Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Rain pelted against the roof of the sleek black Range Rover as it came to a sudden holt, the driver clutched the wheel, swearing under her breath, "Son of a Bitch."
The usually rowdy neighbourhood was cluttered with cars, all surrounding one of the houses, groups of what appeared to be older teens, mid- twenty's men.
Looking up the bright light of his phone, Jamie Walsh noticed the neighbourhood instantly, "Does that kid have a death wish?"
Maeve Hale tugged on her leather jacket from the backseat, hopping out of the car before closing the door with a slam, "He does now."
Scowling as she stormed across the wet grass, her heels sinking into the mud, Maeve opened the door to the beat up house. Music vibrated throughly the house, clouds of smoke and alcohol were overbearing to the werewolf.
Boys from the gang whistled as Maeve passed them, the blonde rolled her eyes, shoving past them in search of a certain beta.
Dean Hale almost dropped his beer bottle at the sight of the blonde storming into the room, staring at Maeve with wide eyes as she finally noticed him. Walking into the room, Dean's best friend and Maeve's best friends son, Benji, froze at the sight of her.
The gang leader hummed at the sight of Maeve, glancing tauntingly up at Dean, "Mama come to take you home, Deano?"
Despite being tall herself, Maeve was tiny next to the two boys, but that didn't phase her one bit.
Handing her car keys to Benji, the human didn't even hesitate, quickly leaving the house at her words "Benji, go."
"Get in the car, Dean," Maeve crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance, impatiently waiting for the teen to follow her.
Dean glared at the older wolf in embarrassment, tugging on his black denim jacket, but stood still.
"Dean," Maeve warned, Jamie stepping into the room beside her, a few of the teens clearing out.
"You just made a big mistake, sweetheart," Dean watched the leader step forward cautiously, taking note at Jamie's forceful nod at the door, "Cops don't last long 'round here."
Maeve glared at Dean one last time, the teen sighed, making his way out of the house, Jamie following to make sure he actually went.
"Go near Dean again and I'll gladly throw your ass in jail, sweetheart," Maeve mocked, barley paying the boy a second glance as she stormed out of the run down house.
Maeve's long time dream of becoming a lawyer changed after the fire, wanting to stop the crime whilst it was happening, before even, instead of picking up the pieces.
Finding Dean leant against her car, Maeve pointed to the door, "Get in before I leave you to walk."
"What the hell is wrong with the both of you?" Maeve exclaimed as she sat down in the drivers seat, abruptly starting up the car.
Looks of horror graced the trios faces as Maeve began to drive, all knowing that driving was not her strong suit. Add the rain pouring around them, and the three were exceptionally worried to be in a car with her.
Benji looked up fearfully, "Please don't tell my mom."
"Don't worry, Benji, I value your life. But you-" Maeve glanced over at Dean through the mirror, the teen letting out a sigh, avoiding her gaze "Anything to say for yourself, grumpy?"
Dean stayed silent, Jamie leant back, whacking the wolf across the back of the head, Dean scowled, sarcastically looking up in acknowledgment.
"If you want to land yourself in a jail cell next to your dad, fine by me," Maeve stated, "But i know your brothers will think otherwise."
The mention of his older siblings brought a slight fear to Deans expression, "You won't tell Kieran, right?"
"Don't give me another reason to and I'll consider it."
—
Walking back into the loft, Dean was quick to toss his backpack to the floor, storming through the living room to the staircase.
Maeve scowled neatly putting his bag back on the shelf, locking the large double steel doors behind her, "Dean, wait!"
"What, Maeve?" Dean complained, his arms crossed and a glare on his face, anyone other than Maeve in that moment would've backed away from the angry teen.
Maeve raised her brows in surprise, "Excuse me, I just saved your ass, don't come stomping in here with that attitude."
Dean went to protest, but Maeve simply held up her hand, staring up at the much taller beta in disapproval "Quiet. This friends of yours? Over. No more, Dean."
"They're my friends!" Dean argued.
"They're criminals!" Maeve reminded him, raising her voice to rival his "One minute you're their friend and the next you're their little bitch taking the fall for whatever crime they've got up to next."
Dean rolled his eyes, "I'm not stupid."
"Neither is Benji but you dragged him into this mess," it didn't seem possible, but Maeve's anger doubled, "That kid has enough on his plate, as his best friend you should not get him into something that could damage everything he's worked for!"
Benji's mother, Jasmin, had been apart of Maeve's first case as a detective, and ever since, the pair had been best friends, Dean and Benji following in their actions.
"Alright, Maeve, I get it," Dean sighed in defeat, turning around to try and walk up the stairs, "You can stop mothering me now."
Maeve grumbled under her breath, grabbing his arm before he could walk any further, turning him back around, "Well, someone has to Dean!"
Dean shrugged, impatiently leaning back against the railing, "It's not like dads here."
"He's in jail because of crap like this, Dean!" Dean finally shut up at her shout, staring at her with wide eyes, only encountering this level of Maeve's anger on a few occasions.
It was no secret that Seth Hale was heading down a even deeper dark path, it honestly surprised Maeve how long it took him to finally get himself locked up nearly a year ago.
"And don't you dare think for one second that I am letting you fall into tradition of the Hale men falling off the rails and messing up their lives!" Maeve shouted.
Dean frowned knowingly, backing down from the argument, "Kieran isn't that bad."
"Kieran got his act together," Maeve sighed, staring up at him sternly before walking away, "I'll be dammed if you don't do the same."
"What about Derek?" Maeve stopped walking, turning back to face him slightly.
"Derek dug his grave he can sit in it for a while," Maeve replied with a heavy sigh, walking out of the hallway, "Go to bed, we'll talk in the morning."
Barley an hour later, Maeve and her friends were straight into Jamies bar, the bar he now co-owned with his father after adding another branch. The rustic bar hadn't changed much over time, but it definitely had Jamies touch, turning much more like a club than his father would like.
The music blasting around them numbed the thoughts in Maeve's mind, the music was loud to even the human ear, let alone a werewolf. Jamie's girlfriend, Amara, and Maeve had become fast friends, along with Jazz, the trio usually weren't seen apart.
Maeve laughed as Amara dragged them both into the middle of the crowds, Maeve hardly noticed they were in the exact spot she and Derek had their first dance six years prior. Their bodies squashed together by the typically busy crowd, the three friends danced, the spotlights spinning above them.
Unsurprisingly, Jamie made his way onto the stage where the dj took up most of the room, regardless, he motioned his girlfriend over, Amara making her way over to him whilst Jazz was off in search of the bar after their friends departure.
Feeling hands wrap around her waist, Maeve turned on her heels, grinning at the man in front of her, running her hands through his curly blonde hair as he kissed her, "Where've you been?"
Maeve shrugged, a smug tugging on her lips as she stared at her boyfriend, "Here and there."
Jacob Bass laughed, shaking his head, tugging her closer as she danced, throwing her hands up in the air as the music changed, barley showing him as much attention as he was her.
Derek knew it was a bad idea coming to the bar of all places to try and find one of his friends, but nonetheless after almost a year, there he was, hands in his leather jacket pockets as he walked through the door.
Glancing around, Derek's gaze locked on the the girl in the middle of the dance floor, hurt flashing in his eyes before returning to their typical glare. Wrapping her arms around Jakes shoulders, Maeve scanned the dance floor, her heart almost stopping as she noticed the werewolf stood by the door.
Her eyes meeting Derek's, Maeve stopped dancing, her heart hammering in her chest as she detached herself from her boyfriend, shouting over the music to tell him she was going outside.
Weaving through the crowds, Maeve lost sight of Derek, letting out a sigh as she reached the wooden doors, wondering if she was imagining things.
Pulling on her coat from the store cupboard beside the door, Maeve shivered at the cold as she walked outside, rubbing her arms together to try and warm up, a light shower of rain landing on her shoulders.
Turning away from the club, Maeve almost slipped in her heels, staring forward with wide eyes at the tall brunette leaning against the wall, "Derek?"
"Maeve," Derek's voice sounded pained as he said her name, pushing off the wall to walk closer to her.
Maeve jumped as a group of rowdy drunks left the club behind her, taking another step closer to Derek, her hands holding tightly onto her jacket, barley even noticing her hands shaking.
Maeve felt tears gathering in her eyes, taking a deep breath as she looked up to the sky for a moment, gazing back at Derek, "You're back."
Maeve was speechless for once in her life, stood in front of her ex husband with a completely clueless look on her face.
Arms wrapping around her shoulders brought her out of her thoughts, noticing Derek now walking away as Jake spun her around, drunkenly kissing her, "Maeve? What are you doing out here?"
Jazz and Amara burst out from behind the doors, excitedly beckoning the blonde inside, "Maeve!! Come on! It's our song!"
Cuddled up in Jakes arms, Maeve guilty glanced over her shoulder to where Derek was walking away, unsure how to even begin to process what had just happened.
Maeve was pulled back inside with a blank expression, thankfully Archie caught on, pulling her inside of the office. Maeve let out a breath of relief, wrapping her arms around Archie, taking him unexpected, but he quickly caught on.
"Derek?" Hugging her back, Archie stared down at her sympathetically, letting out a sigh as she nodded, kissing the top of her head, "You alright?"
Maeve wiped away her tears that she tried to hide, but her smudged eyeliner was fooling no one, sniffling out, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure?" Archie questioned, Maeve nodded again, twiddling with the necklace around her neck, her wedding rings hanging on the chain.
"Yes, Archie," Maeve replied more confidently, patting his chest as she forced a smile, dragging him back out into the club.
"A drink for my lady," Jake grinned at Maeve, handing her a shot glass as she leant against the bar beside him, raising a brow at her sudden flushed cheeks, "Did you know that guy or something?"
"You could say that," Maeve shrugged, downing the drink before she had to say anymore.
"Come on, Jake!" Amara and Jazz shouted from the crowd, trying to convince Jake to dance with them.
"Girls-" Jake went to argue, pointing to Maeve, but her friends weren't having it.
"Come on!" The two stumbled over, taking him by one arm each, trying to pull him with them.
Maeve laughed, motioning for him to go with them, her boyfriend smiling apologetically, "Go."
Jamie plonked himself down on one fo the bar stools, "What did i miss?"
"Derek," Maeve sighed, thanking the bartender as she passed Maeve another drink.
Jamie almost choked on his own drink, staring at Maeve in disbelief, "That was Derek?!"
"Be quiet," Maeve shushed him, picking up her drink, the human unaware of how loud he was talking.
"I am going to need another ten of these," Maeve groaned, downing the shot, scrunching up her face in disgust.
Growing older Maeve had fallen into some pretty unhealthy coping mechanisms, like alcohol, but managed to keep them at bay before they became a real problem.
"Trying to beat my record?" Jamie questioned, lightening the mood, letting out a gasp as Maeve nodded, "Thats cheating! You can't get drunk, Maeve."
"Then you'll just have to sit in misery over your loss, won't you, James?" Maeve grinned, Jamie laughing with her, glad to see her smiling.
"Whatever you say, Diana."
Noah Stilinski picked up the radio attached to his uniform, continuing to follow his deputies through the woods, "Sheriff? States here."
"Ah hell," Noah groaned, glancing over at the road where a new car had pulled up, making his way back over there.
Maeve stepped out of her car alongside a tall brunette, the both of them flashing their badges to a deputy before making their way onto the scene.
"Can't say I'm glad to see you," Noah smiled slightly at the blonde, Maeve laughed, pulling her hair up into a ponytail, trying to look presentable and less like she just came from the club.
"Commander wants a detective on your team, thinks things aren't to great around here," Maeve informed him, looking over Noah's shoulder to the body covered by a white sheet on the floor, "Obviously wasn't wrong."
"Let me guess, you volunteered?" Noah questioned, staring at Maeve knowingly.
Maeve nodded her head, winking at the sheriff before following him over to the scene, "What've we got?"
Noah sighed, hesitantly pulling back the sheet, "You tell me."
Maeve's face drained of colour as she recognised the body on the floor, well, half of one. Covering her mouth in shock, Maeve stepped back, fighting against every part of her that wanted to scream and cry.
Noah pulled the sheet back over Laura's dead body, staring at Maeve in confusion, "Maeve?"
Maeve took a deep breath, calling over to her partner who was talking to some deputies, "Collins, take this one?"
Looking over to the blonde, detective Collins nodded, making his way under the tape, "You okay, Hale?"
Catching Maeve's arm in concern as she turned to walk away, Noah asked "Maeve? What is it?"
Maeve forced a smile, shaking her head, "Nothing. Its fine."
Noah stared at her suspiciously, but dropped the subject "Any idea of what could've happened?"
Maeve's hand went back to twirling the necklace around, not even realising she was doing it, "No idea. Wait - what is that?"
Turning to the sound of dogs barking, a loud shout in shock, Noah let out a sigh, "Hang on, hang on... This little delinquent belongs to me."
Stiles stumbled on his feet, starching the back of his head awkwardly, "Dad, Maevey, how you're doing?"
"So you're listening all my phone calls?" Noah stared at his son in disproval, whilst Maeve laughed, walking forward to follow the deputies in searching the area.
Stiles smiled innocently,"No! .... Not the boring ones..."
"So where is your usual partner in crimes?" Noah questioned knowingly, shining his torch into the woods to search for the other teen.
"Who, Scott? Scott's home. He said he wanted to get a good night sleep before first day of school tomorrow. There's just me... In the woods... Alone..." Stiles trailed off, discreetly glancing over his shoulder to check if Scott had gone, only to be met with Maeve's sarcastic smile.
"Oh lord," Maeve muttered in disbelief, laughing as Stiles waved at her.
"You see Scott out there?" Noah asked her, Maeve noticed the teen hiding behind a log, but at Stiles' pleading expression, she shook her head, "Scott, you out there? Scott?"
Taking Stiles by the back of his jacket, Noah walked him over to Maeve, "Well young man, Maeve is going to kindly walk you back to your car, and when i get home you and i, are gonna have a discussion about something called violation of privacy."
"Come on, you idiot," Dragging Stiles through the trees, Maeve whacked his shoulder, the teen groaning in pain, "What the hell were you thinking!"
Stiles shrugged, "I wasn't."
"Obviously," Maeve scoffed, rolling her eyes, reaching Stiles' car, the detective made sure he actually got in.
"So..." Stiles rolled down the window, smiling hopefully, "anything you can tell me about the murder?"
Maeve glared at the teen, turning on her heels to walk back into the preserve, Stiles shouting after her, "Alright! Fine! Bye, Maeve!"
Waving goodbye to Stiles, Maeve didn't bother turning around, but decided to walk in the other direction at movement behind some trees. A familiar scent filling her senses, Maeve stormed over there, taking Derek by his leather jacket, slamming him back against a tree.
"Are you out of your damn mind?" Maeve shouted at him, her hands still tightly around his jacket.
Derek stared at his ex wife in confusion, "Maeve?"
The sound of deputies walked past made Maeve sigh, her hand going up to cover Derek's mouth, cautiously looking around the tree to see if they'd gone, completely ignoring the tension between her and Derek as they stood so close.
Moving her hand away from his mouth, Maeve stepped back, glaring at him as he noticed the badge on her hip, "You're off patrol now, huh? Can't say I'm surprised."
Maeve ignored him, her fists tightening in anger, the sadness from earlier completely turning into her dislike for Derek, "I don't have the words right now, I really don't. If you don't explain I might just loose it."
Derek looked down, knowing what Maeve was talking about, "I found her like that last night."
"Who did it?" Maeve gulped, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
"I don't know," Derek replied honestly.
Maeve motioned to the crime scene behind her, "I need a little more than 'I don't know', Derek, because all of the signs are pointing at you right now!"
"I don't know who it was, but whoever killed my sister is an alpha now," Derek replied, his voice harsher than he intended, "Any guess on who they're going to want to kill next, Maeve?"
"You should've told me," Maeve told him in an equally as angry tone, the glare on her face the angriest Derek had ever seen it.
"You were busy," Derek replied sarcastically, hinting back to what he saw earlier.
Maeve groaned, running her hands over her face with a sigh, "Derek."
"The mayors son? Really?" Derek couldn't hold back his comment, keeping the scowl on his face to shield his upset.
"Jealous?" Maeve raised a brow at him, scoffing as he stared at her blankly, "It's your fault we're in this mess, Derek, so please, pipe down on the judgment."
Hearing more sirens in the distance, Maeve bit her lip, holding back a complete meltdown at Derek, but that didn't stop her shouting, "You know exactly why you should've told me!"
"I know, alright, I know," Derek replied loudly, looking slightly apologetic behind all that glaring glory he had going on.
Silence falling between them, Derek hesitantly asked, "How is she? Luna?"
"How do you think she's doing, Derek? You would know if you didn't leave," Maeve's anger reached a all time high at the mention of her daughter, "Maybe i should throw you in a cell, i can finally explain to our child why she haven't seen her father in nine months."
Derek avoided Maeve's gaze, "I know its not an exuse-"
"No, there's no excuses!" Maeve interrupted, "You left! You left me! You left Luna! There's no coming back from that, Derek!"
"Maeve-" Derek held back her arm that she flailed about as she shouted, but sighed, knowing he'd only just gone and made it worse.
"I'm sorry about Laura, okay? I really am, I loved her too," Each word grew more painful as she spoke, "But he next time our child is in danger, you tell me! You don't leave it until I have to see the dead body myself to figure out. Derek...I cannot loose another child, I can't do that again."
Her last words caused Derek's glare to drop completely, falling silent, not knowing what to say.
Taking a deep breath, Maeve wiped away her angry tears, glancing at Derek once more before storming away from him, "Get out of here before they throw your ass in a cell."
—
Pouring a hefty amount of coffee into her mug, Maeve looked up from her paperwork, smiling at the tiny blonde walking into the kitchen, "Morning sleepyhead."
Luna Hale innocently glared up at her mother, wondering though the room in her pink spotted pyjamas, her duvet wrapped around her shoulders as she yawned.
Her tiered blue eyes scanned the table as she climbed onto her seat beside Dean, suddenly waking up as she shouted, whacking the cereal box out of his hand, "Hands off!"
Dean, still half asleep, stared at his niece in confusion as she snatched the cereal off him, rolling his eyes.
Maeve stared at her daughter disapprovingly, taking a sip of her coffee, "Luna."
"Sorry," the beta muttered, taking a spoonful of the cereal, her messy blonde hair falling in front of her face.
"Mommy," Luna began, Maeve walked around the table, wrapping her arms around her daughter, kissing the top of her head.
"Yes?" Maeve replied, grinning as she took some of Luna's cereal, the six year old staring at her mother in disbelief, shaking her head as Maeve laughed.
Luna grinned mischievously, "Can we get a puppy?"
"What makes you think I'll say anything different from when you asked yesterday?" Maeve raised a brow, her daughter staring back at her with her almost identical eyes.
Luna thought for a moment, sipping on some juice, "I'll ask grandma."
Once Elizabeth Argent had gotten over the fact that her daughter was becoming a mother at eighteen, Elizabeth gracefully dived straight into her role as grandmother, and much to Maeves annoyance, spoiling Luna like she was royalty.
"Don't you dare," Maeve warned, playfully glaring at Luna as she leant over her shoulder.
Luna laughed, already having told her grandmother, hiding behind the spoon in her hand as her mother looked to her in realisation, "Luna."
"Do not use your grandmother as blackmail," Luna giggled as Maeve tickled her sides, lifting her off the chair, twirling her around before setting her on the floor.
Leaving the duvet on the chair, Luna ran across the loft towards her room, coming to a stop as a snore echoed from behind the sofa. Maeve looked up in confusion, following her daughter as Luna climbed onto the couch, dangling over the back of it to see who was on the floor.
"Uncle Jamie?" Luna called down to the sleeping human, Maeve laughed at her obviously hungover roommate, holding onto Luna's shoulders so the six year old didn't fall off the back of the couch.
"Mhmm," Jamie mumbled in his sleep, rolling over to lie on the other side of the floor.
Rolling her eyes, Luna jumped off the couch much to Maeve's dismay, running off into her bedroom.
"Oh, James," walking around the sofa, Maeve crouched down in front of Jamie.
"Stop screaming," Jamie groaned, covering his eyes with his hands.
"Someone had too much fun last night," Maeve hummed, looking to the space between the sofa and Jamie, "Not even making it to the sofa, thats a new one."
Sitting up, Jamie rubbed his head in confusion, "I didn't hallucinate seeing Derek last night, did I?"
"I wish you did," Maeve muttered, leaning against the sofa with a sigh.
"Mommy?" Maeve froze at the voice from behind her, turning to meet her daughters sad eyes staring back at her, "Dads home?"
Maeve blinked, sharing a nervous glance with Jamie, forcing a smile as she nodded, "We'll talk about this after school. Go get dressed."
"Mommy," Luna went to protest, dropping the markers in her hand on the table, completing her drawing on a sleeping Dean's face.
"Luna Talia Hale, do not make me tell you again," Maeve warned, pointing to the staircase.
Luna sighed, dragging herself back into her room, dramatically pulling her duvet behind her. Maeve chuckled at her daughters attitude, sitting back at the table, practically downing her coffee.
"Come on," Maeve raised a brow at her daughters outfit, Luna waltzing across the kitchen to place a fake crown on Dean's head, standing on the chair so she could reach, "Really? Go back and change, you know princess Merida isn't appropriate for school."
Luna let out a huff, "Even the bow and arrow?"
Maeve gazed at the pouty blonde in amusement, "Even the bow and arrow."
In a flash, Luna had already changed and was running back into the kitchen in a pair of light blue jeans and a fluffy pink jumper, her glittery backpack in hand.
"Morning, princess," Maeve sang as Dean let out a groan, stretching as he realised he fell back asleep at the table.
Staring at Dean impatiently, Luna waited for him to notice the decorations she'd placed on his face, smiling as he didn't notice.
Maeve helped her mini me put in all the right pens and books into her backpack, waving a piece of paper knowingly, "Lets try and remember your homework this time, huh?"
Luna shrugged unapologetically, "I didn't do it."
Luna may of took after Maeve in appearance, but she was very much like Derek, the combination of the both of them was unexpectedly harder than they thought to raise.
"Luna!" Maeve exclaimed as her daughter smiled up at her, shaking her head with a laugh "We've talked about this."
Running off to find her shoes, Luna shouted back "I didn't listen!"
Like every morning, it felt like hours until everyone was out of the door, but Luna had given up protesting the school day ahead and Dean had finally processed it was morning, but was yet to notice the crown on his head and love hearts drawn all over his face.
Ushering the two Hales out of the door, Maeve carried the belongings both kids had forgotten whilst still trying to piece herself together for work, fastening her badge onto her belt.
Luna practically bounded down the steps, taking no notice of her father leaving the loft another set of steps above, Maeve and Dean were too busy arguing to notice him as well.
Derek watched his family walk away with a sigh, smiling lightly as Maeve picked up Luna, spinning her around as they turned the corner.
"Morning," Jamie greeted his best friend for the first time in a year, raising his coffee up up at Derek on the other side of the hall, "You just made me 20 dollars richer."
Derek raised his brows, "And why's that?"
"I had a bet that you wouldn't last a year without her with Archie. It's been nine months."
—
Maeve sat at the dining table surrounded by paperwork, finally settling Luna down in her room after buzz from her ballet lesson wore off, giving the mother just one moment of quiet. Hearing a knock at the door, Maeve knew who it was, calling for him to come in, Derek walking in behind the sliding door.
"Hey," Derek spoke up, breaking the awkwardness in the air.
Maeve sighed, stranding up from her chair, slowly walking over to him, "Hey."
Derek hesitated, but finally asked, "Can I see her?"
"Derek-" Maeve began, glancing back at Luna's shut bedroom door, listening into her playing unnoticed to her fathers arrival.
"Please, Maeve," Maeve saw the vulnerability in his eyes for the first time in a long time, nodding her head.
"You can break my heart all you want, Derek, but if you even dare hurt her again," Maeve warned him, "We're gonna have a problem."
"I'm not leaving," Derek stated, following Maeve down the hall of his old apartment.
"Like I haven't heard that before," Maeve grumbled, blinking in surprise once she realised she had said that out loud.
"Maeve," The exes stopped outside of Luna's room, Derek glancing down at Maeve sadly, "I really am sorry."
"Prove it," Maeve told him, pushing open the door covered in doodles, "Luna? You've got a visitor."
Looking up from the dollhouse Kieran had made her for her birthday last year, standing up from her fluffy rug, "Daddy?"
Derek smiled lightly, walking into the room as Maeve left them be, crouching down in front of his daughter, "Hey, Lu."
Luna crossed her arms over her spotty pyjamas, glaring at Derek with a look that was almost a mirror of Maeve, "You lied."
"I know," Derek sighed, "I know i did, sweetheart."
Luna blinked, twirling the wolf teddy bear in her hands, a gift from Derek she had been obsessed with since birth, "Why did you leave?"
"Because i thought, that if i wasn't around you, it would be better for you," Derek explained half of the truth that she would understand.
"Its not," Luna frowned, her hair falling in front of her face.
Luna hadn't understood at the time when her parents split, being young then and now, but what she did know is that she missed Derek more than anything.
"I know that now," Derek replied softly, pushing the hair back behind her ear, "I made a mistake and I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I'm not leaving you again, ever."
Luna smiled lightly, "Promise?"
"Promise," Luna grinned, wrapping her arms around Derek, almost knocking him over at the force, kissing the top of her head as he mumbled, "I love you, so much more than you'll ever know."
"I love you too," Luna mumbled into his shoulder, "Mommy's mad at you. Really mad."
Pulling away from the hug, Derek raised a brow at her, "Think she'll forgive me?"
Luna smiled, nodding her head, "Eventually."
Much to the young betas disappointment, it was way past her bedtime, despite Derek being the pushover parent, Luna couldn't get out of going to bed later this time.
Leaving Luna in her room pretending to be going to sleep, Derek walked around the familiar loft, only a few things had changed since he had been there last, the main one being most of the traces of him being nowhere to be found.
Derek found Maeve in the kitchen with his older brother, laughing with each other as Kieran attempted to fix the coffee machine, Maeve had the instructions in her hand, no doubt that Kieran was doing it wrong.
Kieran rolled his eyes as Maeve swatted his hand away from the machine, moving to his spot to do it herself, his gaze flickering to the door, "Derek?What the hell are you doing back here?"
Maeve looked between the two brothers with a sigh, turning her attention back onto the coffee machine "If you're gonna fight, take it outside."
Dragging his younger brother out of the loft, Kieran slammed he door behind him, Maeve ditched trying to fix the machine, walking back to Luna's room "Men."
Sitting down on Luna's king sized bed, because her daughter flat out refused to have a children's bed, Maeve lay back against the pink headboard, her daughter curling into her side.
"I missed him, mommy," Luna mumbled tiredly, Maeve ran her fingers through Luna's wavy hair.
"Me too, baby," Maeve sighed, reaching over to the night stand for a book, "Me too."
Hearing shouting echo through from the other loft, Luna frowned, glancing down at the pages of the story book, "Uncle Kierans mad too?"
Maeve nodded, "Very."
"Oh no," Luna laughed knowingly, staring up at Maeve with wide eyes as a crash sounded, "That didn't sound good."
Maeve held back a comment, noticing a laptop hidden under a blanket at the bottom of the bed, looking to Luna curiously "Why do you have Dean's laptop?"
"I won't tell you were he is if he gives me games," Luna mumbled, letting out a yawn, only to cover her mouth once she realised what she had said, "Oops."
"That kid," Maeve groaned, reaching over to pick up the laptop before Luna "Where Is he?"
Luna shook her head, pretending to zip her mouth shut, throwing away the key. Maeve smiled down at her in amusement, picking up the book to read her a story.