That night Stiles gets to the pier early. As expected, nothing he’d set in place was there. Instead it was a million times better. Rose petals littered a path through the grass down across the wooden bridge. Twinkling lights were strung up, zig-zagged across the light poles illuminating the way and reminding Stiles of the ones he’d stolen on their first vacation. He thought it only luck that the fireflies had decided to come out that night, no way could Lydia have planned that as well.
The shock he felt was shown through his jaw hanging open as he followed the path letting his gaze flick all over making sure he didn’t miss a single detail.
Red hair await him at the end of the pier. It seemed as though being pregnant did nothing to her ambition because she moved with determination all the same. Lydia was there, meticulously placing a strew of candles in a perfect heart shape where Stiles had planned to pop the question “Oh my-Lydia” Stiles began once he was close enough.
His friend, mildly startled, turned to stand by his side as she watched in awe along side him “I know, I amaze myself sometimes. Honestly, I am good”
“Did you steal this stuff from work?”
“I may have borrowed a few decorations. I knew you’d need them. No offense”
“None taken”
Finally taking in his appearance she gestured with her finger for Stiles to spin and give her the entire view. He felt silly but did as he was told “Wow. You look so handsome”
“I’m going to pretend not to be bothered that you’re so surprised”
“You know what I mean. You’re usually all flannels and jeans. But look at you: your hair is actually done, I smell cologne, and that fitted suit–I mean your arms look amazing” She spoke as if he were her baby boy all grown up. There was a fondness in her eyes as she looked her friend up and down. She rose onto her tip toes, despite being in heels, and placed a soft kiss to his skin “I’m proud of you Stiles. I’ll see you soon” Then she was wobbling away presumably to the tent where everyone else would be waiting.
Straightening out his suit, his hand flew to his pocket, triple checking that the ring was still where he left it five minutes ago. Stiles took one last second and calmed himself with a final deep breath.
Stiles heard Derek before he saw him. Punctual as ever. He was marching down the hill of the freshly watered grass. His phone was pressed to his ear and a hand was thrown in his pocket as he casually spoke “Laura, what the hell. You said you were parking the car and I don’t know where I’m going. ‘Meet me at the pier’ doesn’t really he…I’ll uh—I’ll call you back” as Derek’s voice trailed off Stiles knew he’d been seen.
His heart picked up in his chest and he started to speak trying to be as composed as possible “Hi baby” he smiled once Derek was feet from him.
“Y-You’re supposed to be in Arizona”
“I think I’m right where I’m supposed to be”
A skinny arm wound with Derek’s as Stiles took his time leading him the rest of the way. He went on about the weather, about work, anything other than what was about to happen. Somehow he’d manage to hold in a laugh after watching Derek freak out every time he’d ask Stiles what was going on and every time his question went unanswered. Seemingly he got the hint, or maybe he was just speechless because eventually he just stopped asking.
They’d finally reached the end when Stiles decided he’d put the both of them out of their misery “How’d I do? You like it?” he asked smugly knowing good and well Derek was impressed.
“Yeah, I-It’s beautiful Stiles, but what’s going on?” this time the question was asked with a tremble and Stiles was completely sure Derek had figured it out, he just needed Stiles to go on and say it out loud already.
“You aren’t the only one who gets to perform romantic gestures”
“You’re right, and this is some gesture”
“And yet it still doesn’t seem like enough. The past few months I’ve been trying to figure out the perfect way to do this, the way you deserve, and yet nothing every really seemed…I don’t know…Nothing ever seemed memorable”
Stiles made sure to keep their fingers laced as they worked their way through the flickering candles until Stiles had them standing in the center of the heart. He could tell, just by the rise and fall of his chest Derek was losing breath by the second as he took in the scene before him “Then, I got to thinking: this is just a place, these are all just things. At the end of the night they’ll get thrown away, or packed up in some closet only to be used later for somebody else’s special moment in someone else’s story. In twenty years time you probably won’t remember the types of flowers sprinkled across the pier or the type of champagne I ordered or even the fact that I’ve accidentally worn my high-tops tonight because I forgot my dress shoes at home and couldn’t get them out without raising suspicion”
Derek glanced down at his feet, a wet laugh escaping his lips. He had tears at the brim of his eyes as he looked back up and held on tight to both of Stiles’ sweaty hands. Stiles was certain he knew what was happening at this point, but Derek had been kind enough to let him continue to speak.
“What you will remember is me. You’ll remember how much I love you, the joy on my face as I look at you, you’ll remember me swelling with pride as I stand here feeling utterly happy to be with you. So I’ve decided that all I need to make this perfect is to be authentic” he took his time, pulling the ring from his pocket keeping his eyes locked on Derek’s. His mouth was agape as he watched Stiles lower himself down until he was settled on one knee.
It was now or never.
He took one more deep seated breath before he began. He spoke on a whim despite Scott’s persistent begging to write something down since he was sure his ADHD would send him on a tangent. Stiles only waived him off, he knew if he spoke from his heart there would be no question, no hesitation, and no second guessing “Derek, you push me, you encourage me without question and love me without condition, despite how hard I may make things at times. You fought for us when I was ready to walk away. You painted a picture of the life you wanted to give me and you delivered, in every single way. Because of you I am a better friend, son, and with every passing day, you make me a better man. No words or gestures could show how much I love you or how thankful I am that you came into my life when you did, but hopefully this will suffice”
A lopsided smile made an appearance on Stiles’ face as he popped open the box with one hand and he held Derek’s trembling ones with the other “Will you spend the rest of your life with me by your side, loving you, annoying you and everything else that comes with it? Will you marry me Derek?”
Derek was on him in an instant. He hauled him up from the ground kissing him deeply grasping on tightly. He took Stiles’ breath away perhaps the same way Stiles had done to him. Derek pulled back and Stiles could see his tears had finally fallen. He whispered, his voice broken “I-I…I just can’t believe you proposed. I thought it was going to be me”
Stiles was fixing his mouth for a smart ass reply when, from somewhere far in the distance, a shout came. The voice, Stiles undoubtedly recognized as Scott’s “Did he say yes—Ow!” he groaned loudly and Stiles was sure Isaac wacked him one good time.
“He hasn’t answered yet!” Stiles shockingly shouted back quickly over Derek’s shoulder before resuming eye contact “So what do you say?”
“Yes. Of course it’s a yes, of course I’ll marry you”
“Okay! Now he said yes”
Derek was still clutching on to Stiles and trying to wipe the tears from his eyes when he realized it wasn’t just their friends making their way down but a large number of Hales as well “Y-You invited all of my family?”
“It wouldn’t really be a party without them. I’m just relieved you didn’t say no, they would’ve come down for nothing” Stiles joked “I hope you don’t mind. I really do have to leave for Arizona in a couple days, I figured we could knock out the engagement party now” he answered with a kiss.
A booming wave of cheers erupted as their families swarmed the pier. Waiters appeared to come from the shadows handing out flutes of bubbly champagne. Stiles tried to hold on to Derek, just long enough to see his face as he admired his ring, but in an instant they were being pulled apart. Laura and Lydia, who had become something of a dynamic duo, simultaneously threw themselves for Derek yanking him away with grins stapled across their faces.
Stiles found himself surrounded by his friends as his father enveloped him in a tight hug. He felt a heavy breath leave the man as he held on longer than Stiles expected. He comes to the conclusion that perhaps his father never thought the day would come. That, despite being hopeful, very deep down he’d always been afraid he’d leave the world and his only son would be all alone.
But no.
Because Derek came along.
And Derek changed it all.
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