Chapter Text
"We're okay," Derek whispers to himself with just a hint of disbelief lacing his tone. Stiles sits beside him being unusually silent but Derek understands his dilemma. Traveling down the road at high speeds while trying to restrain a struggling and angry were-puppy is hard work. It's a good thing Stiles is a quick thinker. He must have said that out loud because when he glances over at Stiles he sees him looking at him with a shit-eating grin on his face.
Derek turns away slightly fighting the blush that wants to rise. He's still not used to being fully human and all of his body's responses. Stiles lifts his hand slowly to grip Derek's bicep before he gently trails his fingers down Derek's arm to tangle their fingers together. He stiffen's slightly fearing Derek's rejection and shifts backwards a little to get more comfortable while still keeping his death-grip on Derek's hand.
"We'll always be okay as long as we have each other," Stiles finally says breaking his silence and throwing Derek a sidelong glance. His cheeks faintly turn pink but when Derek doesn't move to pull away he relaxes. Derek rolls his eyes at Stiles but the corners of his mouth turn upwards. He's used to Stiles' cheesy one-liners by now and he hadn't realized just how tense Stiles' silence had made him. He slowly relaxes against the back of the van and squeezes Stiles's hand.
"Yeah." He answers back softly as he recalls all the times they've saved each other in the past. He really is an idiot since it took him this long to realize what he was feeling for Stiles. He's doesn't have time to think of what he wants to say to Stiles. He certainly doesn't want an audience when he figures it out so he tries to show him with touch. He slowly pulls his hand free ignoring Stiles's squawk of protest and reaches to pull him flush against his side, curling his arm around Stiles to rest his hand on his hip. Stiles makes a happy, contented noise and rests his head on Derek's shoulder.
Stiles doesn't care that Liam is looking at them a little weirdly and that Braeden is watching them in the rear-view mirror. They'll figure it out eventually. He and Derek are a packaged deal now, he's waited long enough. They've both waited long enough. It's the first time in a while that he's felt like things might possibly start to be okay again. He gives Liam a look that clearly states Derek is MINE as he snuggles closer to Derek and wraps his arms around his stomach and lower back. He clasps his hands together to rest on Derek's hip, daring Liam to say something with the look he shoots him.
Liam makes a questioning noise but at the simultaneous glare from both Stiles and Derek, plus Derek's low growl, he sits back on his side of the van and wisely shuts up. Derek may be human now but old habits die hard. Liam doesn't want to push him any more than he has already tonight. He know's Derek's got a gun loaded with wolfsbane bullets somewhere on his person and he's not too keen to be shot by an ally tonight. He needs to be in fighting shape against Kate and the berserkers.
Stiles shifts slightly to throw his legs across Derek's lap and leans into him fully. Stiles is practically using Derek like a human teddy bear but Derek doesn't mind. He shifts his other arm to curl around Stiles' knees as he rests his hand on Stiles's upper thigh. Stiles hums softly as the rocking of the van and the comfort of being held by Derek lures him into sleep. Derek stares at him for a while before he looks away slightly, feeling Braeden's eyes watching them. He looks towards her and catches her eyes in the mirror. He unconsciously pulls Stiles closer to him while eyeing her warily but all she does is smile softly. He can see the slight hurt in her eyes but they share a look of understanding. She's known all along how much he cares for Stiles, it was just a matter of how long it took him to realize that. Apparently that time was now so she breaks eye contact with Derek and finally concentrates fully on following the vehicle in front of them.
Derek then looks across to Liam sitting across from them and raises a questioning eyebrow. Liam slowly shakes his head, he doesn't want to anger Derek by talking, especially since Stiles is asleep. He then nods while raising his hands in a placating gesture to show he understands. He then leans back without a word to practice sheathing and unsheathing his claws.
Derek goes back to staring at Stiles asleep in his arms. Slowly he leans forward to place a kiss onto his forehead. He's uncertain about what's coming for them once they reach the church, but for now he has Stiles by his side and that's all he could ever ask for.