canon au } { post-s4, of final christmas presents and proposals

[ooglyboogleys]

Dawn: [will go where she's told, reaching for the hot chocolate once they're outside]

Derek: [smiling, moving to lean against the balcony] You know, I think I finally get the whole learning to celebrate things again after all this. [looking back in at the family]

Dawn: [turns to follow his eyes, before glancing back to him] Oh really?

Derek: [grins and sips his drink] Yeah. The last four months, threats from the Powers that Be aside... they've been good. Everyone's happy. I never thought I'd see this again after the fire.

Dawn: Yeah, it does. It means you're starting to move forward.

Derek: And I'm actually looking forward to it too. I feel like I have a chance to have what my mom wanted for all of us. [he looks back at her] The life she wanted me to have.

Dawn: [smiles a bit at that, before moving closer and slipping her hand in his] Yes, you can.

Derek: [squeezes her hand, and then puts his hot chocolate down] Oh, that reminds me, I forgot to give you one of your gifts. [he picks up a gift that was on the table behind him, holding it out to her] For you.

Dawn: Oooh. Surprise present. [she reaches to take it from him, moving to put the hot chocolate down on the table so that she can open it]

Derek: [he goes to follow her, smiling to himself. When she opens it, she will find that it's an old journal]

Dawn: [her eyebrows go up as she glances back at him with a small smile] It's beautiful. [and she'll go to work the buckle so that she can open it]

Derek: [he watches her, putting his own hot chocolate down. As she goes to open it, she will notice that there are a few pages, and then it will turn into a box with a cutout opening and inside that opening is a very small diamond ring tied to a ribbon sewn into the glued pages]

Dawn: [it takes her a minute before she realizes what it is and her eyes widen] Oh my God.

Derek: [and yup, that is him kneeling down in front of her on one knee, taking her hands in his and smiling up at her] Dawn... ever since you've come back in my life, you've worked hard to try and help me remember who I am and what life is worth celebrating. I can't imagine celebrating any of it without you next to me. So will you marry me, and be there for everything else worth celebrating together?

Dawn: [oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, Dawn tries to get out actual words but actual words aren't working so she's just going to nod a lot before practically tackling him to kiss him]

Derek: [manages to keep the book from going over the railing as he catches her, falling back and smiling as he kisses her back. And all of this totally in view of the people in the living room if they be paying attention]

Buffy: [yeah, Buffy and Laura are totally cheering, they were paying attention]

Peter: [same here, but he's just smiling and sipping his drink, happy for them]

Stiles: [blinks, looking away from where he and Cora were talking to figure out what the...] Did we miss something?

Cora: [glances over at her brother and Dawn and her eyes widen] Holy crap, did he actually do it?

Buffy: Yep.

Laura: Oh, he definitely did.

Stiles: He did what? [clueless]

Peter: Proposed.

Stiles: Oh. Oh, damn. Wow, that's awesome.

Dawn: [eventually she pulls back grinning at him with a wide smile] Yes. In case you didn't manage to get that with the kissing and the almost tackling you off the balcony, yes.

Derek: [laughs] I figured as much. [he unties the ring and takes her hand, sliding it on before giving her a much more romantic kiss, ignoring the noise from inside for the moment]

Dawn: [she sighs as she relaxes into the kiss, her arms winding around his neck] I love you.

Derek: I love you too. Now and forever. [pressing his forehead to hers] And only you.

Dawn: [she exhales slowly, just sinking into that hold] Our sisters are totally watching us, aren't they?

Derek: Yes, and I think the cheering means they approve. [smiles]

Dawn: [she laughs] Well, I'd hope so, all things considered.

Derek: We should probably go in so that they can properly barrage us with hugs [goes to pick them both, and the book, up]

Dawn: [she nods, regretfully, before taking his arm and leaning in close] One more. [and she'll just kiss him softly before they're tackled by other people]

Derek: [enjoys that, then hands her the book] By the way, I made that myself. You better keep it because that probably took more time making than I did choosing the right ring. [grins]

Dawn: [she laughs a bit before nodding, tucking the book to her chest] I will. [and with that she'll take a breath before heading back into the main area]

Derek: [and he will follow right behind her, rubbing the back of his head because sisters]

Peter: [is going to stand back and wait because nope, girls]

Stiles: [just tosses Derek a thumbs up from the couch. he's 17.]

Buffy: [Dawn will get hugged by Laura and Cora both while Buffy heads to Derek instead] Nice job.

Derek: [smiles and hugs Buffy back] Thanks. I figured if I was going to get her full attention, putting the ring in a book would do it. [smirks]

Buffy: [she laughs] Nailed that on the head.

Derek: Looks like you're now officially stuck with us Hales forever.

Buffy: [makes a face like that seems like such an imposition] Well. If I must.

Derek: [sees her necklace and looks at Peter who is sipping his wine oh so non-nonchalantly] I'm sure it's a hardship you can easily endure with good company.

Buffy: I will do my best to soldier on.

Derek: [hugs her again, because yup, he's officially gained one more sister now.]

Buffy: [hugs him back tightly, and softly, just for him] I'm really happy for you too. You deserve it.

Derek: Thank you. For taking care of her too after the fire. And for letting her come back to me.

Buffy: It was my pleasure. [she takes a step back to go hug her own sister while Derek gets tackled by both of his]

Derek: [laughing, managing to keep his balance this time] Sorry I didn't pre-warn you both, but I wanted it to be a surprise

Laura: [just going to hug him tightly] Shut up. You're getting married.

Cora: [doing the same] What she said.

Derek: [deep breath] Yeah, I am. And I feel good about it too. [Dawn is his mate. He knows that deep down inside, which is why he isn't nervous at all about it or the future]

Laura: I'd hope so. [she takes a breath before pulling back to look at him] I'm proud of you.

Derek: [she gets a soft smile at that] Thank you. I think Mom would be happy too.

Laura: [nods a bit] You're right. She would.

Derek: [rubs both his sisters' shoulders affectionately] It's time that we can just be a family again.

Cora: Agreed. [even if there are still some pieces missing, they're making up for it by adding in some new ones]

Derek: But don't you two go getting any crazy ideas. [because no babies yet. He really can't handle his sisters getting pregnant anytime soon]

Laura: [both of them just raise their eyebrows at him] Really?

Cora: Worried about us stealing your thunder or something?

Derek: Yes, I am. [his eyebrows go up at Laura] Your relationship is young and you've got time, and you, young lady, are not allowed to get married until after college. [so pulling a Dad moment]

Cora: [she shakes her head a bit before turning and walking away] Whatever you say, Derek.

Laura: [laughs a bit before pulling him in closer] Seriously, though. I'm happy for you.

Derek: [laughing] I mean it Cora! [and nope, going to snuggle Laura now] Thank you. It just feels right, and I'm going with good.

Laura: [nods a bit against his shoulder] You should. It's good to see you good.

Cora: [sticks her tongue out at him as she plops back down next to Stiles]

Stiles: Did he just... tell us we can't get married?

Derek: I think we all deserve good.

Peter: [is just hovering with Buffy and will eventually get to give Dawn a hug]

Laura: [she nods a bit] Yeah we do.

Cora: Not until after college. [which she wasn't going to do anyway, but now she kind of wants to just to spite him]

Dawn: [smiles a bit into his hug] Guess you're really stuck with me.

Derek: We should add that to the family motto. [laughs]

Stiles: Um... my dad would kill me I think if I did anyway. Not that I wouldn't want to, but you know - school first or something.

Peter: [chuckles] I figured that the day you showed back up here.

Dawn: [laughs] Smart man.

Laura: Or just repeat it as a mantra.

Cora: [laughs] Don't worry. I was just doing it to get on his case.

Stiles: Oh. Okay. [and the deer in headlights look is fading]

Derek: [nods] Thanks for sticking around by the way. I know you have plans with Parrish, but I wanted you guys here when I did it.

Peter: That's what I've been told. [smug grin]

Laura: No, I'm glad I was here. [she takes a breath and a step back] But speaking of that, I should be heading out. I'll see you in a couple days.

Cora: [leans in to kiss his cheek] Don't worry. I'm not rushing either.

Dawn: I'm sure, many times.

Derek: Don't wear the poor boy out. He may be fireproof, but we don't know if he's up to handling you for a long weekend.

Stiles: Good, long as we're on the same page.

Peter: And I never get tired of hearing it.

Laura: [grins. but with that she's just going to grab her bag and leave] Merry Christmas everybody.

Cora: [gives her sister a wave as she goes, before glancing back to him with a nod] We are. [sighs softly] And I should probably stay at your house tonight.

Dawn: Also another thing I'm very sure of.

Stiles: Why... oh, because those two... yeah, no we can totally stay at my place.

Peter: [waves goodbye to Laura, and then slides his arm around Buffy's waist] Well, I'm sure you two have some celebrating to do. We could leave if you'd like.

Derek: [wanders over and stands behind Dawn, sliding his arms around her waist] Up to her.

Buffy: [Dawn looks at her sister and Buffy slides a matching arm around Peter's waist to steer him towards the door] I think we can find our way out.

Dawn: [bright smile] Merry Christmas.

Cora: [nods a bit before taking his hand] Come on. Let's go before she starts glaring.

Stiles: [lets himself get pulled up] Yeah. Merry Christmas, guys.

Peter: [getting Buffy's coat] Merry Christmas, kids.

Derek: [nods to both of them, resting his chin on Dawn's shoulder]

Dawn: [and once they've all disappeared, she's turning around in his arms and leaning in to kiss him again]

Derek: [he likes being alone with her - even if they've been left with all the dishes - and will just kiss her back before lowering her onto the couch with him]

Dawn: [yep, they will worry about the dishes in the morning because right now she's going to make love to her fiancé until they both can't move. That is her plan.]

Derek: [he approves of this plan and will do his part to make it a success]

Dawn: [glad they're on the same page]