Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Luna Talia Hale was born one month on the dot early, her sudden and dramatic entrance to the world took place on the full moon, and Derek had never seen his wife so angry, especially at him.
Since that day, a new anger had settled in Maeve, most specifically, a glare that could scare Derek into doing just about anything.
Take today for example. Derek Hale. Fugitive ( formerly ), big bad werewolf. The same Derek Hale stood in one of the hallways of Beacon Hills kindergarten, his presence to be there was demanded by his ex wife.
In front of him stood Luna Hale, a child that was too intelligent for her own good, a mischievous streak that drove her mother mad, and puppy eyes that her father couldn't say no to.
Now combine Maeve's rage and Dereks inability to say no to Luna, he had no choice but attending.
Dressed in a bright orange leotard, tutu and some headpiece that resembled a pumpkin with a glare on her face that put Derek to shame, a scary resemblance to her mother, was Luna.
Derek glanced down at his daughter with a sigh, "Are you sure you don't want your mother?"
"No," Luna hummed, dancing in circles around her dad, remembering her dance, "She's scaring the competition."
Derek frowned in confusion, "Competition? Lu, this is a recital."
Luna stopped dancing, raising her brows up at her dad, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What did I say wrong now?" Derek groaned, faltering under his daughters glare.
Luna tutted disapprovingly, "I have to be the best in show, dad."
"Isn't Cinderella supposed to be the best, given this is Cinderella," Derek reminded her, feeling out of place in his leather jacket as a group of children dressed as mice ran past.
Luna simply glared, "No."
"No?" Derek grew amused at her determined scowl.
"No," Luna repeated.
Derek nodded, trying to hold back his laugh, "Right, got it."
"Good," Luna hummed in approval, twirling around as she spotted Jamie walking into the hallway, "Uncle Jamie!"
Jamie cheered enthusiastically, "Show time kiddo!"
Luna suddenly grew nervous, standing in place as she stared at the floor, her classmates rushing past her to go backstage.
Derek sighed, crouching down in front of her, "Hey, you're going to be amazing. Don't stress. I have complete faith in you."
Luna smiled nervously, wrapping her arms around Derek, "Thanks dad."
"Good luck, sweetheart," Derek kissed the top of her head, avoiding the ridiculous headpiece, "Love you."
"Love you too," Luna mumbled before dashing off down the hallway after her classmates.
"We have to hurry up," Jamie pulled Derek across towards the hall.
Derek frowned, but let Jamie lead the way, "Why?"
"Maeve may be in a fight with another mom," Jamie replied discreetly.
"What?" Derek stared at him in confusion, "What kind of fight?"
Jamie didn't seem too phased at the thought of Maeve and another mum in a brawl, unlike Derek who was completely dumbstruck, "A mom fight. You know, bragging about their kid until they're deemed superior."
"How bad is it?" Derek nodded in realisation, remembering this from Luna's kindergarten days.
"Something about saving Dean from drowning when I left," Jamie answered, the two of them walking through the doors into the hall.
"Yeah, saving him by pushing him in," Derek scoffed under his breath, looking around to spot Maeve bickering with an older mother, "Maeve."
Maeve didn't hear him over the passive aggressive words shared between herself and the other mother, Derek rolled his eyes, "Maeve!"
As the conversation still continued, Derek sighed, "Diana!"
Maeve's head whipped around, glaring at Derek, muttering a goodbye to the mother before rushing over to him and Jamie.
Derek raised a brow at her, "Really?"
Maeve ignored him, "Don't ask. Let's go find our seats."
Derek caught her arm before she could sit down, noticing her scowl, "Everything okay?"
"Foul woman," Maeve huffed, slumping down in one of the chairs near the front row, "Her daughter wins one more student of the week than Lu and suddenly she's -"
Maeve went to continue rambling on, but noticing Derek's amused expression, she settled on focusing on the show.
—
Trying to ignore the whispers from behind them, Maeve kicked Derek's foot, leaning over to whisper, "Could you look a little less like a fugative?"
Derek glanced back at the gossiping parents, and glared at them. That shut them up.
Jamie whistled, shaking his head, "Told you it was a bad idea bringing the murder suspect."
Derek shrugged, staring up at the stage impatiently, "I'm not missing her first recital, and Maeve would have my head if I wasn't here."
Maeve blinked in surprise, forcing a scowl on her face before she could smile.
Derek sighed, "When is she coming on?"
"Be patient," Maeve scolded, shaking her head as she fumbled around trying to turn on her camera.
"We're over half way," Derek grumbled, failing to hide his boredom, as was Jamie bobbing his his chair beside Derek.
Maeve rolled her eyes, "Derek, you're her father and Jamie, you're her godfather, I think you can suffer through one recital."
Much to Jamie and Dereks happiness, the music changed and Luna came running on stage, looking very... bright in her costume. Jamie sniffled a laugh at his goddaughters appearance, earning himself a harsh punch to the arm from Maeve.
Derek watched proudly as Luna spun around, raising his brows in confusion as she suddenly changed her routine, "That's not the dance she was doing earlier, right?"
Maeve whacked Dereks shoulder, shushing him, "Leave her be."
"You had something to do with this, didn't you?" Derek whispered suspiciously.
"I most certainly did not," Maeve gasped, clapping for Luna as she ended her routine, "How could you accuse me of such a thing?"
Derek rolled his eyes, joining Maeve in smiling up at his daughter as she ran back across the stage to the classroom next door.
Watching Luna disappear behind the curtain, Derek leant over to whisper, "Can we leave now?"
"Derek!"
—
Luna practically jumped into Dereks arms as she ran out of the school doors, laughing as she spun her around, "Well done!"
Placing Luna down on the ground, Maeve was quick to scoop her daughter up into another hug, "You were great, my love."
Jamie had made a break for it after spotting one of his ( many ) exes in the audience, leaving Derek and Maeve in a very awkward silence waiting for Luna to come back.
"I know," Luna grinned proudly, squinting at her mother in scrutiny as Maeve failed to hide her snort.
"Maeve!"
Maeve looked over the playground to where one of Luna's friends mum stood waving her over, Maeve smiled at her daughter before walking away "I'll be back in a sec!"
Derek and Luna barely had a second to speak before one of Luna's teachers approached them, Derek always the oblivious barley noticed, but Luna was definitely not amused at her teacher batting her eyelashes at her father.
Guess who's lessons she won't be behaving in this week?
Luna huffed, rocking back and forth on her sparkly trainers as Derek spoke to the teacher, looking between the two adults with the famous Hale scowl.
First, she had men flirting with her mother, then her mother getting engaged to one of them, now she had her teachers flirting with her dad. Great.
And to top off this terrible situation, Maeve had to walk back, stopping in place finding Derek happily talking to the young teacher. And she was definitely not jealous, there was no way, of course, Maeve's frown said otherwise.
"Daaaaaddddd," Luna wined, tugging on his hand, making the effort to stand on his feet, practically dangling off his side.
"Wait a min, Lu," Derek patted her head, messing up her hair.
That was it. Luna glared up at him, flattening her hair as she stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest, her distracted father not noticing the mischievous look in her eye though.
Maeve noticed, even from across the playground, Maeve could see when Luna was about to throw a fit. So the mother let out a sigh, setting off across the playground.
Luna groaned at her failed attempt of gaining Dereks attention.
Maybe if she threw herself off the monkey bars again her parents would notice. Scratch that, Luna thought, Maeve would blame Derek and cause another almighty row between them both.
"Daddy we have to go, you know how mad mommy gets when you keep her waiting," Luna pointed out, her tone full of mischief that only Derek would notice, "You both promised to read to me tonight. And we don't break promises, do we, daddy?"
"Right, of course, Lu," Derek nodded slowly, blinking in surprise at his daughters lack of tact.
"Bye Mr Hale," The teacher smiled in embarrassment, clearly getting the hint, "See you Monday, Luna."
Luna simply stared at the teacher as she scurried off, glancing down at his daughter, Derek rolled his eyes.
"That wasn't very nice," Derek pointed out.
"I want a story," Luna's glare settled in her fathers direction.
Derek raised his brows at her mockingly, "Please?"
"I shouldn't have to ask if it's a promise, dad," Luna responded smartly, planing her hands on her hips beside her tutu, "And you promised."
Derek chuckled, picking up the tiny blonde, "You're too much like your mother and I don't like it."
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Luna leant her head on Dereks shoulder, "You like mommy, so you have to like it."
"I suppose you're right," Derek mused.
Luna gasped exaggeratedly, "Of course I'm right."
Maeve finally reached the Hales, looking between them suspiciously, "Everything okay you two?"
Luna grinned innocently, Derek didn't even try to hide his smile, his daughter would call him out on it anyways.
—
Luna giggled madly as Maeve chased her down the hospital hallway with a baby wipe, trying to remove the remnants of the nights dinner off of her daughters face after Luna snook a second helping into the car.
Scooping Luna up into her arms, Maeve sat her on one of the waiting room chairs, wiping away the pasta sauce before kissing her cheek, "There. That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Maybe I liked the sauce," Luna argued, "It's art."
Maeve scoffed, "Whatever you say, Lu."
Picking up on a familiar scent, one of the recent developments in her wolf traits, Luna was quickly on her feet, bounding across the room.
Maeve watched her run with a sigh, "Be careful!"
Spotting Derek walk through the door, Luna squealed, jumping into his arms "Daddy!"
It had only been a day since Luna saw her father, but she was growing attached again, and that was a worry for Maeve. Luna and Derek had gone nine months apart before, now she was barley coping with a day apart.
The last thing Maeve needed was Derek backing off again and leaving a distraught Luna to deal with.
Derek caught her before she fell to the floor, smiling down at her, "Hey there little Luna."
Maeve approached the father and daughter, nodding towards the hospital room, "How about you go wait in Peters room whilst your dad and I talk to the nurse."
"Okay, mommy," Luna nodded skipping off towards Peters room.
Luna slowly opened the door, cautiously walking over to where Peter sat in his wheelchair. Standing in front of him, Luna noticed his hand twitch, squinting at him suspiciously.
"I know you're not asleep," Luna stated, "Mommy always says I'm not supposed to pretend I'm asleep."
Peter slowly blinked, stretching in his chair, staring at Luna in curiosity.
From his still blotchy memory, Peter realised he'd seen her once when leaving with Maeve.
Luna gasped quietly, suddenly aware he actually was awake, "You're Peter."
Peter nodded slowly, "Who are you?"
"Luna," Luna hummed, noticing his confusion, "Maeve and Derek are my parents."
Peter squinted suspiciously at Luna, "How old are you?"
Luna held up six fingers, "Six. Are you not hurt anymore?"
Peter tried to hide his disbelief at the child in front of him, she truly was a tiny Maeve, but her eyes, as many have said, looked like his. He bet Derek just loved that.
"No, but we have to keep that a secret," Peter pointed out.
Luna pursed her lips, "Why?"
Peter looked slightly surprised by her response, so she asked again, after all, she was her mothers daughter, "Why pretend? Is it a game? Can I play?!"
Relieved for an alibi, Peter nodded, "Yes, it's a game, but to win we have to keep this a secret, okay?"
Luna answered cautiously, "...okay."
Luna was just as much as a gossip as her grandmother, it wouldn't be too long before everyone in her family know of Peters awakening.
—
Maeve crossed her arms over her chest, Derek felt like he was in an interrogation almost instantly, "Why'd you ask me to come?"
"We're asking Peter for help," Derek answered.
Maeve stared at him in disbelief, "You're aware he's in a coma, right, Derek? A coma."
Derek rolled his eyes, "Very aware of that, thank you. I thought there was a chance we could break him out of it."
"And perform a miracle that the doctors have failed to do for six years?" Maeve wasn't amused, "Are you out of your mind?! All this alpha stuff is going to your head, Derek."
Derek sighed, "I just have a feeling."
"And I have a feeling that I want to punch you right now," Maeve hissed in a whisper, "We're werewolves, last time I checked we howled at the moon, that we didn't perform medical miracles!"
Derek grumbled under his breath, "What else am I supposed to do, Maeve? The alpha is out there! He's already killed Laura, who's he going to hurt next? You-"
Maeve visibly paled, "Derek-"
Derek shook his head, "I'm not loosing anymore of my family."
Maeve sighed in defeat, "I don't know where the hell your sudden hero complex has come from but rein it in a little before you get yourself killed."
The exes stared at each other in an uncomfortable silence, these arguments were all too familiar from months ago. Derek feeling helpless and Maeve trying to keep him in line.
Letting out a sigh, Maeve headed towards Peters room, "Let's get this other with."
Luna attached herself to Maeves leg has a her parents walked in, Maeve lingering by the door whilst Derek approached his uncle.
Derek turned Peters wheel chair to face him hesitantly, "We need your help. If you can hear me, I need you to give me a sign. Blink. Raise a finger. Anything."
Maeve ran her hand through Luna's hair, gazing at Derek sympathetically as he briefly turned to her for encouragement, "Just - Just something to point me, us, in the right direction, okay?"
"Someone killed Laura, your niece, Laura?" Derek hand tightened on the chair, Luna curling further into her mothers side, "Whoever he is, he's an Alpha now. But he's one without a pack. Which means he's not as strong. I can take him."
"But I have to find him first. Look, if you know something, just give me a sign," Derek stood straighter in defeat, "Is it one of us? Someone else make it out of the fire? Just give me anything. Blink. Raise a finger. Anything. Say something!"
Maeve warningly glared at her ex husband as he raised his voice, but Luna beat her too it, calling over "He won't answer if you don't ask nicely."
Her parents looked to her with matching frowns, having a silent conversation with each other, Peters smirk going unnoticed to the both of them.
Maeve opened the door, guiding Luna out of the room, "Luna, wait outside, please, Sweetie."
Maeve rushed back inside at the squeak of Peters chair, Dereks hand slamming against it.
Maeve pulled him back, "Let him go, Derek!"
Maeve's grip on his arm tightened as a nurse rushed into the room, pulling her ex a safe distance away from the comatose.
"Let him go. You think after six years of this, yelling at him is going to get a response?" the nurse scolded, turning Peters chair away from Derek.
"Got a better method?" Derek glared.
"Patience. He'll respond if you give him the time," The nurse responded, Maeve took her blunt answer as time to try and drag Derek out.
"We don't have any more time," Derek mumbled as Maeve led him out, dropping his arm once they were in the hallway, walking over to hold Luna's hand.
"Maeve," Derek called after her.
"What?" Maeve turned back around, nodding down at Luna who stared at the vending machine longingly, handing her daughter her leather purse.
"I'm sorry," Derek answered once Luna had walked away, feeling small under Maeve's angry stare.
"I hear that way too often coming from you, you know?" Maeve sighed, crossing her arms impatiently.
Just by his look, Maeve knew he felt bad, so she ignored the part of her wanting to scream at him, "Just be careful, with whatever you impulsively do next."
Derek nodded, forcing a smile down at Luna as she ran back over, waving a packet of sweets in her hand. At least one of the the most important Hales in his life didn't hate him.
—
Maeve practically slid on her feet as she rushed out of her car, slamming the door shut with one hand, tightly grasping her phone in the other, "Archie slow down-"
"Derek did what?!" Maeve exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief as she looked around for said man.
Maeve had gotten a odd text from Derek half an hour earlier asking her to come to the school, after a mad dash bribing Luna to stay at home with Jamie and not come with her and rushing across down, Maeve had finally reached the school.
Running through the almost empty car park, Maeve frowned finding Derek no where to be found, "I don't understand, why would he threaten your dad? He thinks he's the alpha? That's hilarious!"
Listening to her best friend ramble on the other end, Maeve huffed in annoyance, "You should've told me he was hurt a bit sooner, Archie! I'm looking for him now."
Maeve spotted Stiles' jeep, letting out a deep sigh, her concern growing at the dismantled hood of the car.
Maeve slowly lowered her phone, "Arch, I have to go."
Hearing a familiar groan beside the car, Maeve slid her phone into her pocket, running across the lot.
"Derek!" Maeve panicked, turning around to another direction "Derek?"
Hearing his pained groan again, Maeve ran forward, spotting her ex husband laying in the grass "Derek!"
Maeve knelt down in the damp grass, hands trembling as she turned Dereks body over, gasping in shock at the blood coating his chest, "Maeve?"
"My god Derek how stupid are you?" Maeve exclaimed, helping him sit up, much to Dereks displeasure.
You couldn't leave this man alone for five seconds before he got himself in a fight...
Derek breathed in pain, "Hello to you too."
"Are you healing?" Maeve winced at the blood still pooling around the back of his shirt.
Even when she hated him, Maeve couldn't bare to see him in pain.
"Slightly," Derek mumbled, flinching as Maeve touched close to the wound.
Maeve sighed, letting out a huff as she pulled Derek up, holding onto him as he wobbled in his feet "Come on, idiot. What the hells going on?"
"The alpha," Derek leant against Maeve as they slowly walked, "Is in there with them-"
Maeve startled, staring at the school in concern, "With who?"
"Stiles..." Derek answered weakly, "... Scott... and his friends."
Maeve helped Derek sit back in her car, waiting impatiently by his door, "You okay in here?"
Maeve took Dereks grumble in pain as a yes, "Sit tight."
Derek's eyes were barley open, resting back against the seat, "I'm not going anywhere."
Maeve turned to walk away, but Derek weakly caught her arm, "Maeve. Don't do anything stupid. Please."
Maeve stared at Derek in surprise, but nodded gently, smiling to try and comfort him as he let go of her arm.
—
Maeve ran up to the doors, eyes widening in surprise finding them torn off their hinges. Stepping into the hallway, Maeve looked around, taking a deep breath to try and pick up on the teens scents, presumably where they would be the alpha would be also.
Leaving her gun in it's holder, it was useless against the alpha, Maeve jogged up a set of stairs towards the science labs.
The blonde rolled her eyes at the arguing voices, a clear lack of hiding skills on their part. She hadn't indented on scaring the life out of them as she knocked on the door, but hearing startled screams, Maeve realised she did.
"Stiles? It's Maeve!" Maeve shouted, hitting the door again "Stiles!"
Inside the classroom, Allisons eyes were wide as saucers, Stiles almost fell over in relief, Lydia and Jackson looked hesitant about the new arrival.
As stiles made his way over to the door, Jackson held him back, "What are you doing?!"
"Opening the door," Stiles stated obviously, "She's a cop, she can help."
Sharing a look with his girlfriend and Allison, Jackson nodded slowly.
Maeve checked Stiles for injuries as soon as she got through the door, "Maeve, I'm fine, let me go!"
Maeve nodded, turning to the three teens, "Allison, you okay? Your friends?"
Allison did not expect her cousin to come to her rescue, but she had to remind herself that Maeve was a cop, it was her job.
Allison nodded slowly, "I think so, I don't really understand what's happening."
Stiles looked to the detective with pleading eyes, Maeve sighed, making up a lie, "There was an escape from eichen house."
The three quickly started to whisper between each other, Stiles stepped forward, whispering "Was there actually?"
Maeve shrugged, "there was the other day, hopefully we can just blend the cases together without noticing."
Lydia looked suspicious, "So it isn't Derek Hale down there trying to kill us?"
Maeve's eyes widened, clenching her fist before she hit Stiles, who paled considerably, "Definitely not."
Jackson scowled, "And you know that how?"
"I know that because I just left him at home to look after our daughter," Maeve defended, glaring harshly at the teen.
Well, that shut them up.
Maeve turned back to Stiles, "Where's Scott?"
"He went searching for the-" Stiles didn't even have to finish his sentence before Maeve was rushing towards the door.
"Don't leave us here!" Lydia squeaked, eyes wide in terror, "We need protection."
"Fine," Maeve sighed irritably, taking her phone out of her pocket, handing it to Stiles, "My phone, call Collins."
Stiles started tapping away instantly, Maeve turning to leave, but noticed how hesitant they still were.
Maeve pulled out her gun, handing it to Allison before she could even think, "I know you know how to use it."
Allison nodded slowly, taking the gun from her cousin. Maeve was growing more and more of a confusion to her, and she had to find out answers sooner rather than later.
—
Walking through the empty hallways, Maeve grumbled to herself, "Scott McCall you're becoming increasingly more annoying."
"Couldn't agree more."
Maeve jumped at the voice, well, growl from inside the gym. Pushing through the doors, Maeve stumbled forward to see Scott injured on the ground, the alpha at his feet.
Maeve ran forward without any hesitance, sending a hard punch to the alpha, sliding across the floor to where Scott was lying, pushing him out of the way.
Scott scrambled to his feet, trying to catch his breath, watching in shock as Maeve fought against the alphas hold, "Scott, get everyone out I'll hold him off!"
Scott sprinted out of the gym, but slowed down at Maeve's pained cry, turning around to see her be slammed back against the gym floor.
Maeve lifted her head, silently urging Scott to leave, feeling blood trickle down her forehead. Scott gave in eventually and ran off.
Maeve kicked her way out of the alphas hold, stumbling back as he grabbed onto her arm, pushing her up against the wall.
Maeve broke his arm, giving her a few seconds to compose herself before he healed. But as she went to try and overpower him, the alpha grabbed at her neck, her body hitting the floor once again.
Maeve gasped for air with the monstrous hands gripping her neck, kicking and shuffling to try and get out of his hold.
Maeve's vision went blotchy, her throat screaming, her attempts at fighting back falling weak. The alphas snarls filling the silence of the gym.
"Maeve?"
The grip around her neck loosened at the alphas growl, Maeve inhaled sharply, too afraid to move underneath him.
Maeve finally got a look of him as the alpha stared back at her, almost in realisation. Bright blue eyes stared back at her as the red flickered, Maeve knew they were familiar, she just couldn't place them.
The alpha suddenly took off, sprinting out of the gym. Maeve slowly sat up, a hand cradling her neck as she breathed heavily.
What the hell was that?
—
Walking out of the school doors after lying to half of the Beacon Hills sheriffs department, Maeve was utterly exhausted, and she looked it.
Maeve was surprised she didn't fall as she walked down the steps, the concerned looks her way told her that her bloodied appearance was doing her no good.
Arms tackled her before she could take another step, stumbling back at the force in shock "Maeve you're alright!"
Relaxing at the familiar voice, Maeve shook her head, "Who else is gonna deal with you, hey, Stiles?"
Stiles rolled his eyes, "I don't think I've ever seen my dad so mad when I told him you were alone in there."
Maeve smiled weakly, "You shouldn't have worried him, I was fine."
Stiles pulled away from the hug, "You were alone in there with an alpha, Maeve."
"Stiles, I've been dealing with this kind of thing for a lot longer than you have, I've got it handled, please don't worry about me, okay?"
Stiles nodded in defeat, "Okay, but do anything like that again and I can't promise anything."
Maeve smiled, shaking her head in amusement, walking away to make her way through the crowds.
"Maeve!"
Maeve bit her lip, wanting nothing more than to just go home, but turned regardless, her friendly smile fell at who called her name.
"Chris?"
Chris stared at his niece, who was obviously weak on her feet, Allison stood closely behind him, tear stains on her cheeks.
Chris stepped forward, hesitantly asking, "Is everything okay?"
"The killers gone, so-" Maeve began vaguely.
Chris interrupted her, "I meant with you."
Maeve tried to not succumb to the pains of her injuries, but this definitely topped it, "Uh, yeah, but I really have to get home."
Chris nodded awkwardly, "Right, of course."
Maeve forced a smile, turning to rush back to her car where Derek was most likely unconscious.
Allison looked between her father and cousin, "I don't understand why she left, dad."
"Sometimes I don't either," Chris answered honestly, "Its just complicated, Allison."
—
Maeve had never been so thankful for elevators after lugging Derek's un- healed body to the top floor of their building.
Walking out of the kitchen with a bowl of pasta, Dean grinned at the sight of his brother, "Now Maeve, I thought we promised you wouldn't hurt Derek."
"Very funny, Dean," Maeve grumbled, dropping Derek onto the couch with a little more force than needed, "Derek was the alphas target of the evening."
Noticing his brothers injuries, Dean scrunched his nose up, whistling, "Ouch. The little demon is asleep by the way, took four stories and a episode of that princess show she likes."
Maeve breathed in relief, "Thanks Dean, but like your brothers, you need to learn to tell her no."
Dean shook his head, making his way over to the stairs, "It's the eyes, Maeve. It's the eyes."
Maeve could barley suppress her snort, but quickly silenced at his next words, "Don't know why you're laughing, she gets them from you, when has Derek ever been able to say no to you?"
Maeve glared at Dean as he smirked at the exes over his shoulder, rushing up the stairs before Maeve could throw something at him.
"It's the eyes!"
Derek blinked tiredly, "He's got a point."
—
Maeve had sat up with Derek for hours, even as he slept, just to make sure he was healing, but as he tossed and turned, waking up every now and then, Derek had finally had enough.
Derek sighed, "Go to bed, Maeve."
Maeve sat up in the armchair, moving the blanket off of her legs as she yawned, "I'm fine, go back to sleep-"
"I'm healing, I'll be alright by morning, Maeve," Derek argued,
knowing Maeve was seconds away from passing out, "You're exhausted, go to sleep."
Checking Derek was okay one last time, Maeve reluctantly went upstairs, but sleep did not come easy once there.
—
Derek blinked awake at the sudden pain on his chest, glancing down in confusion knowing he should've healed by now, given the sun beginning to set in the large windows.
Luna sat on his stomach, her knees digging into his chest, "Dad? Are you awake? Daddyyyyyy."
Derek frowned sleepily, "Hi lu. What's the matter?"
"I had a nightmare," Luna whispered rolling to lay back against the back of the couch, laying down on Dereks side, "Can I stay here?"
Derek nodded, wrapping his arms around her, "You want to tell me about it?"
Luna shook her head no, hurrying her face behind her teddy bear, Derek stared down at her worriedly, "If it happens again, you promise to tell me?"
"Promise," Luna mumbled sleepily, easily falling back to sleep beside her dad.
Just as Derek went to go to sleep himself, a flash of ginger jumped onto the end of the couch. Derek glared at the cat, trying to get it to leave, but somehow the cat glared back, curling up in a ball by Dereks feet.
Maeve walked down the stairs, barley able to sleep with all the worrying, she paused at the living room door.
Maeve felt her heart clench watching Derek comfort their daughter, Luna slowly falling back to sleep as she lay next to Derek.
Maeve blinked away the tears she didn't realise were falling, letting out a sigh as she turned to walk away.
How was it, it hurt when Derek was gone, but it hurt even more now he was back.