spamalot } { hey it's good to be back home again

[impetere]

Cora: So you're saying he's not really going to be able to figure that out until we figure out where we stand?

Derek: I think he doesn't know what he wants right now beyond keeping that little girl safe. He needs to get that first before he's probably going to even think about himself.

Cora: [sighs softly] I'll do whatever he wants me to ...

Lydia: No. You aren't listening. As the resident crazy person, I'm making an executive decision. [she huffs and leans back against the seat] We're staying with your mother. And you and Stiles can deal with this like the theoretical adults that you are.

Derek: Thank you for being a voice of reason, Lydia. [looking at her in the rear view] And you're not a crazy person.

Cora: [is making a face but doesn't argue]

Lydia: You're not the one who had a mental breakdown and needed to leave Boston.

Derek: No, but at least you didn't a near death experience that drove you across the country for your own safety.

Lydia: That's self-preservation, not insanity. I had a screaming fit and was hearing voices in the middle of the commons.

Derek: Did they are least tell you how pretty you look today? [trying to make her feel a bit better]

Lydia: [a small smile at that, before turning her eyes out to the window] Well, it's certainly intersting to be home.

Derek: It's nice to have you home. [looks at his sister] You too, pup.

Cora: [glances back at him with a small smile] Any other surprises I should know about?

Derek: His daughter doesn't know what we are yet. But she's only three.

Cora: [she nods] So ex-nay on the erewolf-way.

Derek: Pretty much. [thinks] Oh, and Peter is Malia and Isaac's pet dog. [such a smirk]

Cora: [a sharp laugh] And he let her?

Derek: He was in coyote form at the time, and Dina is three. Pretty sure he didn't have a choice in the matter.

Cora: [she laughs harder] Poor Peter.

Derek: Dina and Ryan fell asleep on him. Mom has pictures. He couldn't shift out for almost two days [is laughing too hard]

Cora: [is laughing so hard she can't breathe] I'm sure he was very happy with that.

Derek: I think he secretly was, but we didn't see him for a day after.

Cora: Are he and Nadia still ... ?

Derek: I don't think Nadia's going to leave him because he became a pet for 48 hours.

Cora: No, but I think he might have been in it for the belly rubs.

Derek: [nope, back to laughing too hard]

Cora: [grins as her eyes turn back to the window again. She's missed this, being home with her family. It's good to be back]

Comments

[impetere]

"I happened. Apparently helping someone with something they're struggling with is an argument-worthy offense." Lydia rolls her eyes. "Who knew?"

Cora sighs softly. "Lydia was trying to help. Lydia trying to help these days is just telling people what she thinks whether they actually need to hear it or not."

"Benefit of being the crazy one. People don't judge you for speaking your mind."

[fadingspark]

"You're not crazy," Scott told her, hugging Lydia as well. "You're just... gifted." He's trying, okay?

"Should I go up to talk with him?"

[impetere]

Lydia sinks into the hug, rubbing his back lightly. She appreciates his trying, but ninety-nine percent of the time, she feels crazy. "Maybe? You might stand a better chance than most of us. But Dina's up there with him now."

"I think he just needs a little space. He probably hasn't gotten a whole lot of it since he's been back here." The tone of her voice is shaky, almost as though she isn't sure whether or not her opinion really counts for much, but she's putting it out there all the same. "I mean, from living with his dad, to coming here, that's just ... a lot of people. All the time." She shrugs. "It's one thing if you're used to it, but I don't think he's had it in a while."

[fadingspark]

Scott licks his lips, then motions for them to come outside and take a walk. "Come on, I think it's time I told you guys what I know. I was hoping he'd do it, but you should know what you're up against."

[impetere]

Cora glances up at the stairs and nods, following Scott's lead, Lydia coming with her. The kids were still on the porch and Laura would be coming by soon to pick them up. They could hang just out of earshot and still be in the eye line of the house.

"Okay."

[fadingspark]

Isaac followed, since he could use the walk and as long as he was within distance of the house he was fine.

Scott found a spot and leaned against a tree. "Malia probably knows this already, but she has the lawyer privilege to maintain. But basically, you guys can all guess that this isn't the first time Stiles has been beaten, but it's also not the time that it was this bad. The Grayson have a lot of investments in Vegas in the casino industry, and the brothers own an MMA training facility. Suzanna was living off her trust fund and from what Stiles told me, wasn't looking to work in the family business and just spend her money and party late with her friends in the fashion industry.

He found out later that her father told her if she wasn't going to work in the business, she had better find herself a husband to take her place. Which is why she hung out around Google, because Daddy wanted to get into the online casino business. She found Stiles, researched him, and since he was single and just going through a bad breakup, she picked him as a target to sweep in and be the sweet face to help him move on.

After they were married and Dina was about one, the father came in demanding he start providing for the family in the business. He turned them down. They gave him two chances - two opportunities. One was to do the online casinos. The brothers wanted a paid streaming business with semi-legal MMA fights. He said no to both. The brothers don't like hearing no anymore than Suzanna did. They sent him to the hospital. The father told him if he said a thing, or tried to leave, he would never see Dina again. And then Suzanna found herself trapped in the marriage and wasn't happy, and took that out on Stiles every chance she had."

[impetere]

Cora stands quietly next to him, taking in the entire story, one fist resting under her elbow and the other against her chin. She seems outwardly calm, but Isaac and Scott can probably pick up on the smell of blood as her nails dig into her palms and she keeps her mouth shut. Anger and guilt swirl in the pit of her stomach, for the moment guilt winning out more than anything else.

That may change if these people decide to come at Stiles again, but for right now, mostly guilt.

"And he never said anything to any of you?" Lydia says, keeping things on point, if noting else.

[fadingspark]

Isaac shook his head. "Not to me. And Malia and I lived literally just two towns over."

Scott licked his lips. "That's why he cut off contact with everyone. He didn't want anyone to get hurt. They researched him. They knew who we were, not what, but who. That's how they knew where to find him. It's a mob family, guys, and you know how smart he is. He knew what would happen. He wouldn't even tell me until the car ride back last month, and he swore me to secrecy.

You guys need to know that he let them do this to him for years. He made a choice, because it was that or losing that little girl. The Grayson's have power and money and the best lawyers in the country and Stiles knew he couldn't compete and he needed to just wait until Suzanna got tired of him and let him go. He refused to let Dina get swallowed up into that world, and he couldn't call for help. You guys see a victim you want to help, but I don't think any of us could do what he did. He's a fucken hero, but you can see what he gave up to be able to live like that."

[impetere]

"That's the thing about heroes, Scott," Lydia sighs softly. "They're still human. And while he may not be the victim he's letting us think he is? That doesn't mean he doesn't need help."

Cora lets Lydia deal with the emotional angle. Her emotions when it comes to Stiles right now are tangled, selfish and complicated and it's easier to just ignore it for right now.

"You guys arrested her brothers, but if they're mobbed up, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't try again. Do you think they'll come here?" Here being the preserve, which if they do, they'll have a whole other thing coming.

[fadingspark]

"Why do you think I'm still on protective detail?" Isaac stated. "Sheriff told me and Talia about the ties. That's why he's here under pack protection and Dina doesn't leave the front porch. And there was talk of shipping him to New York to the Kristovs if they try to take on the Hales."

"The divorce is going to help legally... but he's never going to be safe and he knows it. He wants to run, and I don't blame him, but if he does, guys? We're never going to see him again. I talked to my dad and he doesn't qualify for witness protection. He doesn't know anything of value on any illegal businesses. And I don't want to lose my brother, guys." Scott reached up to rub at his eyes a bit - totally dirt.

[impetere]

"Hey. You're not going to lose him." Cora isn't going to let that happen. She isn't sure she can handle the idea of never seeing Stiles again, not with things like this. She moves closer and nudging his shoulder with hers, not wanting to get blood on his clothes. "We'll figure it out. If anything we can send him to New York until this blows over. Victor will protect him and we'll figure something out."

[fadingspark]

Scott nodded. "And I'm not saying he doesn't need help, Lydia. I know he does. He needs someone to help him talk about what he's done, what he's gone through, and help him heal from that. He needs to learn how to be a single father. He needs help learning how to protect himself in a fight so he stands a chance."

"He also needs to realize it's not his fault for any of this. It's not anyone's fault." Isaac looks at you, Cora. "If she researched him and preyed on him, he didn't stand a chance at avoiding this. No one would think someone could be that cruel."

[impetere]

You can look at her all you want, Isaac, that instinctive, guilty reaction is still going to be there. She hates that the choices she made were used to hurt him. But she keeps it off her face for now.

"So we help him. But part of it is going to have to be him coming to us. we can't push this on him."

[fadingspark]

"No, I mean you guys see how he retreats when confronted. Any suggestions on what we can do?"

[impetere]

Cora crosses her arms in front of her chest before giving a bit of a shrug again. "I think I'm going to go with my earlier suggestion - space. Unless he needs it, try giving him a little room."

There's a pause and before they can protest. "I'm not just saying this because of me and because I feel weird being there, I'm serious. Stiles knows what he needs. He knows what he has to do. We need to just let him come to us. Maybe have Fiona around a little more with Bob or have Peter come by the house as Peter, but just ... being there. Not expecting anything."

[fadingspark]

"That's what I was thinking too." Scott nodded. "You know how his heart works better than any of us, Cora. I know it's going to be hard on you, but I think we need you to guide us."

"I can talk to Peter," Isaac said. "I think Stiles was already debating on contacting him when he had dinner with us that one day."

[impetere]

Cora nods, exhaling slowly as she does. It is going to be hard, but if it helps Stiles get better, it'll be worth it.

"I'll talk to Fiona. I'm probably going to end up over there for dinner one night soon anyway. Derek wants me to meet Liam."

[fadingspark]

Isaac chuckled. "It's time we all return the favor that he gave us all growing up and being there for us, right Lydia?"


"You'll like Liam. Kid's shaping up to be a great lacrosse playing." Scott grinned. He looked at his friends and nodded. "Go Team Stiles?"

[impetere]

That earns Isaac a fond smile out of the redhead. "At least someone was listening to me."

Cora smirks a bit at that before nodding. "Go Team Stiles. We can do this."

[fadingspark]

Scott sniffed the air as he looked up to see the kids running inside. "I think dinner is ready."

Isaac looked at his watch. "I don't know when Malia will be back. She's up with Sam serving Suzanna with the divorce papers today and they were going to wait for the sheriff to return proof of service, as well as getting the order of protection recognized in that county."

[impetere]

"We'll save her a plate. I'm sure she'll be here whenever she's finished." Cora says with a nod, before turning and heading back to the house. "Come on. I should go see my mom."

[fadingspark]

When they get there, Stiles is actually helping get all the kids up in their seats, filling water cups for the kids from the fridge dispenser one by one and helping Talia how he could. When the others entered, he looked up at then, then back down in embarrassment as he put the last cup down. "Hey Lydia, can I talk with you a moment?"

[impetere]

Lydia gives him a small smile at that, before nodding, moving to the side slightly as Cora walks past them both to get pulled into a hug from her mom. She moves to his side, before glancing around to the rest of the group.

"Upstairs or outside?"

[fadingspark]

"The porch is fine." He pats Scott on his arm as he passes by, then pushes his glasses back as he returns the smile. He waits until they are outside and the door is closed. "Listen, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that from me."

[impetere]

She shakes her head, indicating that it was already forgotten. She knows how crazy things can get. Sometimes you just need to yell at someone, and right then, Lydia was that person.

"It's fine. You've been through a lot lately." She pauses for a moment, before taking another step closer, not touching him, but in touching distance. "We just want you to be okay. To be safe. You get that right?"