“Okay dad, one more time, what are the rules?”
“Stiles. I am your father and a grown man. I don’t need rules” the man was fondly shaking his head as he set the table. Stiles couldn’t help it, his father was not a kind man when it came to his only son. In the fourth grade he had half his deputies scare a young boy for stealing his sons grape juice and making him cry. Derek’s words had caused his son a lot of pain in the past, and though Stiles had grown to care deeply for the other man, he couldn’t see his father doing the same anytime soon.
“Dad, I just…I really really like him. Like a lot, so so much and-“
“I get it okay. It’s just–god, son I was there. Watching you suffer like that, especially with something that was supposed to be a joyful and enlightening experience. It wasn’t fun”
“I get it dad. B-But the circumstances…I didn’t want to accept it at first but Derek he’s–he’s good to me. I promise”
“I believe you, but it doesn’t mean I can’t give him a hard time-” sudden release came in the form of a doorbell ringing “Speak of the devil”
Heading for the door Stiles grit his teeth together “Be. Nice.”
The baker couldn’t exactly say he had been necessarily excited, but he was definitely on the anxious side. He didn’t think that Derek would leave him because of his father but he was sure the man just might shy away for a few days. Hopefully his soul mate would lean into his more understanding side.
The couple hadn’t even a second to greet each other once the entrance was swung open. The sheriff was to his sons side and Derek’s eyes went wide. Stiles had seen Derek internally freak out before but that was when it was towards him, watching him lose it with someone else was somewhat cute “Mr. Stilinski. H-Hi sir” No one spoke, and an uncomfortable air floated around the three men. Noah gave Derek a once over, as if he hadn’t even noticed he was there “I uh I picked this up for you. Stiles mentioned you liked it” Derek thrusted forward a bottle of expensive bourbon.
“Hm” he grunted. The sheriff took the bottle, looking at it as if he disapproved. But Stiles knew deep down the man was impressed, the drink was his favorite “Son, I just came to tell you the oven beeped” then he was gone, whisking back off to the kitchen, no doubt trying to get a taste of his gift.
“Oh. Thanks dad” Stiles waited a long while before turning back to his boyfriend and what he ended up being met with was Derek, red and sweating. It probably wouldn’t help but Stiles drug him inside and cracked a joke “Are you breathing?”
“I don’t think so. He’s so intimidating, he really does hate me doesn’t he?” The way he quickly peered around the corner then back at Stiles caused him to jump slightly “Seriously, he just might shoot me if I say the wrong thing. Did you tell him how we met? Does he know it was all an accident?”
“You know what? Now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever went through the full story with him”
“Oh god”
Seeing him so distraught almost made Stiles want to call the entire thing off. Derek was a good guy, Stiles realized he’s known that from the beginning and he’s willing to admit it now. So in an instant he was on Derek, throwing his arms around his broad shoulders, carding his fingers through the hair along his nape. He noticed Derek wasn’t meeting his eye, his freak out too far along. So the young man just pressed kisses gently along his cheek, trying a small attempt at calming him down “C’mon. Let’s just take things slow, you’ll be just fine. I made him promise to be good”
Reluctantly he managed to drag his terrified partner to the other room, both men secretly praying the night went well.
You know when you’re third wheeling and the couple starts to argue, Stiles knew that feeling, he had experienced it with Scott and Isaac a few times before. Well that feeling was not as awkward as the current situation.
The sheriff was shoveling bites into his mouth at one end of the table, grunting here and there. He seemed unfazed by it all. At the other end Derek was rolling his potatoes around the table too afraid to blink let alone speak. And Stiles? Well he was sitting like a tether in the middle of the two, torn between comforting Derek and reassuring his father.
Fate inevitably ended up decided for him. Noah had washed his bite down with a sip of water before opening his mouth “So, I’m interested in finding out how you ended up dating someone you believe to be a dipshit”
Stiles choked out on the air in his throat, instantly throwing daggers his fathers way “Dad!”
“Calm down Stiles. I’m allowed to ask questions. Derek?”
“You don’t have to answer that” Stiles tried to quickly answer.
But Derek, he just let out a breath, it was as if he were finally giving in and having the conversation. The shiny silverware clinked against the table as he sat it beside his still full table. Stiles felt bad for the man, he had gone through Stiles’ own scrutiny and here he was enduring it all over again from a man who probably wouldn’t let it go as Stiles had.
For a split second Stiles dreamed of simpler times, when he was alone. But it all dissipated when Derek began to speak “I…was angry, and I took it out on someone I hadn’t even known. My little sisters birthday cake was ruined, and she’s been my everything since the day she was born, I-I was just upset at the circumstances. That is not by any means an excuse, but it’s an explanation. And I’ll tell you as soon as I gained perspective I knew I was wrong, particularly when I noticed how handsome the person behind the counter was” both Stiles and Derek shared a blush, glancing at each other for a second. Then, with whatever courage he could muster up Derek finished out with his eyes locked with the sheriffs, not breaking for a second “Stiles is not a-uh-a dipshit sir. He is light, and humorous, and intelligent, and talented and…well…he’s my new everything”
Because he could never make things easy Noah just nodded, smirking slightly. Stiles could see his father was impressed, he had to be, seeing how nervous Derek had been before, and now his stripped honesty being laid bare. Noah really had no choice but to accept the boy “Do you watch baseball Derek?” he asked suddenly, picking his steak knife up again for another bite.
“Um, yes sir. I’m from New York, but just so happen to be a Phillies boy”
“Interesting. I take it you don’t know that your boyfriend here is a Mets fan?”
“What!” Derek’s wide eyes were on Stiles.
“Exactly, I love my boy but he doesn’t know a winning team when he sees one”
The rest of the night seemed to play in the couples favor. Well not Stiles’ he was scrutinized by the two men.
Later in the night, after Derek and the sheriff exchanged numbers so they could catch games together, even though the sheriff at times seemed skeptical he warmed up to Derek. Stiles was out on the stoop freezing his ass off as he bid his boyfriend goodbye “I’d invite you to stay the night but-“
“No worries”
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
Stiles winced in anticipation “I really did. I won’t say I wasn’t worried, and the beginning of the night had me holding back the urge to throw up, but once I was truthful It seemed easy”
“Yeah about that-” Stiles started, as he cozied up to Derek “-that was very nice. I mean-what you said-It was very…nice. I guess I’ve just never heard anyone talk about me that way before”
“Well I was just speaking the truth. You make me very happy”
“Me too”
“I’ll check on you in the morning?”
“I’d like that”
Stiles returned back inside, to his father reclined on the sofa staring aimlessly out of the window. From the moment he arrived at the bakery Stiles had felt as if the atmosphere was off. His impromptu visit was the first red flag, especially since his father wasn’t one for surprises. Now he was comfortable on the couch with a sad look in his eyes, one that had his son worried. Perhaps he wasn’t as happy with meeting Derek as Stiles had suggested “I feel like Scott’s wedding, and this whole dinner wasn’t the only reason you came into town” Stiles simply asked. He found no use in tip toeing around the matter, his father was never one to do that so why would he be.
“My son, the detective” he laughed. They got comfortable on the furniture side by side, and Stiles watched his father gear up to deliver whatever was sitting in his tongue “I uh–well I’ve decided I’m retiring. I just think it’s time, and I was wondering if you’d be open to the idea of me moving here. Not in your home of course, but close”
“Are you serious? Of course I want you around but being sheriff that’s–I mean that’s who you are”
“Eh” he managed a nonchalant shrug “It’s what I do. I miss you, and I’ve been pretty lonely not having you and Scott running in and out. It’s been months since you all brought Isaac to visit. I just think this would be good for me-for us. Plus I’d get to know Derek easier”
“Aw dad” Stiles sighed. He hugged his father, upset he had felt lonely, but happy they’d be close again.
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