peter & cora } { of coffee dates and three musketeers

[denmom]

Melissa: Charmer.

Peter: Well, I had to make sure that you were properly caffeinated. I am probably going to come to you for help a few times today.

Melissa: Is that so?

Peter: Yes. This place is huge and I get lost easily.

Melissa: [she laughs] I think you'll be able to figure it out.

Peter: I'm sure, but it's still my first week.

Melissa: True. You need me, you know where to find me.

Peter: I will. [and with a smile, he heads off]

Melissa: [and she will nod and go back to nursing things, which are pretty eventful given that it's Beacon Hills and words starting to spread that the Hale alpha ain't around anymore.]

Peter: [yes, and he's not liking the look of it, since he's not the Hale alpha but he's a family heir and this is not going to go well]

Melissa: [Peter, do not get yourself killed trying to defend your sister's turf.]

Peter: [he won't. Cora comes first. But still]

Melissa: [Still. Don't worry, Satomi's a phone call away if you need her.]

Peter: [oh he will. But for now, he will be coming to find Melissa around lunchtime. He may have a bit of paint on his hands.]

Melissa: [spots him coming with a smile] Having fun?

Peter: Yes, actually. The children have been recalled though for meals and naps, so I have time for lunch. What about you?

Melissa: [glances down at her watch] I think I can afford a break.

Peter: Then may I take you out to lunch?

Melissa: I'd like that.

Peter: There's a nice little bistro down the street. My treat.

Melissa: Perfect. Let me just grab my jacket.

Peter: I will wash my hands while you do that.

Melissa: [and off she goes to grab her jacket and meet him at the door]

Peter: [and he will offer her his arm] So how has your day been so far?

Melissa: Business as usual in Beacon Hills. How about you?

Peter: Enjoying the fact I'm doing something other than staring at the same walls waiting for Cora to come home.

Melissa: That's good, at least.

Peter: Cora and I are both trying to get each other to start making a life again. As always, she has good ideas.

Melissa: She's a pretty intuitive kid. I've seen it with Scott - it's like she's got a knack for knowing when his asthma is getting bad.

Peter: She's just very protective of those two. I'm not surprised.

Melissa: Which is going to be a trial for her because those two get hurt like it's their job.

Peter: Oh trust me, I know. I have refilled my first aid kit at home in preparation.

Melissa: [she laughs] Though I'm sure Cora will be getting into her fair share of scrapes now that she's back in sports again.

Peter: I still am amazed that Stiles convinced them all to join. Cora has never been happier, but she would never had asked them to.

Melissa: He's got a knack for that too.

Peter: They are going to be a handful when they are older.

Melissa: Yes they are. Which is why I'm trying not to think ahead to problems like dating.

Peter: [goes to hold the door open for her at the bistro] Of the kids dating, you mean?

Melissa: Or any kind of dating.

Peter: Including yourself?

Melissa: [her eyebrows go up] Me dating? I'm not sure I understand the concept.

Peter: You going out and meeting you, handsome gentlemen who treat you like a queen.

Melissa: That? That sounds like a fantasy.

Peter: Why would it?

Melissa: I work twelve hour days, am raising a hyperactive almost teenage boy, who while he is a sweetheart has a best friend who gets him into far too much trouble and I barely have time to clear off my DVR let alone go out and meet someone. And to be honest, my choices have not exactly been stellar in the past.

Peter: Well, what if you found someone who, say, could distract said teenage son and come over and share a meal and help you with that DVR backlog?

Melissa: I'd say you are speaking of a mythical creature that does not exist.

Peter: Well, I don't know if I would classify myself as a mythical creature...

Melissa: [glances over and squints. because it's not as though she hasn't thought about it, but ...] Really?

Peter: [there is a small smile there] I would have asked sooner, but I wasn't sure if you and John were thinking to see one another.

Melissa: Me and ... [she laughs] Nothing against the sheriff? But I'm pretty sure he's still in love with Claudia and I don't think that's fading anytime soon. As much as our kids would love it, and I care for him, it's not that kind of friendship.

Peter: Well, then... would you be interested in trying that out?

Melissa: If you don't mind my being a bit rusty.

Peter: You and me both.

Melissa: Glad we're on the same page.

Peter: So perhaps this Friday? I'll bring some pizzas, a bottle of wine, and we can lock the kids upstairs?

Melissa: Friday I have parent teacher conferences and with Scott's teachers that could take a while and then I'm working the night shift. But Saturday I'm free.

Peter: Saturday it is then.

Melissa: Saturday it is. [and she's clearly pleased, even if she won't say it]

Peter: Good. [yup, proud of himself for asking. And they can get down into eating]

Melissa: [yep, and they will eventually head back to work and Melissa will have picked up Scott and have a bit of a bounce in her step without really getting into the why]

Scott: [hey, his mom totally looks happy. That's a plus in his books]

Sheriff: [curious] You look extremely happy.

Melissa: [glances back at him before raising her eyebrows] I'm having a very good day.

Sheriff: Well, that's good. You deserve to have a few of those.

Melissa: I think so. [there's a beat and she glances around the corner to make sure the boys are occupied] Peter asked me out.

Sheriff: [blinks] Peter Hale.

Melissa: Yeah.

Sheriff: Huh. You comfortable with that?

Melissa: [she gives a small shrug] Cora and Scott get along well. He likes Peter. He's a nice guy ... I'd say I'm fairly comfortable with it.

Sheriff: Well, then good for you both.

Melissa: [she nods] We'll see how it goes.

Sheriff: I'll make sure not to let the boys find out.

Stiles: [coming into the room Find out about what?

Melissa: What you're getting for Christmas.

Stiles: Christmas was two months ago.

Melissa: I'm planning ahead.

Stiles: But what about my birthday?

Melissa: Completely separate plans.

Stiles: But what if the thing I want you wait until Christmas to get me when I really want it for my birthday?

Sheriff: Stiles.

Stiles; No, this is important. I need to know what to put on what plan list now and how to rank the scale of how it's sorted.

Melissa: How about you be grateful for whatever gift you get when you get it - or that you're getting gifts at all.

Stiles: [and he pouts at that because what did he do to get denied gifts?!]

Melissa: [eyebrows go up because really Stiles, no reason to be ungrateful for all that you do have]

Stiles: [He's not being ungrateful. He's being a 12 year old ADHD kids]

Sheriff: Stiles, why don't you go and set the table? We’ll talk about this later, ok?

Melissa: I'm making your favorite.

Stiles: [nods and goes to help Scott]

Sheriff: [rubbing the back of his neck] Yeah, his doctor says his ADHD is getting worse. They want to try something stronger medication wise to reel him in.

Melissa: [she sighs] ADHD is rough. Is soccer helping at all?

Sheriff: It's helping him burn the energy, but it's his focus at school that concerns me.

Melissa: Have you tried some alternative teaching tactics?

Sheriff: Like?

Melissa: Like ... I don't know. Using other means to keep him engaged. A lot of his trouble comes when he has to sit still for too long.

Sheriff: Yeah, but his teachers at school have too many students and not enough help. Add onto it that he's too smart for his own good and finishes his work in half the time the rest of the class takes...

Melissa: A recipe for behavioral issues.

Sheriff: And there's no way I can afford a private school. Or that he would go.

Melissa: [she frowns softly] You know, Cora had some counseling after the fire - maybe Peter knows someone who's good with behavioral issues that could help.

Sheriff: Yeah, I guess I could try.

Melissa: He's a good kid, though, John. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Sheriff: [watches Stiles and Scott dueling with butter knives] Yeah.... yeah I will.

Melissa: [follows his eyes line and ...] Boys! Enough of that.

Scott: [drops his knife] Sorry, Mom.

Stiles: Sorry Ms. McCall

Melissa: [she sighs as she goes to put the food on the table] Let's eat.

Stiles: [and then they eat]

Melissa: [and then the Stilinskis head home and Melissa talks to Scott while they're cleaning up] So I was thinking Cora and Mr. Hale might come over on Saturday and hang out if that's cool with you?

Scott: I'd like that.

Melissa: Good. You two can spend some more time together.

Scott: And what are you and Mr. Hale going to do?

Melissa: Oh, just ... talk, probably. Maybe watch some TV.

Scott: And we can play upstairs and not have to hang out with you?

Melissa: That is the plan.

Scott: We can do that.

Melissa: Good.

Scott: Can Stiles come over too?

Melissa: [her mouth works for a moment] If he's not busy, sure. You don't want to just hang out with Cora by yourselves?

Scott: I could, but we're a trio.

Melissa: Oh really?

Scott: Yup. Three Musketeers.

Melissa: Okay. We'll see what the Sheriff says.

Scott: Okay. [grins]

Melissa: Got any homework to do?

Scott: Just some math.

Melissa: Get it done, and we can see if we can find something on Netflix?

Scott: [and with that he will grin and run upstairs to finish his homework]

Melissa: [And she will go to start paging through her movie options]