Chapter 23
They both came to the next morning to the sound of Theo’s door being pounded on. He listened in, and it wasn’t a heartbeat he recognized. He looked over at Liam who looked a little scared, and he reassured him with a soft kiss on his lips.
“Go hide in the bathroom. Take the knife from the top drawer and lock the door. Do not answer until I give the all clear, okay?” He asked, and Liam nodded quickly, scrambling to get up.
Theo wasn’t going to let Liam get hurt. At all.
**
He made his way quietly over to the safe, unlocking it and grabbing his glock, cocking it back, seeing that there were still bullets. He grabbed the silencer, screwing it onto the end of the gun, making his way down the stairs. He looked through the peep hole, seeing that it was a guy named Evan, part of McCall’s pack. He looked down at his hip, and saw that Evan had a larger gun than him. He flicked open the peephole as quietly as he could, putting the silencer through it, shooting the man point blank.
He didn’t see the other man standing behind Evan.
The other man, Theo recognized him as Matt, started shooting at the door, causing a few bullets to go through the doors, hitting him in his leg. He groaned but ripped the door open, cocking and aiming the gun right at his chest and shooting. Matt fell to the ground, clutching his chest, blood gurgling in his mouth.
He took a deep breath, bending over and putting his hands on his knees. He hated this part of his job, hated being the one to do that, but it had to be done.
He winced a little, the bullets in his leg still there.
He shut the door, locking it, and made his way to the kitchen, grabbing a pair of tweezers, and started pulling them out, one by one. He winced a few times, but he managed to fish all the pieces out of his leg. His fast healing closed up the holes, leaving him only with blood to clean up. He grabbed a few wet wipes, wiping it up and throwing it out in the bin. He set the glock down, after putting on the safety of course, and headed up to the bathroom. He knocked gently.
“Li, baby, it’s me.” He said, and he heard the lock make a clicking noise, indicating that Liam had unlocked the door.
He pushed it open gently, seeing Liam curled up, knife held protectively held against his chest. He took it gently, setting it on the counter, and pulling Liam close to him, pressing his face against his neck. Liam gasped softly into his neck, Theo felt the tears start to fall.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. We’re okay.” He said, and Liam nodded.
They stayed like that for god knows how long, but he heard Derek arrive to clean up the bodies, Derek’s father there as well. Liam whimpered at some of the loud noises, but Theo shushed him, reassuring him it was just Derek and his father. Liam nodded, but was still crying.
“Did… did you get hurt?” Liam asked, voice shaking.
“I did, but I took care of it.” He said, and Liam nodded, clinging to Theo tighter.
He eventually moved them to the bedroom, laying Liam down on his side, Theo fitting back behind him, arm going around his stomach, holding him protectively.
He wasn’t sure how much longer he could be in this job. He had a mate, a boyfriend, and he was going to be having a baby. He couldn’t put their lives in danger, couldn’t risk the chance of losing them.
He just couldn’t.
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Things were tense after that.
Theo and Liam didn’t feel safe in their own home.
Derek got them moved out of their apartment and into his building.
The building was actually very nice. Very elegant looking.
Liam was decorating their bedroom, putting up some of the pictures they had packed, and Stiles was helping him.
Theo watched the both of them, smiling at their dynamic. Stiles was very protective of Liam, and gave off big brother vibes, gave off protector vibes. It was nice knowing that he had people that would be there for Liam. Derek came up to him, tugging him by his arm. He looked over at him, and followed Derek to the kitchen of his new apartment. He raised an eyebrow, and Derek took a deep breath, puffing his cheeks out. Theo had never seen Derek this nervous before.
“What’s up, D?” He asked, leaning against the counter. Derek swiped his palms down his pants and took another deep breath.
“I’m going to ask Stiles to marry me.” He said.
Theo smiled wide.
Yes, Stiles and Derek were a fairly new couple, but wolves, Alphas specifically, had mates. When a wolf found their mate, they mated for life. No take backs. Theo had learned that about a month ago, a bit after him and Liam, Derek gave Stiles the mating bite, and Stiles had given back the human, or non-wolf version of it.
“That’s great, Derek!” He said, smiling wide.
“I’m so fucking nervous, T.” He said, and Theo smiled softly.
“You can do this, I promise. When are you going to?” He asked, and the tension in his shoulders eased up a bit.
“Tonight, at dinner.” He said, and Theo nodded.
Him and Liam would be there at dinner tonight, courtesy of Derek.
“You’ve got this. I promise.” He said, and Derek nodded, turning to the door when Stiles and Liam both walked through.
Both Theo and Derek smiled at them, and Stiles looked a little worried, and Liam looked constipated.
“What’s wrong?” Derek asked, moving over to Stiles and to Liam.
“Um, well, we made a discovery today. A very big and a very important discovery.” Stiles said, and Derek rose an eyebrow.
“What did you discover?” Derek asked.
“Well, you know that I don’t mind if my weight goes up or down, but at the same time, I’ve gained a bit of weight, and it’s in one area of my stomach, and it’s a bump.” Theo caught onto what Stiles was saying.
Holy shit.
Derek was going to be a dad too!
Derek was a little more slow though.
“Okay, so, you’ve gained some weight. That’s fine.” He said, eyebrows furrowed.
“Oh, wow.” Liam mumbled, hand going around his own stomach.
“What?” Derek asked, looking between all three of them.
Theo raised his eyebrows, Liam rolled his eyes, and Stiles stared.
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It hit Derek halfway through him making dinner.
He dropped the knife he was using, the metal clattering against the marble counter.
He turned to Theo with wide eyes, mouth agape.
“I’m… I’m going to be…”
“Yup.”
“Oh my god.”
And he fainted.
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Theo helped Derek up after he opened his eyes from the fainting spell, setting Derek back on his feet, handing him water.
“I had the same reaction.” Theo said, and Derek nodded.
“I just… I can’t believe it.” Theo nodded, understanding.
“I mean, Deaton did tell us it would be possible. With his spark and what not.” Theo replied, and Derek nodded, bracing his hands against the counter. “Derek, you can do this.” He said.
Derek nodded again, taking a deep breath.
“I’ve still got my proposal.” He said, and Theo smiled, patting him on the back.
“Go get ‘em, tiger.” He said with a wink, Derek just laughing.
They both finished up dinner, setting the table, and getting Stiles and Liam to sit down. Theo made up his and Liam’s plates, handing Liam a bread stick. Derek made up his and Stiles’ plates, both of them reaching for the last bread stick, Stiles ripping it in half so both of them could have it.
They all ate in relative silence for a few minutes, all digging into their food.
“This is so good, Mr. Hale. Thank you.” Liam said.
Derek looked up, giving a smile.
“You can call me Derek, Liam. Mr. Hale is too formal.” He said, and Liam blushed a little, nodding. Theo smiled a bit.
Theo looked over at Derek, motioning with his eyes to the ring in his pocket. Derek and him made eye contact with one another, and Derek nodded. He stood slowly, turning to Stiles.
Stiles looked up, breadstick hanging out of his mouth, eyes a little wide.
Derek got down on one knee, and took a deep breath.
“Stiles Stilinski, from the day that I met you, I fell in love with you. You are so incredibly talented, and so fucking smart, you amaze me in so many ways every goddamn day. You are so fucking beautiful, it’s so unreal, and I wish I could show you what I see. I want to build a home and a future with you, I want to make you mine forever, in a more traditional way. So, Stiles Stilinski, will you marry me?”
Derek finished his speech, and he looked up. Theo looked over at Stiles, breadstick falling from his mouth.
Stiles nodded quickly, grabbing Derek by the sides of his head, pulling him into a long kiss. Derek kissed back, maneuvering their hands so he could slip the ring onto Stiles’ finger.
Liam was smiling, watching the couple, and Theo looked over at him.
He would propose. Only when the time is right.
He’d woo the shit out of Liam.