darkest timeline } { of therapy and buried feelings

[likeababyduck]

Derek: [it took awhile but eventually Derek decided he would TRY to see if the shrink route would help. So his sister made the appointment, and he got himself to the office. He'll just be waiting for his time while looking out the window. He's got his earbuds in, but down low enough that he can still hear fine over it]

Sweets: [people shuffle in and out, and eventually a young guy pokes his head out and looks over at Derek] Derek Hale?

Derek: [he will turn to Sweets, pulling an earbud out] Yes?

Sweets: [smile] I'm Doctor Sweets. Come on in.

Derek: Ok. [and he will follow Sweets where he wants Derek to go]

Sweets: [which will be into his office! Where Derek will hear the click of the soundproofing coming into place as he closes the door] Did you find the building okay?

Derek: [nods, going to take a seat]

Sweets: [and goes to sit across from him] So, Derek, why don't you tell me a little about you and why we're here.

Derek: I don't really know what to say. I'm here because I've been told talking to someone would help me.

Sweets: Okay. Then let's start off with a little about me. I've been practicing for a long time - I got my doctorate at twenty-two, so I got into the gig young. I spent some time working for the FBI both in terms of evaluating agents and working on cases, and I've been in private practice for five years now. There's not a lot you can say that will surprise me. Also, anything we say in this room stays in this room. I'm bound by confidentiality so this is just between you and me, no one else.

Derek: At twenty-two? How did that work?

Sweets: Well, there's not much you can do when you finished your bachelor's at eighteen.

Derek: So you went to college at fourteen?

Sweets: I was one of those crazy child prodigies.

Derek: [nods] And when did you learn about cryptids?

Sweets: Around sixteen? I dated a lesser gorgon for a while.

Derek: [nods] Well, that's why I was referred to you. Because you know about us.

Sweets: I do. And again, anything related to that isn't going to leave this room either. The only reason I even bring it up is so that you know that things related to that are safe to talk about here.

Derek: Okay. [and no, he doesn't really know where to start]

Sweets: Laura didn't tell me much when she scheduled your appointment, but she mentioned that you've been through a lot.

Derek: Yeah. You know about what happened to our family in Beacon Hills?

Sweets: I know that your mom died in a fire, but that's only because Laura and I were friends when it happened. But I didn't want her to give me too many details related to you specifically because I didn't want to come into this with any preconceptions and I wanted to hear it from you, in your own words.

Derek: There was a family of hunters that was a war with us. They found out about something I did at school and threatened to destroy us. My mom made a deal, but some of their family members didn't care and they set the house on fire a year later.

Sweets: That's a lot to put on a kid.

Derek: Yeah. But that was just the start of it.

Sweets: Okay. Let's start with this piece of it for right now, and we'll slowly work our way through it. You don't have to tell me everything today, in one session. If you feel like we have a good vibe at the end of today, we can set up a regular time each week to keep working through this.

Derek: Okay.

Sweets: So what happened at school?

Derek: I... I was dating a girl. Human. Paige. She just was different than the other girls.

Sweets: First love?

Derek: [nods] Yeah.

Sweets: I remember mine. It's really easy to get caught up in the rush of being in love, especially when it's the first time.

Derek: She used to always test me. She'd never let me get my way, or I'd have to earn it. Hell, I had to earn her telling me her name when we first met.

Sweets: Sounds like she was quite the challenge.

Derek: She was. I loved every minute of it.

Sweets: [just nods, giving him the space to continue when he was ready]

Derek: My mom was a powerful alpha, and other alphas always wanted to be in her favor. One got it in their head that they'd get power over me, or my favor, by turning her into a werewolf so I didn't have to hide who I was. So he bit her.

Sweets: How did that feel, being used like that - and having someone you love having this forced on her in the process?

Derek: I was angry. I used to not get angry before that. I mean, I would get mad, but I was angry. And scared, because that alpha was huge and could break me like a twig.

Sweets: I don't blame you for being angry - he had no right to interfere in your life like that.

Derek: No. [he takes a deep breath, looking back at his hands again] And it didn't take either.

Sweets: [his face softens, not that Derek can see it, but he can hear it in his voice] I'm sorry.

Derek: [nods] I was with her as she went through it.

Sweets: Did you manage to help her at all?

Derek: I took her pain for awhile, but it didn't help much. So I did the only thing I could to make it stop hurting her.

Sweets: [he's smart enough to read between the lines] You did the best you could for her.

Derek: I know. But hunters don't see that. All they see is this. [and he will look up at Sweets with his sad blue eyes]

Sweets: [those poor sad eyes] That's why it put your pack into such a tough position.

Derek: Yeah. And my mom made choices that I hated, but I couldn't do anything about.

Sweets: Why not? Because she was your alpha?

Derek: Yeah, and I was only fifteen turning sixteen.

Sweets: What choices did your mom make?

Derek: [licks his lips, looking out the window] You ever meet my sister Cora?

Sweets: [shakes his head] When Laura and I see each other its usually a coffee shop or something similar. I've heard about her, but I've never met her. She was another one that I think Laura was trying to convince to try therapy.

Derek: [nods] That choice, the one my mom made, is the reason my sister needs therapy. My mom gave her to the Argents as a ward.

Sweets: But they didn't care for her as one.

Derek: They used her like a science experiment. At least that was what I got from her. She doesn't like talking about the detail, and I don't blame her.

Sweets: How long was she with them?

Derek: Almost a year. Until the night of the fire.

Sweets: The night your mother died.

Derek: They attacked the family and broke the truce. She shouldn't have to stay there a minute longer.

Sweets: So you went to get her.

Derek: I did get her. And then I got caught.

Sweets: What did you do?

Derek: [he leaned back, not looking at Sweets, or anything really, and replied so softly Sweets would have to strain to hear] I took her place.

Sweets: [he's quiet for a moment, because yeah - there's going to be a lot of sessions. instead, he gets up and pulls his chair closer so that he's at a more comforting proximity] I'm not going to tell you if making that choice was right or wrong, because in a lot of ways there is no right answer to that. But I do have two questions for you.

Derek: Yeah?

Sweets: Since so much of the situation seemed to be centered around things you couldn't control but got blamed for anyway - a lot of choices made about and for you, rather than by you - did it feel good to take control of it for yourself, even if you knew what was waiting for you on the other side of it?

Derek: It felt good knowing that my little sister was safe. I didn't feel good getting caught.

Sweets: Understandably. But my second question is this: in knowing what happened to your sister and agreeing to take her place, at the time, did you feel like this might be some kind of atonement? Given that what happened to her started with you?

Derek: A bit. It was more that I felt I was the one who should be punished. Cora was eleven, she didn't deserve to be pulled into problems I caused. I don't even think she knows why it happened still.

Sweets: You haven't talked with her about it?

Derek: No. I mean, we talk about what happened, but not why it happened. She already hates everyone else in the family for letting it happen, I can't let her lose her last good connection to her family.

Sweets: Maybe you should talk about it. Because while she was the obvious victim in this, but at the time she was taken, you were too. Your sister was being taken from you for something you did. Her being gone was a punishment just as much as taking her place was. She's not the only one who needs to heal from that.

Derek: I can barely handle my own issues. I don't know how to help her. I'll just make it worse.

Sweets: Derek, you aren't responsible for how she handles her issues. I understand the instinct to protect her, but she's an adult now. What she chooses to do with this information is up to her. But this situation with Paige is where all of this started. If you want to unravel a lot of this, we're going to have to start here - and you can't keep this a secret from her forever. And this is just based only on the assumption that she doesn't already know.

Derek: [huffs] You're the first person I've even talked to about all of this. At least the last part. I can't just go up to Cora and talk to her about this.

Sweets: Why not?

Derek: Because... [he closes his eyes, taking a deep breath] Because I don't want to.

Sweets: Mmmm. [shifts to lean back in his seat] So it's not so much about Cora's reaction as not wanting to deal with things you buried a long time ago.

Derek: No. It's not... I just don't want... [he can't find the right words to express what he's feeling]

Sweets: [okay let's take it from a different approach] When you think about telling Cora about this, what do you feel? Even if you don't know the emotion exactly, how does your body feel?

Derek: Anxious.

Sweets: You're worried about how she'll react. Is it that she'll confirm what you've thought all this time, that this was all your fault?

Derek: [he'll just nod, because that's a big part of it]

Sweets: I'm not going to lie to you and say that's not a possibility. We can't predict how other people are going to react. But with the risk that she'll react badly also comes the risk that she won't. [he pauses for a moment, before leaning in again] At the same time, Derek, you're putting a lot on her. You're so desperate to hold on to the relationship you have with her now at the expense of having an honest one. That's not good for either of you, and is only going to lead to one or both of you resenting the other unless you find a way to stand on even ground with her.

Derek: I don't know how I'll react if she rejects me.

Sweets: [he pauses for a moment, before getting to his feet and heading over to his desk. He shuffles through the items there before he picks up one of his business cards and comes back to hand it to him] You call me, and we'll talk about it. And no matter how you react, remember that it's an upsetting thing. These feelings aren't wrong - they'll just be something that will need to be worked through.

Derek: [he takes the card, thumbing it before sticking it in his pocket] I can't promise I'll do it right away.

Sweets: That's okay. As long as you call someone. [goes and sits again] Another thing to remember is that just because she rejects you now, doesn't mean that this is forever. Things between you and Cora can get back to good again too.

Derek: I hope so.

Sweets: Good. [and he glances at his watch] And that is our hour for today. If you want, you can make another appointment now, or you can wait and see how things go. And if you run into an emergency, you can always call. My personal number is on that too.

Derek: Let's just see how it goes.

Sweets: Okay. Just let me know.

Derek: [nods and he gets up to go, and he will take the long way home walking]

Laura: [well, his sister will be there when he gets home, and his other sister will be there after she finishes work]

Derek: [he will eventually get there, lost in his own thoughts]

Laura: [glances over when she hears him come in] Hey. How'd it go?

Derek: It went.

Laura: You don't have to give me details, but did you feel okay talking to him? Because if you didn't we can find someone else.

Derek: He was alright. Kinda pushy.

Laura: Yeah. He's a bit like that. [she remembers] He just wants to help.

Derek: I know.

Laura: Look, some patients need that, which is why he's a good shrink for them. But if it doesn't work for you, then you don't have to see him again.

Derek: [sighs] he says I should tell Cora.

Laura: About which part?

Derek: Why Mom did what she did.

Laura: Oh. [a pause] I didn't know she didn't know.

Derek: I never told her. Did you or Peter?

Laura: I didn't. Peter doesn't spend much time with her. But Gerard might have.

Derek: [closes his eyes] I don't want her to hate me.

Laura: She's not going to hate you.

Derek: She was tortured because Mom chose her over me.

Laura: Look, I know Cora is not the biggest fan of nuance. But that was a choice Mom made, not you. And it was clear when she came back and you left that you were her hero.

Derek: I know. I don't want her to lose that. She's so angry at the world...

Laura: Derek ... [she pauses, coming around the counter to face him] Yeah. She's angry at the world. But on the off chance that she doesn't already know, it'll hurt more if she doesn't hear it from you.

Derek: [sighs]

Laura: I'm not rushing you. You should do it in your own time. But if you're worried about her reaction, I think she'll be okay.

Derek: I hope so.

Laura: [and she takes a breath before pulling him in to a hug] I'm proud of you for going today. Even if you don't go back.

Derek: [he takes the affection, resting his head on her shoulder]

Laura: [turns and presses a kiss to his temple, and his leaning into the hug as long as he wants her to stay] Are you hungry? I can fix you something.

Derek: I'm not really hungry, but thanks.

Laura: Okay. I was gonna go watch a movie, so I'll be around if you're hungry later.

Derek: Alright. [and he will head to his room, leaving his door open as he finds a chair to curl up in and think, his eyes not focusing on anything in particular]

Laura: [and she'll go watch her movie, but if he waits long enough he'll hear the shuffle of Cora's window opening and her sliding into her bedroom]

Barry: [he will hear her and Cora's home! Treat time?] Mrow?

Cora: [grins when she sees him, crouching down to sit with him in the hallway] Hey, Barry. You have a good day?

Barry: [rubs up against her knees, purring. Come on, it's treat time!]

Cora: [she laughs] Doesn't Derek feed you?

Barry: Mrow mrow.

Cora: [sighs and gets up again] Alright, alright. [and she'll wander in search of the treats]

Barry: [and he will rub against Derek's doorframe because it needs his scent and it's open]

Cora: [pokes her head in] You know your cat is telling me he's being neglected. [clearly teasing]

Derek: [blinks, his head jerking up as he focuses back into the world, then his sister] Yeah, and he knows you'll never deny him treats.

Cora: Of course, I won't. Saying no to that cute face is impossible.

Derek: [he looks at his sister a minute, thinking, and knowing if he doesn't do it now, he would just keep making excuses] When you're done with him, can we talk?

Cora: [blinks, surprised, before nodding] Yeah, of course. Let me just go grab the treats. [and she'll disappear down to the kitchen to spoil the cat]

Barry: Mrow! [what is taking you so long?]

Cora: [and she will give him all the treats] There you go buddy. Better?

Barry: [purrs as he chomps on the treats]

Cora: [and she'll pet him a bit before heading back up to Derek] What's up?

Derek: [he unfolds himself from his chair and waves for her to follow him into the bedroom half where they can sit on the bed] I need to tell you something. Something I don't know if you know.

Cora: [... oh so this is a serious talk. She nods before going to sit on the bed next to him] Okay.

Derek: [he takes a deep breath, goes to start, stops, and then starts again] What do you know about why you were sent to the Argents?

Cora: [deep breath] I know what Mom told me and I know what Gerard told me. I figure the real answer is somewhere in the middle.

Derek: What were they?

Cora: Mom said that it wasn't fair but hopefully it wouldn't be for long and it was going to keep the pack safe. [she pauses] Gerard said it was because you killed someone and I was paying the consequences because you wouldn't. [and there's a pause because she knows how that sounds] I didn't believe him. Well ... the part about you not caring about what happened to me.

Derek: [he licks his lips, nodding] I did kill someone.

Cora: [she nods] I figured that part out. I may not have known he details, but I knew that Paige was gone, and I remembered that you were sad but it was more than that. You smelled like guilt too. [she shrugs] People didn't think that I noticed that stuff, but I did. I was ten, I wasn't stupid.

Derek: Ennis tried to turn her. He thought it would make me in debt to him. But it didn't take, and I did it so she wouldn't suffer.

Cora: [she nods] That makes sense.

Derek: But the Argents just saw that I killed someone innocent. They wanted to kill me, since I killed someone innocent. Mom knew if I went with them, they would. So they made the agreement for you to be a ward until I proved myself as not being a threat. She was hoping that since you'd be at Chris Argent's place, they wouldn't hurt you. I hated it, knowing that you were there because of me. Peter had to keep me from trying to kidnap you a few times. I thought I could get you and we could run off to LA or something.

Cora: You did come for me, though. You're the only one who ever did.

Derek: Peter tried. He got caught though and he came back really hurt with wolfsbane poisoning. Daniel liked to torture us. After that, Mom wouldn't let anyone near the house. She was trying to get Deucalion to help negotiate to get you back, and Gerard blinded him.

Cora: [well that's ... an uncomfortable knot of information she's going to push aside to deal with later] Still ... did you think I would blame you for all of this?

Derek: [nods] I know you still hurt with everything that happened, and it makes things awkward with Peter, Laura and you. I didn't want to hurt you too.

Cora: Derek, the only person I really blame for all of that is Mom. That's not going to change - at least, not to add more people.

Derek: So you don't hate me?

Cora: [shakes her head] No. Not even a little bit.

Derek: [smiles, reaching up to rub at his face] Good. Because I don't know what'd happen if you did. Right now, you're the only one who really understands why I'm this way.

Cora: [smiles softly, before inching closer and wrapping her arms around his shoulders, curling closer] I know. It's a lot.

Derek: [and he will nuzzle along her neck, holding her close] I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

Cora: I'm sorry you did too.

Derek: I look up to you, you know. How you moved forward from it. I don't even want to remember any of it.

Cora: Sometimes it doesn't feel like it did. [when this is over and Derek doesn't need her anymore, there's a very high chance she's going to go crawl into her boyfriend's bed and cry because a lot of that is still very real, but she tries] But I don't like to let them win ether.

Derek: I wouldn't either, but I'm pretty sure they broke me beyond repair.

Cora: Only if you let them. [she shifts her head to glance up to him] Maybe they broke you, sure. But they're also all dead. At this point, it's your choice whether you stay that way.

Derek: I am trying. I'm going out more. I even made a few friends.

Cora: And that's good. You don't have to be magically better. You just have to keep trying.

Derek: [nods] I think I can do that.

Cora: Good. [a pause] Laura said you were going to a therapist today?

Derek: Yeah. A friend she went to school with.

Cora: Did you like him?

Derek: He was okay. I mean, he's making me talk about things that make me uncomfortable to think about.

Cora: Yeah, but that's his job. To make you talk about the uncomfortable things so that they get easier to deal with.

Derek: There are just a lot of things I'd rather just forget.

Cora: Maybe by talking about them with him, it'll make it easier? [she shrugs] Brains are weird.

Derek: Maybe. But there's some stuff... stuff I'm not proud of.

Cora: [she nods] Well ... it's kind of his job to hear stuff like that and to not judge you. His feelings are ones that you don't have to worry about.

Derek: Did you go talk to someone?

Cora: Not someone professional.

Derek: Maybe we can get a two for one special.

Cora: [she laughs] Maybe. We'll see how well he fixes you first.

Derek: [snorts] You're going to be waiting a long time

Cora: Well, you know what Peter used to say. We're all works in progress.

Derek: it's true.

Cora: You'll be okay. You just have to keep progressing.

Derek: [nods, and he looks over at her] And for the record, I never thought you were stupid. You were too clever for your own good.

Cora: I know you didn't. Sometimes it feels like other people thought because i was a kid, i didn't notice things.

Derek: They just didn't know you well enough.

Cora: Guess not. [looks up at him] You okay?

Derek: Yeah, I think I am. [smiles]

Cora: Good. I'm going to go take a shower, and I said I'd go meet Stiles after he got off work, but if you want me to stay I can cancel. [it may be a small white lie as Stiles doesn't know she's coming but she's hoping that Derek won't notice]

Derek: No, you go have fun with your boyfriend. I think I might take a nap.

Cora: Okay. [she presses a kiss to his temple] I'll see you later. [and with that she will not shower and just take a run over to Stiles' apartment and ... not actually text him until she's sitting on his fire escape:] Can I sleep at your place tonight? Not for sex just ... sleeping.

Stiles: [is just changing out of his work uniform in the locker room, and tilts his head a bit] Sure. Are you there already?

Cora: Yeah. I'm on the fire escape.

Stiles: Knock and let the mice know you're there, and they can unlock it for you.

Cora: Thanks. [and she'll go to do that knocking lightly on the window] Hey guys, it's me.

Mice: [will poke their heads out and see her, and then there will be cheers and adulations]

Cora: [and that makes her smile, even though it's still a little sad] Can you let me in?

Mice: [they are off, scurrying to the window to climb the sill and then open the two latches before running back to give her room]

Cora: [and she will let herself in, and give them a thank you chocolate she had been saving for later, but now seems as good a time as any] Thanks, guys. I'm just going to use the shower, but Stiles should be home soon.

Mice: He has promised to bring us the Bread Knots of Garlic!

Cora: Then I'm sure he'll make good on that. [small smile, before she goes and steals her boyfriend's clothes and throw herself in the shower]

Stiles: [and he will come home with pizza, garlic knots, and a six pack of beer] Cora?

Cora: [is coming out and toweling off her hair in one of his button downs which comes down pretty far on her due to the shortness] Hey. Sorry about springing this on you.

Stiles: Nah, it's fine. I mean, it's not like you haven't watched me play Warcraft before.

Cora: [she nods] I won't get in your way, I just didn't want to be home. I think I'm just going to go to sleep.

Stiles: Is everything okay? [said while handing the mice their box of garlic knots]

Cora: [she nods] I just had a conversation with Derek today that ... dug up a lot of stuff I'm still kind of processing. I didn't want him to have to feel me dealing with it when he's trying to deal with his own stuff.

Stiles: Argent related stuff?

Cora: [she nods] Yeah. And Mom related stuff.

Stiles: I'm sorry. Do you want me to cancel my game and talk?

Cora: [she shakes her head because no, she really doesn't want to talk about it] No, no. Play. It's fine.

Stiles: Alright. [he's concerned, but he will not push, and goes to get his game setup] I didn't bring back enough pizza for the both of us, but you're welcome to a piece or two...

Cora: [she shakes her head] I ate. I'm good. [and she's going to go curl up in his bed and make a nest of blankets that smell like Stiles and make her feel safe. She'll wait until she hears him start playing and make sure she's facing away from him, and that's when the tears start to fall. She became a bit of an expert at silently crying when she was stuck with Gerard, and hopefully Stiles won't be perceptive enough to notice]

Stiles: [nope, that's a 2. He's in his headphones and playing while sitting up against the bed like a backrest.]

Mice: [they, however, rolled a 20, but they are respectful of the goddess and just bring her a roll of toilet paper and nuzzle her face when they allow her too.]

Cora: [which she will be grateful for, even if she doesn't really want the attention. Eventually she'll pass out and her breathing will even out, soaking up the safety and emotionally exhausted]

Stiles: [and he will finish his game early and look over at her, then close everything down and slide into bed behind her]

Cora: [and unconsciously she will roll over to tuck herself into him, where he might be able to see the tear tracks if it's not too dark]

Stiles: [he will, his finger gently tracing along it before pulling her just a bit closer and holding her as he goes to sleep]

Cora: [and she just burrows into him and sleeps the rest of the night away, comfortable and warm. when she does wake up in the morning, she just stays where she is, snuggling in where she feels safe]

Stiles: [and he will shift a bit, her snuggling waking him up a bit and he will kiss the top of her head] Morning.

Cora: Morning. Thanks again for letting me stay last night.

Stiles: And say no to waking up to a beautiful woman? I'd be stupid not to.

Cora: [she shrugs] The only times I've really slept over was when I was healing or when we were messing around so ... I wasn't sure what the rules were.

Stiles: There really aren't any rules, per say. We just kinda make things up as we go along.

Cora: Good to know. [Rules can be easier, but until she gets comfortable with this she'll just keep asking]

Stiles: You doing alright?

Cora: [she nods, then she shrugs] Sometimes stuff just sneaks up on you, you know?

Stiles: Yeah, I know. Especially emotions.

Cora: [she nods] I think I'm okay with things and then suddenly I'm not.

Stiles: You know I'm here when you want to talk about it.

Cora: Yeah, I know. But ... I don't really know what there is to talk about? You can't tell me anything I don't already know.

Stiles: No, but I can help carry the load. You don't have to keep it all inside.

Cora: [and she's quiet, because she doesn't really want to dig any of this up, but eventually she gives a half-hearted shrug] I just don't get why I was expendable.

Stiles: [he's not going to try and give her answers. He's just there to be supportive]

Cora: I don't want Derek to have gotten hurt or killed, because they would have killed him but ... why did it have to be me? Why did my mom have to give me away?

Stiles: [he just rubs her back, kissing her shoulder] I don't know.

Cora: I don't want to be expendable.

Stiles: You aren't to me.

Cora: [she looks up at him and she so desperately wants to believe him] You're the only place that feels safe, sometimes.

Stiles: You are always welcome here. And I can't promise I'll always be perfect at taking care of you, but I'll always do the best I can.

Cora: [she nods and just burrows into him a bit, wanting to get as close as she can] Just don't make me go away.

Stiles: Only when I'm planning surprise parties.

Cora: [she wrinkles her nose] I hate surprise parties.

Stiles: Okay, then you don't have to worry about it then. [kisses her forehead]

Cora; [nods as she closes her eyes and relaxes] Good. Because I like being here.

Stiles: If it wasn't New York City, I'd leave the window open for you.

Cora: [she laughs] Probably a good idea to keep it locked.

Stiles: However, there may be a key to the front door in your future.

Cora: Oh really? What if I like coming in your window?

Stiles: There really isn't a way I can give you a key to the window.

Cora: That is true.

Stiles: You'll just have to work out a barter system with the mice.

Cora: I think I can do that.

Stiles: And you know I can always magic myself into your room, right?

Cora: [eyebrow raise] You know that that's not as subtle as you think.

Stiles: I know, but if you need me, I don't care about subtleness.

Cora: [she watches him, then nods] Okay.

Stiles: [he sees that look, and gives her a shy smile] You know I love you, right?

Cora: [... oh. Because that's the first time he's actually said it, and she doesn't know how what kind of response to articulate] Oh.

Stiles: I mean, I don't just let any girl sneak in my window.

Cora: No, I know, I just ... [she pauses] I don't know how I feel. [she never does. she feels like she's told him this too many times and it never quite seems like an adequate answer] I like being with you, though.

Stiles: That's all that matters.

Cora: Okay. [as long as he's not mad that she didn't say it back]

Stiles: You want some breakfast?

Cora: [she nods] Yeah, food would be good.

Stiles: You stay. I got instant microwave pancakes.

Cora: [she wrinkles her nose slightly] Are they good?

Stiles: Yeah, surprisingly.

Cora: ... Okay. I trust you.

Stiles: [and he pulls out two cups, adds water, stirs, and microwaves them] Okay, you have a choice - blueberry or maple

Cora: Blueberry. [watches him curiously]

Stiles: [and he pulls them out and hands one over to her with a spoon, putting a thing of maple syrup between them] Want coffee or milk?

Cora: [takes it and studies it, sniffing at the cup] Coffee.

Stiles: [and he will go start a pot, then sit next to her with his pancake]

Cora: [and she will eventually go and take a bite, and ... her eyebrows will go up in surprise that it's good]

Stiles: [grins] You like?

Cora: Mmm-hmm.

Stiles: I like them better than eggos.

Cora: They taste better than Eggos.

Stiles: They cost like a buck each.

Cora: Nice.

Stiles: [and he's going to focus on his food a bit]

Cora: [and she'll stay quiet too, before she shifts a bit, tucking herself under his arm so that she can snuggle closer]

Stiles: So what do you want to do today. [he'll adjust so that she fits better]

Cora: [she shrugs] I have to work tonight, but until then I'd be okay with staying here.

Stiles: Okay, but what are we going to do here then?

Cora: [she shrugs] You pick.

Stiles: Movies?

Cora: Sure.

Stiles: Shooter, superhero, or spy movie?

Cora: Spy.

Stiles: Serious or comedy?

Cora: Comedy.

Stiles: [nods] Alright, I have just the movie then. [and he will turn on Spy with Melissa McCarthy]

Cora: Perfect. [and she will settle in for some cozy movie watching]

Stiles: [yup, and lots of laughing and having fun]

Cora: [which she has desperately needed so she's feeling much better]

Stiles: [good. And he is happy snuggly]