canon au } { post-5b, of wedding gifts and tearful reunions

[enjoythe_ride]

Sam: [wakes up to an empty bed and gets up, stretching before going to make coffee]

Bela: [for the most part, it's quiet, until a trio of footsteps start to come up and make their way into the kitchen]

Sam: [looks over to see who's coming, still morning foggy brain]

Talia: Good morning.

Bela: I was just about to make some tea.

Sam: [blinks] Um.... morning? [looks at Bela confused as all hell]

Bela: Sam Winchester, Talia Hale and Joyce Summers. [she moves past him and presses a kiss to his cheek] My wedding present.

Sam: Oh my god... Hi. How did you...?

Talia: A spell. An old highway ghost trick, actually. Quite clever of her.

Joyce: I happen to agree. Though I have no idea what any of that means.

Sam: But shouldn't you have waited until we were in Beacon Hills to do this?

Bela: [shakes her head] The spell lasts quite a while, and it would have ruined the surprise.

Talia: If I remember correctly, so long as we keep our coats on, we should remain quite solid.

Sam: Okay. I guess the kids will go with Dean.

Bela: Or I can drive them.

Sam: Well I figured it would be you and me in one.

Joyce: [she shrugs as Bela hands her a cup of tea] Hey, I don't care, so long as I get to see my daughter get married.

Sam: Well, we'll make sure of that.

Joyce: Good. [and she nods as she goes to sit, while Bela hands Talia another cup of tea]

Bela: Plus I thought it might be wise to let them see the happy couple the night before, just so we aren't ruining make up before things even get started.

Sam: Well, Derek didn't want a bachelor party, but it might side rail the bachelorettes.

Bela: No, that was last night.

Sam: Then you're solid.

Bela: Precisely. So as soon as we're all ready to travel, we can be off.

Joyce: You know, Talia, you have me at a slight disadvantage. You've met my daughters, but I haven't had the chance to meet your son.

Talia: I'm sure that's a scenario that will be quickly rectified.

Sam: Peter will also be there. You'll get to meet him too.

Talia: [purses her lips over her tea] Perhaps it's best we not spring this on Peter.

Joyce: Speak for yourself. [teasing]

Sam: Well, I'll go get dress and pack the car. Can you wake Dean and the kids?

Bela: [she nods] Sure. We'll be right out. [And she'll go rouse the rest of the bunker and off they go to Beacon Hills!]

Derek: [meanwhile, at the loft he's up after sleeping in, making breakfast for his hungover wife to be]

Dawn: [has her head down against the table] Alcohol was a bad idea.

Derek: [comes over with her coffee and pets her hair] Yes, but be glad you did this two days before the wedding, and not the night before. You can just rest and sleep it off.

Dawn: That sounds like a plan. [and she will carefully reach for the coffee to just inhale the scent for a bit]

Derek: [leans down to kiss the top of her head and goes back to making her a nice greasy breakfast]

Dawn: [best husband to be] So when are the boys going to drag you out and get you into trouble.

Derek: I asked them not to. I'm not into that kind of thing.

Dawn: You don't want one last hurrah before you're tied down for the rest of your life?

Derek: Why? Nothing compares to you.

Dawn: While sweet, doesn't mean you shouldn't go off and have a good time.

Derek: We're going to go out for dinner. That's all I need.

Dawn: Okay.

Derek: Plus I'm pretty sure your sister is going to have Peter running around doing chores and I will need to rescue him at some point.

Dawn: Uh-huh. Are you sure she won't just put you to work?

Derek: I'm just not going to talk to her. Just rescue Peter.

Dawn: Good luck.

Derek: Is there anything I can do for you though?

Dawn: I think I'm going to curl up and get some more sleep if you want to come take a nap with me.

Derek: I think that sounds like a good plan, since you're not going to be here tonight with the whole not seeing the bride before the wedding nonsense.

Dawn: [grins] Perfect. Nap time it is.

Derek: But first, eat your breakfast. [and he comes back with her plate, and his, and sits next to her]

Dawn: [and she will eat it, om nom nom, and chat with him about last night but can't get into any specifics.]

Derek: [no, he doesn't need specifics, but he will listen and eat his breakfast as she talks]

Dawn: [and eventually they will go off to nap away the day like lazy soon to be newlyweds]

Derek: [probably not waking up until they have company at least]

Willow: [which will come in the form of Willow! But before she gets there she will be knocking on Buffy and Peter's door, bouncing on her heels a bit]

Peter: [has already been up helping with stuff and will open the door exhausted] Please, distract her so I can just sit for five minutes.

Willow: Well, we're going to have to leave in a bit, so you'll get your wish. But, uh, we - being me and Bela - didn't think that surprising you with this would be the best thing so ... [there's a pause as she sees where Buffy is, before pulling him outside for a second] ... Bela's wedding gift is going to be a bit ... emotional.

Peter: Emotional as in good or I should be worried I'm about to be punched in the face?

Willow: Both? Maybe? [there's a beat] Her present is Joyce. ... And Talia.

Peter: [blinks, his face paling just a bit in his stare] Come again?

Willow: It's a spell. A hitcher ghost spell mixed with some benevolent magic that I worked with her with, and once the spell is done they'll be gone, again, but ... they'll get to be here for the wedding.

Peter: [nods] Well, I appreciate the warning. I take it that you're picking her up to surprise her?

Willow: Yeah. We're going over to the loft, and I've already got Jordan and Stiles bringing Cora and Laura so we can just sort of ... get all the tears over with at once.

Peter: [nods] I will continue to work on making these little centerpieces then so Buffy doesn't worry about falling behind schedule.

Willow: [presses her lips together and nods] She might want to see you too, ya know. Even though warning you was her idea.

Peter: If she does, she will see me at the wedding. This is Derek's gift - let him and the girls have her time today.

Willow: Okay. Then I will take Buffy off your hands.

Peter: Thank you. [he looked over his shoulder] BUFFY - Willow is here to take you to some girl's thing.

Buffy: [pokes her head out] I thought the girls' thing was last night.

Willow: Different thing. More important thing.

Peter: I will keep working and have these done when you get back.

Buffy: [eyes Willow curiously before nodding] O-kay. I'll ... see you when we get back.

Peter: You two have fun. [and back he goes to centerpiece making hell]

Willow: [And off they will go to the loft! to meet up with everyone who is probably awake and such by now]

Derek: [remaking coffee because lazy naptime wakeup is hard]

Willow: Hey. Are Cora and Laura here yet?

Derek: Yeah. Cora's up in her room and Laura is talking with Dawn.

Willow: Good. [and she will check her phone to see how far out they are]

Sam: [is pulling into the loft's garage now]

Willow: Great. So. Talk amongst yourselves.

Derek: [watching her] Something's up, isn't it?

Willow: It's a wedding present. That's all I'm allowed to tell you.

Buffy: Will.

Willow: I was sworn to secrecy.

Derek: Fine. Well, you girls go do your thing and once I have enough coffee in me I will pack and head over to Peter's for the night.

Willow: Yep. Sounds good.

Buffy: [is just going to stare Willow down until the door opens and she turns and ...] Oh.

Derek: [and he's going to turn his head to see what Buffy is 'oh'ing' at and he just stands, his coffee mug falling a few inches to the table in shock, unable to even utter a word]

Joyce: [just gives them both a small smile, Talia standing next to her] Hi.

Buffy: [stares for a moment, before glancing to Willow] Is this?

Willow: Real? Yeah. Not ... not permanent, but ... real.

Buffy: [and that's all that Buffy needs to jog forward and throw her arms around her mother]

Derek: [nope, he isn't able to say anything right away, just stare. Finally, he just says the only word he can think of] Mom?

Talia: [will just make her way down closer and brushes a hand against his cheek, gently] Hi, Derek.

Derek: Mom. [he's trembling, leaning into her hand before pulling her into a tight hug.]

Talia: [and she will hug him back tightly, letting one hand rest against the back of his head]

Derek: [and he is just going to nuzzle into her, taking in everything he could with his senses]

Talia: [she's more of a physical presence than anything else. her scent isn't exactly the same - there's a lot of Bela from the coat she's wearing, but while his mother's scent is there, it's a little stale, almost as though it's fading away. ghosts and all]

Derek: [but it's there, even stale, enough to bring tears to his eyes. his mother was here. today. For his wedding]

Talia: [she smiles softly] You should thank Bela when you see her later.

Derek: Oh, I will. [he leaned back and rubbed at his face] Um, I should tell the girls. [part of him wants to be selfish, but he was a good brother too]

Talia: Alright. I'll wait here. Buffy and I can catch up.

Buffy: [glances back with a smile] Double the mom, double the fun.

Joyce: What a turn around from high school. Be still my heart.

Derek: She hasn't changed too much. I have stories. [he will kiss his mother's cheek, and then go over to Joyce] It's nice to finally meet you, Ms. Summers.

Joyce: Oh, you and me - we're going to chat later.

Derek: I'd like that very much. I'll go get Dawn for you. [and with that, he will reluctantly let his mother go to go first to his bedroom and knock on the door]

Dawn: [where she and Laura are sitting and chatting, so eventually there comes a:] Yeah?

Derek: [he will open the door, rubbing at his eyes again to get rid of the wetness there.] We have guests... You two really need to come out and see them.

Laura: [squints at her brother, for a moment] Both of us?

Dawn: Okay?

Derek: [nods] Yeah. You'll see why.

Dawn: [and the girls will get up and follow him back to the room and ...] Oh my God.

Derek: This is Bela and Willow's gift to us. Go talk to her. I need to go get Cora.

Talia: [shakes her head] I'll go see Cora in a minute. We probably shouldn't do this in a crowd.

Derek: As long as you cover for me in why I didn't come get her, that's fine.

Talia: [she laughs softly as she pulls Laura closer] I'll go to her.

Derek: Does anyone want, um, coffee? Something to drink or uh... [yeah, he's still in shock]

Talia: Tea would be lovely.

Derek: [and he is going to go make them tea, not having his mother's favorite, but close enough and making a pot to bring into the living room with a few cups]

Talia: [and they will sit and chat and catch up on things, and eventually Talia will sneak upstairs to see her youngest and knock on the door]

Cora: Yeah?

Talia: Cora?

Cora: [and Cora freezes, staring at the door]

Stiles: [is laying on the bed reading, and looks over at that] Cora, you okay?

Talia: Cora, can I come in?

Cora: [She wants to move and open the door, to see for herself, but she can't. her heart is caught in her throat and she doesn't know what to do, until she finally just says:] Yes.

Talia: [there's a pause, and then she opens the door with a small smile] Hello, sweetheart.

Stiles: [and he will look at the door as someone enters, no recognition on his face as to who she is, but she is definitely a Hale. Totally a female version of Derek, really] I didn't know you had an aunt around...

Cora: I don't.

Talia: [turns to him with a smile] My name is Talia. You must be Stiles.

Stiles: That's me - wait, Talia like werewolf alpha and mother Talia?

Talia: That would be the one. [and her eyes go back to her daughter, taking a few steps closer] It's alright, sweetheart. It's a wedding gift.

Cora: [there's a lot of complicated emotions going through her right now and she still can't move, because she doesn't know how to trust it. Her eyes dart to Stiles, because she knows she trusts him]

Stiles: Well, just goes to show no one can stay dead in this city. [looks at Cora and tilts his head] You just going to sit here? I think she's expecting a hug at least.

Cora: [she pauses, before glancing back again] How?

Talia: A spell. Bela Talbot knows a great deal about ghosts, it seems.

Cora: [ghosts. so ... not permanent] How long?

Talia: Just for the wedding.

Cora: [her face falls a bit, and Talia sighs and makes her way closer, resting her hand on her knee gently. Cora looks up, watching her for a moment, before surging forward and throwing her arms around her mother's neck]

Stiles: [grins, closing his book] I can go to let you both have time.

Talia: [glances to him before nodding over her shoulder] Thank you.

Stiles: Hey, no problem. I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding. [gathers up his book bag]

Talia: [nods with a small smile] See you then. Hopefully we'll have a better chance to chat.

Stiles: You'll have to catch me between dances. I expect to wear her out on the dancefloor. [winks at Cora and waves] Love you.

Cora: [waves back but is mostly still clinging to her mom so they're going to be upstairs for a bit. probably talking about Stiles]

Derek: [and he is going to sit and talk with Laura a bit. Someone should remind him that Talia is his gift, not his sisters, but he's too good of a brother]

Joyce: [that's okay, Joyce will happily take advantage of where Talia is lacking while the Summers sisters go to get some pizza] So. Derek.

Derek: Yes, ma'am.

Joyce: Oh God. Not ma'am. Never ma'am.

Derek: Sorry. Ms. Summers?

Joyce: Better. How did you and Dawn meet?

Derek: She slammed her locker into my face. [so serious]

Joyce: [she smirks] That sounds like my girl.

Derek: She's just lucky I heal fast

Joyce: I'm sure. So high school sweethearts then?

Derek: Just friends, actually. We didn't really hit the dating point until we reconnected a few years ago.

Joyce: Sometimes that's smarter than running into things head-first.

Derek: [squints his face a bit] It's more that we danced around each other and made bad choices.

Joyce: How do they stack up against Buffy's bad choices?

Derek: [his eyes just drift up to where he knows his mother is] Depends.

Joyce: Well, first there was Angel who lost his soul and tried to murder us all, and then there was Riley, who was sweet, but she couldn't really get herself to trust him and then I heard something about Spike which I am really not looking for her to confirm or deny.

Derek: My ex murdered my entire family.

Joyce: So a step up from Angelus then. Duly noted.

Derek: The ex after that killed twelve people in town to complete a ritual to get revenge on an alpha pack and was infatuated with me in the process of keeping me from stopping her

Joyce: Oh dear.

Derek: And that infatuation came because the ex before those two died by my hands because I was worried about her wanting to date a werewolf and asked someone to change her and it didn't take, and I didn't want her to suffer. And she was a virgin, giving power to the nematon in town with the blood that splashed on it, which the druid ex used to give her the power.

Joyce: [squints a bit] But we've learned from those mistakes, yes?

Derek: Mostly. At least with Dawn, we are equal in having bad ideas.

Joyce: [her eyebrows go up at that] Are you?

Derek: Actually, in the last year, she's currently winning.

Joyce: My daughter and I need to have a conversation when she gets back.

Derek: If you think you have the ability to get her to not be reckless, I want to learn from you.

Joyce: Oh, I learned that there's nothing I can do to change that a long time ago.

Derek: Yeah, same here.

Joyce: At least they're both safe. That's all I can ask for. [there's a beat] Now, about this uncle of yours.

Derek: [laughs] Oh, trust me Buffy keeps Peter in line. Probably the only one who can.

Joyce: Am I actually going to get to meet him or is he going to hide in a corner for the entire wedding?

Derek: Well, he's in the wedding party so he won't be able to hide.

Joyce: Good. We need to have some words.

Derek: Just make sure the wedding videographer is aimed in your direction when you do.

Joyce: Why? Want to see him squirm?

Derek: All the time.

Joyce: [she laughs] Good to know.

Derek: They do fit each other well, though.

Joyce: Do they?

Derek: Yeah. And they make each other happy.

Joyce: Well, that's good, at least.

Derek: Just.... don't ask him about the last decade. [nods]

Joyce: That's ... specific.

Derek: Peter got hurt in the fire that killed the family. He was in a coma for most of it.

Joyce: [her face softens] That sounds awful.

Derek: Yeah, and let's just say it took him awhile to find himself again, and it wasn't all pretty.

Joyce: That sounds like most of Buffy's boyfriends.

Derek: The good thing is that he's better now. And that's what counts.

Joyce: Mmmm-hmmm.

Buffy: [and back in they come] We return with pizza.