on your parents, but it's a really nice hotel room so we should probably put it to lots of use.

Hal: I'm already imagining all the ways.

Alexis: Oh really? [she pauses for a moment, getting up to close her bedroom door to make sure her dad wouldn't be able to hear her] Do I get a hint?

Hal: It's all going to depend on if there's a hot tub in the room.

Alexis: ... Maybe. It's certainly an option.

Hal: Because I'm thinking a nice long massage and then relaxing in a hot tub.

Alexis: I think those sound like excellent options.

Hal: Good. Though I'm sure my folks are going to want to have you over at least once.

Alexis: Of course. And my dad will probably want to see you when we get back to school.

Hal: Oh, I'm sure. And I'm going to be lacking a Stiles to run interference so he may be able to actually get real time with me.

Alexis: How scary is that.

Hal: He's not going to try and finally do the whole dad thing at me, is he?

Alexis: After everything that happened in Paris? I think he's done trying to scare you off. If anything would have done it, he figures it would have been that.

Hal: Yeah. My mom's still not over that, by the way. Be prepared for her to be checking in constantly next semester.

Alexis: I think I can handle it.

Hal: So how are things otherwise? God, I feel so disconnected out this way.

Alexis: They're ... okay. Cora's been pulling away a bit and I've been trying pull her back out again, but it's slow going.

Hal: Maybe spring will be better? I mean, Stiles and Cora are in separate corners of the country and have five months to figure their shit out. Maybe once that's over... maybe things can be back the way they were.

Alexis: I hope so. I miss them.

Hal: Well, until then you've got me. I wasn't going to leave you then, and I'm not going to leave you now.

Alexis: Good. Because I intend to keep you around for a very long time.

Hal: Good to know.

Tom: Hey Hal, get in here. It's your turn to try and take Matt down.

Hal: In a sec, Dad! [to Alexis] I'm sorry, I have to go...

Alexis: That's okay. I'll see you in a couple weeks.

Hal: And I'll talk to you even sooner than that. I love you.

Alexis: Love you too. Tell your parents Merry Christmas for me.

Hal: I will. Same to your dad and grandmother. [and he will hang up and go back to family things]

Alexis: [and so will she and probably kick her dad's butt at that video game]