regency au } { of mental troubles and finding home

[impetere]

Stiles: [and he will eventually reappear in their rooms, rubbing at his eyes] Sorry for keeping you waiting, love.

Cora: [shakes her head] It's alright. I'm sure it was important.

Stiles: Just business for the town to make sure I knew what was happening.

Cora: [she nods] Everything alright?

Stiles: Yes, it's just a lot of paperwork. I can see why Lord Parrish doesn't enjoy doing a lot of it.

Cora: But necessary, I assume?

Stiles: Yes, very. It will make sure there is enough food for all.

Cora: Then very important.

Stiles: But now I am free to spend the rest of the day with you.

Cora: Good. And Ben is with your cousins so he will hopefully be alright for the day.

Stiles: We won't be that far away in case we are needed. [holds out his arm to her] Would you like to take a walk?

Cora: [nods with a small smile] I think that would be lovely.

Stiles: Town or the forest?

Cora: [considers for a moment and ...] Forest. It reminds me of home.

Stiles: Alright, let's go. I think cook has a small basket prepared for us

Cora: [small smile] Perfect. [and she will let him lead, while she focuses on not showing her worried face]

Stiles: [and once they are away with the picnic basket in hand] What are you worried about?

Cora: [and there's a slight look at that. it still surprises her sometimes that he knows her so well] Ben.

Stiles: He will be fine. It is good for him to learn to spend time with those outside of the manor.

Cora: I know. But you know me. I can't help but worry.

Stiles: I know.

Cora: I know he'll be fine, it's just ... he's used to me being with him with new people. I'm worried that he'll get upset and the girls will ... not know how to handle it. Through no fault of their own, of course. I just don't want it to be a bad experience.

Stiles: Well, there is also the cook, a few servants, and my uncle to come and help them. They will be fine.

Cora: I know. I never said the feeling was rational, Stiles.

Stiles: I was trying to reassure you, not chide you.

Cora: [glances up at that, and sighs] I'm sorry.

Stiles: [squeezes her hand] It's alright. You're a mother, and it is your job to worry.

Cora: [she nods, before looking up at him with a smirk] Maybe I don't need reassurance. Maybe I simply need a better distraction.

Stiles: [laughs] well, my lady, I have a basket of snacks here, and a small blanket folded on top. We can find a spot to rest for a while?

Cora: I think that sounds lovely.

Stiles: [and he will fold out the blanket for her to sit on, and then joins her. There is wine, cheese, and fruit]

Cora: [and she will shift to move to sit against his chest picking at the food at first]

Stiles: [and he will playfully feed her]

Cora: [and she will let him and soon she is much more relaxed and sufficiently distracted]

Stiles: [and as he leans forward to grab his wine goblet, he will kiss along her neck]

Cora: [and her eyes close because it has been a while since they have done that. quite a while]

Stiles: [yes, it has been. And he misses it a lot, if his kisses and nibbling on her skin is any indication]

Cora: [exhales slowly] ... Stiles ...

Stiles: Yes, love?

Cora: We probably shouldn't out here.

Stiles: Perhaps, but we are free from all the responsibilities of being at the manor. Would we have the chance to be together like this again when we return?

Cora: We do have our own room.

Stiles: Yes, I know. But there is something about being out here that just makes me want to be close to you.

Cora: Yes, but ... [Stiles, your wife has delicate sensibilities, you're going to have to be more convincing than that. even though she is essentially putty in your hands]

Stiles: And you will be able to hear if someone approaches long before I can.

Cora: Not if I'm distracted.

Stiles: True. [kisses her again] Then should I stop?

Cora: [she whimpers a bit at the idea of stopping because she has missed her husband too, but at the same time] Do you think we're far enough away?

Stiles: I believe we are.

Cora: And no one will come out this far?

Stiles: Not unless they have a reason. There is no hunt scheduled for today.

Cora: [sighs as she takes a moment to listen, verifying that there are no footsteps coming her way before nodding] Alright.

Stiles: [and he will shift her to turn and sit in his lap facing him, and then cup her cheeks to kiss him]

Cora: [and she will go where she's guided, kissing him back while the back of her mind is wondering how exactly they're going to do this with her layers on layers of clothing. she hopes you're not expecting her to get completely naked in the woods, Stiles, even if the more feral part of her is certainly intrigued by it]

Stiles: [nope. Her skirts will actually help conceal them both as long as he can get under her knickers below]

Cora: [probably, with a little finagling]

Stiles: [though he does want to get some time kissing those breasts]

Cora: [well what do you know, the dress she's wearing happens to have a bodice that laces in the front]

Stiles: [he will help her back into that later, but for now he's going to loosen it to be able to expose her breast and caress it while kissing and sucking on her nipple]

Cora: [and she will do her best to keep her sounds low, so that they don't draw attention, but it won't stop her from squirming slightly on his lap at the sensations]

Stiles: [and her squirming is going to get some results she will be able to feel pressing up against her]

Cora: [she does feel that, and she shifts her movements, making them a little more deliberate as she settles in his lap]

Stiles: [and as they get a good pace going] My lady, may I? [he wanted to slide inside of her, feel her walls grip him]

Cora: [it takes a moment to catch her breath, before she nods, because she wants to feel him just as much as he does her]

Stiles: [and his hands shift under her skirts, freeing himself from his pants and pushing them down, and then working to find a way to get into her undergarments]

Cora: [it takes a moment because women's clothes, man, but soon she can feel his fingers against her and he can tell that she is ready for him]

Stiles: [and once he's sure she's ready, he will slide up into her, his hands holding her thighs and guiding her down onto him]

Cora: [and she gasps at the feeling of him, sliding slowly into his lap more as she adjusts to doing this with piles of fabric obscuring her movement]

Stiles: [groans softly] I am yours to ride, my love.

Cora: [and she will lean in to kiss him, slowly starting to move her hips the way he taught her to]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her back, his hands still hidden and will run along her thighs and butt, massaging her flesh]

Cora: [and she will just ride him contently, keeping a steady speed as best she can, up until the point where she can't anymore and moves towards the peak rather than trying to make it last]

Stiles: [that is fine. He will let her hit her peak, and then his grip on her will tighten as he continues to thrust up into her to prolong her orgasm until he joins her]

Cora: [and when he does she will shift to curl into him a bit, resting her head against his shoulder]

Stiles: [and he will pant, smiling down at her before kissing the top of her head]

Cora: [smiles as she looks over at him] I've missed that.

Stiles: As have I. Why did we wait so long to do this?

Cora: Because one Ben was enough for the time being.

Stiles: We didn't have to stop. Just would have had to time it so we did not make a child.

Cora: Also Ben did not leave us much time to ourselves.

Stiles: We must work on scheduling our time better then.

Cora: I think that would be a good idea.

Stiles: Then it shall be done. [and he will tilt her face up so he can kiss her]

Cora: [leans in to kiss him back, one hand coming up to rest against the side of his face]

Stiles: [and he will wrap one arm around her waist, keeping her nice and close]

Cora: [hums softly as she stays close, before she eventually makes a face and pulls back enough so she can dismount]

Stiles: [and he will move quickly to tuck himself back in so that he isn't exposed]

Cora: [and she'll shift to curl into his shoulder comfortably]

Stiles: I think we need to take a lot more walks in the woods.

Cora: Do you think your cousins will be alright with Ben?

Stiles: I think they will be just fine.

Cora: Then I suppose we should take advantage of it while we have the chance.

Stiles: Does this mean if we're lucky, we'll bring home a little souvenir as well?

Cora: [she laughs softly, before shrugging] I just want more time with you.

Stiles: Good. [and he will playfully roll them so that he is on top of her, grinning as he leaned down to kiss her more]

Cora: [and she laughs as she kisses him back, settling comfortably under him]

Stiles: [but they will only get so far before the sound of horses in the distance let them know people are coming]

Cora: [and she will push him up gently before the horses get too close so that they can both sit up]

Stiles: [and he will sit up and go back to making lunch from the basket]

Cora: [and she will glance back to see who's coming]

Stiles: [and it's just a few local men taking a ride. They don't pay them any mind as they rode by]

Cora: [and she will wait until they're out of earshot again, and then turn back to her husband] And they're gone.

Stiles: Perhaps we should go back too. We can save our next time for when everyone else is asleep.

Cora: I think that is probably for the best.

Stiles: [and he will start to pack things up while Cora straightens her clothes]

Cora: [and off they'll go to return to the manor]

Stiles: [and back to their waiting son]

Ben: [who is very happy to see them, but also didn't really notice they were gone long]

Stiles: [because he had two awesome aunties who are now both exhausted]

Cora: I tried to warn them.

Stiles: They enjoyed it, though. And good news, Ben played well with them.

Cora: That is good.

Stiles: And if they tired him out, he will sleep well tonight.

Cora: Which bodes well for us.

Stiles: [kisses her gently] Very well.

Cora: [smiles into the kiss] But we do have to get through dinner first.

Stiles: A small sacrifice.

Cora: I'm sure it is.

Stiles: I will see you at dinner then?

Cora: [she nods] See you at dinner,

Stiles: [and he will go off to find his uncle and then there will be dinner where the girls will talk about how cute Ben is and all that they did]

Cora: [which is lovely, and Cora will ask them lots of questions about it]

Nora: He really likes playing with my knitting. I make him a little knitted snake and he wouldn't let it go.

Cora: My sisters and I aren't knitters, he must have been intrigued.

Maslina: If you won't knit, what do you do to pass the time?

Cora: Read, mostly. Sometimes I watch my brother's daughters or I spend time outside.

Nora: Do you still have all the books Stiles sent you? [smiles] He used to takes hours looking for them.

Cora: [she smiles before nodding] I do. I have them on a shelf in my personal library.

Stiles: And I didn't spend hours.

Maslina: You missed lunch one day and you left after breakfast.

Cora: [she smiles, giving her husband's hand a squeeze] I appreciate a gift that has had thought put into it.

Maslina: So when will Ben have a sibling?

Stiles: [coughs]

Cora: [her mouth works for a moment] When fate deems it appropriate.

Nora: Maybe a little girl next time?

Vietz: Girls.

Cora: That we have no control over, I'm afraid.

Stiles: Yes, it's more of a thing God chooses.

Maslina: I thought babies came from sex.

Vietz: [coughs]

Cora: I'm not sure this is appropriate conversation for dinner.

Vietz: I agree. Though the subject has been on my mind as well.

Cora: [her brow furrows] I'm sorry?

Vietz: Nothing, Lady Hale. [smiles]

Stiles: [yeah, is rubbing at his nose in embarrassment] Well, I think I am done. With dinner, that is.

Cora: [this is all going over her head and she glances back to Stiles before nodding] I should go check on Ben.

Vietz: Then I think we can all be excused. [and he goes to kiss his daughters goodnight]

Stiles: Do you want me to come with you, love?

Cora: If you like. I won't be long.

Vietz: I have no need of your company tonight, nephew. In the morning, we will go to speak with the merchant guild.

Stiles: Yes, uncle. [and he will get up and hold his hand out to Cora to help her up as well]

Cora: [and she takes his hand and gets up to let him lead the way]

Stiles: [and once they are far enough away] Well, that was a first.

Cora: What was?

Stiles: Our sexual lives being the main topic of diner.

Cora: Yes. I would prefer that never happen again.

Stiles: Same here.

Cora: Glad we're in agreement. [and they'll wander into Ben's room where he is peacefully sleeping]

Stiles: [and he will see that Ben is clutching that knitted snake] I think he will be just fine here while we visit.

Cora: [smiles and brushes a hand over the top of his head] I think so too.

Stiles: [leans in to kiss Cora] We're all going to be just fine.

Cora: [smiles as she kisses him back] I hope so.

Stiles: So, since he is asleep, how about we have some tea brought up to us and we can find something to read by the fire?

Cora: [she smiles and nods] I would love that.

Stiles: [and he will take her hand and gently guide her back to their rooms, asking the servant to bring them tea and come lemon squares]

Cora: [and she will go find something for them to read]

Stiles: [and he will slip into something more relaxed because the full suit only works for so long]

Cora: [and she will go settle by the fire and wait for him to join her]

Stiles: [and he will, sitting on the couch and motioning for her to snuggle up to him] So what are we reading tonight?

Cora: [hands the book over to him] Poetry.

Stiles: Ah. Shall I read it to you in overdramatic tones tonight?

Cora: [she smirks] Only if you deem it appropriate.

Stiles: [chuckles and he will go to read the poetry, speaking with the air of an actor]

Cora: [laughs at his ridiculous acting]

Stiles: [and eventually tea will be set up within reach and he will enjoy reading and occasionally kissing his wife]

Cora: [and she will happily kiss him back]

Stiles: [and eventually the book will get forgotten as they just gently kiss and hold each other]

Cora: [yep, which she is more than okay with. she'd planned on being distracted anyway]

Stiles: [and as they make out, his hands are going to start working at getting her bodice untied]

Cora: [and she will also pull at his clothes to try and get them both less dressed]

Stiles: [and after her breasts are freed, he will kiss and suck on her nipples as he shifts to help her undress him]

Cora: [yep, that gets some nice pleased noises from her as she pulls at his shirt]

Stiles: [and he will keep doing it until he just leans back] Shall we move to the bed, or by the fire?

Cora: [pauses, considering for a moment, before she decides it doesn't matter, as long as Stiles is with her] Which would you prefer?

Stiles: [thinks a moment] By the fire. I love how it makes your body glow as the light dances over you.

Cora: [she smiles at that, before getting up and taking his hand to pull him with her]

Stiles: [and he will go easily, and once they are there he will pull her close, kissing her as he works to get the dress to slide down her so she can step out of it]

Cora: [and she will help him do that, before working on his clothes and using them as padding as they move to the floor, letting Stiles move over her]

Stiles: [and he is going to slowly kiss his way down her body, worshiping each inch of her]

Cora: [and she leans back to enjoy the sensations, sliding her fingers through his hair]

Stiles: [and then he will focus between her legs, kissing the softness of her flesh above her sex]

Cora: [and she gasps softly, shifting and moving one hand to grip the material beneath her]

Stiles: [he will kiss her there again, his fingers from one hand going to gently part her folds before pressing two of them inside of her]

Cora: [she moans at the intrusion, her hips lifting at the motion and gripping his shoulder tightly in response]

Stiles: [and he is going to sit up a bit, watching her face in the glow of the fire as he thrusts in with his fingers nice and slow]

Cora: [and she's clearly enjoying it, eyes closed as she stretches out beneath him and rides the slide of his fingers]

Stiles: [and he is rubbing himself with his other hand, getting himself nice and hard, and soon fingers will be replaced as he pushes his shaft deep into her]

Cora: [and there's another moan as her hips rise to meet him, hands moving to his shoulders and gripping tightly]

Stiles: [and he will lean down, guiding one of her legs around his hip as he goes to kiss her]

Cora: [kisses him back, letting him guide her leg and using it to pull him closer]

Stiles: [and he is going to take his time making love to his wife]

Cora: [and she will enjoy it, touching him everywhere she can and just keeping him close]

Stiles: [and soon he's going to speed up, his body aching for release and trying to get inside of her as deep as possible with each thrust]

Cora: [and she is right there with him, getting closer and closer to the edge so that she can go over with him]

Stiles: [and as his release comes, he will thrust in a bit harder, wanting to release deep inside of her]

Cora: [And she falls back against their clothes, trying to catch her breath as she feels the release wash over her]

Stiles: [and he will gently thrust into her a few more times, but his head will rest between her breasts as he work to regain his breath]

Cora: [and she sighs softly, her fingers running through his hair as they both come down]

Stiles: [and he will idly kiss her breasts as he comes back around]

Cora: [and he'll hit a ticklish spot that will make her laugh]

Stiles: [smiles and shifts to kiss along the edge of her lips]

Cora: [and she will turn to catch his lips with hers, kissing him deeply]

Stiles: [and his hands will go to her hips, guiding her closer as he returns the deepness]

Cora: [she moves with him, keeping the kiss and just soaking in the closeness]

Stiles: [and he will start to get hard again inside of her, groaning against her lips as he grinds against her]

Cora: [she moans at that, shifting so that his hip fit against her better]

Stiles: [and this time it's going to be harder and faster, needing her in a more instinctual way]

Cora: [and she responds in kind, meeting his intensity as best she can]

Stiles: [and he will roll to be on top of her again, kissing her deeply as he all but pounds into her, his hands finding her hands and threading their fingers and pushing them against the floor by her head]

Cora: [and she lets him hold her down, allowing him that dominance even though it's clear she could easily overtake him. There's something in his assertiveness that she responds to under it all, rocking her hips up to meet him as best she can]

Stiles: [and as he gets close, his lips fall from hers, groaning in her ear as his heartbeat pounds, right back at the edge]

Cora: [and she's gasping, her head falling back against the floor as she approaches the edge with him]

Stiles: [and then he all but growls as he thrusts in hard, releasing again in her]

Cora: [and she moans as she falls over with him, curling into him a bit as she comes down]

Stiles: [and he pulls her into his arms, rolling to his side] Cora...oh god...

Cora: [exhales slowly as she glances over to him] Where did that come from?

Stiles: I don't know. I just... [chuckles] You'll think it's dumb.

Cora: [tips her head to the side] No, tell me.

Stiles: [he bites his lip a bit] When I go hunting sometimes, we come across animals mating. Today when we were in the woods, I had started to think about what werewolves mating would look like... and I guess... part of me wondered what it would be like if I was one and how different it would be.

Cora: Well, it would be different, in how you experience it. [a pause as she watches him closely] Do you want to be a werewolf?

Stiles: [he doesn't answer right away, looking at her face a moment while stroking the hair from her cheek] Sometimes. Sometimes when I want to be more than I am. When I want to think about how you still look as beautiful and as young as when I met you, and I'm gaining in years faster than you ever will, and then thinking of not being with you as I grow old.

Cora: [she watches him for a moment, leaning into his hand a bit] I don't care how old you are, Stiles. I love you.

Stiles: I love you too, Cora. I just don't want to imagine a world where I can't be with you.

Cora: You will always be my husband, will you not? [she doesn't understand, she's not going to leave him when he gets old]

Stiles: Until the good Lord calls me home, I will always be. [but he has lived with the Hales for long enough now to see how the humans age, and the Hales don't]

Cora: Then what is wrong?

Stiles: How old do werewolves get?

Cora: ... It depends? There's an alpha in Japan who is over a hundred years old, but my mother's life was tied to my father's. When he died, she was so heartbroken that she followed him.

Stiles: My mother died when I was eight. Ben's three. I know it's an irrational fear but... what if my mother's disease comes to claim me before we are done with our lives?

Cora: Are you not feeling well?

Stiles: I am, but I have been forgetful lately. Just little things in my work.

Cora: [sighs softly] I'm not trying to discourage you, or make you believe that there's something wrong with being a werewolf. It is simply that there is a risk with the bite - there is a chance that it could kill you in the process. I want to make sure that you are sure this is what you want for the rest of your life - not something you want to do out of fear.

Stiles: I know. I just…I don't want to ever leave or lose you.

Cora: We will have to leave each other eventually. It is a part of life. [she reaches one hand up to brush against the side of his face] I would love you either way, human or werewolf. I just want you to be sure that this is what you want, and it is worth the risk involved. [because if this goes wrong, she could still lose him, and she doesn't want that either]

Stiles: I know. Just promise me that if I go one day, and our children are still young... that you will wait until they have loves of their own before you come to join me?

Cora: We don't have the bond my mother did with my father. As of now, there's no supernatural reason that I will.

Stiles: Okay.

Cora: [watches him carefully for a moment] Did something happen, Stiles?

Stiles: [sighs, closing his eyes] It's nothing to worry about right now. I'm just tired and you know how my brain gets when I'm tired.

Cora: Then perhaps we should get some rest.

Stiles: Yeah. [and he moves to push himself up so they can move back to the bed]

Cora: [and she goes with him, grabbing her nightgown before sliding into bed with him]

Stiles: [and he will hold her, but he will drift off fairly quickly]

Cora: [and she will stay up and worry for a bit before drifting off herself]

Stiles: [and the next morning he will slip out and go off early with his uncle]

Cora: [and while the girls were supposed to take Ben for the day, Cora will tell them there's a chance of plans and take him to the garden herself]

Ben: [and there are flowers, momma! He is going to pull them up and hand them to her]

Cora: [smiles brightly as she takes them from him] Why thank you. They're beautiful.

Ben: Fowers!

Cora: Yes, and they are lovely. [reaches for him and pulls him into her lap, pressing a kiss to the top of his head]

Ben: [wiggles] Down!

Cora: [she laughs] Alright, alright. I'll let you go. [and she does, giving him room to toddle off as she tucks her legs under her on the grass]

Ben: [and off he will go to explore, and then stops and looks up] Grapo?

Sheriff: Close enough.

Cora: [looks up with a small smile] He'll get it eventually.

Ben: [and he will look around Noah to make sure there are no bad chickens]

Sheriff: I came to see my brother, but I was told he left with my son early this morning.

Cora: [nods] They had some business to attend to in town, I believe.

Sheriff: Probably planning for the harvest.

Cora: [she nods] They're never long so they should be back by lunch if you'd like to stay.

Sheriff: I would be glad to stay. [goes to sit on the bench nearby] How are you doing?

Cora: [deep breath] I'm fine. It's Stiles I'm worried about.

Sheriff: What's wrong?

Cora: [she glances up at him and she probably shouldn't trouble his father, but she doesn't know who else to speak with about it when her family is so far away] I believe he is considering asking my sister for the bite.

Sheriff: [thinks a moment] Why would he consider that?

Cora: I don't know. [she toys with her hands for a moment, before glancing around, keeping an ear out to make sure that there isn't someone else around, as beyond the sheriff no on here knows what she is] He seemed very concerned about ... dying too soon.

Sheriff: Like his mother.

Cora: [she nods] Which is not something we can control, and I'm not sure being a werewolf will make that better. After all, there is a risk with the bite.

Sheriff: I'm assuming that the risk would be that he would not take?

Cora: [she nods] It either turns you, or it kills you.

Noah:]looks over at where Ben is covering himself in dirt as he pulls up more flowers and laughs to himself] And it won't stop the disease if he has already passed it on.

Cora: [her brow furrows as she looks up at him] What do you mean?

Sheriff: If Stiles has it from his mother, there is always a chance your children will have it too.

Cora: What disease?

Sheriff: He didn't tell you?

Cora: He told me that his mother died from an illness but not what kind. I assumed it was in the plague, the way my father had died.

Sheriff: [leans forward, sadness in his eyes] No, it wasn't a plague. The doctor said that it was a brain sickness. When her parents were still alive, they said the same thing happened to her own grandfather and uncle.

Cora: [and that makes her deflate as she looks over to her son] If Ben is a werewolf he should be protected. We don't suffer from diseases like that. But we won't know that until he is eight or nine.

Sheriff: And he may not develop it either. Claudia's father never developed any symptoms.

Cora: [she nods] He mentioned being forgetful lately. But that happens, doesn't it? We forget things all the time.

Sheriff: We do. And he could be worried that a normal level of forgetfulness is a sign of something he fears, but doesn't have.

Cora: [she nods] If being a werewolf is truly what he wants, I don't care. But the way he was driving the conversation is scaring me.

Sheriff: Tell me how it concerns you.

Cora: Being a werewolf is not easy. It takes constant control and containing a violence that is not in Stiles' nature. I don't want him to do something that is later a mistake out of fear. Something that cannot be fixed.

Sheriff: [licks his lips] He has a lot of fears, Lady Cora. He spent most of his life as a servant. When he was here, before he had courted you... he told me that he worries he will not be able to take care of the land. He has lacked an ability to control his own life. Even now, he still has a master in my brother, and then one day the people. The threat of a disease to take away the one thing he feels he can control is not making it easier.

Cora: No, I'm sure it isn't. [a beat] What are the symptoms of this disease?

Sheriff: [rubs at his face, not wanting to remember but at the same time knowing she needs to know] Times where they can't remember what they were doing. Seeing things. Sometimes believing untrue things to a point where it's almost obsessive. You can tell when you look into their eyes... it's like the person you know and love just isn't there.

Cora: [nods, making note of it and sighing] I don't believe that being a werewolf is truly what he wants. But that is the kind of disease - a deterioration of the mind - that being a werewolf can prevent. I'll pay attention. [a beat, and she listens again, to make sure no one was listening in] I also am not sure how his uncle would take to that particular situation, given that he's not entirely clear on the lineage that his heir married into. At least to my knowledge.

Sheriff: He is not aware. Stiles has never told my brother, nor does he plan to. He doesn't want to risk his cousin making a play.

Cora: [she nods] There are many more hunters here than there are in Norway. It could gain his uncle more enemies if he knew.

Sheriff: That is also true.

Cora: [she nods] I will speak with him about it. We will figure out a more middle ground solution.

Sheriff: I wish you luck. We do tend to be stubborn men.

Cora: Well, we Hale women are used to stubborn men. We've learned to out stubborn them.

Sheriff: [laughs] That must lead to a lot of cold nights.

Cora: [she laughs] They usually see the error of their ways before it gets that far.

Sheriff: Good, because I've heard how cold it gets in Norway.

Cora: Something you should likely keep in mind if you follow through with moving to the Hale lands.

Sheriff: What, bringing warm clothes or being less stubborn to avoid cold nights?

Cora: I would recommend being less stubborn, but that is entirely up to you.

Sheriff: It is easier said than done.

Cora: I know. But simply something to keep in mind.

Sheriff: I will keep it in mind.

Stiles: [and in the distance, she will hear the horses returning]

Cora: [turns towards the sound, and then glances back to her son so he doesn't get caught underfoot] Ben, come here.

Ben: Fowers! [nope, he doesn't want to move]

Cora: [sighs and gets up to go scoop him up, bringing him back to the bench where the sheriff is sitting] I will let you go back in a minute, I promise.

Ben: Noooooooo! [wiggles because he was doing things mommy!]

Sheriff: Looks like the stubborn gene continues on.

Cora: Mmmm-hmm. [and she catches his legs in a scoop to keep him still] We have to wait for the horses.

Ben: [blinks behind his tears] 'orsies?

Cora: [she nods] Yes, horses. Listen, can you hear the hoofs?

Ben: [he shakes his head]

Sheriff: You sure?

Ben: [he wibbles because he doesn't know what the hoofs sound like]

Cora: Shhhh, shhhh - [before he decides to jump in and start crying] - just listen. [and at this point the fast clomp of the hooves are in human hearing range and are getting closer]

Sheriff: I think I hear them now. I bet you that's your father.

Ben: Da?

Cora: [smiles softly] Mmm-hmmm. Just watch, he'll be here soon.

Stiles: [and soon through the gate Stiles and his uncle come through, followed by their guards]

Cora: [smiles as she adjusts Ben so that he can see better] See? There he is.

Ben: [and he does see and his eyes widen a bit] Da!

Stiles: [and he's distracted but he did see them and waves a bit before going towards the stables]

Cora: [and she will help Ben wave as well] I'm sure he'll be back once Thor is back in the stables.

Sheriff: I will go distract my brother to see if he can wiggle himself free. [and he goes to lean in and kiss Ben's cheek] You be good for your mother now.

Cora: I'm not sure if he's capable of that, but we will certainly try. [Ben being good, not the sheriff distracting his brother]

Sheriff: [chuckles and off he will go]

Ben: Da! DA! [and he's trying to wiggle away again]

Cora: [she'll wait and make sure that Vietz or anyone else important isn't going to follow Stiles to the stables, and if they're not, she'll get to her feet to follow her husband] Alright. Let's go see the horses.

Stiles: [nope, he's there taking his time caring for Thor, being a bit OCD about just how he cares for him]

Cora: [and she'll come around the corner and gently place Ben on his feet] I hope you don't mind. He wanted to see you.

Ben: Da! Tore! [and he will walk off to go and hug his Dad's leg]

Stiles: [looks tired, but smiles] I never mind.

Cora: [smiles softly as she makes her way closer, reaching her hand up to stroke Thor's muzzle fondly] Long day?

Stiles: Yes. The Lord in the next manor over refuses to acknowledge the land borders along where our wheat fields are. It would take away almost twenty percent of our harvest.

Cora: How does your uncle intend to deal with it?

Stiles: I'm unsure. We need to talk with the other bordering Lords to see if he is trying to grab at their lands as well.

Cora: [she nods] Hopefully they'll be able to help.

Stiles: That is what we hope.

Cora: Good. [a beat as she glances down at her son] So are you free for the rest of the day?

Stiles: [looks to the castle where his father and uncle disappeared] at least through lunch maybe longer. Depends on how long my father is here.

Cora: I was thinking maybe we could take Ben down to one of the cabins on the edge of the property? Perhaps have dinner there and spend the night?

Stiles: [licks his lips] I know he wants to start on this immediately, but I can see if he would be willing to start tomorrow.

Cora: If not, it's fine. You just seem like you could use a break.

Stiles: It was just a long ride. I'm fine. [he smiles]

Cora: Perhaps we could save that for when you return, then.

Stiles: I have a feeling when we leave, I may be gone for a few days.

Cora: That's fine. I can wait. Whichever is easier with your uncle - I don't want to make things harder for you.

Stiles: Trust me, I would prefer to spend the time with you.

Cora: [smirks] I'm sure you would.

Ben: [tugging on Stiles' leg] Da! Da!

Stiles: Yes, both of you. [and he will reach down and pick his son up]

Cora: I can take him if you want to go talk to you uncle.

Stiles: No, I'm free until lunch. We're good. [and he will have Ben hold the brush and "help" him brush the horse down] What have you two been up to today?

Cora: He's mostly been picking flowers. I was spending some time with your father.

Stiles: Was he waiting long for Uncle?

Cora: No. Or at least it didn't feel that way.

Stiles: Well, that's good. I'd hate for him to be delayed from everything else he has to do.

Cora: I'm sure we sufficiently distracted him so it didn't feel that way.

Stiles: [chuckles] Good.

Cora: [she pauses for a moment, because she knows they're going to have to address what she learned about his mother at some point, but that can be saved for later, when they're alone] You must be hungry. And I'm sure this one is too.

Stiles: I'm always hungry. [grins]

Cora: Then let us go to lunch. [and off they'll go to get some food and Stiles will speak with his uncle?]

Stiles: [yes, and uncle will trade off the rest of the afternoon and evening for Stiles' attendance for the rest of the week visiting the other Lords]

Cora: [which is good and bad but compromise is important. so they will make their way out to the cabin and settle in for the night, have a lovely dinner, and after Ben is put to bed settle on the floor in front of the fire. Cora rests her back against one of the couches with Stiles' head in her lap, the fingers of one hand carding through his hair while the other rests over his heart] I wanted to talk to you about something.

Stiles: Oh? What about?

Cora: [glances down to him] Your father told me about your mother.

Stiles: [and he stiffens a bit] Did he?

Cora: [she nods, brushing her fingers through his hair gently] Is that why you were asking about becoming a werewolf?

Stiles: [and he is going to just stare at the ceiling a moment, not really speaking]

Cora: [she just keeps brushing her fingers through his hair quietly] I'm not judging. My sister has turned werewolves to help save them from health problems before, with Erica and Scott. But I need to understand in order to help you.

Stiles: [closes his eyes] I don't want to talk about this right now, Cora.

Cora: If not now, when? You're leaving for a week.

Stiles: I'd prefer to forget about it, myself.

Cora: [she gives him a bit of a look] Well, forgetting about it isn't going to help. And maybe talking about it now will keep you from stewing over it while you're with your uncle and I'm not with you.

Stiles: [and he sighs and goes to push himself up] I think it would be better to go to bed.

Cora: [her eyes roll up for a moment before placing her hand against his chest to keep him looking at her] Your father said you were stubborn, but I'm worse. If you think a week away is going to make me forget, you're wrong. [so she's going to keep bringing it up until you talk to her about it, so you might as well get it over with now]

Stiles: I don't think you will forget. But maybe it would be best to forget what happened and move on from it.

Cora: Why?

Stiles: Because I asked for you to.

Cora: Well, I can't. Because something that worries you this much worries me. It's not as easy for me to ignore it as it is you - I can sense how it weighs on you.

Stiles: [he sets his jaw because he doesn't want to talk about this, and he shifts away from her to stand up] I'm going to bed.

Cora: [sighs and lets him go, staring back at the fire] I'm going to stay here.

Stiles: Do as you wish. [and he will leave her to go to the bedroom, a mixture of anxious, frustration, and exhaustion]

Cora: [and she will sit in the sitting room, worried and not sure what to do]

Stiles: [and he will try to go to sleep, but he can't sleep when he's anxious ad it only adds to the frustration]

Cora: [and eventually she will get up to check on Ben, before heading to the bedroom to get changed for bed]

Stiles: [and he knows he can't fake sleeping around her, but he just stays on his side facing the wall, trying to sleep]

Cora: [and she will get into her nightgown before climbing into bed next to him, and just waiting him out]

Stiles: [they are just going to have the worst night sleep]

Cora: [probably. but she really does want to address this before he leaves and SURPRISE STILES, YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY FEEL BETTER]

Stiles: [nope, denial and avoidance are his friends]

Cora: [ugh, this is the worst, and you're making your wife sad. eventually she'll give a frustrated huff and glance over at his back] I just want to help you, you know.

Stiles: I know, but I don't want to discuss this right now.

Cora: [sighs as she shifts to face him more] I know that being your wife here means different things than it does in Norway, but some things are universal, Stiles. I know you don't want to talk about this now, you are going to be alone with your uncle for a week, and you reek of anxiety. For something this prevalent, he'll likely be able to see it too.

Stiles: [lets out a huff] Cora.

Cora: I know. You don't want to talk about it.

Stiles: Then please, stop asking.

Cora: I'll stop asking when you start sleeping.

Stiles: I can't sleep when you ask me questions.

Cora: [well, fine, she'll be quiet then. go to sleep, Stiles]

Stiles: [and he's going to try, and that dice roll shows he's pretty exhausted and he's going to just pass out, but it's not going to really be restful]

Cora: [and she won't sleep much either and just mostly worry about him]

Stiles: [and finally in the very early morning he's going to wake up, sliding out of bed and into his robe before going to the kitchen to make himself, and Cora, some tea]

Cora: [hears him get up and stirs, before grabbing a robe for herself and going to check on Ben]

Ben: [still out cold. too early]

Stiles: [is going to stand by the window in the main room, looking out at the land as the sky is starting to lighten from the black of night, the fog over the ground thick]

Cora: [lets Ben sleep, and makes her way out to find her husband, just leaning in the doorway and waiting for him to speak]

Stiles: [finally] Olivia's pregnant. They believe with a boy, or at least that's what she's saying.

Cora: Good for her.

Stiles: While searching for a midwife... she found the woman who was my mother's midwife.

Cora: What did she tell her? [because she has a feeling that this wasn't a happy commonality]

Stiles: She knows about my mother's brain disease. Her husband then talked with a doctor in Paris about it, and they told Uncle that it is something that I, or my children could develop and it would lead to the destruction of our manor if I'm allowed to continue on as heir.

Cora: What did your uncle say?

Stiles: [deep breath] That if I start to show a single sign of the disease, I am to immediately abdicate my role, and family tie, as Lord to the first born son of Olivia's line. It won't even go to Ben. If not, Olivia's husband will go to war against us to claim their son's birthright.

Cora: [sighs, before moving closer to sit with him] Well, as close as you are with your uncle and as hard as you've worked for this, we don't need this manor. My family will never turn us away.

Stiles: I know. Your sister has always been kind to me, even before I started to court you.

Cora: [she nods] But that's why you were asking about becoming a wolf - to protect you from the disease, if you happen to have it.

Stiles: [nods] I spent most of my life apart from my family. What little I had was sad, or taken from me by the Whittemores. [looks at Cora, exhausted] I can't lose it again. I can't let our children grow up and not know or have any ties to here.

Cora: [she turns and reaches for his hands, taking them in hers] If we were to remove all of the outside pressures, do you want to be a werewolf?

Stiles: [looks at their hands, his thumb running along the back of it] I don't know.

Cora: [she nods once] Then if you don't know, I don't believe it is a risk we should take. Beyond the risk of your illness, there is the risk that the bite would not take to begin with, and you would need to spend extended time in Norway after you've turned in order to ensure that you will have perfect control. There are far more hunters here than there are up north, and that involves added risks, particularly with your cousin looking to usurp you. [and there's more, but she'll take a beat in letting him process that]

Stiles: I know. Sir Tyler told me about the risks back when Lady Caroline was bit.

Cora: That being said, your father told me the symptoms of the disease, and I don't want that to happen to you, or have you suffer needlessly. I will be able to sense your illness long before anyone would be able to outwardly see it. Should we start to see symptoms, we will revisit the conversation. Does that sound fair?

Stiles: [he licks his lips] How will you know?

Cora: Your scent will change. People who are ill indicate in their scent sooner than they do in their physiology.

Stiles: But Cora... how do you know if it isn't already in my scent? I could have had this for my whole life and it would be a part of me.

Cora: There's a ... wrongness, to it. I saw it with my father, when he was ill - it's not something that feels natural or normal.

Stiles: And you don't pick up anything like that with me?

Cora: [she shakes her head] No, not at all.

Stiles: [and that is a wave of relief that hits him as he lets out the breath he had been holding, his head going to rest on top of their hands]

Cora: [she moves one hand, gently brushing over the top of his head as he relaxes]

Stiles: It wasn't that I didn't want to tell you, Cora. I just was trying to process it all myself so I could find the right words and not... [seem weak]

Cora: [she nods] I understand. But Stiles, I'm the one person you can be vulnerable with. If we're partners than we need to know where we need to compensate for each other so that others don't see it.

Stiles: It's just hard for me. I've just always had to have other people dictate what I do. Lord Whittemore, Lord Parrish, and now my Uncle. And I love you, Cora, and I know I tend to let you lead most of the time too... but sometimes I don't like the feeling of not being the one in control of my own life.

Cora: I know. And I try not to overwhelm you because to the rest of the people here, my position as your wife doesn't mean the same thing it does with my sister, but if you need me to, I want to be able to step in without them noticing. That requires more communication between us when we are alone.

Stiles: [nods] I'm trying, I just...

Ben: [and someone's awake and he's alone in a strange room and crying because he is scared]

Cora: [sighs before squeezing his hand gently] I'll be right back. [and then she'll go off to get Ben, looking down at him with a small smile] It's alright. You're safe.

Ben: [clings to her because it's not home why aren't they home?]

Cora: [hushes him softly as she walks him back into the living room with his father] It's alright. You're alright.

Stiles: [and he's putting on his strong Daddy face] It's okay, son. We're both here.

Ben: [looks at his dad while still half buried in Cora's neck]

Cora: He was the same way the first night we arrived here. He's starting to pay more attention to his surroundings.

Stiles: He knows where his home is.

Cora: Yes, he does.

Stiles: [and he will join them, running a hand along Ben's hair] His home is Norway.

Cora: [glances over at him] Not right now. Right now, home is Austria

Stiles: [he looks up at Cora] Our home. Our home is Norway. I think we all know that.

Cora: [looks over at him, confused] Home is with you.

Stiles: [and there's a smile back at her] I know. But no matter how much I do... Olivia's going to keep trying to get rid of us. I don't want to put our children through that.

Cora: [sighs softly, before looking down at Ben because he doesn't want to put him through that either] It's your decision. You're the one who said you didn't want to lose the connection to your family here.

Stiles: [nods] I don't. But maybe there's a way to be able to keep the connection and keep Olivia from destroying us in the process

Cora: I suppose you'll have to speak with your uncle.

Stiles: I have a week to figure it out.

Cora: [she nods] Whatever you decide, I'm with you, Stiles.

Stiles: Okay. [and he will lean in to kiss her]

Cora: [kisses him back and gives him a small smile] Whatever the outcome is, we'll be happy.

Stiles: That's all I really want in the end.

Cora: Me too.

Stiles: We should probably have breakfast and head back.

Cora: [she nods, before glancing down at her son] Ready for breakfast, Ben?

Ben: [looks at his mom] Cakes?

Cora: [she laughs] We can have pancakes, yes.

Ben: [looks at his dad] Cakes?

Stiles: Yes, Pancakes.

Cora: I'll get him dressed if you get cooking?

Stiles: I can do that.

Cora: [she nods and off she goes to get Ben dressed and herself dressed as well]