Cora Hale (
impetere) wrote in
thepicketfencecliche2014-12-17 08:09 am
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canon au } { post-3b, of sibling time and poorly timed zombie jokes
[PART THREE: After doing some free running to cool off Derek … gets himself into a bar fight. And gets himself picked up by the sheriff. A+ job, Derek. But he brings Derek home while Dawn is dozing on the couch with her overactive imagination and her romance novels.]
Derek: [nope, went from fight, to handcuffs, to the back of the cruiser, to home.]
Sheriff: Now I mean it, Derek. And I'm not going to say anything to Cora. I now you've been having a hard few weeks, but the recklessness like that - I can't hide your secrets like that. And you're lucky it was me who showed up first, and not Agent McCall.
Derek: Yeah, I know.
Dawn: [will later be thankful that she didn't wind up in some kind of awkward sleeping position, but is mostly lying on her side, one arm stretched out in front of her with the dramatic looking romance novel in her hand. She is out cold, dead to the world, and there be a mumbled utterance somewhere along the way of " ... Fabio, no."]
Derek: [hears her and his eyes narrow a bit]
Sheriff: [looks over and smiles a bit. Claudia did that sometimes when he was late back from work] Do me a favor? Savor what you still have. You already know what it's like to lose it, but you got it back. Don't waste that.
Derek: [looks at the Sheriff, seeing the meaning and nods] I didn't mean to cause you problems.
Sheriff: Hey, drunken bar brawls are easier to deal with than world ending catastrophes. It's an easy day. [heads for the door] Get some sleep.
Dawn: [you honestly don't want to know what her subconscious is doing right now, Derek, just wake her up whenever you're ready.]
Derek: [sees the sheriff out, resets the alarm, and goes over to where she is. He looks down at her, his eyes softening a bit from their earlier harshness and he knees down in front of her. First he gently takes the book away, looking at it a moment and chuckling. Then he just carefully goes to get her into his arms to carry her to bed]
Dawn: [she starts to stir a bit as she's moved, one hand coming up to rub at her face until she finally opens her eyes and sees that it's him] Hey. You're home.
Derek: Yup, home safe and sound, and taking you to bed because you fell asleep on the couch.
Dawn: Mmm. Okay. [she doesn't object to going to bed, but she does hope he'll come with her.] You coming too?
Derek: Yeah. I'm worn out.
Dawn: Good. [she shifts so that she's sitting up a little more, running a hand through her hair as she looks out the window at how dark at is] How late is it?
Derek: [looks at clock] Almost 1.
Dawn: [her head nods a bit] That feels about right. [she's half asleep. don't ask her how she can "feel" what time it is. she'll text Peter in the morning]
Derek: [lays her down, and quickly undresses down to his boxers and crawls into bed behind her, just wrapping her in his arms and snuggling against her back]
Dawn: [cuddles back into him on instinct, not quite drifting off to sleep yet] Buffy and Peter went out of town for the weekend.
Derek: That's good.
Dawn: [nods] Buffy said something about the beach, which makes me both curious and not about what she said and/or did to make him agree to the beach.
Derek: Best not to think about that at all. [kisses her shoulder]
Dawn: [nods again, before snuggling back into him] And Cora is at Stiles's. She took a bag so she might not be back for a while.
Derek: Sheriff is letting her stay there in a spare room. She probably feels more at home there than here. [than he can give her]
Dawn: [her hand wanders down over his. She doubts Cora is sleeping in a spare room, but she's not going to tell her brother that.] Maybe. She's never really been one to settle. Kinda like she was waiting for something.
Derek: [is under no illusions of that either, but it's still a room for her.] She wants a home.
Dawn: [nods] With her family.
Derek: Or of her own, with her own family. Which right now, it probably a lot more Stiles than me.
Dawn: No, she fought too hard to get to you in the first place. She's not letting you go without a fight. [and she can hazard a guess what's going through Cora's head] It's just a little disheartening when it seems like you don't want the same thing. [she's been there with Buffy. She can't imagine what it's like for Cora, who already had to go through hell to get that closeness with him the first time around]
Derek: [He just closes his eyes, resting his head back on the pillow] I can't get it right no matter what I do by her. She wants me to accept her boyfriend and so I tell her to get him to help her pack up her stuff at Berkley, and she acts like I cut her off. And she already stays there most of the time she is home. She's a grown woman and can tell me what she wants.
Dawn: [she shifts a bit, rolling over to face him with a sigh] Ever think that she was asking you to go with her because on some crazy planet she actually wants you to go with her and get some alone time with her big brother?
Derek: [thinks] So alone time and manual labor go hand in hand?
Dawn: In teenage girl speak, yes. That would be the translation. [there's a pause] What did she say to you exactly?
Derek: She asked me to go with her to Berkley to move her stuff out of the dorm.
Dawn: That's what she asked. What did she say? Did she say anything about it being just you two?
Derek: [tries to think of the exact words] There may have been mention of it being the two of us.
Dawn: Yep. That was a request for sibling time.
Derek: [and his head falls back because damnit]
Dawn: [one hand rubs his arm lightly] Probably not too late to change your mind.
Derek: She would think you talked me into it.
Dawn: Not if you explain that you were an idiot at the time. And don't make it like you're shoving yourself back in there, just ... apologize. And let her do the rest.
Derek: [nods, making a mental note to call his sister in the morning then] I'll call her in the morning and see if she hasn't left yet.
Dawn: Good. I think you'll both be glad you did.
Derek: [nods]
Dawn: Any other little sister problems you want to run by me before we sleep?
Derek: [not saying anything about the House. nope] Think that's it.
Dawn: Okay. [she shifts closer, tucking herself further into his arms] I love you.
Derek: [tucks her in, resting his chin on top of her head] I love you too.
Dawn: Night. [and it's not long before she closing her eyes and drifting off in his arms. She can't guarantee that Fabio still won't plague her subconscious, though]
Derek: [as long as it's not him and Fabio while she's watching... because awkward. He's probably not going to sleep much and will end up awake early to make Dawn breakfast and call Cora]
Cora: [Dawn's gonna sleep awhile, so Cora is drawn awake by the sound of her phone ringing. She's surprised when she sees Derek's name on the caller ID, but she doesn't ignore it] Hold on. [she disentangles herself from Stiles and moves to the kitchen so that she doesn't bother him. Once she's there, she places the phone back to her ear] Hi.
Derek: Hey. You still in Beacon Hills?
Cora: Yeah, I'm still at the house. Why?
Derek: Because your brother is an idiot and wasn't really listening to what you were saying yesterday and... if it's not too late, I'd like to go with you to Berkley. Just the two of us.
Cora: [there's a part of her that relaxes at the acknowledgment that he was an idiot. then she pauses as she considers] Are you just doing this because Dawn told you you were an idiot or do you really want to go?
Derek: [looks at sleeping Dawn because HE CALLED IT and sighed] Dawn made me relisten to the conversation we had in my head and I realized that you weren't trying to just ask me to do something, but were trying to ask to spend time with just me. And I do want to spend time with you, so yes, I want to go.
Cora: [she just wants to hear him say it. This entire conversation is going to be about making him sweat.] Okay. [case in point:] Hold on. [and with that she's going to put the phone back on mute and head back up to Stiles, nudging him awake if he isn't already] Hey.
Stiles: Mmphmgff. [rolling over in bed]
Cora: [she smirks a bit, before nudging him again] Wake up, I need to ask you something.
Stiles: [such a betrayed look. You are waking him from his sleep, Cora. Not a morning person] Wha?
Cora: [shifts so that she's lying down next to him, and holds up her phone] Derek called. He said he was an idiot and he didn't realize what I was asking him, and he says that if I still want him to go, he'd like to go with me to Berkeley. [there's a beat while she lets that sink in] So the question is, how much would you hate me if I gave up the last bit of guaranteed real alone time we would probably have for the entire summer and took my brother instead? [she's fully prepared to let Stiles tell her to tell Derek no because he was paying attention, but at the same time, she still wants it to be her brother]
Stiles: [looks at Cora a minute] If you didn't want to go with him still, you wouldn't be asking me. Go with him. I have a car. We can find alone time later that doesn't involve boxes.
Cora: [she smiles at him a bit, before leaning and kissing him briefly] Thank you. Go back to sleep.
Stiles: Love you too. [faceplant back into the pillow]
Cora: [she leans back against the bed, staring at the phone for a couple more minutes then taking it off mute and putting it to her ear] Pick me up in an hour?
Derek: [is still waiting, and takes a deep breath of relief.] I can be there. Want me to bring you some coffee?
Cora: Yes, please.
Derek: Okay. I'll be there in an hour. Text me what else I need to bring.
Cora: I don't think you'll need much. We might have to spend the night up there but we can just stay at the apartment. [there's a pause] We might need a crowbar.
Derek: I have one in the new car.
Cora: Then I think we'll be good.
Derek: See you in an hour. [and he goes towards the shower first, not wanting to wake Dawn right away]
Cora: [hangs up and curls back into Stiles for a little bit, letting him reclaim her in his sleep]
Dawn: [eventually will be lured out of bed by the smells promising food. She can hear the shower going and she debates for a moment going to surprise him, but eventually decides that she needs coffee first]
Derek: [finishes and comes out, towel only around his waist as he is drying his hair and having shaved somewhat] So I'm going to Berkley for the weekend. Need anything from the apartment?
Dawn: [is just going to sip her coffee and appreciate the view, don't mind her] No, I think I'm good. Are we staying here for a while?
Derek: If you want to? [may need to take it up with the committee of his family]
Dawn: [she shrugs] I don't have any classes right now so it's not like I need to be up there. If you want to be here, I'll stay here, I just need to know what to tell my landlord.
Derek: Seeing that everyone else is here right now, may as well stay here.
Dawn: [she nods a bit in agreement] Okay. So while you're there just make sure everything's locked up?
Derek: Sure. [an he's tossing a shirt on and then reached for his jeans]
Dawn: [sigh. and there goes the eye candy.] What time do you have to meet your sister?
Derek: [looks at clock] Thirty minutes.
Dawn: And then I'm boyfriend free for the whole weekend. I don't know what I'll do with myself. [there will probably be research involved]
Derek: You can spend some quality time with your other boyfriend, Fabio. [ looks over his shoulder, smirking a bit]
Dawn: [she makes a mock gasp, looking at him like she's almost scandalized] How do you know about Fabio?
Derek: I came home and he was all draped over your stomach.
Dawn: Oh. Well that would do it. [she laughs] I'm not sure I like what those books do to my head. But Fabio is rather impressive.
Derek: Yeah, you were muttering his name all night long.
Dawn: [she cringes a bit at that as she walks around the counter to be closer to him, because yep. that's no good] Well, a weekend alone with him could be dangerous. You might have to remind me why you're my favorite boyfriend when you get home.
Derek: I'll see what I can think up while I'm gone. [there is a small smirk] You be okay while I'm gone?
Dawn: I will be fine. I have a plethora of Winchesters to deal with. [she slides her arms around his waist and kisses him gently] Go spend some time with your sister.
Derek: Don't go opening any portals until I get back, okay? [holds her close a moment]
Dawn: [she shakes her head as she leans into him] I'm not opening anything. [not just because of him but because she's sick of being just a bloodbag. She wants to find another way]
Derek: When I get back, remind me to take you for a drive in the new car. [reaches for his keys as he steps into his boots]
Dawn: Deal.
Derek: Love you. [and he goes to head out. Dawn will probably notice once he's gone that he didn't eat any of his breakfast.]
Dawn: [she will. And she'll worry, but for now she'll just let him have his time with Cora]
Derek: [and so he will stop at the coffee shop, grab their coffees and he will get himself a bagel to munch on as he waits in his toyota for Cora to come outside]
Cora: [and she will kiss a still sleeping Stiles goodbye before making her way down to the car and sliding into the passengers seat] I talked to Maria and she said that she told the housing people that I had some kind of super flu or my grandfather died or something ridiculous so all my stuff should still be there. We shouldn't have to go hunting for it.
Derek: [hands her the coffee] We'll figure out where it is and get it packed up. We can take it to the apartment and you can divide out what you want to bring back, and what you can store in the apartment until fall. Dawn and I are staying in Beacon Hills until school starts again.
Cora: Cool. [she takes the coffee from and takes a sip before leaning back in the seat] Is this the new car?
Derek: Yeah, Argent helped me pick it out. It was one of his 'Help get Derek's mind off things' moments.
Cora: [nods a bit] It's nice.
Derek: It's also got a good crash test rating. Just in case. [slips on his shades and holds his coffee in one hand as he starts driving]
Cora: [she leans back in the seat, playing with her coffee cup] It feels weird, going back just for this.
Derek: Well, we bugged out pretty quickly. I'm pretty sure the fridge at the apartment is not going to be a fun thing to clean.
Cora: [makes her face] Forget that one, think of the one in my dorm.
Derek: Your roommate wouldn't have done it before leaving?
Cora: I didn't have a roommate.
Derek: Maria wasn't rooming with you?
Cora: [she shakes her head] Next year. I had a roommate but she decided I wasn't study-focused enough for her, so she moved out to live with someone else.
Derek: ..... So when Stiles was up here visiting...
Cora: [there's a pause] We were alone.
Derek: [just nods, sipping his coffee. He's... not actually mad] Got it.
Cora: [yeah, she's a little suspicious of that calm, and she takes another sip of her coffee] Okay.
Derek: You know, contrary to popular belief, I was a teenager once and I get it. I'm trying not to be overprotective. That was the reason I suggested you take Stiles for this when we first talked was to show you that I'm okay with you two.
Cora: And I appreciate that. I just wonder sometimes if you're being too calm about this.
Derek: You didn't see me while you were gone. [puts his coffee down and focuses on driving]I'm trying to keep control of my anger, because we both know what would happen if I lost control of it.
Cora: [her fingers drum lightly against her coffee cup] It's okay to be angry sometimes. Especially at some of the crap that goes on in our lives.
Derek: My anger is my anchor, Cora. I can't lose control of it.
Cora: [she knows that.] It wasn't always. [when he was a kid he was never like this. His first anchor was something else, something he lost in that fire, and the anger and loss replaced it] And it doesn't have to stay that way. Not if it's hurting you. [which she has a sneaking suspicion it might be]
Derek: [his first anchor was his mother. After the fire, all that was there was anger and guilt. And the anger was easier to latch onto] It's not hurting me. [at least he doesn't believe it is]
Cora: [her anchor is still her mother. It hurts a little more than it used to but it's the thing from her life before that she hangs on the tightest to] I just ... I know you take a lot on yourself, and you don't talk about it.
Derek: [and he just looks over the steering wheel, not answering but instead reaching for his coffee to take a drink]
Cora: [there's a half laugh at that] Case in point. [it's a little more snappish than she intended, but she shakes her head and moves on before he can make a big deal out of it] I just think that sometimes you should. Maybe not me but Dawn or Peter, or ... maybe even a professional or something.
Derek: [he's listening. He's not completely ignoring her, and he may think on it more later, but still drinking that coffee]
Cora: [well, she'll let it go at that until he decides that he's done with that coffee, letting her eyes wander out the window to the landscape around them]
Derek: [once he's done and puts the coffee down, he sighs] I'll think about it. [which is also him ending this topic, please?]
Cora: [she glances over at him with a small smile, because hey, at least that's something.] I haven't seen Maria since that night with the minions by Dawn's office so if she comes flying out of nowhere I'm apologizing in advance. [see, look. She's even changing the subject] Tara either, but she's less likely to ... tackle out of nowhere.
Derek: If you want, once we get things done, we can order a few pizzas and hang out at the apartment while you sort and you can catch up with them. [and Derek realizes he doesn't have any friends to contact at Berkley so no one to hang with him]
Cora: [poor poor Derek. He needs to learn to make friends] Are you sure? This was supposed to be us, I have no problem telling them to go away. [Maria, mostly, Tara will get it because she's awesome like that]
Derek: It is about us. [he reaches over and squeezed her hand] But, you may want an hour or two break from just me after we finish the unloading and I don't want you to ignore your friends you won't see for a few months. You'll at least come over now and then during the summer to see me.
Cora: Okay. [another small smile] Thanks.
Derek: [nods, and thinks a minute] I have a question to ask you, since we're breeching topics that I normally don't like talking about.
Cora: [bit of an eyebrow raise, but she glances over at him] Okay.
Derek: What do you need me to do to the loft to make you feel that you can make it home for you?
Cora: [it's the question she's expecting. She isn't sure what she was expecting - probably something about her and Stiles, and in a way it is, but it's not at the same time. There's a moment of silence that's more for the surprise of it, and then a much longer one as she tries to think of the answer, though it's not really thinking it, but more trying to figure out the best way to put it. In the end, there's really only one way.] Make it yours. [his home. if it's his home and it feels like his home, then maybe she won't feel like when she's there she still needs to be ready to move.]
Derek: [thinks for a moment, then sighs] Do you know why I haven't torn down our home? [he had never talked about it out loud to Cora or Peter, but it was something that had been gnawing on him since Buffy and him fought]
Cora: [she shakes her head. she didn't have it in her to ask because every instinct just wants to tear that death trap apart.]
Derek: Because I can still smell Mom there. Even through the smoke and the ash, there are spots her scent is still there. Laura too, and the others. I can't let go of that.
Cora: [there's a part of her that gets it, she does. She knows what it's like to want to hold on to that person so tightly, whatever you have. But it's one thing to obsessively hold on to a sweatshirt it's another to make regular sabbaticals to the place where they died to try and catch their scent. It's like waiting for a zombie in a graveyard.] And you don't feel everything else? How terrified they were? I can feel that alone from the front porch. [or maybe that's just her own trauma getting to her] You don't feel how scared I was? I couldn't breathe, I couldn't get out, and if it hadn't been for Peter ... [She would be just another scent he's chasing in that house]
Derek: I don't need to feel it from the house. [it was his fault. One he worried if Cora learned about, she would never forgive him. Peter knew in a way - that Kate was the one who did it. But no one but he and Kate knew that he was the one who all but gave her the keys to do it]
Cora: [she sighs softly, leaning back against her seat and closing her eyes] Fine. You keep the house because you need it, but that doesn't mean it has to be your home. It's no one's home, not anymore.
Derek: [licks his lips] You're right, it's not a home. [and it hurts him a lot to say that] And being between Berkley and Beacon Hills, I don't really feel either is my home. Dawn sees her apartment as home, not the loft, but I can't see Berkley as home.
Cora: Dawn ... [tries to figure out how best to explain this] Dawn's problem is my problem. She won't call the loft home until you do. Berkeley is home, for now, because she's got her squad and school and the apartment but if you decided that you wanted Beacon Hills to be home, she'd go with you. But you have to make the decision, Derek.
Derek: [looks at the road, but it isn't to ignore her words, but to think] You say that, but I don't think she would give everything up to live in Beacon Hills. [which means if he wanted to stay... he risked losing her eventually.]
Cora: ... What does she have to give up? [she frowns at him] Her apartment? The squad goes where she goes and having more Slayers in Beacon Hills makes sense, she's almost done with school and even if she did decide to teach there, she could work out a schedule so that she wasn't gone a lot. [there's a beat] And it's not her giving up everything to live in Beacon Hills. It's her making things work so that she can be with you.
Derek: You make that sound easy, but to me it sounds like asking too much.
Cora: [she sighs softly] Look, if at this point you can't see how she would move heaven and earth to be with you and think of it as no big deal then I really can't help you.
Derek: She shouldn't have to move heaven and earth to be with me. That's the point.
Cora: Good thing she's not. She's just moving to Beacon Hills. [teasing, but she shakes her head] Just tell her what you want, Derek. Everything you want. I seriously doubt she'll tell you no.
Derek: [thing is, he remembers how much Dawn had insisted leaving Beacon Hills after he had been shot. Derek would always be involved in the pack and the craziness of the supernatural in Beacon Hills and that would always put him at risk, and that was something Dawn didn't care for. That was what made him feel she wouldn't let them make home in Beacon Hills.] I'll try to.
Cora: [yes, well. Cora never said she wouldn't have somewhere to retreat to if the need arose.] Okay. Because she doesn't know if you don't tell her. [which is her point. communicate with your girlfriend.]
Derek: And here I thought Dawn possessed psychic powers.
Cora: Nope. Sometimes she just knows you too well but for the most part she's as confused by you as the rest of us.
Derek: [ smirks] Good to know the confusion spell is still working then.
Cora: [she laughs, shaking her head] Unfortunately.
Derek: So Stiles is trying to go to Berkley too now?
Cora: [she nods] He wants to get into the Mythology and Folklore program. I think he fell in love with the library.
Derek: I'm sure he's in love with multiple things there.
Cora: [her head ducks a bit and her hair falls forward because she's probably blushing] He did. He seemed to really like the campus when he was here.
Derek: [smiles at that] Well, he's been good for you. So I hope he gets in.
Cora: [playing with the edge of her cup] Me too.
Derek: I find it funny that we're both apparently got the same tastes.
Cora: [blinks] We do?
Derek: Look at Dawn and Stiles.
Cora: [is quiet as she thinks about that for a moment, and her eyes widen a bit] ... I never even thought about that.
Derek: Yeah, scary huh? [grins]
Cora: Little bit. [there's a beat] But they're not ... completely the same person.
Derek: I'm honestly very glad they aren't the exact same person. Because that would be awkward.
Cora: [she snorts] Extremely.
Derek: Though, there does bring up the question of where Peter went wrong.
Cora: Maybe he decided he liked his significant other a little more violent. [there's a beat] Or maybe we really just like them because they ramble.
Derek: Peter liking violence. What a shocking revelation. [laughs]
Cora: [she laughs] I think back then, though, he just liked her because she was different. Most of the girls he knew in Beacon Hills he'd known forever.
Derek: Sometimes I wonder what we'd all be like if the fire hadn't happened. How different we'd all be.
Cora: We'd still have Mom. [and in some areas that makes a huge difference]
Derek: And Laura. And sometimes I think of all of us, Peter is the one who lost the most.
Cora: I think he's figuring it out. He'll never be the same, exactly, but ... he's getting there. I see it when he looks at Buffy sometimes.
Derek: Yeah. I just hope for all our sakes, including Buffy's, that it isn't a show.
Cora: If it is, I think Buffy may actually kill him.
Derek: Which I really don't want to get into the middle of.
Cora: Neither do I.
Derek: But part of his madness is my fault, and that makes him my responsibility.
Cora: But part of it is him too. He still made a choice, Derek, you didn't make it for him.
Derek: No, I didn't. That's why I said part of it. Laura is also to blame by abandoning him. I didn't know he was here until she disappeared. If I had known...
Cora: You didn't know about me either. And I made it without a pack just fine - and I didn't kill any family members.
Derek: You weren't trapped in a husk of a body for six years either.
Cora: No, I wasn't. [there's a beat] Making excuses for him or taking the blame doesn't make him better, though. Maybe Laura shouldn't have left him but what was she going to do? Haul him over her shoulder and take him wherever you two went? Peter was catatonic and she had to protect you. She made a choice and if it were me, I would have done the same thing.
Derek: [sighs] I spent too much time hating Peter when he came back. I still don't trust him. I just think if we had been there after... even that would have helped him. I would have gone back for him, and at least put him somewhere on our coast.
Cora: I think she meant to. Laura ... she wouldn't have just left him there to rot if she could help it.
Derek: We stayed still in New York for a few years, Cora. I can't figure out why she would have left him. And she's not here to even ask.
Cora: [shrugs] She was even more skittish about hunters than mom was.
Derek: I know. That's why we were in the city. It's so easy to blend in there.
Cora: Maybe she thought that if she transferred Peter to her, they would catch on and follow him.
Derek: [sighs] Maybe.
Cora: We can't change it. All we can do is just ... help him get better. I think Malia will help with that too.
Derek: I hope so. Did either of you reach out to her when you got back?
Cora: [she shakes her head] I haven't yet. I don't know if he did.
Derek: I don't know how to contact her so I don't know if she knew you guys disappeared for a bit but returned.
Cora: [shifts to grab her phone] I'll ask Stiles. Isaac was gone too, and she's in the pack now so she probably at least knew something was happening.
Derek: Okay, as long as she doesn't think she was abandoned. [and a statement like that reminds Derek that he's on the very edge of the pack from his own actions and he doesn't comment on it more]
Cora: Well, we still haven't broached the whole ... you're Peter's daughter thing with her. So abandoned, no. Annoyed? Probably.
Derek: I'm sure Scott or Stiles took care of it.
Cora: [yep, she's just going to text Stiles anyway just in case] Or Scott at least. [Stiles was a little Cora focused]
Stiles: [gets text while sitting with Scott in homeroom. Coach isn't looking, YES. Shows Scott]
Scott: Yeah, I told Malia that they had an emergency and needed to get out of town for a few weeks. I should... probably text Buffy that.
[and both boys are texting under their desks while Coach drones on]
Cora: [phone beeps!] Yeah, Scott told her we were working on an emergency out of town.
Derek: Good.
Buffy: [text back to Scott:] Noted, passing on. [and she'll relay this to Peter]
Peter: [cusses and yeah, sorry Buffy he's leaving to grab his phone because he's a bad daddy not checking in on her]
Malia: [is in class when she gets the text from Peter and smiles very sweetly at Mr. Yukimura to ask to use the bathroom which he allows because she's a girl. Once she's there, she calls him back]
Peter: [has apologized to Buffy because it's really important, and answers the phone right after it starts ringing] Hey, Malia. I know you're at school, but I am back in the area and wanted to check up on you. I'm sorry we didn't give you more notice but everything was very sudden. [making a face at Buffy, hoping he's saying the right things]
Malia: [she gives a bit of a shrug. Whatever kind of emergency it was, she figured someone died or something] Hey, it happens. Not like I haven't had things to keep me busy. [like adjusting back to being in school period.] Everything okay?
Buffy: [just gives him a thumbs up. She will listen and provide appropriate facial commentary]
Peter: Now, yeah. Things are mostly back in place. [except for three Winchesters...] How are things adjusting with you?
Malia: School is boring. Coach is kind of hilarious so econ isn't so bad and Kira's dad is pretty cool, but catching up on my core classes is a bitch and a half.
Peter: Yeah, I don't miss school for that reason. I was happy just playing sports and finding other people to do my homework. But you only got what, a week or two left before break?
Malia: Yeah, and I don't have to take finals because I started so late, but it does mean I have to take summer school to catch up what I missed.
Peter: Ouch.
Malia: Not their fault I spent the better part of the last eight years as a coyote. [she pushes herself up so that she's sitting on the window sill, one foot braced against the sink for balance] It's mostly math and science. I still know how to read and write.
Peter: Well, Stiles can help you with math. I think he got a perfect math score on his SAT. Science... which one?
Malia: All of them?
Peter: I'm so sorry. [thinks] Well, have you met Derek yet? [crosses his one arm, suddenly smirking] Cora's older brother.
Malia: Not really? But I'll figure it out. It's just science how hard can it be?
Peter: If you have problems with chem, check with him. He tutored Isaac last year. Only reason the pup managed to make it to the next grade.
Malia: I'll keep that in mind.
Peter: I'll actually be around this summer though. If you actually want to do some training in person.
Malia: Yeah? [that has her perking up a bit, mostly because it's not just talking about school. Also, wolf training good. she needs it, if she's going to be useful - and maybe not get shut out when shit goes down] That'd be good.
Peter: When you figure out your summer school schedule, we can put it onto the schedule as well.
Malia: Sounds great. [okay, maybe the summer won't totally suck]
Peter: Great. Well, you should get back to class. Text me if you need anything before then.
Malia: Will do. Thanks for checking in. [and she means that. Not a lot of the pack is.]
Peter: You're welcome. Talk to you soon.
Malia: [and with that she's hanging up and back off to class.]
Buffy: [head tips] Good talk?
Peter: [looks at his phone, not sure how he feels] She said yes. She's wanting to see me in person.
Buffy: [she brightens a bit, one had coming up to rub his arm gently] Hey. That would be considered a good.
Peter: Everything has been over the phone so far. I.... I think I'm ready to meet her in person.
Buffy: Good. [there's a pause] Are you nervous?
Peter: No. No, I can do this. [totally nervous]
Buffy: [amused] Mmm-hmm.
Peter: What? You don't think I'm capable of seeing... my daughter... and not being able to tell her she's my daughter?
Buffy: No. I think you're plenty capable. But it's your daughter. And you're meeting her for the first time, and if you weren't a little worried about that I'd be surprised.
Peter: I should ask Cora how much like me she smells.
Buffy: That's a little creepy.
Peter: She would figure it out.
Buffy: She's still new to the whole coyote thing. She's going to you to teach her so it might take her a while to figure it out. And maybe before she does, you can figure out how to tell her so she doesn't have to.
Peter: I'll try, but the one thing our family is known for is following our nose first.
Buffy: She's not going to notice that your scent is familiar and automatically jump to the conclusion that you're family. She may dismiss it from spending time with Cora.
Peter: You don't know that.
Buffy: It's kind of like Ottoman's Razor. [she means Occum's Razor] The simplest solution is usually the right one. She doesn't have any reason to believe that you're in any way related. So why would she be looking for it?
Peter: [raises a finger to correct her, then stops] That's true.
Buffy: So relax. You'll still have the chance to tell her when you're ready.
Peter: [nods] Okay. Well, then where were we?
Buffy: You were bringing me wine.
Peter: Yes. [goes and grabs the bottle of wine]
Cora: [and eventually they arrive at Berkeley and Cora slowly climbs out of the car, making a face at the emptyish campus] This is weird.
Derek: [gets out as well, looking around] Makes me want to get gear to fight zombies
Cora: [makes a face and shakes her head] Too soon.
Derek: Oh. Sorry.
Cora: [she shrugs] Don't worry abo - [and as predicted, she's struck from the front by a flying Slayer missile and it's a miracle they both stayed on their feet]
Maria: Don't you ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever - [breath] - ever ever ever ever ever ever ever do that to me again. Or I swear to God I will find a way to rip a hole in the universe and drag your sorry werewolf butt back here so that I can yell at you properly. [she hugs her even tighter] Do you understand me?
Cora: [laughs a bit, hugging her tightly] I missed you too.
Derek: [shakes his head and goes to lean his hip against the truck, waiting]
Tara: [is on Maria's heels, and skids to a stop next to them before wrapping her arms around Cora] Me too!
Maria: [will eventually pull back and let Tara have full control of the hug, and glances over to Derek with a smile and a wave] Hi Derek.
Cora: [hugs Tara tightly all the same]
Derek: [small wave and smile from behind his shades] Maria. Good to see you again.
Maria: How was the drive?
Derek: Bumpy, but we managed to get through it.
Tara: [grins and pulls back] You totally missed senior week. The frat boys had this amazing barbeque and we learned how to play frisbee golf.
Maria: [nods] That's good, that's good.
Cora: [dryly] However will I cope.
Tara: Jason Parker was playing in a speedo. [evil grin]
Cora: [she laughs] Okay, that I could have actually lived without.
Tara: I dunno. I mean that pair of abs.
Derek: [coughs] Maria, care to help me go start loading her stuff up?
Maria: [she laughs] What, don't like the girl talk?
Cora: [shakes her head] No, it's okay. You guys can tell me later. Let me just get packed up first.
Derek: No, I just may have to feel the need to prove Tara wrong about abs, and then my sister will get embarrassed... it won't end well.
Tara: [looks at Cora and holds up her hands] I've never been curious about your abs, nope.
Maria: [don't say anything don't say anything don't say anything don't say anything] See, I wouldn't really have a problem with that. Cora, why don't you go ...
Cora: [rolls her eyes before moving over to grab her brothers arm] I'll text you guys when we're done and we'll get pizza at Dawn's, okay?
Derek: Later then, ladies. [smirks and gets dragged away]
Tara: [watches them leave] You know, they both have great asses. [smiles at Maria]
Maria: [sighs softly] They write poetry about asses like that. [she slings an arm around Tara's shoulders before dragging her away] Come on, let's get coffee.
Cora: [just ... facepalming as she leads Derek up the stairs to her dorm room]
Tara: Ooh, coffee. I'm in. Maybe we can work on our poetry for tonight then.
Derek: Your friends really missed you. And your ass too, apparently
Cora: Apparently. [they reach her door and she fishes out her keys to reveal her room just as she left it. The wide open space, her bed unmade as she and Stiles left it with the second bed in the room standing over it, and her stuff scattered around the room like someone was still living in it.] I think the bags and stuff are in my closet.
Derek: [goes to get the bags] Do I need to run out and gets some boxes?
Cora: [shakes her head] I should be able to fit everything in there. It's what I packed with, and I don't think I had anything extra.
Derek: [tosses the bags on the bed] Alright then. You pack, I'll go... slay the fridge.
Cora: [is already making a face, and grabs the bigger of the bags to start stuffing her clothes into it]
Derek: [grabs the trash and takes two deep breaths, then goes to open the window first because nope, he can already smell it seeping out of the fridge] This is a symbol of how much I love you. Remember that, little sister.
Cora: [she smirks a bit as she packs her jeans down into the suitcase] I'll get you an extra big present for Christmas this year.
Derek: You mean birthday present. [Kneels in front of the mini fridge and plans his strategy.]
Cora: [flashes him a sweet smile] Isn't that the same thing?
Derek: No, I'm not five anymore. They are separate occasions.
Cora: Alright, fine.
Derek: [once more deep breath and then he holds his breath as he opens the door and is met by grossness]
Cora: [gags from her position across the room] God, I'm so sorry.
Derek: [waves her off because he's not breathing here, Cora. He's using his werewolf speed to empty the damn thing into the trash as fast as he could and tie off the bag. His zen control gives him amazing breath control. That's why he didn't die in the pool after Jackson paralyzed him]
Cora: [clearly. She's just going to try not to breathe herself and hope that the stench doesn't get on her clothes. She finishes packing her dresser and closes off the suitcase before moving on to the next area of the room with a new bag.]
Derek: [has it emptied and the bag tied off and he's out of the room in an instant and tossing the garbage into the chute down the hall before taking a deep breath]
Cora: [toiletries and bathroom stuff are packed, clothes are done, what's mostly left are books and her bedding which she's taking care of first, folding up the blankets and sheets and stuffing them into a duffel bag]
Derek: [returns] Please tell me you have something I can use to clean that thing.
Cora: Me? No. Buuuut ... [she leaves the sheets where they are, moving out into the hallway again and heading into the bathroom. When she returns she has a bottle of cleaning solution and paper towels] Cleaning crew left this behind.
Derek: [takes it, then goes to work cleaning the stupid thing down until the foul stench has been destroyed]
Cora: [while he's doing that she packs her sheets, packs her books, and her life is reduced to a pile of bags yet again.] When you're done, I'm gonna need your help taking the bed down.
Derek: [finishes, then reaches around and unplugs the thing and tips it and puts the rest of the paper towels down to get any drips while defrosting] Alright. [and he goes to grab part of the bed]
Cora: [she glances around the room before nodding to the empty space where it used to go] Over there. On three?
Derek: [ nods and lifts when she says so, and then brings it to the indicated spot and lowers it] Anything else?
Cora: [she glances around, rubbing the back of her neck] The TV is mine so that comes with us, but other than that ... that's it.
Derek: Alright. It should only take us a few trips but it should all fit in the truck
Cora: Cool. Let's do it.
Derek: [and werewolf strength + speed and they are done quickly]
Cora: [yep. and she drops her key off with residence life and before they load themselves back into the car, she slips her arms around his waist and leans in closer] Thanks again for helping.
Derek: [he wraps his arms around her too, holding her tightly] You're welcome.
Cora: [she buries her face in his shoulder, taking a deep breath] I'm glad I'm home.
Derek: I'm glad you're home too. Because I don't ever want to lose you again. Got it?
Cora: [nods a bit against him] Got it.
Derek: [kisses the top of her head and presses his lips there as he takes a nice, deep breath. Some of the stiffness and pain from the last few weeks finally start to slip away as he hugs her a bit tighter]
Cora: [she feels that and just lets herself lean into him, letting him hold her for as long as he needs. She doesn't mind if it's actually helping]
Derek: [another moment, kiss on her head and he pulled away] Alright, don't know about you, but I'm suddenly starving. [probably because he didn't eat anything but a bagel] Want to grab something on the way to the apartment?
Cora: We were gonna grab a pizza, right? With Maria and Tara?
Derek: Do that for lunch or dinner?
Cora: [makes a face as she considers that] ... Dinner. So yeah, let's grab lunch.
Derek: Alright. How about Mexican?
Cora: [she nods] That works.
Derek: [so lunch, bringing her stuff up to the apartment to get sorted, and eventually dinner?]
Cora: [yep, that sounds about right. eventually the girls crash in and take over the couch with them being girly]
Derek: [is keeping busy in the bedroom packing up stuff for him and Dawn while the girls hang out, texting Dawn about specific items]
Dawn: [will text him back excitedly! Though probably mostly unhelpfully. It depends on the item.]
Maria: So you're going to be in Beacon Hills all summer?
Cora: That is the plan.
Tara: With your rambly friend?
Cora: [smirks a bit at that] With Stiles, yes.
Maria: I think it's safe to say at this point you can call him her boyfriend.
Tara: Totally her boyfriend. He is adorable, Cora. You got lucky.
Cora: [she smiles a bit at that] I don't really think luck had anything to do with it. Stiles just sort of ... happens to everyone, in varying degrees. [but she means that in a totally fond way]
Maria: I believe that. He's kind of a spaz.
Cora: Yeah, I don't think that's fixable. [not that she would want to]
Tara: Maybe he'll grow out of it a bit?
Cora: Maybe. [she shrugs] It's part of his charm.
Maria: Only you would find that charming.
Tara: Not just her. I mean, if your studly brother is dating Dawn? Totally genetic.
Maria: That explains it. All that muscle and attractiveness and they like nerds. I'm not sure what that says about natural selection.
Cora: That we like smart people?
Tara: Imagine their children. Hot nerds. I am totally down for hot nerds.
Cora: [holds up her hands] Let's not talk about me and Stiles and kids right now, okay?
Maria: [glances back to where Derek's room is before dropping her voice low] Not that that's stopped you two from ... practicing.
Cora: [and she's just going to turn a little red]
Derek: I am a werewolf and this apartment is small, ladies.
Maria: [bright smile] Sorry! [no she's not] You're totally not practicing. Not at all. I have no idea what I'm talking about.
Cora: [just facepalms]
Tara: [gets really close] Was it good?
Cora: [gives a half shrug, and when she speaks there's barely any sound behind it] It was weird at first. But after I got used to it, yeah. It was fun.
Tara: So awesome. I'm seriously living vicariously through both of you. [ grabs another slice of pizza]
Derek: [texting to Dawn] "Remind me not to suggest the girls hang out while I'm here alone. Ever again]
Cora: [she laughs] You're going to have to get a life of your own one day.
Maria: I'm not sure why she's living vicariously through me, I spend most of my life lusting after Chris Evans.
Dawn: [laughs a bit when she sees the text] You could get out for a while. Let them have their girl time.
Tara: But yours are so much more fun. And hey, Chris Evans is totally worth lusting over.
Derek: You should have suggested that before I learned Cora isn't a virgin anymore.
Dawn: [and that would be a wince] Yikes. Sorry.
Maria: [extends her hand across Cora to Tara for a high five] Amen to that.
Cora: Still life of your own wouldn't hurt.
Tara: Well, maybe I should tag along back to Beacon Hills and stalk you and take notes. Detailed notes. Of everything.
Derek: Oh god I'm going to escape while I can.
Dawn: Smart man. Let me know when you're safe.
Cora: .... I don't know if I want those notes to be as detailed as you're thinking but you guys should totally visit. It's not like we can't use Slayers.
Maria: The problem with that particular plan is that if we go, Dawn will probably want to train.
Derek: [ walks out, going to grab his jacket] And that's my cue to make a coffee run. Taking the long way.
Tara: We don't have to tell Dawn.... [looks up] Venti Iced Mocha with cinnamon sprinkles? I will love you forever for a Venti Iced Mocha with cinnamon sprinkles.
Cora: [shakes her head, a slightly apologetic look on her face] I'm good, thanks.
Maria: [she makes a face as she considers] I'm to lazy to think up a coffee order right now.
Derek: Is it safe to be giving her coffee this late?
Cora: In theory?
Tara: I can handle caffeine at night. I have patrol anyway. Gotta stay up.
Derek: I'll be back in an hour.
Tara: Don't forget the cinnamon sprinkles!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cora: Thanks, Derek.
Derek: [leans down to kiss the top of her head, then heads out]
Tara: So now that he's gone.... [evil grin]
Cora: Wait. [she waits until she hears the truck pull away from the curb before relaxing back into the couch] Okay, now he's gone.
Tara: Which also... wow you never told me your brother was a stud.
Cora: I tell no one my brother is a stud. Coming from me, it's weird.
Maria: That was my fail on the knowledge front. Sorry, boo.
Tara: Yeah, if Dawn wasn't already all over that...
Cora: No. We are not going down this road about my brother. Not with me in the room.
Tara: Fine. So why don't you tell us about what happened?!
Cora: With the portal?
Tara: Yeah.
Cora: [she shrugs] It ... was not somewhere I'd want to visit again. Not a nice place.
Tara: So what level of hell? Was it the hell with all the shrimp?
Cora: [shakes her head] Did they ever tell you about that one Dean got sent to, when Zachariah was trying to get him to say yes?
Tara: No. I think I missed most of Winchester 101.
Cora: But you know they're vessels, right?
Tara: Yeah. Lucifer was in Sam for a while, and MIchael was supposed to go into Dean but he went into their other brother and he's trapped in the cage now with Lucifer.
Cora: Well, back before Adam was in the picture, Zachriah sent Dean on a field trip five years into the future. It was a world where we lost and there were these zombie things called Croats and demons everywhere. That's pretty much what we got dropped into, but like ... fifteen years in the future.
Tara: I take it things didn't get much better.
Cora: [she shakes her head] Pretty sure the people we ran into when we were there were some of the only people left.
Tara: Well, that just sucks.
Cora: Yep. But we managed to stop the main problem so hopefully things will get better from there. Once we ... put back the people we accidentally brought home with us.
Tara: .... Wait. They followed you home?
Cora: Accidentally. They were Winchesters. It was bound to happen.
Tara: .... but the Winchesters don't have kids. Do they? [is fascinated. But she only has pizza instead of popcorn]
Cora: In this world they don't. Well ... technically Dean does but the kid doesn't know he exists. Sam doesn't - but in the other world they did.
Tara: That's just.... wow. Wait. [looks at Maria] Weren't the Winchesters helping Buffy?
Maria: [nods] They were part of the big research brigade.
Cora: They know they're here. They're trying to figure out what to do with them.
Tara: Okay, no I'm totally going to Beacon Hills. I need to see this soap opera for myself.
Maria: [glances back at her before sighing] Fine. I'll drive.
Tara: I won't tell Dawn you're there. You can hide in my closet.
Maria: She'll know. She's got that creepy Watcher sense.
Tara: You could stay? I don't want you to come against your will.
Maria: Nah, I kinda want to see this too. I'm not sure if I really believe it second hand.
Tara: [grins] Road Trip!!!!