Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

"You're both mental! You can't just kill him."
Chris had arrived about an hour earlier to talk about how the hell they're going to keep Gerard from storming in and killing them all, but much to his annoyance, the general idea was to kill Gerard before he had the chance.
"Like your sister killed half my family?" Maeve added spitefully, sipping on her coffee, "I'd say morals are out of the window at this point, Chris."
Chris sighed, "I don't know what to do, he's already got his hooks into Allison."
"Christopher, not Allison, she's too young," Lorraine stood up angrily, "Why didn't you stop him!"
"Do you think I haven't tried!" Chris defended.
"Try harder, this is your child!" Lorraine shouted, "I couldn't protect you kids from him, I won't let it happen to my granddaughter!"
"I can't protect her from everything, I tried that with Maeve and it ended up with her on her deathbed!" Chris shouted back, turning and storming out of Elizabeth's apartment.
Maeve stood up with a sigh, glaring at her mother before following Chris out of the door.
Lorraine watched the interaction thoughtfully, "What'd you do to piss her off? She looks like she wants to tear your head off."
"I have no idea," Elizabeth shrugged, taking a large sip of her wine, "You never know with Maeve."
Maeve jogged down the steps, following him out to the small garden, "Chris!"
Chris waited for her to catch up, guiltily staring down at his niece.
"Listen," Maeve started, "I get it, Allison's in love and then theres Gerard breathing down her neck-"
"I don't know how to protect her," Chris admitted, interrupting her.
"Its not about protecting her, it's about being here for her when she makes the wrong decisions, being happy for her when she makes the right ones," Maeve continued, "I can only protect Luna so much, she's so young and I can only tell her so much without scaring her. God, that kid hears everything, she summarised Scott turning into a werewolf for her creative writing homework."
Chris shook his head with a chuckle, "She sounds like you."
It was still painful for Chris to know he didn't have a role in his great niece's life, he just hoped soon he would be able to get to know Luna as he should.
"Everyone says so," Maeve grinned proudly, nudging his shoulder, "Just don't listen to nan. You did protect me, despite how it all turned out. It's an impossible task playing peacemaker in a family like ours."
Chris sighed, avoiding her gaze, "I should've done more to protect you."
"But you tried, thats what matters, I had no one else to defend me in our family, you were the only one," Maeve argued, "You did as much as you could, you had your own family to look after, just like you do now."
"You're my family too, Maeve."
Maeve smiled sadly, "Even if you did protect me like you wanted, I wouldn't have Luna, and even though he drives me mad, I wouldn't have Derek. And to be honest, I can't imagine my life without them."
Falling into a silence, Maeve couldn't keep yesterdays discovery to herself, "Chris- Did Mom ever tell you about my dad?"
Maeve barley slept last night, after sobbing in Derek's arms for hours she eventually fell asleep, but later wake up and let her confused thoughts keep her awake all night. If her brain wasn't so full, she'd question why she went straight to Derek for comfort ( but deep down she knew why )
"You know your mother, if she doesn't want to talk about it she won't," Chris responded carefully.
Maeve nodded, staring at him in suspicion, "But you don't have any suspicions?"
"I've had my theories," Chris answered, "Why?"
"No reason," Maeve shrugged, looking out to the garden.
"Maeve."
Maeve rolled her eyes, throwing her arms out in defence, "God forbid I get a little curious after 25 years of being fatherless."
"Liz always shut me out about this," Chris breathed heavily, "She's incredibly defensive, she goes away for a few months and the next minute she's back with you in her arms pretending nothing happened."
Maeve nodded, ready to let it go, but a sudden determination led her to blurting out, "Is Noah Stilinski my father?"
"Thats something you need to ask your mother-" Chris froze, blinking in surprise at her question.
"Chris."
"They were married, they divorced nine months before you were born," Chris answered reluctantly.
Maeve bit back a curse, clenching her fists as she stormed away, trying her very best not to storm in there and confront her mother. But Dean had a game she was obliged to attend and she couldn't arrive having a complete meltdown over her paternity.
"Maeve!"
Maeve laughed at the state of her daughter as she followed the six year old out onto the school field, "Slow down, Lu!"
Luna grinned back at her mother in excitement, "We're missing the game!"
Maeve held her hand, slowing her down, "It hasn't started yet, silly."
Even with everything on her mind, Maeve always knew Luna could put a smile on her face.
Luna waved her other arm around as she spoke, Dean's lacrosse hoodie was almost a gown on her tiny body, "Well it could if we don't hurry!"
Gerard sat up in his seat as he spotted the familiar blonde, eyeing the young girl next to her in curiosity. So thats where Maeve disappeared too, he thought. He was in the middle of the busy stands, and went unnoticed by Maeve.
Maeve hadn't noticed Gerard as she helped Luna clamber up the stairs, occupied with facing Noah since the revelation that he might be her father.
"Mr Sheriff!"
Maeve took a deep breath, following Luna.
Noah smiled at Luna as she rushed to sit next to him, "Hey there Luna, you excited for the game?"
"Uncle Dean's finally gonna play!" Luna bobbed happily, "I can't wait!"
Luna chattered away with Noah until the game started, and when she was fully immersed in the game, Maeve finally spoke up.
"Why'd you never tell me you married my mother?"
Noah turned to her in shock, "What?"
"You and my mother, you were married, weren't you?" Maeve questioned, trying not to come across angry despite being very angry.
"We were," Noah answered cautiously, "A very long time ago, way before you were born."
Nine months before, Maeve thought snidely.
"Why'd you never tell me?"
Noah finally turned to look at Maeve properly, sighing at the hurt on her face, "Maeve it's complicated, alright? It isn't something to talk about around little ears."
Maeve glanced down at Luna, and nodded reluctantly, "You have to tell me eventually, if Mom won't talk to me someone has to."
"We'll talk," Noah promised, "You, me and Elizabeth."
So Maeve let it go, for now.
As the game played out, Maeve was distracted by shouting in the distance, it was too far away to understand, but she could recognise Derek and Stiles' voices.
"Could she watch the game with you? I have to go find Derek," Maeve asked him.
Noah nodded, looking slightly concerned, "Course, is everything alright?"
Maeve smiled, standing up, "I think so. Be good for Noah, Lu."
Luna waved goodbye, entrapped with the game. Dean spotted Maeve leaving, nodding in understanding as she motioned for him to look after Luna. Wondering suspiciously through the halls the voices sounded clearer, Maeve picked up the pace realising they were shouting.
Following their voices to the pool, Maeve stumbled back in shock at the Kanima across the pool, gasping at Derek and Stiles trapped in the pool.
Erica's body slammed against the wall as Maeve turned the corner, causing the woman to let out a startled shout and dropped her bag to the floor, its contents scattering across the tiles, drawing the attention on her. The two in the pool noticed her, Derek in fear and Stiles in relief.
Stiles let out a mangled cry, "Maeve!"
Maeve's gaze landed on the water again, the air leaving her chest noticing that Stiles was holding Derek up in the water - the giant lizard didn't even enter her mind at that point as she moved towards them.
"Stiles why can't he move?" Maeve shouted, running the opposite way of the kanima as it suddenly charged at her, "God- what the hell is going on!"
Stiles gasped over the water, "That freaking thing did something to him!"
Maeve kept running in circles around the lizard, "Derek, are you okay?"
"What do you think!" Derek spluttered over the water, eyes widening as the creature caught up with her "Maeve!"
Maeve fell against the damp tiles, groaning as the kanima grabbed onto her foot, dragging her back, "Its too strong! Can you feel anything?"
"My toes."
Maeve groaned as her head hit the wall as the kanima pulled her along, Derek's intake of breath going unnoticed.
"Well that helpful!" Maeve and Stiles sneered.
Blood trickled down her head as it slammed against the floor again, scrambling to her feet she sprinted to the opposite side of the pool away from the creature.
Before they knew it Maeve grabbed onto Stiles' arm, yanking him out of the pool, "Stiles, for gods sake, run!"
Stiles pulled himself up, turning as Maeve jumped into the pool, grabbing onto Derek before he sunk any lower, "Go! Stiles! Get Erica!"
Stiles didn't have to be told another time, stumbling over his feet to pick up Erica before sprinting out of there. Derek gasped for a breath, after his brief shock of almost sinking.
Maeve coughed out some water, blinking in shock, "It can't swim?"
Maeve wrapped her arms around Derek's waist, hugging him to keep her hold on him,
"No... we're safe in here," Derek answered.
"It won't go to the field will it?" Maeve stressed, "Theres too many people out there. Luna's out there."
Derek coughed out some more water, "No, I think we scared it off."
Maeve lifted her cheek from Derek's chest, his warm breath hitting her forehead, "Derek? Want to tell me what the hell that giant lizard was and why I had to find out about it with you almost drowning?"
"Maeve this really isn't the time for a background check on Kanimas-"
Maeve nodded slowly, tightening her grip around Derek's waist, "We need to get the venom out, thats how it works isn't it? Yeah, I've read that somewhere. Right, well you'll need to bleed it out, but I don't want to hurt you anymore - oh god I'm rambling."
"Not like I can feel anything," Derek growled.
Maeve let out a sigh, shifting so her claws reached Derek's back, wincing as she dug her claws in "Sorry-"
"I can't feel it, Maeve," if they weren't trapped in a pool by a overgrown lizard, Derek would've smiled.
"Right... Of course," Maeve blushed.
Blood slowly seeped into the water, and hopefully, the venom with it. Maeve's arms grew tired, forgetting how stupidly heavy Derek was, Derek argued it was muscle, whilst Maeve argued he was letting himself go, they were at least ten minutes into the argument when Derek started to feel his legs.
"You work out a lot less than you used to!"
"Oh, i'm sorry, I've been a bit busy for my leisurely gym trips! Why are you so concerned about the state of my body? You don't have to see it anymore."
"Oh, is that how we're playing things now? You do realise you like to forgo the shirt at least 75 percent of the time, don't you?"
"You never complained. You don't now either!"
"Thats hardly the point!"
When Maeve turned away from him with a huff, Derek managed to shake his head in amusement, "I can move!"
Maeve sighed in relief, letting him go, "Thank god for that, I've lost feeling in my arms now."
Derek kicked his legs to keep himself afloat, "Well then maybe you should go to the gym more."
Maeve glared at him before swimming closer to the edge, watching the kanima approach her bag cautiously.
"What is it doing?" Maeve frowned in confusion, pushing away her damp hair from her eyes, "Whys it looking through my stuff? Do giant lizards steal now too?"
Derek's eyes widened as a flash of light reached him, the kanima jumping back at the sight "The mirror! its scared of the mirror."
Maeve quickly understood, jumping out of the pool to rush to grab her compact mirror laying on the floor by the creature, "Maybe its scared of its own freakish appearance."
Derek jumped out after her, ready to fight the kanima as she lunged for the mirror. The kanima went to grab Maeve but Derek kicked it away, missing a swipe of its tail. Maeve stumbled as Derek grabbed onto her, pulling her back behind him as she held up the mirror to the creatures face.
The kanima let out a bird like squawk before sprinting away. Maeve let out the breath she was holding in, leaning back against Derek.
Derek looked down at her in concern, crouching down to help her pick up everything that had spilled out of her bag, "Are you okay?"
"You're the one that got paralysed," Maeve smiled in amusement, the exes standing to leave.
"I have to go talk to Scott," Derek sighed, turning to walk in another direction.
Maeve nodded, "I'll get Lu. Don't scare the kid too much, Derek."
"No promises."
The game was long over and the audience were gradually leaving, Luna now in the capable supervision of Dean whilst they waited for Maeve. Luna laughed as she ran across the field reenacting the game holding Dean's lacrosse stick, his helmet massive on her tiny head.
"Theres a child on the field! Why is there a child on my field?" Coach Finstock shouted as he noticed Luna, turning to Dean who was sat on the stands watching, "Hale! Control your tiny person."
Dean chuckled, jogging over, "Calm down, coach, Luna here could be your next star player. Come here you monster!"
Luna ran over to her uncle, Dean dodging the lacrosse stick as she waved it around, "Mommy says you're not allowed to call me that anymore."
Coach Finstock rolled his eyes, pointing at the tiny blonde, "Star player? Girls don't play lacrosse."
Luna glared at the coach with her arms crossed, huffing in annoyance, "I can if I want to!"
Maeve being Maeve raised Luna to be a proud feminist and her daughter was not afraid to fight for what she believed in, no matter how small the cause. And in this case, Luna was livid.
"Girls aren't as strong as boys, you'll get hurt," Bobby told her in a childlike voice, "Maybe try out for cheerleading."
Luna's glare deepened to a Derek level glare, snatching a ball of the ground, placing it in the lacrosse stick before throwing It in the direction of the remaining players. Spotting Scott, she knew who to hit. Now, Luna didn't have a problem with Scott, but apparently her dad did, so that was enough ammunition.
Luna grinned in victory as it hit her target, Scott turning in confusion as to why he'd been hit, "Hey!"
Luna glared at Coach once more before stomping off to the stands.
At his coach's bewildered look, Dean shrugged, "She's her mothers daughter."
Luna eyed the remaining few parents on the stands, an older man staring right at her seemed oddly out of place.
Gerard approached her, forcing a smile, "Hello, you're Diana's daughter, aren't you?"
"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," Luna told him sternly, looking surprisingly threatening even with pigtails, "Especially creepy ones."
"I'm not a stranger," Gerard corrected, "I'm your great grandfather."
Luna looked him up and down, "Not in my books, mister."
Luna turned to walk away but Gerard caught her small arm, "Wait there a second-"
Luna tried to pull her arm back, but Gerard's arm tightened,
"Let me go or I'll scream," Luna glared, when he didn't let her arm go, she closed her eyes and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Uncle Dean!"
Dean turned away from his teammates in concern, spotting Luna stood in Gerard freaking Argents hold, he sprinted over, and just his luck, Maeve made her way onto the field at the same time.
Maeve felt her heart shatter at the sight, the most important person in her world in the same space as the biggest fear of her teens. Maeve had spent six years hiding from her grandfather and she was not going to let her daughter get hurt by him.
Pushing Gerard back, not caring about who was around, Dean protectively pulled Luna into his arms, "Back off old man."
Gerard held his arms up, smirking as he backed away "Have a nice night, kids."
"Luna!" Maeve gasped, finally reaching them despite sprinting across the field, "Are you alright?"
Luna squealed as her mother hugged her, "Mommy you're covered in water!"
Maeve laughed in relief, kissing the top of her head, "I'll be right back, Sweetheart."
Jogging after Gerard, Maeve faced her grandfather for the first time in six years.
"Gerard," Maeve glared.
"Diana, of all the things you've done, I can say I'm surprised to see you have a child," Gerard taunted.
Maeve ignored his insult, taking a threatening step towards him, "Hurt a single hair on her head, Gerard, and I promise I will kill you."
Maeve watched from the top of the steps, smiling softly as Luna ran around with her friends full of laughter.
After the drama with Gerard yesterday Maeve was worried it would leave Luna a bit traumatised, but thankfully her daughter was only a little rattled for a few hours and returned to her normal self.
Derek on the other hand, broke a table when he heard what happened. Maeve hadn't seen him so livid in years, not that she could blame him, she was just as angry.
Luna's seventh birthday was a big event for the family, Luna's school friends had taken over the outdoor play area of the building they'd rented out, it was a princess party, and the entire place was decked out accordingly.
Whilst the other children were dressed as their favourite princes and princesses, Luna had decided she herself was a princess and dressed in a pink sparkly dress. Maeve wore a more subtle version of Luna's outfit, her daughters demand, minus the sparkles replaced by a over the top flower crown, because, in Luna's words, she was the queen.
In typical Derek style, he'd escaped Luna's co-ordinating outfits and successfully left the house in a Maroon jumper and jeans.
"I forgot how exhausting kids parties are," Derek sighed, slouching down on the steps beside her.
"God, can you believe she's seven?" Maeve mumbled in disbelief, "I feel like she was only a baby yesterday. You think we're doing a good job?"
"Look how happy she is, Maeve," Luna conveniently looked over with a grin, waving up at her parents.
"Who would've thought," Maeve smiled, waving back, "The two with the most dysfunctional and messed up families could raise a pretty great kid."
Derek laughed, shaking his head, "Tell me about it."
Maeve smiled at him before leaning her head on his shoulder, letting out sigh, "I'm glad you're here, Derek."
"Me too," Derek looked down at Maeve fondly.
Luna bounded over, almost tripping as she stepped off the grass onto the concrete, a trail of her friends scattering over to their parents.
"Dad! Dad! Come on the castle with us!" Luna excitedly tried to pull him off the steps, "Come on!"
Derek playfully groaned as he stood and Luna cheered in victory, running back over to the bouncy castle.
"If I'm going, you're coming with me," Derek held his hand out to help Maeve up.
"No way -" Maeve laughed, shaking her head but Derek grabbed her hand, pulling her along with him.
Maeve was kicking off her heels when Derek scooped her off the ground, her daughters giggles filled the bouncy castle as Derek jumped in with her.
"No!" Maeve squealed as Derek dropped her, bursting out into laughter as she hit the floor, bouncing onto the other side.
Maeve slipped as she tried to stand up, preparing to hit the floor but Derek caught her, pulling her over to jump with him, Luna jumping over to jump on her fathers back, bouncing with them.
Across the road, Gerard stood with an apprehensive Allison, "Cant you see, Allison?"
Gerard was on another one of his tangents about her and Scott, and thought bringing her to see Maeve was a perfect example of what not to do.
"Maeve lost everything falling for him. Don't make the mistake she did."
Gerard couldn't be more wrong, she gained everything, and Allison could see that.
—
After the kids had been fed and the adults found the alcohol stashed ( smuggled in by Jamie ), Luna had been given her cake whilst her friends sang happy birthday at the top of their voices and somehow Stiles' ended up with his slice of cake in his face, something Luna was very proud of.
Derek slung his arm over Maeve's shoulder, the two of them sat on the window sill of the large room, the main party being moved inside where the kids ( and many drunk adults ) are all dancing in the middle of the room under disco lights with music played by a child friendly DJ.
Maeve laughed as she watched Stiles and Jamie embark in a very competitive dance battle, despite neither them having any dancing skills whatsoever. Archie and Scott lingered behind them, watching their best friends in mortification.
Derek looked around the room in amusement, "God, I never had a birthday party like this."
"That is because kids parties nowadays are social events for mothers to battle over who can throw the best party," Maeve pointed out, taking a bite of her second helping of birthday cake, "Its like animal kingdom."
Derek frowned, "But a disco?"
"That is because she's spoilt," Maeve continued, nodding at Lorraine chattering away in a crowd of middle aged women, "And Nan took over battling with the other mothers which I am extremely grateful for, they still give me funny lucks but somehow worship my grandmother."
Derek took the cake out of her hand, which was a dangerous move itself, and stood from the window sill, "Dance with me?"
"You think you can handle my moves? I know all these Disney songs off by heart," Maeve grinned, pulling him to the crowded dance floor.
Maeve laughed as Derek twirled her around to the music, "I think I'll manage."
Jamie finally emerged from the dance crowd, heavily out of breath but victorious from the battle, himself and Archie joining Derek's brothers at a table.
Jamie gulped down a drink that he had no idea what it was, finally noticing Maeve and Derek dancing, "They're so stupid."
Archie nodded in agreement, eating a crown shaped biscuit calculatingly, "Who's going to give in first?"
"Derek," Jamie, Dean and Kieran answered.
"Maeve could profess her love for him," Archie defended Maeve.
Jazz joined them at the table, "She practically did in the park the other day."
Jamie lifted his head from where he was resting it on the table, "She did what?!"
"Totally freaked herself out about falling for him again," Jazz informed them, shaking her head, "She's too stubborn."
"She'd go mental if she heard us betting on them like this," Archie frowned, but sighed spotting her happily distracted by Derek.
"50 dollars on them remarrying next year," Kieran spoke up.
Jazz rolled her eyes, "50 on them being engaged by next year."
"50 that they have another kid by next year," Jamie grinned competitively.
Archie looked to him in annoyance, "Really? Getting a bit ahead of yourself there, James."
"I won the last bet, didn't I?" Jamie argued.
"By three months," Archie pointed out bitterly.
Jamie ignored him, turning to the youngest yet tallest in the group, "Want in Dean?"
"I'll bet on the wedding round two, Maeve loves weddings," Dean added.
"Maeve also loves babies," Jamie defended his bet, "Come on, Luna will agree with me!"
"Even if they do have another kid, I don't think it will be for a while, after last year especially," Jazz reminded them all sadly, "Don't get too carried away with your bets."
"Yeah," Jamie muttered disappointedly, "You're right. Alright, I give it another week until they kiss."
"One hundred dollars on that," Lorraine joined in as she passed them.
"I knew I liked you for a reason," Jamie called after her, looking at his friends, "See, thats a woman who knows the Derek and Maeve betting game."
Maeve followed Derek's glare to Scott across the room, rolling her eyes, "You two really need to get over whatever hierarchy battle this is because I'm getting fed up. I'm gonna come out and say it, I'm the one in charge."
Derek laughed quietly, shaking his head.
"You need to stop acting like some drug lord and Scott needs to get over his vigilante attitude and ask for help," Maeve grumbled, laughing as Derek spun her around again, "I mean it Derek Hale!"
Derek smiled, "You truly have a way with words, Maeve."
Derek practically jumped out of his skin as the song changed and about twenty young girls shrieked at the top of their voices, looking to Maeve in complete confusion.
Maeve grinned, bobbing along to the song, "Its one direction, Derek."
"Why are we going in one direction?" Derek's frown deepened.
Maeve sighed, "No, its a ba- never mind."