spamalot } { of being forward and georgetown visits

[littlebitscary]

[When Peter agrees to fly out to Georgetown to see Derek, Nadia agrees to give him a ride in the jet with her. Peter is already on board when she arrives, engrossed in music and a book with a glass of wine.]

Nadia: [heels in her hand and she spots him and ... well then. This was an excellent life choice. She takes a few steps closer and steps into his line of vision, before placing a hand on his shoulder gently] Peter?

Peter: [his eyes lift, instantly smelling the air and then he smiles, pulling his earbuds free] Nadia, I presume?

Nadia: [smiles widely as she extends a hand to him] Nice to finally meet you. Derek's told me a lot about you.

Peter: Hopefully he was kind in his words. [takes her hand, squeezing it gently as he shook. Because it was a lady, after all]

Nadia: Extremely. Nothing but glowing reviews. [and nice hands, which she releases after a moment and moves to sit in the seat across from him, placing her heels down on the floor next to her as she crosses her legs] How do you like the plane?

Peter: It's a bit flashy, but unlike the rest of my family, I enjoy a bit of luxury now and then.

Nadia: First time Derek saw it, I thought his eyes might bug out of his head. Personally, I know it can be a little much but we can afford it and it allows me to do my job, and get back to the pack if needed and not have to worry about security or flight delays.

Peter: I completely understand. If you're going to be traveling across the world on a daily basis, you want something that you can really relax in. I'm assuming there is a bedroom hidden in here somewhere.

Nadia: There is. Flying to China would be hell without it.

Peter: [laughs] I can imagine. I've never been myself, but leaving from New York would make it a long trip no matter which way you flew.

Nadia: I try to schedule trips like that for when I'm already on the West Coast, but sometimes duty calls. When a client wants to pay you an obscene amount of money for an installation of their favorite artist, you can hardly tell them no.

Peter: I would imagine not. That would keep you from having clients with obscene amounts of money.

Nadia: And those are the best clients to have, really.

Peter: [nods and sips his wine] So Derek said you were in San Francisco?

Nadia: [she nods, leaning back to relax in her seat a little more] I was helping take down an installation that went up in May, for Will Barnet's birthday. Really beautiful work. He only died a few years ago - a hundred and one years old.

Peter: I believe I saw his Reader collection once. Or a few pieces of it at least on a day trip to Santa Monica.

Nadia: Do you like art?

Peter: I do. I don't have a lot of exposure to the world of it, but Beacon Hills has a lot of local artisans so you can find masterpieces unexpectedly in town.

Nadia: There are some fantastic galleries in DC. I know most of the owners - I could schedule a few private tours if you like.

Peter: Tempting. Though I think Derek has some things planned already. So we would have to confer with him.

Nadia: Of course. Derek gets priority, but if you find a bit of time, let me know.

Peter: I will. [he probably won't. At least not on his own volition. He's still not ready in his mind, and is being the nice and gracious guest]

Nadia: [Peter, she just wants to show you art. No ulterior motives attached. but she won't force you if you don't want to] So what do you do?

Peter: [and he was going to give Jennifer a tour of town innocently. Nope. He has relationship issues. SO MUCH BAGGAGE] I actually work as a consultant with the police department. The sheriff sometimes needs help with some cases that he can't solve, and I provide an alternative view for him to look at.

Nadia: [well, she wouldn't say no if there was flirting involved, but with Nadia, everything has flirting involved. She just really loves art] Having a working relationship with the local police is good for us. Do you enjoy the work?

Peter: I didn't think I would at first, but it's been gratifying. And the local police are becoming close since my niece and the sheriff's son have been dating for a while now.

Nadia: Really? Did he go the rebellious bad boy angle, or does he stray a little bit closer to the law? [because the image she has in her head is ... so not Stiles.]

Peter: More like the nerd with a heart of gold.

Nadia: Always a good type.

Peter: He is good for her, and he is good to her. That's what matters in the end.

Nadia: It is. This is Cora, right? The younger sister?

Peter: Yes, that would be here. And Stiles is helping her a lot with her separation anxiety from her brother. We are a very tight knit family.

Nadia: I can tell. The way Derek talks about everyone, it's clear he misses them.

Peter: When he was at Berkley, he came home every two to three weeks. Claimed it was for laundry. His mother did the laundry while he was holed up with his sisters under a pile of pillows and pizza boxes.

Nadia: At least he went away to school. I went to NYU and lived in my parents’ penthouse rather than on campus.

Peter: I think my sister forced him to look further away to get the college life. He used to be very outgoing, to be honest, but for the second half of high school, he became very quiet and stuck close to home. I think she was afraid if he didn't use college as an opportunity to open back up, he never would.

Nadia: [she nods in agreement] For me, it was more of a personal choice. It was just after my mother died. It didn't feel right leaving my father alone, even if he was insisting I still go to school instead of taking a year off.

Peter: Parents. We think we know everything as a child, and yet they are the ones who know more. [sips wine] and then get extremely frustrated at their children for doing the exact same thing.

Nadia: [she laughs as she nods] Very true. And it was probably the right choice - if I had spent that year wallowing, I might have never climbed out of it.

Peter: And instead, you are a very well educated young woman with a luxury jet at her disposal and lots of artistic friends. Amazing how one choice can change your life?

Nadia: The world is a funny place. You never know what could happen.

Peter: Exactly.

Nadia: [she gets up at this point, wandering over to get a glass of wine for herself but speaking as he does] Derek also said you had a daughter, right? Malia?

Peter: [smiles a bit in that fatherly pride way] Yes. She's a few months younger than Cora, and smart as a whip.

Nadia: [she smirks as she makes her way back] Sounds like she's giving you a run for your money.

Peter: She is, but it's just her and me, so I can usually keep up.

Nadia: [eyebrow raise, just slightly] No mom in the picture?

Peter: [deep sigh] No. Malia's never known her mother.

Nadia: [annnnd she backpedals] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up ... I'm sorry.

Peter: No, it's fine. People always ask somewhere along the way.

Nadia: [trying not to be too nosy. As much as she wants to ask, she won't, and she'll try and tread back towards easy conversation] I suppose it is a little odd, given, well. [and there's a slightly flirty smile and a once over. Nadia is where Fiona got her "forward" setting from.]

Peter: [chuckles a bit, raising his wine glass at her lightly before taking a sip] It is a long story and you'll have to get me a lot more inebriated before I'll go there.

Nadia: [she smiles a bit at that before raising her glass as well] Well, we do have a long flight.

Peter: [laughs] Let's just say I have good reason not to get involved in any more relationships right now.

Nadia: [she watches him over the rim of her glass for a moment as she takes a sip] That must be a shame for those looking for relationships.

Peter: I'm sure they can find suitable replacements. It is California, after all.

Nadia: [hums her agreement before placing her wine to the side] In my case, I work too much. Balancing the job with the pack and everything else, it's so much work trying to find someone who you're compatible with these days. Throw in the fact that if they're human, I have to judge whether or not I trust them enough to have them know about the big family secret, and it's just honestly not worth the effort. I'm planning Leah's wedding, because both of the O'Malley women are hopeless. For right now, I'm happy with that.

Peter: [he just nods. Nope, not drunk enough yet to talk about how he trusts too easily, which is why he's being polite, but firmly staying behind his little wall]

Nadia: [yes, well, what can you do? She does like a challenge.] That wedding is going to be an adventure as it is. Two packs, plus one very Irish family. If nothing else it'll at least be entertaining.

Peter: I will be sure to have Derek send us live updates of all the action.

Nadia: [there's a confused pause] Oh, no need. You're invited. It's going to be in California anyway, and given how close Derek and Fiona are getting, it only makes sense.

Peter: I didn't realize it was going to be in California. Why all the way out there when everyone is already on the east coast?

Nadia: Because Leah's brother, Kieran? He's in one of those Doctors Without Borders programs, and he's got two weeks, in three months between magical third world destinations, and Leah refuses to get married without her brother there. He's flying in to LAX. We figured that instead of wasting time with worrying about things going wrong with the flights, we just have it in California. It's not like we can't afford to get everyone there. And it's better than Leah dragging everyone to Madagascar or ... wherever he is right now.

Peter: [takes a sip of his wine as his mind quickly runs numbers and risk assessment] It's a valid reason.

Nadia: Plus, given that it'll be a Christmas wedding, snow could be a problem, especially with the way the last few winters have been. Thankfully that's something California doesn't have to worry about.

Peter: Beacon Hills gets some flurries, but we're in the mountains.

Nadia: Flurries are better than a foot and a half of snow the night before the wedding. At least you can still drive in flurries.

Peter: You've never been to California during a flurry. [smirks around his wine glass rim]

Nadia: [she laughs] Fair enough. But we'll probably be down by the Bay. San Francisco is beautiful any time of year.

Peter: That is true. It will make a beautiful backdrop for the photos as well.

Nadia: Yes. None of which Leah actually cares about so long as her family is there and she gets married.

Peter: [chuckles] Fair enough.

Nadia: [she laughs] I love her, I do, but she and Fiona both are the same way. They'll claw their way through sledge and mud to get something done, but when it comes to a dress, heels and a little make up they treat it like I'm asking them to wade through toxic waste. [she shrugs] I'm happy to do it, though.

Peter: If she is like Fiona, I believe that. And Victor is very lucky to have someone that devoted and driven at his side.

Nadia: Oh, she is. And my brother loves the hell out of that woman. They'll be more than happy together.

Peter: Good.

Nadia: And your nephew makes Fiona happier than I've seen her in a long time.

Peter: She does the same to him. I think they are a perfect complement to each other and help make each other better.

Nadia: Agreed. Who knows? They may even wind up being the next wedding I have to plan.

Peter: Well, there will be one before them on our end. As we speak, my sister is driving my older niece's boyfriend to San Bernidito so that he can ask them both for permission. He asked me last night in secret since I am the male head of the Hale household.

Nadia: [a smile at that] He sounds traditional. I like it.

Peter: He's from a very old Japanese family and they hold tight to their traditions.

Nadia: Traditions are good. They keep us close to our roots.

Peter: They do. Traditions and histories are always important to remember.

Nadia: I agree. If nothing else, you can learn from them.

Peter: [oh Nadia, you are saying all the right things, but so had Jennifer and that had put a lot of distrust in people who answer him the way he wants to hear it. So he just stays silent a moment, sipping his wine]

Nadia: [her head tips slightly, watching him curiously. He's a puzzle, that's to be sure. Most men would have been eating out of her hand by now, but that's one of the things she likes about this. It's good to have a challenge every once in a while.] I think I'm going to fix some dinner. Are you hungry?

Peter: I could eat. [he was a wolf. He could always eat]

Nadia: [she smiles a bit and nods] I'll be back in a bit, then.

Peter: [nods. He would offer to help, but Talia always ruled her kitchen so he didn't. He would offer to do dishes. So he crosses his legs, puts one earbud back in and goes back to his book]

Nadia: [she wouldn't have minded the help. She would have relegated him to chopping, mostly, but after a while there's the familiar smell of food cooking, and eventually she returns with two plates featuring this]

Peter: [the smells coming from the kitchen have been amazing and distracting, so he is really hungry by the time she returns. he gets up though to refill his wine, getting her a refill at the same time] Looks amazing.

Nadia: When I'm on a plane or home are the only times I really get to cook. Probably the only part I really dislike about traveling so much. [she hands off his plate and trades him for her glass of wine] Thank you.

Peter: No, thank you. [he goes to sit again with his food] I have learned to master the art of 15 minute meals.

Nadia: A handy skill to have, especially when you have a child. I'm sure "whip smart" added up to not leaving her to her own devices for too long when she was younger.

Peter: Usually. Though she and I are very close and she is very respectful. Though she has inherited a few of my flaws along the way from it just being us. At least her cousins have helped round her out from being my little clone.

Nadia: Being close with your father is good. I was close with mine before he passed.

Peter: Mine was very firm with me. Talia was the eldest so she got most of the affection.

Nadia: Other way around with us. Victor was going to be the alpha so he got most of the family grooming, but with myself and Nikolai he was a little more ... relaxed. Also very Russian, so take that as you will.

Peter: [nods. Though lately with the whole "coyote" thing his mind going off on tangents to look at all the odds, part of him came back to that relationship and wondered if there was more to it. There wasn't, he was sure, but maybe...]

Nadia: [she'll just keep going, not sure as to where his mind is going, but he's not interrupting] That being said, he had his moments with Victor as well. He was the one who gave Leah the Bite.

Peter: [nods] That says a lot about Leah and how much she cared for him.

Nadia: [she nods] He trusted Victor to understand what it meant. That it wasn't something to be given lightly - I think that was when he first knew that Victor was going to be a good alpha.

Peter: I can see why you would miss a man like that. He sounds like he was proud of his children.

Nadia: He was. He was a good man. [and she does miss him, quite a bit]

Peter: I can only hope my daughter can feel the same way about me one day.

Nadia: If you're as close as you say, I have a feeling she will.

Peter: [nods, smiling a bit. It was obvious that for all his walls, his daughter was the one thing he cared about the most]

Nadia: [which is not a bad thing, as far as she is concerned. She smiles in return before going back to her food]

Peter: [and when he's done, he will stand and hold out his hand for her dishes] I'll clean up.

Nadia: [looks up with a smile before nodding] Thank you. Dish detergent should be under the sink.

Peter: [nods, and he's off doing the dishes in his patented efficient way]

Nadia: [would use the time to herself to be nosy, but between the food, the wine and the plane she's ... actually going to pass out for a bit. It's been a long couple of days. Sorry, Peter. This is not at all a reflection on your conversation skills]

Peter: [he's fine with that. When he gets back, he'll notice and investigate the bins until he finds her a blanket and puts it over her, leaving a pillow beside her chair, and then going back to his reading until they land]

Nadia: [she sleeps through the rest of the flight, apologizing for it after the fact when they do land because she did not mean to do that, but after that they get in the car and off they go to the brownstone where most of the family is probably present] Anybody home?

Nik: [through a door somewhere] Backyard!

Peter: [follows Nadia to the back, dropping his bag at the stairs. As he comes out, he sees his nephew smiling and laughing at something, and looking a lot more muscular and stronger. It confirms that this had been the right choice for him, and he smiles] Looks like we're in time for a party.

Derek: [turns, then his grin brightens] ‘bout time you got here.

Nik: [tips up as he kisses his sister on the cheek, but beyond that he doesn't move much from where he's sprawling on a lounge chair, murmuring something to her in Russian that's probably a greeting. He then tips his head back towards Peter] Nik. I'm the one that's been beating up your nephew.

Peter: [walks down, taking in the yard and then Nik] Peter. And I can tell. He's looking good. How has he been doing?

Nik: [smirks, teasing] He doesn't hit the ground quite as hard as he used to.

Nadia: [sighs softly] I'm going to grab a beer. Can I get you anything, Peter?

Derek: Or as fast. Our last spar lasted what, almost 30 minutes before you pinned me?

Peter: Water, actually. Thank you Nadia. [he goes to stand near Derek as his nephew gets up and they hug a moment before Peter pulls back, looking at Derek's face a moment] It's good to see you happy, nephew.

Derek: What can I say? Mom was right.

Nik: Twenty seven. But who's counting? [other than him, clearly.]

Nadia: [fishes out a beer for herself and water for Peter before returning to the patio] Where's Fiona?

Nik: Out on a job. She should be back in a couple hours.

Derek: [sits back down, and Peter pulls up a chair next to him] So all the kids with Laura off to Stanford with Laura?

Peter: Yup. You mother and I are starting to feel the edges of freedom coming closer.

Derek: Uh huh. So, Nik was showing me a few things the other day about hold techniques and throws I think you'd like seeing.

Peter: Oh really?

Nik: [he shrugs] I've had a lot of time to master the art. One of the benefits of being the muscle.

Peter: Well, I had asked Victor to help turn Derek into a powerhouse to take my place in protecting the family. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher, it seems.

Nik: [he smirks a bit at that] When it comes to physical violence I've turned it into a bit of an art form. But it takes a fair bit of stubbornness too, which he seems to have in spades.

Derek: [is just going to look at Nadia at this point] How was San Francisco?

Peter: Hale family trait. At least he's not playing the gothic writer role anymore with the sad eyes, coffee shop hipster hair and brooding shoulders.

Nadia: [oh yay, talking about something other than violence] Lovely. I think I've found a great spot by the Bay for the wedding.

Nik: I don't think the coffee shop hipster ever really goes away, unfortunately. No matter how much I tried to beat it out of him.

Derek: Awesome. Offer still stands if you want me to help draft out invitations or anything for the ceremony. I mean, you have a writing master’s student in the house, take advantage of it.

Peter: As long as he doesn't go deep enough into it that we catch him in eyeliner.

Derek: [and that is a quick glare back at both of you]

Nik: [wolfish grin as he takes a sip of his beer] I think we're well past that phase.

Nadia: [sighs. Boys.] I may just take you up on that. Always helpful to keep things in house.

Peter: [grins back. He likes you, Nik.] Good. I already have a teenage daughter to worry about and her little borderline emo human boyfriend.

Nik: That sounds ... interesting. The kid Fi's teaching how to fight, or am I confusing humans? [that's more to Derek than Peter]

Derek: No, you're right. That's Isaac. How's he doing?

Peter: Much better these days. Now with the town settled back down, he's getting stronger and more self-confident. His father was locked away and Melissa has full custody of him. Cora and Malia have taken up helping train him, and the Argent girl is teaching him how to use a crossbow. [laughs] They are going to be a very interesting little hybrid pack when they are older.

Nik: [there's a beat] Argent as in Gerard Argent?

Peter: His son, Chris. They relocated back to Beacon Hills, and in a crazy turn of events that put both families on the same side, his family line under him have rewritten their code to become our allies. Part of the alliance includes keeping Kate and Gerard out of the area.

Nadia: That's fortunate. Chris is the sane one. [which is ... saying something] At least you've managed to build an alliance there.

Peter: We'll see how it goes, but for now it's working.

Derek: So things are calm on all fronts?

Peter: So far.

Nik: [is not going to make a comment about the calm before the storm] Well. Are you hungry? I can fire up the grill really quick?

Peter: Nadia actually cook me an amazing in-flight dinner. I'm still sated for now.

Derek: I wouldn't pass up a burger or three. [wolf grin]

Nik: [laughs a bit before getting up and stretching as he does, heading into the kitchen to get the ingredients.]

Fiona: [the front door slams and there's an offhand hello to Nik on her way in, followed by a bright grin to Peter and Nadia as she makes her way over to Derek] Hey, Peter. Have a good flight?

Derek: [is up and pulling her into his arms, giving her a quick kiss welcoming her home]

Peter: [waits, amused. He is happy to see that they are still happy like that] Good to see you too, Fiona. Do I get a welcome home hug too?

Fiona: Mmm-hmmm. [she's just gonna kiss her boyfriend first. Hi, Derek.] Just a sec.

Peter: [dramatic sigh, but smiling] Children...

Derek: [enjoy that wait]

Fiona: [kiss kiss kiss ... okay, done, she's turning and heading over to Peter] Hi.

Peter: [grins and hugs her tightly] Hi. You look well.

Fiona: [hugs him just as tightly, rubbing his back a bit] It's nice being home. Or at least home adjacent.

Peter: You both look happy and relaxed. This was a very good choice. For you both

Fiona: [she nods a bit as she pulls back] Yeah. It's been better than I thought it'd be.

Nik: [wanders out to heat up the grill] I'm assuming you want a burger, Fi?

Fiona: Yes, please. I am starving.

Derek: Need any help? [gets up to join Nik at the grill with his beer]

Peter: [drops his voice a bit] Has everything been good with him?

Nik: [he glances back over his shoulder] You wanna grab me another beer?

Fiona: [glances back to Peter and follows his cue, keeping her voice low] He misses all of you but school is good and things here are good. He's been looking forward to your trip.

Derek: Sure. Fi, Beer? [he knows you're talking about him, but he's not going to interrupt]

Fiona: [grins in his direction] Yes, please!

Derek: [grins and heads inside to get them]

Peter: [now that he's gone] Good. His sisters miss him a lot, but Jason and Stiles are stepping in to help distract them.

Fiona: And there's been lots of Skype. I think he's finally gotten the hang of it.

Peter: Yes. Cora was laughing when he realized he could download it for his phone so he didn't have to use your laptop.

Fiona: Yes, well. We're slowly catching him up to speed with the rest of the world.

Peter: It will come in handy when he starts to take over being the family historian.

Fiona: [nods] And generally less confused looks when Cora and Malia ask him to do technology related things.

Peter: Of course, someone my age worries about those two if they were ever to be trapped somewhere without a signal.

Fiona: Yes, well. We'll cross that traumatic bridge when we come to it.

Peter: I'm almost tempted to drop them in the middle of the state park with no phone or supplies and make them find their own way home.

Fiona: [she gives a bit of a shrug] Survivalist skills are important.

Peter: They are. And you won't know when you'll need to learnt hem until you need to use them.

Fiona: They used to throw me in the woods all the time.

Nik: We did. She was awful at it at first.

Peter: Derek was actually good at the survival training, if you want to believe that.

Derek: [returns with the beers at that point] Of course I was. I actually liked the whole camping out weekends we had. Now being chased by the bear, that wasn't something I enjoyed.

Fiona: [there's a beat as she takes her beer from him] You were chased by an actual bear?

Peter: I may have left him near a bear cave to be able to distract his senses. I wasn't expecting the fourteen year old to go and try to fish for his breakfast at the mouth of the cave.

Derek: I was hungry and it was the best place to catch fish.

Peter: Which is why the bear had her cave there.

Fiona: [her mouth works for a moment] The bear was probably not happy. At all.

Derek: No, but I was faster in the end.

Fiona: Well, I'm glad. Bears are scary. Worst I ran into was skeevey hunting parties.

Peter: We usually clear the area of hunters before we give the training.

Nik: [he laughs] We probably should have, but it was kind of worth it to see her punch them in the nuts.

Peter & Derek: [both laughing]

Fiona: [totally unapologetic] What can I say? I don't respond well to sketchy come-ons. Especially considering I was sixteen and they were at least forty.

Derek: Sounds like you had reason to. [goes to give Nik his beer before bringing Fi hers]

Peter: I think the worse Laura had on hers was a homeless man. And she ended up cooking breakfast for both of them before she figured the rest of her way home.

Fiona: I'm starting to think your sister is too good for the world.

Derek: She is a good soul.

Peter: She's a soft heart, but she gets it from her mother.

Fiona: Let's hope she doesn't lose that.

Nik: Or that it turns her into a doormat.

Peter: She is a psychologist. She has an open heart, but she does well at analyzing intentions of others.

Nik: And she's supposed to be the next alpha? [low whistle] Starting to think I'm lucky Victor wound up on Wall Street.

Peter: Well, the role of the second is going to be to help her make the hard choices. [looks at Derek] And the bond between those two rivals that of mine and their mother's.

Nik: Heaven help the idiot who tries to get between Victor and Leah.

Fiona: Leah will claw their face off.

Derek: Pretty sure anyone tried to mess with Laura, I'm not the one they need to worry about.

Nik: [turns away from the grill as he scoops off burgers, raising an eyebrow]

Fiona: Her boyfriend's a tanuki.

Nik: .... Huh. Good for her. The only thing scarier than a pissed off tanuki is a waheela.

Peter: Actually... [looks at his watch] And since I am here to distract you for the next few days, I have been asked to break the news to you early, but you are to not speak of it to your sisters until you find out officially.

Derek: [eyebrow goes up] And that's not cryptic.

Peter: Jason is in the process of getting permission from your parents tonight.

Derek: Permission to.... oh. [his eyes widen, and then he smiles] Really?

Peter: They are going away on Monday for their anniversary vacation, and he will be asking her then.

Fiona: I stand corrected. Her fiancé is a tanuki.

Nik: So sure she's gonna say yes?

Fiona: If she doesn't say yes there's something wrong with her.

Derek: They've been together for almost six years. If she didn't, it was because he messed up the asking horribly.

Fiona: And with the asking of the parents and all that, I don't think that will be a problem.

Nik: [walks over with the burgers for Derek and Fiona] Guess weddings are going around.

Derek: [eyebrows go up at that. Are you hinting at something here, Nik?]

Peter: Summer does tend to lead to fall weddings before the holidays.

Nik: [he gives a shrug] Leah and Victor, the tanuki and your sister. Just seems to be a trend.

Nadia: Victor and Leah aren't until Christmas. But the point still stands.

Fiona: Oh! Kieran confirmed his flight by the way. He's flying into LAX on the twenty first and he's leaving on the third.

Nadia: Perfect! Christmas wedding it is.

Derek: [and he is going to do the mid-20 boy thing where he's going to just go nope out of this conversation and drink his beer]

Peter: San Francisco at Christmas will be magical. You'll all enjoy it.

Nik: [he glances to his sister] You told him they're invited, right?

Nadia: [nods] The Hales, the O'Malleys, and the Kirsanovs all under one roof. Should be fun.

Fiona: Fun is definitely one of the words I'd use.

Peter: I will pass along the invitation when I get home. I think it'll be a very interesting affair.

Derek: [looks at Fiona] We were already planning on spending the holiday in Beacon Hills anyway.

Fiona: [she nods] You're going to have ... all four of us in one place. I feel like I should apologize now.

Peter: Cora will probably bring Stiles. I'm sure we have a contender on our end for contributing to the craziness.

Derek: This is going to be interesting.

Fiona: [there's a pause. and then a snort] I'm imagining Kieran and Stiles in the same room. [a beat] And this is something no one understands but me. [huffs]

Derek: I understand from your tone of voice this is something we need to record for later.

Peter: Nadia, you may need to increase the amount of alcohol you had planned to order.

Nadia: That was a given.

Fiona: [nods with a grin] Kieran is probably Stiles after plus fifteen years and med school.

Peter: Oh god, we're going to need a bomb shelter.

Derek: [laughs]

Fiona: [laughs as well] He won't get him into too much trouble. I hope.

Peter: You hope?

Derek: Cora will keep Stiles in line during the wedding. [he hopes]

Fiona: Well, considering Kieran will be spending most of his time dancing, drinking, or hassling my boyfriend, there's really not a lot of room for him and Stiles to get into anything that will end in blood or tears.

Derek: Oh, so I'm the one who needs to be worried?

Peter: Well, Fiona's had to deal with your sisters, Derek. It's only fair her brothers get their turn.

Fiona: At least you'll probably be meeting Cormac before that?

Nik: Cormac's coming down in two weeks.

Fiona: You'll be meeting Cormac before that so the only hassle you'll have to deal with is Kieran. And his form of harassment is ... special.

Derek: This is an open bar, right Nadia?

Peter: [chuckles to himself]

Nadia: [amused] Very open bar.

Fiona: We're Irish. It's a given.

Derek: Good. I may survive then.

Fiona: My family's not that bad. We're just ... a lot, all at once.

Derek: Mine can be too. I know that.

Fiona: Yeah, but we're louder.

Nik: Much louder.

Derek: [goes to sit next to Peter, and Peter instantly reaches up to rub his back]

Peter: You can choose the woman you fall in love with, nephew. You just can't choose her family.

Nadia: And then you add Russians to the mix and really ... it's just a lot of alcohol.

Derek: Luckily, the Californians will just go with the flow.

Fiona: [she nods] Or you can just bring popcorn and watch us go.

Derek: I'll remember that. [goes to eat his burger at this point because it's still in his hands]

Peter: I hope I won't be in the way this weekend

Nadia: Don't be ridiculous. It's a big house, and we're happy to have you. We like visitors - it switches things up.

Derek: Plus I've got most of the next few days planned anyway. Smithsonian, memorials...

Peter: I should have brought better walking shoes.

Nadia: [smirks a bit] I offered Peter to schedule some private tours for some of the museums. If you give me your list I can get you into some of the private exhibits.

Peter: She was very kind in the offer...

Derek: [perks up and looks at Nadia] Do you want to come with us one a few of them?

Nadia: [waves the hand with her beer in it] Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude on your time with him. But I have connections. It would be a shame not to use them.

Peter: See, she understands how special this time is with us. [and Derek winces at the clawn being dug into his thigh in warning while Peter is all smiles]

Nadia: [yeah. she's forward but she's not that forward] Just get me the names, and I'll make some calls.

Derek: I think I have them upstairs. I'll get them for you after I finish this. [and he goes back to his burger as Peter leans back in his seat.]

Nadia: Good. [she glances down at her bottle before getting up] I think I need another beer.

Peter: I'll join you. I could use a refill as well.

Nadia: [smiles and nods as she leads the way into the kitchen]

Peter: [follows] I apologize for Derek. He and Laura have some very infuriating habits.

Nadia: [she glances to him for a moment, before shaking her head] No need to apologize. I'm sure he was simply being polite. [she knows he wasn't but she's giving you an opportunity to save face, Peter]

Peter: [goes to the fridge to refill his water] He means well.

Nadia: [she pauses for a moment as she's grabbing another beer] I know I can be ... forward, but my offer earlier was completely platonic. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.

Peter: [His fingers ran along the surface of the fridge, his eyes watching the glass continue to fill] I know, and I'm flattered, Nadia, I am. But to be fair to you - I'm not in a place that I would be good to anyone, even in a platonic sense.

Nadia: [her eyebrows raise a bit at that] You're not in a place for friends? That must be an odd place to be.

Peter: [sighs. He goes to say something, then closes his mouth. His trust issues are showing] That it is.

Nadia: [she watches him quietly for a moment, almost as though she's trying to read his mind - or maybe she is, you just don't know - before taking a step forward and placing a hand on his arm gently] Well, if you find yourself in a place where you'd like a friend, you know where to find me. [and with that, she'll step away and head back to the patio]

Peter: [nods, waiting for her to be alone and he pressed his knuckles into the fridge a moment as he focused his breathing to get his calm back.]