canon au } { post-401, of future girlfriends and old betrayals

[ooglyboogleys]

Derek: [so after they regather and Papa John’s has delivered more food than one guy could carry to the loft, he sneaked away to make a plate for Dawn and snuck upstairs to one of the bedrooms. He figured out which one Dawn was in and knocked before opening the door.] Hey, you're missing a good time, but I thought you may be hungry and brought you something to eat.

Dawn: [she glances up and gives him a small smile] It's okay. I'm in full research mode. Movie might make me lose my groove. [but she will set the book she's currently looking through to the side and reach for the plate, however] Thanks for the pizza, though.

Derek: Any luck yet? [he comes in to look at the book, opening one of the other ones and thumbing through it curiously]

Dawn: Not yet. Peter and Buffy are on symbol spotting duty - I'm focusing more on the history of Nagual.

Derek: Oh. That's... that's the thing that took me, right?

Dawn: [she nods] We think so, yeah.

Derek: [closes the book and taps the cover a few times] Hey Dawn? Stiles said we're dating.

Dawn: [chokes a little on that bite of pizza that she was taking. Not dangerously just ... not what she was expecting him to say. She takes a moment to recover before nodding] Well ... technically we are. Though obviously not right now, as I'm pretty sure that would get me arrested.

Derek: [he laughs a bit] Yeah, you'd never live that one down, that's for sure.

Dawn: [well, at least he's laughing about it] Yep. Personally I prefer to stay out of jail. But ... yeah. You and me. We're a ... thing.

Derek: For how long now? [curious teenager is curious]

Dawn: [she gives a bit of a shrug] Almost a year, I think? We just sort of ... happened.

Derek: But, you didn't like me like that when we were in school, right?

Dawn: [oh. that's an awkward question.] Uh. That's complicated.

Derek: No, it's not. It's a yes or no question!

Dawn: [she huffs slightly because he makes it sound simple but it's not that simple] Okay, yes. I did. Like you. Like that. But [she holds up a finger if he tries to interrupt her because let her get this out] But you were also my best friend, and then, that came first. I didn't exactly have a lot of friends in Beacon Hills, and if I made things weird or awkward because you didn't feel the same way I would have lost that friend. And that would have sucked. [she sighs] Besides, by the time I actually considered getting up the nerve, you were into someone else.

Derek: The only reason I dated other people was because I didn't think you were interested. You kept going after douchebags.

Scott: [inadvertently listened in at that moment to check on Derek and his hand slaps over his mouth to keep from laughing]

Dawn: [her mouth works for a moment] Bobby Anderson was not a douchebag, for one, and for two, this goes both ways Mr. Never Making a Move.

Derek: Bobby Anderson is.... was... a total douchebag. And I'm not going to tell my best friend I liked her while she was with someone. You wouldn't have listened to me then anyway.

Dawn: Well, there were times when I wasn't with someone. What's your excuse then? [raises her eyebrows] And I always listened, Derek. You just didn't say anything. [she shakes her head] It doesn't matter now. It worked out in the end, and we both needed to work through some stuff anyway. It's probably for the best it happened this way. [though there are moments where she wonders, if she had said something then would Kate still want her hooks in him now, but she doesn't let her mind go there. It's a guilt spiral she doesn't need]

Derek: [nope, he doesn't have an answer to that. He thinks a moment, biting his lip in thought.]

Dawn: [a small smile as she sets her pizza to the side, kicking her legs over the edge of the bed so that she's sitting up more, before patting the spot next to her for him to sit]

Derek: [goes to sit] If you've been with me a year, I guess I'm a good boyfriend to you, right?

Dawn: [she nods with a small smile] And I would have been a super crappy girlfriend in high school. I ... there was so much about love and relationships that I didn't get. I think we both needed to grow up a little to make this work and what we have now? With grown up you? It's good, and it's solid and it's real. It's a long haul kind of thing. So however we got here, I think we needed it to make it work.

Derek: [nods] then I'm glad we waited. Because I really, really like you.

Dawn: [smiles a bit] Good. [there's a beat as she nudges his shoulder a bit] Though I'm not going to lie, there are moments where I miss you. You're a little more serious these days.

Derek: Because of the fire?

Dawn: Because of a lot of things. But the fire is up there.

Derek: [wrinkles his nose a bit] I don't like being serious all the time.

Scott: [nope, he really can't and he is getting up to go get himself a refill on his drink]

Dawn: [she laughs] Yes, well, when you're managing a group of teenage hooligans like the ones downstairs [she knows you're listening Scott] you have to be a little serious. I get to see you every once in a while, or Cora, but it's just us. There's a reason why Stiles was recording you and Peter playing basketball this morning and saying no one would believe him otherwise.

Derek: Peter's changed too. And Cora. I haven't told them but I can tell.

Dawn: [nods a bit] They were both on their own for a long time. You guys trying the whole family thing? A pretty recent development.

Derek: Why would we split up? [is actually very confused at that] Pack stays together.

Dawn: After the fire things got kind of crazy. Peter was catatonic for ... six years, I think? And Cora got out of the house, but everyone assumed she was inside. Since we didn't know who started the fire at the time, we thought it was safer to ... leave it that way. For her and you.

Derek: Did we ever learn who did?

Dawn: [hesitates for a moment, before nodding] It was Kate Argent.

Derek: Kate Argent? But... but why would she do that? We're friends.

Dawn: [she shrugs] I ... I don't know. But it's possible that she was only friends with you to ... [get to the house.] She's also the one who took you. Who ... did this.

Derek: [stands up quickly, taking a few steps back. He's on the defensive now] No, you're lying.

Scott: [crap] Cora. [motions with his eyes upstairs]

Cora: [yeah, she's been listening and she makes her way to the stairs, heading up to try and cut her brother off at the pass]

Dawn: [... and this is why they used to fight in high school] Look, I don't know for sure. You never told me and I didn't ask, I just know that she set the fire, and she's the one who did this.

Derek: Stop lying! Kate is my friend, she wouldn't do this to me. [is backing towards the door]

Dawn: [her face doesn't change, regret mixed with sadness plus a little bit of anger because it's the truth. Kate killed his family. And she doesn't know how to get him to see it.]

Cora: [her footsteps are behind him now, coming to a stop at the door and when she does speak it's soft, unsure] But she did, Derek.

Derek: [turns on his sister, not at all happy.] No, she wouldn't. I swear she wouldn't. Everyone says the Argents want to hurt us but she's different.

Cora: [she shakes her head] She's not. In fact, she's worse. Chris? He's a good guy, most of the time. Allison you haven't met yet, but you can trust her. But Kate? She's not.

Derek: [ shakes his head and tries to push past Cora to get out of the room because he doesn't want to listen to this all.]

Cora: [she won't let him, wedging herself between him and the door, and while he's taller than she is, she's going to do her best to stop him] You know how I know? You're the one who told me.

Derek: [has tears in his eyes and tries to push her away] You're saying that but I don't know.

Cora: I know. I know you don't. But I need you to trust me, Derek. And if you see her, stay away from her. Because I don't know why she did this, why she brought you back like this but I can't lose you again. So please. Trust me. [she has to hope that family will win out over whatever loyalty he has to Kate right now]

Derek: [he listens to her enough to stop fighting and just lean up against his sister. But he's shaking his head, torn between loyalties now and not really understanding just what it all means]

Cora: [she shifts from being a blockade to just throwing her arms around him, as tightly as she can, letting her face burrow in his shoulder. It was a stand-by when she didn't want him to do something but he was going to do it anyway. She was a lot smaller at the time, so she became more of a heavy weight around his middle, throwing off his center of gravity but this wasn't her being obnoxious. This was just her clinging to him as tight as she can because there aren't a lot of things that scare her but Kate Argent does, and right now she has a way of getting very close to the person she cares about the most]

Derek: [shuts his eyes because he knows what Cora's doing and finally he just gives in and leans against the door for balance, rubbing at his eyes] Fine.

Cora: [exhales slowly, before straightening a little more so that she's standing to look at him] Thank you.

Derek: [he looks at his sister, not happy. Sad and possibly heartbroken, but he shrugs] Whatever.

Cora: [she nods, taking a step back so that he can get past her now if he wants to, but she has a feeling that he's not going to want to go back to the rest of the group and keep watching the movie]

Derek: [no, he doesn't. He wants to go for a run. He wants to be alone but he knows he can't get that last one.] I'm going to go get some air. Or do I need a babysitter to go out on the balcony?

Cora: [she shakes her head] Just don't jump over it. [which is an extension of trust and a warning at the same time. multitasking! Then she'll turn and head back to the rest of the group]

Derek: [grabs a breadstick as he goes by, going to the balcony and standing out on it, crossing his arms and resting his head on the ledge, nibbling on his breadstick as he just thought]

- - - - -

Scott: [going to stand next to the others] You know, I think I finally get it.

Kira: [ blinks, confused] Get what?

Scott: Derek. When he first started training me, I was dating Allison and in love with her. He hated it, and would try and use her as an excuse why I wasn't strong enough or working hard enough. I get why he saw it that way now. [looks at Stiles] I think he was falling in love with Kate back then.

Stiles: [eyebrows up] Well, that's not going to be at all helpful right now.

Kira: If she finds out where he is and gets here, he would probably trust her completely, wouldn't he?

Scott: They're talking to him up there right now. He's not wanting to believe them. So... yeah. He would at least talk to her and let her explain. We can't let her get near him alone.

Stiles: Which is obviously going to be very easy. [Sarcasm]

Kira: We'll figure it out. I mean, Peter doesn't want him going out alone, right? So one of us will always be with him.

Stiles: And you know, no teenage boy would ever sneak out of his parent's place.

Scott: Maybe we should take shifts. Stakeout or something.

Xander: Uh, guys, hate to rain on your let's make sure young impressionable Derek doesn't get kidnapped by a crazy werejaguar parade, but I think a stake out may be a little much. And even at this age, he still knows how to werewolf better than you.

Scott: [looks over at Xander] What would you suggest?

Xander: I think at some point, given all the information he has now, you have to trust him. Trust that he'll listen to his family and do the right thing. And if he doesn't ... well, that's what GPS is for.

Stiles: He's got a point. Though... do we know where Derek's phone is? He didn't have it in Mexico or we would have found him faster.

Scott: Well, one way to find it. [pulls out his and dials Derek's number]

Xander: [hears the footsteps coming their way, and takes a step closer before shaking his head] Buffy stuck a transmitter in the bottom of his shoe while he was sleeping. Apparently she got tired of losing track of him.

Scott: [the phone isn't going off, so he hangs up and makes a note to tell Dawn Derek needs his own phone] But what if he doesn't wear that pair of shoes.

Stiles: Yeah, he has like 4 now.

Xander: Trust me. She's very thorough.

Cora: [returns from upstairs and just goes and curls up next to Stiles. This situation has gone back to sucking]

Stiles: [wraps his arm around Cora, not asking questions] So keep Kate away, and keep Derek in his shoes. Okay. This isn't the weirdest to do list ever.

Cora: My brother is sixteen. Weird is relative.

Xander: I'm from Sunnydale. This is hardly the weirdest to-do list I've ever had.

Stiles: Yes, he's sixteen and I think has talked more today than the entire time I've known him.

Scott: Yeah, was he always this... cool?

Cora: [there's a half-laugh at that, letting her head rest against Stiles's shoulder] Yeah. Peter wasn't wrong when he said he was a lot like you, Scott.

Scott: Yeah, well much as I like your brother, Cora, I don't want to end up like him.

Cora: [nods a bit] I know. But he didn't have what you have. You'd have to lose a lot to even come close to what he went through.

Scott: [looks out at him] Yeah. Kinda makes it hard, you know. Wanting to put him back to the way he was.

Cora: [is quiet for a moment, because he's not wrong. She'd do anything to keep him like this, to not have to learn how to live with that pain again, that guilt, to have him be able to trust Peter, but that's not in the cards, because that's not how the world is anymore. In another lifetime, when the fire didn't happen, she could keep him and pretend that this is the world he belongs in. But this world? Isn't it.] Yeah. But it's who he needs to be.

Stiles: [rubs Cora's back] Plus I'm sure Dawn would like not to look like a creeper. But yeah, I wish we could keep him. He'd be someone we'd have been friends with growing up.

Kira: Maybe if the way you put him back isn't completely traumatic, he'll open up a little more?

Scott: And I was thinking, what happens if the way to fix him wipes away his memories of the last ten years permanently? I mean, age him back up, but everything's gone and he's only got what he has now? What do we do then?

Xander: Okay, guys, guys. You're going to too many bad news scenarios. Just take a breath - right now, all we have to focus on is finding a way to reverse it. We can worry about the consequences after.

Scott: Yeah, but not thinking about consequences sometimes gets us in worse places.

Stiles: True that.

Xander: [shakes his head] I'm not saying don't think about the consequences. I'm just saying don't make yourself sick speculating when we don't even have a way of reversing the ritual yet.

Stiles: Well, we'll find one soon. [looks at Cora, thinking a minute] Until then, maybe we should change it up a bit. I mean, Derek was smart back then, right? Let's just keep treating him like one of us. And if he doesn't remember when we fix him, at least we'll know what he was like, and see if we can help him get back to this?

Kira: [shrugs] That doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Malia: It's not like I know him any other way.

Scott: So until we figure it out, Derek's a part of the pack and we treat him like the person he is now, and not the Derek we know him as. [nods]

Cora: [nods, before a small smile to Scott] Thank you.

Scott: It's Derek. It's no problem.

Derek: [can't help but listen in, but there is a relaxing in his shoulders that Scott can see]

Malia: [doesn't really care about ... any of this really, because she doesn't really care about Derek, but that's something she's working on. What she does care about, however is ...] The pizza's gone. I'm going to take the boxes out to the trash, and then I think I'm going to head home. My dad's probably wondering where I've been all day.

Lydia: I'll drive. I've got homework anyway. [gets up to help her clean up]

Scott: See you guys at school Monday?

Stiles: [looks at Cora] Stay or go?

Cora: [looks up at him] Stay? I was going to ask you to stay here tonight anyway. [she doesn't want to leave Dawn alone, but she doesn't think she can actually sleep on her own either, even if she needs it]

Stiles: I'll text dad and let him know.

Scott: Want me to see if Derek wants to stay, or if he wants a ride back to Peter's?

Cora: [nods] Sure. Dawn's in my room and she'll be in hers, but I'll see if the extra bedroom is actually functional.

Scott: [looks at Kira] What about you?

Kira: I think I should go home. So my parents don't think I was kidnapped by drug runners when we were crossing the Mexican border.

Scott: I'll call you later then?

Kira: [she nods and then she's going to get up and go over to kiss him because Boyfriend.] I'll talk to you later.

Scott: [oh hey, kissing in public. Yeah. He smiles a bit] Yeah... yeah. Later.

Stiles: [is texting but looks up at Scott and chuckles]

Kira: [another smile and then she's off to head home.]

Xander: I can walk him back to Peter's if you want to go, Scott. My car is there anyway.

Scott: No, it's fine, but thanks. Kinda doing the alpha thing checking on him.

Xander: Okay. Then I am going to go check on Dawn and head out.

Scott: Thanks for the pizza, by the way. [heading to the balcony and steps out to find Derek] Hey Man, how you doing?

Derek: Crappy. But I appreciate what you and Stiles are trying to do.

Scott: [leans against the railing] So does the plan work for you? I mean, it's not perfect, but you shouldn't get treated like someone you don't know you are, or have to deal with a lot of things you haven't experienced yet. You're like us, so just, be like us until we figure out how to fix it, and we'll hit that when we get there.

Derek: Except I have to deal with some stuff that happened.

Scott: Well, yeah, but that's when you've got us to help. Just trust us, okay? You may not like everything you hear, but we'd only tell you it if you needed to know.

Derek: [looks at the distance] Was Kate the one who killed my family?

Scott: [sighs] Yeah. And she almost killed you and me too, trying to figure out who the alpha was at the time. [so not outting Peter] Do you like her? Like, like like her?

Derek: [is quiet a moment, then nods] Yeah, that obvious huh?

Cora: [is totally eavesdropping on that conversation and she appreciates not going down the "Peter killed Laura" rabbit hole, but she won't interrupt, just let Scott do his alpha thing]

Scott: Hey, it happens. Kate's pretty hot, and I'm sure ten years ago she was even hotter.

Derek: Yeah. She really was. And she knew what I was. I didn't have to hide it.

Scott: I get it, man. It makes it easier, that's for sure. But maybe the reason you're this way is because she knows you trusted her and liked her at this point, which makes it easier to manipulate you?

Derek: [sighs] It makes sense.

Scott: Plus, she's like in her thirties now. Kinda creepy if she comes back to hit on you. Just so you know.

Derek: [snorts] Yeah, there's that too.

Cora: [snorts herself. If Kate Argent shows up and actually hits on him, she'll claw her throat out]

Scott: So... you want to hang out here with your sister, Stiles and Dawn, or I can walk you back to Peter's. My bike's there anyway.

Derek: [pushes away and looks into the loft.] I guess I'll stay here. Give Peter a night alone with Buffy or something. And this is my place anyway, right?

Scott: Yeah, it's your home.

Derek: Then I'm going to stay here.

Scott: [pats him on the back] I'll come check on you tomorrow, then.

Derek: Thanks.

Scott: [heads back in, saying his goodbyes and heading out for the night to get dinner for his mom on duty]

Derek: [wanders back in, hands in his pockets and looking at his sister and Stiles]

Cora: [gives him a small smile as she pushes up from Stiles's shoulder] You okay?

Derek: [nods] Yeah. I just got overwhelmed.

Cora: Okay. [she pushes up on her feet] Want to get some sleep?

Derek: No, I think I was going to watch some TV. I've got ten years of movies that I don't remember.

Cora: Okay. I'll make sure the room upstairs is made up then Stiles and I are gonna crash. [or she's going to crash and Stiles is going to sit and talk with her until she does. Whatever comes first.] Dawn'll probably come down, but she'll be just in there. [she points to the walls Xander was working on earlier.]

Derek: [flops onto the couch, reaching for the remote] Alright. Just let me know if I need to turn it down.

Stiles: [gets a text back from his dad] Yeah, dad's fine with me staying here. See you in the morning, Der.

Cora: [and with that they head upstairs. Cora checks on the spare bedroom first, which is fine, before heading to kick Dawn out of her room] I'm gonna sleep, if that's okay?

Dawn: [glances up from her book and nods, sticking the piece of paper she's taking notes on in her spot before closing the book and getting to her feet] He doing better?

Cora: [nods] It was just a lot at once.

Dawn: [nods in agreement, before pulling her into a quick hug] Sleep. I know you didn't get much last night.

Cora: [nods a bit, closing her eyes into the hug, before letting her go]

Dawn: [pats Stiles on the shoulder as she goes] Night, Stiles.

Stiles: Night Dawn. [he closes the door, then goes to sit on the bed, taking off his sneakers] Maybe he'll keep the TV loud enough that he can't listen in to us. Not that we’d do anything with him here, but you know what I mean.

Cora: [she gives him a bit of a look as she sits down to take off her shoes as well, before getting up to wiggle out of her jeans] No. [because they're not even going there] He's barely adjusted to the idea that I am old enough to have a boyfriend.

Stiles: I wasn't saying we would. I was being hypothetical.

Cora: [there's a bit of a knowing look at that as she fishes out a pair of shorts and pulls them on] Mmmhmm.

Stiles: [and he's down to his undershirt and boxers] Just get in bed already.

Cora: [smirks before climbing into bed with him, sliding over the covers and waiting for him to get closer before curling into him]

Stiles: [this sleeping position was getting to be very familiar and comfortable, and he slid into it easily.]

Cora: [she sighs softly as she relaxes against him, her eyes closing against his shoulder as she slowly drifts off to sleep] Night, Stiles.

Stiles: [kisses her shoulder and curls into her more] Night Cor.

Cora: [and not long after that, she's out like a light]

- - - - -

Derek: [flipping stations and has landed on Captain America and lays back to watch]

Dawn: [wanders downstairs, placing her books down on the big table, before glancing over at him with a smile] Hey. Whatcha watching?

Derek: [shrugs] The display said it was Captain America.

Dawn: Live action or cartoon?

Derek: Live action.

Dawn: Oh, that's a good one. Then again, anything with Tommy Lee Jones is generally awesome, just for having Tommy Lee Jones in it.

Derek: [chuckles] I just remember reading the comics when I was younger. I liked Cap. He was a good guy.

Dawn: Well, I think you'll like this. Xander was very pleased, and he was the resident Comics Guy at the time.

Derek: Cool. I can turn it down though if you need me too.

Dawn: [shakes her head] Nah, I'm good. I'll probably just go in here [points to bedroom] unless you want me to stay.

Derek: Nah, I'm fine [and he yawns, rubbing at his eyes a bit]

Dawn: [she knows she's probably going to come in in the morning and find him right asleep where she left him, but for now she'll just let him watch them movie] Then I'll see you in the morning.

Derek: Night. [no, pretty much accurate. He's five minutes from being passed out on the couch, fully dressed and TV on the entire night unless someone turns it off]

Dawn: [will head into her room for a while, and eventually will wander out to check on him. If he's sleeping, she'll turn everything off and pull a blanket over him, just like during finals]

Derek: [and he'll turn over in his sleep with the blanket, curling up into the couch and mutters] Thanks, Mom.

Dawn: [her heart will sink a little bit, before running a hand over the top of his head and heading back to bed. She doesn't say anything. She won't ruin the bubble for him]