regency au } { of wandering sons and growing pains

[impetere]

Stiles: [and luckily he is coming up to check on his family when he sees his son holding the wall and debating the stairs] Well hello, son. I don't think you're ready for these just yet...

Ben: [glances up and grins, before pushing forward like he's totally going to be climbing those stairs, even if it's not feasible for him at his current size]

Stiles: No, I don't think so. [and he will scoop up his son into his arms] Your mother must be worried about where you've toddled off to this time. Let's go find her, shall we?

Ben: [babbles as he's picked up, tugging on part of Stiles' shirt]

Stiles: [and he will walk back towards their rooms] My love, I found our troublemaker.

Cora: [looks up from where she likely was looking frantically and exhales] He's far too quiet for his own good.

Stiles: We could put a bell on him.

Cora: That might help.

Stiles: [leans in to kiss his wife] How is your day going otherwise?

Cora: [sighs as she nods] Well enough.

Stiles: Anything I can do to make it better?

Cora: [she shakes her head] I think I just need some adult company.

Stiles: Well, I am free for the rest of the day. I can provide that for you.

Cora: I would like that.

Stiles: But what shall we do with this one? [tickles his son's belly]

Cora: [Ben giggles helplessly and Cora smiles] I suppose he can stay.

Stiles: [goes to put Ben down on the floor, and closes the door so the baby is trapped in their rooms. Away from stairs. He then goes to remove his cloak] Let me warm up by the fire for a moment.

Cora: [she nods, before going to sit on the floor with Ben, giving him room to crawl towards her]

Stiles: [and he will go to sit behind Cora, snuggling up his body to her back - his little werewolf body warmer]

Cora: [leans back into his shoulder with a smile] Did you have a good day today?

Stiles: Your uncle is very meticulous. He had me doing the ledger for Parrish today while he and Laura met with the people in the main hall. Apparently shorthand is not allowed.

Cora: That sounds like him.

Stiles: I was waiting for him to hit my knuckles with a switch

Cora: I doubt he would.

Stiles: That is a relief to know.

Cora: He's fonder of you than you think.

Stiles: Oh?

Cora: [she nods as she leans back into him as Ben finds his way to his feet again] He wouldn't have let you marry me if he didn't.

Stiles: Well, you do have me there.

Cora: So be patient with him, as I am sure he is trying to be patient with you.

Stiles: I will admit it was easier when I was a servant. I'm not allowed to have that mindset now and I get chided when I do.

Cora: How was it easier than? Less expectations?

Stiles: It was my job to obey.

Cora: And now you're meant to speak up?

Stiles: Yeah. And soon I'm meant to make the choices.

Cora: I think you being a servant will help you. You understand both sides of things better than a lord would.

Stiles: I know what kind of Lord I don't want to become.

Cora: Precisely.

Stiles: And I know this little man is going to benefit from all these lessons.

Cora: [Ben lifts his head as he looks at them, before clapping his hands just because he can] I'm sure he will.

Stiles: Of course, the lessons I share with you he will need to learn on his own.

Cora: [and there's a bit of a look at that] Which lessons do you mean?

Stiles: Ones from late at night. [leaning in to kiss her neck]

Cora: [shakes her head] He doesn't have to learn those for a long time.

Stiles: Oh, I agree because I don't want to think of him doing any of that for a long, long time.

Cora: Agreed.

Stiles: [and he is going to just kiss her neck again before snuggling closer to her]

Cora: [and she will lean back into him as Ben climbs into her lap, babbling away about nothing at all]

Stiles: I don't think I can think of a more perfect moment than this.

Cora: [smiles softly] It is rather happy, isn't it?

Stiles: It is. Just a few years ago, I never thought I would have this. And then you walked into my world and changed it forever.

Cora: More like you rode a horse into mine.

Stiles: I really need to give Thor more apples. [chuckles]

Cora: [she laughs] I don't know about that. He's fat enough as it is.

Stiles: He's a good horse, though.

Cora: He is. A sweetheart.

Stiles: He is. Maybe come spring I can start Ben sitting on him with me.

Cora: Maybe. He'll certainly be big enough.

Stiles: We can all ride as a family too. Just to the creek.

Cora: That sounds nice. I think that would be a lovely afternoon.

Stiles: If we weren't snowed in, I would say we could go now.

Cora: [sighs and shakes her head] No, with how cold it's been, I prefer this. Less chance of him getting sick.

Stiles: I prefer not having any one of us sick - him or me.

Cora: I agree. Especially when he's so young.

Stiles: I remember hearing that getting sick is what helps us be healthy as an adult.

Cora: [she makes a face] If he is a werewolf, he will be healthy regardless.

Stiles: But if he takes after me, he will need to build up the strength to take them on.

Cora: [she's still not pleased necessarily] I would rather he not suffer at all.

Stiles: You can't protect him from everything, my love.

Cora: I know. That doesn't stop me from wanting to.

Stiles: And that's what makes you a good mother.

Cora: I hope that still holds true.

Stiles: It will. [leans over to kiss her cheek]

Cora: [glances up at him with a small smile before nodding] I just feel like I have no idea what I'm doing sometimes.

Stiles: And you think I know what I'm doing?

Cora: It's different for you. Most people see it as like ... it's an instinctive switch flipping.

Stiles: I don't. I'm sure your sister or brother don't.

Cora: Maybe, but ... I don't want him to want for anything.

Stiles: He won't.

Cora: [sighs as she leans into him some more. She can't help but worry. Worry is what she does best]

Stiles: [just holds her, one hand holding her to him, the other going to run along Ben's head]

Cora: There's so much uncertainty in this world.

Stiles: That is true.

Cora: I just want to make sure there isn't a lot of uncertainty for him.

Stiles: I know. And he will have us, and that is a lot of certainty there.

Cora: I know. I just hope it's enough.

Stiles: It will be.

Cora: [she nods] We still have a long road ahead of us.

Stiles: But we will do it together.