Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter I 

Derek didn’t know what to do. He had been stuck in a daze for a while after Laura died. He was so confused about what to do with his life. He had come from New York, where he had just managed to build a life for himself but after returning to Beacon Hills and dealing with his uncle going on a murder spree, he was more lost then ever. And now, with everything finally starting to calm down, most of the pack has gone to college and is now he realized he didn’t really have any direction in life.
So he decided to go for a walks in the woods. He liked those woods — he had grown up in them — but somewhere along the way, he had forgotten a lot about them. Now he was starting to reconnect with the place.
On one of those walks, he found a child at the base of the Nemeton. He still doesn't know what possessed him to approach the kid — after all, it was the Nemeton. Nothing good had ever come out of that thing or its history. But this child seemed... different. He looked so innocent and alone, sitting at the base of the tree. He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t upset. He was just quietly watching the trees. He wasn’t sure how old he was but is it was clearly under two.
So Derek went over to check on him, to see if he was okay. But when he got close enough, he noticed something strange — the child smelled familiar. So familiar it almost hurt. it was a kind of smell he never knew he will smell again. He smelled like family… but also like one person Derek could never forget: Stiles.
Derek was too confused to understand what it meant, so he simply picked up the child and took him home to his apartment.

-

Derek sat on the couch holding the baby and just looked at him. Maybe if he looked hard enough, it would start to make sense, but the more he looked, the more confused he got. In his mind, it was impossible—this child who looked so much like him in his baby pictures, but smelled so much like Stiles. And not just that—call it a vibe, or maybe wishful thinking, or just the empty longing for a friend who left, and for the family he never thought he’d have again.
He let out a sigh that seemed too loud for the quiet in his apartment, and the baby just laughed like he found it amusing. Derek accepted that the universe had made him a father. So he took his keys, and with the baby, got in his car to go to the store. All the way there, he just prayed that the child didn’t inherit the ADHD from a certain someone.

—

Stiles didn’t know what he was doing. Four years of a bachelor’s degree for the FBI, just to end up staying in his childhood room, confused and scared about the future. Everyone in the pack seemed to have it all figured out: Scott was on his way to becoming a veterinarian, Lydia was on her way to becoming a university professor in mathematics, even Kira had gone on to become a chef after learning everything she could from the shapeshifters.
But not him. Even though he had so many opportunities, he just didn’t know what he wanted to do anymore. So he stayed in his childhood home, phone in hand, trying to distract himself from all the insecurities swirling in his head. That’s how he ended up calling Derek.
They didn’t talk much, though they stayed in contact during university. But something had changed after moving to college—Derek had become a father. Stiles didn’t really know where the kid came from. Just that one time, during a video call with the whole pack, Derek had shown everyone a baby, said he was his, and that was that. Nobody questioned it.
Stiles felt a bit bad about bothering a single father with his identity crisis, but he’d always trusted Derek. He used to pester him all the time and say everything that came to mind around him, and even though Derek faked being annoyed, he never really seemed to mind. Maybe it was because he had been an older brother, and Stiles reminded him of his younger siblings.
Still, he pressed "call" and waited as it rang. When the line finally picked up, the first thing he heard wasn’t Derek’s voice. It was a child yelling about some cookies. So Stiles smiled, asked how he was doing, said he was in town, and asked if he wanted to meet up. Derek barely agreed when Stiles got his keys and end of the call.

Chapter Text

Chapter II 

Derek was surprised, to say the least, when he got Stiles's call. He knew he had finished his studies because he’d kept an eye on Stiles’s life, looking for a good moment where he could tell him that he was the other father of his mystery child. Elias — as Derek had named him after his grandfather — was now four years old, would start kindergarten in two weeks, was obsessed with cookies, and did have ADHD.

But all things considered, Derek didn’t want to change a thing. In these four years, among every other breakdown he’d had, he’d also had the most beautiful moments of his life; raising his child had helped him make peace, and despite all these issues he’d made peace with most of them. Seeing Elias and imagining him growing up like Derek had, he finally understood that all the things that had happened to him as a child and a teenager were things he’d been a victim of — and if it were Elias going through all that, he couldn’t imagine blaming him for any of it.

He also came to terms with his feelings for Stiles during the years of his absence. After all they’d been through, he knew he could trust Stiles with his life and had come to enjoy Stiles’s blabber. But it was only after Stiles left that Derek understood it was more than friendship. Of course Stiles was his friend — probably the best friend he’d ever had — but it was more than that. If Derek didn’t let himself feel it, it would go away; understanding it made it real, and then he wouldn’t have an excuse to keep away from him or to avoid opening up. He still had a lot of trust issues and probably attachment problems; he already dreaded the moment Elias would grow up and go to college or move on with his life. Maybe all those problems were the reason he’d hesitated to call Stiles, to keep in touch, or even to tell him the truth about Elias.

I mean, it’s one thing to stay at home, erase himself, and put his life on pause because, frankly, he didn’t really have one — but Stiles was going to college. He wanted to make something of his life. The whole FBI career had been a dream he could make come true, so why would Derek take that chance away from him? So he stayed quiet, ignoring all the questions Stiles sent his way once Elias came into the picture, telling himself he’d just wait for the right time: he had exams, an internship, homework… there was always something.

So for Derek — who thought Stiles would go off into the world and never come back except for the occasional call — it was, to say the least, a surprise when Stiles showed up back in town and wanted to speak with him in person. He didn’t know what it was about, but from Stiles’s tone, which sounded nervous, it probably wasn’t good. Derek promised himself he would tell Stiles the truth. I mean, what else could he do? If Elias started asking questions about his other parent — saying most of the kids on the playground had two parents with them — he would take his heart in his hands, offer it to Stiles along with the whole truth, and hope for the best.

---

Derek had just finished cleaning up when he heard the familiar steps coming into the building. He put Elias in his corner to play and made his way to the door. When he opened it a bit, some of his nerves melted away: there was Stiles with a big smile and two coffee cups in his hands.

“Hi,” said Stiles as he came in, kicking the door closed with his foot as he made his way to the couch.

Now that he was in the room with him, Derek could tell Stiles seemed more sad and anxious than he had on the phone. Just as Stiles was about to sit down, Elias decided to make himself present by yelling Stiles’s name.

“What is it, little guy? Wanna play tugger?” asked Stiles, picking him up and lifting him into the air.

“I want to go to the park but dada said you have to talk.” Disappointment read clearly on his face as he said it.

“Well, why don’t we color together while your dad says what’s on his mind, hmm?” Stiles said, giving Derek a look. He took Elias to the coffee table so he could draw while they spoke.

“So what do you wanna talk about? Didn’t expect you to be home so soon after college,” Derek said, trying his best not to seem affected by how good Stiles was with his kid—their kid.

“Well, you know, I came to see Pops and take a break from the big city, and I wanted to check up. Also — what’s with the name Elias? I was always confused; it’s a bit complex for a kid, don’t you think?”

“Well, he’s my kid. I can name him what I want,” Derek said, focusing on Stiles and Elias’s hands while thinking how to bring it up.

“Yeah, fair point. But maybe a nickname? What do you say, Eli?” Stiles turned to Elias as he asked. “How does that sound? Do you like it?” he added, tickling Eli because the nickname fit. Eli just laughed and nodded.

“Look, we have to talk,” Derek said. “And while it’s nice to see you and all, this is a serious conversation.” There — Derek finally made some progress.

All Stiles did was bite his lip and look uncomfortable, but before Derek could say more, Stiles said, “Can’t it wait? I just… I missed you. I’m just staying in Beacon Hills and all of it, so can we keep the serious stuff away for a bit?”

It wasn’t the best moment, but Derek would do everything Stiles asked — so if Stiles wanted time, he’d give it to him.

“Okay. But if you draw on my coffee table I’ll throw you out the window.” And just like that, Stiles seemed happier than when he’d arrived; he smiled more brightly while laughing and holding an oblivious Eli.

“I like it, by the way.”

“What?”

“Eli. I like it.”

Chapter Text

It’s been a couple of days, and everything was normal—well, as normal as it can be when you don’t know what you’re doing with your life.

His crush on Derek came back stronger than before. How could he resist Derek with a child??? He was all stoic and brooding when he left for college, but now there was a softness to him, and he seemed so much more comfortable in this life. And Stiles was jealous. He wished he was part of that life. The more time he spent with Derek and Eli, the more sad he became about going back to Washington by himself. He always knew he wanted to be a father and come home to a family of his own, but now it’s like he's so close to that and yet he’s not part of it.

And now, sitting with Derek in the park while Eli played with the other kids, Stiles could see that Derek was waiting for the right moment to say something, but he kept changing the subject.

“Okay, enough!”

“Huh?”

“What’s on your mind?? You came home and just spent time with me and Eli all day and nothing else ??? I know you well enough to know there's more to this visit. What is it? ’Cause it can’t all be about spending time with us.”

“Well, I love spending time with you and Eli!”

And there go the eyebrows—all judgmental and unbelieving.

“Really, I do! But you’re right. I came home because I don’t know what I’m doing. I mean, I will go to the master’s program because I got in—what else is there to do? But I don’t know... it’s complicated.”

“Look, if you just want a break to take your mind off things, then I’m here to distract you. But—” he added fast when he saw the remark about to come out of Stiles’s mouth, “I think talking could help. And I’m here for that too.”

“Well, since when are you all emotional guru?”

“Being a dad will do that to you.”

“Yeah, I guess. It suits you. Fatherhood, I mean. But you know the whole speaking thing goes both ways.”

Just as Derek was about to ask to clarify, Stiles added:

“At first I thought it was just Eli being a kid, but no. There’s something that’s eating at you too, and I’m sure it’s something important. So spill.”

And Derek just stays there for a couple of moments, his face betraying nothing—except for the slight pink of his ears. It’s cute though. He saw Eli do the same thing when he’s caught with something. It was a fun game to play, seeing the similarities between them. But it was even more funny seeing how Eli started doing things like Stiles. Maybe he was spending more time with them than Derek realized.

“Well, it is important. And it’s a lot. So maybe not here,” he said, just as Eli ran up to Stiles, hands full of mud, and put it all over his face.

Stiles forgot all about the conversation and started to tickle Eli as revenge.

“Eli! That’s not very nice! The mud should stay on the ground, not on my face! You should teach him to—” He doesn’t get to finish that thought because Derek is laughing with his whole body, face pink, eyes closed. And Stiles caught in wonder can’t help but laugh too.

-

And so the day goes on, and Stiles keeps being present in their life like he was always there. And Derek began to fear the moment of Stiles leaving and the hole it would leave behind—not just for him, but for Eli too. Eli became so quickly attached to Stiles, they had their own language almost. Even though Eli looked a lot like Derek, his behavior was all Stiles—even before spending so much time around him.

Seeing them together made Derek realize that he was keeping Eli away from his other parent without meaning to. And even though Stiles might hate him for keeping it a secret, he decided that he has to tell him—and soon.

So he called the Sheriff. Noah was in the know, in a way. He saw Eli at the supermarket in the beginning, and Derek knew—just by the look on Noah’s face—that he recognized his grandchild instantly. He didn’t say anything though, never asked questions, only demanded that Derek bring Eli over once a week and let him babysit.

Eli started calling him Gramp. It was one of his first words, along with “Dada” and “cookie.”

And the phone stops ringing.

“Yes, son? How’s Eli doing?”

And oh, how soft it made Derek feel to hear Noah refer to him as “son.”

“Eli is good. Very good. Ready to start kindergarten in a bit. Excited.”

“Hmm. And you?”

“Well, actually I have to tell you something…” After a hum of encouragement from the other end of the call, Derek goes on. “It’s about Stiles. And, well, Eli too. It’s about all of us really.”

“You want to tell Stiles Eli is his son?”

“I… yeah. I just— I was thinking how to do it, and maybe a DNA test will be needed, so maybe you can…”

“Now why would you need that?”

“Well, it’s not that believable that a kid just shows up and is mine and Stiles’s, and still…”

“He would believe you without it. You know that.”

“I just need to do it. Make sure it’s real.”

“Okay, you got it, son. It will be okay. And I expect my grandson this Friday.”

“Actually… maybe you can take him while we talk?”

“Sure. I’ll send you all you need for the test. You just let me know when.”

“Okay. Thank you so much.”

“No problem, son.”

-

Stiles had gone to the loft because his father was acting strange—insisting over the phone that they couldn’t spend the day together because he had “plans” he wouldn’t disclose, and that Stiles should just go to Derek after he heard he was invited over. Stiles was curious about those secretive plans, but he was more excited about seeing Eli in the sheep Halloween costume he bought for kindergarten this fall—because it was too cute and he knew it would piss Derek off.

But when Derek answered the door, it was quiet. Too quiet. And Derek looked nervous.

“Hey… is Eli sleeping, or…?”

“No.”

“Umm… okay.”

“Just come in and take a seat.”

“It’s time for the conversation, huh,” said Stiles as he closed the door and went to sit next to Derek on the couch.

“Yeah. Look, before I say this, there’s something you should know. And it’s complicated.”

“Hey, it’s okay. I meant it when I said I’m here to talk.” And Stiles holds on as he takes Derek’s hand in his, gently brushing his thumb over Derek’s knuckles. “You’ve always been important to me. So tell me whatever you need.”

Derek looked like he was about to cry. Here was Stiles, trying to comfort him while thinking of the bag with the sheep costume on the table.

“I got Eli by accident. I was taking a walk in the preserve, and I found him by the Nemeton.”

Stiles’s mind began to work and before Derek could explain, he jumped in.

“What is he? Is he like some sort of creature? He’s too cute for that. No—but what, a mirage? Like how Dad did with Mom after the Ghost Riders took me? Derek, is he even your son? He looks too much like you not to be. What is the me—”

“No, no, Stiles! He is my son. He’s just a bit hyperactive, and I’m not sure if that’s from his werewolf side or it comes from his other side.”

“Other side, as in…?”

“His other parent.”

“But I thought you found him by the Nemeton? As in, by himself?”

“I did. But I could smell him. That’s how I knew he was mine. He smelled like me. Like family. It’s just… that’s not all he smelled like.”

Derek took a breath and pulled the DNA test from the folder, handing it to Stiles as he said:

“He smells like you. He still does.”

And all Stiles did was stare at the papers. It wasn’t supposed to be possible. A kid came out of nowhere. Their kid.

“God… I have a kid.”

“Yes.”

“I am Eli’s father.”

And Stiles didn’t say anything else after that. He just stared at the proof in his hand while Derek watched him.

Chapter Text

Stiles didn’t know what else to say — he was a father to a miracle, probably magical baby, and he didn’t even know.

“Where is Eli now?” he asked Derek, who was quietly watching him like he was a bomb about to go off.

“He’s with your dad,” Derek simply answered.

“Does he know? That Eli is mine?”

“Yes.”

“From the start?”

“He saw him and put the pieces together.”

Stiles put his head in his hands and started thinking. He couldn’t go back to college. He couldn’t miss more of his life. He wanted to be part of it, as much as he could. He needed a job in the city. He needed to call back the university. He needed to see his son — to do something — because he started hyperventilating from doing nothing.

And then he felt rough hands on his, trying to move them from his face — Derek’s hands.

“Stiles, it’s okay. Everything is alright.” He took Stiles’ hand and placed it on his chest. “Focus on this, okay? Just breathe when I breathe.”

And Stiles did. He took deep breaths with Derek until he felt like he could speak.

“I want to be part of his life, Derek.”

“And you will be.”

“I’m gonna move back. Make memories with him. I lost too much. You took all of this on your own. Why? Just… why?”

“Look, Stiles…” He kept Stiles’ hand on his chest. “When I got Eli, I was confused. I was scared that maybe you didn’t want to be part of this with me. I was more scared that you did. I didn’t want to put that burden on you just as you were starting college. You were 18, and I just wanted to wait for the right moment… and this feels like the best one.”

But Stiles just looked lost, and the wetness in his eyes made Derek’s heart clench.

“I know it’s not the same, but I have pictures and videos of all Eli’s moments. I could show them to you. I made copies. They’re yours.”

And Stiles just nodded and leaned into the cushion of the sofa.

-

After the third video of Eli — this time eating cake with his hands at his birthday last year — Stiles was looking better while flipping through the photo album.

“I would have been part of it from the beginning, you know,” Stiles said in a quiet voice. “I would’ve been by your side. No regrets. I don’t blame you for being scared, though. We can make this work. Together. If you want.”

“Of course I want to.”

“Do you mean just co-parenting or… something more?”

“I meant it any way that keeps you in our life.”

Stiles took a breath and put the photo album down, looking Derek in the eyes.

“I always wanted this. Us, to be something. So if it’s going to happen, it’s because you feel the same — not because you feel responsible for something else.”

Derek leaned into Stiles’ space. They were face to face.

“I want this.”

It wasn’t clear who moved first, but they ended up kissing — a sweet, soft kiss.

The kiss lasted a couple of minutes. When they broke apart, their foreheads still touching, all they could do was laugh.

“Okay, but when is Eli coming back? I bought him a Halloween costume, and I need to add photos to this album.”

“Your dad is bringing him home after dinner. But we should talk about what’s coming next.”

“What’s coming next is me spending time with my son.”

“Okay… but after that? What about college?”

“Fuck college. I wanna stay here,” Stiles said as he pulled away.

“I know, I know. But college is important. You should at least consider finishing it. Maybe we can visit on weekends, do a lot of video calls.”

“I don’t know…”

“You already paid for it. It’s an opportunity you have to take.”

“And what about you and Eli and this?”

“We’ll be fine. We’ll call every day.” Derek took Stiles’ face in his hands, brushing his cheek with his thumb. “Twice a day.”

“Twice a day, then. But you are getting your degree.”

“Ugh, you sound so much like a dad.”

“I wonder why.”

“What if the degree is useless? I’m just wasting money and time. Time I could spend with you. With our family.”

“You have to trust that it won’t be. And if it is? You’ll come back home to me, and we’ll figure it out. Together. One step at a time.”

“Right.”

“Let’s just enjoy the summer and take everything it has to offer, hmm?”

And Stiles, instead of answering, just closed the gap between them. And all they did until Noah came home with Eli was make out on the sofa and hold each other.

-

The summer passed. Stiles finished packing and now just sat watching Eli explain his day at kindergarten to Derek, who looked slightly amused.

They had told Eli that Stiles was his other dad. Eli was confused at first — but excited. He started experimenting with what to call Stiles. But one week ago, when Stiles picked him up from school, Eli came running and called him Pops.

It just felt so right. And Stiles still cries when he thinks about it.

He also became obsessed with taking pictures.

“It’ll be okay, you know,” Derek said, eyes still on Eli.

“Yeah. I hope it will. ’Cause it’s gonna be a rough time.”

“One thing at a time.”

“One thing at a time.”

And oblivious, Eli just came to Stiles to show him what he drew at kindergarten.

-

Eli was crying. Stiles was trying not to cry. And Derek was trying to assure him that everything would be fine if he just got on that plane.

So he did.

He was more pushed onto the plane, saying promises to call and text all the time.

It was only when he got back to the college dorms that he started crying over a picture — the one with all three of them. He was trying to put it up on the wall when the waterworks started.

But hey — at least now, he knows there’s something he wants.

And maybe everyone’s right. If you work hard enough, it’ll pay off in the end.

We'll see.